Nicholas Bauer PhD
@bioturbonick.net
Computational biology and superresolution microscopy. Tech and politics nerd. Promoter of rationality. Progressive. Somerville, MA
Signal: BioTurboNick.24
Signal: BioTurboNick.24
Pinned
Nicholas Bauer PhD
@bioturbonick.net
· Jan 7
It ends:
"So, unfortunately, the only message that the public will receive from this “peaceful transfer of power” is: We surrender."
"So, unfortunately, the only message that the public will receive from this “peaceful transfer of power” is: We surrender."
Reposted by Nicholas Bauer PhD
The median INS agent did not carry a weapon on their person.
The median ICE officer carries both a long and short gun.
They were heavily militarized based on an absurd premise that Al Qaeda was going to "invade America" in meaningful numbers for the actual reason of disciplining labor
The median ICE officer carries both a long and short gun.
They were heavily militarized based on an absurd premise that Al Qaeda was going to "invade America" in meaningful numbers for the actual reason of disciplining labor
December 27, 2025 at 5:30 PM
The median INS agent did not carry a weapon on their person.
The median ICE officer carries both a long and short gun.
They were heavily militarized based on an absurd premise that Al Qaeda was going to "invade America" in meaningful numbers for the actual reason of disciplining labor
The median ICE officer carries both a long and short gun.
They were heavily militarized based on an absurd premise that Al Qaeda was going to "invade America" in meaningful numbers for the actual reason of disciplining labor
Reposted by Nicholas Bauer PhD
Denmark lost more troops per capita in the post 9/11 war on Afghanistan. Saying they “are not a good ally” because they won’t surrender their territories to the US is lunacy. We are betraying our allies to satisfy the whims of a would-be Emperor for whom the US is not enough.
They’re again advocating against Denmark when it comes to Greenland
December 27, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Denmark lost more troops per capita in the post 9/11 war on Afghanistan. Saying they “are not a good ally” because they won’t surrender their territories to the US is lunacy. We are betraying our allies to satisfy the whims of a would-be Emperor for whom the US is not enough.
Reposted by Nicholas Bauer PhD
In case you were wondering, this is actually how people talk about AI in the Bay Area. It is truly exhausting, particularly when juxtaposed against the broader sociopolitical landscape.
it’s hard to think of a bigger grift than the claim that predictive text aka gAI is ‘conscious’ and thus “deserve rights” like the ability to vote
December 27, 2025 at 2:23 PM
In case you were wondering, this is actually how people talk about AI in the Bay Area. It is truly exhausting, particularly when juxtaposed against the broader sociopolitical landscape.
Reposted by Nicholas Bauer PhD
You must read this piece from @rhodesben.bsky.social.
Rhodes is an Obama person who was a bit critical of biden national security people.
But this is a flamethrower. Rhodes barbecues Biden and his natsec staff - like Sullivan — for their massive errors on Israel-Palestine.
Rhodes is an Obama person who was a bit critical of biden national security people.
But this is a flamethrower. Rhodes barbecues Biden and his natsec staff - like Sullivan — for their massive errors on Israel-Palestine.
Opinion | This Is the Story of How the Democrats Blew It on Gaza
www.nytimes.com
December 27, 2025 at 6:27 AM
You must read this piece from @rhodesben.bsky.social.
Rhodes is an Obama person who was a bit critical of biden national security people.
But this is a flamethrower. Rhodes barbecues Biden and his natsec staff - like Sullivan — for their massive errors on Israel-Palestine.
Rhodes is an Obama person who was a bit critical of biden national security people.
But this is a flamethrower. Rhodes barbecues Biden and his natsec staff - like Sullivan — for their massive errors on Israel-Palestine.
Reposted by Nicholas Bauer PhD
I think people today don't understand just how dramatically the night sky has changed - it looked like it does in super remote areas *everywhere* before the invention of electric lighting, and light pollution that obscures the sky has gotten dramatically worse in the last 25 years.
If you ever have the experience of seeing a night sky out in the deep countryside you can understand this; it really is a fundamentally different experience, and I can't imagine it not being formative to people.
December 27, 2025 at 5:01 AM
I think people today don't understand just how dramatically the night sky has changed - it looked like it does in super remote areas *everywhere* before the invention of electric lighting, and light pollution that obscures the sky has gotten dramatically worse in the last 25 years.
Reposted by Nicholas Bauer PhD
This is called pillaging.
