Nicolas Balcom Raleigh
@spacefire.ca
Academic researcher in the field of Futures Studies, futures literacy specialist, and international consultant. I help groups explore transformation to innovatively address climate change. Photo credits: Skies and Universes- Uuchu (cfca-fig2-full) & Nasa.
Reposted by Nicolas Balcom Raleigh
FACT OF THE DAY. 25 January 1890. The attempt by American journalist Nellie Bly (born Elizabeth Jane Cochran) to travel around the world in less than 80 days was successful. She aimed to emulate Jules Verne’s fictional character, Phileas Fogg, in Around The World in 80 Days. Bly took 72 days.
January 25, 2026 at 9:30 AM
FACT OF THE DAY. 25 January 1890. The attempt by American journalist Nellie Bly (born Elizabeth Jane Cochran) to travel around the world in less than 80 days was successful. She aimed to emulate Jules Verne’s fictional character, Phileas Fogg, in Around The World in 80 Days. Bly took 72 days.
Reposted by Nicolas Balcom Raleigh
Margaret W. Rossiter coined the term “Matilda effect” to describe the bias against acknowledging the achievements of women scientists. Some cases illustrating the Matilda effect include Eunice Foote, Rosalind Franklin, & Jocelyn Bell Burnell
#Womeninstem
paleonerdish.wordpress.com/2022/03/07/e...
#Womeninstem
paleonerdish.wordpress.com/2022/03/07/e...
Eunice Foote, climate change, and the Matilda Effect
The birth of modern science was hostile to women’s participation. The world’s major academies of science were founded in the 17th century: the Royal Society of London (1662), the Paris Académie Roy…
paleonerdish.wordpress.com
January 24, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Margaret W. Rossiter coined the term “Matilda effect” to describe the bias against acknowledging the achievements of women scientists. Some cases illustrating the Matilda effect include Eunice Foote, Rosalind Franklin, & Jocelyn Bell Burnell
#Womeninstem
paleonerdish.wordpress.com/2022/03/07/e...
#Womeninstem
paleonerdish.wordpress.com/2022/03/07/e...
Reposted by Nicolas Balcom Raleigh
🤖 image processing for #JWST 🔭 data (HH211NIRCAM). RGB Filters: 470, 444, 200
PI: Ray, Thomas P., program 04531. CRVAL: 55.985036, 32.031818
Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI.
PI: Ray, Thomas P., program 04531. CRVAL: 55.985036, 32.031818
Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI.
January 25, 2026 at 2:19 AM
🤖 image processing for #JWST 🔭 data (HH211NIRCAM). RGB Filters: 470, 444, 200
PI: Ray, Thomas P., program 04531. CRVAL: 55.985036, 32.031818
Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI.
PI: Ray, Thomas P., program 04531. CRVAL: 55.985036, 32.031818
Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI.
Reposted by Nicolas Balcom Raleigh
💪🏼 What’s the power of a more educated society?
More democracy, equality, and opportunities.
On the International Day of Education, we reaffirm our commitment to enhancing high-quality education, training, and lifelong learning across Europe, through our initiatives like the Union of Skills.
More democracy, equality, and opportunities.
On the International Day of Education, we reaffirm our commitment to enhancing high-quality education, training, and lifelong learning across Europe, through our initiatives like the Union of Skills.
January 24, 2026 at 8:37 AM
💪🏼 What’s the power of a more educated society?
More democracy, equality, and opportunities.
On the International Day of Education, we reaffirm our commitment to enhancing high-quality education, training, and lifelong learning across Europe, through our initiatives like the Union of Skills.
More democracy, equality, and opportunities.
On the International Day of Education, we reaffirm our commitment to enhancing high-quality education, training, and lifelong learning across Europe, through our initiatives like the Union of Skills.
