Don Osborn
@donosborn.bsky.social
Africa agriculture Baha'i China development environment food ict4d justice L10n language policy research rural security systems. JHU, MSU. RPCV. PhD.
Having worked in agriculture and with languages, I took a quick look in 2016 at how the singular & mass noun form "millet" shapes our (mis)understanding of the diverse group of small-grained crops called #millets.
donosborn.wordpress.com/2016/01/18/l...
donosborn.wordpress.com/2016/01/18/l...
[LI] Sapir-Whorf in our millet? Vocabulary & food diversity
Most English speakers on hearing “millet” would understand a small round grain commonly sold as birdseed, and which also finds its way into multigrain foods. In that, they wouldn’…
donosborn.wordpress.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Having worked in agriculture and with languages, I took a quick look in 2016 at how the singular & mass noun form "millet" shapes our (mis)understanding of the diverse group of small-grained crops called #millets.
donosborn.wordpress.com/2016/01/18/l...
donosborn.wordpress.com/2016/01/18/l...
Reposted by Don Osborn
A Dutch war cemetery added displays showing black US soldiers. Then they were quietly removed
A Dutch war cemetery added displays showing black US soldiers. Then they were quietly removed
Relatives fear the move is part of ‘the same virus affecting the US’, as historians and politicians say it coincided with Trump’s DEI purge
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:24 PM
A Dutch war cemetery added displays showing black US soldiers. Then they were quietly removed
Solar power is like pulling energy out of thin air. (Wind too, but that’s another discussion.)
What economic and social benefits might we look forward to with (nearly) free energy?
One I’m thinking of for arid coastal regions is more and better seawater desalination (an energy intensive process).
What economic and social benefits might we look forward to with (nearly) free energy?
One I’m thinking of for arid coastal regions is more and better seawater desalination (an energy intensive process).
Australia has so much electricity from solar power that it is going to start offering free electricity to everyone for at least three hours during the day as the wholesale price of power goes negative
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
Australia has so much solar that it's offering everyone free electricity
Australia's extensive solar power penetration makes so much energy that the government wants to offer free electricity at peak hours.
electrek.co
November 6, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Solar power is like pulling energy out of thin air. (Wind too, but that’s another discussion.)
What economic and social benefits might we look forward to with (nearly) free energy?
One I’m thinking of for arid coastal regions is more and better seawater desalination (an energy intensive process).
What economic and social benefits might we look forward to with (nearly) free energy?
One I’m thinking of for arid coastal regions is more and better seawater desalination (an energy intensive process).
Reposted by Don Osborn
From #AHAPerspectives in April: "Since the 19th century, US government actions have led to drastic changes in international trade and finance," @nelsonhist.bsky.social writes. "And in all four cases, the result was not recessions but depressions." 🗃️
Radical Tariffs Aren’t New, But They Have Been Disastrous
In four cases, tariffs have led to depressions in US history.
www.historians.org
November 5, 2025 at 6:21 PM
From #AHAPerspectives in April: "Since the 19th century, US government actions have led to drastic changes in international trade and finance," @nelsonhist.bsky.social writes. "And in all four cases, the result was not recessions but depressions." 🗃️
Reposted by Don Osborn
The underlying fundamental economics have changed dramatically: solar is now so cheap that businesses and households all around the world install it often without subsidies. Throw in batteries and the business case just keeps improving.
November 1, 2025 at 9:08 AM
The underlying fundamental economics have changed dramatically: solar is now so cheap that businesses and households all around the world install it often without subsidies. Throw in batteries and the business case just keeps improving.
Not a fan of humanoid design for robots. We haven’t thought thru social & psychological implications, or opportunity costs of making autonomous robots “human”
So I suppose it counts as good news that the hype is way ahead of development. Does that buy us time?
www.computerworld.com/article/4082...
So I suppose it counts as good news that the hype is way ahead of development. Does that buy us time?
www.computerworld.com/article/4082...
