Monica Metzler
@monicametzler.bsky.social
Executive Director - Illinois Science Council
Reposted by Monica Metzler
Dramatic photos show construction equipment tearing into the East Wing façade and windows, though the federal agency that oversees such projects has not approved President Trump's 90,000-square-foot, $250 million ballroom. n.pr/48AUON2
The White House starts demolishing part of the East Wing to build Trump's ballroom
Dramatic photos show construction equipment tearing into the East Wing façade and windows, though the federal agency that oversees such projects has not approved President Trump's 90,000-square-foot, $250 million ballroom.
n.pr
October 21, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Dramatic photos show construction equipment tearing into the East Wing façade and windows, though the federal agency that oversees such projects has not approved President Trump's 90,000-square-foot, $250 million ballroom. n.pr/48AUON2
Reposted by Monica Metzler
The Democrats need to get a hell of a lot of cameras on the White House and plaster the photos everywhere. It's not just the brazen symbol of a megalomaniac destroying national heritage; it's happening during a government shutdown when ordinary people aren't getting paid. Make every American see it.
October 20, 2025 at 7:23 PM
The Democrats need to get a hell of a lot of cameras on the White House and plaster the photos everywhere. It's not just the brazen symbol of a megalomaniac destroying national heritage; it's happening during a government shutdown when ordinary people aren't getting paid. Make every American see it.
The Brain & Nature is third in ISC's 5-talk series on neuroscience topics relevant to all of us. Dr. Marc Berman, UChicago, will present very interesting research about nature's impact, not just on moods, but actually on attention, focus, and memory too.
September 29, 2025 at 8:18 PM
The Brain & Nature is third in ISC's 5-talk series on neuroscience topics relevant to all of us. Dr. Marc Berman, UChicago, will present very interesting research about nature's impact, not just on moods, but actually on attention, focus, and memory too.
Reposted by Monica Metzler
Go fish.
Illinois election officials decline to give Justice Department sensitive voter data
Illinois election officials late Tuesday told President Donald Trump’s Justice Department the state would not comply with the federal agency’s demand for sensitive data on the state’s roughly 8.3 mill...
www.yahoo.com
September 3, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Go fish.
Too many friends are now evangelists touting their use of AI for every ridiculous little thing. It makes me feel like the only one in the world with any concern or hesitation about insane levels of energy it requires. I'm no luddite but think it's going to take us in some nightmarish directions.
Even if you're agnostic about generative AI and cryptocurrency, you have reason to be concerned about them: they're almost certainly going to increase your monthly power bill. By a lot. 🧪
Analysis here:
www.cmu.edu/work-that-ma...
Analysis here:
www.cmu.edu/work-that-ma...
Data Center Growth Could Increase Electricity Bills 8% Nationally and as Much as 25% in Some Regional Markets
www.cmu.edu
September 4, 2025 at 5:18 AM
Too many friends are now evangelists touting their use of AI for every ridiculous little thing. It makes me feel like the only one in the world with any concern or hesitation about insane levels of energy it requires. I'm no luddite but think it's going to take us in some nightmarish directions.
Reposted by Monica Metzler
A WBEZ analysis has found that a three-month summer span saw the fewest murders in 60 years in Chicago while overall violent crime remained near its lowest point in at least four decades. chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/09...
Chicago sees fewest summer murders since 1965, even as Trump cites high crime
The Chicago Police Department’s criminal homicide tally for June, July and August is the lowest in 60 years. And overall violent crime remains near its lowest point in more than four decades.
chicago.suntimes.com
September 3, 2025 at 4:28 PM
A WBEZ analysis has found that a three-month summer span saw the fewest murders in 60 years in Chicago while overall violent crime remained near its lowest point in at least four decades. chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/09...
Reposted by Monica Metzler
Along with Julia Wester, Shiffman surveyed over 800 scientists, science educators, and science communicators and found that Twitter—once the gold standard for online science discussion—is being abandoned by scientists in droves
www.southernfriedscience.com/twitter-suck...
www.southernfriedscience.com/twitter-suck...
“Twitter sucks now and all the cool kids are moving to Bluesky:” Our new survey shows that scientists no longer find Twitter professionally useful or pleasant
My colleague Dr. Julia Wester and I have a new paper out in the journal Integrative and Comparative Biology reporting on the results of a survey distributed to over 800 scientists, science educator…
www.southernfriedscience.com
September 3, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Along with Julia Wester, Shiffman surveyed over 800 scientists, science educators, and science communicators and found that Twitter—once the gold standard for online science discussion—is being abandoned by scientists in droves
www.southernfriedscience.com/twitter-suck...
www.southernfriedscience.com/twitter-suck...
Reposted by Monica Metzler
Without a doubt, the best part of my job is when students stop by to ask questions that aren't about grades.
