Mary O'Riordan
@drbadbug.bsky.social
š¤ 509
š„ 1669
š 9
Professor of Microbiology & Immunology at the University of Michigan | views my own
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Sarah McAnulty, Ph.D.
7 days ago
I wanted to get a video of this ghost crab but every time I got close to their hole they scuttled back in, so I tried getting clever with it. I made a little sandcastle and shoved my phone into it, hit record, and walked away. Crab was VERY suspicious of this addition to their environment.
loading . . .
646
29808
7160
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Brent Toderian
8 days ago
So Flint, Michigan gave $1,500 to all pregnant people, plus $500 each month for the first year of the childās young life. It saved Flint $6.2 million dollars a year, due to lower rates of rates of prematurity and low birth weight, with fewer corresponding admissions. The right thing, AND cheaper.
loading . . .
The US town that pays every pregnant woman $1,500: āWeāre not OK with our babies being born into povertyā
Infants in Rx Kids in Flint, Michigan, saw lower rates of prematurity and other issues, saving millions in NICU visits
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/15/rx-kids-flint-michigan-pregnancy
5
408
140
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Christian Frezza
8 days ago
Peroxisomal metabolism of branched fatty acids regulates energy homeostasis
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
loading . . .
Peroxisomal metabolism of branched fatty acids regulates energy homeostasis - Nature
A UCP1-independent mechanism of thermogenesis involving ATP-consuming metabolism of monomethyl branched-chain fatty acids in peroxisomes is described and a previously unrecognized role for peroxisomes...
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09517-7
0
22
11
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Infectious Diseases
26 days ago
There have been 22 cases of Vibrio vulnificus reported across the U.S. South, including 2 recent deaths in Louisiana. That brings the stateās 2025 toll to 6 fatalities. Itās a bit of a āperfect storm,ā as shifting ocean conditions and loss of CDC capacity collide.
loading . . .
Flesh-eating bacteria cases climb to 22 in Louisiana; 2 deaths tied to Louisiana oysters
Louisiana has reported 22 cases of flesh-eating Vibrio vulnificus this year, with four deaths. Health officials warn of risks from warm Gulf waters.
https://www.nola.com/news/gulf_coast/louisiana-flesh-eating-bacteria-cases-2025/article_6ebe8f79-024c-42ca-8f79-393ad68c387b.html
1
34
22
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Dr. Rabbithole
about 1 month ago
Welcome FEMA to the letter resistance!! The Katrina Declaration was released today out of concern that we are going back to a time when our response was its own man-made disaster. Say Never Again and sign in support!!!
@rebelfema.altgov.info
act.standupforscience.net/forms/sign-o...
4
316
85
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Nature Portfolio
about 1 month ago
A study published in Scientific Reports reveals that an online game can enhance individuals' ability to identify vaccine misinformation. The game uses inoculation theory to expose players to manipulation techniques that are commonly used by anti-vaccine groups.
go.nature.com/3JiHq5L
š§Ŗ
0
21
9
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Jeremy Berg
about 1 month ago
New report from AAMC about clinical trials, other grants, and training
www.aamc.org/about-us/mis...
loading . . .
Clinical trials and research training stalled as billions in NIH funds sit idle
Billions in NIH research funds remain unspent, stalling clinical trials, halting grants, and disrupting training for future scientists.
https://www.aamc.org/about-us/mission-areas/medical-research/publication/clinical-trials-and-research-training-stalled-billions-nih-funds-sit-idle
5
92
75
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Nick Sousanis
about 1 month ago
my statement on Ai from the mini-comic I'm making as syllabus for a new class I'm teaching this fall. It's simple, but I pretty much said all I have to say on it - it robs you of decisions and struggle - and the joy of being surprised. It robs you of learning...
29
750
339
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Leslie Rissler
about 2 months ago
āThis Executive Order is nothing short of obscene," said Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). "In what world does Donald Trump think that Americans want political appointees ā who, need I remind the President, are unelected bureaucrats ā making decisions on what science gets funded?ā
loading . . .
