Gene Tracy
@genetracy.bsky.social
Physicist, sci-fi fan, news junkie. Scribblings have appeared at Aeon, Lapham’s Q, and American Scientist. he/him. Author of The Icarus Question: Essays on Science, Technology, and the Search for Home in a Changing World.
Pinned
Gene Tracy
@genetracy.bsky.social
· Jul 21
A man should add beauty and strength to his city.
He is no citizen whatsoever
If he is tied to the ugly by fear or by pride.
— Antigone, by Sophocles, translated by Robert Bringhurst
He is no citizen whatsoever
If he is tied to the ugly by fear or by pride.
— Antigone, by Sophocles, translated by Robert Bringhurst
Reposted by Gene Tracy
NEW: A mass propaganda event is about to engulf the US news cycle and what, if anything, survives it will be a lesson for our times.
But it’s what the rest of the world does now that’s key. When someone tells you who they are, believe them.
broligarchy.substack.com/p/the-threat...
But it’s what the rest of the world does now that’s key. When someone tells you who they are, believe them.
broligarchy.substack.com/p/the-threat...
January 3, 2026 at 2:20 PM
NEW: A mass propaganda event is about to engulf the US news cycle and what, if anything, survives it will be a lesson for our times.
But it’s what the rest of the world does now that’s key. When someone tells you who they are, believe them.
broligarchy.substack.com/p/the-threat...
But it’s what the rest of the world does now that’s key. When someone tells you who they are, believe them.
broligarchy.substack.com/p/the-threat...
Reposted by Gene Tracy
🇺🇦 Bonne année à tous depuis Kharkiv.
Malgré les alertes fréquentes, les explosions, le froid, les tempêtes de neige ❄️, cette ville écorchée mais toujours magnifique est encore debout.
Malgré les alertes fréquentes, les explosions, le froid, les tempêtes de neige ❄️, cette ville écorchée mais toujours magnifique est encore debout.
January 1, 2026 at 6:47 PM
🇺🇦 Bonne année à tous depuis Kharkiv.
Malgré les alertes fréquentes, les explosions, le froid, les tempêtes de neige ❄️, cette ville écorchée mais toujours magnifique est encore debout.
Malgré les alertes fréquentes, les explosions, le froid, les tempêtes de neige ❄️, cette ville écorchée mais toujours magnifique est encore debout.
Reposted by Gene Tracy
A reminder of the stunning rate of scientific progress: it’s only been 101 years that we’ve known the Universe is larger than the Milky Way. Now we know that it’s at least *1 million* times larger in linear size than the Milky Way (and probably 50 or more times larger than that, even).
Edwin Hubble announced OTD in 1925 that Andromeda and other spiral nebulae were in fact separate galaxies outside the Milky Way, in a paper read to an AAS meeting by H.N. Russell. The Universe was far larger than what many astronomers had imagined; more than just our little island of stars. 🧪 🔭
January 2, 2026 at 2:13 AM
A reminder of the stunning rate of scientific progress: it’s only been 101 years that we’ve known the Universe is larger than the Milky Way. Now we know that it’s at least *1 million* times larger in linear size than the Milky Way (and probably 50 or more times larger than that, even).
Truly inspiring set of interviews about the lively art scene in #Kharkiv, a city under regular bombardment. #Ukraine podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/u...
Special: 'Theatre Under Fire' - fighting for the artistic soul of frontline Kharkiv
Podcast Episode · Ukraine: The Latest · 12/31/2025 · 37m
podcasts.apple.com
January 1, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Truly inspiring set of interviews about the lively art scene in #Kharkiv, a city under regular bombardment. #Ukraine podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/u...
Reposted by Gene Tracy
The Library of Alexandria was burned. The Nazis burned books. Lenin destroyed Soviet science. This is no different.
Trump and the GOP are coming for both science and our libraries.
Trump and the GOP are coming for both science and our libraries.
January 1, 2026 at 4:01 AM
The Library of Alexandria was burned. The Nazis burned books. Lenin destroyed Soviet science. This is no different.
Trump and the GOP are coming for both science and our libraries.
Trump and the GOP are coming for both science and our libraries.
Reposted by Gene Tracy
In the coming year, I wish you all a thriving community
December 31, 2025 at 6:05 PM
In the coming year, I wish you all a thriving community
Reposted by Gene Tracy
You know what actually makes women happy? Bank accounts. Voting rights. The ability to leave a bad marriage, and not have a miscarriage kill us.
Participating in these "debates" is agreeing that our rights are not important.
Participating in these "debates" is agreeing that our rights are not important.
