Vivek Nityananda

@viveknityananda

I research behaviour, mostly with insects. I write (Book out here: Play: Illustration. Improv. Scicomm. Views my own. (He/Him) 🏳️‍🌈 website: www.viveknityananda.com

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Vivek Nityananda@viveknityananda· 17h

On the plus side I know the bottom of our colander really well now

Close up view of a colander casting a shadow with holes above a white sheet of paper

Vivek Nityananda@viveknityananda· 17h

Well the sun was certainly behind something!

Vivek Nityananda@viveknityananda· 2d

A new haircut I like (and two more years) means it's time for a #newprofilepic!

Me smiling against a Newcastle brick wall. I'm wearing a dark blue tshirt with a design on it,

Vivek Nityananda@viveknityananda· 5d

Today's entertainment courtesy my husband's allotment: the Stroop effect but for vegetables.

Vivek Nityananda@viveknityananda· 11d

Seeing your first hummingbird somehow seems appropriate for Pride 🌈

A very zoomed in photo of a tiny humming bird on a tree branch against a blue sky. Two other sparse branches cut across the sky above it.

Vivek Nityananda@viveknityananda· 12d

Bird nests as evidence of avian culture. @laurenguillette.bsky.social at #ICN2026 tells us about her fun research showing how zebra finches develop preferences for colours of strings depending on what the majority of their neighbouring nests look like and their own preferences. @neuroethology.org

Speaker in front of a slide. The slide has a still grim a video where a zebra finch is using orange string to build a nest against an orange background

Vivek Nityananda@viveknityananda· 12d

Sanjay Sane at #ICN2026 introduces us to the fascinating world of #insect architecture, and tells us how termites build their impressive mounds. @neuroethology.org

Sanjay Sane in front of a slide saying "insect architecture is everywhere"with images of nests and other constructions by bees, wasps and ants

Vivek Nityananda@viveknityananda· 13d

This is a beautiful city #Vancouver #Canada #ICN2026

View of a cityscape on the sea with feathery clouds above

Vivek Nityananda@viveknityananda· 13d

Laura Quintana gives us a great plenary at #ICN26 about how sex steroids modulate aggressive behaviour across the year in wild electric fish @neuroethology.org

Slide with a cartoon of an electric fish. Text on the side says "Social Brain Network". The title says "Brian sex steroids in females"

Vivek Nityananda@viveknityananda· 14d

An absolute tour de force of a talk at #ICN26 by @fleyes.bsky.social! Flies have special muscles to move their eyes and cool neural circuitry that controls them. Also amazing research showing how this system evolved across insects. @neuroethology.org

A slide showing an image of a fly eye and a stained muscle controlling the eye movement. The title says "Spontaneous and reflexive eye movements in flies"

Vivek Nityananda@viveknityananda· 15d

Walking on webs isn't easy. @natashamhatre.bsky.social tells us all about her amazing work researching how black widow spiders use their forelegs to sense and walk at the same time! #ICN2026 @neuroethology.org

A slide showing a schematic of a spider feeling its way above an obstacle in three stages. The title says: "Active sensing for locomotion: forelegs"

Vivek Nityananda@viveknityananda· 15d

At #ICN2026 @pipilika.bsky.social brings Kannada to Canada and gives a fantastic plenary on ant navigation in deserts, the night andVR (never mind his early interest in cricket(s)) ಸಕ್ಕತ್ talk!

Vivek Nityananda@viveknityananda· 15d

Cool work by @alexcnkingston.bsky.social showing how snapping shrimp have an orbital shell (aka magic helmet) that helps them deal with supersonic shock waves during fights #ICN2026

Alex Kingston in front of a slide highlighting the orbital hood on a snapping shrimp and graphs showing how orbital hoods dampen shock waves

Vivek Nityananda@viveknityananda· 16d

So proud of Louie Yip from our lab who gave a brilliant talk about his PhD work on bee active vision! #ICN2026 #bees #vision

Louie standing in front of his talk with the slide titled "The development or active vision in bumblebees" featuring two bumblebees

Vivek Nityananda@viveknityananda· 16d

Andy Warhol meets Joy Division as Mike Rauscher tells us how predator sounds lead to changed wing beats and escape responses in mosquitoes #ICN2026 @neuroethology.org

