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redpenblackpen.bsky.social
RedPen/BlackPen
@redpenblackpen.bsky.social
4.4K followers 150 following 520 posts
Webcomic covering parts of science, peer review, data, academic careers, and puns. #science #scicomm #sciart
Comic/cartoon art shared under CC-BY-NC-SA
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redpenblackpen.bsky.social
♬ Stuck in the middle with you ♪
Four panel comic with two figures: Figure 1: 'So how's mid-career?' Figure 2: 'Well... I wonder shy I get passed over for opportunities but am very afraid of taking them. I alternate between imposter syndrome and wondering why others can't keep up. I have the means and skills to pursue personal interests but not the time or interest to do so. I marvel at how far I've come and lament that I'm not further. I'm way more secure but worry about all kinds of things. I have the power to change the world but am far less sure it's worth it. So pretty good really?"
November 25, 2025 at 5:57 PM
redpenblackpen.bsky.social
It's Thursday: How's everyone's ToDo list going? Well I hope?
November 20, 2025 at 7:30 PM
redpenblackpen.bsky.social
I didn't even KNOW it was gonna be World Toilet Day (officially, today Nov 19th) when this one squeezed out yesterday
November 19, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Reposted by RedPen/BlackPen
redpenblackpen.bsky.social
I debated whether to post this since it's a little off-brand for me, but once an idea like this starts it's hard to stop it coming out. But be relieved this wasn't a flow chart.
November 19, 2025 at 12:13 AM
redpenblackpen.bsky.social
Maybe posting this to #sciart too.
redpenblackpen.bsky.social RedPen/BlackPen @redpenblackpen.bsky.social · 7d
Just a thought I had the other night
November 19, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Reposted by RedPen/BlackPen
somati-ca.bsky.social
don't keep the idea squeezed inside! LET IT FLOW OUT! label the x-axis!!!
November 19, 2025 at 12:18 AM
redpenblackpen.bsky.social
I debated whether to post this since it's a little off-brand for me, but once an idea like this starts it's hard to stop it coming out. But be relieved this wasn't a flow chart.
November 19, 2025 at 12:13 AM
redpenblackpen.bsky.social
Just a thought I had the other night
November 18, 2025 at 4:26 AM
redpenblackpen.bsky.social
The RPBP first law of organization: *any* organizational system is the best for as long as you only have little to organize
November 17, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Reposted by RedPen/BlackPen
stephencollins.bsky.social
Every ad now
[Scene is a kitchen - a middle aged woman called JANET is boiling peas at the stove. A younger more colourfully dressed woman named LIZ approached her.] JANET: Ugh... LIZ: What's up? JANET: I am so bored of cooking peas! LIZ: Have you tried... AI peas? JANET: AI peas? LIZ: They're peas with AI! [Liz holds up to us a packet of peas labelled: Pea-i AI - Peas with AI]. LIZ: Al-powered peas harness the potential of your peas JANET: What LIZ [Now a voiceover as we cut to a whizzy technology diagram of peas all connected by meaningless dotted lines] Why not take your peas to the next level with Al Peas' new Al tools to power your peas? [Show a techno diagram of a pea with a label reading 'AI' pointing to a random zone in it] LIZ: Each pea has Al in a way we haven't quite worked out yet but it's fine [Show Janet and Liz now in a Matrix-style world of peas] LIZ: With Al peas you can supercharge productivity and make AI work for your peas! JANET: What LIZ: Shut up LIZ: Our game-changing Pea-Al gives you the freedom to unlock the potential of the power of the future of your peas workflow From opening the bag of peas to boiling the peas to eating the peas To spending millions on adding Al to the peas and then having to work out what that even means. JANET: Is it really necessary to- LIZ [Grabbing Janet by the collar]: THE PEAS HAVE GOT AI, JANET [Cut to an advert ending screen, with the bag of peas and the slogan: AI PEAS: Just 'Peas' for god's sake buy the AI peas. [Ends]
November 13, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Reposted by RedPen/BlackPen
drmeagantyler.bsky.social
More #AcWriMo inspo for you all! 😳

With thanks to @redpenblackpen.bsky.social

#academicsky #academicchatter #highered #resdev
November 12, 2025 at 4:30 AM
redpenblackpen.bsky.social
Ok - I'll play
November 8, 2025 at 9:07 PM
redpenblackpen.bsky.social
To be fair it's usually your own work that you find the fatal flaw in and the comic is just a repeat of the guy on the left
Two panel comic: left panel, figure looking at a paper and crying, caption says "Finding a paper scooping your work". Right panel, the figure is laughing throwing the wadded up paper over their shoulder, caption says "Finding a fatal flaw in that paper"
November 7, 2025 at 3:47 PM
redpenblackpen.bsky.social
This is a subjectively scary comic for #halloween2025
October 31, 2025 at 4:29 PM
redpenblackpen.bsky.social
Step right up! Who wants to be able to pull themselves up? Great prices and easy payment plans available!
October 29, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Reposted by RedPen/BlackPen
redpenblackpen.bsky.social
AI be like
October 28, 2025 at 3:37 PM
redpenblackpen.bsky.social
AI be like
October 28, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Reposted by RedPen/BlackPen
robertsilverman.bsky.social
I’m watching the World Series. I’m taking part o the Stanford prison experiment. I’m at the combination World Series/Stanford prison experiment
October 28, 2025 at 5:16 AM
redpenblackpen.bsky.social
The MVP of this game has to be the organ player
October 28, 2025 at 6:21 AM
Reposted by RedPen/BlackPen
redpenblackpen.bsky.social
Sigh. We're gonna need a bigger story...
Two panel comic: Left: a mostly completed puzzle with a regular-looking piece missing labeled "My Story So Far" Right: a blobby and irregular shape, with an arrow pointing at the missing piece (it obviously does not fit) labeled "My Latest Experiment"
October 26, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Reposted by RedPen/BlackPen
redpenblackpen.bsky.social
It's been awhile since I've posted this one. Good thing it's no longer relevant. At all. In any way. Not even a tiny bit.
October 27, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Reposted by RedPen/BlackPen
gordonhodsonphd.bsky.social
by: @redpenblackpen.bsky.social

#AcademicSky

(meant to be light-hearted, not literal. We need you to say yes sometimes!)
cartoon, clip art telling you you've said yes too much, start saying no
October 27, 2025 at 5:47 PM
redpenblackpen.bsky.social
It's been awhile since I've posted this one. Good thing it's no longer relevant. At all. In any way. Not even a tiny bit.
October 27, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Reposted by RedPen/BlackPen
elliejameson.bsky.social
Day 26, Give. This virus of bacteriophage Zamilon virophage, might benefit the bacteria (or not). Virophage infect viruses, in particular the giant DNA virus family Mimiviridae. #Drawtober #PhageSky #SciArt
Black and white ink drawing of a hexagonal viral particle with a faint, pale 5-point star shaded with stippling.
October 26, 2025 at 8:14 PM
redpenblackpen.bsky.social
I haven't been doing #inktober this year (too much other noise in my life) but managed to *accidentally* hit the prompt for today - "puzzling"

win!
redpenblackpen.bsky.social RedPen/BlackPen @redpenblackpen.bsky.social · Oct 26
Sigh. We're gonna need a bigger story...
Two panel comic: Left: a mostly completed puzzle with a regular-looking piece missing labeled "My Story So Far" Right: a blobby and irregular shape, with an arrow pointing at the missing piece (it obviously does not fit) labeled "My Latest Experiment"
October 26, 2025 at 4:35 PM