Marjan Rafat
@marjanrafat.bsky.social
Assistant Prof of ChBE, BME, RadOnc
Just saw Strangers on a Train. Pretty sure the idea for the Calico Cut Pants guy came from there... #alfredhitchcock #Ithinkyoushouldleave
November 27, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Just saw Strangers on a Train. Pretty sure the idea for the Calico Cut Pants guy came from there... #alfredhitchcock #Ithinkyoushouldleave
Reposted by Marjan Rafat
NEW WRITING:
It's aimed at students, with some specific examples for astro/physics folks, but I think other people may find it useful too. 🔭⚛️🧪
"Knowledge is worth your time because of how it shapes your mind. And the authoritarians may take many things from us, but they cannot take our minds."
It's aimed at students, with some specific examples for astro/physics folks, but I think other people may find it useful too. 🔭⚛️🧪
"Knowledge is worth your time because of how it shapes your mind. And the authoritarians may take many things from us, but they cannot take our minds."
Knowledge is Worth Your Time
Folks who hang out on Bluesky/Twitter may have caught bits and pieces of the discussions amongst academics about what to do about today's university students...
chanda.bearblog.dev
October 22, 2025 at 6:11 PM
NEW WRITING:
It's aimed at students, with some specific examples for astro/physics folks, but I think other people may find it useful too. 🔭⚛️🧪
"Knowledge is worth your time because of how it shapes your mind. And the authoritarians may take many things from us, but they cannot take our minds."
It's aimed at students, with some specific examples for astro/physics folks, but I think other people may find it useful too. 🔭⚛️🧪
"Knowledge is worth your time because of how it shapes your mind. And the authoritarians may take many things from us, but they cannot take our minds."
🧵
As a theoretical cosmologist, I'm frequently asked "what is the benefit of the work you're doing for people's lives?" Nothing I work on makes money or cures disease.
There are a few different answers one can give, at various levels of "convincing" / "actually relevant to why the work is done."
1/🧵
There are a few different answers one can give, at various levels of "convincing" / "actually relevant to why the work is done."
1/🧵
October 4, 2025 at 2:09 PM
🧵
🧵
So here comes the trolley, barreling its way to the fork in the tracks. Yes, and here's the switch, and the people on the tracks; five of them in the trolley's current path, one on the alternate track. And then there's you, standing at the only switch.
www.the-reframe.com/there-is-no-...
www.the-reframe.com/there-is-no-...
There Is No Trolley Problem
We actually aren't constrained into atrocious premises by thought exercises. Obstacles are a reason to fight, not an excuse to quit. Our friends and neighbors aren't distractions..
www.the-reframe.com
August 25, 2025 at 12:18 PM
🧵
Reposted by Marjan Rafat
8. This has been a short and honestly rather peevish thread, so if you want read more that has been written in a more equanimous tone, here's a short piece that I coauthored a few years ago, precisely about how we deal with this kind of duplicity.
To Fight Misinformation, We Need to Teach That Science Is Dynamic
Science is a social process, and teaching students how researchers work in tandem to develop facts will make them less likely to be duped by falsehoods
www.scientificamerican.com
August 12, 2025 at 5:18 AM
8. This has been a short and honestly rather peevish thread, so if you want read more that has been written in a more equanimous tone, here's a short piece that I coauthored a few years ago, precisely about how we deal with this kind of duplicity.
A nice intersection of fields (physics vs. immunosuppression): youtu.be/4KKfH_MraCg?...
Trem Two
YouTube video by Mission Of Burma - Topic
youtu.be
July 11, 2025 at 2:59 PM
A nice intersection of fields (physics vs. immunosuppression): youtu.be/4KKfH_MraCg?...
Reposted by Marjan Rafat
What a horror show to have put that man in charge of anything. The documentary is very short and very good. You can watch it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybVZ...
Defeating a Virus That Killed Half a Billion People – The Plea
YouTube video by Neil Halloran
www.youtube.com
May 17, 2025 at 2:28 AM
What a horror show to have put that man in charge of anything. The documentary is very short and very good. You can watch it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybVZ...
