John Higgins
@jhigginswriter.bsky.social
Science writer, Fred Hutch News, covering the Basic Sciences and Human Biology research divisions of Fred Hutch Cancer Center @fredhutch.bsky.social. Frmr @seattletimes-rss.bsky.social, Akron Beacon Journal, soljourno.bsky.social, @ksjatmit.bsky.social.
Reposted by John Higgins
Ian McKellen performs “The Strangers’ Case” speech from “Sir Thomas More” on Colbert.
February 5, 2026 at 1:07 PM
Ian McKellen performs “The Strangers’ Case” speech from “Sir Thomas More” on Colbert.
Reposted by John Higgins
Here's my full 50-page indictment of CBP and ICE and decades of corruption, abuse of force, racism, and misogyny. I promise you — however bad you've ever thought it was, the full reality is even worse, deadlier, and more corrupt. This isn't a "Trump only" phenomenon:
Thanks to @govpritzker.illinois.gov for setting up the Illinois Accountability Commission to document the abuses of Trump and Stephen Miller's invasions of cities. And thanks to @vermontgmg.bsky.social for this detailed testimony about CBP's history and culture: drive.google.com/file/d/1o4z6...
IAC-Statement.Graff.Jan312026.pdf
drive.google.com
February 1, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Here's my full 50-page indictment of CBP and ICE and decades of corruption, abuse of force, racism, and misogyny. I promise you — however bad you've ever thought it was, the full reality is even worse, deadlier, and more corrupt. This isn't a "Trump only" phenomenon:
Reposted by John Higgins
Hey @murray.senate.gov @cantwell.senate.gov do not let me hear one more word about “guardrails” or “training” for this disgusting criminal enterprise
From just north of me:
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
They left a toddler in the car alone for 40 minutes.
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
They left a toddler in the car alone for 40 minutes.
Federal agents arrest man in front of 2-year-old son in Shoreline
The two-year-old son sat alone in the back seat for about 40 minutes, eyewitnesses said.
www.seattletimes.com
January 31, 2026 at 6:39 PM
Hey @murray.senate.gov @cantwell.senate.gov do not let me hear one more word about “guardrails” or “training” for this disgusting criminal enterprise
We're going to need the wisdom of many mentors to survive these difficult times.
Getting asked about how academics can continue to do science & inspire trainees even in the midst of a continued (escalated) assault on science, reason, truth, & human rights. I don’t have great answers.
I would love to hear from mentors about advice they’re giving to trainees/ colleagues.
I would love to hear from mentors about advice they’re giving to trainees/ colleagues.
January 18, 2026 at 2:17 AM
We're going to need the wisdom of many mentors to survive these difficult times.
Reposted by John Higgins
The lab is looking to hire 2 new undergraduate researchers! You'll get to work on yeast experimental evolution & genomics. UW students only (and this link won't work for others, sorry). Work study students very welcome to apply! Pays the prevailing minimum wage. app.joinhandshake.com/emp/jobs/106...
Sign In | Handshake
app.joinhandshake.com
January 14, 2026 at 7:33 PM
The lab is looking to hire 2 new undergraduate researchers! You'll get to work on yeast experimental evolution & genomics. UW students only (and this link won't work for others, sorry). Work study students very welcome to apply! Pays the prevailing minimum wage. app.joinhandshake.com/emp/jobs/106...
Reposted by John Higgins
Early-career journalists, this is your moment! SHERF gives you training, mentorship and support to grow your reporting. Deadline Dec. 19. Apply here 👉 healthjournalism.org/fellowships/...
National Science-Health-Environment Reporting Fellowships
The SHERF fellowships are made to support early-career journalists who are pursuing careers in science, health or environmental reporting.
healthjournalism.org
December 11, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Early-career journalists, this is your moment! SHERF gives you training, mentorship and support to grow your reporting. Deadline Dec. 19. Apply here 👉 healthjournalism.org/fellowships/...
Refusing to fix it is very much an action.
If you get health care through your employer, your premiums are going up by an average of 26% no matter what.
Why? Because insurers had to set rates under the assumption Congress won't extend the ACA tax credits, destabilizing the whole market.
