Science, peace, economics, and literature winners for Nobel Prize Day 2025

Happy Nobel Prize Day! I begin today's celebration with BBC News reporting Physics Nobel Prize awarded to three scientists for work on quantum computing.

The Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis for their work on quantum mechanics that is paving the way for a new generation of very powerful computers.

"There is no advanced technology used today that does not rely on quantum mechanics, including mobile phones, cameras... and fibre optic cables," said the Nobel committee.

The announcement was made by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences at a news conference in Stockholm, Sweden.

The three winners will share prize money of 11 million Swedish kronor (£872,000).

Yay, three physicists from the University of California, even if they aren't from my undergraduate alma mater, UCLA!

Next, DW News reporting Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded "for the development of metal–organic frameworks".

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the 2025 Nobel Prize in chemistry to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar M. Yaghi "for the development of metal–organic frameworks." The new type of molecular architecture developed by the group allows for "large cavities in which molecules can flow in and out. Researchers have used them to harvest water from desert air, extract pollutants from water, capture carbon dioxide and store hydrogen," according to the award-giving body. Their research could provide solutions for combatting climate change.

"A small amount of such material can be almost like Hermione's handbag in Harry Potter. It can store huge amounts of gas in a tiny volume," Heiner Linke, chairman of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry, said during a press conference.

This looks like a very useful discovery. So does the next prize, Nobel Prize for medicine awarded to immune system researchers, as Al Jazeera English reported.

The Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine has been awarded to Mary E Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi for their work on the functioning of the human immune system.
The award, announced by Sweden’s Karolinska Institute on Monday, will be presented to the trio in December for “their groundbreaking discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance that prevents the immune system from harming the body”.
The research “relates to how we keep our immune system under control so we can fight all imaginable microbes and still avoid autoimmune disease”, said Marie Wahren-Herlenius, a rheumatology professor at the Karolinska Institute.
The prize of 11 million Swedish kronor ($1.17m) is to be shared equally between Brunkow and Ramsdell, both 64, of the United States and Japan’s Sakaguchi, 74.
The king of Sweden will also present them with gold medals.

Al Jazeera’s Paul Rhys reports from Stockholm.

This advancement could help me personally, as I am a cancer survivor and Type I diabetic, an autoimmune disease. May I live long enough for the science to advance enough to improve my condition.

Follow over the jump for the non-science prizes.

SciShow explains why 'Your Coffee Mug is a Physics Disaster'

Today's evergreen educational entry is SciShow explaining why Your Coffee Mug is a Physics Disaster.

Coffee spills more than most beverages. And it all comes down to an unlucky connection between your walking pace, the cup, and that tasty morning brew.

Hosted by: Madelyn Leembruggen (she/her)

I'll repeat what I wrote for SciShow explains 'How To Make The Best Coffee, According To Science' for National Coffee Day: "Lots of great science — ...chemistry, and physics — in this video, as well as practical science-based advice" for choosing a coffee mug and carrying it. May my readers and I not spill our coffee!

That's a wrap for today. Stay tuned for more science tomorrow on Nobel Prize Day.

Howtown and SciShow explain how nuclear fallout helps fight crime

Today's evergreen educational entry features two videos about a common theme, how nuclear fallout helps fight crime. I begin with Howtown's The only good nuclear accident.

In the 1950s and early 1960s, the United States and the Soviet Union (with contributions from the UK and France) conducted a series of above-ground nuclear tests that led to an increase in the radioactive carbon-14 concentration in the atmosphere. This global surge, known as the "bomb pulse" or the "bomb spike", is one of the most distinctive chemical signatures of the Cold War. The radiocarbon spread worldwide, embedding into plants, animals, and humans. Scientists later discovered that this bomb-pulse radiocarbon spike could be used as a precise dating tool. Bomb-pulse dating allows researchers to determine whether biological material formed before or after nuclear testing. This method has been applied to forensic science, medical research, and environmental monitoring. It has been used to identify forgeries in artwork, measure human cell turnover, and estimate the lifespan of Greenland sharks. One of the most important applications has been in tracking the illegal ivory trade. Elephant tusks absorb atmospheric carbon while the animal is alive. By analyzing the carbon-14 content of ivory artifacts or raw ivory, investigators can determine whether the material comes from a legally antique source or from a recently killed elephant. This intersection of nuclear history, atmospheric science, and conservation biology demonstrates how Cold War nuclear fallout became a forensic tool for fighting elephant poaching and wildlife trafficking. More broadly, it demonstrates the creativity and resourcefulness of scientific researchers, who find ingenious uses for datasets of unlikely origin.

