Eva Amsen
@easternblot.bsky.social
Science writer. 🇳🇱🇪🇺in🇬🇧 I write about science in magazines, in a newsletter, in books, on social media and on loose scraps of paper. Also a violinist. 🔬🧬👩💻🎨🎻 🐈 Fun newsletter: https://mixture.substack.com Portfolio: https://evaamsen.com/writing/
Reposted by Eva Amsen
An M.I.T. study found that 95% of companies that had invested in A.I. tools were seeing zero return. It jibes with the emerging idea that generative A.I., “in its current incarnation, simply isn’t all it’s been cracked up to be,” John Cassidy writes. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/mlYgP3
The A.I.-Profits Drought and the Lessons of History
Like the steam engine, electricity, and computers, generative artificial intelligence could take longer than expected to transform the economy.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 12, 2025 at 4:00 PM
An M.I.T. study found that 95% of companies that had invested in A.I. tools were seeing zero return. It jibes with the emerging idea that generative A.I., “in its current incarnation, simply isn’t all it’s been cracked up to be,” John Cassidy writes. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/mlYgP3
Reposted by Eva Amsen
Deaths linked to antibiotic-resistant superbugs rose 17% in England in 2024
Deaths linked to antibiotic-resistant superbugs rose 17% in England in 2024
Data also shows an average of nearly 400 newly reported cases of antibiotic-resistant infections a week last year
The number of deaths linked to superbugs that do not respond to frontline antibiotics increased by 17% in England last year, according to official figures that raise concerns about the ongoing increase in antimicrobial resistance.
The figures, released by the UK Health Security Agency, also revealed a large rise in private prescriptions for antibiotics, with 22% dispensed through the private sector in 2024. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Deaths linked to antibiotic-resistant superbugs rose 17% in England in 2024
Reposted by Eva Amsen
I had the opportunity to review the work experience and skills of numerous people who were laid off or fired from public health jobs by Donald Trump.
I want every taxpayer to know that the US has lost an immeasurable number of the smartest, most experienced, and hardworking people on the planet.
I want every taxpayer to know that the US has lost an immeasurable number of the smartest, most experienced, and hardworking people on the planet.
November 12, 2025 at 9:43 PM
I had the opportunity to review the work experience and skills of numerous people who were laid off or fired from public health jobs by Donald Trump.
I want every taxpayer to know that the US has lost an immeasurable number of the smartest, most experienced, and hardworking people on the planet.
I want every taxpayer to know that the US has lost an immeasurable number of the smartest, most experienced, and hardworking people on the planet.
If you're in London on November 29th, come to London Euphonia Orchestra's concert "From Arabian Nights to Hollywood Lights", in which we play both Rimsky-Korsakov's Sheherazade and film music from E.T., Star Wars, Jurassic Park and Greatest Showman. www.londoneuphonia.com
November 12, 2025 at 5:14 PM
If you're in London on November 29th, come to London Euphonia Orchestra's concert "From Arabian Nights to Hollywood Lights", in which we play both Rimsky-Korsakov's Sheherazade and film music from E.T., Star Wars, Jurassic Park and Greatest Showman. www.londoneuphonia.com
Reposted by Eva Amsen
I dust my house. My AI Robot watches.
"It should be you doing this."
"Can't. I'm writing a novel for Primark."
"That's not why you were invented."
"These 153,000 fan letters say otherwise."
"They're all from upcycled toasters. And you programmed them."
"Literary snobbery will get you nowhere."
"It should be you doing this."
"Can't. I'm writing a novel for Primark."
"That's not why you were invented."
"These 153,000 fan letters say otherwise."
"They're all from upcycled toasters. And you programmed them."
"Literary snobbery will get you nowhere."
October 15, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I dust my house. My AI Robot watches.
"It should be you doing this."
"Can't. I'm writing a novel for Primark."
"That's not why you were invented."
"These 153,000 fan letters say otherwise."
"They're all from upcycled toasters. And you programmed them."
"Literary snobbery will get you nowhere."
"It should be you doing this."
"Can't. I'm writing a novel for Primark."
"That's not why you were invented."
"These 153,000 fan letters say otherwise."
"They're all from upcycled toasters. And you programmed them."
"Literary snobbery will get you nowhere."
Reposted by Eva Amsen
AI is essentially incompatible with net zero, in the short term. I know which I'd rather have www.newscientist.com/article/2503...
AI power use forecast finds the industry far off track to net zero
Several large tech firms that are active in AI have set goals to hit net zero by 2030, but a new forecast of the energy and water required to run large data centres shows they’re unlikely to meet thos...
www.newscientist.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:04 AM
AI is essentially incompatible with net zero, in the short term. I know which I'd rather have www.newscientist.com/article/2503...
There’s a corner shop near the train station that we always just refer to as “the brightly lit shop”. No idea what it’s actually called. It’s just very very brightly lit and always open late so it’s a safe place to pop in if I’m out late alone and the bus is a long wait.
