Famous Animals of Science is BACK with NEW paddle boarding dogs, glasses wearing insects and animals cloned back from extinction?! Learn about more animals and insects in this 3.0 series!
Harmonic Future Wolf Ghost & Rocky Mountain Grey Variant
I love wolves, but across history humans have had deep and complicated relationships with them. With the ever-evolving information we learn about wolf deterrents, wolf advocates are doing research into what is working to keep wolves alive while protecting livestock. This design celebrates the various non-lethal solutions developed for wolf deterrents, representing a hope for a harmonious future between humans and wolves utilizing old and new technology.
Rocky Mountain wolf variant mockup with barbed wire halo, fladry & speaker screen print, glitter fur, and gold metal
Ghost wolf variant mockup with red-eye, red barbed wire halo, fladry & speaker screen print, glitter fur, and silver metal
The Science: Modern technology has enabled sensational breakthroughs in predator deterrents. What if we had a speaker-equipped drone and when a wolf goes after livestock we just... yell at them? Would that work? Turns out, yes! Not only did the team successfully haze wolves away from the livestock this way, but the method was also successful with coyotes, and at least one black bear. If a human voice yelling works, what other sounds could be used? Per the study conducted in Oregon, "From our limited anecdotal evidence, the human voice appears to be the strongest audio deterrent of all deterrents tested (music, recorded gunshots, etc.), though formal evaluation of this is underway." So as is always the case, more research is needed, but the next time your neighbor complains about your loud music just tell them it's for wolf conservation.
The Design: This wolf and the elements surrounding it are the hope of a harmonious future. To represent the video from one of the studies referenced for this project, the eye is inverted. The background of the speaker is from the recent drone experiment, while the edge is lined with fladry. Fladry has been used as a non-lethal wolf and coyote deterrent for decades; placing the flapping red flags as an additional fence border will most often steer the animals away to find easier prey. Sometimes the fladry line will be electrified, called 'turbo fladry' to be more effective with coyotes. The barbed wire crown represents the most common fencing used in the past as a carnivore deterrent; in modern fladry setups this fence is on the 'inside'. Most North American wolf species are endangered, and if we can utilize more nonlethal tools for carnivore conservation and management we can still have a Harmonic Future with them.
The Pin: 3in (76mm/7.6cm) Deluxe enamel pin with screen print and glitter
The Science: Uridim, brightest star of the Lupus constellation! Named for the blue giant star, Alpha Lupi (Uridim), within the Lupus (Wolf) constellation. This star is approximately 460 light-years away from our Solar System, and one of our nearest supernova candidates! The possibility of a supernova at this distance is incredibly exciting, as the last Milky Way supernova was in 1604, Kepler's Supernova, which was 20,000 light-years away and visible to the naked eye from earth! FOR THREE WEEKS. DURING THE DAY! The supernova was the brightest object in the night sky for that time. That's truly awesome.
Uridim LE variant mockup with star screen print, multi color swirled pearl, and rainbow metal
The Design: The blue star and glitter of the eye represent the blue giant star, Alpha Lupi. The white stars in the center are arranged in the constellation Lupus, with the surrounding stars in yellow. These constellations include segments or all of (in clockwise order): Libra, Hydra, Centaurus, Circinus, Norma, and Scorpius. The blue and white pearlescent background for Alpha Lupi are juxtaposed against an Aurora-like border to allow the wolf silhouette to stand out.
The Pin: These pins will be limited edition in the amount of 100 numbered variants. Featuring screen-print details in the fur texture and stars. Background effects and wolf fur are multi-color swirled pearlescent, to give it extra cosmic flair. The pin is rainbow metal, so each one is unique in so many ways!
The Sticker: The Deluxe Stickers will have a holographic finish, now I just need your help to choose which sticker you like best: CD effect (Y2K variant) which has a CD like shine or Shimmer (Cosmic Holo) which will be slightly more reflective and have a silvery appearance. Please fill out the poll (find it in the Community tab!) and let me know which variant you'd like. As an Early Bird reward, backers who pledge to the campaign within the first 48 hours will be getting this sticker as a free bonus!
Pledge to the LE: URIDIM Harmonic Future Wolf Bundle tier, then add 2 Harmonic Future Wolf Bundles on to your existing pledge to get the complete set of these rewards at an additional discount!
