Deb Chachra
@debcha.bsky.social
Engineering professor. Author of HOW INFRASTRUCTURE WORKS (on Riverhead in the US+, on Torva in the UK+). Interested in embodiment, materiality, metacognition, and systems. All enthusiasm is 100% genuine.
Reposted by Deb Chachra
My first editorial in @science.org was published today: what to do (and, importantly, what NOT to do) when your grants are suddenly cut or research funding is uncertain. Please read and share!
#AcademicSky #Science #Astronomy
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#AcademicSky #Science #Astronomy
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Weathering budget cuts: Lessons from NASA
The current uncertainty and cuts to science funding affect universities, research facilities, and laboratories across the United States, but this situation is not unprecedented. Under pressure to fund...
www.science.org
January 8, 2026 at 11:28 PM
My first editorial in @science.org was published today: what to do (and, importantly, what NOT to do) when your grants are suddenly cut or research funding is uncertain. Please read and share!
#AcademicSky #Science #Astronomy
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#AcademicSky #Science #Astronomy
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Deb Chachra
[cx link] I was invited by the Future Observatory Journal of the Design Museum, London, to contribute to the ABUNDANCE issue. I wrote about energy and matter — about updating our understanding of which of these is abundant and which is scarce, and building our future.
fojournal.org/essay/energy...
fojournal.org/essay/energy...
https://fojournal.org/essay/energy-and…
January 7, 2026 at 9:55 PM
[cx link] I was invited by the Future Observatory Journal of the Design Museum, London, to contribute to the ABUNDANCE issue. I wrote about energy and matter — about updating our understanding of which of these is abundant and which is scarce, and building our future.
fojournal.org/essay/energy...
fojournal.org/essay/energy...
Reposted by Deb Chachra
Your great-great-grandparents commuted about an hour a day. So did Roman merchants. So do you. No matter how fast we make transportation, people just live farther from work regardless of income. It's called Marchetti's constant, basically Jevons paradox for your morning commute.
January 7, 2026 at 7:16 PM
Your great-great-grandparents commuted about an hour a day. So did Roman merchants. So do you. No matter how fast we make transportation, people just live farther from work regardless of income. It's called Marchetti's constant, basically Jevons paradox for your morning commute.
[cx link] I was invited by the Future Observatory Journal of the Design Museum, London, to contribute to the ABUNDANCE issue. I wrote about energy and matter — about updating our understanding of which of these is abundant and which is scarce, and building our future.
fojournal.org/essay/energy...
fojournal.org/essay/energy...
https://fojournal.org/essay/energy-and…
January 7, 2026 at 9:55 PM
[cx link] I was invited by the Future Observatory Journal of the Design Museum, London, to contribute to the ABUNDANCE issue. I wrote about energy and matter — about updating our understanding of which of these is abundant and which is scarce, and building our future.
fojournal.org/essay/energy...
fojournal.org/essay/energy...
Reposted by Deb Chachra
Unfortunately, the text that has been on my mind a lot the past year (and which is, even more unfortunately, very likely to be relevant in the *coming* year) is “How Complex Systems Fail”. how.complexsystems.fail
How Complex Systems Fail
how.complexsystems.fail
January 7, 2026 at 7:59 PM
Unfortunately, the text that has been on my mind a lot the past year (and which is, even more unfortunately, very likely to be relevant in the *coming* year) is “How Complex Systems Fail”. how.complexsystems.fail
Reposted by Deb Chachra
In case anyone needs it for their syllabi, my statement in gen-Ai from the minicomic I made as a syllabus for class last semester. All online and printable here spinweaveandcut.com/fall-2025-sy...
January 6, 2026 at 4:54 PM
In case anyone needs it for their syllabi, my statement in gen-Ai from the minicomic I made as a syllabus for class last semester. All online and printable here spinweaveandcut.com/fall-2025-sy...
Will personally co-sign on this one — I bought a Beam Paints watercolour card (the Spectrum card) and they are just lovely paints.
A reminder to any canadian (or any) #watercolor artists. Beam Paints is an Indigenous owned company with beautiful plastic-free hues. Their sparkly metallics are to die for
www.beampaints.com
www.beampaints.com
January 5, 2026 at 11:47 PM
Will personally co-sign on this one — I bought a Beam Paints watercolour card (the Spectrum card) and they are just lovely paints.
Reposted by Deb Chachra
I think this is why STS's focus on the non-teleological nature of technological change — and fields like media archaeology, which examine minor tools and history's losers — are so important in countering the "progress" and "inevitability" myths.
I find the idea that technology “evolves” via some sort of passive internal force of history extremely pernicious. The idea that things simply improve rather than very specific choices and efforts being made in targeted areas that then require new infrastructures to maintain is really dangerous.
January 5, 2026 at 4:41 AM
I think this is why STS's focus on the non-teleological nature of technological change — and fields like media archaeology, which examine minor tools and history's losers — are so important in countering the "progress" and "inevitability" myths.
