Leah Shaffer
@leahshaffer.bsky.social
Science writer, mostly puttering about the garden.
she/her
she/her
The public is gonna have to do some variation of this wherever ICE pops up: commercial pressure, public shaming. Repeat, repeat and repeat.
This is a fascinating story. ICE tried to buy a warehouse in VA from a Canadian company, to turn into a detention center. One of the company’s advertising partners basically told them that if they sold, they could kiss their ads goodbye.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/01/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/01/u...
Canadian Company Cancels Sale of Virginia Warehouse to ICE
www.nytimes.com
February 4, 2026 at 8:40 PM
The public is gonna have to do some variation of this wherever ICE pops up: commercial pressure, public shaming. Repeat, repeat and repeat.
Even with the largest zoom on a classic compound optical system, scientists struggle to make sense of finer details. Microbiologists are turning to an unexpected source to clear things up: a moisture-absorbing material found in diapers. www.quantamagazine.org/expansion-mi...
Expansion Microscopy Has Transformed How We See the Cellular World | Quanta Magazine
How physically magnifying objects using a key ingredient in diapers has opened an unprecedented view of the microbial world.
www.quantamagazine.org
February 4, 2026 at 6:48 PM
A great day to support @thexylom.com !
I founded @thexylom.com to cover *global* environmental and health disparities.
As regime-aligned media turn more insular, we are committed to documenting how the world is sicker, poorer, and dirtier everywhere from South Texas to South Sudan, from Nepal to Ukraine.
Please support my colleagues:
As regime-aligned media turn more insular, we are committed to documenting how the world is sicker, poorer, and dirtier everywhere from South Texas to South Sudan, from Nepal to Ukraine.
Please support my colleagues:
Every month, we have a goal of gaining 15 new members, which covers the costs of commissioning five new stories!
Support the only Asian American-run news outlet covering health, climate, and the environment, starting at $2/month:
Support the only Asian American-run news outlet covering health, climate, and the environment, starting at $2/month:
February 4, 2026 at 6:45 PM
A great day to support @thexylom.com !
Apparently an important part of the ongoing work of being a good citizen in the year of 2026 involves stalking warehouse spaces to either chase off data centers or concentration camps. Or the combo data center/concentration camp/ Kentaco Hut I presume is on its way.
Update: In the past week we've learned ICE has secured property to build human warehouses in Merrimack, NH and Williamsport, MD *as well as* Surprise, AZ; Upper Bern, PA; and Tremont, PA.
Facts that bear repeating.
Facts that bear repeating.
In the past week we've learned ICE has secured property to build human warehouses in Merrimack, NH and Williamsport, MD. Just some facts I think bear repeating.
February 4, 2026 at 6:12 PM
Apparently an important part of the ongoing work of being a good citizen in the year of 2026 involves stalking warehouse spaces to either chase off data centers or concentration camps. Or the combo data center/concentration camp/ Kentaco Hut I presume is on its way.
Please donate and share.
Whatever you think of the Washington Post at this moment, here's a chance to support the dedicated, hard-working journalists who were just laid off. If you have the means, your donation is most welcome. If you don't, a kind thought and maybe spreading the word to others is support enough 💙
Donate to Washington Post 2026 layoff fund, organized by Rachel Siegel
On Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, The Washington Post laid off hundreds of journalists. We ar… Rachel Siegel needs your support for Washington Post 2026 layoff fund
www.gofundme.com
February 4, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Please donate and share.
well, I appreciate that she tried to do the classic exit
February 4, 2026 at 4:35 PM
well, I appreciate that she tried to do the classic exit
“As horrible and dark as this time is, we are generally showing the world what’s possible when you focus on what matters and you try to take care of one another,” Elizabeth said. “I can’t think of anything more beautiful than that.”
We are all we have but that will be enough.
We are all we have but that will be enough.
The suburban observers, heavily women, say they share a personality type.
“Many of us have encountered bullies our entire lives...I think that turns you into somebody that, even if that bully is wearing full tactical gear, I'm not interested in laying down for you.” www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
“Many of us have encountered bullies our entire lives...I think that turns you into somebody that, even if that bully is wearing full tactical gear, I'm not interested in laying down for you.” www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
Pursued by federal agents, suburban ICE observers remain resolved
After a frightening pursuit by federal agents, suburban ICE observers say fear hasn’t stopped them from protecting their communities.
www.mprnews.org
February 4, 2026 at 4:31 PM
“As horrible and dark as this time is, we are generally showing the world what’s possible when you focus on what matters and you try to take care of one another,” Elizabeth said. “I can’t think of anything more beautiful than that.”
We are all we have but that will be enough.
We are all we have but that will be enough.
A bunch of incredibly talented journalists are being tossed aside and I want everyone at #WashingtonPost to know about @theopennotebook.bsky.social an incredible free resource for independent journalists. Provides databases of resources and connections to networks of editors and science journalists.
