Gieljan de Vries
@gieljandevries.bsky.social
Writes about science, specialises in physics, nuclear and astro — ideally all at the same time. Em-dasher, forever-DM. Bluesky account #188,507, born at 338 ppm CO2. Dutch & English. He / him.
Pinned
11 June 1918 | A Polish Jew, Markus Silberspitz, was born in Targowisko near Bochnia.
In #Auschwitz from 19 May 1942.
No. 35783
He perished in the camp on 20 July 1942.
In #Auschwitz from 19 May 1942.
No. 35783
He perished in the camp on 20 July 1942.
The posts by the Auschwitz Memorial are heartwrenching, and I make time to read each one that comes by. Here's why.
Thirty years ago, 17-yo me visited Auschwitz and Birkenau with a small group of Holocaust survivors and history teachers. I still have vivid memories of the site and their stories. 1/
Thirty years ago, 17-yo me visited Auschwitz and Birkenau with a small group of Holocaust survivors and history teachers. I still have vivid memories of the site and their stories. 1/
Reposted by Gieljan de Vries
a NEW PAPER led the incomparable Dr. Elizabeth Iles (accepted by PASA) quantifies how astronomers might be biased in how they judge galactic bars
Turns out that male astronomers are consistently more optimistic than their peers when it comes to measuring length
arxiv.org/abs/2511.09908
#astro
Turns out that male astronomers are consistently more optimistic than their peers when it comes to measuring length
arxiv.org/abs/2511.09908
#astro
November 14, 2025 at 7:14 AM
a NEW PAPER led the incomparable Dr. Elizabeth Iles (accepted by PASA) quantifies how astronomers might be biased in how they judge galactic bars
Turns out that male astronomers are consistently more optimistic than their peers when it comes to measuring length
arxiv.org/abs/2511.09908
#astro
Turns out that male astronomers are consistently more optimistic than their peers when it comes to measuring length
arxiv.org/abs/2511.09908
#astro
Got to visit the Dutch radwaste storage this week. Excellent tour, great explanations. Still wild to me you can saunter right over the cannisters with reprocessed waste.
Extra cool: their climate controlled low activity storage is also used as a museum depot.
Extra cool: their climate controlled low activity storage is also used as a museum depot.
November 13, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Got to visit the Dutch radwaste storage this week. Excellent tour, great explanations. Still wild to me you can saunter right over the cannisters with reprocessed waste.
Extra cool: their climate controlled low activity storage is also used as a museum depot.
Extra cool: their climate controlled low activity storage is also used as a museum depot.
Dankzij die biografieën van @martijnvanc.bsky.social kom ik Goudsmit en Uhlenbeck nu ook overal tegen. Uit Oppenheimer-biografie Splinters van de Zon.
November 11, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Dankzij die biografieën van @martijnvanc.bsky.social kom ik Goudsmit en Uhlenbeck nu ook overal tegen. Uit Oppenheimer-biografie Splinters van de Zon.
Reposted by Gieljan de Vries
sudden urge to share @mcnees.bsky.social 🧵 on Rosalind Franklin
Rosalind Franklin was born #OTD in 1920. Her X-ray diffraction work was critical for establishing the helical nature of DNA. 👩🔬 🧪
Work carried out by Franklin (with doctoral student Raymond Gosling) was given to Watson and Crick without her consent.
Image: Vittorio Luzzati / Jewish Women’s Archive
Work carried out by Franklin (with doctoral student Raymond Gosling) was given to Watson and Crick without her consent.
Image: Vittorio Luzzati / Jewish Women’s Archive
November 7, 2025 at 8:23 PM
sudden urge to share @mcnees.bsky.social 🧵 on Rosalind Franklin
Reposted by Gieljan de Vries
I have just been sending this to people. You know, from the last time he pulled this shit www.funraniumlabs.com/2017/03/want...
So, You Want To Test A Nuclear Weapon? - Funranium Labs
I dedicate the following rant to my Lovely Assistant, who can probably recite this by heart now, and Meredith Yayanos who hit boggleface about halfway through an in person version and asked “PLEASE, W...
www.funraniumlabs.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:52 AM
I have just been sending this to people. You know, from the last time he pulled this shit www.funraniumlabs.com/2017/03/want...
Reposted by Gieljan de Vries
You just have to love the talent Dutch voters have for driving political scientists insane
October 29, 2025 at 8:34 PM
You just have to love the talent Dutch voters have for driving political scientists insane
Reposted by Gieljan de Vries
Spare a thought for the crews who adjusted Stonehenge the other night when we set the clocks back. It’s cold hard work
Sunrise at Stonehenge today (28th October) was at 6.52am, sunset is at 4.47pm
October 28, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Spare a thought for the crews who adjusted Stonehenge the other night when we set the clocks back. It’s cold hard work
Reposted by Gieljan de Vries
Does anyone know what this strange prismatic cloud effect is called? 🌈🌤️
Spotted this morning in the sky above Christchurch Meadows in #Reading this morning.
Spotted this morning in the sky above Christchurch Meadows in #Reading this morning.
