Phil Torres
@philtorres.bsky.social
Biologist, TV Host, Educator
#ExpeditionX on Discovery Channel
Photos/videos by me 📸
#ExpeditionX on Discovery Channel
Photos/videos by me 📸
Reposted by Phil Torres
Our nature note with @philtorres.bsky.social @aaronpomerantz.bsky.social et al. in
@ecol-evol.bsky.social was featured in @science.org #ScienceShots written by
@sahasmehra.bsky.social
#Cyclosa #decoy #spiders #evolution #Peru #Philippines
@ecol-evol.bsky.social was featured in @science.org #ScienceShots written by
@sahasmehra.bsky.social
#Cyclosa #decoy #spiders #evolution #Peru #Philippines
For the first time, scientists have documented an unusual defense: Some species of arachnids build giant doppelgängers on their webs, creating a frightening deception that scares off would-be killers. https://scim.ag/487Myn0
November 12, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Our nature note with @philtorres.bsky.social @aaronpomerantz.bsky.social et al. in
@ecol-evol.bsky.social was featured in @science.org #ScienceShots written by
@sahasmehra.bsky.social
#Cyclosa #decoy #spiders #evolution #Peru #Philippines
@ecol-evol.bsky.social was featured in @science.org #ScienceShots written by
@sahasmehra.bsky.social
#Cyclosa #decoy #spiders #evolution #Peru #Philippines
Thanks to all who tuned in to our Shark Week episode of #ExpeditionX!
We teamed up with an incredible group of scientists to uncover the secrets of the monster shark of Malpelo Island.
We teamed up with an incredible group of scientists to uncover the secrets of the monster shark of Malpelo Island.
July 27, 2025 at 5:29 AM
Thanks to all who tuned in to our Shark Week episode of #ExpeditionX!
We teamed up with an incredible group of scientists to uncover the secrets of the monster shark of Malpelo Island.
We teamed up with an incredible group of scientists to uncover the secrets of the monster shark of Malpelo Island.
Moss Landing, CA is a biological gem. Go kayak the Elkhorn Slough and you’ll see dozens of sea otters and harbor seals, an incredible variety of birds, and hundreds of nudibranchs in the sea grass.
July 13, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Moss Landing, CA is a biological gem. Go kayak the Elkhorn Slough and you’ll see dozens of sea otters and harbor seals, an incredible variety of birds, and hundreds of nudibranchs in the sea grass.
Double crested cormorant and this chick is taking a deep dive for a meal… down its parent’s throat 😳
July 13, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Double crested cormorant and this chick is taking a deep dive for a meal… down its parent’s throat 😳
And here is the second largest piece of the moon ever found on Earth (!) just waiting for you on display at the Portland, Maine airport. What an epic mini museum they have there.
June 3, 2025 at 12:25 PM
And here is the second largest piece of the moon ever found on Earth (!) just waiting for you on display at the Portland, Maine airport. What an epic mini museum they have there.
Currently working at an are about an hour east of Pittsburgh for the week- any recommendations for good nature spots to hit in my down time from you birders, herpers, bug enthusiasts out there?
June 3, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Currently working at an are about an hour east of Pittsburgh for the week- any recommendations for good nature spots to hit in my down time from you birders, herpers, bug enthusiasts out there?
Reposted by Phil Torres
Big business has big feelings about paying a bit more but here are the facts:
- We’re losing *working families* + billions in economic activity because of the cost of living crisis
- Under our plan, corporations + millionaires will still pay less than before the Trump tax cuts
- We’re losing *working families* + billions in economic activity because of the cost of living crisis
- Under our plan, corporations + millionaires will still pay less than before the Trump tax cuts
Socialist NYC mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani will trigger mass exodus with tax hike plot to pay for $10B policies, experts warn
Socialist NYC mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani will trigger mass exodus with tax hike plot to pay for $10B policies, experts warn
"This would only add to that exodus and further erode our tax base."
nypost.com
May 30, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Big business has big feelings about paying a bit more but here are the facts:
- We’re losing *working families* + billions in economic activity because of the cost of living crisis
- Under our plan, corporations + millionaires will still pay less than before the Trump tax cuts
- We’re losing *working families* + billions in economic activity because of the cost of living crisis
- Under our plan, corporations + millionaires will still pay less than before the Trump tax cuts
Reposted by Phil Torres
Holy smokes! I've got the male too! I'm tearing up. Just heard from the scientist that described the new species and this handsome lad is the male. So awesome!
(Chrysometa chuchaqui)
(Chrysometa chuchaqui)
May 21, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Holy smokes! I've got the male too! I'm tearing up. Just heard from the scientist that described the new species and this handsome lad is the male. So awesome!
(Chrysometa chuchaqui)
(Chrysometa chuchaqui)
The pileated woodpeckers helping decorate my yard. We use logs rounds to line the trails and entryway, I always love the countdown to see when the woodpeckers start making their mark.
May 20, 2025 at 5:35 AM
The pileated woodpeckers helping decorate my yard. We use logs rounds to line the trails and entryway, I always love the countdown to see when the woodpeckers start making their mark.
My backyard has bigger banana slugs than your back yard
May 20, 2025 at 5:30 AM
My backyard has bigger banana slugs than your back yard
Reposted by Phil Torres
My favorite hobby is finding tiny little camouflaged treasures in nature.
April 8, 2025 at 11:04 PM
My favorite hobby is finding tiny little camouflaged treasures in nature.
Big news for me this week: cute baby girl number two entered our lives this weekend, and a great horned owl nest with 3 baby owlets was spotted 5 minutes from my house. So many cute little ones around me it is overloading my heart.
