Carmen Drahl
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carmendrahl.bsky.social
Carmen Drahl
@carmendrahl.bsky.social

DC-based freelance journalist and editor | science, health, food | ✍️ DCist, Knowable, NPR, Science News | NASW Freelance Committee | Chemistry Ph.D. 🧪 | Inglés y Español | she/her

Chemistry 36%
Environmental science 20%

Happy #TON15, @theopennotebook.bsky.social ! I'll speak from experience: even TON mentors can learn from this wonderful organization about journalistic rigor and empathy. Donations today will be matched by orgs like my former newsroom @cenmag.bsky.social www.theopennotebook.com/15thannivers...

This is pure inspiration for kids to want to become scientists. Bravo @beebrookshire.bsky.social for balancing joy and pragmatism in a story about a small clinical trial. A pleasure to edit you!
In reporting this piece on the new trial for a Huntington's treatment, I was struck by one thing in particular:

The joy.

One of my sources wept for joy. He has spent his entire career studying this disease, he said it was the happiest day. www.sciencenews.org/article/hunt...
Huntington's progression slowed by experimental gene therapy
An experimental gene therapy slowed Huntington’s by up to 75 percent in a small clinical trial. While not a cure, it may give patients longer lives.
www.sciencenews.org
In reporting this piece on the new trial for a Huntington's treatment, I was struck by one thing in particular:

The joy.

One of my sources wept for joy. He has spent his entire career studying this disease, he said it was the happiest day. www.sciencenews.org/article/hunt...
Huntington's progression slowed by experimental gene therapy
An experimental gene therapy slowed Huntington’s by up to 75 percent in a small clinical trial. While not a cure, it may give patients longer lives.
www.sciencenews.org

Reposted by CARMEN DRAHL

Lauding Lise Meitner, Who Said ‘No’ to the Atomic Bomb undark.org/2023/08/24/l...
Lauding Lise Meitner, Who Said ‘No’ to the Atomic Bomb
Opinion | The movie 'Oppenheimer' makes no mention of the co-discoverer of nuclear fission. But she would have wanted it that way.
undark.org

Reposted by CARMEN DRAHL

Looking forward to this @dcswa.bsky.social event this Sat., Dec. 2 at Because Science (a super-fun science, #sciart themed store)! D.C. area: Join us for a signing of my book #WomeninScience Now, discounted holiday shopping, & a scavenger hunt (w/ prizes!)
@sciencewriters.org #WomeninSTEM #scicomm

Reposted by CARMEN DRAHL

If you've ever: read a TON story, shared a TON story, shared something you learned from TON, taken a class or workshop, made a connection through our Science Writers Database, studied our Pitch Database ... perhaps you'll consider us? #GivingTuesday www.theopennotebook.com/donate/
Support The Open Notebook - Support Science Journalism
If you support our mission to help science journalists improve their skills, please consider making a tax-deductible one-time donation or recurring gift to help sustain our work.
www.theopennotebook.com

Reposted by CARMEN DRAHL

OK, It's time to follow us.
#sciencewriting #Scicomm
🧪 😷 #AcademicSky #MedSky #episky 🩺 #HiSciSky

Reposted by CARMEN DRAHL

Here’s a few things I’ve learned when reporting on COVID seasonality:

1) Other respiratory viruses spread better in cold, dry conditions. COVID doesn’t seem to care about the weather.
A 🧵1/3
Here's why COVID-19 isn't seasonal so far
Human immunity and behavior may be more important than weather for driving seasonality when it comes to COVID-19.
www.sciencenews.org

Reposted by CARMEN DRAHL

You've gotta get a pizza 🍕 this action
@dcswa.bsky.social 🐥 is having a Science Writing 🧪🩺🔬Pizza Social on Feb 8 at Sonny's Pizza. This is a great way to topping your Thursday

Check out a slice of the details here: dcswa.org/event/pizza-...

