Neil Losin
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neillosin.bsky.social
Neil Losin
@neillosin.bsky.social
220 followers 290 following 99 posts
Biologist, Filmmaker, and Photographer. Co-Founder of Day's Edge Productions. Director / Showrunner / Writer of HUMAN FOOTPRINT on PBS. Ph.D. Biology 2012 (UCLA Dept. of EEB).

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neillosin.bsky.social
And a related one:
A screengrab of excerpted text from the linked article: "Why has the public gutting of science not caused an immediate political backlash? The authors of the culling have correctly recognized that the public has no idea how science works and has no connection to scientists who aren’t on television. Note that the blame game is irrelevant here: I’m not saying that it’s scientists’ fault. We are doing the job we were trained to do, chasing the prizes that our mentors taught us to chase. In our new world, the expert who carefully engages science journalists and translates findings to our lesser-educated relatives will be just as valuable as the one who generates boatloads of data on the backs of a dozen overworked graduate students."
March 6, 2025 at 6:50 PM
neillosin.bsky.social
Many important insights...
A screengrab of excerpted text from the linked article: "Universities make money on our National Institutes of Health grants, not because we explain how vaccines work to members of a Baptist church or other populations of non-scientists. But these people who pay for our research understandably shrug their shoulders when the government moves to fire a large fraction of the scientific workforce. Scientists must rethink the targets of our scientific expertise and take on the intimidating challenge of bridging the gap between science and society."
March 6, 2025 at 6:50 PM
neillosin.bsky.social
13/ Birds that aren't dismantling the democratic order, continued. #birdsky

#13 (bonus): Musk Duck
Weird throat wattle. Doesn't smell good. Literally has "Musk" in its name. Yet believe it or not, this bird is not dismantling the democratic order.
A photo of a Musk Duck, a strange all-black duck that rests low in the water, has a stout conical bill, a large fleshy black wattle hanging from its bill, and black eyes. The bird is swimming through blue water with gentle ripples.
February 2, 2025 at 10:03 PM
neillosin.bsky.social
12/ Twelve birds that aren't dismantling the democratic order, continued. #birdsky

#12: Greater Prairie-Chicken
Not a chicken, no matter what it tells you. Possible fashion inspo for J6 insurrectionists? Should probably get that neck thing checked out. But hasn't given up on America.
A male Greater Prairie-Chicken, a large grassland bird, performing a mating display in short, dry grass. It has striped tan-and-brown plumage, a short round tail held erect, pale feathered legs, two feathery "horns" on its head, bare orange-skinned "eyebrows" above its eyes, and a large inflatable orange skin pouch on each side of its neck.
February 2, 2025 at 10:03 PM
neillosin.bsky.social
11/ Twelve birds that aren't dismantling the democratic order, continued. #birdsky

#11: Wild Turkey
TBH this one comes closest to being a true chaos agent. Will 100% attack you without provocation. Nevertheless, sees value in the rule of law.
A portrait of a male Wild Turkey displaying it's fan-shaped, banded brown tail, drooping its wings, and fluffing its iridescent body feathers. It has a red wattle of bare skin on its neck, a dangling fleshy "snood" on its bill, and blue facial skin. It is backlit, showing the details of its striped wing and tail feathers.
February 2, 2025 at 10:03 PM
neillosin.bsky.social
10/ Twelve birds that aren't dismantling the democratic order, continued. #birdsky

#10: Eared Grebe
That eye is just not trustworthy. Also, wouldn't it be weirder if it *weren't* "eared"? Not exactly a distinctive characteristic. But despite obvious shortcomings, not an enemy of the state.
A photo of an eared grebe, a small duck-like swimming bird, floating in rippling blue water. Its eye is intensely red with an almost invisibly small pupil, giving it an unsettling appearance. Otherwise, it has fluffy gray plumage, with darker crown and a whitish throat.
February 2, 2025 at 10:03 PM
neillosin.bsky.social
9/ Twelve birds that aren't dismantling the democratic order, continued. #birdsky

#9: Green Honeycreeper
Wears a mask *all the time* and literally has "creeper" right there in the name. But not a fan of fascism or kleptocracy.
A photo of a male Green Honeycreeper on a mossy branch. The bird has stunning, iridescent blue-green plumage, a black mask extending over its crown, eyes, and cheeks, a downcurved yellow bill, and a dull red eye.
February 2, 2025 at 10:03 PM
neillosin.bsky.social
8/ Twelve birds that aren't dismantling the democratic order, continued. #birdsky

#8: Emu
Terrible sense of style. Probably thinks it's better than you. Yet when it comes to preserving the democratic order, a reliable ally.
A closeup portrait of an Emu in profile. The large, flightless bird's head and neck are covered in fluffy, unkempt feathers, matted in some places and awkwardly protruding in others. It has a large, hazel-colored eye. Its bill is stout and black, with large nostrils.
February 2, 2025 at 10:03 PM
neillosin.bsky.social
7/ Twelve birds that aren't dismantling the democratic order, continued. #birdsky

#7: Wood Duck
Has less-than-progressive sexual attitudes. Definitely into some weird shit. But 100% voted for Kamala.
A male Wood Duck holding a female down to mate with her, while holding her head feathers in his bill. The male is a beautiful, colorful duck with an iridescent green head with bold white stripes, a bright red and white bill, a red eye, a burgundy breast, and tawny flanks. The female has brown feathering on her head and neck, with bold white markings on her throat, around the base of her bill, and around her eye, which is ringed by yellow skin.
February 2, 2025 at 10:03 PM
neillosin.bsky.social
6/ Twelve birds that aren't dismantling the democratic order, continued. #birdsky

