Dan Vergano
@danvergano.bsky.social
Senior Editor at Scientific American.
- Views expressed in anything I post are my own. They have not been reviewed or approved by Springer Nature.
- RT's not endorsements.
- Signal: Delta.357
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-vergano-93908b4/
- Views expressed in anything I post are my own. They have not been reviewed or approved by Springer Nature.
- RT's not endorsements.
- Signal: Delta.357
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-vergano-93908b4/
Pinned
Dan Vergano
@danvergano.bsky.social
· Dec 4
"The crisis facing American journalism is the predictable outcome of decades of corporate libertarian media policy that prioritized commercial logics over democracy."
Reposted by Dan Vergano
Hm no they're not.
Experiments conducted with the A.I. system Claude are producing fascinating results—and raising questions about the nature of selfhood. Gideon Lewis-Kraus reports from inside the company that designed it, Anthropic. newyorkermag.visitlink.me/rOfXjg
February 11, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Hm no they're not.
Reposted by Dan Vergano
In our new poll with the Boston Globe of NIH funded scientists in Mass ...
- 72% say they have delayed or cancelled projects
- 66% reduced research scope
- 56% paused experiments or students.
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/09/m...
- 72% say they have delayed or cancelled projects
- 66% reduced research scope
- 56% paused experiments or students.
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/09/m...
February 11, 2026 at 12:38 PM
In our new poll with the Boston Globe of NIH funded scientists in Mass ...
- 72% say they have delayed or cancelled projects
- 66% reduced research scope
- 56% paused experiments or students.
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/09/m...
- 72% say they have delayed or cancelled projects
- 66% reduced research scope
- 56% paused experiments or students.
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/09/m...
Reposted by Dan Vergano
The HPV vaccine is eliminating cervical cancer in a generation of women. Why would anyone be against that?
CIDRAP Op-Ed: The HPV vaccine prevents cancer. The new ACIP wants to re-examine that.
@jakescottMD
The vaccine has reduced cervical cancer by nearly 90% in women vaccinated as teens and has been studied in >70 randomized controlled trials
www.cidrap.umn.edu/h...
Photo: PAHO
@jakescottMD
The vaccine has reduced cervical cancer by nearly 90% in women vaccinated as teens and has been studied in >70 randomized controlled trials
www.cidrap.umn.edu/h...
Photo: PAHO
February 11, 2026 at 2:27 AM
The HPV vaccine is eliminating cervical cancer in a generation of women. Why would anyone be against that?
Reposted by Dan Vergano
When I got the contract to write a history of concentration camps in 2014, I hoped to keep the US from ending up here. That didn't work out! But now it's critical to understand how much is already in process and the enormity of what's coming. The sooner we act to stop it, the more people we'll save.
Building the camps
The warehouseification of detention and initial thoughts on stopping it.
degenerateart.beehiiv.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:24 AM
When I got the contract to write a history of concentration camps in 2014, I hoped to keep the US from ending up here. That didn't work out! But now it's critical to understand how much is already in process and the enormity of what's coming. The sooner we act to stop it, the more people we'll save.
Reposted by Dan Vergano
FDA refuses to review Moderna’s mRNA flu vaccine application, company says www.cnn.com/2026/02/10/h...
FDA refuses to review Moderna’s application for mRNA flu vaccine, company says | CNN
The US Food and Drug Administration has refused to accept an application from Moderna to review its first mRNA seasonal flu vaccine, the company said Tuesday, in another setback for the technology tha...
www.cnn.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:34 AM
FDA refuses to review Moderna’s mRNA flu vaccine application, company says www.cnn.com/2026/02/10/h...
Reposted by Dan Vergano
Dozens of researchers will move to France from US following high-profile bid to lure talent. Large proportion worked at Columbia University, which had its grants cut and frozen by the administration of US President Donald Trump. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Dozens of researchers will move to France from US following high-profile bid to lure talent
Large proportion worked at Columbia University, which had its grants cut and frozen by the administration of US President Donald Trump.
www.nature.com
February 10, 2026 at 5:27 PM
Dozens of researchers will move to France from US following high-profile bid to lure talent. Large proportion worked at Columbia University, which had its grants cut and frozen by the administration of US President Donald Trump. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Dan Vergano
NEW: Just got a statement form the State Department on Under Secretary DiNanno's claim that China is preparing covert nuclear tests with designated yields in the hundreds of tons.
