Laurie Winkless
@lauriewinkless.bsky.social
Physicist & science storyteller. 📚#1: SCIENCE AND THE CITY 📚#2: STICKY. Irish in Aotearoa New Zealand. She/her. Massive science nerd, biz owner / self-employed, enthusiastic, outspoken, equity-minded, multi-crafter #ToitūTeTiriti #FreePalestine
Reposted by Laurie Winkless
We’re looking for a postdoc to join the Hendrickson lab!
The project will involve dissecting the molecular mechanisms of a fascinating mobile element in our honeybee biocontrol phages. Sound like something you would be interested in? Get in touch! Details:
jobs.canterbury.ac.nz/jobdetails/a...
The project will involve dissecting the molecular mechanisms of a fascinating mobile element in our honeybee biocontrol phages. Sound like something you would be interested in? Get in touch! Details:
jobs.canterbury.ac.nz/jobdetails/a...
Research Associate / Postdoctoral Fellow - Honeybee Bacteriophages and Advanced Biotechnology -
University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
jobs.canterbury.ac.nz
January 9, 2026 at 12:27 AM
We’re looking for a postdoc to join the Hendrickson lab!
The project will involve dissecting the molecular mechanisms of a fascinating mobile element in our honeybee biocontrol phages. Sound like something you would be interested in? Get in touch! Details:
jobs.canterbury.ac.nz/jobdetails/a...
The project will involve dissecting the molecular mechanisms of a fascinating mobile element in our honeybee biocontrol phages. Sound like something you would be interested in? Get in touch! Details:
jobs.canterbury.ac.nz/jobdetails/a...
Reposted by Laurie Winkless
Plato has been silenced. Government censorship is alive and well in the USA
Disgusting hypocrisy from people who pretend to be for free speech
www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
Disgusting hypocrisy from people who pretend to be for free speech
www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
Plato Censored as Texas A&M Carries Out Course Review
A&M officials have also instructed English faculty not to teach books in core classes that have major plotlines concerning gay, lesbian or transgender identities.
www.insidehighered.com
January 9, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Plato has been silenced. Government censorship is alive and well in the USA
Disgusting hypocrisy from people who pretend to be for free speech
www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
Disgusting hypocrisy from people who pretend to be for free speech
www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
Today, I spent two hours walking through fern-filled bush and I feel much better for it (Ōtari-Wilton's Bush - a taonga of the capital city) #nz
January 9, 2026 at 2:57 AM
Today, I spent two hours walking through fern-filled bush and I feel much better for it (Ōtari-Wilton's Bush - a taonga of the capital city) #nz
Reposted by Laurie Winkless
For those keeping score, Bellingcat, The New York Times Visual Investigation Team, & Washington Post's Visual Forensic team have all published analysis showing the ICE shooter wasn't in the path of Renee Nicole Good’s vehicle when he shot her, contradicting statements by the President & his cronies
January 8, 2026 at 3:35 PM
For those keeping score, Bellingcat, The New York Times Visual Investigation Team, & Washington Post's Visual Forensic team have all published analysis showing the ICE shooter wasn't in the path of Renee Nicole Good’s vehicle when he shot her, contradicting statements by the President & his cronies
Reposted by Laurie Winkless
It's started! The 2026 #kakapo breeding season is under way, with the first nest found on Whenua Hou today. Pearl is on two eggs. #conservation #parrots #birds
January 8, 2026 at 2:30 AM
It's started! The 2026 #kakapo breeding season is under way, with the first nest found on Whenua Hou today. Pearl is on two eggs. #conservation #parrots #birds
Reposted by Laurie Winkless
Following the decision from the Board of the Adelaide Festival, The Australia Institute is withdrawing its support from this year’s literary festival. Here is our statement, and a personal one from me.
January 8, 2026 at 5:57 AM
Following the decision from the Board of the Adelaide Festival, The Australia Institute is withdrawing its support from this year’s literary festival. Here is our statement, and a personal one from me.
Reposted by Laurie Winkless
"Come on Carl, you have to be exaggerating."
Nope. This is the social media manager and CEO for Keeper, the "AI Matchmaker for Finding Your Soulmate", as profiled therein.
Nope. This is the social media manager and CEO for Keeper, the "AI Matchmaker for Finding Your Soulmate", as profiled therein.
January 6, 2026 at 11:58 PM
"Come on Carl, you have to be exaggerating."
