David Syzdek
@dsyzdek.bsky.social
Polymath. Endangered species biologist. Views my own.
Reposted by David Syzdek
Reckless, self-centered, and dangerous. Astrophysicists owe it to everyone to understand the implications of our words and actions on the world, and Avi Loeb is not holding up our end of the deal.
Some have argued to me strongly that even if Loeb is wrong, he’s getting people interested in 3I/ATLAS and that’s a good thing for science.
But Loeb isn't just wrong, he's recklessly following an old playbook that got 39 people killed in 1997.
sites.psu.edu/astrowright/...
But Loeb isn't just wrong, he's recklessly following an old playbook that got 39 people killed in 1997.
sites.psu.edu/astrowright/...
Loeb’s Behavior is Reckless
I’ve largely ignored Loeb for the past few weeks. When he started in on his 3I/ATLAS thing, there were plenty of mainstream media outlets willing to give his claims a wide and credulous platform, and ...
sites.psu.edu
December 8, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Reckless, self-centered, and dangerous. Astrophysicists owe it to everyone to understand the implications of our words and actions on the world, and Avi Loeb is not holding up our end of the deal.
Reposted by David Syzdek
“Why are folks getting dumber?” Because they don’t read. “Why aren’t men as romantic & poetic as they used to be?” Because they don’t read. “Why are people so vulnerable to propaganda?” “Why is everyone a conspiracy theorist?” Because they don’t read. Because they don’t read.
December 8, 2025 at 11:49 PM
“Why are folks getting dumber?” Because they don’t read. “Why aren’t men as romantic & poetic as they used to be?” Because they don’t read. “Why are people so vulnerable to propaganda?” “Why is everyone a conspiracy theorist?” Because they don’t read. Because they don’t read.
Reposted by David Syzdek
Fascinating history of Russia's airborne laser ASAT platforms, including this bit about one destroyed in the 80s: "Early one morning two technicians snuck out to the aircraft to siphon alcohol out of its de-icing system so that they could party" 1/2
December 8, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Fascinating history of Russia's airborne laser ASAT platforms, including this bit about one destroyed in the 80s: "Early one morning two technicians snuck out to the aircraft to siphon alcohol out of its de-icing system so that they could party" 1/2
Reposted by David Syzdek
The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.
I have always found that comforting because my motives have always been ulterior, and my intentions bad.
I have always found that comforting because my motives have always been ulterior, and my intentions bad.
December 8, 2025 at 7:27 PM
The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.
I have always found that comforting because my motives have always been ulterior, and my intentions bad.
I have always found that comforting because my motives have always been ulterior, and my intentions bad.
Reposted by David Syzdek
every fucking time I go back to thinking about a civil war battle I inevitably think of this post. cursed forever
ever wondered about what ranking officers in the us civil war were like? good news. there's not that many types of them. here you go
December 8, 2025 at 1:58 AM
every fucking time I go back to thinking about a civil war battle I inevitably think of this post. cursed forever
Reposted by David Syzdek
The amazing journey of a parasitic fungus: An ant infected with Ophiocordyceps australis got covered by leaves. The fungus stalk started probing for a way to the surface. After making contact with 2 leaves it eventually punched through a third leaf and produced a fruiting body for releasing spores.
December 8, 2025 at 7:35 PM
The amazing journey of a parasitic fungus: An ant infected with Ophiocordyceps australis got covered by leaves. The fungus stalk started probing for a way to the surface. After making contact with 2 leaves it eventually punched through a third leaf and produced a fruiting body for releasing spores.
Reposted by David Syzdek
According to a new paper, either one large volcanic eruption or a cluster of eruptions might have been the Black Death's triggering factor, setting off a chain of events that brought the plague to the Mediterranean region in the 1340s.
Rare set of varied factors triggered Black Death
Volcanic eruptions in the mid-1340s triggered a chain of events that brought the Black Death to Europe.
arstechnica.com
December 8, 2025 at 7:41 PM
According to a new paper, either one large volcanic eruption or a cluster of eruptions might have been the Black Death's triggering factor, setting off a chain of events that brought the plague to the Mediterranean region in the 1340s.
Reposted by David Syzdek
Here's the Atlantic's Top 25 Photos of 2025. They are incredible and also painful. (Gift article)
#photos #news
www.theatlantic.com/photography/...
#photos #news
www.theatlantic.com/photography/...
December 8, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Here's the Atlantic's Top 25 Photos of 2025. They are incredible and also painful. (Gift article)
#photos #news
www.theatlantic.com/photography/...
#photos #news
www.theatlantic.com/photography/...
