John R. Platt

#entomologyart #insects #insectopolis

These days, it's notable whenever a major media company ignores Trump's pressure and stands with talent. So let's note that Disney has renewed Jimmy Kimmel's contract for another year

Every-time he does a pull up a thousand children die

My grandpa was born in the US to German parents. He had younger cousins who were in Hitler youth in Germany. Decades later I talked with some of them about it (with the ruthless candor of youth). Why did you do that? What were you thinking? What they described was a lot like this.

Our infrastructure isn’t ready for what’s coming.

New Wildlife Books for Children and Teens (That Adults May Find Interesting Too) • The Revelator These books for young readers will delight and encourage interest in mammals, insects, octopuses, and other creatures in our shared environment.

New Wildlife Books for Children and Teens (That Adults May Find Interesting Too) -- by @pkuper.bsky.social @franbwrites.bsky.social @junesmalls.bsky.social & many others therevelator.org/new-wildlife...

@biologicaldiversity.org is suing to wipe Trump's face off the America the Beautiful National Parks pass.

By law, the pass must display the winning photo of a federal #PublicLands picture contest. Instead, Trump plastered his own face on it.

Trump's vanity pass is not American, beautiful, or legal

Conservation’s Hot Topics of 2026: From Artificial Intelligence to Mirror Molecules • The Revelator Forests, soil, plastic waste, war debris, and a darker ocean also appear on the annual ‘horizon scan’ addressing conservation priorities for the years ahead.

What's on the #conservation horizon? An annual look at the hot topics affecting biodiversity in the year ahead includes:
* artificial intelligence
* soil
* tropical forests
* darker oceans
* wartime pollution
...and a whole lot more: therevelator.org/conservation...

Conservation’s Hot Topics of 2026: From Artificial Intelligence to Mirror Molecules • The Revelator Forests, soil, plastic waste, war debris, and a darker ocean also appear on the annual ‘horizon scan’ addressing conservation priorities for the years ahead.

Conservation’s Hot Topics of 2026: From Artificial Intelligence to Mirror Molecules https://therevelator.org/conservation-horizon-2026/

Bronze plaque saying "A Letter to the Future. Ok is the first Icelandic glacier to lose its status as a glacier. In the next 200 years all our glaciers are expected to follow the same path. This monument is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it. August 2019. 415ppm CO2"

TIL about a memorial ceremony in Iceland in 2019 to mark the end of a glacier, changing the place name from Okjökull to Ok (jökull = glacier). Uncompromising wording on the bronze plaque:
"This is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it".

We are expecting about SEVEN INCHES of rain between Monday and Wednesday. #extremeweather

Save This Species: Bornean Orangutan • The Revelator Humans are to blame for the decline of these amazing apes — but people are also responsible for saving orphaned orangutans and helping them learn how to survive in the wild.

"To see an orphaned orangutan progress from a traumatized infant to a confident young ape ready for release is both heartbreaking and inspiring. Their suffering is entirely human-made — but so is their chance for recovery." Read more: https://therevelator.org/save-this-species-bornean-orangutan/

Chernobyl protective shield can no longer confine radiation after drone strike, UN nuclear watchdog says | CNN The protective shield built around the Chernobyl nuclear disaster site in Ukraine can no longer do its job to confine radioactive waste as a result of a drone strike earlier this year, according to th...

Greeeeeat.

Chernobyl protective shield can no longer confine radiation after drone strike, UN nuclear watchdog says

www.cnn.com/2025/12/06/e...

Biodegradable Plastics: Help or Hype? • The Revelator Plastic pollution is poisoning the planet. Some experts suggest making plastics from more “natural” materials, but research shows those still have risks.

Plastic pollution is poisoning the planet. Some experts suggest making plastics from more “natural” materials, but research shows those still have risks. Read more: https://therevelator.org/biodegradable-plastics-help-or-hype/

New Wildlife Books for Children and Teens (That Adults May Find Interesting Too) • The Revelator These books for young readers will delight and encourage interest in mammals, insects, octopuses, and other creatures in our shared environment.

New Wildlife Books for Children and Teens (That Adults May Find Interesting Too) https://therevelator.org/new-wildlife-books-kids/

Very cool tool. Apparently I have the first observation on iNaturalist for 11 taxa!

