Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.'s Avatar

Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.

@arctomet.bsky.social

Tyrannosaur Expert; Dinosaur Paleontologist; University of Maryland Geology Faculty; Director of the College Park Scholars-Science & Global Change Program; Science Author; Cat Dad; πŸ¦–πŸ¦•

4,073 Followers  |  642 Following  |  2,330 Posts  |  Joined: 14.11.2024
Posts Following

Posts by Thomas R. Holtz, Jr. (@arctomet.bsky.social)

Video thumbnail

This bears repeating.

Dr. Casey Means is not eligible for the position as Surgeon General. The position requires experience in public health programs & entry into regular corps. She has done neither.

You can take action by sending a letter to your senator.

πŸ§ͺ actionnetwork.org/letters/oppo...

07.03.2026 00:28 β€” πŸ‘ 135    πŸ” 89    πŸ’¬ 11    πŸ“Œ 5
Preview
An Army Corps project could wipe out one of Florida’s last thriving coral reefs The fate of one of the last thriving coral reefs in Florida may be imperiled by plans to widen the shipping channel leading into Port Everglades.

The US army corps of engineers is considering, right now, what would be the largest destruction of coral reefs in US history. To make a port slightly bigger.

People know this, right?

www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...

πŸ§ͺπŸ¦‘πŸŒŽ

06.03.2026 20:25 β€” πŸ‘ 228    πŸ” 178    πŸ’¬ 12    πŸ“Œ 9

What it's like asking AI tools for advice

Prompt: "What are the nutrient, lighting, and water needs of my house plant?"

AI: "Evidence suggests Brawndo: The Thirst Mutilator has what plants crave, with many citing its life-giving electrolytes."

06.03.2026 14:08 β€” πŸ‘ 19    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Composite skeleton of the Early Cretaceous sauropod dinosaur Astrodon

Composite skeleton of the Early Cretaceous sauropod dinosaur Astrodon

#FossilFriday #PaleoFest Composite juvenile skeleton of the Early Cretaceous sauropod Astrodon at the Maryland Science Center

06.03.2026 13:34 β€” πŸ‘ 38    πŸ” 8    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Stand up for Science Stand up for Science

WASHINGTON D.C.!!! This SATURDAY, MARCH 7th, we are rallying to TAKE BACK OUR SCIENCE, and we need YOU to join us!!!

Visit this link to learn more: zurl.co/FIVgM

#WashingtonDC
#DC
#March7DC
#standupforscience
#science

05.03.2026 23:00 β€” πŸ‘ 32    πŸ” 9    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Video thumbnail

Secretary Noem acknowledges ICE and CBP can't shoot Americans for peacefully protesting, videotaping ICE officers or lawfully carrying a firearm, and yet her agents are routinely violating the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. There is a total leadership breakdown requiring immediate change.

05.03.2026 14:23 β€” πŸ‘ 1934    πŸ” 602    πŸ’¬ 89    πŸ“Œ 34
Line graph time series of global atmospheric methane abundance for each month from 1984 to 2025. There is a long-term increasing trend in additional to a seasonal cycle and decadal variability. November 2025 methane abundance is currently 1946 ppb.

Line graph time series of global atmospheric methane abundance for each month from 1984 to 2025. There is a long-term increasing trend in additional to a seasonal cycle and decadal variability. November 2025 methane abundance is currently 1946 ppb.

🚨 Methane is at about record high levels in its latest update for November 2025 (1945.85 ppb).

November 2024's global methane abundance was 1940.0 ppb.

Note there is a seasonal cycle. Data available from gml.noaa.gov/ccgg/trends_...

06.03.2026 00:45 β€” πŸ‘ 103    πŸ” 32    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 4
Video thumbnail

β€œYou’re a U.S. senator!”

Bernie stops Noem’s replacement from literally trying to fight someoneπŸ‘‡πŸ½

This should go great

05.03.2026 20:11 β€” πŸ‘ 9325    πŸ” 3488    πŸ’¬ 1108    πŸ“Œ 521

Disqualifying answer.

05.03.2026 17:58 β€” πŸ‘ 317    πŸ” 52    πŸ’¬ 10    πŸ“Œ 1

I’ve been asked if I would support Sen. Mullin as Noem’s replacement.

The answer is a resounding NO. The rot in DHS is deep, much deeper than any individual.

It’s a question of policy not personnel. The Senate should not consider any DHS Secretary nominee until DHS and ICE are reined in.

05.03.2026 21:30 β€” πŸ‘ 11905    πŸ” 2491    πŸ’¬ 1552    πŸ“Œ 304

I’m glad NPR included skeptical voices - because de-extinction is a dangerous fantasy - but we’ve seen this before. Colossal dangles a story/access, journalists take it and say other researchers have criticisms, and nothing changes save for an update to the I Can’t Believe It’s Not Mammoth! timeline

05.03.2026 17:52 β€” πŸ‘ 128    πŸ” 39    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 2
Post image

The competition for the dumbest member of the United States Senate has just heated up with the elimination of one its strongest contestants!!

05.03.2026 19:59 β€” πŸ‘ 10018    πŸ” 1912    πŸ’¬ 1214    πŸ“Œ 193

If you're at the airport and Kristi Noem is doing the ominous little message from the TSA screens, you no longer have to do anything she says. Leave your laptop in the case, whatever.

