Caitlín R. Kiernan
@caitlinrkiernan.bsky.social
Paleontologist & two-time World Fantasy Award winning F&SF author. McWane Science Center & University of Alabama research associate (mosasaurs, turtles, PETM). Humanist. Classical liberal. Irish Appalachian. Math nerd. Anti-fascist. LGBTQ+ They/them.
Reposted by Caitlín R. Kiernan
I missed #MosasaurMonday but holy moly, Winnie is prepped!
Here's the main part of the skull, without the palate laid out. She came out great and im so happy she's covered in pathologies. Just like me, we both have interesting skeletal injuries. Lower Niobrara, 86.5 million years old 🧪
Here's the main part of the skull, without the palate laid out. She came out great and im so happy she's covered in pathologies. Just like me, we both have interesting skeletal injuries. Lower Niobrara, 86.5 million years old 🧪
August 12, 2025 at 8:00 PM
I missed #MosasaurMonday but holy moly, Winnie is prepped!
Here's the main part of the skull, without the palate laid out. She came out great and im so happy she's covered in pathologies. Just like me, we both have interesting skeletal injuries. Lower Niobrara, 86.5 million years old 🧪
Here's the main part of the skull, without the palate laid out. She came out great and im so happy she's covered in pathologies. Just like me, we both have interesting skeletal injuries. Lower Niobrara, 86.5 million years old 🧪
Reposted by Caitlín R. Kiernan
daamn Caitlin R. Kiernan was looking sooo good in this H.P. Lovecraft documentary from 2008 like wow shes so goals. Bleaching the top + front while keeping the ponytail dark was srsly such a high-tier maneuver for the time (she wrote a really good book called The Drowning Girl & you should read it)
September 27, 2025 at 12:47 AM
daamn Caitlin R. Kiernan was looking sooo good in this H.P. Lovecraft documentary from 2008 like wow shes so goals. Bleaching the top + front while keeping the ponytail dark was srsly such a high-tier maneuver for the time (she wrote a really good book called The Drowning Girl & you should read it)
Reposted by Caitlín R. Kiernan
Still proud to be an EARTH scientist...Just saying. It is where we live (except perhaps for Elon)🧪
Trump’s Acting NASA Chief Wants to End Agency Science Focused on the Most Important Planet in Space - Ours open.substack.com/pub/revkin/p...
Trump’s Acting NASA Chief Wants to End Agency Science Focused on the Most Important Planet in Space - Ours open.substack.com/pub/revkin/p...
Trump’s Acting NASA Chief Wants to End Agency Science Focused on the Most Important Planet in Space - Ours
The latest move in Trump's demolition of Earth-focused science
open.substack.com
August 17, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Still proud to be an EARTH scientist...Just saying. It is where we live (except perhaps for Elon)🧪
Trump’s Acting NASA Chief Wants to End Agency Science Focused on the Most Important Planet in Space - Ours open.substack.com/pub/revkin/p...
Trump’s Acting NASA Chief Wants to End Agency Science Focused on the Most Important Planet in Space - Ours open.substack.com/pub/revkin/p...
Reposted by Caitlín R. Kiernan
This striped formation may contain the oldest intact rocks on Earth.* A new study suggests that they are at least 4.16 billion years old--relics from a time before plate tectonics, probably before oceans, even.
* The pocket knife is a more recent element. 🧪
www.sciencenews.org/article/eart...
* The pocket knife is a more recent element. 🧪
www.sciencenews.org/article/eart...
August 16, 2025 at 7:49 PM
This striped formation may contain the oldest intact rocks on Earth.* A new study suggests that they are at least 4.16 billion years old--relics from a time before plate tectonics, probably before oceans, even.
* The pocket knife is a more recent element. 🧪
www.sciencenews.org/article/eart...
* The pocket knife is a more recent element. 🧪
www.sciencenews.org/article/eart...
Reposted by Caitlín R. Kiernan
Why spy, they just hand it out
tinyurl.com/4a8b9why
tinyurl.com/4a8b9why
Government papers found in an Alaskan hotel reveal new details of Trump-Putin summit
Documents with sensitive details about the meeting between President Trump and Russian President Putin were left behind on a public hotel printer.
tinyurl.com
August 16, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Why spy, they just hand it out
tinyurl.com/4a8b9why
tinyurl.com/4a8b9why
Reposted by Caitlín R. Kiernan
DC Union Station tonight. Unreal.
August 15, 2025 at 4:14 AM
DC Union Station tonight. Unreal.
