Drew Steen
@drewsteen.bsky.social
I do science about the ocean, organic carbon, weird microbes and their enzymes. Associate Prof, Marine and Environmental Biology, USC. He/him.
Reposted by Drew Steen
The party that waves the Gadsden Flag and yells about freedom is cheering the murder of a woman who did more to uphold and defend those values than they ever have.
January 8, 2026 at 12:31 AM
The party that waves the Gadsden Flag and yells about freedom is cheering the murder of a woman who did more to uphold and defend those values than they ever have.
Dutch titan of microbial ecology Gijs Kuenen did a “postdoc” at USC when he was like 65, and by all accounts had a blast
January 7, 2026 at 5:07 PM
Dutch titan of microbial ecology Gijs Kuenen did a “postdoc” at USC when he was like 65, and by all accounts had a blast
My most boring culture opinion: the Breaking Bad finale was really good
Given that apparently the Stranger Things finale was meh (idk, didn't watch it, just the scuttlebutt) and we're not that far removed from the disastrous GOT finale that retroactively made everyone have never cared about the show:
What's the *best* ending to a show you've ever seen? Quote/reply etc
What's the *best* ending to a show you've ever seen? Quote/reply etc
January 7, 2026 at 4:04 AM
My most boring culture opinion: the Breaking Bad finale was really good
Reposted by Drew Steen
If you are submitting an NIH grant in February, you will be required to use SciENcv to prepare you biosketch.
IT IS MUCH WORSE THAN YOU CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE.
Set aside *at least* 4 hours just to transfer an existing an biosketch into SciENcv.
IT IS MUCH WORSE THAN YOU CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE.
Set aside *at least* 4 hours just to transfer an existing an biosketch into SciENcv.
January 6, 2026 at 11:29 PM
If you are submitting an NIH grant in February, you will be required to use SciENcv to prepare you biosketch.
IT IS MUCH WORSE THAN YOU CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE.
Set aside *at least* 4 hours just to transfer an existing an biosketch into SciENcv.
IT IS MUCH WORSE THAN YOU CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE.
Set aside *at least* 4 hours just to transfer an existing an biosketch into SciENcv.
Reposted by Drew Steen
The district court injunction that prevented NIH from capping indirects at 15% was upheld today on appeal!
www.reuters.com/world/trump-...
www.reuters.com/world/trump-...
Trump administration cannot slash NIH research funding, court rules
District Judge Angel Kelley last year blocked the cuts, and on Monday the appeals court agreed.
www.reuters.com
January 6, 2026 at 1:09 AM
The district court injunction that prevented NIH from capping indirects at 15% was upheld today on appeal!
www.reuters.com/world/trump-...
www.reuters.com/world/trump-...
Reposted by Drew Steen
And we may never.
I've been workshopping the term Eldritch Biodiversity to describe organisms and ecologic processes that, due to our limited ability to explore the deep seafloor, are not just unknown, but possibly unknowable.
I've been workshopping the term Eldritch Biodiversity to describe organisms and ecologic processes that, due to our limited ability to explore the deep seafloor, are not just unknown, but possibly unknowable.
January 5, 2026 at 5:45 PM
And we may never.
I've been workshopping the term Eldritch Biodiversity to describe organisms and ecologic processes that, due to our limited ability to explore the deep seafloor, are not just unknown, but possibly unknowable.
I've been workshopping the term Eldritch Biodiversity to describe organisms and ecologic processes that, due to our limited ability to explore the deep seafloor, are not just unknown, but possibly unknowable.
Reposted by Drew Steen
I cannot emphasize this enough, if you're cold-emailing me applying to my lab I would so much rather get the bulleted broken list of genuine interests than whatever letter ChatGPT spits out in its stead
If you're training with me, I'm working with you not an LLM. I want to see who you are!
If you're training with me, I'm working with you not an LLM. I want to see who you are!
January 5, 2026 at 4:25 PM
I cannot emphasize this enough, if you're cold-emailing me applying to my lab I would so much rather get the bulleted broken list of genuine interests than whatever letter ChatGPT spits out in its stead
If you're training with me, I'm working with you not an LLM. I want to see who you are!
