Health Nerd
@gidmk.bsky.social
Epidemiologist. Research Fellow. Doctor of Spreadsheets. Writer (Slate, TIME, Guardian, etc). PhD, MPH. Host of senscipod Email gidmk.healthnerd@gmail.com he/him. Find my writing on Substack and Medium.
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Health Nerd
@gidmk.bsky.social
· Dec 1
There's No Such Thing As A Vitamin D Deficiency - Part One
The complex science about vitamin D levels and what they mean
gidmk.substack.com
My new piece looks at the science about low vitamin D levels and why the US Endocrine Society no longer uses the term "deficiency" at all.
gidmk.substack.com/p/theres-no-...
gidmk.substack.com/p/theres-no-...
Reposted by Health Nerd
Yup, once again, @dereklowe.bsky.social in @science.org nails it:
“Marty Makary, our head of the FDA, believes that Lyme disease is an escaped biowarfare agent. Jay Bhattacharya, among other things, believes that he is fit to lead the NIH. We are being governed by grinning idiots and sociopaths”
“Marty Makary, our head of the FDA, believes that Lyme disease is an escaped biowarfare agent. Jay Bhattacharya, among other things, believes that he is fit to lead the NIH. We are being governed by grinning idiots and sociopaths”
over the years I've come to know & appreciate @dereklowe.bsky.social through his column @science.org
I always enjoyed his way of describing science in ways both familiar and not
it is a strange experience to shift towards nodding vigorously with newfound existential concerns on a daily basis
I always enjoyed his way of describing science in ways both familiar and not
it is a strange experience to shift towards nodding vigorously with newfound existential concerns on a daily basis
Source: www.science.org/content/blog...
January 3, 2026 at 11:11 PM
Yup, once again, @dereklowe.bsky.social in @science.org nails it:
“Marty Makary, our head of the FDA, believes that Lyme disease is an escaped biowarfare agent. Jay Bhattacharya, among other things, believes that he is fit to lead the NIH. We are being governed by grinning idiots and sociopaths”
“Marty Makary, our head of the FDA, believes that Lyme disease is an escaped biowarfare agent. Jay Bhattacharya, among other things, believes that he is fit to lead the NIH. We are being governed by grinning idiots and sociopaths”
Newborn product marketing: This is the safest product ever, Your baby will love it.
Newborn product disclaimer tags: BABIES HAVE DIED USING THIS PRODUCT.
Newborn product disclaimer tags: BABIES HAVE DIED USING THIS PRODUCT.
January 3, 2026 at 10:26 AM
Newborn product marketing: This is the safest product ever, Your baby will love it.
Newborn product disclaimer tags: BABIES HAVE DIED USING THIS PRODUCT.
Newborn product disclaimer tags: BABIES HAVE DIED USING THIS PRODUCT.
Reposted by Health Nerd
Neither grok nor x apologized in any official statement. The screenshotted “apology from grok” was created by a user who prompted it to issue an apology for creating a specific CSAM image of girls who were 12-14 years old (by grok’s estimation). He prompted grok multiple times to get this “apology.”
LLMs are 100% - yes, 100% - the results of their programmer's intentions.
Yes, there are some unexpected outputs. But if you'd chatbot creates sexual images of young children, either the programmers don't care or THEY EXPLICITLY WANTED IT TO DO THAT.
Yes, there are some unexpected outputs. But if you'd chatbot creates sexual images of young children, either the programmers don't care or THEY EXPLICITLY WANTED IT TO DO THAT.
1. Headlines everywhere today read "Grok apologizes."
This is bullshit. A chatbot is not something that can apologize.
Pretending otherwise is simple laundering these companies' bullshit about what AI is, while diffusing blame away from the human beings that developed and released this system.
This is bullshit. A chatbot is not something that can apologize.
Pretending otherwise is simple laundering these companies' bullshit about what AI is, while diffusing blame away from the human beings that developed and released this system.
