Bill Lukens
@paleosol.bsky.social
geology | paleoclimatology | geochemistry | soils | sed/strat | Assoc. Prof. at JMU | views are my own
Lab website: https://sites.google.com/view/lukenslabjmu
Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Nlx0NacAAAAJ&hl=en&authuser=1&oi
Lab website: https://sites.google.com/view/lukenslabjmu
Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Nlx0NacAAAAJ&hl=en&authuser=1&oi
Pinned
Bill Lukens
@paleosol.bsky.social
· May 21
Hello!
I am a paleoclimate scientist hoping to make professional connections and keep up on the whirlwind.
I am a paleoclimate scientist hoping to make professional connections and keep up on the whirlwind.
Reposted by Bill Lukens
I made a filterlist for uBlock Origin to remove Generative AI features on websites. Includes blocks for
* Google AI Summaries
* YouTube Ask button & chat summaries
* GitHub Copilot
* Facebook AI chat
* X's Grok buttons
* Deviantart DreamUp
* Booru AI images
* And more
github.com/Stevoisiak/S...
* Google AI Summaries
* YouTube Ask button & chat summaries
* GitHub Copilot
* Facebook AI chat
* X's Grok buttons
* Deviantart DreamUp
* Booru AI images
* And more
github.com/Stevoisiak/S...
February 3, 2026 at 12:30 AM
I made a filterlist for uBlock Origin to remove Generative AI features on websites. Includes blocks for
* Google AI Summaries
* YouTube Ask button & chat summaries
* GitHub Copilot
* Facebook AI chat
* X's Grok buttons
* Deviantart DreamUp
* Booru AI images
* And more
github.com/Stevoisiak/S...
* Google AI Summaries
* YouTube Ask button & chat summaries
* GitHub Copilot
* Facebook AI chat
* X's Grok buttons
* Deviantart DreamUp
* Booru AI images
* And more
github.com/Stevoisiak/S...
⚒️Poll: Say you measure some strat sections in the field, with numbered units & samples. Next year you return and find more strata below the original sections.
Do you:
1: rename the units/samples to set 0 m at the new base?
2: give the new units a different code?
3: use negative meter levels?
4: ??
Do you:
1: rename the units/samples to set 0 m at the new base?
2: give the new units a different code?
3: use negative meter levels?
4: ??
February 3, 2026 at 7:52 PM
⚒️Poll: Say you measure some strat sections in the field, with numbered units & samples. Next year you return and find more strata below the original sections.
Do you:
1: rename the units/samples to set 0 m at the new base?
2: give the new units a different code?
3: use negative meter levels?
4: ??
Do you:
1: rename the units/samples to set 0 m at the new base?
2: give the new units a different code?
3: use negative meter levels?
4: ??
Shout out to Pierre C. Shadeaux, the swamp rat (nutria) who offers meteorological insight to Acadiana but once a year.
This was one of many Cajun traditions that I adored while living in Lafayette.
www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2...
This was one of many Cajun traditions that I adored while living in Lafayette.
www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2...
Groundhog Day but make it Cajun. Meet Louisiana's famous 'groundhog'
Groundhog day will be here soon, and you can celebrate it the Cajun way with Pierre C. Shadeaux, a season-predicting nutria.
www.thenewsstar.com
February 2, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Shout out to Pierre C. Shadeaux, the swamp rat (nutria) who offers meteorological insight to Acadiana but once a year.
This was one of many Cajun traditions that I adored while living in Lafayette.
www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2...
This was one of many Cajun traditions that I adored while living in Lafayette.
www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2...
