"Capt" Trevor Sloughter, PhD 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
@thelogicman.bsky.social
Ocean, climate, and ecological modeller, University of Exeter.
Fake captain, actual PhD.
I give public talks and blog about science and sci-fi.
Views my own (obvs).
He/him.
Laugh hard. Run fast. Be kind.
https://haggishashbrowns.wordpress.com/
Fake captain, actual PhD.
I give public talks and blog about science and sci-fi.
Views my own (obvs).
He/him.
Laugh hard. Run fast. Be kind.
https://haggishashbrowns.wordpress.com/
This is dope
It is an exciting time for extragalactic PN science, with rapid developments of new observational techniques and advances of theoretical models. 🔭👩🔬
www.frontiersin.org/journals/ast...
www.frontiersin.org/journals/ast...
Frontiers | Planetary nebulae as tracers of accreted stellar populations in massive galaxies in groups and clusters
Planetary nebulae (PNe) are valuable spatial and kinematic tracers of nearby galaxies. In this mini-review, I focus on their role in tracing the halo and int...
www.frontiersin.org
November 21, 2025 at 11:31 AM
This is dope
Reposted by "Capt" Trevor Sloughter, PhD 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
Wanna see a visual on the result of the Republican attack on public health?
I’ve got you covered. This is from Pew Research Center’s most recent survey, showing a 27% drop in Republican support for school vaccine requirements from 2016-2025.
I’ve got you covered. This is from Pew Research Center’s most recent survey, showing a 27% drop in Republican support for school vaccine requirements from 2016-2025.
November 20, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Wanna see a visual on the result of the Republican attack on public health?
I’ve got you covered. This is from Pew Research Center’s most recent survey, showing a 27% drop in Republican support for school vaccine requirements from 2016-2025.
I’ve got you covered. This is from Pew Research Center’s most recent survey, showing a 27% drop in Republican support for school vaccine requirements from 2016-2025.
Sometimes I get the distinct impression that (some, not all) AI boosters aren't angry about LLMs getting facts wrong, they're angry reality won't conform to their magic computer's prophecies and proclamations.
November 20, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Sometimes I get the distinct impression that (some, not all) AI boosters aren't angry about LLMs getting facts wrong, they're angry reality won't conform to their magic computer's prophecies and proclamations.
Reposted by "Capt" Trevor Sloughter, PhD 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
To be clear: the updated statements are *complete shameless lies, no exceptions.* Vaccines *do not cause autism.* This is backed up by *overwhelming* evidence. The CDC is actively lying directly to the American people. Any journalist who doesn't lead with a demand for adv explanation needs to quit.
HEADS UP: CDC website now officially asserts that vaccines may cause autism.“Studies supporting a link have been ignored by health authorities.” Also says the “vaccines do not cause autism” header remains b/c of an agreement with Cassidy.
November 20, 2025 at 4:49 AM
To be clear: the updated statements are *complete shameless lies, no exceptions.* Vaccines *do not cause autism.* This is backed up by *overwhelming* evidence. The CDC is actively lying directly to the American people. Any journalist who doesn't lead with a demand for adv explanation needs to quit.
Reposted by "Capt" Trevor Sloughter, PhD 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
This is what ICE and CBP presence does to a community.
"But since U.S. Border Patrol descended on Charlotte over the weekend, with over 130 arrests in two days, the parking lot has been a desert. Mostly, all the businesses were closed except for the laundromat, which had about two patrons."
"But since U.S. Border Patrol descended on Charlotte over the weekend, with over 130 arrests in two days, the parking lot has been a desert. Mostly, all the businesses were closed except for the laundromat, which had about two patrons."
Charlotte’s Latino shops weather Border Patrol raids: Rattled customers, empty lots
A number of businesses have simply closed in Charlotte; it’s unclear when Border Patrol will leave the region.
www.charlotteobserver.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:08 PM
This is what ICE and CBP presence does to a community.
"But since U.S. Border Patrol descended on Charlotte over the weekend, with over 130 arrests in two days, the parking lot has been a desert. Mostly, all the businesses were closed except for the laundromat, which had about two patrons."