Nope. This is the social media manager and CEO for Keeper, the "AI Matchmaker for Finding Your Soulmate", as profiled therein.
Nope. This is the social media manager and CEO for Keeper, the "AI Matchmaker for Finding Your Soulmate", as profiled therein.
Reposted by Laurie Winkless
If you made a Venn diagram of every weird person I knew in Silicon Valley during the first dot-com boom, centrifuged it, extracted the pellet, and re-suspended it in high-proof eugenics with a splash of AI, you'd end up with something like this.
It'll take a strong stomach to read this "gift" link.
It'll take a strong stomach to read this "gift" link.
Can You Optimize Love?
www.nytimes.com
January 6, 2026 at 11:53 PM
If you made a Venn diagram of every weird person I knew in Silicon Valley during the first dot-com boom, centrifuged it, extracted the pellet, and re-suspended it in high-proof eugenics with a splash of AI, you'd end up with something like this.
It'll take a strong stomach to read this "gift" link.
It'll take a strong stomach to read this "gift" link.
Reposted by Laurie Winkless
Rarely do you read news this positive these days. Other US cities should seriously consider implementing congestion pricing.
Congestion pricing after one year: How life has changed. (Gift Article)
How life has changed in the New York area, according to data on traffic, transit and the responses of 600 readers.
www.nytimes.com
January 5, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Rarely do you read news this positive these days. Other US cities should seriously consider implementing congestion pricing.
Reposted by Laurie Winkless
When Catherine Connolly said the US was a volatile imperial power, the people kicking up most fuss weren't the people who didn't believe her. They were the people who know she's right and don't want to piss off the volatile ass we're kissing in the name of foreign direct investment #spéirgorm
January 4, 2026 at 1:31 PM
When Catherine Connolly said the US was a volatile imperial power, the people kicking up most fuss weren't the people who didn't believe her. They were the people who know she's right and don't want to piss off the volatile ass we're kissing in the name of foreign direct investment #spéirgorm
Reposted by Laurie Winkless
Cute raccoon in a knot hole 🥰
January 4, 2026 at 12:05 AM
Cute raccoon in a knot hole 🥰
Reposted by Laurie Winkless
We had a good run
2026 could be great. We simply don't know.
January 3, 2026 at 4:08 PM
We had a good run
Reposted by Laurie Winkless
If only there were some example of the US illegally invading a country, overwhelming it with "shock and awe," quickly declaring "mission accomplished," and then things turning to shit. Oh well.
all these fucks are like bro you don't understand how precise this operation was bro no one's ever done this bro it was epic, expecting us to be like oh well in that case
January 3, 2026 at 5:11 PM
If only there were some example of the US illegally invading a country, overwhelming it with "shock and awe," quickly declaring "mission accomplished," and then things turning to shit. Oh well.
Reposted by Laurie Winkless
The international community needs to act. But it won’t of course. The USA is an absolute liability
January 3, 2026 at 9:37 AM
The international community needs to act. But it won’t of course. The USA is an absolute liability
Reposted by Laurie Winkless
The Venezuelan government has been saying for decades it’s the victim of American aggression and sabotage because the US wants to steal its natural resources, so it’s clarifying that the US is now bombing the country while the President and senior officials say they are going to steal it’s resources
January 3, 2026 at 9:21 AM
The Venezuelan government has been saying for decades it’s the victim of American aggression and sabotage because the US wants to steal its natural resources, so it’s clarifying that the US is now bombing the country while the President and senior officials say they are going to steal it’s resources
Reposted by Laurie Winkless
And the article only briefly mentions the most outrageous part- there’s no plans to hire the appropriate specialists in Wellington for the next 4-6 years
Health NZ has spent $26,000 sending North Island patients south for complex gynaecological cancer surgery, after the Wellington service collapsed.
#nzpol
#nzpol
Health NZ paying thousands to fly gynae cancer patients south
Health NZ has spent $26,000 flying North Island patients to Christchurch for complex gynaecological cancer surgery, after the Wellington service collapsed.
www.thepost.co.nz
January 3, 2026 at 1:15 AM
And the article only briefly mentions the most outrageous part- there’s no plans to hire the appropriate specialists in Wellington for the next 4-6 years
Reposted by Laurie Winkless
The worst part is that it’s my understanding every “apology” has even been people prompting it to apologize. It would still be idiotic to pretend like Grok had the self-awareness to apologize but it’s not even creating the apology unprompted.
