Schrödinger's bat
@euderma44.bsky.social
Biologist. Teacher. Naturalist. Former zookeeper. Poster of trivia, animal facts, oddness, and generally interesting things. Especially bats.
The Washington Generals basketball team lost more than 16,000 games – to the same team!
December 20, 2025 at 6:12 AM
The Washington Generals basketball team lost more than 16,000 games – to the same team!
Whales have finger bones.
December 19, 2025 at 5:53 AM
Whales have finger bones.
Automatic candle snuffers automatically extinguish a candle when it burns down to a certain point.
December 18, 2025 at 5:29 AM
Automatic candle snuffers automatically extinguish a candle when it burns down to a certain point.
Fordite, aka Detroit agate, is a "gemstone" created by the accumulation of layers of enamel paint used to paint cars. Overspray paint would build up on the skids and racks that moved the frames through the painting area.
December 17, 2025 at 4:09 AM
Fordite, aka Detroit agate, is a "gemstone" created by the accumulation of layers of enamel paint used to paint cars. Overspray paint would build up on the skids and racks that moved the frames through the painting area.
Penguins have surprisingly long necks – but they are normally hidden by a thick layer of feathers.
December 16, 2025 at 6:20 AM
Penguins have surprisingly long necks – but they are normally hidden by a thick layer of feathers.
Cheerios were introduced in the United States in 1941 by General Mills. The product's original name was CheeriOats, but they changed it to Cheerios in 1945 following a trademark complaint from competitor Quaker Oats Company over the use of the term "oats".
December 15, 2025 at 6:29 AM
Cheerios were introduced in the United States in 1941 by General Mills. The product's original name was CheeriOats, but they changed it to Cheerios in 1945 following a trademark complaint from competitor Quaker Oats Company over the use of the term "oats".
Bubble algae (Valonia ventricosa), aka sailor's eyeballs are the largest single-celled organisms in the world – up to 2" (5 cm) in diameter.
Technically, plasmodial slime molds can get bigger but they do it by pushing the definition of unicellular.
Technically, plasmodial slime molds can get bigger but they do it by pushing the definition of unicellular.
December 14, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Bubble algae (Valonia ventricosa), aka sailor's eyeballs are the largest single-celled organisms in the world – up to 2" (5 cm) in diameter.
Technically, plasmodial slime molds can get bigger but they do it by pushing the definition of unicellular.
Technically, plasmodial slime molds can get bigger but they do it by pushing the definition of unicellular.
Some areas in the San Joaquin Valley in California have subsided more than 30 feet due to overpumping of the underlying aquifer.
This photo of USGS scientist Joseph Poland, taken in 1977, shows where the ground level would have been in 1925 and 1955.
This photo of USGS scientist Joseph Poland, taken in 1977, shows where the ground level would have been in 1925 and 1955.
December 13, 2025 at 3:55 AM
Some areas in the San Joaquin Valley in California have subsided more than 30 feet due to overpumping of the underlying aquifer.
This photo of USGS scientist Joseph Poland, taken in 1977, shows where the ground level would have been in 1925 and 1955.
This photo of USGS scientist Joseph Poland, taken in 1977, shows where the ground level would have been in 1925 and 1955.
The Sistine Chapel does not normally have a chimney – one is only installed during papal elections to announce the election of a new pope.
December 12, 2025 at 5:12 AM
The Sistine Chapel does not normally have a chimney – one is only installed during papal elections to announce the election of a new pope.
"Yesterday" by Paul McCartney was voted the #1 pop song of all time in polls conducted by the BBC, MTV, and Rolling Stone. It has been covered by other artists around 2,200 times.
December 11, 2025 at 5:51 AM
"Yesterday" by Paul McCartney was voted the #1 pop song of all time in polls conducted by the BBC, MTV, and Rolling Stone. It has been covered by other artists around 2,200 times.
The story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears violates the laws of physics.
Goldilocks finds three bowls of porridge: the largest is too cold, the middle size is too hot, but the smallest one is "just right!"
The smallest one should have cooled the most.
Goldilocks finds three bowls of porridge: the largest is too cold, the middle size is too hot, but the smallest one is "just right!"
