Rachel O'Brien
@reobrien.bsky.social
Environmental Engineer, Atmospheric Chemist, Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan. they/she. opinions are my own.🌈
There is something so cute about how round and fluffy sparrows are.
November 23, 2025 at 11:02 PM
There is something so cute about how round and fluffy sparrows are.
It's not a big eruption, but there's something so cool about watching molten rock flow.
Kilauea lava flow from the USGS live feed: m.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqmp...
Kilauea lava flow from the USGS live feed: m.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqmp...
November 22, 2025 at 5:34 PM
It's not a big eruption, but there's something so cool about watching molten rock flow.
Kilauea lava flow from the USGS live feed: m.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqmp...
Kilauea lava flow from the USGS live feed: m.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqmp...
There is something so great about silly, soft, orange kitties!
November 19, 2025 at 12:47 AM
There is something so great about silly, soft, orange kitties!
Our kitty is parked in front of of a heater vent on a heated pad in our guest bedroom. I think we need to make him a sweater.
November 10, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Our kitty is parked in front of of a heater vent on a heated pad in our guest bedroom. I think we need to make him a sweater.
First snow of the season! I like how you get little bursts of color from the red leaves that haven't fallen yet.
November 9, 2025 at 12:58 PM
First snow of the season! I like how you get little bursts of color from the red leaves that haven't fallen yet.
Interesting to wake up to this the weekend after Halloween. It's a shiny version, but I wonder if someone down the street had this as a decoration 🤡
November 3, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Interesting to wake up to this the weekend after Halloween. It's a shiny version, but I wonder if someone down the street had this as a decoration 🤡
I'm so happy to have served AAAR as secretary for the last 3 years. It was a great honor to work with the other members of the board and especially the presidents: Leah Williams, @vfmcneill.bsky.social , and Amy Sullivan!
They are a wonderful group of leaders and mentors. #AAAR
They are a wonderful group of leaders and mentors. #AAAR
October 18, 2025 at 12:52 AM
I'm so happy to have served AAAR as secretary for the last 3 years. It was a great honor to work with the other members of the board and especially the presidents: Leah Williams, @vfmcneill.bsky.social , and Amy Sullivan!
They are a wonderful group of leaders and mentors. #AAAR
They are a wonderful group of leaders and mentors. #AAAR
So proud of my group for our first AAAR meeting! We had 3 poster presentations and one platform presentation. AAAR is a great meeting and it was so great to bring students to this fantastic community! #AAAR2025
October 16, 2025 at 8:59 PM
So proud of my group for our first AAAR meeting! We had 3 poster presentations and one platform presentation. AAAR is a great meeting and it was so great to bring students to this fantastic community! #AAAR2025
I need a little timeline cleanse. I love the colors of a monarch against a flower. It's so cool how two colors I wouldn't normally pair work so well together in nature.
October 9, 2025 at 1:30 AM
I need a little timeline cleanse. I love the colors of a monarch against a flower. It's so cool how two colors I wouldn't normally pair work so well together in nature.
September 26, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Kīlauea is showing some intermittent small eruptions that look very pretty in the dark!
Live feed from USGS: m.youtube.com/watch?v=tk0t...
Live feed from USGS: m.youtube.com/watch?v=tk0t...
September 19, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Kīlauea is showing some intermittent small eruptions that look very pretty in the dark!
Live feed from USGS: m.youtube.com/watch?v=tk0t...
Live feed from USGS: m.youtube.com/watch?v=tk0t...
Sometimes I look back through my photos and think about all the incredible plants/animals etc. we have on this planet. Why are we not doing everything we can do to protect them and our ecosystems?
September 18, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Sometimes I look back through my photos and think about all the incredible plants/animals etc. we have on this planet. Why are we not doing everything we can do to protect them and our ecosystems?
At the arboretum today enjoying the colors and views at the end of the summer.
September 14, 2025 at 10:30 PM
At the arboretum today enjoying the colors and views at the end of the summer.
Everything is a bit crazy so I wanted to share a timeline cleanse. Here are a few more of my favorite shots from last weekend. I love flowers that are blooming at the end of the summer, you get such a cool variety of colors.
September 11, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Everything is a bit crazy so I wanted to share a timeline cleanse. Here are a few more of my favorite shots from last weekend. I love flowers that are blooming at the end of the summer, you get such a cool variety of colors.
We had a visit from a ruby throated hummingbird this evening! I love how you can see the feet tucked up under her body while she sips.
September 7, 2025 at 10:27 PM
We had a visit from a ruby throated hummingbird this evening! I love how you can see the feet tucked up under her body while she sips.
I love how fuzzy bumblebees are, and that they can use their entire body to collect pollen.
September 6, 2025 at 6:08 PM
I love how fuzzy bumblebees are, and that they can use their entire body to collect pollen.
Kīlauea is doing its thing again!
m.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqmp...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqmp...
September 2, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Kīlauea is doing its thing again!
m.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqmp...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqmp...
The Matthaei botanical gardens are very pretty at the end of the summer!
August 31, 2025 at 12:17 AM
The Matthaei botanical gardens are very pretty at the end of the summer!
I sometimes wonder if there are conversations happening between different pollinators.
August 30, 2025 at 12:55 PM
I sometimes wonder if there are conversations happening between different pollinators.
I'm practicing bird photography and I tried to get a picture of this pigeon, but he turned his back to me at the last second.
It's my favorite bird picture so far 😂
It's my favorite bird picture so far 😂
August 30, 2025 at 12:48 AM
I'm practicing bird photography and I tried to get a picture of this pigeon, but he turned his back to me at the last second.
It's my favorite bird picture so far 😂
It's my favorite bird picture so far 😂
A photo you took that brings you inner peace.
(The sun setting over the forest in the Southeast US. A band of rain catches some of the fading light.)
(The sun setting over the forest in the Southeast US. A band of rain catches some of the fading light.)
August 23, 2025 at 12:48 PM
A photo you took that brings you inner peace.
(The sun setting over the forest in the Southeast US. A band of rain catches some of the fading light.)
(The sun setting over the forest in the Southeast US. A band of rain catches some of the fading light.)
August 23, 2025 at 12:16 AM
I'm excited to share a 𝗡𝗲𝘄 #𝘌𝘚𝘗𝘐 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗱 Special issue! @rsc.org
This was guest edited by myself and Ellison Carter, and it showcases research that centers around questions of the built environment, featuring the impacts of interdisciplinary approaches.
shorturl.at/pIY0i
This was guest edited by myself and Ellison Carter, and it showcases research that centers around questions of the built environment, featuring the impacts of interdisciplinary approaches.
shorturl.at/pIY0i
August 20, 2025 at 7:46 PM
I'm excited to share a 𝗡𝗲𝘄 #𝘌𝘚𝘗𝘐 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗱 Special issue! @rsc.org
This was guest edited by myself and Ellison Carter, and it showcases research that centers around questions of the built environment, featuring the impacts of interdisciplinary approaches.
shorturl.at/pIY0i
This was guest edited by myself and Ellison Carter, and it showcases research that centers around questions of the built environment, featuring the impacts of interdisciplinary approaches.
shorturl.at/pIY0i
I was taking pictures of some flowers, and I saw my first green bee. Such a beautiful color!!
August 18, 2025 at 6:14 PM
I was taking pictures of some flowers, and I saw my first green bee. Such a beautiful color!!