Phoebe Cohen
@phoebefossil.bsky.social
Answering big questions with tiny fossils. Paleontologist, earth scientist, liberal arts professor, opinion holder. She/her. @makeaplanetpod.bsky.social
Pinned
Phoebe Cohen
@phoebefossil.bsky.social
· Nov 16
Hi y'all - a bit of an intro - I'm a liberal arts professor, a paleontologist / earth scientist, a photographer, a human and dog parent, and a progressive lefty, to name a few. I'm still figuring out how I want to use this account so stay tuned - but expect a mix of science and snark and sincerity.
Reposted by Phoebe Cohen
Call them until their voicemail is full, then call again when it’s empty; we’ve had no peace in my neighborhood, our senators should have no peace either
Anyone telling you NOT to call your member of congress today is an op or under the influence of an op
There is literally no reason not to
Telling people not to call is not a radical position
There is literally no reason not to
Telling people not to call is not a radical position
January 24, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Call them until their voicemail is full, then call again when it’s empty; we’ve had no peace in my neighborhood, our senators should have no peace either
Reposted by Phoebe Cohen
I'm honestly just sick. If you can stomach watching any of this footage & still let the words "more training" escape your mouth, I cannot ever forgive you. These are state-sanctioned street executions. This is the training.
January 24, 2026 at 5:39 PM
I'm honestly just sick. If you can stomach watching any of this footage & still let the words "more training" escape your mouth, I cannot ever forgive you. These are state-sanctioned street executions. This is the training.
Sitting in front of my wood stove so grateful for its efficiently stored solar energy keeping me warm during this intense cold, working on my syllabus for Carbon - apt
a pile of wood burning in a fire
ALT: a pile of wood burning in a fire
media.tenor.com
January 24, 2026 at 1:24 PM
Sitting in front of my wood stove so grateful for its efficiently stored solar energy keeping me warm during this intense cold, working on my syllabus for Carbon - apt
Reposted by Phoebe Cohen
Absolutely delighted to share that VIBE CHECK has been nominated for an Ambie for Best News and Politics Podcast! It’s important to me that black queer people can be taken seriously as authoritative voices on not just pop culture and LGBT topics, but leading news and politics stories as well.
January 22, 2026 at 9:31 PM
Absolutely delighted to share that VIBE CHECK has been nominated for an Ambie for Best News and Politics Podcast! It’s important to me that black queer people can be taken seriously as authoritative voices on not just pop culture and LGBT topics, but leading news and politics stories as well.
Reposted by Phoebe Cohen
Another question I came here with was: how effective are the whistles and honking? Does it stop abductions? And the answer is, surprisingly to my cynical self, yes, and often. I have talked to so many people who have successfully interrupted kidnappings.
January 23, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Another question I came here with was: how effective are the whistles and honking? Does it stop abductions? And the answer is, surprisingly to my cynical self, yes, and often. I have talked to so many people who have successfully interrupted kidnappings.
Professor friends! I'm teaching a new class this semester called ✨Carbon✨ - loosely based around @peterbrannen.bsky.social's amazing book, smooshed together with a Geobiology class I used to teach, mixed in with some deep time historical geology. I am really excited & I need help...
January 23, 2026 at 7:17 PM
Professor friends! I'm teaching a new class this semester called ✨Carbon✨ - loosely based around @peterbrannen.bsky.social's amazing book, smooshed together with a Geobiology class I used to teach, mixed in with some deep time historical geology. I am really excited & I need help...
Reposted by Phoebe Cohen
Stage 5 pundit-brain is watching an innocent woman being killed by agents of the state and going, "hmm this says a lot about the urban-rural divide in America."
January 15, 2026 at 2:49 PM
Stage 5 pundit-brain is watching an innocent woman being killed by agents of the state and going, "hmm this says a lot about the urban-rural divide in America."
Reposted by Phoebe Cohen
New preprint out! Using ~75k environmental OTUs + 77 fossil calibrations, we reconstructed a Proterozoic timeline of eukaryote evolution. Our results show crown eukaryotes were already diversifying >1.6 Ga, long before the first undisputed fossils (~1.05 Ga).
🔗 DOI: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
🔗 DOI: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
December 15, 2025 at 8:19 AM
New preprint out! Using ~75k environmental OTUs + 77 fossil calibrations, we reconstructed a Proterozoic timeline of eukaryote evolution. Our results show crown eukaryotes were already diversifying >1.6 Ga, long before the first undisputed fossils (~1.05 Ga).
