Steuard Jensen
@steuard.bsky.social
Physics professor, Tolkien scholar, JoCoNaut, and all-around science nerd.
he/him
he/him
Building on my last reskeet, I definitely think that media organizations should mostly give platforms to analysts and commentators who didn't completely misread this moment. But giving a little space to big names who blew it could be okay IF it's so they can lift the voices they'd disparaged.
January 18, 2026 at 10:49 PM
Building on my last reskeet, I definitely think that media organizations should mostly give platforms to analysts and commentators who didn't completely misread this moment. But giving a little space to big names who blew it could be okay IF it's so they can lift the voices they'd disparaged.
Reposted by Steuard Jensen
Nuanced take: I think it's really important to give *normal citizens* who supported Trump and off-ramp and *professional writers, pundits and politicians* who supported Trump should have to wear it like a scarlet letter for the rest of their lives
This is aggravating, because on the one hand I think it's really important to give fascists an off-ramp and positive reinforcement when they use it...
...on the other hand, FUCK that guy, in particular.
...on the other hand, FUCK that guy, in particular.
January 18, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Nuanced take: I think it's really important to give *normal citizens* who supported Trump and off-ramp and *professional writers, pundits and politicians* who supported Trump should have to wear it like a scarlet letter for the rest of their lives
Reposted by Steuard Jensen
This is your reminder that Hungarian-Jewish scientist George de Hevesy dissolved two Nobel Prizes in aqua regia to keep them out of the hands of the Nazis.
He then left the dissolved solution on his shelf and fled to Sweden.
(After the war he un-dissolved the gold and the prizes were re-cast.)
He then left the dissolved solution on his shelf and fled to Sweden.
(After the war he un-dissolved the gold and the prizes were re-cast.)
January 16, 2026 at 4:14 AM
This is your reminder that Hungarian-Jewish scientist George de Hevesy dissolved two Nobel Prizes in aqua regia to keep them out of the hands of the Nazis.
He then left the dissolved solution on his shelf and fled to Sweden.
(After the war he un-dissolved the gold and the prizes were re-cast.)
He then left the dissolved solution on his shelf and fled to Sweden.
(After the war he un-dissolved the gold and the prizes were re-cast.)
Reposted by Steuard Jensen
An underrated factor in "why don't people in wealthy societies have more kids" is changing societal norms that now expect even older kids to be chaperoned by an adult any time they are in public, and to be chauffeured by a parent as their only means of transportation
Older generations spent a lot less time parenting. Millennial dads spend nearly as much time parenting as Boomer moms did. Millennial and Gen X moms way more.
via The Economist
via The Economist
January 16, 2026 at 5:20 AM
An underrated factor in "why don't people in wealthy societies have more kids" is changing societal norms that now expect even older kids to be chaperoned by an adult any time they are in public, and to be chauffeured by a parent as their only means of transportation
Reposted by Steuard Jensen
This wheel is to the boy squirrel the way that the football is to Charlie Brown and it still makes me laugh every time he tries to use it only to be immediately spun.
January 6, 2026 at 2:53 AM
This wheel is to the boy squirrel the way that the football is to Charlie Brown and it still makes me laugh every time he tries to use it only to be immediately spun.
Reposted by Steuard Jensen
I’m seeing posts from people (outside of MN) about how US citizens should carry their passports.
And let me say that *inside* MN, we are calmly responding to requests with: “No, I don’t have to show you any documentation.”
Because that’s how you protect everyone, regardless of immigration status.
And let me say that *inside* MN, we are calmly responding to requests with: “No, I don’t have to show you any documentation.”
Because that’s how you protect everyone, regardless of immigration status.
January 16, 2026 at 12:17 AM
I’m seeing posts from people (outside of MN) about how US citizens should carry their passports.
And let me say that *inside* MN, we are calmly responding to requests with: “No, I don’t have to show you any documentation.”
Because that’s how you protect everyone, regardless of immigration status.
And let me say that *inside* MN, we are calmly responding to requests with: “No, I don’t have to show you any documentation.”
Because that’s how you protect everyone, regardless of immigration status.