Breaking the humanoid robot delusion
Robot makers want us all to believe we’re on the brink of an autonomous humanoid robot revolution. But that’s just not true. Call it 'faith-based innovation.'
www.computerworld.com
October 31, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Not a fan of humanoid design for robots. We haven’t thought thru social & psychological implications, or opportunity costs of making autonomous robots “human”
So I suppose it counts as good news that the hype is way ahead of development. Does that buy us time?
www.computerworld.com/article/4082...
So I suppose it counts as good news that the hype is way ahead of development. Does that buy us time?
www.computerworld.com/article/4082...
Reposted by Don Osborn
Industrial biomass isn’t green. Our report shows it’s more carbon-intensive than coal, destroys forests, & harms communities. It’s time to end biomass subsidies & the industry’s growth: https://rachelcarsoncouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DRAX-Destroyer-of-Forests-web.pdf #BackDownBigBiomass
October 23, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Industrial biomass isn’t green. Our report shows it’s more carbon-intensive than coal, destroys forests, & harms communities. It’s time to end biomass subsidies & the industry’s growth: https://rachelcarsoncouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DRAX-Destroyer-of-Forests-web.pdf #BackDownBigBiomass
Reposted by Don Osborn
Carbon dioxide pollution in our atmosphere surged by a record 3.5 parts per million last year – the largest increase since modern measurements started in 1957.
It’s time to address these harmful, fossil-fueled emissions and #MakePollutersPay for the damage they cause to both people and the planet.
It’s time to address these harmful, fossil-fueled emissions and #MakePollutersPay for the damage they cause to both people and the planet.
CO2 levels in Earth's atmosphere jumped by a record amount in 2024
The global average concentration of CO2 surged by 3.5 parts per million to reach 423.9 ppm last year, fuelling worries that the planet’s ability to soak up excess carbon is weakening
www.newscientist.com
October 26, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Carbon dioxide pollution in our atmosphere surged by a record 3.5 parts per million last year – the largest increase since modern measurements started in 1957.
It’s time to address these harmful, fossil-fueled emissions and #MakePollutersPay for the damage they cause to both people and the planet.
It’s time to address these harmful, fossil-fueled emissions and #MakePollutersPay for the damage they cause to both people and the planet.
Reposted by Don Osborn
We are on the verge of making #polio the second human disease to be consigned to history.
Decades ago, humanity bridged geopolitical and geographic borders to end smallpox.
Let's do the same for polio.
Let's finish the job.
#WorldPolioDay
Decades ago, humanity bridged geopolitical and geographic borders to end smallpox.
Let's do the same for polio.
Let's finish the job.
#WorldPolioDay
October 24, 2025 at 8:58 AM
We are on the verge of making #polio the second human disease to be consigned to history.
Decades ago, humanity bridged geopolitical and geographic borders to end smallpox.
Let's do the same for polio.
Let's finish the job.
#WorldPolioDay
Decades ago, humanity bridged geopolitical and geographic borders to end smallpox.
Let's do the same for polio.
Let's finish the job.
#WorldPolioDay
Reposted by Don Osborn
Updating my LEGO White House
October 23, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Updating my LEGO White House
Reposted by Don Osborn
Native trees support specialist invertebrates, fungi and birds that co-evolved with them - if we only plant exotics, we lose those relationships and end up with cities dominated by generalist species like sparrows and pigeons.🧪🌏 #urban #trees #urbanforest #biodiversity
Five reasons urban trees make sense
Comment: The trees lining our streets and parks are quietly delivering a host of benefits – from cooling and cleaning the air to improving our health and wellbeing.
newsroom.co.nz
October 16, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Native trees support specialist invertebrates, fungi and birds that co-evolved with them - if we only plant exotics, we lose those relationships and end up with cities dominated by generalist species like sparrows and pigeons.🧪🌏 #urban #trees #urbanforest #biodiversity
Reposted by Don Osborn
We have built a society in which people of different skin tones, religious backgrounds & cultures get along, share power, work alongside each other, procreate with each other, recognise the each other’s humanity and democratic rights. It is a STUNNING ACHIEVEMENT OF WORLD HISTORIC PROPORTIONS.
