#Science fact and Research

[amnhnyc]

What did these scientists from the Museum, working with colleagues from the Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, find on the beach in Colombia?

The Constantine S. Niarchos Expedition featured here was generously supported by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).

[stormy-nights-are-best]

Indy is transmasc one way or another though

↑ all of Violet's scientifically-accurate redesigns... Her name could've been Megan Pie or something

+ Lena's two versions ↓

The question at the end's just for the impressionable Instagram users, y'all know I'm coming for Gosalyn next. After her though, no idea.

[papillondusublime]

Fun fact: obelisks, a new life form discovered in 2024, are viroid-like elements made of entirely novel RNA sequences. They are a distinct phylogenetic group, however scientists have yet to find a shared ancestry with another life form. Obelisks appeared in about 10% of the human microbiome examined by the Stanford University team, but their genetic sequences are very small, which might be the reason why we didn't notice them before.

[so-true-overdue]

The Grand Illusion of Effective Altruism

In the grand theater of moral philosophy, where the spotlight often shines on the most ostentatious of ethical posturing, effective altruism stands as a paragon of misguided benevolence. Cloaked in the guise of utilitarian virtue, it is a doctrine that purports to save the world with the precision of a mathematical equation, yet often stumbles over its own self-serving, authoritarian, and overly simplistic ideals.

The Self-Serving Savior Complex

At its core, effective altruism is a movement that claims to maximize the good one can do with their resources. However, beneath this veneer of altruistic ambition lies a self-serving savior complex. Proponents often indulge in a form of moral grandstanding, where the act of giving is less about the recipient and more about the giver’s self-image. The movement’s adherents are frequently found basking in the glow of their own perceived magnanimity, as if their philanthropic endeavors were a ticket to moral superiority.

Authoritarian Overtones

Effective altruism, with its rigid adherence to utilitarian calculus, often veers into authoritarian territory. It prescribes a one-size-fits-all approach to philanthropy, dictating which causes are worthy of attention based on a narrow set of criteria. This dogmatic rigidity stifles the diversity of thought and action that is essential for addressing the multifaceted challenges of our world. By elevating certain causes above others, it inadvertently marginalizes those who do not fit neatly into its algorithmic framework.

The Perils of Oversimplification

The movement’s penchant for oversimplification is perhaps its most glaring flaw. In its quest to quantify the impact of charitable actions, effective altruism reduces complex social issues to mere numbers on a spreadsheet. This reductionist approach fails to account for the nuanced realities of human suffering and the intricate web of factors that contribute to it. By focusing solely on measurable outcomes, it overlooks the intangible, yet equally vital, aspects of human well-being.

A Call for Holistic Altruism

In contrast to the narrow confines of effective altruism, a more holistic approach to philanthropy recognizes the importance of empathy, cultural sensitivity, and local knowledge. It values the voices of those it seeks to help and prioritizes their agency in the decision-making process. This alternative model of altruism embraces the complexity of human experience and acknowledges that true change often requires more than just financial investment.

Conclusion: Beyond the Illusion

In conclusion, while effective altruism may present itself as the panacea for global suffering, it is, in reality, a mirage of moral rectitude. Its self-serving nature, authoritarian tendencies, and simplistic worldview render it ill-equipped to address the intricate challenges of our time. Instead, we must strive for a more inclusive and empathetic form of altruism—one that transcends the limitations of mere effectiveness and embraces the full spectrum of human dignity.

[bonnibelleangelica]

Weird Author Research

🧬🧫🧪🔬

Things I Learnt This Week: Genetics (Mostly)

Queen bees make male bees by using only their DNA. Male bees are only needed to fertilise female eggs so that the hive (made of mostly girls) is less susceptible to disease and genetic flaws wiping everyone out in one go

Hybrid animals (ligers, zorses etc) can’t have babies because their sex cells get fucking up by having genetics that don’t match up. BUT female mules can sometimes have babies by ignoring their father’s DNA altogether, leaving them with what is essentially their own half sister.

We have never seen DNA close enough to see the spirally shape its so famous for. We figured out thats what it looks like by taking an xray of it and using math to it figure out from there. (Idk its complicated.)

Redheads can metabolise vitamin D with very little sunlight. They also need 30% more anaesthetic to reach the same level of sedation

Maori people have the beautiful way of greeting each other called Hongi, where they press their nose and forehead together. Seeing these tough, tattooed men be so physical is very sweet.

Identical twins may have identical DNA, but the way their genes function can actually differ significantly due to changes that happen after they split in the womb. One can even be colourblind but not the other.

