Blog

Writing on technology, the projects I build, and the research I publish. Most posts start from something I’ve made or a paper I’ve written.

Abstract painting of a pond in loose ochre, yellow, and pale blue brushstrokes

Reading the Rest of Your DNA Test

Three years after GeneCodex, I rebuilt it from scratch as Twofold, with all of SNPedia, a report you can actually explore, and nothing leaving your device.

Painting of laundry on a line in front of a gray house under a hazy sun

Is It the Smoke or the Family?

Adults whose mothers smoked while pregnant with them trust the federal government less. What my latest paper found, and what it doesn't show.

Painting of sunlit city rooftops and a pale brick wall seen through a window frame

College Sports Were Never Just Sports

How recruiting international athletes became tied up with Cold War diplomacy, immigration law, and national security.

Painting of snow-covered branches over a frozen river

Why No Single Theory Explains Africa's Place in the World

Four ways to read Africa's international relations, and where African states can gain more influence.

Painterly artwork selected for Spotify Car Thing's Second Chapter

Spotify Car Thing's Second Chapter

How a discontinued car accessory inspired an open-source project to save thousands of devices from the landfill through creative engineering.

Painterly artwork selected for Democratizing Genetic Analysis

Democratizing Genetic Analysis

How a missing $12 report led to building an open-source platform for genetic analysis, attracting attention from industry pioneers.