Chris Widga
@widga.bsky.social
Director of the Earth and Mineral Sciences Museum & Art Gallery at Penn State. Here for museums, fossils, not-fossils, and geo-nerdom. Sucker for good jazz. Personal account. #museums #paleontology #geology #scicomm #naturalhistory
Reposted by Chris Widga
Let’s make 2026 the year of the bog. The world’s most unique and interesting plants, clean water, cooler climate. Bogs deserve our thanks, care, and deep respect. Please join me and love a bog today.
January 5, 2026 at 10:15 PM
Let’s make 2026 the year of the bog. The world’s most unique and interesting plants, clean water, cooler climate. Bogs deserve our thanks, care, and deep respect. Please join me and love a bog today.
Reposted by Chris Widga
After reviewing nearly 200 applications from prospective grad students and postdocs over the past few months for a couple different 🧪⚒️ postings, here are some tips, at least as they apply to North American positions. I hope they help future applicants. Share with your networks. 🧵
January 4, 2026 at 2:17 PM
After reviewing nearly 200 applications from prospective grad students and postdocs over the past few months for a couple different 🧪⚒️ postings, here are some tips, at least as they apply to North American positions. I hope they help future applicants. Share with your networks. 🧵
Reposted by Chris Widga
Closing out the year with some images of the Academy of Natural Sciences's various dinosaur exhibits through the ages. Someone should really write up a proper history of them one of these days.......(details in alt text)
December 30, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Closing out the year with some images of the Academy of Natural Sciences's various dinosaur exhibits through the ages. Someone should really write up a proper history of them one of these days.......(details in alt text)
Reposted by Chris Widga
Our latest post to Substack. 🌐🧪
Beaver ponds quietly reorganize microbial worlds in water and mud
In Polish forest valleys, a beaver pond can appear overnight in the way a new room appears in an old house: a door where there used to be a wall, a quiet basin where there used to be a corridor of mov...
bit.ly
December 30, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Our latest post to Substack. 🌐🧪
Reposted by Chris Widga
Full article: Bioerosive ichnofossils in the holotype of Trachycalyptoides achirense (Glyptodontidae, Cingulata) from the Late Miocene Altiplano of Bolivia www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Bioerosive ichnofossils in the holotype of Trachycalyptoides achirense (Glyptodontidae, Cingulata) from the Late Miocene Altiplano of Bolivia
The Late Miocene locality of Achiri from the Bolivian Altiplano preserves a diverse mammalian fauna, of which the glyptodontids are represented by Trachycalyptoides achirense. Glyptodontids and oth...
www.tandfonline.com
December 30, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Full article: Bioerosive ichnofossils in the holotype of Trachycalyptoides achirense (Glyptodontidae, Cingulata) from the Late Miocene Altiplano of Bolivia www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Chris Widga
Great surprise today at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History today. Unbeknownst to me, a Diplichnites trackway I collected from my backyard when I was 12 and donated when I was 19 is now on display in the new Stories Week Keep gallery. What an honor.
December 29, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Great surprise today at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History today. Unbeknownst to me, a Diplichnites trackway I collected from my backyard when I was 12 and donated when I was 19 is now on display in the new Stories Week Keep gallery. What an honor.
Reposted by Chris Widga
Mazon Monday #302: The Wreck of the 5560 #fossils #paleontology #MazonCreek #MazonMonday #history #coalef="/hashtag/coalmining" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#coalmining #coal #powershovel
Mazon Monday #302: The Wreck of the 5560
This is Mazon Monday post #302. What’s your favorite Mazon Creek fossil? Tell us at email:esconi.info@gmail.com. The Marion Power Shovel Company was an American company that designed, manufactured, and built steam shovels, power shovels, blast hole drills, excavators, and dragline excavators. The company was headquartered in Marion, Ohio and operated from 1884 to 1997, when it was acquired by its competitor…
esconi.org
December 29, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Mazon Monday #302: The Wreck of the 5560 #fossils #paleontology #MazonCreek #MazonMonday #history #coalef="/hashtag/coalmining" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#coalmining #coal #powershovel
Reposted by Chris Widga
With space at a premium and the advance of new digitisation techniques, why does retaining over 600 km of physical rock core remain of national importance?
Follow the link to find out: www.bgs.ac.uk/news/why-do-...
Follow the link to find out: www.bgs.ac.uk/news/why-do-...
December 28, 2025 at 11:22 AM
With space at a premium and the advance of new digitisation techniques, why does retaining over 600 km of physical rock core remain of national importance?
Follow the link to find out: www.bgs.ac.uk/news/why-do-...
Follow the link to find out: www.bgs.ac.uk/news/why-do-...
Reposted by Chris Widga
Latest paper: Boxgrove is a key European site dating to 480,000 years ago. At GTP17, hominins knapped handaxes and then butchered an adult female horse. A fragment of the horse's scapula appeared to have evidence of impact from a wooden spear.....
