William Brazelton
@wbrazelton.bsky.social
Associate Research Professor, School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah
Research Scientist, Blue Marble Space Institute of Science
Research Scientist, Blue Marble Space Institute of Science
Science is about people communicating their ideas. Autonomous AI without meaningful human communication is not science
October 7, 2026 at 5:20 AM
Science is about people communicating their ideas. Autonomous AI without meaningful human communication is not science
Reposted by William Brazelton
OMB's focus on NIH and NSF, which has confused a lot of folks, pretty much boils down to stopping money going to universities.
But collectively, the narrow focus on grants to universities is misguided, especially when one accounts for the balance of where the money actually goes (source: NCSES). A plurality of federal R&D funding goes to businesses, followed by internal R&D expenditure, followed by higher education.
October 1, 2026 at 3:47 PM
OMB's focus on NIH and NSF, which has confused a lot of folks, pretty much boils down to stopping money going to universities.
Reposted by William Brazelton
Astrobiologists Srishti Kashyap and Alta Howells are co-authors on Searching for extraterrestrial life advances terrestrial sustainability, a perspectives piece in Nature Communications that came out this past year.
www.colorado.edu/today/2026/0...
www.colorado.edu/today/2026/0...
Astrobiologists search for alien life and help life on Earth in the process
A team of early-career researchers say exploring how life may have evolved on far-away worlds could lead to advancements on Earth—from new sources of
www.colorado.edu
September 24, 2026 at 9:21 PM
Astrobiologists Srishti Kashyap and Alta Howells are co-authors on Searching for extraterrestrial life advances terrestrial sustainability, a perspectives piece in Nature Communications that came out this past year.
www.colorado.edu/today/2026/0...
www.colorado.edu/today/2026/0...
Reposted by William Brazelton
Save the date for Life and Space 2026
Tomasz Zajkowski and the Polish Astrobiology Society invite schoalrs globally to consider joining Life and Space 2026 (LAS26), the Society's international online astrobiology conference, taking place December 4–6, 2026.
Full details at astrobio.pl/LAS26.
Tomasz Zajkowski and the Polish Astrobiology Society invite schoalrs globally to consider joining Life and Space 2026 (LAS26), the Society's international online astrobiology conference, taking place December 4–6, 2026.
Full details at astrobio.pl/LAS26.
September 22, 2026 at 9:16 PM
Save the date for Life and Space 2026
Tomasz Zajkowski and the Polish Astrobiology Society invite schoalrs globally to consider joining Life and Space 2026 (LAS26), the Society's international online astrobiology conference, taking place December 4–6, 2026.
Full details at astrobio.pl/LAS26.
Tomasz Zajkowski and the Polish Astrobiology Society invite schoalrs globally to consider joining Life and Space 2026 (LAS26), the Society's international online astrobiology conference, taking place December 4–6, 2026.
Full details at astrobio.pl/LAS26.
Reposted by William Brazelton
Former YSP Research Associate Gabby Rizzo (2023 cohort), now a Ph.D. student at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, has put together Exploring Astrobiology in High School.
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Astrobiology_Opportunities_for_High_School_Students_2027.docx
STUDENT OPPORTUNITY GUIDE | VERSION 1.0 Exploring Astrobiology in High School Summer programs, research experiences, online courses, and citizen-science projects for 2027 planning PREPARED…
docs.google.com
September 19, 2026 at 9:13 PM
Former YSP Research Associate Gabby Rizzo (2023 cohort), now a Ph.D. student at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, has put together Exploring Astrobiology in High School.
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Reposted by William Brazelton
It should go without saying that this is against the congressional mandate.
A deep dive into the memo that marks the end of how NSF has done business for 76 years www.science.org/content/arti...
NSF memo implementing Trump’s ‘golden age’ of science unsettles researchers
New document emphasizes support for White House priorities over curiosity-driven ideas
www.science.org
September 15, 2026 at 10:59 PM
It should go without saying that this is against the congressional mandate.
Reposted by William Brazelton
Never thought I’d wake up and see @echinoblog.bsky.social @noaa.gov on the front page of the celebrity gossip subreddit. But I guess we have two new #deepsea celebrities! www.reddit.com/r/popculture...
September 12, 2026 at 1:18 PM
Never thought I’d wake up and see @echinoblog.bsky.social @noaa.gov on the front page of the celebrity gossip subreddit. But I guess we have two new #deepsea celebrities! www.reddit.com/r/popculture...
Reposted by William Brazelton
Scoop: This afternoon NSF will formally announce its four 'Frontier Initiatives', and a suite of other changes in a public letter.
