Post

Paul Byrne
@theplanetaryguy.com

Layoff notices at JPL are going out today. About 11% of the Lab, or 550 people, are being let go. I'm thinking of my friends and colleagues there, some of whom will still be employed after today and some of whom won't. I'm sorry you're having to deal with this.

83 reposts305 likes

PDP1145
@pdp1145.bsky.social

Even the Nazis elevated science and technology. This makes absolutely no sense, except to return to some bygone era that never existed. PS. If you're longing for the 50's and your BS Ozzie and Harriet lifestyle you better remember that the US was leader in just about every area of technology.

Dwayne Day
@kennen11.bsky.social

I read an interesting article a few weeks ago that I think was in the Washington Post. It pointed out that authoritarian governments defund science and instead focus on technology/engineering. That's what the Nazis did, and that's what is happening now. Science is too mushy for them to understand.

PDP1145
@pdp1145.bsky.social

China is now very focused on high tech as well, for economic impact and status in the world. Then there were the Russians who started the space race. One thing authoritarian gummints have the ability to do is to focus their efforts in certain areas (no worries, I hate authoritarians).

PDP1145
@pdp1145.bsky.social

But if you look at the German focus on building the most advanced planes, tanks, artillery etc., also including their own competition to our Manhattan project (they just weren't going to be successfull quickly enough), even though it was focused on their plans for war, they still supported that.

Dwayne Day
@kennen11.bsky.social

I think the German example also shows the problems. They pursued a lot of stupid programs in part because their system was so hierarchical that it did not allow for checks and balances. Hitler said do something and they did it, even if it made no sense. The US had more control mechanisms.

Hugh Pumphrey
@hughpumphrey.bsky.social

I have been a remote member of a satellite instrument team at JPL for decades. I feel the pain, especially as my overlords at the University of #Edinburgh are trying to achieve similar levels of downsizing.