Alex Venz
@ptpetra.bsky.social
Photographer, promoter of EVs, computer modder, cooling guru, product designer, tester, and all-around geek. He/him
Reposted by Alex Venz
I see there’s a post about microplastics going around with a photo of drinking straws, so here is my semi-regular reminder that the 3 biggest sources of microplastics are tires (45%), synthetic clothing particles (35%) and paint (~10%).
Lay article attached:
Lay article attached:
One of the biggest microplastic pollution sources isn’t straws or grocery bags – it’s your tires
Every few years, the tires on your car wear thin and need to be replaced. But where does that lost tire material go? The answer, unfortunately, is often waterways, where the tiny microplastic particle...
www.pbs.org
December 24, 2025 at 4:49 AM
I see there’s a post about microplastics going around with a photo of drinking straws, so here is my semi-regular reminder that the 3 biggest sources of microplastics are tires (45%), synthetic clothing particles (35%) and paint (~10%).
Lay article attached:
Lay article attached:
Managed to get a kinda ok photo of X-59’s first flight this morning. Given the circumstances, I shouldn’t have hoped for much more.
October 29, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Managed to get a kinda ok photo of X-59’s first flight this morning. Given the circumstances, I shouldn’t have hoped for much more.
Reposted by Alex Venz
A lone voice speaking truth may be drowned by a cacophonous enemy. But when true warriors stand together, add their voices to a chorus, the words gain the power to sweep away any perfidious clamor. Today of all days, add your voice, warriors, and sing for what's right.
October 18, 2025 at 6:34 PM
A lone voice speaking truth may be drowned by a cacophonous enemy. But when true warriors stand together, add their voices to a chorus, the words gain the power to sweep away any perfidious clamor. Today of all days, add your voice, warriors, and sing for what's right.
Reposted by Alex Venz
This is honestly worth reading for my younger audience, you probably (?) have huge gaps in your understanding of this. This focuses earlier decades, but there was quite a profound shift of culture in my lifetime you probably missed yourself.
I wrote a thing. As someone who survived the 1970s and kept the receipts.
Shocked by Epstein’s birthday book? That culture was everywhere before feminism | Rebecca Solnit
Feminism exposed the ubiquity of child abuse, rape, sexual harassment and domestic violence – and helped fight that culture
www.theguardian.com
September 13, 2025 at 1:50 PM
This is honestly worth reading for my younger audience, you probably (?) have huge gaps in your understanding of this. This focuses earlier decades, but there was quite a profound shift of culture in my lifetime you probably missed yourself.
Reposted by Alex Venz
Reposted by Alex Venz
My video about how LLMs are not search engines has led to many, MANY comments telling me that I should be using Perplexity. Some insisting that Perplexity does not hallucinate.
Out of a list of 26 papers it just provided me (in "Research" mode) 4 were real. FOUR. 85% hallucination rate.
Out of a list of 26 papers it just provided me (in "Research" mode) 4 were real. FOUR. 85% hallucination rate.
August 23, 2025 at 5:54 PM
My video about how LLMs are not search engines has led to many, MANY comments telling me that I should be using Perplexity. Some insisting that Perplexity does not hallucinate.
Out of a list of 26 papers it just provided me (in "Research" mode) 4 were real. FOUR. 85% hallucination rate.
Out of a list of 26 papers it just provided me (in "Research" mode) 4 were real. FOUR. 85% hallucination rate.
Reposted by Alex Venz
Holy fuck that’s the actual
Image!
In my lifetime we have gone from:
“other stars probably have planets”
to
“We are directly imaging baby planets in young stellar systems.”
We could do more of this instead of the fascism and genocide.
Image!
In my lifetime we have gone from:
“other stars probably have planets”
to
“We are directly imaging baby planets in young stellar systems.”
We could do more of this instead of the fascism and genocide.
here's my @skyandtelescope.bsky.social story about the new planet-in-a-gap-in-a-disk 🙂👍🏼🔭🧪⭐
skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-ne...
skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-ne...
Baby Planet Clears Gap in Young Protoplanetary Disk
With the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have spotted a planet forming around a star 430 light-years away.
skyandtelescope.org
August 27, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Holy fuck that’s the actual
Image!
