Gern Blanzden
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gernblanzden.bsky.social
Gern Blanzden
@gernblanzden.bsky.social
250 followers 140 following 40 posts
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Reposted by Gern Blanzden
erichehman.bsky.social
Postdoc position!

Myself and @jordanaxt.bsky.social are seeking applications for a shared post-doctoral researcher at McGill, beginning Fall 2026.

Topic area broadly centered on intergroup dynamics, prejudice, discrimination

Full description here: hehmanlab.org/ad
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hehmanlab.org
February 11, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Reposted by Gern Blanzden
compoundchem.com
Today is the #InternationalDayOfWomenAndGirlsInScience 👩‍🔬 This graphic highlights women of the periodic table, the elements they discovered, and the two elements named after women.

Plenty more graphics on women in chemistry here: www.compoundchem.com/category/wom...

#ChemSky 🧪
This infographic titled "The Women of the Periodic Table" highlights ten women and their contributions to element discovery. A central periodic table marks specific elements in green and orange, with lines connecting them to names and portraits. Featured scientists include Marie Curie (polonium, radium), Marguerite Perey (francium), and Clarice Phelps (tennessine). It traces history from early pioneers like Harriet Brooks to modern teams including Dawn Shaughnessy and Darleane Hoffman.
February 11, 2026 at 4:50 PM
Reposted by Gern Blanzden
compoundchem.com
Today is #NationalToothacheDay 🦷 This edition of #PeriodicGraphics in @cenmag.bsky.social looks at some of the chemistry behind a visit to the dentist's 🪥 cen.acs.org/articles/94/...

#ChemSky 🧪
This infographic titled "The Chemistry of Dentistry" explores four key areas. It explains how bacteria produce propanoic and lactic acids from sugar to cause tooth decay. It shows how fluoride ions convert hydroxyapatite into acid-resistant fluorapatite. It details dental amalgams containing mercury, silver, tin, and copper, alongside composite resins like Bis-GMA. Finally, it covers whitening using hydrogen and carbamide peroxide.
February 9, 2026 at 9:01 PM
Reposted by Gern Blanzden
universityofga.bsky.social
UGA Double Dawg, Mike Macdonald, led the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl win last night! Go Dawgs!
https://t.uga.edu/4gueiEp
Mike Macdonald: The Right Man for the Job - Georgia Magazine
When the Seattle Seahawks hired Mike Macdonald in February, the UGA Double Dawg and former assistant coach became the youngest head coach in the NFL.
news.uga.edu
February 9, 2026 at 2:58 PM
Reposted by Gern Blanzden
compoundchem.com
Dmitri Mendeleev was born #OTD (8 Feb) in 1834. He's known for recognising periodic patterns in the properties of elements, using these to predict the properties of undiscovered elements. And, of course, the periodic table! wp.me/p4aPLT-8UU

#ChemSky 🧪
"Today in Chemistry History" infographic marking Dmitri Mendeleev's birthday (8 Feb 1834). The graphic highlights the date of publication of Mendeleev's first periodic table (1869) and shows the elements that were known at that time and included in the table. It also shows the elements which had yet to be discovered which Mendeleev used his table to predict the properties of.
February 8, 2026 at 9:50 PM
Reposted by Gern Blanzden
compoundchem.com
On #NationalFrozenYoghurtDay, check out how froyo compares chemically to other frozen desserts in this edition of #PeriodicGraphics in @cenmag.bsky.social: cen.acs.org/articles/95/...

#ChemSky 🧪
This "Chemistry of Frozen Desserts" infographic by Compound Interest explores the science behind various treats. It illustrates a fat droplet's structure and lists typical ice cream composition as 50% air bubbles, 30% ice crystals, 15% liquid syrup, and 5% fat droplets. A comparison table shows fat content and "overrun" (incorporated air) for ice cream (10–20% fat), gelato (3–8% fat), soft serve (3–10% fat), and frozen yogurt (0.5–3% fat). It also notes sorbet has 0% fat while sherbet has 1%.
February 6, 2026 at 10:19 PM
Reposted by Gern Blanzden
existentialcomics.com
The best thing about philosophy is that all the great philosophers in history were basically wrong about almost everything, so there's really not that much pressure to be right.
February 6, 2026 at 3:51 PM
Reposted by Gern Blanzden
compoundchem.com
Akira Yoshino, joint winner of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, was born #OTD in 1948. His work and that of the other laureates led to the commercial lithium-ion batteries used in phones and other devices today: www.compoundchem.com/2019/10/09/2...

