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Dr. Peter Neff

@icy-pete.bsky.social
3.2K followers 1.2K following 279 posts

Assistant Prof U Minnesota. Antarctic history from ice cores. Antarctic science. Views mine.

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Dr. Peter Neff @icy-pete.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Replace every use of AI artificial intelligence with global warming/ climate change and this is exactly how climate scientists have been warning the public my entire lifetime. Accelerating. Unknown dangers. Trust experts and researchers. Slow the pace. It is enraging. Also, slow the pace on AI.
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Dr. Peter Neff @icy-pete.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
NSF, now with get-out-of-peer-review-free Golden Tickets! This (announcement and letter) is real. Whether what it states will become durably real… another question. www.nsf.gov/news/nsf-lea...
nsf.gov
NSF leadership in a new golden age of science
The U.S. National Science Foundation was established in 1950 to keep American discovery at the frontier. That mission has not changed. The science and technology ecosystem around it has...
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Michael Le Page @mjflepage.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Initial analyses of satellite images and seismic data by @watershedlab.bsky.social & @kristencook.bsky.social suggest that the collapse of a high glacier caused the flash flood disaster in Nepal www.newscientist.com/article/2586...
newscientist.com
A glacier collapse is most likely cause of the Nepal disaster | New Scientist
Melting snow appears to have weakened a steep glacier at an altitude of 5 kilometres, causing it to plummet around a kilometre into the river valley below
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Dr. Peter Neff @icy-pete.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Terrifying footage from Nepal. Per @watershedlab.bsky.social seems likely the result of a glacier collapse. Mountain glaciers are increasingly unstable in our warming world. Hope that rescues are successful and recovery possible. 😔
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Dr Dan Shugar 🇨🇦 @watershedlab.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
The source of the flood in Nepal is a collapsed glacier 🧪⚒️
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Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
NSF just announced its GRFP solicitation due in October - deadline varies by field: www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo... Now for the bad news... * NSF estimates they will issue 1,500 awards, down from 2,500+ last year. * NSF removed STEM Education and Learning Research as a Major Field.
nsf.gov
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
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Dr. Peter Neff @icy-pete.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Periodic reminder that U.S. Antarctic research remains icebreaker-less. Brought to you by Eidson Aerial showing latest in Louisiana icebreaking. Vessels were built and operated by Edison Chouest under lease to NSF until 2024 (Gould) and 2025 (Palmer). Old, expensive ships were too much for budgets.
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Dr. Peter Neff @icy-pete.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
"Modern science outreach" 6 recs for scientists: 1) Craft research summary 2) Get public comms training 3) Engage w/ media, journalists 4) Challenge yourself w/ public speaking 5) Amplify your impact online (90% of Americans use social media daily) 6) Join podcasts www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
cell.com
Modern science outreach: A guide for scientists
This paper outlines six actionable practices to help scientists effectively reach and engage broad audiences, with a focus on leveraging modern media and emerging dissemination channels. We encourage ...
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Dr. Peter Neff @icy-pete.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Great report by @milesobrien.com and great photo of the most capable ship for Thwaites Glacier science: RV ARAON 🇰🇷. Oh and it’s only like three researchers “suggesting” we work on glacier geoengineering. It’s the world’s largest bandage protecting one symptom of human caused global change.
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Dr. Peter Neff @icy-pete.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
New attention on NSF Office of Polar Programs in the Senate: a proposal to make OPP a permanent directorate within the National Science Foundation. From Sullivan (R-AK), Murkowski (R-AK), and Hickenlooper (D-CO). www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/pre...
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Dr. Peter Neff @icy-pete.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
Hopefully repaired soon, but losing our only fully capable Arctic icebreaker for patrol and science support is on par with US readiness TBH. Newly purchased Storis maybe can fill some of the gap if this is a long repair… but future icebreakers remain years out.
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Dr. Peter Neff @icy-pete.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Fed agencies joining TikTok, after DOJ updates. This after forced sale to US owners. Worrisome during present admin., given partisan use of agency comms. An important opportunity for future admins. Credible voices—scientists—must join TikTok or be irrelevant. www.yahoo.com/news/politic...
yahoo.com
Several U.S. government departments now have TikTok accounts, including the FBI
Your American spy is officially on TikTok.
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Shobita Parthasarathy @shobitap.org · 23/07/2026
I suffered through Kratsios' answer to Science: the Endless Frontier. The NYT summary is good, but there's more to it. And I should say that I welcome improvements to the scientific enterprise (which is why I'm participating in @alondra.bsky.social and Jenny Reardon's Public's Science project). 🧵
nytimes.com
Trump’s Plan for Science: More Money for A.I., Less for Universities (Gift Article)
Michael Kratsios, President Trump’s science adviser, proposed overhauling how the government funds research. Democrats said Mr. Trump’s actions had weakened science.
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Dr. Peter Neff @icy-pete.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
❄️⛴️Today from Congressional Research Service: "U.S. Research Vessels and Scientific Leadership in Antarctica." Timely summary of challenges for U.S. Antarctic scientists who depend on #icebreaker research vessels, which NSF now has none of. www.congress.gov/crs-product/...
congress.gov
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Ed Maibach @maibached.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Batten down the hatches: @zekehausfather.com reports that the strongest El Niño ever is likely to create dangerous conditions later this year and throughout 2027. *Disclosure: I have a special fondness for Zeke because he and I share a special fondness for the word "gobsmacked."
