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
Shortly before my VP class every week someone draws these delightful critters on the chalkboard--usually just in time for me to discuss them in lecture. The students have started calling this unknown artist "EMS Banksy." Complete mystery!
October 1, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Shortly before my VP class every week someone draws these delightful critters on the chalkboard--usually just in time for me to discuss them in lecture. The students have started calling this unknown artist "EMS Banksy." Complete mystery!
Purple fossil coprolite. I have questions. @floridamuseum.bsky.social
September 20, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Purple fossil coprolite. I have questions. @floridamuseum.bsky.social
I'm excited by all of the west coast mammoths and mastodons that I was introduced to last week. I'm REALLY excited about the >100 high-quality scans of teeth and limb bones that I collected...even though processing will probably take every spare waking hour for a month.
August 23, 2025 at 6:58 PM
I'm excited by all of the west coast mammoths and mastodons that I was introduced to last week. I'm REALLY excited about the >100 high-quality scans of teeth and limb bones that I collected...even though processing will probably take every spare waking hour for a month.
August 18, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Alton told me to use my scale bar.... #paleocon2025
August 14, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Alton told me to use my scale bar.... #paleocon2025
My family tells me that queso, chips, and beer are not "dinner." I disagree. Rules change in Texas (where I am, for the next few hours).
August 14, 2025 at 1:09 AM
My family tells me that queso, chips, and beer are not "dinner." I disagree. Rules change in Texas (where I am, for the next few hours).
Location: basement of my building.
I think this is self explanatory. My only question is why I wasn't informed. Seems like a safety issue. @psugeo.bsky.social
I think this is self explanatory. My only question is why I wasn't informed. Seems like a safety issue. @psugeo.bsky.social
July 19, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Location: basement of my building.
I think this is self explanatory. My only question is why I wasn't informed. Seems like a safety issue. @psugeo.bsky.social
I think this is self explanatory. My only question is why I wasn't informed. Seems like a safety issue. @psugeo.bsky.social
Geez this looks like a walrus jaw. But from Central PA. @coastalpaleo.bsky.social
July 16, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Geez this looks like a walrus jaw. But from Central PA. @coastalpaleo.bsky.social
Here's a Diplodocus femur from Como Bluff, WY to brighten your Friday. Sadly, we had to take it off exhibit when it began to crack to avoid endangering visitors. Summer project: #3Dprint a replacement so a falling femur won't hurt so much. #museumsafety
June 6, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Here's a Diplodocus femur from Como Bluff, WY to brighten your Friday. Sadly, we had to take it off exhibit when it began to crack to avoid endangering visitors. Summer project: #3Dprint a replacement so a falling femur won't hurt so much. #museumsafety
That's great! We've got a ways to go, but plenty of time to think about it. A few dozen of these old cases brimming with economic geology samples.
June 4, 2025 at 1:02 AM
That's great! We've got a ways to go, but plenty of time to think about it. A few dozen of these old cases brimming with economic geology samples.
An absolute unit of a gomphothere. Actually, I like that, the gomphothere unit. As in, I'll take 1 "gomphothere" of your finest lager please. #fossilfriday #dmns
May 2, 2025 at 10:41 PM
An absolute unit of a gomphothere. Actually, I like that, the gomphothere unit. As in, I'll take 1 "gomphothere" of your finest lager please. #fossilfriday #dmns
One of the perks of living where we do, I get to stare at this mountain at the end of a long week, who is indifferent to the current state of human affairs. #mtnittany
May 2, 2025 at 10:36 PM
One of the perks of living where we do, I get to stare at this mountain at the end of a long week, who is indifferent to the current state of human affairs. #mtnittany
Here's a photo of a baby (chin) tusk in a mastodon from Colorado.
April 28, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Here's a photo of a baby (chin) tusk in a mastodon from Colorado.
Saw some of the tiniest elephants today in the Denver Museum collections. A bitty mastodon chin tusk from Snowmass (complete w/enamel cap), and a cutie baby mammoth jaw.
