BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 14/10/2026The only way to stop this conversion it to remove excess clean tubes to a secret location or the PI’s office. Otherwise, labs risk becoming entirely overrun with dirty tubes. 000 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 14/10/2026Colleagues and I have established that dirty NMR tubes are autocatalytic. A single dirty tube will convert any amount of clean tubes to their dirty form, when not observed by the lab manager or PI. We also found the process is irreversible until the supply of clean tubes has been fully exhausted. 2184 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 13/10/2026I’ll believe it when they can make smart appliances connect on the first try and stay connected when you need them to work. And no way is there enough RAM in my wash machine to run HAL. 120 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Yes, but us Americans think recklessness is a compliment. Clearly the rest of the world is using cowboy wrong. 120 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 08/09/2026If a bagel can make a sandwich, what is a tire but a rubber bagel?static.klipy.comMcDonald's Bagels CommercialAlt: McDonald's Bagels Commercial. stampede of bagels rolling across the screen like a herd of F-150 pick-up trucks. 022 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 07/09/2026Expected better than this from @wired.com Completely misses the mark on challenges to science education in the US and how industry can support education programs. AACT has many great teaching resources with balanced perspectives. #chemsky 010 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 20/08/2026We’ll still be able to see the phoenix on the Chemical Landmark plaques, cast in bronze. And, why would anyone care about a degree certified by the organization behind this this new thing? 010 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 20/08/2026I can tell this paper is almost done cause we’ve reached the “fighting with Zotero” stage. Do I try to make it work? Or suffer through correcting by hand?static.klipy.comDoc Brown: Where We're Going, We Don't Need RoadsAlt: Doc Brown: Where We're Going, We Don't Need Roads 100 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 08/08/2026If it’s Friday and you have deadlines, all the instruments will pick today to fail in new and creative ways. Also: Don’t neglect preventative maintenance. 010 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 20/07/2026As a chemist, Chiral and Achiral are jarring names for villains that are mirror images of each other. Alrhough, not the worst villains in Sailor Moon. At least they speak in full sentences. 000 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 17/07/2026Wearing shorts to work in summer is the full prof evolution. It says “I’m here to watch you work but don’t ask me for help if something breaks. I can’t go into lab today for safety.” 120 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 19/06/2026The unfortunate gauge that is now in many pieces. As far I know, it predates our current instrument before 2016. 010 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 19/06/2026We’ve been saving the official Bruker one for this occasion. But it’s adjustable and very expensive. Students can’t be trusted with that much power. 041 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 18/06/2026Anyone have recommendations for an NMR spinner depth gauge? Maybe a 3D printed version. Our old one disintegrated today. #NMRchat #chemchat 322 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 04/05/2026Finished a whirlwind week of science and travel from Michigan to California to Utah. Started with peptoid synthesis with the Nanobio team at the Molecular Foundry. Finished with supramolecular anion chemistry at the NSF CASC meeting. www.nsfcasc.com Next week it’s time to clean up the peptoids. 000 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 01/04/2026Salvage pieces and commission the art department to make a memorial piece for display outside the lab. It’s the only reasonable alternative. Give it a few years and you have the Hall of Emeritus Instruments. 110 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 04/03/2026I’m on the ACN side. But I switch it up for my class worksheets and assessments, so they are comfortable with both. 000 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 17/01/2026I am well versed in the difference between a drip and a flood. And every level of water damage in between. 130 0
Reposted by BlakeTAndre the Chemist @andrechemist.bsky.social · 11/12/2025Mrs. the Chemist is wearing a holiday sweater with "Ho Ho Ho" on it. So of course I asked my older child if they knew what "Ho" means. Kids: "Uh, it's a bad word." Me: "No, it's a chemical element, holmium. Do you know what the atomic number holmium is?" Kid: "No." Me: *smiles* Got 'em. 5325 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 10/12/2025-ate is such a weird suffix in chemistry. Brominate is a verb but silicate is a noun. And oxygen is element eight. #chemchat 292 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 03/12/2025No accidents that I know but good example of miscommunication. We had a biologist come to train three chemists on a new instrument. B: “Ideally start with a lyophilized sample you can weigh accurately” C: “uh, we usually dry under high vacuum” B: “can you lyophilize it?” Repeat for 5 minutes. 120 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 17/11/2025A plus in my opinion. Cookie selection also depends on the beverage. Oreos only work in cold milk. 000 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 16/11/2025Greatest dunking cookie, Oreos or Tim Tams? #chemchat 731 0