Bats singing in the belfry? Bavarian bats sing to attract their sweethearts!
Bats singing in the belfry? Bavarian bats sing to attract their sweethearts! Across attics, churches, caves, and castles in the Alps, bats are singing! Their method, called a lek mating system, is most often found in birds but also occurs in reptiles, snakes, and amphibians.
The Science: Singing as a part of attracting a mate is observed in multiple bat species, including greater mouse-eared bats and greater sac-winged bats which are represented in this design. Categorization of mating systems is so important for conservation, but even as recently as 2025 only 6% of bat systems have been described. These bats will occupy their mating roosts beginning in Mid-May with the actual mating season from August through Mid-October. The male bats will find a 'display space' they prefer and will then begin to vocalize to attract mates. One might say... Bavarian bats bellow in the belfry of beautiful abandoned buildings on a bi-annual basis! (Maybe try that one five times fast.)
The Design: This pin is designed with inspiration from the Saint Peter's Altar in Munich. These singing bats were found in many places, including churches across Bavaria, and this is one of the most well known churches in the state. The bats in the stained glass represents a key feature in the altar, as the church itself has a stained glass window with a bird emblem in the center. In the stained-glass cutout below are the outlines of the pipes from an organ; the instrument that has accompanied singing in these spaces across time. Across the church, many Latin phrases, words, and verses can be found; in this design you will find binomial names of 2 bats Saccopetryx Bilineata (Greater sac-winged bat, which is the bat on the left) & Myotis Myotis (Greater mouse-eared bat, on the right)
The Pin: 2.5in (64mm/6.4cm) gold with stained glass resin, mid-raised metal, and screen print
Bat Harmony Deluxe pins now have new variants available! The following variants are available, and of course included in complete reward sets. To add them to your pledge, select the design as an add-on then you will indicate the variant of your choice once the campaign ends via the rewards survey. Silver metal with blue and green details for the Spring Migration variant to compliment the autumnal colors of the original Gold: Sunlight variant. The third variant is inspired by the Gothic aesthetic that draws so much from its architectural namesake paired with contemporary red and purple undertones.
What's white and orange with black stripes all over? Pseudo-melanistic tigers, sometimes called black tigers, have so many thick black stripes they make up the majority of their fur color. The fur pattern is genetic, causing the coloring variation in Royal Bengal Tigers. While tiger stripes will sometimes touch and blend, these black tigers will have sections of fur along their sides where only stripes of orange may show.
The Science: Something unique is happening in the Similipal Biosphere Reserve in Odisha, India. 27 of the 30 total tigers in Odisha are located in Similipal, and within that population of 27, at least 13 of them are pseudo-melanistic. Pseudo-melanisim causes these tigers to have a mostly black appearance (in rare occurrences they may be completely black), giving them their nickname, "black tigers". The concentration of this unique trait among over 1/3 of the population is due to their small number, as the mutation is genetic.
The Design: This Bengal tiger chained pin set features two pseudo-melanistic tigers. The chain itself is removable (attached to the pin posts) so the set can be worn with or without, or one pin at a time.
The Pin Set: This pin set features two (2) separate 2.5in / 64mm / 6.4cm tall pins, each with two pin posts. The chain is removable, looping around the pin posts in the back.
The following variants are available, and of course included in complete reward sets. To add them to your pledge, select the design as an add-on then you will indicate the variant of your choice once the campaign ends via the rewards survey. In addition to the 'black' tigers in the campaign, there are also two named historic white tigers I discovered in my research! Popsy ( 'Queen of Cat Canyon' ) was a pseudo-melanistic white tiger that lived in The Cincinnati Zoo who lived to the impressive age of 22, exceeding the expected lifespan of 15-20 years. Artico is the most recently recorded rare "stripeless" white tiger; born in Spain's only wildlife recovery center, he was eventually sent to live in Las Vegas as a part of the now closed Mirage White Tiger Habitat.
Melanistic Odisha Tigers Set or Individual Pin Pledge Build:
To get both pins (the set) pledge to the Melanistic Odisha Tigers Pin Set, the Cool Critters Bundle, or add it on to your existing pledge. For a random single tiger pin pledge to the Enamel Pin reward tier or add it on to your existing pledge to get these rewards at an additional discount!