Reading my Okta 2FA code: "psshh, I coulda guessed that"
I mean, it's only 6 numbers how hard could it be
I mean, it's only 6 numbers how hard could it be
January 28, 2026 at 10:10 PM
Reading my Okta 2FA code: "psshh, I coulda guessed that"
I mean, it's only 6 numbers how hard could it be
I mean, it's only 6 numbers how hard could it be
Reposted by Bill Lukens
AI companies will fail. We can salvage something from the wreckage | Cory Doctorow
AI companies will fail. We can salvage something from the wreckage | Cory Doctorow
AI is asbestos in the walls of our tech society, stuffed there by monopolists run amok. A serious fight against it must strike at its roots
www.theguardian.com
January 18, 2026 at 3:25 PM
AI companies will fail. We can salvage something from the wreckage | Cory Doctorow
Reposted by Bill Lukens
Our paper on the mysterious Devonian organism Prototaxites has now finally been published! See the paper here (www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...) and our explainer thread below!
Prototaxites reconstruction by Matt Humpage
Prototaxites reconstruction by Matt Humpage
January 21, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Our paper on the mysterious Devonian organism Prototaxites has now finally been published! See the paper here (www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...) and our explainer thread below!
Prototaxites reconstruction by Matt Humpage
Prototaxites reconstruction by Matt Humpage
In 2025, the Year of the Tariff, the following items broke in our house:
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Kitchen faucet
We also had to replace the posts holding up the main beam of the house, a direct casualty of increased extreme rain events.
But we had a kid, so it was a great year!
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Kitchen faucet
We also had to replace the posts holding up the main beam of the house, a direct casualty of increased extreme rain events.
But we had a kid, so it was a great year!
January 2, 2026 at 5:05 PM
In 2025, the Year of the Tariff, the following items broke in our house:
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Kitchen faucet
We also had to replace the posts holding up the main beam of the house, a direct casualty of increased extreme rain events.
But we had a kid, so it was a great year!
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Kitchen faucet
We also had to replace the posts holding up the main beam of the house, a direct casualty of increased extreme rain events.
But we had a kid, so it was a great year!
A few weeks ago my Sed/Strat course enjoyed some brief but dramatic hail during our final field trip. Several students have hilariously noted the hail in the Methods portion of their final papers.
As my first geo-mentor says: "rain or shine, the rocks are fine!"
#geology #fieldwork ⚒️
As my first geo-mentor says: "rain or shine, the rocks are fine!"
#geology #fieldwork ⚒️
December 14, 2025 at 8:18 PM
A few weeks ago my Sed/Strat course enjoyed some brief but dramatic hail during our final field trip. Several students have hilariously noted the hail in the Methods portion of their final papers.
As my first geo-mentor says: "rain or shine, the rocks are fine!"
#geology #fieldwork ⚒️
As my first geo-mentor says: "rain or shine, the rocks are fine!"
#geology #fieldwork ⚒️
It is a law of nature that if you provide HCl to students, they will put it on any rock or mineral.
Mudstone? yeah, why not.
Sandstone? sure, I guess.
Granite? ok...
Amphibole? c'mon now people...
⚒️🧪
Mudstone? yeah, why not.
Sandstone? sure, I guess.
Granite? ok...
Amphibole? c'mon now people...
⚒️🧪
December 10, 2025 at 3:15 PM
It is a law of nature that if you provide HCl to students, they will put it on any rock or mineral.
Mudstone? yeah, why not.
Sandstone? sure, I guess.
Granite? ok...
Amphibole? c'mon now people...
⚒️🧪
Mudstone? yeah, why not.
Sandstone? sure, I guess.
Granite? ok...
Amphibole? c'mon now people...
⚒️🧪
Education enriches our lives.
Today I shoved a dusting of snow off the thin sheet of ice coating my black driveway. It was 14°F (-10°C), but I did this to lower the surface's albedo, hoping the sun will do the rest.
And for a good 30 min I thought about climate feedbacks and had a lovely time. 🧪
Today I shoved a dusting of snow off the thin sheet of ice coating my black driveway. It was 14°F (-10°C), but I did this to lower the surface's albedo, hoping the sun will do the rest.
And for a good 30 min I thought about climate feedbacks and had a lovely time. 🧪
December 9, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Education enriches our lives.
