Dan Garisto
@dangaristo.bsky.social
science journalist | good physics, bad physics, and sometimes ugly physics
Signal: dgaristo.72
Email: digaristo@gmail.com
Signal: dgaristo.72
Email: digaristo@gmail.com
I've taken the liberty to update your byline, Jon
February 9, 2026 at 9:58 PM
I've taken the liberty to update your byline, Jon
Reposted by Dan Garisto
This is 18-mo-old Amalia waving to me when she was detained.
She was hospitalized with a respiratory infection while at ICE’s Dilley facility for immigrant families.
She’s one of dozens of detainees who I spoke to via video and phone calls, letters and an in-person visit. 🧵1/
She was hospitalized with a respiratory infection while at ICE’s Dilley facility for immigrant families.
She’s one of dozens of detainees who I spoke to via video and phone calls, letters and an in-person visit. 🧵1/
February 9, 2026 at 11:21 AM
This is 18-mo-old Amalia waving to me when she was detained.
She was hospitalized with a respiratory infection while at ICE’s Dilley facility for immigrant families.
She’s one of dozens of detainees who I spoke to via video and phone calls, letters and an in-person visit. 🧵1/
She was hospitalized with a respiratory infection while at ICE’s Dilley facility for immigrant families.
She’s one of dozens of detainees who I spoke to via video and phone calls, letters and an in-person visit. 🧵1/
Hard to explain, but this is a very "Trump admin in 2017" move. Almost a little quaint to see this happen now.
C.I.A. World Factbook Ends Publication After 6 Decades
www.nytimes.com
February 6, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Hard to explain, but this is a very "Trump admin in 2017" move. Almost a little quaint to see this happen now.
See here:
Epstein was not particularly brilliant, but he did have a collection of science-ish interests and a whole lot of money (though he promised more than he donated and exaggerated even more than he promised). Those two facts did lead some scientists to lavish him with praise, even privately. e.g.
![To: Jeffrey Epsteinheevacatton@gmaii corn]
Cc: Corina Tamltaimmingigenlm.
From: Martin Nowak
Sent Sat 2/13/201012:56:57 PM
Subject Re:
i love it!
a biological approach to economy.
the motto is what you said some time ago:
"the financial system is alive"
i think money runs like energy through the veins
of this superorganism.
the program for commercial evolution (PCE)
or
the program for the evolution of commerce (PEC)
you are a genius!](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:jsmr7lyw5rvrpfogr2kc6c4y/bafkreibexdzqrxn5dsmhkzmrlupea5mr6ciinj2ddmmqy3i3wxvs7hrpfe@jpeg)
February 6, 2026 at 7:13 PM
See here:
Epstein was not particularly brilliant, but he did have a collection of science-ish interests and a whole lot of money (though he promised more than he donated and exaggerated even more than he promised). Those two facts did lead some scientists to lavish him with praise, even privately. e.g.
February 6, 2026 at 6:48 PM
Epstein was not particularly brilliant, but he did have a collection of science-ish interests and a whole lot of money (though he promised more than he donated and exaggerated even more than he promised). Those two facts did lead some scientists to lavish him with praise, even privately. e.g.
For more on that I would suggest: www.nytimes.com/2019/07/31/b...
Dan Vergano's recent piece: www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-...
And this old NYMag piece: nymag.com/nymetro/news...
Dan Vergano's recent piece: www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-...
And this old NYMag piece: nymag.com/nymetro/news...
Jeffrey Epstein Hoped to Seed Human Race With His DNA (Published 2019)
www.nytimes.com
February 6, 2026 at 6:48 PM
For more on that I would suggest: www.nytimes.com/2019/07/31/b...
Dan Vergano's recent piece: www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-...
And this old NYMag piece: nymag.com/nymetro/news...
Dan Vergano's recent piece: www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-...
And this old NYMag piece: nymag.com/nymetro/news...
Reposted by Dan Garisto
Wrote about getting laid off and why media workers deserve a little grace.
www.readergrev.com/p/washington...
www.readergrev.com/p/washington...
I lost my job at The Washington Post
An improbably timed defense of the media
www.readergrev.com
February 6, 2026 at 6:16 PM
Wrote about getting laid off and why media workers deserve a little grace.
www.readergrev.com/p/washington...
www.readergrev.com/p/washington...
Finally, a shoutout to the student journalists at various papers who did excellent work combing through the files and holding leading academics at their institutions accountable. We've linked to a number of their reports in our story.
February 6, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Finally, a shoutout to the student journalists at various papers who did excellent work combing through the files and holding leading academics at their institutions accountable. We've linked to a number of their reports in our story.
I also want to specifically address the issue of the wire transactions, which have led to some rumors. I spent a lot of time trying to get to the bottom of it and it seems that Tarnita's intention was for these wire transactions to be scholarships.
February 6, 2026 at 6:17 PM
I also want to specifically address the issue of the wire transactions, which have led to some rumors. I spent a lot of time trying to get to the bottom of it and it seems that Tarnita's intention was for these wire transactions to be scholarships.
