Juan Meza
@mathsciprof.bsky.social
Mathematician, STEM advocate, book lover
Some feel-good news on the science front. The excitement in the kids face on finding the anemone was inspiring www.nytimes.com/2025/08/08/w...
A Starfish, a President and a Deep-Sea Frenzy in Argentina
www.nytimes.com
August 8, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Some feel-good news on the science front. The excitement in the kids face on finding the anemone was inspiring www.nytimes.com/2025/08/08/w...
One can only hope this is just a temporary setback but the parallels to other countries that have gone this route are just too close for comfort.
The rapid decline of American science has few precedents in history, argues @rossandersen.bsky.social. We are witnessing an unparalleled act of self-sabotage:
How Scientific Empires End
And what it means for America
bit.ly
August 4, 2025 at 3:59 PM
One can only hope this is just a temporary setback but the parallels to other countries that have gone this route are just too close for comfort.
“This is the kind of thing you would only expect to see in a banana republic,” Ms. Yellen said.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/03/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/03/b...
Trump Fired America’s Economic Data Collector. History Shows the Perils.
www.nytimes.com
August 4, 2025 at 3:52 PM
“This is the kind of thing you would only expect to see in a banana republic,” Ms. Yellen said.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/03/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/03/b...
Where there’s smoke there’s usually fire. @warren.senate.gov
CBS canceled Colbert’s show just THREE DAYS after Colbert called out CBS parent company Paramount for its $16M settlement with Trump – a deal that looks like bribery.
America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons.
Watch and share his message.
America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons.
Watch and share his message.
July 18, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Where there’s smoke there’s usually fire. @warren.senate.gov
Reposted by Juan Meza
@tomtomorrow.bsky.social @rubenbolling.bsky.social
First they come for the comedians, then the cartoonist. Kings fear being laughed at. We have a funny bone to pick with/without a smile on our faces #Colbert #Kimmel #SethMeyers #DailyShow
First they come for the comedians, then the cartoonist. Kings fear being laughed at. We have a funny bone to pick with/without a smile on our faces #Colbert #Kimmel #SethMeyers #DailyShow
July 18, 2025 at 2:43 PM
@tomtomorrow.bsky.social @rubenbolling.bsky.social
First they come for the comedians, then the cartoonist. Kings fear being laughed at. We have a funny bone to pick with/without a smile on our faces #Colbert #Kimmel #SethMeyers #DailyShow
First they come for the comedians, then the cartoonist. Kings fear being laughed at. We have a funny bone to pick with/without a smile on our faces #Colbert #Kimmel #SethMeyers #DailyShow
Reposted by Juan Meza
Breaking news: “The Late Show” with Stephen Colbert will end in May 2026, CBS said in a statement.
The announcement came days after Colbert spoke out against the $16 million paid earlier this month by Paramount, the parent company of CBS News.
The announcement came days after Colbert spoke out against the $16 million paid earlier this month by Paramount, the parent company of CBS News.
Stephen Colbert’s ‘Late Show’ canceled by CBS, to end in May 2026
CBS said in a statement that it was “purely a financial decision.” The show launched with Colbert as host, executive producer and writer a decade ago.
www.washingtonpost.com
July 18, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Breaking news: “The Late Show” with Stephen Colbert will end in May 2026, CBS said in a statement.
The announcement came days after Colbert spoke out against the $16 million paid earlier this month by Paramount, the parent company of CBS News.
The announcement came days after Colbert spoke out against the $16 million paid earlier this month by Paramount, the parent company of CBS News.
Reposted by Juan Meza
this is an absolute must-read story; after you read it, i recommend reading my story last week on how even the emergency food that the state dept has pledged to help distribute is also.... not getting distributed www.wired.com/story/usaid-...
July 15, 2025 at 7:07 PM
this is an absolute must-read story; after you read it, i recommend reading my story last week on how even the emergency food that the state dept has pledged to help distribute is also.... not getting distributed www.wired.com/story/usaid-...
Reposted by Juan Meza
July 15, 2025 at 4:05 PM
When a Supreme Court Justice says, “the threat to our Constitution’s separation of powers is grave.” it should be a great cause for concern
Breaking news: A divided Supreme Court cleared the way for now for the Trump administration to sharply shrink the Education Department, one of the cornerstones of the president’s efforts to radically downsize the federal government.
