Ben Maas
@masbenmaas.bsky.social
Assistant Professor of Earth Sciences at Metro State University in St. Paul, MN, studying environmental and water quality.
Reposted by Ben Maas
Let’s goooooo! ❄️
If you’re out tomorrow and want to share any ride reports (conditions of streets, bikelanes and/or sidewalks) to help others, please remember to use #MSPcyclecast
If you’re out tomorrow and want to share any ride reports (conditions of streets, bikelanes and/or sidewalks) to help others, please remember to use #MSPcyclecast
November 26, 2025 at 3:19 AM
Let’s goooooo! ❄️
If you’re out tomorrow and want to share any ride reports (conditions of streets, bikelanes and/or sidewalks) to help others, please remember to use #MSPcyclecast
If you’re out tomorrow and want to share any ride reports (conditions of streets, bikelanes and/or sidewalks) to help others, please remember to use #MSPcyclecast
Reposted by Ben Maas
A fun post from our local NWS office regarding snow cover on Thanksgiving dating back to 1955. Despite all the predictions for this year's winter, we may at least have some luck on this one! From all of us at TCMETSOC, we hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving, and drive safely if you are traveling!
November 26, 2025 at 12:59 AM
A fun post from our local NWS office regarding snow cover on Thanksgiving dating back to 1955. Despite all the predictions for this year's winter, we may at least have some luck on this one! From all of us at TCMETSOC, we hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving, and drive safely if you are traveling!
"While not a lot is known about their long-term impact, the chemicals have been linked to certain cancers, birth defects and other health problems."
Seems bad...
Seems bad...
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
"While not a lot is known about their long-term impact, the chemicals have been linked to certain cancers, birth defects and other health problems."
Seems bad...
Seems bad...
Reposted by Ben Maas
Minnehaha: Pillars of Ice Under Ledge
Source: Hennepin County Library.
Source: Hennepin County Library.
November 22, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Minnehaha: Pillars of Ice Under Ledge
Source: Hennepin County Library.
Source: Hennepin County Library.
"Fargo-based R.D. Offutt Farms, one of the largest potato growers in the world, agreed to pay $82,770 to 442 workers for failing to provide sick leave in 2024 as part of a settlement with the MN Dept. of Labor & Industry..."
1/2
minnesotareformer.com/briefs/potat...
1/2
minnesotareformer.com/briefs/potat...
Potato giant R.D. Offutt agrees to pay 442 Minnesota workers for sick leave violations • Minnesota Reformer
Fargo-based R.D. Offutt Farms, one of the largest potato growers in the world, agreed to pay $82,770 to 442 workers for failing to provide sick leave in 2024 as part of a settlement with the Minnesota...
minnesotareformer.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:01 PM
"Fargo-based R.D. Offutt Farms, one of the largest potato growers in the world, agreed to pay $82,770 to 442 workers for failing to provide sick leave in 2024 as part of a settlement with the MN Dept. of Labor & Industry..."
1/2
minnesotareformer.com/briefs/potat...
1/2
minnesotareformer.com/briefs/potat...
How it started ⏭️ how it's going
SD Republican Gov. Rhoden pushed back Thursday on a lawmaker’s suggestion that the ag. industry should be more tightly regulated to improve water quality.
Rhoden told town hall attendees, “he’s going to be set straight...”
southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/11/20/g...
SD Republican Gov. Rhoden pushed back Thursday on a lawmaker’s suggestion that the ag. industry should be more tightly regulated to improve water quality.
Rhoden told town hall attendees, “he’s going to be set straight...”
southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/11/20/g...
November 21, 2025 at 3:23 PM
How it started ⏭️ how it's going
SD Republican Gov. Rhoden pushed back Thursday on a lawmaker’s suggestion that the ag. industry should be more tightly regulated to improve water quality.
Rhoden told town hall attendees, “he’s going to be set straight...”
southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/11/20/g...
SD Republican Gov. Rhoden pushed back Thursday on a lawmaker’s suggestion that the ag. industry should be more tightly regulated to improve water quality.
Rhoden told town hall attendees, “he’s going to be set straight...”
southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/11/20/g...
Damn...😥
100 years in a few seconds. This is what #climatechange does to glaciers. 🏔️
Old photos of Swiss and Austrian ice, turned into a short AI animation by Juergen Merz and Michel Galati. We can’t bring this ice back, but we can still give nature room to recover.
