Leah Shaffer
@leahshaffer.bsky.social
Science writer, mostly puttering about the garden.
she/her
she/her
The thing about Bluesky is a lot of its users have a short fuse about generative AI because it is actively robbing people of their art and livelihood. That, and tech industry leaders are actively destroying democracy. Just FYI.
November 26, 2025 at 9:07 PM
The thing about Bluesky is a lot of its users have a short fuse about generative AI because it is actively robbing people of their art and livelihood. That, and tech industry leaders are actively destroying democracy. Just FYI.
Sure you got problems, have you tried walking around aimlessly with a cup of coffee? I often solve old problems and create exciting new ones with this method.
Meandering around my home town. We were put on this earth to fart around and don't let anybody tell you different.
November 26, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Sure you got problems, have you tried walking around aimlessly with a cup of coffee? I often solve old problems and create exciting new ones with this method.
Meandering around my home town. We were put on this earth to fart around and don't let anybody tell you different.
November 26, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Meandering around my home town. We were put on this earth to fart around and don't let anybody tell you different.
Lord, I see what you are doing for others and I want that for us.
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Lord, I see what you are doing for others and I want that for us.
"Uncle Bob, the only reason you got your ozempic is because a scientist was curious about Gila monster venom." 🧪🩺🌱🐀🐙💅
... And more found here.
... And more found here.
Every year around Thanksgiving, I see tons of grad students post heartbreaking messages on social media about how their loved ones don’t understand or support their decision to study what seems like something pointless or silly.
Perhaps my American Scientist essay can help!
🧪🌎🦑 #SciComm
Perhaps my American Scientist essay can help!
🧪🌎🦑 #SciComm
“Why Are We Funding This?”
Long-standing myths about “silly science” have contributed to the reckless slashing of government-supported research.
www.americanscientist.org
November 26, 2025 at 3:21 PM
"Uncle Bob, the only reason you got your ozempic is because a scientist was curious about Gila monster venom." 🧪🩺🌱🐀🐙💅
... And more found here.
... And more found here.
Black widow spider strolling outside the automatic doors of the mall. Picking up some crap at the dollar store like the rest of us (or more likely caught a ride on some dollar store crap.) 🕷️
November 26, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Black widow spider strolling outside the automatic doors of the mall. Picking up some crap at the dollar store like the rest of us (or more likely caught a ride on some dollar store crap.) 🕷️
EPA is now just that one Captain Planet villain, Sly Sludge (voiced by Martin Sheen). 🧪🏭
The EPA is starting to allow the use of pesticides containing PFAS on food. The move is part of an effort to roll back the regulation of PFAS — also known as "forever chemicals" because they don't break down easily in the environment.
November 25, 2025 at 5:36 PM
EPA is now just that one Captain Planet villain, Sly Sludge (voiced by Martin Sheen). 🧪🏭
One of the wonders of being a new parent is sharing your immune system with your newborn. Get your pertussis boost when pregnant, you can pass along the immunity to a devastating illness. I got mine with both babies, and they are now healthy thriving teens. (And due for their HPV shots). 🩺
3 infant #pertussis deaths this year in Kentucky. "Of the three infant deaths reported over the past 12 months, all three were not vaccinated, nor were their mothers."
We first tested maternal vaccination for whooping cough over 80 years ago. It's safe & effective & might have saved these babies.
We first tested maternal vaccination for whooping cough over 80 years ago. It's safe & effective & might have saved these babies.
www.wowktv.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:26 PM
One of the wonders of being a new parent is sharing your immune system with your newborn. Get your pertussis boost when pregnant, you can pass along the immunity to a devastating illness. I got mine with both babies, and they are now healthy thriving teens. (And due for their HPV shots). 🩺
My Dad's art porch is one of my favorite places.
November 25, 2025 at 4:15 PM
My Dad's art porch is one of my favorite places.
That's right, Petey, kick some puppies while you're at it, doing great. www.npr.org/2025/11/25/n...
U.S. ready to cut support to Scouts, accusing them of attacking 'boy-friendly spaces'
Documents show the U.S. military is planning to sever all ties with the organization formerly known as the Boy Scouts.
www.npr.org
November 25, 2025 at 3:27 PM
That's right, Petey, kick some puppies while you're at it, doing great. www.npr.org/2025/11/25/n...
Our trash tames the trash panda. 🦝
Raccoons have easy access to food in the form of human trash. It could be jump-starting physical and behavioral changes in the masked bandits, new research suggests. https://cnn.it/4ac7cUq
November 24, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Our trash tames the trash panda. 🦝
God speed ye taco bell scientists 🌮 🧪
November 24, 2025 at 10:26 PM
God speed ye taco bell scientists 🌮 🧪
I feel sorry for you if you didn't grow up in a town with a secret street leading to a fairy dimension. A sorcerer lives in that cottage, he drives combine in the summers to pick up some extra cash.
November 24, 2025 at 8:23 PM
I feel sorry for you if you didn't grow up in a town with a secret street leading to a fairy dimension. A sorcerer lives in that cottage, he drives combine in the summers to pick up some extra cash.
