Tristan Caro
@tacaro.bsky.social
Microbiologist and geochemist | Postdoc @ Caltech | Formerly @ CU Boulder, NASA, Berkeley | Isotope, dataviz, and pottery enjoyer
Reposted by Tristan Caro
What is the most profitable industry in the world, this side of the law? Not oil, not IT, not pharma.
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
November 12, 2025 at 10:31 AM
What is the most profitable industry in the world, this side of the law? Not oil, not IT, not pharma.
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
I've always been a fan of markdown format for code notebooks but....wow, editing python with quarto in positron is genuinely a more pleasant experience than jupyter notebooks!! #rstats
November 12, 2025 at 6:49 PM
I've always been a fan of markdown format for code notebooks but....wow, editing python with quarto in positron is genuinely a more pleasant experience than jupyter notebooks!! #rstats
Reposted by Tristan Caro
Why are planetary scientists, astrobiologists and and SETI scientists so negative (pissed off, even) about Avi Loeb’s repeated claims that 3I/Atlas may be an invading alien spaceship?
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November 10, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Why are planetary scientists, astrobiologists and and SETI scientists so negative (pissed off, even) about Avi Loeb’s repeated claims that 3I/Atlas may be an invading alien spaceship?
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Reposted by Tristan Caro
Murine norovirus and influenza virus H5N1 can survive the process of making cheese from raw milk, persisting for weeks. Thus, it is recommended that milk contaminated with viruses be heat-treated to ensure safety. Get more info in #AppEnvMicro: asm.social/2Gi
November 10, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Murine norovirus and influenza virus H5N1 can survive the process of making cheese from raw milk, persisting for weeks. Thus, it is recommended that milk contaminated with viruses be heat-treated to ensure safety. Get more info in #AppEnvMicro: asm.social/2Gi
Reposted by Tristan Caro
A wonderful collaboration between my lab and Andy Ellington and Edward Marcotte here at UT.
We obtained lots of thermal stable plastic degrading enzymes from the deep sea (Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California)
We obtained lots of thermal stable plastic degrading enzymes from the deep sea (Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California)
Plastic degradation by enzymes from uncultured deep sea microorganisms
Abstract. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-hydrolyzing enzymes (PETases) are a recently discovered enzyme class capable of plastic degradation. PETases are
academic.oup.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:04 PM
A wonderful collaboration between my lab and Andy Ellington and Edward Marcotte here at UT.
We obtained lots of thermal stable plastic degrading enzymes from the deep sea (Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California)
We obtained lots of thermal stable plastic degrading enzymes from the deep sea (Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California)
Reposted by Tristan Caro
Hundreds of thousands of people, dead because of a decision made by the world's richest man
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 7, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Hundreds of thousands of people, dead because of a decision made by the world's richest man
Reposted by Tristan Caro
The US withdrawal from WHO could impact the flu shot.
Flu samples sent to CDC from around the world are down 60% this year, as of July.
"When those viruses are not coming in, we don't know what to put in the vaccine, and you're going to have less effective vaccines."
www.npr.org/sections/goa...
Flu samples sent to CDC from around the world are down 60% this year, as of July.
"When those viruses are not coming in, we don't know what to put in the vaccine, and you're going to have less effective vaccines."
www.npr.org/sections/goa...
Why next year's flu shot might not be as good as it should be
America's withdrawal from the World Health Organization is affecting the ability of U.S. scientists to track flu and other pathogens. That could be a blow to the development of the 2025 flu vaccine.
www.npr.org
November 7, 2025 at 5:29 PM
The US withdrawal from WHO could impact the flu shot.
Flu samples sent to CDC from around the world are down 60% this year, as of July.
"When those viruses are not coming in, we don't know what to put in the vaccine, and you're going to have less effective vaccines."
www.npr.org/sections/goa...
Flu samples sent to CDC from around the world are down 60% this year, as of July.
"When those viruses are not coming in, we don't know what to put in the vaccine, and you're going to have less effective vaccines."
www.npr.org/sections/goa...
Reposted by Tristan Caro
Amy Angert and I are recruiting a #postdoc to participate in a collaborative NSF-funded study of demographic responses to climate across the geographic range of the scarlet monkeyflower. Please repost! jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/224...
November 7, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Amy Angert and I are recruiting a #postdoc to participate in a collaborative NSF-funded study of demographic responses to climate across the geographic range of the scarlet monkeyflower. Please repost! jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/224...
this is a nightmare and i love it
Do you teach #rstats? Do your students complain about how lame and old-fashioned dplyr is? Don't worry: I have the solution for you: github.com/hadley/genzp....
genzplyr is dplyr, but bussin fr fr no cap.
genzplyr is dplyr, but bussin fr fr no cap.