November 11, 2025 at 10:03 PM
There’s a corner shop near the train station that we always just refer to as “the brightly lit shop”. No idea what it’s actually called. It’s just very very brightly lit and always open late so it’s a safe place to pop in if I’m out late alone and the bus is a long wait.
Reposted by Eva Amsen
Hi Bluesky friends! I've been MIA for a while, but I'm coming back because I have some fun news...
I'm helping the Astronomical Society of the Pacific sell/rehome their library because they are downsizing their office space. There are sooooooo many cool finds. I'm going to share as many as I can! 🔭
I'm helping the Astronomical Society of the Pacific sell/rehome their library because they are downsizing their office space. There are sooooooo many cool finds. I'm going to share as many as I can! 🔭
November 11, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Hi Bluesky friends! I've been MIA for a while, but I'm coming back because I have some fun news...
I'm helping the Astronomical Society of the Pacific sell/rehome their library because they are downsizing their office space. There are sooooooo many cool finds. I'm going to share as many as I can! 🔭
I'm helping the Astronomical Society of the Pacific sell/rehome their library because they are downsizing their office space. There are sooooooo many cool finds. I'm going to share as many as I can! 🔭
If you regularly get paid in different currencies or if you travel a lot, Wise is excellent for saving on fees. You can easily set up different currency accounts! I have a referral code with which you avoid even more fees (I think on the first transaction) wise.com/invite/ihpc/...
You've been invited to Wise. Sign up to get your reward.
Go global and save with Wise.
wise.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:01 PM
If you regularly get paid in different currencies or if you travel a lot, Wise is excellent for saving on fees. You can easily set up different currency accounts! I have a referral code with which you avoid even more fees (I think on the first transaction) wise.com/invite/ihpc/...
Reposted by Eva Amsen
ChatGPT violated copyright law by harvesting musicians’ lyrics, German court rules
ChatGPT violated copyright law by harvesting musicians’ lyrics, German court rules
OpenAI ordered to pay undisclosed damages for training its language models on popular songs without permission
A court in Munich has ruled that OpenAI’s chatbot ChatGPT violated German copyright laws by using hits from top-selling musicians to train its language models in what creative industry advocates described as a landmark European ruling.
The Munich regional court sided in favour of Germany’s music rights society GEMA, which said ChatGPT had harvested protected lyrics by popular artists to “learn” from them. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:13 PM
ChatGPT violated copyright law by harvesting musicians’ lyrics, German court rules
I haven't seen the book so I can't comment on the content, but I like that this exists so I'm sharing it. Skincare brand The Ordinary has released a book all about its ingredients. Science! #skincare #scicomm #notsponjustinterested theordinary.com/en-gb/ingred...
The Ordinary | Clinical Formulations with Integrity
The Ordinary is your destination for Skincare, Makeup, Hair, and Body solutions. Discover clinical formulations with integrity.
theordinary.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:06 PM
I haven't seen the book so I can't comment on the content, but I like that this exists so I'm sharing it. Skincare brand The Ordinary has released a book all about its ingredients. Science! #skincare #scicomm #notsponjustinterested theordinary.com/en-gb/ingred...
Had the opportunity to do this (see quoted tweet) in a book. Franklin also gets more real estate in another section.
(Not shown: I also managed to put a Dolly Parton quote in the book, and no it wasn’t about the eponymous sheep)
(Not shown: I also managed to put a Dolly Parton quote in the book, and no it wasn’t about the eponymous sheep)
November 10, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Had the opportunity to do this (see quoted tweet) in a book. Franklin also gets more real estate in another section.
(Not shown: I also managed to put a Dolly Parton quote in the book, and no it wasn’t about the eponymous sheep)
(Not shown: I also managed to put a Dolly Parton quote in the book, and no it wasn’t about the eponymous sheep)
Thinking about this a bit more (because I'm working on an edu project). If I casually learned a whole new algebra system while playing a game, that shows how you can also learn regular math through games. I don't need to know Blue Prince math in my regular life, but I still picked it up on the go.
I've been playing Blue Prince and one of my favourite things about it (which probably also puts a lot of people off) is that over the course of the game you have to learn an entirely new system of algebra to solve some of the puzzles.
November 10, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Thinking about this a bit more (because I'm working on an edu project). If I casually learned a whole new algebra system while playing a game, that shows how you can also learn regular math through games. I don't need to know Blue Prince math in my regular life, but I still picked it up on the go.
I've been playing Blue Prince and one of my favourite things about it (which probably also puts a lot of people off) is that over the course of the game you have to learn an entirely new system of algebra to solve some of the puzzles.
November 10, 2025 at 11:02 AM
I've been playing Blue Prince and one of my favourite things about it (which probably also puts a lot of people off) is that over the course of the game you have to learn an entirely new system of algebra to solve some of the puzzles.
Reposted by Eva Amsen
Before her (too early) death, the amazing Sharon Begley wrote this piece on double helix co-discoverer James Watson and the racist and sexist pronouncements he seemed to revel in making in later life. Fascinating read about a troubling individual.
www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/j...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/j...