More: www.abstract-landscape.com
Old photos of Swiss and Austrian ice, turned into a short AI animation by Juergen Merz and Michel Galati. We can’t bring this ice back, but we can still give nature room to recover.
More: www.abstract-landscape.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Damn...😥
I had to take care of this from the web browser version of GM*il, not the app on my phone.
GM*il is now yelling at me to turn the "smart" features back on.
GM*il is now yelling at me to turn the "smart" features back on.
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
November 20, 2025 at 6:56 PM
I had to take care of this from the web browser version of GM*il, not the app on my phone.
GM*il is now yelling at me to turn the "smart" features back on.
GM*il is now yelling at me to turn the "smart" features back on.
Reposted by Ben Maas
Research by the University of Minnesota's Mapping Prejudice Project has uncovered hundreds of racist property deeds in Sherburne County. Nearly all the properties were clustered around lakes, and 90 percent were added after 1948. Racial covenants became illegal in Minnesota in 1953.
U of M’s Mapping Prejudice Project reveals racist deeds around Sherburne County lakes
Researchers found 356 properties with racial covenants in Sherburne County, nearly all clustered around lakes. Most were added after 1948, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled such restrictions were unen...
www.mprnews.org
November 20, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Research by the University of Minnesota's Mapping Prejudice Project has uncovered hundreds of racist property deeds in Sherburne County. Nearly all the properties were clustered around lakes, and 90 percent were added after 1948. Racial covenants became illegal in Minnesota in 1953.
Big news from South Dakota! Ag. regulations being proposed by Republicans 👀
“We can sit here and talk about it, and dance around it all day. I think you can have some incentives, but we’re going to have to look at some restrictions as well, and regulate.”
southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/11/19/w...
“We can sit here and talk about it, and dance around it all day. I think you can have some incentives, but we’re going to have to look at some restrictions as well, and regulate.”
southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/11/19/w...
With so much polluted water, SD lawmaker says state can no longer ‘dance around’ ag regulations • South Dakota Searchlight
A top lawmaker said it may be time to move beyond financial incentives and consider regulations on agriculture for water pollution.
southdakotasearchlight.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Big news from South Dakota! Ag. regulations being proposed by Republicans 👀
“We can sit here and talk about it, and dance around it all day. I think you can have some incentives, but we’re going to have to look at some restrictions as well, and regulate.”
southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/11/19/w...
“We can sit here and talk about it, and dance around it all day. I think you can have some incentives, but we’re going to have to look at some restrictions as well, and regulate.”
southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/11/19/w...
Climate change, its wild
The fabled Tower Rock walkway has defied expectations and emerged from the Mississippi River's depths, triggering worries among water experts.
'Once in a lifetime' tourist destination back for 4th year in a row, thanks to chronically low Mississippi River
The fabled Tower Rock walkway has defied expectations and emerged from the Mississippi River's depths, triggering worries among water experts.
www.kare11.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Climate change, its wild
Reposted by Ben Maas
Things that will get you kicked out of academia forever:
- taking maternity leave at the wrong time
- spending too much time with your kids
- reporting harassment
- not moving every 2-3 years
- taking a partner's job/preferences into account
- mouthing off before tenure
- taking maternity leave at the wrong time
- spending too much time with your kids
- reporting harassment
- not moving every 2-3 years
- taking a partner's job/preferences into account
- mouthing off before tenure
A guy makes ONE tiny mistake (has a years-long friendship with the world's worst sex trafficker; brags about sexually harassing colleagues; is racist; says women are stupid) and his whole LIFE is blown up (does slightly fewer speaking engagements; keeps teaching at #1 university)??!?!?!?!?!
So Harvard is keeping this guy, but Claudine Gay had to step down over ginned up plagiarism accusations and bad-faith accusations of anti-Semitism.
Got it.
Got it.
November 18, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Things that will get you kicked out of academia forever:
- taking maternity leave at the wrong time
- spending too much time with your kids
- reporting harassment
- not moving every 2-3 years
- taking a partner's job/preferences into account
- mouthing off before tenure
- taking maternity leave at the wrong time
- spending too much time with your kids
- reporting harassment
- not moving every 2-3 years
- taking a partner's job/preferences into account
- mouthing off before tenure
Reposted by Ben Maas
The Trump administration has unveiled a rule that could significantly decrease the amount of federally protected wetlands, the latest chapter in a high-stakes policy fight that has played out over decades.
