Brett J. Baker | Lightnews

Brett Baker

@archaeal.bsky.social

2.4K followers 1.1K following 160 posts

Professor of microbial ecology and evolution at Univ of Texas Austin.

Videos

Environmental science 43%

Biology 30%

Posts Replies Media Videos

Brett Baker @archaeal.bsky.social · 7d

MAGs with taxa ID, and magically we got accession this morning!

Brett Baker @archaeal.bsky.social · 7d

We tried, we still need accession numbers from NCBI!

Brett Baker @archaeal.bsky.social · 7d

We have been trying to get genomic data release on NCBI since August, 3 papers are now on hold until we get a response. Literally haven't gotten a response since August. There's needs to be an alternative. This system seems broken.

Brett Baker @archaeal.bsky.social · 9d

@markowenmartin.bsky.social congrats on your retirement!

Reposted by Mart Krupovìč, Brett J. Baker

Buzz Baum @buzzbaum.bsky.social · 10d

Are you a long-time fan of Archaea, an extremophile-phile, or are you simply curious?

Either way, we have good news.
We’re delighted to announce the 2026 EMBO Workshop on Archaea, 6–10 July.

Sign up: meetings.embo.org/event/26-arc...

We look forward to seeing you in Cambridge, UK.

Please repost!

Molecular Biology of Archaea: Life Through the Prism of Archaea

In 1977, Woese and colleagues revealed Archaea as a distinct domain of life. Building on this insight, the discovery of Asgard archaea has strengthened the view that many hallmarks of eukaryotic cell…

meetings.embo.org

Reposted by Brett J. Baker

Maggie Langwig @maggielangwig.bsky.social · 16d

So happy this is finally out! We reconstructed the 1st large-scale spatiotemporal dataset of 600+ MAGs from San Francisco Bay and show they have functional redundancy in key N and S pathways. These functions may better recover from disturbance in this highly urban estuary 💧

Metabolic capacity is maintained despite shifts in microbial diversity in estuary sediments

Abstract. Estuaries are highly productive ecosystems where microbial communities drive nutrient and carbon cycling, supporting complex food webs. With inte

academic.oup.com

Brett Baker @archaeal.bsky.social · 21d

youtu.be/uM0wKYb1kus?...

Searching for the Asgards | 4K ROV Highlights

YouTube video by Schmidt Ocean

youtu.be

Reposted by Brett J. Baker

Schmidt Ocean Institute @schmidtocean.bsky.social · 21d

The #AsgardArchaea team observed breathtaking wildlife in Uruguayan waters via the cameras on the Schmidt Ocean Institute's deep-sea robot — ROV SuBastian.
https://youtu.be/uM0wKYb1kus

www.youtube.com

youtu.be

Brett Baker @archaeal.bsky.social · 22d

Packing and shipping out.

#AsgardArchaea
@schmidtocean.bsky.social
@moorefound.bsky.social
@texasscience.bsky.social
@utmsi.bsky.social

Reposted by Brett J. Baker

Henry Gee @endofthepier.bsky.social · 22d

Eukaryogenesis was a billion year spree, but the acquisition of mitochondria happened when the party was winding down www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Dated gene duplications elucidate the evolutionary assembly of eukaryotes - Nature

Analysis of eukaryotic gene sequences using a relaxed molecular clock methodology indicate that eukaryotes emerged 3.0–2.25 billion years ago as a result of mitochondrial endosymbiosis with complex ar...

www.nature.com

Reposted by Brett J. Baker

Buzz Baum @buzzbaum.bsky.social · 23d

And ‘Searching for the Asgards’ the movie: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgmE...

Collaboration for Understanding | Searching for the Asgards

YouTube video by Schmidt Ocean

www.youtube.com

Brett Baker @archaeal.bsky.social · 23d

Wrap up video from the Symbiotic Partners of Asgards Research Cruise (SPARC).

youtu.be/mgmEh_qag5E?...

#AsgardArchaea
@schmidtocean.bsky.social
@moorefound.bsky.social
@texasscience.bsky.social
@utmsi.bsky.social

Collaboration for Understanding | Searching for the Asgards

YouTube video by Schmidt Ocean

youtu.be

Reposted by Brett J. Baker

Schmidt Ocean Institute @schmidtocean.bsky.social · 23d

That’s a wrap for #AsgardArchaea expedition, w/ @archaeal.bsky.social fr @texasscience.bsky.social! In the coming months and years, this research will likely open the door to new medical breakthroughs and unlock answers to questions about the origins of complex life.

youtu.be/mgmEh_qag5E?...

Collaboration for Understanding | Searching for the Asgards

YouTube video by Schmidt Ocean

youtu.be

Reposted by Brett J. Baker

Buzz Baum @buzzbaum.bsky.social · 23d

Pilar raises her Asgard bridge from the sea!

Brett Baker @archaeal.bsky.social · 23d

That's a wrap, what an amazing expedition!

#AsgardArchaea
@schmidtocean.bsky.social
@moorefound.bsky.social
@texasscience.bsky.social
@utmsi.bsky.social

Brett Baker @archaeal.bsky.social · 25d

Bifrost (bridge to Asgard) being assembled!

#AsgardArchaea
@schmidtocean.bsky.social
@moorefound.bsky.social
@texasscience.bsky.social
@utmsi.bsky.social

Brett Baker @archaeal.bsky.social · 26d

A bunch of activity in the Falkor (too) hangar today.

Diving now....https://www.youtube.com/@SchmidtOcean

#AsgardArchaea
@schmidtocean.bsky.social
@moorefound.bsky.social
@texasscience.bsky.social
@utmsi.bsky.social

Brett Baker @archaeal.bsky.social · 27d

Megapod of dolphins

Reposted by Brett J. Baker

Schmidt Ocean Institute @schmidtocean.bsky.social · 27d

Spectacular strawberry squid! Histioteuthis squid w/massively asymmetrical eyes: 1 larger for viewing the silhouettes of predators & prey above, & 1 smaller eye for capturing glimmers of bioluminescent snacks below. #AsgardArchea - 730m - ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute

Reposted by Brett J. Baker

Buzz Baum @buzzbaum.bsky.social · 28d

And presenting the enigmatic vampire squid. First glimpse.

Brett Baker @archaeal.bsky.social · 28d

My favorite animal sighting of the expedition

Brett Baker @archaeal.bsky.social · 29d

Busy turkey day in the deep sea…

#Asgardarchaea
@schmidtocean.bsky.social
@moorefound.bsky.social
@texasscience.bsky.social
@utmsi.bsky.social

Reposted by Brett J. Baker

Lisa @tuexplorer1.bsky.social · 29d

Vampyroteuthis! @schmidtocean.bsky.social dive 872 #asgardarchaea #MarineLife

Brett Baker @archaeal.bsky.social · 29d

#AsgardArchaea
@schmidtocean.bsky.social
@moorefound.bsky.social
@texasscience.bsky.social
@utmsi.bsky.social

Reposted by Brett J. Baker

Schmidt Ocean Institute @schmidtocean.bsky.social · 29d

Our latest expedition update video is live on YouTube. Learn how the #AsgardArchaea science team is looking for our microbial ancestors to understand the biological events that led to the broad diversity of complex cellular life.

youtu.be/Jy_boPdY0zo?...