January 3, 2026 at 1:30 AM
Neither grok nor x apologized in any official statement. The screenshotted “apology from grok” was created by a user who prompted it to issue an apology for creating a specific CSAM image of girls who were 12-14 years old (by grok’s estimation). He prompted grok multiple times to get this “apology.”
LLMs are 100% - yes, 100% - the results of their programmer's intentions.
Yes, there are some unexpected outputs. But if you'd chatbot creates sexual images of young children, either the programmers don't care or THEY EXPLICITLY WANTED IT TO DO THAT.
Yes, there are some unexpected outputs. But if you'd chatbot creates sexual images of young children, either the programmers don't care or THEY EXPLICITLY WANTED IT TO DO THAT.
1. Headlines everywhere today read "Grok apologizes."
This is bullshit. A chatbot is not something that can apologize.
Pretending otherwise is simple laundering these companies' bullshit about what AI is, while diffusing blame away from the human beings that developed and released this system.
This is bullshit. A chatbot is not something that can apologize.
Pretending otherwise is simple laundering these companies' bullshit about what AI is, while diffusing blame away from the human beings that developed and released this system.
January 3, 2026 at 12:41 AM
LLMs are 100% - yes, 100% - the results of their programmer's intentions.
Yes, there are some unexpected outputs. But if you'd chatbot creates sexual images of young children, either the programmers don't care or THEY EXPLICITLY WANTED IT TO DO THAT.
Yes, there are some unexpected outputs. But if you'd chatbot creates sexual images of young children, either the programmers don't care or THEY EXPLICITLY WANTED IT TO DO THAT.
Reposted by Health Nerd
Good read as usual from @gidmk.bsky.social , www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Australia’s gun laws have long been the envy of the world. They must remain so, especially after Bondi | Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz
As a public health expert and Jewish Australian, I urge our leaders to ensure gun legislation matches the world we live in
www.theguardian.com
December 31, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Good read as usual from @gidmk.bsky.social , www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Health Nerd
Every week, Nature publishes yet another breathless puff piece about some AI startup, based only unpublished claims from the company and interviewing only those who work there.
How can the leading scientific journal publish piece after piece that would make Kevin Roose blush?
I think it's that...
How can the leading scientific journal publish piece after piece that would make Kevin Roose blush?
I think it's that...
December 30, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Every week, Nature publishes yet another breathless puff piece about some AI startup, based only unpublished claims from the company and interviewing only those who work there.
How can the leading scientific journal publish piece after piece that would make Kevin Roose blush?
I think it's that...
How can the leading scientific journal publish piece after piece that would make Kevin Roose blush?
I think it's that...
Baby number 2! Gotta love the newborn snuggles.
December 29, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Baby number 2! Gotta love the newborn snuggles.
Journal invitations to peer review over the last 2 weeks of the year: Hi! Wanna do some free work?
My out of office:
My out of office:
a man is laying on a couch wearing a blue shirt and making a funny face .
ALT: a man is laying on a couch wearing a blue shirt and making a funny face .
media.tenor.com
December 27, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Journal invitations to peer review over the last 2 weeks of the year: Hi! Wanna do some free work?
My out of office:
My out of office:
Reposted by Health Nerd
I wouldn't describe Jay as "man in the middle" unless I were making sort of human centipede analogy.
December 23, 2025 at 5:44 AM
I wouldn't describe Jay as "man in the middle" unless I were making sort of human centipede analogy.
After the Bondi attack, I wrote about guns and gun laws as a Jewish Australian and an expert in public health:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Australia’s gun laws have long been the envy of the world. They must remain so, especially after Bondi | Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz
As a public health expert and Jewish Australian, I urge our leaders to ensure gun legislation matches the world we live in
www.theguardian.com
December 23, 2025 at 2:05 AM
After the Bondi attack, I wrote about guns and gun laws as a Jewish Australian and an expert in public health:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Health Nerd
From 4 years ago...still accurate from @gidmk.bsky.social ... never forget, when meds are made unavailable, unaffordable or demonized...#Big Supplement will be quick to attempt to fill the gap
December 21, 2025 at 12:26 PM
From 4 years ago...still accurate from @gidmk.bsky.social ... never forget, when meds are made unavailable, unaffordable or demonized...#Big Supplement will be quick to attempt to fill the gap
This is a fun one.
