Persistent Weak Layer
@teresabarnes.bsky.social
Scientist working on reliable solar for decarbonization. Researcher, mountain biker, lifter, skier, mom, punk. she/her, #energysky
All posts my own and not endorsed, accepted, or associated with my mysterious employer. Love solar. Hate fascism.
All posts my own and not endorsed, accepted, or associated with my mysterious employer. Love solar. Hate fascism.
Without naming your job, tell me something you say over and over again at work.
“We do not have an open funding call now.”
“We do not have an open funding call now.”
Without naming your job, tell me something you say over and over again at work.
“I would have simply not put all my chips on startups that have never built magnets at commercial scale before.”
“I would have simply not put all my chips on startups that have never built magnets at commercial scale before.”
Without naming your job, what is something you say over and over again at work?
"It is delayed because it's in underwriting."
"It is delayed because it's in underwriting."
February 7, 2026 at 10:56 PM
Without naming your job, tell me something you say over and over again at work.
“We do not have an open funding call now.”
“We do not have an open funding call now.”
Reposted by Persistent Weak Layer
i am trying not to joke about the Epstein stuff because it's so horrible but there's also this ridiculous element where it's like... discovering Dracula is real, he's taken over human society at the highest levels, he's involved in tons of evil and also he's a huge dipshit
February 5, 2026 at 3:43 AM
i am trying not to joke about the Epstein stuff because it's so horrible but there's also this ridiculous element where it's like... discovering Dracula is real, he's taken over human society at the highest levels, he's involved in tons of evil and also he's a huge dipshit
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I've told this story on ContrabandCamp but it's worth sharing for BHM because it's one of the greatest stories ever.
A thread.
A thread.
February 4, 2026 at 5:07 AM
I've told this story on ContrabandCamp but it's worth sharing for BHM because it's one of the greatest stories ever.
A thread.
A thread.
Reposted by Persistent Weak Layer
Dem leadership: changing this is a difficult process, you fool. You rube. You utter infant. Give us between $5 and $50
Mamdani, wiping grease off his hands: So it turns out there's a switch on this machine that puts it into either orphan-shredding mode or free school lunch mode. Just had to flip it
Mamdani, wiping grease off his hands: So it turns out there's a switch on this machine that puts it into either orphan-shredding mode or free school lunch mode. Just had to flip it
February 3, 2026 at 4:05 AM
Dem leadership: changing this is a difficult process, you fool. You rube. You utter infant. Give us between $5 and $50
Mamdani, wiping grease off his hands: So it turns out there's a switch on this machine that puts it into either orphan-shredding mode or free school lunch mode. Just had to flip it
Mamdani, wiping grease off his hands: So it turns out there's a switch on this machine that puts it into either orphan-shredding mode or free school lunch mode. Just had to flip it
Reposted by Persistent Weak Layer
If he’s not constantly angry and getting angrier he dies, Asha. It’s like a personality-disordered shark.
February 3, 2026 at 1:13 AM
If he’s not constantly angry and getting angrier he dies, Asha. It’s like a personality-disordered shark.
This, and also realizing that I don’t want accolades from some people. I also don’t want to be like the people who chase them. Pretty happy with middling reviews and avoiding the eye.
I recently heard someone say the key to recovering from deep burnout is becoming comfortable with being unremarkable, which I think is really good advice for former academics coming from spaces where the primary currency is individual accolades within an interminable productivity arms race.
February 3, 2026 at 4:56 AM
This, and also realizing that I don’t want accolades from some people. I also don’t want to be like the people who chase them. Pretty happy with middling reviews and avoiding the eye.
Reposted by Persistent Weak Layer
This regime kills children
Anadith Danay Reyes Álvarez died in government custody.
She had sickle cell and congenital heart disease but couldn’t access timely and adequate medical care.
We need to reform immigration detention.
She had sickle cell and congenital heart disease but couldn’t access timely and adequate medical care.
We need to reform immigration detention.
January 28, 2026 at 5:54 AM
This regime kills children
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BILLY BRAGG - CITY OF HEROES
YouTube video by Billy Bragg
www.youtube.com
January 26, 2026 at 10:42 PM
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Seems bad. That pink line sucks for me, but the rainbow of doom sucks for us all. I liked having science and medicine and stuff.
This is the most astonishing graph of what the Trump regime has done to US science. They have destroyed the federal science workforce across the board. The negative impacts on Americans will be felt for generations, and the US might never be the same again.
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
January 20, 2026 at 11:13 PM
Seems bad. That pink line sucks for me, but the rainbow of doom sucks for us all. I liked having science and medicine and stuff.
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The Special Issue on Backlash, Borders, and Bunkers: Antidemocratic Politics and Climate Change Communication that I edited is now available. A huge thanks to @phaedra.bsky.social for the opportunity to edit this project and to all of the contributing authors! www.tandfonline.com/toc/renc20/2...
www.tandfonline.com
January 19, 2026 at 4:54 PM
The Special Issue on Backlash, Borders, and Bunkers: Antidemocratic Politics and Climate Change Communication that I edited is now available. A huge thanks to @phaedra.bsky.social for the opportunity to edit this project and to all of the contributing authors! www.tandfonline.com/toc/renc20/2...
Reposted by Persistent Weak Layer
This kind of research is needed more than ever. You can read my open access Intro Essay in which I reflect on today's critical juncture (one full year since the start of "Trump 2.0") & detail how the papers in this Special Issue can help navigate this conjuncture: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
LinkedIn
This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn
lnkd.in
January 19, 2026 at 4:54 PM
This kind of research is needed more than ever. You can read my open access Intro Essay in which I reflect on today's critical juncture (one full year since the start of "Trump 2.0") & detail how the papers in this Special Issue can help navigate this conjuncture: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
This. You want cheap electricity for everyone? Build solar.
