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Amartya Tashi Mitra

@binturong98.bsky.social
180 followers 296 following 41 posts

Buschbeck Lab PhD candidate | University of Cincinnati | Studying how weird eyes evolve & develop in arthropods 🐛🪲 | Artist | Embryology 2025 | UCL MRes BEC Alumn | NHM London | St Xavier’s Bombay binturong98.github.io/ATM.website

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Reposted by Amartya Tashi Mitra
Dan Paluh @danpaluh.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
New preprint from the lab on the the molecular basis of hard cornification in the keratinized mouthparts of tadpoles: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
biorxiv.org
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c0nc0rdance @c0nc0rdance.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Let's talk about the HALLOWEEN GENES (really). 1979: It was a dark & stormy night⛈️& a scientist (Eric Wieschaus) is laboring over a microscope🔬, observing the dead remains of ... a fruitfly🪰. But not just ANY fruitfly. This was a TWISTED & MUTATED fruitfly with a GHOSTLY, transparent appearance.
static.klipy.com
Mad Scientist Working in a Laboratory
Alt: Mad Scientist Working in a Laboratory. A man in a lab coat works on a large cabinet sized device covered in proper dials and levers and blinky lights. We used to be researchers. PROPER researchers.
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Jolyon Troscianko @jtroscianko.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
🦋 Butterfly wing patterns create motion illusions that protect them from predators! Our new study (8 years in the making) is out in Nature today doi.org/10.1038/s415... @grahancock.bsky.social @esbriolat.bsky.social @scienceanna.bsky.social @lauraakelley.bsky.social @uniexecec.bsky.social
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Brendan Lan @brendanlan.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
First ever joro spider! So beautiful against the sun with her massive web. An introduced orbweaver from east Asia that's caused some wack news articles. Stuff like "giant flying spider invades the east coast!1!1!1!!". They do balloon but their invasion is not so dramatic.
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Alex Wild @alexwild.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
A parasitic Apocephalus ant-decapitating fly closes in on her target, a Camponotus chromaiodes carpenter ant. Sand Ridge State Forest, Illinois.
Macro photo of a large black and red ant, slightly backlight, standing with antennae raised as a small black and yellow striped fly approaches from the right.
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Mia Konjikusic, PhD @konjikusicmia.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
To add to all the lovely videos of non-AI processes multicilia beating: ctenophore multiciliated cells! They can reach up to 1mm long, causing a rainbow light refraction effect with the correct light positioning! Taken by myself at MBL in 2019 embryology. Realtime frame-rate!
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Chise @sailorrooscout.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Oh to be a little Tardigrade walking around a microscopic volvox algae colony. 🫧🐻🧪
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Chris Gug @gugunderwater.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
I’ve seen it >100 times, but I’ve never been about to capture it until now. Presumably, it is spawning (but I can’t be positive). But what is the green cloud, and what is the smaller blue squiggly??? #blackwater, #blackwaterdiving #polychaete
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Saimi Hanma ⚔️ サイミ @saimihanma.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
This is a fantastic image for #InverteFest because it shows how tragically underrepresented invertebrates are, yet how massively they outnumber vertebrates, which get far more attention. We joke about vertebrate bias, but it's real!
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Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
More academics should take up embroidery. It can be good to have something socially acceptable to stab over and over during certain meetings. 🪡 🧵 🪲 #academicsky
Embroidery hoop with white fabric being stitched with colorful beetles. Two beetles are finished, one is in progress, and one is outlined but not yet started.
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HHMI @hhmi-science.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Antibiotic resistance isn't just a genetic problem; it's ecological. New research from #HHMIInvestigator Harmit Malik & co shows that when a dangerous bacterium shares space w/a common fungus, it can be pushed toward resistance it wouldn't develop alone — but with a built-in weakness bit.ly/4g1jLnZ
Photo of Harmit Malik
Credit: Fred Hutch Cancer Center
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International Society of Developmental Biology @isdb.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
If you have a new preprint or new publication within the field of developmental biology, cell biology, or mechanobiology, we more than welcome you to send them to us via DM to help them get the attention they deserve! We would love to support more ECRs! #devbio #ecr #biology
static.klipy.com
Doris Roberts: We Support Each Other
ALT: Doris Roberts: We Support Each Other
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c0nc0rdance @c0nc0rdance.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Let's talk about how & why crocodilians swim so effortlessly. Note the body posture here: legs tucked to the side, full-body undulations, tail doing most of the work. They're ambush predators that may only eat every 3-10 days (in adults), so retaining the element of surprise is essential.
