Mike Vardaro
@echinocrepis.bsky.social
Marine biologist, invertebrate enthusiast, pop culture nerd, and Philly native. Sea urchins are cool. [he/him]
No Kings (Oakland, CA)
June 14, 2025 at 11:54 PM
No Kings (Oakland, CA)
Bluesky now has over 10 million users, and I was #362,935! Apparently. I should maybe check in more…
September 18, 2024 at 5:03 AM
Bluesky now has over 10 million users, and I was #362,935! Apparently. I should maybe check in more…
An historic day. Vastly improved my mood!
May 30, 2024 at 9:49 PM
An historic day. Vastly improved my mood!
Went out to the garage during a sun shower and came back out to see Zuko huddled in the dry patch under the roof overhang. He’s a delicate California flower.
December 18, 2023 at 8:31 PM
Went out to the garage during a sun shower and came back out to see Zuko huddled in the dry patch under the roof overhang. He’s a delicate California flower.
I miss the cutest pup. He’s acting out. Probably because he knows I’m coming home today.
December 8, 2023 at 7:07 PM
I miss the cutest pup. He’s acting out. Probably because he knows I’m coming home today.
Seattle is dark and cold and rainy and I feel a lot like this unhappy great blue heron I saw during lunch. Maybe the sun will come out at some point this week?
December 5, 2023 at 2:09 AM
Seattle is dark and cold and rainy and I feel a lot like this unhappy great blue heron I saw during lunch. Maybe the sun will come out at some point this week?
Zuko’s drug denied by vet: he’s 0.8 lbs into a new weight class. Went down a rabbithole online & found the footnote: “Plaintiffs include color photographs of their dogs in the FAC. The Court takes judicial notice that all are very cute. However, such cuteness plays no part in the Court's decision.”
October 24, 2023 at 7:28 PM
Zuko’s drug denied by vet: he’s 0.8 lbs into a new weight class. Went down a rabbithole online & found the footnote: “Plaintiffs include color photographs of their dogs in the FAC. The Court takes judicial notice that all are very cute. However, such cuteness plays no part in the Court's decision.”
This Zuko loves you too (but only over social media… he’s very skeptical of strangers in person)
October 17, 2023 at 4:46 AM
This Zuko loves you too (but only over social media… he’s very skeptical of strangers in person)
I was on the edge of my seat, but Zuko found the Phillies game boring. He’s ready for baseball to be over.
October 17, 2023 at 2:54 AM
I was on the edge of my seat, but Zuko found the Phillies game boring. He’s ready for baseball to be over.
Our biological son says hello.
October 10, 2023 at 3:50 AM
Our biological son says hello.
Sometimes it’s good to be short. I forgot how uncomfortable a United flight can be, but at least I’m not forcibly jammed into the seat in front of me. Unless they decide to recline…
September 28, 2023 at 5:32 PM
Sometimes it’s good to be short. I forgot how uncomfortable a United flight can be, but at least I’m not forcibly jammed into the seat in front of me. Unless they decide to recline…
So cool! A salmon shark, smaller cousin of the great white shark, was cruising in the surface waters above International District vent field in Axial Caldera last night! Never seen one in our ROV images before. 🧪
Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI, Dive J2-1556, V23.
Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI, Dive J2-1556, V23.
September 14, 2023 at 11:55 PM
So cool! A salmon shark, smaller cousin of the great white shark, was cruising in the surface waters above International District vent field in Axial Caldera last night! Never seen one in our ROV images before. 🧪
Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI, Dive J2-1556, V23.
Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI, Dive J2-1556, V23.
Mystery! Still looking for a better shot, but does anyone know what these green orbs are? We saw them on a few dives, mostly at 200 - 500 m depths, off the OR coast and at Axial Seamount. At first I thought they were clogged larvacean houses, but they're all perfectly circular. 🧪
September 6, 2023 at 4:27 PM
Mystery! Still looking for a better shot, but does anyone know what these green orbs are? We saw them on a few dives, mostly at 200 - 500 m depths, off the OR coast and at Axial Seamount. At first I thought they were clogged larvacean houses, but they're all perfectly circular. 🧪
The ROV got buzzed by a swordfish on our way to the International District vent field in Axial Caldera!
September 5, 2023 at 9:35 AM
The ROV got buzzed by a swordfish on our way to the International District vent field in Axial Caldera!
We met some weird crab friends at Southern Hydrate Ridge last night. 🧪
August 30, 2023 at 6:10 AM
We met some weird crab friends at Southern Hydrate Ridge last night. 🧪
Had a doubly exciting couple of days at sea: we visited the Mushroom vent at Axial Volcano and swapped out some OOI gear, and then this morning ROV Jason helped rescue an MBARI mapping AUV that had decided it wanted to stay at 40 m depth! 🧪🐟
August 27, 2023 at 12:04 AM
Had a doubly exciting couple of days at sea: we visited the Mushroom vent at Axial Volcano and swapped out some OOI gear, and then this morning ROV Jason helped rescue an MBARI mapping AUV that had decided it wanted to stay at 40 m depth! 🧪🐟
The weather is cooperating and we’re getting a lot of Ocean Observatories work done out here, about 300 miles off the coast of Oregon. Looking forward to tonight’s ROV dive at hydrothermal vents on Axial Seamount!
August 26, 2023 at 4:37 AM
The weather is cooperating and we’re getting a lot of Ocean Observatories work done out here, about 300 miles off the coast of Oregon. Looking forward to tonight’s ROV dive at hydrothermal vents on Axial Seamount!
Zuko is slightly tuckered out after a vet appointment and an afternoon of playing with his four excited human cousins visiting from Texas.
August 16, 2023 at 12:34 AM
Zuko is slightly tuckered out after a vet appointment and an afternoon of playing with his four excited human cousins visiting from Texas.