I've organized the sections of this campaign to allow anyone who may be averse to some of the subjects (insects, teeth) to skip/scroll past them. If this is you please check the Story sections as you scroll to avoid jump-scares.
Dogs recognize their friends through many cues, but what about on video?
While both cats and dogs rely on scent to identify others in the same vicinity, dogs can also recognize each other in video!
The Science: In a 2006 study, dogs were shown to recognize their owner's voices and likeness, demonstrating they may also recognize them in video, or even by voice alone. More recently, studies were conducted to find out if dogs would recognize other animals they had never seen before, including horses, frogs, and cows. Included in the study were other dogs, which the subject dogs in the study would respond to. This suggests dogs possess special processing to visually identify other dogs.
The Design: The pin design features two dogs on a video call as friends who recognize each other. The good boy on the line is a working golden retriever, and unfortunately he does have to get back to work but he'll call his friend back!
The Pin: 2.5in (64mm/6.4cm) gold with mid-raised metal and screen-print
The following variants are available, and of course included in complete reward sets. To add them to your pledge, select the design as an add-on then you will indicate the variant of your choice once the campaign ends via the rewards survey. Service dogs come in many shapes and sizes, these variants allow more specific selection in coat color when you fill out your survey!
If you can't find genetic diversity in the wild, cloned is fine.Black-footed ferret clones allow this endangered species to recover
The Science: Black-footed ferrets are endangered due to habitat loss and disease, at one point they were so rare, only 7 were known to be left in the wild. They are 'specialists' who exclusively eat prairie dogs, so as prairie dogs are poisoned, displaced, or die of plagues, there are fewer resources for the black-footed ferrets, too. These specialists are flagship species too, saving them could also mean saving over 130 other prairie plants and animals. One of the areas of focus for their protection is genetic diversity and disease resistance.
In 2020 Elizabeth Ann was cloned from the cells of Willa, a black-footed ferret who lived over 40 years ago, in 1988. Willa's cells were stored in San Diego's Frozen Zoo, which is a collection of over 11,500 genetic samples that has been in operation since 1975. This was the first cloning of a native endangered species in North America and this success led to the next clones, Noreen and Antonia. Future plans for black-footed ferret conservation includes genetic research via breeding with the cloned ferrets, work developing disease resistance, and, as always with endangered species, habitat protection.
The Design: At the bottom of the design is Willa's shadow in gold with recessed details. The three ferrets at the focus of the design represent Elizabeth Ann, Noreen, and Antonia.
The Pin: 2 inch (51mm/5.1cm) gold with mid-raised metal and screen-print
My, what soft fur you have! Colossal Bioscience's Woolly Mouse proves genetic modification could have future applications.
These little mice are fluffed up and ready for cold temperatures! Woolly mice were genetically modified as a step on the path towards Colossal's goal of woolly mammoth de-extinction. These little guys may be small, but their existence will have a mighty impact on the future.
The Science: Woolly mouse, is that like a woolly mammoth? Well, the team at Colossal Biosciences genetically modified these mice to express fluffy, woolly coats in addition to modifications to their cold tolerance and metabolism. Colossal claims this project was the proof of concept for their woolly mammoth de-extinction program which they propose could mitigate climate change. Their plan is to produce a genetically modified elephant by 2028, though their 'direwolf' controversy has had people second-guessing their intentions behind the science. On the woolly mice, the CEO had this to say, “Besides the adorability factor – we did not factor in how cute they would be – now we have produced healthy living animals that have the exact phenotypes that we predicted, based on using ancient DNA and computational analysis in genome engineering”. They have no intention of selling the woolly mice and that they are focused on their de-extinction research.
The Design: These fluffy little guys don't have tusks in reality, though they are represented in the design to spark discussion. Advances like the woolly mouse are important starting points for discussion of genetic modification, ethics, future applications, scientific regulations, and more. I hope this design sparks those discussions so we may continue to progress in a community-driven and scientifically informed way.
The Pin: 1.5 inch (38mm/3.4cm) gold metal with screen-print
Cool Critters Collector Bundle
Pledge to the Cool Critters Collector Bundle tier, or add it on to your existing pledge to get these rewards at an additional discount! (Includes Un-Endangered Black-Footed Ferrets Pin, Woolly Mouse Pin, Melanistic Odisha Tigers Pin, and the Bat Harmony Deluxe Pin with matching sticker or sticker sheet!)
