#OTD is an active hashtag on Bluesky. In the last 30 days, 668 people shared 11,696 posts with it — around 390 a day. Activity is up 6% versus the previous week, peaking on Jul 22 with 466 posts.

Posts with #OTD

Admirable Women

@admirablewomen.bsky.social

1 day ago

Lucille Ball--actress, comedian, producer & film-studio executiver--was born #OTD in 1911. In 1962, she bought out Desi Arnaz's interest in Desilu Productions & became the 1st woman to own & run a major TV studio. Desilu produced many popular TV series including Mission: Impossible & #StarTrek. 🖖

This classic black-and-white studio portrait captures the legendary Lucille Ball (1911–1989), an American actress, comedian, and pioneering studio executive. Best known for her iconic role in I Love Lucy, Ball was the first woman to lead a major television studio, Desilu Productions. In this elegant, close-up composition, Ball looks directly at the camera with a calm and poised expression. Her light-colored hair is styled in elaborate, high-volume rolls that sweep upward from her forehead, typical of the sophisticated 1940s glamour. She wears a shimmering, light-toned jacket with a subtle grid pattern that catches the light. Her ensemble is accented by large, round, sparkling cluster earrings that draw attention to her face. The lighting is soft yet focused, highlighting her perfectly applied makeup—defined brows, dark mascara, and a polished, dark lip color. The background is softly out of focus, featuring a neutral, textured wall with organic, leaf-like shadows that create a sense of depth.

277 1566 9291

Frank Amari

@frankamari.bsky.social

over 1 year ago

"One of the great tragedies of mankind is that morality has been hijacked by religion. So now people assume that religion and morality have a necessary connection. But the basis of morality is really very simple and doesn't require religion at all." -- Arthur C. Clarke, born #OTD 1917

966 8348 35605

Admirable Women

@admirablewomen.bsky.social

2 days ago

Dr. Laurie Leshin became the first female director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and vice president of Caltech in 2022. A geochemist & planetary scientist, she is the University Professor for Space Futures at Arizona State University. She was born #OTD in 1966. #WomenInSTEM #geochemistry

Color professional photograph of Dr. Laurie Leshin, an accomplished American planetary scientist, geochemist, and academic leader. She is standing confidently with hands on hips, smiling warmly at the camera with an approachable and energetic expression. Dr. Leshin has shoulder-length brown hair, and she is dressed in a vibrant red blazer over a light gray top, accessorized with a large, multi-strand necklace. The background features a textured light beige or stone brick wall with a dark-framed picture or artwork partially visible to the side, creating a modern, professional indoor setting. The image highlights her dynamic presence as a trailblazing figure in space exploration, having served as Director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) from 2022 to 2025, President of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and in other key roles at Caltech and elsewhere.

30 488 2582

Simon Jones

@simonjones.bsky.social

1 day ago

British children in Nijmegen to visit the graves of fathers killed during the war, #OTD 6 August 1955. Katrina Coombs, 10, of Redcar, Barbara Janik, 12, of Burnley, Georgina Price, 10, of Ludlow, James Smith, 13, of Kirkcudbright, & Geraldine Greenwood, 12, of Bradford. (Daily Mirror via Findmypast)

Black and white photo of five children in a street carrying bags. A boy wears a kilt.

41 324 2190

Frank Amari

@frankamari.bsky.social

over 1 year ago

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead, who died #OTD 1978

175 2004 16964

Admirable Women

@admirablewomen.bsky.social

4 days ago

Historian of science Margaret Rossiter (d #OTD in 2025) coined the term #MatildaEffect (1993). Named after suffragist Matilda Joslyn Gage, the Matilda Effect describes a systemic bias where women's scientific achievements are ignored, minimized, or directly attributed to their male colleagues. 1/3

A black-and-white photograph of the pathbreaking American historian of science, Margaret Walsh Rossiter (1944–2025), renowned for coining "the Matilda effect" and documenting the buried history of women in science. Seated in an indoor setting with a soft, blurred background, Rossiter is positioned from the waist up, facing forward with a warm, open smile. She has short, curly gray hair and wears dark, thick-rimmed glasses. She's wearing a light-colored, long-sleeved shirt patterned entirely with small, dark polka dots. She holds a heavy, open book resting on her lap or desk, her left hand steadying the right-hand pages while her right hand rests on the left-hand pages, lightly gripping a pencil. The overall composition is intimate and studious, casting her as an approachable yet deeply focused scholar. The mood is intellectually vibrant and welcoming, reflecting a life dedicated to uncovering the truth.

18 690 1995

Admirable Women

@admirablewomen.bsky.social

7 days ago

Evonne Goolagong Cawley (b. #OTD in 1951) broke systemic barriers as one of the most prominent #Indigenous Australian athletes in history. #tennis + 14 Grand Slam titles (1971-1980) + World No. 1 ranking, 1976 + First mother to win Wimbledon in the Open Era, 1980 #WomenInSport

Side-by-side photographs of Australian tennis trailblazer Evonne Goolagong Cawley (born July 31, 1951), celebrated as a 14-time Grand Slam champion and a historic Wiradjuri icon. On the left, a close-up shot captures her head and shoulders as she glances warmly toward the camera with a joyful, toothy smile. Her curly, dark brown hair frames her face against a blurred green tennis court background. She holds a vintage wooden tennis racket resting near her left shoulder. On the right, an action shot captures her dynamic athletic poise mid-match on a lush grass court. Leaning forward into a powerful stroke, her focused expression contrasts with the fluid grace of her movement. She wears a classic sleeveless white Fila tennis uniform detailed with a thin red or navy trim along the neckline and a matching layered skort. The composition blends an intimate glimpse of her charismatic personality with her legendary on-court agility.

