Andrew Sobey
@andrewsobey.com
solidly mediocre video guy and science communicator in DC. won an award once for something. he/him
andrewsobey.com
andrewsobey.com
Plus ACS Reactions over in the "Science & Nature" tab, if you're into that sort of thing.
The PBS app has so much great cultural content on it. Theater, Opera, musicals, ballet, classical performance. I really would like a week to dig into it. Maybe over the holidays.
December 3, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Plus ACS Reactions over in the "Science & Nature" tab, if you're into that sort of thing.
Reposted by Andrew Sobey
Alt text for those who need it. This is amazing.
December 2, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Alt text for those who need it. This is amazing.
liquid marbles are easy to make at home but also kinda wild cutting edge chemistry. The breakthroughs happening with these are staggering, including (maybe) one that we made a few months ago in our YT episode and are now working on getting published. 🧪
youtu.be/9V9sDISn7bk
youtu.be/9V9sDISn7bk
cult follower open cylinder liquid marbles
YouTube video by Reactions
youtu.be
December 1, 2025 at 3:01 PM
liquid marbles are easy to make at home but also kinda wild cutting edge chemistry. The breakthroughs happening with these are staggering, including (maybe) one that we made a few months ago in our YT episode and are now working on getting published. 🧪
youtu.be/9V9sDISn7bk
youtu.be/9V9sDISn7bk
Someone finally put to bed the most pernicious of Van Halen rumors, and we can all go back to understanding the obvious truth: the brown M&Ms rider thing does, in fact, confirm that they're all just a bunch of assholes.
* You know how Van Halen had a contract rider demanding bowls of M&Ms with the brown ones removed?
They later claimed that was all a test to make sure venues were reading their contracts. Clever!
BUT WAIT, that claim itself is actually false. I fact-checked it.
Snack Stack exclusive:
They later claimed that was all a test to make sure venues were reading their contracts. Clever!
BUT WAIT, that claim itself is actually false. I fact-checked it.
Snack Stack exclusive:
In Search of Van Halen's Brown M&Ms
Contract riders and the meaning of a modern pop star
snackstack.net
November 26, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Someone finally put to bed the most pernicious of Van Halen rumors, and we can all go back to understanding the obvious truth: the brown M&Ms rider thing does, in fact, confirm that they're all just a bunch of assholes.
Reposted by Andrew Sobey
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has just announced that she is not running for reelection.
November 25, 2025 at 7:24 PM
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has just announced that she is not running for reelection.
Reposted by Andrew Sobey
I'm excited to announce that I have been asked to join the Mamdani Transition Team to work on community safety issues. A New Era for NYC.
November 24, 2025 at 8:23 PM
I'm excited to announce that I have been asked to join the Mamdani Transition Team to work on community safety issues. A New Era for NYC.
Reposted by Andrew Sobey
Tomorrow is my birthday, and if you’re inclined, I would appreciate it if you could donate to @remorahousedc.bsky.social. Aside from being stellar people, they work hard year-round to give comfort and aid to our neighbors in need. givebutter.com/remorahouse I’ll match the 1st $100 in donations, too.
November 23, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Tomorrow is my birthday, and if you’re inclined, I would appreciate it if you could donate to @remorahousedc.bsky.social. Aside from being stellar people, they work hard year-round to give comfort and aid to our neighbors in need. givebutter.com/remorahouse I’ll match the 1st $100 in donations, too.
Reposted by Andrew Sobey
Australia has so much rooftop solar that they're giving away free electricity 3 hours a day. Pakistanis have imported so many DIY low cost panels that they're exceeding total demand.
And in the US, rooftop solar is $3.50 per watt and we're repealing decades-old tax credits.
And in the US, rooftop solar is $3.50 per watt and we're repealing decades-old tax credits.
November 23, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Australia has so much rooftop solar that they're giving away free electricity 3 hours a day. Pakistanis have imported so many DIY low cost panels that they're exceeding total demand.
And in the US, rooftop solar is $3.50 per watt and we're repealing decades-old tax credits.
And in the US, rooftop solar is $3.50 per watt and we're repealing decades-old tax credits.
if olivia nuzzi and anthony weiner ever get together it's going to unleash gozer the gozerian in the form of a giant marshmallow
November 22, 2025 at 2:22 PM
if olivia nuzzi and anthony weiner ever get together it's going to unleash gozer the gozerian in the form of a giant marshmallow
Reposted by Andrew Sobey
The House bill being voted on today to require cash bail in DC is insane.
