Hannah Thomasy
@hannahthomasy.bsky.social
Science journalist & biology nerd. ❤️🧪 Lover of brains & microbes & weird animals. Opinions mine obviously.
Researchers change the locations of spider mite "bathrooms," shedding light on important aspects of social evolution.🧪🪲
It seems logical that having a designated place to poop is a key part of group living, from invertebrates to humans. But it can be tricky to demonstrate this empirically.
It seems logical that having a designated place to poop is a key part of group living, from invertebrates to humans. But it can be tricky to demonstrate this empirically.
November 26, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Researchers change the locations of spider mite "bathrooms," shedding light on important aspects of social evolution.🧪🪲
It seems logical that having a designated place to poop is a key part of group living, from invertebrates to humans. But it can be tricky to demonstrate this empirically.
It seems logical that having a designated place to poop is a key part of group living, from invertebrates to humans. But it can be tricky to demonstrate this empirically.
Browsing through some aquatic ecology papers (as one does) & the authors casually toss in the term "crayfish plague." As someone with a strong (unhealthy?) interest in weird diseases I had to learn more.
Apparently, crayfish around the world* are getting absolutely obliterated by this pathogen🧪🦠
Apparently, crayfish around the world* are getting absolutely obliterated by this pathogen🧪🦠
November 25, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Browsing through some aquatic ecology papers (as one does) & the authors casually toss in the term "crayfish plague." As someone with a strong (unhealthy?) interest in weird diseases I had to learn more.
Apparently, crayfish around the world* are getting absolutely obliterated by this pathogen🧪🦠
Apparently, crayfish around the world* are getting absolutely obliterated by this pathogen🧪🦠
This is an Eastern Cape giant cycad. This specimen at Kew Gardens is the world's oldest potted plant* & it is older than the United States.
I found this oddly comforting? Certain systems seem deeply entrenched & unchangeable but in reality there are houseplants that have been around longer.🧪🌿
I found this oddly comforting? Certain systems seem deeply entrenched & unchangeable but in reality there are houseplants that have been around longer.🧪🌿
November 13, 2025 at 7:47 PM
This is an Eastern Cape giant cycad. This specimen at Kew Gardens is the world's oldest potted plant* & it is older than the United States.
I found this oddly comforting? Certain systems seem deeply entrenched & unchangeable but in reality there are houseplants that have been around longer.🧪🌿
I found this oddly comforting? Certain systems seem deeply entrenched & unchangeable but in reality there are houseplants that have been around longer.🧪🌿
Who is this??
Weird lil bug that almost looks like it’s just poking its head out of its shell to scootch up the wall?? 🧪
Weird lil bug that almost looks like it’s just poking its head out of its shell to scootch up the wall?? 🧪
November 12, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Who is this??
Weird lil bug that almost looks like it’s just poking its head out of its shell to scootch up the wall?? 🧪
Weird lil bug that almost looks like it’s just poking its head out of its shell to scootch up the wall?? 🧪
And this is the motion they used to dig through more compact substrate:
November 6, 2025 at 7:39 PM
And this is the motion they used to dig through more compact substrate:
So now we have movies of how moles dig in couscous!!
Basically, they found that the moles used different motions to dig depending on the characteristics of whatever they were digging through. This is the motion they used to dig through the looser substrate:
Basically, they found that the moles used different motions to dig depending on the characteristics of whatever they were digging through. This is the motion they used to dig through the looser substrate:
November 6, 2025 at 7:39 PM
So now we have movies of how moles dig in couscous!!
Basically, they found that the moles used different motions to dig depending on the characteristics of whatever they were digging through. This is the motion they used to dig through the looser substrate:
Basically, they found that the moles used different motions to dig depending on the characteristics of whatever they were digging through. This is the motion they used to dig through the looser substrate:
“You’re the kind of girl people write books about”
November 4, 2025 at 4:11 AM
“You’re the kind of girl people write books about”
& instead of developing a new butt, the half with the head just grows another head. Now you have a worm with heads at both ends. But perhaps most bizarrely, this isn't a dead end - if the worm gets cut in half, both sections can grow new tails, turning back into normal worms with 1 head & 1 tail.
October 29, 2025 at 9:52 PM
& instead of developing a new butt, the half with the head just grows another head. Now you have a worm with heads at both ends. But perhaps most bizarrely, this isn't a dead end - if the worm gets cut in half, both sections can grow new tails, turning back into normal worms with 1 head & 1 tail.
