Ready or not, here they come

The way you pronounce “live” really matters here

A thoughtful article by @carlzimmer.com about the complex legacy of James Watson and the revolution in molecular genetics brought on by the discovery of the DNA double helix.

I'm excited to share this endorsement from space philosopher and author Frank White! #BecomingMartian @mitpress.bsky.social

My kids weren’t interested in watching this game until they saw the score

Trick or Treat

When your Astrobiology class falls on Halloween

We need to work on public perceptions of scientists

HUGE NEWS! 🎉 I'm thrilled to announce that the legendary Mark Moffett—"The Indiana Jones of Entomology"—has officially endorsed #BecomingMartian! Ready to pre-order your copy? mitpress.mit.edu/978026205151... #BookEndorsement #SpaceTravel #Mars #Science #Evolution #NewBook @mitpress.bsky.social

When did humans come to occupy the top of the food chain? To find out, my colleague Manuel Dominguez Rodrigo’s team is using AI to help interpret marks on fossils they’ve found at Olduvai Gorge. Read about their work and what it tells us about our ancient origins: theconversation.com/ai-reveals-w...

🤯🤯🤯

I love it when art and science connect! The newest art exhibit at Rice’s Moody Center features stunning representations of fish anatomy by @sternarchella.bsky.social and some of his students!

Look to the ant… consider her ways and be wise!

Ants are so cool even spiders want to be like them

There’s something dangerous in this photo. Can you spot it?

Welcome to Bluesky, new nerds! Check out this thread to see hundreds of scientists on here introducing themselves. And give them a follow! 🧪

Author goals

Available for pre-order! a.co/d/6SdoLvp

COVER REVEAL! I am SO excited to share the cover for my new book, Becoming Martian: How Living in Space Will Change Our Bodies and Minds! Thanks to the team at @mitpress.bsky.social for the stunning design! It's officially out Feb 17 but available now for pre-order!

Today I presented an overview of the program we are building at @riceuniversity.bsky.social in science communication and public engagement. The symposium at OsloMet is part of an initiave funded by the EU, which sees communication by scientists to the public as being in the best interest of society.

In Norway to attend a symposium on science communication at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University. What a lovely city!

Moving to Mars won’t be easy as easy as some people seem to think. www.iflscience.com/little-air-a...

I got to join the Mars Perseverance rover team a little over a year ago as they were deciding where to send the rover, which led to this exciting discovery. I share that story in my forthcoming book, BECOMING MARTIAN: HOW LIVING IN SPACE WILL CHANGE OUR BODIES AND MINDS (coming out March 2026).

Exciting news from Mars! www.cnn.com/2025/09/10/s...

Nice touch on my Southwest Airlines flight this morning: the flight attendant had everyone close windows, turn off reading lights, and turn on the little flight attendant call lights to look like candles. Then we all sang Happy Birthday and had the birthday girl “blow out” the candles. 🎂✈️❤️

Fun visit to Dallas to give the keynote address at the UTSW/Children’s Health Rare Disease symposium!

Me , fossilized, mid-squid fact, talking about cephalopod evolution juuuuust as I got to the part about ammonites.

With my colleague, science historian Luis Campos, as we prepare for the new @riceuniversity.bsky.social course we are teaching together this semester. It’s called “Extraterrestrial Elsewheres: Astrobiology and Imagining Life on Other Worlds”. We can’t wait to get started!

Apparently the black market for ants is getting out of control. www.wired.com/story/usda-a...

This is the observatory where astronomer Percival Lowell made detailed observations of Mars in the 1890s. He was convinced he saw long, straight lines stretching across the planet, & interpreted these as canals built by Martians…

It’s such a delight to see students finding their passion. I loved reading this article about one of our wonderful students who discovered a love of science communication during her time at @riceuniversity.bsky.social, including through some of my classes. news.rice.edu/news/2025/bi...

My family’s favorite species of antelope ❤️

Super proud to share the first first-author paper from @ashockney24.bsky.social and our first official Rummel lab publication! Check it out here: nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

@scottsolomon.bsky.social Thanks again for the awesome talk at our TMN meeting last night. I didn't realize that ants were so fascinating.

Excited to see @weinersmith.bsky.social and @zachweinersmith.bsky.social’s book ‘A City on Mars’ being highlighted at the front of my local @barnesandnoble.com store! It’s their non-fiction book of the month!

Cruisin

Not quite sure what is happening here…

Moose are bigger than you think

Still looking for an EPIC trip to do this year? Join me in NEW ZEALAND this December! I'm hosting a trip for the Rice Alumni Traveling Owls and you're invited to join us! Here is the full trip brochure with all the details: alumni.rice.edu/sites/g/file...

Mama moose and calf!

The moment just after we were charged by an elephant while walking through Kruger National Park!

Bush pig! My 11-year old nephew spotted this one. Our guide was impressed, as they are not commonly seen! Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique

It’s such a treat to encounter a white rhino in the wild! The first time I visited Kruger National Park, in 2013, they were relatively common. In fact, we saw three of them right on the road almost immediately after entering the park.

I love it when lions remind us that, after all, they are still cats 🐾

Elephants assembling into a defensive circle to protect their young. We accidentally spooked this herd by approaching two juveniles. Most of the adults were hiding in dense vegetation on the edge of the clearing and they came charging out when they saw us.

Vervet monkey

Scene from the stunning coastline of Mozambique 😍

Waterbuck battling for supremacy on the floodplain at Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique!

More content coming soon! I’ve been off adventuring…

My son wished me a happy Father’s Day, then pointed out that today is also Son Day.