March 19, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Big news for me this week: cute baby girl number two entered our lives this weekend, and a great horned owl nest with 3 baby owlets was spotted 5 minutes from my house. So many cute little ones around me it is overloading my heart.
Reposted by Phil Torres
It's the best time of the year. Blue spotted salamanders are out, and they're the perfect animal
March 18, 2025 at 7:24 PM
It's the best time of the year. Blue spotted salamanders are out, and they're the perfect animal
Reposted by Phil Torres
Listen to every word.
March 11, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Listen to every word.
Reposted by Phil Torres
A new study found that U.S. butterfly populations dropped by 22% in just 20 years. Dr. Elise Zipkin and Dr. @nickhaddad.bsky.social join us to discuss what’s causing the decline and whether we can do anything about it.
Where Have All The Butterflies Gone?
A new study of butterfly populations in the US shows a 22% decline among over 500 species in just 20 years.
buff.ly
March 7, 2025 at 8:21 PM
A new study found that U.S. butterfly populations dropped by 22% in just 20 years. Dr. Elise Zipkin and Dr. @nickhaddad.bsky.social join us to discuss what’s causing the decline and whether we can do anything about it.
Reposted by Phil Torres
Just in one year, just the clean air act, prevented hundreds of thousands of early deaths. The lowest possible estimate of the benefits found that benefits outweigh the costs by 3 to 1. The most likely estimate is 30 to 1. The high estimate is 90 to 1. Ninety. Nine Zero. www.epa.gov/clean-air-ac...
February 24, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Just in one year, just the clean air act, prevented hundreds of thousands of early deaths. The lowest possible estimate of the benefits found that benefits outweigh the costs by 3 to 1. The most likely estimate is 30 to 1. The high estimate is 90 to 1. Ninety. Nine Zero. www.epa.gov/clean-air-ac...
Reposted by Phil Torres
Measles high infection rate is the reason we have not yet been able to eradicate it. That rate means you need a very high vaccination rate to prevent outbreaks. It is possible, but not with current levels of institutional distrust.
The average person with the flu gives it to around 1.4 people. The average person with measles gives it to between 12 and 18 people.
Measles cases continue to surge globally, putting millions of children at risk.
More than 10 million people globally were infected with measles in 2023, a 20% increase from the previous year.
bit.ly/48SAtkf
More than 10 million people globally were infected with measles in 2023, a 20% increase from the previous year.
bit.ly/48SAtkf
February 17, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Measles high infection rate is the reason we have not yet been able to eradicate it. That rate means you need a very high vaccination rate to prevent outbreaks. It is possible, but not with current levels of institutional distrust.
Reposted by Phil Torres
Firing experts 🧪 who can identify agricultural pests 🐛 early on might not be the best thing if you really wanted to lower food prices. But maybe that was never the point ...
Today, the USDA lost experts in Psylloidea, Thysanoptera, Cerambycidae, Hymenoptera, Pseudococcidae, and Malacology. This is a devastating loss of expertise, occuring without warning. Their union's official statement on the issue can be found here: aginspectors.org/2-14-2025-a-... #entomology 🧪
February 16, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Firing experts 🧪 who can identify agricultural pests 🐛 early on might not be the best thing if you really wanted to lower food prices. But maybe that was never the point ...
After seeing 10+ species of them I learned this weekend I may be obsessed with tropical tanagers. Saffron-crowned tanager and golden tanager, two surprisingly common birds amongst the mixed flocks of the Colombian cloud forest.
February 12, 2025 at 2:32 PM
After seeing 10+ species of them I learned this weekend I may be obsessed with tropical tanagers. Saffron-crowned tanager and golden tanager, two surprisingly common birds amongst the mixed flocks of the Colombian cloud forest.
Some of the most spectacular hummingbirds I saw in Colombia over the weekend. Brown violetear, white-booted racket-tail, and the long-tailed sylph.
February 11, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Some of the most spectacular hummingbirds I saw in Colombia over the weekend. Brown violetear, white-booted racket-tail, and the long-tailed sylph.
The birds of the cloud forests of Colombia are astounding. Had less than 24hrs to visit various hot spots outside of Cali this weekend, and wow did they show up.
February 10, 2025 at 12:44 PM
The birds of the cloud forests of Colombia are astounding. Had less than 24hrs to visit various hot spots outside of Cali this weekend, and wow did they show up.
Reposted by Phil Torres
Whenever you hear someone sneer about scientific research that seems useless to them — “they’re studying the spit of lizards?!” — remind them that’s exactly how we got Ozempic.
globalnews.ca/news/9793403...
globalnews.ca/news/9793403...
How a Canadian scientist and a venomous lizard helped pave the way for Ozempic - National | Globalnews.ca
In 1984, Dr. Daniel Drucker, an endocrinologist from the University of Toronto, discovered a hormone that helped pave the way for popular diabetes drugs such as Ozempic.
globalnews.ca
February 9, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Whenever you hear someone sneer about scientific research that seems useless to them — “they’re studying the spit of lizards?!” — remind them that’s exactly how we got Ozempic.
globalnews.ca/news/9793403...
globalnews.ca/news/9793403...
Reposted by Phil Torres
Department Of Interior Bans Unlikely Animal Friendships
theonion.com/departm...
theonion.com/departm...
February 5, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Department Of Interior Bans Unlikely Animal Friendships
theonion.com/departm...
theonion.com/departm...
Our boat happens to be anchored in the perfect position to see two faces in the cliff side.
February 4, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Our boat happens to be anchored in the perfect position to see two faces in the cliff side.