Pursuits of Nancy Moniz
@pursuitsofnancy.bsky.social
Environmentalist by day. Artist by night. Urban gardener. Museum hunter. Siberian husky sidekick. Chasing Caravaggio around the world.
🌎🌳🎨🇨🇦🐕
🌎🌳🎨🇨🇦🐕
“Many of the objects came from Indigenous communities during a period of forced conversion, cultural suppression and the residential school system in Canada, and most remained inside Vatican Museums storage rooms.”
www.cbc.ca/news/vatican...
www.cbc.ca/news/vatican...
Vatican returns Indigenous cultural items to Canadian delegation of Catholic bishops | CBC News
A century-old Inuvialuit kayak once used for beluga and whale hunts, and 61 other cultural objects from First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities long held in Vatican Museums vaults, will return to C...
www.cbc.ca
November 15, 2025 at 3:57 PM
“Many of the objects came from Indigenous communities during a period of forced conversion, cultural suppression and the residential school system in Canada, and most remained inside Vatican Museums storage rooms.”
www.cbc.ca/news/vatican...
www.cbc.ca/news/vatican...
“The day before he wrote his famous poem, one of McCrae's closest friends was killed in the fighting and buried in a makeshift grave with a simple wooden cross. Wild poppies were already beginning to bloom between the crosses marking the many graves.”
November 11, 2025 at 3:50 PM
“The day before he wrote his famous poem, one of McCrae's closest friends was killed in the fighting and buried in a makeshift grave with a simple wooden cross. Wild poppies were already beginning to bloom between the crosses marking the many graves.”
Reposted by Pursuits of Nancy Moniz
An excerpt from my new piece for @thebulletin.org on Bill Gates' new climate missive:
October 31, 2025 at 7:20 PM
An excerpt from my new piece for @thebulletin.org on Bill Gates' new climate missive:
Reposted by Pursuits of Nancy Moniz
Flower Piece, 1713, by #JosinaMargaretaWeenix is on view now in the exhibition "Women Artists from Antwerp to Amsterdam, 1600-1750" at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, nmwa.org/exhibitions/...
The museum is open throughout the US govt shutdown & is free for furloughed federal employees.
The museum is open throughout the US govt shutdown & is free for furloughed federal employees.
Women Artists from Antwerp to Amsterdam, 1600-1750 | Exhibition | National Museum of Women in the Arts
nmwa.org
October 25, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Flower Piece, 1713, by #JosinaMargaretaWeenix is on view now in the exhibition "Women Artists from Antwerp to Amsterdam, 1600-1750" at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, nmwa.org/exhibitions/...
The museum is open throughout the US govt shutdown & is free for furloughed federal employees.
The museum is open throughout the US govt shutdown & is free for furloughed federal employees.
Reposted by Pursuits of Nancy Moniz
Today's theft from the Louvre (
art-crime.blogspot.com/2025/10/jewe...) is making me think about my favorite series of museum heists. Buckle up for a 🧵 on priceless porcelains, the Dead Zoo Gang, a Pekinese named Looty, and the unsolved mystery of who's stealing Chinese art from European museums.
art-crime.blogspot.com/2025/10/jewe...) is making me think about my favorite series of museum heists. Buckle up for a 🧵 on priceless porcelains, the Dead Zoo Gang, a Pekinese named Looty, and the unsolved mystery of who's stealing Chinese art from European museums.
Jewel Heist at the Musée du Louvre
"A blog about art crimes, illicit trafficking, forgery, art theft and cultural heritage protection."
art-crime.blogspot.com
October 19, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Today's theft from the Louvre (
art-crime.blogspot.com/2025/10/jewe...) is making me think about my favorite series of museum heists. Buckle up for a 🧵 on priceless porcelains, the Dead Zoo Gang, a Pekinese named Looty, and the unsolved mystery of who's stealing Chinese art from European museums.
art-crime.blogspot.com/2025/10/jewe...) is making me think about my favorite series of museum heists. Buckle up for a 🧵 on priceless porcelains, the Dead Zoo Gang, a Pekinese named Looty, and the unsolved mystery of who's stealing Chinese art from European museums.
Reposted by Pursuits of Nancy Moniz
My explainer on why leaves change colors and how we detect it from space
www.forbes.com/sites/marsha...
www.forbes.com/sites/marsha...
The Science Of Fall Leaf Color Change And Detection From Space
Why do leaves change color in the fall and how can we see the process from space? Our expert explains.
www.forbes.com
October 18, 2025 at 1:21 PM
My explainer on why leaves change colors and how we detect it from space
www.forbes.com/sites/marsha...
www.forbes.com/sites/marsha...
“A new research project suggests that as humans replace rich tropical forests with monochrome, the colour of other creatures is leaching away.”
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
As forests are cut down, butterflies are losing their colours
The insects’ brilliant hues evolved in lush ecosystems to help them survive. Now they are becoming more muted to adapt to degraded landscapes – and they are not the only things dulling down
www.theguardian.com
October 12, 2025 at 9:42 PM
“A new research project suggests that as humans replace rich tropical forests with monochrome, the colour of other creatures is leaching away.”
