Chris Cappa
@chriscappa.bsky.social
Professor, Scientist, Engineer, Human. In no particular order. Views my own, of course.
Excited to have sourdough back in the house. (I am just the beneficiary. I cannot claim any credit.)
February 6, 2026 at 4:21 AM
Excited to have sourdough back in the house. (I am just the beneficiary. I cannot claim any credit.)
Reposted by Chris Cappa
the Swiss mixed doubles curling team is married and when their game ended the Peacock stream just showed them playing with their Curling Baby for like 5 minutes with the Olympics music playing
February 4, 2026 at 8:04 PM
the Swiss mixed doubles curling team is married and when their game ended the Peacock stream just showed them playing with their Curling Baby for like 5 minutes with the Olympics music playing
MUPPETS! We need more content like this
February 5, 2026 at 5:58 AM
MUPPETS! We need more content like this
Reposted by Chris Cappa
A few more:
Bob’s Burgers: Boys for Now
Archer: Placebo Effect
Veep: Helsinki
Community: Remedial Chaos Theory
Toast of London: High Winds Actor
Schitt’s Creek: Wine and Roses
This Fool: Sandy Says
Bob’s Burgers: Boys for Now
Archer: Placebo Effect
Veep: Helsinki
Community: Remedial Chaos Theory
Toast of London: High Winds Actor
Schitt’s Creek: Wine and Roses
This Fool: Sandy Says
What’s a TV episode that still makes you laugh out loud on repeat viewings? (I’ll take movies too.)
A few of ours:
Frasier: Nightmare Inn, Ski Lodge, the Seal
Somebody Somewhere: St. Louis Sushi
What We Do in the Shadows: Jackie Daytona
Derry Girls: Rock the Boat, pilot
Insecure: Coachella
A few of ours:
Frasier: Nightmare Inn, Ski Lodge, the Seal
Somebody Somewhere: St. Louis Sushi
What We Do in the Shadows: Jackie Daytona
Derry Girls: Rock the Boat, pilot
Insecure: Coachella
February 5, 2026 at 4:00 AM
A few more:
Bob’s Burgers: Boys for Now
Archer: Placebo Effect
Veep: Helsinki
Community: Remedial Chaos Theory
Toast of London: High Winds Actor
Schitt’s Creek: Wine and Roses
This Fool: Sandy Says
Bob’s Burgers: Boys for Now
Archer: Placebo Effect
Veep: Helsinki
Community: Remedial Chaos Theory
Toast of London: High Winds Actor
Schitt’s Creek: Wine and Roses
This Fool: Sandy Says
Reposted by Chris Cappa
‼️a combination of advanced air filtration, ventilation, and purification could cut the average number of infected cases among all students in half‼️
We modeled measles risk in schools across the U.S.
KEY FINDINGS
1⃣ Results highlight the primary importance of vaccination for reducing the risk of measles transmission among students
2⃣ Addt'l and significant benefits thru enhancing building ventilation and filtration systems
KEY FINDINGS
1⃣ Results highlight the primary importance of vaccination for reducing the risk of measles transmission among students
2⃣ Addt'l and significant benefits thru enhancing building ventilation and filtration systems
January 31, 2026 at 3:49 PM
‼️a combination of advanced air filtration, ventilation, and purification could cut the average number of infected cases among all students in half‼️
Reposted by Chris Cappa
This isn't mine, and I can't definitively find the original source. But I love this little bit of wisdom:
"If you're a fifteen-minute walk from a coffee shop, but the server there has to drive an hour to get to work, you don't live in a walkable city. You live in a theme park."
"If you're a fifteen-minute walk from a coffee shop, but the server there has to drive an hour to get to work, you don't live in a walkable city. You live in a theme park."
For all the fearmongering about capital flight from New York City, there’s an exodus few want to talk about: working people.
Sky-high rents and outrageous child care costs are already pushing families out of the city they keep running.
That’s what we have to change.
That’s what we have to change.
