Federal researchers are confronting growing uncertainty about their future, as the 10-day-old shutdown of the U.S. government is now poised to extend into at least next week. https://scim.ag/4n1uy22

As government websites go dark, educators across the country have been reworking lesson plans and searching for reliable sources of up-to-date scientific information. https://scim.ag/46Vlwxu

“The program showed me I was capable of doing neuroscience research, but it didn’t give me a feeling that I belonged.” Read this story about an undergraduate student in a program for students with underrepresented backgrounds: https://bit.ly/4gC03hu #DEI #STEMCareers

Here we go again. www.science.org/content/arti...

Why scientists should take more coffee breaks Grad students should make time for casual conversations with peers, this Ph.D. student writes. #NationalCoffeeDay https://bit.ly/4nyTOOe

Today was a hard day for Ph.D. students who found out that they can no longer apply for NSF's prestigious Graduate Research Fellowship Program. "Devastating“ was how one student described it to me. #GradSchool #NSFGRFP www.science.org/content/arti...

NSF today released instructions for the next round of applicants to its Graduate Research Fellowship Program. A key group—second-year Ph.D. students—is no longer eligible, and students who are still able to apply will face an unusually narrow timeframe. https://scim.ag/3KlQkQk

A week later and prospective applicants are still awaiting the instructions for this year's #NSFGRFP. I checked in with NSF today and was told "I don’t have anything for you at the moment." #GradSchool

"We are so very late that many students will not be able to apply this year." My latest story—about frustration over delays for NSF's graduate research fellowship program. #NSFGRFP #GradSchool @science.org www.science.org/content/arti...

Despite its 162-year-history of service, congressional Republicans tell federal agencies not to seek the advice of the National Academies. www.science.org/content/arti...

How an academic betrayal led me to change my authorship practices “Every cleaned data set, debugged script, and refined figure deserves acknowledgment,” this researcher writes. #AcademicChatter https://bit.ly/4fPwA38

Pushed out by Trump, New Jersey ecologist launches bid for Congress | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...

New in @science.org a really helpful metaphor for many life stages! How a Ph.D. is like riding a bike | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...

Exclusive: NIH suspends dozens of pathogen studies over ‘gain-of-function’ concerns | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...

“Everywhere funding is short.” For my latest story, I spoke with U.S. academics who are bracing for a major downsizing of the science workforce amid funding cuts. NSF's own numbers are stark. @science.org www.science.org/content/arti...

Between June 2024 and January 2025, a full 62% of commercial honey bee colonies in the U.S. died, the largest on record. USDA efforts were slowed by funding cuts and layoffs. Now, USDA scientists have finally identified a culprit. But it may be too late. www.science.org/content/arti...

If getting a research grant required scoring applications from your competitors, would you apply? New evidence on this novel method, “distributed #peerreview,” at #Metascience2025. @science.org www.science.org/content/arti...

Hundreds of employees at the EPA released a “Declaration of Dissent” today, accusing EPA officials of politicizing the agency and undermining its core mission to “protect human health and the environment.” scim.ag/4lB937S

new orca skincare routine dropped! read my latest article in @science.org www.science.org/content/arti...

"There’s a rhetoric that what we do is wasteful." My latest story—about scientists writing op eds in their hometown newspapers, a grassroots effort organized by @sciencehomecoming.bsky.social and others. www.science.org/content/arti...

Breaking from @science.org: The Trump administration wants to kill off a host of active and healthy NASA climate and planetary spacecraft. It would be a "leaner, more focused" agency, they say -- and one far less capable of studying the Earth and exploring space.

Trump's detailed vision for NSF's 2026 budget is not a pretty picture. www.science.org/content/arti...

"Sometimes good can come from a path redirected." #ScienceWorkingLife scim.ag/4kCjozZ

For those having a hard time following all the changes to NSF by the Trump administration, here's a wrapup of the past week's momentous events--and what they mean for the agency. www.science.org/content/arti...

"The lived experience of a scientist right now is terrifying." Story by @science.org's Warren Cornwall—about the fear of retaliation permeating the scientific community. www.science.org/content/arti...

U.S. scientists, state policymakers, farmers, and others who depend on up-to-date climate data on Thursday confronted an information blackout from federal regional climate centers across much of the country.

