Schrödinger's bat
@euderma44.bsky.social
Biologist. Teacher. Naturalist. Former zookeeper. Poster of trivia, animal facts, oddness, and generally interesting things. Especially bats.
The first bridge over Niagara Falls began with a kite competition.
Faced with the problem of getting the first line across the gap where the bridge was to be built, engineer Charles Ellet, Jr. proposed a kite-flying contest.
Faced with the problem of getting the first line across the gap where the bridge was to be built, engineer Charles Ellet, Jr. proposed a kite-flying contest.
January 31, 2026 at 6:15 AM
The first bridge over Niagara Falls began with a kite competition.
Faced with the problem of getting the first line across the gap where the bridge was to be built, engineer Charles Ellet, Jr. proposed a kite-flying contest.
Faced with the problem of getting the first line across the gap where the bridge was to be built, engineer Charles Ellet, Jr. proposed a kite-flying contest.
Washington Irving, author of the 1820 short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," is, appropriately, buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.
The cemetery, in Sleepy Hollow, New York, was founded in 1849 as Tarrytown Cemetery but renamed to honor Irving after his death.
Photo credit: lostnewengland.com
The cemetery, in Sleepy Hollow, New York, was founded in 1849 as Tarrytown Cemetery but renamed to honor Irving after his death.
Photo credit: lostnewengland.com
January 30, 2026 at 5:49 AM
Washington Irving, author of the 1820 short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," is, appropriately, buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.
The cemetery, in Sleepy Hollow, New York, was founded in 1849 as Tarrytown Cemetery but renamed to honor Irving after his death.
Photo credit: lostnewengland.com
The cemetery, in Sleepy Hollow, New York, was founded in 1849 as Tarrytown Cemetery but renamed to honor Irving after his death.
Photo credit: lostnewengland.com
Bing cherries, the most popular sweet cherry in the United States, was named for Ah Bing, a Chinese immigrant in Oregon.
Ah Bing immigrated to the U.S. in about 1855 and worked as a foreman at the Lewelling family fruit orchards in Milwaukie for 35 years.
Photo credit: epicgardening.com
Ah Bing immigrated to the U.S. in about 1855 and worked as a foreman at the Lewelling family fruit orchards in Milwaukie for 35 years.
Photo credit: epicgardening.com
January 29, 2026 at 5:49 AM
Bing cherries, the most popular sweet cherry in the United States, was named for Ah Bing, a Chinese immigrant in Oregon.
Ah Bing immigrated to the U.S. in about 1855 and worked as a foreman at the Lewelling family fruit orchards in Milwaukie for 35 years.
Photo credit: epicgardening.com
Ah Bing immigrated to the U.S. in about 1855 and worked as a foreman at the Lewelling family fruit orchards in Milwaukie for 35 years.
Photo credit: epicgardening.com
Madagascan Sunset Moth (Chrysiridia rhipheus). These day-flying moths are sometimes mistaken for butterflies due to their bright, iridescent coloration.
Photo credits: myanimals.com (top view); itsnature.org (underside)
Photo credits: myanimals.com (top view); itsnature.org (underside)
January 28, 2026 at 6:25 AM
Madagascan Sunset Moth (Chrysiridia rhipheus). These day-flying moths are sometimes mistaken for butterflies due to their bright, iridescent coloration.
Photo credits: myanimals.com (top view); itsnature.org (underside)
Photo credits: myanimals.com (top view); itsnature.org (underside)
Although there is a saying "that's as dumb as a two-story outhouse," they actually do exist. Some no doubt were built as a joke, or a tourist attraction, but others were put to use.
January 27, 2026 at 6:10 AM
Although there is a saying "that's as dumb as a two-story outhouse," they actually do exist. Some no doubt were built as a joke, or a tourist attraction, but others were put to use.
The Inflatable Crowd Company creates fake crowds for movies and other photographic uses. The inflatable bodies are given clothing and faces appropriate to the scene.
The artificial crowds have appeared in over 85 movies since the company began in 2002.
The artificial crowds have appeared in over 85 movies since the company began in 2002.
January 26, 2026 at 6:04 AM
The Inflatable Crowd Company creates fake crowds for movies and other photographic uses. The inflatable bodies are given clothing and faces appropriate to the scene.
The artificial crowds have appeared in over 85 movies since the company began in 2002.
The artificial crowds have appeared in over 85 movies since the company began in 2002.
There are 63 National Parks in the US. The only one that is located entirely within a city is Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis. It is also, not surprisingly, the smallest at just over 192 acres (77.7 ha).
January 25, 2026 at 6:14 AM
There are 63 National Parks in the US. The only one that is located entirely within a city is Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis. It is also, not surprisingly, the smallest at just over 192 acres (77.7 ha).
Apple's first logo, designed in 1976, featured Isaac Newton sitting under the legendary apple tree with an apple hanging above his head and a quote from a Wordsworth poem around the frame.
