Renée Spiewak, PhD
@respiewak.bsky.social
Autistic astrophysicist/board-game-salesperson, Borealis (Bo)'s human, amateur sailor, pulsar enthusiast, and world traveler. Loves: cats, science, board games, books, and silence. She/Her.
Profile picture: me outside
Banner: Bo lounging on a workbench
Profile picture: me outside
Banner: Bo lounging on a workbench
Is it just me or does the new person running socials for @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social (assuming it's a new person for transition) not know how to use Alt text on images? Has anyone told them? Maybe this is me telling them
November 25, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Is it just me or does the new person running socials for @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social (assuming it's a new person for transition) not know how to use Alt text on images? Has anyone told them? Maybe this is me telling them
Reposted by Renée Spiewak, PhD
1. A landmark study was just published in The Journal of Pediatrics.
It found a 68% reduction in suicidality for trans youth getting HRT.
It also found only 7 of more than 400 stopped taking HRT... and of those that did, 4 still identified as gender-diverse.
Transgender care saves lives.
It found a 68% reduction in suicidality for trans youth getting HRT.
It also found only 7 of more than 400 stopped taking HRT... and of those that did, 4 still identified as gender-diverse.
Transgender care saves lives.
Study In The Journal Of Pediatrics Finds Trans Youth Care Lowers Suicidality, Few Detransition
The groundbreaking study found that suicidality dropped for transgender youth receiving hormone therapy by nearly 70%, with only 7 patients of 432 discontinuing treatment.
www.erininthemorning.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:01 PM
1. A landmark study was just published in The Journal of Pediatrics.
It found a 68% reduction in suicidality for trans youth getting HRT.
It also found only 7 of more than 400 stopped taking HRT... and of those that did, 4 still identified as gender-diverse.
Transgender care saves lives.
It found a 68% reduction in suicidality for trans youth getting HRT.
It also found only 7 of more than 400 stopped taking HRT... and of those that did, 4 still identified as gender-diverse.
Transgender care saves lives.
Reposted by Renée Spiewak, PhD
The Israeli military’s genocide isn’t over, it’s expanding.
The Israeli government has violated the truce nearly 500 times in 44 days, killing over 342 Palestinians in Gaza, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office, including 28 Palestinians in the past three days.
The Israeli government has violated the truce nearly 500 times in 44 days, killing over 342 Palestinians in Gaza, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office, including 28 Palestinians in the past three days.
November 25, 2025 at 2:49 PM
The Israeli military’s genocide isn’t over, it’s expanding.
The Israeli government has violated the truce nearly 500 times in 44 days, killing over 342 Palestinians in Gaza, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office, including 28 Palestinians in the past three days.
The Israeli government has violated the truce nearly 500 times in 44 days, killing over 342 Palestinians in Gaza, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office, including 28 Palestinians in the past three days.
Reposted by Renée Spiewak, PhD
Here are my top 10 dogs carrying big sticks!
November 25, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Here are my top 10 dogs carrying big sticks!
Reposted by Renée Spiewak, PhD
Welcome to the world premier of Marcel's Beans.
November 24, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Welcome to the world premier of Marcel's Beans.
Reposted by Renée Spiewak, PhD
This is Teena. She has heard your cotton ball jokes and is not impressed. 12/10 (IG: bichon_punta)
November 24, 2025 at 8:07 PM
This is Teena. She has heard your cotton ball jokes and is not impressed. 12/10 (IG: bichon_punta)
Reposted by Renée Spiewak, PhD
Please share widely
November 20, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Please share widely
Reposted by Renée Spiewak, PhD
A paper by @univie.ac.at researchers found an awful security flaw in WhatsApp - there was zero rate limiting preventing anyone from querying the details of every single WhatsApp user on earth in just a few hours 🫠
A Simple WhatsApp Security Flaw Exposed 3.5 Billion Phone Numbers
By plugging tens of billions of phone numbers into WhatsApp’s contact discovery tool, researchers found “the most extensive exposure of phone numbers” ever—along with profile photos and more.
www.wired.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:44 AM
A paper by @univie.ac.at researchers found an awful security flaw in WhatsApp - there was zero rate limiting preventing anyone from querying the details of every single WhatsApp user on earth in just a few hours 🫠
Reposted by Renée Spiewak, PhD
One of the most liberating truths I’ve learned, and the one that white folx, particularly white men, still struggle to face, is this:
The myth of white supremacy explains your behavior.
It does not, and has never, determined my value.
The myth of white supremacy explains your behavior.
It does not, and has never, determined my value.
