Alberto Perez-Huerta

I have tried to contribute a bit to understand them better, but too much to learn and not sufficient researchers

Thank you so much about the bivalve facts! Fascinating bio mineralization

The comment about the brachiopods has touched my heart! Their biology is quite complex for marine benthic invertebrates...only the brain is missing!!

NSF Division of Earth Sciences Informational Webinar

US GEO folx: we’ve got one more webinar on the books (for now)! Come say hi, ask your burning questions, hear the latest about NSF/Earth Sciences. Thursday, Sept 18, 2p Eastern: www.nsf.gov/events/nsf-d...

geochemsoc.org/events/webin...

If you are interested, or know of anyone, interested in doing a M.Sc. or Ph.D on bio mineralization and geochemistry starting Fall 2026, please contact or let me know. There is the possibility to work with fossils and/or Recent organisms, and the position will be funded.

An illustration of the inferred living conditions of a population of Nucleospira calypta in its natural habitat. CREDIT: Chao Tan and Bing Huang

The brachiopod Nucleospira calypta lived on the sea floor around 436 million years ago in a checkerboard pattern determined by the length of its setae--bristle-like appendages likely used for feeding or defense. In PNAS: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

Postdoctoral Fellow opportunity. The NSF-funded project “Energetic Controls on Marine Benthic Community Structure in Space and Time” aims to (1) evaluate how productivity affects the energetic and trophic structure of marine benthic communities on either side of the modern Isthmus of Panama, where there is now a strong contrast between the high productivity, upwelling-dominated regime of the eastern Pacific and the low-productivity, low-seasonality regime of the Caribbean (2) use this knowledge to evaluate the fossil record of Caribbean benthic ecosystems before, during, and after the uplift of the isthmus during which planktonic productivity decreased in the Caribbean and (3) relate ecosystem changes driven by productivity shifts to the well documented Caribbean extinction event ~2 Ma. This is a project in collaboration with Ohio State U, UC Berkeley, and STRI. One key component of this project is to assess biotic interactions such as predation and possibly parasitism using fossil and modern molluscan assemblages from both sides of the Isthmus of Panama. I am recruiting a Postdoctoral Fellow with a background in paleontology and/or biology/ecology with strong quantitative skills, attention to detail and organization, and someone who can effectively supervise students. Conference support is provided. The postdoc will work with Dr. Adiel Klompmaker (aaklompmaker@ua.edu) within the University of Alabama Museums’ Department of Museum Research and Collections (https://collections.museums.ua.edu/). Initial appointment will be for 1 year, with renewal contingent upon funding. The deadline to apply is 5 September 2025 at 22:55 US Central Day Time. The salary will be $56,000 per year. Please upload a cover letter expressing your interest and qualifications, a CV, and contact details of at least two references. To apply and for more information see: https://careers.ua.edu/jobs/688232bd-b82e-49d3-90ea-06601c242dab

Job Alert‼️ Postdoctoral Fellow opportunity in paleontology/biology at the University of Alabama Museums:
careers.ua.edu/jobs/688232b... Aim: assess biotic interactions using mollusks from both sides of the Isthmus of Panama. Please share widely! @paleosoc.bsky.social @almnh.bsky.social

Postdoctoral Fellow - Curation - Tuscaloosa, AL - Indeed.com The University of Alabama

The Dept of Museum Research & Collections at University of Alabama seeks a Postdoc for NSF-funded project “Energetic Controls on Marine Benthic Community Structure in Space and Time”.

This position will conduct research under the supervision of Dr. Adiel Klompmaker.

www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=c...

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced today that it will begin an orderly wind-down of its operations following the passage of a federal rescissions package and the release of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s FY 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-H) appropriations bill, which excludes funding for CPB for the first time in more than five decades. For nearly 60 years, CPB has carried out its Congressional mission to build and sustain a trusted public media system that informs, educates, and serves communities across the country. Through partnerships with local stations and producers, CPB has supported educational content, locally relevant journalism, emergency communications, cultural programming, and essential services for Americans in every community. “Despite the extraordinary efforts of millions of Americans who called, wrote, and petitioned Congress to preserve federal funding for CPB, we now face the difficult reality of closing our operations,” said CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison. “CPB remains committed to fulfilling its fiduciary responsibilities and supporting our partners through this transition with transparency and care.”