Reposted by Deb Chachra
Since the world is asking, and sometimes supposing otherwise:
The victims of America — Black, red, yellow, brown, and everyone else with a marked identity — who still live in the USA know precisely what it is, and know it in a way that few people elsewhere in the world ever will
The victims of America — Black, red, yellow, brown, and everyone else with a marked identity — who still live in the USA know precisely what it is, and know it in a way that few people elsewhere in the world ever will
January 4, 2026 at 2:49 AM
Since the world is asking, and sometimes supposing otherwise:
The victims of America — Black, red, yellow, brown, and everyone else with a marked identity — who still live in the USA know precisely what it is, and know it in a way that few people elsewhere in the world ever will
The victims of America — Black, red, yellow, brown, and everyone else with a marked identity — who still live in the USA know precisely what it is, and know it in a way that few people elsewhere in the world ever will
Reposted by Deb Chachra
Don't forget folks: allowing yourself a vision of the future you'd want for our country and planet - not the one you'd settle for, not the one you fear, but the future of your dreams - isn't naive, it's a vital cognitive skill. That's how we articulate what we most value. What's worth fighting for.
Instead of whatever this is, we should have a government getting lots of new homes and apartments built, lots of clean energy built, lots of high speed rail and transit and bike lanes built, human rights for everyone, economic & healthcare opportunities for all, & innovation that leads the world.
January 4, 2026 at 2:34 AM
Don't forget folks: allowing yourself a vision of the future you'd want for our country and planet - not the one you'd settle for, not the one you fear, but the future of your dreams - isn't naive, it's a vital cognitive skill. That's how we articulate what we most value. What's worth fighting for.
Reposted by Deb Chachra
thinking about how, in the Russian history elective I took in HS, every time a tsar was facing domestic weakness the teacher would turn to the assembled students and ask "so what is it time for?" and we would chant "stunning territorial annexation!" and she would respond "well, DUH, girls"
January 3, 2026 at 3:22 PM
thinking about how, in the Russian history elective I took in HS, every time a tsar was facing domestic weakness the teacher would turn to the assembled students and ask "so what is it time for?" and we would chant "stunning territorial annexation!" and she would respond "well, DUH, girls"
Reposted by Deb Chachra
The Organization of American Historians is conducting an oral history open to those who worked for the federal government or were contractors. This includes those who retired or were forced to leave because of changes since January.
www.fecohp.org
www.fecohp.org
FECOHP – Federal Employees and Contractors Oral History Project
www.fecohp.org
January 3, 2026 at 8:15 PM
The Organization of American Historians is conducting an oral history open to those who worked for the federal government or were contractors. This includes those who retired or were forced to leave because of changes since January.
www.fecohp.org
www.fecohp.org
Reposted by Deb Chachra
The moderate position is indeed The Hague
January 3, 2026 at 6:45 AM
The moderate position is indeed The Hague
Reposted by Deb Chachra
A picture is worth 1000 words...
This appeared on the BBC News today, showing the increase in solar electric generation in the UK.
Not sure who produced it, but genuinely think this is a genius piece of scientific communication - the construct and choice of colour scale is near-perfect.
Chapeau!
This appeared on the BBC News today, showing the increase in solar electric generation in the UK.
Not sure who produced it, but genuinely think this is a genius piece of scientific communication - the construct and choice of colour scale is near-perfect.
Chapeau!
January 2, 2026 at 4:53 PM
A picture is worth 1000 words...
This appeared on the BBC News today, showing the increase in solar electric generation in the UK.
Not sure who produced it, but genuinely think this is a genius piece of scientific communication - the construct and choice of colour scale is near-perfect.
Chapeau!
This appeared on the BBC News today, showing the increase in solar electric generation in the UK.
Not sure who produced it, but genuinely think this is a genius piece of scientific communication - the construct and choice of colour scale is near-perfect.
Chapeau!
Reposted by Deb Chachra
In 2026 I want all of the decent people to remember one thing.
You aren’t meant to be this disciplined, this self-sacrificing to survive. The environment is supposed to support good living. We can have that. You are not a failure. That is politics.
That is all.
You aren’t meant to be this disciplined, this self-sacrificing to survive. The environment is supposed to support good living. We can have that. You are not a failure. That is politics.
That is all.
January 1, 2026 at 10:30 PM
In 2026 I want all of the decent people to remember one thing.
You aren’t meant to be this disciplined, this self-sacrificing to survive. The environment is supposed to support good living. We can have that. You are not a failure. That is politics.
That is all.
You aren’t meant to be this disciplined, this self-sacrificing to survive. The environment is supposed to support good living. We can have that. You are not a failure. That is politics.
That is all.
Reposted by Deb Chachra
For those who are unfamiliar (if, say, you haven’t lived in New England for much of your adult life), the song and some context.
www.zinnedproject.org/materials/br...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=YsvG...
www.zinnedproject.org/materials/br...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=YsvG...