October 28, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Does anyone know what this strange prismatic cloud effect is called? 🌈🌤️
Spotted this morning in the sky above Christchurch Meadows in #Reading this morning.
Spotted this morning in the sky above Christchurch Meadows in #Reading this morning.
Reposted by Gieljan de Vries
both beautiful and terrifying
you couldn't pay me enough to fly into a hurricane and guess what--the crew of this aircraft isn't getting paid at all because of the shutdown
you couldn't pay me enough to fly into a hurricane and guess what--the crew of this aircraft isn't getting paid at all because of the shutdown
From a crewmember on yesterday's Teal 74 mission into now-Category 5 Hurricane #Melissa. As clear of an eye as you will see in the Atlantic basin.
October 28, 2025 at 7:59 AM
both beautiful and terrifying
you couldn't pay me enough to fly into a hurricane and guess what--the crew of this aircraft isn't getting paid at all because of the shutdown
you couldn't pay me enough to fly into a hurricane and guess what--the crew of this aircraft isn't getting paid at all because of the shutdown
Reposted by Gieljan de Vries
Former senior scientist at the US State Department, Mark Goodman, breaks down @netflix.com 's A House of Dynamite
What we should be talking about after watching Bigelow's 'A House of Dynamite' nuclear thriller
Kathryn Bigelow's latest film, A House of Dynamite, is a welcome and useful reminder that the dangers of nuclear weapons never went away—and an invitation to discuss how to deal with them.
thebulletin.org
October 25, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Former senior scientist at the US State Department, Mark Goodman, breaks down @netflix.com 's A House of Dynamite
Reposted by Gieljan de Vries
I spend a year plotting a mystery novel and then this happens.
October 20, 2025 at 1:56 AM
I spend a year plotting a mystery novel and then this happens.
A-ma-zing ride. 12/10 would apocalypse again.
Initial conditions:
m1=119.6 m2=99.7 m3=72.0 (solar masses)
v1x=1.843 v1y=-5.984 v2x=4.839 v2y=0.047 v3x=6.874 v3y=-5.432 (km/s)
x1=27.0 y1=19.0 x2=-24.0 y2=-17.0 x3=-17.0 y3=20.0 (AU from center)
Music: Memories of Green – Vangelis
m1=119.6 m2=99.7 m3=72.0 (solar masses)
v1x=1.843 v1y=-5.984 v2x=4.839 v2y=0.047 v3x=6.874 v3y=-5.432 (km/s)
x1=27.0 y1=19.0 x2=-24.0 y2=-17.0 x3=-17.0 y3=20.0 (AU from center)
Music: Memories of Green – Vangelis
October 14, 2025 at 6:10 AM
A-ma-zing ride. 12/10 would apocalypse again.
See also: yeet (verb)
Initial conditions:
m1=110.2 m2=55.0 m3=32.9 (solar masses)
v1x=-3.213 v1y=-3.16 v2x=0.798 v2y=-4.438 v3x=-3.962 v3y=-5.145 (km/s)
x1=-22.0 y1=13.0 x2=30.0 y2=27.0 x3=14.0 y3=2.0 (AU from center)
Music: Moonlight Sonata (1st Mvmt) – Beethoven
m1=110.2 m2=55.0 m3=32.9 (solar masses)
v1x=-3.213 v1y=-3.16 v2x=0.798 v2y=-4.438 v3x=-3.962 v3y=-5.145 (km/s)
x1=-22.0 y1=13.0 x2=30.0 y2=27.0 x3=14.0 y3=2.0 (AU from center)
Music: Moonlight Sonata (1st Mvmt) – Beethoven
October 12, 2025 at 6:25 AM
See also: yeet (verb)
Reposted by Gieljan de Vries
David Simon, creator of ‘The Wire’, being interviewed by Ari Shapiro (NPR)
October 9, 2025 at 4:42 AM
David Simon, creator of ‘The Wire’, being interviewed by Ari Shapiro (NPR)
Reposted by Gieljan de Vries
Heel fijn dat ik bij Haagse Zaken mocht aanschuiven om iets langer over extreem en radicaal rechts en hun normalisering te spreken
Omdat er nog zoveel vragen zijn over de rellen en hun nasleep, vroegen we @sldelange.bsky.social langs te komen in Haagse Zaken.
Het werd een fascinerend gesprek over extreem-rechts, hun organisatie, hun inspiratie en de risico’s voor de rechtsstaat.
Luisteren:
open.spotify.com/episode/3KlZ...
Het werd een fascinerend gesprek over extreem-rechts, hun organisatie, hun inspiratie en de risico’s voor de rechtsstaat.
Luisteren:
open.spotify.com/episode/3KlZ...
Na de rellen: Sarah de Lange over extreem-rechts geweld
open.spotify.com
September 27, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Heel fijn dat ik bij Haagse Zaken mocht aanschuiven om iets langer over extreem en radicaal rechts en hun normalisering te spreken
Reposted by Gieljan de Vries
September 23, 2025 at 6:36 AM
Reposted by Gieljan de Vries
The 'kin' of ‘napkin’ means "little."
