Masha Levene
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mashalevene.bsky.social
Masha Levene
@mashalevene.bsky.social
250 followers 480 following 150 posts
Nature and science enthusiast, here to learn and discover
She/her
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Reposted by Masha Levene
ascolotl.bsky.social
Learned today that “Galápagos” comes from a Spanish word for tortoise, meaning that “Galápagos Tortoise” is,

in fact,

a tortology
December 13, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Reposted by Masha Levene
seismatters.bsky.social
Having appeared on it three times, I can 100% confirm that @robinince.bsky.social *IS* the #InfiniteMonkeyCage.

Without him, it doesn’t even exist as a concept 🤷🏾‍♂️
wishusdonna.bsky.social Donner und Blitzen Scott @wishusdonna.bsky.social · 1d
I just want to say @robinince.bsky.social is the very best of humans. How the BBC could have a problem with him is beyond me. The IMC will wither on the vine without the rich, nutritious value of Robin's brain. Go see him perform, and buy all his books. Your soul will feel like it has been hugged.
Robin Ince on stage and his book Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal.
December 13, 2025 at 2:16 PM
mashalevene.bsky.social
Heartbreaking to loose such an incredible science communicator and host. One of my favourite podcasts comes to an end 😔
robinince.bsky.social Robin Ince @robinince.bsky.social · 1d
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
This is the saddest day of my professional life. Today is not only the final recording of the latest series of The Infinite Monkey Cage, it is my last ever Monkey Cage. I never thought that I would have to leave the show. I always imagined going on until | dropped dead under the studio lights due to a brain aneurysm caused by my final attempt to understand notions of quantum gravity or the shock of being told about fly maggot infestations in the sacks of macaque monkeys. I resigned in September, after sixteen years of dedication to the show, A show that I named and helped develop over all those years. Unfortunately, my opinions outside the BBC have been considered problematic for sometime, whether it has been voicing support for the trans community, criticism of Donald Trump, numerous other outlandish opinions, including once gently criticising Stephen Fry. These things were considered to conflict with being a freelance BBC science presenter In a recent meeting where BBC Studio executives again voiced problems with me, I realised my choices. Obedience and being quieter to remain making Monkey Cage, or 'Resign and have the freedom to speak out against what I believe are injustices'. • I chose the latter. It broke my heart. I love this show and I love the audience, and it is because of the audience in particular, that this decision was so difficult to make. I kept thinking about all the extremist voices promoting hate and division. They are being given so many platforms, while voices that represent kindness, open mindedness, empathy seem to be scarcer and scarcer. I felt I couldn't pamper myself with the luxury of silence. One of my many privileges is that I am able to resign and I can speak out even if it is to the detriment of my career. I have thought a lot about my heroes, Sinead O Connor, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and so many more. I think of Sinead's words, "the job of an artist is to be themselves at any cost". James Baldwin said prejudice was really just a word for cowardice. Audre Lorde, viewing her life, wrote that her only regrets were her silences. I think of my father as I resign, he brought me up to believe in fairness , justice and kindness. Though my heart is broken, it is also full of fire. I apologise to our incredible listeners for my departure, your love of the show means a great deal. I am so sorry to let you down. I hope that you can understand my reasoning. I have to accept that I am not what the current BBC expects of their freelance presenters. Despite this I should add that I have always worked far more than my contracted hours to try and ensure the show was always the best it could be, as well as making myself accessible and responsive to the audience wherever and whenever I met them. Every night, we have recorded, I have been filled with determination to make the best show possible. This was not "just a job" I hope that with my departure I can be a better ally to the LGBTQ community, to the neurodivergent community, to activists fighting against those who aim to brutalise society, to those currently in prison on hunger strike, and to all those who fight for a more inclusive world. From many conversations, I know there are many Monkey Cage listeners who support these communities and activists too. The strawberry is dead. Long live the strawberry. B
December 14, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Reposted by Masha Levene
robinince.bsky.social
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
This is the saddest day of my professional life. Today is not only the final recording of the latest series of The Infinite Monkey Cage, it is my last ever Monkey Cage. I never thought that I would have to leave the show. I always imagined going on until | dropped dead under the studio lights due to a brain aneurysm caused by my final attempt to understand notions of quantum gravity or the shock of being told about fly maggot infestations in the sacks of macaque monkeys. I resigned in September, after sixteen years of dedication to the show, A show that I named and helped develop over all those years. Unfortunately, my opinions outside the BBC have been considered problematic for sometime, whether it has been voicing support for the trans community, criticism of Donald Trump, numerous other outlandish opinions, including once gently criticising Stephen Fry. These things were considered to conflict with being a freelance BBC science presenter In a recent meeting where BBC Studio executives again voiced problems with me, I realised my choices. Obedience and being quieter to remain making Monkey Cage, or 'Resign and have the freedom to speak out against what I believe are injustices'. • I chose the latter. It broke my heart. I love this show and I love the audience, and it is because of the audience in particular, that this decision was so difficult to make. I kept thinking about all the extremist voices promoting hate and division. They are being given so many platforms, while voices that represent kindness, open mindedness, empathy seem to be scarcer and scarcer. I felt I couldn't pamper myself with the luxury of silence. One of my many privileges is that I am able to resign and I can speak out even if it is to the detriment of my career. I have thought a lot about my heroes, Sinead O Connor, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and so many more. I think of Sinead's words, "the job of an artist is to be themselves at any cost". James Baldwin said prejudice was really just a word for cowardice. Audre Lorde, viewing her life, wrote that her only regrets were her silences. I think of my father as I resign, he brought me up to believe in fairness , justice and kindness. Though my heart is broken, it is also full of fire. I apologise to our incredible listeners for my departure, your love of the show means a great deal. I am so sorry to let you down. I hope that you can understand my reasoning. I have to accept that I am not what the current BBC expects of their freelance presenters. Despite this I should add that I have always worked far more than my contracted hours to try and ensure the show was always the best it could be, as well as making myself accessible and responsive to the audience wherever and whenever I met them. Every night, we have recorded, I have been filled with determination to make the best show possible. This was not "just a job" I hope that with my departure I can be a better ally to the LGBTQ community, to the neurodivergent community, to activists fighting against those who aim to brutalise society, to those currently in prison on hunger strike, and to all those who fight for a more inclusive world. From many conversations, I know there are many Monkey Cage listeners who support these communities and activists too. The strawberry is dead. Long live the strawberry. B
December 13, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Reposted by Masha Levene
cephalopodsdaily.bsky.social
Diamondback Squids (Thysanoteuthis rhombus) lay their eggs in giant pink slinkies. These egg masses are made up of two threads of eggs wrapped around a cylinder of mucus.

