Jeff Manuel
@jeffmanuel.bsky.social
Historian of Energy, Technology, and the Environment; Professor at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville; Coauthor of "Ethanol: A Hemispheric History for the Future of Biofuels;” Public and Oral History Practitioner.
jeffmanuel.com
jeffmanuel.com
Pinned
Jeff Manuel
@jeffmanuel.bsky.social
· Oct 7
Ethanol - University of Oklahoma Press
Though ethanol, a liquid fuel made from agricultural byproducts, has generated controversy in recent years—good or bad for the environment? a big-ag boon o...
www.oupress.com
It's the official publication day for ETHANOL: A HEMISPHERIC HISTORY FOR THE FUTURE OF BIOFUELS. Want to know why the US turns 40 percent of the corn crop into fuel? How the US and Brazil became the world's two largest ethanol producers? Tom Rogers and I have answers.
www.oupress.com/978080619601...
www.oupress.com/978080619601...
Reposted by Jeff Manuel
This is a rare example of doing two type of opeds often done poorly well (AI & Rust Belt op-eds)
Opinion | When A.I. Took My Job, I Bought a Chain Saw
www.nytimes.com
December 29, 2025 at 1:59 AM
This is a rare example of doing two type of opeds often done poorly well (AI & Rust Belt op-eds)
This mana-tea infuser is a favorite gift this year. But pouring hot water on this guy feels like a sad metaphor for climate change.
December 28, 2025 at 10:24 PM
This mana-tea infuser is a favorite gift this year. But pouring hot water on this guy feels like a sad metaphor for climate change.
Another holiday confirming that Gen X and elder millennials are the undisputed champs of family tech support. From Apple IIe to AI, we’ve seen it and can MacGyver a fix.
December 26, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Another holiday confirming that Gen X and elder millennials are the undisputed champs of family tech support. From Apple IIe to AI, we’ve seen it and can MacGyver a fix.
I was just talking about what kind of bicycle you can ride while wearing a blazer without looking silly. The answer is
(a) a classic roadster, or
(b) anything if you’re Humphrey Bogart.
(a) a classic roadster, or
(b) anything if you’re Humphrey Bogart.
December 25, 2025 at 10:41 PM
I was just talking about what kind of bicycle you can ride while wearing a blazer without looking silly. The answer is
(a) a classic roadster, or
(b) anything if you’re Humphrey Bogart.
(a) a classic roadster, or
(b) anything if you’re Humphrey Bogart.
On FarmDoc daily, Scott Irwin has a nice analysis of the timing of US corn ethanol investments and the Renewable Fuel Standards. In short, banning MTBE as a fuel additive *before* RFS was a causal factor.
farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2025/12/what...
farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2025/12/what...
What Caused the U.S. Ethanol Boom? - farmdoc daily
Scott Irwin -
farmdocdaily.illinois.edu
December 23, 2025 at 3:52 PM
On FarmDoc daily, Scott Irwin has a nice analysis of the timing of US corn ethanol investments and the Renewable Fuel Standards. In short, banning MTBE as a fuel additive *before* RFS was a causal factor.
farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2025/12/what...
farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2025/12/what...
Trying to understand why the Trump administration is dismantling NCAR, so I asked for an AI summary. But now I'm more confused than ever
December 22, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Trying to understand why the Trump administration is dismantling NCAR, so I asked for an AI summary. But now I'm more confused than ever
Steps for to help a 5th grader finish their homework before break:
1. Log in to PowerSchool to see what the assignment are
2. Log in to the parent side of Schoology to see the instructions for each assignment
3. Help with logging in to Canva to complete the assignment
1. Log in to PowerSchool to see what the assignment are
2. Log in to the parent side of Schoology to see the instructions for each assignment
3. Help with logging in to Canva to complete the assignment
December 20, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Steps for to help a 5th grader finish their homework before break:
1. Log in to PowerSchool to see what the assignment are
2. Log in to the parent side of Schoology to see the instructions for each assignment
3. Help with logging in to Canva to complete the assignment
1. Log in to PowerSchool to see what the assignment are
2. Log in to the parent side of Schoology to see the instructions for each assignment
3. Help with logging in to Canva to complete the assignment
Can confirm that upside-down Andes mints work as rooftop solar panels for gingerbread houses
December 20, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Can confirm that upside-down Andes mints work as rooftop solar panels for gingerbread houses
Good article on the benefits of a bell-to-bell phone ban in schools. Here in Illinois it looks like we're moving toward an instructional-time ban. To me, this is like the old no smoking section in a restaurant: better than nothing but not a long-term answer
I had so much fun talking to high school students about what they're doing in school now that they're not on their phones all day!
nymag.com/intelligence....
nymag.com/intelligence....
