Dr Andrew Mahon
@andyantarctica.bsky.social
Biologist and molecular ecologist, studying animals in Antarctica, e.g., sea spiders. I also use eDNA to study biodiversity all over the globe.
Web: MahonLab.com
Google Scholar: https://rb.gy/6z3tre
LinkedIn: https://tinyurl.com/4kvx48s
Web: MahonLab.com
Google Scholar: https://rb.gy/6z3tre
LinkedIn: https://tinyurl.com/4kvx48s
Pinned
forms.gle
I'm soliciting donations for the @sicb-diz.bsky.social auction at our annual meeting in Portland in January. This is a major fundraiser for the Division's ability to support students! If you would be so kind and want to donate, please use this link: forms.gle/nz8WWSmsdagp...
@sicb.bsky.social
@sicb.bsky.social
Happy Anniversary everyone! 🧪🌎🦑
Tomorrow, Nov. 12, is the 55th anniversary of Exploding Whale Day. I got to talk about this to my marine bio class today, as I do every year to bring some levity and about the practical nature of how these things happen. 🧪🌎🦑🐋
www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6CL...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6CL...
a picture of a humpback whale with the words that she blows above it
ALT: a picture of a humpback whale with the words that she blows above it
media.tenor.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Happy Anniversary everyone! 🧪🌎🦑
Tomorrow, Nov. 12, is the 55th anniversary of Exploding Whale Day. I got to talk about this to my marine bio class today, as I do every year to bring some levity and about the practical nature of how these things happen. 🧪🌎🦑🐋
www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6CL...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6CL...
a picture of a humpback whale with the words that she blows above it
ALT: a picture of a humpback whale with the words that she blows above it
media.tenor.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Tomorrow, Nov. 12, is the 55th anniversary of Exploding Whale Day. I got to talk about this to my marine bio class today, as I do every year to bring some levity and about the practical nature of how these things happen. 🧪🌎🦑🐋
www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6CL...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6CL...
... yeah. This will have multi-generational impacts to the entire planet. 🧪🌎
"Science is being destroyed across many agencies" say federal researchers.
For my latest @nature.com piece, I spoke to 19 different scientists across EPA, NOAA, NIH, NASA, and USGS to document how science is being dismantled across US federal agencies.
For my latest @nature.com piece, I spoke to 19 different scientists across EPA, NOAA, NIH, NASA, and USGS to document how science is being dismantled across US federal agencies.
Dismantling of US federal agencies will ‘destroy science’
From NASA to the National Institutes of Health, federal agencies conduct research that universities cannot. Agency scientists speak out about the irreplaceable facilities, institutional knowledge and ...
www.nature.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:02 PM
... yeah. This will have multi-generational impacts to the entire planet. 🧪🌎
this is insanely amazing and terrifying all at once.
🧪🌎
🧪🌎
November 3, 2025 at 5:57 PM
this is insanely amazing and terrifying all at once.
🧪🌎
🧪🌎
Please donate! If you are not coming to the meeting we will have a mailing address available to ship donations (after December 1). Let's make this the biggest DIZ auction to date! (a social will follow the auction too!). 🧪🌎🦑 Questions? DM me!
#SICB @sicb-diz.bsky.social #auction!
This auction will support #students and #postdocs through funds to directly support their #research & also to attend the SICB #conferences.
We are asking for donations of any kind (gift cards, art, cool clothing/shirts/etc.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
This auction will support #students and #postdocs through funds to directly support their #research & also to attend the SICB #conferences.
We are asking for donations of any kind (gift cards, art, cool clothing/shirts/etc.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
October 29, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Please donate! If you are not coming to the meeting we will have a mailing address available to ship donations (after December 1). Let's make this the biggest DIZ auction to date! (a social will follow the auction too!). 🧪🌎🦑 Questions? DM me!
Please consider donating! All proceeds help both undergrad and grad student's complete their work and attend this fantastic conference! 🧪🌎🦑🧬 Questions? DM me! All donations for the auction are welcomed (gift cards, etc!)! Form link below! @sicb.bsky.social @sicb-diz.bsky.social
I'm soliciting donations for the @sicb-diz.bsky.social auction at our annual meeting in Portland in January. This is a major fundraiser for the Division's ability to support students! If you would be so kind and want to donate, please use this link: forms.gle/nz8WWSmsdagp...