DC hasn’t had cash bail since 1992, and crime has plummeted since.
Our current system is near identical to federal law.
People should be held pretrial if they pose a safety risk — not because they are too poor to pay bail.
DC hasn’t had cash bail since 1992, and crime has plummeted since.
Our current system is near identical to federal law.
People should be held pretrial if they pose a safety risk — not because they are too poor to pay bail.
November 19, 2025 at 1:27 PM
The House bill being voted on today to require cash bail in DC is insane.
DC hasn’t had cash bail since 1992, and crime has plummeted since.
Our current system is near identical to federal law.
People should be held pretrial if they pose a safety risk — not because they are too poor to pay bail.
DC hasn’t had cash bail since 1992, and crime has plummeted since.
Our current system is near identical to federal law.
People should be held pretrial if they pose a safety risk — not because they are too poor to pay bail.
This 2003 story about how the telegraph radically changed journalism (maybe beginning with the news of Lincoln's assassination) is an interesting parallel to how streaming has radically changed how we create and consume video.
Apparently the NY Herald dispatch on Lincoln’s death is one of the first prominent examples of inverted pyramid,(and strange footnote: actually written by the Secretary of War?!) in stark contrast to whatever that was www.poynter.org/reporting-ed...
Birth of the Inverted Pyramid: A Child of Technology, Commerce and History - Poynter
From person-to-person coaching and intensive hands-on seminars to interactive online courses and media reporting, Poynter helps journalists sharpen skills and elevate storytelling throughout their car...
www.poynter.org
November 16, 2025 at 11:30 PM
This 2003 story about how the telegraph radically changed journalism (maybe beginning with the news of Lincoln's assassination) is an interesting parallel to how streaming has radically changed how we create and consume video.
Still struggling to believe that Seattle voters actually picked the better candidate? Is that allowed?
November 13, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Still struggling to believe that Seattle voters actually picked the better candidate? Is that allowed?
Reposted by Andrew Sobey
SEATTLE!!!
We’ve now taken the lead by 91 votes! 🤯 This thing is certainly not over! Over 1,000 ballots have been challenged, so if you haven’t tracked your ballot yet get on it! Our trusty volunteers have been working hard to "cure" ballots so they count! We're so close!
We’ve now taken the lead by 91 votes! 🤯 This thing is certainly not over! Over 1,000 ballots have been challenged, so if you haven’t tracked your ballot yet get on it! Our trusty volunteers have been working hard to "cure" ballots so they count! We're so close!
November 11, 2025 at 12:16 AM
SEATTLE!!!
We’ve now taken the lead by 91 votes! 🤯 This thing is certainly not over! Over 1,000 ballots have been challenged, so if you haven’t tracked your ballot yet get on it! Our trusty volunteers have been working hard to "cure" ballots so they count! We're so close!
We’ve now taken the lead by 91 votes! 🤯 This thing is certainly not over! Over 1,000 ballots have been challenged, so if you haven’t tracked your ballot yet get on it! Our trusty volunteers have been working hard to "cure" ballots so they count! We're so close!
Reposted by Andrew Sobey
The anniversary of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald is as good a time as any to do a thread about another Lake Superior wreck and one of the most badass acts of heroism you'll ever hear of.
November 10, 2024 at 6:37 PM
The anniversary of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald is as good a time as any to do a thread about another Lake Superior wreck and one of the most badass acts of heroism you'll ever hear of.
Reposted by Andrew Sobey
We're hiring two Ward 7 Community Connectors — one for in-person events and another for online outreach.
These are part-time, contract roles: $35+/hour, ~5 hours/week. Applicants must live in Ward 7.
More information and how to apply:
These are part-time, contract roles: $35+/hour, ~5 hours/week. Applicants must live in Ward 7.
More information and how to apply:
We're hiring Ward 7 Community Connectors
We're hiring two Community Connectors — one for in-person events and another for online outreach.
51st.news
November 9, 2025 at 2:00 PM
We're hiring two Ward 7 Community Connectors — one for in-person events and another for online outreach.
These are part-time, contract roles: $35+/hour, ~5 hours/week. Applicants must live in Ward 7.
More information and how to apply:
These are part-time, contract roles: $35+/hour, ~5 hours/week. Applicants must live in Ward 7.
