Dr. Thing Learner
@drthinglearner.bsky.social
I write and talk about science and ancient history a lot. Podcaster, children’s book author. Big fan of dogs and cool people, expert fun-haver. Occasional artist, sometimes musician. Walking pile of facts.
Find me at thinglearner.squarespace.com
Find me at thinglearner.squarespace.com
Reposted by Dr. Thing Learner
we’re scrolling around HBO and found AZTEC BATMAN and i need everyone to see Conquistador El Joker
December 24, 2025 at 10:46 PM
we’re scrolling around HBO and found AZTEC BATMAN and i need everyone to see Conquistador El Joker
Holiday greetings from the sidewalks of West Philly.
December 23, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Holiday greetings from the sidewalks of West Philly.
Let me get this straight — you want me to read it AND weep? In this economy?
December 23, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Let me get this straight — you want me to read it AND weep? In this economy?
Same! It’s weird! Especially since they all seem to copy-paste different bits of the same Scholastic review. Cmon guys.
Yup, I’ve received about 40 of these, including three pretending to be from famous authors 👇
My latest for @thebookseller.com Thanks to everyone who helped with this one!
www.thebookseller.com/news/authors...
www.thebookseller.com/news/authors...
December 23, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Same! It’s weird! Especially since they all seem to copy-paste different bits of the same Scholastic review. Cmon guys.
Boldly shitting where no cat has shat before
Searching for a new litterbox and dying laughing at this cat who looks like a toilet astronaut.
December 8, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Boldly shitting where no cat has shat before
Oh that’s not a planet, it’s my cat
Planet ahoy! It is jet and distinct. Once in a while, a gentle purr is heard.
December 7, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Oh that’s not a planet, it’s my cat
Happy Friday! If you’re free around 4pm est today, I’m doing an event (virtually) about ancient booze, and how drunkenness fits into human evolution! It’s archaeology happy hour—BYOB, naturally. You can reserve a spot here: arapahoelibraries.bibliocommons.com/events/6904c...
kermit the frog is wearing a suit and tie and holding a glass of wine and saying `` hmm . cheers . ''
Alt: kermit the frog is wearing a suit and tie and holding a glass of wine and saying `` hmm . cheers . ''
media.tenor.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Happy Friday! If you’re free around 4pm est today, I’m doing an event (virtually) about ancient booze, and how drunkenness fits into human evolution! It’s archaeology happy hour—BYOB, naturally. You can reserve a spot here: arapahoelibraries.bibliocommons.com/events/6904c...
Reposted by Dr. Thing Learner
In case you’re in the mood for some good news . . .
November 29, 2025 at 10:14 PM
In case you’re in the mood for some good news . . .
Reposted by Dr. Thing Learner
Happy consumerism bonanza day!
Throw tomatoes at target/Walmart/Amazon! Get some freaky little presents from artists!
Big corps make the wealthy wealthier & artists are trying to buy wet food for their cats.
Artists, drop your shops!
For a start, check out SquidFacts.net
More of my faves below
Throw tomatoes at target/Walmart/Amazon! Get some freaky little presents from artists!
Big corps make the wealthy wealthier & artists are trying to buy wet food for their cats.
Artists, drop your shops!
For a start, check out SquidFacts.net
More of my faves below
Support Skype a Scientist with the Squid Facts shop!
The Squid Facts shop supports Skype a Scientist! We match scientists with classrooms, scout troops, and libraries. We also connect people with...
SquidFacts.net
November 28, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Happy consumerism bonanza day!
Throw tomatoes at target/Walmart/Amazon! Get some freaky little presents from artists!
Big corps make the wealthy wealthier & artists are trying to buy wet food for their cats.
Artists, drop your shops!
For a start, check out SquidFacts.net
More of my faves below
Throw tomatoes at target/Walmart/Amazon! Get some freaky little presents from artists!
Big corps make the wealthy wealthier & artists are trying to buy wet food for their cats.