These doggies are paddling for science: Meet the Australian Detection Dogs!
How do you survey endangered species when they are already difficult to find? You sniff them out! Or rather, you train Conservation Detection Dogs to sniff them out! Dogs have a sense of smell that is 10,000x more sensitive than a human's, so what our eyes can't find, their noses can--even in wet areas and when the animal is underground! Kip & Moss are Australian Detection dogs and each have their own specialty species.
The Science: To find elusive and rare platypuses (yes the plural is platypuses. I'm sorry. It's like a Greek VS Latin root thing.) Zoos Victoria’s Wildlife Detection Dogs are trained in location methods that have them floating through their habitats on paddle boards! Very little is known about platypuses. They spend their lives in underwater, underground environments, making these nocturnal animals difficult to spot at all, let alone study.
Kip & Moss are trained in detection of many species. Moss is trained to detect Broad-toothed rat, platypus, Tasmanian Devil. He is described by Zoos Victoria as the team's "naughtiest good boy", sometimes struggling with his zoomies on the board. Kip is the most experienced detection dog on the team. He's trained in Platypus and Tasmanian Devil like Moss, but also Baw Baw frog and Victorian Earless Dragon. Kip and Moss are just two of the dogs on the Zoos Victoria's Wildlife Detection Dogs team, but the training it takes to detect on the board requires extensive training, making these two specialists themselves!
The Designs: Before getting on the water, each dog is equipped with a safety vest. Moss is a short hair golden retriever, with a popular light blue and white paddle board, and Kip is a Kelpie mix with their photographed yellow and red board. The pins are designed facing opposite directions to better compliment each other when worn as a pair.
The Pin: 2 inch (51mm/5.1cm) silver metal pin with screen-print
The Pin: 2 inch (51mm/5.1cm) silver metal pin with screen-print
Good Dogs Bundle
Pledge to the Good Dogs Bundle tier, or add it on to your existing pledge to get ALL of these rewards at an additional discount and the Dog Video Call pin!
Bees just wanna have fun! Bees demonstrate play behavior with the teeniest tiniest ball
What do bumble bees and humans have in common? Is it their appreciation of honey and affinity for hexagons, or is it a shared joy? Yes, in a 2022 study we discovered that bumble bees play! Not only do they play recreationally, but according to this study, juvenile bees play longer and more often than older bees.
The Science: The experiment allowed the bees to pass through a tunnel via an unobstructed path to a feeding area, but placed optional balls, some secured and some loose, on either side of the path they could interact with. The ball-rolling was tracked and measured as well as video recorded. If you're having a sad time, look up the video it is so cute!
The Design: This bumble bee is having a ball! A happy bumble bee rolls a purple wooden bead from the experiment along. The paths inside the bead are actual tracks from the study that bees played along.
The Pin: 1.5 inch (38mm/3.4cm) gold metal enamel pin with mid-raised metal details (bee tracks in the bead), pearlescent (bee body and wings), and stained glass-effect resin (bee wings)
Bug-size glasses demonstrate this mantis can see in an additional dimension
The Science: Praying mantises process 3D vision differently from humans, and scientists put adorable tiny glasses on them to learn exactly how. Our vision is excellent for still subjects, but mantises process the movement and change in the subject, giving them excellent tracking. This allows them to know when their prey is close enough for them to strike, and to predict where they will be. This change over time processing type may have future application in robotics.
The Design: This design features lens colors that are true to the experiment. The background is the path used to measure the mantises tracking over a random-dot diagram.
The Pin: 2 inch (51mm/5.1cm) rainbow metal enamel pin with mid-raised metal details (mantis tracking path background & mantis outline) and stained glass-effect resin (3D Glasses lenses)
The Pin: This variant is based on classic 3D anaglyph glasses. These glasses work with our stereoscopic vision by integrating each individual colored image (blue or red) into one, resulting in the illusion of depth.
Moonlight and star patterns steer Bogong Moths on their migratory paths
Taking flight by starlight, these moths have sensitive internal compasses they use for their bi-annual migrations.