BREAKING from @science.org: The Trump admin is seeking to kill nearly all climate research at NOAA, its climate science agency. Its near-final budget proposal would end all NOAA research labs, academic institutes, and regional climate centers. And it wants to fully end the NOAA Research division.

"It sucks." After adding questions about sexual orientation and gender identity to a key survey of Ph.D. graduates last year, NSF is reversing course. My latest for @science.org. www.science.org/content/arti...

@science.org confirms that yesterday the Trump admin wiped out the technical staff of the U.S. National Climate Assessment and the Global Change Research Program. When USGCRP's acting director, who is on a time-limited contract, leaves, it will leave the congressionally mandated office empty.

“It’s chaos—absolute chaos.” @jocelynkaiser.bsky.social reports on the turmoil at NIH www.science.org/content/arti...

The biotech company Colossal Biosciences declared on Monday it had “resurrected” the dire wolf. The bold claim was immediately met with skepticism and outrage from scientists on social media. scim.ag/42imbGU

"It’s kind of a textbook case of arbitrary and capricious.” A lawsuit alleges that NIH didn't follow proper procedure and was unconstitutionally vague when abruptly terminating >600 grants. My story @science.org www.science.org/content/arti...

After wildfires burned houses and brush alike in Los Angeles, researchers have mobilized to understand the health risks posed by urban conflagrations. Learn more in this week's issue of Science: scim.ag/3DV7GR4

For the journalists out there: I'm leading a discussion tomorrow with award winning investigative journalist Charles Piller (@charlespiller.bsky.social). We'll be talking about best practices for how to navigate sensitive stories and keep sources safe. www.sciwrirockies.com/event-detail...

Breaking: President Donald Trump’s administration has begun an expected—and sweeping—purge of senior officials at the nation’s federal health agencies. scim.ag/3RwBjeE

"I cannot [bring] myself morally to spend Canadian taxpayers’ money in attending U.S. conferences." My latest story for @science.org—about international scientists rethinking conferences on U.S. soil. www.science.org/content/arti...

Now *all of* the Department of Defense's funding for social science studies has been axed, @kakape.bsky.social reports. www.science.org/content/arti...

NEW: NIH to ax grants on vaccine hesitancy, mRNA vaccines | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...

“My colleagues and I are all worried about getting reinstated and then promptly fired again.” My latest story for @science.org—about an order to bring 6000 fired USDA workers back to work, at least temporarily. www.science.org/content/arti...

My latest: The mass firings at NOAA can feel abstract. Here's what was lost at one research center -- the birthplace of climate modeling. Fired staff became U.S. citizens to pursue these dream jobs, only to have their dreams upended.

NEW: NSF brings back 84 fired workers after judge blocks White House–ordered dismissals | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...

"These kinds of shocks are going to lead to a mass exodus … for minorities in particular.” For my latest @science.org story, I spoke with early career researchers who have been affected by the federal upheaval and are concerned about what it means for their future. www.science.org/content/arti...

"Even NIH officers don’t know what will happen next." In our latest @science.org Working Life essay, an assistant professor expresses frustration with stalls at NIH and asks: "Will my grants ever be reviewed?" @vjrp.bsky.social www.science.org/content/arti...

"I’m feeling betrayed, gutted, lost, anxious, and furious." Our story for @science.org—on the ongoing mass firing of federal employees and reactions in the scientific community. www.science.org/content/arti...

This morning, the National Science Foundation fired 168 probationary employees, effective immediately. The number represents roughly 10% of its workforce. Follow Science’s coverage of President Donald Trump’s impact on U.S. research and science globally. ⬇️ scim.ag/40XtSSi

NEW: At Interior department, layoffs shock new scientists hoping for a secure career of service. Welcome to Trump Tracker | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...

Abandoned crops, fired scientists: Agricultural research hit by U.S. foreign aid freeze | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...

Depending on your perspective it's a good/bad week for @science.org's news team to launch our Trump Tracker. Were recent NIH resignations voluntary? Will RFK Jr start firing scientists today? Why did a judge unfreeze U.S. foreign aid needed for clinical trials? www.science.org/content/arti...

Dear federal scientists: If you have been affected by the probationary firings and would be willing to speak with Science, please reach out to me by email ([email protected]) or on Signal. We can guarantee annonymity.

@altnih4science.bsky.social if you are a probationary NIH employee who is losing your job today, reach out to me on Signal meredithwadman.13 to help @science.org tell this important story.