Reposted by Steuard Jensen
wikipedia turns 25 today! the last unenshittified major website! backbone of online info! triumph of humanity! powered by urge of unpaid randos to correct each other! somehow mostly reliable! "good thing wikipedia works in practice, because it sure doesn't work in theory" - old wiki adage
January 15, 2026 at 1:47 PM
wikipedia turns 25 today! the last unenshittified major website! backbone of online info! triumph of humanity! powered by urge of unpaid randos to correct each other! somehow mostly reliable! "good thing wikipedia works in practice, because it sure doesn't work in theory" - old wiki adage
Reposted by Steuard Jensen
“ICE is doing what ICE is designed to do” played over video of ICE engaging in acts of violence should be the wall to wall DNC media strategy right now
Mike Johnson comes out against additional guardrails on ICE as Democrats call for it.
“I think there's a lot of Democrats playing games right now with national security and with law enforcement. And I think it's dangerous. Ice is doing what ice is designed to do by its very name.”
“I think there's a lot of Democrats playing games right now with national security and with law enforcement. And I think it's dangerous. Ice is doing what ice is designed to do by its very name.”
January 15, 2026 at 12:47 AM
“ICE is doing what ICE is designed to do” played over video of ICE engaging in acts of violence should be the wall to wall DNC media strategy right now
Reposted by Steuard Jensen
We have an update on Charlie’s newfound love of printing.
January 14, 2026 at 6:00 PM
We have an update on Charlie’s newfound love of printing.
Reposted by Steuard Jensen
There is a new autistic barbie out, but no one is talking about her mother, undiagnosed computer engineer barbie about to get the surprise of her life when she starts to argue with the evaluator that these are all normal childhood behaviours that she had when she was the same age.
January 13, 2026 at 3:15 AM
There is a new autistic barbie out, but no one is talking about her mother, undiagnosed computer engineer barbie about to get the surprise of her life when she starts to argue with the evaluator that these are all normal childhood behaviours that she had when she was the same age.
1/7 Peter Sagal says here both "Big journalism has essential value" and "it hasn't shown people the good government does", and I agree. But I see a more fundamental concern about journalism unacknowledged in French's short video. He says Trumpists "hack civic ignorance", but: what causes that?
@davidfrenchjag.bsky.social makes an important point, which could even go further.
www.nytimes.com/video/opinio...
www.nytimes.com/video/opinio...
Video: Opinion | How the Trump Administration Hacked Our Ignorance
David French explains on “The Opinions” why he believes a key secret to the Trump administration lies in its ability to exploit “civic ignorance.”
www.nytimes.com
January 14, 2026 at 3:32 PM
1/7 Peter Sagal says here both "Big journalism has essential value" and "it hasn't shown people the good government does", and I agree. But I see a more fundamental concern about journalism unacknowledged in French's short video. He says Trumpists "hack civic ignorance", but: what causes that?
Reposted by Steuard Jensen
Leftists address this constantly. We advocate for universal health care and child care, guaranteed pensions, decommodified housing, and all kinds of other things that would directly address these issues. What we don't do is say "more white babies" which is what is really being asked here
The US and other countries face aging, shrinking populations. Conservatives have shaped debate over the issue. Some liberals say it's time for progressives to weigh in. n.pr/3NH3yso
As birthrates tumble, some progressives say the left needs to offer ideas and solutions
The US and other countries face aging, shrinking populations. Conservatives have shaped debate over the issue. Some liberals say it's time for progressives to weigh in.
n.pr
January 13, 2026 at 4:25 PM
Leftists address this constantly. We advocate for universal health care and child care, guaranteed pensions, decommodified housing, and all kinds of other things that would directly address these issues. What we don't do is say "more white babies" which is what is really being asked here
A message of defiant hope in this difficult time:
MAKE NO MORE CLOUDS.
I HAVE DRAWN THE RAINBOW HERE.
MAKE NO MORE CLOUDS.
I HAVE DRAWN THE RAINBOW HERE.
January 11, 2026 at 9:32 PM
A message of defiant hope in this difficult time:
MAKE NO MORE CLOUDS.
I HAVE DRAWN THE RAINBOW HERE.
MAKE NO MORE CLOUDS.
I HAVE DRAWN THE RAINBOW HERE.
Reposted by Steuard Jensen
OK I love this
January 11, 2026 at 12:28 PM
OK I love this
Reposted by Steuard Jensen
I can't believe I'm posting this video - but we actually have to have a conversation about the real world implications of America going to war over Greenland.
Let me walk you through it. It doesn't turn out well for us.
Let me walk you through it. It doesn't turn out well for us.
January 11, 2026 at 2:44 AM
I can't believe I'm posting this video - but we actually have to have a conversation about the real world implications of America going to war over Greenland.
Let me walk you through it. It doesn't turn out well for us.
Let me walk you through it. It doesn't turn out well for us.
