Maija Karala
@maijakarala.bsky.social
Illustrator, science writer and a bit of a crazy rat lady. Paleontology, biodiversity, animal behaviour.
Pinned
Maija Karala
@maijakarala.bsky.social
· Feb 7
Our @arador-innovations.bsky.social newest project is up for preorder now, both in English and Finnish!
After our acclaimed The Mind of a Horse comes a new book: The Mind of a Dog. Science Meets Comics! It's cutting edge animal cognition science packaged into a comic book story.
After our acclaimed The Mind of a Horse comes a new book: The Mind of a Dog. Science Meets Comics! It's cutting edge animal cognition science packaged into a comic book story.
A little chain of scritches.
November 12, 2025 at 7:20 PM
A little chain of scritches.
Reposted by Maija Karala
Spiny friends!
Stegosaurs bore a fantastical variety of bony plates, spines and osteoderms, probably a mix between ornamental, defensive and offensive.
Stegosaurs bore a fantastical variety of bony plates, spines and osteoderms, probably a mix between ornamental, defensive and offensive.
October 24, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Spiny friends!
Stegosaurs bore a fantastical variety of bony plates, spines and osteoderms, probably a mix between ornamental, defensive and offensive.
Stegosaurs bore a fantastical variety of bony plates, spines and osteoderms, probably a mix between ornamental, defensive and offensive.
Shelter cats.
I visited the animal shelter at Lohja, southern Finland, in preparation for an upcoming book project. Despite decades of work, cats still end up in shelters in shocking numbers.
I’m not usually a cat person but seeing these poor guys, I might have taken a few home with me if I could.
I visited the animal shelter at Lohja, southern Finland, in preparation for an upcoming book project. Despite decades of work, cats still end up in shelters in shocking numbers.
I’m not usually a cat person but seeing these poor guys, I might have taken a few home with me if I could.
November 3, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Shelter cats.
I visited the animal shelter at Lohja, southern Finland, in preparation for an upcoming book project. Despite decades of work, cats still end up in shelters in shocking numbers.
I’m not usually a cat person but seeing these poor guys, I might have taken a few home with me if I could.
I visited the animal shelter at Lohja, southern Finland, in preparation for an upcoming book project. Despite decades of work, cats still end up in shelters in shocking numbers.
I’m not usually a cat person but seeing these poor guys, I might have taken a few home with me if I could.
Wake me up when spring comes, please.
October 31, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Wake me up when spring comes, please.
Phew, finally done with the introductions! It took almost three weeks this time, but all the big boy rats have now accepted the newcomers.
There doesn't seem to be any rule to the varying difficulty of rat introductions. It can take a couple of ours or a month - just roll the dice and try.
There doesn't seem to be any rule to the varying difficulty of rat introductions. It can take a couple of ours or a month - just roll the dice and try.
October 30, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Phew, finally done with the introductions! It took almost three weeks this time, but all the big boy rats have now accepted the newcomers.
There doesn't seem to be any rule to the varying difficulty of rat introductions. It can take a couple of ours or a month - just roll the dice and try.
There doesn't seem to be any rule to the varying difficulty of rat introductions. It can take a couple of ours or a month - just roll the dice and try.
I haven’t had much time for drawing anything personal lately, but here’s a quick doodle of my rat Hönö, who curled into this seemingly very uncomfortable position and then promptly fell asleep using himself as a pillow.
October 29, 2025 at 5:30 PM
I haven’t had much time for drawing anything personal lately, but here’s a quick doodle of my rat Hönö, who curled into this seemingly very uncomfortable position and then promptly fell asleep using himself as a pillow.
Beginning of the Polar Night.
It's this time of the year again - sun barely rises and is most of the time obscured by clouds. Back in the Cretaceous, Arctic winters would have been even darker and greyer: warmer climate meant little snow, and studies suggest a permanent polar cloud cap. Poor dinos.
It's this time of the year again - sun barely rises and is most of the time obscured by clouds. Back in the Cretaceous, Arctic winters would have been even darker and greyer: warmer climate meant little snow, and studies suggest a permanent polar cloud cap. Poor dinos.
October 29, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Beginning of the Polar Night.
It's this time of the year again - sun barely rises and is most of the time obscured by clouds. Back in the Cretaceous, Arctic winters would have been even darker and greyer: warmer climate meant little snow, and studies suggest a permanent polar cloud cap. Poor dinos.
It's this time of the year again - sun barely rises and is most of the time obscured by clouds. Back in the Cretaceous, Arctic winters would have been even darker and greyer: warmer climate meant little snow, and studies suggest a permanent polar cloud cap. Poor dinos.
Spiny friends!
Stegosaurs bore a fantastical variety of bony plates, spines and osteoderms, probably a mix between ornamental, defensive and offensive.