How the Phone Ban Saved High School
Since the bell-to-bell device lockup, teens in New York have rediscovered the simple pleasures of conversation, board games, and poker.
nymag.com
December 16, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Good article on the benefits of a bell-to-bell phone ban in schools. Here in Illinois it looks like we're moving toward an instructional-time ban. To me, this is like the old no smoking section in a restaurant: better than nothing but not a long-term answer
I’m always fascinated by the energy systems in speculative fiction. As far as I can tell, the world in George Packer’s _The Emergency_ has extensive switchgrass farms and the cars drive on switchgrass and soybean biofuels.
December 12, 2025 at 1:47 AM
I’m always fascinated by the energy systems in speculative fiction. As far as I can tell, the world in George Packer’s _The Emergency_ has extensive switchgrass farms and the cars drive on switchgrass and soybean biofuels.
Reposted by Jeff Manuel
Call for applications - Become DePOT's new Artist in Residence! CA$ 16,000 in funding is available for an artist or group of artists exploring this year's theme of Deindustrialization and the Environment - Apply by January 15!
Artists in Residence – Deindustrialization
The DePOT Artist in Residence (DePOT AIR) program supports creative engagements with the historical roots and lived experience of deindustrialization. We are interested in proposals that range across…
deindustrialization.org
December 5, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Call for applications - Become DePOT's new Artist in Residence! CA$ 16,000 in funding is available for an artist or group of artists exploring this year's theme of Deindustrialization and the Environment - Apply by January 15!
As the editor of a county-level digital encyclopedia, I endorse every word of this. State and regional online encyclopedias are essential reference resources, now more than ever, but they're at risk.
ncph.org/history-at-w...
🗃️
ncph.org/history-at-w...
🗃️
An argument for the basics: advocating for reference projects in this time of erasure | National Council on Public History
In this time of erasure and censorship, basic historical reference resources remain crucial—yet often overlooked—tools in providing accessible and inclusive historical knowledge to the public.
ncph.org
December 11, 2025 at 4:42 PM
As the editor of a county-level digital encyclopedia, I endorse every word of this. State and regional online encyclopedias are essential reference resources, now more than ever, but they're at risk.
ncph.org/history-at-w...
🗃️
ncph.org/history-at-w...
🗃️
A European working with Americans on clean energy in 2025: “I often feel like I’m somewhere between Tocqueville and Borat — impressed by American innovation, but puzzled by the anti-science politics that seem to hold it back.”
December 11, 2025 at 2:31 PM
A European working with Americans on clean energy in 2025: “I often feel like I’m somewhere between Tocqueville and Borat — impressed by American innovation, but puzzled by the anti-science politics that seem to hold it back.”
Which way, midcentury man?
December 10, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Which way, midcentury man?
Thanks to @drkevinrmcclure.com for letting me tell a little story about how my department turned our abandoned grad assistant office into a "clubhouse" and it's been a glimmer of fun in an otherwise dark semester.
In the newest installment of Working Better, I explore faculty motivation in what could be considered one of the most uniquely demotivating moments in the recent history of higher ed. www.chronicle.com/article/facu...
Advice | Faculty Motivation in a Uniquely Demotivating Time
It’s unreasonable to expect professors to hit hurdle after hurdle and still stay in the race. Institutions are going to have to clear some obstacles.
www.chronicle.com
December 9, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Thanks to @drkevinrmcclure.com for letting me tell a little story about how my department turned our abandoned grad assistant office into a "clubhouse" and it's been a glimmer of fun in an otherwise dark semester.