For a TON International Students Slack Community pitch slam, @scigat.bsky.social hosted guests @rachelcourtland.com, @wwrfd.bsky.social, and @laurenjyoung.bsky.social. He condensed their best tips into this free resource, edited by @laurahelmuth.bsky.social, to help everyone pitch with success. 🧪
Twelve Tips to Tune Up Your Next Pitch - The Open Notebook
Saugat Bolakhe Making your pitch stand out is a crucial skill for any freelancer or staff reporter. This may seem like an elusive talent, but with practice and careful attention to detail, you can lea...
www.theopennotebook.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:14 PM
A bunch of incredibly talented journalists are being tossed aside and I want everyone at #WashingtonPost to know about @theopennotebook.bsky.social an incredible free resource for independent journalists. Provides databases of resources and connections to networks of editors and science journalists.
It shall be a sad day for @washingtonpost.com but Bezos' gutting of the paper is the end of a long hit job on the entire journalism ecosystem. Journalists rarely sit still. They've been busy building new Washington Posts. bsky.app/starter-pack...
February 4, 2026 at 1:41 PM
It shall be a sad day for @washingtonpost.com but Bezos' gutting of the paper is the end of a long hit job on the entire journalism ecosystem. Journalists rarely sit still. They've been busy building new Washington Posts. bsky.app/starter-pack...
Oh God, we need to bring them all home.
Elizabeth is a Columbia Heights fourth-grader who loves volleyball, learning English and giggling in the halls with her friends. She's been held in the Dilley Immigration Processing Center for nearly a month, and she and her mom have both fallen ill. sahanjournal.com/education/co...
Sick fourth-grader among 4 Columbia Heights students held by ICE
Columbia Heights Public Schools says four students remain detained by ICE after Liam’s return, including 10-year-old Elizabeth, who has fallen ill.
sahanjournal.com
February 4, 2026 at 12:40 AM
Oh God, we need to bring them all home.
"Slenderman normally unhinges his jaw when consuming baby chicks with such aplomb," the WSJ chided.
Stephen Miller called Alex Pretti a “domestic terrorist” after the VA nurse was killed by federal agents, a rare misstep for Miller, the White House aide stoking Trump’s boundary-pushing impulses.
How Stephen Miller Stokes Trump’s Boundary-Pushing Impulses
The White House aide has been an architect of aggressive immigration sweeps in U.S. cities and deadly boat strikes in the Caribbean.
on.wsj.com
February 4, 2026 at 12:27 AM
"Slenderman normally unhinges his jaw when consuming baby chicks with such aplomb," the WSJ chided.
Was it the bloody diarrhea that helped you learn and grow?
This is bonkers. MAHA 'farmers' with ecoli tainted raw milk admit they really don't know how to make the stuff after all.
"Producing raw milk takes careful planning from a facility and infrastructure standpoint. Unfortunately, we learned this after the fact."
people.com/ballerina-fa...
"Producing raw milk takes careful planning from a facility and infrastructure standpoint. Unfortunately, we learned this after the fact."
people.com/ballerina-fa...
Hannah Neeleman's Ballerina Farm Halts Sale of Raw Milk Due to Bacteria Concerns: Report
Hannah and Daniel Neeleman have paused Ballerina Farm's sale of raw milk following health violations discovered during routine testing. Screenings from summer 2025 showed high levels of coliform, the ...
people.com
February 3, 2026 at 11:58 PM
Was it the bloody diarrhea that helped you learn and grow?
DANCE LIKE THE ALGORITHM ISN'T WATCHING
artologica.etsy.com/listing/4447...
Original, not a print, there's only one and it can be yours
artologica.etsy.com/listing/4447...
Original, not a print, there's only one and it can be yours
February 3, 2026 at 10:20 PM
I don't understand how people don't lose their shit in these situations.
Trump to Kaitlan Collins after she pressed him on getting justice for Epstein survivors:
"No wonder CNN has no ratings because of people like you. You know, she‘s a young woman. I don‘t think I‘ve ever seen you smile. I‘ve known you for 10 years. I don‘t think I‘ve ever seen a smile in your face."
"No wonder CNN has no ratings because of people like you. You know, she‘s a young woman. I don‘t think I‘ve ever seen you smile. I‘ve known you for 10 years. I don‘t think I‘ve ever seen a smile in your face."
February 3, 2026 at 10:19 PM
I don't understand how people don't lose their shit in these situations.
Hey, it's me and my mouth stones. I never get cavities but my deep bite has lost me some teeth.
I've narrowed my problem down to the fact that I am a vicious little mammal that likes to tear the flesh from my prey's bone and grind my teeth at night like a tiny ball of hair and rage.
I've narrowed my problem down to the fact that I am a vicious little mammal that likes to tear the flesh from my prey's bone and grind my teeth at night like a tiny ball of hair and rage.
🧬🦷 When force meets biology.
This FASEB Journal review breaks down how orthodontic pressure can disrupt tooth root homeostasis, triggering inflammation and cell damage that lead to root resorption—and why understanding these mechanisms is key to safer orthodontic treatments.