The Science: In Australia, Bogong moths take flight along their migratory paths in the Spring and Autumn. For years these patterns have been tracked and studied to better understand how they are able to find their way for generations. Through research we have learned that they not only detect magnetic fields to find their way, but use landmarks and even celestial points to make sure they are moving in the right direction. Scientists have found that these moths are using all of this information at once to confirm their path is correct, and altering any variable would lead the moths to have their internal compass 'confused'.
The Design: This shaker charm features 3 Bogong moths within an Australian outline, though they do travel to New Zealand as well. The milky way image in the background is from a study published in June 2025, Bogong moths use a stellar compass for long-distance navigation at night. For the full bibliography of sources I referenced for this project, check out the project FAQ!
The Shaker: 2.5 in (64mm/6.4cm) liquid quicksand with purple moth glitter shapes & blue holo glitter
Solar Noon is migration time for Monarch Butterflies
Like the Bogong moths, migratory monarch butterflies rely on multiple inputs for their annual migrations.
The Science: It is theorized that monarch butterflies have magnetic sensors in their antennae that also detect UV light from the sun. Similarly to the Bogong Moths, monarchs use panoramic landscape visual data as well as light and magnetic information to route their south-bound path. Early research suggested monarchs would use solar noon (specifically the Sun Angle at Solar Noon: SASN) to navigate, and later data suggests it is a factor in the pacing of the overall migration. Bogong Moths traveling by moonlight and Monarch Butterflies traveling by sunlight make them the perfect pair!
The Design: This shaker charm features 3 Monarch Butterflies with a map background of their primary migration region. The background is a NASA computer model of the sun's magnetic field, representing the significance of solar and magnetic internal compasses in the monarchs migration.
The Shaker: 2.5 in (64mm/6.4cm) liquid quicksand with purple butterfly glitter shapes & orange holo glitter
Bug Collector Bundle
Pledge to the Bug Collector Bundle tier, or add it on to your existing pledge to get ALL of these rewards at an additional discount!
Your dentist has likely warned you to take care of your tooth enamel because once it's gone, it doesn't just grow back, but what if it could be restored another way? Scientists have discovered that their method would be applicable not only for repairing tooth enamel, but could also stop early decay.
The Science: A team of scientists from King’s College London discovered keratin could be utilized in enamel repair that would be more sustainable, safer, and stronger than the traditional resin alternatives. Treatment could come in the form of either a toothpaste for home use, or a professionally applied gel for targeted repair. Utilizing keratin from sheep's wool and human hair, which is already a biological waste product, would make this process incredibly cost-effective, and therefore (ideally), result in a low market price if research allows for a final product to become available.
The Design: The molars represent the teeth donated to the study which taper into rough-spun wool yarn. The yarn colors differ on each tooth and each design has its own color variant.
The Pin: Each pin 1.5-2 Inches (38mm-51/3.8-5.1cm) dyed metal pins with swirled pearlescent and screen print
Wool Teeth Set or Individual Pin Pledge Build:
To get all 5 pins (the set) pledge to the Enamel Enthusiast Bundle, or add it on to your existing pledge. For a random single tooth pin pledge to the Enamel Pin reward tier or add it on to your existing pledge to get these rewards at an additional discount!
5 Possible variety stretch goals can be unlocked in this campaign for each $1,000 from $4,000+ funding in the campaign. (For current poll or next achievement, check out the Community tab!) Information about how Backer's Choice Stretch Goals work can be found in the section below.
Sweet treats are part of a balanced diet, and these wolves have a beautiful source!
Bees, bats, and bugs come to mind immediately when thinking of pollinators, but what about wolves? Ethiopian wolves drink nectar of local plants, possibly pollinating them in the process!
The Science: Ethiopian Wolves are among several nectivorous mammals, but do they contribute to flower pollination? While they forage for nectar from Kniphofia foliosa (common name Ethiopian red hot poker) flowers they build pollen deposits on their muzzles which they push against more flowers as they travel from plant to plant. Researchers from the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Program (EWCP) observed multiple wolves from different packs foraging for this nectar, some visiting as many as 30 blooms in one trip! Young wolves would join on these floral field trips, evidently learning of this resource socially. Both Ethiopian wolves and Kniphofia foliosa are endemic to Ethiopia, found in the Afroalpine ecosystem just over 3,400m above sea level. Ethiopian wolves are endangered, with roughly 500 estimated to be living in the wild they are the rarest canid species in the world.