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
November 8, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Latest paper: Boxgrove is a key European site dating to 480,000 years ago. At GTP17, hominins knapped handaxes and then butchered an adult female horse. A fragment of the horse's scapula appeared to have evidence of impact from a wooden spear.....
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Chris Widga
Map of the lead mines near Beetown, Grant County, Wisconsin, one of many similar maps by James Wilson, Jr., in Geology of Wisconsin: Survey of 1873-1879, Atlas. Wilson also produced more detailed maps and cross sections for some areas; see next post.
December 27, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Map of the lead mines near Beetown, Grant County, Wisconsin, one of many similar maps by James Wilson, Jr., in Geology of Wisconsin: Survey of 1873-1879, Atlas. Wilson also produced more detailed maps and cross sections for some areas; see next post.
Reposted by Chris Widga
Neat ground patterns on a wilderness trek. I’m told they are caused by repeated free-thaw cycles. From November to April, our temps hover right around freezing/0C…resulting in numerous freeze-thaw cycles per year. #Newfoundland, Canada. #hiking #backpacking #geology
No #trail
No #trail
December 27, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Neat ground patterns on a wilderness trek. I’m told they are caused by repeated free-thaw cycles. From November to April, our temps hover right around freezing/0C…resulting in numerous freeze-thaw cycles per year. #Newfoundland, Canada. #hiking #backpacking #geology
No #trail
No #trail
Reposted by Chris Widga
These creatures won’t leave me alone! First in my thoughts, then in my Instagram feed, now on Bluesky!!
A repost for #Fishmas... razorfishes, Lembeh. Hanging out in a head-down position like this is... just what they do. Apparently it helps them hide in sea urchin spines, although how that works in open water I have no idea :)
#MarineLife 🌿🐟
#MarineLife 🌿🐟
December 24, 2025 at 5:12 PM
These creatures won’t leave me alone! First in my thoughts, then in my Instagram feed, now on Bluesky!!
Reposted by Chris Widga
📖 Published📖
Duhamel et al. evaluate the predictability of bird migratory behaviour from bone remains using a novel experimental framework that combines stable isotope and histological analyses 🦴 🦅
🌍 🧪
buff.ly/5CyZpQI
Duhamel et al. evaluate the predictability of bird migratory behaviour from bone remains using a novel experimental framework that combines stable isotope and histological analyses 🦴 🦅
🌍 🧪
buff.ly/5CyZpQI
December 22, 2025 at 12:03 PM
📖 Published📖
Duhamel et al. evaluate the predictability of bird migratory behaviour from bone remains using a novel experimental framework that combines stable isotope and histological analyses 🦴 🦅
🌍 🧪
buff.ly/5CyZpQI
Duhamel et al. evaluate the predictability of bird migratory behaviour from bone remains using a novel experimental framework that combines stable isotope and histological analyses 🦴 🦅
🌍 🧪
buff.ly/5CyZpQI
Reposted by Chris Widga
One of the foci of our labs is the archaeology and ecology of islands and coasts. Accordingly, one of our specialties (@isazooarch.bsky.social’s specialties!) is FISH BONE!! It takes a special kind of archaeologist to love working with these tiny bones… #archaeology #ecology 🐠 🐟 🐡
December 23, 2025 at 12:33 PM
One of the foci of our labs is the archaeology and ecology of islands and coasts. Accordingly, one of our specialties (@isazooarch.bsky.social’s specialties!) is FISH BONE!! It takes a special kind of archaeologist to love working with these tiny bones… #archaeology #ecology 🐠 🐟 🐡
Reposted by Chris Widga
Curator of Education job (tenure-track Assistant Professor) at the Museum of Natural History, University of Colorado Boulder! Salary $90-$100K, 9 month full time position. Apply by Jan 21. jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDeta...
Assistant Professor - Curator of Education (Tenure-Track)
jobs.colorado.edu
December 22, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Curator of Education job (tenure-track Assistant Professor) at the Museum of Natural History, University of Colorado Boulder! Salary $90-$100K, 9 month full time position. Apply by Jan 21. jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDeta...
Reposted by Chris Widga
The final 2025 posting for #TalesFromTheDeep is now live in the StoryCorps Archive - check out Kaitlin Schaible talking about the IODP framework, food, ping pong, mentoring, Mario Kart, and more from her time on Chikyu for EXP 405. 🌊⚒️
“We were alternating between puzzles, Mario Kart, and working for the expedition… it was fun to have a competitive spirit"
Food, fun, and faculty mentors… all of these were a part of the experience Kaitlin Schaible had while sailing on board Chikyu for Expedition 405. Here, Kaitlin speaks about about dietary restrictions,...
archive.storycorps.org
December 22, 2025 at 9:37 PM
The final 2025 posting for #TalesFromTheDeep is now live in the StoryCorps Archive - check out Kaitlin Schaible talking about the IODP framework, food, ping pong, mentoring, Mario Kart, and more from her time on Chikyu for EXP 405. 🌊⚒️
Reposted by Chris Widga
Lab PIs are at the University of Georgia doing preliminary work for a new project at a 5,000yr old site on the Georgia coast. Step 1: DATES! They’re dating preserved fibers directly from sherds! These are the oldest ceramics north of Colombia and are tempered with Spanish moss! #archaeology #ecology
December 22, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Lab PIs are at the University of Georgia doing preliminary work for a new project at a 5,000yr old site on the Georgia coast. Step 1: DATES! They’re dating preserved fibers directly from sherds! These are the oldest ceramics north of Colombia and are tempered with Spanish moss! #archaeology #ecology
Reposted by Chris Widga
Last call! We're hiring 👉 Invertebrate Paleontology Collection Manager
📌 Apply by Jan 5, 2026
This position will manage the extensive collections, conduct fieldwork, participate in public outreach & pursue external funding.