ICE detain father shopping on Christmas Eve—then steal his family's groceries.
Then 3 agents divvy up his paid for food—taking what they want for themselves.
"Can I just get the wife's number to call and let her know?" woman asks.
"No, guess he should've complied," agent says.
Yakima, Washington
Then 3 agents divvy up his paid for food—taking what they want for themselves.
"Can I just get the wife's number to call and let her know?" woman asks.
"No, guess he should've complied," agent says.
Yakima, Washington
December 26, 2025 at 11:51 PM
This is called pillaging.
Reposted by Nicholas Bauer PhD
19 days earlier in the same newspaper—
“Rich New Yorkers Threaten to Leave. Then They Find Out How Hard That Is”
🎁🔗
“Rich New Yorkers Threaten to Leave. Then They Find Out How Hard That Is”
🎁🔗
December 27, 2025 at 2:00 AM
19 days earlier in the same newspaper—
“Rich New Yorkers Threaten to Leave. Then They Find Out How Hard That Is”
🎁🔗
“Rich New Yorkers Threaten to Leave. Then They Find Out How Hard That Is”
🎁🔗
Reposted by Nicholas Bauer PhD
This is perfect. The DOJ's embarrassing snafu with disappearing redactions was the fault of Elon Musk. Musk cancelled government subscriptions to Adobe programs that would have made the redactions permanent. What a pack of fools.
December 26, 2025 at 9:02 PM
This is perfect. The DOJ's embarrassing snafu with disappearing redactions was the fault of Elon Musk. Musk cancelled government subscriptions to Adobe programs that would have made the redactions permanent. What a pack of fools.
Reposted by Nicholas Bauer PhD
I'm ready to be the type of Democrat the Democratic Party has needed this entire time. The type of Democrat who will fight Trump’s authoritarianism by showing up, not with strongly worded letters.
The type of Democrat who will fight, not fold.
The type of Democrat who will fight, not fold.
December 26, 2025 at 10:03 PM
I'm ready to be the type of Democrat the Democratic Party has needed this entire time. The type of Democrat who will fight Trump’s authoritarianism by showing up, not with strongly worded letters.
The type of Democrat who will fight, not fold.
The type of Democrat who will fight, not fold.
Reposted by Nicholas Bauer PhD
I think some people are missing the context of how much mandated “shove AI uncritically into all of your pedagogy” academics and educators are getting from administrators who themselves do not know the limitations (and even positive uses!) of this technology
December 26, 2025 at 8:57 PM
I think some people are missing the context of how much mandated “shove AI uncritically into all of your pedagogy” academics and educators are getting from administrators who themselves do not know the limitations (and even positive uses!) of this technology
Reposted by Nicholas Bauer PhD
This piece is a great illustration of how the long-term effect of Trump’s destruction of US institutions won’t be felt in a dramatic market collapse, but rather in permanently worse economic conditions, and lower prosperity.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... So long, American exceptionalism
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... So long, American exceptionalism
So long, American exceptionalism
For the first time, investors are talking about ‘US risk’
giftarticle.ft.com
December 26, 2025 at 7:59 PM
This piece is a great illustration of how the long-term effect of Trump’s destruction of US institutions won’t be felt in a dramatic market collapse, but rather in permanently worse economic conditions, and lower prosperity.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... So long, American exceptionalism
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... So long, American exceptionalism
Reposted by Nicholas Bauer PhD
Mark Cuban's takes make a lot more sense once you understand he became a billionaire off what is widely considered to be the worst and most overpriced tech acquisition of all time. He doesn't understand how anything works, isn't going to listen to reason, and is just not a serious person at all.
December 26, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Mark Cuban's takes make a lot more sense once you understand he became a billionaire off what is widely considered to be the worst and most overpriced tech acquisition of all time. He doesn't understand how anything works, isn't going to listen to reason, and is just not a serious person at all.
Reposted by Nicholas Bauer PhD
"tell me we didn't just fire a dozen $500,000 missiles at a $200 camel"
"sir, no evidence of any camel present, sir!"
"sir, no evidence of any camel present, sir!"
December 26, 2025 at 7:17 PM
"tell me we didn't just fire a dozen $500,000 missiles at a $200 camel"
"sir, no evidence of any camel present, sir!"
"sir, no evidence of any camel present, sir!"
