iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Brett Ortler

iNaturalist @inaturalist.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Ariel Bonkoski is based in Minnesota & teaches mushroom foraging & identification. As said by iNat community member cabrabrazy: “She puts in SO MUCH WORK to ID this difficult group of fungi and deserves recognition for her efforts. We call her the Polypore Queen.” (1/3)

Ariel Bonkoski sits at the base of a large tree in a forest, smiling at the camera. She has pale green hair, glasses, and a tie-dye sweatshirt that reads "Ariel's Mushroom Co. est. 2022." A woven basket of mushrooms sits beside her, and a cluster of small mushrooms grows from the tree's base. Text reads: "Meet an identifier · Ariel Bonkoski. 'Some days I'm curious about what's growing in Australia; the next, I'm diving into Fungi in the Philippines. I follow my curiosity.'" Photo of Ariel by Brooks Bonkoski.

A quote on a cream grid-paper background with small hand-drawn sparkles. Text reads: "'I think Fungi still have so much mystery to them. Mycologists are constantly discovering new species and new information. Just in the 10 years that I've been interested in Fungi, so much information has changed. And what's exciting about that, is so many people still have so much opportunity to make new discoveries!' Ariel Bonkoski, arielbonkoski on iNaturalist. Read Ariel's story at inaturalist.org/blog."

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Reposted by Brett Ortler

Gareth @grenow.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Incredible - and I am not being hyperbolic - pictures of a living mycorrhizal network, the first time we can really see what's going on in the rhizosphere - the thing which underpins all life on this planet. eos.org/articles/fun...

eos.org

Fungi Are Holding the Food Web Together. New Research Images This Underground Network. - Eos

By combining computer tomography—the same technology used for medical scans—with a high-powered particle accelerator, researchers have imaged the network of roots, fungal structures, and soil together...

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Brett Ortler @gutenfrog.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Driving range golf ball collector (in an up-armored golf cart). I would regularly dare folks to hit me as I zipped around in evasive maneuvers. When one inevitably connected it was like being inside a gong.

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Brett Ortler @gutenfrog.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Thanks so much! I once was that kid. And yep, I was just reading about CWD! The scary thing for me is the lag time until symptoms. In can take years for it to appear, and the prions are basically indestructible. Not a great combination!

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Brett Ortler @gutenfrog.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

I'm pretty sure that just as human anglers study walleyes almost scientifically, walleyes are in an underwater scientific arms race against us, doing the same thing (DON'T BITE placards identifying the latest baits; seminars on how to steal bait, etc.). Such a crafty fish.

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Brett Ortler @gutenfrog.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

I am very happy to share my article about #tardigrades from the latest issue of the #Minnesota Conservation Volunteer. It is a pretty personal piece and talks about the my journey into tardigrade hunting (and the amazing mentorship I was fortunate to have along the way).

dnr.state.mn.us

Feature: Tiny, Tough, and Totally Fascinating | July–August 2026 | Minnesota Conservation Volunteer

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Reposted by Brett Ortler

Minnesota Star Tribune @startribune.com · 16/07/2026

Brennan Dettmann, a meterologist with the National Weather Service in Chanhassen, said the smoke “might stick around for a while once it arrives. It all depends on the direction of the winds and how much gets sloshed around in the atmosphere.”

startribune.com

Wildfire smoke is arriving in the Twin Cities and central Minnesota. Here is what to expect.

Winds will determine how much makes it here, and how long it will stay around.

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Reposted by Brett Ortler

Ward Q. Normal (he/him) @wardqnormal.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

"Every book is a children's book if the kid can read." - Mitch Hedberg

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Brett Ortler @gutenfrog.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

The goldenrod just kills me AND JOHN CONNOR, wait that's the second one

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Brett Ortler @gutenfrog.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Once again, my apologies to Arnold. #pollinators #parody #duh #insect/flowerphotosmyown

A parody version of the Terminator movie poster, but with THE POLLINATOR across the top and Arnold's head replaced by a pollen covered bumblebee body and the gun swapped with goldenrod

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Brett Ortler @gutenfrog.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

That's really remarkable--and troubling.

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Reposted by Brett Ortler

mtsw @mtsw.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

still the definitive statement on "can you cheer for team usa if the usa does bad things" discourse:

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Brett Ortler @gutenfrog.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

It might just be a perfect book.

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Brett Ortler @gutenfrog.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

And your migration shots in the MCV article that you wrote/shared were GREAT.

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Brett Ortler @gutenfrog.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

That is such a great picture. Also, getting to Gettysburg is decidedly on my bucket list.

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Brett Ortler @gutenfrog.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

I am quite stoked that I have a new article in the #Minnesota Conservation Volunteer, and this one is somewhat personal. In it, I talk about my journey as an amateur #tardigrade hunter (I call it the tardigrade rodeo) and the generous mentorship I have encountered along the way.