Ranking Member Lofgren Calls Trump Out for Corrupt Executive Order Requiring Political Appointees to Approve Federal Grants | House Committee on Science, Space and Technology
The House Committee on Science, Space and Technology
https://democrats-science.house.gov/news/press-releases/ranking-member-lofgren-calls-trump-out-for-corrupt-executive-order-requiring-political-appointees-to-approve-federal-grants
3
76
37
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Mallory McMorrow
about 2 months ago
We outraised every single candidate in this race without a DIME from corporate PACs. How? YOU. Every dot on this map is someone who believes in what weāre building ā and the latest polling shows Iām the *strongest* Democrat to beat Rogers. Letās do this, Michigan šŖ
23
1388
251
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Alex Merz šŗšøšØš¦šŗš¦
about 2 months ago
A remarkable paper. Davisson and colleagues describe an in vitro reaction running under plausible prebiotic conditions that efficiently and stereoselectively aminoacylates a model tRNA. This suggests a path through which nature may have chosen L vs. D amino acids!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
3
71
26
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Ferric Fang, MD
about 2 months ago
Public health officials have linked 21 Campylobacter and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infections to raw milk from a Florida farm. Six of the infections were in children younger than 10. In Florida, sale of raw milk is permitted for animal consumption only.
www.tampabay.com/news/health/...
loading . . .
State health officials warn about infected raw milk
More than 20 cases of infections linked to consumption of raw milk from single farm.
https://www.tampabay.com/news/health/2025/08/04/state-health-officials-warn-about-infected-raw-milk/
2
11
6
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Garrett M. Graff
about 2 months ago
We are losing the last of the generation who understand just how evil actual fascism is, how hard it is to rid the world of authoritarian governments once theyāre established, and how hard it is to build a successful alternative.
www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/what-we-lo...
loading . . .
What We Lost When We Lost the Greatest Generation
It's no coincidence that democracy is backsliding in the US exactly eighty years after the end of World War II.
https://www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/what-we-lost-when-we-lost-the-greatest-generation-ef639d4f8848ed02
59
1189
502
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Max Kozlov
about 2 months ago
BREAKING: Watchdog government agency finds the NIH and the Trump administration have illegally withheld funds in violation of the Impoundment Control Act, and rips into HHS for failing to justify its slow-walking of funds.
www.gao.gov/products/b-3...
loading . . .
Department of Health and Human ServicesāNational Institutes of HealthāApplication of Impoundment Control Act to Availability of Funds for Grants
Congress appropriated amounts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to carry out various research objectives for fiscal year 2025. In accordance...
https://www.gao.gov/products/b-337203
4
494
246
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Rick Hasen
about 2 months ago
My New One at
@slate.com
on the Supreme Court Potentially Killing the Remaining Pillar of the Voting Rights Act: āThe Supreme Court Just Signaled Something Deeply Disturbing About the Next Termā
slate.com/news-and-pol...
loading . . .
The Supreme Court Just Signaled Something Deeply Disturbing About the Next Term
A court fundamentally hostile to the rights of voters places the court increasingly at odds with democracy itself.
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/08/supreme-court-voting-rights-act-clarence-thomas-message.html
41
575
312
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Josh Mattila
about 2 months ago
"While members of Congress asked the CBO to model cuts on the scale of Trumpās fiscal year 2026 budget proposal, the reductions are so large that they broke the models."
www.statnews.com/2025/07/28/n...
loading . . .
New analysis predicts sprawling effects of proposed NIH budget cuts
Initial analyses of the Trump administrationās proposed NIH cuts neglect key aspects of their long-term economic and health impact, study says.
https://www.statnews.com/2025/07/28/nih-cuts-new-study-says-long-term-they-will-cost-more-than-saved/
0
3
2
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Xu Zhou lab @ BCH & HMS
2 months ago
Beyond excited to share our
#NewPaper
in
@cellcellpress.bsky.social
! Inflamed environments acidify intracellular
#pH
. BRD4 senses this via transcriptional condensates, tuning
#macrophage
responses to match demand and consequences of
#inflammation
authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
6
79
31
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Ailani šŗ Brown Eye Girl
2 months ago
I'm done adulting! Let's just be mermaids. š§āāļø š§āāļø š§āāļø š§āāļø How about you?
