Christy
@checkerkitty.bsky.social
Middle school science teacher. Gardener. Parental unit. Type 1 family. Wishing I was 🏕.
Reposted by Christy
Fascinating and deeply satisfying resolution to why adenovirus-based vaccines produced blood clots in 1 out of 200,000 people.
Two factors interacted:
a mutation in an antibody gene + weak similarities between a viral protein & a human blood-clotting protein = induced clotting cascade.
Two factors interacted:
a mutation in an antibody gene + weak similarities between a viral protein & a human blood-clotting protein = induced clotting cascade.
Five years after the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines started, it seems the mystery of why the Astra-Zeneca and J&J vaccines led to a rare but deadly side effect of unusual blood clots and bleeding has finally been solved.
It's a fascinating case of molecular mimicry that may help make vaccine safer.🧪
It's a fascinating case of molecular mimicry that may help make vaccine safer.🧪
Rare, dangerous side effects of some COVID-19 vaccines explained
“Groundbreaking” study uncovers why adenovirus-based shots caused life-threatening blood clots and bleeding in some people
www.science.org
February 11, 2026 at 10:39 PM
Fascinating and deeply satisfying resolution to why adenovirus-based vaccines produced blood clots in 1 out of 200,000 people.
Two factors interacted:
a mutation in an antibody gene + weak similarities between a viral protein & a human blood-clotting protein = induced clotting cascade.
Two factors interacted:
a mutation in an antibody gene + weak similarities between a viral protein & a human blood-clotting protein = induced clotting cascade.
Reposted by Christy
👀👀👀
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh
This could be extremely exciting!
🔭
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh
This could be extremely exciting!
🔭
February 9, 2026 at 9:28 PM
👀👀👀
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh
This could be extremely exciting!
🔭
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh
This could be extremely exciting!
🔭
Reposted by Christy
#FossilFriday falls with the creeping inevitability of a global glaciation. These Proterozoic stromatolites from Minnesota's Iron Ranges stand as a reminder that, no matter how small we are alone, together we can change the world, making complex relationships possible like a breath of fresh air. 🧪⚒️
February 6, 2026 at 10:28 PM
#FossilFriday falls with the creeping inevitability of a global glaciation. These Proterozoic stromatolites from Minnesota's Iron Ranges stand as a reminder that, no matter how small we are alone, together we can change the world, making complex relationships possible like a breath of fresh air. 🧪⚒️
Reposted by Christy
If you take a breath today remember to be grateful to the bottom of your lungs to these guys that made it all possible. Ice-polished ~1.5 billion yo Proterozoic fossil cyanobacterial stromatolite pavement, at Grinnell Glacier, Glacier NP, MT. Oldest fossils I have ever seen!
February 7, 2026 at 2:11 PM
If you take a breath today remember to be grateful to the bottom of your lungs to these guys that made it all possible. Ice-polished ~1.5 billion yo Proterozoic fossil cyanobacterial stromatolite pavement, at Grinnell Glacier, Glacier NP, MT. Oldest fossils I have ever seen!
Reposted by Christy
I can't get over these new JWST pics. Zoom in; the closest analogy I can think of is that they're like balsamic vinegar droplets in olive oil. But there are so many! I don't know enough to understand the forces creating these structures.
Here's a version of the Helix Nebula image with a scale bar. The "little" globules have a characteristic size around 500-1000 AU, or about 10 times the diameter of Pluto's orbit around the Sun. 🔭🧪
January 22, 2026 at 7:31 AM
I can't get over these new JWST pics. Zoom in; the closest analogy I can think of is that they're like balsamic vinegar droplets in olive oil. But there are so many! I don't know enough to understand the forces creating these structures.
Reposted by Christy
New ALMA astronomical survey reveals teenage years and “growing pains” of new worlds www.tcd.ie/news_events/...
Astronomers have, for the first time, captured a detailed snapshot of planetary systems in an era long shrouded in mystery.
Astronomers have, for the first time, captured a detailed snapshot of planetary systems in an era long shrouded in mystery.
January 21, 2026 at 9:12 AM
New ALMA astronomical survey reveals teenage years and “growing pains” of new worlds www.tcd.ie/news_events/...
Astronomers have, for the first time, captured a detailed snapshot of planetary systems in an era long shrouded in mystery.
Astronomers have, for the first time, captured a detailed snapshot of planetary systems in an era long shrouded in mystery.
