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J.D. Ho

@nematode.bsky.social
182 followers 42 following 1.7K posts

Backyard Alchemy (River River, 2026). They/them.

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J.D. Ho @nematode.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-...
scientificamerican.com
How apple detectives solved the mystery of an ancient tree—and rewrote the history of fruit
And how they might have helped save the future of American apples
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James Bashford @wrenandbee.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
I’ve seen some Vestals before but never one as fresh and vibrant as this 🤩 #NatureWithin
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J.D. Ho @nematode.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Also, today I complimented a stranger on his spotted lanternfly killing technique. Wow!!! He was a pro!!!
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J.D. Ho @nematode.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Made progress on my book today thanks to my excellent writing buddies @hanvanderhart.bsky.social, @jgriffingraham.bsky.social, and @danielbolnick.bsky.social. Truly, you cannot do it alone.
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J.D. Ho @nematode.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Get yourself a friend who casually recommends your book to the nyt and puts you in the same sentence as Annie Dillard. Full disclosure, I helped him clean invasive weeds out of his pond.
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J.D. Ho @nematode.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Tfw the editor you need is you...but not you.
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Of Poetry Podcast @ofpoetrypodcast.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Hear @jgriffingraham.bsky.social read from The Fall of Iris Henley on Episode 91! Listen here: share.transistor.fm/s/dc0a1b63 📚💜🎙️
from The Fall of Iris Henley

"And just like that, the illusion that were all okay, that we're all moving on, goes up in smoke."
Jennifer Graham
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Madrona Murphy @arbutocrat.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Do you have Red Astrachan apples? Can you share photos (and location)? There are two distinct phenotypes and I want to know more about their geographical distribution.
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J.D. Ho @nematode.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Today I fixed my door with two random screws from my giant random screw box. Don't ever let anyone tell you to throw that box out, no matter how huge it is and how many years you've had it without ever using a screw from it.
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J.D. Ho @nematode.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
The lanternflies have descended.
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Of Poetry Podcast @ofpoetrypodcast.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Of genres and perceptions, of commercial and pulp writing (Fanny Howe!), of beautiful language and sentences that bring us joy, of public libraries and of blue collar readers and writing technology and more! Hear novelist Jennifer Graham read on Episode 91! 📚💜🎙️🎧 share.transistor.fm/s/dc0a1b63
Photo of Jennifer Graham reading at Book People on stage (in gorgeous flowered dress) and the book cover of The Fall of Iris Henley (pompous and BLOOD!) and the text:

Episode 91: Jennifer
Graham (Of Writing YA, Poetics & Play in Novels, and Working Class
Readers Vs "Reading as a
Luxury")