#ChemSky 🧪
This infographic titled "2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry" explains the development of lithium-ion batteries by laureates John B. Goodenough, M. Stanley Whittingham, and Akira Yoshino. It features diagrams showing how lithium ions move between electrodes during charge and discharge. A timeline shows the evolution from Whittingham’s battery (1970s) to Goodenough’s cobalt oxide version (1980s), and finally Yoshino’s safe commercial design using petroleum coke instead of lithium metal (1991).
January 30, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Reposted by Gern Blanzden
universityofga.bsky.social
For the seventh consecutive year, the University of Georgia set a research and development record with $654 million in related expenditures during fiscal year 2025, representing a 4.1% increase over the previous year. Since 2015, UGA’s R&D activity has grown by 75%. https://t.uga.edu/49KzzZo
Gloved laboratory technician using a multichannel pipette to dispense liquid into a clear 96-well plate inside a biosafety cabinet, with lab equipment blurred in the background.
January 28, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Reposted by Gern Blanzden
physicsworld.bsky.social
Researchers have brought a thought experiment devised by Albert Einstein into the laboratory, using a single trapped atom as a movable slit. 🧪⚛️ physicsworld.com/a/einsteins-...
Einstein’s recoiling slit experiment realized at the quantum limit – Physics World
A century-old thought experiment on wave–particle duality is brought into the laboratory using a single trapped atom
physicsworld.com
January 28, 2026 at 9:43 AM
gernblanzden.bsky.social
Thank you for being there on Sunday. I and many many others really appreciated it. Please do everything you can to stop this horror. Any money for ice is too much money for ice
January 28, 2026 at 1:44 AM
Reposted by Gern Blanzden
universityofga.bsky.social
Toss the confetti, throw the streamers, and set off the fireworks because it’s my birthday! 241 years of celebrating the birthplace of public higher education ❤️🖤 Go Dawgs!
January 27, 2026 at 6:59 PM
Reposted by Gern Blanzden
rm0sher.bsky.social
I am excited to offer a postdoctoral research position in my lab in Oxford studying the distribution of small RNAs during plant sexual reproduction. shorturl.at/7Goxt
Reposts appreciated!
Obligatory cat video to brighten your day. :-)
January 26, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Reposted by Gern Blanzden
compoundchem.com
Asbestos is in the news after traces of tremolite asbestos were found in some brands of play sand: www.theguardian.com/business/202...

This graphic covers asbestos health concerns: www.compoundchem.com/2018/08/14/a...
An infographic titled "Chemical Concerns: Asbestos" explains that asbestos, including chrysotile, is a group of fibrous, heat-resistant minerals. Historically used in insulation, tiles, and brake pads, it is now banned in 55+ countries because inhalation causes asbestosis and cancer. It accounts for 107,000 deaths annually and 4% of lung cancer cases, with a latency period of up to 40 years. Despite these risks, 2 million tons are still mined each year.
January 26, 2026 at 5:16 PM
Reposted by Gern Blanzden
thetraecrowder.bsky.social
You ain’t gotta go to Portland for this experience these days
January 24, 2026 at 12:58 AM
Reposted by Gern Blanzden
compoundchem.com
Gertrude Elion, joint winner of the 1988 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, was born #OTD in 1918. During her career she developed multiple life-saving drugs 💊 www.compoundchem.com/2018/01/23/e...

#ChemSky 🧪
“Today in Chemistry History” infographic highlighting Gertrude B. Elion. Elion was jointly awarded the 1988 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for work on the development of a number of medicines. The graphic lists drugs she helped develop with chemical structures: mercaptopurine (leukemia), azathioprine (transplant rejection), trimethoprim (antibiotic), allopurinol (gout), aciclovir (antiviral), pyrimethamine (malaria, toxoplasmosis), and nelarabine (cancer).
January 23, 2026 at 8:30 AM
Reposted by Gern Blanzden
physicsworld.bsky.social
When a wavefunction collapses in #quantum mechanics, is it instantaneous or gradual? The traditional view is that collapse happens at the moment of measurement, but in the quantum state diffusion framework, it's a continuous process. Here's why that matters: 🧪⚛️ physicsworld.com/a/modelling-...
Modelling wavefunction collapse as a continuous flow yields insights on the nature of measurement – Physics World
Quantum state diffusion framework makes it possible to characterize quantum measurement in terms of entropy production
physicsworld.com
January 22, 2026 at 9:42 AM
Reposted by Gern Blanzden
compoundchem.com
Did you spot the aurora earlier this week?