Reposted by Marjan Rafat
I think a lot about what Carl Sagan said in one of his final interviews.
May 4, 2025 at 6:21 AM
I think a lot about what Carl Sagan said in one of his final interviews.
Reposted by Marjan Rafat
Today: I talked to one of my absolute heroes, @deborahb.bsky.social, about RFK Jr., how the US got food purity laws, the wild west of American food in the 19th century... and how to avoid going back to the days of formaldehyde milk and brick-dust spices.
buttondown.com/theswordandt...
buttondown.com/theswordandt...
How to Not Get Poisoned in America
The minute I saw that Robert Kennedy Jr., a notorious disease-loving health crank, was going to be responsible for the nation’s health—and the health of its...
buttondown.com
April 30, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Today: I talked to one of my absolute heroes, @deborahb.bsky.social, about RFK Jr., how the US got food purity laws, the wild west of American food in the 19th century... and how to avoid going back to the days of formaldehyde milk and brick-dust spices.
buttondown.com/theswordandt...
buttondown.com/theswordandt...
Reposted by Marjan Rafat
There are so many ways one could provide context for this data.
For example, in the last five years universities have received 52-55% of their research funding from the federal government. That's the lowest percentage since the 1950s. 1/x ncses.nsf.gov/surveys/high...
For example, in the last five years universities have received 52-55% of their research funding from the federal government. That's the lowest percentage since the 1950s. 1/x ncses.nsf.gov/surveys/high...
How Universities Became So Dependent on the Federal Government
For decades, universities got billions in federal dollars for research. The relationship was mutually beneficial, until President Trump decided it wasn’t.
www.nytimes.com
April 19, 2025 at 3:28 PM
There are so many ways one could provide context for this data.
For example, in the last five years universities have received 52-55% of their research funding from the federal government. That's the lowest percentage since the 1950s. 1/x ncses.nsf.gov/surveys/high...
For example, in the last five years universities have received 52-55% of their research funding from the federal government. That's the lowest percentage since the 1950s. 1/x ncses.nsf.gov/surveys/high...
Reposted by Marjan Rafat
The federally-funded research university is almost surely the single greatest American invention ever.
And it probably has some of the best ROR in federal spending, both in its contribution to the US specifically, but also to the greater world overall.
I doubt anything comes close.
And it probably has some of the best ROR in federal spending, both in its contribution to the US specifically, but also to the greater world overall.
I doubt anything comes close.
Actually. How the US benefitted from outsourcing its research interests to experts in universities.
April 19, 2025 at 1:58 PM
The federally-funded research university is almost surely the single greatest American invention ever.
And it probably has some of the best ROR in federal spending, both in its contribution to the US specifically, but also to the greater world overall.
I doubt anything comes close.
And it probably has some of the best ROR in federal spending, both in its contribution to the US specifically, but also to the greater world overall.
I doubt anything comes close.
Reposted by Marjan Rafat
If you track the history since the 90s, it's actually really clear what happened. Corporate labs (Bell Labs, IBM, etc) closed up shop or dramatically scaled back because the labs weren't profitable. The scientists who worked there went to universities, where research is much cheaper. 1/3 ⚛️🧪
April 19, 2025 at 3:03 PM
If you track the history since the 90s, it's actually really clear what happened. Corporate labs (Bell Labs, IBM, etc) closed up shop or dramatically scaled back because the labs weren't profitable. The scientists who worked there went to universities, where research is much cheaper. 1/3 ⚛️🧪
Reposted by Marjan Rafat
This framing is disingenuous. The government became dependent on universities to produce science, social science & technology. This was never a charity relationship. Government invest in what is useful to it. It’s not mysterious & govt has frankly gotten a good deal.
April 19, 2025 at 1:26 PM
This framing is disingenuous. The government became dependent on universities to produce science, social science & technology. This was never a charity relationship. Government invest in what is useful to it. It’s not mysterious & govt has frankly gotten a good deal.
