Alois Bonifacio
@aloisbon.bsky.social
Academic (chemistry), father of three, bookworm, tabletop gamer. Interested in spectroscopy, critical raw materials, philosophy of science
Finally published! After years of work and some rejections, here’s our take on the biochemical interpretation of SERS spectra of serum. Title might have also been "Why most research findings based on SERS of serum are false"... check it out 👉 rdcu.be/eQpW3
Adsorption of serum components on Ag colloids: on the biochemical interpretation of surface-enhanced Raman spectra of human serum
rdcu.be
November 18, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Finally published! After years of work and some rejections, here’s our take on the biochemical interpretation of SERS spectra of serum. Title might have also been "Why most research findings based on SERS of serum are false"... check it out 👉 rdcu.be/eQpW3
Reposted by Alois Bonifacio
Who could ever have imagined when I played a fictional rebel who joined the Resistance to oppose a criminal Authoritarian & wannabe King, it would be happening in real-life?
#TwentyfiveFortyseven
#TwentyfiveFortyseven
October 4, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Who could ever have imagined when I played a fictional rebel who joined the Resistance to oppose a criminal Authoritarian & wannabe King, it would be happening in real-life?
#TwentyfiveFortyseven
#TwentyfiveFortyseven
Apparentely Raman spectroscopy finds organic molecules on Mars. Could not get beyond the paywall, though...😞
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Evidence for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detected in sulfates at Jezero crater by the Perseverance rover - Nature Astronomy
The Perseverance rover detected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons preserved within sulfates in the fan and floor of Jezero crater on Mars, offering new insights into past habitability and the preservat...
www.nature.com
September 5, 2025 at 5:22 AM
Apparentely Raman spectroscopy finds organic molecules on Mars. Could not get beyond the paywall, though...😞
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
This is, I think, the most serious problem we have right now. Solutions?
Young Europeans losing faith in democracy, poll finds
Support is lowest in France, Spain and Poland, while 21% back authoritarian rule under certain circumstances
www.theguardian.com
July 4, 2025 at 5:09 AM
This is, I think, the most serious problem we have right now. Solutions?
Reposted by Alois Bonifacio
I am privileged to announce the publication of the Anti-Autocracy Handbook: sks.to/autocracy 1/12
The Anti-Autocracy Handbook: A Scholars' Guide to Navigating Democratic Backsliding
The Anti-Autocracy Handbook is a call to action, resilience, and collective defence of democracy, truth, and academic freedom in the face of mounting authoritarianism. It tries to provide guidance to ...
sks.to
June 19, 2025 at 9:44 AM
I am privileged to announce the publication of the Anti-Autocracy Handbook: sks.to/autocracy 1/12
Reposted by Alois Bonifacio
America is complicit in the slaughter of the Palestinian people.
2.2 million people are trapped. Disease is spreading. Children are starving to death.
And we continue to provide U.S. military aid to Netanyahu.
2.2 million people are trapped. Disease is spreading. Children are starving to death.
And we continue to provide U.S. military aid to Netanyahu.
May 15, 2025 at 4:16 PM
America is complicit in the slaughter of the Palestinian people.
2.2 million people are trapped. Disease is spreading. Children are starving to death.
And we continue to provide U.S. military aid to Netanyahu.
2.2 million people are trapped. Disease is spreading. Children are starving to death.
And we continue to provide U.S. military aid to Netanyahu.
Reposted by Alois Bonifacio
This week, the British government is in the High Court defending the indefensible: its continuing approval of arms exports to Israel.
HRW's Yasmine Ahmed is at the High Court in London ⤵️
HRW's Yasmine Ahmed is at the High Court in London ⤵️
May 14, 2025 at 10:45 AM
This week, the British government is in the High Court defending the indefensible: its continuing approval of arms exports to Israel.
HRW's Yasmine Ahmed is at the High Court in London ⤵️
HRW's Yasmine Ahmed is at the High Court in London ⤵️
Reposted by Alois Bonifacio
PhD opportunities in nanotechnology
@unitrieste.bsky.social
NOW OPEN!!