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Pursuits of Nancy Moniz
An Indonesian songbird once nearly extinct in the wild, the Bali starling, is making a comeback through community-led conservation.
Villages embraced traditional awig-awig regulations to protect the starling, creating powerful cultural, social and financial deterrents to poaching.
Villages embraced traditional awig-awig regulations to protect the starling, creating powerful cultural, social and financial deterrents to poaching.
Indigenous-led protections spark Bali starling’s recovery in the wild
NUSA PENIDA, Indonesia — Two young conservation workers rattle up on a motorbike and dismount at the edge of a coconut grove. Picking through husks, fallen fronds and stray plastic bottles, they scan…
news.mongabay.com
October 4, 2025 at 10:53 AM
An Indonesian songbird once nearly extinct in the wild, the Bali starling, is making a comeback through community-led conservation.
Villages embraced traditional awig-awig regulations to protect the starling, creating powerful cultural, social and financial deterrents to poaching.
Villages embraced traditional awig-awig regulations to protect the starling, creating powerful cultural, social and financial deterrents to poaching.
Reposted by Pursuits of Nancy Moniz
🇨🇳 VIDEO: Hope and hardship along China's 'Great Green Wall'
Across the deserts of Inner Mongolia, China has been carrying out a colossal greening project for decades. Over 90 million hectares of the desert have been transformed into forest so far.
Across the deserts of Inner Mongolia, China has been carrying out a colossal greening project for decades. Over 90 million hectares of the desert have been transformed into forest so far.
October 4, 2025 at 11:21 AM
🇨🇳 VIDEO: Hope and hardship along China's 'Great Green Wall'
Across the deserts of Inner Mongolia, China has been carrying out a colossal greening project for decades. Over 90 million hectares of the desert have been transformed into forest so far.
Across the deserts of Inner Mongolia, China has been carrying out a colossal greening project for decades. Over 90 million hectares of the desert have been transformed into forest so far.
First treaty to protect marine life in high seas to take effect in January aje.io/rk0iuu
First treaty to protect marine life in high seas to take effect in January
World’s first-ever pact aims to fight threats like climate change, over-fishing and deep-sea mining.
aje.io
September 20, 2025 at 9:22 AM
First treaty to protect marine life in high seas to take effect in January aje.io/rk0iuu
Reposted by Pursuits of Nancy Moniz
Wonderful coverage on the synergy between climate science & art. Congrats @jillpelto.bsky.social & @mauri-pelto.bsky.social & the rest of your team. I admire your long & connective work in the North Cascades!
www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/cap...
www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/cap...
Capturing the melting of glaciers, with data and art
For more than 40 years, glaciologist Mauri Pelto has been measuring shrinking glaciers in Washington State. He's been joined by his daughter, artist-scientist Jill Pelto, whose watercolors provide ano...
www.cbsnews.com
August 17, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Wonderful coverage on the synergy between climate science & art. Congrats @jillpelto.bsky.social & @mauri-pelto.bsky.social & the rest of your team. I admire your long & connective work in the North Cascades!
www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/cap...
www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/cap...
Reposted by Pursuits of Nancy Moniz
Painters often prime a canvas with a layer of white to make it smoother, stronger and to enhance the colours they will later layer on, but it seems this is a mechanism that birds were using long before humans picked up paintbrushes.
The secret to what makes colours pop on dazzling songbirds
Hidden layers of colour in the plumage of tanagers and some other songbirds explain what makes them so eye-catching
www.newscientist.com
July 30, 2025 at 4:16 AM
Painters often prime a canvas with a layer of white to make it smoother, stronger and to enhance the colours they will later layer on, but it seems this is a mechanism that birds were using long before humans picked up paintbrushes.
Where Do Untraceable Fishing Fleets Go? www.nytimes.com/2025/07/24/c...
Where Do Untraceable Fishing Fleets Go?
www.nytimes.com
July 26, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Where Do Untraceable Fishing Fleets Go? www.nytimes.com/2025/07/24/c...
Reposted by Pursuits of Nancy Moniz
New research in #ScienceAdvances shows that some songbirds have such bright-looking feathers by having a backdrop of black or white plumage underneath their bright feathers—an illusionary tactic of color also used by painters.
Learn more in #ScienceAdviser: scim.ag/46ZaPeM
Learn more in #ScienceAdviser: scim.ag/46ZaPeM
July 25, 2025 at 3:06 PM
New research in #ScienceAdvances shows that some songbirds have such bright-looking feathers by having a backdrop of black or white plumage underneath their bright feathers—an illusionary tactic of color also used by painters.
Learn more in #ScienceAdviser: scim.ag/46ZaPeM
Learn more in #ScienceAdviser: scim.ag/46ZaPeM
Reposted by Pursuits of Nancy Moniz
In 2010 a fountain pen manufactured by Italian company Tibaldi set a record amount paid for a writing instrument, fetching an astounding $8 million at an auction in Shanghai.