22
143
22
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Jeremy Berg
2 months ago
My quote of the day A Video Quote Medical miracles don't happen overnight. You have to invest in them. Our investments are in trouble. (From Francis Collins on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, July 16, 2025)
loading . . .
4
225
82
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Schooley
2 months ago
Colbert should just run for President. I mean, it worked for Trump when his show was cancelled.
109
4431
813
Great time to support your NPR and your local PBS stations
add a skeleton here at some point
2 months ago
1
4
0
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Brian Stelter
2 months ago
The rescission bill has passed the Senate. Once it passes the House, as expected, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's budget will be zeroed out for the first time since 1967, back when TV stations still broadcast in black and white.
180
2577
1367
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
John Tuthill
2 months ago
i wrote an essay for
@thetransmitter.bsky.social
about what it feels like to serve on an NIH grant review panel (study section) right now
www.thetransmitter.org/craft-and-ca...
loading . . .
Fear and loathing on study section: Reviewing grant proposals while the system is burning
As grants are canceled, delayed and subject to general uncertainty, participating in study sections can feel futile. But itās more important than ever.
https://www.thetransmitter.org/craft-and-careers/fear-and-loathing-on-study-section-reviewing-grant-proposals-while-the-system-is-burning/
8
126
63
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Brent Toderian
2 months ago
The āE-Bike Effect:ā Those who bought e-bikes increased their average daily bicycle use from 2.1km (1.3 miles) to 9.2km (5.7 miles), a 340% increase. The e-bike share of all their transportation increased dramatically too; from 17% to 49%. E-bikes support fewer car trips. V
@lloydalter.bsky.social
loading . . .
E-Bikers Ride Much Farther and More Frequently Than Regular Bikers
They are not 'cheating,' but are serious transportation.
https://www.treehugger.com/e-bikers-ride-much-farther-and-more-frequently-than-regula-bikers-5076231
15
607
203
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
KatajistoLab
2 months ago
Proudly presenting Simonās
@simonsterson.bsky.social
⬠paper on asymmetric apportioning of old mitochondria biasing intestinal stem cells for the Paneth cell linage through aKG-dependent metabolism
@naturemetabolism.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
@helsinki.fi
@metastem.bsky.social
š§µ1/8
loading . . .
Old mitochondria regulate niche renewal via α-ketoglutarate metabolism in stem cells - Nature Metabolism
Andersson et al. show that intestinal stem cells enriched for old mitochondria are metabolically distinct and have enhanced ability to regenerate the epithelial niche.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s42255-025-01325-7
4
65
25
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Alex Merz šŗšøšØš¦šŗš¦
3 months ago
Maybe not the most beautiful experiment in biology but certainly top ten. What are your nominees? 1/
add a skeleton here at some point
14
74
23
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
STCmicrobeblog
3 months ago
RIP Franklin W. Stahl (1929ā2025) here is Frank explaining semiconservative replication of DNA in the marvelous interview from 2020 together with Matt Meselson (
youtu.be/7-tnuAqEp9g
)
4
91
31
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Ryan Cordell
3 months ago
The academicās mid-summer crisis is a mid-life crisis in miniature: You realize summer is half gone, & not only that: you see that the longest & least burdened days came early, & they are well past. You compare all you thought youād do against the days remaining & grieve for what never will be
25
832
161
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Christopher Webb
3 months ago
Wow! France gifted her to us, and now theyāve captured what so many Americans are feeling on Independence Day. The values the Statue of Liberty stood for are no more. š A stunning mural of the Statue of Liberty covering her face was unveiled in Roubaix, France, on July 3, 2025.
loading . . .
688
25464
9025
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Sandieglo
3 months ago
23
694
220
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Kevin M. Kruse
3 months ago
āCongressā didnāt pass this murder budget. Republicans did it. Republicans did it without a single Democratic vote in the House, without a single Democratic vote in the Senate. Be precise and give, uh, credit where credit is due
149
8627
2793
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Clare Fieseler, PhD
3 months ago
The retaliatory firing today of over 100 EPA employees who stood up for scientific integrity ā itās shocking. But itās also July 3. So this wonāt even get on peopleās radar.