"But since U.S. Border Patrol descended on Charlotte over the weekend, with over 130 arrests in two days, the parking lot has been a desert. Mostly, all the businesses were closed except for the laundromat, which had about two patrons."
💯 Yes. This.
Contrary to the belief of, honestly, far too many people, you do not, in fact, have to hand it to antisemitic, Islamophobic, homophobic, transphobic, capitalist sycophant, eugenicist and unhinged conspiracy theorist Marjorie Greene.
Contrary to the belief of, honestly, far too many people, you do not, in fact, have to hand it to antisemitic, Islamophobic, homophobic, transphobic, capitalist sycophant, eugenicist and unhinged conspiracy theorist Marjorie Greene.
Marjorie Taylor Greene is a “get” in the eyes of Dems because it legitimizes their absurd notion that they can pull from the right, which is all Democrats have been concerned with since they decided that Labor was no longer worth pursuing
November 17, 2025 at 9:26 PM
💯 Yes. This.
Contrary to the belief of, honestly, far too many people, you do not, in fact, have to hand it to antisemitic, Islamophobic, homophobic, transphobic, capitalist sycophant, eugenicist and unhinged conspiracy theorist Marjorie Greene.
Contrary to the belief of, honestly, far too many people, you do not, in fact, have to hand it to antisemitic, Islamophobic, homophobic, transphobic, capitalist sycophant, eugenicist and unhinged conspiracy theorist Marjorie Greene.
Reposted by "Capt" Trevor Sloughter, PhD 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
Things like this will become increasingly common as billionaires increasingly treat low earth orbit like their personal playground and garbage dump
The only craft docked at Tiangong space station has been damaged and “does not meet the release conditions for a safe manned return.”
A Collision with Space Debris Leaves 3 Chinese Astronauts Stranded in Orbit
The only craft docked at Tiangong space station has been damaged and “does not meet the release conditions for a safe manned return.”
wrd.cm
November 17, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Things like this will become increasingly common as billionaires increasingly treat low earth orbit like their personal playground and garbage dump
Reposted by "Capt" Trevor Sloughter, PhD 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
Appeasing the far-right gives the broader public the impression that their narrative is true. There is no way to stem support for Reform by endorsing their policies. Either you are fighting against them or you are, regardless of how you see yourself, fighting for them.
November 16, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Appeasing the far-right gives the broader public the impression that their narrative is true. There is no way to stem support for Reform by endorsing their policies. Either you are fighting against them or you are, regardless of how you see yourself, fighting for them.
Reposted by "Capt" Trevor Sloughter, PhD 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
There is no difference in practice between removing rights of individuals and leaving the ECHR. The end outcome is still the same, people lose rights. If human rights are an obstacle to your policy it is not the rights which are the issue, it is your policy. Labour going full Reform at this stage.
November 16, 2025 at 10:00 AM
There is no difference in practice between removing rights of individuals and leaving the ECHR. The end outcome is still the same, people lose rights. If human rights are an obstacle to your policy it is not the rights which are the issue, it is your policy. Labour going full Reform at this stage.
I broke the w and q keys on my laptop so I am now formally campaigning for their removal from the English alphabet altogether.
November 16, 2025 at 1:40 AM
I broke the w and q keys on my laptop so I am now formally campaigning for their removal from the English alphabet altogether.
Reposted by "Capt" Trevor Sloughter, PhD 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
For my newsletter, I wrote a little about how there seems to be a recent rash of trans people taking their own lives. Please take care of yourselves this holiday season, I promise you that there are people who want to help you if you're struggling. www.burnsnotice.com/if-youre-tra...
If You're Trans, You Have to Live - Sick Burns
Content Warning: This post will have light discussion of trans-related suicide, please take care of yourself. Here is a recap of my last two weeks! Apologies again for not getting out a recap last week. Every time there is an election, the week after election day is my busiest of
www.burnsnotice.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:35 PM
For my newsletter, I wrote a little about how there seems to be a recent rash of trans people taking their own lives. Please take care of yourselves this holiday season, I promise you that there are people who want to help you if you're struggling. www.burnsnotice.com/if-youre-tra...
