Learning can be where you find it, and one way to learn anything is on Twitter. The issue is more about who you follow, how much information that Twitter user imparts in 140 characters, and how often they part with that information. The following list of 50 excellent Twitterers provide daily learning and study tips, along with links to information that ranges from astrology to nursing and from math to general science.
You’ll find teachers, university professors, magazine editors, astronauts and archives in this list, which is categorized by topics. Each link within those categories is created by the Twitter user’s user name and listed alphabetically. The link leads to the Twitter page where you can follow that user and begin to learn immediately.
Space Nerds
Get your astronomy on with the following Twitter users, who range from astronauts to space agencies.
- AsteroidWatch: Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s (JPL) Near Earth Object Office coordinates NASA’s efforts to detect, track and characterize potentially hazardous asteroids & comets that could approach Earth.
- Astro_Mike: Learn what it’s like to be a space shuttle astronaut through Mike Massimino’s tweets. He’s a NASA astronaut and mission specialist for STS-125.
- AstrobiologyNAI: If you are studying life in the universe, then you might want to follow this Twitter account from NASA.
- BadAstronomer: This is Phil Plait. He runs the Bad Astronomy blog, which is dedicated to clearing up public misconceptions about astronomy and space science in media.
- MarsRovers: “Roaming the Red Planet on six wheels since Jan 2004.” This is the official mission Twitter of the Spirit and Opportunity rovers.
- NASA: Get your space news straight from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration through their Twitter account.
- neiltyson: Follow this Twitterer and you’ll be learning from the astrophysicist at the American Museum of Natural History. Neil deGrasse Tyson also is the author of The Pluto Files, Death By Black Hole and host for PBS NOVA scienceNOW.
- SpaceflightNow: The leading source for online space news has an official Twitter account, too. Follow to stay on top of all space news.
- TheRealBuzz: Yes, this is Buzz Aldrin, astronaut for Apollo XI and Gemini 12 with a doctorate from MIT in astronautics and Korean War veteran (fighter pilot of 66 missions).
Math Geeks
The following Twitters offer daily tips, quiz questions and links to learning materials for all types of mathematical subjects.
- dataspora: Michael E. Driscoll loves data, analytics and visualization and offers a daily dose of links to visual information and news for mathaholics.
- divbyzero: Dave Richesona math professor at Dickinson College. This is his micro-blog about math, teaching and academic technology.
- intmath: Murray Bourne out of Singapore is a real math enthusiast. He posts daily tweets on math issues, tools and links to math-related activities for followers.
- MarcusduSautoy: Marcus du Sautoy is the Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science and Professor of Mathematics, University of Oxford.
- mathguide: Juan Castaneda is a math tutor with an M.S. in Math, helping students achieve their potential and improve their scores.
- MathIsMyLife: Dr Math E Matics loves “maths” and the near limitless number of things you can do with numbers.
- NCTM: The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics is a public voice of mathematics education, and they also provide daily math problems and links for followers.
- republicofmath: Gary Davis is a mathematician, educator, communicator, thinker, encourager who works to help people create value in their mathematical and scientific experiences. Don’t follow if you don’t want to stretch your brain.
Surf and Turf Sciences
Grab daily learning and study tips about the earth and its oceans from these Twitterers.
- alaska_avo: Alaska Volcano Observatory is a joint program of the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAFGI), and the State of Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys (ADGGS).
- Earth_News: Wildlife, nature and environmental news from the BBC and around the world as it happens.
- EarthPic: Earth Science ‘Picture of the Day’ features over 3000 images that highlight the processes and phenomena that shape this planet. Follow to get a new image every day,
- geologynews: The latest and greatest geology news from around the world.
- kzelnio: Kevin Zelnio is a marine biologist, writer and “purveyor of the spineless.” Follow him to learn more about his interests and about other scientists that he follows.
- NASA_EO: Follow this NASA Twitter account to learn more, on a daily basis, about Earth and its environments from a different perspective.
- NatGeoChannel: Clay and Darren at the National Geographic Channel in the U.S. offer daily links to news about eath sciences.
- OceanEchoes: This Twitterer leads followers to various news stories about ocean wildlife conservation, but also includes many links to articles about oceanic atmosphere and environment.
- QuakeInfo: Follow this account to get updates on worldwide earthquakes every thirty minutes. QuakeInfo will tell you when a 2.5+RS earthquake hits.
- USGS: This is the official U.S. Geological Survey account. Use their lists to see other official accounts, and engage with them on other channels as well.
Immersed in History
These historians offer daily news, discoveries and learning tools through their tweets.
- amhistorymuseum: Find out what happened today in history, learn more about extensive stories through links and more on a daily basis from this Smithsonian museum.
- archaeologymag: This Twitterer is from the Archaeological Institute of America, and offers daily news and features plus live reports from editors in the field.
- archaeologynews: Soak up daily archaeology and history news and tips through links offered by this Twitterer on a daily basis.
- BBCHistoryMag: Dave Musgrove, editor of BBC History magazine, offers quizzes, links and learning tips on a daily basis, several times per day from the UK.
- Bennu: This Twitterer delivers daily breaking news about Ancient Egypt as well as interesting videos, photos and links.
- CivilWarCenter: The American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar in Richmond Virginia offers the Civil War from all perspectives on a daily basis.
- I_W_M: The Imperial War Museum in England tells the stories of those who lived, fought and died in conflict from 1914 to the present day.
- KevinLevin: This high school history teacher and Civil War historian is worth following for a wide range of thoughts on historical and scholarly matters.
- NMNH: The National Museum of Natural History, part of the Smithsonian, offers the best in environmental history.
- RPMNautical: If you want to get specific about your historical studies, try following this state-of-the-art nautical archaeology foundation that finds Greek and Roman shipwrecks in the Adriatic Sea.
General Science
From neurobiology to nanotechnology, these Twitter users offer daily tidbits that can hone your science skills.
- AmericanElement: Daily science technology from American Elements covers a variety of science topics with links to current and odd facts and news.
- BoraZ: Bora Zivkovic is into science communication. He offers daily links and a “Five on Friday” that provides updates in “open science” news.
- carlzimmer: This science writer out of Connecticut is a champion of “mind-controlling tapeworms, walking whales and underappreciated forms of life everywhere.” Follow him to learn more.
- newscientist: This is a science and technology weekly out of London, Boston and San Francisco that covers a wide variety of science in daily tips and links.
- noahWG: If you want to learn more about the intersection between science and media, get your daily dose of learning from the editor of Nature Publishing Group.
- NSF: The National Science Foundation in Arlington, Virginia, offers daily links, ideas and resources that are suitable for any science student.
- PLoS: The Public Library of Science serves both the UK and the US with this Twitter account that offers daily questions, links and news for scientists who crave research.
- wiredscience: Get your daily news, observations and links from the official Wired Science team.
Resources for Any Student
The following list contains reference tools from organizations that also tweet daily tips for learning.
- internetarchive: The resource for all things digital has an official Twitter account, and you can learn from this user’s daily quizzes, information links and more.
- librarycongress: the largest library in the world offers daily links, news and information to enrich any scholar.
- MITOCW: If you want to stay on top of new and free courses offered by MIT online through their OpenCourseware, then follow this account.
- smithsonian: The world’s largest museum complex and research organization Twitters. Follow them to learn more about a wide variety of sciences and history.
- TEDchris: Do you have writer’s block? Are your thought processes or creativity mired in murk? Follow Chris Anderson so you remember to get your daily dose of TED to keep those brain cells crispy.
