Notices by Sheril Kirshenbaum (sheril@mastodon.social)

Quetzals are magnificent.
#birds #nature #photography

Perhaps one day we’ll have a scientist-president.

But in the meantime, I hope more scientists enter politics.

Not just as elected officials, but as staffers - the key people making decisions & crafting legislation behind the scenes. #uspol #science

The history of Earth as the length of a human’s outstretched arm - representing 4.5 billion years of time.

At this scale, humans emerged so recently that we could be filed off from a microscopic slice at the very tip of a fingernail.

Infographic by Katie Scott. #science #history

Born in 1914, Hedy Lamarr was a famous American actress who pioneered the technology that would lead to WiFi, GPS, cell phones & Bluetooth communication.

Lamarr was brilliant. Among many fascinating inventions, she developed a new communication system with composer George Antheil that used “frequency hopping” among radio waves.

Once called the “most beautiful woman in the world," Lamarr is now remembered as "the mother of Wi-Fi."

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/thank-world-war-ii-era-film-star-your-wi-fi-180971584/ #science #history

About 250M years ago, 90% of species on Earth died during the Permian extinction.

Tragic? Perhaps. But it also created a lot of vacant niches to fill.

And not long after, the very first mammals, our ancestors, appeared.

#Life on Earth is resilient & will continue to be, whether we're part of it or not. #history #science

Back up everything friends! https://www.axios.com/2025/04/04/noaa-research-websites-go-dark-saturday-night #science #uspol

“Monsters”?

I’m with Cory Booker

Quite a strange realization to discover you & your child are suddenly the same height.

Diversity ensures resilience in systems.

That’s not a partisan talking point.

It’s #science.

I haven’t worked for #PBS or #NPR, but I’ve collaborated with both to share #science stories.

The talented people there are always thoughtful, curious & kind. They’ve gifted us Mister Rogers, Carl Sagan, Julia Child, LeVar Burton & Elmo. 🌈

It’s appalling to see members of Congress attack them for political points.

“Blue” states are dotted with “red” & “red” states are speckled with “blue.”

Can we please stop framing federal cuts in terms of whether blue or red states will suffer most?

Dismantling education, science & more will hurt all Americans. #uspol

Spotted these two frogs outside of Union Station in DC. But I don’t think many passersby understood their message. #climate

What is your favorite book?

PSA: Do not have “measles parties.”

https://arstechnica.com/health/2025/02/texas-official-warns-against-measles-parties-as-outbreak-keeps-growing/ #health #science

Thousands of experts across the sciences are suddenly looking for work. They are civil servants who have dedicated their careers to innovation, health & finding solutions to grand challenges.

It would be amazing if groups focused on the future would bring them in to build a strong S&T workforce. #science #uspol

“The U.S. is the best place in the world to be a scientist right now & these actions will change that.”
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/trump-takes-a-giant-wrecking-ball-to-u-s-research/ #science #uspol

With science increasingly caught in political crosshairs, understanding how (and if) evidence informs policy feels more urgent than ever. The stakes aren’t just academic - they impact health, the environment & technological innovation.

We must figure out how to navigate #science policy in an era where expertise is under fire. /2 #uspol

Can’t decide if my 2024 PhD dissertation on how the U.S. government - specifically Congress - makes decisions about #science is timely or antiquated.

Slashing vital programs & firing experts to “save” money will undoubtedly have the opposite effect as we become far more vulnerable to disease, disasters, charlatans & geopolitical instability.