The Design: The pin design features an Ethiopian wolf licking nectar from a Kniphofia foliosa. The flowers have a pearlescent effect to highlight their abundant pollen, shown in screen print on the wolf's nose!
The Pin: 2.25in (57mm/5.7cm) gold with stained glass swirled pearl and screen-print
Ancient Cave Cheetahs
Mummified 4,000+ year old cave cheetahs could aid in conservation efforts of current subspecies in Saudi Arabia. Radiocarbon dating and palaeogenomic analyses allowed determination of age and sequencing of some cheetah's DNA, used to sort and confirm subspecies found.
The Science: Within the Lauga cave network of Saudi Arabia, seven mummified and 54 skeletal cheetah remains are discovered. The more recent remains date back to (approximately) the last 120 years, but the ancient tissues dated back over 4,200 years! These are the first mummified remains of a big cat that have been found, and they were in a variety of subspecies. Prehistoric cheetahs in the cave were most closely related to A. j. hecki (West-African Cheetahs), though both West-African and Asiatic (A. j. venaticus) cheetah remains were also found. This discovery will inform evolutionary history and extinction of cheetahs in the area, as well as conservation efforts for the future.
Armored Komodo Dragons
The more I learn about them, the more I think these creatures have the most accurate name. That's a freakin' dragon.
The Science: Having hooked, serrated teeth is one thing, but these lizards have the teeth of dinosaurs. Theropods, like Tyrannosauridae also have what's called ziphodont teeth but theirs were just enamel and dentine. These serrated teeth were likely what made them and other 'super-carnivores' so successful, and the iron coating of Komodo dragon's teeth makes them exceptionally impressive! (Which is to say scary. These lizards can grow to be up to 10 feet long and 330 pounds with sharp claws and powerful forearms. Nightmare creatures. I love them.)
The Design: While I was searching for reference photos for this design I found another study about Komodo Dragons and their armor-like osteoderms! I've combined both concepts in this design, highlighting both their teeth and the chain mail-like osteoderms under their scales. That's right, in addition to basically having saw teeth, they have armor scales! They develop in adult Komodo dragons when they are no longer of a size able to escape other dragons up trees, and instead must fight.
The Pin: 2.5in (64mm/6.4cm) antique silver metal 3D pin with printed osteoderms
Clever Cow: Veronika
Humans, primates, crows, and now, A COW joins the tool-using group of animals!
Speaking Dogs
If communication tool use can be proven deliberate instead of random, does that mean our pets are really speaking to us?
Community Stretch Goals: What Are They? How Do They Work?
This project was funded in just 3 hours and I am so grateful for your support! I have a list of variants and a variety of new designs that YOU backers can choose for stretch goal designs as the project reaches $4,000+ in funding. A new stretch goal will be added at each $1,000 mark beyond!
How can I choose the design?
First, back the campaign! That will list you as a project backer, giving you access to the backer-only polls I'll be using. Then go to the Community tab of the project and select "Polls", and vote! New polls will be released as designs are selected and finalized and funding goals are reached.
The first 5 stretch goals will be "Variety", brand new designs to the campaign. Following that, stretch goals of $9,000+ will be "Variant" goals, or different color schemes for existing designs. Before the goal is met, a Variant or Variety poll will be live. Once the funding is reached (see achievements for progress) the poll will close, and a new poll for the design category will open. This category poll will be open for 48 hours to give people time to review the options. The sketch poll will be released after that, to determine the final design. Once the design is added to the campaign a new Update will be posted to begin the cycle again!
How do I add these designs to my pledge?
Important! Pledging to the Ultimate Collector or Complete Enamel Pin Set (Standard & Deluxe) tiers WILL INCLUDE THESE PINS AT NO ADDITIONAL COST. In other words, as stretch goal pins are added to the campaign, inclusive tiers will not go up in price but will include more rewards. This is also true for the Complete Sticker Set tier. Each design will have a matching sticker made and the Complete Sticker Set tier will include ALL stickers from the campaign with no change to the pledge tier price. This pricing is EXCLUSIVELY available to Backerkit backers, as without your support these pins would not exist!
What are the designs to choose from?
