Please notice: “How to Revive Science in America” https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2537854123 Which many will find stimulating reading. Have look at reference #7 for further stimulation. Direct link: https://doi.org/10.1029/2025AV002011
It's taken a lot more than a few years to get where we are, and will probably take a lot more to repair. I remember noticing, close to 30 years ago, every Fall, like clockwork, as the new students were showing up at the public university here, preachers descending on campus for the first few weeks to stand in the high-foot-traffic areas and shout at the kids that the best thing they could do for their souls would be to drop out and go back home.
There is a lot of gadgetry invention these days compared to 1960. Things that are not necessary. Maga can always defect to Russia where their ideas align better. Call it immigrate, do it in summer, because during winter you will become an alcoholic.
Unlike "some" here...I love my Country and I'm going no where...regardless which Party thinks they are running things at any given time.
I suppose that international defectors come mostly from sports, military, diplomatic service or espionage backgrounds. One factor tying them together would be not returning to country. Not once; not four times. So the implication does not fit. Defecting from logic and reason is different. Returnees always welcome.
Look on the sunny side. No one even maga could have predicted the extremes seen now. Saying let’s try bleach for covid, covid is a hoax, but I invented covid vaccines, and trying to overthrow the Constitution at the end weren’t enough to change maga. This time it’s even worse so it may shake sense into maga. he literally is speaking in tongues or something, completely bonkers.
"Maga can always defect to Russia..." It's also not defection, unless it involves illegally transferring information (to new hosts) so that leaving person could not safely re enter US. A US biologist I know now lives in Moscow. Working in such a narrow field that if I mention it, could led to exposure. US Dept of State has Russia at Level 4 "Do not travel". I have some concerns for safety of this person. So, Russia does not look like a great suggestion overall. -- "There is a lot of gadgetry invention these days compared to 1960. Things that are not necessary." Fascinating topic to discuss. Only mentioning Lava Lamp (1963) that should qualify, and yet Cloudflare uses them to generate random numbers (better than binary computers can) for digital security.
"Look on the sunny side." +++ lots for that! "covid is a hoax, but I invented covid vaccines" Genomic sequencing, 'transcriptomics' (whatever that that means, right?) and lipid encapsulation of mRNA vaccines, together, have answered the question: Wth can we do when the next frisky capable zoonotic disease presents itself? All that tech came from US Science funding. Euro followed along. China did nothing notable.
Since maga is in lock step with authoritarianism and a ruler who ignores the Constitution, I’m only giving them good wishes and speedy travel to live in Russia where a dictator is assured. Maga cannot change, so they should go where they like it. This here is not going to be destroyed for them.
America has in the past welcomed those from diverse geographies. I hoe that America in the future will not unwelcome those from diverse ideologies. Inborn or outborn. == As a retired person, I'd be happy to live in US later. But for the very high costs of many things, personal safety when not in home (see guns), and my Chinese wife facing peculiar discrimination as even presented here.
America hasn't always welcomed others. that kind of generalization makes things seem more unique today than they really are
While there is much more to be said about US role funding science, the media side of reporting of science and beyond in interesting. To that end I mention a podcast episode in: https://startalk-radio.simplecast.com/episodes Called Fixing the Internet with Harleen Kaur (Bonus Minisode) Can we fix the news? On this minisode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-host Gary O’Reilly sit down with Harleen Kaur, former space engineer and founder of Ground News, to explore our current media landscape, navigating bias, and fixi... June 20th, 2025 | 36:25 | S16:E38 I’d be surprised if no readers here found interest in this link. I’d also be surprised if no readers here find a way to distract from this message. Clever and motivated they are. == There is a lot more in ‘startalk’ podcasts informing Science. We may get to that later.
In the past, the USA has raided the brightest and most innovative minds from across the world: Albert Einstein; Werner VonBraun; Nicola Tesla, and; Elon Musk. These immigrants brought skills and energy that our country we used to prize. In contrast, it appears we've taught other peoples and nations the secret to our past successes. Bob Wilson
Well ... Werner VonBraun arguably was raided (Operation Paperclip), but he wanted rockets to go beyond Earth anyway. German V2 was silly for him. None of others named were raided. And such a short list of names. -- But main message today is that not all is gloom related to thread title. See this: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-01119-1 describing a surprising increase in NSF Fellowships.