1
82
37
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Atul Gawande
3 months ago
STAGGERING: This new study of 133 countries is the first to estimate the impact of all USAIDās work. In 2 decades, it has saved *92M* lives. Current cuts, if not reversed, are forecast to cost up to *14M* lives thru 2030.
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
96
3744
3189
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Adam Bonin
3 months ago
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, in dissent, on the Court's ruling on universal injunctions and birthright citizenship: "The Courtās decision to permit the Executive to violate the Constitution with respect to anyone who has not yet sued is an existential threat to the rule of law."
add a skeleton here at some point
23
1464
613
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Nature Portfolio
3 months ago
A paper in Nature describes the enzymes that regulate the production of a pheromone responsible for locust swarms. The paper also identifies several candidates capable of inhibiting the production of this pheromone. š§Ŗ
loading . . .
Decoding 4-vinylanisole biosynthesis and pivotal enzymes in locusts - Nature
In locusts, the aggregationĀ pheromone 4-vinylanisole is derived from dietary phenylalanine, and its production is dependent on two 4-vinylphenol methyltransferases that are potential targets for locust pest control.
https://go.nature.com/4eifQRg
0
9
1
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Jeremy Berg
3 months ago
NIH BREAKING NEWS NIH BREAKING NEWS Hearing from multiple sources that an email went out late yesterday afternoon Effective immediately: Please do not terminate any additional grant projects. Please pull back all grant projects that are in the cue to be terminated.
6
612
143
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Matt Wilkins
3 months ago
These figures are from a perspective I wrote with a veteran science teacher, an education researcher, a biologist, and a leader in science outreach. "Scaling the wall: overcoming barriers to STEM knowledge mobilization"
www.frontiersin.org/journals/com...
loading . . .
Frontiers | Scaling the wall: overcoming barriers to STEM knowledge mobilization
Improving science literacy is crucial amidst global challenges like climate change, emerging diseases, AI, and rampant disinformation. This is vital not only...
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/communication/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2024.1366207/full
1
2
1
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Dan Garisto
3 months ago
NEW: NSF will be kicked out of their building. Announcement will be made tomorrow by HUD Sec. and Governor of VA. HUD will take over the NSF building over the next two years. NSF staffer: "There is no planning for NSF, no identified future location, appropriation for a new building or a move."
110
2815
2039
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Andrew Freedman
3 months ago
I was surprised when working on this story about global warming's role in this heat wave to find scientists concerned that our models are underestimating future extreme heat severity, frequency and duration. (1/2)
5
119
42
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Gal Haimovich ā£ š§Ŗš¬š
3 months ago
An inspiring talk by
@leeat-keren.bsky.social
from Weizmann:
www.facebook.com/leeat.keren/...
loading . . .
Leeat Keren
On Thursday, we had a lab BBQ. On Saturday, my lifeās work has been destroyed by an Iranian missile. Today, I received the Heidenthal award in Systems Biology. Here is what I said in my lecture: I...
https://www.facebook.com/leeat.keren/posts/pfbid02SCbPsBUUoYQe7UJhj9wXnEuyU6GeRHy6CXP7QLTkNkUyBt1gC8p86phqFdpjcRRJl?rdid=7MOQVoW4KdynDTK4#
0
7
2
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
The Times of Israel
3 months ago
From heart tissue to DNA samples, Weizmann scientists mourn work vaporized in Iran attack
https://www.timesofisrael.com/from-heart-tissue-to-dna-samples-weizmann-scientists-mourn-work-vaporized-in-iran-attack/
loading . . .
