Mark Schofield
@markschofieldphd.bsky.social
I teach chemistry at The George Washington University and study the electronic structure of transuranic materials, homogenous catalysts, and green chemistry. I do not speak for GW. https://blogs.gwu.edu/mschofie/
57 years ago today, humans first landed on the Moon. The source code that helped get them there? It’s on GitHub. Margaret Hamilton led the MIT team responsible for Apollo’s onboard flight software. (Image credit: Draper Laboratory; restoration by Adam Cuerden, via Wikimedia Commons.)
Did you write your comment yet on the OMB rules on federally funded science yet? No? Don’t worry, you can do it this weekend. Here are some resources that can help you get started.
The AAMC urges the Office of Management and Budget to rescind its proposed overhaul of federal research grant regulations, emphasizing deep concerns about the potential impact on science, patients, and academic medicine. Learn more:
AAMC Submits Comment Letter to Office of Management and Budget
The AAMC submitted a comment letter to OMB opposing proposed changes to the Uniform Guidance that threaten patient health and U.S. research integrity.
aamc.org
I’m a climate scientist. Let me fix this headline. “Nearly a century ago, scientists showed that burning fossil fuels warms the planet. Today, we know human emissions account for over 100% of the warming. Yet dark money and disinformation still work to keep Americans addicted to fossil fuels.”
Forbes@forbes.com · 3mo agoScientists have reached a consensus that human behavior is a big driver of climate change—but Americans aren't buying it.
Hey chem. peeps: Are you aware of research univs that have bootcamps (à la Berkeley Math for Physical Chemistry) or tutorials (à la MIT's month-long organic tutorial for entering students)? Looking at you @matthartings.bsky.social @andrechemist.bsky.social @geoffhutchison.net @profsje.bsky.social
Regardless of whether it’s all talk, when the leader of our country expresses plainly genocidal intent, everyone has to do something. For citizens of all political stripes, it means rejecting this madness. For Congress, it means taking action to rein him in. Now.
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/19/o... Having attended UMass Amherst, I can attest to the strength of the Five College system of which Hampshire plays an important role.
It’s not too late to save Hampshire College - The Boston Globe
Hampshire College is vital to the educational ecosystem of the Commonwealth.
bostonglobe.com
Today, the Trump administration repealed the endangerment finding: the ruling that served as the basis for limits on tailpipe emissions and power plant rules. Without it, we’ll be less safe, less healthy and less able to fight climate change—all so the fossil fuel industry can make even more money.
WATCH: Trump, EPA's Zeldin announce end of scientific basis for U.S. action on climate change
The Trump administration on Thursday revoked a scientific finding that long has been the central basis for U.S. action to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change, the most aggressiv...
pbs.org
As I say here, there is no scientific justification to revoke the engagement finding. In fact, over the last 15+ yrs, the evidence of how climate change affects our health has only grown. Higher risk of allergies, dementia, fertility, heart disease, and death: that’s what’s on the line. @nature.org
There is No Scientific Justification to Revoke the Endangerment Finding
The U.S. EPA's decision to repeal the Endangerment Finding will limit the government's ability to regulate emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.
nature.org
Hey inorganic people: Does anybody know what happened to the symmetry site at Jacobs university? I see that Jacobs has become Constructor. I'm wondering if the symmetry site - which was crazy useful - has been redeployed elsewhere. #inorganic #grouptheory #galois
A 2006 paper analyzes the public health response to the 1918 influenza pandemic not only validates the value of social distancing, but anticipates the consequences of relaxing those policies too soon. www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10....
Public health interventions and epidemic intensity during the 1918 influenza pandemic
pnas.org
NSF is about to dismantle NCAR at Russell Vought's direction to protect the fossil fuel industry. It's hard to communicate just how much NCAR does, so let's take a look: I've never worked at NCAR, and I've worked with NCAR researchers once ever. What scientific discoveries has NCAR made possible? 👇
As a survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre, Viola Ford Fletcher bravely shared her story so that we’d never forget this painful part of our history. Michelle and I are grateful for her lifelong work to advance civil rights, and send our love to her family.
Viola Fletcher, Oldest Survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre, Dies at 111
nytimes.com
Boston's Mayor Wu playing with Yo-Yo Ma at Symphony Hall
🧪Let’s set the record straight. AGAIN Andrew Wakefield’s paper was RETRACTED by The Lancet in Feb 2010.
Walker Bragman@walkerbragman.bsky.social · 9mo agoGOP Sen. Ron Johnson is crowing about Robert Kennedy Jr.’s CDC pushing debunked vaccine misinformation. “Time to apologize to Dr. Andrew Wakefield and all the others who were maligned and vilified for simply asking the right questions,” he says. Wakefield’s paper was *fraudulent.*
"You are not allowed to break the law in service to this country": @captmarkkelly.bsky.social Navy veteran Sen. Mark Kelly joins The Weeknight after several Democratic lawmakers called on members of the military community to stand up for the Constitution. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Chj_...
'You are not allowed to break the law in service to this country': Sen. Mark Kelly
YouTube video by MS NOW
youtube.com
Nov 7th is the birthday of both Lise Meitner & Marie Curie. Of the 13 chemical elements named directly after real people (not mythological figures) only two are named after women: meitnerium and curium (the latter of which is named in honour of both Marie & her husband) #chemsky 🧪
Inorganic Peeps: I'm looking for a new inorganic text and like Housecroft and Sharpe but would also consider Weller, Rourke, Armstrong, Lancaster, Overton. In the past I've used Douglas et al, Huheey et al and Meissler et al. but I'm looking for a change. Any experience/recommendations?
QOTD: “And I should like to assure you, my Islamic friends, that under the American Constitution, under American tradition, and in American hearts, this Center, this place of worship, is just as welcome as could be a similar edifice of any other religion.” Dwight D Eisenhower, 1957
Virginia! I’m here today for a very important reason: to ask you to vote for your next Governor, @abigailspanberger.com. Tune in:
Virginia Votes Rally in Norfolk with Abigail Spanberger and President Barack Obama
YouTube video by Abigail Spanberger for Governor
youtube.com
If I were running the DNC, there would be Democratic Party sponsored food relief banks across the country right now that specifically welcomed anyone regardless of party affiliation. Along with the food, there could be voter registration and links to runforsomething.net
Happy Mole Day, everyone! 10 to the 23 is a biiiiig number. Here are some incredible drawings from @chemscrapes.bsky.social illustrating the bigness of moles and the smallness of atoms and molecules.
“[t]he near total cessation of the inflow of illegal aliens” is threatening “the stability of domestic food production and prices for U.S. consumers.” www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Trump administration says immigration enforcement threatens higher food prices
U.S. farmers face labor shortages and potential food price hikes due to Trump’s immigration policy, the administration acknowledged in a Federal Registry document.
washingtonpost.com
