Richard West
@richardhwest.bsky.social
Assoc. Prof. of Chemical Engineering at Northeastern U. in Boston); computational chemistry and kinetics; reaction mechanism generation. Parenting. Music. Food.
I love the geekiness of the North American Catalysis Society. Most conferences have bronze, silver, and gold sponsors. #NAM29 has Rhodium sponsors above Gold, because Rhodium is 5x more valuable as a catalyst than Gold (e.g. it’s better at three-way catalytic converters for NOₓ reduction).
June 13, 2025 at 1:08 AM
I love the geekiness of the North American Catalysis Society. Most conferences have bronze, silver, and gold sponsors. #NAM29 has Rhodium sponsors above Gold, because Rhodium is 5x more valuable as a catalyst than Gold (e.g. it’s better at three-way catalytic converters for NOₓ reduction).
Reposted by Richard West
If you burn down a forest, you don't miss out on lumber for just that season. You have to replant all the trees, nurture them, and wait for them to grow.
The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.
The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.
June 3, 2025 at 9:02 PM
If you burn down a forest, you don't miss out on lumber for just that season. You have to replant all the trees, nurture them, and wait for them to grow.
The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.
The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.
Actively considering the beauty of art increases abstract thinking and transformative emotion
www.cam.ac.uk/stories/arti...
www.cam.ac.uk/stories/arti...
Pondering artistic beauty encourages ‘big picture’ thinking
A psychological experiment conducted at Kettle's Yard suggests that actively considering the beauty of art increases abstract thinking and “transformative” emotion – helping us escape the “mental trap...
www.cam.ac.uk
May 20, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Actively considering the beauty of art increases abstract thinking and transformative emotion
www.cam.ac.uk/stories/arti...
www.cam.ac.uk/stories/arti...
Reposted by Richard West
Price et al. developed an automated workflow using Pynta to train ML potentials for rapid transition-state searches. They report up to 20× speedups over DFT and streamlined generation of microkinetic data. pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....
Automated Pynta-Based Curriculum for ML-Accelerated Calculation of Transition States
Microkinetic models (MKMs) are widely used within the computational heterogeneous catalysis community to investigate complex reaction mechanisms, to rationalize experimental trends, and to accelerate ...
pubs.acs.org
April 14, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Price et al. developed an automated workflow using Pynta to train ML potentials for rapid transition-state searches. They report up to 20× speedups over DFT and streamlined generation of microkinetic data. pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....
A nice essay www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
America and Its Universities Need a New Social Contract
Fifty dollars for STEM, five cents for citizenship—that’s how America apportions its education dollars. Our beleaguered universities must redress the balance—helping the country and themselves.
www.theatlantic.com
April 14, 2025 at 12:50 PM
A nice essay www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Reposted by Richard West
By hacking genomes, this Northeastern University researcher devised a new way to grow plastic and feed astronauts. @northeasternu.bsky.social
Read more: news.northeastern.edu/2025/02/03/g...
Read more: news.northeastern.edu/2025/02/03/g...
This Northeastern researcher is hacking genomes to grow plastic and feed astronauts
This Northeastern researcher is engineering genomes to revolutionize what calls can do, from growing plastic to feeding astronauts.
news.northeastern.edu
February 12, 2025 at 3:37 PM
By hacking genomes, this Northeastern University researcher devised a new way to grow plastic and feed astronauts. @northeasternu.bsky.social
Read more: news.northeastern.edu/2025/02/03/g...
Read more: news.northeastern.edu/2025/02/03/g...
South Korea air-force jets accidentally drop bombs on homes, injuring 15 - Reuters. “The accident was due to a pilot entering incorrect coordinates”
Oops!
Oops!
March 6, 2025 at 1:36 PM
South Korea air-force jets accidentally drop bombs on homes, injuring 15 - Reuters. “The accident was due to a pilot entering incorrect coordinates”
Oops!
Oops!
Reposted by Richard West
New paper from us. We modeled the localized charging and discharging (i.e. balancing) that happens in a battery after a high current pulse. pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....