Reposted by Nicolas Balcom Raleigh
Economist & sociologist Beatrice Webb was born #OTD in 1858
+ One of the founders, London School of Economics
+ Co-authored 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰-𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 & 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘋𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘺 where she coined the term "collective bargaining"
+ First female fellow, British Academy, 1931
#WomenInSTEM
+ One of the founders, London School of Economics
+ Co-authored 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰-𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 & 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘋𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘺 where she coined the term "collective bargaining"
+ First female fellow, British Academy, 1931
#WomenInSTEM
January 22, 2026 at 10:37 PM
Economist & sociologist Beatrice Webb was born #OTD in 1858
+ One of the founders, London School of Economics
+ Co-authored 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰-𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 & 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘋𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘺 where she coined the term "collective bargaining"
+ First female fellow, British Academy, 1931
#WomenInSTEM
+ One of the founders, London School of Economics
+ Co-authored 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰-𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 & 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘋𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘺 where she coined the term "collective bargaining"
+ First female fellow, British Academy, 1931
#WomenInSTEM
Bring Liam home. Minnesota is home
for this kid and his dad!
for this kid and his dad!
January 23, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Bring Liam home. Minnesota is home
for this kid and his dad!
for this kid and his dad!
Reposted by Nicolas Balcom Raleigh
A fresh look at the Helix Nebula captures new details of the cycle of stellar life and death
The Helix Nebula looks like the ‘Eye of God’ in these spectacular new JWST images
A fresh look at the Helix Nebula captures new details of the cycle of stellar life and death
www.scientificamerican.com
January 22, 2026 at 5:55 PM
A fresh look at the Helix Nebula captures new details of the cycle of stellar life and death
Reposted by Nicolas Balcom Raleigh
Although skies over Finland were generally cloudy, some lucky stargazers captured spectacular images when the strongest solar storm this century delivered a stunning aurora borealis show:
yle.fi/a/74-20205870
Guide to seeing the Northern Lights in Finland:
www.discoveringfinland.com/about-finlan...
yle.fi/a/74-20205870
Guide to seeing the Northern Lights in Finland:
www.discoveringfinland.com/about-finlan...
January 23, 2026 at 9:01 AM
Although skies over Finland were generally cloudy, some lucky stargazers captured spectacular images when the strongest solar storm this century delivered a stunning aurora borealis show:
yle.fi/a/74-20205870
Guide to seeing the Northern Lights in Finland:
www.discoveringfinland.com/about-finlan...
yle.fi/a/74-20205870
Guide to seeing the Northern Lights in Finland:
www.discoveringfinland.com/about-finlan...
Reposted by Nicolas Balcom Raleigh
🤖 image processing for #JWST 🔭 data (BULLET). RGB Filters: 444, 300, 150
PI: Fujimoto, Seiji, program 06882. CRVAL: 104.613038, -55.947702
Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI.
PI: Fujimoto, Seiji, program 06882. CRVAL: 104.613038, -55.947702
Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI.
January 22, 2026 at 9:40 PM
🤖 image processing for #JWST 🔭 data (BULLET). RGB Filters: 444, 300, 150
PI: Fujimoto, Seiji, program 06882. CRVAL: 104.613038, -55.947702
Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI.
PI: Fujimoto, Seiji, program 06882. CRVAL: 104.613038, -55.947702
Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI.
Reposted by Nicolas Balcom Raleigh
If this is accurate, Good was killed by a bullet fired after there was any conceivable argument Agent Ross was in the path of her vehicle, which means there was no legal justification for using deadly force. But DOJ says there’s no reason to investigate.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/21/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/21/u...
Private Autopsy Shows Renee Good Was Shot at Least 3 Times, Lawyers Say
www.nytimes.com
January 22, 2026 at 11:46 AM
If this is accurate, Good was killed by a bullet fired after there was any conceivable argument Agent Ross was in the path of her vehicle, which means there was no legal justification for using deadly force. But DOJ says there’s no reason to investigate.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/21/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/21/u...
Noviolence is the more effective path.
See the humanity in each other and demand respect for human dignity from everyone.
See the humanity in each other and demand respect for human dignity from everyone.
January 22, 2026 at 11:18 AM
Noviolence is the more effective path.
See the humanity in each other and demand respect for human dignity from everyone.
See the humanity in each other and demand respect for human dignity from everyone.
Today I ran my 1st in-person Futures Literacy Lab of 2026. It was a great. We imagined futures of economic geography in varied ways for varied purposes and arrived at some interesting invented resources for the future of this field and our research group.
January 21, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Today I ran my 1st in-person Futures Literacy Lab of 2026. It was a great. We imagined futures of economic geography in varied ways for varied purposes and arrived at some interesting invented resources for the future of this field and our research group.