#FindAPhD #chemistry #nanoscience #materials #physics #PhD #nanotechnology
Starting: November 1, 2025 | Duration: 3 years
Deadline: June 6, 2025 - 1 pm
Call: tinyurl.com/CALLNano
Projects: tinyurl.com/ProjectsNANO
@unitrieste.bsky.social
NOW OPEN!!
#FindAPhD #chemistry #nanoscience #materials #physics #PhD #nanotechnology
Starting: November 1, 2025 | Duration: 3 years
Deadline: June 6, 2025 - 1 pm
Call: tinyurl.com/CALLNano
Projects: tinyurl.com/ProjectsNANO
May 13, 2025 at 1:23 PM
PhD opportunities in nanotechnology
@unitrieste.bsky.social
NOW OPEN!!
#FindAPhD #chemistry #nanoscience #materials #physics #PhD #nanotechnology
Starting: November 1, 2025 | Duration: 3 years
Deadline: June 6, 2025 - 1 pm
Call: tinyurl.com/CALLNano
Projects: tinyurl.com/ProjectsNANO
@unitrieste.bsky.social
NOW OPEN!!
#FindAPhD #chemistry #nanoscience #materials #physics #PhD #nanotechnology
Starting: November 1, 2025 | Duration: 3 years
Deadline: June 6, 2025 - 1 pm
Call: tinyurl.com/CALLNano
Projects: tinyurl.com/ProjectsNANO
Reposted by Alois Bonifacio
Comunque la si pensi - chi ha torto e chi ha ragione, chi ha iniziato, se è un #genocidio o meno - c’è un fatto disumano che nessuno può ignorare
A #Gaza si continua a morire di bombe, di fame, di sete, di soccorsi bloccati, di silenzi
A #Gaza si continua a morire di bombe, di fame, di sete, di soccorsi bloccati, di silenzi
May 8, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Comunque la si pensi - chi ha torto e chi ha ragione, chi ha iniziato, se è un #genocidio o meno - c’è un fatto disumano che nessuno può ignorare
A #Gaza si continua a morire di bombe, di fame, di sete, di soccorsi bloccati, di silenzi
A #Gaza si continua a morire di bombe, di fame, di sete, di soccorsi bloccati, di silenzi
Reposted by Alois Bonifacio
This is what a rigged economy looks like:
In the 1970s, CEOs made 27 times more than the average worker.
In the 1980s, CEOs made 48 times more than the average worker.
This decade, CEOs are making 354 times more than the average worker.
That has got to change.
In the 1970s, CEOs made 27 times more than the average worker.
In the 1980s, CEOs made 48 times more than the average worker.
This decade, CEOs are making 354 times more than the average worker.
That has got to change.
April 26, 2025 at 7:27 PM
This is what a rigged economy looks like:
In the 1970s, CEOs made 27 times more than the average worker.
In the 1980s, CEOs made 48 times more than the average worker.
This decade, CEOs are making 354 times more than the average worker.
That has got to change.
In the 1970s, CEOs made 27 times more than the average worker.
In the 1980s, CEOs made 48 times more than the average worker.
This decade, CEOs are making 354 times more than the average worker.
That has got to change.
Reposted by Alois Bonifacio
In an open letter of support to the President of @harvard.edu, Max Planck President Patrick Cramer @patrick-cramer.maxplanck.de has expressed his full support of the University in its stance against demands by the Trump administration to change its policies in order to retain federal funding.
April 22, 2025 at 10:51 AM
In an open letter of support to the President of @harvard.edu, Max Planck President Patrick Cramer @patrick-cramer.maxplanck.de has expressed his full support of the University in its stance against demands by the Trump administration to change its policies in order to retain federal funding.
Reposted by Alois Bonifacio
This statement from the NSF is insane.
Science is, in essence, designed to separate the true from the false.
Understanding how falsehoods spread is key to the scientific endeavor. It is not a violation of free speech to be proven wrong.
Science is, in essence, designed to separate the true from the false.
Understanding how falsehoods spread is key to the scientific endeavor. It is not a violation of free speech to be proven wrong.
April 18, 2025 at 8:51 PM
This statement from the NSF is insane.
Science is, in essence, designed to separate the true from the false.