80 566 3754

Admirable Women

@admirablewomen.bsky.social

2 months ago

Dr. Patricia Bath overcame sexism, racism & poverty and saved the sight of millions of people. She invented the Laserphaco Probe for cataract treatment, 1986; it was patented in 1988. She co-founded the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness, 1976. She died #OTD in 2019. #WomenInSTEM

A vibrant color historical photograph capturing the brilliant ophthalmologist, inventor, and academic Dr. Patricia Era Bath (1942–2019) in an office or laboratory setting, radiating an aura of confident intelligence and warm approachability. Occupying the center and right of the shot, Dr. Bath sits facing forward, smiling brightly with a direct, engaging gaze at the camera. She is dressed in a professional white medical lab coat—subtly embroidered with "Dr. Bath" in red cursive on the left lapel—worn over a light blue button-down denim shirt and accented by a polished gold chain necklace. Pens are visible tucked into her left coat pocket. Positioned prominently to her right on the left side of the frame is a large, white medical laboratory microscope or ophthalmic imaging equipment with black eye-pieces. The background shows a white wooden bookshelf packed with colorful medical texts, binders, and stacked papers. This portrait carries immense historical significance, honoring a legendary trailblazer in STEM who became the first Black female doctor to patent a medical device—the revolutionary Laserphaco Probe for cataract treatment—fundamentally restoring sight to millions worldwide.

145 2710 11466

Admirable Women

@admirablewomen.bsky.social

about 1 month ago

Physicist & chemist Marie Curie was the: + First woman to win a Nobel Prize + First person & only woman to win twice + Only person to ever win a Nobel Prize in 2 different sciences: Physics (1903) & Chemistry (1911) Marie Skłodowska Curie died #OTD in 1934. #WomenInSTEM

A striking black-and-white studio portrait of Marie Curie (1867–1934), the legendary Polish-French physicist and chemist who revolutionized modern science by discovering radioactivity, polonium, and radium. As the only person to win Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields, her profound historical significance is reflected in her serious, deeply introspective expression. Photographed from the chest up, she looks directly at the camera with an intense, analytical gaze. Her graying hair is styled in a soft updo, framing a face etched with a look of quiet resolve and intellectual focus. She wears a dark, textured jacket over a shirt adorned with a distinctive geometric, black-and-white checkered pattern at the neckline. The portrait utilizes a stark, dark, textured background that blends into her clothing, creating a high-contrast composition that draws complete focus to her face. The overall mood is solemn, dignified, and powerful, capturing the essence of a brilliant academic pioneer who dedicated her life to scientific discovery.

152 2526 10341

Admirable Women

@admirablewomen.bsky.social

5 days ago

#OTD in 1992 at the Barcelona Olympic Games, Jackie Joyner-Kersee won the gold medal in the heptathlon, becoming the first person in history to win back-to-back Olympic titles in the multi-event sport. She is widely considered one of the greatest female athletes of all time. #WomenInSport #champion

Two dynamic action shots of American track and field icon Jackie Joyner-Kersee in competition. Top image: Jackie mid-javelin throw in a stadium with orange seating. She wears a red-and-white top with bib number 578 on her chest, long hair pulled back. Her right arm about to drive the javelin forward, left arm across her chest, face lifted in fierce concentration. Bottom image: Jackie clearing hurdles in rain during an outdoor track event. Water streaks across the frame as she leaps over a barrier in mid-flight. She wears a navy-blue USA with white and red accents, bib number 33 or 6 visible, white track spikes, and her hair pulled back. Her leading left leg extends straight over the hurdle, trailing right leg tucked, arms pumping for rhythm, muscles engaged, expression focused amid splashing rain and a blurred stadium crowd in the background. The paired photos showcase her exceptional athleticism and versatility across heptathlon events, including javelin and hurdles.

48 310 1876

Admirable Women

@admirablewomen.bsky.social

3 months ago

Lucille Ball--actress, comedian, producer & film-studio executiver--died #OTD in 1989. In 1962, she bought out Desi Arnaz's interest in Desilu Productions & became the 1st woman to own & run a major TV studio. Desilu produced many popular TV series including Mission: Impossible & #StarTrek. #legend

249 1541 9810

Punk Rock History

@punkrockhistory.bsky.social

over 1 year ago

Happy Birthday to Kathi Lynn Wilcox, American musician, bass player for the Julie Ruin and has been in bands such as Bikini Kill, the Casual Dots, and the Frumpies, born on this day in 1969. #punk #punkrock #womenofpunk #kathiwilcox #bikinikill #history #punkrockhistory #otd