Jeff Catalano
@jeffcatalano.bsky.social
Aqueous geochemist and mineralogist, soon-to-be-former journal editor-in-chief, director of an interdisciplinary undergraduate program on the environment, dog lover.
Just submitted a session proposal to @goldschmidt-confer.bsky.social. Sought to be topical but broad. Narrow session topics leave members of our community with no place to submit. #EveryoneNeedsAHome at Goldschmidt!
October 3, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Just submitted a session proposal to @goldschmidt-confer.bsky.social. Sought to be topical but broad. Narrow session topics leave members of our community with no place to submit. #EveryoneNeedsAHome at Goldschmidt!
Mineral cup is on and my dear friend Hematite is in a close race with a crappy sodalite-group mineral, Haüyne. Please consider voting!
www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r3...
www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r3...
Vote in Quarterfinal 1 — Mineral Cup
Click here to vote in Haüyne vs Hematite Photo credits: Jean-François Ferrandon and John Sobolewski
www.mineralcup.org
September 25, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Mineral cup is on and my dear friend Hematite is in a close race with a crappy sodalite-group mineral, Haüyne. Please consider voting!
www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r3...
www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r3...
Reposted by Jeff Catalano
We are looking for an Assistant Professor (tenure track) in the area of Soil Chemistry. Please spread the word! Application deadline is September 30.
ethz.ch/en/the-eth-z...
ethz.ch/en/the-eth-z...
Assistant Professor (Tenure Track) of Soil Chemistry
ethz.ch
July 11, 2025 at 8:42 AM
We are looking for an Assistant Professor (tenure track) in the area of Soil Chemistry. Please spread the word! Application deadline is September 30.
ethz.ch/en/the-eth-z...
ethz.ch/en/the-eth-z...
Just received a survey from "Simon Baker, Chief Editor, Nature Index". The survey has MC questions requiring three picks. Many options are like "I do high-impact research to improve my reputation" or "High-impact research gets me more grant money". I'm out. Shows zero interest in scientific impact.
June 17, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Just received a survey from "Simon Baker, Chief Editor, Nature Index". The survey has MC questions requiring three picks. Many options are like "I do high-impact research to improve my reputation" or "High-impact research gets me more grant money". I'm out. Shows zero interest in scientific impact.
Welcome @mineralsocamerica.bsky.social to Bluesky!
May 27, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Welcome @mineralsocamerica.bsky.social to Bluesky!
The tornado in St. Louis yesterday started near my campus @washu.bsky.social. We were spared the worst, with mostly tree damage and power outages but the dormitories may have some roof damage. Semester is over, students are gone. We’ll recover quickly. But for the rest of St. Louis…
May 17, 2025 at 2:13 PM
The tornado in St. Louis yesterday started near my campus @washu.bsky.social. We were spared the worst, with mostly tree damage and power outages but the dormitories may have some roof damage. Semester is over, students are gone. We’ll recover quickly. But for the rest of St. Louis…
Reposted by Jeff Catalano
Ever wondered what the Hadean ocean looked like? 🌊🌊🌊
Come work with us on 🧪silicate weathering experiments🧪 simulating the geochemistry of the first ocean and be part of a large consortium investigating the origin of life #prelife.
@ingeloes.bsky.social
Apply here: www.uu.nl/en/organisat...
Come work with us on 🧪silicate weathering experiments🧪 simulating the geochemistry of the first ocean and be part of a large consortium investigating the origin of life #prelife.
@ingeloes.bsky.social
Apply here: www.uu.nl/en/organisat...
May 17, 2025 at 6:04 AM
Ever wondered what the Hadean ocean looked like? 🌊🌊🌊
Come work with us on 🧪silicate weathering experiments🧪 simulating the geochemistry of the first ocean and be part of a large consortium investigating the origin of life #prelife.
@ingeloes.bsky.social
Apply here: www.uu.nl/en/organisat...
Come work with us on 🧪silicate weathering experiments🧪 simulating the geochemistry of the first ocean and be part of a large consortium investigating the origin of life #prelife.
@ingeloes.bsky.social
Apply here: www.uu.nl/en/organisat...
Any US-based folks have recommendations for best place to rent a satellite phone for international travel? A colleague is taking a course to Madagascar. They are using a network of sites operated by a local partner, and each location has phone service, but university wants them to have a sat phone.
April 30, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Any US-based folks have recommendations for best place to rent a satellite phone for international travel? A colleague is taking a course to Madagascar. They are using a network of sites operated by a local partner, and each location has phone service, but university wants them to have a sat phone.
Reposted by Jeff Catalano
New at @stlmag.bsky.social: City Hall insiders share their thoughts on what went wrong for Mayor Tishaura Jones this election -- and what comes next for Mayor-elect Cara Spencer www.stlmag.com/news/won-car...
