Markus Deserno
@markusdeserno.bsky.social
Theoretical and computational biophysicist at Carnegie Mellon University. Loves lipid membranes, music, and art. (he/him) 🇩🇪🇺🇸
Awesome! An absolute giant in the field. Everything he says and does is interesting.
January 6, 2026 at 11:04 PM
Awesome! An absolute giant in the field. Everything he says and does is interesting.
Please don’t lose your mind. We need your mind!
January 6, 2026 at 10:22 PM
Please don’t lose your mind. We need your mind!
I’m so sorry. This is madness. 😞
January 6, 2026 at 10:12 AM
I’m so sorry. This is madness. 😞
Especially after hearing it 6-7 times a day.
January 3, 2026 at 5:14 PM
Especially after hearing it 6-7 times a day.
Great question. I don’t really know either. But I presume that in a society that’s so overwhelmingly tuned to being transactional (in order for anything to happen, you need to “incentivize” it), idealism is a mindset that’s very difficult to grasp.
January 3, 2026 at 8:33 AM
Great question. I don’t really know either. But I presume that in a society that’s so overwhelmingly tuned to being transactional (in order for anything to happen, you need to “incentivize” it), idealism is a mindset that’s very difficult to grasp.
Not for them. Or the Supreme Court. But very much for little people like me.
January 2, 2026 at 2:48 PM
Not for them. Or the Supreme Court. But very much for little people like me.
Paid lobbyists who spread propaganda for, say, fossil fuel or big tobacco, are not dumb. They know very well that their lies destroy the planet or kill people. But the earned blood money is simply irresistible. That’s why, in my book, they are morally weak traitors.
January 2, 2026 at 11:23 AM
Paid lobbyists who spread propaganda for, say, fossil fuel or big tobacco, are not dumb. They know very well that their lies destroy the planet or kill people. But the earned blood money is simply irresistible. That’s why, in my book, they are morally weak traitors.
I am a scientist. I have specialized knowledge in some fields and advocate for certain solutions. It irks me when people accuse me or other scientists for “driving our agenda.” I’m on no rich person’s or company’s payroll, and if I were, the conflict of interest rules are extensive and very strict.
January 2, 2026 at 9:42 AM
I am a scientist. I have specialized knowledge in some fields and advocate for certain solutions. It irks me when people accuse me or other scientists for “driving our agenda.” I’m on no rich person’s or company’s payroll, and if I were, the conflict of interest rules are extensive and very strict.
I agree. It’s just that to me it makes a huge difference whether it’s advocacy that arises from an understanding of the issue and is motivated by the good faith desire to improve some situation, versus paid advocacy that is mercenary and transactional.
January 2, 2026 at 9:42 AM
I agree. It’s just that to me it makes a huge difference whether it’s advocacy that arises from an understanding of the issue and is motivated by the good faith desire to improve some situation, versus paid advocacy that is mercenary and transactional.
Well—that’s tricky. Advocates are more than experts. Advocates have an axe to grind. And it might not be the axe you like. Advocates can be lobbyists for the wrong cause. At the very least I’d want to know who pays them. A scientist vs. a Heritage foundation fellow is not the same cup of tea.
January 2, 2026 at 8:53 AM
Well—that’s tricky. Advocates are more than experts. Advocates have an axe to grind. And it might not be the axe you like. Advocates can be lobbyists for the wrong cause. At the very least I’d want to know who pays them. A scientist vs. a Heritage foundation fellow is not the same cup of tea.
You cannot stop the outrage machinery with facts. I haven’t found a good way to defuse white hot anger that serves as a badge of identity.
January 2, 2026 at 8:43 AM
You cannot stop the outrage machinery with facts. I haven’t found a good way to defuse white hot anger that serves as a badge of identity.
Sergei Prokofiev
January 1, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Sergei Prokofiev
I’ve seen this IRL.
January 1, 2026 at 11:46 AM
I’ve seen this IRL.
What exactly is Peggy stroking here?
January 1, 2026 at 11:43 AM
What exactly is Peggy stroking here?
That’s from “Top Secret”.
December 31, 2025 at 4:22 PM
That’s from “Top Secret”.
No human being would stack books like this.
three men are standing in a library looking at a book
ALT: three men are standing in a library looking at a book
media.tenor.com
December 31, 2025 at 3:18 PM
No human being would stack books like this.
Forced to misread 375 as a time, I'd make it 3:45am.
December 31, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Forced to misread 375 as a time, I'd make it 3:45am.
Romance language… 😅
December 31, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Romance language… 😅
Are the hornets extra?
December 30, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Are the hornets extra?
Tissue paper strategically placed, in case copium runs thin.
December 29, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Tissue paper strategically placed, in case copium runs thin.
Jesus, that’s one ENORMOUS finger.
December 29, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Jesus, that’s one ENORMOUS finger.