open.substack.com
The Strongest El Niño Ever
With all the July runs in, dynamical models give a ~90% chance of a record-setting event
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Tech Policy Press @techpolicypress.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Using an open-source pipeline to read every comment on OMB's proposed grants rule that could have significant impact on science and technology research funding, Christopher Steven Marcum and Abigail Haddad find the verdict "clear and lopsided": ~94% oppose it.
buff.ly
The Public Rejects OMB's Federal Financial Assistance Rule
Tens of thousands of scientists, clinicians, and ordinary citizens warned OMB about putting political appointees in charge of which research gets funded.
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Mauri Pelto @mauri-pelto.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
I collaborated with Seattle Times Climate Lab on the Big Four Ice Caves looking at the ice and the biota of this unique location. In June 2026 it is the smallest for early summer in the last 50+ years. It may not survive the summer. #glaciology www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
seattletimes.com
Hunting for rare plants in the fragile ecosystem of Big Four's Ice Caves
The caves northeast of Seattle are succumbing to the Pacific Northwest’s hotter, drier summers and winters with dwindling snowpack.
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Dr. Peter Neff @icy-pete.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
That we don’t have regular weather balloon observations across the central US where daily extreme weather forms is INFURIATING. Without observations no model or AI can hope for good forecasting to save money and lives.
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Daniel Swain @weatherwest.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Also note the continued absence of regular radiosonde observations across nearly the entire interior western and central U.S... which has become a pattern as of late.
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Dan Garisto @dangaristo.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
New: The National Science Foundation is preparing to claw back some $500 million in funds from some of its core science programs in physics, math, computer science, and engineering in order to fund a project from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
nature.com
NSF plans cuts to core science programmes to fund White House initiative
A proposed clawback of already distributed research funds comes as the US agency’s budget is already squeezed and it struggling to clear a backlog of grant applications.
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Jennifer Ouellette @jenlucpiquant.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Here’s Why Weather Forecasts Have Seemed So Inaccurate Lately. Meteorologists simply aren't able to gather as much data as they used to, and you're suffering for it. gizmodo.com/heres-why-we...
gizmodo.com
Here's Why Weather Forecasts Have Seemed So Inaccurate Lately
Meteorologists simply aren't able to gather as much data as they used to, and you're suffering for it.
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Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 27/06/2026
At the end of the day, this visualization shows what's driving the rising risk of these dangerous heat waves. It's the human-caused burning of fossil fuels and the resulting increase in greenhouse gases. That's it. More climate change indicators: zacklabe.com/climate-chan...
This graphic shows four line graph time series and each are monthly from January 1984 through May 2026. The first graph is a 12-month running mean of global mean surface temperature anomalies. Anomalies are computed relative to a 1991-2020 baseline using ERA5 data. The second graph is monthly carbon dioxide abundance. The CO2 graph is the Keeling Curve. Current levels are 432 ppm. The third graph is monthly global methane abundance. Current levels are 1940 ppb. The fourth graph is monthly global nitrous oxide abundance. Current levels are 340 ppb. The three greenhouse gases show seasonal cycles and long-term increasing trends using data from NOAA GML. The global mean surface temperature anomaly record also exhibits decadal variability and a long-term increasing trend. All graphs are rising and shown in four different colors, including white, yellow, orange, and pink.
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Meade Krosby @meadekrosby.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Applications due next week - please share and apply!
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Dr. Peter Neff @icy-pete.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
NZ prime minister wants to “brutally commercialize our science system.” 👀 As with the US currently, what can you commercialize if you destroy your university based science innovation system? Feeling for my Kiwi colleagues (VUW alum here). 🇳🇿
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Benjamin Gill @sedgeochem.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
So the US National Science Foundation (NSF) is diverting a large amount of public money for basic science into areas of science that already well funded by investors and for profit companies. This will continue to undermine the pipeline of trained scientists and engineers from higher education. 🧪
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Jacquelyn Gill @jacquelyngill.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Remember X-Labs? Without transparency, and in defiance of Congress, a new memo to NSF directs “program managers to stop seeking funding for any proposals, even those that received the highest marks from outside reviewers and program staff, “until we are able to provide more details.”
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M.J. Crockett @mjcrockett.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Basic science funding slashed to free up funds for ~6 labs to get up to $300 million apiece.
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Dr. Peter Neff @icy-pete.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
A major upheaval in US science funding that runs counter to the direction of Congress and the people. Cuts across NSF to give millions to “X-Labs” which are a new condition to funnel funding to industry with limited oversight and transparency.
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Dan Garisto @dangaristo.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
New: NSF is tightening its conflict of interest rules in what could be a headache for the understaffed agency. Starting in August, reviewers will no longer be able to participate in a panel with any proposals from their own institution. My reporting for @science.org:
science.org
NSF imposes stricter conflict-of-interest rules for grant-review panels
Researchers say changes could further burden the understaffed agency
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Dr. Peter Neff @icy-pete.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Proposed WH OMB changes to federal grant making would be a horror movie for US science. NSF research funds, awarded based on merit to teams at US public universities, are what brought me—a kid from Brush Prairie, Washington and the first PhD in my family—into international #Antarctic research.
