Please spread the word! Only three more days to sign up! Join me and other sea monst-orians in exploring sea monsters in literature, film, and more. We also earn about the creatures of the deep (spoiler: They're not monsters) See link below. I hope to see you there! bit.ly/SummerSeaMon...

“He piled upon the whale's white hump the sum of all the general rage and hate felt by his whole race ...; and then, as if his chest had been a mortar, he burst his hot heart's shell upon it.” - Herman Melville Explore Melville and more "sea monsters" with me this summer. bit.ly/Summermonsters

Terrified of sea monsters? Sea monster curious? Sea monster obsessed?! There’s **five days left** to sign up for my Harvard “Summer School” sea monsters course where we explore mythical sea monsters and also meet real creatures of the deep. I would love to see you there! bit.ly/Summermonsters

Microbe 2026 is just over, but it's already time to think about ASM Microbe 2027 ! Excited about specific topics, methods, ideas, or microbes ? Then you should consider submitting a session proposal, and help us shape the program ! Any question ? please reach out, we're here to help ☺️

It is wondrous to think that, at this very moment, there’s a pod of whales somewhere moving gracefully through the sea, feeding and napping and playing as they see fit … And not one of them is wearing a MAGA hat.

Hahaha… for those of you at Commencement who asked “WHAT ARE YOU DOING UP THERE?” … I’m the “Old Yard Caller”, which means my job is to bring the undergraduates to order then begin the procession into the theater seating. It’s fun because I get to use my radio announcer voice. 🎤

Many congratulations to all the @harvard.edu graduates! It has been a real joy getting to know so many of you over the years. Best wishes to you all and stop by for a cup o’ Joe when you are in town. ☕️☕️☕️

Thanks to all who came to the ASLO-SIL closing plenary to honor Dr. Jan Amend, Dr. Sarah M. Collins and Dr. Beth Hundey. It was hard to do but I would do it again and again to honor our friend and colleague. Big hugs to you all, Pete @aslo.org

I’m in Montreal at the @aslo.org -SIL meeting. Tomorrow morning I have the privilege of sharing a bit about the life of my friend Dr. Jan Amend, who passed away unexpectedly in 2024. Jan was a gem. I implore each of you to cherish both your family and your friends/colleagues. Lots of love to y’all.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing moms who make the world go ‘round! My boys showered their mama with love and appreciation today. It warmed her heart and mone. Tomorrow they’ll be back to their often-whiny selves but for now mom’s getting a lot of well-deserved love. I hope you are as well.💕

Look what I found on my iPhone. In the midst of the pandemic, I paid good money out-of-pocket to have this British goat show up and spend 10 minutes with us on a ZOOM call. Ozymandias, kids of kids! Am I nuts to pay for a goat to show up on ZOOM? Probably. Would I do it again? Hell yes. #goats

It’s dissertation defense season and first up (on my roster, anyway) is Jared Richards from the Ortega-Hernandez lab. He’s rocking his talk! #dadjokes @harvardoeb.bsky.social @invertebratepal.bsky.social

@harvard.edu just launched a cool new website about research across campus and, lo and behold, there's a bit about our latest publication in @pnas.org about oyster-microbial interactions. I'm very proud to be working with Andrea and the whole team! current.fas.harvard.edu/stories/oyst...

Hey folks, If you'd like to hear me talk about mythological sea monsters and what they tell us about humankind, you can hear me chatting with the good folks at @wgbh.org Curiosity Desk. Thanks ya'll for checking it out, and THANK YOU Curiosity Deck for having me on your show!

An exciting new study in PNAS led by postdoc Andrea Unzueta Martinez and Prof. @pgirguis.bsky.social lab shows that oysters coordinate with microbes living inside of them to build their hard shells! A game changer for understanding ocean resilience as waters become more acidic from #climatechange

Dull photo society post #3

Levity can help us get through challenging times. Here’s to all you “Love Boat” fans out there. 😂

Dull Photo Society: Post #2 #dull

I hereby officially launch the “Dull Photo Society”. In lieu of crashing out about the latest disaster, I have decided to post a dull photo. Here, to dull your senses for but a minute, is my soffit vent. I dare you to out-dull me. #Humor #DullPhotoDay #Dull

Folks, even more good news (so nice in this crazy world): CONGRATS to @rowanmartindale.bsky.social for leading a cool paper that presents how "wrinkle structures" in Lower Jurassic turbidites are formed by chemosynthetic communities (the waters are likely too deep for photosynthesis). Enjoy!

Folks, more good news! Our latest paper on oyster microbiomes out in @pnas.org. Led by the inestimable Dr. Andrea Unzueta-Martinez and with great support from the Wang lab @whoi.edu we explore the how a persistent community of microbes in calcifying fluid could shape shell deposition. Enjoy!

Folks, I've got good news! HUGE CONGRATS to Izzy Baker @izzyrbaker.bsky.social who has accepted a faculty position at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill ! I am SO very proud to be your former mentor as well as present-day colleague and friend. Congrats again; you're gonna rock it!

