Matthew Nelsen
mpnelsen.bsky.social
Matthew Nelsen
@mpnelsen.bsky.social
Senior Research Scientist at Field Museum || Lecturer @saic-edu.bsky.social || Evolutionary biologist interested in macroevolution, symbiosis, fungi and geobiology. Posts my own. https://mpnelsen.com/
Nice to get out in the woods again & catch up w friends @ the @illinoismyco.bsky.social diversity survey a couple wknds ago. Lots of ecological diversity. Excited to find this saprobic Gyromitra (Neogyromitra) brunnea, parasitic mayapple rust (Allodona podophylli) & #lichen Punctelia missouriensis.
May 8, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Really enjoyed seeing & hearing about the work of so many great local artists in the #materialities exhibition last week @ #driehausmuseum curated by @giovannialoi.bsky.social. Here's @rbeachy.bsky.social speaking about the creative process behind her piece in the next slide! #art #chicago #ecology
April 28, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Since today is Robigalia, here's a rust fungus (cedar-apple gall). If you're unfamiliar, it is an ancient Roman holiday during which a sacrifice was made to protect their wheat fields from the wheat rust fungus.
#fungusfriday #fungi #robigalia
April 25, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Come learn about #lichens with me tomorrow night (6.30pm, 15 Apr) at the #greendrinkskankakee event held @ Brickstone Brewery-Bourbonnais!!
April 14, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Great talk at Morton Arb today by @you-wren.bsky.social on fungal #endophytes! Very cool! And thanks to @andrewlhipp.bsky.social for coordinating! #fungi
April 14, 2025 at 8:45 PM
What a thrill to see #Cooksonia barrandei (432 million year old land plant!) at the National Museum in Prague!! 😀
April 1, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Wonderful talks by @FabianyHerrera and @MikeDAntonio22 at the International Organization of Paleobotany conference in Prague. Great representation by @FieldMuseum folks!!
April 1, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Fun day chatting #lichens w Patrick Leacock's #fungi class @saic_news. We took a field trip outside in downtown #chicago and found around 8 species, including this little gem (Xanthocarpia feracissima) hidden among the stones.
April 1, 2025 at 8:11 PM
For today's #fungusfriday, I debut the newest addition to my collection of #fungi-themed tshirts - a harvestman killed by a torrubielloid fungus (Cordycipitaceae). Image, collection and shirt by the great @joaofungo - Thanks!!
April 1, 2025 at 8:11 PM
It's Dog Vomit slime mold season!! Fuligo septica is out and about and doing well! Keep your eyes peeled for this on woodchips in landscaped areas. #slimemold #chicago #theblob
April 1, 2025 at 8:11 PM
For today's #fungusfriday I share this great picture I came across of one of my fave musicians @Eric_Bachmann w some of my favorite #fungi-#lichens! (not my pic) @archers_of @mergerecords @UndertowMusic ... @Eric_Bachmann-dm when you're in town if you want to see more #lichens!
April 1, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Absolutely thrilled to be featured in the new issue of @UChicago Magazine! Thanks to Maureen Searcy for taking time to chat w me! Read here:

mag.uchicago.edu/mnelsen
April 1, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Great time seeing @TheNewPornos w @Blue_Sky_Bakery @ThaliaHallChi last night! (sorry, no pix allowed inside
April 1, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Also, thanks to the @FieldMuseum for making these pins for our display!! #ophiocordyceps #fungi

x.com/mpnelsen/statu…
April 1, 2025 at 8:11 PM
So nice to chat #fungi🍄with so many folks @FieldMuseum Members' Night! Had an awesome time working w/ W. Gaswick, L. Sues, L. Weinstein, A. Damon, A. Lando, B. Carroll to spread the word about how cool and important #fungi are!! And we won an award for our display!!🎉Thx to all!
April 1, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Always a treat to see the leeeeeeeegendary @NeilHamburger. His ability to cradle three drinks while holding a mic is the sign of a true professional! #Chicago #americasfunnyman
April 1, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Big thanks to @laszlognagy and Beáta Bús for creating this *beautiful* poster and making it freely available! Excited to incorporate it into our #fungi display @FieldMuseum Members' Night tomorrow/Fri! Follow the thread for link for free download! 🍄👇

x.com/laszlognagy/st…
April 1, 2025 at 8:10 PM
A big thanks to Tom Knapp for this gem (Cordyceps militaris)!! 😁🤗🥹 So cool!!
April 1, 2025 at 8:10 PM
What a fun time chatting #fungi @chipublib Monday night - thanks to all who came out! Me attempting to demonstrate ectomycorrhizal associations. Thanks to M. Sheehan for the invite and pic, and thanks (once again) @JoAnn_Stores for the materials!
April 1, 2025 at 8:10 PM
What a great time working with @cbonstell and The Experts @iochicago this past Friday!! Great improv linked to a short talk I gave on #fungi! Check out more in the future, including my @FieldMuseum colleagues @Paleontologista and @Sara_and_Snakes!!

facebook.com/theexpertshow
April 1, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Just another Sunday for @FieldMuseum squad @Paleontologista and @c2e2. I❤️#scicomm. Thx @Blue_Sky_Bakery for pix!
April 1, 2025 at 8:10 PM
So much fun chatting #fungi @c2e2 yesterday! My sad attempt at cosplay (#ophiocordyceps infected #ant)🍄🐜. Big thanks to organizers @Paleontologista & @rextoothstudios & co-panelists @maria_c_valdes @TirzahAbbottt & M Schlafly. Let's do this again! Thx @Blue_Sky_Bakery for pix!
April 1, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Great scicomm today w @Paleontologista and @TedRechlin @c2e2 today on #sue #Trex @rextoothstudios @FieldMuseum
April 1, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Lot's of fun #fungi outreach coming up, starting this weekend @c2e2 w @Paleontologista @maria_c_valdes @TirzahAbbott @millicent & Millicent Schlafly...check out this great image by @TedRechlin of @rextoothstudios 😀😊 I've never looked so cool!! @FieldMuseum 🍄👇👇👇
April 1, 2025 at 8:09 PM
So cool to see this new book by Heather Campbell & @realDailyAnt's Benjamin Blanchard! What an accomplishment, and so beautifully illustrated! Great work! @PrincetonUPress
April 1, 2025 at 8:09 PM