Supreme Court allows deep cuts at Education Department for now
A lower-court ruling had prevented Trump officials from slashing about half of the Education Department’s more than 4,100 workers.
www.washingtonpost.com
July 15, 2025 at 4:19 PM
When a Supreme Court Justice says, “the threat to our Constitution’s separation of powers is grave.” it should be a great cause for concern
Fingers crossed. Then again I’m just an eternal optimist 😁
🧪 CRITICAL UPDATE: The House draft version is now out.
✅ Like the Senate's version, there's no cut to NASA's budget.
❌ There's a 23% proposed cut to NSF's budget.
8-page summary: appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-su...
Draft bill: appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-su...
✅ Like the Senate's version, there's no cut to NASA's budget.
❌ There's a 23% proposed cut to NSF's budget.
8-page summary: appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-su...
Draft bill: appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-su...
🧪 BREAKING (good news): Senate subcommittee says NO! to Trump's proposed slashes to NASA & NSF funding.
Today, the subcommittee said to keep NASA + NSF funding at $33.9 billion, the same as in FY24.
See 7:15 below. Full Senate appropriations committee meets tomorrow about it.
🧵 1/3
Today, the subcommittee said to keep NASA + NSF funding at $33.9 billion, the same as in FY24.
See 7:15 below. Full Senate appropriations committee meets tomorrow about it.
🧵 1/3
July 14, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Fingers crossed. Then again I’m just an eternal optimist 😁
Reposted by Juan Meza
REMINDER - Pittsburgh, this is TOMORROW!
We hope to see you there!
We hope to see you there!
📣PROTEST ALERT!📍Pittsburgh, join us TUESDAY, JULY 15 at Forbes & Bigelow blvd for a rally & march!
Trump & fossil fuel execs arrive at Carnegie Mellon for Energy & AI Summit, using CMU to boost their image while selling out PA’s future.
Students & locals say: not on our campus, not in our name.
Trump & fossil fuel execs arrive at Carnegie Mellon for Energy & AI Summit, using CMU to boost their image while selling out PA’s future.
Students & locals say: not on our campus, not in our name.
July 14, 2025 at 4:18 PM
REMINDER - Pittsburgh, this is TOMORROW!
We hope to see you there!
We hope to see you there!
Reposted by Juan Meza
Disinformation around a “weather weapon” and cloud seeding is being widely promoted by everyone from anti-government extremists to GOP influencers in the wake of the Texas floods—leading to real-world consequences.
Conspiracy Theories About the Texas Floods Lead to Death Threats
Disinformation around a “weather weapon” and cloud seeding is being widely promoted by everyone from anti-government extremists to GOP influencers—leading to real-world consequences.
wrd.cm
July 13, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Disinformation around a “weather weapon” and cloud seeding is being widely promoted by everyone from anti-government extremists to GOP influencers in the wake of the Texas floods—leading to real-world consequences.
It’s good to see that one branch of the government is doing its job. Or at least trying to. Maybe there’s some hope.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Opinion | ‘Egregious.’ ‘Brazen.’ ‘Lawless.’ How 48 Judges Describe Trump’s Actions, in Their Own Words
Dozens of judges, appointed by presidents of both parties, have stood up to the administration’s lawlessness.
www.nytimes.com
July 12, 2025 at 5:01 PM
It’s good to see that one branch of the government is doing its job. Or at least trying to. Maybe there’s some hope.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Juan Meza
Recently, my book THEY CALLED US ENEMY was banned – again – in Tennessee. Book bans are out of control. Huge parts of American history are being restricted. To join me in standing up for the freedom to read, go to pen.org/action. @penamerica.bsky.social @topshelfcomix.bsky.social @idwpublishing.com
July 11, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Recently, my book THEY CALLED US ENEMY was banned – again – in Tennessee. Book bans are out of control. Huge parts of American history are being restricted. To join me in standing up for the freedom to read, go to pen.org/action. @penamerica.bsky.social @topshelfcomix.bsky.social @idwpublishing.com
Reposted by Juan Meza
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said Thursday that the “state of our democracy” keeps her up at night, echoing a theme that has animated some of her recent public appearances and fiery dissents from recent decisions.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson says she fears for U.S. democracy
The justice has emerged as one of the court’s sharpest critics, issuing more dissents than any colleague during the Supreme Court term that ended last month.
www.washingtonpost.com
July 10, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said Thursday that the “state of our democracy” keeps her up at night, echoing a theme that has animated some of her recent public appearances and fiery dissents from recent decisions.
Reposted by Juan Meza
“the Weather Service employee whose job it was to make sure those warnings got traction — Paul Yura, the long-serving meteorologist in charge of “warning coordination” — had recently taken an unplanned early retirement amid cuts pushed by DOGE. He was not replaced.”