These egg masses contain 35,000 to 75,000 eggs and have a length of 60 cm to 180 cm long with a diameter of 11 to 30 cm.
An egg mass of a diamondback squid (Thysanoteuthis rhombus) floating in the water. It is a large tube made out of thousands of tiny pink eggs that are in a coiled thread, forming a tube that looks not unlike a slinky. The photo as taken from one of the ends, and the coil goes into the background and to the right. It is just below the surface of the water, and you can see the reflection above it. An egg mass of a diamondback squid (Thysanoteuthis rhombus) floating in the sea just below the surface of the water. The egg mass is magenta and is a coiled thread of squid eggs, forming a tube that looks not unlike a slinky. It is making an S bend. A close up of an egg mass of a diamondback squid (Thysanoteuthis rhombus) floating in the water. It is a large tube made out of thousands of tiny pink eggs that are in a coiled thread,forming a tube that looks not unlike a slinky. The photo is taken from inside the tube. An egg mass of a diamondback squid (Thysanoteuthis rhombus) floating in the water. It is a large tube made out of thousands of tiny pink eggs that are in a coiled thread, forming a tube that looks not unlike a slinky. The coil descends from the upper left, then turns and goes right, then turn left and goes down and back, then goes slightly up
December 13, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Reposted by Masha Levene
davidbflower.bsky.social
Tonight into tomorrow night is the peak of the Geminids meteor shower. Look up. Weather permitting. 🔭 🧪
December 13, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Reposted by Masha Levene
thegmcconnachie.bsky.social
Robin Ince reveals to last night’s audience at a recording of Infinite Monkey Cage that the BBC has forced him to resign over his support of trans people
December 13, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Reposted by Masha Levene
admirablewomen.bsky.social
Who invented non-reflective glass?

