iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

This birds v bovids gridiron football game was great to watch until the last two minutes or so of game time wherein the birds lost all focus.

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Reposted by Joshua Lüdtke

Skype a Scientist @skypeascientist.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

We at Skype a Scientist are deeply troubled by the closure of the Academy of Natural Sciences. We urge you to contact Drexel University Leadership and Academy interim leader Trish Wellenbach to urge them to reopen the museum. President Merlo president@Drexel.edu Trish Wellenbach tw958@drexel.edu

a block of text with a statement that reads We at Skype a Scientist are deeply alarmed by the decision of Drexel University leadership and the Academy of Natural Sciences Board to close the Academy’s public museum.

Skype a Scientist is based in Philadelphia with deep roots in our city. Making science accessible, in particular for Philly’s children, is a top priority for our organization. We operate in community centers, at street festivals, and at the intersection of science and art. For the last 10 years, we have worked to engage a broader coalition of Philly residents to care for our local biodiversity.

Our program does not exist in a vacuum. The work that we do, alongside environmental education centers, our museums, classroom teachers, and more, create an ecosystem of connections with science. The loss of any part of this fragile ecosystem is detrimental. The Academy of Natural Sciences grounds biodiversity education in Philadelphia. With grand fossil halls, historical connections, and engaging exhibits, it is a place where many Philadelphians develop a love of science. Loss of access to this space cannot be tolerated.

We are living through an erosion of public education, particularly in the life sciences. Philadelphia cannot afford to lose our flagship biodiversity museum.

We call on the leaders of Drexel University and the Academy board to reverse their decision to close the Academy’s public museum. The children of Philadelphia and future generations of Philly-made scientists are counting on you.

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

I'm not saying that we need to call out Drexel University leadership, but, they need to know that the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia needs to be kept open as a publicly available and accessible museum. So call them into a conversation about how they are making a bad decision right now.

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

It's half an hour after this post and Tennessee is referring to this as an execution attempt. It very much sounds like the state tried to use lethal injection on Christa Pike but it didn't result in death. ... I don't know what to say here.

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Reposted by Joshua Lüdtke

Zoë Goldsborough @zoegoldsborough.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Why care about weird animal behaviors? Just out as an advanced publication, my contribution to the next Frans de Waal special issue in Behaviour @degruyterbrill.bsky.social. Unusual behaviors are a recurring theme in my career, and I much enjoyed writing this perspective! doi.org/10.1163/1568...

doi.org

The science of the unusual: how rare observations reveal the diversity of animal behaviour

Abstract Behavioural biology often focuses on identifying general patterns, yet unusual or rare behaviours at both the population and individual level can provide insight into animal behaviour. Here, ...

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Reposted by Joshua Lüdtke

Xavier A. Jenkins @semifossorial.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Out today: We show that Westlothiana lizziae or "Lizzie," described 35 years ago as the world's oldest reptile - is not a stem amniote at all, but a stem tetrapod. www.nature.com/articles/s41...

The part and counterpart of the holotype specimen of Westlothiana.

Paleoartistic reconstruct of Westlothiana by Jacob Schick based on our new data

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Reposted by Joshua Lüdtke

Amanda Peng @amandawpeng.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

An attack on one museum is an attack on all museums, let's not continue this disturbing trend of closing down these centers for science, learning, and wonder. If this bothers you, write a letter! Contact legislators! Make your voice heard!

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The news today from Hays and Philadelphia isn't exactly great. But giving up means that the decision makers will go with their worst instincts, which will involve selling fossils and other natural history specimens to the highest bidder. That needs to be avoided, so speak up.

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

For this semester I intentionally put in a generative model disclaimer into my syllabi and I have to keep my personal opinion out of those as much as possible but here my personal opinion is that this entire industry is delulu. No, they cannot feel pain, nor can they behave in any literal meaning.

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

There's just so much historical evidence that public facing natural history museums are incredibly valuable items for a society that wishes to continue to exist into the future. Drexel University sounds like they're making a really poor decision, so let's yell at them a little or a lot 😉

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

If Drexel University carries through on their threats then this is the last weekend that the public-facing exhibits of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia are open. Speak your mind on this issue while you can.

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Eric Scott is visiting the ANSP on a very historical weekend for the ANSP.

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Some further good informed words about current natural history museum drama

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

"archaeological work" "composition of the soil" That's not what archaeologists do

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

News is still developing on this story but the news so far isn't great, with rumored FHSU decisions including things that all of us in paleontology will, uh, not like. Bad month for natural history museum news. Support your local museums while you can.

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Interesting stuff, interesting stuff, gonna have to put this on an exam.

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Good news everyone: this got released before I teach neuro, so I can try to add this to my lectures.

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

As a person who has lightly worked at museums, I point to this thread from a person who has much more consistently worked at museums. They need financial help almost all the time, and PNAS needed a lot of help years ago, but Drexel wasn't outwardly asking for help. That unfortunately led to now.

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

A good response to the recent backpedaling being seen by the Talarico campaign. Hoping that feedback like this from likely voters helps him and his campaign to recalibrate and recommit to advocating for the rights of trans Americans.

