Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

California Academy of Sciences @calacademy.bsky.social · 7d

Us after a month of celebrating an alligator’s 30th hatchday.

[Video description: A beaded lizard—a black reptile with yellow splotches on its body—opens its mouth in a long yawn, repositioning its limbs on the mulch floor.]

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California Academy of Sciences @calacademy.bsky.social · 8d

So you’ve been keeping up with Claude all month long, writing fan mail and acing Tuesday Trivia — but are you ready to test your Claude IQ? As Claude’s hatch-month draws to a close, see what you’ve learned with our bespoke alligator quiz here: calacademy.org/claudequiz

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California Academy of Sciences @calacademy.bsky.social · 15d

Don’t worry—Claude may be able to hear you yap at him, but he’s not one to spread rumors.

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California Academy of Sciences @calacademy.bsky.social · 15d

Protected by skin flaps behind his eyes, Claude’s ears help him pick up on cues, including the sound of his name and, yes, the gossip you just spilled to your friends by the Swamp. Research shows that alligators use inner-ear muscles and cartilage to tune their hearing to different environments.

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California Academy of Sciences @calacademy.bsky.social · 15d

Claude might have a smooth looking noggin, but like other American alligators, he possesses two hidden ears that allow him to hear both above and underwater.

The top of a white alligator's head—including his nose, red eye, and snout—is shown peeking up above water. The image is edited so the backdrop and water appear completely black.

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California Academy of Sciences @calacademy.bsky.social · 22d

We're working on it!

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California Academy of Sciences @calacademy.bsky.social · 22d

Our biologists use a specific cue to indicate that they're about to touch Claude with the brush, so they don't take him by surprise. The biologists are well-versed in his body language and can also tell when he's finished with the scrubs or when he wants more 😊

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California Academy of Sciences @calacademy.bsky.social · 22d

It’s Trivia Tuesday! 🤓

Claude has a skincare routine! Once a week, Claude’s biologists will give him a scrub to help remove any algal buildup.

Claude loves these scrubs and they only take place if he wants them. So, if he’s looking extra green one day, assume he just wanted to skip this week.

Claude, our alligator with albinism closes his eyes as he enjoys getting his weekly scrub.

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California Academy of Sciences @calacademy.bsky.social · 28d

No purchase necessary. Drawing is in no way sponsored or endorsed by Bluesky. Open to legal residents of 50 US/DC, 18+. Void where prohibited. Begins 12:00 a.m. PST on 9/10/25 and ends at 11:59:59 p.m. PST on 9/30/25. Subject to Rules and free method of entry: bit.ly/4gjhumO

Botany Poster Giveaway Rules

View the official rules for the Plants to Pixels Poster Giveaway. The entry period is Jan. 28–Feb. 28, 2025.

bit.ly

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California Academy of Sciences @calacademy.bsky.social · 28d

Want to win a poster featuring Claude and his Academy friends? 👀🐊🤍

All you have to do is join our Plants to Pixels project to help transcribe specimen labels. Volunteers who participate in the project between now and September 30, 2025 will be eligible to win. Learn more here: bit.ly/3zKk8AE

A poster of all the animals at the Academy.

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California Academy of Sciences @calacademy.bsky.social · 29d

It’s another Claude Trivia Tuesday!

Claude is a poikilotherm, so he relies on environmental conditions to regulate his body temperature. To warm up, he'll bask on his heated rock. To cool down, he'll take a dip in the water. Claude loves to lounge, utilizing a "sit-and-wait" hunting strategy.

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California Academy of Sciences @calacademy.bsky.social · Sep 7

Claude’s turning 30. Maybe you’ve heard? This Thursday night, we’re ringing in his new decade with the ultimate birthday bash. Think giveaways, crafts, cake, and Piña Claude-as, all capped off with a swamp-side celebration — because you only turn 30 once. Get tickets here: bit.ly/4nhpoPK

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California Academy of Sciences @calacademy.bsky.social · Sep 5

Ready, set, Claude Quest! Claude plushies (and accompanying prizes) have been hidden around the Academy and the Bay Area: think Academy tickets, a family membership, and more. Check the full list of prize locations here to begin the search: bit.ly/4ndQrLP

Happy questing! 🐊🤍

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California Academy of Sciences @calacademy.bsky.social · Sep 4

It’s a bird… it’s a plane… it’s a free Claude plushie! Claude Quest is BACK. Starting tomorrow, you can find Claude plushies hidden around some of the Bay Area’s most beloved spots. Check back then for the list of prize locations, with a chance to win Academy tickets, a family membership, and more.

A Claude alligator plushie sits next to an ice cream cone.

A Claude alligator plushie is held up in front of a poster showing cartoon characters that hold a sign reading "San Francisco loves libraries!"

A Claude alligator plushie is held up in front of the ferris wheel that was previously in Golden Gate Park.

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California Academy of Sciences @calacademy.bsky.social · Sep 2

It’s Claude Trivia Tuesday!

Alligators are *constantly* losing teeth. They can replace each one up to 50 times, going through thousands in their lifetime. This characteristic, called polyphyodonty, is beneficial for apex predators, who need to maintain sharp, strong teeth to hunt effectively.

Close up of Claude the alligator's teeth

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California Academy of Sciences @calacademy.bsky.social · Aug 31

Swipe for more information about the challenge, upcoming events, and #CABD celebrations!

This page is illustrated with text and collage-style cutouts of plants. Text title reads “Other ways to support California biodiversity (this week and beyond):” and includes 5 bullet points of text. Instructions include: encouraging viewers to participate in stewardship activities (weeding or clean-ups); creating robust habitats by gardening with native plants; discovering nature around you by using iNaturalist; supporting Indigenous stewardship & sovereignty; making room for native pollinators by reducing pesticide use.”