If you are a college student, maybe a week or two into the semester, why not visit office hours and ask your professor that question?
You know, that thing you were wondering in class? Or when you were doing the homework?
Go ask them! That’s why they are there. They will be excited to see you.
You know, that thing you were wondering in class? Or when you were doing the homework?
Go ask them! That’s why they are there. They will be excited to see you.
September 3, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Without a doubt, the best part of my job is when students stop by to ask questions that aren't about grades.
Chicago folks -- this great program will give you a "Tour of Your Emotional Brain" as the first in IL Science Council's series of neuroscience science talks with expert Q&A. Following this will be more 'Your Brain on...' programs about: Addiction; Fear; Nature; and on Misinformation. Get tix today!
Your Emotional Brain | Illinois Science Council
The first in our series on the brain, Dr. Robin Nusslock, Northwestern University, will give an intriguing tour of the three main systems of our emotional brain – fear, reward, and regulation – that m...
www.illinoisscience.org
September 4, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Chicago folks -- this great program will give you a "Tour of Your Emotional Brain" as the first in IL Science Council's series of neuroscience science talks with expert Q&A. Following this will be more 'Your Brain on...' programs about: Addiction; Fear; Nature; and on Misinformation. Get tix today!
Reposted by Monica Metzler
Reader, I choked up
September 4, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Reader, I choked up
Reposted by Monica Metzler
Trump will learn Chicago isn’t a city you mess with. This is a place that saw regular pizza and said, “Hey, what if we make that about 2 inches deeper and put more cheese on it?” This is a place of bare knuckles and hard work, a place where resistance runs deep.
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
Trump threatens Chicago with ICE, National Guard invasion. My city isn't having it. | Opinion
We in this 'City of the Big Shoulders' are preparing for a likely Donald Trump-ordered invasion of federal immigration agents or federal troops.
www.usatoday.com
September 3, 2025 at 1:56 AM
Trump will learn Chicago isn’t a city you mess with. This is a place that saw regular pizza and said, “Hey, what if we make that about 2 inches deeper and put more cheese on it?” This is a place of bare knuckles and hard work, a place where resistance runs deep.
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
Reposted by Monica Metzler
Somebody somewhere
Needs an endless field of flowers tonight
PS
Best seen
Full screen
Needs an endless field of flowers tonight
PS
Best seen
Full screen
August 17, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Somebody somewhere
Needs an endless field of flowers tonight
PS
Best seen
Full screen
Needs an endless field of flowers tonight
PS
Best seen
Full screen
Reposted by Monica Metzler
I cannot emphasize enough that the playbook being used against mRNA vaccines (and vaccines in general) is IDENTICAL to the playbook used to restrict voting rights after the 2020 election: actively sow public distrust, then cite the distrust you sowed as an independent reason for your desired policy
Opinion | Jay Bhattacharya: Why the NIH is pivoting away from mRNA vaccines
As a vaccine for broad public use, mRNA technology has failed to earn the public’s trust.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 12, 2025 at 9:40 PM
I cannot emphasize enough that the playbook being used against mRNA vaccines (and vaccines in general) is IDENTICAL to the playbook used to restrict voting rights after the 2020 election: actively sow public distrust, then cite the distrust you sowed as an independent reason for your desired policy
Reposted by Monica Metzler
🧵 Let's talk about "AI" - driven "news" sites and "AI" or scam journalist accounts and how to spot them, along with the disinformation they spew
I'll start with "accomplished magazine journalist" Bill Caine
1. Check followers: I've never seen a journalist with such a lopsided follower count
I'll start with "accomplished magazine journalist" Bill Caine
1. Check followers: I've never seen a journalist with such a lopsided follower count
July 7, 2025 at 6:13 PM
🧵 Let's talk about "AI" - driven "news" sites and "AI" or scam journalist accounts and how to spot them, along with the disinformation they spew
I'll start with "accomplished magazine journalist" Bill Caine
1. Check followers: I've never seen a journalist with such a lopsided follower count
I'll start with "accomplished magazine journalist" Bill Caine
1. Check followers: I've never seen a journalist with such a lopsided follower count
Reposted by Monica Metzler
9 Federally Funded Scientific Breakthroughs That Changed Everything (Gift Article) www.nytimes.com/2025/05/16/s...
🧪
🧪
9 Federally Funded Scientific Breakthroughs That Changed Everything (Gift Article)
The U.S. is slashing funding for scientific research, after decades of deep investment. Here’s some of what those taxpayer dollars created.
www.nytimes.com
May 19, 2025 at 11:01 PM
9 Federally Funded Scientific Breakthroughs That Changed Everything (Gift Article) www.nytimes.com/2025/05/16/s...
🧪
🧪
If you're in Chicago next Wednesday, come hang out with us and talk science stuff. No speaker, no agenda, just people meeting and chatting with other people who like science! sciencesocial9.eventbrite.com
May 20, 2025 at 12:02 AM
If you're in Chicago next Wednesday, come hang out with us and talk science stuff. No speaker, no agenda, just people meeting and chatting with other people who like science! sciencesocial9.eventbrite.com
Reposted by Monica Metzler
NASA Ordered to Remove Anything About ‘Women in Leadership’ From Its Websites: Report gizmodo.com/nasa-ordered...
