I was having a conversation with a friend, who was trying to figure out why something happened to rationalize why someone was being terrible. Sometimes, Occam's razor is at play and it's not complicated or deep.

Luka and I wish everyone a happy Lunar New Year

festival.sundance.org/blogs/give-m... Excited for my friend whose film will be showing at Sundance. He's also going to work on our promo video for SEA Change.

AAS 2026 Congressional Visits Day This year, in partnership with @aapthq.bsky.social, we're bringing scientists to DC from 13–15 April to advocate for the importance of science and education. No prior policy experience is required. Apply by 1 February 2026: ow.ly/mb4x50XKV87 @policy.aas.org

To ease the burden on a staff that has shrunk significantly since President Donald Trump took office, the National Science Foundation is reducing the role of outside experts in reviewing grant proposals. https://scim.ag/4oUfVhO

Thinking about how people say that no one is a monster and many things can be true at once. It's usually to not treat others as irredeemable. I'm thinking about how it also means that "good" people are also fully capable, and sometimes are, doing bad things yet people refuse to believe that.

Support AAPT this #GivingTuesday! When you donate, you contribute to every part of physics education, helping students and educators, in shaping the future of science. AAPT is proud to match every dollar you donate, dollar for dollar. Donate now! 🔗 tinyurl.com/isupportaapt #PhysicsEducation

This calendar year has been a lot, and we are still doing the work in physics and astronomy.

Rest and joy are acts of resistance! This holiday season, we encourage you to use resources from our Dinners for Democracy program to reconnect and reflect on the holidays, the past year, and the hopes you’re carrying into the next.

We are still working to improve physics and astronomy learning spaces! Consider joining our program- we remain dedicated to our work and keep on keeping on. We have some good exciting announcements in near future.

I'm still pleasantly surprised that the name REV UP stuck, even though we never officially agreed on it and we never, unofficially or officially, decided what "REV" stood for. UP = Undergraduate Physics.

New: The FBI is quietly urging ICE agents to properly ID themselves in the field. In a bulletin to law enforcement last month, it warned of criminals posing as ICE to rob, rape, kidnap—a problem it says now demands national coordination to confront. By me & @carolinehaskins.bsky.social:

It’s a federal crime for anyone, including government officials, to intimidate or threaten someone in order to interfere with their right to vote. Know your rights when you head to the polls.

His portrait is also up at ACP-DC.

National cat day! The hardest working cats at @aapthq.bsky.social . They were running things last week and part of this week.

Last year, two teams have independently found the long-awaited mutation and discovered a protein that influences hair color in a way never seen before in any animal. Learn more on #NationalCatDay: https://scim.ag/3LdWP8b

Dream Big with Medical Physics! The 10-week DREAM Program welcomes undergraduates from diverse backgrounds to explore medical physics through research, mentorship & outreach. 💫 Apply by Feb 9, 2026, for Summer 2026! 🔗 https://ow.ly/A4ip50XcnYm

We’d also love to know what happened to the $50,000 Tom Homan allegedly took from FBI agents. Luckily, we’ve sued for the receipts.

@physastroseachange.bsky.social is my primary work. Amidst the chaos, heartbreak, cruelty, and disappointment that has been in my sphere, there are people who are doing their part to show up and do the right thing.

AAS members are on the Hill today to #SaveNASAScience and advocate for sustained funding for NASA, NSF, and our nation's other science agencies! Help us amplify their voices by calling and writing to your Congressional offices today: aas.org/action-alert...

Department of Education employees set out-of-office email responses to inform recipients they'd be unable to respond until after the shutdown hours later, many people realised their response message had been changed to blame Senate Democrats for the entire shutdown www.wired.com/story/govern...

As the Trump administration threatens them, liberal nonprofits have been quietly preparing to do everything from surrendering 501(c)(3) status to relocating outside the US.

Ohio State just advised all staff and students not to attend the SACNAS (Society for the advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science) annual meeting of 6000+ scientists -- which is in Columbus, OH this year! -- saying it may be exclusionary, even though it is open to all.