And as a reminder, ducks 🦆are awesome

Reposted by CARMEN DRAHL

DUE DATE February 29: NASW members, your NASW Freelance Committee launched a "Peer Support for Caregivers" pilot project! Member volunteers @elandhuis.bsky.social and @carmendrahl.bsky.social explain their vision for helping writers in need connect with each other: www.nasw.org/article/nasw...
Connection for Caregivers: Introducing NASW’s peer buddy resource pilot project
The Freelance Committee of the National Association of Science Writers launches a new pilot program serving NASW members juggling careers and caregiving.
www.nasw.org

Reposted by CARMEN DRAHL

Lake and #watershed enthusiasts- join the @miscicom.org group to hear a great talk and Q&A about the latest research being done on Lake Erie. It’s free! Just sign up: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: MiSC Expert Series: Lake Erie Water Resources Monitoring and Research. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: MiSC Expert Series: Lake Erie Water Resources Monitoring and Research. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
us06web.zoom.us

Reposted by CARMEN DRAHL

SAVE THE DATE: NASW members, join your colleagues @carmendrahl.bsky.social@elandhuis.bsky.social @sarahderouin.bsky.social @tanyalewis.bsky.social and Lauren Young for a special #SciWriSocial for anyone juggling caregiving and career. All NASW members welcome: www.nasw.org/events/... 💚🧪📝
Virtual Networking Social: Caregivers Support
This latest NASW Virtual Networking Social is brought to you by the NASW Freelance Committee.
www.nasw.org

Reposted by CARMEN DRAHL

#SciWri24 starts this Friday!! We are *so* excited to welcome everyone to Raleigh this weekend. Please join all of us at @sciencewriters.org @sciencewriting.bsky.social and @sconc.bsky.social in ensuring that ScienceWriters2024 is a safe, inclusive, and successful event for all. 💚🧪📝🦨 [🧵]

Reposted by CARMEN DRAHL

NASW Members: You're invited to attend a special #SciWriSocial year-end trivia contest party on December 5! Hosted by our NASW Freelance Committee but open to all NASW members. Come share a laugh with familiar friends and new colleagues as we wrap this #NASW90th year: www.nasw.org/events/... 💚🧪📝

Reposted by CARMEN DRAHL

STARTING NOW AT 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT: NASW members, join us for a special #SciWriSocial year-end trivia contest party! Hosted by our Freelance Committee but open to all NASW members. Enjoy the fun with familiar friends and new colleagues as we wrap this #NASW90th year: www.nasw.org/events/... 💚🧪📝
Virtual Networking Social: Trivia Contest!
This latest NASW Virtual Networking Social is brought to you by the NASW Freelance Committee.
www.nasw.org

Reposted by CARMEN DRAHL

Big news! We’re thrilled to welcome our newest class of early-career fellows, supported by @bwfund.bsky.social. Let us introduce you to… 🧪
Congratulations and Welcome to TON's 2025 Early-Career Fellows - The Open Notebook
We are excited to introduce our newest early-career fellows, Lucila Pinto, William von Herff, and Skyler Ware. With generous support from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, Lucila, William, and Skyler will ...
www.theopennotebook.com

Reposted by CARMEN DRAHL

We are excited to announce new grants in "Ethics, Science, and the Public." These projects will explore societal and ethical considerations of basic research projects.
www.kavlifoundation.org/science-and-...
#scicomm #sciengage #basicscience #discoveryscience
Announcing New Grants in Ethics, Science, and the Public
The Kavli Foundation is dedicated to advancing science for the benefit of humanity.
www.kavlifoundation.org

Reposted by CARMEN DRAHL

Clinical trials across the U.S. have suddenly stopped due to actions by the Trump administration. I talked to several researchers involved in such studies, a patient advocate & @apha.org about the impacts

#NIH #HHS #Trump #ClinicalResearch #ClinicalTrials #COVID #HIV #SexualHealth #MaternalHealth 🧪
Clinical trials face uncertain futures amid Trump cuts
The Trump administration has reportedly disrupted over 100 clinical trials. Science News spoke to researchers about the impacts on four of them.
www.sciencenews.org

Reposted by CARMEN DRAHL

In Washington and Maine, scientists have ID’d two cases of a rare red meat allergy triggered by tick bites. What’s notable about this?