Reposted by Marjan Rafat
First, Steves finds a way to talk about institutions and oligarchy that is dirt simple:
1. Institutions are PUBLIC WEALTH. They are our shared wealth, dammit.
2. Billionaires can't stand wealth they don't control.
3. So they are going to dismantle our public wealth to better bleed us dry
1. Institutions are PUBLIC WEALTH. They are our shared wealth, dammit.
2. Billionaires can't stand wealth they don't control.
3. So they are going to dismantle our public wealth to better bleed us dry
April 6, 2025 at 3:12 AM
First, Steves finds a way to talk about institutions and oligarchy that is dirt simple:
1. Institutions are PUBLIC WEALTH. They are our shared wealth, dammit.
2. Billionaires can't stand wealth they don't control.
3. So they are going to dismantle our public wealth to better bleed us dry
1. Institutions are PUBLIC WEALTH. They are our shared wealth, dammit.
2. Billionaires can't stand wealth they don't control.
3. So they are going to dismantle our public wealth to better bleed us dry
Reposted by Marjan Rafat
being an indie bookseller in the helltimes has felt both very stable and very stabilizing, and part of me wishes everyone could be on my side of the counter for a little while, because I think it would help some of you be a little less cynical and doomy right now. so here is my VERY anecdotal data:
March 22, 2025 at 3:36 AM
being an indie bookseller in the helltimes has felt both very stable and very stabilizing, and part of me wishes everyone could be on my side of the counter for a little while, because I think it would help some of you be a little less cynical and doomy right now. so here is my VERY anecdotal data:
Reposted by Marjan Rafat
Wow
Marshall McLuhan on Superman, from 1951’s “The Mechanical Bride”. That closing sentence still strikes home.
“And imperfect men, possessing superhuman material power, are not a reassuring prospect.”
“And imperfect men, possessing superhuman material power, are not a reassuring prospect.”
March 22, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Wow
Reposted by Marjan Rafat
I wrote this on young men, and why we need to stop lying about why they're easy prey for reptiles like Andrew Tate.
www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle-co...
www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle-co...
Séamas O'Reilly: We need to stop lying about what makes lost boys such easy marks for cons
Economically depressed young men are aggressively targeted with the oldest, most seductive pitch there is — money for nothing — by bad faith actors with enormous wealth
www.irishexaminer.com
March 15, 2025 at 9:11 AM
I wrote this on young men, and why we need to stop lying about why they're easy prey for reptiles like Andrew Tate.
www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle-co...
www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle-co...
Reposted by Marjan Rafat
Thanks! Was a bit stressful but so important to explain the importance of NIH funded research!
@labonnelab.bsky.social
overcast.fm/+AA5AWObyBF8
What an unbelievably great appearance with amazing focus and insight by Professor LaBonne. Thank you so much!
overcast.fm/+AA5AWObyBF8
What an unbelievably great appearance with amazing focus and insight by Professor LaBonne. Thank you so much!
Trump’s NIH Cuts Send Shockwaves Through the Science World — Odd Lots
overcast.fm
March 8, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Thanks! Was a bit stressful but so important to explain the importance of NIH funded research!
Reposted by Marjan Rafat
Montana is extremely lucky to have Zooey Zephyr and SJ Howell standing up in front of openly transphobic lawmakers who wanted to pass a bill that would /take trans kids away from their parents./
Thank you to them, and to the Republicans who crossed the aisle. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Thank you to them, and to the Republicans who crossed the aisle. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
‘Stop these crazy bills’: Republicans join Democrats to defeat anti-trans legislation in Montana
One bill would remove trans children from their parents, and the other would ban drag shows and Pride marches
www.theguardian.com
March 8, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Montana is extremely lucky to have Zooey Zephyr and SJ Howell standing up in front of openly transphobic lawmakers who wanted to pass a bill that would /take trans kids away from their parents./
Thank you to them, and to the Republicans who crossed the aisle. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Thank you to them, and to the Republicans who crossed the aisle. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...