David Moscato
@dmos150.bsky.social
Paleontologist. Science Writer. Podcaster.
Host of the Common Descent Podcast.
He/they
Host of the Common Descent Podcast.
He/they
Turns out sometimes you make a silly science video for the internet and then someone goes and makes incredible art about it.
Here's a T. Rex bored to death trying to bite their own tail. My partner asked me to animate it in stop motion, after she watched a video about the very important topic of "could T. Rex chew its own tail like a dog". The puppet is still a work in progress 🦖
October 16, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Turns out sometimes you make a silly science video for the internet and then someone goes and makes incredible art about it.
Spook-E Season has begun!
Let's-a go! Our first monster of 2025 is here!
This episode, we begin with a baddie from the Mushroom Kingdom. What evolutionary path might generate a pipe-dwelling plant-like predator? Our creatures to create this time: Piranha Plants.
This episode, we begin with a baddie from the Mushroom Kingdom. What evolutionary path might generate a pipe-dwelling plant-like predator? Our creatures to create this time: Piranha Plants.
October 4, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Spook-E Season has begun!
Reposted by David Moscato
In case you missed it, we got a new dinosaur yesterday!
New dinosaur day! Meet Zavacephale, the oldest and most-complete pachycephalosaur yet described. And it’s tiny, a beeper that only weighed about 10kg. I’ll tell you all about it at NatGeo.
Dome-headed dinosaurs are rare. Scientists just found the most remarkable one yet.
When did these blockhead dinosaurs get their domes? A new fossil is “the specimen we have all been waiting for.”
www.nationalgeographic.com
September 18, 2025 at 8:27 PM
In case you missed it, we got a new dinosaur yesterday!
At long last, @paleolorax.bsky.social gives us her Plant-Based History of the Earth!
Scientists organize the history of the Earth based on the experiences of animals. But what if the Geologic Time Scale was plant-centric? This episode, Aly presents Nora with her take on a time scale based on the evolution and extinction of plants through time.
Image by Lucy Wayland
Image by Lucy Wayland
September 18, 2025 at 6:43 PM
At long last, @paleolorax.bsky.social gives us her Plant-Based History of the Earth!
Reposted by David Moscato
Plants require sunlight to survive, but when night falls and the daytime-dwellers disappear, many varieties of flower come alive. This episode, Nora and Aly explore the allure of “moon gardens” and the adaptations that allow beautiful and aromatic flowers to thrive in darkness.
September 4, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Plants require sunlight to survive, but when night falls and the daytime-dwellers disappear, many varieties of flower come alive. This episode, Nora and Aly explore the allure of “moon gardens” and the adaptations that allow beautiful and aromatic flowers to thrive in darkness.
Such fun! Such chaos! Such science!
Had a blast after Solve for X at DragonCon sharing distressing animal facts with @dmos150.bsky.social @haruspex.bsky.social @panic.gay and @tkingfisher.com
I love this place.
I love this place.
August 31, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Such fun! Such chaos! Such science!
Well I do say that
“There is no way dinosaurs weren’t super gay.” - @dmos150.bsky.social
August 30, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Well I do say that
Reposted by David Moscato
Some plants get big – like, several acres big – like, an entire forest big – like, the largest living things on the planet big. This episode, Nora and Aly address some of the most sprawling plants on Earth and explore the plant super-powers that allow them to achieve super-size.
August 21, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Some plants get big – like, several acres big – like, an entire forest big – like, the largest living things on the planet big. This episode, Nora and Aly address some of the most sprawling plants on Earth and explore the plant super-powers that allow them to achieve super-size.
PUMPED
I'm still agog and agag and agiddy about this lineup.
@siliconchef.bsky.social
@tkingfisher.com
@effinbirds.com
@dmos150.bsky.social
@haruspex.bsky.social
@stealingfromwizards.com
All on one show (plus other very cool people who I don't think are on bsky)!!!
@siliconchef.bsky.social
@tkingfisher.com
@effinbirds.com
@dmos150.bsky.social
@haruspex.bsky.social
@stealingfromwizards.com
All on one show (plus other very cool people who I don't think are on bsky)!!!
August 21, 2025 at 5:01 AM
PUMPED
DragonCon is NEXT WEEK!
We're going to be at DragonCon NEXT WEEKEND!
Come say hi!
Come say hi!