January 28, 2026 at 7:59 PM
This isn't mine, and I can't definitively find the original source. But I love this little bit of wisdom:
"If you're a fifteen-minute walk from a coffee shop, but the server there has to drive an hour to get to work, you don't live in a walkable city. You live in a theme park."
"If you're a fifteen-minute walk from a coffee shop, but the server there has to drive an hour to get to work, you don't live in a walkable city. You live in a theme park."
Reposted by Chris Cappa
For any elected official who needs to hear this, I impart a lesson learned from the NFL:
When the other team is tired and on the back foot, you don’t call a timeout so they can catch their breath. You grind their fucking face into the dirt until the final whistle blows and you’ve won the game.
When the other team is tired and on the back foot, you don’t call a timeout so they can catch their breath. You grind their fucking face into the dirt until the final whistle blows and you’ve won the game.
January 27, 2026 at 1:41 AM
For any elected official who needs to hear this, I impart a lesson learned from the NFL:
When the other team is tired and on the back foot, you don’t call a timeout so they can catch their breath. You grind their fucking face into the dirt until the final whistle blows and you’ve won the game.
When the other team is tired and on the back foot, you don’t call a timeout so they can catch their breath. You grind their fucking face into the dirt until the final whistle blows and you’ve won the game.
Reposted by Chris Cappa
It could take a generation to recover the talent lost from federal science.
But it doesn't have to. We should be ready to scale up the Presidential Management Fellowship program to triple what it once was and rebuild U.S. capacity by 2030.
But it doesn't have to. We should be ready to scale up the Presidential Management Fellowship program to triple what it once was and rebuild U.S. capacity by 2030.
How many STEM Ph.D.s were lost from the U.S. federal government last year?
My colleagues @mghersher.bsky.social and @policyhound.bsky.social dug into a recent data release to find the answer. A @science.org exclusive.
www.science.org/content/arti...
My colleagues @mghersher.bsky.social and @policyhound.bsky.social dug into a recent data release to find the answer. A @science.org exclusive.
www.science.org/content/arti...
January 27, 2026 at 5:52 AM
It could take a generation to recover the talent lost from federal science.
But it doesn't have to. We should be ready to scale up the Presidential Management Fellowship program to triple what it once was and rebuild U.S. capacity by 2030.
But it doesn't have to. We should be ready to scale up the Presidential Management Fellowship program to triple what it once was and rebuild U.S. capacity by 2030.
Just spitballing here, but what if we built more housing rather than data centers?
“The infiltration of AI into homeless services has sparked concern from some critics who argue homeless patients, because of their increased vulnerability, need a human health care provider.”
Can AI help make homeless Californians healthier?
A California company is using AI to help diagnose homeless Californians. The tool promises better health care, but raises questions.
calmatters.org
January 27, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Just spitballing here, but what if we built more housing rather than data centers?
Reposted by Chris Cappa
Even when there’s no accountability, the record matters. Credit to the Wikipedia editors maintaining this page.
Deaths, detentions and deportations of American citizens in the second Trump administration - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
January 25, 2026 at 3:09 AM
Even when there’s no accountability, the record matters. Credit to the Wikipedia editors maintaining this page.
Reposted by Chris Cappa
New research out today in #ScienceAdvances, in which Kyan Shlipak et al. explore the health impacts of burning wood for heat across the U.S. Of note: ~8600 premature deaths w/ more urban impacts than expected, disproportionate impacts to POC www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... @science.org
Ambient air quality and health impacts of PM2.5 from US residential wood combustion
Air pollution from residential wood burning contributes to thousands of premature deaths annually, with unexpected urban impacts.
www.science.org
January 23, 2026 at 9:25 PM
New research out today in #ScienceAdvances, in which Kyan Shlipak et al. explore the health impacts of burning wood for heat across the U.S. Of note: ~8600 premature deaths w/ more urban impacts than expected, disproportionate impacts to POC www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... @science.org
Reposted by Chris Cappa
in case you're curious about how angry Minnesota is about ICE, it was -20 today
January 24, 2026 at 12:38 AM
in case you're curious about how angry Minnesota is about ICE, it was -20 today
Reposted by Chris Cappa
Attention folks in the weather, climate, disaster, wildfire, and Earth science communities: NSF has just published a new "Dear Colleague" letter inviting feedback (by Mar 13) on the proposal to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). www.nsf.gov/funding/...