Some are rare, others I got to first. However, I wonder how in flux these will be if people add historical observations later 🤔

Regardless it's neat! 😊

My brain hurts.

SCOTUS Allows Texas to Use Racially Gerrymandered Map in 2026 Midterm Elections Read more here.

Ugh.

SCOTUS Allows Texas to Use Racially Gerrymandered Map in 2026 Midterm Elections - @democracydocket.com www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...

Locusts and Landmines Threaten Ukraine’s Farmland • The Revelator Ecosystems have also come under threat from toxic plants whose spread has been difficult to control during the Russian invasion.

"Ecocide" -- Russia's invasion of Ukraine has caused dangerous environmental destruction: https://therevelator.org/locusts-landmines-ukraine/

Cool. (Also: worrying.)

Environmental passion project documents new species in an Oregon County @columbiainsight.bsky.social columbiainsight.org/environmenta...

Factory Farms in Iowa Generate 110 Billion Pounds of Manure Per Year. No One Tracks Where It’s Going. Manure management planning could prevent fertilizer pollution. But an antiquated system isn’t doing enough to track manure, a former state employee says.

Ugh.

Factory Farms in Iowa Generate 110 Billion Pounds of Manure Per Year. No One Tracks Where It’s Going. -- @insideclimatenews.org & @sentientmedia.org sentientmedia.org/factory-farm...

Save This Species: Bornean Orangutan • The Revelator Humans are to blame for the decline of these amazing apes — but people are also responsible for saving orphaned orangutans and helping them learn how to survive in the wild.

"Humans are to blame for the decline of these amazing apes — but people are also responsible for saving orphaned orangutans and helping them learn how to survive in the wild." - @emmalokuciejewski.bsky.social

therevelator.org/save-this-sp...

Save This Species: Bornean Orangutan • The Revelator Humans are to blame for the decline of these amazing apes — but people are also responsible for saving orphaned orangutans and helping them learn how to survive in the wild.

"To see an orphaned #orangutan progress from a traumatized infant to a confident young ape ready for release is both heartbreaking and inspiring. Their suffering is entirely human-made — but so is their chance for recovery." therevelator.org/save-this-sp...

Can I let you in on a little secret?

Billionaire philanthropy isn’t charity.

It’s PR to distract you from low wages, labor exploitation, and a tax system that’s rigged for the rich.

Meet Shirleen, a 900-pound #leatherback turtle and an epic traveler.

Thanks to satellite tracking by the Loggerhead Marinelife Center, we now know more about where she goes.

Leatherbacks are endangered – they need our help but, meanwhile, #GoShirleen!

Learn more ➡️ marinelife.mapotic.com

What Is Pesticide Drift — and Why Is It So Dangerous? • The Revelator Drift of the pesticide dicamba has been linked to crop damage in 25 states this year. The pesticide has also been linked to human health problems.

By me from 2017: What Is Pesticide Drift — and Why Is It So Dangerous?
therevelator.org/pesticide-dr...

Pesticide drift is catching schools off guard. Lawmakers want to require notice before spraying. - Investigate Midwest Pesticide applicators are not required to notify schools before spraying, but some state lawmakers want to change that.  House Bill 1596 would require certified pesticide applicators to provide writte...

Pesticide drift is catching schools off guard. Lawmakers want to require notice before spraying.

(Or how about ... not spraying?)

- Investigate Midwest investigatemidwest.org/2025/12/03/p...

Save This Species: Bornean Orangutan • The Revelator Humans are to blame for the decline of these amazing apes — but people are also responsible for saving orphaned orangutans and helping them learn how to survive in the wild.

"To see an orphaned #orangutan progress from a traumatized infant to a confident young ape ready for release is both heartbreaking and inspiring. Their suffering is entirely human-made — but so is their chance for recovery." therevelator.org/save-this-sp...

Shrimps and water fleas in distress - Artificial light at night disrupts freshwater ecosystems | University of Helsinki A new study from the University of Helsinki reveals that artificial light at night significantly affects freshwater invertebrates and their ecosystems.

Congratulations to Yuhan for successful PhD defence: Shrimps and water fleas in distress - Artificial light at night disrupts freshwater ecosystems www.helsinki.fi/en/news/anim...