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Dr. Peter Neff @icy-pete.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Friday science update. Gophers in Antarctica. Ocean instruments removed while working. White House wants to override experts for federal grants. Thwaites Glacier ice shelf may collapse soon (don’t freak!) in Antarctica, as @newscientist.com reports & @adrianluckman.bsky.social illustrated here.
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David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
As an ocean scientist, I'm frankly amazed at the attention the dismantlement of OOI has gotten, while the removal of the RVIB Nathaniel B. Palmer (our only Antarctic icebreaker) and the failure to replace the JOIDES Resolution (our only scientific drilling ship) were met with near silence. 🌊
nytimes.com
Trump Administration to Dismantle Ocean Monitoring System
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Dr. Peter Neff @icy-pete.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Quite big news, providing a solid foundation of operational support for US leadership in Antarctica with implications for governance, science, and peace… congrats to NSF and KBR colleagues.
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Dr. Peter Neff @icy-pete.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Good NSF news; Office of Polar Programs awards 20 yrs of US Antarctic Program operations to KBR. $8B. Idealistic take: investment in US scientific leadership to maintain peace/governance. Cynical take: reminder defense contractors get NSF dollars to support our science. www.nsf.gov/news/nsf-com...
nsf.gov
NSF commits $8B to sustain U.S. scientific presence in Antarctica
The U.S. National Science Foundation announced today it awarded KBR Services LLC (KBR) the Antarctic Science and Engineering Support Contract to provide planning, management and execution support...
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Dr. Peter Neff @icy-pete.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Good NSF news; Office of Polar Programs awards 20 yrs of US Antarctic Program operations to KBR. $8B. Idealistic take: investment in US scientific leadership to maintain peace/governance. Cynical take: reminder defense contractors get NSF dollars to support our science. www.nsf.gov/news/nsf-com...
nsf.gov
NSF commits $8B to sustain U.S. scientific presence in Antarctica
The U.S. National Science Foundation announced today it awarded KBR Services LLC (KBR) the Antarctic Science and Engineering Support Contract to provide planning, management and execution support...
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Dr. Peter Neff @icy-pete.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Grateful to see affirmed that federal agencies can’t capriciously (& without regard for public comment) close our world-leading atmospheric research center (NCAR), especially if such actions are likely intended to punish a state being pressured by the executive branch on other topics.
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Science Magazine @science.org · 29/05/2026
The White House today announced it plans to make major changes in how the U.S. government manages research funding. scim.ag/43HgW4s
scim.ag
White House seeks to tighten political oversight of grantmaking
Sweeping proposed rule, now open for comments, would also restrict foreign collaborations and remove federal funding for open-access fees
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Jacquelyn Gill @jacquelyngill.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
🧵 Public science in the US has taken some heavy hits over the last year, but the White House OMB is proposing a series of changes that will result in a TKO for science as we know it unless we fight back. Here's what's happening, and why it matters. 1/n
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Dr. Peter Neff @icy-pete.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
This is bad for Americans.
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Daniel Swain @weatherwest.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
I know there is a lot going on, and not all of this is new, but numerous aspects of this OMB proposal are highly alarming and would, if enacted, effectively force American scientists receiving federal funding (which is...most of them in some capacity or another) to stop engaging with the public.
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Dr. Peter Neff @icy-pete.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Antithetical to the independence we need in our federal agencies, to protect them from politically motivated decision making that may help some Americans while harming others. There is no transparency, oversight, or accountability coming from this WH.
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Dr. Peter Neff @icy-pete.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Federally funded research conducted at US universities has no profit margin. Thought I’d mention. No reason.
New York Times headline and image covering inflated profit margin in reflecting pool contract.
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Science Magazine @science.org · 25/05/2026
The U.S. research community is asking the Senate to do something it hasn’t done in more than 3 decades: Hold a hearing on the president’s nominee to lead the National Science Foundation before voting on whether to confirm him. scim.ag/4dWgoxE
science.org
Research groups want Senate to vet Trump’s nominee for NSF head
A hearing would air questions about James O’Neill’s qualifications to lead the agency
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Mike Sieracki @msier.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
NSF is closing down most of the Ocean Observatory oceanobservatories.org/2026/05/anno...
oceanobservatories.org
Announcement on NSF OOI Descoping - Ocean Observatories Initiative
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has initiated descoping of the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) Major Facility. This plan includes the removal of all in-water infrastructure from the Ir...
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Tas van Ommen @tasvo.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
bsky.app/profile/wend... This is wilfully crippling our ability to understand what is coming down the climate pipeline and to mange costly and acknowledged risks (www.dcceew.gov.au/climate-chan...) facing our nation. It is madness. Choosing to drive down the highway partly blindfolded.
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samuel mehr @mehr.nz · 20/05/2026
tough to overstate how quickly science funding in New Zealand has been blown to pieces - on Friday the NZ govt straight up disbanded the Marsden fund (our version of the NSF) it'll be replaced by a 'transition fund' with less money and zero information, as of yet, about what it will support #nzpol
New transition fund provides continuity while backing bold ideas
Published: 14 May 2026