Stegosaurs bore a fantastical variety of bony plates, spines and osteoderms, probably a mix between ornamental, defensive and offensive.
October 24, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Spiny friends!
Stegosaurs bore a fantastical variety of bony plates, spines and osteoderms, probably a mix between ornamental, defensive and offensive.
Stegosaurs bore a fantastical variety of bony plates, spines and osteoderms, probably a mix between ornamental, defensive and offensive.
Tulkaa tällä viikolla moikkaamaan kirjamessuille! 😊
If you happen to be around Helsinki this week, come meet me and @villesinkkonen.bsky.social at the book fair!
If you happen to be around Helsinki this week, come meet me and @villesinkkonen.bsky.social at the book fair!
Tule tapaamaan suosittujen tiedesarjakuvien tekijöitä @helsinginkirjamessut ! Tekijätiimi on Aradorin osastolla 7g135 la ja su klo 13-15 ja 16-18, osa tiimistä myös muina aikoina.
Messuilta saat kirjan edullisemmin kuin muualta!
#koirat #lemmikit #kirjamessut #helsinginkirjamessut #kirjamessut2025
Messuilta saat kirjan edullisemmin kuin muualta!
#koirat #lemmikit #kirjamessut #helsinginkirjamessut #kirjamessut2025
October 22, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Tulkaa tällä viikolla moikkaamaan kirjamessuille! 😊
If you happen to be around Helsinki this week, come meet me and @villesinkkonen.bsky.social at the book fair!
If you happen to be around Helsinki this week, come meet me and @villesinkkonen.bsky.social at the book fair!
These are seriously wonderful books with so many talented artists featured! I'm honored (and still a bit amazed) to be featured in part II.
What is #PALAEOART / #PALEOART looking like in 2025? Buy the spectacular #MesozoicArtII - published by @chiffchat.bsky.social, edited by @sharkbitesteve.bsky.social and I - now. Info and links... tetzoo.com/blog/2025/9/...
Mesozoic Art II, Palaeoart Portfolio for the 2020s — Tetrapod Zoology
Among the most successful of books I’ve been involved in are those devoted to palaeoart. In particular, I’m thinking here of 2022’s Mesozoic Art , edited by Steve White and myself and published by Bl...
tetzoo.com
October 20, 2025 at 9:33 AM
These are seriously wonderful books with so many talented artists featured! I'm honored (and still a bit amazed) to be featured in part II.
Pet rat update: we have new babies! 💗
These adorable little boys moved in a week ago. I’ve been getting to know them, trying to think of names and slowly introducing them to the big boys. It has been a bit more of a hassle than anticipated.
A little thread on introducing new pets to older ones.
These adorable little boys moved in a week ago. I’ve been getting to know them, trying to think of names and slowly introducing them to the big boys. It has been a bit more of a hassle than anticipated.
A little thread on introducing new pets to older ones.
October 17, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Pet rat update: we have new babies! 💗
These adorable little boys moved in a week ago. I’ve been getting to know them, trying to think of names and slowly introducing them to the big boys. It has been a bit more of a hassle than anticipated.
A little thread on introducing new pets to older ones.
These adorable little boys moved in a week ago. I’ve been getting to know them, trying to think of names and slowly introducing them to the big boys. It has been a bit more of a hassle than anticipated.
A little thread on introducing new pets to older ones.
Reposted by Maija Karala
Our new book of nonfiction comics is out now! 🎉
In English: www.arador.info/mindofdog
In Finnish: www.arador.info/koiranmieli
Created by the same scientist-artist team as the multiple-award-winning book "The Mind of a Horse. Science Meets Comics" 🏆
#dogs #pets #animals #nonfiction #comics
In English: www.arador.info/mindofdog
In Finnish: www.arador.info/koiranmieli
Created by the same scientist-artist team as the multiple-award-winning book "The Mind of a Horse. Science Meets Comics" 🏆
#dogs #pets #animals #nonfiction #comics
October 15, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Our new book of nonfiction comics is out now! 🎉
In English: www.arador.info/mindofdog
In Finnish: www.arador.info/koiranmieli
Created by the same scientist-artist team as the multiple-award-winning book "The Mind of a Horse. Science Meets Comics" 🏆
#dogs #pets #animals #nonfiction #comics
In English: www.arador.info/mindofdog
In Finnish: www.arador.info/koiranmieli
Created by the same scientist-artist team as the multiple-award-winning book "The Mind of a Horse. Science Meets Comics" 🏆
#dogs #pets #animals #nonfiction #comics
Reposted by Maija Karala
Nyt se on ilmestynyt! 🎉 Loistava lahjaidea tai iloksi itselle. Sopii aikuisille ja nuorille.