American physicist & chemist Katharine Burr Blodgett in 1938.

It revolutionized optics--& led to the coatings used today in everything from eyeglasses to phone screens. She was the first woman to earn a PhD in #physics from Cambridge, 1926. #WomenInSTEM #inventor
Black-and-white 1950s photograph of physicist Katharine Burr Blodgett in her General Electric laboratory. Seated at a desk, she wears glasses and a striped short-sleeved blouse, holding a ruler and examining papers with focused intensity. Shelves of bottles and equipment line the background — the workspace of the woman who invented non-reflective glass. Side-by-side demonstration of Katharine Burr Blodgett's 1938 invention: non-reflective glass. Left: three colorful yarn balls (red, blue, yellow) are clearly visible through coated glass with no glare. Right: the same balls appear blurred and distorted by reflections through ordinary clear glass. A powerful visual proof of the invisible coating that revolutionized lenses, windows, and screens.
December 12, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Reposted by Masha Levene
samthielman.com
I saw a lot of people posting their favorite cover songs and thought I’d add mine to the mix
December 10, 2025 at 3:57 AM
Reposted by Masha Levene
neal.fun
Made a site comparing the sizes of living things :)

The great Julius Csotonyi spent 5 months painting over 60 illustrations for the site, no ai used

> neal.fun/size-of-life/
December 10, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Reposted by Masha Levene
c0nc0rdance.bsky.social
Not all owls say "who".

The saw-whet owl may have gotten its name from the resemblance of its call to a saw being sharpened on a whet-stone.

Seems like a better name than "3rd-grade-recorder-practice owl."
December 10, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Reposted by Masha Levene
chentomology.bsky.social
Like a moss 💚🌱Swipe to see the species and check if you’ve find them all! 💚
December 9, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Reposted by Masha Levene
bug-gwen.bsky.social
Did you consume too much depressing news on your timeline? Here's your palate cleanser from @dradriansmith.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJNa...
Caterpillars Are THE BEST! Here’s why.
YouTube video by Ant Lab
www.youtube.com
December 9, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Reposted by Masha Levene
royalsocietypublishing.org
We're excited to announce the finalists of the #RSPPhotoComp 2025! 🎉 Starting with #microimaging and overall winner, 'Mesmerizing spider threads' by Dr Martin Ramirez, capturing two exceptional silk threads of the Australian net-caster spider (sample obtained by Dr Jonas Wolff @evoimec.bsky.social).
'Mesmerizing spider threads' by Dr Martin J. Ramirez, captures two exceptional silk threads of the Australian net-caster spider, Asianopis subrufa.
December 4, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Reposted by Masha Levene
dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social
My favourite grasshopper fact: Grasshoppers first appeared on the planet 250 million years ago.

Grass did not appear on the planet until 40 million years ago

Imagine it: 210 million years, hopping around on any random surface you can find, waiting for the grass that will make you truly yourself.
December 6, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Reposted by Masha Levene
battysarah.bsky.social
🦇 in the news.

#bats #lovebats #nature #wildlife

scitechdaily.com/meet-the-tin...
Meet the Tiny Bat That Hunts Like a Lion
In Panama’s forests, researchers discovered that tiny fringe-lipped bats hunt with the patience and precision of big cats.
scitechdaily.com
December 6, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Reposted by Masha Levene
nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social
Yes, Jared Diamond was wrong.

