Philadelphia scientist's squid art piques curiosity

Why she did it: McAnulty started an educational nonprofit, Skype a Scientist, which pairs scientists with people worldwide.

• But science doesn't always seem fun, and McAnulty — a little like Philly's Bill Nye — wanted a less science-y way to share her squid knowledge with the world.
• So she designed her stickers with a number to text for squid-bits, like that they're pretty badass little critters, who can change colors to communicate or ward off predators.

Fun fact: More than 150,000 people around the U.S. have messaged the line. (Her cephalopods stickers are in Boston and LA, too.)

• They think, "Is this a joke? Why would someone care enough about squid to talk about them? The bewilderment factor is working in my favor," McAnulty says.

McAnulty lives — where else? — in Fishtown and carries a backpack full of stickers wherever she goes.

• The project's been so successful that she collaborated with local artists to create animal bar coasters for another educational text campaign.

What's next: Maybe a giant squid mural — stay tuned.