Scientists who turned to OnlyFans to fund marmot research receive crypto boost
Tuesday, 18 August 2026
Warm-up
- How can long science projects find money outside of grants?
- What do you think about creators using OnlyFans for non-adult content?
- Have you used crypto or heard of meme coins? What risks do they have?
Vocabulary
- cryptocurrency
- digital money that uses code to secure and record payments online
- meme
- an idea or image that spreads quickly on the internet
- transaction
- the act of sending or receiving money or assets
- blockchain
- a public digital record where crypto transactions are stored
- nonprofit
- an organization that does not aim to make a profit
- administration
- the group in power that runs a government
- donation
- money or help given freely to support a cause
- outreach
- activities that connect a project with the public
Reading
A 60-year study of yellow-bellied marmots, which are large ground squirrels, nearly ended after US science funding was cut by Donald Trump's administration. To survive, researchers opened an OnlyFans account called OnlyMarms that shows marmots running and entering burrows, not sexual content. The posts raised about $6,000.
A bigger boost came from a new marmot-themed cryptocurrency. Supporters created a meme coin, named $OnlyMarms, on the Solana blockchain and sent the project all transaction fees. In two weeks it raised more than $88,000, plus extra donation money from allies who disliked using the OnlyFans platform. The total has passed $100,000, enough for another year of field work.
Daniel Blumstein, a UCLA professor who proposed the idea, called the response surprising. Julien Martin, who co-leads the project, said he first feared the coin was a scam. The study, based at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, a nonprofit near Crested Butte, Colorado, began in 1962 and includes public outreach such as a yearly 'fat marmot week'.
Comprehension
- Why did the marmot study risk ending?
- How did the team first try to raise money online?
- How much did the OnlyFans posts raise?
- What is $OnlyMarms, and where was it created?
- Where is the long-term marmot study based?
Grammar focus
Relative clauses (non-defining)
Non-defining relative clauses give extra information about a noun. They are set off by commas and use who/which (not that).
- A 60-year study of yellow-bellied marmots, which are large ground squirrels, nearly ended
- Julien Martin, who co-leads the project, said he first feared the coin
Grammar exercise
Choose the correct option in each sentence.
- Researchers, (who / that) study marmots, posted videos.
- The coin, (that / which) raised money, surprised supporters.
- The lab, (which / that) is nonprofit, is in Colorado.
- Allies, (that / who) disliked OnlyFans, gave extra donations.
- Daniel Blumstein, (who / that) proposed the idea, praised the response.
Discussion
- Is it acceptable for research to use platforms like OnlyFans? Why?
- What risks and benefits come with funding science through meme coins?
- How should governments decide which research to fund or cut?
- Would crowdfunding like this work in your country? Why or why not?
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