Reposted by Caitlín R. Kiernan
This is super cool. New paper: "New discoveries of Australopithecus and Homo from Ledi-Geraru, Ethiopia," phys.org/news/2025-08... 🧪🏺
Scientists uncover new fossils—and a new species of ancient human ancestor
A team of international scientists has discovered new fossils at a field site in Africa that indicate Australopithecus, and the oldest specimens of Homo, coexisted at the same place in Africa at the s...
phys.org
August 13, 2025 at 3:06 PM
This is super cool. New paper: "New discoveries of Australopithecus and Homo from Ledi-Geraru, Ethiopia," phys.org/news/2025-08... 🧪🏺
Reposted by Caitlín R. Kiernan
Huff Post White House correspondent 👇🏽
August 11, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Huff Post White House correspondent 👇🏽
Reposted by Caitlín R. Kiernan
Every study about vaccines that comes out is like "this vaccine is 97% effective at preventing this disease & also 3 other diseases & it somehow helps you play the violin beautifully" and antivaxxers are doing their own research that's telling them they can cure measles by eating polar bear liver.
The Shingles Vaccine Could Be a Secret Weapon Against Heart Attacks https://gizmodo.com/the-shingles-vaccine-could-be-a-secret-weapon-against-heart-attacks-2000598150
The Shingles Vaccine Could Be a Secret Weapon Against Heart Attacks
A new study has found that shingle vaccination is associated with a lower risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular disease.
gizmodo.com
May 6, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Every study about vaccines that comes out is like "this vaccine is 97% effective at preventing this disease & also 3 other diseases & it somehow helps you play the violin beautifully" and antivaxxers are doing their own research that's telling them they can cure measles by eating polar bear liver.
Reposted by Caitlín R. Kiernan
foundationally dishonest is a pretty good summary of ai tools
August 11, 2025 at 12:45 PM
foundationally dishonest is a pretty good summary of ai tools
Reposted by Caitlín R. Kiernan
Katalin Kariko won the Nobel Prize for mRNA vaccine technology. She is certain that RFK Jr is endangering public health by killing $500 million in mRNA research www.thetimes.com/us/news-toda...
I developed mRNA vaccines. RFK Jr is endangering US public health
Katalin Karikó says the health secretary’s decision to pull research funding for the technology is akin to ‘dropping a bomb on the US’
www.thetimes.com
August 11, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Katalin Kariko won the Nobel Prize for mRNA vaccine technology. She is certain that RFK Jr is endangering public health by killing $500 million in mRNA research www.thetimes.com/us/news-toda...
Reposted by Caitlín R. Kiernan
Women WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS SLAVERY CRAP! The hell with that drunk idiot. His TRUMPEDUP days are numbered, because we will not forget these scum & justice will be served by WE THE PEOPLE. I hope nobody but his hand is fuking that loser in the meantime.
American women will not meekly accept this Talibanesque bullshit, surely? Feminists everywhere are watching and worrying. WE.WILL.NOT.GO.BACK. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Pete Hegseth reposts video that says women shouldn’t be allowed to vote
Progressive evangelical group says ideas shared by pastors and amplified by defense secretary are ‘very disturbing’
www.theguardian.com
August 11, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Women WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS SLAVERY CRAP! The hell with that drunk idiot. His TRUMPEDUP days are numbered, because we will not forget these scum & justice will be served by WE THE PEOPLE. I hope nobody but his hand is fuking that loser in the meantime.
Fresh hell.
Trump may send as many as 1,000 National Guard members to Washington, D.C., with the decision potentially coming later today.
Trump considering deploying up to 1,000 National Guard troops to DC
Trump said that the White House will make an announcement Monday about a plan to combat crime in D.C.
www.nbcwashington.com
August 11, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Fresh hell.
Reposted by Caitlín R. Kiernan
My latest article 👇 gets into how hard it is to date stuff in some of the oldest rocks on the planet, and why it matters ⚒️🧪
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
How old is the earliest trace of life on Earth?
A recent conference sees doubts raised about the age of the oldest signs of life.
arstechnica.com
August 11, 2025 at 1:07 PM
My latest article 👇 gets into how hard it is to date stuff in some of the oldest rocks on the planet, and why it matters ⚒️🧪
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
Ignorance you'd not expect beyond first grade children.
RFK has announced that he is developing a vaccine against all viruses. Yes, every single one. The whole, uh, "phylum"
August 10, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Ignorance you'd not expect beyond first grade children.