Indelible passion
When it comes to stylophiles’ caches, only the write stuff will do
www.winnipegfreepress.com
July 5, 2025 at 4:58 PM
In 2010 a fountain pen manufactured by Italian company Tibaldi set a record amount paid for a writing instrument, fetching an astounding $8 million at an auction in Shanghai.
Reposted by Pursuits of Nancy Moniz
Canada is home to 4,000 species of native flowering plants, and as many as 3,000 could be considered wildflowers.
Let's get to know Canada's wildflowers - The Weather Network
A wildflower is a flowering plant you can find growing naturally in an environment, without being planted by humans
www.theweathernetwork.com
July 1, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Canada is home to 4,000 species of native flowering plants, and as many as 3,000 could be considered wildflowers.
Reposted by Pursuits of Nancy Moniz
These beautiful objects are Chinese brush rests, which were often made in the shape of a steep five-peak mountain range.
🖌️⛰️ Brush rest, China, 18th century. EAX.1360
🖌️⛰️ Brush rest, China, 16th century. EAX.1813
🖌️⛰️ Brush rest, China, 17th–18th century. EA2000.85
🖌️⛰️ Brush rest, China, 18th century. EAX.1360
🖌️⛰️ Brush rest, China, 16th century. EAX.1813
🖌️⛰️ Brush rest, China, 17th–18th century. EA2000.85
July 1, 2025 at 4:54 PM
These beautiful objects are Chinese brush rests, which were often made in the shape of a steep five-peak mountain range.
🖌️⛰️ Brush rest, China, 18th century. EAX.1360
🖌️⛰️ Brush rest, China, 16th century. EAX.1813
🖌️⛰️ Brush rest, China, 17th–18th century. EA2000.85
🖌️⛰️ Brush rest, China, 18th century. EAX.1360
🖌️⛰️ Brush rest, China, 16th century. EAX.1813
🖌️⛰️ Brush rest, China, 17th–18th century. EA2000.85
The Art Gallery of Ontario is celebrating 125 years by sharing insights into six iconic works.
www.thestar.com/entertainmen...
www.thestar.com/entertainmen...
www.thestar.com
June 29, 2025 at 2:31 PM
The Art Gallery of Ontario is celebrating 125 years by sharing insights into six iconic works.
www.thestar.com/entertainmen...
www.thestar.com/entertainmen...
Earth’s Largest Camera Takes 3 Billion-Pixel Images of the Night Sky
“At the heart of the new Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile is the world’s largest digital camera. About the size of a small car, it will create an unparalleled map of the night sky.”
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
“At the heart of the new Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile is the world’s largest digital camera. About the size of a small car, it will create an unparalleled map of the night sky.”
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Earth’s Largest Camera Takes 3 Billion-Pixel Images of the Night Sky (Gift Article)
At the heart of the new Vera C. Rubin Observatory is a digital camera that will create an unparalleled map of the cosmos.
www.nytimes.com
June 22, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Earth’s Largest Camera Takes 3 Billion-Pixel Images of the Night Sky
“At the heart of the new Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile is the world’s largest digital camera. About the size of a small car, it will create an unparalleled map of the night sky.”
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
“At the heart of the new Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile is the world’s largest digital camera. About the size of a small car, it will create an unparalleled map of the night sky.”
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
92 artists were featured at the Smithsonian’s Art x Climate Gallery
www.archpaper.com/2025/06/smit...
www.archpaper.com/2025/06/smit...
Art x Climate Gallery triumphs at the Smithsonian
The 92 artists featured in Art x Climate Gallery by way of the Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5)—published in 2023 by the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP)—were selected from a pool ...
www.archpaper.com
June 22, 2025 at 5:49 PM
92 artists were featured at the Smithsonian’s Art x Climate Gallery
www.archpaper.com/2025/06/smit...
www.archpaper.com/2025/06/smit...
I Love Finding Birds’ Nests, but What’s in Them Troubles Me www.nytimes.com/2025/06/21/o...
Opinion | I Love Finding Birds’ Nests, but What’s in Them Troubles Me
www.nytimes.com
June 21, 2025 at 9:00 PM
I Love Finding Birds’ Nests, but What’s in Them Troubles Me www.nytimes.com/2025/06/21/o...
Reposted by Pursuits of Nancy Moniz
There is still hope to save irreplaceable coral ecosystems, but time is running out. Baby corals can ride ocean currents for hundreds of miles, but they can’t outrun climate change. And humans have a limited capacity to make new reefs in cooler waters. buff.ly/nY4jJs0 #WorldOceanDay
Coral reefs face an uncertain recovery from the 4th global mass bleaching event – can climate refuges help?
As baby corals float in the currents, they can expand their species’ range. But can they get to climate refuges fast enough to survive? A new study has good news and bad.
theconversation.com
June 8, 2025 at 10:47 AM
There is still hope to save irreplaceable coral ecosystems, but time is running out. Baby corals can ride ocean currents for hundreds of miles, but they can’t outrun climate change. And humans have a limited capacity to make new reefs in cooler waters. buff.ly/nY4jJs0 #WorldOceanDay