January 24, 2026 at 4:39 AM
Apple's first logo, designed in 1976, featured Isaac Newton sitting under the legendary apple tree with an apple hanging above his head and a quote from a Wordsworth poem around the frame.
Mercury and Venus are the only planets in our solar system that have no moons. Current models suggest that they (at least Venus) may have had moons(s) at one time but the sun's gravity caused them to either crash to the surface or be "stolen" by the sun.
Photo credit: teacherspayteachers.com
Photo credit: teacherspayteachers.com
January 23, 2026 at 5:46 AM
Mercury and Venus are the only planets in our solar system that have no moons. Current models suggest that they (at least Venus) may have had moons(s) at one time but the sun's gravity caused them to either crash to the surface or be "stolen" by the sun.
Photo credit: teacherspayteachers.com
Photo credit: teacherspayteachers.com
I before E except after ...W??
In 2017, an Irish PhD student named Nathan Cunningham wrote a computer program to look at the occurrence of "ie" versus "ei" in a list of over 350,000 common English words. He found that "ie" was three times more common than "ei." (75% to 25%)
In 2017, an Irish PhD student named Nathan Cunningham wrote a computer program to look at the occurrence of "ie" versus "ei" in a list of over 350,000 common English words. He found that "ie" was three times more common than "ei." (75% to 25%)
January 22, 2026 at 6:41 AM
I before E except after ...W??
In 2017, an Irish PhD student named Nathan Cunningham wrote a computer program to look at the occurrence of "ie" versus "ei" in a list of over 350,000 common English words. He found that "ie" was three times more common than "ei." (75% to 25%)
In 2017, an Irish PhD student named Nathan Cunningham wrote a computer program to look at the occurrence of "ie" versus "ei" in a list of over 350,000 common English words. He found that "ie" was three times more common than "ei." (75% to 25%)
There is a Starbucks cup in almost every scene of David Fincher's "Fight Club" (1999), although some are quite hard to see.
Photo credit: eksiseyler.com
Photo credit: eksiseyler.com
January 21, 2026 at 5:59 AM
There is a Starbucks cup in almost every scene of David Fincher's "Fight Club" (1999), although some are quite hard to see.
Photo credit: eksiseyler.com
Photo credit: eksiseyler.com
The classic Magic 8 Ball toy was developed as a promotional tool for Chicago’s Brunswick Billiards company in 1950. It was originally marketed as a paperweight but became one of the most popular toys of all time. Mattell still sells over a million each year.
January 20, 2026 at 5:03 AM
The classic Magic 8 Ball toy was developed as a promotional tool for Chicago’s Brunswick Billiards company in 1950. It was originally marketed as a paperweight but became one of the most popular toys of all time. Mattell still sells over a million each year.
Tiny freshwater crustaceans commonly called water fleas (genus Cyclops, >400 species) are thought to be the only living creatures with a single eye.
Photo credit: microscopy-uk.org.uk
Photo credit: microscopy-uk.org.uk
January 19, 2026 at 6:19 AM
Tiny freshwater crustaceans commonly called water fleas (genus Cyclops, >400 species) are thought to be the only living creatures with a single eye.
Photo credit: microscopy-uk.org.uk
Photo credit: microscopy-uk.org.uk
Nobody knows for sure where the phrase "brownie points" came from.
In old Scottish folklore, a brownie was a benevolent spirit or fairy that came out at night to perform household chores. But brownies would leave their house forever if they felt that they had been insulted or disrespected.
In old Scottish folklore, a brownie was a benevolent spirit or fairy that came out at night to perform household chores. But brownies would leave their house forever if they felt that they had been insulted or disrespected.
January 18, 2026 at 6:44 AM
Nobody knows for sure where the phrase "brownie points" came from.
In old Scottish folklore, a brownie was a benevolent spirit or fairy that came out at night to perform household chores. But brownies would leave their house forever if they felt that they had been insulted or disrespected.
In old Scottish folklore, a brownie was a benevolent spirit or fairy that came out at night to perform household chores. But brownies would leave their house forever if they felt that they had been insulted or disrespected.
Anomolacaris is a foot-long (0.3 m) fossil arthropod found in the Burgess Shale deposits (508 mya). When the first complete specimens were found in the late 20th century researchers realized that some of its body parts had been classified as other organisms.
January 17, 2026 at 6:50 AM
Anomolacaris is a foot-long (0.3 m) fossil arthropod found in the Burgess Shale deposits (508 mya). When the first complete specimens were found in the late 20th century researchers realized that some of its body parts had been classified as other organisms.
Created by Arthur Shapiro and Alex Rose-Henig of American University, this illusion gives the overall impression that the balls are moving in a circle – but if you follow an individual ball's path, it moves in a straight line.
January 16, 2026 at 6:06 AM
Created by Arthur Shapiro and Alex Rose-Henig of American University, this illusion gives the overall impression that the balls are moving in a circle – but if you follow an individual ball's path, it moves in a straight line.