Let me explain. These worms can asexually reproduce by splitting in half the short way. So the original head stays a head, but develops a new tail, and the original middle part develops its own head (extremely scientific diagram below). But sometimes the worm makes a mistake...
October 29, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Let me explain. These worms can asexually reproduce by splitting in half the short way. So the original head stays a head, but develops a new tail, and the original middle part develops its own head (extremely scientific diagram below). But sometimes the worm makes a mistake...
👀
(I mean in fruit flies but still)🧪🧠🪲
(I mean in fruit flies but still)🧪🧠🪲
October 24, 2025 at 4:55 PM
👀
(I mean in fruit flies but still)🧪🧠🪲
(I mean in fruit flies but still)🧪🧠🪲
Recently came across Lisa Taylor's amazing work on coloration in jumping spiders, including using eyeliner to give them teenytiny makeovers to see whether these colors helped them attract mates/avoid sexual cannibalism. Sometimes in science, there aren't standard tools for the thing you want to do🧪
October 23, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Recently came across Lisa Taylor's amazing work on coloration in jumping spiders, including using eyeliner to give them teenytiny makeovers to see whether these colors helped them attract mates/avoid sexual cannibalism. Sometimes in science, there aren't standard tools for the thing you want to do🧪
Wishing a joyous Fat Bear Week to all who celebrate!!
Vote for your favorite chonkers OR watch the live stream @ links below
(Not gonna lie"Click to watch fat bears live" felt like a bit of a risky click.The internet has rotted my brain)
katmaiconservancy.org/fatbearweek
explore.org/livecams/bro...
Vote for your favorite chonkers OR watch the live stream @ links below
(Not gonna lie"Click to watch fat bears live" felt like a bit of a risky click.The internet has rotted my brain)
katmaiconservancy.org/fatbearweek
explore.org/livecams/bro...
September 26, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Wishing a joyous Fat Bear Week to all who celebrate!!
Vote for your favorite chonkers OR watch the live stream @ links below
(Not gonna lie"Click to watch fat bears live" felt like a bit of a risky click.The internet has rotted my brain)
katmaiconservancy.org/fatbearweek
explore.org/livecams/bro...
Vote for your favorite chonkers OR watch the live stream @ links below
(Not gonna lie"Click to watch fat bears live" felt like a bit of a risky click.The internet has rotted my brain)
katmaiconservancy.org/fatbearweek
explore.org/livecams/bro...
Because she hung out in the corner & seemed chill. Unlike Dave who was a maniac. But then one day I came downstairs and she was EATING Dave who was easily 2x her size. Anyway now she’s named Reba(a single mom who works 2 jobs who loves her kids& never stops with gentle hands& the heart of a spider)
September 9, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Because she hung out in the corner & seemed chill. Unlike Dave who was a maniac. But then one day I came downstairs and she was EATING Dave who was easily 2x her size. Anyway now she’s named Reba(a single mom who works 2 jobs who loves her kids& never stops with gentle hands& the heart of a spider)
Maybe now this is just an account where I share my favorite paper/presentation titles? 🧪🦑
Today's paper is "Unsolicited nudis: ongoing spread of two non-native nudibranchs along Australia’s east coast"
Bonus nudi pic:
Today's paper is "Unsolicited nudis: ongoing spread of two non-native nudibranchs along Australia’s east coast"
Bonus nudi pic:
September 3, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Maybe now this is just an account where I share my favorite paper/presentation titles? 🧪🦑
Today's paper is "Unsolicited nudis: ongoing spread of two non-native nudibranchs along Australia’s east coast"
Bonus nudi pic:
Today's paper is "Unsolicited nudis: ongoing spread of two non-native nudibranchs along Australia’s east coast"
Bonus nudi pic:
In the spirit of #InverteFest I am trying to be more chill about spiders. Does anyone have suggestions for offerings that I can make to this eldritch god of a spider that lives outside my front door in order to show respect and ask that he please please never come inside my house 🙏
August 28, 2025 at 7:07 PM
In the spirit of #InverteFest I am trying to be more chill about spiders. Does anyone have suggestions for offerings that I can make to this eldritch god of a spider that lives outside my front door in order to show respect and ask that he please please never come inside my house 🙏
@franzanth.bsky.social are there events for #InverteFest? Or we celebrate by forcing friends/loved ones/strangers to look at a cool bug we found?
My cool bugs are the Syrphid flies in my backyard. Basically flies dressed in lil bee costumes. They're important (but understudied!) pollinators🧪🪲
My cool bugs are the Syrphid flies in my backyard. Basically flies dressed in lil bee costumes. They're important (but understudied!) pollinators🧪🪲
August 26, 2025 at 9:22 PM
@franzanth.bsky.social are there events for #InverteFest? Or we celebrate by forcing friends/loved ones/strangers to look at a cool bug we found?