A streamlined Transition Research Fund has been announced for 2027, aligning science funding with national priorities and supporting a focus on outcomes that benefit New Zealand.

The fund was developed on advice from the newly established science funding decision-maker, Research Funding New Zealand. This new fund brings investigator-led research into a single fund with three funding mechanisms:

Talent Development supports future research leaders to build capability, test ideas and establish independent careers.
Projects enable bold, innovative research with strong potential to deliver meaningful benefits for New Zealand.
Programmes support ambitious, collaborative research tackling complex challenges and delivering transformational outcomes over a longer term.
It supports research from early discovery through to larger scale programmes with a focus on delivering impact for New Zealand, in line with national priorities for science, innovation and technology.

The Prime Minister's Science, Innovation and Technology Advisory Council recommended the following four priority areas for public investment:

Primary industries and the bioeconomy.
Technology for prosperity.
Environmental sustainability and resilience.
Healthy people and a thriving society.
Priorities will be confirmed in the Science, Investment Plan expected to be released mid-2026. 

The Transition Research Fund brings contestable funding which would have otherwise been delivered through future rounds of the Marsden and Endeavour funds into a single investigator-led research fund.

It will open for applications later this year.

The total first year investment in the Transition Research Fund in 2027 will be up to $84.4 million. The Transition Research Fund will invest up to $300 million over five years in total. 

Final funding decisions will be made by Research Funding New Zealand, with all funded projects showing clea…
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Dr. Peter Neff @icy-pete.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Greenland: the Louisiana angle captured well in this Reuters article via Honolulu Star Advertiser. Special envoy / governor with billionaire shipbuilder / operator Chouest (maker-operator of former NSF Antarctic icebreakers, newest USCG breaker Aiviq/Storis) with interest in Arctic maritime…
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Science Magazine @science.org · 18/05/2026
The National Science Board urges a robust response to China’s rise in a cover letter to its biennial report on the global research enterprise. scim.ag/4uNNfKy
scim.ag
In unreleased document, fired U.S. science board issues stark warning about keeping pace with China
The National Science Board urges robust response to China’s rise in cover letter to its biennial report on the global research enterprise
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Dr. Peter Neff @icy-pete.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
How do we know old Antarctic ice is old? Got a few minutes? Atmospheric argon isotope dating: a process discovered last century here at UMN (Al Nier) & perfected by scientists at Princeton (Bender). This is COLDEX science funded by NSF and conducted in university communities nationwide.
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Mark Copelovitch @mcopelov.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
The greatest scientific research funding program in world history, illegally gutted & now replaced with a pipeline of pure grift for charlatans. Mindless stupidity & corruption.
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