Theodore S. Dibble

Theodore S. Dibble

@ted-dibble.bsky.social

Atmospheric/environmental chemistry professor. Physical chemist by training using computational quantum chemistry and kinetics. #AtmosChem. Born at 320 ppmv. pronouns: he/him/his

301 followers266 following33 posts

Theodore S. Dibble reposted

Welp, there it is. The CDC is now officially manipulating data and their count of measles deaths in 2026 now stands at ZERO. My understanding of reportable diseases is that the CDC would usually use a state health department’s determination as the final say. The new CDC Director is failing us.

inquirer.comThe CDC left two measles-associated Pa. deaths out of its latest count after RFK Jr. sparred with Gov. ShapiroHHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has accused Pennsylvania of not cooperating with the CDC in its handling of a measles outbreak.

I used this link to send messages to the president of the university that employs me (SUNY-ESF) and the president and board of trustees of my alma mater (the University of Michigan).

Stand Up for Science!@standupforscience.net

Public education is under attack in America. The SUFS America’s Compact for Higher Education is our united response to the Trump administration’s effort to bend the will of America’s higher ed leadership to his authoritarian control. Visit the link to sign your name & share: tr.ee/N87yi5

Many models of atmospheric mercury include a GAS-PHASE Hg(0) + O3 reaction. But the observed products are solids (see image from PCCP 2008, by Pal and Ariya), suggesting reaction on the reactor walls. New paper: 10.1021/acs.jpca.6c02693 🧵 1/6

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Our conclusion: The reported loss of Hg(0) is best explained by surface-reactions, not a gas-phase reaction. The gas-phase Hg(0)+O₃ reaction appears irrelevant in the laboratory and in the atmosphere. Interested in your feedback! DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.6c02693 5/6

This work was carried out by my Ph.D. student, Darshi T. Hewa Edirappulige, with help from my postdoc Pedro J. Castro. The photo shows Darshi with her ACS PHYS poster award from 2025. Darshi will defend her thesis next month. Anyone looking for a sharp computational chemist? 6/6

Many models of atmospheric mercury include a GAS-PHASE Hg(0) + O3 reaction. But the observed products are solids (see image from PCCP 2008, by Pal and Ariya), suggesting reaction on the reactor walls. New paper: 10.1021/acs.jpca.6c02693 🧵 1/6

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To test the possibility of a direct Hg(0) + O3 reaction, we used high-level quantum chemistry to examine two hypothesized reaction products. One was a cyclic HgO3, which collapses to a Hg–O₃ van der Waals complex. This is unstable and does not lead to a chemical reaction. 3/6

The other hypothesized product was OHgOO. Production of this diradicaloid from Hg(0) + O3 is endothermic by > 21 kcal/mole. Given this, a gas-phase reaction would have an observed rate at least 10 billion times lower than reported. 4/6

Many models of atmospheric mercury include a GAS-PHASE Hg(0) + O3 reaction. But the observed products are solids (see image from PCCP 2008, by Pal and Ariya), suggesting reaction on the reactor walls. New paper: 10.1021/acs.jpca.6c02693 🧵 1/6

Some modelers insisted they needed one-step oxidation by OH and/or O3 to match field observations. Three years ago we showed that O3 and OH, together, can oxidize Hg(0) in two steps (DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.2c04364). But this doesn’t rule out a direct Hg(0) + O3 reaction! 2/6

Theodore S. Dibble reposted

Russell Vought’s OMB Grant Proposal takes the formerly expert informed, democratic grant award process and turns it into an authoritative process based on political ideology. It will destroy science in America as we know it. Take action here: zurl.co/ydchb Article: zurl.co/Juc68

zurl.coTrump administration pursues more durable changes to science policy after setbacks in courtAfter legal challenges succeeded, Trump administration shifts from dismantling agencies to centralizing OMB control over research funding.

Theodore S. Dibble reposted

Monday, July 13th is the LAST DAY that you can leave a public comment on Russell Vought's science-destroying OMB Grant Proposal. Join us from 2 - 3PM ET to learn what comes next, hear from experts, and learn how the proposal will affect you. Register at the link in our bio or go here:zurl.co/tH8hn

Theodore S. Dibble reposted

We need the lawsuits brought to specifically charge racial discrimination in these firings and blocked promotions.