Illustrated image is titled “MORE INFO:” and includes several links with additional information and events. Animal and plant cutouts are scattered throughout the page. Text reads: “Cal Academy info:[bit.ly/CABD25](http://bit.ly/CABD25)

. Find 30 Species:

[bit.ly/2025find30](http://bit.ly/2025find30)

. Events map:

[bit.ly/EventsCABD2025](http://bit.ly/EventsCABD2025)

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California Academy of Sciences @calacademy.bsky.social · Aug 31

California is a biodiversity hotspot—and YOU can help protect our amazing ecosystems.

Collage image titled, “THINGS YOU COULD SEE,” shows cutouts of several vertebrate species observed in California, including a bear, a seal, and coyotes and bobcats. Text bubble reads “1,000+ vertebrates.”

Collage image titled, “THINGS YOU COULD SEE,” shows various invertebrate species in cutout form, including butterflies, slugs, nudibranchs, and beetles. Text bubble reads “Tens of thousands of invertebrates.”

Collage image titled, “THINGS YOU COULD SEE,” showing cutouts of several birds observed in California. A speech bubble emerges from one of the birds saying, “600+ bird species.”

Collage image titled, “THINGS YOU COULD SEE,” shows cutouts of many plants and flowers. Text bubble reads “6,500+ native plants.”

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California Academy of Sciences @calacademy.bsky.social · Aug 31

Between Sept. 6 - 14, join the ‘Find 30 Species’ project on iNaturalist to participate.

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California Academy of Sciences @calacademy.bsky.social · Aug 31

For #CaliforniaBiodiversityDay, we’re challenging you to observe & identify at least 30 species of plants, animals, or fungi.

Illustrated Image titled “California: The Biodiverse State” shows an orange drawing of the California state outline, with various bird, mammal, and plant species scattered throughout the page. Text box shows three bullet points reading: “At a glance: Over 30% of the nation’s plant & vertebrate species occur in CA. One of 36 biodiversity hotspots in the world. Highest number of rare, imperiled, & endemic species.” A bottom subheader in handwritten text reads “YOU can help protect our amazing ecosystems→”

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California Academy of Sciences @calacademy.bsky.social · Aug 31

Calling all California nature lovers: Can YOU find the most biodiversity? 🦌🌵🦆🐞🐛🐟🌲🍁🦎

A collage-style image shows two people using binoculars and monoculars as they look into the distance. Various cutouts of animals and plants are layered on top of each other. Text overlay reads “Can you spot the most biodiversity?”

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California Academy of Sciences @calacademy.bsky.social · Aug 28

Find someone who looks at you like Dr. Elora López-Nandam looks at these juvenile corals in our Coral Regeneration Lab. 😍 🪸

Dr. Elora López-Nandam smiles and points at a tank of juvenile corals in the Academy’s Coral Regeneration Lab.

A close-up of a juvenile coral in a tank.

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California Academy of Sciences @calacademy.bsky.social · Aug 26

Goodbye, so long, see you later! Our dinosaurs are headed back to the Cretaceous period. Be sure to swing by before September 1 to wish them well. 🦖🦕🦖

Get the last tickets to Dino Days at: bit.ly/3H8xCKO

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California Academy of Sciences @calacademy.bsky.social · Aug 22

Take a look at our cake mood board and join KQED's marine biology themed cake-off, Science is a Piece of Cake. Enter the competition, or just sign up to eat pretty cakes on September 4 here: www.kqed.org/event/5450 🍰

The mood board for the intermediate round. Pictures of sea urchins and entremets. Text reads: Without sunflower sea stars, urchin populations grow unchecked, turning thriving kelp forests into urchin barrens. At least 5 cakes, cakes have fillings. Spikes can be made of anything (sugar, chocolate, etc.)

The advanced round mood board. Pictures of healthy kelp forests, layered cakes, and jelly cakes. Text reads: This round is hopefully a look into the future when the sunflower sea star and the kelp forest’s lush biodiversity have returned. This one has a lot of components. (Sea urchin, kelp surrounding the cake, cake has at least 3 layers and two tiers, at least one fish and one mammal or invertebrate.

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California Academy of Sciences @calacademy.bsky.social · Aug 22

Calling all cake artisans, Great British Bakeoff enthusiasts, and people who REALLY love Pycnopodia helianthoides! Can you make a sunflower sea star cake that will impress Academy scientists? Maybe you want to tackle sea-urchin-inspired entremets or (for the ambitious) an entire kelp forest?

An elaborate mood board with a marine-bio themed cake, a sunflower sea star, a sea urchin, and kelp forest pictures. Text reads: Can you make a cake that will impress Academy scientists? Join this marine biology themed cake-off! Swipe for inspo. Science is a Piece of Cake: Thursday, September 4 at 7PM PST.

Another elaborate mood board for the beginner round. Pictures of sunflower sea stars and layered cakes. Text reads: This round highlights sunflower sea stars, keystone predators of healthy kelp forests. Sunflower sea star cake. Cake minimum 2 layers. Arms can be made of anything—rice krispies, cake, fondant, etc.

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California Academy of Sciences @calacademy.bsky.social · Aug 21

Stay tuned for more as we continue to study & rear sea stars! 🌟🌟🌟

A close up shot of an ochre star arm shows its tube feet in close detail, as the tube feet cling onto the side of a blue bucket and the sea star arm curves upward. Text overlay reads “& now we raise our sea star babies!”

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