This little goober is back in our yard after disappearing for several months
Andrew Mountcastle
@mounty.bsky.social
I investigate how insects are so good at crashing into things. 🐝Insect Biomechanist, 🏒Pond Hockeyologist, 📸Photographer-ish, Dad, Mainer, Biology prof at Bates College
Any children of the 80’s remember yard darts? I have fond memories of nearly braining my brothers with these things. Probably time I introduce my kids to them. (Hope my wife doesn’t see this)
Helping my folks clean out their basement, and discovered this little gem. Still half full. Anybody want some?
There’s nothing more Camden Maine than a vintage motorcycle and sidecar with a lobster trap on the back
Until now, experts have estimated there to be about 6 million insect species on our planet. Alex and team conservatively estimate that the true number of insect species is at least 14 to 20 million (!) — two to three times higher than current estimates. 🧪
🍁 Alex Smith 🍁@alexsmithants.bsky.social · last mo.🧪🧵 🪰 🐜🪲🐞🦗🐛🦋🪳🦟 How many species of insect are there? A seemingly simple question, but one that has been 'bugging' scientists for years. Our work out today suggests that there are millions more than we had previously expected. doi.org/10.1073/pnas... @gdfcf.bsky.social
We've been raising a tadpole. The transformation from swamp comma, to clumsy fish, to leggy fish, to frog with a tail has been rapid and dramatic. It's impossible and it's happening three feet from where I'm typing this. For the cost of a little attention, nature will fill your life with wonder.
Every year my college publishes a "Good Reads" summer reading list, a compilation of book recommendations from faculty, staff and alumni. I often find myself referencing it for book recs, so figured I'd post it here for book lovers in my orbit. store.bates.edu/blogs/news/2...
2026 Summer Reading List - Updated June 10, 2026
Welcome to the 29th annual Bates College "Good Reads" list! Click here to download the 2026 Good Reads List! Other Recent Editions: 2025 - Download 2024 - Download 2023 - Download 2022 - Download 2021...
store.bates.edu
Local Maine resident experiences sensation of tick crawling on him for entire summer
As an educator, this is my biggest concern with AI. Writing is a skill. Thinking is a skill. Being creative is a skill. The more we outsource these essential brain activities to a computer, the more our skills degrade. 🧪
Michael Nabert@sustainablesong.bsky.social · 2mo agoResearch confirms that the more skilled professionals like doctors and software engineers rely on AI, the more their skills degrade. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
In a new experimental study, bees unable to reach a nectar reward above them in a confined space (and therefore unable to fly) solved the problem by rolling a ball underneath it and climbing onto top of it. 🤯🧪 www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘They surprise me every time’: bees can use tools to solve problems, study finds
Insects join list of species capable of solving simple ‘box-and-banana’ problem that demonstrates basic intelligence
theguardian.com
Male pigeons would rather rely on their superparamagnetic macrophages than admit they’re lost and ask for directions. 🧪
Science Magazine@science.org · 2mo agoResearchers have identified superparamagnetic macrophages in the livers of rock pigeons to be crucial for magnetic sensing. The finding uncovers an unexpected role for immune cells in sensory perception and may fundamentally change our understanding of animal navigation. https://scim.ag/4nTQ3nq
The perpetual hours-long line for Red’s Eats in Wiscasset blows my mind. It’s just two ingredients, folks! And one of them is a Hannafords hot dog bun!
Brendel@brendelbored.bsky.social · 2mo agoI’m sure there’s food worth waiting for but whenever I see some trendy sandwich place that has people standing in line for an hour I just think that Arby’s will hand you a bag of food and you can move on with your life
Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should
Bumblebee queens are working hard this time of year in Maine, fueling up on nectar and searching for nests in the ground to start their colonies.
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Science Magazine@science.org · 3mo agoBreaking news: Indiana University plant microbiologist Roger Innes has been locked out of his laboratory by the school in response to a request by one of his federal funders. The move comes after Innes complained about the government’s prosecution of Chinese postdocs. https://scim.ag/4tsDqRr
Not sure I've ever come across a single tree in its landscape set apart quite like this one and be so shapely too. Will return. #Trees #Kodak TMax100 #BelieveInFilm #LoneTree
Andrew Mountcastle@mounty.bsky.social · 4mo agoLooking forward to seeing the developed shot of this one
The National Park Service’s infographic of Lake Mead identifies distinct islands that have since merged into one big island because the water level has dropped so much after decades of drought in the west
Arriving at O’Hare is so charming because after you land your plane takes a leisurely promenade around the airport several times while your connecting flight departs