Erin Spencer, PhD
@etspencer.bsky.social
Marine ecologist, science writer, lover of all things weird in the ocean.
Currently: Comms around mesophotic & deep restoration in the Gulf.
Order The Incredible Octopus now: https://tinyurl.com/66s9xj2p
Currently: Comms around mesophotic & deep restoration in the Gulf.
Order The Incredible Octopus now: https://tinyurl.com/66s9xj2p
Reposted by Erin Spencer, PhD
Finally out! We studied the retinas of the longest-living vertebrate, the Greenland shark, and found that the retinas remain remarkably healthy in animals around 150 years old. What is the mechanism? It may be a highly efficient DNA repair system. Enjoy!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
January 6, 2026 at 1:40 AM
Finally out! We studied the retinas of the longest-living vertebrate, the Greenland shark, and found that the retinas remain remarkably healthy in animals around 150 years old. What is the mechanism? It may be a highly efficient DNA repair system. Enjoy!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
I love being a biologist, becuase it means at any moment your Instagram stories will have someone's beach pic followed by a photo of a half-digested vole extracted from roadkill as part of a diet study. Incredible, no notes.π§ͺπ
January 9, 2026 at 3:28 PM
I love being a biologist, becuase it means at any moment your Instagram stories will have someone's beach pic followed by a photo of a half-digested vole extracted from roadkill as part of a diet study. Incredible, no notes.π§ͺπ
Happening now on the @schmidtocean.bsky.social livestream! www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCEB... π¦ππ§ͺπ
December 16, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Happening now on the @schmidtocean.bsky.social livestream! www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCEB... π¦ππ§ͺπ
Credits:
Anglerfish and brittle star: Schmidt Ocean Institute
Crab: Malcolm Clark, NIWA, NZ
Snailfish + jelly: Caladan Oceanic
Anglerfish and brittle star: Schmidt Ocean Institute
Crab: Malcolm Clark, NIWA, NZ
Snailfish + jelly: Caladan Oceanic
December 12, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Credits:
Anglerfish and brittle star: Schmidt Ocean Institute
Crab: Malcolm Clark, NIWA, NZ
Snailfish + jelly: Caladan Oceanic
Anglerfish and brittle star: Schmidt Ocean Institute
Crab: Malcolm Clark, NIWA, NZ
Snailfish + jelly: Caladan Oceanic
A little bright spot for your day -- @deepstewardship.bsky.social has a collection of incredible deep sea photos collected from partners around the world. Here are a few, and see them all here: www.flickr.com/people/19477...
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December 12, 2025 at 4:29 PM
A little bright spot for your day -- @deepstewardship.bsky.social has a collection of incredible deep sea photos collected from partners around the world. Here are a few, and see them all here: www.flickr.com/people/19477...
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Very cool new paper: Scientists observed a whiplash squid covering itself in mud, the first time this behavior has been documented for squid. They suspect the squid was arranging its tentacles to look like the stalks of a sponge or worm π¦ππ§ͺ esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
December 4, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Very cool new paper: Scientists observed a whiplash squid covering itself in mud, the first time this behavior has been documented for squid. They suspect the squid was arranging its tentacles to look like the stalks of a sponge or worm π¦ππ§ͺ esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
If you haven't see this incredible footage of a bigfin squid (Magnapinna) from @nautiluslive.org, stop what you're doing & watch! This was from last month's expedition exploring deep waters of the Cook Islands, spotted at 5,100 meters deep. ππ¦ππ§ͺ
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UvS...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UvS...
Rare Bigfin Squid Spotted in Deep Sea of Cook Islands | Nautilus Live
YouTube video by EVNautilus
www.youtube.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:52 PM
If you haven't see this incredible footage of a bigfin squid (Magnapinna) from @nautiluslive.org, stop what you're doing & watch! This was from last month's expedition exploring deep waters of the Cook Islands, spotted at 5,100 meters deep. ππ¦ππ§ͺ
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UvS...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UvS...
Reposted by Erin Spencer, PhD
Meet the engineering team behind one of MBARIβs new underwater imaging systems π€π§
Our scientists and engineers work side by side to develop cutting-edge tools that track ocean health in real time and help us visualize the ocean like never before.
Learn more: youtu.be/Kqo4MhthIkQ?...
Our scientists and engineers work side by side to develop cutting-edge tools that track ocean health in real time and help us visualize the ocean like never before.
Learn more: youtu.be/Kqo4MhthIkQ?...
Meet the engineering team behind one of MBARIβs new underwater imaging systems
YouTube video by MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute)
youtu.be
November 4, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Meet the engineering team behind one of MBARIβs new underwater imaging systems π€π§
Our scientists and engineers work side by side to develop cutting-edge tools that track ocean health in real time and help us visualize the ocean like never before.
Learn more: youtu.be/Kqo4MhthIkQ?...
Our scientists and engineers work side by side to develop cutting-edge tools that track ocean health in real time and help us visualize the ocean like never before.
Learn more: youtu.be/Kqo4MhthIkQ?...