All thanks to Republican inaction.
Why? Because insurers had to set rates under the assumption Congress won't extend the ACA tax credits, destabilizing the whole market.
All thanks to Republican inaction.
December 11, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Refusing to fix it is very much an action.
Because the serious media decided some time ago that conducting a serious discussion about the president's mental health, informed by experts, simply cannot happen because of some "rule" from the last century, we are left with futile "bonkers" comments and late night comedy.
Every part of this is bonkers. The intro is bonkers. The transition to his health is bonkers. The mention that other presidents didn't need cognitive exams is bonkers. The claim that this screening test is somehow hard is bonkers. The idea that criticism of him is treason is bonkers. All of it.
December 10, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Because the serious media decided some time ago that conducting a serious discussion about the president's mental health, informed by experts, simply cannot happen because of some "rule" from the last century, we are left with futile "bonkers" comments and late night comedy.
"We are saying that we have no specific scientific knowledge of genetic reasons that one child performs better than another, and we don’t appear especially close to discovering any."
So happy to have co-authored this piece about IQ and education with my great colleague, the cognitive scientist and education expert Daniel Willingham @dtwuva.bsky.social. Our goal is to take intelligence seriously without lapsing into essentialism.
Ask the Cognitive Scientist: What Do IQ Scores Mean?
www.aft.org
December 10, 2025 at 3:52 PM
"We are saying that we have no specific scientific knowledge of genetic reasons that one child performs better than another, and we don’t appear especially close to discovering any."
This reporter deserves better than the "next gig" to continue this excellent and essential work.
Hey folks 👋 I'm the reporter who revealed immigration agents detained 170+ citizens this year
My fellowship w/ProPublica has been incredible, but it wraps January. I'm looking for my next gig. Please reach out to share leads & opportunities! nicolemfoy@gmail.com
www.propublica.org/people/nicol...
My fellowship w/ProPublica has been incredible, but it wraps January. I'm looking for my next gig. Please reach out to share leads & opportunities! nicolemfoy@gmail.com
www.propublica.org/people/nicol...
Nicole Foy
ProPublica is an independent, non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest.
www.propublica.org
December 9, 2025 at 1:50 AM
This reporter deserves better than the "next gig" to continue this excellent and essential work.
"Who knows what secrets the banded panther worm, African spiny mouse, axolotl, or organisms yet to be found contain?"
Sharing this important article... for no reason whatsoever.
"We must also continue to deepen and refine our understanding of fundamental biological processes because these details frequently hold the keys to major advances in applied research."
elifesciences.org/articles/102...
"We must also continue to deepen and refine our understanding of fundamental biological processes because these details frequently hold the keys to major advances in applied research."
elifesciences.org/articles/102...
November 23, 2025 at 4:44 PM
"Who knows what secrets the banded panther worm, African spiny mouse, axolotl, or organisms yet to be found contain?"
Reposted by John Higgins
Viral immunologist @pgtimmune.bsky.social, who recently joined Fred Hutch's Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, aims to harness the "incredible potential" of the immune system to advance diagnostics, vaccines and cancer therapies. bit.ly/3WJVpos
Viral immunologist taps ‘incredible potential’ of immune system
New Fred Hutch Cancer Center viral immunologist Dr. Paul Thomas is working to turn the "incredible potential" of the immune system into real-life diagnostic and therapeutic applications. He studies ho...
bit.ly
November 7, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Viral immunologist @pgtimmune.bsky.social, who recently joined Fred Hutch's Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, aims to harness the "incredible potential" of the immune system to advance diagnostics, vaccines and cancer therapies. bit.ly/3WJVpos
Reposted by John Higgins
I’m all up for a scare on Halloween like the next gal, but this is just taking the gore too far! 🎃💀
October 31, 2025 at 6:33 PM
I’m all up for a scare on Halloween like the next gal, but this is just taking the gore too far! 🎃💀
Reposted by John Higgins
Congrats to Steven Henikoff, PhD, of @basicsci.fredhutch.org on receiving the 55th Lewis S. Rosenstiel Award for Distinguished Work in Basic Medical Research! @brandeisuniversity.bsky.social recognized Henikoff with this prestigious award for his innovative studies on gene expression.