Katso näytesivuja suomenkielisestä kirjasta: www.arador.info/koiranmieli
Check out sample pages of the English-language book: www.arador.info/mindofdog
#koirat #lemmikit #eläimet #tietokirjat #sarjakuvat
Katso näytesivuja suomenkielisestä kirjasta: www.arador.info/koiranmieli
Check out sample pages of the English-language book: www.arador.info/mindofdog
#koirat #lemmikit #eläimet #tietokirjat #sarjakuvat
October 15, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Nyt se on ilmestynyt! 🎉 Loistava lahjaidea tai iloksi itselle. Sopii aikuisille ja nuorille.
Katso näytesivuja suomenkielisestä kirjasta: www.arador.info/koiranmieli
Check out sample pages of the English-language book: www.arador.info/mindofdog
#koirat #lemmikit #eläimet #tietokirjat #sarjakuvat
Katso näytesivuja suomenkielisestä kirjasta: www.arador.info/koiranmieli
Check out sample pages of the English-language book: www.arador.info/mindofdog
#koirat #lemmikit #eläimet #tietokirjat #sarjakuvat
Goblins behind a screen of feathers, old and new.
Since living dinosaurs look somewhat unhinged without their feathers, the same was probably true of their ancient non-avian cousins, such as Velociraptor.
#Sciart
Since living dinosaurs look somewhat unhinged without their feathers, the same was probably true of their ancient non-avian cousins, such as Velociraptor.
#Sciart
October 15, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Goblins behind a screen of feathers, old and new.
Since living dinosaurs look somewhat unhinged without their feathers, the same was probably true of their ancient non-avian cousins, such as Velociraptor.
#Sciart
Since living dinosaurs look somewhat unhinged without their feathers, the same was probably true of their ancient non-avian cousins, such as Velociraptor.
#Sciart
Reposted by Maija Karala
The earth has reached its first catastrophic tipping point linked to greenhouse gas emissions, with warm water coral reefs now facing a long-term decline and risking the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people, according to a new report.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Planet’s first catastrophic climate tipping point reached, report says, with coral reefs facing ‘widespread dieback’
Unless global heating is reduced to 1.2C ‘as fast as possible’, warm water coral reefs will not remain ‘at any meaningful scale’, a report by 160 scientists from 23 countries warns
www.theguardian.com
October 13, 2025 at 2:45 PM
The earth has reached its first catastrophic tipping point linked to greenhouse gas emissions, with warm water coral reefs now facing a long-term decline and risking the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people, according to a new report.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
October moths
Even now it’s not too late to cling to the last remnants of summer and go looking for moths. These are some of the species that can still be seen in Finland & elsewhere in Northern Europe, drawn after my own photos.
Even now it’s not too late to cling to the last remnants of summer and go looking for moths. These are some of the species that can still be seen in Finland & elsewhere in Northern Europe, drawn after my own photos.
October 12, 2025 at 4:57 PM
October moths
Even now it’s not too late to cling to the last remnants of summer and go looking for moths. These are some of the species that can still be seen in Finland & elsewhere in Northern Europe, drawn after my own photos.
Even now it’s not too late to cling to the last remnants of summer and go looking for moths. These are some of the species that can still be seen in Finland & elsewhere in Northern Europe, drawn after my own photos.
Pet rat update!
Today, I’d like to introduce Elmo, one of the six-month old teenagers. He’s not only very cute, but also has some interesting genetics – a homeobox mutation, temperature-dependent albinism, and a complex ancestry. Here's a thread on pet rat genetics.
Today, I’d like to introduce Elmo, one of the six-month old teenagers. He’s not only very cute, but also has some interesting genetics – a homeobox mutation, temperature-dependent albinism, and a complex ancestry. Here's a thread on pet rat genetics.
October 10, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Pet rat update!
Today, I’d like to introduce Elmo, one of the six-month old teenagers. He’s not only very cute, but also has some interesting genetics – a homeobox mutation, temperature-dependent albinism, and a complex ancestry. Here's a thread on pet rat genetics.
Today, I’d like to introduce Elmo, one of the six-month old teenagers. He’s not only very cute, but also has some interesting genetics – a homeobox mutation, temperature-dependent albinism, and a complex ancestry. Here's a thread on pet rat genetics.
Reposted by Maija Karala
"Similar radiocarbon dates for woolly mammoth and woolly rhino fossils from the same sites imply the presence of both faunas during this period." 🦣🦏🦛
Intriguing study just out in @currentbiology.bsky.social led by Patrick Arnold & Michi Hofreiter @unipotsdam.bsky.social showing hippos might have still been roaming central Europe in the last ice age www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... 🧪🦛#quaternary
Ancient DNA and dating evidence for the dispersal of hippos into central Europe during the last glacial
Late Pleistocene hippo fossils (Hippopotamus amphibius) from Europe have generally been associated with the last interglacial period (Eemian, 129–115 …
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982225012059🧪🦛#quaternary
October 9, 2025 at 11:16 AM
"Similar radiocarbon dates for woolly mammoth and woolly rhino fossils from the same sites imply the presence of both faunas during this period." 🦣🦏🦛
Nähdään parin viikon päästä Kirjamessuilla!