Reposted by Nicholas Bauer PhD
A few days ago, I wrote up some thoughts on generative AI and the work of historians: “At best, we’re talking about software that’s very good at making sentences seem sentence-shaped.”
Generative AI and History
Generative AI lacks the ability to understand context, …
writing.jasonheppler.org
December 26, 2025 at 1:17 PM
A few days ago, I wrote up some thoughts on generative AI and the work of historians: “At best, we’re talking about software that’s very good at making sentences seem sentence-shaped.”
Reposted by Nicholas Bauer PhD
Yeah, I'd be pretty furious if I got spam email from some "AI agent" thanking me for my contributions too
I dug into what happened here, turns out it's an experiment called "AI Village" which unleashes all sorts of other junk emails on the world: simonwillison.net/2025/Dec/26/...
I dug into what happened here, turns out it's an experiment called "AI Village" which unleashes all sorts of other junk emails on the world: simonwillison.net/2025/Dec/26/...
December 26, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Yeah, I'd be pretty furious if I got spam email from some "AI agent" thanking me for my contributions too
I dug into what happened here, turns out it's an experiment called "AI Village" which unleashes all sorts of other junk emails on the world: simonwillison.net/2025/Dec/26/...
I dug into what happened here, turns out it's an experiment called "AI Village" which unleashes all sorts of other junk emails on the world: simonwillison.net/2025/Dec/26/...
Reposted by Nicholas Bauer PhD
"Sodium is nearly 50 times cheaper than lithium and can even be harvested from seawater, making it a much more sustainable option for large-scale energy storage”
Previously, I posted that Na-ion batteries were likely to reach Li-ion battery energy density faster due to the prior advances and experience from Lithium work. Well, that’s appears to be the case. 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋 www.uh.edu/news-events/...
Breakthrough New Material Brings Affordable, Sustainable Future Within Grasp
Researchers have developed a new material for sodium-ion batteries, sodium vanadium phosphate, that delivers higher voltage and greater energy capacity than previous sodium-based materials. This break...
www.uh.edu
December 26, 2025 at 6:02 PM
"Sodium is nearly 50 times cheaper than lithium and can even be harvested from seawater, making it a much more sustainable option for large-scale energy storage”
Reposted by Nicholas Bauer PhD
"Afraid of appearing partisan, the Obama administration looked the other way when it came to prosecuting war criminals and torturers. The lack of confrontation is coming back to haunt us."
Every previous administration left unaccountable for its crimes is a lesson in why not to repeat the mistake.
Every previous administration left unaccountable for its crimes is a lesson in why not to repeat the mistake.
A Case for Transitional Justice
If sunlight is the best disinfectant, a failure to apply it leaves a festering wound, with complications that continue to amass.
fellowtravelersblog.com
December 26, 2025 at 4:55 PM
"Afraid of appearing partisan, the Obama administration looked the other way when it came to prosecuting war criminals and torturers. The lack of confrontation is coming back to haunt us."
Every previous administration left unaccountable for its crimes is a lesson in why not to repeat the mistake.
Every previous administration left unaccountable for its crimes is a lesson in why not to repeat the mistake.
Reposted by Nicholas Bauer PhD
As noted in the post *many spoilers ahead*:
Daniel Craig's Benoit Blanc is not the real protagonist of the KOU. It is, instead, a virtuous person tossed into a den of vipers, that Blanc must then counsel and defend.
Daniel Craig's Benoit Blanc is not the real protagonist of the KOU. It is, instead, a virtuous person tossed into a den of vipers, that Blanc must then counsel and defend.
December 26, 2025 at 3:13 PM
As noted in the post *many spoilers ahead*:
Daniel Craig's Benoit Blanc is not the real protagonist of the KOU. It is, instead, a virtuous person tossed into a den of vipers, that Blanc must then counsel and defend.
Daniel Craig's Benoit Blanc is not the real protagonist of the KOU. It is, instead, a virtuous person tossed into a den of vipers, that Blanc must then counsel and defend.
Reposted by Nicholas Bauer PhD
I now reflexively think of Stranger Things as protoslop, the antecedent to AI videos about nonexistent mall McDonaldlands. Judy lays out a timeline of how its relatively innocuous nostalgia bait devolved into content extrusion detached from anything that made anyone care — the slop funnel to a tee.
Stranger Things started out as a fun, clever, well-made little distraction from the hellscape of 2016. Then we all started living full-time in the Upside Down, a franchise-thirsty streamer stretched one season's worth of story into four, and—much like our brains—the show never recovered.