Debating Away Our Humanity
CBS News wants to know if "feminism failed women." Here's what they're really asking.
jessica.substack.com
December 30, 2025 at 10:39 PM
You know what actually makes women happy? Bank accounts. Voting rights. The ability to leave a bad marriage, and not have a miscarriage kill us.
Participating in these "debates" is agreeing that our rights are not important.
Participating in these "debates" is agreeing that our rights are not important.
Reposted by Gene Tracy
Her defenders, I mean
"These are take-merchants and mouthpieces who publish what powerful people tell them over text and DM as if it's a transgressive secret and not a comms strategy," writes @attackerman.bsky.social
Watching Bari Weiss Murder Investigative Journalism at CBS
Notes from someone who's withstood White House demands to delay an accurate story—and who once even had a 60 Minutes piece spiked
www.forever-wars.com
December 30, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Her defenders, I mean
Interesting summary of the state of play in Europe and the US for #EVs in the coming year: insideevs.com/features/781...
2026 Is When The Real EV War Begins. Here's Why
Western companies are finally launching their third-generation EVs, with better pricing, more range and more polished software.
insideevs.com
December 30, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Interesting summary of the state of play in Europe and the US for #EVs in the coming year: insideevs.com/features/781...
Reposted by Gene Tracy
New, from me: The NYT reporter who specializes in profiles of beleaguered right-wingers on campus went to New College...and found out that things were going ok!
So let me explain some pretty massive errors of omission: 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-nyt-re...
So let me explain some pretty massive errors of omission: 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-nyt-re...
The NYT Recruiting Brochure for New College
A failing Ron DeSantis higher ed experiment gets a boost
donmoynihan.substack.com
December 28, 2025 at 7:50 PM
New, from me: The NYT reporter who specializes in profiles of beleaguered right-wingers on campus went to New College...and found out that things were going ok!
So let me explain some pretty massive errors of omission: 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-nyt-re...
So let me explain some pretty massive errors of omission: 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-nyt-re...
Reposted by Gene Tracy
One of the most incredible shots I've ever gotten, in Yellowstone. This coyote walked over a ridge in the blowing snow and posed for me, with a small grin on its face, the snowfalkes like stars in the background.
The desolation and beauty of life and nature is grounding, and so good for the soul.
The desolation and beauty of life and nature is grounding, and so good for the soul.
December 28, 2025 at 2:03 AM
One of the most incredible shots I've ever gotten, in Yellowstone. This coyote walked over a ridge in the blowing snow and posed for me, with a small grin on its face, the snowfalkes like stars in the background.
The desolation and beauty of life and nature is grounding, and so good for the soul.
The desolation and beauty of life and nature is grounding, and so good for the soul.
Reposted by Gene Tracy
The principle I go by is to treat every person like a person. You never know who will be successful, nor do you know who will become a dear friend. So just be kind and engaged.
The only people who hate being treated as normal are nightmares. Not clicking with them is a secret bonus.
The only people who hate being treated as normal are nightmares. Not clicking with them is a secret bonus.
Talking to one of these types at a con who asked how I 'got in' with so many 'famous writers' who I'd been talking to and I said "we made friends before anyone knew who we were decades ago by striking up interesting conversations and enjoying each other's company" and he kept re-asking the question.
They have come to the convention hoping to "break in" and then find themselves -- shocker! -- a "nobody in the book world." Yeah no shit! We all are! I have gently told guys like this a million times that it takes most of us *years* of hard work but they do not believe that could be true for them. +
December 26, 2025 at 10:07 PM
The principle I go by is to treat every person like a person. You never know who will be successful, nor do you know who will become a dear friend. So just be kind and engaged.
The only people who hate being treated as normal are nightmares. Not clicking with them is a secret bonus.
The only people who hate being treated as normal are nightmares. Not clicking with them is a secret bonus.
Reposted by Gene Tracy
I like how very direct the politics of the Knives Out movies are. Each one identifies a different dreadful group of people in American society and rinses them while delivering its whodunnit pleasures
December 26, 2025 at 10:27 PM
I like how very direct the politics of the Knives Out movies are. Each one identifies a different dreadful group of people in American society and rinses them while delivering its whodunnit pleasures
Reposted by Gene Tracy
“We live during a time where all the institutions and corporations I worked for—or leaders I looked up to—they caved or remained silent, so we are now finding hope in everyday people…”
www.thebulwark.com/p/defiance-i...
www.thebulwark.com/p/defiance-i...
