Black. Black like ink. Like absence. Like the Nothing in “Neverending Story.” Not just black, but Vantablack: a surface that eats light...

A few days ago, I drank my morning coffee while listening to a soft hiss from outside. They were finally removing the words HAIL SATAN...

April 2021. My second “pandemic” birthday is a fact. Two weeks ago, when the weather made an attempt to turn nice, my friend and I had an...

A few days ago, the situation in the Netherlands looked like this: Infection curve: flaccidly bulging or bulgingly flaccid, your choice....

It took a while, but I finally got there: staring into space and wondering what day of the week it was. Remembering (correction: looking...

Groningen, Dec 14 2020. Four days before schools were supposed to close for Christmas in the North. Recently, I read a chill-inducing...

Groningen, the Netherlands, End of 2020. People celebrating Christmas and/or New Year's Eve are busy making spreadsheets to plan their...

I am looking for book recommendations. Recent, contemporary, not unfunny. Preferably with protagonists who do research. Real scientists....

We had hopeful news today about the first corona vaccine. In a recent article about the contenders, our newspaper decided to review them...

A few days go, we celebrated the graduation of one of Niels' PhD students by having dinner at our house. (Cue <suspenseful music in times...