Today I shoved a dusting of snow off the thin sheet of ice coating my black driveway. It was 14°F (-10°C), but I did this to lower the surface's albedo, hoping the sun will do the rest.
And for a good 30 min I thought about climate feedbacks and had a lovely time. 🧪
Today I shoved a dusting of snow off the thin sheet of ice coating my black driveway. It was 14°F (-10°C), but I did this to lower the surface's albedo, hoping the sun will do the rest.
And for a good 30 min I thought about climate feedbacks and had a lovely time. 🧪
While this is true, they forgot to delete sections about anthropogenic causes on the Future of Climate page:
www.epa.gov/climatechang... 🧪
www.epa.gov/climatechang... 🧪
December 9, 2025 at 4:32 PM
While this is true, they forgot to delete sections about anthropogenic causes on the Future of Climate page:
www.epa.gov/climatechang... 🧪
www.epa.gov/climatechang... 🧪
I'm wrapping up my first semester (finally) solo-teaching an upper-level core Geology course that is in my domain of expertise.
I know I love this stuff bc as I wrote the final exam, I kept thinking "heck yeah, this stuff is awesome!" Hopefully the students agree. (ha)
#AcademicSky 🧪⚒️
I know I love this stuff bc as I wrote the final exam, I kept thinking "heck yeah, this stuff is awesome!" Hopefully the students agree. (ha)
#AcademicSky 🧪⚒️
December 9, 2025 at 4:28 PM
I'm wrapping up my first semester (finally) solo-teaching an upper-level core Geology course that is in my domain of expertise.
I know I love this stuff bc as I wrote the final exam, I kept thinking "heck yeah, this stuff is awesome!" Hopefully the students agree. (ha)
#AcademicSky 🧪⚒️
I know I love this stuff bc as I wrote the final exam, I kept thinking "heck yeah, this stuff is awesome!" Hopefully the students agree. (ha)
#AcademicSky 🧪⚒️
Reposted by Bill Lukens
Calling all soil scientists!
Did you know it's 1 week til December?
Apply to join our amazing faculty at the link below.
Did you know it's 1 week til December?
Apply to join our amazing faculty at the link below.
We are hiring a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Environmental Geosciences — with a focus on Soil Science!
louisiana.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
Please share!
louisiana.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
Please share!
Assistant Professor of Environmental Geosciences
POSITION: Assistant Professor in
Environmental Geosciences RESPONSIBILITIES:The School of Geosciences at the
University of Louisiana at Lafayette...
louisiana.csod.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Calling all soil scientists!
Did you know it's 1 week til December?
Apply to join our amazing faculty at the link below.
Did you know it's 1 week til December?
Apply to join our amazing faculty at the link below.
Does anyone know where I could find examples of NSF final outcomes reports? I have one due but haven't written one before. Thanks in advance!
#AcademicSky #NSF
🧪⚒️🌊
#AcademicSky #NSF
🧪⚒️🌊
November 24, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Does anyone know where I could find examples of NSF final outcomes reports? I have one due but haven't written one before. Thanks in advance!
#AcademicSky #NSF
🧪⚒️🌊
#AcademicSky #NSF
🧪⚒️🌊
We had a lovely #JMU Sed/Strat field trip yesterday, exploring Devonian strata in West Virginia that tell the story of the Acadian Orogeny.
We survived hail and bitter cold winds in the AM, giving way to sunshine, paleosols, and fluvial channels in the afternoon.
🧪⚒️🪨
We survived hail and bitter cold winds in the AM, giving way to sunshine, paleosols, and fluvial channels in the afternoon.
🧪⚒️🪨
November 17, 2025 at 3:33 PM
We had a lovely #JMU Sed/Strat field trip yesterday, exploring Devonian strata in West Virginia that tell the story of the Acadian Orogeny.
We survived hail and bitter cold winds in the AM, giving way to sunshine, paleosols, and fluvial channels in the afternoon.