🔗 DOI: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
🔗 DOI: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Reposted by Phoebe Cohen
Just spent a lovely hour talking to @jacquelyngill.bsky.social & @phoebefossil.bsky.social for their forthcoming podcast series which will be SUPERB @makeaplanetpod.bsky.social
(you'll have to listen to find out my favourite kind of pie 🥧)
www.makeaplanetpod.earth
(you'll have to listen to find out my favourite kind of pie 🥧)
www.makeaplanetpod.earth
Jax and Phoebe Make a Planet
www.makeaplanetpod.earth
December 12, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Just spent a lovely hour talking to @jacquelyngill.bsky.social & @phoebefossil.bsky.social for their forthcoming podcast series which will be SUPERB @makeaplanetpod.bsky.social
(you'll have to listen to find out my favourite kind of pie 🥧)
www.makeaplanetpod.earth
(you'll have to listen to find out my favourite kind of pie 🥧)
www.makeaplanetpod.earth
Reposted by Phoebe Cohen
It's over.
Despite the fact that the academic council recommended against it, despite the fact that the program brought in more tuition than it cost, and despite the fact that Nebraskans need & deserve this expertise, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences will be cut.
www.dailynebraskan.com/news/adminis...
Despite the fact that the academic council recommended against it, despite the fact that the program brought in more tuition than it cost, and despite the fact that Nebraskans need & deserve this expertise, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences will be cut.
www.dailynebraskan.com/news/adminis...
BREAKING: ‘This hurts’: UNL eliminates 4 programs despite faculty, student pleas
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln eliminates the Earth and atmospheric sciences 8-0, educational administration 7-1, statistics 7-1, textiles, merchandising and fashion design 7-1 programs.
www.dailynebraskan.com
December 6, 2025 at 5:35 PM
It's over.
Despite the fact that the academic council recommended against it, despite the fact that the program brought in more tuition than it cost, and despite the fact that Nebraskans need & deserve this expertise, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences will be cut.
www.dailynebraskan.com/news/adminis...
Despite the fact that the academic council recommended against it, despite the fact that the program brought in more tuition than it cost, and despite the fact that Nebraskans need & deserve this expertise, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences will be cut.
www.dailynebraskan.com/news/adminis...
Reposted by Phoebe Cohen
Definitely a 12-person interspecies polycule
Pleased that Starfleet Academy looks gay as fuck
December 4, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Definitely a 12-person interspecies polycule
Today on #givingtuesday I'm continuing to support the Paleontological Research Institution. As a former employee and current board member, I know how incredible this place is - a resource for anyone who cares about our earth's past and its future: priweb.donorsupport.co/page/FUNWALK...
Save the Museum of the Earth and PRI – Secure Its Future!
In these challenging times, places like the Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) stand as beacons of hope, fostering understanding of the natural world and inspiring action for a sustainable fut...
priweb.donorsupport.co
December 2, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Today on #givingtuesday I'm continuing to support the Paleontological Research Institution. As a former employee and current board member, I know how incredible this place is - a resource for anyone who cares about our earth's past and its future: priweb.donorsupport.co/page/FUNWALK...
Reposted by Phoebe Cohen
The late Miocene possibly had lower athmospheric pCO2 than we have right now (but higher than pre-industrial), but that was enough for there not to be permafrost in North Greenland.
Once a local threshold is reached, that is enough sometimes. 🧪
Link: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Once a local threshold is reached, that is enough sometimes. 🧪
Link: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
December 2, 2025 at 3:43 PM
The late Miocene possibly had lower athmospheric pCO2 than we have right now (but higher than pre-industrial), but that was enough for there not to be permafrost in North Greenland.
Once a local threshold is reached, that is enough sometimes. 🧪
Link: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Once a local threshold is reached, that is enough sometimes. 🧪
Link: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Last day of class (on Zoom cause of the snow) and my Paleobiology students are discussing the “dire wolf” and Colossal Biosciences and they are NOT HAVING IT
a man applauds in front of a sign that says schitts sook proud
ALT: a man applauds in front of a sign that says schitts sook proud
media.tenor.com
December 2, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Last day of class (on Zoom cause of the snow) and my Paleobiology students are discussing the “dire wolf” and Colossal Biosciences and they are NOT HAVING IT
Reposted by Phoebe Cohen
On Dec. 7, we’re taking you to Albany, Georgia, and telling a story as we never have before.
In a new 5-part series, ProPublica’s @gingerthompson.bsky.social pursues one question: “Why are people in Albany so sick when its most powerful institution is a hospital?”
In a new 5-part series, ProPublica’s @gingerthompson.bsky.social pursues one question: “Why are people in Albany so sick when its most powerful institution is a hospital?”
December 2, 2025 at 2:00 PM
On Dec. 7, we’re taking you to Albany, Georgia, and telling a story as we never have before.