Modeling High Current Pulsed Discharge in AA Battery Cathodes: The Effect of Localized Charging during Rest
During high current operation, substantial heterogeneity develops within battery cathodes, particularly when their thickness is large. Heterogeneity relaxation during subsequent rest is important for ...
pubs.acs.org
March 3, 2025 at 5:41 PM
New paper from us. We modeled the localized charging and discharging (i.e. balancing) that happens in a battery after a high current pulse. pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....
Understanding the Real Costs of Research - A nice explainer video about these NIH “indirect” costs, from 2019. youtu.be/GzNcZh49f-s?...
Understanding the Real Costs of Research
YouTube video by AAMCtoday
youtu.be
February 10, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Understanding the Real Costs of Research - A nice explainer video about these NIH “indirect” costs, from 2019. youtu.be/GzNcZh49f-s?...
Yay! A study I've been meaning to do for years! Di Lorenzo, E., Romano, F., Ciriaco, L. et al. Periodic cooking of eggs. Commun Eng 4, 5 (2025). doi.org/10.1038/s441...
But they neglect natural convection inside the egg, which I've often wondered about.
But they neglect natural convection inside the egg, which I've often wondered about.
Periodic cooking of eggs - Communications Engineering
Emilia Di Lorenzo and colleagues propose an approach to address the energy transport problem of cooking the albumen and yolk of a boiled egg at their optimal temperatures without separation. By altern...
doi.org
February 10, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Yay! A study I've been meaning to do for years! Di Lorenzo, E., Romano, F., Ciriaco, L. et al. Periodic cooking of eggs. Commun Eng 4, 5 (2025). doi.org/10.1038/s441...
But they neglect natural convection inside the egg, which I've often wondered about.
But they neglect natural convection inside the egg, which I've often wondered about.
Reposted by Richard West
May I suggest a soothing cup of Earl Grey or an invigorating Assam to pair with the talk? Join me for this ACS webinar where we'll take a dive into the fantastic molecular mash-up that is a cup of tea. www.acs.org/acs-webinars...
Steeped in Science: The Chemistry Inside Your Perfect Cup of Tea - American Chemical Society
Learn the chemistry behind the different styles of tea and how to use science to brew a better cup!
www.acs.org
January 29, 2025 at 7:41 PM
May I suggest a soothing cup of Earl Grey or an invigorating Assam to pair with the talk? Join me for this ACS webinar where we'll take a dive into the fantastic molecular mash-up that is a cup of tea. www.acs.org/acs-webinars...
Reposted by Richard West
This Wednesday I will be giving a webinar open to the public about the potential and mechanisms of Programmable Catalysis. I invite you to join!
www.chemcatbio.org/resources/we...
www.chemcatbio.org/resources/we...
January 27, 2025 at 8:28 PM
This Wednesday I will be giving a webinar open to the public about the potential and mechanisms of Programmable Catalysis. I invite you to join!
www.chemcatbio.org/resources/we...
www.chemcatbio.org/resources/we...
Reposted by Richard West
I’m an NSF panel reviewer that was scheduled to meet today. Just got notice that all NSF panels were canceled today. I reviewed some innovative proposals in support of students. Devastating if these scholars don’t get to do this work. For the love of science & students I hope this is just a delay.💔
January 27, 2025 at 2:45 PM
I’m an NSF panel reviewer that was scheduled to meet today. Just got notice that all NSF panels were canceled today. I reviewed some innovative proposals in support of students. Devastating if these scholars don’t get to do this work. For the love of science & students I hope this is just a delay.💔
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Ironic posting this to your feed, but it’s worth a moment of your attention
Ironic posting this to your feed, but it’s worth a moment of your attention
You’re Being Alienated From Your Own Attention
Every single aspect of human life is being reoriented around the pursuit of attention.
www.theatlantic.com
January 23, 2025 at 1:44 AM
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Ironic posting this to your feed, but it’s worth a moment of your attention
Ironic posting this to your feed, but it’s worth a moment of your attention
Reposted by Richard West
The @northeasternu.bsky.social global news did a nice writeup of our study on background music and ADHD #neuroskyence #musicscience #psysky news.northeastern.edu/2025/01/14/m...