Understanding how falsehoods spread is key to the scientific endeavor. It is not a violation of free speech to be proven wrong.
Science is, in essence, designed to separate the true from the false.
Understanding how falsehoods spread is key to the scientific endeavor. It is not a violation of free speech to be proven wrong.
Reposted by Alois Bonifacio
Reposted by Alois Bonifacio
Bluesky has overtaken its flailing rival X in hosting posts related to new academic research, indicating the platform is fast becoming the go-to place for scholars to share their work
#AcademicSky #EduSky
#AcademicSky #EduSky
X’s dominance ‘over’ as Bluesky becomes new hub for research
Data indicates more scholars turning to alternative social media site to post about their work after Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover
www.timeshighereducation.com
April 9, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Bluesky has overtaken its flailing rival X in hosting posts related to new academic research, indicating the platform is fast becoming the go-to place for scholars to share their work
#AcademicSky #EduSky
#AcademicSky #EduSky
Reposted by Alois Bonifacio
For International Women's Day, here are twelve more women from chemistry history, with achievements ranging from developing antifungal medicines to creating milk substitutes for people with lactose intolerance 👩🏽🔬👩🏻🔬
www.compoundchem.com/2025/03/07/i...
#IWD2025 #ChemSky 🧪
www.compoundchem.com/2025/03/07/i...
#IWD2025 #ChemSky 🧪
March 8, 2025 at 9:39 AM
For International Women's Day, here are twelve more women from chemistry history, with achievements ranging from developing antifungal medicines to creating milk substitutes for people with lactose intolerance 👩🏽🔬👩🏻🔬
www.compoundchem.com/2025/03/07/i...
#IWD2025 #ChemSky 🧪
www.compoundchem.com/2025/03/07/i...
#IWD2025 #ChemSky 🧪
Reposted by Alois Bonifacio
I have run out of patience with the apparent silence of most US science institutions (and not just US) in the face of Trump & Musk's rampage. There are of so many facets of that, but in this column for @chemistryworld.com I talk about the assaults on inclusion.
www.chemistryworld.com/opinion/scie...
www.chemistryworld.com/opinion/scie...
Scientific institutions have a long history of anticipatory obedience
Societies should learn from this and speak up to support inclusion
www.chemistryworld.com
February 7, 2025 at 3:02 PM
I have run out of patience with the apparent silence of most US science institutions (and not just US) in the face of Trump & Musk's rampage. There are of so many facets of that, but in this column for @chemistryworld.com I talk about the assaults on inclusion.
www.chemistryworld.com/opinion/scie...
www.chemistryworld.com/opinion/scie...
Reposted by Alois Bonifacio
Bittersweet anniversary
www.renewablematter.eu/en/merchant-...
New Italian edition coming soon. @erikmbaker.bsky.social @volts.wtf @davidho.bsky.social
www.renewablematter.eu/en/merchant-...
New Italian edition coming soon. @erikmbaker.bsky.social @volts.wtf @davidho.bsky.social
Merchant of Doubt, the most actual book today celebrates 15 years
Renewable Matter interviews author Naomi Oreskes to retrace how scientific denialism is still one of the worst evils of our century
www.renewablematter.eu
February 18, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Bittersweet anniversary
www.renewablematter.eu/en/merchant-...
New Italian edition coming soon. @erikmbaker.bsky.social @volts.wtf @davidho.bsky.social
www.renewablematter.eu/en/merchant-...
New Italian edition coming soon. @erikmbaker.bsky.social @volts.wtf @davidho.bsky.social
Reposted by Alois Bonifacio
“Until we acknowledge that publish or perish is the natural consequence of the rankings obsession, we’re not going to fix anything.”
Our Ivan Oransky speaks with @nature.com.
Our Ivan Oransky speaks with @nature.com.
‘Publish or perish’ culture blamed for reproducibility crisis
Survey of more than 1,600 biomedical researchers also flagged small sample sizes and cherry-picking of data as leading causes of reproducibility problems.
www.nature.com
January 21, 2025 at 2:13 PM
“Until we acknowledge that publish or perish is the natural consequence of the rankings obsession, we’re not going to fix anything.”
Our Ivan Oransky speaks with @nature.com.