Y chromosomes only help to make sex cells, but X chromosomes do all kinds of crazy stuff, including making calico cats (which are universally female… kinda)

Apples trees of each variety come from one single tree that made fruit that tasted good. Apples don’t taste the same as their parents so when they grow one thats good, they need to cut of branches and make clones instead. Most fruit trees are like this.

Snake venom came from an enzyme they used for themselves initially, until a gene mutation moved it’s production sight to their mouthes and it helped them kill more prey by fucking up their blood.

The 50/500 rule is a general guide used by conservationists that says you need 50 individuals to restart a population without too much inbreeding, and 500 to maintain healthy genes and manage unhealthy ones. However, there are formulas that can tell you how many you’ll need on a species-by-species basis, accounting for lifespan, reproduction rates, genetics and even random disasters that might kill off a lot of the population suddenly.

Bonus: There’s a kind of mite that has its eggs hatch internally, made up of all girls except for one boy who breeds with all his sisters. Then they burrow out of their mother already pregnant and start the cycle again.

I think too much…

Sound interesting? Well, I’m researching for my new Sci-fi book, set in a beautiful, mutated, post-apocalyptic Earth. Covering love, loss and girls with monkey tails, it’s in production as we speak. Why don’t you check it out?

@status-quo-book

[opens-up-4-nobody]

can I just say, I followed you for your beautiful art style and use of colours and I stayed for your beautiful art style and use of colours AND cyanobacteria. Like, I know nothing about them because I'm a classic lit major but more often than not I find myself reading your posts about cyanobacteria with unexpected interest and fascination

HAH! I'm glad u enjoy them bc I feel absolutely intolerable when I talk abt them lol. But also. I am the cyanobacteria evangelist. I am the patron saint of cyanobacteria.

[szilverer]

experimenting with digitally colouring my traditional stuff again yayyy

since i've been busy lately my ghostie has just been cycling between doing standard (non-violent) silvering work, delving into red science/katatox for no personal reason other than Well It's Something New To Do, and claiming so many crates of biscuits their beatdowns became a local attraction.

i've also been all capped at 212 for the longest time (except persuasive at 209) & these checks are all piss easy. barely a challenge. so, to their thrill-seeking ass, this must mean that... well, this means things aren't fun anymore. and i wonder. why aren't things fun anymore? is this anhedonia. am i incidentally giving my touy depression with my procrastination

[facts-and-memes]

[kick-the-clouds]

The planet is burning.

The evidence is undeniable. From record-breaking heatwaves to catastrophic floods, human-caused climate change is ravaging our planet, and we are all witnesses. The science is clear: our addiction to fossil fuels, deforestation, and relentless pollution is driving this destruction. Our one-of-a-kind, life-sustaining environment is under siege, and the clock is ticking.

This isn’t a distant problem. It’s here. It’s now. The melting glaciers, dying coral reefs, and burning forests are not just statistics—they are the dying breath of our Earth. We are losing more than just land; we are losing our home.

This isn't just about the environment; it's about survival. We are all part of this intricate web of life, and when we disrupt it, we face the consequences. The Byzantine complexities of our ecosystems, perfected over millions of years, are unraveling before our eyes.

The truth is harsh, but it's not too late. We still have the power to change course, to protect our planet, and to secure a future where our children can thrive. But we must act now. The science demands it, our survival depends on it, and the Earth—our only home—deserves it.

The time for action is now. Let’s not be the generation that witnessed the destruction of our world and did nothing.

[vanity-complex]

.

[celestialdaily]

The celestial object of the day is Rhea!

This moon has a really faint atmosphere called the exosphere, which is mainly composed of oxygen. This is the first oxygen atmosphere discovered outside Earth. Its cause? Saturn's magnetic field influencing Rhea.

[amnhnyc]

One small step for leeches, one giant leap for leechkind! For the first time, we have concrete evidence that at least one species of terrestrial leech in Madagascar can jump. Mai’s work is important to conservation efforts because leeches are increasingly being collected to survey vertebrate biodiversity. By analyzing their blood meals, researchers are able to identify other animals living alongside the leeches, ranging from wildcats to frogs to ground-dwelling birds. Read more about Mai's research in our latest blog post.

Have you ever seen a leech jump? Let us know in the comments!

[borealing]

most common sitcom situations tend to be due to proximity

cops

hopital

neighbours

office

please can one single studio exec take a chance on me and my exciting new sitcom idea:

research laboratory

[capitalism-is-a-psychopathy]

Wealth whispers; then it shouts.

When money moves into politics, it doesn’t just stroll in. It kicks down the door, claims the best seat, and starts writing the rules. Sure, democracy is a government “by the people,” but let’s be real—when billionaires bankroll campaigns, who’s really calling the shots? Spoiler: It’s not the person struggling to pay rent.