These Frontier Initiatives (left) are identical to OSTP's 'Grand Research Challenges' that we have been reporting on (right).
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
These Frontier Initiatives (left) are identical to OSTP's 'Grand Research Challenges' that we have been reporting on (right).
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
September 10, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Scoop: This afternoon NSF will formally announce its four 'Frontier Initiatives', and a suite of other changes in a public letter.
These Frontier Initiatives (left) are identical to OSTP's 'Grand Research Challenges' that we have been reporting on (right).
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
These Frontier Initiatives (left) are identical to OSTP's 'Grand Research Challenges' that we have been reporting on (right).
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by William Brazelton
Penultimate? FY26 NSF grantmaking update
One month ago (8/4)
New grants: 4310/7761 — 55.5% of avg.
Obligations: 4.10/5.08 billion — 80.7% of avg.
Now (9/7)
New grants: 6,144/10,857 — 67% of avg.*
Obligations: 5.97/7.49 billion — 80% of avg.
*avg. from 21–24
grantwitness.org/nsf/analyses...
One month ago (8/4)
New grants: 4310/7761 — 55.5% of avg.
Obligations: 4.10/5.08 billion — 80.7% of avg.
Now (9/7)
New grants: 6,144/10,857 — 67% of avg.*
Obligations: 5.97/7.49 billion — 80% of avg.
*avg. from 21–24
grantwitness.org/nsf/analyses...
Agency Pulse: Grantmaking at NSF
An independent, up-to-date, grant-level record of federal science funding disruptions in the United States.
grantwitness.org
September 9, 2026 at 2:25 AM
Penultimate? FY26 NSF grantmaking update
One month ago (8/4)
New grants: 4310/7761 — 55.5% of avg.
Obligations: 4.10/5.08 billion — 80.7% of avg.
Now (9/7)
New grants: 6,144/10,857 — 67% of avg.*
Obligations: 5.97/7.49 billion — 80% of avg.
*avg. from 21–24
grantwitness.org/nsf/analyses...
One month ago (8/4)
New grants: 4310/7761 — 55.5% of avg.
Obligations: 4.10/5.08 billion — 80.7% of avg.
Now (9/7)
New grants: 6,144/10,857 — 67% of avg.*
Obligations: 5.97/7.49 billion — 80% of avg.
*avg. from 21–24
grantwitness.org/nsf/analyses...
Reposted by William Brazelton
Soooooo there was a big push to get people to sign up as poll workers over the last ~10 days or so and uhhhh
We are now at 27,000 new poll workers. 💪💪💪
This is not a joke, that's twenty-seven THOUSAND people.
We are now at 27,000 new poll workers. 💪💪💪
This is not a joke, that's twenty-seven THOUSAND people.
Here's the signup link! powerthepolls.org/creator-sara...
Signing up to become a poll worker is:
-A good way to help keep elections running properly!
-A good way to stop doomscrolling & DO SOMETHING!
-And it's better than free, it's paid work!
Signing up to become a poll worker is:
-A good way to help keep elections running properly!
-A good way to stop doomscrolling & DO SOMETHING!
-And it's better than free, it's paid work!
Power the Polls
Poll workers power democracy. We help recruit them! Sign up now to make sure we have safe, fair, efficient elections for all!
powerthepolls.org
September 9, 2026 at 2:42 AM
Soooooo there was a big push to get people to sign up as poll workers over the last ~10 days or so and uhhhh
We are now at 27,000 new poll workers. 💪💪💪
This is not a joke, that's twenty-seven THOUSAND people.
We are now at 27,000 new poll workers. 💪💪💪
This is not a joke, that's twenty-seven THOUSAND people.
Reposted by William Brazelton
A 76-year-old green card holder with stage 4 cancer was arrested at his citizenship application interview and has been held by ICE for two months.
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
August 31, 2026 at 3:27 PM
A 76-year-old green card holder with stage 4 cancer was arrested at his citizenship application interview and has been held by ICE for two months.
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
"Never make fun of someone if they mispronounce a word.
It means they learned it by reading"
It means they learned it by reading"
macabre = “muh-KAHB”
Worcestershire = “WOOSS-ter-sheer”
omnipotent = “ahm-NI-puh-tunt”
reticent = “RET-uh-sunt”
epitome = “ih-PIT-uh-mee”
myriad = "MEER-ee-ud"
Never make fun of someone if they mispronounce a word.
It means they learned it by reading.