Uutuuskirja ”Koiran mieli. Tiedettä sarjakuvana” @helsinginkirjamessut
To 23.10. klo 17–17.30 messujen Tiedetorilla: Miten koira ajattelee ja tuntee?
La 25.10. ja su 26.10.: Kirjan tekijätiimi tavattavissa Aradorin osastolla 7g135 klo 13–15 ja 16–18.
#koirat #tietokirjat #sarjakuvat #kirjamessut
To 23.10. klo 17–17.30 messujen Tiedetorilla: Miten koira ajattelee ja tuntee?
La 25.10. ja su 26.10.: Kirjan tekijätiimi tavattavissa Aradorin osastolla 7g135 klo 13–15 ja 16–18.
#koirat #tietokirjat #sarjakuvat #kirjamessut
October 7, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Nähdään parin viikon päästä Kirjamessuilla!
I missed World Animal Day, but here in Finland, it's an entire theme week. This year, it's about the welfare of small furry pets: rodents and rabbits. They make amazing pets when treated right - but they are not the "easy" children's pets often thought.
Could also be #Rattober 1 - Friend-shaped rat
Could also be #Rattober 1 - Friend-shaped rat
October 6, 2025 at 4:39 PM
I missed World Animal Day, but here in Finland, it's an entire theme week. This year, it's about the welfare of small furry pets: rodents and rabbits. They make amazing pets when treated right - but they are not the "easy" children's pets often thought.
Could also be #Rattober 1 - Friend-shaped rat
Could also be #Rattober 1 - Friend-shaped rat
Reposted by Maija Karala
Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.
October 5, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.
Well, looking at this!
I went hunting for wild truffles and brought this truffle-scented tissue for the rats. Taika's first idea was to grab it and bring it to me.
Taika has such a keen interest in mushrooms I'm sure he would be an excellent searcher if I could take him into the woods safely.
I went hunting for wild truffles and brought this truffle-scented tissue for the rats. Taika's first idea was to grab it and bring it to me.
Taika has such a keen interest in mushrooms I'm sure he would be an excellent searcher if I could take him into the woods safely.
October 5, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Well, looking at this!
I went hunting for wild truffles and brought this truffle-scented tissue for the rats. Taika's first idea was to grab it and bring it to me.
Taika has such a keen interest in mushrooms I'm sure he would be an excellent searcher if I could take him into the woods safely.
I went hunting for wild truffles and brought this truffle-scented tissue for the rats. Taika's first idea was to grab it and bring it to me.
Taika has such a keen interest in mushrooms I'm sure he would be an excellent searcher if I could take him into the woods safely.
Sad news: the kakapo population is down to 237 after a female bird called Solstice died of an infection.
According to the Kakapo Recovery Facebook page, she had
• 8 clutches
• 24 eggs laid
• 13 fertile eggs
• 6 chicks hatched
• 4 living offspring
• 27 descendants
According to the Kakapo Recovery Facebook page, she had
• 8 clutches
• 24 eggs laid
• 13 fertile eggs
• 6 chicks hatched
• 4 living offspring
• 27 descendants
October 5, 2025 at 6:42 AM
Sad news: the kakapo population is down to 237 after a female bird called Solstice died of an infection.
According to the Kakapo Recovery Facebook page, she had
• 8 clutches
• 24 eggs laid
• 13 fertile eggs
• 6 chicks hatched
• 4 living offspring
• 27 descendants
According to the Kakapo Recovery Facebook page, she had
• 8 clutches
• 24 eggs laid
• 13 fertile eggs
• 6 chicks hatched
• 4 living offspring
• 27 descendants
Reposted by Maija Karala
A lovely story about Dr Jane Goodall's career & legacy, from Rachel Fieldhouse & Mohana Basu, in @nature.com www.nature.com/articles/d41.... Includes some comments from me about how researchers _can also_ be advocates and science communicators, and still be taken seriously (I hope)!
Vale, Jane.
Vale, Jane.
Jane Goodall’s legacy: three ways she changed science
The primatologist challenged what it meant to be a scientist.
www.nature.com
October 2, 2025 at 12:18 PM
A lovely story about Dr Jane Goodall's career & legacy, from Rachel Fieldhouse & Mohana Basu, in @nature.com www.nature.com/articles/d41.... Includes some comments from me about how researchers _can also_ be advocates and science communicators, and still be taken seriously (I hope)!
Vale, Jane.
Vale, Jane.