Music can improve focus for people with ADHD. Here’s what to listen for
New research from Northeastern music professor Psyche Loui and Brain.fm pinpoints the musical characteristics that can help concentration.
news.northeastern.edu
January 16, 2025 at 4:18 AM
The @northeasternu.bsky.social global news did a nice writeup of our study on background music and ADHD #neuroskyence #musicscience #psysky news.northeastern.edu/2025/01/14/m...
Reposted by Richard West
Still the best two sentences on climate action.
December 29, 2024 at 5:42 PM
Still the best two sentences on climate action.
Interviewer: Can you explain this gap in your resume?
Me: my compute jobs were in the queue on Perlmutter
Me: my compute jobs were in the queue on Perlmutter
Interviewer: Can you explain this gap in your resume?
Me: I was waiting for the UHV chamber to pump down.
Me: I was waiting for the UHV chamber to pump down.
Interviewer: Can you explain this gap in your resume?
Me: I was waiting for the NMR
Me: I was waiting for the NMR
December 21, 2024 at 12:55 AM
Interviewer: Can you explain this gap in your resume?
Me: my compute jobs were in the queue on Perlmutter
Me: my compute jobs were in the queue on Perlmutter
😟
Faced with a budget shortfall, the University of Akron (UA) is proposing to merge its department of chemistry; department of chemical, biomolecular, and corrosion engineering; and School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering. cen.acs.org/careers/empl...
University of Akron proposes cuts to polymer program
Up to 10 of the 19 faculty positions are slated to be eliminated, unless alternative cost-saving measures are found
cen.acs.org
December 14, 2024 at 8:23 PM
😟
This looks intriguing. Is anyone using it already? Got any first hand experience to share?
There is finally a reactive Notebook for Python: marimo.io This looks really great.
January 13, 2024 at 1:54 PM
This looks intriguing. Is anyone using it already? Got any first hand experience to share?
Reposted by Richard West
Hey Chemsky: the first issue of Nature Chemical Engineering is live! I've been involved in 3 journal launches, but this is the first as Editorial Director. The Chief Ed (Tom Dursch) and team have done an amazing job. The first issue is free to read. Check it out here: www.nature.com/natchemeng/v...
January 13, 2024 at 1:28 PM
Hey Chemsky: the first issue of Nature Chemical Engineering is live! I've been involved in 3 journal launches, but this is the first as Editorial Director. The Chief Ed (Tom Dursch) and team have done an amazing job. The first issue is free to read. Check it out here: www.nature.com/natchemeng/v...
Reposted by Richard West
New from me: I wrote about how search algorithms have created a web full of content and words for Google, not humans. We made a fake lizard website to show you what has happened over 25 yrs.
The visuals are beautiful. I’m so proud to work with such talented people! www.theverge.com/c/23998379/g...
The visuals are beautiful. I’m so proud to work with such talented people! www.theverge.com/c/23998379/g...
January 8, 2024 at 4:17 PM
New from me: I wrote about how search algorithms have created a web full of content and words for Google, not humans. We made a fake lizard website to show you what has happened over 25 yrs.
The visuals are beautiful. I’m so proud to work with such talented people! www.theverge.com/c/23998379/g...
The visuals are beautiful. I’m so proud to work with such talented people! www.theverge.com/c/23998379/g...
Years ago, as a teaching assistant for Quantitative Risk Assessment and Process Safety, I could calculate how often you must test backup systems for them to have any chance of working when needed.
Now, as an owner of a 100-year old house with sump pumps, I wait for a power outage in a rain storm.
Now, as an owner of a 100-year old house with sump pumps, I wait for a power outage in a rain storm.
December 19, 2023 at 2:48 PM
Years ago, as a teaching assistant for Quantitative Risk Assessment and Process Safety, I could calculate how often you must test backup systems for them to have any chance of working when needed.
Now, as an owner of a 100-year old house with sump pumps, I wait for a power outage in a rain storm.
Now, as an owner of a 100-year old house with sump pumps, I wait for a power outage in a rain storm.
Reposted by Richard West
Book talk next week! Free and hybrid, but you have to register.🎻🧠 libcal.countway.harvard.edu/event/108346...
October 13, 2023 at 12:34 PM
Book talk next week! Free and hybrid, but you have to register.🎻🧠 libcal.countway.harvard.edu/event/108346...