The smallest one should have cooled the most.
December 10, 2025 at 6:13 AM
The story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears violates the laws of physics.
Goldilocks finds three bowls of porridge: the largest is too cold, the middle size is too hot, but the smallest one is "just right!"
The smallest one should have cooled the most.
Goldilocks finds three bowls of porridge: the largest is too cold, the middle size is too hot, but the smallest one is "just right!"
The smallest one should have cooled the most.
Although it is long and thin, scaly, and has no legs, this animal is not a snake. It's a legless lizard, aka glass lizard.
There are a number of characteristics that distinguish legless lizards from snakes: They can blink (snakes don't have eyelids). They have external ear openings (snakes don't).
There are a number of characteristics that distinguish legless lizards from snakes: They can blink (snakes don't have eyelids). They have external ear openings (snakes don't).
December 9, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Although it is long and thin, scaly, and has no legs, this animal is not a snake. It's a legless lizard, aka glass lizard.
There are a number of characteristics that distinguish legless lizards from snakes: They can blink (snakes don't have eyelids). They have external ear openings (snakes don't).
There are a number of characteristics that distinguish legless lizards from snakes: They can blink (snakes don't have eyelids). They have external ear openings (snakes don't).
Mark Twain is often credited with the saying, "If you don't like the weather in New England now, just wait a few minutes," though there's no record that he actually said it.
Either way, Twain's New England has nothing on Spearfish, South Dakota.
Either way, Twain's New England has nothing on Spearfish, South Dakota.
December 8, 2025 at 6:21 AM
Mark Twain is often credited with the saying, "If you don't like the weather in New England now, just wait a few minutes," though there's no record that he actually said it.
Either way, Twain's New England has nothing on Spearfish, South Dakota.
Either way, Twain's New England has nothing on Spearfish, South Dakota.
The Ferrero food company buys about 25 percent of the world’s supply of hazelnuts for its Nutella spread?
December 7, 2025 at 6:31 AM
The Ferrero food company buys about 25 percent of the world’s supply of hazelnuts for its Nutella spread?
In linguistics, "epenthesis" means the addition of a sound (or sounds) to a word.
Epenthesis is more common in spoken language but over time it may be incorporated into new spellings. For example the Old English "thunor" (þunor) became "thunder."
Epenthesis is more common in spoken language but over time it may be incorporated into new spellings. For example the Old English "thunor" (þunor) became "thunder."
December 6, 2025 at 6:24 AM
In linguistics, "epenthesis" means the addition of a sound (or sounds) to a word.
Epenthesis is more common in spoken language but over time it may be incorporated into new spellings. For example the Old English "thunor" (þunor) became "thunder."
Epenthesis is more common in spoken language but over time it may be incorporated into new spellings. For example the Old English "thunor" (þunor) became "thunder."
In addition to being a social reformer and the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale was also a pioneer in the field of statistics. She developed a new type of pie chart – the polar area diagram (aka rose diagram) – where the length of the segments varies with the value they represent.
December 5, 2025 at 6:33 AM
In addition to being a social reformer and the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale was also a pioneer in the field of statistics. She developed a new type of pie chart – the polar area diagram (aka rose diagram) – where the length of the segments varies with the value they represent.
In L. Frank Baum's 1900 book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Dorothy's magical slippers were made of silver. They were changed to ruby red for the 1939 movie adaptation of the book to showcase the amazing new technology of Technicolor film.
December 4, 2025 at 6:25 AM
In L. Frank Baum's 1900 book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Dorothy's magical slippers were made of silver. They were changed to ruby red for the 1939 movie adaptation of the book to showcase the amazing new technology of Technicolor film.
Sharks have survived four of the “big five” mass extinctions.
Sharks in the fossil record date back more than 400 million years. This makes them older than dinosaurs, older than trees, older than Mount Everest, and older than the rings of Saturn.
Photo credit: maralliance.org
Sharks in the fossil record date back more than 400 million years. This makes them older than dinosaurs, older than trees, older than Mount Everest, and older than the rings of Saturn.
