Pete Wendel
@petewendel.bsky.social
Human Centered Design & Research Leader; husband, father, caregiver; mental & intergenerational health advocate; Bikes, books, coffee, and beer.
Is it agentic or is it Memorex? (IYKYK)
August 15, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Is it agentic or is it Memorex? (IYKYK)
Reposted by Pete Wendel
People my age and older were taught the brain literally stops making new cells in adulthood.
The last 20+ years of brain plasticity research have flipped that entirely.
The last 20+ years of brain plasticity research have flipped that entirely.
Swedish researchers found thousands of newborn neurons in the hippocampus, ending a century-long argument over whether the adult human brain still produces cells. The findings confirm that our brains remain more adaptable than previously believed buff.ly/slNnujq
#ShareGoodNewsToo
#ShareGoodNewsToo
New research confirms that neurons form in the adult brain
Researchers from Sweden have discovered that the human brain continues to grow new cells in the memory region—called the hippocampus—even into old age. Using advanced tools to examine brain samples…
buff.ly
July 16, 2025 at 2:57 PM
People my age and older were taught the brain literally stops making new cells in adulthood.
The last 20+ years of brain plasticity research have flipped that entirely.
The last 20+ years of brain plasticity research have flipped that entirely.
Reposted by Pete Wendel
"Consumer Watchdog found that the best deals were offered to the wealthiest customers—with the worst deals given to the poorest people, who are least likely to have other options."
fortune.com/2025/07/16/d...
fortune.com/2025/07/16/d...
Delta moves toward eliminating set prices in favor of AI that determines how much you personally will pay for a ticket
The airline touted a partnership with an AI-enabled revenue system as a step on the road to fully personalized ticket pricing, part of its goal to raise profit margins long-term.
fortune.com
July 16, 2025 at 11:40 PM
"Consumer Watchdog found that the best deals were offered to the wealthiest customers—with the worst deals given to the poorest people, who are least likely to have other options."
fortune.com/2025/07/16/d...
fortune.com/2025/07/16/d...
An ER trip for my wife, then stomach flu, a couple days then & my step mom passed away, and moved my dad into assisted living. What day is it? Phrase of the day: cognitive dissonance.
May 4, 2025 at 7:17 PM
An ER trip for my wife, then stomach flu, a couple days then & my step mom passed away, and moved my dad into assisted living. What day is it? Phrase of the day: cognitive dissonance.
Conserving America
Another prayer in the form of a TV speech.
tommulhern-31349.medium.com
April 5, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Reposted by Pete Wendel
My favorite rural telecom fun fact is that in the early 20th century, Bell didn't want to invest in rural phone infrastructure so ranchers used their barbed wire fences to carry a telephone signal.
loriemerson.net/2024/08/31/a....
loriemerson.net/2024/08/31/a....
April 2, 2025 at 4:14 PM
My favorite rural telecom fun fact is that in the early 20th century, Bell didn't want to invest in rural phone infrastructure so ranchers used their barbed wire fences to carry a telephone signal.
loriemerson.net/2024/08/31/a....
loriemerson.net/2024/08/31/a....
At The Beautiful Minds Conference for #neurodiversity and #mentalhealth at U of Mich today.
Amazing people and stories!
Amazing people and stories!
March 25, 2025 at 2:39 PM
At The Beautiful Minds Conference for #neurodiversity and #mentalhealth at U of Mich today.
Amazing people and stories!
Amazing people and stories!
Reposted by Pete Wendel
“Why a Department of Education closure is concern for students with disabilities”
www.npr.org/2025/03/07/n...
Interview with the mother of a son with Down syndrome.
www.npr.org/2025/03/07/n...
Interview with the mother of a son with Down syndrome.
Why a Department of Education closure is concern for students with disabilities
NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Kristy Hedler, mother of a son with Down syndrome, about what eliminating the Department of Education would mean for kids who receive special education services.
www.npr.org
March 8, 2025 at 11:46 PM
“Why a Department of Education closure is concern for students with disabilities”
www.npr.org/2025/03/07/n...
Interview with the mother of a son with Down syndrome.
www.npr.org/2025/03/07/n...
Interview with the mother of a son with Down syndrome.