I don't care for LCOE as a metric, but Brookfield analysis here is spot on. The cleanest power sources are the cheapest power sources. Those who advocate for fossil power are responsible for pushing your prices up. www.brookfield.com/views-news/i...
January 16, 2026 at 4:12 PM
This. You want cheap electricity for everyone? Build solar.
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New ICE Bucket Challenge just dropped.
January 16, 2026 at 12:59 AM
New ICE Bucket Challenge just dropped.
I’m short one or two right now.
January 11, 2026 at 10:32 PM
I’m short one or two right now.
AAAS, this is the actual condition scientists are in. Science is marginally better because we know it continues internationally.
Darling, fetch me my bathing toaster won't you
January 10, 2026 at 3:39 PM
AAAS, this is the actual condition scientists are in. Science is marginally better because we know it continues internationally.
The budget numbers are better than we expected. It’s weird to be happy with 10-30% cuts for applied energy research. But, the offices were reorg’d, and the new folks have no problem ignoring congress. It’s not ok.
This is a HUGE win…and one that happened because we ~collectively~ said “NO!”
But AAAS coming in and saying on record to the NYT “Science is doing ok. Things are not bad at all…” is baffling.
If things are hard for you as a scientist, please share in the comments.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/s...
But AAAS coming in and saying on record to the NYT “Science is doing ok. Things are not bad at all…” is baffling.
If things are hard for you as a scientist, please share in the comments.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/s...
Congress Is Reversing Trump’s Steep Budget Cuts to Science
www.nytimes.com
January 10, 2026 at 3:37 PM
The budget numbers are better than we expected. It’s weird to be happy with 10-30% cuts for applied energy research. But, the offices were reorg’d, and the new folks have no problem ignoring congress. It’s not ok.
Reposted by Persistent Weak Layer
“This year, renewables surpassed coal as a source of electricity worldwide, and solar and wind energy grew fast enough to cover the entire increase in global electricity use from January to June, according to energy think tank Ember” www.science.org/content/arti...
Science’s 2025 Breakthrough of the Year: The unstoppable rise of renewable energy
Clean energy infrastructure is being deployed with unmatched scale and speed—and China is leading the way
www.science.org
December 26, 2025 at 1:29 AM
“This year, renewables surpassed coal as a source of electricity worldwide, and solar and wind energy grew fast enough to cover the entire increase in global electricity use from January to June, according to energy think tank Ember” www.science.org/content/arti...
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Chicago is having none of this administration's BS.
December 20, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Chicago is having none of this administration's BS.
Exceptional work. Clear to me as a non expert reader, and full of new insights.
I don't know, Aaron. I think we need to take this seriously. In fact, after surveying hundreds of years of history in the past few days, I've written an article assessing the originalist case here:
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
December 16, 2025 at 4:28 AM
Exceptional work. Clear to me as a non expert reader, and full of new insights.
That time last year that I had to go to the only Level 1 trauma center or die.
Or the time children’s asked me to pay “my share” upfront the day my kid landed in the PICU.
Or the time I got a $160K bill for well-baby visits in the NICU.
Should have called around first. Fuck these ghouls.
Or the time children’s asked me to pay “my share” upfront the day my kid landed in the PICU.
Or the time I got a $160K bill for well-baby visits in the NICU.
Should have called around first. Fuck these ghouls.
Reminds me of that time I needed emergency appendectomy & I was on morphine & the hospital billing guy came to my room to ask me to pay the copay upfront
I was like dude I’m going next door to check the other hospital‘s price also what’s my name again
Ps I’m an economist, ok w/markets generally
I was like dude I’m going next door to check the other hospital‘s price also what’s my name again
Ps I’m an economist, ok w/markets generally
Roger Marshall: "We want patients to become consumers again. We want patients to see what the actual prices are. We believe that if we would add the price tags to this bill, that it would save the country a trillion dollars a year."
December 11, 2025 at 4:41 AM
That time last year that I had to go to the only Level 1 trauma center or die.
Or the time children’s asked me to pay “my share” upfront the day my kid landed in the PICU.
Or the time I got a $160K bill for well-baby visits in the NICU.
Should have called around first. Fuck these ghouls.
Or the time children’s asked me to pay “my share” upfront the day my kid landed in the PICU.
Or the time I got a $160K bill for well-baby visits in the NICU.
Should have called around first. Fuck these ghouls.
Reposted by Persistent Weak Layer
Heading home for the Christmas and disagree with your family members about ICE detentions? Snag the people from your family’s nativity set. Don’t say anything and claim ignorance when asked. Return the kings with a note that says they can stay because they’re rich.
December 8, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Heading home for the Christmas and disagree with your family members about ICE detentions? Snag the people from your family’s nativity set. Don’t say anything and claim ignorance when asked. Return the kings with a note that says they can stay because they’re rich.
Reposted by Persistent Weak Layer
Every time Harrison Butker misses a field goal a woman gets her PHD
December 8, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Every time Harrison Butker misses a field goal a woman gets her PHD
This book is a survival guide for these times.
Let This Radicalize You - a book I needed in this moment. I've just started but can't stop thinking about it
"When you feel trapped by an oppressive inevitability, you never stop trying to escape, because every jailbreak begins with a decision to reject the inevitable" - @mskellymhayes.bsky.social
"When you feel trapped by an oppressive inevitability, you never stop trying to escape, because every jailbreak begins with a decision to reject the inevitable" - @mskellymhayes.bsky.social
December 1, 2025 at 11:53 PM
This book is a survival guide for these times.