Vitamin D for Mongolian schoolchildren. The main study has been cited hundreds of times, it forms a large part of many meta-analyses showing that vitamin D reduces the incidence of respiratory infections.
Vitamin D for Mongolian schoolchildren. The main study has been cited hundreds of times, it forms a large part of many meta-analyses showing that vitamin D reduces the incidence of respiratory infections.
December 17, 2025 at 4:42 AM
This is a fun one.
Vitamin D for Mongolian schoolchildren. The main study has been cited hundreds of times, it forms a large part of many meta-analyses showing that vitamin D reduces the incidence of respiratory infections.
Vitamin D for Mongolian schoolchildren. The main study has been cited hundreds of times, it forms a large part of many meta-analyses showing that vitamin D reduces the incidence of respiratory infections.
One of the main problems with the entire "good guys with guns stop bad guys with guns" ethos is that there is no useful definition of either "good" or "bad" guys.
December 16, 2025 at 4:49 AM
One of the main problems with the entire "good guys with guns stop bad guys with guns" ethos is that there is no useful definition of either "good" or "bad" guys.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Water causes diabetes. Inject the Pepsi Max directly into my veins.
Water causes diabetes. Inject the Pepsi Max directly into my veins.
Here's a study of water vs. diet soda for diabetics.
The water arm actually had *increased* HBA1c compared to the diet soda arm.
I'll just keep saying it. Diet soda is fine.
diabetesjournals.org/care/article...
The water arm actually had *increased* HBA1c compared to the diet soda arm.
I'll just keep saying it. Diet soda is fine.
diabetesjournals.org/care/article...
The Effect of Substituting Water for Artificially Sweetened Beverages on Glycemic and Weight Measures in People With Type 2 Diabetes: The Study of Drinks With Artificial Sweeteners (SODAS), a Randomiz...
OBJECTIVE. To test the effect of substituting plain water (the ideal standard) for habitual artificial sweetened beverage (ASB) intake by people with type
diabetesjournals.org
December 11, 2025 at 7:01 AM
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Water causes diabetes. Inject the Pepsi Max directly into my veins.
Water causes diabetes. Inject the Pepsi Max directly into my veins.
Scientific error-checking, difficulty: mixed
Find some errors for me. I can see at least 3 problems, there are probably more. Tables are from an RCT with group sizes of 40 and 37 in the intervention and control groups.
Bonus points for the most piratical explanation of the issues
Find some errors for me. I can see at least 3 problems, there are probably more. Tables are from an RCT with group sizes of 40 and 37 in the intervention and control groups.
Bonus points for the most piratical explanation of the issues
December 10, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Scientific error-checking, difficulty: mixed
Find some errors for me. I can see at least 3 problems, there are probably more. Tables are from an RCT with group sizes of 40 and 37 in the intervention and control groups.
Bonus points for the most piratical explanation of the issues
Find some errors for me. I can see at least 3 problems, there are probably more. Tables are from an RCT with group sizes of 40 and 37 in the intervention and control groups.
Bonus points for the most piratical explanation of the issues
Is saturated fat good for you? Experts say no, but the current US administration has found a partially sentient tapeworm attached to a dying warthog that disagrees.
December 10, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Is saturated fat good for you? Experts say no, but the current US administration has found a partially sentient tapeworm attached to a dying warthog that disagrees.
As the Australian teen social media ban comes into effect, I think we can all finally breathe a sigh of relief that we will never have to actually know what 6 7 means.
December 9, 2025 at 11:55 PM
As the Australian teen social media ban comes into effect, I think we can all finally breathe a sigh of relief that we will never have to actually know what 6 7 means.