GitHub - hadley/genzplyr: dplyr but make it bussin fr fr no cap
dplyr but make it bussin fr fr no cap. Contribute to hadley/genzplyr development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:29 PM
this is a nightmare and i love it
Reposted by Tristan Caro
purrr 1.2.0 out now — mostly removing long deprecated functions but a few small performance nad parallel processing improvements. Learn more at www.tidyverse.org/blog/2025/11... #rstats
purrr 1.2.0
This release tightens up the package by removing long-deprecated functions, making `map_chr()` and predicate functions more type-safe, and requiring a newer version of carrier to make `in_parallel()`...
www.tidyverse.org
November 4, 2025 at 2:10 PM
purrr 1.2.0 out now — mostly removing long deprecated functions but a few small performance nad parallel processing improvements. Learn more at www.tidyverse.org/blog/2025/11... #rstats
Reposted by Tristan Caro
BREAKING: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is illegally closing 13 campus buildings (including ~100 laboratories).
Report coming from GESTA, the Goddard employee union
Report coming from GESTA, the Goddard employee union
November 2, 2025 at 4:55 AM
BREAKING: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is illegally closing 13 campus buildings (including ~100 laboratories).
Report coming from GESTA, the Goddard employee union
Report coming from GESTA, the Goddard employee union
Reposted by Tristan Caro
A devastating set of decisions on the part of UC leadership to withdraw support from our nationally recognized postdoc program that prioritizes research excellence combined with addressing our university public service mission. www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
UC to Stop Funding Systemwide Postdoc Program
Established in 1984 to encourage women and minority Ph.D.s to pursue academia, the program has attracted right-wing criticism for prioritizing diverse candidates.
www.insidehighered.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:53 PM
A devastating set of decisions on the part of UC leadership to withdraw support from our nationally recognized postdoc program that prioritizes research excellence combined with addressing our university public service mission. www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
Reposted by Tristan Caro
Dartmouth’s Earth Science Department is hiring in Geobiology and/or Stable Isotope Biogeochemistry!
New Assistant Professor Posting:
@dartmouthears.bsky.social @dartmouthartsci.bsky.social
Stable Isotope Biogeochemistry and/or Geobiology
apply.interfolio.com/176517
🧪🌎
@dartmouthears.bsky.social @dartmouthartsci.bsky.social
Stable Isotope Biogeochemistry and/or Geobiology
apply.interfolio.com/176517
🧪🌎
November 5, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Dartmouth’s Earth Science Department is hiring in Geobiology and/or Stable Isotope Biogeochemistry!
Reposted by Tristan Caro
"Science is being destroyed across many agencies" say federal researchers.
For my latest @nature.com piece, I spoke to 19 different scientists across EPA, NOAA, NIH, NASA, and USGS to document how science is being dismantled across US federal agencies.
For my latest @nature.com piece, I spoke to 19 different scientists across EPA, NOAA, NIH, NASA, and USGS to document how science is being dismantled across US federal agencies.
Dismantling of US federal agencies will ‘destroy science’
From NASA to the National Institutes of Health, federal agencies conduct research that universities cannot. Agency scientists speak out about the irreplaceable facilities, institutional knowledge and ...
www.nature.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:58 PM
"Science is being destroyed across many agencies" say federal researchers.
For my latest @nature.com piece, I spoke to 19 different scientists across EPA, NOAA, NIH, NASA, and USGS to document how science is being dismantled across US federal agencies.
For my latest @nature.com piece, I spoke to 19 different scientists across EPA, NOAA, NIH, NASA, and USGS to document how science is being dismantled across US federal agencies.
Reposted by Tristan Caro
Nature suggests you use their "Manuscript Adviser" bot to get advice before submitting
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
November 3, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Nature suggests you use their "Manuscript Adviser" bot to get advice before submitting
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
Reposted by Tristan Caro
(9/9)This article details the administration’s ongoing destruction of NASA science. Here Press Secretary Bethany Stevens clearly violates the Hatch Act, as Acting Administrator Duffy has done. If they’re not held accountable, NASA’s integrity may never be restored.
www.space.com/space-explor...
www.space.com/space-explor...
NASA is sinking its flagship science center during the government shutdown — and may be breaking the law in the process, critics say
"There is just a general acknowledgement that a lot of what is happening is illegal…"
www.space.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:23 PM
(9/9)This article details the administration’s ongoing destruction of NASA science. Here Press Secretary Bethany Stevens clearly violates the Hatch Act, as Acting Administrator Duffy has done. If they’re not held accountable, NASA’s integrity may never be restored.
www.space.com/space-explor...
www.space.com/space-explor...
