Definitely worth paying for a flu jab this year, about £15 at pharmacies! www.bbc.com/news/article...

It's sad to see @scholars.org giving credibility to "In COVID's Wake" once again. 1/

The “canonical” story how Rosalind Franklin got wronged by Watson and Crick inadvertently makes her look far less scientifically competent than she was (“She did not realize the significance of her own data!”). This article offers a much more nuanced account of what happened.

Infant botulism: 13 cases since August linked to ByHeart brand powdered infant formula have been reported across 10 states (6 confirmed type A). FDA has recalled 2 lots. Details: fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-infant-botulism-infant-formula-november-2025

I read The Double Helix as an undergraduate. I was a science major at a women’s college taking molecular biology. Our professor taught us that Watson & Crick screwed Rosalind Franklin over. So I read the book to learn more. I’ll never forget how reading this passage made me feel.

This is a good analysis of what Democrats can do now. In short: don't cave. But if they do cave, do it for a plan to reopen the government with teeth to stop the lawbreaking by Vought and Trump. "1 mo clean budget extensions in perpetuity, all contingent on the end of rescissions and impoundments"

There is no reason to fund this government as it starves millions of Americans, invades U.S. cities, disappears people, strangles universities, acts as a pay-for-pay operation for the president, guts environmental rules, commits war crimes, kills foreign aid, and dismantles public health.

The Universal Ostrich saga has come to a close, with CFIA culling the herd. There are a lot of layers to this scenario, and science has taken a backseat to politics, anti-government sentiment and grift. Some final thoughts.... www.wormsandgermsblog.com/2025/11/arti...

This is very important news in the world of #microbiology. From @dadjokesforthewin. #ENTsecrets #surgery

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has launched an unprecedented review of routine shots given to kids, alarming public health experts. n.pr/47FYT0b

A major loss for everyone trying to understand how to prevent respiratory viruses and other major pathogens worldwide. Sharing data assures we are prepared. Now we are not

The obituary of someone who gained widespread fame through remarkable achievements at a young age and then expected to be taken seriously for anything he said thereafter.

Cornell agreed to pay $30m, hand over admissions data with demographic breakdowns, produce annual "campus climate" surveys to check on antisemitism and changes "since October of 2023," and—here's the dumbest part they agreed to—that the govt can open new investigations whenever it wants. Appeasers.

I understand the pressures, but this is short-sighted. But they get their grants back (for now).

"it's a symptom of a deep and abiding dysfunction that Republicans, despite holding the presidency, the Senate and the House, can't fund the government and can't even get themselves to get together in a room to strike a deal."

A week after the arXiv was forced to tighten down on submissions because of overwhelming volumes of AI slop, bioRxiv is throwing the doors wide open.

"I am amazed that 45% of scientists feel they have enough time for research. I do not know anyone who feels that way" www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Director Bhattacharya decided to weigh in on X/Twitter about the impact of the government shutdown. He (not surprisingly) focuses on the impact of the MAHA agenda. Of course, delays of research for months (which could be minimized by NIH with planning) will have little effect on MAHA actions 1/5

We have a new timeline up today on our Medical Research Funding page, documenting the onslaught of political, legal, and bureaucratic attacks on medical research since January: unbreaking.org/issues/medic...

This is what every single person with any experience in China has been warning about from the start. Very good WaPo story by Katrina Northrop and Rudy Lu. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1... And good, clear headline!

Personally, I do things not because they’re easy, but because I incorrectly thought they’d be easy

Newly released Stockholm Declaration recommends the following reforms to publishing: 1. Academia resumes control of publishing 2. Incentive systems to merit quality, not quantity 3. Independent fraud detection and prevention 4. Legislation and policies to protect science quality and integrity

"When science is perceived as aligned with political agendas, or when episodes of scientific misconduct receive high-profile media coverage, the legitimacy of science can be damaged, even if such cases are rare."

Rep. Yassamin Ansari has set up a table and this sign outside Speaker Johnson’s office.

The man who ended USAID is the world's first trillionaire

This story comes out the same day the architect of this monstrous policy gets approval for a near-trillion-dollar payout from his government-subsidized company. Utterly despicable.

Over 150,000 signatures to remove RFK Jr.