Brandeis University honors Fred Hutch molecular biologist
Dr. Steven Henikoff, a molecular biologist at Fred Hutch Cancer Center, has won the prestigious Rosenstiel Award for Distinguished Work in Basic Medical Research from Brandeis University recognizing h...
www.fredhutch.org
October 31, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Congrats to Steven Henikoff, PhD, of @basicsci.fredhutch.org on receiving the 55th Lewis S. Rosenstiel Award for Distinguished Work in Basic Medical Research! @brandeisuniversity.bsky.social recognized Henikoff with this prestigious award for his innovative studies on gene expression.
Reposted by John Higgins
Dr. Steven Henikoff receives the 55th Lewis S. Rosenstiel Award for Distinguished Work in Basic Medical Research.
www.brandeis.edu/rosenstiel/r...
(Personal note: I continue to be inspired and astonished by my postdoctoral mentor & current colleague)
www.brandeis.edu/rosenstiel/r...
(Personal note: I continue to be inspired and astonished by my postdoctoral mentor & current colleague)
Brandeis University honors Fred Hutch molecular biologist
Dr. Steven Henikoff, a molecular biologist at Fred Hutch Cancer Center, has won the prestigious Rosenstiel Award for Distinguished Work in Basic Medical Research from Brandeis University recognizing h...
www.fredhutch.org
October 31, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Dr. Steven Henikoff receives the 55th Lewis S. Rosenstiel Award for Distinguished Work in Basic Medical Research.
www.brandeis.edu/rosenstiel/r...
(Personal note: I continue to be inspired and astonished by my postdoctoral mentor & current colleague)
www.brandeis.edu/rosenstiel/r...
(Personal note: I continue to be inspired and astonished by my postdoctoral mentor & current colleague)
Reposted by John Higgins
@kakape.bsky.social KSJ '24, shares actionable tips for journalists seeking to reduce the harm of misinformation.
ksj.mit.edu/news/2025/10...
ksj.mit.edu/news/2025/10...
The Lies Have It: Advice for Journalists Approaching Misinformation
Kai Kupferschmidt, KSJ '24, shares actionable tips for journalists seeking to reduce the harm of misinformation.
ksj.mit.edu
October 30, 2025 at 1:29 PM
@kakape.bsky.social KSJ '24, shares actionable tips for journalists seeking to reduce the harm of misinformation.
ksj.mit.edu/news/2025/10...
ksj.mit.edu/news/2025/10...
Reposted by John Higgins
@jhigginswriter.bsky.social wrote an article about my lab and our frog 🐸 at the Hutch! Thank you!
Dr. @yarimura.bsky.social brings frogs back to Fred Hutch after a long absence to study the structure of DNA-linked molecular complexes that change during the cell cycle and malfunction in cancer and other diseases. bit.ly/3J8S5Ae
Frogs help Fred Hutch find the shape of small things
Frogs have made significant contributions to Fred Hutch science over the years as a model organism that shares much of our biology, but they've been absent from the menagerie for about two decades. Dr...
bit.ly
October 29, 2025 at 6:29 AM
@jhigginswriter.bsky.social wrote an article about my lab and our frog 🐸 at the Hutch! Thank you!
I wanted to write this story as soon as I heard we were getting frogs again. Our photographer/videographer Robert Hood really brought it to life. Purely coincidental that frogs (or at least folks dressed up as frogs) are having a moment.
Dr. @yarimura.bsky.social brings frogs back to Fred Hutch after a long absence to study the structure of DNA-linked molecular complexes that change during the cell cycle and malfunction in cancer and other diseases. bit.ly/3J8S5Ae
Frogs help Fred Hutch find the shape of small things
Frogs have made significant contributions to Fred Hutch science over the years as a model organism that shares much of our biology, but they've been absent from the menagerie for about two decades. Dr...
bit.ly
October 28, 2025 at 12:59 AM
I wanted to write this story as soon as I heard we were getting frogs again. Our photographer/videographer Robert Hood really brought it to life. Purely coincidental that frogs (or at least folks dressed up as frogs) are having a moment.
