Maureen (Mo) Johnson León
@unpredict.bsky.social
Current research focus is the history and future of measurement science, risk models, and unpredictability, within the context of climate and health disasters.
Values: collaboration, connection, imagination and observation.
Values: collaboration, connection, imagination and observation.
Reposted by Maureen (Mo) Johnson León
It will surprise few to hear me say that I very much agree!
As I said in December, pushback to ICE/DHS has triggered “one of the largest surges of faith-based organizing in recent history.” www.npr.org/2025/12/24/n...
As I said in December, pushback to ICE/DHS has triggered “one of the largest surges of faith-based organizing in recent history.” www.npr.org/2025/12/24/n...
January 11, 2026 at 1:58 AM
It will surprise few to hear me say that I very much agree!
As I said in December, pushback to ICE/DHS has triggered “one of the largest surges of faith-based organizing in recent history.” www.npr.org/2025/12/24/n...
As I said in December, pushback to ICE/DHS has triggered “one of the largest surges of faith-based organizing in recent history.” www.npr.org/2025/12/24/n...
Reposted by Maureen (Mo) Johnson León
I honestly don't get it. Kids with any of those infections can get so miserable. Yeah, you can treat dehydration from rotavirus... but you can also just... prevent it? Why allow kids to go through that misery?
January 8, 2026 at 12:47 AM
I honestly don't get it. Kids with any of those infections can get so miserable. Yeah, you can treat dehydration from rotavirus... but you can also just... prevent it? Why allow kids to go through that misery?
Reposted by Maureen (Mo) Johnson León
Reposted by Maureen (Mo) Johnson León
We aren't going to get anywhere with long COVID if we keep embracing unsubstantiated claims and chasing ghosts instead of actually working from what is well-substantiated by the data. Continuing to prop this up has real harms, and it will hurt patients if it hasn't already.
January 7, 2026 at 1:53 AM
We aren't going to get anywhere with long COVID if we keep embracing unsubstantiated claims and chasing ghosts instead of actually working from what is well-substantiated by the data. Continuing to prop this up has real harms, and it will hurt patients if it hasn't already.
Reposted by Maureen (Mo) Johnson León
If you are a resident of California, the state now has a portal where you can demand deletion of your personal data from 500+ registered data brokers with a single request form, for free.
consumer.drop.privacy.ca.gov
consumer.drop.privacy.ca.gov
consumer.drop.privacy.ca.gov
January 2, 2026 at 2:26 AM
If you are a resident of California, the state now has a portal where you can demand deletion of your personal data from 500+ registered data brokers with a single request form, for free.
consumer.drop.privacy.ca.gov
consumer.drop.privacy.ca.gov
Reposted by Maureen (Mo) Johnson León
Absolutely right.
AI might be able to summarize (poorly) what we currently know, but a major goal of historical research is to find the hidden surprises out there.
Let me illustrate …
AI might be able to summarize (poorly) what we currently know, but a major goal of historical research is to find the hidden surprises out there.
Let me illustrate …
Not a historian but like to research. The AI might summarize what I'm looking for, but it doesn't find what I'm *not* looking for. The book on the shelf next to the one I wanted. The insight in chapter 6 based on the quote I needed from chapter 4.
December 21, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Absolutely right.
AI might be able to summarize (poorly) what we currently know, but a major goal of historical research is to find the hidden surprises out there.
Let me illustrate …
AI might be able to summarize (poorly) what we currently know, but a major goal of historical research is to find the hidden surprises out there.
Let me illustrate …
Reposted by Maureen (Mo) Johnson León
presented solely with this statement, I would literally never be able to guess the context that inspired it
Idk who needs to hear this but you’re not divorced because of your ex-wife’s menopause
December 30, 2025 at 11:06 PM
presented solely with this statement, I would literally never be able to guess the context that inspired it
Reposted by Maureen (Mo) Johnson León
I've just been re-reading the best recent genetic study in pandemic history, & it remains this 2024 pre-print from the @pasteur.fr in Paris, led by postdoc @gmasfiol.bsky.social: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1.... As important for the 2nd as for the 3rd pandemic. Here's hoping for a 2026 release! 🧪
December 30, 2025 at 8:55 PM
I've just been re-reading the best recent genetic study in pandemic history, & it remains this 2024 pre-print from the @pasteur.fr in Paris, led by postdoc @gmasfiol.bsky.social: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1.... As important for the 2nd as for the 3rd pandemic. Here's hoping for a 2026 release! 🧪
Reposted by Maureen (Mo) Johnson León
The Māori word for the smallest and cutest of kiwis, the lesser spotted kiwi, is pukupuku.
In Japanese, pukupuku (ぷくぷく) is an onomatopoeic word describing something cute, chubby, pudgy, or puffed up.
The two languages are from divergent language families. So WTF?
(Photo not mine; credit in alt)
In Japanese, pukupuku (ぷくぷく) is an onomatopoeic word describing something cute, chubby, pudgy, or puffed up.