Artists, drop your shops!
For a start, check out SquidFacts.net
More of my faves below
Reposted by Dr. Thing Learner
A North Carolina-based friend of mine told me that many families are nervous to go to school or get groceries because of ICE enforcement! If you can, a generous thing to do is to donate a few bucks to help the people of Durham care for each other! bullcityschools.app.neoncrm.com/forms/84
Durham Public Schools Strong Fund
Durham Public School Strong, Durham for All and other allied community organizers have established the Durham Public Schools Strong Fund to meet urgent needs in our Durham Public Schools Community.
...
bullcityschools.app.neoncrm.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:03 PM
A North Carolina-based friend of mine told me that many families are nervous to go to school or get groceries because of ICE enforcement! If you can, a generous thing to do is to donate a few bucks to help the people of Durham care for each other! bullcityschools.app.neoncrm.com/forms/84
@michaelhobbes.bsky.social @notalawyer.bsky.social From a diet-specialist paleoarchaeologist (lapsed) and science communicator, thank you for making such a great episode about why Sapiens is such a dumb wrong book!
November 20, 2025 at 4:59 PM
@michaelhobbes.bsky.social @notalawyer.bsky.social From a diet-specialist paleoarchaeologist (lapsed) and science communicator, thank you for making such a great episode about why Sapiens is such a dumb wrong book!
Why is “booking it” used to mean really hurrying?
November 18, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Why is “booking it” used to mean really hurrying?
I’m so tired that my feelings are tired
November 14, 2025 at 2:02 AM
I’m so tired that my feelings are tired
aw BEANS I misspelled the shop link! It’s thinglearner.squarespace.com/store OOPS
ironically…well, I tried.
ironically…well, I tried.
November 12, 2025 at 11:54 PM
aw BEANS I misspelled the shop link! It’s thinglearner.squarespace.com/store OOPS
ironically…well, I tried.
ironically…well, I tried.
the gifting season is looming, and I sure would appreciate it if y’all shared this and the link to my art shop far and wide! many many thanks :)
#art #shopping #gift #artist
#art #shopping #gift #artist
This idea came to me in a dream, and even in the dream I thought “well, this is silly.” Gonna make a few more prints and put them up for sale in my shop. If you also feel like a fishperson who tried real hard, you can get one of your own.
thinglearner.squarespace.com/shop
thinglearner.squarespace.com/shop
November 12, 2025 at 11:43 PM
This idea came to me in a dream, and even in the dream I thought “well, this is silly.” Gonna make a few more prints and put them up for sale in my shop. If you also feel like a fishperson who tried real hard, you can get one of your own.
thinglearner.squarespace.com/shop
thinglearner.squarespace.com/shop
November 12, 2025 at 11:39 PM
This idea came to me in a dream, and even in the dream I thought “well, this is silly.” Gonna make a few more prints and put them up for sale in my shop. If you also feel like a fishperson who tried real hard, you can get one of your own.
thinglearner.squarespace.com/shop
thinglearner.squarespace.com/shop
Reposted by Dr. Thing Learner
Seattle's Mamdani is winning by an absurdly small margin over our incumbent mayor, who once pulled a gun on a pregnant woman in a parking lot.
Vote in your local elections!
www.thestranger.com/news/2025/11...
Vote in your local elections!
www.thestranger.com/news/2025/11...
November 11, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Seattle's Mamdani is winning by an absurdly small margin over our incumbent mayor, who once pulled a gun on a pregnant woman in a parking lot.
Vote in your local elections!
www.thestranger.com/news/2025/11...
Vote in your local elections!
www.thestranger.com/news/2025/11...