The pride of Edmonds, WA and as true a patriot as you'll ever meet.
October 16, 2025 at 1:53 AM
The pride of Edmonds, WA and as true a patriot as you'll ever meet.
Looking forward to reading about this work from one of the premiere labs figuring out how this incredible, complex machine gets built every time a cell divides (and what happens when it doesn't get built correctly.)
Excited that our latest paper is out! Congrats to Changkun Hu! This work revealed dependencies between kinetochore proteins for assembly that we didn't know about before and will be interesting to understand
⭐ NAR Breakthrough! ⭐
🔬 How do #kinetochores rebuild each #cellcycle?
A new study reveals the order of assembly, hidden interdependencies, and a new regulatory mechanism.
🧬 Read more: academic.oup.com/nar/article/... @suebiggins.bsky.social @fredhutch.org
#NARbreakthrough #ChromosomeSegregation
🔬 How do #kinetochores rebuild each #cellcycle?
A new study reveals the order of assembly, hidden interdependencies, and a new regulatory mechanism.
🧬 Read more: academic.oup.com/nar/article/... @suebiggins.bsky.social @fredhutch.org
#NARbreakthrough #ChromosomeSegregation
October 15, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Looking forward to reading about this work from one of the premiere labs figuring out how this incredible, complex machine gets built every time a cell divides (and what happens when it doesn't get built correctly.)
Big congrats to Claudia Rowe, National Book Award Finalist!
What a journey. From a Seattle courtroom to the National Book Awards! An honor I would not have dared to imagine. Thank you, literary agent superstar @stephanierostan.bsky.social.
www.nationalbook.org/2025-nationa...
www.nationalbook.org/2025-nationa...
2025 National Book Awards Finalists Announced
Twenty-five Finalists to contend for National Book Awards in the categories of Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature, and Young People’s Literature
www.nationalbook.org
October 7, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Big congrats to Claudia Rowe, National Book Award Finalist!
Reposted by John Higgins
Millions of Americans--especially those who work for or own small businesses, live in rural areas, or retired early--will be forced to make tough choices if enhanced subsidies for ACA plans expire. The health of the nation will suffer for it. My latest @opinion.bloomberg.com (gift link):
This Shutdown Fight Has Life-or-Death Consequences
At the heart of the fight over the government shutdown is the fate of health insurance for millions of Americans who may soon face an impossible choice: accept a significant increase in their premiums...
www.bloomberg.com
October 1, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Millions of Americans--especially those who work for or own small businesses, live in rural areas, or retired early--will be forced to make tough choices if enhanced subsidies for ACA plans expire. The health of the nation will suffer for it. My latest @opinion.bloomberg.com (gift link):
Reposted by John Higgins
Looking for your next step in fly genetics? The Rajan Lab at Fred Hutch is hiring a staff scientist + postdoc for projects on fat–brain signals, immunity, and brain aging. Stable, long-term role in a collaborative lab. Apply: careers-fhcrc.icims.com/jobs/30062/j...
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Fred Hutch is dedicated to the elimination of cancer and related diseases as causes of human suffering and death.
careers-fhcrc.icims.com
September 16, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Looking for your next step in fly genetics? The Rajan Lab at Fred Hutch is hiring a staff scientist + postdoc for projects on fat–brain signals, immunity, and brain aging. Stable, long-term role in a collaborative lab. Apply: careers-fhcrc.icims.com/jobs/30062/j...
"This effort to amp up your political side in times of extreme emotion, to not just condemn the individual act but to slander all your political opposition at once, is the kind of thing you see in societies in open civil warfare."
this piece is really important and sharp, in my opinion. historically grounded in a way most analysis is not, and sober about the stakes. captures my feeling almost perfectly, particularly the attached two paragraphs. it is going to be very difficult to arrest this cycle
September 11, 2025 at 3:04 PM
"This effort to amp up your political side in times of extreme emotion, to not just condemn the individual act but to slander all your political opposition at once, is the kind of thing you see in societies in open civil warfare."