In my lifetime we have gone from:
“other stars probably have planets”
to
“We are directly imaging baby planets in young stellar systems.”
We could do more of this instead of the fascism and genocide.
Image!
In my lifetime we have gone from:
“other stars probably have planets”
to
“We are directly imaging baby planets in young stellar systems.”
We could do more of this instead of the fascism and genocide.
Reposted by Alex Venz
the other wrinkle in all these "we're banning porn for UK users!" and "bluesky isn't available in mississippi" stories that no one seems to be talking about:
geo-ip is inaccurate as shit, even before VPNs get involved. you can't just detect where people are with any kind of consistency
geo-ip is inaccurate as shit, even before VPNs get involved. you can't just detect where people are with any kind of consistency
August 23, 2025 at 7:00 PM
the other wrinkle in all these "we're banning porn for UK users!" and "bluesky isn't available in mississippi" stories that no one seems to be talking about:
geo-ip is inaccurate as shit, even before VPNs get involved. you can't just detect where people are with any kind of consistency
geo-ip is inaccurate as shit, even before VPNs get involved. you can't just detect where people are with any kind of consistency
Reposted by Alex Venz
“Bryan Johnson will die of a heart attack in the middle of his fifteenth erection of the night.”
One of many amazing lines in this profile of the Silicon Valley ghouls who seek eternal life.
It warms my heart to know that death shall equalize them all.
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
One of many amazing lines in this profile of the Silicon Valley ghouls who seek eternal life.
It warms my heart to know that death shall equalize them all.
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
How to Live Forever and Get Rich Doing It
As researchers work to make death optional, investors see a chance for huge returns. But has the human body already reached its limits?
www.newyorker.com
August 20, 2025 at 1:07 AM
“Bryan Johnson will die of a heart attack in the middle of his fifteenth erection of the night.”
One of many amazing lines in this profile of the Silicon Valley ghouls who seek eternal life.
It warms my heart to know that death shall equalize them all.
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
One of many amazing lines in this profile of the Silicon Valley ghouls who seek eternal life.
It warms my heart to know that death shall equalize them all.
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Reposted by Alex Venz
"people who are still concerned about covid are so unreasonable, they just want us all to go into lockdown again!"
literally nobody is asking for that. what people are asking for is stuff like universal masking in healthcare settings and investment in indoor air filtration/clean air infrastructure
literally nobody is asking for that. what people are asking for is stuff like universal masking in healthcare settings and investment in indoor air filtration/clean air infrastructure
August 20, 2025 at 11:46 AM
"people who are still concerned about covid are so unreasonable, they just want us all to go into lockdown again!"
literally nobody is asking for that. what people are asking for is stuff like universal masking in healthcare settings and investment in indoor air filtration/clean air infrastructure
literally nobody is asking for that. what people are asking for is stuff like universal masking in healthcare settings and investment in indoor air filtration/clean air infrastructure
@thegooddotstore.bsky.social Hey, so, uh, turns out your foaming hand soap pump and unscented Meliora soap tablets are pretty great... and now I need like 3 more.
Any plans to restock the EcoGeek hand soap bundle or is this a gone forever kind of thing?
Any plans to restock the EcoGeek hand soap bundle or is this a gone forever kind of thing?
August 8, 2025 at 4:07 AM
@thegooddotstore.bsky.social Hey, so, uh, turns out your foaming hand soap pump and unscented Meliora soap tablets are pretty great... and now I need like 3 more.
Any plans to restock the EcoGeek hand soap bundle or is this a gone forever kind of thing?
Any plans to restock the EcoGeek hand soap bundle or is this a gone forever kind of thing?
My partner is taking a work-assigned LLM training course right now and all of the language is so deeply anthropomorphic, it's no wonder people have a hard time understanding current LLM limitations or the aspirational nature of many claims of utility.
August 1, 2025 at 8:43 PM
My partner is taking a work-assigned LLM training course right now and all of the language is so deeply anthropomorphic, it's no wonder people have a hard time understanding current LLM limitations or the aspirational nature of many claims of utility.