A lot depends on what is meant by "more" and "soon" but certainly interesting!
👀
A lot depends on what is meant by "more" and "soon" but certainly interesting!
👀
February 10, 2026 at 8:04 PM
NEW: Just got a statement form the State Department on Under Secretary DiNanno's claim that China is preparing covert nuclear tests with designated yields in the hundreds of tons.
A lot depends on what is meant by "more" and "soon" but certainly interesting!
👀
A lot depends on what is meant by "more" and "soon" but certainly interesting!
👀
Reposted by Dan Vergano
A fantastic review from Ben Rhodes of a new book on Robert McNamara (by the Taubmans) that spins into a personal reflection on the cynicism and self-deception that gets American-exceptionalism-chugging elites to sleep at night. www.nybooks.com/articles/202...
February 10, 2026 at 7:25 AM
A fantastic review from Ben Rhodes of a new book on Robert McNamara (by the Taubmans) that spins into a personal reflection on the cynicism and self-deception that gets American-exceptionalism-chugging elites to sleep at night. www.nybooks.com/articles/202...
"Madness as Strategy? Leader Reputation and the Logic of Elite Purges in Autocracies"
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
"the findings suggest that madness functions as a strategic reputational signal shaping high-cost coercive behavior"
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
"the findings suggest that madness functions as a strategic reputational signal shaping high-cost coercive behavior"
Madness as Strategy? Leader Reputation and the Logic of Elite Purges in Autocracies
Objective Are leaders perceived as “mad” more likely to employ violent repression against elites? This article examines how a leader's reputation for madness shapes the use of violent military purge...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
February 10, 2026 at 3:01 PM
"Madness as Strategy? Leader Reputation and the Logic of Elite Purges in Autocracies"
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
"the findings suggest that madness functions as a strategic reputational signal shaping high-cost coercive behavior"
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
"the findings suggest that madness functions as a strategic reputational signal shaping high-cost coercive behavior"
In a "Jeffrey Epstein and the scientists" podcast w/ @iansample.bsky.social of The Guardian, we delve into the ugly world of Epstein and the scholars hurt by the misogyny in science that the files reveal:
www.theguardian.com/science/audi...
www.theguardian.com/science/audi...
Jeffrey Epstein and the scientists – podcast
The release of the latest batch of documents relating to the late child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has shed further light on his close relationship with the world of science. To find out why he cult...
www.theguardian.com
February 10, 2026 at 2:52 PM
In a "Jeffrey Epstein and the scientists" podcast w/ @iansample.bsky.social of The Guardian, we delve into the ugly world of Epstein and the scholars hurt by the misogyny in science that the files reveal:
www.theguardian.com/science/audi...
www.theguardian.com/science/audi...
Reposted by Dan Vergano
This is the way.
NEW: The AMA and a leading public health research group focused on vaccines are teaming up to create a parallel system to review vaccine safety and effectiveness.
The CDC’s vaccine review process has “effectively collapsed” under RFKJr. My story.
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...
AMA joins effort to launch vaccine science review amid CDC turmoil
The American Medical Association and a partner group are taking on a new role in reviewing vaccine safety and effectiveness as the CDC’s review process faces criticism.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 10, 2026 at 2:09 PM
This is the way.
Reposted by Dan Vergano
A Roman stone board game has been unplayable since its discovery more than a century ago, but AI might have just worked out the rules
Rules of mysterious ancient Roman board game decoded by AI
A Roman stone board game has been unplayable since its discovery more than a century ago, but AI might have just worked out the rules
www.scientificamerican.com
February 10, 2026 at 2:09 PM
A Roman stone board game has been unplayable since its discovery more than a century ago, but AI might have just worked out the rules
Reposted by Dan Vergano
With every impediment to meaningful climate action it means loss of life, dirtier air and water, more money from your pocket every month for bills, habitat loss, etc. It’s like removing every dr from every hospital and then taking all the meds off the shelves. It’s an axe to our present and future.
A group of conservative activists has worked for 16 years to stop all government efforts to fight climate change. Their efforts are now paying off.