January 23, 2026 at 9:57 PM
Attention folks in the weather, climate, disaster, wildfire, and Earth science communities: NSF has just published a new "Dear Colleague" letter inviting feedback (by Mar 13) on the proposal to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). www.nsf.gov/funding/...
Reposted by Chris Cappa
A hugely important and hopeful story out of Minnesota. 3M, which had been the world's largest manufacturer of toxic #PFAS since 1950s, has officially gotten out of the business.
www.startribune.com/3m-end-pfas-...
www.startribune.com/3m-end-pfas-...
3M ends PFAS manufacturing on schedule
The Maplewood-based company announced in 2022 it would cease producing using the “forever chemical” in the span of three years, though it still expects to use third-party PFAS in some products.
www.startribune.com
January 23, 2026 at 1:40 AM
A hugely important and hopeful story out of Minnesota. 3M, which had been the world's largest manufacturer of toxic #PFAS since 1950s, has officially gotten out of the business.
www.startribune.com/3m-end-pfas-...
www.startribune.com/3m-end-pfas-...
Reposted by Chris Cappa
And just like that, the US has left the World Health Organization.
Link goes to the official announcement—lies pretending to justify a decision that will kill countless numbers—from people too stupid to even include a proper twittercard.
www.hhs.gov/press-room/u...
Link goes to the official announcement—lies pretending to justify a decision that will kill countless numbers—from people too stupid to even include a proper twittercard.
www.hhs.gov/press-room/u...
January 23, 2026 at 3:05 AM
And just like that, the US has left the World Health Organization.
Link goes to the official announcement—lies pretending to justify a decision that will kill countless numbers—from people too stupid to even include a proper twittercard.
www.hhs.gov/press-room/u...
Link goes to the official announcement—lies pretending to justify a decision that will kill countless numbers—from people too stupid to even include a proper twittercard.
www.hhs.gov/press-room/u...
Reposted by Chris Cappa
I guess I do think if you participated in the arrest of a five-year-old you are probably just fundamentally incompatible with society. That you are not a safe person for humanity to be around, generally
January 22, 2026 at 3:31 AM
I guess I do think if you participated in the arrest of a five-year-old you are probably just fundamentally incompatible with society. That you are not a safe person for humanity to be around, generally
Hiking is Stage 1 of thinking. But writing is Stage 2-99.
Writing is thinking
Outsourcing the entire task of writing to LLMs will deprive us of the essential creative task of interpreting our findings and generating a deeper theoretical understanding of the world.
Outsourcing the entire task of writing to LLMs will deprive us of the essential creative task of interpreting our findings and generating a deeper theoretical understanding of the world.
January 21, 2026 at 3:44 AM
Hiking is Stage 1 of thinking. But writing is Stage 2-99.
Reposted by Chris Cappa
Writing is thinking
Outsourcing the entire task of writing to LLMs will deprive us of the essential creative task of interpreting our findings and generating a deeper theoretical understanding of the world.
Outsourcing the entire task of writing to LLMs will deprive us of the essential creative task of interpreting our findings and generating a deeper theoretical understanding of the world.
January 18, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Writing is thinking
Outsourcing the entire task of writing to LLMs will deprive us of the essential creative task of interpreting our findings and generating a deeper theoretical understanding of the world.
Outsourcing the entire task of writing to LLMs will deprive us of the essential creative task of interpreting our findings and generating a deeper theoretical understanding of the world.
Reposted by Chris Cappa
The worst climate and weather news you’ll see today.
