Ken Caldeira
@kencaldeira.com
Mostly mentoring a group of postdocs at Stanford.
Senior Scientist at Gates Ventures.
climate / energy / etc
https://sustainablesolutions.stanford.edu/people/ken-caldeira
Posts imperfectly represent the views of my former self and not my employer.
Senior Scientist at Gates Ventures.
climate / energy / etc
https://sustainablesolutions.stanford.edu/people/ken-caldeira
Posts imperfectly represent the views of my former self and not my employer.
I'm preparing slides for a talk I'll be giving at Stanford this Thursday. Here is a draft slide.
events.stanford.edu/event/earth-...
events.stanford.edu/event/earth-...
November 10, 2025 at 9:26 PM
I'm preparing slides for a talk I'll be giving at Stanford this Thursday. Here is a draft slide.
events.stanford.edu/event/earth-...
events.stanford.edu/event/earth-...
Please, tell me it isn't so ...
Are Senate Democrats once again snatching defeat from the jaws of victory?
Are they showing they have no spine, no unity, no real ability to govern in the broad interest of Americans?
Are Senate Democrats once again snatching defeat from the jaws of victory?
Are they showing they have no spine, no unity, no real ability to govern in the broad interest of Americans?
November 10, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Please, tell me it isn't so ...
Are Senate Democrats once again snatching defeat from the jaws of victory?
Are they showing they have no spine, no unity, no real ability to govern in the broad interest of Americans?
Are Senate Democrats once again snatching defeat from the jaws of victory?
Are they showing they have no spine, no unity, no real ability to govern in the broad interest of Americans?
Opinion
Nicholas Kristof
"Trump Aid Cuts Kill More Christians Than Jihadists Do"
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/o...
Nicholas Kristof
"Trump Aid Cuts Kill More Christians Than Jihadists Do"
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/o...
November 9, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Opinion
Nicholas Kristof
"Trump Aid Cuts Kill More Christians Than Jihadists Do"
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/o...
Nicholas Kristof
"Trump Aid Cuts Kill More Christians Than Jihadists Do"
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/o...
Mafia and fascism in warm embrace.
November 6, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Mafia and fascism in warm embrace.
Experience curves indicate that successful technologies reduce in cost by ~20% for each doubling of cumulative production.
However, we find that past learning rates are not very predictive of future learning rates, throwing many energy tech cost projections into doubt.
doi.org/10.1016/j.ad...
However, we find that past learning rates are not very predictive of future learning rates, throwing many energy tech cost projections into doubt.
doi.org/10.1016/j.ad...
November 4, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Experience curves indicate that successful technologies reduce in cost by ~20% for each doubling of cumulative production.
However, we find that past learning rates are not very predictive of future learning rates, throwing many energy tech cost projections into doubt.
doi.org/10.1016/j.ad...
However, we find that past learning rates are not very predictive of future learning rates, throwing many energy tech cost projections into doubt.
doi.org/10.1016/j.ad...
Maybe serfs were proud to see their baron riding in a gilded carriage drawn by stately horses.
There is something deep in human psychology that causes peasants to revel in the grandeur of their dukes and princes.
Trump, in his naive stupidity, may have his finger on the pulse of the masses.
There is something deep in human psychology that causes peasants to revel in the grandeur of their dukes and princes.
Trump, in his naive stupidity, may have his finger on the pulse of the masses.
October 31, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Maybe serfs were proud to see their baron riding in a gilded carriage drawn by stately horses.
There is something deep in human psychology that causes peasants to revel in the grandeur of their dukes and princes.
Trump, in his naive stupidity, may have his finger on the pulse of the masses.
There is something deep in human psychology that causes peasants to revel in the grandeur of their dukes and princes.
Trump, in his naive stupidity, may have his finger on the pulse of the masses.
By the way, here is a photo out the window of a plane at about the position shown in the previous post.
October 28, 2025 at 4:55 PM
By the way, here is a photo out the window of a plane at about the position shown in the previous post.
If you are interested in a postdoc position on the Stanford campus on the climate effects of a slowdown/shutdown of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, please contact me.
Atmosphere or ocean modeling experience is a plus.
sustainablesolutions.stanford.edu/people/ken-c...