@sicb.bsky.social
@sicb.bsky.social
forms.gle
October 20, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Please consider donating! All proceeds help both undergrad and grad student's complete their work and attend this fantastic conference! 🧪🌎🦑🧬 Questions? DM me! All donations for the auction are welcomed (gift cards, etc!)! Form link below! @sicb.bsky.social @sicb-diz.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr Andrew Mahon
Hey #TeamInvert #SICB2026 folks! Have some items that you may want to donate for the @sicb-diz.bsky.social auction? Please reach out to @andyantarctica.bsky.social or fill out the form below!
🪼🪸🪱🦋🐛🐝🐌🪰🦟🕷️🐜🦂🐞🪲🐙🦑🦞🦀🦐
🪼🪸🪱🦋🐛🐝🐌🪰🦟🕷️🐜🦂🐞🪲🐙🦑🦞🦀🦐
I'm soliciting donations for the @sicb-diz.bsky.social auction at our annual meeting in Portland in January. This is a major fundraiser for the Division's ability to support students! If you would be so kind and want to donate, please use this link: forms.gle/nz8WWSmsdagp...
@sicb.bsky.social
@sicb.bsky.social
forms.gle
October 15, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Hey #TeamInvert #SICB2026 folks! Have some items that you may want to donate for the @sicb-diz.bsky.social auction? Please reach out to @andyantarctica.bsky.social or fill out the form below!
🪼🪸🪱🦋🐛🐝🐌🪰🦟🕷️🐜🦂🐞🪲🐙🦑🦞🦀🦐
🪼🪸🪱🦋🐛🐝🐌🪰🦟🕷️🐜🦂🐞🪲🐙🦑🦞🦀🦐
Reposted by Dr Andrew Mahon
I'm soliciting donations for the @sicb-diz.bsky.social auction at our annual meeting in Portland in January. This is a major fundraiser for the Division's ability to support students! If you would be so kind and want to donate, please use this link: forms.gle/nz8WWSmsdagp...
@sicb.bsky.social
@sicb.bsky.social
forms.gle
October 7, 2025 at 11:57 AM
I'm soliciting donations for the @sicb-diz.bsky.social auction at our annual meeting in Portland in January. This is a major fundraiser for the Division's ability to support students! If you would be so kind and want to donate, please use this link: forms.gle/nz8WWSmsdagp...
@sicb.bsky.social
@sicb.bsky.social
I'm soliciting donations for the @sicb-diz.bsky.social auction at our annual meeting in Portland in January. This is a major fundraiser for the Division's ability to support students! If you would be so kind and want to donate, please use this link: forms.gle/nz8WWSmsdagp...
@sicb.bsky.social
@sicb.bsky.social
forms.gle
October 7, 2025 at 11:57 AM
I'm soliciting donations for the @sicb-diz.bsky.social auction at our annual meeting in Portland in January. This is a major fundraiser for the Division's ability to support students! If you would be so kind and want to donate, please use this link: forms.gle/nz8WWSmsdagp...
@sicb.bsky.social
@sicb.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr Andrew Mahon
Only 3 weeks until
@kmkocot.bsky.social 's SICB Zoom on Icy #Invertebrates! 👏
Kevin is a coauthor featured in
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
& ICB co-author of
doi.org/10.1093/icb/...
See what his lab it up to & join us for his zoom by emailing sicbmedia@sicb.org
www.kocotlab.com
@kmkocot.bsky.social 's SICB Zoom on Icy #Invertebrates! 👏
Kevin is a coauthor featured in
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
& ICB co-author of
doi.org/10.1093/icb/...
See what his lab it up to & join us for his zoom by emailing sicbmedia@sicb.org
www.kocotlab.com
October 3, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Only 3 weeks until
@kmkocot.bsky.social 's SICB Zoom on Icy #Invertebrates! 👏
Kevin is a coauthor featured in
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
& ICB co-author of
doi.org/10.1093/icb/...
See what his lab it up to & join us for his zoom by emailing sicbmedia@sicb.org
www.kocotlab.com
@kmkocot.bsky.social 's SICB Zoom on Icy #Invertebrates! 👏
Kevin is a coauthor featured in
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
& ICB co-author of
doi.org/10.1093/icb/...
See what his lab it up to & join us for his zoom by emailing sicbmedia@sicb.org
www.kocotlab.com
🧪these changes will have deep implications for future generations of scientists, weakening the foundation of science for decades to come.