'Stranger Things' Was a Casualty of the Franchise Machine
How the nostalgic, well-made treat we couldn't help devouring amid the traumas of 2016 devolved into a content factory
time.com
December 26, 2025 at 3:37 PM
I now reflexively think of Stranger Things as protoslop, the antecedent to AI videos about nonexistent mall McDonaldlands. Judy lays out a timeline of how its relatively innocuous nostalgia bait devolved into content extrusion detached from anything that made anyone care — the slop funnel to a tee.
Reposted by Nicholas Bauer PhD
I like car-culture as a metaphor for AI because we can see the outcomes.
A hundred years in, we're finally sobering up and dealing with the social hangover of bulldozing whole underprivileged neighborhoods to install noisy, polluting highways -through- cities.
That was always madness.
2/?
A hundred years in, we're finally sobering up and dealing with the social hangover of bulldozing whole underprivileged neighborhoods to install noisy, polluting highways -through- cities.
That was always madness.
2/?
December 26, 2025 at 2:16 PM
I like car-culture as a metaphor for AI because we can see the outcomes.
A hundred years in, we're finally sobering up and dealing with the social hangover of bulldozing whole underprivileged neighborhoods to install noisy, polluting highways -through- cities.
That was always madness.
2/?
A hundred years in, we're finally sobering up and dealing with the social hangover of bulldozing whole underprivileged neighborhoods to install noisy, polluting highways -through- cities.
That was always madness.
2/?
Reposted by Nicholas Bauer PhD
“if you ask [LLMs] for factual information you don't have any guarantee it's going to be correct…not a good idea to rely on them for information you can't verify and that's somehow important” www.bbc.com/news/article...
Warning about using AI for festive swim tide time advice
The Coastguard warns about AI after two people are stranded after being given the wrong tide times.
www.bbc.com
December 26, 2025 at 1:54 PM
“if you ask [LLMs] for factual information you don't have any guarantee it's going to be correct…not a good idea to rely on them for information you can't verify and that's somehow important” www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Nicholas Bauer PhD
Read this piece, feel good about it, but don't miss that such political moments are passing. So long as Trump & co remain in control of the federal government, their relentless attack on America & its democratic ways of life will continue and may yet triumph
Here's an encouraging column in today's New York Times. Keep up the fight against Trump, everyone. It's working.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/26/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/26/o...
Opinion | Trump Is Getting Weaker, and the Resistance Is Getting Stronger
www.nytimes.com
December 26, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Read this piece, feel good about it, but don't miss that such political moments are passing. So long as Trump & co remain in control of the federal government, their relentless attack on America & its democratic ways of life will continue and may yet triumph
Reposted by Nicholas Bauer PhD
Look folks, anyone waiting for an easier point in the future to remove the regime is living in a fantasy land.
They got their budget and they are going to use it. They will get better at this the longer it goes on.
They got their budget and they are going to use it. They will get better at this the longer it goes on.
‘We Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet’—Trump’s Mass Deportations Will Only Grow From Here www.wired.com/story/expire...
‘We Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet’—Trump’s Mass Deportations Will Only Grow From Here
Militias and far-right extremists believed they would be central to Trump’s mass deportation plans. Instead he militarized law enforcement agencies.
www.wired.com
December 26, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Look folks, anyone waiting for an easier point in the future to remove the regime is living in a fantasy land.
They got their budget and they are going to use it. They will get better at this the longer it goes on.
They got their budget and they are going to use it. They will get better at this the longer it goes on.
Reposted by Nicholas Bauer PhD
I did not understand this: one of the five Europeans the US has barred from traveling to the United States...is a permanent resident who lives with his family in the US.
Now he is worried about being arrested and deported for the crime of monitoring online hate.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/25/u...
Now he is worried about being arrested and deported for the crime of monitoring online hate.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/25/u...
Judge Blocks Detention of British Researcher Who Scrutinizes Online Hate
www.nytimes.com
December 26, 2025 at 3:55 AM
I did not understand this: one of the five Europeans the US has barred from traveling to the United States...is a permanent resident who lives with his family in the US.
Now he is worried about being arrested and deported for the crime of monitoring online hate.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/25/u...
Now he is worried about being arrested and deported for the crime of monitoring online hate.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/25/u...
Reposted by Nicholas Bauer PhD
