Dr. Or M. Bialik |📚|🔬|🌊|⚒️
@obialik.bsky.social
Sediment, climate change, and impostor syndrome | Science and SFF for the win | Writing for a living and fun | Opinions are my own (or the characters' in my head).
Academic stuff: https://obialik.weebly.com
Non-academic writing: https://ombialik.weebly.com
Academic stuff: https://obialik.weebly.com
Non-academic writing: https://ombialik.weebly.com
Pinned
BECAUSE MY MOM SAID SO
Meet Ismat and follow them as they try to navigate their identity, workplace romance, their mom, and somehow also thwart a conservative conspiracy.
itch.io: obialik.itch.io/because-my-m...
Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B0DSG7WBLY
B2R: books2read.com/u/31oj9W
🌈📚🪐 | 📚💙 | 🌈🚀💫
Meet Ismat and follow them as they try to navigate their identity, workplace romance, their mom, and somehow also thwart a conservative conspiracy.
itch.io: obialik.itch.io/because-my-m...
Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B0DSG7WBLY
B2R: books2read.com/u/31oj9W
🌈📚🪐 | 📚💙 | 🌈🚀💫
Retrograde amnesia is one of those things that is constantly misrepresented in media. One interesting bit of it is how the process of long-term memory storage (memory consolidation) ties into it and somewhat protects older memories. 🧪
Link: link.springer.com/article/10.3...
Link: link.springer.com/article/10.3...
January 6, 2026 at 6:10 AM
Retrograde amnesia is one of those things that is constantly misrepresented in media. One interesting bit of it is how the process of long-term memory storage (memory consolidation) ties into it and somewhat protects older memories. 🧪
Link: link.springer.com/article/10.3...
Link: link.springer.com/article/10.3...
Anyone who says scientists aren't creatives either has a very poor and archaic opinion of people in creative fields or has no sense of what a scientist's work actually entails.
January 5, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Anyone who says scientists aren't creatives either has a very poor and archaic opinion of people in creative fields or has no sense of what a scientist's work actually entails.
Reefs change their environment in a multitude of ways, even the microbes around them. Microbial life responds to the benthic structure, forming daily patterns that repeat and influence how energy and nutrients move through the reefal ecosystem. 🧪🌊
Link: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Link: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
![Community composition of prokaryotes and microeukaryotes.
Beta diversity of prokaryotes (A and C) (16S rRNA gene amplicons) and microeukaryotes (B and D) (18S rRNA gene amplicons) in winter [(A) and (B)] and summer [(C) and (D)], based on principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) of Bray-Curtis dissimilarity. Sampling stations are indicated by color; sampling times are indicated by shape. Stations within each site (KA and NR) were sampled in parallel. Vectors represent biogeochemical parameters significantly correlated with the ordination (P < 0.01, permutation test). Chl, chlorophyll a.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ywwbhwuq4sszjve7kdshnahd/bafkreiax2nn4ht6a4n7bw7ft4jakghit6s3nxt62ixk7eziwscpgebexgy@jpeg)
January 5, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Reefs change their environment in a multitude of ways, even the microbes around them. Microbial life responds to the benthic structure, forming daily patterns that repeat and influence how energy and nutrients move through the reefal ecosystem. 🧪🌊
Link: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Link: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Dr. Or M. Bialik |📚|🔬|🌊|⚒️
Wishing you all a happy new year!!
Reminder: There are just 10 more days to submit an abstract to #EGU26!
If you work on #carbonates, both #modern / #ancient, consider submitting an abstract in SSP3.7, convened by @lokier.bsky.social, @arnaudgallois.bsky.social & Karolina Bienko
#sedimentology
Reminder: There are just 10 more days to submit an abstract to #EGU26!
If you work on #carbonates, both #modern / #ancient, consider submitting an abstract in SSP3.7, convened by @lokier.bsky.social, @arnaudgallois.bsky.social & Karolina Bienko
#sedimentology
January 5, 2026 at 7:49 AM
Wishing you all a happy new year!!
Reminder: There are just 10 more days to submit an abstract to #EGU26!
If you work on #carbonates, both #modern / #ancient, consider submitting an abstract in SSP3.7, convened by @lokier.bsky.social, @arnaudgallois.bsky.social & Karolina Bienko
#sedimentology
Reminder: There are just 10 more days to submit an abstract to #EGU26!