Atmosphere or ocean modeling experience is a plus.
sustainablesolutions.stanford.edu/people/ken-c...
October 28, 2025 at 1:50 PM
If you are interested in a postdoc position on the Stanford campus on the climate effects of a slowdown/shutdown of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, please contact me.
Atmosphere or ocean modeling experience is a plus.
sustainablesolutions.stanford.edu/people/ken-c...
Atmosphere or ocean modeling experience is a plus.
sustainablesolutions.stanford.edu/people/ken-c...
"Trump, as he often does when he is breaking law or norms, is acting publicly and without shame or unease."
-- @jacklgoldsmith.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/u...
-- @jacklgoldsmith.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/u...
October 24, 2025 at 1:48 PM
"Trump, as he often does when he is breaking law or norms, is acting publicly and without shame or unease."
-- @jacklgoldsmith.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/u...
-- @jacklgoldsmith.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/u...
I remember when we thought that it couldn't get worse than Bush and Cheney.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Ghr...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Ghr...
October 23, 2025 at 7:03 PM
I remember when we thought that it couldn't get worse than Bush and Cheney.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Ghr...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Ghr...
More lawlessness and corruption, out in the open.
One of their more minor offenses, but most evidence of lawlessness and corruption doesn't come with good visuals.
(Although ICE abuses have provided an abundance of compelling images.)
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
vp.nyt.com/video/2025/1...
One of their more minor offenses, but most evidence of lawlessness and corruption doesn't come with good visuals.
(Although ICE abuses have provided an abundance of compelling images.)
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
vp.nyt.com/video/2025/1...
October 23, 2025 at 5:10 PM
More lawlessness and corruption, out in the open.
One of their more minor offenses, but most evidence of lawlessness and corruption doesn't come with good visuals.
(Although ICE abuses have provided an abundance of compelling images.)
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
vp.nyt.com/video/2025/1...
One of their more minor offenses, but most evidence of lawlessness and corruption doesn't come with good visuals.
(Although ICE abuses have provided an abundance of compelling images.)
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
vp.nyt.com/video/2025/1...
Trump and his co-conspirators provide us with a visual metaphor for what they are doing to our country.
October 22, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Trump and his co-conspirators provide us with a visual metaphor for what they are doing to our country.
Beware of antisemites who feign concern about antisemitism.
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
25 March 1933
www.newspapers.com/article/hono...
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
25 March 1933
www.newspapers.com/article/hono...
October 21, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Beware of antisemites who feign concern about antisemitism.
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
25 March 1933
www.newspapers.com/article/hono...
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
25 March 1933
www.newspapers.com/article/hono...
No Kings
San Francisco
San Francisco
October 18, 2025 at 11:06 PM
No Kings
San Francisco
San Francisco
We have learned that the principled right of a decade ago had more in common with the principled left than we thought.
Belief in equal justice under the law, separation of powers, constitutionally protected freedoms, etc, united us, but it took a corrupt despotic regime to make us aware of that.
Belief in equal justice under the law, separation of powers, constitutionally protected freedoms, etc, united us, but it took a corrupt despotic regime to make us aware of that.
October 16, 2025 at 3:04 PM
We have learned that the principled right of a decade ago had more in common with the principled left than we thought.
Belief in equal justice under the law, separation of powers, constitutionally protected freedoms, etc, united us, but it took a corrupt despotic regime to make us aware of that.
Belief in equal justice under the law, separation of powers, constitutionally protected freedoms, etc, united us, but it took a corrupt despotic regime to make us aware of that.
![In the U.S., the general rule is that "[a] person is privileged to use such force as reasonably appears necessary to defend him or herself against an apparent threat of unlawful and immediate violence from another."[1] In cases involving non-deadly force, this means that the person must reasonably believe that their use of force was necessary to prevent imminent, unlawful physical harm.[2] When the use of deadly force is involved in a self-defense claim, the person must also reasonably believe that their use of deadly force is immediately necessary to prevent the other's infliction of great bodily harm or death.[3] Most states no longer require a person to retreat before using deadly force. In the minority of jurisdictions which do require retreat, there is no obligation to retreat when it is unsafe to do so or when one is inside one's own home.[4]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:hfunbop47sm2azdbajfvnf4g/bafkreicfuglhzd5oebanuq6omqytza3c4ngzioitfdlw62gck3ihpngjey@jpeg)
October 14, 2025 at 8:14 PM
And if he can't get the Nobel Peace Prize, he should at least get the Fields Medal in mathematics.