April 26, 2025 at 4:54 AM
Saw some of the tiniest elephants today in the Denver Museum collections. A bitty mastodon chin tusk from Snowmass (complete w/enamel cap), and a cutie baby mammoth jaw.
Clearly I need more monumental wildlife sculpture in my workplace. #saadenver2025
April 24, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Clearly I need more monumental wildlife sculpture in my workplace. #saadenver2025
All part of a good day looking at historic mystery mammoth bones (and maybe mastodon, and dinosaur?) at Bethany College WV.
April 16, 2025 at 1:18 AM
All part of a good day looking at historic mystery mammoth bones (and maybe mastodon, and dinosaur?) at Bethany College WV.
Yes. This is an elephant skull perched atop a very small pedestal. #thingsyoucantunsee
April 16, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Yes. This is an elephant skull perched atop a very small pedestal. #thingsyoucantunsee
Pile o' tiny #3Dprinted #mastodon teeth. We're shooting for about 120 for an event next weekend.
April 3, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Pile o' tiny #3Dprinted #mastodon teeth. We're shooting for about 120 for an event next weekend.
We've got a few from your neck of the woods too. Looking forward to seeing what you're cooking up!
March 20, 2025 at 11:31 PM
We've got a few from your neck of the woods too. Looking forward to seeing what you're cooking up!
Looking at some old files today I ran across this pygmy mammoth molar from Santa Rosa, (Channel Islands, CA). In the collection of the Santa Barbara #Museum of #NaturalHistory.
March 16, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Looking at some old files today I ran across this pygmy mammoth molar from Santa Rosa, (Channel Islands, CA). In the collection of the Santa Barbara #Museum of #NaturalHistory.
Looking forward to this one. There's a Deinothere on the cover--so something for everyone, then! Congrats @restingdinoface.bsky.social. Always love your work!
March 3, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Looking forward to this one. There's a Deinothere on the cover--so something for everyone, then! Congrats @restingdinoface.bsky.social. Always love your work!
In the shadow of Diplodocus carnegii, Matt Lamanna and @paleofeathers.bsky.social giving a fantastic tour of Carnegie Museum Paleo to PSU EMS students. What a great day!
March 2, 2025 at 12:02 AM
In the shadow of Diplodocus carnegii, Matt Lamanna and @paleofeathers.bsky.social giving a fantastic tour of Carnegie Museum Paleo to PSU EMS students. What a great day!
Me: Oooo. Leidy's holotype of PANTHERA ATROX!!!
P. atrox:...
Me, whispering in awe: (you're so awesome...)
At Academy of Sciences in Philadelphia. Happy #fossilfriday.
P. atrox:...
Me, whispering in awe: (you're so awesome...)
At Academy of Sciences in Philadelphia. Happy #fossilfriday.
February 21, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Me: Oooo. Leidy's holotype of PANTHERA ATROX!!!
P. atrox:...
Me, whispering in awe: (you're so awesome...)
At Academy of Sciences in Philadelphia. Happy #fossilfriday.
P. atrox:...
Me, whispering in awe: (you're so awesome...)
At Academy of Sciences in Philadelphia. Happy #fossilfriday.
Sooo many baby Irvingtonian Mammut. This was not your typical "fissure". Piled high with mastodons... (Port Kennedy Cave, PA)
February 18, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Sooo many baby Irvingtonian Mammut. This was not your typical "fissure". Piled high with mastodons... (Port Kennedy Cave, PA)
Just hanging out here with the holotype of Dinobastis (=Homotherium) serum. No biggie. The ANSP collection is a wonderful time machine back to 19th century paleontology. I'm sure I'll get to 21st century eventually, but please let me wallow in the past for a bit longer.
February 18, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Just hanging out here with the holotype of Dinobastis (=Homotherium) serum. No biggie. The ANSP collection is a wonderful time machine back to 19th century paleontology. I'm sure I'll get to 21st century eventually, but please let me wallow in the past for a bit longer.