SciShow has more in Nuclear Bombs Made Art Forgery Way Harder.

Peggy Guggenheim purchased a painting she believed to be by the famous artist Fernand Leger. Almost immediately, there were questions about its authenticity. But it took 40 years and an unlikely group of art detectives to solve the mystery.

Hosted by: Madelyn Leembruggen (she/her)

I discuss the effects of nuclear testing in my plate tectonics lecture in geology along with magnetic reversals, although in that case, it's about monitoring underground tests with seismometers instead of carbon-14 from atmospheric tests. Still, these stories would be useful in my environmental science classes as well. Welcome to blogging as professional development.

Stay tuned for another evergreen educational entry tomorrow.

Netflix buys Warner Brothers

The number one story for this week's Sunday entertainment feature is Netflix announces deal to buy Warner Bros. and HBO. Take it away, CNN!

Netflix has agreed to buy Warner Bros. and HBO, which includes the legendary TV and movie studio and assets like the HBO Max streaming service, for $72 billion, plus debt. The deal could reshape Hollywood, but first faces a tough regulatory review process around the world. CNN’s Brian Stelter reports.

Surprise! The attempted Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger didn't and probably will not happen. That means that John Oliver, who did not want to work for Paramount and the Ellisons, avoided that possibility, at least for now. CNN also escaped that fate so far, because they're not part of the deal. Netflix does not want to get into the cable TV business, so CNN and the rest of the Warner Brothers-Discovery channels, other than HBO, which Netflix is buying, remain together to be spun off as a separate entity, Discovery Global. That at least postpones what I was worried about in September: "CBS News and CNN merging would likely result in a more conservative news outlet, which would make Donald 'Hoover Cleveland' Trump get out of the deal's way." He and Pam Bondi's Department of Justice might not be so accommodating with a Netflix-Warner Brothers merger.

There are others who are opposing the deal, as PBS NewsHour explains in What Netflix's deal to buy Warner Bros. means for one of Hollywood's oldest studios.

Netflix has struck a nearly $83 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros. and HBO Max, beating out Paramount and Comcast after a bidding war. If finalized, it would unite the world’s largest streamer with one of Hollywood’s oldest studios. The move raises questions about the future of theatrical releases and concerns about market concentration. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Matthew Belloni of Puck.

While this deal is good for Netflix and Warner Brothers-Discovery's management and shareholders, it may not be good for theater owners, actors, and writers, who stand to lose money or at least have smaller paychecks. It may not be great for directors, either, although more artistically than financially; they want their movies shown on the big screen and think streaming them at home diminishes them, literally.

Netflix is playing this deal up as good for consumers. In terms of variety of content and convenience, it probably will be. However, it will probably make subscriptions go up, although viewers like my wife and me, who subscribe to multiple streaming services, might ultimately save money as we will subscribe to one service instead of two. Just the same, the commenters on CNN's video are already grousing about their Netflix subscriptions going up to pay for this deal.

I'm sure I'll have more to write about this deal and the legal hoops it will have to jump through over the next year and more. In the meantime, stay tuned for another evergreen educational entry tomorrow.

Nature on PBS presents 'Learning to Coexist with Detroit's Urban Wildlife'

For today's evergreen educational entry, I'm sharing Nature on PBS's Learning to Coexist with Detroit's Urban Wildlife | WILD HOPE.

As Detroit’s population declined and nature reclaimed the city’s vacant spaces, wild carnivores like coyotes, raccoons, and skunks are now returning and making themselves at home.

Ecologist Nyeema Harris studies how these opportunistic predators and scavengers are adapting to urban life. Through a series of experiments in city parks, and with the aid of camera traps, she's uncovering unexpected interactions — like dogs acting as a buffer with the coyote population — which provide valuable insights into how wildlife navigates urban environments. Her research suggests that peaceful coexistence is achievable when humans make small changes to accommodate their wild neighbors.

My readers should not be surprised that I embedded this video; they should only be surprised that it took me a month to get around to it. It's exactly my kind of content.

Local news has reported relatively recently on Detroit's urban wildlife, including WXYZ explaining Wildlife is making a comeback in urban areas of metro Detroit; here's why in 2022.