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Schmidt Ocean Institute @schmidtocean.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
This is a deep-sea isopod. Dr. Johanna Weston, a deep-ocean biologist and guest investigator at @whoi.edu, is confident this is Bathyopsurus nybelini, one of her favorite animals. Learn why via the YouTube caption: youtube.com/shorts/DenUj...
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Tim Triche, Jr.🔰 @timtriche.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
I try to remind myself and my students every day that millions of people far smarter than most of us have lived and died in anonymity for want of opportunity. And humanity is the poorer for it. Those of us provided with opportunities have a responsibility not to squander them
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Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology @sicb.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Be sure to check out what some of our amazing followers are up to! Thanks @sciwithmiy.bsky.social @stephlechki.bsky.social @johanajnabi.com & @shubhamtr.bsky.social for being part of our bsky community!
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Johnny Davila-Sandoval @johnnyds.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Very happy to announce that my first paper is officially out in Evolution & Development. In this article, we showed that species from two major annelid clades with similar fate maps have conserved mechanisms of specification of their central nervous system. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Patterns of Autonomous and Conditional Neural Specification for the Brain and Ventral Nerve Cord in Annelida
Diagrams of blastomere isolations in Capitella teleta and Platynereis dumerilii showing autonomous head neural tissue (from 1q) and trunk neural tissue (from 2d) as well as a decoupling of D–V axis f...
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Amartya Tashi Mitra @binturong98.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Such an elegant demonstration of subfunctionalisation
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Amartya Tashi Mitra @binturong98.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Plants never cease to amaze!
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Thomas Shahan @tshahan.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Incredible mimicry under a mango tree: Pseudomyrmex sp ant (top) and a Synemosyna sp jumping spider (bottom). Both Synemosyna males found on this trip lacked (antennae mimicking!) front legs - yet they were no less ant-like!
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Genetics UB @geneticsub.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
New #preprint from @isabelalmudi.bsky.social group @geneticsub.bsky.social @biologiaub.bsky.social @ub.edu out now @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social on the evolutionary novelty of mayfly turbanate eyes 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
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Neha Agrawal @nehaagrawal.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
(1/4) How is the timing of cell death regulated? We have developed a #liveimaging system to follow the dynamic cell death of #Drosophila hepatocyte-like cells (oenocytes) in intact pupae throughout metamorphosis. Watch some beautiful videos from our #preprint in this thread! #DevBio #CellDeath
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Isabel Almudi @isabelalmudi.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
What happens when evolution adds an extra pair of eyes? Male mayflies evolve an extra pair of dorsal compound eyes, the Turbanate eyes, thought to help males detect females during mating swarms. we have investigate how this remarkable evolutionary novelty develops. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
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Evelyndroid's Aperture Science and Bugge-Finding 🏳️‍⚧️🕷️ @apsciencebylyn.bsky.social · 11/11/2023
How about a gall fly (Eurosta species?) who seems to be a jumping spider mimic, with a set of large false "eyes" on the back of the thorax?👀 Very fierce (from the back), perpetually blowing raspberries on the front side. 🌿🪰🧪 11/10/23. N. Florida (if anyone can ID it)
Back view of a chonky brown fly with "tiger stripe" wings held out to the side and vertical; on the back of the thorax there are 4 "eyes" in a jumping spider configuration, °OO°.Face of the creature, with silly kissy "lips" on a white face with large subtly iridescent compound eyesTop view, wings swept backView of the creature as I found them, on a blade of wiregrass
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Stephen Montgomery @ebablab.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Tom Collett’s new book “Insects and How They Navigate Their World” is out and seemingly the pdf is free 👀 (for me anyway) link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
link.springer.com
Insects and How They Navigate Their World
Discover how insects navigate using vision, memory and cues from nature. A clear, engaging look at ants, bees, and the remarkable abilities of tiny brains.