If you're training with me, I'm working with you not an LLM. I want to see who you are!
Reposted by Drew Steen
Take-home lesson we ALL need to learn: Resistance works and capitulation doesn't!
BREAKING: After legal setbacks, President Trump says he's dropping push for the National Guard in Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland for now.
Trump says he's dropping push for National Guard in Chicago, LA and Portland, Oregon, for now
President Donald Trump says he’s dropping — for now — his push to deploy National Guard troops in Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon.
bit.ly
December 31, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Take-home lesson we ALL need to learn: Resistance works and capitulation doesn't!
Not the point here but I thought this was about a scientist who was, like, eight feet tall
No, the dire wolf has not been brought back from extinction – and I even got Colossal’s chief scientist to admit as much in interview with me. In response, the company put out a statement reiterating its claims 3/
www.newscientist.com/article/2481...
www.newscientist.com/article/2481...
Colossal scientist now admits they haven’t really made dire wolves
Despite a huge media fanfare in which Colossal Biosciences claimed to have resurrected the extinct dire wolf, the company's chief scientist now concedes that the animals are merely modified grey wolve...
www.newscientist.com
December 31, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Not the point here but I thought this was about a scientist who was, like, eight feet tall
Reposted by Drew Steen
This year I read Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series, all 20 books full of British naval intrigue and adventure and odd foods. (Spotted dog, anyone?) I finished yesterday. Retreating into the early 19th century helped me avoid doomscrolling my way through 2026. Strongly recommend. #aubreymaturin
December 31, 2025 at 11:58 AM
This year I read Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series, all 20 books full of British naval intrigue and adventure and odd foods. (Spotted dog, anyone?) I finished yesterday. Retreating into the early 19th century helped me avoid doomscrolling my way through 2026. Strongly recommend. #aubreymaturin
Reposted by Drew Steen
Every time I submit a scientific manuscript, I am confronted with the counter-intuitive fact of PAYING to publish work that I created.
December 30, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Every time I submit a scientific manuscript, I am confronted with the counter-intuitive fact of PAYING to publish work that I created.
And like many skills in academia: most people get little training and just kind of figure it out on their own!
December 24, 2025 at 5:09 PM
And like many skills in academia: most people get little training and just kind of figure it out on their own!
*dense, unwaxed paper, not sense uncared paper
December 23, 2025 at 4:47 PM
*dense, unwaxed paper, not sense uncared paper
Data point: I just drank bourbon from a paper cup and it was fine.
BUT: my cup seemed like sense, uncared paper. Seems like many cups are lower quality paper with a wax coating. Could EtOH dissolve wax? Maybe with help from surfactants in the beer?
BUT: my cup seemed like sense, uncared paper. Seems like many cups are lower quality paper with a wax coating. Could EtOH dissolve wax? Maybe with help from surfactants in the beer?
December 23, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Data point: I just drank bourbon from a paper cup and it was fine.
BUT: my cup seemed like sense, uncared paper. Seems like many cups are lower quality paper with a wax coating. Could EtOH dissolve wax? Maybe with help from surfactants in the beer?
BUT: my cup seemed like sense, uncared paper. Seems like many cups are lower quality paper with a wax coating. Could EtOH dissolve wax? Maybe with help from surfactants in the beer?
Reposted by Drew Steen
67 Senators could remove RFK Jr. today but there aren’t 67 Senators who care about Americans’ lives, health, or wellbeing. Babies will die. Our leaders hate us.
BREAKING: RFKJr directs that the US instantly stop recommending all vaccinations for children. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Under RFK Jr., U.S. plans to stop recommending most vaccines, defer to doctors
The plan, which is not finalized, suggests children get fewer shots and shifts to a model telling parents to consult doctors to make their own vaccine choices.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 20, 2025 at 9:50 AM
67 Senators could remove RFK Jr. today but there aren’t 67 Senators who care about Americans’ lives, health, or wellbeing. Babies will die. Our leaders hate us.
Highly recommend @hwaet.info for twice-daily updates of “lo”-like options.