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My PhD student Darshi is first author of the paper refuting the proposed importance of NO3-initiated oxidation of Hg(0) in the gas phase. This paper combines advanced quantum chemical calculations, kinetic analysis, and global atmospheric modeling, DOI: 10.1021/acsearthspacechem.5c00382

Theodore S. Dibble reposted

Looking for something inspiring to kick off your 2026? 🎉 #RSCPoster registration is OPEN! Join one of the largest online poster events, uniting researchers from every career stage & every corner of the scientific community. We can’t wait to see what you’ll share ➡️ https://rsc.li/3XGGvzS #ChemSky

Theodore S. Dibble reposted

☀️THE SUMMER FIGHT FOR SCIENCE☀️ 🫵 WHO: You + all our friends 🧪 WHAT: Share science with your neighbors and tell them about the impact of proposed budget cuts. 🇺🇸 WHERE: Your local community 🏖️ WHEN: Now to Sept 30th 🔬 WHY: The 9/30 budget vote will determine the future of science in America.

Craig Pittman @craigtimes.bsky.social

In a surprising and possibly unlawful act, five #Florida state legislators were denied entry into Gov. Ron DeSastrous' migrant concentration camp in the Everglades. The justification for not letting them in: first a flat denial, then vague “safety concerns.” www.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...

A broad group of National Institutes of Health (NIH) public servants have taken action with the "Bethesda Declaration" that targets the NIH and HHS Leadership. Join these courageous and committed professionals by adding your name now. actionnetwork.org/forms/add-na...

actionnetwork.orgADD YOUR NAME: Sign the Open Letter in Support of NIH StaffJoin the courageous and committed National Institutes of Health (NIH) public servants by adding your name now.
Florent Louis, FRSC@florentlouis59.bsky.social

I am thrilled to act for the second year in-a-row as subject chair #RSCEnv @envsci.bsky.social for this upcoming edition #RSCposter @roysocchem.bsky.social celebrating its 10th birthday. Proud to represent @univlille.bsky.social @fst-ulille.bsky.social @cnrs-hautsdefrance.bsky.social

Chemistry World@chemistryworld.com

The global online poster conference #RSCposter run by @rsc.org is hitting its 10-year anniversary! It saw record participation last year after moving from Twitter (X) to LinkedIn. www.chemistryworld.com/news/online-...

Theodore S. Dibble reposted

Matthew 5:43-47 (part of the sermon on the mount)

Nute@nutedawn.bsky.social

I mean yes, there is such a concept in Christianity. It appears quite notably in the letters of Paul, for instance, where it’s a concept he *relentlessly* argues against, and in the Gospel where it’s a concept Jesus very much repeatedly scorns. So it is technically in there!

Theodore S. Dibble reposted

Idgaf I’m still fighting for guaranteed healthcare. Aspiration is the answer. Not just “we’re not the bad guys.” We need something more meaningful than that. I want a future worth fighting for. They have no vision. We do. Lean into our strengths and knock them out. 👊🏽

Theodore S. Dibble reposted

I’m used to this as a criminal defense attorney - constitutional rights get called technicalities all the time. I can no longer say I expect better from the NYT. This is pathetic.

Brendan Nyhan@brendannyhan.bsky.social

Not "legal niceties." What they are doing is illegal! www.nytimes.com/2025/01/30/u...

Theodore S. Dibble reposted

Since the fascists are waging a gender war based on their (wrong) views re: the determinacy of X Y chromosomes, I’d just like to point out that they were discovered by an unmarried woman geneticist whose findings were stolen by men after she died of breast cancer at 50. www.omic.ly/the-discover...

omic.lyThe discovery of sex chromosomes was just as controversial as everything else in geneticsNettie Stevens, a former school teacher turned geneticist, discovered sex chromosomes in 1905. Here's her story:

Theodore S. Dibble reposted

Lee Atwater had a pungent and famous quote about how once conservatives could no longer use the n-word they used things like “states’ rights” to invoke the same spirit. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration any more — if it ever was — to say they use DEI as the n-word.

jamelle@jamellebouie.net

i think it is important to say that the open and explicit racism of the president and the vice president isn’t just uncouth or “controversial” but a direct attack on tens of millions of americans and a dereliction of their duty to represent the entire country

Theodore S. Dibble reposted

it's hard to read the chart in the screenshot but what this moron is actually complaining about isn't "DEI" staff, it's special education teachers. these ghouls are coming for people with disabilities and they aren't even shy about it.