Two notes:
1. There are many degrees of association. Merely being included in the files is not, in and of itself, damning.
2. Getting ahead of concerns about omission: Many scientists appear in the files; we tried to choose a reasonable and relevant sample to tell this story.
1. There are many degrees of association. Merely being included in the files is not, in and of itself, damning.
2. Getting ahead of concerns about omission: Many scientists appear in the files; we tried to choose a reasonable and relevant sample to tell this story.
February 6, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Two notes:
1. There are many degrees of association. Merely being included in the files is not, in and of itself, damning.
2. Getting ahead of concerns about omission: Many scientists appear in the files; we tried to choose a reasonable and relevant sample to tell this story.
1. There are many degrees of association. Merely being included in the files is not, in and of itself, damning.
2. Getting ahead of concerns about omission: Many scientists appear in the files; we tried to choose a reasonable and relevant sample to tell this story.
The fact that Epstein had ties to the scientific community is not news, but the enormous cache of documents released by the DOJ last week was still startling. It showed just how deeply Epstein was involved—how many were in his orbit, and how deeply involved he was with some research.
My reporting:
My reporting:
Epstein files reveal deeper ties to scientists than previously known
Latest batch of documents show researchers consulting the financier and sex offender on publications, visas and more.
www.nature.com
February 6, 2026 at 6:17 PM
The fact that Epstein had ties to the scientific community is not news, but the enormous cache of documents released by the DOJ last week was still startling. It showed just how deeply Epstein was involved—how many were in his orbit, and how deeply involved he was with some research.
My reporting:
My reporting:
Inspired me to go looking... the NYT account of ISABELLE's technical troubles is quite detailed. With hindsight knowledge of the SSC's fate it's easy to criticize the decision to scrap ISABELLE, but it's not clear to me that the sacrifice was unreasonable at the time.
TROUBLES CONTINUE FOR L.I. ACCELERATOR (Published 1981)
www.nytimes.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Inspired me to go looking... the NYT account of ISABELLE's technical troubles is quite detailed. With hindsight knowledge of the SSC's fate it's easy to criticize the decision to scrap ISABELLE, but it's not clear to me that the sacrifice was unreasonable at the time.
Reminds me of Adrian's elegy to the Advanced Photon Source.
A farewell to the particle accelerator that was my father’s baby
As the rebuild of the Advanced Photon Source commences, a look at the craft of building giant scientific machines
www.science.org
February 6, 2026 at 3:42 PM
Reminds me of Adrian's elegy to the Advanced Photon Source.
Great blend of personal narrative and compelling nuclear physics. Colliders like RHIC (and the EIC) are often overlooked by people focusing on the highest energies of particle physics—which I've been guilty of. A fitting final toast(ed bagel) for RHIC.
RHIC investigated the extreme conditions that followed the Big Bang and detailed the inner workings of protons. Here's my very personal story for @sciencenews.bsky.social about RHIC, and the collider that will follow it, the Electron-Ion Collider.
www.sciencenews.org/article/part...
www.sciencenews.org/article/part...
The only U.S. particle collider shuts down – so a new one may rise
The famed collider at Brookhaven National Laboratory has ended operations, but if all goes to plan, a new collider will rise from its ashes.
www.sciencenews.org
February 6, 2026 at 3:42 PM
Great blend of personal narrative and compelling nuclear physics. Colliders like RHIC (and the EIC) are often overlooked by people focusing on the highest energies of particle physics—which I've been guilty of. A fitting final toast(ed bagel) for RHIC.
Reposted by Dan Garisto
NEW: A year ago, the NIH said it would cap research-overhead costs, a change that would cost colleges billions. A ragtag group rallied behind a compromise plan—and it seems to have traction.
Here's how higher ed staved off a research-funding bloodbath (for now): www.chronicle.com/article/how-...
Here's how higher ed staved off a research-funding bloodbath (for now): www.chronicle.com/article/how-...
How Higher Ed Staved Off a Research-Funding Bloodbath — For Now
Faced with potentially losing billions, colleges rallied behind a compromise plan. It now has a thumbs-up from Congress.
www.chronicle.com
February 6, 2026 at 12:05 AM
NEW: A year ago, the NIH said it would cap research-overhead costs, a change that would cost colleges billions. A ragtag group rallied behind a compromise plan—and it seems to have traction.
Here's how higher ed staved off a research-funding bloodbath (for now): www.chronicle.com/article/how-...
Here's how higher ed staved off a research-funding bloodbath (for now): www.chronicle.com/article/how-...
The solicitation was archived last January, amid the initial Trump admin blitz. Heard rumblings this was coming back in Dec. but no clarity on when or what it would look like.
n.b. Of the currently active ~160ish awards, I count 7 that mention either AI/ML in title or abstract.
n.b. Of the currently active ~160ish awards, I count 7 that mention either AI/ML in title or abstract.