The two languages are from divergent language families. So WTF?
(Photo not mine; credit in alt)
December 27, 2025 at 6:19 AM
The Māori word for the smallest and cutest of kiwis, the lesser spotted kiwi, is pukupuku.
In Japanese, pukupuku (ぷくぷく) is an onomatopoeic word describing something cute, chubby, pudgy, or puffed up.
The two languages are from divergent language families. So WTF?
(Photo not mine; credit in alt)
In Japanese, pukupuku (ぷくぷく) is an onomatopoeic word describing something cute, chubby, pudgy, or puffed up.
The two languages are from divergent language families. So WTF?
(Photo not mine; credit in alt)
Reposted by Maureen (Mo) Johnson León
Imagine that a decade ago someone had told you that in 2025 Americans would be torrenting a handheld video of a Canadian television screen to see a 60 minutes broadcast about Trump‘s torture prisons.
December 23, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Imagine that a decade ago someone had told you that in 2025 Americans would be torrenting a handheld video of a Canadian television screen to see a 60 minutes broadcast about Trump‘s torture prisons.
Reposted by Maureen (Mo) Johnson León
Highly recommend the Mossa & Pleiti books by @older.bsky.social: sapphic scifi Holmes/Watson with snacks & academic snark. 3 books so far.
December 18, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Highly recommend the Mossa & Pleiti books by @older.bsky.social: sapphic scifi Holmes/Watson with snacks & academic snark. 3 books so far.
Reposted by Maureen (Mo) Johnson León
“Many of those concerns [about the system] have centered on transparency to the public — but some parts of the program are not even transparent to the Detroit Police Department, as officials admit they don’t know where the sensors for ShotSpotter are located.”
Detroit Police officials overseeing gunshot sensors don’t know their locations — and say that’s fine • Michigan Advance
When gunfire rips through some Detroit neighborhoods, ShotSpotter hears it first — but where exactly that signal comes from is a secret kept even from police. Critics of Detroit’s gunshot detection sy...
michiganadvance.com
December 17, 2025 at 2:53 PM
“Many of those concerns [about the system] have centered on transparency to the public — but some parts of the program are not even transparent to the Detroit Police Department, as officials admit they don’t know where the sensors for ShotSpotter are located.”
Reposted by Maureen (Mo) Johnson León
Want to find out more about how our anthology came together? Go have a listen to this podcast with me, @annaleen.bsky.social and @older.bsky.social
convergencemag.com/podcast/we-w...
convergencemag.com/podcast/we-w...
We Will Rise Again w/ Karen Lord, Annalee Newitz, Malka Older
The co-editors of a new anthology of speculative fiction about resistance, organizing, and hope discuss their book, w/ Karen Lord, Annalee Newitz, & Malka Older.
convergencemag.com
December 15, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Want to find out more about how our anthology came together? Go have a listen to this podcast with me, @annaleen.bsky.social and @older.bsky.social
convergencemag.com/podcast/we-w...
convergencemag.com/podcast/we-w...
Reposted by Maureen (Mo) Johnson León
once again laughing at the absurdity of how Trump 2.0 has figured out how to kneecap every one of the *multiple sectors* I used to make a good living in at once
like damn, what did I do
like damn, what did I do
December 13, 2025 at 3:05 PM
once again laughing at the absurdity of how Trump 2.0 has figured out how to kneecap every one of the *multiple sectors* I used to make a good living in at once
like damn, what did I do
like damn, what did I do
Reposted by Maureen (Mo) Johnson León
Central California is currently experiencing one of the most remarkable temperature inversions I've ever seen in this part of the world. The Central Valley remains miserably damp & chilly under dense fog layer, but it's balmily warm & sunny just 2,000ft up nearby mountain slopes!
December 11, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Central California is currently experiencing one of the most remarkable temperature inversions I've ever seen in this part of the world. The Central Valley remains miserably damp & chilly under dense fog layer, but it's balmily warm & sunny just 2,000ft up nearby mountain slopes!
Reposted by Maureen (Mo) Johnson León
3. While there's abundant evidence that #flu poses a risk to kids, the percentage of them vaccinated against flu continues to drop in the post-Covid era. #CDC says that as of 12/6, just about 42% of kids were vaxed against flu. That's down from just under 50% last season, I believe.
Bad trend.
Bad trend.
December 12, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Reposted by Maureen (Mo) Johnson León
Question to help out a PhD student: Has anyone done STS-y work analyzing optimization research (the field of engineering, not "optimization" in general)?
Even better, any data scientists/HCI/computer scientists try to bring STS theory (especially ANT) and OR methods into conversation?
Even better, any data scientists/HCI/computer scientists try to bring STS theory (especially ANT) and OR methods into conversation?
December 10, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Question to help out a PhD student: Has anyone done STS-y work analyzing optimization research (the field of engineering, not "optimization" in general)?
Even better, any data scientists/HCI/computer scientists try to bring STS theory (especially ANT) and OR methods into conversation?