November 19, 2025 at 10:50 AM
One of the most liberating truths I’ve learned, and the one that white folx, particularly white men, still struggle to face, is this:
The myth of white supremacy explains your behavior.
It does not, and has never, determined my value.
The myth of white supremacy explains your behavior.
It does not, and has never, determined my value.
Reposted by Renée Spiewak, PhD
Anyway most books you read ARE NOT FACT CHECKED. Publishers will not pay for fact checkers. An author must take it upon themselves and pay out of pocket.
Which is why folks like @annaleen.bsky.social and @swordsjew.bsky.social who have hired me to fact check their books should be celebrated.
Which is why folks like @annaleen.bsky.social and @swordsjew.bsky.social who have hired me to fact check their books should be celebrated.
November 18, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Anyway most books you read ARE NOT FACT CHECKED. Publishers will not pay for fact checkers. An author must take it upon themselves and pay out of pocket.
Which is why folks like @annaleen.bsky.social and @swordsjew.bsky.social who have hired me to fact check their books should be celebrated.
Which is why folks like @annaleen.bsky.social and @swordsjew.bsky.social who have hired me to fact check their books should be celebrated.
Reposted by Renée Spiewak, PhD
TurboTax is about to be integrated into ChatGPT, where customers will be guided through tasks tied to their tax filings or financial profile by the AI chatbot.
TurboTax owner Intuit is also paying OpenAI more than $100 million a year to power AI agents.
TurboTax owner Intuit is also paying OpenAI more than $100 million a year to power AI agents.
November 18, 2025 at 4:16 PM
TurboTax is about to be integrated into ChatGPT, where customers will be guided through tasks tied to their tax filings or financial profile by the AI chatbot.
TurboTax owner Intuit is also paying OpenAI more than $100 million a year to power AI agents.
TurboTax owner Intuit is also paying OpenAI more than $100 million a year to power AI agents.
Reposted by Renée Spiewak, PhD
Imagine getting mad at me online when I’m quite literally beyond beef
November 17, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Imagine getting mad at me online when I’m quite literally beyond beef
Reposted by Renée Spiewak, PhD
me: *telling 3yo something about our wedding*
3yo: I was not there yet!
me: that's true! you weren't born yet.
3yo: I was in South America!
me: ...no
3yo: yes, I was there when I was 4.
me: you have not been 4 yet either!
3yo: when YOU will be 4, you will also go there!
me: .................
3yo: I was not there yet!
me: that's true! you weren't born yet.
3yo: I was in South America!
me: ...no
3yo: yes, I was there when I was 4.
me: you have not been 4 yet either!
3yo: when YOU will be 4, you will also go there!
me: .................
November 17, 2025 at 5:32 AM
me: *telling 3yo something about our wedding*
3yo: I was not there yet!
me: that's true! you weren't born yet.
3yo: I was in South America!
me: ...no
3yo: yes, I was there when I was 4.
me: you have not been 4 yet either!
3yo: when YOU will be 4, you will also go there!
me: .................
3yo: I was not there yet!
me: that's true! you weren't born yet.
3yo: I was in South America!
me: ...no
3yo: yes, I was there when I was 4.
me: you have not been 4 yet either!
3yo: when YOU will be 4, you will also go there!
me: .................
Reposted by Renée Spiewak, PhD
so my friends: are any of you (or someone you know) an expert on post-main sequence stellar evolution and/or planets in post-main sequence star systems? 👉👈😬🧪🔭
this throws my whole fucking schedule off for the next several days because they couldn't be bothered to let me know they were blowing me off. Now instead of being able to finish writing, I have to find another source NOW.
November 14, 2025 at 2:58 PM
so my friends: are any of you (or someone you know) an expert on post-main sequence stellar evolution and/or planets in post-main sequence star systems? 👉👈😬🧪🔭
Reposted by Renée Spiewak, PhD
RE starbucks picket line--the relevant detail is "picket line, do not cross." Pass that along. Proclaiming that you are in no danger of doing so because you are too aesthetically pure to let Starbucks coffee pass your lips is...unhelpful and does not give the impression you perhaps imagine it does.
November 13, 2025 at 1:56 PM
RE starbucks picket line--the relevant detail is "picket line, do not cross." Pass that along. Proclaiming that you are in no danger of doing so because you are too aesthetically pure to let Starbucks coffee pass your lips is...unhelpful and does not give the impression you perhaps imagine it does.
