Ologies with Alie Ward
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ologies.bsky.social
Ologies with Alie Ward
@ologies.bsky.social
22K followers 420 following 560 posts
A comedyish science podcast hosted by @alieward. Asking smart ologists not-smart questions about their professional obsessions. Every Tuesday. May be NSFW. https://linktr.ee/alieward
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ologies.bsky.social
cooked
A fucked up looking Kermit the Frog with teeth and stoney looking eyes against a backdrop of an inferno
August 13, 2025 at 7:00 PM
ologies.bsky.social
My dream came true. At a cafe & my FAVORITE bug is harassing 2 people swatting it w/ their purses. YES I leapt up & YES I tried to catch it & YES I told them it was gorgeous, harmless, loves fruit, & is like a flying bumbling puppy.

NO they didn't care but the beetle & I bonded

#cotinismutabilis
Cotinis mutabilis: the fig eater beetle which is a big gorgeous scarab that's a shimmering metallic emerald green with two gold stripes at its sides. A recent manicure featuring a fig on one middle finger and a Cotinis mutabilis on the other middle finger A fig eater beetle sticker right at the center of my laptop PEOPLE I LOVE THIS BUG OK
August 8, 2025 at 5:12 PM
ologies.bsky.social
2025 in a nutshell:
A screenshot of my instagram story of Gazan women and children with empty soup pots begging for food and aid amid blockades and rubble with a link to our Genocide episode about crimes of atrocity, and a reply to that story from an older white couple with the message "Please. I'm trying to enjoy my cruise."
July 28, 2025 at 5:29 PM
ologies.bsky.social
Here is my dog Gremmie, small and tiny but shorn like a llama. Plus the inspo photo, plus a before.

It’s giving barnyard. Obsessed.
Gremmie, a small poodle mix, stands on the sidewalk after a groom. Her hair and tail are fluffy but her face legs are close cropped and skinny Inspo photo of an apricot minipoodle in a hallway with very close shorn skinny legs, a shaved face and ears. It looks like a tiny llama Gremmie, a small poodle mix, stands on the sidewalk after a groom. Her hair and tail are fluffy but her face legs are close cropped and skinny Gremmie before the cut, sitting in the grass. She has very scuffly buffly shaggy hair like a sheepdog over her eyes
April 29, 2025 at 7:21 PM
ologies.bsky.social
Hey we won Best Science pod at the iHeart Awards among some fierce competition. Thanks to everyone who listens & thank you to our small but mighty team.

If you want to convert someone to an Ologite, but don’t know where to start, ologies.com is like a menu of topics.

Science matters. Like, A LOT.
Alie (which is me) on a stage at a mic, in front of a tall red curtain Alie ol’ Dadward cheesin on a red carpet holding a chrome, heart-shaped trophy award. I’m wearing a black skirt, black shirt and striped tights with old ratty combat boots A graphic that says iHeart Podcast Awards winner! Best Science Podcast: Ologies with Alie ward Best Science: Hidden Brain StarTalk Radio Stuff To Blow Your Mind Ologies with Alie Ward - WINNER Science Vs
March 11, 2025 at 6:08 PM
ologies.bsky.social
For more on her, follow @djlindee.bsky.social! You may recall her class material going viral:
I could not be any more excited about the slate of final presentations for my Sociology of Reality TV class: Sociology of Reality 1 • Final Presentation Schedule 3rd The Sociology of Homophily in Love is Blind The Sociology of Lesbian Relationships in The Ultimatum: Queer Love The Sociology of Women's Work in Wife Swap The Sociology of Perfectionism on Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders The Sociology of Age Stereotyping on The Golden Bachelor The Sociology of Emotions in Too Hot to Handle The Sociology of Class in Weddings in Four Weddings The Sociology of Pregnancy in Unexpected The Sociology of Competition in America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders The Sociology of Work and Inequality in Below Deck The Sociology of Social Media in The Circle The Sociology of Alcohol in Floribama Shore 5th The Sociology of Conflict in The Amazing Race The Sociology of Family Business in Duck Dynasty The Sociology of the Working Class on Dirty Jobs The Sociology of Expertise in Shark Tank Nude strangers. Icy roads. Brain rot. True love. Class warfare. Queer visibility. Scripted ad libs. Sociologist, professor, author of the book "True Story: What Reality TV Says About Us," and straight up Reality TV Sociologist, Dr. Danielle Lindemann studies human behavior through the lens of pop culture and reality TV. Dr. Lindemann lays out the history of the medium, the complexities of why we watch, the effect on society at large, who signs up to be on these shows, how our reactions change to it over time, political consequences of reality TV, and what these shows can teach us about ourselves and each other. Also: the Jackie & Shadow show.
March 5, 2025 at 11:11 PM
ologies.bsky.social
The Washington Post is toilet paper, and Bezo's decision to have opinion pieces *only* in support of capitalism & dismantling of equity is zero surprise.