🔗 buff.ly/CiakNqS
This FASEB Journal review breaks down how orthodontic pressure can disrupt tooth root homeostasis, triggering inflammation and cell damage that lead to root resorption—and why understanding these mechanisms is key to safer orthodontic treatments.
🔗 buff.ly/CiakNqS
February 3, 2026 at 8:53 PM
Hey, it's me and my mouth stones. I never get cavities but my deep bite has lost me some teeth.
I've narrowed my problem down to the fact that I am a vicious little mammal that likes to tear the flesh from my prey's bone and grind my teeth at night like a tiny ball of hair and rage.
I've narrowed my problem down to the fact that I am a vicious little mammal that likes to tear the flesh from my prey's bone and grind my teeth at night like a tiny ball of hair and rage.
Viva la France! www.youtube.com/watch?v=unYu...
February 3, 2026 at 7:38 PM
Viva la France! www.youtube.com/watch?v=unYu...
probably should get some sort of policy in place to counter the roving squads of domestic stochastic terrorists
NEW: Right-wing creators who were instrumental in spreading allegations of fraud in Minnesota are now setting their sights on California.
More here:
www.wired.com/story/republ...
More here:
www.wired.com/story/republ...
Republicans Are All in on Boosting Fraud Allegations in California
Right-wing influencers who were instrumental in spreading allegations of fraud in Minnesota ahead of ICE's surge are now going after a number of California’s social welfare programs.
www.wired.com
February 3, 2026 at 6:37 PM
probably should get some sort of policy in place to counter the roving squads of domestic stochastic terrorists
The wild thing about this era is we have learned, without a doubt, that our fellow Americans are not to be trusted. We also learned that our fellow Americans are all we've got. Same as it ever was.
Even a 25% approval rating tells us that one in four Americans are not to be trusted 😬
I’m still not sure if enough Americans fully understand how hard it is for the rest of us to continually see polls showing “how unpopular Trump is” when he’s he’s still ridiculously and shockingly more popular than he should be in any sane nation.
February 3, 2026 at 5:47 PM
The wild thing about this era is we have learned, without a doubt, that our fellow Americans are not to be trusted. We also learned that our fellow Americans are all we've got. Same as it ever was.
PSA
pics of faces go to databases
And Bluesky is a free and open main street that anyone can monitor so don't be a ding-dong on Main.
pics of faces go to databases
And Bluesky is a free and open main street that anyone can monitor so don't be a ding-dong on Main.
found a stack of these cleaning up my studio the other day. as ever!!!
February 3, 2026 at 5:21 PM
PSA
pics of faces go to databases
And Bluesky is a free and open main street that anyone can monitor so don't be a ding-dong on Main.
pics of faces go to databases
And Bluesky is a free and open main street that anyone can monitor so don't be a ding-dong on Main.
I miss FEMA.
Local community responders have done incredible work but resources are limited. We really could use a functional FEMA.
Local community responders have done incredible work but resources are limited. We really could use a functional FEMA.
February 3, 2026 at 4:08 PM
I miss FEMA.
Local community responders have done incredible work but resources are limited. We really could use a functional FEMA.
Local community responders have done incredible work but resources are limited. We really could use a functional FEMA.
Health insurance is getting more expensive, subsidies are expiring, and where you live matters more than ever. So who’s paying more? Who’s walking away from coverage? And what does this mean for people next?
👉 Here are some story angles worth digging into:
healthjournalism.org/blog/2026/01...
👉 Here are some story angles worth digging into:
healthjournalism.org/blog/2026/01...
Stories to cover as Americans seek affordable health insurance
Following the expiration of Affordable Care Act tax credits on Dec. 31, many Americans are struggling to pay for health insurance.
healthjournalism.org
February 3, 2026 at 4:04 PM
twitter is dead, long live Bluesky, someone on #ArtSky should make some rat coin purses to sell me. I wants it.
twitter must be dead dead cause someone posted a rat coin purse that would have 2019 twitter losing its collective mind and most of the top comments are bots saying random words or people not nearly amped enough about the rat coin purse
February 3, 2026 at 2:54 PM
twitter is dead, long live Bluesky, someone on #ArtSky should make some rat coin purses to sell me. I wants it.
Bitch, you get to work first! Chop, chop, you're on the clock! Got a measles outbreak if you haven't noticed, you worthless grifter swine.
Dr Oz: "If we could get the average American to start working a year earlier, right out of high school, or a year later -- not retire -- or work better during their lifetime because they're healthy, it would generate about $3 trillion to the US economy. That would more than remove the debt."
February 3, 2026 at 1:40 PM
Bitch, you get to work first! Chop, chop, you're on the clock! Got a measles outbreak if you haven't noticed, you worthless grifter swine.
I still use checks to pay most of my bills. I'm doing the long game. enshittification will take down the whole internet until geocities rise again, in the mean time...
February 2, 2026 at 6:21 PM
I still use checks to pay most of my bills. I'm doing the long game. enshittification will take down the whole internet until geocities rise again, in the mean time...