Reposted by Dr. Thing Learner
Israel will tell us with a straight face that it's a leader in green energy while doing ecocide to Gaza and emitting more than 100 countries. As COP30 begins let's remember that military emissions aren't even calculated. #cop30
November 10, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Israel will tell us with a straight face that it's a leader in green energy while doing ecocide to Gaza and emitting more than 100 countries. As COP30 begins let's remember that military emissions aren't even calculated. #cop30
Hello! I got my shit together and set up a shop page on my website! I’m doing a limited run of several of my favorite prints for now. Eventually I’ll have an option for original pieces and commissions! You can buy ‘em! I’d love it if you did. #gifts #art
thinglearner.squarespace.com/shop
thinglearner.squarespace.com/shop
November 9, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Hello! I got my shit together and set up a shop page on my website! I’m doing a limited run of several of my favorite prints for now. Eventually I’ll have an option for original pieces and commissions! You can buy ‘em! I’d love it if you did. #gifts #art
thinglearner.squarespace.com/shop
thinglearner.squarespace.com/shop
Reposted by Dr. Thing Learner
As you read the homages remember that strong commitments to racist and misogynistic beliefs when one holds potions of power and prominence shape disciplines, knowledges, and practice. All the contributions, beneficial, ignorant, and harmful, should be on the table. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
James D. Watson, Co-Discoverer of the Structure of DNA, Is Dead at 97
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:22 PM
As you read the homages remember that strong commitments to racist and misogynistic beliefs when one holds potions of power and prominence shape disciplines, knowledges, and practice. All the contributions, beneficial, ignorant, and harmful, should be on the table. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
Reposted by Dr. Thing Learner
continuing to update this resource for SNAP recipients in the Bay Area — now with 31 food businesses/restaurants where folks can get free or subsidized hot meals 💖 www.coyotemedia.org/these-bay-ar...
These Bay Area Restaurants Are Offering Free Food to SNAP Recipients
Amid a government shutdown that will cut off aid for 42 million Americans, local food scene folks plan to pick up the slack.
www.coyotemedia.org
November 6, 2025 at 11:44 PM
continuing to update this resource for SNAP recipients in the Bay Area — now with 31 food businesses/restaurants where folks can get free or subsidized hot meals 💖 www.coyotemedia.org/these-bay-ar...
Reposted by Dr. Thing Learner
Grateful to spend two days on the Klamath watching chinook, liberated by dam removal, return to streams from which they’d been precluded since the Titanic sank. Fish are everywhere, in numbers that stagger the mind & locations that biologists figured would take years to repopulate. Too beautiful.
November 5, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Grateful to spend two days on the Klamath watching chinook, liberated by dam removal, return to streams from which they’d been precluded since the Titanic sank. Fish are everywhere, in numbers that stagger the mind & locations that biologists figured would take years to repopulate. Too beautiful.
Reposted by Dr. Thing Learner
ICE has been seizing people in Allston. Boston area folks, spread the word about the LUCE hotline to report ICE sightings. And here's stickers you can print and put up anywhere:
Massachusetts folks: I made these stickers sharing LUCE's ICE hotline ☎️ 617-370-5023--they verify sightings and share confirmed info. Stickers fit 1"x2.6" label (Avery 5160). Image below or follow link for a full sheet. Print, stick every&anywhere. www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/7v098...
November 5, 2025 at 2:08 PM
ICE has been seizing people in Allston. Boston area folks, spread the word about the LUCE hotline to report ICE sightings. And here's stickers you can print and put up anywhere:
Reposted by Dr. Thing Learner
This is the kind of thing which makes me think better things are possible.
WOW. 81% of women 18-29 voted for Mamdani, 80% for Sherril, and 78% for Spanberger.
Gen Z women aren't playing around.
Gen Z women aren't playing around.
November 5, 2025 at 12:50 PM
This is the kind of thing which makes me think better things are possible.
Reposted by Dr. Thing Learner
😎😎😎😎 GOOD THINGS CAN STILL HAPPEN 😎😎😎😎
November 5, 2025 at 5:22 AM
😎😎😎😎 GOOD THINGS CAN STILL HAPPEN 😎😎😎😎