Look for shit like this in media: notice who WaPo hand-picked to represent government workers? Someone w/ dyed hair, young, leftist.
A Washington Post headline reading "Fired federal workers demand senators stand up to Elon Musk" with the thumbnail of a laid off worker, screenshot frowning, and who has a cool dyed turquoise wavy undercut. Watching the videos, most of the workers were very ordinary-looking, but they selected this to paint a picture culturally and sew divide. Which I find disgusting and insidious.
February 26, 2025 at 10:38 PM
ologies.bsky.social
Lisa Kudrow in Romy & Michelle in aged prosthetics and a red shirt, saying “I’m the Mary!”
February 21, 2025 at 12:40 AM
ologies.bsky.social
me asking my family to stop supporting n*zis
chris pratt’s character in jurassic world in a pen with snarling velociraptors, arms outstretched trying to calm them
February 1, 2025 at 1:30 AM
ologies.bsky.social
I’ll drop the full text in case you need inspo or to copy/paste lolol. Text is in the ALT description.
Hey guys, I just wanted to say I know I’ve been abruptly absent from the family thread. I just have been really upset at what is happening politically in the US right now and really trying to understand varying positions on it and have felt really hurt that people I love, who I know have kind generous hearts, might support an administration that is harming a lot of friends of mine: people of color, trans friends, gay friends, children of immigrants, women, friends who have needed reproductive care, and scientists I know and respect doing valuable work in human health. It’s really scary and I hope that you have gotten chance to absorb some executive orders, and try to understand the direct impacts. Political factions in the country are really divided at the moment, and I know neither of us agree fully with our own party’s policies, but I have been having neither of us agree fully with our own party's policies, but I have been having a hard time being casual and not authentic about how scared and mad I am at what is happening to people I know. I understand in California, electoral votes on the right don't matter much, but I hope you can understand how destabilizing this feels for a lot of communities none of us are directly a part of. I love you both very much, and I know a lot of these conversations are difficult but I feel I owe it to myself and my family to be authentic in what I believe in. I'll be around and chime in, and things have settled a bit, but I hope you can try to see some of what's happening with open eyes. I'm open to hearing your perspectives on why you support what you do. I just don't understand how some of this stuff aligns with the kind loving people I know you are. Love you both.
February 1, 2025 at 1:23 AM
ologies.bsky.social
You’ll never guess what the major news headlines ARE NOT covering today.

