David

Analytical chemist who feels moderately guilty working in industry. Generalised fan of science, paleontology, and scifi. He/him.

[໊ @jemcrsta1rs]

lemony snicket’s dedications to beatrice baudelaire throughout the books of a series of unfortunate events.

a thread 🧵

[fran @galacticidiots]

It’s officially spring, meaning Persephone is back from the Underworld and at her mother’s house, so from now on every time the weather is unseasonably cold and dreary it just means Persephone snuck out to visit Hades in secret but Demeter saw it on the birdwatch porch cam

[Tess Machling @Tess_Machling]

Ok... you didn't know you needed this, but you really do.

Watch for fish, then ring the doorbell to get the lock keeper to let them in...

Yes. Really.....🥰

[Chris Hadfield @Cmdr_Hadfield]

Excellent! (and very cool subliminal Bowie reference with the colour choice)

[Joe Lycett @joelycett]

Omg I can't believe I didn't spot this in the Kate Middleton photo: https://t.co/ZR8VerCTvv 😲😲😲

[Oliver Darkshire 🌈 @deathbybadger]

CYCLOPS: what day is it
PROF X: almost new year i think
CYCLOPS: oh shoot we forgot to kill jean to reset her
PROF X: no no she died in march remember
CYCLOPS: that was march before last
PROF X: are you sure
(outside) JEAN GREY: my POWER is UNLIMITED🔥
CYCLOPS: im fairly sure yes

[Emery Robin @emwrobin]

spent my lunch break today coming up with ways that the Kate Middleton story would turn out if it were being investigated by various fictional detectives

[Cian McCarthy @arealmofwonder]

The Kate Middleton Photo Scandal has now got me seriously questioning this. 😒

[hani 🐀 @hanifungus]

wow! and here’s my video of a victoria crowned pigeon because i went outside and saw it in real life instead of typing a bunch of words into a computer to create a fake one

[Dr. Hannah Rowland 🐛🐤 @HannahMRowland]

Things that Darwin hated, a 🧵

To Charles Lyell, 1st Oct 1861

But I am very poorly today & very stupid & hate everybody & everything. One lives only to make blunders.— I am going to write a little Book for Murray on orchids & today I hate them worse than everything

[Bunsen, Beaker, Bernoulli & Brix @bunsenbernerbmd]

Happy Year Of The Dragon Everyone!

[Fake History Hunter @fakehistoryhunt]

NEW MEDIEVAL LEGO SET!!
But is it historically accurate?
Let's take a closer look and be annoying about details, shall we?

[Nat Friedman @natfriedman]

Ten months ago, we launched the Vesuvius Challenge to solve the ancient problem of the Herculaneum Papyri, a library of scrolls that were flash-fried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

Today we are overjoyed to announce that our crazy project has succeeded. After 2000 years, we can finally read the scrolls:
This image was produced by @Youssef_M_Nader, @LukeFarritor, and @JuliSchillij, who have now won the Vesuvius Challenge Grand Prize of $700,000. Congratulations!!

These fifteen columns come from the very end of the first scroll we have been able to read and contain new text from the ancient world that has never been seen before. The author – probably Epicurean philosopher Philodemus – writes here about music, food, and how to enjoy life's pleasures. In the closing section, he throws shade at unnamed ideological adversaries – perhaps the stoics? – who "have nothing to say about pleasure, either in general or in particular."

This year, the Vesuvius Challenge continues. The text that we revealed so far represents just 5% of one scroll.

In 2024, our goal is to from reading a few passages of text to entire scrolls, and we're announcing a new $100,000 grand prize for the first team that is able to read at least 90% of all four scrolls that we have scanned.

The scrolls stored in Naples that remain to be read represent more than 16 megabytes of ancient text. But the villa where the scrolls were found was only partially excavated, and scholars tell us that there may be thousands more scrolls underground. Our hope is that the success of the Vesuvius Challenge catalyzes the excavation of the villa, that the main library is discovered, and that whatever we find there rewrites history and inspires all of us.

It's been a great joy to work on this strange and amazing project. Thanks to Brent Seales for laying the foundation for this work over so many years, thanks to the friends and Twitter users whose donations powered our effort, and thanks to the many contestants whose contributions have made the Vesuvius Challenge successful!

Read more in our announcement: https://t.co/rUlrdGXBMs

[Adam Kay @amateuradam]

A “hospital bed” is generally considered to be an allegorical term that also encompasses all the medical, nursing and allied professions required to provide a patient the care they need. The Secretary of State for Health has just gone on the IKEA website and ordered some beds.

[Fake History Hunter @fakehistoryhunt]

I love this so much.

"Engraving on 2,000-year-old knife thought to be oldest runes in Denmark

Inscription on knife discovered by archaeologist in grave on island of Funen spells hirila, which means ‘little sword’"

https://t.co/9qiIp2W0uk

[Draconos_Takeji @DTakeji]

“Under the shadow of the dragon”
Adolescent Tethydraco, and Arambourgiania

Yet, another quick piece out of boredom…

#paleoart

[Alison Fisk @AlisonFisk]

Spectacular black and white floor mosaic in the women’s changing room at the Central Baths, Herculaneum. Triton with octopus, cuttlefish, cherub and dolphins. Early 1st century AD.

Modern changing rooms could do with a #Roman style upgrade!

📸 my own

#MosaicMonday
#Archaeology

[june lewins @joonloons]

Bit late to give advice.