If you work on #carbonates, both #modern / #ancient, consider submitting an abstract in SSP3.7, convened by @lokier.bsky.social, @arnaudgallois.bsky.social & Karolina Bienko
#sedimentology
The Octopuses and the Diver (1814) is best known as the earliest example of the genre known as tentacle hentai. But there is context to it, like the contemporary sexualized depiction of female divers, or it's relatio to the story of Princess Tamatori. 🧪
Link: www.jstor.org/stable/42597...
Link: www.jstor.org/stable/42597...
January 5, 2026 at 6:02 AM
The Octopuses and the Diver (1814) is best known as the earliest example of the genre known as tentacle hentai. But there is context to it, like the contemporary sexualized depiction of female divers, or it's relatio to the story of Princess Tamatori. 🧪
Link: www.jstor.org/stable/42597...
Link: www.jstor.org/stable/42597...
Was trying to find an old figure I made (for my @sedsonline.bsky.social talk next week, more details soon) and ended up going through a bunch of analysis I did a long time ago. Some I need to revisit eventually, but some... I have no idea what I was trying to do.
January 4, 2026 at 8:43 PM
Was trying to find an old figure I made (for my @sedsonline.bsky.social talk next week, more details soon) and ended up going through a bunch of analysis I did a long time ago. Some I need to revisit eventually, but some... I have no idea what I was trying to do.
Reposted by Dr. Or M. Bialik |📚|🔬|🌊|⚒️
Major heat wave in the North Atlantic had widespread and lasting impacts on marine life | Science Advances www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
January 2, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Major heat wave in the North Atlantic had widespread and lasting impacts on marine life | Science Advances www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Catching up on the #SciFiScience behind the British Navy's quantum inertial navigation experiment (which is really crazy to say). It would be hard to do it on anything small, but it'll be a powerful upgrade for inertial positioning on ships. 🧪
Link: www.frontiersin.org/journals/phy...
Link: www.frontiersin.org/journals/phy...
January 4, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Catching up on the #SciFiScience behind the British Navy's quantum inertial navigation experiment (which is really crazy to say). It would be hard to do it on anything small, but it'll be a powerful upgrade for inertial positioning on ships. 🧪
Link: www.frontiersin.org/journals/phy...
Link: www.frontiersin.org/journals/phy...
Are boredom and curiosity opposite poles of the same cognitive mechanism? This somewhat makes sense; both can push one to information-seeking. I never thought about that, but it does highlight the importance of downtime and being a bit bored sometimes. 🧪
www.frontiersin.org/journals/psy...
www.frontiersin.org/journals/psy...
January 4, 2026 at 5:04 AM
Are boredom and curiosity opposite poles of the same cognitive mechanism? This somewhat makes sense; both can push one to information-seeking. I never thought about that, but it does highlight the importance of downtime and being a bit bored sometimes. 🧪
www.frontiersin.org/journals/psy...
www.frontiersin.org/journals/psy...
Me (trying to write a short story): going to keep it simple and focused.
Also me: Yes, I definitely need to have detailed notes on all of these twenty-seven characters.
#WritingCommunity
Also me: Yes, I definitely need to have detailed notes on all of these twenty-seven characters.
#WritingCommunity
January 3, 2026 at 10:18 PM
Me (trying to write a short story): going to keep it simple and focused.
Also me: Yes, I definitely need to have detailed notes on all of these twenty-seven characters.
#WritingCommunity
Also me: Yes, I definitely need to have detailed notes on all of these twenty-seven characters.
#WritingCommunity
This video by Economics Explained is worth a watch.
It nicely breaks down the case on why there is an argument that reducing emissions could slow economic activity (in some sectors), and how the net economy might not actually need to shrink, with real-world examples.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSo_...
It nicely breaks down the case on why there is an argument that reducing emissions could slow economic activity (in some sectors), and how the net economy might not actually need to shrink, with real-world examples.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSo_...
Is Degrowth the Only Answer?
YouTube video by Economics Explained
www.youtube.com
January 3, 2026 at 8:32 PM
This video by Economics Explained is worth a watch.
It nicely breaks down the case on why there is an argument that reducing emissions could slow economic activity (in some sectors), and how the net economy might not actually need to shrink, with real-world examples.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSo_...