How Cara Spencer Won The Mayor’s Race—and What Comes Next | St. Louis Magazine
On Tuesday, Cara Spencer was elected mayor of the city of St. Louis in an avalanche, winning nearly two-thirds of the vote. Spencer’s victory was expected,
www.stlmag.com
April 10, 2025 at 12:45 PM
New at @stlmag.bsky.social: City Hall insiders share their thoughts on what went wrong for Mayor Tishaura Jones this election -- and what comes next for Mayor-elect Cara Spencer www.stlmag.com/news/won-car...
Reposted by Jeff Catalano
Jeffries: "It was a terrible week. So what happens on Sunday? Trump says, intentionally, 'I'm serious about running for a third term.' He can't run for a third term! ... why does he say it? ... to distract from the terrible week that they've had. We're not gonna take the bait."
April 2, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Jeffries: "It was a terrible week. So what happens on Sunday? Trump says, intentionally, 'I'm serious about running for a third term.' He can't run for a third term! ... why does he say it? ... to distract from the terrible week that they've had. We're not gonna take the bait."
The President talking about a third term has proven to be an effective strategy to move on from his team releasing classified military plans to a reporter on Signal. Everyone needs to stop falling for this! Just ignore him, it is purely a distraction. Don't let him move on from tariffs and Signal.
March 31, 2025 at 8:48 PM
The President talking about a third term has proven to be an effective strategy to move on from his team releasing classified military plans to a reporter on Signal. Everyone needs to stop falling for this! Just ignore him, it is purely a distraction. Don't let him move on from tariffs and Signal.
Resubmitting former grad student's paper to ES&T (once he send me the figure files). I have the hardest time finding what sections are counted in word count. ES&T makes this hard to find. I asked Google, it's AI response thing got the right answer. I'm good with that kind of use of AI.
March 22, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Resubmitting former grad student's paper to ES&T (once he send me the figure files). I have the hardest time finding what sections are counted in word count. ES&T makes this hard to find. I asked Google, it's AI response thing got the right answer. I'm good with that kind of use of AI.
Reposted by Jeff Catalano
This has become an ongoing discussion in my university's faculty senate. Everything in this article is spot on.
Why academia is sleepwalking into self-destruction. My editorial @brain1878.bsky.social If you agree with the sentiments please repost. It's important for all our sakes to stop the madness
academic.oup.com/brain/articl...
academic.oup.com/brain/articl...
March 9, 2025 at 2:23 PM
This has become an ongoing discussion in my university's faculty senate. Everything in this article is spot on.
This seems like something Democrats should have figured out a year ago. The economy looked great on paper, but only the top 10% were benefiting. Most democratic advisers were probably on the top 10%. www.wsj.com/economy/cons...
The U.S. Economy Depends More Than Ever on Rich People
The highest-earning 10% of Americans account for almost 50% of all consumer spending.
www.wsj.com
February 24, 2025 at 2:14 PM
This seems like something Democrats should have figured out a year ago. The economy looked great on paper, but only the top 10% were benefiting. Most democratic advisers were probably on the top 10%. www.wsj.com/economy/cons...
No longer in charge of GCA but still doing some Associate Editor work. Figure looked weird, so I opened data file. Plot was manipulated. Found other examples, also fabrication. Rejected the paper. Big reason a journal must require sharing of numerical data is to check for misconduct.
February 23, 2025 at 1:04 AM
No longer in charge of GCA but still doing some Associate Editor work. Figure looked weird, so I opened data file. Plot was manipulated. Found other examples, also fabrication. Rejected the paper. Big reason a journal must require sharing of numerical data is to check for misconduct.
Not trying to raise unwarranted alarms, but the proposal status page for NSF in Research.gov says "Information in Proposal Status is unavailable due to an error." Similarly, the NSSC grant status page for NASA says "This search form is currently under maintenance." Something bad is likely going on.
February 20, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Not trying to raise unwarranted alarms, but the proposal status page for NSF in Research.gov says "Information in Proposal Status is unavailable due to an error." Similarly, the NSSC grant status page for NASA says "This search form is currently under maintenance." Something bad is likely going on.
Exited to share our new OA paper in GCA, led by my brilliant student Emily Wright:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
In this paper, we adapt methods used to study contaminants to investigate critical mineral behavior during weathering, specifically how chloride affects palladium mobilization.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
In this paper, we adapt methods used to study contaminants to investigate critical mineral behavior during weathering, specifically how chloride affects palladium mobilization.