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vikkiweake.bsky.social @vikkiweake.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
I'm excited to share a new paper from our lab showing how redox regulation of Ahcy, an enzyme involved in one-carbon metabolism allows rapid gene expression changes to protect Drosophila photoreceptors against retinal degeneration caused by light stress. doi.org/10.1073/pnas...
doi.org
PNAS
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...
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Cris Niell @crisniell.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Very happy to share our new review on visual computation in the cephalopod brain, with @vangeliqueallen.bsky.social, out now! We discuss exciting recent advances in understanding how the radically different brain of cephalopods processes the visual scene. 🐙🔬👀 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
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Eleanor K. Tinsley @ektinsley.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Finally back home today after a fantastic few weeks in Europe presenting my PhD research at #ECCB2026 and #ISBE2026! Had an absolute blast and met some incredible scientists working on a broad range of subjects. Huge thanks to the organisers @eccb26leiden.bsky.social and @isbe2026.bsky.social!
El finishing her talk at ECCB2026 in Leiden, Netherlands.ECCB2026 venue at the University of Leiden.El starting her talk at ISBE2026 in Torino, Italy.ISBE2026 lighting up the Mole in Torino, framed by the Alps.
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BWJones @bwjones.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
It is official: The @moraneyecenter.bsky.social has named @blockintheback.bsky.social as the Vice Chair for Vision Research and Research Director. I could not be more happy for my former institution as they are in the best hands with Kristen. healthcare.utah.edu/moran/news/2...
healthcare.utah.edu
Moran Eye Center Names Kristen M. Kwan, PhD, Vice Chair for Vision Research
The John A. Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah has named Kristen M. Kwan, PhD, Vice Chair for Vision Research. In this leadership role, she will help guide the strategic direction of the Moran...
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Nicholas Bellono @nbellono.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Final version out! Now with amazing illustrations from the very talented Lily Soucy :) www.cell.com/current-biol...
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Andrea Murillo @andreamurillo.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
We all need a little nudge sometimes when it comes to writing. The Node is hosting a great writing challenge to help beat that dreaded writing procrastination. I cannot wait to read the community's entries and there is a chance to win £200!
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Focused Writing Session Animation
ALT: Focused Writing Session Animation
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Floria Mora-Kepfer Uy @avispatica.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
How do parasites reprogram brains so your host becomes a zombie? If you are still at #ICN2026 tomorrow Friday, come to my talk at 3:30 pm (room 2306/2309) #strepsiptera #zombiewasp
Polistes fuscatus social wasp infected by twisted wing insects (Strepsiptera)
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Journal of Experimental Biology @jexpbiol.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Worker bees air-condition their hive on hot days by fanning their wings and spreading water on the brood, but now Jon Harrison &co @ Arizona State University have discovered that the hive itself, the wax & honey stores absorb large amounts of heat to keep the insects cool doi.org/10.1242/jeb....
A group of Italian honeybee (Apis mellifera ligustica) workers gathered near the front entrance of their hive. These worker bees are fanning the entrance of the hive to cool it. Photo credit: Ken Thomas, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
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Todd Oakley @ostratodd.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Happy to share that this paper led by @caberger.bsky.social with @stoilovamarina.bsky.social @rebeccavarney.bsky.social @pcart.bsky.social Sam Abrams and Maria Pia is published -- Unexpectedly predictable molecular evolution with diverse ecologies 🧪 🧬 🌊 #Molevol #EvoBio www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
pnas.org
PNAS
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...
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Nick Desnoyer @nickdesnoyer.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Another highlight was the art show that added another dimension to the conference. Would love to see this as a part of more large conferences.
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Nick Desnoyer @nickdesnoyer.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
So honored to receive the @socdevbio.bsky.social SciCom award and to share my work with the wonderful people in this community! This #2026SDB conference was a celebration of biodiversity 🧵
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Maria Antonietta Tosches @matosches.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Excited to share a new preprint from the lab, by @andrewmatheson.bsky.social and team, where we dive into the superpower of newts: plasticity! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... Like many good projects, this started with a serendipitous observation... 🧵1/5
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Amartya Tashi Mitra @binturong98.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Highly recommend checking this out for intricate work on fly visual learning and memory!
