SECONDNEXUS
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If you had to narrow down everything you know on a subject you’re passionate about and could only tell people one thing about it, what would you say?
That's what one person challenged the internet, specifically scientists, to do on October 27.
It all started with this tweet from Dalton Ludwick, a PhD candidate in entomology:
If you could have the entire world know just one thing about your field of study, then what would it be? #MyOneScienceTweet— Dalton Ludwick, Ph.D. (@Dalton Ludwick, Ph.D.) 1509111968.0
A lot of scientists leapt at the chance to tell the world what they think is most interesting or important about their work. Some shared the humor in their chosen field.
A T. Rex was closer in time to seeing an i-pad than it was to seeing a stegosaurus. #MyOneScienceTweet— Rhys D. Webb (@Rhys D. Webb) 1509605057.0
Vaccines do not cause autism, SIDS, autoimmune disorders, diabetes, or cancer. They cause adults. #MyOneScienceTweet https://t.co/YI0ajF0PRD— Doc Bastard (@Doc Bastard) 1509641574.0
@EntoLudwick Animals talk to each other all the time, and talk about loads of different stuff. We aren't that speci… https://t.co/KRm8lAH3uf— Arik Kershenbaum (@Arik Kershenbaum) 1509581632.0
Defibrillation doesn't start the heart, it stops the heart and its chaotic electrical activity. #MyOneScienceTweet— Jani Kärki (@Jani Kärki) 1510389231.0
Some fungi have more than 20,000 sexes. But we can't tell them apart by how they look. Only the fungi know. #MyOneScienceTweet— Vaillancourt Lab (@Vaillancourt Lab) 1509380304.0
Space is big So telescopes need to be big Making big telescopes is hard Should get some nice pictures though… https://t.co/DLsHZR6LG6— David Gozzard (@David Gozzard) 1509323126.0
Octopus don't have any tentacles. 0. Not one. They have 8 arms. 🐙 Squid and cuttlefish have 8 arms AND 2 tentacle… https://t.co/JoijPQjVRd— Dr Thomas Clements (@Dr Thomas Clements) 1509328885.0
The responses provide insight into what scientists think the world should know.
Some used the hashtag to discuss important issues of the day.
Some vented about public misconceptions or addressed misinformation.
How do we know global warming is caused by us? - basic physics - climate changes in the past - fingerprints - modeling #MyOneScienceTweet— Bart Verheggen (@Bart Verheggen) 1509726609.0
Statistics never add information; they only summarize it. It’s still up to you, the practitioner, to judge what the… https://t.co/iXV5ypPVLE— Happy Cat on Pause (@Happy Cat on Pause) 1509124078.0
Biodiversity conservation is not only about saving species from extinction but it is also about human well-being an… https://t.co/hfPcryOeda— Jean Paul Metzger (@Jean Paul Metzger) 1510174507.0
Banning abortion only increases rates of abortion #sh17 #MyOneScienceTweet https://t.co/m9NuRSGso9— Megan Lim (@Megan Lim) 1510186681.0
Climate change is not a foreign/future/non-human problem. It is happening, right now, all around us, and we need to act #MyOneScienceTweet— Adam Rosenblatt (@Adam Rosenblatt) 1509511243.0
Some shared their message using emojis instead of words.
Healthy 🐠🦈🐋 = healthy oceans. Humans need healthy oceans. Care about 🌿🌾⛈? 🚙? 🍣? Protecting animal habitats is imperative #MyOneScienceTweet— Samara Haver (@Samara Haver) 1510109458.0
A few wealthy try to convince you climate change is fake to make💰=much more likely than 99%👩🏻🔬👨🏾🔬👩🏽🎓👨🚀 agree for no$ #MyOneScienceTweet— Dr. Aurora Elmore (@Dr. Aurora Elmore) 1509718121.0
The results present an opportunity to find out some fun facts you might not otherwise know.
People who love science get to enjoy a slice of social media.
And maybe these Tweets will create some new science fans.
There is a species of sea slug that smells like watermelon #MyOneScienceTweet https://t.co/2dCC4p1bOO— seahorse foster dad (@seahorse foster dad) 1509311294.0
Raspberry seeds, the ones that get caught in your teeth, can survive in forest soils over 300 years until the next… https://t.co/TEzOoytvNM— tgrignon (@tgrignon) 1510600080.0
We can use lasers to turn plastic into diamonds and learn what happens inside planets https://t.co/sgkCOPfMRZ… https://t.co/Jr3oVg4wW7— Nicholas Hartley (@Nicholas Hartley) 1510928462.0
A photon from the surface of the Sun takes about 8 minutes and 20 seconds to reach Earth, but several million years… https://t.co/p8L6sB7PF6— Salik Khan (@Salik Khan) 1510385718.0
Polar bears don’t live in Antarctica Polar bears don’t live in Antarctica Polar bears don’t live in Antarctica… https://t.co/Haut8RNOAv— Dr. Michelle LaRue (@Dr. Michelle LaRue) 1509322380.0
dolphins aren't fish dolphins aren't fish dolphins aren't fish #MyOneScienceTweet https://t.co/IYkzvHzeLw— Darren Ewing (@Darren Ewing) 1509538457.0
And one scientist shared this wish for the future of science:
Science education should train students to BE scientists (wonder, question, gather data, draw conclusions) rather t… https://t.co/QWXbgiCfH7— Alison Stuart (@Alison Stuart) 1510434474.0