Reposted by Christy
MUST READ thread before Monday night's forecasted G4 / SEVERE geomagnetic storm. Auroras could be seen as far south as the U.S.-Mexico border at times. Widespread mid-latitude displays are possible. Here's what you need to know to have a successful aurora chase tonight! 🧵
#heliophysics #aurora
#heliophysics #aurora
January 19, 2026 at 6:30 PM
MUST READ thread before Monday night's forecasted G4 / SEVERE geomagnetic storm. Auroras could be seen as far south as the U.S.-Mexico border at times. Widespread mid-latitude displays are possible. Here's what you need to know to have a successful aurora chase tonight! 🧵
#heliophysics #aurora
#heliophysics #aurora
Reposted by Christy
Angry Sun = pretty skies! If you're in a position to do so, it's worth looking for some aurorae with this one!
MUST READ thread before Monday night's forecasted G4 / SEVERE geomagnetic storm. Auroras could be seen as far south as the U.S.-Mexico border at times. Widespread mid-latitude displays are possible. Here's what you need to know to have a successful aurora chase tonight! 🧵
#heliophysics #aurora
#heliophysics #aurora
January 19, 2026 at 7:24 PM
Angry Sun = pretty skies! If you're in a position to do so, it's worth looking for some aurorae with this one!
Reposted by Christy
Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where Nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul alike.
- John Muir
- John Muir
January 18, 2026 at 2:20 AM
Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where Nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul alike.
- John Muir
- John Muir
Reposted by Christy
Scientists managed to extract a high-coverage genome of an extinct woolly rhino from an undigested piece of its flesh found in the stomach of a permafrost-preserved 14kyo wolf pup. 🧪🏺
One of the last woolly rhinos to walk Earth was eaten by a wolf pup — and scientists have now sequenced its genome from the undigested meat
More than 14,000 years ago, a wolf pup ate a piece of woolly rhino. Scientists have analyzed the rhino's DNA to figure out why it went extinct.
www.livescience.com
January 14, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Scientists managed to extract a high-coverage genome of an extinct woolly rhino from an undigested piece of its flesh found in the stomach of a permafrost-preserved 14kyo wolf pup. 🧪🏺
Reposted by Christy
Friday photos: N. robcantleyi x lowii, N. merrilliana BE-3727, N. x 'song of melancholy' Leilani (B), N. truncata (D) “Red Flush” x edwardsiana “giant” CalCarn TC
January 10, 2026 at 1:19 AM
Friday photos: N. robcantleyi x lowii, N. merrilliana BE-3727, N. x 'song of melancholy' Leilani (B), N. truncata (D) “Red Flush” x edwardsiana “giant” CalCarn TC
Reposted by Christy
You probably need this message from Italy. Picture very loud, happy purring.
Also, promise yourself you'll go take a long walk without your phone today, no matter how cold it is.
Also, promise yourself you'll go take a long walk without your phone today, no matter how cold it is.
January 8, 2026 at 7:01 PM
You probably need this message from Italy. Picture very loud, happy purring.
Also, promise yourself you'll go take a long walk without your phone today, no matter how cold it is.
Also, promise yourself you'll go take a long walk without your phone today, no matter how cold it is.
Reposted by Christy
Unclench your jaw.
Relax your brow.
Go get a drink of water.
See if you've taken your meds
Eat something.
Doesn't matter what you look like right now, i think you look amazing.
Because you do.
You're a wonderful person.
And have this. 🫂🖤 you did great today. You made it through
Relax your brow.
Go get a drink of water.
See if you've taken your meds
Eat something.
Doesn't matter what you look like right now, i think you look amazing.
Because you do.
You're a wonderful person.
And have this. 🫂🖤 you did great today. You made it through
January 8, 2026 at 5:42 AM
Unclench your jaw.
Relax your brow.
Go get a drink of water.
See if you've taken your meds
Eat something.
Doesn't matter what you look like right now, i think you look amazing.
Because you do.
You're a wonderful person.
And have this. 🫂🖤 you did great today. You made it through
Relax your brow.
Go get a drink of water.
See if you've taken your meds
Eat something.
Doesn't matter what you look like right now, i think you look amazing.
Because you do.
You're a wonderful person.
And have this. 🫂🖤 you did great today. You made it through
Reposted by Christy
January 7th is National Old Rock Day! Well here is an old rock! These white circles are cross sections of Archaeocyathids. These were a type of sponge that built reefs during the Early Cambrian. This comes from the the Forteau Formation in southern Labrador, Canada. Over 516 million years old!
January 7, 2026 at 7:42 PM
January 7th is National Old Rock Day! Well here is an old rock! These white circles are cross sections of Archaeocyathids. These were a type of sponge that built reefs during the Early Cambrian. This comes from the the Forteau Formation in southern Labrador, Canada. Over 516 million years old!