🧪⚒️🪨
We survived hail and bitter cold winds in the AM, giving way to sunshine, paleosols, and fluvial channels in the afternoon.
🧪⚒️🪨
Recently I've been refreshing myself on #soil micromorphology.
Here is the suggested thin section sampling scheme from Fitzpatrick (1993). Eleven thin sections for one (1) soil profile.
lol sure my man, I'll just get one of those 50-yr mortgages to pay for that. 🧪⚒️🪨
Here is the suggested thin section sampling scheme from Fitzpatrick (1993). Eleven thin sections for one (1) soil profile.
lol sure my man, I'll just get one of those 50-yr mortgages to pay for that. 🧪⚒️🪨
November 14, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Recently I've been refreshing myself on #soil micromorphology.
Here is the suggested thin section sampling scheme from Fitzpatrick (1993). Eleven thin sections for one (1) soil profile.
lol sure my man, I'll just get one of those 50-yr mortgages to pay for that. 🧪⚒️🪨
Here is the suggested thin section sampling scheme from Fitzpatrick (1993). Eleven thin sections for one (1) soil profile.
lol sure my man, I'll just get one of those 50-yr mortgages to pay for that. 🧪⚒️🪨
Reposted by Bill Lukens
Looking for a PhD in climate science?
Great opportunity to help modernise one of the iconic climate time series - Central England Temperature.
Led by @timosbornclim.bsky.social, with myself and Met Office collaborators: www.uea.ac.uk/course/phd-d...
Great opportunity to help modernise one of the iconic climate time series - Central England Temperature.
Led by @timosbornclim.bsky.social, with myself and Met Office collaborators: www.uea.ac.uk/course/phd-d...
PhD Redeveloping Central England Temperature: Modernising a Historic Climate Series, CASE project with Met Office (OSBORNT_U26SCI) 2026/27 | UEA
PhD Redeveloping Central England Temperature: Modernising a Historic Climate Series, CASE project with Met Office (OSBORNT_U26SCI) 2026/27 | UEA
www.uea.ac.uk
November 12, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Looking for a PhD in climate science?
Great opportunity to help modernise one of the iconic climate time series - Central England Temperature.
Led by @timosbornclim.bsky.social, with myself and Met Office collaborators: www.uea.ac.uk/course/phd-d...
Great opportunity to help modernise one of the iconic climate time series - Central England Temperature.
Led by @timosbornclim.bsky.social, with myself and Met Office collaborators: www.uea.ac.uk/course/phd-d...
November 11, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Yet another nail in the coffin for the "what about China" argument against bold climate action in the US.
The US is the world's largest oil and gas producer. Yet, "China is now making more money from exporting green technology than America makes from exporting fossil fuels."
China’s clean-energy revolution will reshape markets and politics
The world’s biggest manufacturer now has an interest in the world decarbonising
www.economist.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Yet another nail in the coffin for the "what about China" argument against bold climate action in the US.
Stacking up some coastal plain paleosols (fossil soils) for #FossilFriday. They're relatively immature and heavily overprinted with tectonic cleavage. Poor little guys.
Devonian Foreknobs Fm., Rt 33, West Virginia
(the runaway truck ramp outcrop)
🧪⚒️🪨
Devonian Foreknobs Fm., Rt 33, West Virginia
(the runaway truck ramp outcrop)
🧪⚒️🪨
November 7, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Stacking up some coastal plain paleosols (fossil soils) for #FossilFriday. They're relatively immature and heavily overprinted with tectonic cleavage. Poor little guys.
Devonian Foreknobs Fm., Rt 33, West Virginia
(the runaway truck ramp outcrop)
🧪⚒️🪨
Devonian Foreknobs Fm., Rt 33, West Virginia
(the runaway truck ramp outcrop)
🧪⚒️🪨
In GenEd Climate Change, I give 3 exams total. The first deals with geologic systems, the second covers modern climate systems, the third deals with anthro climate change + paleoclimate analogs.
