Leah Shaffer
@leahshaffer.bsky.social
Science writer, mostly puttering about the garden.
she/her
she/her
With bonus appearance by Alf
This is the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. This happened. It happened on live TV, for a national audience. I can’t prepare you for this. I can’t. Enjoy…
November 27, 2025 at 9:00 PM
With bonus appearance by Alf
Now this is a proper THEME song.
In 1989, the year CHIP 'N DALE RESCUE RANGERS premiered, The Jets appeared alongside the titular chipmunks, backed by the extended version of the show's theme song...
November 27, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Now this is a proper THEME song.
A long thread with some weird as hell Macy's parade segments. This one includes villains from a very obscure cartoon and a baby in the crowd IS NOT HAVING IT.
I can think of no better example to represent the horrors of design & production lurking within the The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade than this 1982 number featuring the villains from STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE...
November 27, 2025 at 8:31 PM
A long thread with some weird as hell Macy's parade segments. This one includes villains from a very obscure cartoon and a baby in the crowd IS NOT HAVING IT.
Make merry and feast!
They did it again! NYC subway Thanksgiving 2025, via @scootercaster.com!
November 27, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Make merry and feast!
Enjoy feasting today, Bluesky
November 27, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Enjoy feasting today, Bluesky
Chicken of the Lab, I hope you take off. 🧪🍄
Scientists used #CRISPR to turn a simple #fungus into a fast-growing, meatlike #protein with a much smaller #climate & #environment footprint that outperforms (even) #chicken farming in #landuse & water impact: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202... #plantbreeding #geneediting #fungi #meat
This engineered fungus cuts emissions and tastes like meat
Scientists used CRISPR to boost the efficiency and digestibility of a fungus already known for its meatlike qualities. The modified strain grows protein far more quickly and with much less sugar while...
www.sciencedaily.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Chicken of the Lab, I hope you take off. 🧪🍄
The thing about Bluesky is a lot of its users have a short fuse about generative AI because it is actively robbing people of their art and livelihood. That, and tech industry leaders are actively destroying democracy. Just FYI.
November 26, 2025 at 9:07 PM
The thing about Bluesky is a lot of its users have a short fuse about generative AI because it is actively robbing people of their art and livelihood. That, and tech industry leaders are actively destroying democracy. Just FYI.
Sure you got problems, have you tried walking around aimlessly with a cup of coffee? I often solve old problems and create exciting new ones with this method.
Meandering around my home town. We were put on this earth to fart around and don't let anybody tell you different.
November 26, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Sure you got problems, have you tried walking around aimlessly with a cup of coffee? I often solve old problems and create exciting new ones with this method.
Meandering around my home town. We were put on this earth to fart around and don't let anybody tell you different.
November 26, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Meandering around my home town. We were put on this earth to fart around and don't let anybody tell you different.
Lord, I see what you are doing for others and I want that for us.
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Lord, I see what you are doing for others and I want that for us.
"Uncle Bob, the only reason you got your ozempic is because a scientist was curious about Gila monster venom." 🧪🩺🌱🐀🐙💅
... And more found here.
... And more found here.
Every year around Thanksgiving, I see tons of grad students post heartbreaking messages on social media about how their loved ones don’t understand or support their decision to study what seems like something pointless or silly.
Perhaps my American Scientist essay can help!
🧪🌎🦑 #SciComm
Perhaps my American Scientist essay can help!
🧪🌎🦑 #SciComm
“Why Are We Funding This?”
Long-standing myths about “silly science” have contributed to the reckless slashing of government-supported research.
www.americanscientist.org
November 26, 2025 at 3:21 PM
"Uncle Bob, the only reason you got your ozempic is because a scientist was curious about Gila monster venom." 🧪🩺🌱🐀🐙💅
... And more found here.
... And more found here.
Black widow spider strolling outside the automatic doors of the mall. Picking up some crap at the dollar store like the rest of us (or more likely caught a ride on some dollar store crap.) 🕷️
November 26, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Black widow spider strolling outside the automatic doors of the mall. Picking up some crap at the dollar store like the rest of us (or more likely caught a ride on some dollar store crap.) 🕷️
EPA is now just that one Captain Planet villain, Sly Sludge (voiced by Martin Sheen). 🧪🏭
The EPA is starting to allow the use of pesticides containing PFAS on food. The move is part of an effort to roll back the regulation of PFAS — also known as "forever chemicals" because they don't break down easily in the environment.
