No, Seriously, Tell Me Your Science Questions

We've broken 100 subscribers to this newsletter! I understand that, in the world of newsletters, this is the smallest of potatoes, more of a cherry-tomato-sized potato, but it's very exciting to me. It's meant that I'm now paying Buttondown for the newsletter, which in turn means that you can comment on the email. So let's give that a try!

I have potential future topics that live in the intersection of science and story-telling, but what are you interested in? Tell me in comments what science questions you have, what topics you're interested in, or whether you just want me to yell about seasteading¹.

This is an experiment I undertake with some trepidation, as I've experienced the toxicity of comment sections before. But I have faith in y'all. Let's make this a space where we can roll around in the weirdness of science like science puppies².

What I'm Vibing With

• I really appreciated Lincoln Michel's essay on the value of short stories in American fiction.
• The Kate Middleton Photoshop thing is so weird and yet so fascinating from a PR and information management standpoint. I appreciated Jessica Winter's coverage of the whole thing and Ellie Hall's breakdown of why this is so weird coming from the UK monarchy.
• Or you can just read Garbage Ryan's explanation of how misinformation is fun.
• Everyone who's ever had to give final approval to words or images to be published just cringed at this story.
• MrBeast has mastered the YouTube algorithm for years. That may be changing, and MrBeast is changing along with it.
• I lived through GamerGate, with its doxxing and bomb threats and awfulness to people I care deeply about. I am very not excited for GamerGate 2.0.
• Oklahoma banned trans students from using bathrooms that match their gender, and Nex Benedict died. The U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama is getting threats for daring to have a trans person working for them. These are not unrelated.

Dang, those last two items got real dark. So, here: is this enough onions?