Worcestershire = “WOOSS-ter-sheer”
omnipotent = “ahm-NI-puh-tunt”
reticent = “RET-uh-sunt”
epitome = “ih-PIT-uh-mee”
myriad = "MEER-ee-ud"
Never make fun of someone if they mispronounce a word.
It means they learned it by reading.
September 1, 2026 at 6:00 AM
"Never make fun of someone if they mispronounce a word.
It means they learned it by reading"
It means they learned it by reading"
Reposted by William Brazelton
The politicization & illegal cancellation of federal research funding is an existential crisis for every research university in the country, especially flagship R1 publics. Again, you would think university presidents would speak up, loudly & collectively, about this. Alas.
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
NSF is substantially reducing grants, zeroing out many SBE subdivisions, & withholding the funds to spend next year on central initiatives:
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Exclusive: NSF set to issue lowest number of new grants in four decades
The US science-funding agency is withholding $1 billion of its budget so that the money can go to a special White House project.
www.nature.com
August 24, 2026 at 1:53 AM
The politicization & illegal cancellation of federal research funding is an existential crisis for every research university in the country, especially flagship R1 publics. Again, you would think university presidents would speak up, loudly & collectively, about this. Alas.
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
Reposted by William Brazelton
Scoop: For nearly a year, NSF has struggled to make new grants. Now we know that it will not catch up.
In fact, NSF will award just 6,100 new grants—a 30% y/o/y decline, itself down from a previous avg. of 11,000+. In fact, the last time NSF awarded so few grants was in the early '80s.
In fact, NSF will award just 6,100 new grants—a 30% y/o/y decline, itself down from a previous avg. of 11,000+. In fact, the last time NSF awarded so few grants was in the early '80s.
Exclusive: NSF set to issue lowest number of new grants in four decades
The US science-funding agency is withholding $1 billion of its budget so that the money can go to a special White House project.
www.nature.com
August 20, 2026 at 6:12 PM
Scoop: For nearly a year, NSF has struggled to make new grants. Now we know that it will not catch up.
In fact, NSF will award just 6,100 new grants—a 30% y/o/y decline, itself down from a previous avg. of 11,000+. In fact, the last time NSF awarded so few grants was in the early '80s.
In fact, NSF will award just 6,100 new grants—a 30% y/o/y decline, itself down from a previous avg. of 11,000+. In fact, the last time NSF awarded so few grants was in the early '80s.
Reposted by William Brazelton
Every Time We Complain About How Much Water Almonds Use, A Dairy Baron Gets His Wings
August 19, 2026 at 2:52 AM
Every Time We Complain About How Much Water Almonds Use, A Dairy Baron Gets His Wings
Reposted by William Brazelton
See NYT asked me for an op-ed on the Colorado River water issue. So that's what I told them. And the editors panicked & cancelled the piece.
In case we're wondering why "nobody can figure out how to solve this difficult issue."
We absolutely can, a lot of our professional talkers are just cowards.
In case we're wondering why "nobody can figure out how to solve this difficult issue."
We absolutely can, a lot of our professional talkers are just cowards.
Maybe just start by charging a market rate for water instead of using prior appropriation
August 18, 2026 at 3:14 AM
See NYT asked me for an op-ed on the Colorado River water issue. So that's what I told them. And the editors panicked & cancelled the piece.
In case we're wondering why "nobody can figure out how to solve this difficult issue."
We absolutely can, a lot of our professional talkers are just cowards.
In case we're wondering why "nobody can figure out how to solve this difficult issue."
We absolutely can, a lot of our professional talkers are just cowards.
Reposted by William Brazelton
“Silly” is a good way to put it! There were excesses in 2020 but they were mostly low-stakes efforts by well-intentioned people to address real injustices.
The excesses of the right during the same era were far more harmful. The reckoning we need now is about how elites lost sight of that.
The excesses of the right during the same era were far more harmful. The reckoning we need now is about how elites lost sight of that.
Being more serious re the Atlantic piece, I do actually wonder what people who went in for the sillier aspects of Woke 1 now think of it all?
August 11, 2026 at 5:06 PM
“Silly” is a good way to put it! There were excesses in 2020 but they were mostly low-stakes efforts by well-intentioned people to address real injustices.
The excesses of the right during the same era were far more harmful. The reckoning we need now is about how elites lost sight of that.
The excesses of the right during the same era were far more harmful. The reckoning we need now is about how elites lost sight of that.
Reposted by William Brazelton
Version 1.0 of my Microbe expansion for Terraforming Mars is finished. All cards are scientifically correct and thematic. Updates/changes described below. You can download them on my lab website (www.environmental-microbiology.com/media.html) or BGG (boardgamegeek.com/filepage/326...). Good gaming!
