This was a great photo. #Azula #FireSkinkNation #AfricanFireSkink

Azula of the #FireSkinkNation says ohai.

Anyone recognize the likely bacterial genus responsible for this “colony” type?

Phenotypic variation, bioluminescence, serial dilutions, and wet plates converge to create something artistic.

Yes, I continue to believe this, even post teaching.

Deep breaths.

I was being watched this morning. #FireSkinkNation

I detest Microsoft apps so much. Dealing with access and international problems is a wholly unnecessary complication.

So though there is not a DIY style community biotech lab in Tacoma anymore, there is one in Seattle. Maybe I could look into become part of it...though it is a bit of a schlep to get up and back from UW. Wish I had the connections to create one locally. www.sound.bio

Our environment impacts microbes, but microbes impact our environment as well on global scale. Morgan Sobol chats with Mark Martin @markowenmartin.bsky.social

I hate to repeat myself, but this is an image I return to when I am feeling nervous about the future and overwhelmed. As always, the microbes remain my guide. @univpugetsound @asmicrobiology @microbetv.bsky.social

Too much of this in all of our lives.

Oh, this one is so beautiful!

Please take a moment and read this story of something wonderful that happened while I was visiting Woods Hole many years ago. I promise, it is a nice antidote to doomscrolling. @univpugetsound @ASMicrobiology

Dr. Morgan Sobol, joins the Quality Quorum today to discuss how microbes on early earth began interacting with elements like nitrogen, making life possible here and perhaps elsewhere in the universe! 👽 You will learn about the fundamental and amazing enzyme nitrogenase! @markowenmartin.bsky.social

Every other Tuesday means a new episode of #MattersMicrobial! Dr. Morgan Sobol joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss the evolution of nitrogenase and life on other worlds. Please spread the #GoodMicrobialWorld @microbetv.bsky.social @asmicrobiology @univpugetsound youtu.be/UaZ6skeq884?...

A reminder and a hope. We are all works in progress. And we can all be so much more than we are.

There are days.

A very kind person sent me this #DungeonCrawlerCarl pin and personalized note. What a nice retirement gift! I’m very touched.

Some important wisdom from my late father, Jack S. Martin Sr. He hated it when I called him wise. But he was awfully wise, particularly about this lesson.

I had a difficult time, growing up, with bullying. So I am sensitized to it. When people get nasty or snarky about a public figure I don't like I react poorly. Bullying is always wrong, even if the other person IS awful. Even if they are a bully. My opinion is rare, I know. But I despise bullies.

Just a reminder to folks who follow by microbiology podcast, #MattersMicrobial on @microbetv.bsky.social. The YouTube channel for my podcasts has not be updated. If you go to www.microbe.tv/mm, they are up to date. I appreciate every single viewer and listener, truly. And the #Podfather, as well.

Jennifer Quinn was kind enough to 3D print me another set of glow in the dark bacteriophage earrings. A person who kindly decided to be on my #MattersMicrobial podcast while I am in New Zealand asked, so...

The older I get, the less opinionated I become. That's because I have learned how often people are used, and how little I actually know outside of my own small subfield.

Lots of people have told me that they want to assist me with post retirement plans. I think that they *mean* that they think well of me, and I am grateful. Fact is, it is up to me, for good or ill. I will try to create a new niche! As Hannibal Barca put it: "Aut viam inveniam aut faciam."

If you're in Auckland this Saturday 18 July, join us for an art exhibition that glows in the dark! Hinātore: The First Light, is a free immersive exhibition exploring Māori pūrākau through bioluminescence, maho toi, and Western science. 10:30-4pm, Project Space. 20 Whitaker Place.

This street mural near Devils Reef in Tacoma reminded me of how angelic beings are actually described in the old literature. Brrrrr. @devils_reef

This is truly amazing. Honestly.

@breakliquid.bsky.social and I are delighted to say our OpenEVO preprint is finally live! An open source hand-made turbidostat that's modular, affordable, and made to be customized. Designed with love for the research community. Enjoy!!!💚 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

A walk with Jennifer Quinn around Owens Beach. A beautiful morning.

A happy memory from my 2012 trip to North Island, New Zealand. I took this photo standing among many sheep.

So many people seem to have an addiction to rage. I hope for solutions and strategies. I *know* how rage and anger corrode the good and the possible. But freedom of expression , as always, is central. .

Trying another colony counting app. I’ll be testing for a while.

One month from today, an adventure begins. I’ll do my best.

I have been drawn to New Zealand for decades. Before I went, I got these for me, my wife, and sons. On its side, infinity. But I’m told it symbolizes family to Māori. I wear it every day. At the end of my trip, I will try to carve my own piece in Hokitika.

This truly sums up my world view.

At Devils Reef in Tacoma, they *understand*.

A person whom I knew in middle school and high school recently got in touch with me. And sent me this lovely retirement gift. Bonus tardigrade art by an artist I respect so much, Amy Davis Roth! (@SurlyAmy) #Touched

Could not sleep very well at all last night. No reason. At least I can take it easy today.

😉 www.youtube.com/shorts/O7zna...

#NanoDate with Jennifer Quinn. Always so special at Devils Reef. @devils_reef

I tried so hard to make students understand this basic fact whenever I taught. The problem is that the system makes them think otherwise. Anyway, I did my best.

This appeared under my Ted Lasso sign above my office door. I guess “BELIEVE” can have an eldritch meaning?

Just a couple of #ForbiddenSkittles flavors courtesy of @atinygreencell.bsky.social . #DontTasteTheMicrobialRainbow.

It is about a month until I fly to Christchurch, New Zealand for my Erskine Fellowship. I am not a well traveled person, so there are many details I need to work through. It's a little scary, but at the same time a great honor and opportunity. WIsh me luck getting everything together....

Trying to apply the principles of Stoicism to my post retirement life. I want to focus on positive interactions, support other people, & spend less of the time I have left on things that do not bring me fulfillment. Because *many* people have been wonderful to me. My attention should be there.

A happy memory from my teaching career: #LuxArt with bioluminescent bacteria created by students in class. I so adored working with my #Micronauts in my microbiology courses. #MicrobialCentrism #RetiredProfessor @univpugetsound @asmicrobiology @microbetv.bsky.social

I love this quote, which has been falsely attributed to my hero Mark Twain, as well as the great Will Rogers. That doesn't matter. What does matter is how applicable it is to today's bizarre social media world. And to my beloved science. #EgoIsTheEnemy #WeKnowLessThanWeThinkWeDo

I wonder if this eldritch Hawai’ian shirt would be okay. I have been burned before.

This is amazing work! Thank you for posting it, @manuelkleiner.bsky.social