In a new 5-part series, ProPublica’s @gingerthompson.bsky.social pursues one question: “Why are people in Albany so sick when its most powerful institution is a hospital?”
In a new 5-part series, ProPublica’s @gingerthompson.bsky.social pursues one question: “Why are people in Albany so sick when its most powerful institution is a hospital?”
Reposted by Phoebe Cohen
Sooo here's a little public records request I just made to the University of Oklahoma.
November 30, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Sooo here's a little public records request I just made to the University of Oklahoma.
Reposted by Phoebe Cohen
Cheers to the person who leaked the initial changes www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
In reversal, Coast Guard again classifies swastikas, nooses as hate symbols
The new order came hours after The Post reported the service would instead classify such symbols as “potentially divisive” under guidelines set for release next month.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Cheers to the person who leaked the initial changes www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Reposted by Phoebe Cohen
So Harvard is keeping this guy, but Claudine Gay had to step down over ginned up plagiarism accusations and bad-faith accusations of anti-Semitism.
Got it.
Got it.
Larry Summers tells @theharvardcrimson.bsky.social
he’s stepping back from all public commitments in light of his messages with Epstein, saying he is “deeply ashamed” and hopes “to rebuild trust and repair relationships.”
He will continue teaching.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
he’s stepping back from all public commitments in light of his messages with Epstein, saying he is “deeply ashamed” and hopes “to rebuild trust and repair relationships.”
He will continue teaching.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
November 18, 2025 at 5:10 AM
So Harvard is keeping this guy, but Claudine Gay had to step down over ginned up plagiarism accusations and bad-faith accusations of anti-Semitism.
Got it.
Got it.
Reposted by Phoebe Cohen
Sixty days left to save the Museum of the Earth. Please donate if you can, and share.
This is not only one of the most important fossil collections in the world, it also home to the world’s best plushies: Paleozoic Pals!
www.priweb.org/mortgage-cam...
This is not only one of the most important fossil collections in the world, it also home to the world’s best plushies: Paleozoic Pals!
www.priweb.org/mortgage-cam...
November 1, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Sixty days left to save the Museum of the Earth. Please donate if you can, and share.
This is not only one of the most important fossil collections in the world, it also home to the world’s best plushies: Paleozoic Pals!
www.priweb.org/mortgage-cam...
This is not only one of the most important fossil collections in the world, it also home to the world’s best plushies: Paleozoic Pals!
www.priweb.org/mortgage-cam...
Reposted by Phoebe Cohen
November 1, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Reposted by Phoebe Cohen
This right here, this exact sentence, is THE problem in American political journalism.
The IRA *was* cheap energy and good jobs! That was the whole bill! Democrats did precisely what political pundits are telling them to do and the pundits just ignore it.
The IRA *was* cheap energy and good jobs! That was the whole bill! Democrats did precisely what political pundits are telling them to do and the pundits just ignore it.
November 1, 2025 at 12:13 PM
This right here, this exact sentence, is THE problem in American political journalism.
The IRA *was* cheap energy and good jobs! That was the whole bill! Democrats did precisely what political pundits are telling them to do and the pundits just ignore it.
The IRA *was* cheap energy and good jobs! That was the whole bill! Democrats did precisely what political pundits are telling them to do and the pundits just ignore it.
Podcast interview with Warren Allmon about the financial challenges the Paleontological Research Institution / Museum of the Earth is facing and what's we're all at risk of losing: capitolpressroom.org/2025/10/31/u...
Upstate natural history museum at risk of closing
Paleontological Research Institution Director talks about the work his organization does and explains why they're in need of funding to keep their door open.
capitolpressroom.org
November 1, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Podcast interview with Warren Allmon about the financial challenges the Paleontological Research Institution / Museum of the Earth is facing and what's we're all at risk of losing: capitolpressroom.org/2025/10/31/u...
Reposted by Phoebe Cohen
Not since 1935 has anyone experienced a storm like Melissa. Melissa's record wouldn't have happened without climate change, which made the hurricane's winds about 10 mph stronger, according to a rapid attribution analysis by Climate Central. yaleclimateconnections.org/2025/10/cata...
Catastrophic Hurricane Melissa hits Jamaica as the strongest landfalling Atlantic hurricane on record » Yale Climate Connections
At landfall in western Jamaica, Melissa’s 185 mph winds and 892 mb pressure tied with the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 in the Florida Keys as the strongest on record for the Atlantic.
yaleclimateconnections.org
October 28, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Not since 1935 has anyone experienced a storm like Melissa. Melissa's record wouldn't have happened without climate change, which made the hurricane's winds about 10 mph stronger, according to a rapid attribution analysis by Climate Central. yaleclimateconnections.org/2025/10/cata...