Reposted by Christy
January 2, 2026 at 9:47 AM
Reposted by Christy
Aloha kakou! One of the most enjoyable things which I did in 2025, was to read all these books with book clubs on Substack! Some were slow reads spread out and discussed over the entire year and some took only a month or more. Each was led by literary experts or enthusiasts. I recommend Substack!
January 2, 2026 at 8:21 PM
Aloha kakou! One of the most enjoyable things which I did in 2025, was to read all these books with book clubs on Substack! Some were slow reads spread out and discussed over the entire year and some took only a month or more. Each was led by literary experts or enthusiasts. I recommend Substack!
Reposted by Christy
This is NGC 2264, also called the "Christmas Tree Cluster." It's a cluster of young stars about 2,500 light years away.
They were 'born' during the Pliocene Epoch (2-5 MYA), about the same time as early hominids like Ardipithecus or Homo habilis, so they're barely older than humanity.
🎄💫🔭
They were 'born' during the Pliocene Epoch (2-5 MYA), about the same time as early hominids like Ardipithecus or Homo habilis, so they're barely older than humanity.
🎄💫🔭
December 25, 2025 at 1:18 PM
This is NGC 2264, also called the "Christmas Tree Cluster." It's a cluster of young stars about 2,500 light years away.
They were 'born' during the Pliocene Epoch (2-5 MYA), about the same time as early hominids like Ardipithecus or Homo habilis, so they're barely older than humanity.
🎄💫🔭
They were 'born' during the Pliocene Epoch (2-5 MYA), about the same time as early hominids like Ardipithecus or Homo habilis, so they're barely older than humanity.
🎄💫🔭
Reposted by Christy
RED AIRGLOW FILLS DEATH VALLEY LAKE: Death Valley has a lake? It does now. In Nov, extinct Lake Manly came back to life after an atmospheric river passed over California. On Dec.11th, Chris Cook photographed its shallow water reflecting the red sky overhead spaceweathergallery2.com/indiv_upload...
December 23, 2025 at 2:32 PM
RED AIRGLOW FILLS DEATH VALLEY LAKE: Death Valley has a lake? It does now. In Nov, extinct Lake Manly came back to life after an atmospheric river passed over California. On Dec.11th, Chris Cook photographed its shallow water reflecting the red sky overhead spaceweathergallery2.com/indiv_upload...
Reposted by Christy
The waiter recommended the haddock to Han Solo, who replied, "Never sell me the cods!"
December 21, 2025 at 4:54 PM
The waiter recommended the haddock to Han Solo, who replied, "Never sell me the cods!"
Reposted by Christy
A real treat to watch a male Lyrebird perform at the Healesville Sanctuary yesterday. Truly magnificent.
December 19, 2025 at 8:35 PM
A real treat to watch a male Lyrebird perform at the Healesville Sanctuary yesterday. Truly magnificent.
Reposted by Christy
if tumblr dies I need this video to make it's seasonal rotation here instead just in case, Happy holidays 🎄
December 18, 2025 at 2:05 AM
if tumblr dies I need this video to make it's seasonal rotation here instead just in case, Happy holidays 🎄
Reposted by Christy
cook a packet of ramen noodles, toss out the flavor packet, drain the noodles, mix in some peanut butter, some rice vinegar, some sesame oil, some soy sauce, some chili-garlic, some honey or maple syrup, I AM TELLING YOU
December 12, 2025 at 8:55 PM
cook a packet of ramen noodles, toss out the flavor packet, drain the noodles, mix in some peanut butter, some rice vinegar, some sesame oil, some soy sauce, some chili-garlic, some honey or maple syrup, I AM TELLING YOU
Reposted by Christy
god this was good. mustardy creamy mash, Richmond meat-free sausages, garlicky tomatoey greens and a chestnut mushroom brandy peppercorn sauce 🥔💛🍄🟫🍽️
December 4, 2025 at 2:46 PM
god this was good. mustardy creamy mash, Richmond meat-free sausages, garlicky tomatoey greens and a chestnut mushroom brandy peppercorn sauce 🥔💛🍄🟫🍽️
Reposted by Christy
I want one of these so badly and I have no $ again this holiday season. (#Adjunctlife: 3 steps forward, 5 steps back.)
December 1, 2025 at 1:41 AM
I want one of these so badly and I have no $ again this holiday season. (#Adjunctlife: 3 steps forward, 5 steps back.)
Reposted by Christy
SIRENS!! Sound up!! I never understood.
November 24, 2025 at 7:25 PM
SIRENS!! Sound up!! I never understood.