Schrödinger's bat
@euderma44.bsky.social
Biologist. Teacher. Naturalist. Former zookeeper. Poster of trivia, animal facts, oddness, and generally interesting things. Especially bats.
The periodic table symbol for lead is "Pb," which comes from the Latin word for lead: "plumbum."
Early pipes were commonly made of lead, so people who worked with pipes became known as "plumbers."
Early pipes were commonly made of lead, so people who worked with pipes became known as "plumbers."
December 21, 2025 at 6:03 AM
The periodic table symbol for lead is "Pb," which comes from the Latin word for lead: "plumbum."
Early pipes were commonly made of lead, so people who worked with pipes became known as "plumbers."
Early pipes were commonly made of lead, so people who worked with pipes became known as "plumbers."
For variety, the Generals sometimes played under different names: "Boston Shamrocks," "New Jersey Reds," "Baltimore Rockets," and "Atlantic City Seagulls." From 1995 to 2007 they played as the New York Nationals.
December 20, 2025 at 6:12 AM
For variety, the Generals sometimes played under different names: "Boston Shamrocks," "New Jersey Reds," "Baltimore Rockets," and "Atlantic City Seagulls." From 1995 to 2007 they played as the New York Nationals.
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.
December 17, 2025 at 4:09 AM
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.
Cheerioats' original mascot/spokescartoon was a young girl in pigtails and an oversized bonnet named Cheeri O'Leary. General Mills claims that she was "the first female mascot in the cereal aisle."
December 15, 2025 at 6:29 AM
Cheerioats' original mascot/spokescartoon was a young girl in pigtails and an oversized bonnet named Cheeri O'Leary. General Mills claims that she was "the first female mascot in the cereal aisle."
Photo credits: oceaninfo.com (algae); largest.org (slime mold)
December 14, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Photo credits: oceaninfo.com (algae); largest.org (slime mold)
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 iron stove system was first used for the election of Pope Pius XII in 1939. It has been used seven times since.
Photo credits: vaticannews.va (chimney); cbc.ca (stoves)
Photo credits: vaticannews.va (chimney); cbc.ca (stoves)
December 12, 2025 at 5:12 AM
The iron stove system was first used for the election of Pope Pius XII in 1939. It has been used seven times since.
Photo credits: vaticannews.va (chimney); cbc.ca (stoves)
Photo credits: vaticannews.va (chimney); cbc.ca (stoves)
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.
In front of the vent, the body contains the internal organs. Behind the vent, the tail is solid muscle.
December 9, 2025 at 6:14 AM
In front of the vent, the body contains the internal organs. Behind the vent, the tail is solid muscle.
On January 22, 1943, a weather front oscillated back and forth across the foothills of the Black Hills. At 7:32 am, the temperature rose from -4° F to 45° F in just two minutes – a rise of 49°. A few hours later, it plunged from 54° F back to -4° F in 27 minutes – a drop of 58°.
December 8, 2025 at 6:21 AM
On January 22, 1943, a weather front oscillated back and forth across the foothills of the Black Hills. At 7:32 am, the temperature rose from -4° F to 45° F in just two minutes – a rise of 49°. A few hours later, it plunged from 54° F back to -4° F in 27 minutes – a drop of 58°.
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?
Some common examples in modern, spoken language: wash (pronounced warsh), film (pronounced fillum), drawing (pronounced drawring), and hamster (pronounced hampster).
Epenthesis can even be a word or phrase, à la Ned Flanders.
Epenthesis can even be a word or phrase, à la Ned Flanders.
December 6, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Some common examples in modern, spoken language: wash (pronounced warsh), film (pronounced fillum), drawing (pronounced drawring), and hamster (pronounced hampster).
Epenthesis can even be a word or phrase, à la Ned Flanders.
Epenthesis can even be a word or phrase, à la Ned Flanders.
Based on her work with British soldiers during the Crimean War, the "Nightingale Rose" chart clearly showed that more soldiers were dying from cholera and other diseases than from battle injuries. This led to improved hygiene, nutrition, and living conditions, significantly reducing the death rate.
December 5, 2025 at 6:33 AM
Based on her work with British soldiers during the Crimean War, the "Nightingale Rose" chart clearly showed that more soldiers were dying from cholera and other diseases than from battle injuries. This led to improved hygiene, nutrition, and living conditions, significantly reducing the death rate.
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.)
Capitalizing on his victory, Duryea returned to Massachusetts and opened the Duryea Motor Wagon Company with his brother Charles. They produced 13 hand-built cars from 1894-1896 – the first automobile company in the U.S.
9/9
9/9
November 28, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Capitalizing on his victory, Duryea returned to Massachusetts and opened the Duryea Motor Wagon Company with his brother Charles. They produced 13 hand-built cars from 1894-1896 – the first automobile company in the U.S.
9/9
9/9
Some have argued that it may reflect the common usage of the word "chicken" to mean weak, as chickenpox has milder symptoms than smallpox.
Others suggest that it may have arisen because the red, itchy rash caused by chickenpox may look like the skin has been pecked by a chicken.
Others suggest that it may have arisen because the red, itchy rash caused by chickenpox may look like the skin has been pecked by a chicken.
November 27, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Some have argued that it may reflect the common usage of the word "chicken" to mean weak, as chickenpox has milder symptoms than smallpox.
Others suggest that it may have arisen because the red, itchy rash caused by chickenpox may look like the skin has been pecked by a chicken.
Others suggest that it may have arisen because the red, itchy rash caused by chickenpox may look like the skin has been pecked by a chicken.
"BttF" trilogy (1985, 1989, 1990), "Dennis the Menace" (1993), "Next Stop, Christmas" (2021), and a 20-minute short "The Haunted Lighthouse" based on a story by R. L. Stine that played at Busch Gardens and Sea World.
November 26, 2025 at 5:17 AM
"BttF" trilogy (1985, 1989, 1990), "Dennis the Menace" (1993), "Next Stop, Christmas" (2021), and a 20-minute short "The Haunted Lighthouse" based on a story by R. L. Stine that played at Busch Gardens and Sea World.