Listen: On Spotify, Apple, Google, and elsewhere
Purchase: The Fall of Iris Henley (Wednesday Books,
2026)
Read/Listen: The Fall of Iris Henley (excerpt)
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beespeaker @loriweidenhammer.ca · 11/08/2026
Another great moment at the Uplands Park Bioblitz bee walk was when a female Colletes I had on my hand starting blowing bubbles to concentrate nectar after I had just talked about that process! Some folks got good photos of it! I really did feel like the bee whisperer! Haha! #bees
Colletes with a face full of pollen.
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River River Books @riverriverbooks.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Good morning to our A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT: essays on form & water Kickstarter launch! 📚❤️ www.kickstarter.com/projects/riv...
kickstarter.com
A River Runs Through It: Essays on Form & Water
An anthology exploring rivers and writing, forthcoming from River River Books in Fall 2026.
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James Bashford @wrenandbee.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Ruby Tiger 💎 🐅 #NatureWithin
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J.D. Ho @nematode.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
At the point where I have to do deep thinking about my book structure. I ordered 5 lbs of coffee.
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beespeaker @loriweidenhammer.ca · 02/08/2026
Posting bee observations on iNaturalist means you are contributing to scientific research that can help conserve native bees. Plus, you are more likely to get multiple people looking at your observations and getting the best possible identification from your photos. #bees
Bombus vosnesenskii on Monarda.
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beespeaker @loriweidenhammer.ca · 28/07/2026
Little Melissodes microsticta drying out before she starts work for the day. Ants were farming aphids on the elecampane, so of course I got covered in them! #rileyparkcommunitygarden #bees
Female M. microsticta on my thumb. Also an ant.Same bee on elecampane.
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Michelle Francl @michellefrancl.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
This chapter on insect diets is has some great snarky prose: "data almost as hard to digest as the chitinous bodies of the insects themselves"
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beespeaker @loriweidenhammer.ca · 26/07/2026
It's raining today in Vancouver. Bees will be hunkering down for the time being. And when the sun returns, it will be back to beezness. #bees
Leafcutter female on oregano
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J.D. Ho @nematode.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Almost done with the barf draft of my new book, which is not individual essays but rather one topic in chapters. Please tell me about your favorite manuscript organization tools/methods!
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beespeaker @loriweidenhammer.ca · 20/07/2026
A little leafcutter bee casts a shadow on a mallow leaf as she forages in nodding onion. #bees #rileyparkcommunitygarden
A leafcutter bee in flight over her shadow on a mallow leaf as she approaches a cluster of nodding onion florets.
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beespeaker @loriweidenhammer.ca · 10/07/2026
Halictus rubicundus is a ground-nesting bee that seems to do well in urban settings. That doesn't mean we should take her for granted. Every time green space is paved over, we lose potential habitat for this lovely gentle bee. #victorygardensforbees #bees
Female sweat bee on my hand
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beespeaker @loriweidenhammer.ca · 07/07/2026
Agapostemon on cosmos. #rileyparklearninggarden I really love seeing gardens in Vancouver that have been created and tended with care with grassroots community support. Thank you to the gardeners. #bees
Agapostemon on pink cosmos petals
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James Bashford @wrenandbee.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Elephant Hawkmoth 🐘 #NatureWithin
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Compound Interest | Chemistry infographics @compoundchem.com · 29/06/2026
Many of us are relying on the welcome chill of air con during historic heatwaves 🥵 Here's a look at the chemical compounds keeping us cool in @cenmag.bsky.social: cen.acs.org/articles/95/... #ChemSky🧪
Infographic titled "The Chemistry of Air Conditioning" detailing how AC systems work and the evolution of refrigerant compounds. A 4-step diagram shows refrigeration cycles: 1) Compressor pressurizes vapor, 2) Condenser vents warm air, 3) Expansion valve creates a cold mist, and 4) Evaporator cools passing air. Below, it compares "Current Refrigerants" (CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs) with their ozone depletion (ODP) and global warming potentials (GWP), and "The Next Generation" options like HFOs and CO2.
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J.D. Ho @nematode.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
The last episode of Brilliant Minds airs tomorrow. This show has been a lifeline for me during an incredibly hard two years. Will I ever find another show like it? Accepting suggestions. www.nbc.com/brilliant-mi... #BrilliantMinds
nbc.com
Brilliant Minds - NBC.com
Brilliant Minds - Premieres September 22 at 10/9c. Zachary Quinto returns as gifted neurologist Dr. Wolf.
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The Open Notebook @theopennotebook.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
Science reporting might seem daunting if you’re new to the beat or aren’t working with a science-focused outlet. Our Covering Science at the Local Level peer mentoring Slack can help you find community. Learn more:
theopennotebook.com
Covering Science at the Local Level: A Peer-Mentoring Community - The Open Notebook
The Open Notebook's Covering Science peer-mentoring program is a diverse community of practice for local and general assignment reporters and editors who are interested in adding more science…
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beespeaker @loriweidenhammer.ca · 27/06/2026
It was a lovely day to go to the UBC Farm Market. Saw this sweet hummer at the nearby Nobel Community Garden. I love the way she's conserving energy by perching on the stem of the crocosmia to feed from the blossoms.
Anna's hummer on crocosmia
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J.D. Ho @nematode.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Reading this fascinating book by @dawnbiehler.bsky.social!
Cover of the book animating Central park: a multi-species history by Dawn day biehler. The image is of a woman in an old fashioned dress bending down to feed a squirrelA small excerpt from the book. It reads: stories about historical animal "agency" also become complicated because we cannot assume that, say, a goat of today is the same as a goat in 1858 or even that all goats in 1858 performed their goatness in the same way
