Dr Craig R McClain
@drcraigmc.bsky.social
Marine Ecologist, Deep-Sea Explorer, Climate Change Researcher, Science Communicator, Ed @deepseanews
Environmental science
55%
Geography
19%
Pinned
Dr Craig R McClain
@drcraigmc.bsky.social
· Jun 24
Too poor to science: How wealth determines who succeeds in STEM
From student to researcher, a career in science can come with a high price tag. This Perspective explores how persistent financial barriers limit who can succeed in science, revealing how wealth shape...
journals.plos.org
I've wanted to write this article for years. About my and other's struggles to even survive sometime in #academia. Thank you to the amazing editors at @plosbiology.org that gave me the forum to write this piece. #science
This would be great to do. I was also thinking about a mobile app. It would use your camera to create and screen to create a live virtual environment but then place an image at the right scale in that virtual environment.
But have you exclaimed "If you feel it, chase it" yet? I may or may not have used this with my graduate students when they are asking about whether they should do an analysis.
Reposted by John R. Hutchinson, Craig R. McClain
MBARI
@mbarinews.bsky.social
· 16d
Sea star pile-up. ⭐️
These brittle stars are mud-loving animals, often found crawling across the muddy plains of the seafloor. This group of sea stars, known as Ophiuroidea, boasts a diverse number of species—more than 2,000 different species!
These brittle stars are mud-loving animals, often found crawling across the muddy plains of the seafloor. This group of sea stars, known as Ophiuroidea, boasts a diverse number of species—more than 2,000 different species!
“The Glow You Know”
A science journalist chasing a Christmas story ends up covering the science about bioluminescence. Her guide? A quiet oceanographer with ‘mysterious past trauma but perfect hair.’ The microbes sparkle. So do they.
A science journalist chasing a Christmas story ends up covering the science about bioluminescence. Her guide? A quiet oceanographer with ‘mysterious past trauma but perfect hair.’ The microbes sparkle. So do they.
“Crabs for Christmas”
A single scientist is raising 300 larval king crabs in his lab. He meets a holiday-obsessed taxonomist who offers to help. Turns out the only thing harder than IDing crab megalopae… is telling her how he feels.
A single scientist is raising 300 larval king crabs in his lab. He meets a holiday-obsessed taxonomist who offers to help. Turns out the only thing harder than IDing crab megalopae… is telling her how he feels.
“Holiday Hearts & Hydrothermal Vents”
She’s a volcanologist who hates Christmas. He’s a cheerful biologist who decorates smoker chimneys with waterproof tinsel. Together they find a new vent field… and the true meaning of warmth.
She’s a volcanologist who hates Christmas. He’s a cheerful biologist who decorates smoker chimneys with waterproof tinsel. Together they find a new vent field… and the true meaning of warmth.
“Snowflakes & Siphonophores”
A lonely PhD student wishes on a (marine) snow globe that there could be more than siphonophores that light up her life. She meets a diver who is handsome, widowed, and good with plankton.
A lonely PhD student wishes on a (marine) snow globe that there could be more than siphonophores that light up her life. She meets a diver who is handsome, widowed, and good with plankton.
“The Christmas Copepod”
Big-city CEO falls overboard during a holiday cruise, gets rescued by a very judgmental sea cucumber. The sea cucumber introduces her to a shy deep-sea ecologist. She teaches him joy and about copepods. Naturally, they fall in love.
Big-city CEO falls overboard during a holiday cruise, gets rescued by a very judgmental sea cucumber. The sea cucumber introduces her to a shy deep-sea ecologist. She teaches him joy and about copepods. Naturally, they fall in love.
“Love at 4000 Meters”
Small-town scientist returns home to save the family deep-sea observatory. But who’s running it now? Her ex, who still labels his data ‘For Her.’ Together they rescue a lost dumbo octopus and surprise rediscover Christmas spirit.
Small-town scientist returns home to save the family deep-sea observatory. But who’s running it now? Her ex, who still labels his data ‘For Her.’ Together they rescue a lost dumbo octopus and surprise rediscover Christmas spirit.
“Abyssal Christmas Miracle”
She’s a burned-out marine biologist. He’s a rugged ROV pilot who doesn’t believe in love or lanternfish. When their ROV gets stuck next to a deep-sea coral garden, they learn the real treasure… was reefs (and emotional vulnerability) all along.