Had a wonderful time during another @skypeascientist.bsky.social visit -- this time with 4th graders in a class in New Jersey! Sign up here if you're an educator or scientist interested in participating: www.skypeascientist.com π§ͺππ
October 29, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Had a wonderful time during another @skypeascientist.bsky.social visit -- this time with 4th graders in a class in New Jersey! Sign up here if you're an educator or scientist interested in participating: www.skypeascientist.com π§ͺππ
New paper by Wong et al.: The 2014-2016 northeast Pacific marine heatwave had well-documented impacts on deep reef fish assemblages. ROV surveys from 2005-2021 showed changes in sessile invertebrate abundance during and after the heat wave. π§ͺπ¦π
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Decadal changes in Californiaβs temperate mesophotic reef invertebrate community through the 2014-2016 Northeast Pacific marine heatwave
The 2014-2016 northeast Pacific marine heatwave (MHW) disrupted marine ecosystems in California, with well-documented impacts on kelp reef ecosystems,β¦
www.sciencedirect.com
October 27, 2025 at 1:16 PM
New paper by Wong et al.: The 2014-2016 northeast Pacific marine heatwave had well-documented impacts on deep reef fish assemblages. ROV surveys from 2005-2021 showed changes in sessile invertebrate abundance during and after the heat wave. π§ͺπ¦π
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Very cool new paper alert! On a 2024 expedition off Chile, scientists saw tons of cusk eels hanging out among tubeworms! An interesting observation of how this species uses methane seeps as important habitat. ππ¦π§ͺπ Read the paper: esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
October 23, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Very cool new paper alert! On a 2024 expedition off Chile, scientists saw tons of cusk eels hanging out among tubeworms! An interesting observation of how this species uses methane seeps as important habitat. ππ¦π§ͺπ Read the paper: esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Reposted by Erin Spencer, PhD
October 20, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Great drama happening on the Hudson Canyon livestream right now! Check it out: www.youtube.com/watch?v=n289... π§ͺπ¦ππ
September 25, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Great drama happening on the Hudson Canyon livestream right now! Check it out: www.youtube.com/watch?v=n289... π§ͺπ¦ππ
Excited to see @gardenandgun.com highlight the work of conservationists across the Southern U.S. + Bahamas in their Champions of Conservation feature. It showcases how conservation and recreation can work hand-in-hand for stronger, more lasting outcomes. ππ
gardenandgun.com/feature/cham...
gardenandgun.com/feature/cham...
Champions of Conservation 2025
Safeguarding Helene-threatened salamanders, cultivating gulf oysters, boosting mallard habitat, and spreading native grasslandsβthe work of this yearβs under-the-radar Southern eco-heroes is more impo...
gardenandgun.com
September 23, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Excited to see @gardenandgun.com highlight the work of conservationists across the Southern U.S. + Bahamas in their Champions of Conservation feature. It showcases how conservation and recreation can work hand-in-hand for stronger, more lasting outcomes. ππ
gardenandgun.com/feature/cham...
gardenandgun.com/feature/cham...
What a cool graduate opportunity!! Dietary benefits of sexual cannibalism in spiders at Oklahoma State University. π§ͺπ©βπ¬π
sevenseasmedia.org/job/ms-or-ph...
sevenseasmedia.org/job/ms-or-ph...
MS or PhD Opportunity: Nutritional Ecology of Sexual Cannibalism in Spiders
2. Land, Freshwater & Biodiversity Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States Posted 1 hour ago Oklahoma State University Position Overview Application Deadline: October 15, 2025Hours per Week: at least 20Sa...
sevenseasmedia.org
September 15, 2025 at 1:49 PM
What a cool graduate opportunity!! Dietary benefits of sexual cannibalism in spiders at Oklahoma State University. π§ͺπ©βπ¬π
sevenseasmedia.org/job/ms-or-ph...
sevenseasmedia.org/job/ms-or-ph...
A curious little guy! Spotted on @schmidtocean.bsky.social livestream from 9/8: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivht... ππ¦ππ
September 11, 2025 at 1:29 PM
A curious little guy! Spotted on @schmidtocean.bsky.social livestream from 9/8: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivht... ππ¦ππ
Catching up on my shows today @schmidtocean.bsky.social ππ¦π§ͺππ
September 9, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Catching up on my shows today @schmidtocean.bsky.social ππ¦π§ͺππ
Starting TODAY: Join scientists at sea to learn more about deep sea restoration in real time. Our fall livestream series features many opportunities to hear about ROVs, deep corals, and more. ππ¦π§ͺπ
Learn more: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/news/mdbc-li...
Learn more: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/news/mdbc-li...
Watch live: NOAA and Partners Lead Expedition to Advance Deep-Sea Habitat Restoration in the Gulf - NOAA Ocean Exploration
The upcoming expedition is part of a multi-year collaborative effort to restore deep-sea habitats in the Gulf of Mexico that were injured by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the largest offshore ...
oceanexplorer.noaa.gov
September 9, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Starting TODAY: Join scientists at sea to learn more about deep sea restoration in real time. Our fall livestream series features many opportunities to hear about ROVs, deep corals, and more. ππ¦π§ͺπ
Learn more: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/news/mdbc-li...
