@glasspusher@beige.party cover
@glasspusher@beige.party avatar

glasspusher

@[email protected]

he/him, standing with 🏳️‍⚧️, 🏳️‍🌈 and 🇺🇦
“it is better to disable one streetlight than to curse the light pollution”

90% Reply Guy and shitposting, 7% science and astronomy pix, 3% attempts at humor. You’ve been warned.

Bio: scientist since I was 4 years old, and still loving it.

Header pic is a partially eclipsed moon in a field with a few stars. Avatar is a crescent formed by flour spilled on a black granite countertop

#LRRR2028 or as soon as possible
#teamOrca
#ChunderRoad

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. View on remote instance

@Alice@beige.party avatar Alice , to random

I was at a work event in Florida earlier this week and there was a guy hired to wander around and draw caricatures of us and this is apparently mine 😂

Caricature of a woman with a chin length bob and glasses wearing a jean jacket and a knee length black dress who is holding up her phone.
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glasspusher , (edited )
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@Alice nice!

Edit: also: you were wearing heels?

@futurebird@sauropods.win avatar futurebird , to random

ask anyone and they will tell you that Solenopsis invicta, the imported fire ant, is not a polymorphic species: there’s no such thing as a “fire ant major” and yet consider the variation in head size found within a single colony

A photo showing electron microscope scans of the heads of fire ants. The largest one is nearly twice as wide as the smallest one.
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glasspusher ,
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@futurebird I learned about 20 years ago that some fire ants are 50% by weight formic acid

@ai6yr@m.ai6yr.org avatar ai6yr , to random

LOL true Mastodon verification:

YOU MUST VERIFY YOURSELF ON MASTODON BY:

  • Posting a picture of a cat in your lap
  • Random photos of flowers
  • Wax poetic about your favorite episode of Star Trek TNG (or your hate of the series)
  • Random, undecipherable technical blabbering about ham radio electronics
  • Mention something about your favorite Linux command line
  • Say hello to your many LGBTQ followers/friends here, just because you're glad they're here
  • Toot a picture of some mushroom you ran into while walking in the forst
  • Something something astronomy
  • Random gadget/device/bicycle post
  • Post a random picture of a tree or window
glasspusher ,
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@ai6yr I choose cats and astronomy

glasspusher ,
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@sundogplanets @michael_w_busch @technodad @mar10sanch32 @ai6yr

How about “former adjunct professors (of chemistry) who are amateur astronomers”?

Asking for a friend…

@futurebird@sauropods.win avatar futurebird , (edited ) to random

Future you from ten years from now has shown up to visit. How do you react?

glasspusher ,
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@futurebird we do not tamper with natural law- we defend it!

@glasspusher@beige.party avatar glasspusher , to random

My Evil Black Cat wishes you all a happy

A black cat, seen from behind, in silhouette, sitting on a sunlit blue mat
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@autolycos@med-mastodon.com avatar autolycos , to random

See the 'impossible' as sunrise and a total lunar eclipse appear at the same time on March 3 | Space
https://www.space.com/stargazing/lunar-eclipses/see-the-impossible-as-sunrise-and-a-total-lunar-eclipse-appear-at-the-same-time-on-march-3

glasspusher ,
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@autolycos gonna be hard. A totally eclipsed moon doesn’t do well in twilight. Joe Rao should know better, but, hey, clicks

@arstechnica@mastodon.social avatar arstechnica , to random

Boozy chimps fail urine test, confirm hotly debated theory
Spare a thought for the intrepid graduate students who spent last summer in Africa collecting chimp urine.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/02/boozy-chimps-fail-urine-test-confirm-hotly-debated-theory/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

glasspusher ,
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@evacide@hachyderm.io avatar evacide , to random

When I am made God Emperor, the people who design hotel bathrooms so that you cannot see your face up close in a mirror and also have somewhere to put your makeup will be piled up and set ablaze.

glasspusher ,
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@evacide I, for one, would like to welcome you as our new overlady

@TidalFlats@mastodon.coffee avatar TidalFlats , to random

Serious Storm Served Super Sticky Snowfall

Photo of a post- blizzard backyard on Maryland's Eastern Shore. The entire scene- ground, trees, fence, furniture - is covered with white snow.

Photo of a post- blizzard backyard on Maryland's Eastern Shore. The entire scene- ground, trees, fence, furniture - is covered with white snow.
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glasspusher ,
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@TidalFlats still coming down there? It’s warmer and windier than the big one in January, and it’s still coming down, but it looks like 6 inches or so so far

glasspusher ,
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@AlterNewt @TidalFlats

I just walked into work, I had an experiment I set up yesterday that I need to check on. 35+ mph gusts, tons of blowing snow, it's still coming down, but 10 more inches? I doubt it at this point

@futurebird@sauropods.win avatar futurebird , to random

Moderation Note:

Please do not reply to posts on our server with off-topic fundraiser requests. This is spamy and can feel inconsiderate.