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The Open Notebook @theopennotebook.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Have an idea for a science journalism workshop? We can partner with you to make it happen. Learn more about how our trainings work:
theopennotebook.com
Trainings, Workshops, and Consultations - The Open Notebook
The Open Notebook offers a variety of training options and consultations to help science journalists, editors, newsroom teams, and scientists advance their skills.
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The Open Notebook @theopennotebook.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
If you’re building a science writing syllabus for this fall or beyond, have no fear! Our new book, The Best Science Stories and How They Work, publishes this July with @uchicagopress.bsky.social and will make for great assigned reading. Pre-order here: www.theopennotebook.com/the-best-sci...
theopennotebook.com
The Best Science Stories and How They Work: A Collection with Commentary - The Open Notebook
An invitation to engage with some of today’s most respected science journalists as they take readers beneath the surface to tell the stories behind eleven of the best science stories.
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Laura Haynes👩‍🔬⚾️🐾💙 @drlaurahaynes.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
If you value science in America, please do this today 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽
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J.D. Ho @nematode.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
While waiting for an appointment, I stopped at an Indie bookstore and found a bday gift for my ancient aunt who is now too visually impaired to read. Bookstores: providing for our needs even when we don't need books.
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J.D. Ho @nematode.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
Trying to make my first hugelkultur bed today.
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beespeaker @loriweidenhammer.ca · 15/06/2026
Yesterday the Lorquin's Admirals came out to play. #mcloughlingardens
Side view of a Lorquin's Admiral perching on a leaf
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Zoë Ryder White @zoeryderwhite.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
New poem plus a thoughtful review of The Visible Field in the new issue of Radar Poetry! www.radarpoetry.com/issue-45-toc
radarpoetry.com
Table of Contents — Radar
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Daniel Bolnick @danielbolnick.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
At Williams College yesterday for reunion, my former prof David Dethier showed me his copy of the short book that six of us wrote on the natural history of the Hopkins Research Forest; his copy has our signatures on it! Four of us were at reunion.
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James Bashford @wrenandbee.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
Small Elephant Hawkmoth 💕 #NatureWithin
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beespeaker @loriweidenhammer.ca · 10/06/2026
Lots of sleepy bees in the garden this morning, including this sweet boy. #mcloughlingardens #bees
Male bumble bee on ornamental allium
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Daniel Bolnick @danielbolnick.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
I've been keeping this quiet for a while, but now's as good a time as any to announce: I have a book contract for a new textbook, Applied Evolutionary Medicine, with Princeton Univ Press. Core theme: "What, if anything, do medical practitioners do differently when they understand evolution"?
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Michael Metivier @grousehollow.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
A deep purple Japanese iris.
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beespeaker @loriweidenhammer.ca · 09/06/2026
There's only one species of bumble bee (Bombus flavifrons) I see foraging in the beach pea (Lathyrus japonicus). You can see the bite marks on the petals from the bees as they negotiate opening the lovely blossoms. #mcloughlingardens
purple and pink blossoms of beach pea with a B flavifronsbite marks on the pink blossoms and a B flavifrons with. pollen on its corbicula
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beespeaker @loriweidenhammer.ca · 07/06/2026
I'm sure the hairs on these foxglove blossom have some sort of function. Perhaps to entice bumble bee boys to follow the psychadelic nectar guides?
A male bumble bee perched on the lip of a foxglove blossom
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beespeaker @loriweidenhammer.ca · 04/06/2026
This Bombus flavifrons worker has earned her rest. Look at how tattered her wings have become. I feel you, girl. #mcloughlingardens #bees
Worker bumble bee with tattered wings resting on a foxglove blossom.
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J.D. Ho @nematode.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
What the apnews.com/article/ille...
apnews.com
Australian cockroach kingpin caught with 100,000 illegal insects in record bug bust
Australian officials say they confiscated more than 100,000 illegal live cockroaches from a breeder in May in the country's largest-ever seizure of exotic invertebrates.
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River River Books @riverriverbooks.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
This beautiful list of titles for Pride Month from @clmporg.bsky.social…including one of our new nonfiction titles, BACKYARD ALCHEMY by J.D. Ho! 🎉🎉🎉📚🌈 @nematode.bsky.social
clmp.org
A Reading List for Pride Month 2026 - Community of Literary Magazines and Presses
For Pride Month, observed annually during the month of June, we asked the many independent literary presses and magazines that make up our membership to share with us some of the literature by authors...
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beespeaker @loriweidenhammer.ca · 02/06/2026
Love those Sitka bumble bees with the classic fluffy pink butt! #mcloughlingardens #bees
female bumble bee sipping nectar from snowberry
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beespeaker @loriweidenhammer.ca · 01/06/2026
A beautiful Bombus flavifrons taking a breather on a perfectly sized snowberry leaf. #mcloughlingardens #bees
Bumble bee resting on a leaf.
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The Open Notebook @theopennotebook.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Created with @sciline.org, our Science Reporting Quick Tips offer accessible lessons for essential skills in science reporting, perfect for any journalist who wants help on deadline. Browse our tip sheets here: www.theopennotebook.com/science-repo...
theopennotebook.com
Science Reporting Quick Tips - The Open Notebook
To help local journalists who wish to incorporate scientific evidence and perspectives into their stories, The Open Notebook and SciLine have teamed up to distill key science reporting skills into a…
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J.D. Ho @nematode.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
Sorry I've missed a lot of posts. I just moved back north!
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