The EPA is expected to revoke the endangerment finding, which has underpinned the government’s ability to fight global warming since 2009.
The EPA is expected to revoke the endangerment finding, which has underpinned the government’s ability to fight global warming since 2009.
A Campaign to Revoke the Endangerment Finding Appears Near ‘Total Victory’
A small group of conservative activists has worked for 16 years to stop all government efforts to fight climate change. Their efforts seem poised to pay off.
nyti.ms
February 10, 2026 at 2:12 PM
With every impediment to meaningful climate action it means loss of life, dirtier air and water, more money from your pocket every month for bills, habitat loss, etc. It’s like removing every dr from every hospital and then taking all the meds off the shelves. It’s an axe to our present and future.
Senate Hearing: We Interrupt This Program: Media Ownership in the Digital Age - 10 am ET
www.commerce.senate.gov/2026/2/we-in...
Claim: "competition and diversity by limiting the number of media outlets a single entity may own—warrants review."
A Ted Cruz production
www.commerce.senate.gov/2026/2/we-in...
Claim: "competition and diversity by limiting the number of media outlets a single entity may own—warrants review."
A Ted Cruz production
We Interrupt This Program: Media Ownership in the Digital Age
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a full committee hearing titled “We Interrupt This Program: ...
www.commerce.senate.gov
February 10, 2026 at 2:14 PM
Senate Hearing: We Interrupt This Program: Media Ownership in the Digital Age - 10 am ET
www.commerce.senate.gov/2026/2/we-in...
Claim: "competition and diversity by limiting the number of media outlets a single entity may own—warrants review."
A Ted Cruz production
www.commerce.senate.gov/2026/2/we-in...
Claim: "competition and diversity by limiting the number of media outlets a single entity may own—warrants review."
A Ted Cruz production
Reposted by Dan Vergano
The Supreme Court’s 2026 Term—Public Health in Jeopardy url: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
The Supreme Court’s 2026 Term—Public Health in Jeopardy
This JAMA Forum discusses upcoming Supreme Court decisions and the potential damage to public health, including decreases in vaccination rates, in firearms control, and in the rights of sexual minorit...
jamanetwork.com
February 10, 2026 at 4:22 AM
The Supreme Court’s 2026 Term—Public Health in Jeopardy url: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Reposted by Dan Vergano
this happens all the time with science and actual technology stories: reporters on the non-technical/science beats don't even know the basics, so they can't challenge the assumptions.
This would have been a good point for someone to have asked, is that really how things work? Or is vacuum in fact an excellent insulator? www.ft.com/content/a5cf...
February 10, 2026 at 1:41 PM
this happens all the time with science and actual technology stories: reporters on the non-technical/science beats don't even know the basics, so they can't challenge the assumptions.
Reposted by Dan Vergano
Stunning stat from Mark: There’s now only 1 professional media outlet covering the Nats day to day: MLB.com, the league-owned outlet.
Support Mark’s newsletter if you can.
Support Mark’s newsletter if you can.
Pitchers and catchers report for spring training tomorrow. And so do I.
Welcome to Nats Journal. Hope you'll join me on this new endeavor, and hope you'll help spread the word!
natsjournal.com/p/welcome-to...
Welcome to Nats Journal. Hope you'll join me on this new endeavor, and hope you'll help spread the word!
natsjournal.com/p/welcome-to...
Welcome to Nats Journal
Your new home for Washington Nationals news, analysis, podcasts and community
natsjournal.com
February 10, 2026 at 3:20 AM
Stunning stat from Mark: There’s now only 1 professional media outlet covering the Nats day to day: MLB.com, the league-owned outlet.
Support Mark’s newsletter if you can.
Support Mark’s newsletter if you can.
Reposted by Dan Vergano
Three members of Congress and the governor of Hawai'i, a medical doctor who responded to the measles outbreak in Samoa, are calling for RFK Jr's resignation. Emails now reveal he lied under oath about his antivax role in those 83 deaths.
RFK Jr misled Senate during confirmation, Congress members and Hawaii governor say
Newly revealed emails undermine Kennedy’s testimony about 2019 Samoa trip ahead of deadly measles outbreak
www.theguardian.com
February 10, 2026 at 12:25 AM
Three members of Congress and the governor of Hawai'i, a medical doctor who responded to the measles outbreak in Samoa, are calling for RFK Jr's resignation. Emails now reveal he lied under oath about his antivax role in those 83 deaths.