I have a list of designs I had considered already, but will be adding to this list based on what YOU are interested in! Go to the project, or reply to the stretch goal update and comment what you want to see and I will pull up relevant research to see if it fits the series. If it does, I'll add the paper here as *BACKER SUGGESTION* so you can spot them right away!
I missed the last update, can I still make a suggestion?
I am always accepting Backer Suggestions, you can comment them on updates or directly to the project and I will see them! If I have đź‘Ť your comment that means there is a match to both relevant research and it is on theme with the series. Please bear in mind they will not be added until the next poll goes up, which will be once the current poll ends or the next goal is reached, whatever happens first. Otherwise any answers that do not win will still be in the rotation of upcoming polls, unless there is an overwhelming amount of Backer Suggestions. Polls will have 10 or fewer options each time to keep it manageable.
Here is a list of variants of existing designs I considered, but did not use, for this project:
Queen of Wolves 926F Spitfire (Harmonic Future Wolf Deluxe Pin Variant)
Chocolate & Black Lab / Community voted service vest text (Dog Video Call Variant)
White Tiger Duo (Melanistic Odisha Tiger Chained Pin Set Variant)
Gothic Cathedral (Black metal with red stained glass effect fill Bat Harmony Variant)
Here is the list of papers I saved, but did not use, for this project:
Pintopia — a celebration of creativity and collaboration from a diverse group of artists collectively running enamel pin crowdfunding projects from January 22-February 12.
Freebie Cross-Collaboration BONUS — All Pintopia creators have paired up with a fellow participant to create two unique designs together. If BOTH projects reach their initial funding goal, backers who support BOTH will get TWO [2] cross-collab items for FREE: one from each creator.
✨ The more pairs of Pintopia creators you support, the more free items you will earn!✨
The Science: Saber-toothed canine teeth have appeared across multiple species as a form of convergent evolution. This means multiple animals evolved to have this feature independently, without a shared ancestor with the trait. Which begs the question, is there an optimal saber tooth? Which canine cuts the best? Which is the strongest? Does one animal have the perfect set of fangs? The science says yes! In the 2025 study, Functional optimality underpins the repeated evolution of the extreme “saber-tooth” morphology they found there are several. The optimal teeth in a living (non-extinct) mammal belong to raccoons! The Neon Saber Fangs design for these jet tags give a close up look at these teeth. Maybe in the neon future we can use keratin from sheep's wool to not only strengthen our teeth, but make them into more effective shapes...
The Jet Tag: This jet tag features the teeth of a raccoon skull in glow in the dark AND UV reactive thread! The final tag will come with a key ring and Vipi Ink logo tag. Back my project and Marachi Studio's to get this raccoon skull tag AND their snow leopard skull tag!
How to pledge for this reward:
To get both bonus rewards (Neon Saber Fangs Jet Tag from this campaign, Neon Snow Leopard Skull from Cyberpunk Animals) pledge to any reward tier from Famous Animals of Science 3.0 (this campaign), AND pledge to any reward tier from Cyberpunk Animals (Marachi Studio's campaign) to get these rewards for FREE!
The Science: This "Computer Bug" was found taped to a logbook from Harvard University engineers. While working on the Mark II computer in 1947 the moth was found, then taped to log with the note, "First actual case of bug being found". While this may have been noted as a joke, or the first actual case for this specific computer, this isn't the first use of the term 'bug' used in programming-related language. However, evidence suggests it did possibly effect the popularization of the term, as well as "debug".
The Design: As the tape yellowed over time, this gold pin represents the tape, with the moth in recessed metal under transparent enamel fill. The words printed are copied from the hand of the original log, shortened just to read "First actual case of bug (moth)".
The Pin: 1.25in (32mm/3.2cm) gold with recessed metal details and screen print
How to pledge for this reward:
To get three bonus rewards ("Computer Bug" pin from this campaign, 2 other rewards, one each from the other two Animal Akademia campaigns) pledge to any reward tier from Famous Animals of Science 3.0 (this campaign), AND pledge to any reward tier from TWO OTHER Animal Akademia Campaigns to get these rewards for FREE! (Marachi Studio's Cyberpunk Animals campaign is in this same banner, so if you back this campaign and that one, you will already have 2 in the banner, only needing 1 more AND you'll qualify for the jet tag reward.)