It nicely breaks down the case on why there is an argument that reducing emissions could slow economic activity (in some sectors), and how the net economy might not actually need to shrink, with real-world examples.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSo_...
Reposted by Dr. Or M. Bialik |📚|🔬|🌊|⚒️
Dear astro #scicomm folks,
A good boss is hiring someone to help expand public engagement at Whipple Observatory’s Science Centre.
On-site (no remote work) in Amado, Arizona. $50-66k/year, Smithsonian Trust-funded. Tues-Sat workweek
#jobs
trustcareers.si.edu/en/postings/...
A good boss is hiring someone to help expand public engagement at Whipple Observatory’s Science Centre.
On-site (no remote work) in Amado, Arizona. $50-66k/year, Smithsonian Trust-funded. Tues-Sat workweek
#jobs
trustcareers.si.edu/en/postings/...
Visitor Services Assistant (IS- 0303-07)
Job Opening: Visitor Services Assistant (IS- 0303-07) at Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Amado, AZ.
trustcareers.si.edu
January 3, 2026 at 7:07 PM
Dear astro #scicomm folks,
A good boss is hiring someone to help expand public engagement at Whipple Observatory’s Science Centre.
On-site (no remote work) in Amado, Arizona. $50-66k/year, Smithsonian Trust-funded. Tues-Sat workweek
#jobs
trustcareers.si.edu/en/postings/...
A good boss is hiring someone to help expand public engagement at Whipple Observatory’s Science Centre.
On-site (no remote work) in Amado, Arizona. $50-66k/year, Smithsonian Trust-funded. Tues-Sat workweek
#jobs
trustcareers.si.edu/en/postings/...
Graphics or 3D modeling, I can do with music in the background or even people talking around me.
Writing - that requires everything and everyone to just shut up.
Writing - that requires everything and everyone to just shut up.
January 3, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Graphics or 3D modeling, I can do with music in the background or even people talking around me.
Writing - that requires everything and everyone to just shut up.
Writing - that requires everything and everyone to just shut up.
We know nautiloids survived the K-Pg extinction (they are still around), but until now, we were sure ammonites didn't make it. New findings from Denmark show they did, only to die out later for unknown reason.
This finding really should be a bigger deal. 🧪⚒️
Link: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
This finding really should be a bigger deal. 🧪⚒️
Link: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
January 3, 2026 at 2:59 PM
We know nautiloids survived the K-Pg extinction (they are still around), but until now, we were sure ammonites didn't make it. New findings from Denmark show they did, only to die out later for unknown reason.
This finding really should be a bigger deal. 🧪⚒️
Link: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
This finding really should be a bigger deal. 🧪⚒️
Link: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
To follow up on my complaint about #writers going for loss of consciousness with every head trauma, I sought data.
This study reports transient loss of consciousness for 14% and 39% of low-energy and high-energy head trauma cases, respectively. 🧪
Link: journals.viamedica.pl/cardiology_j...
This study reports transient loss of consciousness for 14% and 39% of low-energy and high-energy head trauma cases, respectively. 🧪
Link: journals.viamedica.pl/cardiology_j...
I mean, loss of consciousness does happen with head trauma, but I do feel #writers lean on that a bit too much sometimes... esp. when you do have concussions, which offer confusion, difficulty thinking, dizziness, and memory issues — lots of story options other than an excuse for a cut.
January 3, 2026 at 8:45 AM
To follow up on my complaint about #writers going for loss of consciousness with every head trauma, I sought data.
This study reports transient loss of consciousness for 14% and 39% of low-energy and high-energy head trauma cases, respectively. 🧪
Link: journals.viamedica.pl/cardiology_j...
This study reports transient loss of consciousness for 14% and 39% of low-energy and high-energy head trauma cases, respectively. 🧪
Link: journals.viamedica.pl/cardiology_j...
Why do some people elect to be trolls? Part of it is attention seeking, but there is a dark undercurrent of traits sending them down that path, including narcissism, trait sadism, and even straight-up psychopathy, all found to be strong predictors for such behavior. 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
January 2, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Why do some people elect to be trolls? Part of it is attention seeking, but there is a dark undercurrent of traits sending them down that path, including narcissism, trait sadism, and even straight-up psychopathy, all found to be strong predictors for such behavior. 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
I'm writing an outline for a course I'm thinking of pitching to one of the schools here. I wanted to offer something about foundation of ocean chemistry for carbon management; they want something more BlueTech.
