Favorites April 16th 2022

Trying out having the photo at the top.

Dr. Megan Ann Greenfield @magreenfield

Amazing new polymer: “elastic modulus is 4-6x that of bulletproof glass…. its yield strength is twice that of steel, even though the material has only about one-sixth the density of steel.”

scitechdaily.comMIT Engineers Create the “Impossible” – New Material That Is Stronger Than Steel and As Light as PlasticThe new substance is the result of a feat thought to be impossible: polymerizing a material in two dimensions. Using a novel polymerization process, MIT chemical engineers have created a new material that is stronger than steel and as light as plastic, and can be easily manufactured in large quan

It self-assembles into a 2d layer, very cool!

Amanda Glassman @glassmanamanda

An Operation Warp Speed for Nasal Vaccines -

marginalrevolution.comAn Operation Warp Speed for Nasal Vaccines - Marginal REVOLUTIONI have been pushing for more funding for nasal vaccines since early last year when I wrote about trypanophobia and see also my Congressional testimony. The Washington Post reports that the idea is gaining traction among scientists but funding is limited: As the omicron variant of the coronavirus mov…

Alex Tabarrok: "Operation Warp Speed was the highest benefit to cost ratio of any government program since the Manhattan Project".

Omar Wasow @owasow

“Thirty years ago, 55% of men reported having at least six close friends. Today, 27% of men have six or more close friends. Fifteen percent of men have no close friendships at all, a fivefold increase since 1990.” americansurveycenter.org/why-mens-socia…

The thread has some data and sad anecdotes, what's more, geographic mobility probably isn't to blame here.

James Fallows @JamesFallows

Discussion back in the day: Friends: “I don’t like X, Y, Z about the Trans-Pacific Partnership.” Me: "You’re going to like a lot less whatever takes its place." Friends: “We should have something better.” Me: “Yeah, but we’re going to get something worse.” And …

Scott Lincicome @scottlincicome

"S. Korea decides to join CPTPP trade agreement" https://t.co/JLSCGqJaAx https://t.co/Cwr74dg9xl

Ugh, what a policy disaster.

Dr. Grant T. Harward @GHarward

Sometimes the internet really delivers! 😆😂🤣 #Dracula #VladtheImpaler #marshmallows (Although most Romanians I introduced marshmallows to thought they were too sweet. We wasted a bunch of marshmallows and graham crackers sent from the States on s'mores at a church activity.)

• Thread with details about the Moskva and why it sank. Includes unconfirmed reports of 58 survivors from a crew of 500.