I know statistics are poorly understood and are misused. But facts matter
Between the 1991, 2001, 2011 and 2021 Census *every* ethnic group in the UK has become *less* geographically segregated and *all* groups, majority and minorities, are more likely to interact with people not like them
Between the 1991, 2001, 2011 and 2021 Census *every* ethnic group in the UK has become *less* geographically segregated and *all* groups, majority and minorities, are more likely to interact with people not like them
October 8, 2025 at 10:08 AM
We have built a society in which people of different skin tones, religious backgrounds & cultures get along, share power, work alongside each other, procreate with each other, recognise the each other’s humanity and democratic rights. It is a STUNNING ACHIEVEMENT OF WORLD HISTORIC PROPORTIONS.
Reposted by Don Osborn
“There is now a broader consensus that the emergence of urbanism in Africa has deep indigenous rather than extraneous roots, and that the earliest phases of that process preceded the emergence of states.”
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/ancient-ci...
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/ancient-ci...
Ancient cities and the development of urbanism in pre-colonial Africa: the view from Bonduku.
Historical and archaeological research on the origins of urbanism and ancient cities has long held a prominent position in the study of the rise of early states and civilizations.
www.africanhistoryextra.com
September 28, 2025 at 3:29 PM
“There is now a broader consensus that the emergence of urbanism in Africa has deep indigenous rather than extraneous roots, and that the earliest phases of that process preceded the emergence of states.”
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/ancient-ci...
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/ancient-ci...
Reposted by Don Osborn
They sold us COVID as a pandemic of the old and frail, but it is a pandemic of the young.
They will have to carry the burden of constant contagion, chronic illness, and premature death the longest.
They will have to carry the burden of constant contagion, chronic illness, and premature death the longest.
September 28, 2025 at 12:16 PM
They sold us COVID as a pandemic of the old and frail, but it is a pandemic of the young.
They will have to carry the burden of constant contagion, chronic illness, and premature death the longest.
They will have to carry the burden of constant contagion, chronic illness, and premature death the longest.
Reposted by Don Osborn
I hear endlessly (including right now on the radio) that “the new consensus” is that Covid was “almost certainly” caused by a lab leak.
This might be a political “consensus”, led by the same White House that says tylenol caused autism. But it’s not the scientific one.
This might be a political “consensus”, led by the same White House that says tylenol caused autism. But it’s not the scientific one.
September 23, 2025 at 8:33 AM
I hear endlessly (including right now on the radio) that “the new consensus” is that Covid was “almost certainly” caused by a lab leak.
This might be a political “consensus”, led by the same White House that says tylenol caused autism. But it’s not the scientific one.
This might be a political “consensus”, led by the same White House that says tylenol caused autism. But it’s not the scientific one.
Reposted by Don Osborn
China’s regimented proletariat is gradually being replaced by millions of casual workers who fill jobs “on-demand”, flitting from one factory floor to another at the direction of giant recruitment platforms
China’s 200m gig workers are a warning for the world
What a giant precarious workforce reveals about the future of jobs
econ.st
September 22, 2025 at 9:20 PM
China’s regimented proletariat is gradually being replaced by millions of casual workers who fill jobs “on-demand”, flitting from one factory floor to another at the direction of giant recruitment platforms
The generic “they” is often central in expression of conspiracy theories.
If a conversation is merited, “Who’s they?” is a natural question to ask.
If a conversation is merited, “Who’s they?” is a natural question to ask.
September 22, 2025 at 3:22 PM
The generic “they” is often central in expression of conspiracy theories.
If a conversation is merited, “Who’s they?” is a natural question to ask.
If a conversation is merited, “Who’s they?” is a natural question to ask.
Reposted by Don Osborn
“Harvard geneticist David Reich said … increasingly sophisticated analysis of genetic material made possible by technological advances shows that virtually everyone came from somewhere else, and everyone’s genetic background shows a mix from different waves of migration that washed over the globe.”
Pure bloodlines? Ancestral homelands? DNA science says no. — Harvard Gazette
Geneticist explains recent analyses made possible by tech advances show human history to be one of mixing, movement, displacement.
news.harvard.edu
September 20, 2025 at 9:49 AM
“Harvard geneticist David Reich said … increasingly sophisticated analysis of genetic material made possible by technological advances shows that virtually everyone came from somewhere else, and everyone’s genetic background shows a mix from different waves of migration that washed over the globe.”