“K shaped economy” is an anodyne way of saying a society of haves and have-nots
December 7, 2025 at 5:01 PM
“K shaped economy” is an anodyne way of saying a society of haves and have-nots
My friend—and NU roommate—John Mone has a powerful critique of Northwestern’s recent deal with the Trump administration in the Daily Northwestern
dailynorthwestern.com/2025/12/06/o...
dailynorthwestern.com/2025/12/06/o...
Opinion | The great surrender of my alma mater
Opinion Contributor John Mone (Medill BSJ '01 Medill MSJ '02) questions the decision to settle with the Trump administration.
dailynorthwestern.com
December 6, 2025 at 10:25 PM
My friend—and NU roommate—John Mone has a powerful critique of Northwestern’s recent deal with the Trump administration in the Daily Northwestern
dailynorthwestern.com/2025/12/06/o...
dailynorthwestern.com/2025/12/06/o...
If you have nature-loving kids on your holiday shopping list, check out the young readers' edition of @edyong209.bsky.social's _An Immense World_. I'm reading this with an elementary-age kiddo right now and it's been delightful.
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/744291...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/744291...
An Immense World (Young Readers Edition) by Ed Yong: 9780593810880 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
The New York Times bestseller now available with beautiful full-color illustrations for young readers! Explore the amazing ways animals see, hear, and feel the world, with Pulitzer Prize winner Ed Yon...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
December 5, 2025 at 7:09 PM
If you have nature-loving kids on your holiday shopping list, check out the young readers' edition of @edyong209.bsky.social's _An Immense World_. I'm reading this with an elementary-age kiddo right now and it's been delightful.
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/744291...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/744291...
Thanks to Sue Retka Schill for inviting Tom Rogers and me onto the Homegrown Fuels podcast to talk about our book and the history of ethanol fuel. Fun conversation!
youtu.be/wYpOz7CfiaA?...
youtu.be/wYpOz7CfiaA?...
Special EPM Podcast Series hosted by Sue Retka Schill featuring Tom Rogers and Jeff Manuel
YouTube video by Ethanol Producer Magazine
youtu.be
December 5, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Thanks to Sue Retka Schill for inviting Tom Rogers and me onto the Homegrown Fuels podcast to talk about our book and the history of ethanol fuel. Fun conversation!
youtu.be/wYpOz7CfiaA?...
youtu.be/wYpOz7CfiaA?...
So, the plot in Zootopia 2 is literally “drain the swamp?”
December 5, 2025 at 1:06 PM
So, the plot in Zootopia 2 is literally “drain the swamp?”
Reposted by Jeff Manuel
energy scholars, join us! www.eventbrite.ca/e/roundtable... @nichecanada.bsky.social @shastingssimon.bsky.social @jeffmanuel.bsky.social @pamelabanting.bsky.social
December 4, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Returns to a mixture of gasoline *and alcohol* as fuel of choice. Most fuel in the US is 10 percent ethanol.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/c...
Trump Returns to Gasoline as Fuel of Choice for Cars, Gutting Biden’s Climate Policy
www.nytimes.com
December 4, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Returns to a mixture of gasoline *and alcohol* as fuel of choice. Most fuel in the US is 10 percent ethanol.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/c...
USGS: wait, *we’re* the lab of the rocks!
Today, DOE renamed the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), one of the crown jewels of U.S. science and engineering for renewable energy, the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). We should be reinvesting in our world-leading national labs not renaming them. www.nrel.gov/news/detail/...
News Release: Energy Department Renames NREL 'National Lab of the Rockies' | NREL
www.nrel.gov
December 2, 2025 at 2:27 AM
USGS: wait, *we’re* the lab of the rocks!
[Die Workwear guy rating a wardrobe with great shoes and a cheesy hat] Strong Floor, No Ceiling
[looking at an open faced hot turkey sandwich] Strong Floor, No Ceiling
November 30, 2025 at 8:43 PM
[Die Workwear guy rating a wardrobe with great shoes and a cheesy hat] Strong Floor, No Ceiling
Disappointed to report that AI has yet to disrupt shoveling my driveway
November 29, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Disappointed to report that AI has yet to disrupt shoveling my driveway