🧪 Will microplastics ever break down? I explore this question in my Ask a Scientist video series. Give it a look if you're curious! (I know we've all got busy lives, so this series is designed for each video to be 5 minutes or less.) www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEz_...

🧪 Reddit user u/ElementreeCr0 asks: Should I be worried about the smell of "offgassing" plastic? Answer: environment.samellman.org/2025/04/envi... If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

🧪 Can we move beyond our reliance on plastics? I explore this question in my Ask a Scientist video series. Give it a look if you're curious! (I know we've all got busy lives, so this series is designed for each video to be 5 minutes or less.) www.youtube.com/watch?v=pflF...

🧪 Reddit user u/Blahblah987369 asks: What are your personal buying habits? Answer: environment.samellman.org/2025/04/envi... If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

The CDC's covid vaccine considerations for health care professionals page was updated with last month's decisions: www.cdc.gov/covid/hcp/va...

🧪 Reddit user u/ubet13 asks: How worrisome do you find astroturf artificial grass? Answer: environment.samellman.org/2025/04/envi... If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

🧪 My goal as a science communicator is always to expand understanding of our shared world while putting hazards in their proper context. People are often scared of chemicals for good reason, but too much fear leads to paralysis. I explore this more here: environment.samellman.org/2025/04/the-...

🧪 Reddit user /buttercup_mauler asks: Do you know what kind of information and studies have been done on the tox side of microplastics? Answer: environment.samellman.org/2025/04/envi... If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

🧪 I'm going to be answering chemistry questions live today 2PM - 4PM EST: youtube.com/live/FTJVfBv... Come join me if you want to talk science or just do some virtual coworking with me!

🧪 Reddit user u/dscoZ asks: I've read that most "biodegradable" plastics need special environments to break down. Is that true? Answer: environment.samellman.org/2025/04/envi... If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

🧪 Reddit user u/AngryBPDGirl asks: I checked plasticlist.org and noticed some milk bottled in glass had higher chemical counts than milk bottled in plastic. Why is that? Answer: environment.samellman.org/2025/04/envi... If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

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If you have functioning organ systems, you are *detoxing* all day. Every day. Liver Kidneys Lungs GI tract You’re all good, boo. Stop buying into conspiracies and claims from wellness profiteers who don’t know basic science.

🧪 Reddit user u/oklevel3 asks: Could you talk about silicone? It's presented as harmless but I've also heard that it's not. Answer: environment.samellman.org/2025/04/envi... If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

🧪 Reddit user u/lunalovegood asks: For laundry detergent - which is the best option? Do detergent sheets release microplastics into the water? Answer: environment.samellman.org/2025/03/envi... If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

Today's brand new final_final_final CDC ACIP meeting agenda dropped: www.cdc.gov/acip/downloa... Plus, more slide decks: www.cdc.gov/acip/meeting...

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🧪 Reddit user u/Avalanc89 asks: Is it true that microwaving food in a plastic container contaminates the food with plastic? Answer: environment.samellman.org/2025/02/envi... If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

#SharedFacts for #HumanReasoning

🧪 Reddit user u/cheerful_altruist asks: Do you have any tips for a new graduate on finding jobs in Environmental Chemistry? Answer: environment.samellman.org/2025/02/envi... If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

🧪 Reddit user u/That_Boysenberry4501 asks: What do you think of bioplastics? Why are we not more urgently finding/implementing plastic replacements? Answer: environment.samellman.org/2025/02/envi... If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

🧪 Reddit user u/That_Boysenberry4501 asks: How can I minimize my exposure to toxins when I make art with plastic? Answer: environment.samellman.org/2025/02/envi... If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

🧪 Reddit user u/That_Boysenberry4501 asks: How can I minimize my exposure to toxins when I make art with plastic? Answer: environment.samellman.org/2025/02/envi... If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

🧪 Reddit user u/Emergency_Bet_7090 asks: When brands write "recyclable" or something similar..do they greenwash us? Answer: environmentalismsate.blogspot.com/2025/02/envi... If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

It can get confusing when people use different words to refer to various environmental crises. The Climate Crisis, the Biodiversity Crisis, the Sustainability Crisis. If you want some help untangling these ideas in plain English, give this a look.🧪 environmentalismsate.blogspot.com/2024/07/huma...

🧪 Reddit user u/binders4588 Is tap water better than bottled? What’s the best way to get drinking water with the least amount of harm? Answer: environmentalismsate.blogspot.com/2024/06/envi... If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

As I’m reading “No More Tears” about J&J’s decades of lies about talc, I decided to take a short scroll break. Now I’m crying again. Occupational hazards should matter — PEOPLE should matter — but, y’know, profits…

I wrote a little piece of emotional nonfiction that I think will resonate with everyone, not just scientists, and not just chemists. I'm pretty proud of it, so give it a look if you have the chance. 🧪 Junior Won't Meet His Grandkids: thoughtssate.blogspot.com/2025/05/juni...