You can post about a fundraiser on your own thread, you can bring it up in context. But, a pattern of "replies" that make no reference to what they are responding to asking for donations, or advertising a shop etc. will be considered spam.

(I'm happy to get feedback on this call, but I've also thought about it for a long time and think it's fair.)

glasspusher ,
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@futurebird it’s not my fault, the money goes straight to Pika

@glasspusher@beige.party avatar glasspusher , to random

Lately I'm surprised how many people I ask can't whistle. Please answer and boost this mission critical post

@glasspusher@beige.party avatar glasspusher , to random

@WEATHERISHAPPENING Wearing my WIH shirt at work today and my co-worker, she's like "dude that's a scary shirt"

@glasspusher@beige.party avatar glasspusher , to random

Charles River from the Moody Street Bridge in this morning. Plenty of goose tracks in the snow.

a vast expanse of snow covered river with goose tracks in the snow at right. The shadow of the bridge is visible on the snow in the foreground. A blue sky above and bare trees on the shore frame the river
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@futurebird@sauropods.win avatar futurebird , to random

New from Purrfect Press

"Addressing the Allegations"
By Pica the Cat

Chapters:

  1. The Haters
  2. Glorious Pica
  3. Opportunities for Praise
  4. The Power of Napping
  5. Inevitable Failure of the Haters
  6. Tragedy Strikes: A late dinner
  7. Songs From My Soul
  8. Thoughts on "Staff" and the Burden of Leadership
  9. Pica Forever

Pre-order now! (not a suggestion I fear... please...)

glasspusher ,
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@futurebird sign me up for two, I want to make sure I look good when she takes over

@TwoClownsEating@beige.party avatar TwoClownsEating , to random

I'm becoming increasingly aware that I might have become a low level lewd account recently.

I can only assume because the sun is setting at 4pm these days that nearly all of my posts are subconsciously, "Mat, after dark".

glasspusher ,
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@arstechnica@mastodon.social avatar arstechnica , to random

HP plans to save millions by laying off thousands, ramping up AI use
Product development, internal operations among teams expected to be hit hardest.
https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2025/11/hp-plans-to-save-millions-by-laying-off-thousands-ramping-up-ai-use/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

glasspusher ,
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@arstechnica slop, meet slop

@w7voa@journa.host avatar w7voa , to random

MS NOW - President Trump is considering removing Kash Patel as FBI director. https://www.ms.now/news/trump-kash-patel-replacing-fbi-director-planes-girlfriend

glasspusher ,
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@w7voa he’s no Scotty Pruitt @edwilk

@kevinrothrock@infosec.exchange avatar kevinrothrock , to random

Important context here that many foreigners lack is that Russian family planning has relied on abortion over contraception more than you'd find in Western countries.

https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/11/24/17-year-old-college-student-gives-birth-in-bathroom-stall-and-leaves-baby-wrapped-on-floor-hospitals-in-her-region-of-russia-have-stopped-offering-abortions

glasspusher ,
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@kevinrothrock that sucks. I heard that in the Soviet Union, abortions were accessible?

@edwilk@mstdn.social avatar edwilk , to random

@AlterNewt @12thRITS @TidalFlats @biff52 @glasspusher
A rather different story than our adventure, though possibly a future encounter.
via Atrios.

https://www.fox4news.com/news/haitian-island-coup-plot-weisenburg-thomas

glasspusher ,
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@12thRITS @edwilk @AlterNewt @TidalFlats @biff52

The island has a population of 27,000. Yeah good luck with that guys

glasspusher ,
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@12thRITS @edwilk @AlterNewt @TidalFlats @biff52 I drove across the Texas panhandle in 2002

glasspusher ,
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@edwilk @12thRITS @AlterNewt @TidalFlats @biff52

Are you suggesting I get laid by the locals in my road trips?

@glasspusher@beige.party avatar glasspusher , to random

sunset over the Charles River, Waltham MA, 2025 11 16

A sunset reflected in a large expanse of somewhat choppy lake water. The sky is blue with gray and yellow clouds and a bright sun just above the horizon. The scene is framed by bare trees on the right, and trees and a couple of fancy apartment buildings on the left
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@Alice@beige.party avatar Alice , to random

Throwback to many years ago when I took a graphic design class and my professor wanted us to create an entire page of sketches to show our "process" but I already knew what I wanted to do so I just drew over 20 bad fake thumbnail sketches to pretend like I actually improved in the process.