Bread and Roses
YouTube video by Judy Collins - Topic
m.youtube.com
January 1, 2026 at 8:21 PM
For those who are unfamiliar (if, say, you haven’t lived in New England for much of your adult life), the song and some context.
www.zinnedproject.org/materials/br...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=YsvG...
www.zinnedproject.org/materials/br...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=YsvG...
Ye gods, SAME.
This song makes me cry INSTANTLY so it’s probably for the best I’m not witnessing this
Bread and Roses being sung at the inauguration of the largest city in the United States
January 1, 2026 at 8:11 PM
Ye gods, SAME.
A useful clarification! Especially for people like me — I’ve had a Metrocard pretty much since they came out, despite never having lived in NYC, so I rarely know when I’ll use mine next. There’s no official ‘will not be accepted’ day announced yet.
www.mta.info/fares-tolls/...
www.mta.info/fares-tolls/...
January 1, 2026 at 8:07 PM
A useful clarification! Especially for people like me — I’ve had a Metrocard pretty much since they came out, despite never having lived in NYC, so I rarely know when I’ll use mine next. There’s no official ‘will not be accepted’ day announced yet.
www.mta.info/fares-tolls/...
www.mta.info/fares-tolls/...
Reposted by Deb Chachra
New York City has a new mayor
January 1, 2026 at 5:04 AM
New York City has a new mayor
Reposted by Deb Chachra
Congrats to the people of New York for experiencing A Good Thing, y'all earned it
January 1, 2026 at 5:15 AM
Congrats to the people of New York for experiencing A Good Thing, y'all earned it
End of a transit era in NYC this NYE: you can no longer use a Metrocard as of midnight. Pouring one out and playing this loud. m.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ihi...
My My Metrocard
YouTube video by Le Tigre - Topic
m.youtube.com
January 1, 2026 at 4:45 AM
End of a transit era in NYC this NYE: you can no longer use a Metrocard as of midnight. Pouring one out and playing this loud. m.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ihi...
Reposted by Deb Chachra
Open up this picture fully.
Then look at the surface of Mars.
Then look up to the top right.
Spot Mars' moon Phobos high in the sky.
Then notice the bright spot beside Phobos.
That's Earth.
Then look at the surface of Mars.
Then look up to the top right.
Spot Mars' moon Phobos high in the sky.
Then notice the bright spot beside Phobos.
That's Earth.
December 30, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Open up this picture fully.
Then look at the surface of Mars.
Then look up to the top right.
Spot Mars' moon Phobos high in the sky.
Then notice the bright spot beside Phobos.
That's Earth.
Then look at the surface of Mars.
Then look up to the top right.
Spot Mars' moon Phobos high in the sky.
Then notice the bright spot beside Phobos.
That's Earth.
Reposted by Deb Chachra
Good morning! Just wanted to let you all know that Rian Johnson subtly rickrolled us with a scene in Wake Up Dead Man. [bsky.app]
Jay Hulme (@jayhulmepoet.bsky.social)
Just watched the new Knives Out and I think it’s really important you know that the scene in the Seminary’s Gym is filmed in the same place Rick Astley filmed the music video for Never Gonna Give You Up. I saw the window tracery and immediately made my friends pause the film so I could tell them.
bsky.app
December 29, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Good morning! Just wanted to let you all know that Rian Johnson subtly rickrolled us with a scene in Wake Up Dead Man. [bsky.app]
Reposted by Deb Chachra
And to be clear: the action one does if one is feeling guilty tonight or tomorrow is give cash to organizations feeding the hungry and sheltering the houseless. It is not to show up at a shelter and ask to serve food.
You gotta get vetted to volunteer, so you start with cash, put a reminder —
You gotta get vetted to volunteer, so you start with cash, put a reminder —
Pope Leo said in a Christmas Eve sermon that the story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room at an inn should remind Christians that refusing to help the poor and strangers today is tantamount to rejecting God himself. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo, on Christmas Eve, says denying help to poor is rejecting God
Pope Leo said in a Christmas Eve sermon on Wednesday that the story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room at an inn should remind Christians that refusing to help the poor and stra...
www.reuters.com
December 25, 2025 at 2:36 AM
And to be clear: the action one does if one is feeling guilty tonight or tomorrow is give cash to organizations feeding the hungry and sheltering the houseless. It is not to show up at a shelter and ask to serve food.
You gotta get vetted to volunteer, so you start with cash, put a reminder —
You gotta get vetted to volunteer, so you start with cash, put a reminder —
Reposted by Deb Chachra
girl who is a library
the longer she stays in a place, the more bookshelves, mysteriously populated, slip into being around her, never when you're looking
the longer she stays in a place, the more bookshelves, mysteriously populated, slip into being around her, never when you're looking
December 24, 2025 at 1:45 PM
girl who is a library
the longer she stays in a place, the more bookshelves, mysteriously populated, slip into being around her, never when you're looking
the longer she stays in a place, the more bookshelves, mysteriously populated, slip into being around her, never when you're looking