Opinion | As the Texas Floodwaters Rose, One Indispensable Voice Was Silent
www.nytimes.com
July 9, 2025 at 2:31 PM
“the Weather Service employee whose job it was to make sure those warnings got traction — Paul Yura, the long-serving meteorologist in charge of “warning coordination” — had recently taken an unplanned early retirement amid cuts pushed by DOGE. He was not replaced.”
Nice piece on the dangers of LLMs. I liked the description as “plausibility engines” and not “truth seekers” or “reasoning machines”
I wrote about Grok going "MechaHitler" over at X, and the need to view LLMs correctly: as remarkably powerful plausibility engines.
Their AGI marketing and the strong inclination to project human qualities to anything that can speak is misleading us.
NYT gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/11/o...
Their AGI marketing and the strong inclination to project human qualities to anything that can speak is misleading us.
NYT gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/11/o...
July 11, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Nice piece on the dangers of LLMs. I liked the description as “plausibility engines” and not “truth seekers” or “reasoning machines”
Another nice piece by Prof Strogatz, this time on the connection between triangular numbers and CAT scans.
How a Puzzle About Fractions Got Brain Scans Rolling www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
How a Puzzle About Fractions Got Brain Scans Rolling www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
How a Puzzle About Fractions Got Brain Scans Rolling
A story of bowling pins, patterns and medical miracles.
www.nytimes.com
July 6, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Another nice piece by Prof Strogatz, this time on the connection between triangular numbers and CAT scans.
How a Puzzle About Fractions Got Brain Scans Rolling www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
How a Puzzle About Fractions Got Brain Scans Rolling www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Let’s not pretend any more that the GOP is the fiscally conservative Party.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/u...
Republican Bill Puts Nation on New, More Perilous Fiscal Path
www.nytimes.com
July 2, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Let’s not pretend any more that the GOP is the fiscally conservative Party.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/u...
Really nice article on the history of the recent events in LA and the use of the National Guard to quell demonstrations, to quote "the militarization of policing in Los Angeles opens important questions about democracy and state violence." theconversation.com/the-use-of-f...
The use of federal troops to quell Los Angeles protests recalls militarized law enforcement during the Civil Rights Movement
During Jim Crow segregation, political leaders used domestic military power to preserve the interests of racial authoritarians.
theconversation.com
June 26, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Really nice article on the history of the recent events in LA and the use of the National Guard to quell demonstrations, to quote "the militarization of policing in Los Angeles opens important questions about democracy and state violence." theconversation.com/the-use-of-f...
One small step for man. One large step for science.
Breaking news: The National Institutes of Health has ceased terminating grants on politically sensitive topics after a federal judge ruled last week that the cancellations were illegal.
scim.ag/4l9MO8Y
scim.ag/4l9MO8Y
Following court order, NIH ceases new terminations of politically sensitive grants
After a judge told agency to restore hundreds of killed grants, NIH backs off plans to cancel more existing projects
scim.ag
June 26, 2025 at 1:34 AM
One small step for man. One large step for science.
Reposted by Juan Meza
June 26, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Well so much for transparency: “The scale of canceled or withheld funds remains opaque.”
Beyond today's annexation of the NSF building, this new budget detail in WaPo is also 🤯 and needs investigation:
"So far this year, [NSF] has received only $6.5 billion of the congressionally appropriated $9 billion that it is supposed to spend on research"
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
"So far this year, [NSF] has received only $6.5 billion of the congressionally appropriated $9 billion that it is supposed to spend on research"
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
June 26, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Well so much for transparency: “The scale of canceled or withheld funds remains opaque.”
Heard a rumor about this last night, but now I guess it's official. Makes me so sad to hear that my former colleagues at NSF are being so badly treated
www.scientificamerican.com/article/trum...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/trum...
Trump Administration Ousts National Science Foundation from Headquarters Building
Employees at the National Science Foundation say they’ve been blindsided by a plan for the Department of Housing and Urban Development to take over their offices
www.scientificamerican.com
June 25, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Heard a rumor about this last night, but now I guess it's official. Makes me so sad to hear that my former colleagues at NSF are being so badly treated
www.scientificamerican.com/article/trum...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/trum...
Just attended the @aaas.org LSEN Community Learning Forum Webinar on Building Relationships with Policymakers. Highly recommended to anyone interested in helping advocate for science.
June 25, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Just attended the @aaas.org LSEN Community Learning Forum Webinar on Building Relationships with Policymakers. Highly recommended to anyone interested in helping advocate for science.