A real news outlet publishing the phrase "Grok apologized" should result in like a week-long timeout. Think about what you've done.
January 2, 2026 at 10:36 PM
The worst part is that it’s my understanding every “apology” has even been people prompting it to apologize. It would still be idiotic to pretend like Grok had the self-awareness to apologize but it’s not even creating the apology unprompted.
My eldest nephew turns 40 today so I was digging out some cutie photos from our childhood (there's only ~2.5yrs between us, so he's really more like my lil brother). Absolutely love this one 😀
January 2, 2026 at 2:10 AM
My eldest nephew turns 40 today so I was digging out some cutie photos from our childhood (there's only ~2.5yrs between us, so he's really more like my lil brother). Absolutely love this one 😀
Reposted by Laurie Winkless
Israel to Ban International Aid Groups From Gaza
Israel’s decision to bar a number of international humanitarian organizations—among them Doctors Without Borders (MSF)—from operating in Gaza is anticipated to severely impact civilians already enduring a protracted humanitarian crisis.
Israel’s decision to bar a number of international humanitarian organizations—among them Doctors Without Borders (MSF)—from operating in Gaza is anticipated to severely impact civilians already enduring a protracted humanitarian crisis.
December 31, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Israel to Ban International Aid Groups From Gaza
Israel’s decision to bar a number of international humanitarian organizations—among them Doctors Without Borders (MSF)—from operating in Gaza is anticipated to severely impact civilians already enduring a protracted humanitarian crisis.
Israel’s decision to bar a number of international humanitarian organizations—among them Doctors Without Borders (MSF)—from operating in Gaza is anticipated to severely impact civilians already enduring a protracted humanitarian crisis.
Reposted by Laurie Winkless
“There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than a distant image of our tiny world. …it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known.”
— Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot, 1994
— Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot, 1994
Open up this picture fully.
Then look at the surface of Mars.
Then look up to the top right.
Spot Mars' moon Phobos high in the sky.
Then notice the bright spot beside Phobos.
That's Earth.
Then look at the surface of Mars.
Then look up to the top right.
Spot Mars' moon Phobos high in the sky.
Then notice the bright spot beside Phobos.
That's Earth.
December 31, 2025 at 2:35 PM
“There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than a distant image of our tiny world. …it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known.”
— Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot, 1994
— Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot, 1994
Reposted by Laurie Winkless
Open up this picture fully.
Then look at the surface of Mars.
Then look up to the top right.
Spot Mars' moon Phobos high in the sky.
Then notice the bright spot beside Phobos.
That's Earth.
Then look at the surface of Mars.
Then look up to the top right.
Spot Mars' moon Phobos high in the sky.
Then notice the bright spot beside Phobos.
That's Earth.
December 30, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Open up this picture fully.
Then look at the surface of Mars.
Then look up to the top right.
Spot Mars' moon Phobos high in the sky.
Then notice the bright spot beside Phobos.
That's Earth.
Then look at the surface of Mars.
Then look up to the top right.
Spot Mars' moon Phobos high in the sky.
Then notice the bright spot beside Phobos.
That's Earth.
My dog and my husband are asleep on the sofa 😂 I - however - am determined to stay awake til the clock strikes 12 (~35 mins to go)
December 31, 2025 at 10:24 AM
My dog and my husband are asleep on the sofa 😂 I - however - am determined to stay awake til the clock strikes 12 (~35 mins to go)
Reposted by Laurie Winkless
Out of curiosity, I just ran a few paragraphs from The Butchering Art through an AI checker and it got flagged: 88% AI. This book was released in 2017, and AI machines were subsequently trained off it. How many writers are getting flagged for AI because of the literal theft of their work(s)? Insane.
OMG - f*ck AI for ruining the em-dash for writers. I use them all the time. Of course, what a shock that AI uses them since they were trained off my voice and other authors' voices.
I'm a writer who has specifically been directed *not* to use em-dashes because "they mean it was written by AI." I can detect AI writing, but it is not simply a matter of the punctuation used.
December 30, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Out of curiosity, I just ran a few paragraphs from The Butchering Art through an AI checker and it got flagged: 88% AI. This book was released in 2017, and AI machines were subsequently trained off it. How many writers are getting flagged for AI because of the literal theft of their work(s)? Insane.