Learn more: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/news/mdbc-li...
Reposted by Erin Spencer, PhD
The bumpy snailfish, discovered 10,000 feet down off the coast of California, shows that not all denizens of the abyss are frightening. (I watched the video more than 10 times.)
My latest for @nytimes.com (gift link!)
#marinelife
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/08/s...
My latest for @nytimes.com (gift link!)
#marinelife
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/08/s...
A New, βAdorableβ Deep-Sea Fish Swims Into View
www.nytimes.com
September 8, 2025 at 3:14 PM
The bumpy snailfish, discovered 10,000 feet down off the coast of California, shows that not all denizens of the abyss are frightening. (I watched the video more than 10 times.)
My latest for @nytimes.com (gift link!)
#marinelife
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/08/s...
My latest for @nytimes.com (gift link!)
#marinelife
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/08/s...
This deep-sea worm creates a toxic yellow pigment found in Rembrandt and CΓ©zanne paintings!
Paralvinella hessleri is the first known animal to create orpiment, which was used by artists for centuries. π¦π§ͺπ
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Paralvinella hessleri is the first known animal to create orpiment, which was used by artists for centuries. π¦π§ͺπ
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
September 4, 2025 at 1:10 PM
This deep-sea worm creates a toxic yellow pigment found in Rembrandt and CΓ©zanne paintings!
Paralvinella hessleri is the first known animal to create orpiment, which was used by artists for centuries. π¦π§ͺπ
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Paralvinella hessleri is the first known animal to create orpiment, which was used by artists for centuries. π¦π§ͺπ
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Good news out of the Gulf -- A new project found that modified turtle excluder devices (TEDs) successfully excluded small turtles while maintaining shrimp catch. ππ¦π§ͺπ
gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/2025/07/smal...
gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/2025/07/smal...
Small Bar TEDs Successfully Exclude Small Turtles | Gulf Spill Restoration
The Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group recently completed a project addressing juvenile sea turtle bycatch in the Gulf of America otter trawl shrimp fishery. In partnership with the fishery, the ...
gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov
August 15, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Good news out of the Gulf -- A new project found that modified turtle excluder devices (TEDs) successfully excluded small turtles while maintaining shrimp catch. ππ¦π§ͺπ
gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/2025/07/smal...
gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/2025/07/smal...
Reposted by Erin Spencer, PhD
It all started with a grand challenge: How can we unlock the potential for ocean life to inspire future technologies? @mbarinews.bsky.social's Bioinspiration Lab has spent years trying to tackle this problem, and we recently developed 4000 m-rated EyeRIS, an in situ lightfield imaging system. 2/n
August 7, 2025 at 8:14 PM
It all started with a grand challenge: How can we unlock the potential for ocean life to inspire future technologies? @mbarinews.bsky.social's Bioinspiration Lab has spent years trying to tackle this problem, and we recently developed 4000 m-rated EyeRIS, an in situ lightfield imaging system. 2/n
Reposted by Erin Spencer, PhD
What EyeRIS revealed was incredible, fine-scale detail of the 3D movements of octopus arms as they crawled over the seafloor completely unconstrained. We learned that octopus crawl by creating a modified foot that persists throughout the behavior, a simplification that could aid roboticists. 8/n
August 7, 2025 at 8:14 PM
What EyeRIS revealed was incredible, fine-scale detail of the 3D movements of octopus arms as they crawled over the seafloor completely unconstrained. We learned that octopus crawl by creating a modified foot that persists throughout the behavior, a simplification that could aid roboticists. 8/n
Deep-sea livestreams can inspire wonder and drive action. @schmidtocean.bsky.social's current expedition in Mar del Plata canyon, off the Argentine coast, has become an internet sensation -- just as Argentinaβs president threatens to cut and privatize science. π¦ππ§ͺ
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/08/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/08/w...
August 11, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Deep-sea livestreams can inspire wonder and drive action. @schmidtocean.bsky.social's current expedition in Mar del Plata canyon, off the Argentine coast, has become an internet sensation -- just as Argentinaβs president threatens to cut and privatize science. π¦ππ§ͺ
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/08/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/08/w...
Thanks SyFy for sharing our recent great hammerhead energetics paper! And for pairing it with a Sharknado promo, which feels like the bigget win of all. πππ§ͺπ¦
www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/ho...
www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/ho...
How Great Hammerheads Survive on a Diet of Other Sharks
Great hammerhead sharks eat other large sharks. They can survive on a single blacktip shark every few weeks. Here's what you need to know!
www.syfy.com
August 11, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Thanks SyFy for sharing our recent great hammerhead energetics paper! And for pairing it with a Sharknado promo, which feels like the bigget win of all. πππ§ͺπ¦
www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/ho...
www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/ho...