Reposted by "Capt" Trevor Sloughter, PhD 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
Jim Ryan's letter is not just surreal and troubling; it provides a series of deeply sobering lessons—about the perils facing public universities today; about what it means to "work with" this Department of Justice; & about what leadership does (and doesn't) entail at this especially fraught moment.
Former UVA president Jim Ryan, who resigned over the summer due to pressure from the Trump Administration, just shared this 12-page letter with the Faculty Senate, detailing his experience with the Board of Visitors and DOJ.
It's a surreal--and troubling--read.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Is6x...
It's a surreal--and troubling--read.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Is6x...
November 14, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Jim Ryan's letter is not just surreal and troubling; it provides a series of deeply sobering lessons—about the perils facing public universities today; about what it means to "work with" this Department of Justice; & about what leadership does (and doesn't) entail at this especially fraught moment.
Reposted by "Capt" Trevor Sloughter, PhD 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
Message to all faculty: your expertise is no longer trusted or valued at this so-called “university.”
November 14, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Message to all faculty: your expertise is no longer trusted or valued at this so-called “university.”
The other day I was in a bookstore and saw a poster for sale that said "DINOSAURS" and on it were included a pterosaur (right era, not a dinosaur), a dimetrodon (wrong era, not a dino, not a reptile, off by ~30 million years) and a wooly mammoth (very wrong era, off by ~60-65 million years)
November 14, 2025 at 12:24 PM
The other day I was in a bookstore and saw a poster for sale that said "DINOSAURS" and on it were included a pterosaur (right era, not a dinosaur), a dimetrodon (wrong era, not a dino, not a reptile, off by ~30 million years) and a wooly mammoth (very wrong era, off by ~60-65 million years)
Do I have this right? Labour briefly suggested maybe taxing the rich, the rich threw a temper tantrum, and now Labour wants to raise taxes on the poor and lower middle class instead?
And there's talk of replacing Starmer with someone who hates the poor even more?
And there's talk of replacing Starmer with someone who hates the poor even more?
November 14, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Do I have this right? Labour briefly suggested maybe taxing the rich, the rich threw a temper tantrum, and now Labour wants to raise taxes on the poor and lower middle class instead?
And there's talk of replacing Starmer with someone who hates the poor even more?
And there's talk of replacing Starmer with someone who hates the poor even more?
If Wes Streeting becomes PM I will drive my right foot so far into the ground that it sinks in up to my waist; then in a passion will seize my left foot with both hands and tear myself in two
November 13, 2025 at 8:21 PM
If Wes Streeting becomes PM I will drive my right foot so far into the ground that it sinks in up to my waist; then in a passion will seize my left foot with both hands and tear myself in two
Reposted by "Capt" Trevor Sloughter, PhD 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
The damage done by treating Trump's victory as some sweeping mandate in the first eight months of his term really was massive, but ending that collective delusion - i think with the help of last week's elections - really is having profound impacts.
November 13, 2025 at 8:02 PM
The damage done by treating Trump's victory as some sweeping mandate in the first eight months of his term really was massive, but ending that collective delusion - i think with the help of last week's elections - really is having profound impacts.
Some leftists defending Platner sound indistinguishable from liberals defending Newsom. The primary is so far away, we seriously cannot find a replacement? Don't get me wrong, there are serious problems with US democracy that make replacing candidates tough even months before a primary, but come on.
November 13, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Some leftists defending Platner sound indistinguishable from liberals defending Newsom. The primary is so far away, we seriously cannot find a replacement? Don't get me wrong, there are serious problems with US democracy that make replacing candidates tough even months before a primary, but come on.
Re-sharing this because it's very good and I'm pulling my hair out over how many scientists have bought into a lot of the hype around LLMs and aren't using them critically.
www.wheresyoured.at/how-to-argue...
www.wheresyoured.at/how-to-argue...