These cases appear to have been caused by tick species never before linked to the allergy, called alpha gal syndrome. www.sciencenews.org/article/tick...
Three U.S tick species may cause a mysterious red meat allergy
Two cases of alpha-gal syndrome suggest that the lone star tick isn’t the only species in the United States capable of triggering an allergy to red meat.
www.sciencenews.org

Reposted by CARMEN DRAHL

Scientists on Golden Dome: "Even the most optimistic assumptions ... would suggest that that is impossible.” www.sciencenews.org/article/gold... My story for @sciencenews.bsky.social
Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’ plan has a major obstacle: Physics
Scientists suggest the missile defense plan will face big hurdles, especially given its projected timeline and cost.
www.sciencenews.org

Reposted by CARMEN DRAHL

Los becarios de @pulitzercenter.bsky.social @christianelliott.me y Muriel Alarcón viajaron a la Patagonia para informar sobre una de las primeras reproducciones de corales de aguas frías en un laboratorio. Aquí te contamos cómo abordaron sus reportajes. #TONenEspañol
Christian Elliott y Muriel Alarcón se adaptan mientras cubren un hito de los corales patagónicos - The Open Notebook
Durante un viaje de reporteo a la Patagonia, los periodistas científicos Muriel Alarcón y Christian Elliott se unieron para cubrir un hito científico: la reproducción exitosa en un laboratorio de cora...
www.theopennotebook.com

Tomorrow 1PM ET: My colleague @sarahderouin.com will be hosting a supportive virtual gathering for caregivers who are members of @sciencewriters.org . Join me! 
Event link: www.nasw.org/events/careg...
Not a member? nasw.org/join
Community wellness check-in for caregivers
In response to members’ feedback, and on the heels of our Caregiver Pilot Project, we are holding a community wellness event for caregivers.
www.nasw.org

English speakers, your version of the Q&A is here. Ask me how I used sports alliteration when helping Lucila brainstorm a headline. ;) 🧪#MarineLife 🌎
www.theopennotebook.com/2025/07/15/c...
Christian Elliott and Muriel Alarcón Pivot While Covering a Patagonian Coral Milestone - The Open Notebook
During a reporting trip to Patagonia, science journalists Muriel Alarcón and Christian Elliott teamed up to cover a scientific milestone: a successful lab reproduction of cold-water corals originally ...
www.theopennotebook.com

Un placer editar a Lucila Pinto mientras entrelazaba dos voces en este Q&A.

A step toward a Tony Stark-like 3D display you can manipulate? @sciencenews.bsky.social is here for it. Say hi to @elanaspivack.bsky.social , the newest team member on the Investors Lab newsletter, and subscribe for more insights. www.sciencenews.org/investors-la... 🧪 #space #bioplastic
Cleaner space, purer hearts, + what's new in 3D and energy | Science News
Welcome to the Investors Lab from Science News. This week's issue is brought to you by our small but mighty team: our founding content curator Susanna Camp,
https://www.sciencenews.org/investors-lab/cleaner-space-purer-hearts-whats-new-in-3d-and-energy-⚡%EF%B8%8F

The question I should've asked: where can I go to see #neuroscience and ethics expert @narayansankaran.bsky.social play some jazz guitar? My latest story for @kavlifoundation.org . 🧪 #neuroskyence www.kavlifoundation.org/news/wire-th...
If we wire the brain, what comes to mind?
The Kavli Foundation is dedicated to advancing science for the benefit of humanity.
www.kavlifoundation.org

When I was a staff journalist, it felt like someone pitched a new #graphene advance every week. So it was delightful to work with @stephenornes.bsky.social on one aspect of this field that might enable #greenelectronics. My first edit for @pnas.org : #chemsky 🧪 ⚛️ www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Laser-induced graphene points to sustainable electronics | PNAS
Laser-induced graphene points to sustainable electronics
www.pnas.org

I'd never heard of the saola until I edited Tom Metcalfe's piece for @sciencenews.bsky.social . Now I'll be keeping tabs on what their fate will be. www.sciencenews.org/article/gene... 🧪
Genetics might save the rare, elusive saola — if it's not already extinct
A new genetic study could help saolas survive by enabling better searches through environmental DNA. But some experts fear they may be extinct already.
www.sciencenews.org

I want to believe that costs could decrease for custom gene editing like KJ's. But the current landscape has me pessimistic. Great to work w @thsaey.bsky.social, who ably lays out this story for @sciencenews.bsky.social : 🩺🧪https://www.sciencenews.org/article/personalized-crispr-gene-edit-therapy
Personalized gene editing saved a baby, but the tech’s future is uncertain
The personalized CRISPR treatment could be the future of gene therapy, but hurdles remain before everyone has access.
www.sciencenews.org

This was chock full of pithy quotes, like: “People say, ‘We got to the moon, why can’t we do this?’ Well, the moon didn’t suddenly move out of the way." Fun to get to edit my former @dcswa.bsky.social prez @econover.bsky.social for @sciencenews.bsky.social ⚛️ 🧪