Defiance in a Time of Cowardice
She sang the national anthem in Spanish as deportation forces assaulted L.A. Now she’s headed to Sundance.
www.thebulwark.com
December 26, 2025 at 5:01 PM
“We live during a time where all the institutions and corporations I worked for—or leaders I looked up to—they caved or remained silent, so we are now finding hope in everyday people…”
www.thebulwark.com/p/defiance-i...
www.thebulwark.com/p/defiance-i...
Reposted by Gene Tracy
A pagan New Year’s folk tale called “Shchedryk” (meaning bountiful in Ukrainian) composed by Ukrainian music teacher Mykola Leontovych became one of the most famous Christmas songs in modern times — “Carol of the Bells.”
Carol of the Bells — the classic, and Ukrainian, Christmas song
The timeless classic was first performed during a Christmas concert by the student choir of the University of Kyiv in 1916.
kyivindependent.com
December 25, 2025 at 5:21 PM
A pagan New Year’s folk tale called “Shchedryk” (meaning bountiful in Ukrainian) composed by Ukrainian music teacher Mykola Leontovych became one of the most famous Christmas songs in modern times — “Carol of the Bells.”
Reposted by Gene Tracy
This is how it’s done!
And… TRO granted!
A sweet Christmas present for @imranahmed.bsky.social, @counterhate.com--& for their mission of fighting antisemitism & protecting kids online. Also nice for our all-star legal team.
A lump of coal in the stockings of authoritarians & the merchants of disinformation
A sweet Christmas present for @imranahmed.bsky.social, @counterhate.com--& for their mission of fighting antisemitism & protecting kids online. Also nice for our all-star legal team.
A lump of coal in the stockings of authoritarians & the merchants of disinformation
December 25, 2025 at 7:00 PM
This is how it’s done!
Reposted by Gene Tracy
Someone remake “It’s a Wonderful Life” but Mr. Potter believes that hoarding is morally required so he can devote resources to delivering a far future with trillions of humans while George Bailey is like, “Gosh Darnit! What if taking care of people today is what takes care of people in the future?!”
December 25, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Someone remake “It’s a Wonderful Life” but Mr. Potter believes that hoarding is morally required so he can devote resources to delivering a far future with trillions of humans while George Bailey is like, “Gosh Darnit! What if taking care of people today is what takes care of people in the future?!”
Reposted by Gene Tracy
Good night and sleep well! 🌟
December 24, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Good night and sleep well! 🌟
Reposted by Gene Tracy
on the tramway in Nantes and a pretty old woman gave her seat to a very old woman so I gave my seat to the pretty old woman then a man gave me his seat then a teenager gave a man his seat and then we all laughed, aren't people fantastic
December 23, 2025 at 3:48 PM
on the tramway in Nantes and a pretty old woman gave her seat to a very old woman so I gave my seat to the pretty old woman then a man gave me his seat then a teenager gave a man his seat and then we all laughed, aren't people fantastic
Reposted by Gene Tracy
Nine-year-old Oleksandra Paskal, who lost her leg because of the war, won bronze at a gymnastics tournament, TSN reports.
She is such a fighter ❤️🩹
She is such a fighter ❤️🩹
December 23, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Nine-year-old Oleksandra Paskal, who lost her leg because of the war, won bronze at a gymnastics tournament, TSN reports.
She is such a fighter ❤️🩹
She is such a fighter ❤️🩹
Reposted by Gene Tracy
The “free speech” and “cancel culture” panics have led to overt state censorship because that was always their purpose. (Gift link) www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
December 23, 2025 at 4:54 PM
The “free speech” and “cancel culture” panics have led to overt state censorship because that was always their purpose. (Gift link) www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Reposted by Gene Tracy
As the year draws to a close, a chilling question hangs over Russia's literary realm: If Dostoevsky isn't immune, who is?
The Kremlin's censorship reached unprecedented levels in 2025, and the trend is ominous.
🧵Here's what you need to know: [1/13]
The Kremlin's censorship reached unprecedented levels in 2025, and the trend is ominous.
🧵Here's what you need to know: [1/13]
December 23, 2025 at 7:10 PM
As the year draws to a close, a chilling question hangs over Russia's literary realm: If Dostoevsky isn't immune, who is?
The Kremlin's censorship reached unprecedented levels in 2025, and the trend is ominous.
🧵Here's what you need to know: [1/13]
The Kremlin's censorship reached unprecedented levels in 2025, and the trend is ominous.
🧵Here's what you need to know: [1/13]
Reposted by Gene Tracy
The full spiked 60 Minutes CECOT package, clean & subtitled. 1/5
December 23, 2025 at 1:28 AM
The full spiked 60 Minutes CECOT package, clean & subtitled. 1/5