From heart tissue to DNA samples, Weizmann scientists mourn work vaporized in Iran attack
Some 45 labs in the prestigious sciences center were damaged and might take years -- and tens of millions -- to rebuild. Multiple researchers lost their life's work
https://www.timesofisrael.com/from-heart-tissue-to-dna-samples-weizmann-scientists-mourn-work-vaporized-in-iran-attack/
1
15
13
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Gbenga Ajilore
3 months ago
I know my colleagues already dropped this line (h/t:
@brendanvduke.bsky.social
), but it bears repeating - there already exists a rural hospital fund and it is called: šØšØMEDICAIDšØšØ
www.politico.com/live-updates...
loading . . .
Senate leadership ponders rural hospital fund to sway megabill holdouts
The fund would help rural hospitals that could be hurt by the Senate's cut to provider taxes.
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/06/18/congress/senate-leadership-rural-hospital-fund-00413628
52
1528
488
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Jeremy Berg
4 months ago
Here is a link you can blast out to all of your networks to ask them to consider signing on in support of our NIH heroes.
actionnetwork.org/forms/add-na...
We are at 5000 folks who have signed on. But we can do better Only for people who have ever been sick or knows someone who has been.
loading . . .
ADD YOUR NAME: Sign the Open Letter in Support of NIH Staff
Join the courageous and committed National Institutes of Health (NIH) public servants by adding your name now.
https://actionnetwork.org/forms/add-name-bethesda-declaration/?source=nihBluesky&utm_source=nihBluesky&utm_campaign=bethesdadec
0
74
67
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Abby Schindler
4 months ago
Girl, SAME. āI canāt tell you how heartbreaking and frustrating and exhausting it is to be a federal scientist,ā one federal worker told Mother Jones recently. āI still love my job and the mission of my agency, and I truly and fervently hope I donāt lose it.ā
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
loading . . .
When it comes to Trump's brain drain, āthe damage is already doneā
How the DOGE-triggered attack on government research left America in the dark.
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/05/trump-administration-knowledge-loss-research-cuts/
0
30
6
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Peter Gleick
4 months ago
There are 2 previous historical cases of countries destroying their science and universities, crippling them for decades: Lysenkoism in the USSR and Nazi Germany. The Trump administration will be the 3rd. It's not just budgets but research, institutions, expertise, and training the next generation.
456
15332
8470
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Matt Shipman (he/him)
4 months ago
I think most people don't understand exactly what universities do or how they are funded. It's worth reading this and then talking with folks you know about it.š§Ŗ
www.npr.org/2025/04/25/n...
loading . . .
What losing billions in federal grants means for universities, and the nation
The Trump administration has so far frozen about $11 billion in research funding. University leaders say no other source can fill the void.
https://www.npr.org/2025/04/25/nx-s1-5375033/trump-federal-grants-cuts-universities-could-mean
1
78
43
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Josh Marshall
4 months ago
A Path Forward to Save American Bio-Medical Research
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/a-pat...
loading . . .
A Path Forward to Save American Bio-Medical Research
Over the past four months Iāve spoken to dozens of biomedical researchers...
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/a-path-forward-to-save-american-bio-medical-research/sharetoken/4fe3b515-63d4-40ad-92f8-5946d867ff9d
23
631
294
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Ciara Torres-Spelliscy
4 months ago
Translation Iām very busy cutting Medicaid over here. š I cannot be bothered with Congressional oversight of an unconstitutional emolument over therešš¾ .āļø
add a skeleton here at some point
45
640
123
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Abby Polter
4 months ago
I am thinking a lot today about how heavy things feel in my world of faculty doing scientific research. There's the immediate chaos and panic about our ability to pay people and continue our research. But there's also a deeper grief at watching everything get bulldozed for no reason
24
1203
276
reposted by
Mary O'Riordan
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
4 months ago
Itās 2 am and weāre still marking up massive cuts to Medicaid. While their constituents are asleep, Republicans are trying to take away health care from 13.7 million people to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. They want you to tune out. Donāt ā¬ļø
x.com/i/broadcasts...
loading . . .
HAPPENING NOW: Republicans are putting health care on the chopping block / X
HAPPENING NOW: Republicans are putting health care on the chopping block
https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1yoKMoBYzvWJQ
232
9167
3021
Load more
feeds!
log in