Update: A bid to safeguard the National Center for Atmospheric Research failed Thursday after the Senate passed a spending package without an amendment to save the center's funding. eos.org/research-and...
Trump Administration Plans to Break Up NCAR - Eos
The Trump administration is planning to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research, one of the world’s leading climate and Earth science research laboratories, according to a statement fro...
eos.org
January 16, 2026 at 3:26 PM
The worst climate and weather news you’ll see today.
Build more housing
America has a housing shortage. Every single housing proposal you see that is not "build more housing" will have the primary effect of pushing up the prices of existing housing, and is therefore, in reality, a plan to enrich current homeowners. In conclusion, build more housing.
President Trump will issue a plan next week for letting Americans tap their 401(k)s for a down payment on a home, a senior White House official said Friday.
January 17, 2026 at 1:55 AM
Build more housing
Reposted by Chris Cappa
America has a housing shortage. Every single housing proposal you see that is not "build more housing" will have the primary effect of pushing up the prices of existing housing, and is therefore, in reality, a plan to enrich current homeowners. In conclusion, build more housing.
President Trump will issue a plan next week for letting Americans tap their 401(k)s for a down payment on a home, a senior White House official said Friday.
Trump Plan Would Let Americans Use 401(k)s for Down Payments on Homes, Official Says
President Trump will issue a plan next week for letting Americans tap their 401(k)s for a down payment on a home, a senior White House official said Friday.
on.wsj.com
January 16, 2026 at 9:11 PM
America has a housing shortage. Every single housing proposal you see that is not "build more housing" will have the primary effect of pushing up the prices of existing housing, and is therefore, in reality, a plan to enrich current homeowners. In conclusion, build more housing.
Reposted by Chris Cappa
Texas A&M decided to publicly cancel my Ethics class, and share a false statement that I declined to provide information, which made it impossible for [them ] to request an exemption. See for yourself, if this statement is true.
They are getting creative!
They are getting creative!
ETHICS IS NOW CANCELED AT TEXAS A&M
Statement from Dr. Leonard Bright....
Statement from Dr. Leonard Bright....
January 14, 2026 at 10:12 PM
Texas A&M decided to publicly cancel my Ethics class, and share a false statement that I declined to provide information, which made it impossible for [them ] to request an exemption. See for yourself, if this statement is true.
They are getting creative!
They are getting creative!
How is it that some of the most insightful and empathetic commentary on the moment we live in (in the US, at least) comes from a humble internet Hippo? @internethippo.bsky.social
January 14, 2026 at 1:53 AM
How is it that some of the most insightful and empathetic commentary on the moment we live in (in the US, at least) comes from a humble internet Hippo? @internethippo.bsky.social
Reposted by Chris Cappa
the eternal conflict between wanting to discover new music and only ever wanting to listen to your favorites
January 11, 2026 at 12:42 AM
the eternal conflict between wanting to discover new music and only ever wanting to listen to your favorites
Reposted by Chris Cappa
This is a HUGE win…and one that happened because we ~collectively~ said “NO!”
But AAAS coming in and saying on record to the NYT “Science is doing ok. Things are not bad at all…” is baffling.
If things are hard for you as a scientist, please share in the comments.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/s...
But AAAS coming in and saying on record to the NYT “Science is doing ok. Things are not bad at all…” is baffling.
If things are hard for you as a scientist, please share in the comments.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/s...
Congress Is Reversing Trump’s Steep Budget Cuts to Science
www.nytimes.com
January 10, 2026 at 12:09 PM
This is a HUGE win…and one that happened because we ~collectively~ said “NO!”
But AAAS coming in and saying on record to the NYT “Science is doing ok. Things are not bad at all…” is baffling.
If things are hard for you as a scientist, please share in the comments.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/s...
But AAAS coming in and saying on record to the NYT “Science is doing ok. Things are not bad at all…” is baffling.
If things are hard for you as a scientist, please share in the comments.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/s...