Victor Marcel Acosta
@acostaphysics.bsky.social
AMO Physics, magnetic resonance, solid-state spins, academia, NY Mets, UNM Lobos, occasional grumpy contrarian.
https://sites.google.com/site/victormarcelacosta/
https://sites.google.com/site/victormarcelacosta/
There's nothing like cold hard experimental data from experimentalists you trust.
November 8, 2025 at 7:17 PM
There's nothing like cold hard experimental data from experimentalists you trust.
Woohoo! Second year on a row I got one right! John Clarke is a giant. it was a privilege to occupy the same building as a grad student, he was always kind to us.
I'll go with John Clarke and two others (Devoret + Martinis? not enough of a historian on the topic) for SQUIDs and superconducting qubits for 2025 Physics Nobel.
October 7, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Woohoo! Second year on a row I got one right! John Clarke is a giant. it was a privilege to occupy the same building as a grad student, he was always kind to us.
I'll go with John Clarke and two others (Devoret + Martinis? not enough of a historian on the topic) for SQUIDs and superconducting qubits for 2025 Physics Nobel.
October 7, 2025 at 3:24 AM
I'll go with John Clarke and two others (Devoret + Martinis? not enough of a historian on the topic) for SQUIDs and superconducting qubits for 2025 Physics Nobel.
Looks like this was quite prescient
There is no good time for bad news and today is no different than any day in our recent time.
Nevertheless, I write this thread to chemistry faculty job seekers in the United States. #chemjobs #facultychemjobs #chemsky 🧪⚗️
Nevertheless, I write this thread to chemistry faculty job seekers in the United States. #chemjobs #facultychemjobs #chemsky 🧪⚗️
September 19, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Looks like this was quite prescient
Trend: paper reviews that appear to be LLM generated.
Used to get reviews like "pg5, 2nd par. You say XYZ but don't back it up/it's confusing"
I loved these.
Now: "the paper lacks [something vague + not obviously relevant], explain how this will be implemented"
(Rev's still polite and unpaid!)
Used to get reviews like "pg5, 2nd par. You say XYZ but don't back it up/it's confusing"
I loved these.
Now: "the paper lacks [something vague + not obviously relevant], explain how this will be implemented"
(Rev's still polite and unpaid!)
September 7, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Trend: paper reviews that appear to be LLM generated.
Used to get reviews like "pg5, 2nd par. You say XYZ but don't back it up/it's confusing"
I loved these.
Now: "the paper lacks [something vague + not obviously relevant], explain how this will be implemented"
(Rev's still polite and unpaid!)
Used to get reviews like "pg5, 2nd par. You say XYZ but don't back it up/it's confusing"
I loved these.
Now: "the paper lacks [something vague + not obviously relevant], explain how this will be implemented"
(Rev's still polite and unpaid!)
Sounds like an "epiphany" college kids have smoking weed and philosophizing late at night.
But I guess now it's NIH policy?
But I guess now it's NIH policy?
This is extraordinarily dangerous and will slow academic biomedical research and drug development. A total ban is on the horizon. www.drugdiscoverytrends.com/nih-announce...
NIH announces end to funding for animal-only studies - Drug Discovery and Development
Drug Discovery and Development covers strategies and technologies related to pharmaceutical research and development and drug formulation.
www.drugdiscoverytrends.com
July 8, 2025 at 4:07 AM
Sounds like an "epiphany" college kids have smoking weed and philosophizing late at night.
But I guess now it's NIH policy?
But I guess now it's NIH policy?
I'm sorry, but the PhD is not just a "training" degree. For me, any definition must include a marker of academic achievement for creating and disseminating new knowledge.
July 7, 2025 at 4:35 PM
I'm sorry, but the PhD is not just a "training" degree. For me, any definition must include a marker of academic achievement for creating and disseminating new knowledge.
Reposted by Victor Marcel Acosta
"IONQ CEO Niccolo de Masi sells $103 million in stock. SEC filing confirms full liquidation. Investors question timing. Pump-and-dump concerns rise."
citizenwatchreport.com/ionq-ceo-nic...
citizenwatchreport.com/ionq-ceo-nic...
June 12, 2025 at 6:18 AM
"IONQ CEO Niccolo de Masi sells $103 million in stock. SEC filing confirms full liquidation. Investors question timing. Pump-and-dump concerns rise."
citizenwatchreport.com/ionq-ceo-nic...
citizenwatchreport.com/ionq-ceo-nic...
Here's the published version, which includes some pretty TEM images in the Appendices:
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
March 27, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Here's the published version, which includes some pretty TEM images in the Appendices:
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
People on here are need to focus. Bhattacharya appointment is one of the least insane things going on out there. Folks quibbling about his h-index and nunber of R01s...Look who we elected president!
March 6, 2025 at 4:12 AM
People on here are need to focus. Bhattacharya appointment is one of the least insane things going on out there. Folks quibbling about his h-index and nunber of R01s...Look who we elected president!