The game is rigged. Politicians need money to win elections, and the rich are only too happy to "help"—for a price. Donations aren’t generosity; they’re investments. And those investments? They come with returns: tax breaks, deregulation, subsidies, and policies that pad already bulging pockets.

The result? The will of the people is drowned out by the sound of clinking champagne glasses at private fundraisers. Public interest takes a backseat to corporate profits. Healthcare, education, climate action—all sacrificed on the altar of wealth.

Unchecked, this system turns democracy into theater. The elections? A show. The debates? Smoke and mirrors. Real power sits in boardrooms and yachts, grinning as they carve up what’s left of "equal representation."

Democracy doesn’t collapse overnight. It erodes bit by bit, one fat check at a time. And when the people realize they’ve been sold out, it’s often too late. But hey, at least someone got a new private jet out of it.

[so-true-overdue]

Vaccines: The Unsung Heroes of Modern Medicine

Imagine a world where smallpox still reigned supreme, where polio paralyzed thousands annually, and where measles was a rite of passage, sometimes fatal. Yet, here we are, in a world where vaccines have valiantly vanquished these threats.

The paramountcy of vaccines in the annals of medical triumphs cannot be overstated. They are the quintessence of human ingenuity, a testament to our ability to combat nature's most insidious adversaries. Through the meticulous administration of vaccines, we have consigned diseases like smallpox to the historical archives and reduced the scourge of polio to a mere whisper in the annals of modern afflictions.

Statistically, the efficacy of vaccines is irrefutable. The World Health Organization estimates that vaccines prevent 2-3 million deaths annually. Consider the measles vaccine: a marvel of medical science that has reduced global measles deaths by 73% between 2000 and 2018. Similarly, the introduction of the polio vaccine has brought the incidence of polio down by 99%, from 350,000 cases in 1988 to just 33 reported cases in 2018.

Yet, amidst this triumph, there exists a cacophony of dissent. The sanctimonious detractors, draped in the garb of skepticism, pontificate about the perils of vaccination. They brandish anecdotes of adverse reactions as if they were incontrovertible evidence, ignoring the overwhelming preponderance of scientific data. Yes, vaccines, like all medical interventions, are not devoid of risks. However, the incidence of serious adverse reactions is exceedingly rare. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that severe allergic reactions occur in about 1 in a million doses of vaccines. To put this in perspective, the likelihood of being struck by lightning in any given year is approximately 1 in 500,000—twice as likely as experiencing a severe vaccine reaction.

The irony is palpable. The very individuals who eschew vaccines on the grounds of potential harm are often the beneficiaries of the herd immunity afforded by the vaccinated majority. Their sanctimony is not only misplaced but perilously undermines public health efforts. The resurgence of measles in recent years, driven by declining vaccination rates, is a stark reminder of the consequences of such misguided dogma.

In conclusion, vaccines are the silent sentinels, safeguarding humanity against the ravages of infectious diseases. Their unparalleled efficacy, coupled with an exceptionally low incidence of adverse reactions, renders the anti-vaccine rhetoric not only scientifically unfounded but also morally untenable. The sanctimonious naysayers, in their misguided zeal, imperil the very fabric of our collective health. Let us, therefore, celebrate vaccines for what they truly are: the unsung heroes of modern medicine.

[chipmunkweirdo]

This is gonna feel like a weirdly personal post. Bear with me.

I’ve been thinking a lot about whether the Chippies are “masking” or “unmasking.”

I have come to the conclusion that it’s both. Because each Chippie, just like me, has parts of themselves they want to share with the world and parts that the world forces them to hold back.

My therapist proposed the idea that every chipmunk is part of my mask and that authentic unmasking might mean parting ways with them, but the more I research and the more I think about how we truly feel…I’m pretty sure it’s not that simple.

Most of the time, getting to allow my headmates spaces to be themselves without judgment feels extremely gratifying in an unmasking neurodivergence sort of way. Their unmasking might look different from mine, and yes it might cause a bit of extra stress on the brain and vocal chords, but it’s still unmasking. It’s freeing. It’s liberating.

I think people tend to forget that unmasking can feel just as tiring as masking at times, especially if you’re a very social and chatty person who is simultaneously overstimulated easily and in need of breaks.

One thing I have figured out for sure is me and the Chipmunks unmasking is wearing a giant fluffy tail I sewed that actually sways back and forth when I’m in the comfort of my own home. Yes, I wear it around my family. Yes, it somehow keeps me more balanced both physically and mentally. It’s weird and I don’t care. I’m wondering why it is that it helps so much from a scientific perspective and I have come to the conclusion that it’s all about getting just that right amount of controlled stimulation.

And this ends my random infodump. Thank you for reading if you took the time to.