Dear friends & colleagues, I’ve been taking a break from social media. The last several months have been very hectic in both my professional & personal life. I hope to find the time to be more engaged with you all. I miss science social media, and meeting new folks esp. early career scientists. 1/n

To stay warm I’ve been burning, well, everything. This bowl of peanuts is to feed our ever-hungry teenage boys. The shells go straight into the fireplace. I hover over the tiny burning pile and -like Gollum & the ring- proclaim the orange flames and accompanying ounce of warmth to be my precious.

If anyone wants to listen to my artist talk on plankton painting moderated by @pgirguis.bsky.social it’s up here :) youtu.be/66F5FQskmW0?... #sciart #microscopy

I had a fantastic time chatting with Hakeem Oluseyi on PBS NOVA’s “Particles of Thought” podcast. Check It out if you’re interested in hearing us talk about our backgrounds, science, and society. Thanks @pbs.org ! www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/vi...

@ancornman1.bsky.social @sokrypton.org @pgirguis.bsky.social @alexbateman1.bsky.social @simrouxvirus.bsky.social @apcamargo.bsky.social

I had the pleasure of talking with Carolyn Beeler from @theworld.org about our "Sea Monsters" exhibit at @harvardmuseums.bsky.social If you all want to hear about sea monsters -real and imaginary- click below. Thanks again, Carolyn and Hannah, for having me on your show! Stay monstrous y'all.

In the 18th century Francisco Goya produced a series of etchings called Los Caprichos, which satirized the political, social, and religious abuses of his era. One of my faves is this: "El sueño de la razón produce monstruos" (The sleep of reason produces monsters).

Thanks to Hao Wang for telling me more about his team’s new paper and to Peter Girguis (@pgirguis.bsky.social) for providing some helpful context! It was also great working with @michaelroston.bsky.social again

I'm pleased to share this article written by co-authors & me. Riffing off our recent decadal survey, we discuss humanity's relationship with the ocean & why immediate action is needed to protect us all. Enjoy! @whoi.edu @schmidtocean.bsky.social @mbarinews.bsky.social bit.ly/TheConvo0413...

Nice work, @uncultured.carinilab.com “Shadow mentors” have your best interest at heart. They will be your advocates even when no one else is (including yourself). uncultured.carinilab.com?utm_campaign...

This is easily one of my FAVE paintings, especially when paired with Chagall's "Adam and Eve expelled from Paradise"

Many congrats to Dr. Jeff Gralnick @bacteriality.bsky.social on being awarded the Distinguished McKnight University Professorship! This is very much deserved Jeff. Thanks for all the amazing things you do for microbiology and our community.

The second was led by Dr. Corinna Breusing with coauthors Michelle Hauer, @chemosymbiosis.bsky.social Johann Becker, Brennan Phillips, and @pgirguis.bsky.social www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Here's an awesome paper led by Dr. Suni Shah Walter. Punchline = Believe it or not, large volumes of seawater flow through oceanic crust. We report a net loss of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) & dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in this aquifer. Check it out! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Congrats Dr. Huber @juliehuber.bsky.social for your well-deserved induction into the American Academy of Microbiology! Thanks for all that you do for science and the many amazing people, from all walks of life, that make it happen.

Wait until Trump finds out that 27 states have indigenous tribes / other words as names. #GulfOfMexico

Pastor Lorenzo Sewell asking the Almighty to let freedom ring from Stone Mountain, Georgia was NOT on my “Inauguration 2025” BINGO card

Hold fast, friends.

Under this executive order, an undisclosed list of Trump officials will be granted 6mo Top Secret/SCI clearances immediately without undergoing background checks. In charge of the bypass: new White House Counsel David Warrington, who worked on the 2024 campaign. www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...

Maybe processed meats really are bad for your health. 🙂

I just checked the 100 most recent job ads on various marine biology Facebook groups and jobs boards. 2 involve SCUBA diving. The overwhelming majority of marine biology jobs do not involve SCUBA diving at all. Which means you can follow your dreams even if you medically can't SCUBA dive!

Happy New Year, BlueSky! Per tradition, the lab members and I make a holiday card each year. I am pleased to present our 2024/2025 video card for your delectation and delight! @harvardoeb.bsky.social @whoi.bsky.social @schmidtsciences.bsky.social @wendyschmidt.bsky.social #HappyNewYear #Harvard

Nothing gives me more pleasure than sending my brother a picture of a dog scratching his bum on the carpet right after he sends me something sappy. 😂 Don’t think for a moment he has not done the same. #WeFewWeBanteringBrothers

Just read the response from Costco to shareholders requesting it back down from DEI. It was glorious. It begins "Our Board has considered this proposal and believes … an enterprise rooted in respect and inclusion is appropriate and necessary." and gets better. A happy investor #diversityandinclusion

Happy holidays, happy Hanukkah, blessed Kwanzaa, and merry Christmas! Wherever you may be, and whatever you may believe, I wish you and yours the happiest of holidays. Peace be with you, always. #onelove #oneworld