Tom McCauley

FFS

U.S. Congress considers sweeping ban on Chinese collaborations Researchers speak out against proposal that would bar funding for U.S. scientists working with Chinese partners or training Chinese students

U.S. Congress considers sweeping ban on Chinese collaborations | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...

New word of the day: chrysophilia

Not so funny. The world economy in an age of disorder - on.ft.com/3IVN9P1 via @FT

I would find it very funny if USAID won this year's Nobel Peace Prize

The fucking hypocrisy of the Trump administration.

📸 Miscellaneous from the CERN Non-Scientific Personnel Masterclass 💫
A few snapshots from the latest edition held on 1 October at IdeaSquare!

#CERN #IPPOG #Masterclass #IdeaSquare #ScienceForEveryone #Outreach

Have we passed peak social media? - on.ft.com/4nwwIYe via @FT

WTF

Reminder that support for war crimes on TV was Hegseth's only qualification for the job; it's the only reason Trump knew he existed.

Secretary of War Crimes is the job he was auditioning for during his career as a drunken talking head on Fox.

Thread.

@cmsexperiment.bsky.social found in Togo

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Photo of DOGE staffer Nate Cavanagh, a 28-year-old white man in a blue pullover, carrying a black backpack.

Photo of 53-year-old Afghan scholar Mohammad Halimi. He is sitting, wearing white pants and shirt with a brown vest.

On the left: Nate Cavanagh, a 28-year-old DOGE staffer and college dropout.

On the right: Mohammad Halimi, a 53-year-old exiled Afghan scholar.

This is the story of how DOGE targeted Halimi on social media.

Then the Taliban took his family. 🧵

Defend WHAT now?

Yup. As I’ve said before, the right’s constant sense of grievance even as they control every branch of government stems from the fact that the base doesn’t really want specific policy reforms. They’re angry about cultural trends the government can’t really do anything about in a free society.

Sponsored by Brawndo

WTF. This sort of talk used to be beyond the pale. Now ...

This giant, all-seeing telescope is set to revolutionize astronomy The Vera C. Rubin Observatory will build an unprecedented map of the universe—and discover billions of fast-changing objects

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory will build an unprecedented map of the universe—and discover billions of fast-changing objects. scim.ag/4kTwRE6

Hell of a chart, this, from @financialtimes.com. Spot the JCPOA.

on.ft.com/4kSuQYO

"Galen is an example of somebody who’s done an amazing job and is being recognized more and more, I notice"

They Asked an A.I. Chatbot Questions. The Answers Sent Them Spiraling.

JFC, this story! I couldn't help but be reminded of John Dee "communicating" with angels.

They Asked an A.I. Chatbot Questions. The Answers Sent Them Spiraling. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/13/t...

They Asked an A.I. Chatbot Questions. The Answers Sent Them Spiraling.

Don’t think I’ve ever muttered the words “fuck me sideways” quite so much reading a story as this one.

Me with the Breakthrough Prize awarded to CMS

Sly and Brian Wilson in the same week!

America is ceding the lead in creating the future The renowned American management consultant and author Peter Drucker is often credited as saying that “the best way to predict the future is to create it”—a view that applies to science as much as to ...

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Trump moves to slash NSF: why are the proposed budget cuts so big? Major US science funder could lose more than half its budget — and researchers are reeling.

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Tom the Dancing Bug: A busy, busy day at the airport Support your friendly neighborhood independent comic strip: SIGN UP FOR THE INNER HIVE and you'll get each week's Tom the Dancing Bug comic at least a day before publication. Plus other exclusive cont...

🔴 Brand new comic now up on @boingboing.net
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"A Busy, Busy Day at the Airport"
after Richard Scarry
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boingboing.net/2025/06/04/t...

U.S. Scientists Warn That Trump’s Cuts Will Set Off a Brain Drain

U.S. Scientists Warn That Trump’s Cuts Will Set Off a Brain Drain www.nytimes.com/2025/06/03/u...

This result hits the sweet spot between my particle astrophysicist past and my particle physicist present