Are you sure? Seem very Enronish to me.
In the memo, “Nvidia also responds to claims that the ‘current situation is analogous to historical accounting frauds (Enron, WorldCom, Lucent) that featured vendor financing and SPVs [special purpose vehicles.)’”
@barrons.com $NVDA
@firstadopter.bsky.social
www.barrons.com/articles/nvi...
@barrons.com $NVDA
@firstadopter.bsky.social
www.barrons.com/articles/nvi...
November 24, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Are you sure? Seem very Enronish to me.
"Trans Guntuber" is a cyberpunk as fuck title.
My friends and I were featured in Wired magazine today! (cc @tacticoolgf.bsky.social @picatinnyrailed.bsky.social @inrange.tv etc etc)
www.wired.com/story/the-ha...
www.wired.com/story/the-ha...
November 24, 2025 at 7:03 PM
"Trans Guntuber" is a cyberpunk as fuck title.
Comey and Tish update added to the thread. Times are awful but atleast the bad guys are mostly dipshits. Always be asking yourself What Would Bugs Bunny Do?
attempting to describe the vibes of the moment. have yet to do better than: "imagine watching a documentary reenacting the burning of the Library of Alexandria set to the soundtrack of 'Yakety Sax'"
November 24, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Comey and Tish update added to the thread. Times are awful but atleast the bad guys are mostly dipshits. Always be asking yourself What Would Bugs Bunny Do?
Dave is King
and pie.
and pie.
November 23, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Dave is King
and pie.
and pie.
A movie that takes place where you are from.
November 23, 2025 at 7:14 PM
A movie that takes place where you are from.
Our current crop of leaders have been quite successful in their goal of slamming their dicks into car doors, and setting fire to all our money and they will continue to work harder on the task at hand until removed from power.
For some reason it's easier for people to assume the guy slamming his dick in a car door is failing at entering the car, and not *wildly* succeeding at his goal of slamming his dick in a car door.
November 23, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Our current crop of leaders have been quite successful in their goal of slamming their dicks into car doors, and setting fire to all our money and they will continue to work harder on the task at hand until removed from power.
Cursed object in the highway mists.
November 23, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Cursed object in the highway mists.
My kid socializes via Roblox, plays warrior cat games and I will look over her shoulder to see the chat and it's usually kids playing with kids but after this thread, I am going to start coaxing her off the platform or do more hovering in general while she is playing.
Literally EVERY parent should ban Roblox
Every parent whose career has to do with online safety also bans Roblox.
November 23, 2025 at 4:41 PM
My kid socializes via Roblox, plays warrior cat games and I will look over her shoulder to see the chat and it's usually kids playing with kids but after this thread, I am going to start coaxing her off the platform or do more hovering in general while she is playing.
It's the unexpected that will shake people out of their stupor, encourage more pro social behavior. People seek novelty, constantly, and to encourage positive behavior, it's good to rearrange the game board. #PsychSky
Science will often take you to unexpected and delightful places. In this study, researchers hypothesized that riders in a crowded subway car would be more likely to offer their seat to a pregnant person if there were someone in the subway car dressed as Batman 🧪🦇
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
November 22, 2025 at 11:23 PM
It's the unexpected that will shake people out of their stupor, encourage more pro social behavior. People seek novelty, constantly, and to encourage positive behavior, it's good to rearrange the game board. #PsychSky
IF you are going share something about RFK Jr., this is the story to share. I don't really give a shit who the man fucks. He is killing us. His "work" results in death and suffering among children. He is the worst human ghoul.
He has betrayed the country and his own family. #MedSky
He has betrayed the country and his own family. #MedSky
Devastating essay about living with a terminal cancer diagnosis at 35, made more devastating by the author's relation to the health and human services secretary who's spent the past year cutting cancer research.
A Battle with My Blood
When I was diagnosed with leukemia, my first thought was that this couldn’t be happening to me, to my family.
www.newyorker.com
November 22, 2025 at 7:44 PM
IF you are going share something about RFK Jr., this is the story to share. I don't really give a shit who the man fucks. He is killing us. His "work" results in death and suffering among children. He is the worst human ghoul.
He has betrayed the country and his own family. #MedSky
He has betrayed the country and his own family. #MedSky
Alright, Chicago has thrown down the gauntlet: What metro will try to outdo the "bitchy females" of the windy city? Who will dare? Looking at you, Baltimore. Charlotte? I know you got some passive aggression you can drop that feels like getting sliced in the gut, come on. Time to step up, America.
November 22, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Alright, Chicago has thrown down the gauntlet: What metro will try to outdo the "bitchy females" of the windy city? Who will dare? Looking at you, Baltimore. Charlotte? I know you got some passive aggression you can drop that feels like getting sliced in the gut, come on. Time to step up, America.
I should just pin this to the top of my feed at this point.
November 22, 2025 at 3:34 PM
I should just pin this to the top of my feed at this point.