How To Argue With An AI Booster
Editor's Note: For those of you reading via email, I recommend opening this in a browser so you can use the Table of Contents. This is my longest newsletter - a 16,000-word-long opus - and if you like...
www.wheresyoured.at
November 13, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Re-sharing this because it's very good and I'm pulling my hair out over how many scientists have bought into a lot of the hype around LLMs and aren't using them critically.
www.wheresyoured.at/how-to-argue...
www.wheresyoured.at/how-to-argue...
Reposted by "Capt" Trevor Sloughter, PhD 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
How you can support the fired journalists instead of subscribing to Teen Vogue:
We built a team of young Black, Asian, queer, and trans staffers at Teen Vogue, and they deserve the world. They are passionate, whip smart, and incredibly talented. Many of them are now without jobs — please consider donating to their GoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/help-laido...
Donate to Help Laid-Off Teen Vogue Staffers Recover, organized by Lex McMenamin
More than half the team at Teen Vogue was laid off this week by our parent com… Lex McMenamin needs your support for Help Laid-Off Teen Vogue Staffers Recover
www.gofundme.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:39 PM
How you can support the fired journalists instead of subscribing to Teen Vogue:
Reposted by "Capt" Trevor Sloughter, PhD 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
The IOC did away with sex testing the last time in 1999, after thirty years of work from experts explaining all of its flaws and harms. Hear more on that and many other cycles of this premise on Tested: www.tested-podcast.com
TESTED – A surprising history of women’s sports
www.tested-podcast.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:53 AM
The IOC did away with sex testing the last time in 1999, after thirty years of work from experts explaining all of its flaws and harms. Hear more on that and many other cycles of this premise on Tested: www.tested-podcast.com
Reposted by "Capt" Trevor Sloughter, PhD 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
I have said many times that working on Tested was like documenting a twisted game of wack-a-mole where the same bad ideas pop up over and over with new little costumes on. And here we are again www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/n...
IOC edges closer to ban on transgender women in female Olympic events
Sources expect the ban within the next six to 12 months with the IOC president, Kirsty Coventry, having pledged to protect the female category
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:51 AM
I have said many times that working on Tested was like documenting a twisted game of wack-a-mole where the same bad ideas pop up over and over with new little costumes on. And here we are again www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/n...
Reposted by "Capt" Trevor Sloughter, PhD 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
for those puzzling out why an administration hostile to HRT for transition is super pro HRT for menopause, their claims that menopause ruins women and marriages seems pretty key
No, menopause does not kill women or cause divorce.
The many problems with the FDA’s big menopause announcement
No, it doesn't kill women or cause divorce.
www.motherjones.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:24 PM
for those puzzling out why an administration hostile to HRT for transition is super pro HRT for menopause, their claims that menopause ruins women and marriages seems pretty key
Reposted by "Capt" Trevor Sloughter, PhD 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
"Democratic capitulators whose seats would be filled by Democratic governors in the event of vacancy (Durbin, Fetterman, Kaine, King) should be under immense pressure to resign mid-session. Now, even. Or in Kaine’s case, after Abigail Spanberger is sworn in. If your senator fits that bill, get loud"
Thoughts on Dems throwing a game they were winning. www.offmessage.net/p/16-thought...
16 Thoughts On The Dem Shutdown Cave
Another disgrace, and a new path forward.
www.offmessage.net
November 10, 2025 at 11:49 AM
"Democratic capitulators whose seats would be filled by Democratic governors in the event of vacancy (Durbin, Fetterman, Kaine, King) should be under immense pressure to resign mid-session. Now, even. Or in Kaine’s case, after Abigail Spanberger is sworn in. If your senator fits that bill, get loud"
Reposted by "Capt" Trevor Sloughter, PhD 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
Dems backed Trump into a corner where he’s advocating for starving Americans and hemorrhaging support. If they vote to let him off the hook in exchange for nothing it’s a cataclysmic failure. I know people are in pain but insulating Republicans from political consequences is not the answer.
November 9, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Dems backed Trump into a corner where he’s advocating for starving Americans and hemorrhaging support. If they vote to let him off the hook in exchange for nothing it’s a cataclysmic failure. I know people are in pain but insulating Republicans from political consequences is not the answer.