Exam 2 was wild this year: 26% of the class failed, big time.
Some thoughts.
#AcademicSky
1/6
Exam 2 was wild this year: 26% of the class failed, big time.
Some thoughts.
#AcademicSky
1/6
November 6, 2025 at 3:00 PM
In GenEd Climate Change, I give 3 exams total. The first deals with geologic systems, the second covers modern climate systems, the third deals with anthro climate change + paleoclimate analogs.
Exam 2 was wild this year: 26% of the class failed, big time.
Some thoughts.
#AcademicSky
1/6
Exam 2 was wild this year: 26% of the class failed, big time.
Some thoughts.
#AcademicSky
1/6
Took my Sed/Strat class out to WV48 (Corridor H) for a lovely fall field trip Sunday. We had a blast examining the incredible paleo-Vertisols of the upper Devonian Hampshire Fm.
Pedogenic slickensides in 3D, root traces, plant fragments, and lots of burrows (lung fish?)!
I love #paleosols.
🪨⚒️🧪
Pedogenic slickensides in 3D, root traces, plant fragments, and lots of burrows (lung fish?)!
I love #paleosols.
🪨⚒️🧪
November 3, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Took my Sed/Strat class out to WV48 (Corridor H) for a lovely fall field trip Sunday. We had a blast examining the incredible paleo-Vertisols of the upper Devonian Hampshire Fm.
Pedogenic slickensides in 3D, root traces, plant fragments, and lots of burrows (lung fish?)!
I love #paleosols.
🪨⚒️🧪
Pedogenic slickensides in 3D, root traces, plant fragments, and lots of burrows (lung fish?)!
I love #paleosols.
🪨⚒️🧪
👻Real life ghost story!👻
I arrived at work this morning, sleepily carrying out my daily routine. Log on to computer🖥️, bring lunch to fridge🍱, make coffee☕...
...But THE COFFEE SCOOP HAS VANISHED!😱🙀
What creature would torment me in such a way??
Vampires?🧛 Ghouls?🧌
#Spooky #GhostStory #Halloween
I arrived at work this morning, sleepily carrying out my daily routine. Log on to computer🖥️, bring lunch to fridge🍱, make coffee☕...
...But THE COFFEE SCOOP HAS VANISHED!😱🙀
What creature would torment me in such a way??
Vampires?🧛 Ghouls?🧌
#Spooky #GhostStory #Halloween
October 31, 2025 at 12:48 PM
👻Real life ghost story!👻
I arrived at work this morning, sleepily carrying out my daily routine. Log on to computer🖥️, bring lunch to fridge🍱, make coffee☕...
...But THE COFFEE SCOOP HAS VANISHED!😱🙀
What creature would torment me in such a way??
Vampires?🧛 Ghouls?🧌
#Spooky #GhostStory #Halloween
I arrived at work this morning, sleepily carrying out my daily routine. Log on to computer🖥️, bring lunch to fridge🍱, make coffee☕...
...But THE COFFEE SCOOP HAS VANISHED!😱🙀
What creature would torment me in such a way??
Vampires?🧛 Ghouls?🧌
#Spooky #GhostStory #Halloween
"[Dried chiles] come in a baffling array. To make my selection easier, I decided to taste every variety of whole chile I could find..."
Kenji López-Alt is a madman.
www.seriouseats.com/the-best-chi...
Kenji López-Alt is a madman.
www.seriouseats.com/the-best-chi...
The Best Chili Ever Recipe
The best beef chili combines puréed chiles, short ribs, tender kidney beans, and an array of umami-boosting ingredients.
www.seriouseats.com
October 30, 2025 at 4:25 PM
"[Dried chiles] come in a baffling array. To make my selection easier, I decided to taste every variety of whole chile I could find..."
Kenji López-Alt is a madman.
www.seriouseats.com/the-best-chi...
Kenji López-Alt is a madman.
www.seriouseats.com/the-best-chi...