Even better, any data scientists/HCI/computer scientists try to bring STS theory (especially ANT) and OR methods into conversation?
Reposted by Maureen (Mo) Johnson León
ICYMI: Without reliable transportation, Detroiters in need of regular medical care struggle to get to hospitals, clinics or pharmacies. planetdetroit.org/2025/11/detr...
When getting to the doctor is half the battle in Detroit
Detroit residents with chronic conditions and no car face difficulties accessing healthcare, missing appointments.
planetdetroit.org
December 3, 2025 at 4:44 PM
ICYMI: Without reliable transportation, Detroiters in need of regular medical care struggle to get to hospitals, clinics or pharmacies. planetdetroit.org/2025/11/detr...
Reposted by Maureen (Mo) Johnson León
In bookstores today! It's "We Will Rise Again," a book of hard-won hope in this dark season. I co-edited it with the wondrous @older.bsky.social and @drkarenlord.bsky.social -- it's an anthology of speculative stories and essays about protest and resistance! www.simonandschuster.com/books/We-Wil...
December 2, 2025 at 5:51 PM
In bookstores today! It's "We Will Rise Again," a book of hard-won hope in this dark season. I co-edited it with the wondrous @older.bsky.social and @drkarenlord.bsky.social -- it's an anthology of speculative stories and essays about protest and resistance! www.simonandschuster.com/books/We-Wil...
Reposted by Maureen (Mo) Johnson León
1. #CDC posted FluView for week 47 today; that's the week ending Nov. 22. We'll see in the next couple of weeks what Thanksgiving travel & gatherings did to amp up transmission of #flu in the US. As of just before Thanksgiving, activity was mainly low, though starting to pick up. See LA & CO.
December 1, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Reposted by Maureen (Mo) Johnson León
Tech bros 🤝 eugenics
Silicon Valley sets its sights on building the perfect baby | Fortune
Tech-savvy parents to be are using IVF and screening embryos to build families in ways that were unimaginable a few short years ago.
fortune.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Tech bros 🤝 eugenics
Reposted by Maureen (Mo) Johnson León
I have zero tolerance for the “well, I guess we have no choice with immigrants but to deport them or lock them up if the paperwork goes wrong”
November 20, 2025 at 5:30 PM
I have zero tolerance for the “well, I guess we have no choice with immigrants but to deport them or lock them up if the paperwork goes wrong”
Reposted by Maureen (Mo) Johnson León
was listening to this NPR piece on insurance and the cost of hailstorms in the US exceeding $150 *billion* just last year alone
that's incredible. and it'll get worse w/ climate change.
also, operable exterior shutters help address this!
www.npr.org/2025/11/13/n...
that's incredible. and it'll get worse w/ climate change.
also, operable exterior shutters help address this!
www.npr.org/2025/11/13/n...
Why home insurance is unaffordable, even in places without wildfires or hurricanes
Some of the country's highest home insurance prices are in the central U.S., a region generally considered to be protected from climate-driven disasters such as wildfires and hurricanes.
www.npr.org
November 14, 2025 at 8:31 PM
was listening to this NPR piece on insurance and the cost of hailstorms in the US exceeding $150 *billion* just last year alone
that's incredible. and it'll get worse w/ climate change.
also, operable exterior shutters help address this!
www.npr.org/2025/11/13/n...
that's incredible. and it'll get worse w/ climate change.
also, operable exterior shutters help address this!
www.npr.org/2025/11/13/n...
Reposted by Maureen (Mo) Johnson León
Prohibited activities include advising Chinese graduate students. For reference, a recent Georgetown report estimated 16% of STEM graduate students in the US are Chinese nationals.
This would take out entire fields at the knees, which is perhaps the point.
This would take out entire fields at the knees, which is perhaps the point.
“The prohibited activities would include joint research, co-authorship on papers, and advising a foreign graduate student or postdoctoral fellow. The language is retroactive, meaning any interactions during the previous 5 years could make a scientist ineligible for future federal funding.”
U.S. Congress considers sweeping ban on Chinese collaborations
Researchers speak out against proposal that would bar funding for U.S. scientists working with Chinese partners or training Chinese students
www.science.org
November 14, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Prohibited activities include advising Chinese graduate students. For reference, a recent Georgetown report estimated 16% of STEM graduate students in the US are Chinese nationals.
This would take out entire fields at the knees, which is perhaps the point.
This would take out entire fields at the knees, which is perhaps the point.
Reposted by Maureen (Mo) Johnson León
capping a week of stories about elite depravity with a story about a journalist who broke basically every possible ethical rule (and was rewarded for it) to elevate an unqualified wealthy failson who is trying to destroy american public health is, well, it's a lot, tbh
November 14, 2025 at 6:47 PM
capping a week of stories about elite depravity with a story about a journalist who broke basically every possible ethical rule (and was rewarded for it) to elevate an unqualified wealthy failson who is trying to destroy american public health is, well, it's a lot, tbh