Great review, cool photophysics--I learned something new!
Check out our perspective article in @materialshorizons.rsc.org where we bust common myths about Photon Avalanching Nanoparticles! doi.org/10.1039/D4MH...
Learn why photon avalanches are not avalanches of photons and many other fun facts about ANPs. #chemsky 🧪
See 🧵 below for more myths and art.
Learn why photon avalanches are not avalanches of photons and many other fun facts about ANPs. #chemsky 🧪
See 🧵 below for more myths and art.
Unraveling the myths and mysteries of photon avalanching nanoparticles
Photon avalanching (PA) nanomaterials exhibit some of the most nonlinear optical phenomena reported for any material, allowing them to push the frontiers of applications ranging from nanoscale imaging...
doi.org
March 5, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Great review, cool photophysics--I learned something new!
New paper, led by postdoc Janis Smits:
-Introduces a “Ramsey-Mz” protocol for NMR spectroscopy using diamond NV centers
-In principle, works at arbitrary field. Well suited to moderate fields (0.3-3 T)
-Resolved ethanol chemical shift structure with negligble distortion
arxiv.org/abs/2503.02140
-Introduces a “Ramsey-Mz” protocol for NMR spectroscopy using diamond NV centers
-In principle, works at arbitrary field. Well suited to moderate fields (0.3-3 T)
-Resolved ethanol chemical shift structure with negligble distortion
arxiv.org/abs/2503.02140
Chemically resolved nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy by longitudinal magnetization detection with a diamond magnetometer
Non-inductive magnetometers based on solid-state spins offer a promising solution for small-volume nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) detection. A remaining challenge is to operate at a sufficiently hig...
arxiv.org
March 5, 2025 at 3:03 AM
New paper, led by postdoc Janis Smits:
-Introduces a “Ramsey-Mz” protocol for NMR spectroscopy using diamond NV centers
-In principle, works at arbitrary field. Well suited to moderate fields (0.3-3 T)
-Resolved ethanol chemical shift structure with negligble distortion
arxiv.org/abs/2503.02140
-Introduces a “Ramsey-Mz” protocol for NMR spectroscopy using diamond NV centers
-In principle, works at arbitrary field. Well suited to moderate fields (0.3-3 T)
-Resolved ethanol chemical shift structure with negligble distortion
arxiv.org/abs/2503.02140
Please do not use an llm to review my papers. I much prefer you just paste whatever bullet points/notes you were going to put into the llm prompt into a txt file and submit. No flowery verbage needed!
This is a terrible idea, and you should not do it.
Tired of spending countless hours on peer reviews? An AI-assisted workflow could help
https://go.nature.com/4krdPow
https://go.nature.com/4krdPow
March 4, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Please do not use an llm to review my papers. I much prefer you just paste whatever bullet points/notes you were going to put into the llm prompt into a txt file and submit. No flowery verbage needed!
Reposted by Victor Marcel Acosta
He's not a student of history, is he?
As well as being an utter cockwomble.
As well as being an utter cockwomble.
March 4, 2025 at 9:19 AM
He's not a student of history, is he?
As well as being an utter cockwomble.
As well as being an utter cockwomble.
Watched the oval office meeting. First 40 min is standard Trump BS, Zelensky is used to it and nods along. Then Vance starts bloviating, speaking with entitlement about shit he absolutely has no idea about. Zelensky loses it. Weve all been in Zelenky's shoes, its impossible to bite ur tongue there.
March 2, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Watched the oval office meeting. First 40 min is standard Trump BS, Zelensky is used to it and nods along. Then Vance starts bloviating, speaking with entitlement about shit he absolutely has no idea about. Zelensky loses it. Weve all been in Zelenky's shoes, its impossible to bite ur tongue there.
Alright I'll say it.
The Microsoft Majorana craziness is what you get when you let theoretical physicists run your device R&D agenda based on the "beauty" of the idea instead of what actually works.
The Microsoft Majorana craziness is what you get when you let theoretical physicists run your device R&D agenda based on the "beauty" of the idea instead of what actually works.
February 21, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Alright I'll say it.
The Microsoft Majorana craziness is what you get when you let theoretical physicists run your device R&D agenda based on the "beauty" of the idea instead of what actually works.
The Microsoft Majorana craziness is what you get when you let theoretical physicists run your device R&D agenda based on the "beauty" of the idea instead of what actually works.
Cool paper!
Wu et al. devise AFION, a closed-loop microfluidic lab with machine learning that photochemically synthesizes various plasmonic nanoparticles. It optimizes optical properties in fewer than 30 experiments, enabling rapid, precise, and automated nanomaterial design. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Self-driving lab for the photochemical synthesis of plasmonic nanoparticles with targeted structural and optical properties - Nature Communications
The automated synthesis of plasmonic nanoparticles with on-demand properties is a challenging task. Here the authors integrate a fluidic reactor, real-time characterization, and machine learning in a ...
www.nature.com
February 8, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Cool paper!