A magazine spread from the MN Conservation Volunteer article about tardigrades with a large digital rendering of a tardigrade on the right hand side

A magazine spread from the MN Conservation Volunteer article about tardigrades with a photomicrograph of a tardigrade found in Minnesota

A magazine spread from the MN Conservation Volunteer article about tardigrades with a closeup of a tardigrade microphotograph

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Reposted by Brett Ortler

I support Somali-Americans @adamrothman.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Enjoy this article from a Minnesota newspaper in 1882 noting that Scandinavians love their home countries so much that it will take them generations to assimilate into America. www.loc.gov/resource/sn8...

SCANDINAVIANS
No people on earth, probably excel the Scandinavians, and scarcely any equal them, unless it may be the Swiss mountaineers, in attachment to their native country. The Scandinavian emigrant
brings with him to this country, not only his love of home, but his attachments to customs and habits of his old home. So
strong is this passion that it is hard for him to assimilate to the customs of his new home, and to conform to the ideas of American citizenship, but he remains in his adopted land, a foreigner, in all that pertains to his modes, manners, habits,
likes and dislikes.

This peculiar habit of our Scandinavian fellow citizens, and this strong, over-mastering attachment to their native land, has not been generally known and appreciated by our own citizens, "to the manor born."
It will take several generations to wear away this foster land attachment, and to assimilate the Scandinavian emigrant, and
absorb him into the language, habits, customs and true idea of a homogeneous American citizenship.

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Brett Ortler @gutenfrog.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Mister pinchy (Pseudoscorpion)

A tiny black and white striped pseudoscorpion against a wall, zoomed in to show maximum pinceryness

A tiny black and white striped pseudoscorpion against a wall, actual size (grain of riceish)

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Brett Ortler @gutenfrog.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

I regret to inform you that wood ticks, do, in fact fluoresce under UV light.

A wan brown, engorged dog tick under visible light in a sterescope

A eerie yellowish engorged dog tick under UV light in a sterescope

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Brett Ortler @gutenfrog.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Also, good job on the rewilding. We've been doing the same thing and we've had exactly one show up. Next up, small-headed flies, hopefully! (I'm usually #teammoth, but I do love me some #diptera.)

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Brett Ortler @gutenfrog.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Man, if I'd first recorded one of these, I sure as heck would have given it a species name of gooberi

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Brett Ortler @gutenfrog.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

So one question that I wanted to answer when writing my book, Curious & Fascinating Facts: Minnesota, was "What's the most dangerous animal in the state?" The answer might be surprising! #minnesota You can take a gander at the book here: shop.adventurewithkeen.com/product/curi...

youtube.com

Ask the Author: Brett Ortler with Curious and Fascinating Facts: Minnesota #deadliestanimal

YouTube video by AdventureKEEN Publishing

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Brett Ortler @gutenfrog.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Rough numbers: Scotland averages 9 liters per capita (2.3 gal per capita); Wisconsin is at 3.15 gal. Data for WI: vinepair.com/articles/map... Data for Scotland: www.shaap.org.uk/facts-figure...

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Reposted by Brett Ortler

ashley fairbanks @ziibiing.com · 18/06/2026

i fear we have no choice but to fill the reflecting pool with beans

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Reposted by Brett Ortler

tsutrav @tsutrav.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Congratulations!!!

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Reposted by Brett Ortler

Ainsley S @americanbeetles.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

lunch break with the lads

Assorted North American caterpillars eating their lunches on a branch high over the forest, posed in the manner of that one famous photo of construction workers sitting along an I-beam

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Brett Ortler @gutenfrog.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Need any…moths!? Cecropia moth and the Columbia silkmoth, from northern Minnesota last weekend. #TeamMoth #lamp #moths #inaturalist

A mostly gray Cecropia moth with a wingspan of five inches, but with bright pink to white teardrop shape markings on its hind wings and forewings and bright lines of pink, white, gray and black along the edges

A Columbia silk moth, held in hand, about 3 inches in wingspan and generally maroon in color but with cream tear like spots on its wings and prominent eye-like spots on its forewing tips

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Brett Ortler @gutenfrog.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

It is always LAMP o’clock. Was that Zanclognatha?

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Brett Ortler @gutenfrog.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

My book is now out! I first wrote #Minnesota Trivia Don’tcha Know back in 2014, and it is wholly updated with a new design and new features! 📚#books

A green and white book entitled Curious & Fascinating Facts Minnesota, with a loon, an agate, the northern lights and Bean and Bear Lake in MN

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Brett Ortler @gutenfrog.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

My god. For all of the talk of social progress over the past decades, the last half decade or so has shown that progress isn't necessarily permanent. Hang tough!

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Brett Ortler @gutenfrog.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

This is so great! I also Loled at "Resting Beach Face." TEAM #MOTH

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Reposted by Brett Ortler

AdventureKEEN Publishing @adventurekeen.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

WE ALL LOVE WORDS! 😍 Climate Action for Kids storytime with Ian Hunt at WORD Bookstore in Brooklyn. #kidsbook #booksky

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Brett Ortler @gutenfrog.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Attention Synth Music lyricists: "The only thing that goes faster than light...is darkness."

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