#6: Double-crested Cormorant
Too many vices to list. But not on that list: tearing apart the fabric of our country.
A double-crested cormorant, a large black aquatic bird, is perched on a branch above the water with its wings extended and its mouth open. The bird is entirely black, including its webbed feet, with the exception of its yellow facial skin and blue eye. It has a long bill with a hooked tip.
February 2, 2025 at 10:03 PM
neillosin.bsky.social
5/ Twelve birds that aren't dismantling the democratic order, continued. #birdsky

#5: Rainbow Lorikeet
Has "rainbow" in its name. Basically a flying Pride flag. Not involved in any way in the dismantling of the democratic order.
A photograph of a Rainbow Lorikeet in flight against a blue sky. The bird is a small parrot with a long, tapered tail and pointed wings. Its plumage is multicolored: it has a green tail; yellow, red, and black wings; a blue face; an orange bill; a reddish orange breast; and a blue belly.
February 2, 2025 at 10:03 PM
neillosin.bsky.social
4/ Twelve birds that aren't dismantling the democratic order, continued. #birdsky

#4: Cattle Tyrant
Comes from somewhere in South America. Literally called "tyrant." But actually supports democracy, accountability, and the rule of law.
A Cattle Tyrant -- a small bird with a yellowish belly, gray head and brown wings and tail, standing in short grass.
February 2, 2025 at 10:03 PM
neillosin.bsky.social
3/ Twelve birds that aren't dismantling the democratic order, continued. #birdsky

#3: Bushtit
Name is *probably* obscene. Travels in large, noisy flocks. Suspicious look (what is it hiding?). However, does not appear to be involved in any attempts to undermine the federal government.
A photo of a tiny, fluffy bird called a Bushtit (some would say "birb" or even "borb") perched on a vertical twig, with its face peering from behind a small leaf. Its piercing yellow eye gives it a suspicious appearance. The bird is just a few inches long and has gray plumage, with a short black bill.
February 2, 2025 at 10:03 PM
neillosin.bsky.social
2/ Twelve birds that aren't dismantling the democratic order, continued. #birdsky

#2: Black Vulture
Definitely up to no good. Has a taste for rubber seals around windshields. But no taste for the end of democracy.
Closeup portrait of a Black Vulture. The photo shows the bird's feathered neck, wrinkled black facial skin, ivory-colored hooked beak, and piercing reddish-brown eye.
February 2, 2025 at 10:03 PM
neillosin.bsky.social
Apropos of nothing, here are 12 #birds that aren't dismantling the democratic order. #birdsky

#1: Acorn Woodpecker
Once accused of communism. Even used to be called the "California Woodpecker," amirite? And yet, not dismantling the democratic order.
A male Acorn Woodpecker perched at the entrance of its nest cavity. The bird has a streaked breast and a bold, clown-like color pattern on its head and face. This individual has colored bands on its legs, used for identification in a research study. Screen grab of the first page of a paper published in 1924 in the ornithology journal The Condor, entitled "Communism in the California Woodpecker."
February 2, 2025 at 10:03 PM
neillosin.bsky.social
I recently finished a large origami project, now hanging in my office. The original design, an open-lattice dodecahedral solid, is built using 210 6-inch foil squares and assembled with zero cuts or adhesive. I'll call it #sciart because it kind of looks like a viral capsule or something. #origami
January 25, 2025 at 9:45 PM
neillosin.bsky.social
Good strategy, courtesy of my 6yo. Trying to bring this energy into my 2025 plans #doingthem
Photo of a six year old’s school worksheet. The worksheet prompts: “I can make these hopes and dreams come true by:” and the child has written “Doing them.” Child has also drawn a stick figure, flowers, and what appears to be wind.
January 7, 2025 at 2:33 PM
neillosin.bsky.social
Ok Bluesky... Thinking about a family Costa Rica trip. Our 6yo is SUPER into wildlife (esp. bugs) and really wants to see the rainforest. I've spent lots of time in CR but only at biological field stations. Looking for a comfy (not bougie) lowland rainforest lodge for a family trip! Any ideas?
Three bullet ants (Paraponera clavata) dismember a caterpillar on a mossy branch. Photograph captured in the Caribbean-slope lowland rainforest of Costa Rica.
January 4, 2025 at 6:51 PM
neillosin.bsky.social
I love living in State College, but there are definitely a few months a year when I miss Miami. Here's a striped basilisk enjoying the sunlight on a warm Miami morning. This species is native to Central America but thrives along Miami's canal banks. #lizards #sciart #invasivespecies
A striped basilisk (Basiliscus vittatus) on a tree root in Miami, Florida. The lizard's head and back crests are backlit by the morning sun.
January 4, 2025 at 1:07 AM
neillosin.bsky.social
Sure you've heard of Elf on a Shelf, but what about

#anolis #lizard #sciart
A male Anolis cristatellus lizard peeks out of a woodpecker hole in a royal palm tree in Miami, Florida.
December 26, 2024 at 2:21 PM
neillosin.bsky.social
Merry Cristatellusmas to all who celebrate!

Photo: Anolis cristatellus enjoying a Miami Christmas from a few years back. #anolis #lizards #sciart
A male Anolis cristatellus (Puerto Rican crested anole lizard) perched among Christmas lights on a palm tree in Miami, Florida.
December 25, 2024 at 3:39 PM