Our Ivan Oransky speaks with @nature.com.
Reposted by Alois Bonifacio
The strain on scientific publishing: we set out to characterise the remarkable growth of the scientific literature in the last few years, in spite of declining growth in total scientists. What is going on?
direct.mit.edu/qss/article/...
A 🧵 1/n
#AcademicSky #PhDchat #ScientificPublishing #SciPub
direct.mit.edu/qss/article/...
A 🧵 1/n
#AcademicSky #PhDchat #ScientificPublishing #SciPub
November 19, 2024 at 12:27 PM
The strain on scientific publishing: we set out to characterise the remarkable growth of the scientific literature in the last few years, in spite of declining growth in total scientists. What is going on?
direct.mit.edu/qss/article/...
A 🧵 1/n
#AcademicSky #PhDchat #ScientificPublishing #SciPub
direct.mit.edu/qss/article/...
A 🧵 1/n
#AcademicSky #PhDchat #ScientificPublishing #SciPub
Reposted by Alois Bonifacio
There is no greater gift to disinformers than to pretend that truth is a matter of consensus or that the protection of free speech requires giving a megaphone to liars.
Meta is ending its fact-checking program in favor of a 'community notes' system similar to X
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced a series of major changes to the company's moderation policies and practices, saying that the election felt like a "cultural tipping point."
www.nbcnews.com
January 7, 2025 at 7:29 PM
There is no greater gift to disinformers than to pretend that truth is a matter of consensus or that the protection of free speech requires giving a megaphone to liars.
Reposted by Alois Bonifacio
It’s the #GBBO final tonight 🧁
Do you know your baking powder from your baking soda? Here's a look at the difference between the two and how they're used in baking in @cenmag.bsky.social: cen.acs.org/food/food-sc...
#ChemSky 🧪
Do you know your baking powder from your baking soda? Here's a look at the difference between the two and how they're used in baking in @cenmag.bsky.social: cen.acs.org/food/food-sc...
#ChemSky 🧪
November 26, 2024 at 6:51 PM
It’s the #GBBO final tonight 🧁
Do you know your baking powder from your baking soda? Here's a look at the difference between the two and how they're used in baking in @cenmag.bsky.social: cen.acs.org/food/food-sc...
#ChemSky 🧪
Do you know your baking powder from your baking soda? Here's a look at the difference between the two and how they're used in baking in @cenmag.bsky.social: cen.acs.org/food/food-sc...
#ChemSky 🧪
Reposted by Alois Bonifacio
The Economist covered our "Strain on scientific publishing" paper.
What is this all about?
We collectively churn out more & more papers *per scientist*, an increasing pace, in a rapidly changing publication landscape.
Why? How? Want to make sense of this? 🧵
www.economist.com/science-and-...
What is this all about?
We collectively churn out more & more papers *per scientist*, an increasing pace, in a rapidly changing publication landscape.
Why? How? Want to make sense of this? 🧵
www.economist.com/science-and-...
Scientific publishers are producing more papers than ever
Concerns about some of their business models are building
www.economist.com
November 23, 2024 at 2:17 PM
The Economist covered our "Strain on scientific publishing" paper.
What is this all about?
We collectively churn out more & more papers *per scientist*, an increasing pace, in a rapidly changing publication landscape.
Why? How? Want to make sense of this? 🧵
www.economist.com/science-and-...
What is this all about?
We collectively churn out more & more papers *per scientist*, an increasing pace, in a rapidly changing publication landscape.
Why? How? Want to make sense of this? 🧵
www.economist.com/science-and-...
Reposted by Alois Bonifacio
Is being a chemist riskier than having an office job? To explore this, Ian Shaw assessed the age of deaths reported in the RSC’s Update death notices for 2023 and compared them with the UK’s age of death statistics.
Do chemists die young?
Death notices for chemists suggest perhaps not, despite the hazards found in many labs
www.chemistryworld.com
November 24, 2024 at 2:00 PM
Is being a chemist riskier than having an office job? To explore this, Ian Shaw assessed the age of deaths reported in the RSC’s Update death notices for 2023 and compared them with the UK’s age of death statistics.