👇👇👇🐘🐘🐘

Can you believe that until now there were more genomes sequenced for the woolly mammoth than for living African elephants?

Today, we bring you the first genomic, continent-scale analyses of 232 high-quality genomes of both species, the savanna and forest elephant.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Thank you so much for writing it!! It’s a beautiful book and I’ve learned so much. 😊

…the practice of divination, but it was also fun to hear about the birth of writing and fun stories of how children would practice their handwriting and much more. A wonderful read for those interested in learning about the lives of ancient Mesopotamians.

…It is based on what is known in cuneiform script found on ancient tablets and other objects from thousands of years ago. I was particularly drawn to a chapter on ancient origins of astronomy (and to some extent biological) science through…(3/)

…that of Persia/Iran but also of empires surrounding it. This is the first book I’ve read on ancient Mesopotamia and it is lovely. @moudhy.bsky.social guides us through a fascinating and enlightening account of its history told through the stories of various people of the time…(2/)

Photo of the book “Between Two Rivers: Ancient Mesopotamia and the Birth of History”.

Next book!
“Between Two Rivers: Ancient Mesopotamia and the Birth of History” by Moudhy Al-Rashid. As some of you may have noticed from some of the past few books I’ve read, I’ve become quite obsessed with ancient history, particularly…(1/)

Watercolor of Diamantinasaurus reaching for a morsel without falling into the creek. (The crocodilian hopes they don’t fall too) 🦕🎨

Thompson Elk returns to cheers in downtown Portland "It’s a sign that the city perseveres," said onlooker Ali Nabavizadeh, as the 3,000 pound statue was lifted back in place by crane.

The Thompson Elk is the first statue to be replaced since the 2020 protests in Portland. A rededication ceremony is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday at Chapman and Lownsdale Squares.

A historic elk statue was reinstalled near where I live in Portland and I was briefly interviewed for my thoughts on it by @opb.org. :)

www.opb.org/article/2026...

For anyone trying to discuss nuance and reason to the Iranian diaspora, respectfully, please give us some grace today and kindly discuss it with others. We’re pissed off today.

…This book does a great job of delving into the struggle and inner turmoil of scientists when it came to faith and science as more evidence of the past kept presenting itself. Pick this one up for sure!! 🦖🦕(3/)

…incorporating the stories of Mary Anning, William Buckland, Georges Cuvier, Gideon Mantell, Richard Owen, and even Thomas Jefferson (and lots more). Full of wit and easy to follow…(2/)

Photo of the book “Dinosaurs at the Dinner Party”.

Okay, giving up on the monthly post thing & just going to post my micro-reviews as I read each book. 😃

“Dinosaurs at the Dinner Party” by Edward Dolnick. This was such a fun read. A great narrative history of early vertebrate paleontology & comparative anatomy research in Victorian early 1800s…(1/)

Photo of the books “Rome and Persia” and “When the Earth was Green”.

March Book Reviews! See following posts. :)

Thank you, Jeanne. Here’s hoping this all ends very soon.

Thank you so much, Karen, I appreciate it.

To be truly honest, I don’t really give a shit who it is at this point. But that it is being said over and over again and may actually happen. As an Iranian-American, this whole thing has become so exhaustingly numbing and all I can think of is how much pain this has caused my people.

I wouldn’t put it past Hegseth. 🤷‍♂️ (I’m only half kidding.)

He’s saying “Praise be to Allah” in this one. That word would never leave his mouth, even as sarcasm. It’s either not him or he’s reached full on delusion.

Looking forward to seeing you, too, Heather! I have an idea I wanted to run by you when we see each other. 😊(Also, you wouldn’t happen to have any more of those AR Triceratops stress balls, would you? I need one! 😜)

Anyone else going to the Anatomy Connected meeting in Albuquerque in a couple weeks?? Apparently now I am (Fri-Sun)!!

#booksky

…talking about Cyanobacteria as this has done, I’m all in every time. A great follow up to the “Last Days of the Dinosaurs” (reviewed last month). And of course, I love LOVE that the megaherbivores get so much love throughout! A great, unique, & highly informative look at the prehistoric world! (/5)

“When the Earth was Green” by Riley Black. What can I say? Riley has done it again. A wonderful deep dive into the evolutionary relationships between plants and animals written from the perspective of different animals through deep time. If a book can keep me as engaged…(4/)…

…A really fun, fascinating, and engaging read, although you really have to pay attention to all the names and events as they happen or the centuries! Highly, highly recommend. (3/)…

…Sasanian Persian Empire (224 - 651 C.E.) ending with the Arab Islamic Conquests. This was a rollercoaster of a read, going back and forth between war and peace between the two regions and a lot of fighting over regions like Armenia and Mesopotamia among others…(2/)

“Rome and Persia: The Seven Hundred Year Rivalry” by Adrian Goldsworthy. This monumental work is an authoritative exploration of the relationship between Rome and Persian/Iranian Empires (which were made up of the Arsacid Parthian (247 B.C.E. to 224 C.E.) followed by…(1/)

Photo of the books “Rome and Persia” and “When the Earth was Green”.

March Book Reviews! See following posts. :)

Overheard on Portland streetcar: “If you think about it, your brain is just a big mushroom that’s just been absolutely soaked through with electrolytes.” 🤔🤨🍄‍🟫