Welcome to Pintopia — a celebration of creativity and collaboration from a diverse group of artists collectively running enamel pin crowdfunding projects from January 22nd -February 12th.
This campaign is part of the Animal Akademia Banner, pledge to any 3 or more projects from Animal Akademia to get a free pin from EACH campaign! Click on the banner to be taken to the project.
Here are some other projects you should check out: Note that these campaigns are not in collaboration with this project, but I hope you like them!
Please be aware, shipping will be calculated and collected after the campaign ends!
Estimated shipping costs :
$6 USA
$15 Canada
$25 UK
$30 Australia, NZ, Japan, etc
Many of these pins are complex and production may take longer than standard hard enamel pins do. With uncertain tariff and international shipping futures, this timeline is an estimate and may change
From end date of campaign: Backerkit shop open, time to receive funds and begin proofing stage - March 2026
5-6 months for all pins to go through production and shipping to me - August/September 2026
Quality control, order sorting & packing. Backerkit store closes for reward fulfillment. - September 2026
Rewards shipping to you! - October 2026
Remaining items available on my website - October/November 2026
Aloha, I'm Starr Vipi, creator of the Famous Cats & Dogs of Medicine and Science series! I'm a Hawaiian artist based out of Colorado, USA. I love doing research and learning new cool stuff, then turning that into art for you to share and enjoy! Now, with the Famous Animals and Insects of Science 3.0 series, there's so much cool, fun new info I'm excited to share. These amazing animals and insects have revolutionized dental care, demonstrated the value of music and technology in environmental protection, prove play is for everyone, and can even come back from extinction. I hope you enjoy these designs and the research that goes into them!
Exclusive for Backerkit:
Every pledge includes a FREE mini zine with the Famous Animals & Insects of Science 3.0 information inside. Information should always be free!
Thank you for your support, and taking the time to check out this project! If you learn something from it, please pass it along.
Please be aware, shipping will be calculated and collected after the campaign ends!
Missed my last campaign? New here? Pledge to any tier in this campaign for the option to get any pin from Famous Cats & Dogs of Science 2.0 at a Backerkit exclusive discount!
How does it work?
Pledge to any reward level for Famous Animals (and Insects) of Science 3.0, when you fill out your survey you will see rewards available from Famous Cats & Dogs of Science 2.0 for 20% off! This deal is not available anywhere else and these pins are now full price in my shop, so get them at a discount while you can!
What do the pins look like?
Here are some examples of pins from the last campaign:
Famous Cats of Science 2.0: Glow in the Dark Cat [Fluffy orange cat with green eyes], Edwin Hubble's Cat [Black cat sleeping on papers, text around the edge reads "The Universe is unfolding as it should" - Edwin Hubble], Schrodinger's Cat (Fierce) [Red hissing cat outline with white details over a black skull], Schrodinger's Cat (Focused) [Green calm cat outline with black details over a silver skull]
Famous Cats & Dogs of Science 2.0: Felis the Cat Constellation [Blue sleeping cat covered in white stars with silver stars inside], Nikola Tesla's Cat [Black cat sleeping with blue static lines around the fur], Felicette: First Cat in Space [Tuxedo cat with rising moon and starlight background], Laika: First Dog in Space [White and brown dog with rising moon and starlight background]
Famous Animals of Science 2.0: Felicia the Fermilab Ferret [Ferret with particle traces in the background], Schrodinger's Cat Patch [Black hissing cat outline with orange details over a white skull], Balto (Nostalgia) [Brown and tan husky running in a red sled dog harness], Antler Mouse [Deer skull with mouse head outline in the background, mice perched on the deer antlers]
Thank you for your support! I'm so excited to make these pins with you!
đź“Ś Pintopia 2026
Pintopia 2026 / Pins • Plushies • Ita Bags
This project is participating in the BackerKit event Pintopia 2026, a celebration of enamel pin, plushie and ITA bag project featuring an all-star lineup of creators crowdfunding together from January 22 – February 12, 2026.
Animal Akademia
Welcome to Animal Akademia - a celebration of animal science and sci fi! Please browse our curated selection of oddities, curios, specimens, and stories. Godspeed on your pursuit to research and understand the wonders of the animal kingdom and beyond!