Reposted by Pete Wendel
Really interesting essay about organizing: How Much Discomfort Is the Whole World Worth? “If we cannot organize beyond the bounds of our comfort zones, we will never build movements large enough to combat the forces that would destroy us.” (via @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social) [bostonreview.net]
How Much Discomfort Is the Whole World Worth? - Boston Review
Movement building requires a culture of listening—not mastery of the right language.
www.bostonreview.net
February 13, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Really interesting essay about organizing: How Much Discomfort Is the Whole World Worth? “If we cannot organize beyond the bounds of our comfort zones, we will never build movements large enough to combat the forces that would destroy us.” (via @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social) [bostonreview.net]
Want to read this asap!
After 12 long years, my book “Gaming Cancer” was published today with @mitpress.bsky.social. Its basic premise is that by embedding scientific problems into the mechanics of games, we increase our chances of finding cures to diseases like cancer. #seriousgames #citizenscience.
February 14, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Want to read this asap!
Reposted by Pete Wendel
this OPM career civil servant is risking a lot to share her situation slate.com/news-and-pol...
I Work in the Office Carrying Out the Government Purge. Here’s What I Want You to Know.
We’re as freaked out and angry as everyone else.
slate.com
February 8, 2025 at 8:45 PM
this OPM career civil servant is risking a lot to share her situation slate.com/news-and-pol...
This thread on impact to NIH funded research at universities from slashing overhead rate. 👇🏽
Helpful, and alarming, thread. thanks for sharing this @carlbergstrom.com !
Helpful, and alarming, thread. thanks for sharing this @carlbergstrom.com !
1. Today the NIH director issued a new directive slashing overhead rates to 15%.
I want to provide some context on what that means and why it matters.
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
I want to provide some context on what that means and why it matters.
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
NOT-OD-25-068: Supplemental Guidance to the 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement: Indirect Cost Rates
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts: Supplemental Guidance to the 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement: Indirect Cost Rates NOT-OD-25-068. OD
grants.nih.gov
February 8, 2025 at 8:40 PM
This thread on impact to NIH funded research at universities from slashing overhead rate. 👇🏽
Helpful, and alarming, thread. thanks for sharing this @carlbergstrom.com !
Helpful, and alarming, thread. thanks for sharing this @carlbergstrom.com !
Reposted by Pete Wendel
8. It is difficult to overstate what a catastrophe this will be for the US research and education systems, particular in biomedical fields.
It is deliberate and wanton devastation entirely out of scale with any concern about DEI activities on campuses.
The goal is destroy US universities.
It is deliberate and wanton devastation entirely out of scale with any concern about DEI activities on campuses.
The goal is destroy US universities.
February 8, 2025 at 12:46 AM
8. It is difficult to overstate what a catastrophe this will be for the US research and education systems, particular in biomedical fields.
It is deliberate and wanton devastation entirely out of scale with any concern about DEI activities on campuses.
The goal is destroy US universities.
It is deliberate and wanton devastation entirely out of scale with any concern about DEI activities on campuses.
The goal is destroy US universities.
Reposted by Pete Wendel
This article gives an excellent overview of the impact on universities and US research will be if the announced cuts to NIH indirect cost rates hold.
Not good
www.forbes.com/sites/brucel...
Not good
www.forbes.com/sites/brucel...
New NIH ‘Indirect Costs’ Funding Cuts Threaten Universities, Science
On Friday, the National Institutes of Health announced major cuts to funding of indirect costs for Universities, etc. Here's the potential impact on science and society.
www.forbes.com
February 8, 2025 at 7:34 PM
This article gives an excellent overview of the impact on universities and US research will be if the announced cuts to NIH indirect cost rates hold.
Not good
www.forbes.com/sites/brucel...
Not good
www.forbes.com/sites/brucel...
Reposted by Pete Wendel
The Musk-Trump administration announced a drop in indirect cost rates for NIH grants to universities to 15%. Immediately. What does that mean?
Consider Ohio State, home of the National Football Champion Buckeyes.
OSU got $252M in NIH grants last year. The immediate cut is $68M. A lot ! 1/3
Consider Ohio State, home of the National Football Champion Buckeyes.
OSU got $252M in NIH grants last year. The immediate cut is $68M. A lot ! 1/3
February 8, 2025 at 7:07 PM
The Musk-Trump administration announced a drop in indirect cost rates for NIH grants to universities to 15%. Immediately. What does that mean?
Consider Ohio State, home of the National Football Champion Buckeyes.
OSU got $252M in NIH grants last year. The immediate cut is $68M. A lot ! 1/3
Consider Ohio State, home of the National Football Champion Buckeyes.