Reposted by Tristan Caro
A personal reflection on the destructive erosion of ethics, norms and respect for law at NASA:
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October 31, 2025 at 2:16 PM
A personal reflection on the destructive erosion of ethics, norms and respect for law at NASA:
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Reposted by Tristan Caro
If you take the time to read the whole Gates memo (which I did), the bulk of the content was mostly solid and encouraging. Really!
It was the FRAME that was off--very off, from the first line.
And when your framing is off, then how you make decisions and set priorities is off. THAT'S the problem.
It was the FRAME that was off--very off, from the first line.
And when your framing is off, then how you make decisions and set priorities is off. THAT'S the problem.
October 30, 2025 at 1:52 PM
If you take the time to read the whole Gates memo (which I did), the bulk of the content was mostly solid and encouraging. Really!
It was the FRAME that was off--very off, from the first line.
And when your framing is off, then how you make decisions and set priorities is off. THAT'S the problem.
It was the FRAME that was off--very off, from the first line.
And when your framing is off, then how you make decisions and set priorities is off. THAT'S the problem.
Reposted by Tristan Caro
Government has published one of those quiet but important documents that might get overlooked as it is not 'newsy'. The headline finding is that £1 of public R&D investment generates £8 in net economic benefits for the UK over the long term
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
The value of public R&D
www.gov.uk
October 30, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Government has published one of those quiet but important documents that might get overlooked as it is not 'newsy'. The headline finding is that £1 of public R&D investment generates £8 in net economic benefits for the UK over the long term
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Reposted by Tristan Caro
The average nucleotide identity (ANI) underpins how we map microbial diversity, compare species, and connect genomes to ecology.
I wrote a short piece reflecting on the discovery and significance of this metric (and really enjoyed digging into the context and story behind it!) #microsky 🧬
I wrote a short piece reflecting on the discovery and significance of this metric (and really enjoyed digging into the context and story behind it!) #microsky 🧬
Average nucleotide identity — the backbone of modern ecological genomics - Nature Reviews Genetics
In this Journal Club, Luis Orellana recalls a 2005 publication by Konstantinidis and Tiedje that introduced average nucleotide identity as a sequence-based metric to determine the relatedness between ...
www.nature.com
October 30, 2025 at 9:11 PM
The average nucleotide identity (ANI) underpins how we map microbial diversity, compare species, and connect genomes to ecology.
I wrote a short piece reflecting on the discovery and significance of this metric (and really enjoyed digging into the context and story behind it!) #microsky 🧬
I wrote a short piece reflecting on the discovery and significance of this metric (and really enjoyed digging into the context and story behind it!) #microsky 🧬
Reposted by Tristan Caro
ladies and gentlemen...we got him
October 30, 2025 at 7:10 PM
ladies and gentlemen...we got him
Reposted by Tristan Caro
I wanted to offer some thoughts on the Gates climate memo that has been circulating this week. While I can't directly speak for others, I can say that my own response is one of dismay & deep frustration (and that this view is shared by many climate/Earth scientists). [1/n]
October 30, 2025 at 5:02 PM
I wanted to offer some thoughts on the Gates climate memo that has been circulating this week. While I can't directly speak for others, I can say that my own response is one of dismay & deep frustration (and that this view is shared by many climate/Earth scientists). [1/n]
Reposted by Tristan Caro
Oof, WY, KS, AR, SD, NE, KY, ME
Here’s How Much Obamacare Prices Are Rising Across the Country
The new prices make it official: Americans will need to pay more for insurance next year if extra subsidies are allowed to expire.
www.nytimes.com
October 30, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Oof, WY, KS, AR, SD, NE, KY, ME
Reposted by Tristan Caro
To all team #GDGTs members: T. Schneider and @islatope.bsky.social have a new paper that describes a new software to calculate a wide range of GDGT-based indices!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
🔗 to the summary by T. Schneider in my next post.
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With implications for ⚒️ and #PaleoSky
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www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
🔗 to the summary by T. Schneider in my next post.
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With implications for ⚒️ and #PaleoSky
(1/2)
GaDGeT: An open-source R-workflow for fast and flexible GDGT index calculations
Understanding recent rapid environmental and climatic changes requires placing them in a long-term context derived from reconstructions from natural a…
www.sciencedirect.com
October 30, 2025 at 6:03 PM
To all team #GDGTs members: T. Schneider and @islatope.bsky.social have a new paper that describes a new software to calculate a wide range of GDGT-based indices!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
🔗 to the summary by T. Schneider in my next post.
🧪
With implications for ⚒️ and #PaleoSky
(1/2)
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
🔗 to the summary by T. Schneider in my next post.
🧪
With implications for ⚒️ and #PaleoSky
(1/2)