Slide with purple and blue images of mosquitos (like Warhol's screen prints) to the left and traces of their wing beats to the right (like the cover of Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures)

Vivek Nityananda@viveknityananda· 16d

Fascinating and entertaining talk by @samjakeengland.bsky.social telling us how parasites, prey and pollinators can make use of static electricity and treehoppers have the best funky structures to detect it #ICN2026 @neuroethology.org

Sam talking in front of a slide. The slide has a treehopper (Popped capricorns) with a pointy back. The title says "Can treehoppers detect static electricity"

Vivek Nityananda@viveknityananda· 21d

Can report the holiday's going well #Canada #Yoho

Me in front of snow, mountains, and a glacial lake by the Iceline Summit in Yoho national park

Vivek Nityananda@viveknityananda· Jun 29

When shall we three meet again? In thunder lighting or in rain?

Three hoverflies feeding on the white inflorescences of hogweed

Vivek Nityananda@viveknityananda· Jun 28

Hooooorse

What appears to be an extra long horse behind a tree. Actually, the tree hides the face of one horse and the rear of another.

Vivek Nityananda@viveknityananda· Jun 17

Sometime students give you the best presents 😍

Blue socks with yellow toes and a pattern of mantises and one locust. The mantises are green with orange feet, antennae, forearms and mouths.

Vivek Nityananda@viveknityananda· Jun 14

Thank you Fence my friend, you rock too!

Barbed wire fence segment resembling the sign of the horns

Vivek Nityananda@viveknityananda· Jun 5

Funny how absence can tell its own story. Seeing the university display the Pride flag right opposite my window was heartwarming every June. It's been two years now without it. Sign of the times I guess.. 🏳️‍🌈

Vivek Nityananda@viveknityananda· May 28

Allendale in the Pennines was stunning in the sunshine! #WeekendWalks

A beam of sunshine arching above wild garlic plants that stretch out towards the leafy trees at the back

A meadow awash with yellow flowers with pointed trees on the horizon and a cloudless blue sky above.

The river Allen winding its way though rock with thick woods on both banks, one in the shade and one in bright sunlight. A bright blue sky forms a blunt triangle between both banks.

Vivek Nityananda@viveknityananda· May 19

Clippy the paperclip asking "I see you want to search for something. Can I help you with that?"

Vivek Nityananda@viveknityananda· May 15

Last day to apply for the Empowerment Award of the @neuroethology.org. If you're a disadvantaged researcher investigating the mechanisms of animal behaviour, this award is to help you overcome barriers. Deadline: May 15th 2026 Info here: www.neuroethology.org/empowerment-... Please share

Details of the Empowerment Award

The ISN Empowerment Award aims to support neurothologists who are disadvantaged due to gender, ethnicity, disability, class, or other characteristics and help them overcome the barriers they face. The Empowerment Award is one of the programs of the Community and Inclusivity Committee aimed at making our research community more inclusive. We invite ISN members to apply for the Empowerment Award, specifying how this awrd can help them overcome barrier and progress their work. Do not hesitate to contact any member of the Community and Inclusivity Commitee via email if you have nay questions.

Deadline: May 15th 2026

Information on eligibility and how to apply: https://www.neuroethology.org/empowerment-award/

Vivek Nityananda@viveknityananda· Apr 26

... if you can find your way past the rock guardians, there's a green paradise awaiting you with some stunning views!

Views of rolling green peaks with a small tarn and a blue sky wiht small streaks of white clouds.

Vivek Nityananda@viveknityananda· Apr 26

Blencathra was like a fortress guarded by stony-faced soldiers. A daunting climb but... #WeekendWalks #LakeDistrict #Cumbria

A peak rising up behind sheets of lichen-covered rocks

Vivek Nityananda@viveknityananda· Apr 25

Warning- all insects that land on me will be IDENTIFIED! (Seek willing)

One of several Heather Beetles in love with my yellow jacket

Vivek Nityananda@viveknityananda· Apr 19

Always special stumbling on wild garlic in the woods! #newcastle #weekendWalks

A host of wild garlic plants filling up a wood with their white flowers and smooth broad leaves.

Vivek Nityananda@viveknityananda· Apr 17

Remembering my friend from last weekend. #Northumberland #WhitleyBay