November 25, 2025 at 5:36 PM
EPA is now just that one Captain Planet villain, Sly Sludge (voiced by Martin Sheen). 🧪🏭
One of the wonders of being a new parent is sharing your immune system with your newborn. Get your pertussis boost when pregnant, you can pass along the immunity to a devastating illness. I got mine with both babies, and they are now healthy thriving teens. (And due for their HPV shots). 🩺
3 infant #pertussis deaths this year in Kentucky. "Of the three infant deaths reported over the past 12 months, all three were not vaccinated, nor were their mothers."
We first tested maternal vaccination for whooping cough over 80 years ago. It's safe & effective & might have saved these babies.
We first tested maternal vaccination for whooping cough over 80 years ago. It's safe & effective & might have saved these babies.
www.wowktv.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:26 PM
One of the wonders of being a new parent is sharing your immune system with your newborn. Get your pertussis boost when pregnant, you can pass along the immunity to a devastating illness. I got mine with both babies, and they are now healthy thriving teens. (And due for their HPV shots). 🩺
My Dad's art porch is one of my favorite places.
November 25, 2025 at 4:15 PM
My Dad's art porch is one of my favorite places.
That's right, Petey, kick some puppies while you're at it, doing great. www.npr.org/2025/11/25/n...
U.S. ready to cut support to Scouts, accusing them of attacking 'boy-friendly spaces'
Documents show the U.S. military is planning to sever all ties with the organization formerly known as the Boy Scouts.
www.npr.org
November 25, 2025 at 3:27 PM
That's right, Petey, kick some puppies while you're at it, doing great. www.npr.org/2025/11/25/n...
Our trash tames the trash panda. 🦝
Raccoons have easy access to food in the form of human trash. It could be jump-starting physical and behavioral changes in the masked bandits, new research suggests. https://cnn.it/4ac7cUq
November 24, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Our trash tames the trash panda. 🦝
God speed ye taco bell scientists 🌮 🧪
November 24, 2025 at 10:26 PM
God speed ye taco bell scientists 🌮 🧪
I feel sorry for you if you didn't grow up in a town with a secret street leading to a fairy dimension. A sorcerer lives in that cottage, he drives combine in the summers to pick up some extra cash.
November 24, 2025 at 8:23 PM
I feel sorry for you if you didn't grow up in a town with a secret street leading to a fairy dimension. A sorcerer lives in that cottage, he drives combine in the summers to pick up some extra cash.
Are you sure? Seem very Enronish to me.
In the memo, “Nvidia also responds to claims that the ‘current situation is analogous to historical accounting frauds (Enron, WorldCom, Lucent) that featured vendor financing and SPVs [special purpose vehicles.)’”
@barrons.com $NVDA
@firstadopter.bsky.social
www.barrons.com/articles/nvi...
@barrons.com $NVDA
@firstadopter.bsky.social
www.barrons.com/articles/nvi...
November 24, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Are you sure? Seem very Enronish to me.
"Trans Guntuber" is a cyberpunk as fuck title.
My friends and I were featured in Wired magazine today! (cc @tacticoolgf.bsky.social @picatinnyrailed.bsky.social @inrange.tv etc etc)
www.wired.com/story/the-ha...
www.wired.com/story/the-ha...
November 24, 2025 at 7:03 PM
"Trans Guntuber" is a cyberpunk as fuck title.
Comey and Tish update added to the thread. Times are awful but atleast the bad guys are mostly dipshits. Always be asking yourself What Would Bugs Bunny Do?
attempting to describe the vibes of the moment. have yet to do better than: "imagine watching a documentary reenacting the burning of the Library of Alexandria set to the soundtrack of 'Yakety Sax'"
November 24, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Comey and Tish update added to the thread. Times are awful but atleast the bad guys are mostly dipshits. Always be asking yourself What Would Bugs Bunny Do?
Dave is King
and pie.
and pie.
November 23, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Dave is King
and pie.
and pie.
A movie that takes place where you are from.
November 23, 2025 at 7:14 PM
A movie that takes place where you are from.
Our current crop of leaders have been quite successful in their goal of slamming their dicks into car doors, and setting fire to all our money and they will continue to work harder on the task at hand until removed from power.
For some reason it's easier for people to assume the guy slamming his dick in a car door is failing at entering the car, and not *wildly* succeeding at his goal of slamming his dick in a car door.
November 23, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Our current crop of leaders have been quite successful in their goal of slamming their dicks into car doors, and setting fire to all our money and they will continue to work harder on the task at hand until removed from power.