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Scott Solomon, PhD

@scottsolomon.bsky.social

2.5K followers 400 following 280 posts

Biology Professor and Science Communicator at Rice University. Author of Future Humans, Why Insects Matter, What Darwin Didn’t Know, and Becoming Martian. Host of the podcast Wild World With Scott Solomon. Views=own

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Scott Solomon, PhD @scottsolomon.bsky.social · 8d

COVER REVEAL! I am SO excited to share the cover for my new book, Becoming Martian: How Living in Space Will Change Our Bodies and Minds! Thanks to the team at @mitpress.bsky.social for the stunning design! It's officially out Feb 17 but available now for pre-order!

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Scott Solomon, PhD @scottsolomon.bsky.social · 20h

Author goals

David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social · 21h

Three years ago today was one of my favorite moments on my book tour- Shark in the Water (a surf metal band that plays songs from the perspective of sharks while dressed as sharks) played at one of my book tour stops! They called me up on stage and had everyone chant my name!

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Scott Solomon, PhD @scottsolomon.bsky.social · 1d

Following!

Scott Solomon, PhD @scottsolomon.bsky.social · 4d

There are certainly other ways to introduce it, including focusing on ways in which evolution is relevant to our everyday lives. But I like the historical approach in part because it’s a story, and people like stories and remember them.

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Scott Solomon, PhD @scottsolomon.bsky.social · 4d

Pre-order your copy here: a.co/d/002rCb0

Becoming Martian: How Living in Space Will Change Our Bodies and Minds

Becoming Martian: How Living in Space Will Change Our Bodies and Minds [Solomon, Scott, Kelly, Scott] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Becoming Martian: How Living in Space Will Change Our Bodies and Minds

a.co

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Scott Solomon, PhD @scottsolomon.bsky.social · 7d

Available for pre-order! a.co/d/6SdoLvp

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Scott Solomon, PhD @scottsolomon.bsky.social · 8d

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Scott Solomon, PhD @scottsolomon.bsky.social · 12d

Today I presented an overview of the program we are building at @riceuniversity.bsky.social in science communication and public engagement. The symposium at OsloMet is part of an initiave funded by the EU, which sees communication by scientists to the public as being in the best interest of society.

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Scott Solomon, PhD @scottsolomon.bsky.social · 13d

In Norway to attend a symposium on science communication at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University. What a lovely city!

Scott Solomon, PhD @scottsolomon.bsky.social · 25d

Moving to Mars won’t be easy as easy as some people seem to think.
www.iflscience.com/little-air-a...

Little Air And Dramatic Evolutionary Changes Await Future Humans On Mars

It won’t be easy being (little) green (men).

www.iflscience.com

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Scott Solomon, PhD @scottsolomon.bsky.social · 28d

I got to join the Mars Perseverance rover team a little over a year ago as they were deciding where to send the rover, which led to this exciting discovery. I share that story in my forthcoming book, BECOMING MARTIAN: HOW LIVING IN SPACE WILL CHANGE OUR BODIES AND MINDS (coming out March 2026).

Scott Solomon, PhD @scottsolomon.bsky.social · 28d

Exciting news from Mars!
www.cnn.com/2025/09/10/s...

Rock discovery contains ‘clearest sign’ yet of ancient life on Mars, NASA says | CNN

Scientists believe intriguing leopard spots on a rock sampled by the Perseverance rover on Mars may have potentially been made by ancient life.

www.cnn.com

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Scott Solomon, PhD @scottsolomon.bsky.social · 28d

Exciting news from Mars!
www.cnn.com/2025/09/10/s...

Rock discovery contains ‘clearest sign’ yet of ancient life on Mars, NASA says | CNN

Scientists believe intriguing leopard spots on a rock sampled by the Perseverance rover on Mars may have potentially been made by ancient life.

www.cnn.com

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Scott Solomon, PhD @scottsolomon.bsky.social · Sep 6

Nice touch on my Southwest Airlines flight this morning: the flight attendant had everyone close windows, turn off reading lights, and turn on the little flight attendant call lights to look like candles. Then we all sang Happy Birthday and had the birthday girl “blow out” the candles. 🎂✈️❤️

Scott Solomon, PhD @scottsolomon.bsky.social · Sep 6

Fun visit to Dallas to give the keynote address at the UTSW/Children’s Health Rare Disease symposium!

Reposted by Scott Solomon, PhD

Sarah McAnulty, Ph.D. @sarahmackattack.bsky.social · Aug 25

Me , fossilized, mid-squid fact, talking about cephalopod evolution juuuuust as I got to the part about ammonites.

Shade of Stars @shade-of-stars.bsky.social · Aug 25

Some day we'll become just another layer of fossils

Digital painting. An old human skeleton lying on the ground, some parts of it are buried or broken, it resembles a fossil. The ground under it is a stone with a lot of ammonites in it, they are different in size and color, some are iridescent.

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Scott Solomon, PhD @scottsolomon.bsky.social · Aug 23

With my colleague, science historian Luis Campos, as we prepare for the new @riceuniversity.bsky.social course we are teaching together this semester. It’s called “Extraterrestrial Elsewheres: Astrobiology and Imagining Life on Other Worlds”. We can’t wait to get started!

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Scott Solomon, PhD @scottsolomon.bsky.social · Aug 20

Apparently the black market for ants is getting out of control.

www.wired.com/story/usda-a...

Government Staffing Cuts Have Fueled an Ant-Smuggling Boom

“It’s getting out of hand,” one seller says. “They realize the US market is a gold mine.”

www.wired.com

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Scott Solomon, PhD @scottsolomon.bsky.social · Aug 18

…Amazingly, the telescope still works and I got to look through it to view a cluster of stars! No signs of aliens, sadly.

Scott Solomon, PhD @scottsolomon.bsky.social · Aug 18

…We now know the lines were an illusion, and we haven’t found any evidence of life on Mars— but his ideas helped generate excitement for astronomy and contributed to the emergence of science fiction, especially about aliens…

Scott Solomon, PhD @scottsolomon.bsky.social · Aug 18

This is the observatory where astronomer Percival Lowell made detailed observations of Mars in the 1890s. He was convinced he saw long, straight lines stretching across the planet, & interpreted these as canals built by Martians…

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Scott Solomon, PhD @scottsolomon.bsky.social · Aug 11

It’s such a delight to see students finding their passion. I loved reading this article about one of our wonderful students who discovered a love of science communication during her time at @riceuniversity.bsky.social, including through some of my classes.

news.rice.edu/news/2025/bi...

news.rice.edu

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Scott Solomon, PhD @scottsolomon.bsky.social · Aug 11

My family’s favorite species of antelope ❤️

Scott Solomon, PhD @scottsolomon.bsky.social · Aug 7

Woo!

Reposted by Scott Solomon, PhD

Andrea Rummel, Ph.D. @arummel.bsky.social · Aug 7

Super proud to share the first first-author paper from @ashockney24.bsky.social and our first official Rummel lab publication! Check it out here: nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

NYAS Publications

Bats are the only mammals capable of powered flight, and while they retain the furry coat of other small mammals, their wings, the primary flight surface, are generally thought to be hairless. We ass....

nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

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Scott Solomon, PhD @scottsolomon.bsky.social · Aug 6

You’re most welcome! I love talking about how amazing ants are! 🐜

Reposted by Scott Solomon, PhD

Rita @natrlover1975.bsky.social · Aug 6

@scottsolomon.bsky.social Thanks again for the awesome talk at our TMN meeting last night. I didn't realize that ants were so fascinating.

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