Reposted by Steuard Jensen
Would you like 30 mins that has nothing to do with any of the big important things happening out there? Here is a performance and interview for Vermont’s wonderful show Across the Fence. It aired on Christmas Day but I was mostly offline and forgot to post about it.
12/25/25 Music for the Holidays with cellist and composer Zoe Keating
YouTube video by Across the Fence
www.youtube.com
January 10, 2026 at 10:13 PM
Would you like 30 mins that has nothing to do with any of the big important things happening out there? Here is a performance and interview for Vermont’s wonderful show Across the Fence. It aired on Christmas Day but I was mostly offline and forgot to post about it.
Reposted by Steuard Jensen
If you had predicted with precise accuracy any of our current top stories this week during the ‘24 election, it would have been dismissed as Trump Derangement Syndrome by most of the professional takesmiths.
January 10, 2026 at 3:43 PM
If you had predicted with precise accuracy any of our current top stories this week during the ‘24 election, it would have been dismissed as Trump Derangement Syndrome by most of the professional takesmiths.
This month's Physics Teacher has a column about 2-year college profs doing neat, different things students will remember. To my delight, it cites my bivector work: "Students found the geometric intuition easier to grasp than that of cross products, and I honestly found bivectors easier to teach." 🎢
Leaving a trail
Funding in two-year colleges relates to enrollment; more students means more funding. I always therefore thought it was part of my job to conduct my astronomy a
pubs.aip.org
January 10, 2026 at 4:46 PM
This month's Physics Teacher has a column about 2-year college profs doing neat, different things students will remember. To my delight, it cites my bivector work: "Students found the geometric intuition easier to grasp than that of cross products, and I honestly found bivectors easier to teach." 🎢
Reposted by Steuard Jensen
“When I speak about making our city more affordable, my vision is not limited to the homes that we live in or the child care that we’re making universal — it’s also a vision where we make it possible for working people to afford lives of joy, of art, of rest, of expression.”
Handing Out Free Tickets, Mamdani Says Theater Should Not Be ‘a Luxury’
www.nytimes.com
January 10, 2026 at 12:22 AM
“When I speak about making our city more affordable, my vision is not limited to the homes that we live in or the child care that we’re making universal — it’s also a vision where we make it possible for working people to afford lives of joy, of art, of rest, of expression.”
Reposted by Steuard Jensen
BIG FIGHT AT POLAND’S WROCLAW ZOO!!!
January 9, 2026 at 8:02 PM
BIG FIGHT AT POLAND’S WROCLAW ZOO!!!
My ongoing belief: Americans DO care deeply about democracy and the rule of law. Lots of Democratic politicians took Trump's 2024 election to mean they didn't and only costs matter, but really they just couldn't bring themselves to believe the warnings could be real: assumed political exaggeration.
January 7, 2026 at 6:18 PM
My ongoing belief: Americans DO care deeply about democracy and the rule of law. Lots of Democratic politicians took Trump's 2024 election to mean they didn't and only costs matter, but really they just couldn't bring themselves to believe the warnings could be real: assumed political exaggeration.
Reposted by Steuard Jensen
Interesting thread about history and what we're leaving for the future. Its focus is mostly on bits of danger we're leaving behind that folks might stumble into, but I'm also contemplating the damage LLMs are doing to future historians of our era. I hope they at least know about LLMs, to be wary!
Let's talk about generative AI, contaminated information, and rhubarb.
Once upon a time, Europe was at war.
Food was scarce, and the government of the quote-unquote United Kingdom looked for alternatives. 1/
Once upon a time, Europe was at war.
Food was scarce, and the government of the quote-unquote United Kingdom looked for alternatives. 1/
January 6, 2026 at 1:47 PM
Interesting thread about history and what we're leaving for the future. Its focus is mostly on bits of danger we're leaving behind that folks might stumble into, but I'm also contemplating the damage LLMs are doing to future historians of our era. I hope they at least know about LLMs, to be wary!
Reposted by Steuard Jensen
@davidjroth.bsky.social for your reference and enjoyment later. www.funraniumlabs.com/2017/01/good...
Good Enough for Government Work - Funranium Labs
Okay, yet another rant. This is an old saw of mine which I’ve decided I want to write up so I could point at it later. When I hear someone doing a half-assed job that they’re just going to walk away f...
www.funraniumlabs.com
January 5, 2026 at 9:49 PM
@davidjroth.bsky.social for your reference and enjoyment later. www.funraniumlabs.com/2017/01/good...