Trump proposal would limit protections for U.S. waterways
The EPA proposed curtailing broader definitions of wetlands embraced by the Obama and Biden administrations, removing protections under the Clean Water Act.
wapo.st
November 18, 2025 at 12:00 PM
The Trump administration has unveiled a rule that could significantly decrease the amount of federally protected wetlands, the latest chapter in a high-stakes policy fight that has played out over decades.
Yarr, but lost at sea they were.
There were 92,400 Lego cutlasses inside the shipping container that fell off the Tokio Express back in 1997. This one was found in August by Laura Dale on a beach near Newquay some 28 years after it plummeted into the ocean.
Photo: Laura Dale
Photo: Laura Dale
November 17, 2025 at 6:02 AM
Yarr, but lost at sea they were.
Regarding drinkingwater contaminating her family's blood with PFAS:
"They had never really taken much interest in [] environmental issues. They spent their lives believing that there were systems in place to protect them, & now that trust had been completely shattered."
youtu.be/cJYUjoyQjpM
"They had never really taken much interest in [] environmental issues. They spent their lives believing that there were systems in place to protect them, & now that trust had been completely shattered."
youtu.be/cJYUjoyQjpM
How a small community fought for justice after finding forever chemicals in drinking water
YouTube video by PBS NewsHour
youtu.be
November 14, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Regarding drinkingwater contaminating her family's blood with PFAS:
"They had never really taken much interest in [] environmental issues. They spent their lives believing that there were systems in place to protect them, & now that trust had been completely shattered."
youtu.be/cJYUjoyQjpM
"They had never really taken much interest in [] environmental issues. They spent their lives believing that there were systems in place to protect them, & now that trust had been completely shattered."
youtu.be/cJYUjoyQjpM
Reposted by Ben Maas
Iowa is a complete joke when it comes to water pollution
Attorneys for the polluter conspire with Iowa AG and DNR to keep settlement on the down low
Wrist slap fine of $50k for years of violations, they don’t even need to stop polluting until end of 2026 (1)
www.thegazette.com/crime-courts...
Attorneys for the polluter conspire with Iowa AG and DNR to keep settlement on the down low
Wrist slap fine of $50k for years of violations, they don’t even need to stop polluting until end of 2026 (1)
www.thegazette.com/crime-courts...
Iowa officials quietly fast-tracked settlement with major meatpacker, environmental group alleges
A new legal challenge in Iowa argues that the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and a meatpacking company coordinated behind the scenes to keep details of a "
www.thegazette.com
October 26, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Iowa is a complete joke when it comes to water pollution
Attorneys for the polluter conspire with Iowa AG and DNR to keep settlement on the down low
Wrist slap fine of $50k for years of violations, they don’t even need to stop polluting until end of 2026 (1)
www.thegazette.com/crime-courts...
Attorneys for the polluter conspire with Iowa AG and DNR to keep settlement on the down low
Wrist slap fine of $50k for years of violations, they don’t even need to stop polluting until end of 2026 (1)
www.thegazette.com/crime-courts...
When one big problem was made into many more smaller problems.
November 12, 2025 at 4:45 PM
When one big problem was made into many more smaller problems.
Reposted by Ben Maas
The most insightful story you’ll read about yesterday’s missed deadline (i.e. the only one I’ve seen that actually talks to someone in the room!) @reviewjournal.com: www.reviewjournal.com/news/environ...
Colorado River deadline passes without an agreement
Tuesday was the deadline for seven states to submit a framework for a deal to update the river’s operating guidelines that expire at the end of 2026.
www.reviewjournal.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:43 PM
The most insightful story you’ll read about yesterday’s missed deadline (i.e. the only one I’ve seen that actually talks to someone in the room!) @reviewjournal.com: www.reviewjournal.com/news/environ...
"As they scoured well records & years of data, they zeroed in on a significant clue: The purges were occurring near wells where companies were injecting oil field wastewater at excessively high pressure, high enough to crack rock deep underground & allow the waste to travel uncontrolled for miles."
Oil regulators claim Oklahoma's wastewater incidents are under control.