This timely edition of #PeriodicGraphics in @cenmag.bsky.social looks at what causes the aurora and the science behind the different colours: cen.acs.org/environment/...

#Chemsky 🧪
Infographic titled "What causes an aurora's colors?" It explains that solar wind particles follow Earth’s magnetic field to the poles, where they excite atmospheric atoms that emit light as they relax. Red light occurs above 150 miles from oxygen. Green light appears between 60 and 150 miles from oxygen. Blue and purple occur below 60 miles from nitrogen. Yellow and pink are color mixes. A map shows auroral zones expanding during solar storms.
January 21, 2026 at 2:41 PM
Reposted by Gern Blanzden
martinowk.bsky.social
Applications for our summer internship program are open. This is a paid, 9 week experience designed to provide research experience to undergraduates interested in the neurosciences, especially as related to the molecular and cellular basis of neuropsychiatric disorders

www.libd.org/summer-inter...
Summer Internship
Summer internship
www.libd.org
January 21, 2026 at 1:54 PM
Reposted by Gern Blanzden
existentialcomics.com
Young Hegelians vs Old Hegelians
existentialcomics.com/comic/638
Young Hegelians vs Old Hegelians
A philosophy webcomic about the inevitable anguish of living a brief life in an absurd world. Also Jokes
existentialcomics.com
January 19, 2026 at 8:27 PM
Reposted by Gern Blanzden
universityofga.bsky.social
With the theme of “The Power of the Dream: Leading Change, Lifting Community,” the 22nd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Breakfast, held January 16, called on attendees to reflect on their actions and their commitment to each other and the betterment of the community. https://t.uga.edu/4pPSFSy
Group of six recipients holding awards onstage at the MLK Celebration event. Person speaking at a podium in a conference hall. Two individuals singing at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Breakfast event standing in front of a banner displaying the event's name. Group of professionals engaging in conversation at a networking event, with some individuals smiling and exchanging business cards.
January 19, 2026 at 5:14 PM
Reposted by Gern Blanzden
compoundchem.com
Did you know the sound of popcorn popping isn't caused by the cracking of the corn kernel? For #NationalPopcornDay, here's a portion of popcorn science 🍿 www.compoundchem.com/2017/01/19/p...

#ChemSky 🧪
Infographic on the chemistry of popcorn. The most significant aroma compounds are 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (roasty, popcorn-like aroma), (E,E)-2,4-decadienal (fatty, fried aroma) and 2-furfurylthiol (roasted coffee-like aroma). Pyrazines, pyridines and phenols also contribute. Butter-flavoured compounds, including diacetyl, can be added, and can cause respiratory problems for workers in manufacturing facilities. Popcorn pops due to the escape of pressurised water vapour. Molten starch bursts through the shell and rapidly cools, giving popcorn its fluffy appearance
January 19, 2026 at 12:45 PM
Reposted by Gern Blanzden
universityofga.bsky.social
Go Dawgs! UGA has received the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, an elective designation awarded by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching that highlights an institution’s commitment to community engagement. https://t.uga.edu/4bCHE3v
Two individuals in branded black T-shirts reading a pamphlet outside a building during a daytime event. Person using a tablet to take a photo of a yellow house with a white picket fence and a red car parked in front.
January 18, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Reposted by Gern Blanzden
compoundchem.com
“[The study] identified no association between exposure to paracetamol in utero and a baby being autistic, having ADHD or an intellectual disability.”

To the surprise of absolutely no one.

www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
Study debunks Trump claim that paracetamol causes autism
Taking drug in pregnancy does not raise chances of autism, ADHD or intellectual disability, ‘gold standard’ review finds
www.theguardian.com
January 17, 2026 at 7:42 AM
Reposted by Gern Blanzden
compoundchem.com
A thorough review confirms that taking paracetamol during pregnancy does not increase the chances that the child will be autistic: www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

Paracetamol is featured in this infographic guide to different painkillers and how they work: www.compoundchem.com/2014/09/25/p...
An infographic guide to selected common painkillers. The structures of 12 different painkillers are shown, including paracetamol, ibuprofen, codeine, morphine and more. Trade names for each compound are shown as well as a short description of modes of action (where known).
January 17, 2026 at 5:29 PM