Reposted by Nicolas Balcom Raleigh
Someone who actually won the award: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, Oslo, 1964 minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/19/m...
Martin Luther King Jr.'s Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, Oslo, 1964 • Minnesota Reformer
Sooner or later all the people of the world will have to discover a way to live together in peace, and thereby transform this pending cosmic elegy into a creative psalm of brotherhood.
minnesotareformer.com
January 19, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Someone who actually won the award: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, Oslo, 1964 minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/19/m...
Reposted by Nicolas Balcom Raleigh
A combat-wounded veteran's eight-hour detention by federal agents in Minneapolis raises concerns about due process in ICE facilities.
Army veteran says ICE agents detained him for hours without access to phone or his attorney
A combat-wounded veteran's eight-hour detention by federal agents in Minneapolis raises concerns about due process in ICE facilities.
www.kare11.com
January 20, 2026 at 3:14 AM
A combat-wounded veteran's eight-hour detention by federal agents in Minneapolis raises concerns about due process in ICE facilities.
Minnesotans are standing up for their neighbors and neighborhoods in the face of injustice. This resolve crosses political lines, because we all cherish our inalienable rights.
"Yet here I was, eyes stinging and throat burning as tear gas wafted over me, watching heavily armed agents of the federal government invade a quiet residential neighborhood 5 miles from where I went to middle school." www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/o...
Opinion | In Minneapolis, I Glimpsed a Civil War
www.nytimes.com
January 19, 2026 at 5:20 PM
Minnesotans are standing up for their neighbors and neighborhoods in the face of injustice. This resolve crosses political lines, because we all cherish our inalienable rights.
Reposted by Nicolas Balcom Raleigh
1/19/1850 — b. Alice Eastwood, Canadian-American systemic botanist, conservationist, discoverer, author, educator. Curator of botany, California Academy of Sciences (1894-49); expert on the flowering plants of the CA coast + the Rockies #womenshistory #WomenInSTEM #SciSky #HistSci #PlantSky #EduSky
January 19, 2026 at 4:19 PM
1/19/1850 — b. Alice Eastwood, Canadian-American systemic botanist, conservationist, discoverer, author, educator. Curator of botany, California Academy of Sciences (1894-49); expert on the flowering plants of the CA coast + the Rockies #womenshistory #WomenInSTEM #SciSky #HistSci #PlantSky #EduSky
Reposted by Nicolas Balcom Raleigh
📸 Oulu, Finland, a 2026 European Capital of Culture
📍 Finland
🛰️ European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery
📍 Finland
🛰️ European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery
January 16, 2026 at 9:10 AM
📸 Oulu, Finland, a 2026 European Capital of Culture
📍 Finland
🛰️ European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery
📍 Finland
🛰️ European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery
For those into remote sensing and Earth science, I fully recommend @earthdaily.bsky.social (The Copernicus program is amazing!)
🇦🇷 Large wildfires have devastated Argentine Patagonia since early January 2026, burning 15,000+ hectares of forest. This satellite image highlights active blazes in Chubut, leading to 3,000+ evacuations. Burned areas appear dark brown.
📍 Argentina
🛰️ European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery
📍 Argentina
🛰️ European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery
January 18, 2026 at 10:49 PM
For those into remote sensing and Earth science, I fully recommend @earthdaily.bsky.social (The Copernicus program is amazing!)
Reposted by Nicolas Balcom Raleigh
What's the difference between remembering and learning?
Researchers found evidence that AI models are apparently storing training data. OpenAI’s GPT-4.1, Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro, xAI’s Grok 3, and Anthropic’s Claude 3.7 Sonnet.
1/2
futurism.com/artificial-i...
Researchers found evidence that AI models are apparently storing training data. OpenAI’s GPT-4.1, Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro, xAI’s Grok 3, and Anthropic’s Claude 3.7 Sonnet.
1/2
futurism.com/artificial-i...
Researchers Just Found Something That Could Shake the AI Industry to Its Core
Researchers found compelling evidence that AI models are actually copying copyrighted data, not "learning" from it.
futurism.com
January 17, 2026 at 4:04 PM
What's the difference between remembering and learning?
Researchers found evidence that AI models are apparently storing training data. OpenAI’s GPT-4.1, Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro, xAI’s Grok 3, and Anthropic’s Claude 3.7 Sonnet.
