iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dr. ChrisTina @spacebotanynerd.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

Focus. Posture. Drive. It's been here all along. This photo is from 7 years ago. Our gymnast is the one in fuchsia. This year she competes in Xcel Gold. We appreciate the Xcel track for USA Gymnastics. Her coach has more freedom to build routines that highlight her strengths. @usagym.org

Children lined up standing on a beam. The girls have various postures. One child looks especially intent on the instructor's words.

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Dr. ChrisTina @spacebotanynerd.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

As the world around us feels impossibly dark, I am building a life of light and joy.

A brilliant rainbow butterfly kite flying against a pale blue sky with striped clouds. The ocean is behind it, with a launch pad in the distance.

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Dr. ChrisTina @spacebotanynerd.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

I have had this kite for over a year and this was its first time flying. I had asked for kites for my birthday a handful of years ago, along with an opportunity to fly them with the family. The kites were provided. But the opportunity never materialized. Until now.

Children running together on the beach. They are wearing long sleeves to protect against the sun. They fly two brilliant rainbow butterfly kites against a pale blue sky with striped clouds. The ocean is behind them.

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Dr. ChrisTina @spacebotanynerd.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

Yesterday the wind wasn't the best for kite flying. We brought a kite to the beach anyway. And we had a wonderful time getting it into the air.

Children are flying a kite on a beach. Waves tumble in the distance. A pink shovel is in the foreground.

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Dr. ChrisTina @spacebotanynerd.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

For those who worked on the Shuttle program, this building is a sacred crypt. It contains the old husk of their Bird on display, showing the scars and wear after its final re-entry. Children laugh and play around them, as they stand there remembering, paying their respects. Here is Atlantis.

A view of Atlantis surrounded by a children's tour group, with gray haired experts explaining the ins and outs of the Shuttle.

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Dr. ChrisTina @spacebotanynerd.bsky.social · 08/02/2026

I spy... something Blue! 💙 While we waited for Ma's work friend to pick up a badge at the Badging Office, we were a little bored. We thought about what we could do with our time. We love playing I spy! Our 12 year old looked over and saw this shot. 1/8

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Dr. ChrisTina @spacebotanynerd.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

Today was the first time that I found Tolkien in the Science Fiction section of a library.

Book spines showing three books by Tolkien and one by Topping. Several of the books have a little alien sticker that says "Science Fiction."

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Dr. ChrisTina @spacebotanynerd.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

How will you bring joy into your life today? Yesterday I couldn't find any good reason not to put on my swimsuit and spend a few hours in a pool with my children. So I did. And it was fun. I'm sharing a photo of me in my swimsuit with you. Perhaps it will motivate you. #juststrong

A woman with blue eyes, light skin, and dark graying hair wearing a colorful swimsuit looks up at a camera.

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Dr. ChrisTina @spacebotanynerd.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

The Botanical world mourns today. A giant in the field is no more. Rest in peace, Donovan Kirkwood. news.mongabay.com/short-articl... This is another piece about his work: www.nature.com/articles/d44...

A man stands outdoors looking carefully at a plant. He wears a hat and long sleeves.

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Dr. ChrisTina @spacebotanynerd.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

Annoyed by all those containers that don't match a top? Try growing plants in them. The shallow ones are great for propagating. This one is a Rubbermaid container. Durable, nice, but not too useful once the top is lost. Bonus, if the top ever turns up, wash it out and use. @rubbermaid.bsky.social

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Dr. ChrisTina @spacebotanynerd.bsky.social · 30/08/2025

A little purple flower peeks out between the bright pink bracts of this ornamental turmeric. It shares a pot with a variegated spider plant.

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Dr. ChrisTina @spacebotanynerd.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

Are you going for a stroll today? Do you plan to stop and smell the flowers? 🪷🌹 🌺 🌹 🌺 🪷 It's a great thing to do - but be careful out there. 🚫 Don't touch these purple flowers! 🟣💜🟪🚫☠️⚠️ Monkshood! Also known as wolfsbane. The scientific name is Acontium. Everything in this genus is dangerous.

Screenshot of the identification in iNaturalist

Purple flowers with green leaves as a backdrop

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Dr. ChrisTina @spacebotanynerd.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

Botany is in the house! Life Sciences Department Botany Section Don't recognize the sign? It's a Star Trek reference. Here's a link explaining more. memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Botany_...

Radish plants growing out of special gaskets in clear boxes. There's a black sign with white lettering that says "life sciences department Botany section."

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Dr. ChrisTina @spacebotanynerd.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

The Barbie Doll designed after Samantha Cristoforetti is on sale on Amazon right now! Here's an affiliate link. amzn.to/3ZHhFRJ

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Dr. ChrisTina @spacebotanynerd.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

"Ma, why are you looking at so many books?" "It's fun." "I don't see how that's fun. I would find it overwhelming and frustrating. I have so much more fun with video games." "I find video games overwhelming and frustrating. This is my kind of puzzle game." "Oh. What are you puzzling over?"

Plant biology books stacked open and note cards with notes.

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Dr. ChrisTina @spacebotanynerd.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

I never really show off the cool stuff on my wall. Shuttle drawn by a former intern. Painting of microgreens in Microgravity by a colleague. Cover photo of a spaceflight study. Autographed astronaut photo. A cross stitch by a friend. A medal from a 5K run that I was especially grateful to finish.

A woman with a pink polo shirt and glasses stands in front of a wall with space themed photos, all of which have special meaning to her.

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Dr. ChrisTina @spacebotanynerd.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

Yesterday the children saw this critter while we were hiking. I was shocked that they even saw it! I certainly didn't. Our 12 year old tried taking photos of it on her phone. She could not get it to focus how she wanted. She asked me to do it with my camera. She approved of this photo.

A grasshopper clings to a branch. It is camouflaged.

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Dr. ChrisTina @spacebotanynerd.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

Make the choice that is for your highest good!

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Dr. ChrisTina @spacebotanynerd.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

Star Trek shows us a future that is full of interdisciplinary synergy. We need this future.

Fingers in the sign of Live Long and Prosper from Star Trek frame a rocket taking off in the distance. The focus is on the hand.

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Dr. ChrisTina @spacebotanynerd.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

This is the ratio of plants to humans we need if we're going to live with sufficient nutrition - in space. Phase 1 Regenerative Life Support Systems Lab. Nigel Packham activities in the Variable Pressure Growth Chamber which he lived inside for 15 days. From the NASA image archives.

A man in a habitat that has a lot of wheat plants alongside the technology.

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Dr. ChrisTina @spacebotanynerd.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

This morning I went for a run on the beach. I have been working up to this, practicing walking on various textures of sand over months. It took me longer to work up to this than I care to admit. Facing fears and strengthening my ankles.

A beach in the midst of construction. Sand replenishment is happening right now in Cape Canaveral. There are lots of fenced off areas and heavy construction vehicles on the beach to spread sand.

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Dr. ChrisTina @spacebotanynerd.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Do you know about USDA's gardening efforts? Learn more about The People's Garden here. www.usda.gov/about-usda/g...

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Dr. ChrisTina @spacebotanynerd.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

Just sharing a photo of an orchid.

White flowers with pink details, on a kitchen counter.

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