NSF today released instructions for the next round of applicants to its Graduate Research Fellowship Program. A key group—second-year Ph.D. students—is no longer eligible, and students who are still able to apply will face an unusually narrow timeframe. https://scim.ag/3KlQkQk
‘Completely shattered.’ Changes to NSF’s graduate student fellowship spur outcry
The announcement comes months later than usual, leaving many would-be applicants stranded
www.science.org
September 27, 2025 at 2:00 AM
🧪these changes will have deep implications for future generations of scientists, weakening the foundation of science for decades to come.
Legging it in to the weekend. #antarctica. Dodecalopoda mawsoni from east Antarctica in 2023 (nbp23-03 research cruise). So many legs (12 walking legs!!) yes there’s another “normal” pycno there too! 🧪🌎🇦🇶🦑🐧
September 26, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Legging it in to the weekend. #antarctica. Dodecalopoda mawsoni from east Antarctica in 2023 (nbp23-03 research cruise). So many legs (12 walking legs!!) yes there’s another “normal” pycno there too! 🧪🌎🇦🇶🦑🐧
A short time-lapse of the clouds going by as we sat at Davis Station in East #Antarctica in 2023 on the RVIB NBP (NBP23-03 research cruise). 🧪🌎🦑🇦🇶🐧
September 22, 2025 at 2:52 PM
A short time-lapse of the clouds going by as we sat at Davis Station in East #Antarctica in 2023 on the RVIB NBP (NBP23-03 research cruise). 🧪🌎🦑🇦🇶🐧
Retiring the only remaining ship in the US arsenal that was dedicated to research in the Southern Ocean....it hurts my soul to know how badly this will impact the science and all (scientists, students, crew, etc) who have worked so hard to advance our knowledge of all things #Antarctica 🧪🌎🦑🇦🇶🐧
September 18, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Retiring the only remaining ship in the US arsenal that was dedicated to research in the Southern Ocean....it hurts my soul to know how badly this will impact the science and all (scientists, students, crew, etc) who have worked so hard to advance our knowledge of all things #Antarctica 🧪🌎🦑🇦🇶🐧
Is #fishfriday a thing? Taken in East #Antarctica via our YoYo cam transects in 2023, (NBP23-03)....here are some Antarctic skates (Amblyraja georgiana). 🧪🌎🦑🇦🇶🐧
September 12, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Is #fishfriday a thing? Taken in East #Antarctica via our YoYo cam transects in 2023, (NBP23-03)....here are some Antarctic skates (Amblyraja georgiana). 🧪🌎🦑🇦🇶🐧
Don't want to think about politics today. Here's the southern lights over the RVIB NBP (yes, the one currently being decommissioned) taken from Davis Station in East Antarctica (NBP23-03). We had stopped and they were able to capture the greatest photos all night of our ship and the aurora. 🧪🌎🦑🇦🇶🐧
September 11, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Don't want to think about politics today. Here's the southern lights over the RVIB NBP (yes, the one currently being decommissioned) taken from Davis Station in East Antarctica (NBP23-03). We had stopped and they were able to capture the greatest photos all night of our ship and the aurora. 🧪🌎🦑🇦🇶🐧
correct....BUT the problem is that eRNA is even more susceptible to contamination at every step. Great idea...but is it practical? single species maybe...but for metabarcoding studies? Other thoughts? 🧪🌎🧬
Like eDNA, but more sensitive to time? Sounds "environmental RNA" could be a super useful ecosystem monitoring tool if it gets developed www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2025/09/its-...
It's not all about DNA. RNA could transform real-time environmental surveillance
By vanishing quickly, RNA avoids DNA’s problem of lingering too long, giving ecologists a sharper, more immediate picture of life in lakes, rivers, and beyond.
www.anthropocenemagazine.org
September 10, 2025 at 3:10 PM
correct....BUT the problem is that eRNA is even more susceptible to contamination at every step. Great idea...but is it practical? single species maybe...but for metabarcoding studies? Other thoughts? 🧪🌎🧬
With all going on in the world...I needed to post something that makes me smile today. Here, a Colossendeis robusta (Colossendeidae; sea spider) and a Gentoo penguin being followed by a chinstrap penguin. Both taken on the RVIB NBP as a part of our research cruises to #Antarctica. 🧪🌎🦑🇦🇶🐧
September 5, 2025 at 1:18 PM
With all going on in the world...I needed to post something that makes me smile today. Here, a Colossendeis robusta (Colossendeidae; sea spider) and a Gentoo penguin being followed by a chinstrap penguin. Both taken on the RVIB NBP as a part of our research cruises to #Antarctica. 🧪🌎🦑🇦🇶🐧
Reposted by Dr Andrew Mahon
.....learning something new every day....and most of the time its that i've been wrong about so many things....I LOVE that he's engaging his fans like this.