Astronauts on the International Space Station experience 16 sunsets and 16 sunrises every (Earth) day.
Photo source: scienceabc.com
Photo source: scienceabc.com
January 15, 2026 at 6:19 AM
Astronauts on the International Space Station experience 16 sunsets and 16 sunrises every (Earth) day.
Photo source: scienceabc.com
Photo source: scienceabc.com
In the 1959 Alfred Hitchcock movie "North By Northwest," a kid in background plugs his ears before the shot actually occurs.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGZ2...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGZ2...
Funny Kid Blooper in Hitchcock's "NORTH BY NORTHWEST" (1959)
YouTube video by Porfle Popnecker
www.youtube.com
January 14, 2026 at 6:08 AM
In the 1959 Alfred Hitchcock movie "North By Northwest," a kid in background plugs his ears before the shot actually occurs.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGZ2...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGZ2...
Although rattlesnake bites can be serious, it turns out they don't bite that often. In a study by Cale Morris of the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary, a fake leg was used to "step on" 175 rattlers and only six of them bit the leg. The study was published in the journal "Biology of Rattlesnakes."
January 13, 2026 at 6:24 AM
Although rattlesnake bites can be serious, it turns out they don't bite that often. In a study by Cale Morris of the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary, a fake leg was used to "step on" 175 rattlers and only six of them bit the leg. The study was published in the journal "Biology of Rattlesnakes."
Bumble flower beetle (Euphoria inda), is a small (< 1 inch/2 cm) scarab beetle found throughout most of North America. They get their name from their unusual (for a beetle) fuzziness and the loud, bumblebee-like buzzing sound their wings make while flying.
Photo credit: Joseph Berger, Bugwood.org
Photo credit: Joseph Berger, Bugwood.org
January 12, 2026 at 6:23 AM
Bumble flower beetle (Euphoria inda), is a small (< 1 inch/2 cm) scarab beetle found throughout most of North America. They get their name from their unusual (for a beetle) fuzziness and the loud, bumblebee-like buzzing sound their wings make while flying.
Photo credit: Joseph Berger, Bugwood.org
Photo credit: Joseph Berger, Bugwood.org
Although the first baby born in the new year is always big news, fewer babies are born on January 1st than almost any other day of the year. Only Christmas Day has fewer.
January 11, 2026 at 6:54 AM
Although the first baby born in the new year is always big news, fewer babies are born on January 1st than almost any other day of the year. Only Christmas Day has fewer.
The oldest living land animal is a Seychelles giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea hololissa) named Jonathon. He is thought to have hatched c. 1832, making him at least 193 years old.
January 10, 2026 at 6:53 AM
The oldest living land animal is a Seychelles giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea hololissa) named Jonathon. He is thought to have hatched c. 1832, making him at least 193 years old.
In Greek mythology, the Oenotropae ("wingrowers") were three sisters – grand-daughters of the god Dionysus – who could produce wine, grain, or olive oil on demand.
The sisters' names were Oeno (wine), Elais (olives/olive oil), and Spermo (wheat). ("Sperm" is ancient Greek for "seed.")
The sisters' names were Oeno (wine), Elais (olives/olive oil), and Spermo (wheat). ("Sperm" is ancient Greek for "seed.")
January 8, 2026 at 6:22 AM
In Greek mythology, the Oenotropae ("wingrowers") were three sisters – grand-daughters of the god Dionysus – who could produce wine, grain, or olive oil on demand.
The sisters' names were Oeno (wine), Elais (olives/olive oil), and Spermo (wheat). ("Sperm" is ancient Greek for "seed.")
The sisters' names were Oeno (wine), Elais (olives/olive oil), and Spermo (wheat). ("Sperm" is ancient Greek for "seed.")
Water caltrop (Trapa bicornis) is a floating, aquatic plant found throughout much of Eurasia and Africa. One of its other common names – bat nut – comes from the bat-like shape of its seed pods.
January 7, 2026 at 6:06 AM
Water caltrop (Trapa bicornis) is a floating, aquatic plant found throughout much of Eurasia and Africa. One of its other common names – bat nut – comes from the bat-like shape of its seed pods.
For millenia people have looked up into the sky and created pictures to go with the groups of stars that they saw.
Sometimes it's easy to see how the name fits to the arrangement of stars (top row below). Others, not so much (bottom row).
Graphics source: best-infographics.com
Sometimes it's easy to see how the name fits to the arrangement of stars (top row below). Others, not so much (bottom row).
Graphics source: best-infographics.com
January 6, 2026 at 6:50 AM
For millenia people have looked up into the sky and created pictures to go with the groups of stars that they saw.
Sometimes it's easy to see how the name fits to the arrangement of stars (top row below). Others, not so much (bottom row).
Graphics source: best-infographics.com
Sometimes it's easy to see how the name fits to the arrangement of stars (top row below). Others, not so much (bottom row).
Graphics source: best-infographics.com