My cool bugs are the Syrphid flies in my backyard. Basically flies dressed in lil bee costumes. They're important (but understudied!) pollinators🧪🪲
My cool bugs are the Syrphid flies in my backyard. Basically flies dressed in lil bee costumes. They're important (but understudied!) pollinators🧪🪲
Is this common in wild fish? It’s not totally clear. The study took place in the ocean, and the authors note that fish participation was voluntary. There is of course an excellent video of the participants, including Bernie, Julius, and Geraldine that I highly recommend watching
August 21, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Is this common in wild fish? It’s not totally clear. The study took place in the ocean, and the authors note that fish participation was voluntary. There is of course an excellent video of the participants, including Bernie, Julius, and Geraldine that I highly recommend watching
I was today years old when I learned we have native lizards on Vancouver Island?? Ive seen the teenytiny wall lizards (adorable but invasive) but never heard of northern alligator lizards. They’re a decent size too- 10cm from snout to vent (seems like a bit of a rude way to measure them but w/e)🧪🦎
August 19, 2025 at 6:25 AM
I was today years old when I learned we have native lizards on Vancouver Island?? Ive seen the teenytiny wall lizards (adorable but invasive) but never heard of northern alligator lizards. They’re a decent size too- 10cm from snout to vent (seems like a bit of a rude way to measure them but w/e)🧪🦎
Evolution has produced an incredible array of ways to be male & female. In some tiny cave-dwelling insect species, the female is the one with a penis. She uses it to hook into the male's vagina-like structure (for up to 70hrs) while "voluminous & probably nutritious semen is passed to the female"🧪🧬🪲
August 12, 2025 at 6:01 AM
Evolution has produced an incredible array of ways to be male & female. In some tiny cave-dwelling insect species, the female is the one with a penis. She uses it to hook into the male's vagina-like structure (for up to 70hrs) while "voluminous & probably nutritious semen is passed to the female"🧪🧬🪲
Like even if we ignore the (MANY) other problems, these models are comically incorrect about so many things?? Google's AI overview thinks there are jaguars in Canada ffs. 🧪
August 8, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Like even if we ignore the (MANY) other problems, these models are comically incorrect about so many things?? Google's AI overview thinks there are jaguars in Canada ffs. 🧪
We know that snakes kill their prey in different ways - some constrict and some use venom. Rattlesnakes envenomate their prey, but then release it, keeping the snake from getting bitten or scratched before the toxins can fully kick in. But if the prey runs away, how do the snakes find it again?
🧪🐍
🧪🐍
August 4, 2025 at 3:27 AM
We know that snakes kill their prey in different ways - some constrict and some use venom. Rattlesnakes envenomate their prey, but then release it, keeping the snake from getting bitten or scratched before the toxins can fully kick in. But if the prey runs away, how do the snakes find it again?
🧪🐍
🧪🐍
The paper contains some really excellent diagrams as well
August 3, 2025 at 8:21 AM
The paper contains some really excellent diagrams as well
Sooo we know about placental mammals vs species like echidnas. But I learned today that fish can also have placentas?? In poeciliidae (guppies, mollies, etc) placentas independently evolved MULTIPLE times. In some fish, you can even see the umbilical cord-like structures that connect to the mother🧪
August 2, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Sooo we know about placental mammals vs species like echidnas. But I learned today that fish can also have placentas?? In poeciliidae (guppies, mollies, etc) placentas independently evolved MULTIPLE times. In some fish, you can even see the umbilical cord-like structures that connect to the mother🧪
During my travels in QLD I had the incredible experience of seeing a platypus in the wild. Obvi they lay eggs & have venomous spines BUT even cooler they hunt underwater using electroreceptors in their bills to detect electrical activity generated by the muscle movements of their prey🧪🦊 #auswildlife
July 24, 2025 at 12:08 PM
During my travels in QLD I had the incredible experience of seeing a platypus in the wild. Obvi they lay eggs & have venomous spines BUT even cooler they hunt underwater using electroreceptors in their bills to detect electrical activity generated by the muscle movements of their prey🧪🦊 #auswildlife
Man Australia has some great lizards. Just hanging out in the sun. Being cute. Eating bugs. Living the good life. 🧪🦎 #auswildlife
July 20, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Man Australia has some great lizards. Just hanging out in the sun. Being cute. Eating bugs. Living the good life. 🧪🦎 #auswildlife