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Tam||maT @tamvmat.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
I saw a bunch of aphids on a tree today, all gathered on one specific sprig. When I stopped to check it out, I also saw little black ants tending to them. I had heard about ants keeping aphid herds on nature shows and such, but ive never actually SEEN it. So I drew this haha 😅 #ants #aphids #sciart
A drawing of an ant wearing a cowboy hat, tending to a herd of aphids
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Zebrafish Rock! @zebrafishrock.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
The first 22 hours of #zebrafish development in under one minute. Credit to @zebrafish007.bsky.social in #WeinsteinLab at NIH. #ZebrafishZunday 🧪
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George Kafetzis @gkafetzis.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
Curious about sharks? The evolution and adaptation of vertebrate visual circuits? 🦈 🐟 🐤 🐁 👁️ I'll be speaking at ICN2026 @neuroethology.org on Friday, or just find me to chat! Special thanks to @anna-stoeckl.bsky.social and Gregor Belušič for the wonderful session within yet another wonderful ICN!
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Vincent J Lynch 🐘🦣🦥 🦇🐋🐢🐍 @devoevomed.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Can't stop thinking about this; transmissible cancers are so crazy, extremely rare (tassie devils, dogs, some clams), but I wonder why? It seems like it should be very common. It's advantageous for the cancer to escape the dead-end host. And yet... www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Brown bullhead catfish melanoma represents a novel transmissible cancer - Nature
Whole-genome sequencing analysis of tumour and matched non-tumour host tissues of the brown bullhead catfish reveals a type of naturally occurring transmissible cancer.
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ulrichtechnau.bsky.social @ulrichtechnau.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Great work by PhD student Patricio Ferrer Murguia. His paper reporting the twist mutant in Nematostella is out: doi.org/10.1242/dev.... twist is required to form secondary tentacles, via localized FGFR and mTOR signaling. Later, mutants form stunning epithelial neoplasia with tentacle identity.
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Amartya Tashi Mitra @binturong98.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
At SDB and into Evo‑Devo, eyes or optics? Come to my talk to see how @shubhamtr.bsky.social and I uncover how some insect larvae have evolved eyes that are morphological novelties! Graduate Research Network Symposium, 10:15 AM - 7/23, Celebrity Ballroom 3. #SDB2026
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c0nc0rdance @c0nc0rdance.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
"Elvis worms" are armor-plated polychaete worms that look like they're covered in iridescent sequins with shiny gold tassels. In fact, one species is named 'Peinaleopolynoe elvisi'. But they live in the deepest, darkest places in the ocean, so the interesting question is 'WHY SO SPARKLY?!'.🧪
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Ctenophores Rock! @ctenophoresrock.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Happy #CtenophoreCtuesday! For your moment of zen, enjoy this video capturing the development of nine different species (including a very special Mnemiopsis leidyi). Can you guess the others without peeking? Spoilers in ALT & 🧵. Credit to @tessamontague.bsky.social & Zuzka Vavrušová. #evodevo 🌊🦑 1/3
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Tomas Kay @tomaskay.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
In an article published today, we show that ancient feeding-related neuropeptides have been repurposed to control brood care in clonal raider ants. Photo: Bart Zijlstra, UNIL /1
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alexjungle.bsky.social @alexjungle.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
A mid-flight scratch, then an effortless roll to face the pursuing raven. Apex predator aura. Drop a follow if you love this
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Lauren Sumner-Rooney @laurensr.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Beyond proud of @atal-pande.bsky.social, whose first PhD chapter is out now in @currentbiology.bsky.social! Atal shows that spiders that use their vision to hunt have convergently evolved similar eye arrangements, which imply lots of resampling of frontal space www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
sciencedirect.com
Hunting ecology predicts eye arrangements in the modular visual system of spiders
Vision is one of the most important senses used by animals and contributes to fundamental behaviors, including foraging, navigation, and mate detectio…
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Petra Korlević @petrathepostdoc.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
REJOICE FOR BEST COMPETITION OF THE YEAR NOMINATE YOUR BUGS www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Nominate your invertebrate of the year
We’re asking people from around the world to nominate their favourite spineless species for our third Invertebrate of the Year competition
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