But our reporting with @readfrontier.bsky.social shows the state is still dealing with dozens of instances of toxic waste spewing out of the ground, one of which killed about two dozen cows in Sept.
🔗 https://propub.li/4oWsppu
But our reporting with @readfrontier.bsky.social shows the state is still dealing with dozens of instances of toxic waste spewing out of the ground, one of which killed about two dozen cows in Sept.
🔗 https://propub.li/4oWsppu
November 7, 2025 at 9:27 PM
"As they scoured well records & years of data, they zeroed in on a significant clue: The purges were occurring near wells where companies were injecting oil field wastewater at excessively high pressure, high enough to crack rock deep underground & allow the waste to travel uncontrolled for miles."
Reposted by Ben Maas
Hey folks, as news of Watson's demise spreads, please don't set aside his weighty legacy of misogyny and racism. He was truly among the worst of us. www.vox.com/2019/1/15/18...
DNA scientist James Watson has a remarkably long history of sexist, racist public comments
“People say it would be terrible if we made all girls pretty,” he said in 2003. “I think it would be great.”
www.vox.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Hey folks, as news of Watson's demise spreads, please don't set aside his weighty legacy of misogyny and racism. He was truly among the worst of us. www.vox.com/2019/1/15/18...
Reposted by Ben Maas
Every sample tested contained chemicals, whether from treated or untreated wastewater, surface runoff or agricultural chemicals. Antibiotics used to treat both humans + animals 'at concentrations high enough to suggest that antimicrobial resistance should be studied further in UK freshwaters'
Flea and tick medication, antibiotics & illicit drugs found in UK freshwater study by Imperial & @earthwatcheurope.bsky.social.
The research also found antibiotics at concentrations high enough that antimicrobial resistance should be studied further in UK freshwaters 🧵
ow.ly/jQUN50Xmmxc
The research also found antibiotics at concentrations high enough that antimicrobial resistance should be studied further in UK freshwaters 🧵
ow.ly/jQUN50Xmmxc
Flea meds, antibiotics & drugs found in UK freshwater in citizen science study | Imperial News | Imperial College London
Insecticides, antibiotics and illicit drugs that threaten aquatic life are present throughout UK waterways, research by Imperial and Earthwatch finds.
ow.ly
November 4, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Every sample tested contained chemicals, whether from treated or untreated wastewater, surface runoff or agricultural chemicals. Antibiotics used to treat both humans + animals 'at concentrations high enough to suggest that antimicrobial resistance should be studied further in UK freshwaters'
Reposted by Ben Maas
Forrest Smith, the only National Park Service engineer cleaning up abandoned oil and gas wells, lost his contract, leaving 93 orphaned wells on park lands unmanaged. These leaking wells release methane and toxins, threatening human health and the environment.
He Alone Tracked Leaky Oil Wells in National Parks. He Was Let Go.
www.nytimes.com
November 3, 2025 at 5:58 AM
Forrest Smith, the only National Park Service engineer cleaning up abandoned oil and gas wells, lost his contract, leaving 93 orphaned wells on park lands unmanaged. These leaking wells release methane and toxins, threatening human health and the environment.
This seems bad.
Let's check in and see how November temperatures in the Contiguous U.S. have changed over the last 75 years. 🔥
November 3, 2025 at 5:01 AM
This seems bad.
"The researchers found that a plastic concentration of just 0.4% by mass can change how quickly water flows through soil"
Microplastics are seeping into the soil, where they can change the way soil interacts with water. These findings show one way that plastic pollution might affect agriculture in the coming decades.
Microplastics Have Widely Varying Effects on Soil - Eos
A new study finds that a microplastic concentration of just 0.4% alters the drainage of soil, which could affect the growth of crops and other plants.
eos.org
November 2, 2025 at 3:13 PM
"The researchers found that a plastic concentration of just 0.4% by mass can change how quickly water flows through soil"
IMO, but I lose a lot of respect for people that use AI in a presentation.
The amount of AI generated art in slides at this conference, primarily used by older scientists, is killing me. Scientists please. Don’t use these ai platforms to make your figures or slides. They look bad and I have yet to see them meaningfully improve the message of talks.
November 2, 2025 at 2:14 PM
IMO, but I lose a lot of respect for people that use AI in a presentation.