OSU got $252M in NIH grants last year. The immediate cut is $68M. A lot ! 1/3
“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea”
~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
February 6, 2025 at 4:53 PM
“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea”
~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Feeling this on multiple levels.
February 6, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Feeling this on multiple levels.
Reposted by Pete Wendel
if you haven't seen it in these terms, here it is
if you've been thinking about this all week, is this the first software/systems coup? (I'm assuming not) ... & what does that mean for software practice later?
we've got to stop this, & also to think about how we got here
if you've been thinking about this all week, is this the first software/systems coup? (I'm assuming not) ... & what does that mean for software practice later?
we've got to stop this, & also to think about how we got here
Of course it’s a coup. Miss the obvious, lose your republic.
open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p...
open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p...
Of course it’s a coup
Miss the obvious, lose your republic
open.substack.com
February 6, 2025 at 2:20 AM
if you haven't seen it in these terms, here it is
if you've been thinking about this all week, is this the first software/systems coup? (I'm assuming not) ... & what does that mean for software practice later?
we've got to stop this, & also to think about how we got here
if you've been thinking about this all week, is this the first software/systems coup? (I'm assuming not) ... & what does that mean for software practice later?
we've got to stop this, & also to think about how we got here
Reposted by Pete Wendel
I have been doing some accessibility training recently, and I am just...agog...that these f*ckers want to roll back accessibility initiatives too.
Every American in some way benefits from progressive changes to accessibility. Every single one.
Every American in some way benefits from progressive changes to accessibility. Every single one.
February 6, 2025 at 2:59 PM
I have been doing some accessibility training recently, and I am just...agog...that these f*ckers want to roll back accessibility initiatives too.
Every American in some way benefits from progressive changes to accessibility. Every single one.
Every American in some way benefits from progressive changes to accessibility. Every single one.
Reposted by Pete Wendel
Huh. I wonder how they can even think of abandoning so many children.
Oh, wait.
endhomelessness.org/resource/rac...
Oh, wait.
endhomelessness.org/resource/rac...
February 6, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Huh. I wonder how they can even think of abandoning so many children.
Oh, wait.
endhomelessness.org/resource/rac...
Oh, wait.
endhomelessness.org/resource/rac...
Reposted by Pete Wendel
Message worth amplifying.
Ive always said the role of #leadership is not to guarantee certainty. It’s to provide clarity.
Thank you for amplifying @peiferlabunc.bsky.social 👊🏽
#sciencesky #academicsky #medsky
Ive always said the role of #leadership is not to guarantee certainty. It’s to provide clarity.
Thank you for amplifying @peiferlabunc.bsky.social 👊🏽
#sciencesky #academicsky #medsky
So proud to be a part of a wonderful scientific society that is unwavering in its support for diversity and inclusion. @genetics-gsa.bsky.social Message from our President, Dr. Brenda Andrews: genestogenomes.org/letter-from-...
Letter from the GSA President on recent developments arising from the U.S. Presidential administration
To the GSA Community, We are carefully monitoring the changes coming from the new United States Presidential administration, including the communications pause and travel ban affecting employees of ...
genestogenomes.org
February 6, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Message worth amplifying.
Ive always said the role of #leadership is not to guarantee certainty. It’s to provide clarity.
Thank you for amplifying @peiferlabunc.bsky.social 👊🏽
#sciencesky #academicsky #medsky
Ive always said the role of #leadership is not to guarantee certainty. It’s to provide clarity.
Thank you for amplifying @peiferlabunc.bsky.social 👊🏽
#sciencesky #academicsky #medsky
House Resolution 899 introduced by Rep. Thomas Massie is set to dismantle the Department of Education. Contact your representative to demand they push back on this harmful legislation!
actionnetwork.org/letters/prot...
actionnetwork.org/letters/prot...
Protect the Department of Education - National Letter Campaign
Right now, there’s a critical threat to the future of education in America. House Resolution 899, introduced by Representative Thomas Massie, proposes abolishing the U.S. Department of Education. This...
actionnetwork.org
February 4, 2025 at 3:32 AM
House Resolution 899 introduced by Rep. Thomas Massie is set to dismantle the Department of Education. Contact your representative to demand they push back on this harmful legislation!
actionnetwork.org/letters/prot...
actionnetwork.org/letters/prot...
Reposted by Pete Wendel