Reposted by Caitlín R. Kiernan
Happy #FossilFriday from the BEST fossil shark specimen on display anywhere (it’s at KU)
This Cretoxyrhina mantelli skeleton has the bones of a big Xiphactinus audax mixed in with it, showing the shark died shortly after ingesting the absolute worst fish in the late Cretaceous seaway. 🧪🦈
This Cretoxyrhina mantelli skeleton has the bones of a big Xiphactinus audax mixed in with it, showing the shark died shortly after ingesting the absolute worst fish in the late Cretaceous seaway. 🧪🦈
August 8, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Happy #FossilFriday from the BEST fossil shark specimen on display anywhere (it’s at KU)
This Cretoxyrhina mantelli skeleton has the bones of a big Xiphactinus audax mixed in with it, showing the shark died shortly after ingesting the absolute worst fish in the late Cretaceous seaway. 🧪🦈
This Cretoxyrhina mantelli skeleton has the bones of a big Xiphactinus audax mixed in with it, showing the shark died shortly after ingesting the absolute worst fish in the late Cretaceous seaway. 🧪🦈
Reposted by Caitlín R. Kiernan
Cornyn Says F.B.I. Will Help Find Texas Lawmakers Who Fled State
www.nytimes.com
August 7, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Reposted by Caitlín R. Kiernan
What kind of AI governance do we need? Our new piece in @science.org answers this: we need policy grounded in evidence and built to generate more of it. Evidence-based policymaking is not a slogan—it’s a design challenge for democratic governance in the age of AI www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... 🧵
Advancing science- and evidence-based AI policy
Policy must be informed by, but also facilitate the generation of, scientific evidence
www.science.org
July 31, 2025 at 11:27 PM
What kind of AI governance do we need? Our new piece in @science.org answers this: we need policy grounded in evidence and built to generate more of it. Evidence-based policymaking is not a slogan—it’s a design challenge for democratic governance in the age of AI www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... 🧵
Reposted by Caitlín R. Kiernan
An endorsement from renowned palaeontologist & bestselling author, Steve Brusatte. “THE SECRET LIVES OF DINOSAURS”, by @deanrlomax.bsky.social, illustrated by @bobnichollsart.bsky.social & published by @columbiaup.bsky.social, is out Sept 2025 (pre-order now!).
#SciArt #PaleoArt #Dinosaurs #Books
#SciArt #PaleoArt #Dinosaurs #Books
August 6, 2025 at 5:38 PM
An endorsement from renowned palaeontologist & bestselling author, Steve Brusatte. “THE SECRET LIVES OF DINOSAURS”, by @deanrlomax.bsky.social, illustrated by @bobnichollsart.bsky.social & published by @columbiaup.bsky.social, is out Sept 2025 (pre-order now!).
#SciArt #PaleoArt #Dinosaurs #Books
#SciArt #PaleoArt #Dinosaurs #Books
Reposted by Caitlín R. Kiernan
Reposted by Caitlín R. Kiernan
The great dismantling
The White House has instructed NASA to terminate two major, climate change-focused satellite missions. They've been collecting widely-used data, providing both oil and gas companies and farmers with detailed information about the distribution of carbon dioxide and how it can affect crop health.
White House Orders NASA to Destroy Important Satellite
The White House has instructed NASA employees to destroy two major, climate change-focused satellite missions.
futurism.com
August 5, 2025 at 12:14 PM
The great dismantling
Reposted by Caitlín R. Kiernan
What do fossils tell us about evolution? Kinda a broad topic...and I tried to give it a go in 20 minutes. Using dinosaurs and mammals as my guide (sorry foram and brachiopod fans!). Check out the video here:
Big week here! We've now got the *third* full video online from our Scopes "Monkey" Trial Centennial Symposium! Check out @stevebrusatte.bsky.social's talk here: https://loom.ly/9ybRtqo #Evolution #Scopes100 @ncse.bsky.social
August 5, 2025 at 4:47 PM
What do fossils tell us about evolution? Kinda a broad topic...and I tried to give it a go in 20 minutes. Using dinosaurs and mammals as my guide (sorry foram and brachiopod fans!). Check out the video here:
Reposted by Caitlín R. Kiernan
Take that, Tr*mp transphobes! @charliejane.bsky.social @annaleen.bsky.social @transgenderreport.com @cherylmorgan.bsky.social hyperallergic.com/1031893/amy-...
Amy Sherald’s Trans Lady Liberty Painting Graces New Yorker Cover
The artist withdrew her exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery over concerns that the artwork would be censored.
hyperallergic.com
August 5, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Take that, Tr*mp transphobes! @charliejane.bsky.social @annaleen.bsky.social @transgenderreport.com @cherylmorgan.bsky.social hyperallergic.com/1031893/amy-...
Reposted by Caitlín R. Kiernan
New Caitlin R Kiernan collection. #BrightDeadStar
I’m gonna need a bigger bookshelf.
I’m gonna need a bigger bookshelf.
June 6, 2025 at 9:01 PM
New Caitlin R Kiernan collection. #BrightDeadStar
I’m gonna need a bigger bookshelf.
I’m gonna need a bigger bookshelf.
Reposted by Caitlín R. Kiernan
#BrightDeadStar from @caitlinrkiernan and @subpress is featured in last week's #newbooks roundup on youtube!
watch the whole thing here: youtu.be/EeCQFfYm1z8
visit linktr.ee/locusmagazine for all things SFFH!
links in bio
watch the whole thing here: youtu.be/EeCQFfYm1z8
visit linktr.ee/locusmagazine for all things SFFH!
links in bio
August 4, 2025 at 9:21 PM
#BrightDeadStar from @caitlinrkiernan and @subpress is featured in last week's #newbooks roundup on youtube!
watch the whole thing here: youtu.be/EeCQFfYm1z8
visit linktr.ee/locusmagazine for all things SFFH!
links in bio
watch the whole thing here: youtu.be/EeCQFfYm1z8
visit linktr.ee/locusmagazine for all things SFFH!
links in bio