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

A few months ago when us Californians got to choose which governor candidates got to be on the November ballot, I was convinced Tom Steyer was a better choice than Xavier Becerra for several reasons, including that Mr. Becerra has been ... Inconsistent in supporting trans rights. Hope he improves.

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

An article from this week exploring and examining some of the ideas of what could happen with the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia (ANSP) if Drexel cannot be convinced to change their mind. Philadelphia: keep up the pressure! Remind Drexel that ANSP closure is really unwise!

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Say it louder for the cowards in your party.

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Whoever is advising Talarico (and other human rights confused Democrats) to talk this way needs to be fired. Trans people are not a talking point. They are real members of American society who need protection. Throwing them under the bus like this is genocidal speech.

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

One of the consequences of having a popular first name is that there are so many Joshs out here acting the fool. I dunno if Hannah Goss or Josh Turek is being foolish, but Democrats need to be *strongly in favor* of trans people having human rights. Democrats don't win by abandoning human rights.

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

So far in my life I have not used one of the newer generation chatbots to generate text. I don't know how much longer this will be an accurate statement; the chatbot companies are really pushy about everyone using their technology. I've avoided workplace trainings that use them. So far. 😬

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

This person does not understand how chatbots work. Sad, but the chatbot companies are spending a huge amount of money in telling lies to their customers about their products

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Tomorrow tomorrow tomorrow. If you're in Philadelphia or nearabouts and you can show up for science, you should.

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

I was just at a gym where I heard a dubstep-type remix of Papa Roach's "Last Resort" and my new political platform is that all the songs that were released when I was in high school should be dubstepified. Dubstep Stone Temple Pilots, someone.

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Reposted by Joshua Lüdtke

drewtoothpaste @drewtoothpaste.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

you can tell Claude writes great code because every website in 2026 has an ever-increasing frequency of timeouts, blank pages, weird errors, and downtime. imagine a carpenter telling you "use this or get left behind" and they hand you a hammer that hits your hand instead of the nail 20% of the time

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

For people looking for further information and context on the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia (ANSP) news, here's a good link with good comments

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

"the hard-left streamer" Phrasing But also there are some Left policy ideas that Piker doesn't agree with. For example he doesn't believe in prison abolition, because he believes that prison sentences are appropriate forms of justice for Trump Administration criminals. He ain't "hard-left"

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Some action items on the topic of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia (ANSP). It's literally the oldest publicly accessible natural history museum in the US and certain individuals at Drexel University are choosing to close its exhibits. Tell them that's a silly choice 😀

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

If the transphobes do not end up paying for their crimes then our cultures and societies will never truly heal.

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Further signal boosting for events in Philadelphia intending to tell Drexel University to get the egg off their face and announce that the ANSP exhibits are not closing at the end of September

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

This is good. Even if Drexel chooses to not change their mind, their responsibility in this matter will be made abundantly clear

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

I've seen some comments on Instagram telling people to either send feedback to Drexel (Drexel is who is making the decision) or the government of Philadelphia (???). Drexel leadership is a better idea than city government but also just tell any billionaire you know to pay their taxes.

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

I like that The End of Oak Street is not part of the Jurassic Park film franchise and therefore is way more willing to make some risky choices, such as having a giant limbless tetrapod

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Reposted by Joshua Lüdtke

Robert Boessenecker, Dr. of Whaleontology ™️ @coastalpaleo.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

New #artwork! "Western Leviathan", a surrealist-inspired portrait of "Max", the holotype skull of the Pacific mastodon (Mammut pacificus), collected from what is now the Diamond Valley Reservoir. On display in the "Inspired Collections" exhibit at Western Science Center. 🐡🦖🧪 #watercolor #artist

A guy in a black and white striped shirt and blue shorts next to a watercolor painting measuring about 20x12" on a yellow wall.

a watercolor painting measuring about 20x12" on a yellow wall. The painting depicts a mastodon skull that is half underwater in a lake with a barren skyline behind and a gray mountain in the distance.

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

I very simply do not understand why this intellectual property is still generating income. Most fans have on because Joanne Roanne happily tells everyone she will use their money to fund hate crimes.

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

The only paleontology or paleontology-adjacent name I recognized on this (rather bad) petition is the paleoartist who got at least partially cancelled after her eugenics and "race science" support became more known about. She still has a postdoc, apparently.

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

A cartoonist I can't quote "tweet" said "voters who are not Extremely Online probably have no idea who hasan piker is. I *barely* do myself, and I am in fact Extremely Online." And the issue about being Extremely Online is that ... There are generational silos. 20 something EO is not 40 something EO

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

This skull was bee-yoo-tiful (but then again all horse skulls are gorgeous) and it was a delight to see it at yesterday's PaleoCon. Glad that the Western Science Center has built up this annual gathering of local (and not-local) paleontologists.

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Reposted by Joshua Lüdtke

DeadGators (they/them) @druidgmdesigns.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

optimist: the cup is half full pessimist: the cup is half empty paleontologist: figure out if full or empty is plesiomorphic, then describe the derived state relative to that

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Amy posts here but chose not to post this awful take here. "Dunking" on Trump and his associates is always good. Mocking someone for working for evil is good! If we normalize it, then we end up going to worse places.

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Sometimes San Diego residents are surprising, but in the good way.

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Joshua Lüdtke @joshualudtke.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Maybe unelected senators are a problem

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