Ok its ‘feed it off an aux, speak, grunt no strength, the ladder start to clatter with fear fight down height, wire in a fire representing seven games, a government for hire and a combat site’.
September 5, 2025 at 11:37 AM
.....learning something new every day....and most of the time its that i've been wrong about so many things....I LOVE that he's engaging his fans like this.
Reposted by Dr Andrew Mahon
A paper published in Nature presents genomic datasets for chaetognaths that illuminate the evolutionary history of these animals and their body plan. They also allow for their phylogenetic placement 👇🧪 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The genomic origin of the unique chaetognath body plan - Nature
Genomic, single-cell transcriptomic and epigenetic analyses show that chaetognaths, following extensive gene loss in the gnathiferan lineage, relied on newly evolved genes and lineage-specific tandem ...
www.nature.com
August 27, 2025 at 12:37 PM
A paper published in Nature presents genomic datasets for chaetognaths that illuminate the evolutionary history of these animals and their body plan. They also allow for their phylogenetic placement 👇🧪 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
not just a potential loss....decommissioning is officially going to happen very soon. This is a devastating hit to US science in the region and for science throughout the entire Antarctic. 🧪🌎
An excellent article in the NYTimes about the impending demise of the last U.S. Antarctic research vessel, the N.B. Palmer, featuring US and overseas colleagues (including @polarrobs.bsky.social). Gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/22/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/22/c...
Trump’s Cuts May Spell the End for America’s Only Antarctic Research Ship
www.nytimes.com
August 22, 2025 at 5:39 PM
not just a potential loss....decommissioning is officially going to happen very soon. This is a devastating hit to US science in the region and for science throughout the entire Antarctic. 🧪🌎
Hey all science/instructors/faculty/teachers: I'm developing a first year experience course (a 1cr seminar) for biology majors. If you were designing this from scratch, what components would you say were ESSENTIAL to be a part of the class? What needs to be in there? 🧪🌎🧬 Help is appreciated!
August 22, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Hey all science/instructors/faculty/teachers: I'm developing a first year experience course (a 1cr seminar) for biology majors. If you were designing this from scratch, what components would you say were ESSENTIAL to be a part of the class? What needs to be in there? 🧪🌎🧬 Help is appreciated!
I signed on to this letter of support to reconsider....its essential to research and science in #Antarctica. 🧪🇦🇶
Scientists have asked the NSF to reconsider plans to terminate the lease for its only Antarctic research icebreaker, the RVIB Nathaniel B. Palmer. eos.org/research-and...
Scientists Ask NSF to Keep Only Antarctic Icebreaker Afloat - Eos
On 28 July, more than 170 researchers sent a letter to National Science Foundation leaders and Congress, urging them to reconsider the decision to terminate the lease of the Nathaniel B. Palmer, the U...
eos.org
July 29, 2025 at 2:24 PM
I signed on to this letter of support to reconsider....its essential to research and science in #Antarctica. 🧪🇦🇶
I've lived and worked on this vessel for many research cruises to #Antarctica since 1998....this is devastating....having to rely on non-dedicated ships to run the US's research interests in the region simply will kill the science and innovation in the Southern Ocean. 🧪
The National Science Foundation plans to abruptly end operation of the RV Nathaniel B. Palmer, the sole U.S. research ship capable of braving the farthest reaches of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. scim.ag/4mB8LOX
NSF plans abrupt end to lone U.S. Antarctic research icebreaker
Imminent termination of the RV Nathaniel B. Palmer shocks polar scientists
scim.ag
July 29, 2025 at 1:39 PM
I've lived and worked on this vessel for many research cruises to #Antarctica since 1998....this is devastating....having to rely on non-dedicated ships to run the US's research interests in the region simply will kill the science and innovation in the Southern Ocean. 🧪