Photo credit: maralliance.org
December 3, 2025 at 6:12 AM
Sharks have survived four of the “big five” mass extinctions.
Sharks in the fossil record date back more than 400 million years. This makes them older than dinosaurs, older than trees, older than Mount Everest, and older than the rings of Saturn.
Photo credit: maralliance.org
Sharks in the fossil record date back more than 400 million years. This makes them older than dinosaurs, older than trees, older than Mount Everest, and older than the rings of Saturn.
Photo credit: maralliance.org
Cranberries have four air pockets in the center of the fruit. This allows them to float when they fall into the water but it also means that raw cranberries will bounce when dropped on a hard surface.
Photo credit: ourjourneywestward.com
Photo credit: ourjourneywestward.com
December 2, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Cranberries have four air pockets in the center of the fruit. This allows them to float when they fall into the water but it also means that raw cranberries will bounce when dropped on a hard surface.
Photo credit: ourjourneywestward.com
Photo credit: ourjourneywestward.com
Finland has the highest number of saunas per capita in the world. With a population of 5.6 million, there are an estimated 3.3 million public and private saunas.
They even have saunas on Ferris wheels, ski lifts, and riverboats.
Photos: visitfinland.com
They even have saunas on Ferris wheels, ski lifts, and riverboats.
Photos: visitfinland.com
December 1, 2025 at 6:46 AM
Finland has the highest number of saunas per capita in the world. With a population of 5.6 million, there are an estimated 3.3 million public and private saunas.
They even have saunas on Ferris wheels, ski lifts, and riverboats.
Photos: visitfinland.com
They even have saunas on Ferris wheels, ski lifts, and riverboats.
Photos: visitfinland.com
Local rules adopted at a British golf course during WWII.
November 30, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Local rules adopted at a British golf course during WWII.
By number produced, Lego is the largest tire manufacturer in the world.
Lego produces around 306 million tires every year, outpacing it's nearest competitors, Michelin and Bridgestone, by more than 100 million units. (Granted, they do tend to be a bit smaller.)
Lego produces around 306 million tires every year, outpacing it's nearest competitors, Michelin and Bridgestone, by more than 100 million units. (Granted, they do tend to be a bit smaller.)
November 29, 2025 at 6:12 AM
By number produced, Lego is the largest tire manufacturer in the world.
Lego produces around 306 million tires every year, outpacing it's nearest competitors, Michelin and Bridgestone, by more than 100 million units. (Granted, they do tend to be a bit smaller.)
Lego produces around 306 million tires every year, outpacing it's nearest competitors, Michelin and Bridgestone, by more than 100 million units. (Granted, they do tend to be a bit smaller.)
The first automobile race in the U.S. was held on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1895.
News reports about the race called the new-fangled vehicles "motocycles," (not motorcycles) or "horseless carriages" – the word "automobile" had not been invented yet.
1/9
News reports about the race called the new-fangled vehicles "motocycles," (not motorcycles) or "horseless carriages" – the word "automobile" had not been invented yet.
1/9
November 28, 2025 at 12:47 AM
The first automobile race in the U.S. was held on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1895.
News reports about the race called the new-fangled vehicles "motocycles," (not motorcycles) or "horseless carriages" – the word "automobile" had not been invented yet.
1/9
News reports about the race called the new-fangled vehicles "motocycles," (not motorcycles) or "horseless carriages" – the word "automobile" had not been invented yet.
1/9
Nobody knows for sure why chickenpox got its name. We don't get it from chickens – in fact, it doesn't affect birds at all.
There are a number of theories:
There are a number of theories:
November 27, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Nobody knows for sure why chickenpox got its name. We don't get it from chickens – in fact, it doesn't affect birds at all.
There are a number of theories:
There are a number of theories:
Christopher Lloyd and Lea Thompson have appeared in 6 movies together and the only dialog they share is the awkward meeting when Lorraine follows Marty back to Doc's house in "Back to the Future."
November 26, 2025 at 5:17 AM
Christopher Lloyd and Lea Thompson have appeared in 6 movies together and the only dialog they share is the awkward meeting when Lorraine follows Marty back to Doc's house in "Back to the Future."