She’s a burned-out marine biologist. He’s a rugged ROV pilot who doesn’t believe in love or lanternfish. When their ROV gets stuck next to a deep-sea coral garden, they learn the real treasure… was reefs (and emotional vulnerability) all along.
This is a very important scientific outreach project: Hallmark Christmas movies… but in the abyss. High-pressure romance included. Underwater and scientifically questionable. You’re welcome. Expect bioluminescent meet-cutes and emotionally unavailable octopuses.
#Trenchmas
#Trenchmas
Dr Craig R McClain
@drcraigmc.bsky.social
· Nov 26
That's way to fancy...need some crayfish tails.
Dr Craig R McClain
@drcraigmc.bsky.social
· Nov 26
I will concede it does need some alligator and redfish as well.
Dr Craig R McClain
@drcraigmc.bsky.social
· Nov 26
Are you mad? Isn't three different birds, two types of seafood, and pork enough?
Dr Craig R McClain
@drcraigmc.bsky.social
· Nov 26
I've decided to give in this year and go Turducken. Totally boneless! And on the upside its from my local cajun butcher.
Dr Craig R McClain
@drcraigmc.bsky.social
· Nov 19
I should also include I am looking at something that would be useful for an ecologist. @jebyrnes.bsky.social thoughts?
Dr Craig R McClain
@drcraigmc.bsky.social
· Nov 19
#science I am thinking about moving to an electronic lab notebook. Recs? Need something that plays nice with R, Zotero, GitHub
Dr Craig R McClain
@drcraigmc.bsky.social
· Nov 16
giganteus in the Gulf of Mexico
Dr Craig R McClain
@drcraigmc.bsky.social
· Nov 10
In closing, I accept this prestigious distinction with the same pride I would feel if my toaster wins “Appliance of the Month.” Thank you, and please, no autographs while I’m updating my LinkedIn.
Dr Craig R McClain
@drcraigmc.bsky.social
· Nov 10
I’d like to thank the committee of whoever they are, wherever they are, for recognizing my tireless efforts in whatever it is I supposedly did. To my wife, who always believed I could one day achieve inbox greatness. This one’s for you.
Dr Craig R McClain
@drcraigmc.bsky.social
· Nov 10
Wow. I’m humbled, astonished, and to stand before you today as one of America’s Who’s Who. When I first got the email, I thought it was either a phishing scam or a long-lost relative trying to sell me essential oils. But no, turns out, it was my moment.
Reposted by Craig R. McClain
Peter Girguis
@pgirguis.bsky.social
· Nov 10
Interview: Extremophiles, the Deep Sea, and Alien Life with Peter Girguis
Dive into how Earth’s weirdest microbes could help us spot extraterrestrial life with marine biologist Peter Girguis.
www.pbs.org
I had a fantastic time chatting with Hakeem Oluseyi on PBS NOVA’s “Particles of Thought” podcast. Check
It out if you’re interested in hearing us talk about our backgrounds, science, and society.
Thanks @pbs.org !
www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/vi...
It out if you’re interested in hearing us talk about our backgrounds, science, and society.
Thanks @pbs.org !
www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/vi...
Great queer punk band name.
a man with curly hair and a chain around his neck says i look this perfect all the time
ALT: a man with curly hair and a chain around his neck says i look this perfect all the time
media.tenor.com
I personally think the sail is solely there to make it look fabulous.
It could help control buoyancy or drag, allowing the cucumber to drift more easily with bottom currents saving energy in a low-food environment
The sail likely helps stabilize or steer the animal as it moves just above the seafloor. Psychropotes species can use their tentacles and body undulations to “swim” short distances, and the fin may act like a rudder.
That red “sail” (technically called a dorsal veil) is one of the most striking features of this deep-sea sea cucumber. Its function isn’t entirely certain, but scientists have some ideas.
Psychropotes longicauda, the sea pig’s flamboyant cousin, trails a red sail over the seafloor. A tiny flag of existence waving in the dark.
A sucker for jellyfish: The unexpected prey of the seven-arm octopus
YouTube video by MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute)
www.youtube.com
In the midnight zone, the 7-armed octopus carries a jellyfish like a trophy and a tool—both shield and snack. #invertebrate #ocean www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzU8...
The irony of taking this administration's "Research Security Policies" training for federal science funding is not lost on me.