Reposted by Alex Venz
"Moisture lost to evaporation and drought, plus runoff from pumped groundwater, now outpaces the melting of glaciers and the ice sheets of either Antarctica or Greenland as the largest contributor of water to the oceans."
www.propublica.org/article/wate...
www.propublica.org/article/wate...
“Staggering” Water Loss Driven by Groundwater Mining Poses Global Threat
A new study finds that freshwater resources are rapidly disappearing, creating arid “mega” regions and causing sea levels to rise.
www.propublica.org
July 30, 2025 at 4:55 AM
"Moisture lost to evaporation and drought, plus runoff from pumped groundwater, now outpaces the melting of glaciers and the ice sheets of either Antarctica or Greenland as the largest contributor of water to the oceans."
www.propublica.org/article/wate...
www.propublica.org/article/wate...
Reposted by Alex Venz
EVs reduce emissions by 73% over their lifetime compared to petrol cars.
Not 7. Not 30. 73%
And yet… we’re still debating?
The fossil fuel lobby has spent decades perfecting the art of delay.
Now they’re peddling FUD about EVs: too dirty, too expensive, too inconvenient.
None of it holds up. 🧵 1/8
Not 7. Not 30. 73%
And yet… we’re still debating?
The fossil fuel lobby has spent decades perfecting the art of delay.
Now they’re peddling FUD about EVs: too dirty, too expensive, too inconvenient.
None of it holds up. 🧵 1/8
July 30, 2025 at 1:05 PM
EVs reduce emissions by 73% over their lifetime compared to petrol cars.
Not 7. Not 30. 73%
And yet… we’re still debating?
The fossil fuel lobby has spent decades perfecting the art of delay.
Now they’re peddling FUD about EVs: too dirty, too expensive, too inconvenient.
None of it holds up. 🧵 1/8
Not 7. Not 30. 73%
And yet… we’re still debating?
The fossil fuel lobby has spent decades perfecting the art of delay.
Now they’re peddling FUD about EVs: too dirty, too expensive, too inconvenient.
None of it holds up. 🧵 1/8
Forbidden coffee (hardener got old, I guess). @xylafoxlin.bsky.social
July 19, 2025 at 5:18 AM
Forbidden coffee (hardener got old, I guess). @xylafoxlin.bsky.social
Reposted by Alex Venz
Okay their dad just took them to the playground so HERE WE GO
(thread)
(thread)
I have a banger thread on informal feminized labor and "male loneliness epidemic discourse" cooked up in my head, but I can't get my kids to leave me along long enough for me to write it
July 15, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Okay their dad just took them to the playground so HERE WE GO
(thread)
(thread)
PSA: If you're in a mixed platform environment (Android/MacOS/Windows/iOS/Linux), consider giving KDE Connect a whirl. It's super handy for dumping files and stuff over a local connection (think AirDrop, but between Android & MacOS or whatever you're using).
July 14, 2025 at 2:22 AM
PSA: If you're in a mixed platform environment (Android/MacOS/Windows/iOS/Linux), consider giving KDE Connect a whirl. It's super handy for dumping files and stuff over a local connection (think AirDrop, but between Android & MacOS or whatever you're using).
Reposted by Alex Venz
Reposted by Alex Venz
Israel-Iran conflict unleashes wave of AI disinformation
Israel-Iran conflict unleashes wave of AI disinformation
Fake AI videos relating to the conflict have gained over 100 million views online, BBC Verify finds.
www.bbc.com
June 20, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Israel-Iran conflict unleashes wave of AI disinformation
Reposted by Alex Venz
An Emerging Risk To #RadioAstronomy 📡
Using a prototype SKA-Low instrument, a new analysis from @icrar.bsky.social has detected Starlink signals leaking into protected radio bands.
@cosmicrami.com writes about this new study.
www.spaceaustralia.com/news/emergin...
📸 Astro_Work 🔭
#SpaceAustralia
Using a prototype SKA-Low instrument, a new analysis from @icrar.bsky.social has detected Starlink signals leaking into protected radio bands.
@cosmicrami.com writes about this new study.
www.spaceaustralia.com/news/emergin...