But at least we have info about Melania’s hat.
AP News headlines that read: AP Live updates: Inauguration Day Day 1 executive orders Donald Trump has been sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, taking charge as Republicans claim unified control of Washington and setting out to reshape the country's institutions. READ MORE • Parade honors rallygoer killed during Trump assassination attempt • Trump closely passes supporters at parade arena • It's called an inaugural parade. But is it? • Trump arrives at Capitol One Arena for inaugural parade • Protests denouncing Trump break out across the country Migrants have appointments to enter the US canceled immediately after Trump sworn in Elon Musk's prominence during inauguration ceremonies stamps tech titan's place in Trump's orbit What Melania Trump wore to the inauguration - including the hat
January 20, 2025 at 11:07 PM
ologies.bsky.social
BONKERS to me that Elon's double nazi salute isn't the leading news story today. What in the fuck kind of world
A billionaire immigrant oligarch standing before an United States inaugural podium doing a Third Reich salute, sporting a white man overbite of triumph and exertion
January 20, 2025 at 9:25 PM
ologies.bsky.social
Ethnocynology (HUMANS & DOGS THRU TIME) w/ @davidianhowe.bsky.social is up & it explains why you have a wolf in your bed.

Anthropology, archaeology, & fluffy babies all in one.

Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...

Spotify:
open.spotify.com/episode/1PPL...

(Or wherever you get podcasts.)
An illustration of an ancient human dressed in fur and leather in the snowy woods, fending off (OR WORKING WITH??) wolves with a burning stick. Credit: David Ian Howe
January 16, 2025 at 12:10 AM
ologies.bsky.social
Love these billionaire conservatives saying the fires are a conspiracy lolol. I mean yes, but the call's coming from inside.
NYT screenshot "Last year was the hottest on record, surpassing 2023 for the top spot. Global temperatures last year also averaged more than 1.5 degrees Celsius, or 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit, above those the planet experienced at the start of the industrial age. The increasing temperatures are tied to more extreme weather events like heat waves, hurricanes and wildfires" with an alarming graph showing a steep upward trend from 1980 on
January 10, 2025 at 5:19 PM
ologies.bsky.social
I got some covered because of a surgery and my friend was like “scooore!” and then was reading this below. I didn’t know I had a bottle of DIAMONDS, essentially. (if you’re not insured…)
The cost for Zofran 8 mg oral tablet is around $122 for a supply of 3 tablets, depending on the pharmacy you visit. Quoted prices are for cash-paying customers and are not valid with insurance
December 16, 2024 at 3:17 AM
ologies.bsky.social
me & my spouse rn
A simmering hot pic of mulder and scully from the x-files
December 13, 2024 at 5:03 AM
ologies.bsky.social
Ohaay, it’s the lady who hosts that Ologies podcast and finally got back into her Bsky account.

Alie Ward here, excited to see so many science friends in one place. Add me/say hi so I can gently creep on your work.

I wear this yellow sweater too much.
Alie sitting at a wooden table with her body shoved into a curve of it. She is facing forward with arms like a Sphinx statue and wearing a golden yellow sweater with a neutral expression.
November 10, 2024 at 10:51 PM
ologies.bsky.social
Genocidology (CRIMES OF ATROCITY) with expert Dr. Dirk Moses.

www.alieward.com/ologies/geno...

Pass it on.
VOICEOVER: So genocide from a legal and a punitive standpoint is very difficult to prove no matter what the civilian toll or the horrors. Now if it's hard to prosecute, then is there ever even a consequence? Or a deterrent? ALIE: And you mentioned locked away for decades, possibly forever. Is there a very different punishment or reparations? Why would a country that is already, say, committing atrocities or has committed atrocities wanna avoid that label if they did the things that they did? DR. DIRK MOSES, GENOCIDOLOGIST: Yeah. It's a good question. So when the Darfu case was raging 20 years ago -- you know, which is a region in Sudan -- and was widely regarded as genocide here in particular in the U.S., the U.N. sent in an investigative committee, or commission, and it said that crimes against humanity were being committed but not genocide. And there was an audible sigh of relief in the African Union saying, “Well, okay. Nothing to see here. It's not genocide; it's just crimes aga
May 13, 2024 at 11:11 PM
ologies.bsky.social
A discussion on this is a top thread on Reddit & I’m looking for opinions only from *medical doctors* & *fat folks* on terms.