Reposted by David Syzdek
A few semesters ago my senior seminar topic was Colorado native fishes, and the student who presented on this species quoted a podcast where the guest stated the fish possessed "luscious Mick Jagger lips" and that phrase comes to mind every single time I see one.
Despite lacking any teeth on their jaws, Colorado pikeminnows are the top native predators in the Colorado River basin. They do have long, curved teeth in their throat (pharyngeal teeth) that help them process prey (mostly fish, but whatever they can catch!) that they swallow whole #25DaysofFishmas
December 8, 2025 at 5:37 PM
A few semesters ago my senior seminar topic was Colorado native fishes, and the student who presented on this species quoted a podcast where the guest stated the fish possessed "luscious Mick Jagger lips" and that phrase comes to mind every single time I see one.
Reposted by David Syzdek
Climate change is real. It endangers people and wildlife. It destroys infrastructure.
Conservation is a solution. Resilient ecosystems protect people, wildlife, and the economy.
The examples are all around us:
Conservation is a solution. Resilient ecosystems protect people, wildlife, and the economy.
The examples are all around us:
Indonesia counts human cost as more climate change warnings sounded
Indonesia says 1,000 dead, some 1 million displaced from rains as report points at the threat posed by climate change.
aje.io
December 8, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Climate change is real. It endangers people and wildlife. It destroys infrastructure.
Conservation is a solution. Resilient ecosystems protect people, wildlife, and the economy.
The examples are all around us:
Conservation is a solution. Resilient ecosystems protect people, wildlife, and the economy.
The examples are all around us:
Reposted by David Syzdek
It appears that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has, within the past week, scrubbed a large amount of climate change content from its official website, as well as *removed human-caused warming* from the discussion on its "causes of climate change" page.
December 8, 2025 at 5:50 PM
It appears that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has, within the past week, scrubbed a large amount of climate change content from its official website, as well as *removed human-caused warming* from the discussion on its "causes of climate change" page.
Reposted by David Syzdek
Good on Penn Jillette. Having to come to terms with your entire political identity and philosophy being wrong is not easy and most people could never do it.
December 7, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Good on Penn Jillette. Having to come to terms with your entire political identity and philosophy being wrong is not easy and most people could never do it.
Reposted by David Syzdek
Yesterday, a M7.0 earthquake struck the Alaska-Canada border, directly beneath the Hubbard Glacier. Aftershocks reveal an unmapped fault in this already complex area.
Read our post for more, & also:
What happens when a fault offsets a glacier?
Is the glacier named after one of my ancestors?
⚒️ 🧪
Read our post for more, & also:
What happens when a fault offsets a glacier?
Is the glacier named after one of my ancestors?
⚒️ 🧪
M7.0 earthquake strikes Alaska-Canada border
Aftershocks suggest an unmapped fault beneath the Hubbard Glacier
earthquakeinsights.substack.com
December 7, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Yesterday, a M7.0 earthquake struck the Alaska-Canada border, directly beneath the Hubbard Glacier. Aftershocks reveal an unmapped fault in this already complex area.
Read our post for more, & also:
What happens when a fault offsets a glacier?
Is the glacier named after one of my ancestors?
⚒️ 🧪
Read our post for more, & also:
What happens when a fault offsets a glacier?
Is the glacier named after one of my ancestors?
⚒️ 🧪
Reposted by David Syzdek
I didn't know they micd up the posts?
December 8, 2025 at 2:53 AM
I didn't know they micd up the posts?
Reposted by David Syzdek
The news from Oklahoma and Nebraska is so depressing. The US public university system is one of the greatest achievements of the 20th century, created to democratize liberal arts education, and it's being destroyed by greedy people who think only the rich are deserving of such learning.
December 7, 2025 at 1:58 PM
The news from Oklahoma and Nebraska is so depressing. The US public university system is one of the greatest achievements of the 20th century, created to democratize liberal arts education, and it's being destroyed by greedy people who think only the rich are deserving of such learning.
Reposted by David Syzdek
Anniversary of halifax explosion so obligatory
"Hold up the train. Ammunition ship afire in harbour making for Pier 6 and will explode. Guess this will be my last message. Good-bye boys."
- Vincent Coleman
saved like 300 people on a train, and started the emergency response. Died for it
"Hold up the train. Ammunition ship afire in harbour making for Pier 6 and will explode. Guess this will be my last message. Good-bye boys."
- Vincent Coleman
saved like 300 people on a train, and started the emergency response. Died for it
December 6, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Anniversary of halifax explosion so obligatory
"Hold up the train. Ammunition ship afire in harbour making for Pier 6 and will explode. Guess this will be my last message. Good-bye boys."