📸 Astro_Work 🔭
#SpaceAustralia
June 5, 2025 at 10:17 PM
An Emerging Risk To #RadioAstronomy 📡
Using a prototype SKA-Low instrument, a new analysis from @icrar.bsky.social has detected Starlink signals leaking into protected radio bands.
@cosmicrami.com writes about this new study.
www.spaceaustralia.com/news/emergin...
📸 Astro_Work 🔭
#SpaceAustralia
Using a prototype SKA-Low instrument, a new analysis from @icrar.bsky.social has detected Starlink signals leaking into protected radio bands.
@cosmicrami.com writes about this new study.
www.spaceaustralia.com/news/emergin...
📸 Astro_Work 🔭
#SpaceAustralia
Here's a great example of why we need to hold marketplaces like Amazon responsible for products sold through their sites
I have a new Amazon Bullshit Champion!
QUOTED OUTPUT: <5mW 532nm
ACTUAL OUTPUT: 82mW 532nm & 114mW 1064nm
Previous record 80mW 532nm. Confiscated from the fire marshal. They were very ashamed.
QUOTED OUTPUT: <5mW 532nm
ACTUAL OUTPUT: 82mW 532nm & 114mW 1064nm
Previous record 80mW 532nm. Confiscated from the fire marshal. They were very ashamed.
May 28, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Here's a great example of why we need to hold marketplaces like Amazon responsible for products sold through their sites
Reposted by Alex Venz
I’m absolutely dying. Blink charged this dude $500 MILLION DOLLARS FOR A CHARGE!
cc: @transportevolved.bsky.social
www.reddit.com/r/electricve...
cc: @transportevolved.bsky.social
www.reddit.com/r/electricve...
From the electricvehicles community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the electricvehicles community
www.reddit.com
May 23, 2025 at 11:35 PM
I’m absolutely dying. Blink charged this dude $500 MILLION DOLLARS FOR A CHARGE!
cc: @transportevolved.bsky.social
www.reddit.com/r/electricve...
cc: @transportevolved.bsky.social
www.reddit.com/r/electricve...
Reposted by Alex Venz
Here’s the Slate. The tiny electric truck that’s a barebones American made EV that costs less that $30k
sustainablecareers.sae.org/article/slat...
sustainablecareers.sae.org/article/slat...
Slate Unveils Bare-Bones EV Mini Truck | Sustainable Mobility Career Center
Slate Unveils Bare-Bones EV Mini Truck - read this article along with other careers information, tips and advice on Sustainable Mobility Career Center
sustainablecareers.sae.org
April 25, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Here’s the Slate. The tiny electric truck that’s a barebones American made EV that costs less that $30k
sustainablecareers.sae.org/article/slat...
sustainablecareers.sae.org/article/slat...
Reposted by Alex Venz
The Loan Programs Office (LPO) is one of the most quietly effective tools the federal government has. It is the center of our industrial policy providing loans that banks won't give for energy innovation. It funds real projects. Battery factories. Nuclear reactors. Geothermal energy. Car factories.
April 23, 2025 at 11:46 PM
The Loan Programs Office (LPO) is one of the most quietly effective tools the federal government has. It is the center of our industrial policy providing loans that banks won't give for energy innovation. It funds real projects. Battery factories. Nuclear reactors. Geothermal energy. Car factories.
This is one of my absolute favorite museums and I can't wait to drop by and see what they've added.
Seriously, if you're ever in the SF Bay area, go to this museum.
Seriously, if you're ever in the SF Bay area, go to this museum.
This is a lovely write-up about the Computer History Museum's chatbots exhibit: www.nytimes.com/2025/04/23/a... (I'm on the board of CHM cuz I love the work that they do.)
A Silicon Valley Museum Weighs Tech’s Promises and Perils (Gift Article)
Set in the heart of Silicon Valley, the Computer History Museum long cheered the developments around it. Now, it’s taking a more nuanced approach.
www.nytimes.com
April 24, 2025 at 2:12 AM
This is one of my absolute favorite museums and I can't wait to drop by and see what they've added.
Seriously, if you're ever in the SF Bay area, go to this museum.
Seriously, if you're ever in the SF Bay area, go to this museum.