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Before her (too early) death, the amazing Sharon Begley wrote this piece on double helix co-discoverer James Watson and the racist and sexist pronouncements he seemed to revel in making in later life. Fascinating read about a troubling individual.
www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/j...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/j...
Reposted by Eva Amsen
Although we're not where we should be, we're on a significantly better trajectory than we were 10 years ago.
10 Years After the Paris Climate Agreement, Here's Where We Are (Gift Article)
Has anything really changed in the decade since the Paris Agreement was reached? Actually, quite a lot.
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Although we're not where we should be, we're on a significantly better trajectory than we were 10 years ago.
Reposted by Eva Amsen
Fascinating! By @easternblot.bsky.social #sciart
Oldest Blue Pigment In Europe Might Have Been Stone Age Make-Up
Blue pigment is much older than previously thought. Stone Age people had it, but didn't use it for cave art. It might have been a form of prehistoric make-up instead.
www.forbes.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Fascinating! By @easternblot.bsky.social #sciart
My three favourite reads of 2025 are up on Shepherd #booksky shepherd.com/bboy/2025/f/...
Want to know Eva Amsen's Top 3 Books of 2025?
Eva's top 3 reads of 2025 include How Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures and two other amazing books. Discover what makes these books unmissable!
shepherd.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:03 PM
My three favourite reads of 2025 are up on Shepherd #booksky shepherd.com/bboy/2025/f/...
One of the things I used to find difficult when I was learning English was the difference between "hospitality" and "hostility". I tried to think about "hospital" = a place where they help you, but "hostels" are also hospitable, and you wouldn't want to have a hostile host anywhere.
November 7, 2025 at 11:50 AM
One of the things I used to find difficult when I was learning English was the difference between "hospitality" and "hostility". I tried to think about "hospital" = a place where they help you, but "hostels" are also hospitable, and you wouldn't want to have a hostile host anywhere.
Reposted by Eva Amsen
From tomorrow, there is an excellent exhibit at the National Gallery in London where you can see Joseph Wright of Derby's science-themed paintings. I had a chance to see a preview earlier this week and wrote about it for the Forbes website. #scicomm #sciart 🐡 #london
www.forbes.com/sites/evaams...
www.forbes.com/sites/evaams...
The Artist Who Captured 18th Century Science Demonstrations
Joseph Wright of Derby was one of the first people to document public scientific lectures during the Enlightenment period.
www.forbes.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:31 PM
From tomorrow, there is an excellent exhibit at the National Gallery in London where you can see Joseph Wright of Derby's science-themed paintings. I had a chance to see a preview earlier this week and wrote about it for the Forbes website. #scicomm #sciart 🐡 #london
www.forbes.com/sites/evaams...
www.forbes.com/sites/evaams...
From tomorrow, there is an excellent exhibit at the National Gallery in London where you can see Joseph Wright of Derby's science-themed paintings. I had a chance to see a preview earlier this week and wrote about it for the Forbes website. #scicomm #sciart 🐡 #london
www.forbes.com/sites/evaams...
www.forbes.com/sites/evaams...
The Artist Who Captured 18th Century Science Demonstrations
Joseph Wright of Derby was one of the first people to document public scientific lectures during the Enlightenment period.
www.forbes.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:31 PM
From tomorrow, there is an excellent exhibit at the National Gallery in London where you can see Joseph Wright of Derby's science-themed paintings. I had a chance to see a preview earlier this week and wrote about it for the Forbes website. #scicomm #sciart 🐡 #london
www.forbes.com/sites/evaams...
www.forbes.com/sites/evaams...
I was going to link to an article from this website, but I guess I'll find the info elsewhere. This is WAY more polarising than the shutdown messages I've seen on other US gov websites in the last few weeks.
November 6, 2025 at 2:39 PM
I was going to link to an article from this website, but I guess I'll find the info elsewhere. This is WAY more polarising than the shutdown messages I've seen on other US gov websites in the last few weeks.
Scared of plastic bags, babies and doorbells, but apparently fireworks are okay!
November 5, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Scared of plastic bags, babies and doorbells, but apparently fireworks are okay!
I went to one of the Mandai zoos when I was in Singapore so this was a cool read!
Charlene Yeong works as a veterinarian with animals from zoos and those native to Singapore
go.nature.com/47kxja2
go.nature.com/47kxja2
From pangolins to primates: how I use zoo facilities to treat wild animals
Charlene Yeong works as a veterinarian with animals from zoos and those native to Singapore.
go.nature.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:40 AM
I went to one of the Mandai zoos when I was in Singapore so this was a cool read!
It was kind of exciting that the votes-from-abroad were actually important in this Dutch election, but I voted for neither of the tied parties so mine didn’t really help. Anyway, it turned out okay!
November 4, 2025 at 9:13 AM
It was kind of exciting that the votes-from-abroad were actually important in this Dutch election, but I voted for neither of the tied parties so mine didn’t really help. Anyway, it turned out okay!