Reposted by BlakeTMichael Pittelkow @pittelkowlab.bsky.social · 09/10/2025I have a fully funded PhD position available in my group in Copenhagen: candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationI...candidate.hr-manager.netPhD fellowship in Organic Synthesis and Supramolecular ChemistryThe Department of Chemistry at the University of Copenhagen invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in Organic chemistry with a particular focus on supramolecul 01213 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 02/10/2025Today is shaping up to be a real “professor yells at cloud” kind of day. And the cloud is mostly AI.media.tenor.coma cartoon of homer simpson is holding a newspaper that says old man yells at cloudAlt: a cartoon of homer simpson is holding a newspaper that says old man yells at cloud 030 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 30/09/2025Why would anyone need so many magnets if not for mind control? 130 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 18/09/2025Two possibilities, methyl is shorter than methylpropyl so comes first alphabetically. Or, methyl has the lower locant number. Both seem to be supported by IUPAC alphanumerical ordering. Which, I had to go look up. 😁 110 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 05/09/2025media.tenor.coma black and white photo of a door with a wrought iron design on itAlt: President Camacho, former pro-wrestler, making a dramatic entrance for a cabinet meeting with smoke. 020 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 24/08/2025I estimated the pKa for sarcosine’s CH2 at 33.4 from calculated proton affinity. This should be in the ballpark 30-35 pKa. You might deprotonate it with LDA or another very strong base. 120 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 14/08/2025Teams is great for education. I love it. {with so much sarcasm} But you might be able to create an email list in outlook then add that to teams. 🤷♂️ 110 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 09/08/2025Baking soda, no way. Sodium bicarbonate, must be for chemistry lab stuff. 030 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 18/07/2025Garden is doing great. I may have planted too many eggplants this year. Oh well! 010 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 23/06/2025Bruker Icon Automation will not accept ‘ in sample names. The sample just fails. I am shocked that students have to learn this lesson every year. 010 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 17/06/2025What does a PI do? Purchasing and Ideas. I stock the lab with supplies and crazy ideas #chemsky 050 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 05/05/2025I ran out of pots and there’s still a tray of seedlings left to transplant. I may have started too many vegetables again. 000 0
Reposted by BlakeTBri Barbu @bribarbu.bsky.social · 09/04/2025Hi #chemsky #scisky folks--I'd love to collect some community responses to this cut-back on GRFP awards for @cenmag.bsky.social story. If you have thoughts about the situation, please please get in touch--and share with your network! My DMs are open, and I'm also reachable by email or Signal :) 047 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 09/04/2025Should a science resume be cut to one page for undergraduate internships or research technicians? Or for grad school. What resume advice would you give for a new scientist? @chemjobber.bsky.social #chemsky 121 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 03/04/2025A+, and here is the paper towel shim to prop up our wobbly SampleXpress cassette. 043 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 04/03/2025It’s metal time for me. I can’t spend all day screaming but my playlist can. 110 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 21/02/2025Hasn’t happened in a while. I’m checking on the building air supply next. Pressure on the main line was dropping with the eject air running, which didn’t seem right. 🤷 010 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 20/02/2025We have the big 60 slot cassette which is great for undergrad labs. When it’s working. 100 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 20/02/2025Yeah. It tries to work after replacing the cassette but eventually fails. I may try removing and replacing it a few times to see if that loosens up a stuck part. I can sort of get manual ej/in to work with the cassette off. 100 0
BlakeT @blaketresca.bsky.social · 20/02/2025Yes, mostly because I wanted to try it out. Reset after that gives the same error. The sample lifts but will not catch in the holder. 110 0