The outline now goes from hardcore proper science and progresses into science fiction.
The outline now goes from hardcore proper science and progresses into science fiction.
January 2, 2026 at 11:03 AM
I'm writing an outline for a course I'm thinking of pitching to one of the schools here. I wanted to offer something about foundation of ocean chemistry for carbon management; they want something more BlueTech.
The outline now goes from hardcore proper science and progresses into science fiction.
The outline now goes from hardcore proper science and progresses into science fiction.
#WeekendReading: Liu et al., on why changing ocean temperature gradients (and high latitude cooling) are key to south Asian monsoon evolution through the Miocene. 🧪⚒️
Link: agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
Link: agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
January 2, 2026 at 7:44 AM
#WeekendReading: Liu et al., on why changing ocean temperature gradients (and high latitude cooling) are key to south Asian monsoon evolution through the Miocene. 🧪⚒️
Link: agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
Link: agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
I mean, loss of consciousness does happen with head trauma, but I do feel #writers lean on that a bit too much sometimes... esp. when you do have concussions, which offer confusion, difficulty thinking, dizziness, and memory issues — lots of story options other than an excuse for a cut.
January 1, 2026 at 11:40 PM
I mean, loss of consciousness does happen with head trauma, but I do feel #writers lean on that a bit too much sometimes... esp. when you do have concussions, which offer confusion, difficulty thinking, dizziness, and memory issues — lots of story options other than an excuse for a cut.
Ammonium nitrate is a very common solid propellant in rockets 🚀... but what if we can make it burn faster? This is where catalysts come in. There are some nice results from recent experiments with iron-based catalysts. 🧪
Link: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Link: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
January 1, 2026 at 5:41 PM
Ammonium nitrate is a very common solid propellant in rockets 🚀... but what if we can make it burn faster? This is where catalysts come in. There are some nice results from recent experiments with iron-based catalysts. 🧪
Link: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Link: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
So... about those three seashells...
January 1, 2026 at 1:06 PM
So... about those three seashells...
My decision to try and write again in Hebrew (which is also practice I need to work) has been proving... challenging.
I'm definitely rusty; the language comes out a bit stiff, the mix of tongues in my head makes the flow a bit stuttered, and I just don't have some terms.
#WriterCommunity
I'm definitely rusty; the language comes out a bit stiff, the mix of tongues in my head makes the flow a bit stuttered, and I just don't have some terms.
#WriterCommunity
January 1, 2026 at 11:50 AM
My decision to try and write again in Hebrew (which is also practice I need to work) has been proving... challenging.
I'm definitely rusty; the language comes out a bit stiff, the mix of tongues in my head makes the flow a bit stuttered, and I just don't have some terms.
#WriterCommunity
I'm definitely rusty; the language comes out a bit stiff, the mix of tongues in my head makes the flow a bit stuttered, and I just don't have some terms.
#WriterCommunity
I was wondering about my January painting project, then Heroes Infinite released their range for the month and... well... Thrylaxia, Weaver of Ecstasia, called to me.
www.heroesinfinite.com/this-month-s...
www.heroesinfinite.com/this-month-s...
January 1, 2026 at 8:22 AM
I was wondering about my January painting project, then Heroes Infinite released their range for the month and... well... Thrylaxia, Weaver of Ecstasia, called to me.
www.heroesinfinite.com/this-month-s...
www.heroesinfinite.com/this-month-s...
For those of you marking the new year today, I wanted something about annual cycles. Specifically, that we're messing one up. Climate change is now increasingly altering the seasonal cycle amplitude of sea surface tempraute. 🧪🌊
Link: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Link: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
January 1, 2026 at 7:04 AM
For those of you marking the new year today, I wanted something about annual cycles. Specifically, that we're messing one up. Climate change is now increasingly altering the seasonal cycle amplitude of sea surface tempraute. 🧪🌊
Link: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Link: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The walls of my anchamber, which isn't exactly a lab but sort of is, are bare. So, for now, I decided to bedeck them with something between an inspirational message and a mission statement.
December 31, 2025 at 7:44 PM
The walls of my anchamber, which isn't exactly a lab but sort of is, are bare. So, for now, I decided to bedeck them with something between an inspirational message and a mission statement.