I am not familiar enough with calcium scores to know if this is weird.
Is there any biochemical reason that all of these means/SDs would end in even numbers?
Is there any biochemical reason that all of these means/SDs would end in even numbers?
December 4, 2025 at 3:56 AM
I am not familiar enough with calcium scores to know if this is weird.
Is there any biochemical reason that all of these means/SDs would end in even numbers?
Is there any biochemical reason that all of these means/SDs would end in even numbers?
My new piece looks at the science about low vitamin D levels and why the US Endocrine Society no longer uses the term "deficiency" at all.
gidmk.substack.com/p/theres-no-...
gidmk.substack.com/p/theres-no-...
There's No Such Thing As A Vitamin D Deficiency - Part One
The complex science about vitamin D levels and what they mean
gidmk.substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:09 AM
My new piece looks at the science about low vitamin D levels and why the US Endocrine Society no longer uses the term "deficiency" at all.
gidmk.substack.com/p/theres-no-...
gidmk.substack.com/p/theres-no-...
It's quite remarkable watching the very minimal respect I had for Vinay entirely disappear.
November 30, 2025 at 6:31 AM
It's quite remarkable watching the very minimal respect I had for Vinay entirely disappear.
The Guardian investigation into freebirthing is one of the most horrifying things I've read in a long time.
Just awful. So many preventable deaths.
www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...
Just awful. So many preventable deaths.
www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...
Influencers made millions pushing ‘wild’ births – now the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world
A year-long investigation reveals how mothers lost children after being radicalised by uplifting podcast tales of births without midwives or doctors
www.theguardian.com
November 29, 2025 at 4:43 AM
The Guardian investigation into freebirthing is one of the most horrifying things I've read in a long time.
Just awful. So many preventable deaths.
www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...
Just awful. So many preventable deaths.
www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...
I've come across a trial which randomized in blocks of 4 but had baseline allocations of 54 vs 35.
This does not seem possible to me. Am I missing something?
This does not seem possible to me. Am I missing something?
November 27, 2025 at 1:20 AM
I've come across a trial which randomized in blocks of 4 but had baseline allocations of 54 vs 35.
This does not seem possible to me. Am I missing something?
This does not seem possible to me. Am I missing something?
The stuff you find when you actually read the RCTs in a systematic review...
This paper is one of the foundational studies on vitamin D to prevent respiratory infections in kids. Cited 1,400 times as per Google Scholar.
This paper is one of the foundational studies on vitamin D to prevent respiratory infections in kids. Cited 1,400 times as per Google Scholar.
November 26, 2025 at 9:15 PM
The stuff you find when you actually read the RCTs in a systematic review...
This paper is one of the foundational studies on vitamin D to prevent respiratory infections in kids. Cited 1,400 times as per Google Scholar.
This paper is one of the foundational studies on vitamin D to prevent respiratory infections in kids. Cited 1,400 times as per Google Scholar.
Scientific error-checking, difficulty: easy
Find some issues in this table of results from an RCT of vitamin D for COVID-19. There's a couple of obvious issues, and some that are less easy to spot.
Find some issues in this table of results from an RCT of vitamin D for COVID-19. There's a couple of obvious issues, and some that are less easy to spot.
November 25, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Scientific error-checking, difficulty: easy
Find some issues in this table of results from an RCT of vitamin D for COVID-19. There's a couple of obvious issues, and some that are less easy to spot.
Find some issues in this table of results from an RCT of vitamin D for COVID-19. There's a couple of obvious issues, and some that are less easy to spot.
Scientific error-checking, difficulty: easy
Find the problems in this table of results from an RCT. Two main things I've noticed so far.
Find the problems in this table of results from an RCT. Two main things I've noticed so far.
November 25, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Scientific error-checking, difficulty: easy
Find the problems in this table of results from an RCT. Two main things I've noticed so far.
Find the problems in this table of results from an RCT. Two main things I've noticed so far.