December 18, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Highly recommend @hwaet.info for twice-daily updates of “lo”-like options.
Reposted by Drew Steen
Congratulations, those of you who decided to platform fringe voices and create a climate of fear and hate out of ignorance because those voices insisted a non-problem was a problem. They're now on an HHS stage trying to ruin children's lives. You will live with the harm you have done forever.
December 18, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Congratulations, those of you who decided to platform fringe voices and create a climate of fear and hate out of ignorance because those voices insisted a non-problem was a problem. They're now on an HHS stage trying to ruin children's lives. You will live with the harm you have done forever.
Reposted by Drew Steen
People who aspire to be academics: I wish to live a life of the mind
Actual academics:
Actual academics:
I have a weird question for the #bird people on here. Do you think someone could tell that a book was pooped on specifically by a sparrowhawk (or perhaps hawks generally) just from the feces? I'm looking at a 16th c. case where witnesses claim books were pooped on specifically by sparrowhawks!
December 18, 2025 at 3:34 PM
People who aspire to be academics: I wish to live a life of the mind
Actual academics:
Actual academics:
Reposted by Drew Steen
There’s a lesson to be learned by all U.S. research institutions: Even if you keep your head down and “align with the president’s priorities,” it affords you no protection. This administration will still smash your institution into atoms on the flimsiest pretense. *Do not pre-comply.* #SaveNCAR
In case there was any question Trump attempting to shutter NCAR is retaliation against Colorado for Tina Peters remaining in prison.
December 18, 2025 at 1:47 PM
There’s a lesson to be learned by all U.S. research institutions: Even if you keep your head down and “align with the president’s priorities,” it affords you no protection. This administration will still smash your institution into atoms on the flimsiest pretense. *Do not pre-comply.* #SaveNCAR
Reposted by Drew Steen
Reject any motherfucker who tells you we need to abandon a vulnerable population or person. They’re either a fascist or a fascist-in-waiting.
December 17, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Reject any motherfucker who tells you we need to abandon a vulnerable population or person. They’re either a fascist or a fascist-in-waiting.
Seriously, spend 45 seconds watching this, it’s hilarious. Even if you’re not a football fan.
This story Carl Nassib told on RC's pod about coming out in the NFL cracked me up. His delivery is so good!
December 17, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Seriously, spend 45 seconds watching this, it’s hilarious. Even if you’re not a football fan.
Reposted by Drew Steen
NCAR is quite literally our global mothership.
Everyone who works in climate and weather has passed through its doors and benefited from its incredible resources.
Dismantling NCAR is like taking a sledgehammer to the keystone holding up our scientific understanding of the planet.
Unbelievable.
Everyone who works in climate and weather has passed through its doors and benefited from its incredible resources.
Dismantling NCAR is like taking a sledgehammer to the keystone holding up our scientific understanding of the planet.
Unbelievable.
Trump moves to dismantle major US climate research center in Colorado
The Trump administration is breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
www.usatoday.com
December 17, 2025 at 2:59 AM
NCAR is quite literally our global mothership.
Everyone who works in climate and weather has passed through its doors and benefited from its incredible resources.
Dismantling NCAR is like taking a sledgehammer to the keystone holding up our scientific understanding of the planet.
Unbelievable.
Everyone who works in climate and weather has passed through its doors and benefited from its incredible resources.
Dismantling NCAR is like taking a sledgehammer to the keystone holding up our scientific understanding of the planet.
Unbelievable.
Want to restart the idea machine? Multiply NSF’s budget by 10.
That would bring it to about 40% of annual investment in AI.
That would bring it to about 40% of annual investment in AI.
America, you have spoken loud and clear: You do not like AI. But what if AI is the way to restart the world’s idea machine?
We’re running out of good ideas. AI might be how we find new ones.
What if the best use of AI is restarting the world’s idea machine?
www.vox.com
December 16, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Want to restart the idea machine? Multiply NSF’s budget by 10.
That would bring it to about 40% of annual investment in AI.
That would bring it to about 40% of annual investment in AI.