Wildlife is making a comeback in metro Detroit, from river otters to foxes and coyotes. Last week, we caught coyotes along Detroit's riverfront, and the wild animals are becoming more brazen. Terry McFadden has been with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for over 20 years. He said he isn't surprised coyotes are making a comeback in urban areas like Detroit.

I'm not surprised, either. I first posted about urban coyotes in 'Meet the Coywolf': Evolution in action for Darwin Day and coyotes in metro Detroit in Happy Labor Day from metro Detroit plus National Wildlife Day! Both of those were eight years ago. I'm only surprised I was able to find a WXYZ video I could embed. Based on when I started complaining about WXYZ not allowing embedding of its YouTube videos, this was from just before that happened.

I close with one more video about coyotes in metro Detroit, WDIV/Click on Detroit/Local 4 explaining Coyote mating season: What Michiganders should know from January 2024.

Over the next few weeks, it’s coyote breeding season, which means you may see more than usual.

That's a wrap for learning to coexist with Detroit's urban wildlife. Stay tuned for the Sunday entertainment feature.

PBS Terra warns 'You’re Not Worried Enough About Sea Level Rise'

Today's evergreen educational entry is Weathered on PBS Terra warning You’re Not Worried Enough About Sea Level Rise.

New research shows sea level rise could accelerate far faster than cities can adapt to. In this episode, Maiya breaks down why even today’s warming may already be enough to trigger long-term ice-sheet collapse. And what that means for our coasts, our cities, and our future.

I lectured on climate change last night and when the last video played, the preview for this video appeared on screen. I told my students I would watch it when I got home and I did! After watching it, it reminded me of the following questions from My students are watching 'Chasing Ice' during Earth Week.

17. What is happening to Greenland's melt zone as the climate changes?

It's expanding and moving up and into the interior of the ice sheet.

18. How much will sea level rise during the lifetimes of Balog's daughters?

1.5 to 3 feet (0.5 to 1 meter).

19. How many people will the rising sea level displace?

About 150 million.

20. What effect will rising sea level have on hurricanes and typhoons?

It will make the storm surges higher, making them more damaging.

The video also reminded me of One foot sea level rise by 2050 according to U.S. government study: "[T]hose maps of selected coastlines are horrifying." That was for one foot of sea level rise. Fifteen meters (50 feet) of sea level rise by 2300 is even more so. That's what would happen if temperatures in the near future reach those of 3.6 million years ago, the last time carbon dioxide levels were as high as today. Even sustained temperatures as high as today are the same as 125,000 years ago, when sea levels were 20-30 feet higher and the octopus evidence indicates that the West Antarctic ice sheet collapsed. We don't have to warm more; we just have to stay as warm as we are now.

That's a wrap for today's evergreen educational entry. I have another one planned tomorrow.

PBS Eons examines 'What Was Greenland Like When it Was Green'

I promised "an evergreen educational post" today, so I'm sharing PBS Eons examining What Was Greenland Like When it Was Green.

It made the front page of the New York Times. Ancient DNA over 2 million years old, retrieved from the frozen dirt of Greenland. It reached back further in time than many scientists used to think was even theoretically possible. And it contained the genetic ghost of an /entire ecosystem/ – one that has no counterpart in today’s world and one that we had /no idea/ even existed. It told of a time when Greenland was green…and how we might borrow genes from that ancient past to help us adapt to the future.

This story should look familiar to my readers. It's the one told in "Hunt for the Oldest DNA," the NOVA episode that won Outstanding Science and Technology Documentary at the News & Doc Emmy Awards.

I was glad to be wrong about "Hunt for the Oldest DNA" episode of NOVA, the winner.

This is the only episode of NOVA nominated and I agree it's probably the best one of 2024. It's also the nominee with the most important science. That written, it's not likely to win the most votes, since most of the electorate will judge the nominees for their cinematic and journalistic merit, not their scientific value. As I reiterate nearly every time I write about awards shows, electorates matter.

The News & Doc Emmy voters pleasantly surprised me by voting for the nominee with the most important science. Congratulations to them and NOVA!

The Earth 2.4 million years ago, during the earliest Pleistocene, wasn't as warm as it was 3.6 million years ago, the last time carbon dioxide levels were as high as today, but it's a good analog just the same. If that's the future we're heading towards, then it might be a good idea to borrow the adaptations those organisms had to prepare today's organisms for the warmer world that's coming. That's a Crazy Eddie concept, but I'm enough of a Crazy Eddie to approve of it.