August 20, 2025 at 1:50 AM
DragonCon is NEXT WEEK!
Reposted by David Moscato
Title: "We Have Wolves At Home": Dire Wolves, Dodos, and De-Extinction
Time: Sat 04:00 pm
Location: 209-211 Hilton (Length: 1 Hour)
@dmos150.bsky.social and I have sworn to support each other emotionally, and hold each other back physically, in this panel.
Time: Sat 04:00 pm
Location: 209-211 Hilton (Length: 1 Hour)
@dmos150.bsky.social and I have sworn to support each other emotionally, and hold each other back physically, in this panel.
August 13, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Title: "We Have Wolves At Home": Dire Wolves, Dodos, and De-Extinction
Time: Sat 04:00 pm
Location: 209-211 Hilton (Length: 1 Hour)
@dmos150.bsky.social and I have sworn to support each other emotionally, and hold each other back physically, in this panel.
Time: Sat 04:00 pm
Location: 209-211 Hilton (Length: 1 Hour)
@dmos150.bsky.social and I have sworn to support each other emotionally, and hold each other back physically, in this panel.
Reposted by David Moscato
Did you know that placing a banana next to an apple can help the banana ripen faster? Well that was news to some people! This episode, Nora and Aly discuss what exactly is going on inside a ripening fruit and how the fruit knows it’s time to signal its own deliciousness.
Image by Dominique Hessel
Image by Dominique Hessel
July 24, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Did you know that placing a banana next to an apple can help the banana ripen faster? Well that was news to some people! This episode, Nora and Aly discuss what exactly is going on inside a ripening fruit and how the fruit knows it’s time to signal its own deliciousness.
Image by Dominique Hessel
Image by Dominique Hessel
Reposted by David Moscato
I have been told I should crow about this more.
Apparently goodreads reviewers are known to be brutal.
Mostly I'm just glad my books found their audience. #booksky
www.goodreads.com/series/27255...
Apparently goodreads reviewers are known to be brutal.
Mostly I'm just glad my books found their audience. #booksky
www.goodreads.com/series/27255...
July 17, 2025 at 3:20 PM
I have been told I should crow about this more.
Apparently goodreads reviewers are known to be brutal.
Mostly I'm just glad my books found their audience. #booksky
www.goodreads.com/series/27255...
Apparently goodreads reviewers are known to be brutal.
Mostly I'm just glad my books found their audience. #booksky
www.goodreads.com/series/27255...
"Aaaaaahhhhhh!"
-plants, somehow
-plants, somehow
Plants do not have mouths, but that doesn’t stop them from expressing themselves! This episode, Nora and Aly touch on the topic of plant communication and explore how plants signal distress.
Image by Mtaufiqurrahman
Image by Mtaufiqurrahman
July 11, 2025 at 8:28 PM
"Aaaaaahhhhhh!"
-plants, somehow
-plants, somehow
Making a Mesozoic meal!
What if you traveled back in time to the Jurassic Period … and got hungry? Could you make a meal with the plants available at the time? This episode, Nora and Aly do some speculative cooking to see what they might include in a Jurassic Salad.
June 28, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Making a Mesozoic meal!
Reposted by David Moscato
Found a baby songbird? Here's a newly updated chart!
May 22, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Found a baby songbird? Here's a newly updated chart!
Reposted by David Moscato
Episode 3 - What's Inside a Pinecone?
Out now!
Featuring an animated discussion about these CT-scan images from the Regents of the University of Michigan.
Out now!
Featuring an animated discussion about these CT-scan images from the Regents of the University of Michigan.
May 15, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Episode 3 - What's Inside a Pinecone?
Out now!
Featuring an animated discussion about these CT-scan images from the Regents of the University of Michigan.
Out now!
Featuring an animated discussion about these CT-scan images from the Regents of the University of Michigan.
Reposted by David Moscato
For the curious, this is the article that inspired this first episode:
The "sex change" (not really, but kinda) of the Fortingall Yew Tree in Scotland
www.thepinknews.com/2015/11/03/e...
The "sex change" (not really, but kinda) of the Fortingall Yew Tree in Scotland
www.thepinknews.com/2015/11/03/e...
May 11, 2025 at 8:36 PM
For the curious, this is the article that inspired this first episode:
The "sex change" (not really, but kinda) of the Fortingall Yew Tree in Scotland
www.thepinknews.com/2015/11/03/e...