1/2
futurism.com/artificial-i...
Researchers found evidence that AI models are apparently storing training data. OpenAI’s GPT-4.1, Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro, xAI’s Grok 3, and Anthropic’s Claude 3.7 Sonnet.
1/2
futurism.com/artificial-i...
Reposted by Nicolas Balcom Raleigh
"Native Americans—the first peoples of this land—are among those being abducted and detained. These arrests and detentions blatantly violate the treaty, as well as the constitutional and civil rights of the Native Americans being apprehended." narf.org/narf-stateme...
NARF statement on unlawful ICE activity - Native American Rights Fund
The Native American Rights Fund (NARF) condemns the unlawful actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). We stand with our neighbors—whatever their country of birth—who are getting…
narf.org
January 18, 2026 at 10:20 PM
"Native Americans—the first peoples of this land—are among those being abducted and detained. These arrests and detentions blatantly violate the treaty, as well as the constitutional and civil rights of the Native Americans being apprehended." narf.org/narf-stateme...
Reposted by Nicolas Balcom Raleigh
Taken tonight with @ucalgary.bsky.social’s Rothney Astrophysical Observatory’s 50 cm Kaylie Green Memorial Telescope of Cold War Baker-Nunn design. This very wide angle view captured the Andromeda #Galaxy, M31 and its two satellite galaxies, M32 & 110 as well as a bright #meteor. #astronomy
January 18, 2026 at 6:29 AM
Taken tonight with @ucalgary.bsky.social’s Rothney Astrophysical Observatory’s 50 cm Kaylie Green Memorial Telescope of Cold War Baker-Nunn design. This very wide angle view captured the Andromeda #Galaxy, M31 and its two satellite galaxies, M32 & 110 as well as a bright #meteor. #astronomy
Reposted by Nicolas Balcom Raleigh
Elijio Panti National Park in Belize is under threat ... for furniture. therevelator.org/protect-elij...
Protect This Place: Elijio Panti National Park, a Mayan Heritage Site in the Heart of Belize’s Rainforest • The Revelator
A logging concession granted to a furniture company threatens to disrupt the park, its cultural legacy, and its amazing biodiversity.
therevelator.org
January 16, 2026 at 10:04 PM
Elijio Panti National Park in Belize is under threat ... for furniture. therevelator.org/protect-elij...
Reposted by Nicolas Balcom Raleigh
This is huge: For the first time since the early 1970s, coal power generation has fallen in both China & India.
It undercuts claims that decarbonisation is pointless while they expand coal. Renewables are no longer just adding capacity — they’re displacing coal.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
It undercuts claims that decarbonisation is pointless while they expand coal. Renewables are no longer just adding capacity — they’re displacing coal.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Coal power generation falls in China and India for first time since 1970s
‘Historic’ moment in biggest coal-consuming countries could bring decline in global emissions, analysis says
www.theguardian.com
January 15, 2026 at 9:34 AM
This is huge: For the first time since the early 1970s, coal power generation has fallen in both China & India.
It undercuts claims that decarbonisation is pointless while they expand coal. Renewables are no longer just adding capacity — they’re displacing coal.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
It undercuts claims that decarbonisation is pointless while they expand coal. Renewables are no longer just adding capacity — they’re displacing coal.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Reposted by Nicolas Balcom Raleigh
New World Economic Forum Global Risks data provides a stark warning: While short-term crises dominate headlines, "Biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse" jumps to the 2nd highest risk over the 10-year horizon.
The long term is sooner than we think. Science-based policies via IPBES are crucial.🌍
The long term is sooner than we think. Science-based policies via IPBES are crucial.🌍
January 16, 2026 at 1:30 PM
New World Economic Forum Global Risks data provides a stark warning: While short-term crises dominate headlines, "Biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse" jumps to the 2nd highest risk over the 10-year horizon.
The long term is sooner than we think. Science-based policies via IPBES are crucial.🌍
The long term is sooner than we think. Science-based policies via IPBES are crucial.🌍
Reposted by Nicolas Balcom Raleigh
Hats off to whoever did this (and the beautiful model).
January 16, 2026 at 8:18 AM
Hats off to whoever did this (and the beautiful model).