Competitive and cooperative effects of chloride on palladium(II) adsorption to iron (oxyhydr)oxides: Implications for mobility during weathering
In surface and near-surface weathering environments, the mobilization and partial loss of palladium (Pd) under oxidizing and weakly acidic conditions …
www.sciencedirect.com
February 2, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Exited to share our new OA paper in GCA, led by my brilliant student Emily Wright:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
In this paper, we adapt methods used to study contaminants to investigate critical mineral behavior during weathering, specifically how chloride affects palladium mobilization.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
In this paper, we adapt methods used to study contaminants to investigate critical mineral behavior during weathering, specifically how chloride affects palladium mobilization.
Rumor: A US law passed in December is being interpreted by the Trump administration to ban foreign nationals from "sensitive countries" from being employed at US DOE labs. OK if have a green card, but not if on a visa. Apparently many Chinese, Russian, & Iranian postdocs will get laid off in April.
January 23, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Rumor: A US law passed in December is being interpreted by the Trump administration to ban foreign nationals from "sensitive countries" from being employed at US DOE labs. OK if have a green card, but not if on a visa. Apparently many Chinese, Russian, & Iranian postdocs will get laid off in April.
New one for me: First lecture of the semester and 5 minutes in I get a paper cut from the printout of my lecture notes. Bled on the back of my notes before I noticed. Shoved my hand in my pocket to stop the bleeding. Was super embarrassed!
January 13, 2025 at 7:26 PM
New one for me: First lecture of the semester and 5 minutes in I get a paper cut from the printout of my lecture notes. Bled on the back of my notes before I noticed. Shoved my hand in my pocket to stop the bleeding. Was super embarrassed!
Reposted by Jeff Catalano
Trump unable to pursue military invasion of Canada due to bone spurs
Trump unable to pursue military invasion of Canada due to bone spurs - The Beaverton
MAR-A-LAGO, FL – Speaking from his private resort President-Elect Trump explained that, despite his rhetoric, he won’t be able to make good on his threats to annex Canada because of his bone spurs. “B...
www.thebeaverton.com
January 11, 2025 at 5:48 PM
(former) Editor Insight: The number of new papers a journal receives each month varies randomly. While I was Executive Editor of GCA, submissions in a month varied between 71 and 130. Editor workload was very difficult to predict!
January 2, 2025 at 10:16 PM
(former) Editor Insight: The number of new papers a journal receives each month varies randomly. While I was Executive Editor of GCA, submissions in a month varied between 71 and 130. Editor workload was very difficult to predict!
Reposted by Jeff Catalano
Can anyone explain to me why there are so many Marnaviridae in wastewater?
They allegedly only infect photosynthetic marine protists, but there are hundreds of them in wastewater.
Not much light down there.
They allegedly only infect photosynthetic marine protists, but there are hundreds of them in wastewater.
Not much light down there.
January 1, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Can anyone explain to me why there are so many Marnaviridae in wastewater?
They allegedly only infect photosynthetic marine protists, but there are hundreds of them in wastewater.
Not much light down there.
They allegedly only infect photosynthetic marine protists, but there are hundreds of them in wastewater.
Not much light down there.
Editor Tip (For Elsevier Journals): About 5 years ago, Elsevier killed all of the journal email addresses. gca@elsevier.com now goes to "Research Support" staff that cover 4000 journals. They mess up a lot, editors get maybe 50% of intended messages. If you feel ignored, google us, then email us.
December 19, 2024 at 2:57 AM
Editor Tip (For Elsevier Journals): About 5 years ago, Elsevier killed all of the journal email addresses. gca@elsevier.com now goes to "Research Support" staff that cover 4000 journals. They mess up a lot, editors get maybe 50% of intended messages. If you feel ignored, google us, then email us.
Reposted by Jeff Catalano
To all prospective PhD students with an interest in organic geochemistry and paleoclimate - we have three competition-funded PhDs on offer this year via our DTP (deadline 8th Jan). More details below!
To all prospective PhD students with an interest in organic geochemistry - we are advertising 4 PhD projects this year - we have one FULLY FUNDED PhD via the Royal Society (deadline 9th Dec) and three are competition-funded via our DTP (deadline 8th Jan). Apply here: noc.ac.uk/education/gs...
December 18, 2024 at 3:36 PM
To all prospective PhD students with an interest in organic geochemistry and paleoclimate - we have three competition-funded PhDs on offer this year via our DTP (deadline 8th Jan). More details below!
Editor Tip: Journals check for text duplication (plagiarism) in manuscripts. But the software indexes theses. If you get rejected for plagiarism (or low novelty) only because you are publishing a student's thesis chapter, then complain. This is not plagiarism, just poor use of software by an editor.
December 16, 2024 at 2:19 PM
Editor Tip: Journals check for text duplication (plagiarism) in manuscripts. But the software indexes theses. If you get rejected for plagiarism (or low novelty) only because you are publishing a student's thesis chapter, then complain. This is not plagiarism, just poor use of software by an editor.