August 9, 2026 at 3:04 AM
Version 1.0 of my Microbe expansion for Terraforming Mars is finished. All cards are scientifically correct and thematic. Updates/changes described below. You can download them on my lab website (www.environmental-microbiology.com/media.html) or BGG (boardgamegeek.com/filepage/326...). Good gaming!
Reposted by William Brazelton
![Comic. [Two people with tiny star floating above display on table.] PERSON 1 with ponytail: Now, your grandmother said this was a relic low-mass population III star, from the first generation of stars. Unfortunately, the high iron content shows that it formed much later, after several rounds of supernovas. I’m afraid it’s a population I star. PERSON 2: Aw, darn. Well, it still has sentimental value. [banner for Antiques Roadshow]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreid2vzxc6ftisazc66p275gofrnkpbotbksmz7prz26wkuej7653we)
August 7, 2026 at 1:56 AM
Reposted by William Brazelton
Great piece. These magic bullet solutions are usually flawed. Interrogate, analyze, read source material, train your brain to need and expect complex solutions not simple ones.
When I was writing this piece about the Ocean Cleanup, I had a surreal experience:
They assured me that they only kill invasive species, and sent me a published paper to demonstrate that.
But the paper said the opposite!
I wonder how many journalists just took their word for it and didn't check?
They assured me that they only kill invasive species, and sent me a published paper to demonstrate that.
But the paper said the opposite!
I wonder how many journalists just took their word for it and didn't check?
Why The Ocean Cleanup Hasn’t Solved the Plastic Pollution Crisis • The Revelator
Global problems are rarely solved by one person or invention. The Ocean Cleanup didn’t work, for the reasons experts said it wouldn’t. What can we learn from this?
therevelator.org
July 16, 2026 at 12:58 PM
Great piece. These magic bullet solutions are usually flawed. Interrogate, analyze, read source material, train your brain to need and expect complex solutions not simple ones.
Reposted by William Brazelton
Geologist Reunited With Beloved Rock He Studied 20 Years Ago https://theonion.com/geologist-reunited-with-beloved-rock-he-studied-20-years-ago/
July 14, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Geologist Reunited With Beloved Rock He Studied 20 Years Ago https://theonion.com/geologist-reunited-with-beloved-rock-he-studied-20-years-ago/
Reposted by William Brazelton
Excellent thread!
What a great article not only on faculty workloads, but how little our salaries actually factor in to most university budgets. A few highlights. First, our salaries are falling:
July 3, 2026 at 2:58 PM
Excellent thread!
Reposted by William Brazelton
This confirms what the CDC leader said before she was fired. Kennedy wanted the science to be cooked until it aligned with his politics.
June 26, 2026 at 8:21 AM
This confirms what the CDC leader said before she was fired. Kennedy wanted the science to be cooked until it aligned with his politics.
In a time of tremendous scientific, economic, and geopolitical interest in the seafloor, the US has decided that it doesn't need a scientific drill ship anymore.
As you may know, the JOIDES Resolution is on its final transit to a shipbreaking yard in Turkey. Though expected, this news is difficult to hear.
As we feel this loss, we want to hear from you: What is your favorite story from the JR?
📷 Phil Christie / Sea1 (left)
📷 Adam Bogus / IODP (right)
As we feel this loss, we want to hear from you: What is your favorite story from the JR?
📷 Phil Christie / Sea1 (left)
📷 Adam Bogus / IODP (right)
June 25, 2026 at 8:45 AM
In a time of tremendous scientific, economic, and geopolitical interest in the seafloor, the US has decided that it doesn't need a scientific drill ship anymore.
Reposted by William Brazelton
Over the course of my 20 year career, Every other nation with major ocean research programs has dramatically expanded their research fleets. The US has net lost 17 ships, mothballed 2 DSRVs plus the Sealinks, and critically underfunded NOAA.
As you may know, the JOIDES Resolution is on its final transit to a shipbreaking yard in Turkey. Though expected, this news is difficult to hear.
As we feel this loss, we want to hear from you: What is your favorite story from the JR?
📷 Phil Christie / Sea1 (left)
📷 Adam Bogus / IODP (right)
As we feel this loss, we want to hear from you: What is your favorite story from the JR?
📷 Phil Christie / Sea1 (left)
📷 Adam Bogus / IODP (right)
June 24, 2026 at 9:41 PM
Over the course of my 20 year career, Every other nation with major ocean research programs has dramatically expanded their research fleets. The US has net lost 17 ships, mothballed 2 DSRVs plus the Sealinks, and critically underfunded NOAA.