‘Nap’ comes from ‘nape,' which means “tablecloth.”
So a napkin is a little tablecloth.
10/10, no notes.
‘Nap’ comes from ‘nape,' which means “tablecloth.”
So a napkin is a little tablecloth.
10/10, no notes.
September 22, 2025 at 4:56 PM
The 'kin' of ‘napkin’ means "little."
‘Nap’ comes from ‘nape,' which means “tablecloth.”
So a napkin is a little tablecloth.
10/10, no notes.
‘Nap’ comes from ‘nape,' which means “tablecloth.”
So a napkin is a little tablecloth.
10/10, no notes.
Reposted by Gieljan de Vries
Wow we should base our entire economy on this technology
September 19, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Wow we should base our entire economy on this technology
Reposted by Gieljan de Vries
En toch ff he. Je leest de hele tijd dat de polarisatie toeneemt. Maar hoe weten we dat eigenlijk? Hoe meet je dat? Iemand enig idee?
September 20, 2025 at 7:49 AM
En toch ff he. Je leest de hele tijd dat de polarisatie toeneemt. Maar hoe weten we dat eigenlijk? Hoe meet je dat? Iemand enig idee?
Reposted by Gieljan de Vries
Echt een ontzettend leuke boekpresentatie gisteren (van een dito boek) van @brunchik.bsky.social op het @nikhef.bsky.social
Heel veel goede reacties. Nog geen boek? Hij is verkrijgbaar in je lokale boekhandel en hier te bestellen: www.newscientist.nl/product/rill...
Heel veel goede reacties. Nog geen boek? Hij is verkrijgbaar in je lokale boekhandel en hier te bestellen: www.newscientist.nl/product/rill...
September 19, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Echt een ontzettend leuke boekpresentatie gisteren (van een dito boek) van @brunchik.bsky.social op het @nikhef.bsky.social
Heel veel goede reacties. Nog geen boek? Hij is verkrijgbaar in je lokale boekhandel en hier te bestellen: www.newscientist.nl/product/rill...
Heel veel goede reacties. Nog geen boek? Hij is verkrijgbaar in je lokale boekhandel en hier te bestellen: www.newscientist.nl/product/rill...
Reposted by Gieljan de Vries
Alternatieve visualisatie van het spoornetwerk Nederland door Tube Map Central 🤩
www.tubemapcentral.com
www.tubemapcentral.com
September 8, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Alternatieve visualisatie van het spoornetwerk Nederland door Tube Map Central 🤩
www.tubemapcentral.com
www.tubemapcentral.com
Finally, one escaped instead of colliding!
Initial conditions:
m1=2.5 m2=87.4 m3=23.0 (solar masses)
v1x=-6.274 v1y=6.061 v2x=1.325 v2y=-5.763 v3x=2.183 v3y=5.011 (km/s)
x1=11.0 y1=31.0 x2=-20.0 y2=15.0 x3=21.0 y3=25.0 (AU from center)
Music: Ballad with Modulations – Bourquenez
m1=2.5 m2=87.4 m3=23.0 (solar masses)
v1x=-6.274 v1y=6.061 v2x=1.325 v2y=-5.763 v3x=2.183 v3y=5.011 (km/s)
x1=11.0 y1=31.0 x2=-20.0 y2=15.0 x3=21.0 y3=25.0 (AU from center)
Music: Ballad with Modulations – Bourquenez
September 8, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Finally, one escaped instead of colliding!
Reposted by Gieljan de Vries
"Five tactics used by industry to undermine science. The disinformation playbook tactics are employed by industry during the scientific process and the science-based decision-making process"
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
The disinformation playbook: how industry manipulates the science-policy process—and how to restore scientific integrity - Journal of Public Health Policy
For decades, corporate undermining of scientific consensus has eroded the scientific process worldwide. Guardrails for protecting science-informed processes, from peer review to regulatory decision ma...
link.springer.com
September 7, 2025 at 4:11 AM
"Five tactics used by industry to undermine science. The disinformation playbook tactics are employed by industry during the scientific process and the science-based decision-making process"
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
RIP your solar system, but what a ride.
Initial conditions:
m1=17.2 m2=122.1 m3=59.3 (solar masses)
v1x=-0.986 v1y=-5.105 v2x=0.325 v2y=3.549 v3x=1.809 v3y=2.303 (km/s)
x1=-16.0 y1=-8.0 x2=29.0 y2=-19.0 x3=-19.0 y3=21.0 (AU from center)
Music: Prelude in G Minor – Rachmaninoff
m1=17.2 m2=122.1 m3=59.3 (solar masses)
v1x=-0.986 v1y=-5.105 v2x=0.325 v2y=3.549 v3x=1.809 v3y=2.303 (km/s)
x1=-16.0 y1=-8.0 x2=29.0 y2=-19.0 x3=-19.0 y3=21.0 (AU from center)
Music: Prelude in G Minor – Rachmaninoff
September 7, 2025 at 6:37 AM
RIP your solar system, but what a ride.