Another step towards being able to detect COVID in the air?
www.levante-emv.com/comunitat-va...
www.levante-emv.com/comunitat-va...
¿Se puede detectar la covid en una habitación al instante?: una investigación valenciana lo hace por 1 €
Un estudio conjunto de la UV y la UPV desarrollan un biosensor, una pequeña antena, capaz de detectarlo por solo un euro
www.levante-emv.com
September 21, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Another step towards being able to detect COVID in the air?
www.levante-emv.com/comunitat-va...
www.levante-emv.com/comunitat-va...
Got my COVID booster at CVS in Okemos, MI on Monday. Easy process.
In conversation, pharmacist said: about half the shots they’re giving are for COVID; they’re seeing quite a number of folks seeking COVID meds; and that Sparrow Hospital in nearby Lansing is seeing a lot of cases.
In conversation, pharmacist said: about half the shots they’re giving are for COVID; they’re seeing quite a number of folks seeking COVID meds; and that Sparrow Hospital in nearby Lansing is seeing a lot of cases.
September 20, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Got my COVID booster at CVS in Okemos, MI on Monday. Easy process.
In conversation, pharmacist said: about half the shots they’re giving are for COVID; they’re seeing quite a number of folks seeking COVID meds; and that Sparrow Hospital in nearby Lansing is seeing a lot of cases.
In conversation, pharmacist said: about half the shots they’re giving are for COVID; they’re seeing quite a number of folks seeking COVID meds; and that Sparrow Hospital in nearby Lansing is seeing a lot of cases.
September 17, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Reposted by Don Osborn
The end of Foreign Language and Area Studies fellowships and National Resource Centers means the loss of critical language and area studies expertise across the United States. These are the actions of an administration that cannot imagine the future, presiding over a declining world power
Research at risk: Cultural fluency and critical language expertise | Cornell Chronicle
The federal government ended a program that has funded Cornell's Southeast Asia Program and South Asia Program for decades.
news.cornell.edu
September 15, 2025 at 4:09 PM
The end of Foreign Language and Area Studies fellowships and National Resource Centers means the loss of critical language and area studies expertise across the United States. These are the actions of an administration that cannot imagine the future, presiding over a declining world power
Reposted by Don Osborn
An estimated 14 million kids don't get any vaccines. They face serious threats from measles, diarrhea, pneumonia and more.
This is what could happen to a child who doesn't get vaccinated
An estimated 14 million kids don't get any vaccines. They face serious threats from measles, diarrhea, pneumonia and more.
n.pr
September 14, 2025 at 10:21 AM
An estimated 14 million kids don't get any vaccines. They face serious threats from measles, diarrhea, pneumonia and more.
Reposted by Don Osborn
We've released our guide to airborne diseases. Thanks to contributors F.-X. Blanc (Pr of Respiratory Medicine), @ukhadds (Aerosol Scientist), @PascalMorenton (Engineering Professor), L. Vecellio (Aerosol Scientist), and those who do not wish to be named.
letsair.org#mediation
letsair.org#mediation
September 13, 2025 at 8:34 PM
We've released our guide to airborne diseases. Thanks to contributors F.-X. Blanc (Pr of Respiratory Medicine), @ukhadds (Aerosol Scientist), @PascalMorenton (Engineering Professor), L. Vecellio (Aerosol Scientist), and those who do not wish to be named.
letsair.org#mediation
letsair.org#mediation
Reposted by Don Osborn
New report from @ember-energy.org finds the world installed 380GW of new solar power in the first six months of this year, which is up 64 percent from the same period last year. Which was of course a record-breaking pace, because that's all solar does now is break records and blow past forecasts
September 10, 2025 at 1:52 PM
New report from @ember-energy.org finds the world installed 380GW of new solar power in the first six months of this year, which is up 64 percent from the same period last year. Which was of course a record-breaking pace, because that's all solar does now is break records and blow past forecasts