Reposted by Renée Spiewak, PhD
So many salacious Epstein emails in teeny tiny font, hardly any alt text
November 13, 2025 at 1:09 AM
So many salacious Epstein emails in teeny tiny font, hardly any alt text
Reposted by Renée Spiewak, PhD
We are so excited to announce our first Patreon raffle! We have a huge pile of merch that you can have a chance to win just by signing up for our Patreon blog at the $5/month level or higher: patreon.com/Merrymac?utm...
November 12, 2025 at 12:36 AM
We are so excited to announce our first Patreon raffle! We have a huge pile of merch that you can have a chance to win just by signing up for our Patreon blog at the $5/month level or higher: patreon.com/Merrymac?utm...
Reposted by Renée Spiewak, PhD
Potatoes are just a new spin on a decades-old “wellness” myth that has said to do this with raw onions.
Since onions and potatoes oxidize when exposed to the air for a while the “wellness” snake oil salesman say the darkening is proof that they’re “absorbing toxins” from the body.
Since onions and potatoes oxidize when exposed to the air for a while the “wellness” snake oil salesman say the darkening is proof that they’re “absorbing toxins” from the body.
Under-the-weather TikTokers are slicing raw potatoes and placing them in their — and their children’s — socks before bed. The theory is that the potato draws out toxins.
However, experts warn against relying on folk remedies over medical care.
However, experts warn against relying on folk remedies over medical care.
No, putting a potato in your sock will not cure a cold
TikTokers are placing slices of raw potatoes in their — and their children’s socks — overnight to cure illnesses.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Potatoes are just a new spin on a decades-old “wellness” myth that has said to do this with raw onions.
Since onions and potatoes oxidize when exposed to the air for a while the “wellness” snake oil salesman say the darkening is proof that they’re “absorbing toxins” from the body.
Since onions and potatoes oxidize when exposed to the air for a while the “wellness” snake oil salesman say the darkening is proof that they’re “absorbing toxins” from the body.
Reposted by Renée Spiewak, PhD
Reposted by Renée Spiewak, PhD
repost with alt-text because this is ... something
November 6, 2025 at 6:28 PM
repost with alt-text because this is ... something
Reposted by Renée Spiewak, PhD
in the meantime, here's a fantastic thread that @georgemonbiot.bsky.social shared yesterday which we discuss within the episode: a history of how we perceive the urban and the rural, contextualising it right within the present moment, and thoughts about the future.
bsky.app/profile/geor...
bsky.app/profile/geor...
1. In the wake on Mamdani’s win, we’ll see a lot more far right anti-urban sentiment. Here’s a thread on its roots and evolution.
The idea that the city is evil and corrupt, and the countryside innocent and pure, goes back a long way: to Theocritus in Alexandria, and to the Old Testament. 🧵
The idea that the city is evil and corrupt, and the countryside innocent and pure, goes back a long way: to Theocritus in Alexandria, and to the Old Testament. 🧵
November 6, 2025 at 9:34 AM
in the meantime, here's a fantastic thread that @georgemonbiot.bsky.social shared yesterday which we discuss within the episode: a history of how we perceive the urban and the rural, contextualising it right within the present moment, and thoughts about the future.
bsky.app/profile/geor...
bsky.app/profile/geor...
Reposted by Renée Spiewak, PhD
New awareness campaign
November 3, 2025 at 3:23 PM
New awareness campaign
Reposted by Renée Spiewak, PhD
أنا اسمي زهران ممدان وعم رشّح حالي لأكون العمدة الجديد في مدينة نيويورك
November 1, 2025 at 8:54 PM
أنا اسمي زهران ممدان وعم رشّح حالي لأكون العمدة الجديد في مدينة نيويورك
Reposted by Renée Spiewak, PhD
Republicans have illegally stopped SNAP payments (aka food stamps). Here's a selection from the DECADES of research that prove this program benefits society: better health, less crime, higher rates of education, and a savings of $20 for every $1 spent 🧪 skepchick.org/2025/10/food...
Food Stamps are Good, Actually (Here Comes the Science)
Transcript: At the beginning of November, the Trump administration will be illegally ending payments to low-income families across the United States who participate in the “Supplemental Nutrition A…
skepchick.org
October 30, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Republicans have illegally stopped SNAP payments (aka food stamps). Here's a selection from the DECADES of research that prove this program benefits society: better health, less crime, higher rates of education, and a savings of $20 for every $1 spent 🧪 skepchick.org/2025/10/food...
Reposted by Renée Spiewak, PhD
The people yearn for (democratic) socialism (this one will make you cry)
October 30, 2025 at 1:06 AM
The people yearn for (democratic) socialism (this one will make you cry)