October 11, 2025 at 1:26 PM
And if he can't get the Nobel Peace Prize, he should at least get the Fields Medal in mathematics.
October 2, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Anja Kampe was crying as Brunhilde during the closing scene with Michael Volle as Wotan in Walkure at Staatsoper Berlin last night.
She was still visibly shaken during curtain call. Magnificent acting.
www.staatsoper-berlin.de/en/veranstal...
She was still visibly shaken during curtain call. Magnificent acting.
www.staatsoper-berlin.de/en/veranstal...
September 29, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Anja Kampe was crying as Brunhilde during the closing scene with Michael Volle as Wotan in Walkure at Staatsoper Berlin last night.
She was still visibly shaken during curtain call. Magnificent acting.
www.staatsoper-berlin.de/en/veranstal...
She was still visibly shaken during curtain call. Magnificent acting.
www.staatsoper-berlin.de/en/veranstal...
What is the motivation of the right to promote anti-fact beliefs?
Is it just that they are stupid and resent eggheads who want to talk about facts and evidence?
Or do the want to train people not to trust facts and evidence, and to rely instead on group identity and charismatic leaders?
Is it just that they are stupid and resent eggheads who want to talk about facts and evidence?
Or do the want to train people not to trust facts and evidence, and to rely instead on group identity and charismatic leaders?
September 24, 2025 at 5:18 PM
What is the motivation of the right to promote anti-fact beliefs?
Is it just that they are stupid and resent eggheads who want to talk about facts and evidence?
Or do the want to train people not to trust facts and evidence, and to rely instead on group identity and charismatic leaders?
Is it just that they are stupid and resent eggheads who want to talk about facts and evidence?
Or do the want to train people not to trust facts and evidence, and to rely instead on group identity and charismatic leaders?
Someone who gets all of their information from MAGA friends was under the impression that people on the left were celebrating the murderer of Charlie Kirk as a hero.
I said, "nobody other than a few nutcases celebrates a murderer."
These are the lies upon which MAGA feeds.
I said, "nobody other than a few nutcases celebrates a murderer."
These are the lies upon which MAGA feeds.
September 22, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Someone who gets all of their information from MAGA friends was under the impression that people on the left were celebrating the murderer of Charlie Kirk as a hero.
I said, "nobody other than a few nutcases celebrates a murderer."
These are the lies upon which MAGA feeds.
I said, "nobody other than a few nutcases celebrates a murderer."
These are the lies upon which MAGA feeds.
The biggest news story of our time is the end of democracy in the United States, but if you look to major newspapers, the end of democracy is rarely if ever the focus of a news story.
Our institutions, many of which have stood for nearly 250 years, are much more fragile than we thought they were.
Our institutions, many of which have stood for nearly 250 years, are much more fragile than we thought they were.
September 21, 2025 at 1:26 PM
The biggest news story of our time is the end of democracy in the United States, but if you look to major newspapers, the end of democracy is rarely if ever the focus of a news story.
Our institutions, many of which have stood for nearly 250 years, are much more fragile than we thought they were.
Our institutions, many of which have stood for nearly 250 years, are much more fragile than we thought they were.
Trump and his Republican co-conspirators fear ridicule more than anything else.
They are OK with being called cruel, because they associate cruelty with power, but they know that their power stems from people taking them seriously.
Ridicule is powerful.
www.newspapers.com/search/resul...
They are OK with being called cruel, because they associate cruelty with power, but they know that their power stems from people taking them seriously.
Ridicule is powerful.
www.newspapers.com/search/resul...
September 19, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Trump and his Republican co-conspirators fear ridicule more than anything else.
They are OK with being called cruel, because they associate cruelty with power, but they know that their power stems from people taking them seriously.
Ridicule is powerful.
www.newspapers.com/search/resul...
They are OK with being called cruel, because they associate cruelty with power, but they know that their power stems from people taking them seriously.
Ridicule is powerful.
www.newspapers.com/search/resul...