NASA Ordered to Remove Anything About 'Women in Leadership' From Its Websites: Report
gizmodo.com
February 5, 2025 at 5:21 PM
NASA Ordered to Remove Anything About ‘Women in Leadership’ From Its Websites: Report gizmodo.com/nasa-ordered...
Reposted by Monica Metzler
The world’s richest person, without any actual authority, is infiltrating entire govt agencies and gaining access to sensitive info.
And it's being done in an effort to slash federal spending in the name of "efficiency" so America’s wealthy can get another huge tax cut.
And it's being done in an effort to slash federal spending in the name of "efficiency" so America’s wealthy can get another huge tax cut.
February 5, 2025 at 11:22 PM
The world’s richest person, without any actual authority, is infiltrating entire govt agencies and gaining access to sensitive info.
And it's being done in an effort to slash federal spending in the name of "efficiency" so America’s wealthy can get another huge tax cut.
And it's being done in an effort to slash federal spending in the name of "efficiency" so America’s wealthy can get another huge tax cut.
Reposted by Monica Metzler
Very cool
Norway nears 100 per cent goal of all-electric cars - Almost 96 per cent of new cars registered in Norway in January were electric, an unparalled number in the world and close to the country’s goal of selling only zero-emission vehicles as of this year.
www.ctvnews.ca/business/aut...
www.ctvnews.ca/business/aut...
Norway nears 100 per cent goal of all-electric cars
Almost 96 per cent of new cars registered in Norway in January were electric, an unparalled number in the world and close to the country’s goal of selling only zero-emission vehicles as of this year.
www.ctvnews.ca
February 5, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Very cool
Reposted by Monica Metzler
Every day is Christmas for Putin now.
February 5, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Every day is Christmas for Putin now.
Reposted by Monica Metzler
The United States Military Academy has just eliminated all Cadet clubs and activities for POC. Most of these have existed for decades like the Society of Black Engineers. They were there when I was a Cadet in 1987. All of the religious ones remain. This isn’t DEI. It’s white Christian Nationalism.
February 5, 2025 at 2:27 PM
The United States Military Academy has just eliminated all Cadet clubs and activities for POC. Most of these have existed for decades like the Society of Black Engineers. They were there when I was a Cadet in 1987. All of the religious ones remain. This isn’t DEI. It’s white Christian Nationalism.
Reposted by Monica Metzler
6 kids doing his illegal work with direct ties to his businesses, Thiel, and other mad men. www.wired.com/story/elon-m...
The Young, Inexperienced Engineers Aiding Elon Musk's Government Takeover
Engineers between 19 and 24, most linked to Musk’s companies, are playing a key role as he seizes control of federal infrastructure.
www.wired.com
February 2, 2025 at 10:44 PM
6 kids doing his illegal work with direct ties to his businesses, Thiel, and other mad men. www.wired.com/story/elon-m...
Reposted by Monica Metzler
For those wanting a legible version, click here: www.gutenberg.org/files/26184/...
The Project Gutenberg eBook of Simple Sabotage Field Manual, by Office of Strategic Services
www.gutenberg.org
February 2, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Reposted by Monica Metzler
At a confirmation hearing, Democratic senators confronted Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about controversial comments they said he had made in the past. Kennedy, the nominee for secretary of health and human services, either denied having said those things or said he wasn’t sure he had said them.
Fact check: RFK Jr. denied saying things he did say | CNN Politics
Over and over at a confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Democratic senators confronted Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about controversial comments they said he had made in the past. And over and over, President ...
www.cnn.com
February 1, 2025 at 8:04 PM
At a confirmation hearing, Democratic senators confronted Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about controversial comments they said he had made in the past. Kennedy, the nominee for secretary of health and human services, either denied having said those things or said he wasn’t sure he had said them.
Reposted by Monica Metzler
Trump fires heads of TSA, Coast Guard and guts key aviation safety advisory committee
apnews.com/article/coas...
apnews.com/article/coas...
Trump fires heads of TSA, Coast Guard and guts key aviation safety advisory committee
President Donald Trump has moved quickly to remake the Department of Homeland Security by firing the heads of the Transportation Security Administration and Coast Guard before their terms are up while...
apnews.com
February 1, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Trump fires heads of TSA, Coast Guard and guts key aviation safety advisory committee
apnews.com/article/coas...
apnews.com/article/coas...