I'm confused. If IDC rate is now 15% on all existing NIH awards as of now, does the total award amount also change? Or do we now just have more allocated to direct costs? I'm guessing they intended the former, but arent total costs listed in the award documents and public disclosure (ie Reporter)?
February 8, 2025 at 5:50 AM
I'm confused. If IDC rate is now 15% on all existing NIH awards as of now, does the total award amount also change? Or do we now just have more allocated to direct costs? I'm guessing they intended the former, but arent total costs listed in the award documents and public disclosure (ie Reporter)?
Reposted by Victor Marcel Acosta
Postdoctoral Research Associate (solid-state NMR) The Carbon and Composites Group, the Separations and Polymer chemistry section, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Oak Ridge, TN, US jobs.ornl.gov/job/Oak-Ridg... #NMRjobs #NMRchat #NMR 🧲
Postdoctoral Research Associate- Solid-state NMR Spectroscopy
Postdoctoral Research Associate- Solid-state NMR Spectroscopy
jobs.ornl.gov
February 6, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Postdoctoral Research Associate (solid-state NMR) The Carbon and Composites Group, the Separations and Polymer chemistry section, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Oak Ridge, TN, US jobs.ornl.gov/job/Oak-Ridg... #NMRjobs #NMRchat #NMR 🧲
Hate how the favorite US policy argument for science funding is Sinophobia.
🧪 ⚛️ Congress doesn’t have to follow the presidential budget request, and frequently doesn’t, but that this is even being floated is terrible. Remember, NIH and DOE Office of Science will likely face similar “recommendations”.
White House budget proposal could shatter the National Science Foundation
“This kind of cut would kill American science and boost China.”…
arstechnica.com
February 7, 2025 at 4:47 AM
Hate how the favorite US policy argument for science funding is Sinophobia.
Nice. I'm tempted to submit a proposal titled "Spin qubits and Inclusive Excellence come try and triage this I'm ready to fight".
Just for fun
Just for fun
Submitted a proposal to the NSF, and didn't even control+f for the 30 banned words or whatever
February 5, 2025 at 4:34 AM
Nice. I'm tempted to submit a proposal titled "Spin qubits and Inclusive Excellence come try and triage this I'm ready to fight".
Just for fun
Just for fun
Looks a lot like NSF leadership is playing "pick me" to the White House nutjobs.
What is the difference between NSF and NIH that is causing one to do this and the other not?
National Science Foundation suspends salary payments, leaving researchers unable to pay their bills www.statnews.com/2025/01/30/t...
Story by @ericboodman.bsky.social
Story by @ericboodman.bsky.social
January 31, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Looks a lot like NSF leadership is playing "pick me" to the White House nutjobs.
Reposted by Victor Marcel Acosta
Would appreciate a RT from the scientists for this one! We have 665 scientists in the spring database and I want to get us to about 1000 before we set the teachers loose on the database for January matches.
Scientists!
We are trying to get 1000 of us into the volunteer database by Jan 1.
You'll be volunteering to speak with classrooms over video chat about your work, and answer their questions! You can volunteer for up to 5 sessions per semester.
Sign up here! www.skypeascientist.com/sign-up.html
We are trying to get 1000 of us into the volunteer database by Jan 1.
You'll be volunteering to speak with classrooms over video chat about your work, and answer their questions! You can volunteer for up to 5 sessions per semester.
Sign up here! www.skypeascientist.com/sign-up.html
December 30, 2024 at 5:10 PM
Would appreciate a RT from the scientists for this one! We have 665 scientists in the spring database and I want to get us to about 1000 before we set the teachers loose on the database for January matches.
Reposted by Victor Marcel Acosta
So in fact what journal peer review may primarily be doing is ranking papers (by determining where in the journal hierarchy they end up). And most problematically, that lasting quality signal is assigned at a single point in time based on the somewhat subjective opinions of a 3-4 people 4/n
December 11, 2024 at 11:23 AM
So in fact what journal peer review may primarily be doing is ranking papers (by determining where in the journal hierarchy they end up). And most problematically, that lasting quality signal is assigned at a single point in time based on the somewhat subjective opinions of a 3-4 people 4/n
Reposted by Victor Marcel Acosta
Plenty of other publishers try different models! PLoS, Frontiers, EMBO, Wellcome, Review Commons, all have implemented new models. Let’s not forget to credit them, just because they don’t jump wildly from model to model every couple of years.
December 11, 2024 at 6:53 AM
Plenty of other publishers try different models! PLoS, Frontiers, EMBO, Wellcome, Review Commons, all have implemented new models. Let’s not forget to credit them, just because they don’t jump wildly from model to model every couple of years.