A conversation struck up at a writing workshop a few weeks ago between me and a computational biologist who studies the molecular biology and population genetics of the HIV virus and other virulent diseases including Ebola, Hepatitis, and Covid. She’s what you would call a veteran virus tracker, compiling and interpreting viral genetic sequences and […]
Miscellaneous
I remain mildly obsessed (a nice state to live in) with the mission patches published by the National Reconnaissance Office, which if you’re obsessed enough you can figure out what satellites the NRO just launched. Some of those satellites are, you know, secret. Like this one: it’s for recently-launched constellations (a ton of linked satellites) […]
I’m thinking about fresh scents again, which brings me back to this essay from a few years ago. For the record, I’m still wearing those perfumes! God damn it, advertising can be powerful. I mean, not that I would ever buy some stupid crap because I saw it advertised on TikTok, of all platforms…that place […]
I haven’t heard the foxes for a good year now. The woods are still there but the owners sold it to a buyer who promised to cut down only the middle of it, you know how buyers promise things. No trees have been cut down yet but a lot of people have been tramping through […]
Science vacations are the best vacations. I’ve been ridiculously fortunate to visit some great science-related destinations, and I’m trying to figure out which ones to visit next. I’ll share some of my recommendations here, in no particular order. I hope you’ll share your favorites with me and the rest of the Last Word on Nothing […]
Ben has since left The Last Word on Nothing but he left this memento of himself, for which we are grateful. Earlier this month I visited Portugal for the first time, where I found much to love: the vertiginous cliffs overlooking the Nazaré beach, the ubiquitous custard tarts and dessert wines, the labyrinth of secret […]
Our neighbors of ten years moved away about a month ago. They were an older couple; L., the husband, was the one we interacted with the most. He was a commercial contractor and drove a big black pickup, but he also made sure to let my wife and me know he had never once voted […]
The Moon is closer during a supermoon and you will be able to tell, because it looks so much bigger and brighter, but your photos of it will still suck.You can still send me the photos you took, and I will appreciate them, as well as appreciate that you thought of me when you saw […]