Holy shit: it's an RFP for the NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology (PRFB). Hello old friend www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB)
www.nsf.gov
February 6, 2026 at 12:33 AM
The solicitation was archived last January, amid the initial Trump admin blitz. Heard rumblings this was coming back in Dec. but no clarity on when or what it would look like.
n.b. Of the currently active ~160ish awards, I count 7 that mention either AI/ML in title or abstract.
n.b. Of the currently active ~160ish awards, I count 7 that mention either AI/ML in title or abstract.
Not sure, honestly. The FT story says an LHC upgrade...
February 5, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Not sure, honestly. The FT story says an LHC upgrade...
Note that NSF is running 1–2 months behind schedule because of the government shutdown cancelling most of its review panels, which were all rescheduled to late Dec. and Jan.
Looks bad, but I would wait until worrying about the slow pace of awards.
Looks bad, but I would wait until worrying about the slow pace of awards.
More on NSF funding data
A deeper dive into the numbers of awards by Directorate.
1/9
A deeper dive into the numbers of awards by Directorate.
1/9
a picture of a person in the water with the words call of the deep below it
ALT: a picture of a person in the water with the words call of the deep below it
media.tenor.com
February 5, 2026 at 7:03 PM
Note that NSF is running 1–2 months behind schedule because of the government shutdown cancelling most of its review panels, which were all rescheduled to late Dec. and Jan.
Looks bad, but I would wait until worrying about the slow pace of awards.
Looks bad, but I would wait until worrying about the slow pace of awards.
The funding cuts also include £59 million for the Electron-Ion Collider in Brookhaven.
UK to scrap more than £250mn in planned physics project funding
Cern particle accelerator led by British scientist among institutions affected by wider research shake-up
www.ft.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:26 PM
The funding cuts also include £59 million for the Electron-Ion Collider in Brookhaven.
More context about the UK funding situation here (though this was before confirmation that STFC would officially pull out of the LHC upgrade.)
Is UK science in jeopardy? Huge funding reforms spark chaos and anxiety
Major reforms to the United Kingdom’s national research funding agency are aimed at boosting the nation's economy.
www.nature.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:23 PM
More context about the UK funding situation here (though this was before confirmation that STFC would officially pull out of the LHC upgrade.)
Very bad news for CERN, it seems.
UK is pulling its funding for Cern's Large Hadron Collider upgrade, STFC leader Michele Dougherty confirms, after news first revealed by @francesjones.bsky.social @resprofnews.bsky.social
"We simply don’t have the money to do everything."
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
"We simply don’t have the money to do everything."
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
‘Difficult’ two years ahead for physics, warns STFC boss - Research Professional News
Michele Dougherty confirms withdrawal from LHC upgrade and indicates scant money for new projects
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:20 PM
Very bad news for CERN, it seems.
Reposted by Dan Garisto
Those convos, and many others since, led to today’s story. Many factors have made it harder for small businesses—including some who specialize in environmental services—to secure federal contracts under Trump. Declining investment in science is part of the problem. www.eenews.net/articles/tru...
Trump cut science funding. Small businesses are paying the price.
Some federal contractors are feeling the squeeze after the president slashed support for climate programs and other research efforts.
www.eenews.net
February 5, 2026 at 4:21 PM
Those convos, and many others since, led to today’s story. Many factors have made it harder for small businesses—including some who specialize in environmental services—to secure federal contracts under Trump. Declining investment in science is part of the problem. www.eenews.net/articles/tru...
On the other hand, years of sustained contact and a post-2008 visit to his private island are newsworthy.
February 5, 2026 at 1:07 PM
On the other hand, years of sustained contact and a post-2008 visit to his private island are newsworthy.
As a member of the media I would say it's neither my job to be forgiving nor to pass judgement, but that there is an exercise of editorial judgment in deciding what merits coverage—especially in this environment. So I would not write about, for example, a one-off meeting in Cambridge, MA.
February 5, 2026 at 1:07 PM
As a member of the media I would say it's neither my job to be forgiving nor to pass judgement, but that there is an exercise of editorial judgment in deciding what merits coverage—especially in this environment. So I would not write about, for example, a one-off meeting in Cambridge, MA.
Reposted by Dan Garisto
I was laid off today, among hundreds of others at The Washington Post.
I loved covering games here, and I am so proud of our international coverage.
My colleagues — those who lost their jobs and those who didn't — are rockstars. It was such an honor to work alongside them.
I loved covering games here, and I am so proud of our international coverage.
My colleagues — those who lost their jobs and those who didn't — are rockstars. It was such an honor to work alongside them.
February 4, 2026 at 3:31 PM
I was laid off today, among hundreds of others at The Washington Post.
I loved covering games here, and I am so proud of our international coverage.
My colleagues — those who lost their jobs and those who didn't — are rockstars. It was such an honor to work alongside them.
I loved covering games here, and I am so proud of our international coverage.
My colleagues — those who lost their jobs and those who didn't — are rockstars. It was such an honor to work alongside them.