05.03.2026 19:22 β€” πŸ‘ 29506    πŸ” 3999    πŸ’¬ 367    πŸ“Œ 161
Preview
Thirty-six solutions to stabilize Earth’s climate An updated visual assessment tool can bridge the gap between climate research and political action

Thirty-six solutions to stabilize Earth’s climate | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

05.03.2026 20:42 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Climate change will increase forest disturbances in Europe throughout the 21st century Wildfires, insect outbreaks, and storms cause large pulses of tree mortality. Climate change amplifies these forest disturbances, yet their future magnitude and extent remain uncertain. Here, we simul...

Climate change will increase forest disturbances in Europe throughout the 21st century | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

05.03.2026 20:42 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Democratizing climate change mitigation pathways using modernized stabilization wedges Mitigating climate change requires broad societal buy-in. Integrated assessment models (IAMs) produce cost-optimal pathways, but these are complex and not easily customized to reflect individuals’ pre...

Democratizing climate change mitigation pathways using modernized stabilization wedges | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

05.03.2026 20:41 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Redirecting

JosuΓ© GarcΓ­a-CobeΓ±a, Sergio SΓ‘nchez-Fenollosa, Pablo Cabrera-Argudo & Alberto Cobos (2026)
The oldest dinosaurs and other vertebrates from the Cretaceous of the southwestern Maestrazgo Basin (Teruel, Spain)
Cretaceous Research 106362
doi: doi.org/10.1016/j.cr...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

05.03.2026 16:30 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Redirecting

Michael J. Benton & Emily J. Rayfield (2026)
Bringing dinosaurs to life: A scientific revolution in palaeobiological methods
Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 113684
doi: doi.org/10.1016/j.pa...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

05.03.2026 16:29 β€” πŸ‘ 21    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Sea level much higher than assumed in most coastal hazard assessments - Nature Meta-analyses on a global scale show that the measured coastal mean sea level is higher than assumed in most coastal hazard assessments.

Seeger, K., Minderhoud, P.S.J. Sea level much higher than assumed in most coastal hazard assessments. Nature (2026). doi.org/10.1038/s415...

05.03.2026 16:21 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
Men At Work - Who Can It Be Now? (Official Video)
YouTube video by MenAtWorkVEVO Men At Work - Who Can It Be Now? (Official Video)

#Geol204playlist For the Garden of Ediacara youtu.be/SECVGN4Bsgg?...

05.03.2026 13:46 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Video thumbnail

Alex Pretti and RenΓ©e Good were murdered by federal agents. Soon after, Secretary Noem labeled them 'domestic terrorists.’

I gave her the chance to recant and apologize for the pain she's caused their families with these outrageous lies. She refused.

04.03.2026 17:07 β€” πŸ‘ 3446    πŸ” 1142    πŸ’¬ 216    πŸ“Œ 65

Nudge nudge wink wink!

Say no more!

04.03.2026 21:40 β€” πŸ‘ 102    πŸ” 12    πŸ’¬ 8    πŸ“Œ 1

Pathetic. Sheehy needed to sit his ass down & stay out it. He is NOT law enforcement. Hope the Vet presses charges & sues.

05.03.2026 00:12 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

How do animators ✍️ make animals (real AND fantasy) look so real? SCIENTISTS are essential!

Paleontologist Stuart Sumida has consulted on Hollywood's πŸ“½ biggest blockbusters: Beauty and the Beast, Harry Potter, How to Train Your Dragon, and more!

πŸ”Š Learn more: www.paleonerds.com/podcast/stua...

05.03.2026 01:35 β€” πŸ‘ 31    πŸ” 9    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Video thumbnail

Balint to Noem: "You're the secretary of DHS -- for now. And you think you're immune from accountability. But I promise you this: one day he is not gonna be president anymore. And when that day comes, we will still be here. And in hearings like this, we are going to continue to prove your guilt."

04.03.2026 19:13 β€” πŸ‘ 28137    πŸ” 7501    πŸ’¬ 1137    πŸ“Œ 678
Video thumbnail

Jeffries: "Article 1 of the Constitution provides Congress with the sole authority to declare war. Framers made that decision b/c they were concerned about kings plunging their people into unnecessary wars to pillage resources of others for the benefit of a tyrant and his family. Sound familiar?"

04.03.2026 21:06 β€” πŸ‘ 7389    πŸ” 2196    πŸ’¬ 265    πŸ“Œ 90
Video thumbnail

NOEM: I would disagree with the judge

CROCKETT: I'm sure you would, but can you tell me whether or not you have a law degree?

NOEM: A what?

CROCKETT: A law degree

NOEM: No I do no-

CROCKETT: Okay

04.03.2026 20:52 β€” πŸ‘ 32460    πŸ” 8330    πŸ’¬ 1199    πŸ“Œ 679
Preview
An aberrant stem tetrapod from the early Permian of Brazil Abstract. Early evolutionary history of tetrapods is typically divided into two major phases: an initial diversification of archaic stem tetrapod groups, a

An aberrant stem tetrapod from the early Permian of Brazil url: royalsocietypublishing.org/rspb/article...

04.03.2026 13:18 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

IMPORTANT!!! There has been a location change for the NEW YORK CITY March 7th National Day of Action rally!!!
The rally is now happening in City Hall Park from 12:00pm to 2:00pm.

Visit standupforscience.net/march7 to learn more!

#March7NYC
#standupforscience
#science
#savescience
#rally

03.03.2026 22:46 β€” πŸ‘ 48    πŸ” 27    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 5
03.03.2026 21:15 β€” πŸ‘ 208    πŸ” 45    πŸ’¬ 11    πŸ“Œ 4