Full color pop art style poster design for a band called Ümloud with a cassette tape at the bottom and two people's heads poking out from the top.

Full color pop art style poster design for a band called Ümloud with a cassette tape at the bottom and two people's heads poking out from the top.
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glasspusher ,
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@Alice relatable. Like the year in high school that made decide to get off the honors English track. I wasn’t going to rewrite my paper (by hand!) several times to improve on a first draft. The first one I wrote was the one he was getting

@arstechnica@mastodon.social avatar arstechnica , to random

10,000 generations of hominins used the same stone tools to weather a changing world
This technological tradition lasted longer than Homo sapiens have even been a species.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/11/10000-generations-of-hominins-used-the-same-stone-tools-to-weather-a-changing-world/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

glasspusher ,
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@Binder@petrous.vislae.town avatar Binder , to random

[Thread, post or comment was deleted by the author]

    •
    glasspusher ,
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    @Binder @farah

    An exchange at a company I worked at long ago

    “What about steel?”

    “You can’t weld ferrous metals”

    “What about nickel?”

    “You can’t weld ferrous metals”

    …

    @w7voa@journa.host avatar w7voa , to random

    The only statue of a Confederate general in the nation’s capital, which was pulled down and lit on fire on Juneteenth 2020 by demonstrators, has returned to Judiciary Square. https://wtop.com/dc/2025/10/dcs-only-outdoor-statue-of-a-confederate-general-is-back-in-a-judiciary-square-park/

    glasspusher ,
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    @w7voa killing it with fire is not enough

    @ai6yr@m.ai6yr.org avatar ai6yr , to random

    Straits Times: Philippine firm says it was asked to bury radioactive dust

    "...The Philippine steel company said it was tagged as the source of the radioactive materials by PNRI, and ordered to entomb the containers in its Calaca scrap recycling plant in Batangas province, according to a statement on Oct 25...."

    https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/philippine-firm-says-it-was-asked-to-bury-radioactive-dust

    glasspusher ,
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    @autolycos @carstenfranke @ai6yr

    Someone else’s problem? More like everyone else’s problem

    glasspusher ,
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    @carstenfranke @autolycos @ai6yr

    I (briefly) worked on the Yucca Mountain Project, long ago. Burying stuff with the hopes that the repository will last a quarter million years is...unrealistic

    @edwilk@mstdn.social avatar edwilk , to random

    @12thRITS @AlterNewt @glasspusher @biff52 @TidalFlats @keithmorrisnm

    Castle Rock CO.

    Tonight
    Clear, with a low around 38. South southeast wind around 5 mph becoming west southwest in the evening.

    Wednesday
    Sunny, with a high near 69. Calm wind becoming east southeast 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon.

    glasspusher ,
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    @indivisibleteam@mastodon.social avatar indivisibleteam , to random

    😍 Boston, you are beautiful.

    video/mp4

    glasspusher ,
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    @indivisibleteam hey! I think I see me!

    @arstechnica@mastodon.social avatar arstechnica , to random

    Rocket Report: A nearly perfect flight for Starship; China’s surprise launch
    Starlink, Kuiper, and the US military all saw additions to their mega-constellations this week.
    https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/10/rocket-report-a-nearly-perfect-flight-for-starship-chinas-surprise-launch/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

    glasspusher ,
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    @arstechnica Kessler syndrome here we come

    @ScienceDesk@flipboard.social avatar ScienceDesk , to random

    Two green comets shine bright. How to spot them in the night sky.

    From @AssociatedPress: "Both hail from the outer edges of our solar system — possibly what’s known as the Oort Cloud, well beyond Pluto."

    https://flip.it/hzi4JG

    glasspusher ,
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    @ScienceDesk @AssociatedPress this article doesn’t tell you how to find the comets

    @glasspusher@beige.party avatar glasspusher , to random

    going to my photo club meet up tonight, this month's theme is "spooky”, so I dug into my archives to get a couple of appropriate submissions

    A dark picture of a bay with coastal mountains on the horizon. The picture is very dark, and the only bright areas are a break in the cloud deck above and a strip of muted golden between the cloud deck and the mountains making up the horizon line. A thin opening in the cloud deck allows some sunlight to shine through, creating a bright gold patch on the water of the bay below. A pine tree frames the picture on the left. The picture looks like maybe a space ship just beamed up from the bay through the clouds

    A dark picture of a bay with coastal mountains on the horizon. The picture is very dark, and the only bright areas are a break in the cloud deck above and a strip of muted golden between the cloud deck and the mountains making up the horizon line. A thin opening in the cloud deck allows some sunlight to shine through, creating a bright gold patch on the water of the bay below. A pine tree frames the picture on the left. The picture looks like maybe a space ship just beamed up from the bay through the clouds
    ALT
    @mcc@mastodon.social avatar mcc , to random

    A thing I think about.