- Vincent Coleman
saved like 300 people on a train, and started the emergency response. Died for it
"Hold up the train. Ammunition ship afire in harbour making for Pier 6 and will explode. Guess this will be my last message. Good-bye boys."
- Vincent Coleman
saved like 300 people on a train, and started the emergency response. Died for it
Reposted by David Syzdek
This rather unremarkable pasture near the River Tay in Scotland joins together Ancient Rome and the legacy of the Atomic Age in a surprising way.
Let's talk about the Roman legionary fort at Inchtuthil and how it affects nuclear waste storage around the globe.
Let's talk about the Roman legionary fort at Inchtuthil and how it affects nuclear waste storage around the globe.
December 6, 2025 at 10:51 PM
This rather unremarkable pasture near the River Tay in Scotland joins together Ancient Rome and the legacy of the Atomic Age in a surprising way.
Let's talk about the Roman legionary fort at Inchtuthil and how it affects nuclear waste storage around the globe.
Let's talk about the Roman legionary fort at Inchtuthil and how it affects nuclear waste storage around the globe.
Ugh. Terrible.
It's over.
Despite the fact that the academic council recommended against it, despite the fact that the program brought in more tuition than it cost, and despite the fact that Nebraskans need & deserve this expertise, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences will be cut.
www.dailynebraskan.com/news/adminis...
Despite the fact that the academic council recommended against it, despite the fact that the program brought in more tuition than it cost, and despite the fact that Nebraskans need & deserve this expertise, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences will be cut.
www.dailynebraskan.com/news/adminis...
BREAKING: ‘This hurts’: UNL eliminates 4 programs despite faculty, student pleas
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln eliminates the Earth and atmospheric sciences 8-0, educational administration 7-1, statistics 7-1, textiles, merchandising and fashion design 7-1 programs.
www.dailynebraskan.com
December 6, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Ugh. Terrible.
"the goal of grief is to remember with more love than pain"
— Some dude on Reddit.
— Some dude on Reddit.
December 6, 2025 at 5:57 AM
"the goal of grief is to remember with more love than pain"
— Some dude on Reddit.
— Some dude on Reddit.
Reposted by David Syzdek
I don't think this is turning out like the regime thought it would....🤣
So Bondi and Kash make a big deal out of arresting the J6 pipe bomber then the guy confesses that he is a Trump supporter who thought the 2020 election was stolen and his lawyer is arguing that Trump’s broadly-worded J6 blanket pardon applies to him and he should go free. Poetry.
December 6, 2025 at 1:30 AM
I don't think this is turning out like the regime thought it would....🤣
Let’s go, UNLV!
a group of football players wearing jerseys with the number 13 on them
ALT: a group of football players wearing jerseys with the number 13 on them
media.tenor.com
December 6, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Let’s go, UNLV!
Reposted by David Syzdek
The decision by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to downgrade its recommendations to protect infants from hepatitis B is a dangerous move that will harm children.
Click here to read AAP's full statement: bit.ly/3Y9ZQJT
Click here to read AAP's full statement: bit.ly/3Y9ZQJT
December 5, 2025 at 4:15 PM
The decision by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to downgrade its recommendations to protect infants from hepatitis B is a dangerous move that will harm children.
Click here to read AAP's full statement: bit.ly/3Y9ZQJT
Click here to read AAP's full statement: bit.ly/3Y9ZQJT
Reposted by David Syzdek
Also USPS didn't loss money because it doesn't make money because it's not a business and if never makes money to begin with.
It did however deliver over 112.5 billion pieces of mail in 2024 and that doesn't even include packages.
It did however deliver over 112.5 billion pieces of mail in 2024 and that doesn't even include packages.
The USPS posting a NINE BILLION DOLLAR LOSS!!! sounds terrible. Certainly worse than if you said "USPS costs thirty dollars per person per year" even though that means the same thing and more accurately describes a government service
December 5, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Also USPS didn't loss money because it doesn't make money because it's not a business and if never makes money to begin with.
It did however deliver over 112.5 billion pieces of mail in 2024 and that doesn't even include packages.
It did however deliver over 112.5 billion pieces of mail in 2024 and that doesn't even include packages.
Reposted by David Syzdek
Holy moly this is bad.
The Trump administration has adopted a controversial plan to pump more water to Central Valley farmlands from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. #cawater @ianjames.bsky.social www.latimes.com/environment/...
Trump administration adopts plan to pump more water in California over state objections
The federal government plans to pump more water to Central Valley farmlands from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, possibly reducing available water for millions of people.
www.latimes.com
December 5, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Holy moly this is bad.