Reposted by Dan Vergano
Reposted by Dan Vergano
Cool/important job alert:
Principal Research Scientist at the Wikimedia Foundation's
Research team for the area of knowledge integrity
Job posting: job-boards.greenhouse.io/wikimedia/jo...
Principal Research Scientist at the Wikimedia Foundation's
Research team for the area of knowledge integrity
Job posting: job-boards.greenhouse.io/wikimedia/jo...
Principal Research Scientist
Remote
job-boards.greenhouse.io
February 9, 2026 at 8:07 PM
Cool/important job alert:
Principal Research Scientist at the Wikimedia Foundation's
Research team for the area of knowledge integrity
Job posting: job-boards.greenhouse.io/wikimedia/jo...
Principal Research Scientist at the Wikimedia Foundation's
Research team for the area of knowledge integrity
Job posting: job-boards.greenhouse.io/wikimedia/jo...
Reposted by Dan Vergano
HELLO HISTORIANS
Summer jobs: NASA History Internship.
"The NASA History Office is offering internships at several NASA centers this summer. Be sure to submit your application before the deadline on February 27."
🔭 #History #HistSTM #STS #Internship
"The NASA History Office is offering internships at several NASA centers this summer. Be sure to submit your application before the deadline on February 27."
🔭 #History #HistSTM #STS #Internship
STEM Gateway
stemgateway.nasa.gov
February 9, 2026 at 7:39 PM
HELLO HISTORIANS
Reposted by Dan Vergano
The head of the NIH is calling for a second scientific revolution. And he's looking to RFK's MAHA movement for support.
My report from a very strange afternoon with senior NIH leadership, in which I probably seriously up my odds of ending up uninvited to any future events.
My report from a very strange afternoon with senior NIH leadership, in which I probably seriously up my odds of ending up uninvited to any future events.
NIH head, still angry about COVID, wants a second scientific revolution
Can we pander to MAHA, re-litigate COVID, and improve science at the same time?
arstechnica.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:50 PM
The head of the NIH is calling for a second scientific revolution. And he's looking to RFK's MAHA movement for support.
My report from a very strange afternoon with senior NIH leadership, in which I probably seriously up my odds of ending up uninvited to any future events.
My report from a very strange afternoon with senior NIH leadership, in which I probably seriously up my odds of ending up uninvited to any future events.
Reposted by Dan Vergano
Hey, my name is in the Epstein files! I've told the story before, but should probably re-up.
TLDR: never met the guy, never took (or asked for) any money from him, never visited the island. I was invited to the island, and said no.
It's not that hard to just say no.
TLDR: never met the guy, never took (or asked for) any money from him, never visited the island. I was invited to the island, and said no.
It's not that hard to just say no.
February 9, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Hey, my name is in the Epstein files! I've told the story before, but should probably re-up.
TLDR: never met the guy, never took (or asked for) any money from him, never visited the island. I was invited to the island, and said no.
It's not that hard to just say no.
TLDR: never met the guy, never took (or asked for) any money from him, never visited the island. I was invited to the island, and said no.
It's not that hard to just say no.
Reposted by Dan Vergano
a bunch of folks want journalists to give them permission to give up and hide in their basements forever.
sorry. that is not journalism's job. it wouldn't actually be journalism to do that. you're going to have to live in the agonizing uncertainty that is living through history.
sorry. that is not journalism's job. it wouldn't actually be journalism to do that. you're going to have to live in the agonizing uncertainty that is living through history.
February 9, 2026 at 4:14 PM
a bunch of folks want journalists to give them permission to give up and hide in their basements forever.
sorry. that is not journalism's job. it wouldn't actually be journalism to do that. you're going to have to live in the agonizing uncertainty that is living through history.
sorry. that is not journalism's job. it wouldn't actually be journalism to do that. you're going to have to live in the agonizing uncertainty that is living through history.
Reposted by Dan Vergano
Elon Musk (you may recognize him from the Epstein files) has just given up on Mars.
February 9, 2026 at 12:57 AM
Elon Musk (you may recognize him from the Epstein files) has just given up on Mars.