(I’m told that fat is the preferred descriptor, but if you identify as such feel free to correct me.)

Working on a metabolism ep & no one seems to agree on terms
Tweet thread that reads: A: FYI: "obese" is a slur even if a doctor/medical professional uses it. their degree doesn't stop it from being a slur; it just gives them the "authority" to use it without consequence. "obese" is a slur. debate no one, because that's what it is. B: Why/how is obese a slur? A: because it is not real. B: Then how is a doctor to diagnose someone whose health is suffering as a result of their weight? A: no one's "health" is suffering because of their
January 27, 2024 at 9:49 PM
ologies.bsky.social
CRABS. 🦀 Visit the @NHMLA's crab bunker w/ #Carcinologist @AdamWall626 for: which crabs are NOT crabs, romantic crabs, Old Bay, Amelia Earhart, Sea Monkeys, invasive crabs, giant land crabs that can crack skulls, delicacies, Hollywood crabs + more:

www.alieward.com/ologies/carc...
Adam Wall wears a lobster print shirt and a felt crab hat at the Natural History Museum, and Alie stands in front of him smiling. The Ologies logo appears in the lower left corner.
January 16, 2024 at 9:55 PM
ologies.bsky.social

LEMURS WE GOT LEMURS. Dr. Lydia Greene of
Duke Lemur Center talks GIANT eyes, tree-hopping, Madagascar, ring tails, sashays, aye-ayes, etymology, conservation + a BONKERS origin story. Instant classic. Pass it on.

www.alieward.com/ologies/lemu...
A GIF of an aye-aye: the size of a small cat, but resembling a wingless bat with possum ears and a shock of black and silver hair that looks like a middle-aged hangover. And the name aye-aye, which is spelled A-Y-E-A-Y-E, it's thought to come from a Malagasy term for, I don't know what the fuck that is. It literally means, I don't know. Imagine a creature. So weird. So unsettlingly horrifying and cute that its name translates to I-D-K-I-D-K. On top of that they have long beef jerky fingers that look like twigs but alive and they use one skinnier finger to drum on branches and then they lean their ear on the wood to listen for some chubby maggot snacks inside. And then they use a different thicker finger to dig them out like a toddler would plumb a nostril. I love them more than they'll ever know. Photo: VCG Photo
December 21, 2023 at 1:28 AM
ologies.bsky.social
New episode! Syndesiology (CONNECTIONS) w/sci-comm legend James Burke. We chat history, his career, shipworms, dog pee, French syphilis of yore, and THAT rocket shot. Also his new season + (surprise!) my spin-off Connections show:

www.alieward.com/ologies/synd...
Two still frames of James Burke in 1977 standing in front of a rocket launch, with a lower photo of him now, at 86, hosting a reboot of his long-running show, Connections.
December 6, 2023 at 4:48 AM
ologies.bsky.social
WELP I DID IT. Enjoy this fresh as hell interview with the sci-comm legend that is James Burke:

www.alieward.com/ologies/synd...
A triptych of photos of James Burke from 1977 standng in front of the Voyager 2/Titan 3E rocket launch, and one still from his new series Connections.
December 6, 2023 at 4:36 AM
ologies.bsky.social
A WHOLE EPISODE ON SQUIRRELS. I freaked out and asked #Sciuridologist Dr. Karen Munroe a thousand questions, from birdfeeders to acorns to memories to mating and more.

Please enjoy this absolutely brutal deluge of squirrel info. She is the best:

https://www.alieward.com/ologies/sciuridology
A squirrel in a tree peeking toward camera all cute like
July 26, 2023 at 5:58 AM
ologies.bsky.social
did someone say thirst trap 🤤
Your dad standing on an LA sidewalk doing a fancy arm pose and wearing jeans, a tank and an ologies sweatshirt wrapped around her head
April 30, 2023 at 5:40 AM