More information and how to apply:
Reposted by Andrew Sobey
testing this out with a pythagorean animation I made a few years ago during covid lockdown boredom
September 13, 2024 at 3:12 PM
testing this out with a pythagorean animation I made a few years ago during covid lockdown boredom
Reposted by Andrew Sobey
Thinking only of Rosalind Franklin today, and what was stolen from her (and so many other female scientists alongside her).
Rosalind Franklin and the damage of gender harassment
Spurred by a recent report on sexual harassment in academia, our columnist revisits a historical case and reflects on what has changed—and what hasn’t
www.science.org
November 7, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Thinking only of Rosalind Franklin today, and what was stolen from her (and so many other female scientists alongside her).
are we doing crabRave.gif for James Watson?
November 7, 2025 at 7:54 PM
are we doing crabRave.gif for James Watson?
Reposted by Andrew Sobey
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 6, 2025 at 9:00 PM
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
happy sandwich day to all who celebrate
🚨🚨🚨 The jury has reached a verdict. Sean Dunn, aka the DC Sandwich Guy, has been found NOT GUILTY of assault.
November 6, 2025 at 9:10 PM
happy sandwich day to all who celebrate
Reposted by Andrew Sobey
this morning, ICE went into a Spanish language immersion daycare and took a teacher from the building in front of screaming and crying kids and parents at dropoff and the daycare had to shut down for the day (near Lane Tech, where they were yesterday). Really hoping today's "theme" is not "daycare."
November 5, 2025 at 2:22 PM
this morning, ICE went into a Spanish language immersion daycare and took a teacher from the building in front of screaming and crying kids and parents at dropoff and the daycare had to shut down for the day (near Lane Tech, where they were yesterday). Really hoping today's "theme" is not "daycare."
Reposted by Andrew Sobey
The defense team presses Lairmore on whether the sandwich really 'exploded.' They return to the photo of the sandwich and wrapper on the ground.
"That sandwich hasn't exploded at all, has it?" defense asks.
"It looks like a little bit is coming out towards the bottom," Lairmore replies.
"That sandwich hasn't exploded at all, has it?" defense asks.
"It looks like a little bit is coming out towards the bottom," Lairmore replies.
November 4, 2025 at 4:37 PM
The defense team presses Lairmore on whether the sandwich really 'exploded.' They return to the photo of the sandwich and wrapper on the ground.
"That sandwich hasn't exploded at all, has it?" defense asks.
"It looks like a little bit is coming out towards the bottom," Lairmore replies.
"That sandwich hasn't exploded at all, has it?" defense asks.
"It looks like a little bit is coming out towards the bottom," Lairmore replies.
used to be that if you cranked the sharpening slider all the way up people would accuse you of bad hdr, now they'll accuse you of generative ai
November 4, 2025 at 4:09 PM
used to be that if you cranked the sharpening slider all the way up people would accuse you of bad hdr, now they'll accuse you of generative ai
Reposted by Andrew Sobey
This right here, this exact sentence, is THE problem in American political journalism.
The IRA *was* cheap energy and good jobs! That was the whole bill! Democrats did precisely what political pundits are telling them to do and the pundits just ignore it.
The IRA *was* cheap energy and good jobs! That was the whole bill! Democrats did precisely what political pundits are telling them to do and the pundits just ignore it.
November 1, 2025 at 12:13 PM
This right here, this exact sentence, is THE problem in American political journalism.
The IRA *was* cheap energy and good jobs! That was the whole bill! Democrats did precisely what political pundits are telling them to do and the pundits just ignore it.
The IRA *was* cheap energy and good jobs! That was the whole bill! Democrats did precisely what political pundits are telling them to do and the pundits just ignore it.
Reposted by Andrew Sobey
For every $1 in benefits fraud, agencies spend $3.72 trying to detect it, based on the unproven assumption that means-testing lowers the rate of fraud. But there's evidence to indicate that trusting people to self-report what they need would be cheaper overall, even factoring in fraud/abuse.
“some people abuse SNAP” your soul is rotten
October 30, 2025 at 8:15 PM
For every $1 in benefits fraud, agencies spend $3.72 trying to detect it, based on the unproven assumption that means-testing lowers the rate of fraud. But there's evidence to indicate that trusting people to self-report what they need would be cheaper overall, even factoring in fraud/abuse.