The "sex change" (not really, but kinda) of the Fortingall Yew Tree in Scotland
www.thepinknews.com/2015/11/03/e...
Reposted by David Moscato
Episode 2's bonus episode (Before We Leaf) is now available for our Patrons!
Featuring even more stories of plants vs pets, including that one time David lost a lizard.
Featuring even more stories of plants vs pets, including that one time David lost a lizard.
Episode 2 - Houseplants vs Housepets
Why are so many of our favorite houseplants so dangerous to our pets? Nora and Aly investigate the antagonism between plants and animals and share some of their favorite stories of plants vs pets.
leafittouspod.podbean.com/e/episode-2-...
Why are so many of our favorite houseplants so dangerous to our pets? Nora and Aly investigate the antagonism between plants and animals and share some of their favorite stories of plants vs pets.
leafittouspod.podbean.com/e/episode-2-...
May 11, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Episode 2's bonus episode (Before We Leaf) is now available for our Patrons!
Featuring even more stories of plants vs pets, including that one time David lost a lizard.
Featuring even more stories of plants vs pets, including that one time David lost a lizard.
I'm producing a podcast with a pair of proficient plant-ladies! The first two episodes are out, and it's a ton of fun!
(I'm also on the podcast, but you'll mostly have to check out the bonus content to hear me)
(I'm also on the podcast, but you'll mostly have to check out the bonus content to hear me)
Hello! Leaf it to Us is a podcast about the science of plants and their importance to us humans!
Leaf it to Us is a descendant of @commondescentpod.bsky.social. They don't talk enough about plants, so we have BRANCHED off and said "Leaf it to Us!"
Leaf it to Us is a descendant of @commondescentpod.bsky.social. They don't talk enough about plants, so we have BRANCHED off and said "Leaf it to Us!"
May 2, 2025 at 5:20 PM
I'm producing a podcast with a pair of proficient plant-ladies! The first two episodes are out, and it's a ton of fun!
(I'm also on the podcast, but you'll mostly have to check out the bonus content to hear me)
(I'm also on the podcast, but you'll mostly have to check out the bonus content to hear me)
Thanks for having me! I had a great time dissecting de-extinction!
Easter Special!
Resurrections and unholy hybrid animals! I’m joined by @dmos150.bsky.social & @mopathguy.bsky.social to discuss de-extinction efforts and corporate science!
iTunes: tinyurl.com/bde64p48
Spotify: tinyurl.com/5fzths77
Resurrections and unholy hybrid animals! I’m joined by @dmos150.bsky.social & @mopathguy.bsky.social to discuss de-extinction efforts and corporate science!
iTunes: tinyurl.com/bde64p48
Spotify: tinyurl.com/5fzths77
April 22, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Thanks for having me! I had a great time dissecting de-extinction!
"I hurt for these wolves, creatures wholly unaware that they were created to be trophies."
Colossal’s bungled wolf announcement isn’t a conservation win. It’s a sad reminder of how the offensively rich want to foist their vision of the future on everyone. My latest for @slate.com
Those Dire Wolves Aren’t an Amazing Scientific Breakthrough. They’re a Disturbing Symbol of Where We’re Heading.
We shouldn’t be celebrating “de-extinction.” We should be focused on the species that are currently in danger.
slate.com
April 10, 2025 at 7:18 PM
"I hurt for these wolves, creatures wholly unaware that they were created to be trophies."
Reposted by David Moscato
Colossal’s bungled wolf announcement isn’t a conservation win. It’s a sad reminder of how the offensively rich want to foist their vision of the future on everyone. My latest for @slate.com
Those Dire Wolves Aren’t an Amazing Scientific Breakthrough. They’re a Disturbing Symbol of Where We’re Heading.
We shouldn’t be celebrating “de-extinction.” We should be focused on the species that are currently in danger.
slate.com
April 10, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Colossal’s bungled wolf announcement isn’t a conservation win. It’s a sad reminder of how the offensively rich want to foist their vision of the future on everyone. My latest for @slate.com
RAD-WEE
From Colossals. Including novel bones like the "Scapila" and the "Metacarpul bones". Also the patella on the back of the knee. And not ONLY "tail vertebrae" but ALSO "cadual vertebrae".
$millions and they didn't think to copy edit...
$millions and they didn't think to copy edit...
April 9, 2025 at 9:08 PM
RAD-WEE