    Premises:

    • Many people in "AI" believe (or claim to) that if you simply upscale the existing neural network models by one more order of magnitude there will be a phase change and it will suddenly start acting like a human, or a God

    • A huge suite of "AI datacenters" that would upscale by such an order of magnitude are being built

    • There is a coming economic crash/correction which will likely come before those datacenters come online, and halt their growth.

    (1/2)

    glasspusher ,
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    @mcc I like the “phase change” analogy. Agreed, not going to happen

    glasspusher ,
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    @shironeko @mcc

    Ok. I come from the phase change terminology of the physical sciences

    glasspusher ,
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    @mcc @shironeko

    see? you're better than you realized!

    @arstechnica@mastodon.social avatar arstechnica , to random

    OpenAI unveils “wellness” council; suicide prevention expert not included
    OpenAI reveals which experts are steering ChatGPT mental health upgrades.
    https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/10/openai-unveils-wellness-council-suicide-prevention-expert-not-included/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

    glasspusher ,
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    @arstechnica I'm sure this will fix the problem @tayfonay

    YakyuNightOwl , to random

    Seattle Sailors and Motor City Kitties are locked in a tie to decide the ALDS.

    A fun time to remember a coworker who left the extra innings game in Seattle, drove home to Portland, and heard the exciting finish in their driveway.

    We just need another Mike Cameron to finish this one.

    https://www.upi.com/Archives/2000/08/02/Seattle-5-Boston-4-19-innings/9070965188800/

    glasspusher ,
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    @YakyuNightOwl @pseudonymsupreme longest winner take all game in history

    @arstechnica@mastodon.social avatar arstechnica , to random

    Man gets drunk, wakes up with a medical mystery that nearly kills him
    This one seems ready-made for a television medical drama.
    https://arstechnica.com/health/2025/10/man-gets-drunk-wakes-up-with-a-medical-mystery-that-nearly-kills-him/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

    glasspusher ,
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    @arstechnica Beth Mole is a treasure

    @georgetakei@universeodon.com avatar georgetakei , to random

    Pointing this out is now a deportable offense though.

    A screenshot of an X.com post by @dieworkwear , derek guy, posted 9 hours ago, stating, "this is the jacket's breast pocket's lining pulled up to make it look like a pocket square," accompanied by two images. The left image shows a man in a suit, identified as Stephen Miller, White House Deputy Chief of Staff, speaking on a Fox News segment titled "On Violence Against ICE Agents" with locations Phoenix and San Diego listed. The right image is a close-up of the man's jacket breast pocket, revealing the lining pulled up to resemble a pocket square.
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    glasspusher ,
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    @georgetakei this is the same guy who went on air with spray on hair in his last admin

    @glasspusher@beige.party avatar glasspusher , to random

    my Evil Black Cat™ and my Pleasingly Plump Pussycat™ wish you all a happy

    a black cat, backlit with sunlight coming through a glass door, stares at the camera. On his immediate left is a white post which reflects some sunlight, making his right eye stand out, a yellow green. In the background, out of focus, a larger cat basks in the sunlight next to the door
    ALT
    @glasspusher@beige.party avatar glasspusher , to random

    @edwilk You may find it interesting, as I did, that Pete Hegseth’s Wikipedia page is linked as part of a series on “Christian Nationalism”

    @biff52@mastodon.social avatar biff52 , to random
    glasspusher ,
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    @edwilk @biff52 we should all hope our mugshots look better

    @ScienceDesk@flipboard.social avatar ScienceDesk , to random

    At the US Open, tennis stars shine under dark sky-friendly outdoor lights.

    @AssociatedPress reports: "The stadium complex [in New York] is the only professional sports venue certified by a group that’s trying to preserve the night sky around the world."

    https://flip.it/FFqkOI

    glasspusher ,
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    @ScienceDesk @AssociatedPress

    Attn! @skyglowberlin

    @Stoned_Deva_@mas.to avatar Stoned_Deva_ , to random

    Taking inventory of my life and claiming a loss

    glasspusher ,
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    @Stoned_Deva_ relatable

    @Alice@beige.party avatar Alice , to random

    I get mad whenever my doctor talks about pre-diabetes. Just be patient, bro.

    glasspusher ,
    @glasspusher@beige.party avatar

    @Alice T&P