🧪 Reddit user u/elizajaneredux asks: How bad is non-stick/teflon coating for the consumer and the environment? How about ceramic? Answer: environmentalismsate.blogspot.com/2024/06/envi... If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

Can you help me boost the signal on this? @hankgreen.bsky.social @acollierastro.bsky.social @muellershewrote.com @fuzzymittens.medsky.social @moreperfectunion.bsky.social @immunologic.org @harlandspinks.bsky.social @innuendostudios.bsky.social @bigjoel.bsky.social @maryannaise.bsky.social

Thanks to the diligent efforts of volunteer archivists, a complete pre-2025 copy of the CDC website is now available. Please share this far and wide, this information saves lives. 🧪 restoredcdc.org/www.cdc.gov/

🧪 Reddit user u/moonflower311 asks: Is there a “better” synthetic fabric to use in terms of long term effects? Answer: environmentalismsate.blogspot.com/2024/06/envi... If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

🧪Anyone have any leads on research jobs in sustainability? (industry or academia) It seems like every sector of the chemistry and materials research industry is shut down except for weapons companies. It's making me real nervous.

A great take from @hankgreen.bsky.social on why people across the political spectrum choose to ignore experts, and the value to be found in expertise: www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRjG...

I think progressives have had a problem with "purity tests" (the need for all leaders to have tightly aligned perspectives or else stay quiet about it) And I think the Democratic Party has had a problem with being...undemocratic - with too much power in the institution and not in the people.

🧪 Reddit user u/swimThruDirt asks: What needs to be done to prevent companies from engaging in, "regrettable substitutions"? Like replacing BPA with BPF Answer: environmentalismsate.blogspot.com/2024/06/envi... If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

🧪 Reddit user u/springreturning asks: Are there any cases where plastic is better for the environment than a similar non-plastic alternative? Answer: environmentalismsate.blogspot.com/2024/06/envi... If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

This is long, but for anyone interested in economics it's a must watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yoh...

Tomorrow, February 28, let’s disrupt the status quo by spending ONLY at businesses that uplift our communities. That means: 🚫 No gas from corporate giants 🚫 No fast food chains 🚫 No big-box retailers (Target, Walmart, Amazon, etc.)

🧪 Reddit user u/Grandemestizo asks: How worried should I be about plastic in the environment? Because I’m pretty worried about it. environmentalismsate.blogspot.com/2024/06/envi... If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

"More Science, Less Fear" was the old slogan for Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and I like it despite its imperfections. Science reveals scary truths too, just look at Climate Change. However, when science breeds fear, it also provides the tools to save ourselves if we're brave enough to use them.

🧪 Reddit user u/lunalovegood asks: Is it possible to come up with a better/economically feasible process for recycling plastic? environmentalismsate.blogspot.com/2024/06/envi... If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

I recently found a great website that releases primary sources about presidential activities as they happen: potustracker.us I've found this to be a great tool for understanding what is actually happening, rather than what *might* happen. It helps to keep the ol' anxiety in check.

At OPM, Musk’s staffers won’t leave—they work around the clock and have even installed sofa beds in the office. Our access to data systems has been restricted, raising serious concerns about cybersecurity and a complete lack of oversight. We are keeping our heads down and documenting everything.

I recently learned about technology readiness levels as defined by NASA and adopted by the EU. Remember that each step takes months to years to complete, so next time a smooth-talking startup owner tries to sell you a dream, think about whether their current tech level matches their timeline.🧪

Reiterating my call to fellow federally-funded scientists: Call your reps, tell them how this hurts science and everything good that comes from science (Also non-scientists, and scientists without federal funding! But the more of us who can directly speak to the impacts of these freezes the better)

I've been banging my drum about how great the PBS Newshour is for years. Honestly it's so unbiased and factual that it is often pretty dry and boring to watch. These days though, I'd take boring factual news over exciting biased news every time.

The Trump administration has pulled pending regulations on PFAS "Forever Chemicals" in drinking water. At high concentrations these chemicals are known to increase the chance of cancer and birth defects. 🧪 Here is a statement on it: www.ewg.org/news-insight...

Communications shutdown. Travel ban. Canceled study sections. Now a hiring freeze? Shutting down the NIH indefinitely without stated cause is literally an act of sabotage. Left: yesterday. Right: today.