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is shutting down operations after loss of federal funding:

If you have the chance to visit Glasgow, I can give you some pointers about interesting science and geology places to visit. I am a geologist and live there 3 years

Head on shot of The Titanosaur towering over the viewer as its head peers out of the arch of the hall entrance. Its long body can be seen trailing behind it, as well as three people who seem tiny compared to its immense size.

You don’t see one of these every day… or ever. 🦕 Meet The Titanosaur (Patagotitan mayorum). At 122 ft (37.2 m) long & ~70 tons, this sauropod was heavier than 10 African elephants—it was one of the largest animals to ever walk the Earth! This gigantic herbivore lived ~95 million years ago.

Brachiopods are shelled marine creatures that superficially resemble clams and oysters. Although still living, they were most abundant in the Paleozoic Era (540-252 mya). Since they're common fossils they're useful for dating rocks. The Knobstone Escarpment near Leota, Indiana, 19 Jan 2013.

Brachiopods are shelled marine creatures that superficially resemble clams and oysters. Although still living, they were most abundant in the Paleozoic Era (540-252 mya). Since they're common fossils they're useful for dating rocks. The Knobstone Escarpment near Leota, Indiana, 19 Jan 2013.

Brachiopods are shelled marine creatures that superficially resemble clams and oysters. Although still living, they were most abundant in the Paleozoic Era (540-252 mya). Since they're common fossils they're useful for dating rocks. The Knobstone Escarpment near Leota, Indiana, 19 Jan 2013.

NSF Division of Earth Sciences Informational Webinar

US Earth Science people: Our June webinar felt so good, we’re making it a series. Join us next Tuesday 7/15 (and again in Aug & Sept) to hear from NSF staff and to get (most of?) your questions answered. www.nsf.gov/events/nsf-d...

Reorientation and despinning of 4 Vesta formed the Divalia Fossae The Divalia Fossae are formed by tectonic stresses from reorientation and despinning of Vesta caused by large impacts.

Check out our new paper in Science Advances!
🧪🔭🪐
We show that Vesta’s giant equatorial troughs—Divalia Fossae—likely formed from spin axis reorientation and despinning as a long-term consequence of the two massive impacts near the south poles. 🪨⚒️

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

This may be part of the problem...do our representatives in Congress know the difference between NSF and NIH?

As others are probably doing, I contacted my Senator Hon. Katie Britt to explain the negative consequences, especially for Alabama and UA, to approve, by Congress, the requested NSF budget cut for 2026 by the current administration. I got a reply from her office talking about NIH rather than NSF...

Awesome!!!

This proposed budget is a policy statement, not an appropriation.
There are still a lot of steps and potential changes ahead before it becomes one. This is not a time to sit quietly, team. Let's go.

For those of you interested in less interesting lophophorates, you can enjoy this photo of bryozoa

Finally, a proper lophophorate!

Is Congress, in particular Senators (independently of political ideology), going to defend US core values rooted in knowledge and education?

The worth of a country is measured by the level of education of its citizens, rather than by economic power or political influence. As the current administration, and some states, in this country are trying to dismantle the education and research system, we have to stand for the US values I love.

Part of my education and career is due to the US academic system. I am a proud US citizen, but I am also an immigrant to this country. When I came to USA, I really liked the value that society was given to education, seeking knowledge, and promoting curiosity.

Proudly, I have been a member of the Palaeontological Association @thepalass.bsky.social for 25 years!!

A bunch of beautiful flowers to improve the mood

Left randomly on a campus corner, it may be considered as an artistic expression about thinking...given the current circumstances, we should think about placing empty chairs across US campus to value the "act of pausing and thinking" about what society we want

I like this approach...you have freedom to smoke, but you would have to be caged to avoid second hand smoking!

Insoluble organic fraction from Cretaceous fossil mollusk nacre...full of protein!