Rapa Nui's people did not suffer ecological and social collapse. They adapted to changed circumstances and thrived.

And they were nothing like "primitive"

phys.org/news/2025-11...
Studies show how the giant statues on Rapa Nui were made and moved—and what caused the island's deforestation
Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, is often portrayed in popular culture as an enigma. The rationale is clear: The tiny, remote island in the Pacific features nearly 1,000 enormous statues—the moa...
phys.org
November 30, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Reposted by Masha Levene
jackdashby.bsky.social
Australia has no woodpeckers, but striped #possums are tropical #marsupials that do the same job: their big ears detect beetle grubs tunnelling in wood, which they chip out with large incisors, then use their elongated 4th finger to hook them out of the tunnels (just like aye-ayes do in Madagascar).
A gorgeous taxidermy striped possum on display in the Haus der Natur in Salzburg
December 5, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Reposted by Masha Levene
astrojonny.bsky.social
It's easy to forget we live in a future with a fully operating space station with multiple docking ports for various spacecraft.

www.space.com/space-explor...
For the 1st time ever, 8 spacecraft are docked to the International Space Station
It's the first time all the spacecraft docking ports on the current configuration of the ISS have been occupied.
www.space.com
December 3, 2025 at 6:18 AM
Reposted by Masha Levene
djolder.bsky.social
NOT A ASS OUT PASS OUT PHOTO They didn't have to do my guy like that
apnews.com The Associated Press @apnews.com · 11d
The masked burglar broke into the closed Virginia liquor store early on Saturday and hit the bottom shelf. The bandit was something of a nocturnal menace: bottles were smashed and alcohol pooled on the floor.

The suspect acted like an animal because, in fact, he's a raccoon.
Raccoon goes on drunken rampage in Virginia liquor store and passes out on bathroom floor
A raccoon broke into a closed Virginia liquor store and drank alcohol from the bottom shelves over the weekend.
bit.ly
December 3, 2025 at 4:34 AM
Reposted by Masha Levene
amcell.bsky.social
2025. #Bioacoustics - Bat 'besties' start to sound alike over time [reminds me of goat kids!] phys.org/news/2025-12...
Bat 'besties' start to sound alike over time, study finds
Ever suddenly realize you had picked up certain words or ways of speaking from a close friend? It turns out that humans are far from the only animals who copy the sounds of their closest companions—a ...
phys.org
December 3, 2025 at 3:27 AM
Reposted by Masha Levene
antlervel.vet
If you're trying to ditch NYT Games, which you should be since their games singlehandedly prop up the entire dogshit rag financially, you should switch to Puzzmo. An annual sub is 50% off today for a crazy $19 and as a bonus doesn't enable the genocides of Palestinians and trans people
Puzzmo — The (new) place for thoughtful puzzles.
Re-imagined mainstays like the daily Crossword Puzzle, modern classics like Really Bad Chess and SpellTower, and even a few brand new puzzles.
www.puzzmo.com
December 2, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Reposted by Masha Levene
nataliajagielska.bsky.social
Doodles for Hong Kong 🇭🇰

In response to the tragic Tai Po fire, I'm doing charity commissions. Anyone who puts over £25/250HKD into "Feeding Hong Kong" or Hong Kong SPCA can request a coloured doodle of any prehistoric animal 🙏
November 29, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Reposted by Masha Levene
awickenden.bsky.social
hello. if you work at a university please ask your library to buy my book. it is all about books and libraries and also plants, museums, the Royal Society, and the ways we learn. I think it will be interesting to lots of people, hopefully. thank you www.cambridge.org/gb/universit...
Hans Sloane's Library Collection and the Production of Knowledge | Cambridge University Press & Assessment
www.cambridge.org
June 30, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Reposted by Masha Levene
elisecutts.bsky.social
pfft why see when you can be sexy instead
Love practically makes these birds go blind
Unusually obstructive plumage compromises the vision of two types of pheasants—a first in birds
www.science.org
November 26, 2025 at 9:46 AM