COVID "...increased the risk of heart inflammation, blood clots & bleeding disorders among children..." "...vaccinated had a lower risk of myocarditis than those who were unvaccinated..." COVID & heart issues in children: www.newscientist.com/article/2502... #VaccinesWork

AAP and other medical groups call for the ACIP to be disbanded and reconstituted under court supervision. "You have an ACIP that shouldn't be making policy, now starting to make policy. We want it disbanded." www.medpagetoday.com/publichealth...

Analyses: High-dose #flu vaccine better protects against hospitalization, infection than standard-dose High-dose vaccine was 40% more effective against hospitalization than the standard-dose version. www.cidrap.umn.edu/i...

Hundreds of doctors, concerned citizens, public health professionals, and science allies joined us in Washington DC to let the world know: RFK Jr. has got to go! #ImpeachtheQuack @apha.org @moveon.org @physiciandemocracy.medsky.social @pnhpnymetro.bsky.social @drsforamerica.bsky.social and more

Congratulations to Dr. Morawska. share.google/qTVVzW5sUeAC...

Director Bhattacharya "Let's fund emerging investigators" Yeah, who's the idiot running NIH who allowed 15% or few fewer early stage investigators be funded in FY2025 compared to FY2024? (Estimate: The official numbers are not yet available (at least publicly)

From yesterday's rally calling for the impeachment of RFK, Jr. www.dcnewsnow.com/video/hundre... @standupforscience.bsky.social

Appeals court judges seem skeptical of Trump administration’s defense of capping NIH overhead payments www.statnews.com/2025/11/05/n... via @statnews.com

I've never really understood the logic of "targeted vaccination". Of course, money is a huge issue and we seek to get the most out of every £ spent. Of course COVID and flu waves would be far worse without it. But, what doesn't sit well for me is the following...

2. Uptake in older groups is usually much better than in younger, "vulnerable" populations or frontline staff, but all are declining. Messaging is a HUGE factor. Weirdly, if you spend all year minimising SARS2, and use flu to do so, your "seasonal" vax campaigns struggle 🙄

Recall that farmers in California are falling sick with H5N1 symptoms and MAHA CDC isn’t allowed to test or report. Federal response to disease outbreaks has been curtailed. Bird flu surges. Egg prices will increase. 🧪 www.npr.org/sections/sho...

Yesterday, hundreds of scientists, physicians, health workers, patients, leaders, and advocates spoke together with one voice, RFK Jr. is not fit to lead HHS and has got to go. Thanks to @apha.org @standupforscience.bsky.social, and others for organizing.

If you work with or rely on academic journals - don't miss this strange, funny, horrifying story about what happened when @carloschaccour.bsky.social published a paper on a malaria breakthrough in a prestigious journal – and AI came for the letters page. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/s...

And that’s why we here see a Court that can suddenly use normal logic and perceive the consequences of its own actions. Meaning they know *exactly* what they're doing when they allow Trump and Vought to destroy NIH, and thus destroy most or all US cancer research. /end

In our new report, based on the data, we suggest that we are hurtling toward climate chaos if trends continue. Thanks are due to my coauthors @michaelemann.bsky.social @petergleick.bsky.social and others. You decide if you agree by reading the paper for yourself here: doi.org/10.1093/bios...

It's John Knox, and "People in the know are worried." Um, *yeah.* "Historically led by doctors, military officers or career public health officials, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response [ASPR] is now being directed... 1/2 www-msnbc-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.msnb...

Colorado shows that feeding children is still a popular notion. All school meals should be free.

This is a new and invaluable resource for international students in the US, or anyone thinking of studying in the US The International Student Resource Center It has a wealth of information about how to navigate all of the procedures and barriers, plus up-to-date information on shifting policy

How much more would ACA Marketplace enrollees pay if the enhanced premium tax credits expire at the end of this year? Our updated calculator shows how costs would rise — based on zip code, income, age, and family size — if those credits aren’t extended: https://on.kff.org/4olBSa4

Canada makes pitch for US researchers to relocate with $1.7bn in new funding. My story for @science.org 🧪 www.science.org/content/arti...

At the ceremony, Director Bhattacharya called it “The most fun I’ve had in ten months” and “I feel like I’m at home.” He is in the wrong fucking job. NIH deserves some much better than this. 3/3

NIH Director Bhattacharya received an award from the Brownstone Institute www.importantcontext.news/p/nih-direct... 1/n

This is more apparent in this graph of the timing of new forward-funded R01s grants for fiscal years 2015-2025. I colored the FY2025 in red to make the difference apparent. 😜 22/25