Next week, my global health class will discuss why access to medicines is such a struggle Science must save all, but the benefits of science are only reaching some www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... via @science.org

Join AAAS SEA Change, IUSE and three dynamic guests for the next SEA Change Community Conversation on Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 2 p.m. We'll explore why diverse perspectives are critical for meaningful innovation and the use of narrative and advocacy to spark change. aaas.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

We often hear from people who are concerned, as we all should be, about protecting our basic rights — like free speech. Last night, Jimmy Kimmel addressed what’s at stake & confirmed what we’ve long known: there is power in the American people speaking up. We must continue to do that in this moment.

The Trumpian news cycle is so all-consuming, it can be hard to imagine what might come next. At @wired.com, we decided to try. Introducing the 22, very online upstarts (from politicians to pundits to podcasters) who are poised to blow up the next era of politics:

Nominating others for awards has been consistently a positive activity, no matter the outcome. Tip #1: look around to see who has NOT received various awards. It is surprising sometimes. Tip #2: consider people not in faculty positions- they are just worthy and get overlooked a lot.

Today, 238 years after its signing, the Constitution remains the law of the land. And we remain steadfast in our determination to defend our hard-won rights against President Trump and every other lawmaker.

Your vote is your voice. This #NationalVoterRegistrationDay, we join in solidarity with all who work to ensure that everyone has the right to vote and to be heard. Check your registration status today! nationalvoterregistrationday.org

Many of the men deported to CECOT said they are permanently changed: struggling to sleep, drink water or leave their homes. One man broke into tears describing how he had a panic attack the first time he walked down a busy Venezuelan street.

My orange cat, who is also a declared physicist, turned 20 today. He has health issues, but thanks to some luck, veterinary science, the means to pay for his health care (he started and has a union), and possibly not letting BS get to him, he keeps going.

That's one of my cat!

With Michigan Medicine abandoning trans patients 18 and under, please consider donating to Corner Health in Ypsi. They are getting a lot of referrals and will put whatever you can spare to excellent use. cornerhealth.org/make-an-impa...

As people in DC experience occupation, here are some tips to know your rights: 🧵🧵 (1) you do have rights; neither the White House or law enforcement can take them away — know them (2) you can remain silent if you are stopped — you can say nothing and say that you want to speak to a lawyer.

Asians: if it’s still not clear, the “first they came for the…” poem reached us a long-ass time ago.

A Common Sense Media study found that prominent teacher assistants that use AI generated recommendations that appeared to be rooted in racial stereotypes based on students’ names. About a third of teachers report using AI weekly, according to a recent survey.

We have our second awardee for 2025!

🚨 The AAS is partnering with 11 other organizations to host a day of action in support of NASA science on 5-6 October 2025. Register today! www.eventbrite.com/e/a-day-of-a...

At this time- things are. However, people are still trying to make things better and doing this because it's the right thing to do. My work is challenging, to put it mildly, and I'm grateful to work with the departments and volunteers I get to work with.

I'm reading Mathematics for Human Flourishing by Francis Su, and it's excellent.

Today marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act – a landmark civil rights law that secured equal protections for people with disabilities. We continue to honor that legacy by fighting for a more inclusive, accessible future. #ADA35

Applications for our Civil Service Defense and Innovation Fellowship program close tomorrow! We’re seeking a diverse cohort of former or departing federal civil servants and political appointees to help shape the future of public service. Read the FAQ and apply below.

Staff at the National Science Foundation have sent their concerns about President Donald Trump’s administration to Congress. scim.ag/4f4Mc2u

Queer people have the right to exist freely and fully, year-round.

"... [science] philanthropy [can] not fill a void left by draconian cuts in federal support. It can, however, continue to play a valuable role as a new reality unfolds," writes Adam Falk in a new #ScienceEditorial. scim.ag/40nIryY

His union stipulates time outside, even if it's hot.

Metadata shows the FBI’s ‘raw’ Jeffrey Epstein prison video was likely modified.

Today, we're launching the Civil Service Defense and Innovation Fellowship program. The Trump-Vance administration has attempted to dismantle dozens of federal agencies and fire thousands of civil servants. We refuse to let them compromise the expertise that powers our democracy.