That's a wrap for today. Stay tuned for another evergreen educational entry tomorrow.

Randy Rainbow sings 'RFK!'

I told my readers to "Stay tuned for comedy" today and do I have comedy for them! Randy Rainbow uploaded RFK! A Randy Rainbow Song Parody yesterday, so sing along with Randy!

Parody of “Cabaret” (Music by John Kander, Lyrics by Fred Ebb)

It was about time Randy Rainbow did a parodies of "Cabaret" and RFK Jr. The Marsh Family beat Randy by months!

That's a wrap for today. Since this blog passed its December page view goal yesterday, stay tuned for an evergreen educational post tomorrow.

Giving Tuesday in Michigan 2025

Happy Giving Tuesday! Like last year, I'm concentrating on Michigan, beginning with WDIV/Click on Detroit/Local 4 explaining How to ensure donations go to the right place on Giving Tuesday.

Ahead of Giving Tuesday, Nakia Mills from the Better Business Bureau advises donors to verify charities before donating to ensure their money is used as intended. The BBB recommends checking the accreditation and financial practices of charities on their website as a precautionary measure.

Good advice, the kind I would given about security if I had celebrated Cyber Monday yesterday instead of World AIDS Day.

WDIV suggested a charitible cause in Donate to THAW this Giving Tuesday to support Michigan families with utility bills.

On Giving Tuesday, donations will be collected for THAW, the Heat and Warmth Fund, to assist people in crisis with utility bills during winter. THAW offers more than just bill assistance, including energy-efficient home improvements as experienced by beneficiary Byron Spivey. Serving families with children, seniors, and veterans, THAW helped 11,000 homes with $10 million last year, with over 80% of donations going directly to services. The organization aims to enhance the long-term health and financial security of Michigan neighborhoods with additional support like home assessments and appliances.

Not only does THAW pay people's utility bills, it pays for energy conservation upgrades. I approve.

Moving to the other side of the state, WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids described The mental health benefits of giving.

Learn more about the mental health benefits of giving ahead of Giving Tuesday. (Dec. 1, 2025)

I used to be a director of a nonprofit. I can tell you that a physical quarter in a Salvation Army kettle will probably be a net benefit, but any online donation less than a dollar will likely cost the charity money in processing fees.

That's a wrap for today. Stay tuned for comedy tomorrow.

For World AIDS Day, KPIX explains 'How HIV Research Helped Pave Way To Fight COVID-19 Pandemic'

After two years of examining the AIDS pandemic through biographies of more or less famous people infected with HIV, it's time to return to the science and serious purpose of World AIDS Day. I begin with KPIX/CBS News Bay Area from 2021 observing World AIDS Day: How HIV Research Helped Pave Way To Fight COVID-19 Pandemic.

As the world marks World AIDS Day, researchers note the four decades battling the disease have proven crucial in battling the COVID-19 pandemic. Kiet Do reports. (12/1/21)

I was expecting another take on CNBC explains how HIV research led to COVID-19 vaccines for World AIDS Day, a double pandemic update. Instead, I found out how experts applied public health lessons learned from the AIDS pandemic to COVID-19. That made the video worth watching. As a bonus, I probably have only one degree of separation from Dr. Sarah Ruddman and Dr. Marty Fenstersheib because the ex-girlfriend I most often mention here was working for the Santa Clara County Health Department last I checked, which was before the COVID-19 pandemic. They almost certainly know her and she would certainly know who they are. By the way, Dr. Fenstersheib's predictions about the disease persisting and people needing a booster shot for COVID-19 every year have proven to be true. We should listen to him.

CBS New York interviewed someone else worth listening to in World AIDS Day and the meaning behind the global movement.

Jennifer Lotito, President and Chief Operating Officer, (RED) joins CBS New York to discuss World AIDS Day, which is on December 1.

Lotito offered both facts and action, even if that action was shopping. People will be shopping today anyway, so they might as well do it for a good cause.

I close with NBC4 Columbus reporting Shades of Red event to be held on World AIDS Day.

Monday will mark the 37th World AIDS Day, which was started in 1988 by the World Health Organization to raise awareness and understanding of the global AIDS pandemic.

I relate to Lynn Kid. She said that it's important that she not allow a disease control her and that she's way more than HIV. I feel the same about diabetes. It may "be a central organizing fact of my life," but it's not everything about me.

That's a wrap for today's holiday. Stay tuned for Giving Tuesday.