🔸 Full info + application: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/nhdept/inver...
📌 Apply by Jan 5, 2026
This position will manage the extensive collections, conduct fieldwork, participate in public outreach & pursue external funding.
🔸 Full info + application: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/nhdept/inver...
December 22, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Last call! We're hiring 👉 Invertebrate Paleontology Collection Manager
📌 Apply by Jan 5, 2026
This position will manage the extensive collections, conduct fieldwork, participate in public outreach & pursue external funding.
🔸 Full info + application: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/nhdept/inver...
📌 Apply by Jan 5, 2026
This position will manage the extensive collections, conduct fieldwork, participate in public outreach & pursue external funding.
🔸 Full info + application: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/nhdept/inver...
Reposted by Chris Widga
Looking for a PhD in palaeontology or associated fields? Just a heads up that we have a list of opportunities on the @thepalass.bsky.social website:
palass.org/phd-opportun...
⚒️🧪🦀🦑 #evosky
(If you're advertising one, you can add it to our listings too: palass.org/form/webform... )
palass.org/phd-opportun...
⚒️🧪🦀🦑 #evosky
(If you're advertising one, you can add it to our listings too: palass.org/form/webform... )
PhD Opportunities | The Palaeontological Association
palass.org
December 22, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Looking for a PhD in palaeontology or associated fields? Just a heads up that we have a list of opportunities on the @thepalass.bsky.social website:
palass.org/phd-opportun...
⚒️🧪🦀🦑 #evosky
(If you're advertising one, you can add it to our listings too: palass.org/form/webform... )
palass.org/phd-opportun...
⚒️🧪🦀🦑 #evosky
(If you're advertising one, you can add it to our listings too: palass.org/form/webform... )
Reposted by Chris Widga
So excited to announce the publication of this paper which is the first to come from my PhD! Combing data from the PleistoHERD and DeerPal project we analyse carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur in ungulate bones from the Aquitaine Basin dating between the Ante-Quina and Quina periods.
December 17, 2025 at 2:28 PM
So excited to announce the publication of this paper which is the first to come from my PhD! Combing data from the PleistoHERD and DeerPal project we analyse carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur in ungulate bones from the Aquitaine Basin dating between the Ante-Quina and Quina periods.
Reposted by Chris Widga
Happy (in spite of everything) to share our new paper on loess tablelands, mesa-like landforms of highly erodible sediment, that persist without a resistant caprock for tens of thousands of years, if not longer. Why? 1/5 agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
Evolution of Loess Tablelands in the Central Great Plains: Relief Generation by Loess Accumulation and the Importance of Closed Depressions
Loess tableland evolution reflects the interaction of loess accumulation generating relief and erosion in response to that relief Tableland erosion using fluvial processes is limited by closed de...
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 17, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Happy (in spite of everything) to share our new paper on loess tablelands, mesa-like landforms of highly erodible sediment, that persist without a resistant caprock for tens of thousands of years, if not longer. Why? 1/5 agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
Reposted by Chris Widga
Help me, Hive Mind! I've got multiple students interested in deep time vertebrate paleontology -- everything from early tetrapod evolution to dinosaurs. This is not my field, and we don't have any paleontologists at UMaine (vertebrate or invertebrate). Do you know of any good internships or REUs?
December 15, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Help me, Hive Mind! I've got multiple students interested in deep time vertebrate paleontology -- everything from early tetrapod evolution to dinosaurs. This is not my field, and we don't have any paleontologists at UMaine (vertebrate or invertebrate). Do you know of any good internships or REUs?
Reposted by Chris Widga
December 15, 2025 at 12:34 PM
I can't unsee a drone's eye view of Mammut borsoni.
Semi-infaunal squid?
Everyone update your mollusk theoretical ecospace diagrams and let me know if you got bingo with this one
www.livescience.com/animals/moll...
Everyone update your mollusk theoretical ecospace diagrams and let me know if you got bingo with this one
www.livescience.com/animals/moll...
'Very novel and very puzzling': Unknown species of squid spotted burying itself upside down, pretending to be a plant
A new study reveals an unknown species of whiplash squid burying itself upside down in the deep sea — a first-of-its-kind behavior for cephalopods.
www.livescience.com
December 13, 2025 at 11:47 PM
I can't unsee a drone's eye view of Mammut borsoni.