Emma Slack
@mucosalimmunology.bsky.social
Professor for Mucosal Immunology, ETH Zürich, Switzerland, and Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, Oxford, UK. We work on novel oral vaccines, AMR, and microbiome function. Making science fairer, kinder and more equitable 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️. Views are my own.
Reposted by Emma Slack
Thanks to @iansample.bsky.social at the Guardian for covering the devastating funding cuts that are being proposed for UK (astro)physics, and the dire impact these would have on young researchers. Will UKRI/STFC reconsider? Will the UKGov step in?🤞👩🔬🧪⚛️🔭
www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
February 7, 2026 at 8:08 AM
Thanks to @iansample.bsky.social at the Guardian for covering the devastating funding cuts that are being proposed for UK (astro)physics, and the dire impact these would have on young researchers. Will UKRI/STFC reconsider? Will the UKGov step in?🤞👩🔬🧪⚛️🔭
www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
Reposted by Emma Slack
How could a simple self-replicating system emerge at the origins of life? RNA polymerase ribozymes can replicate RNA, but existing ones are so large that their self-replication seems impossible. Could they be smaller?
Excited to share our latest work in @science.org on a new small polymerase.
1/n
Excited to share our latest work in @science.org on a new small polymerase.
1/n
A small polymerase ribozyme that can synthesize itself and its complementary strand
The emergence of a chemical system capable of self-replication and evolution is a critical event in the origin of life. RNA polymerase ribozymes can replicate RNA, but their large size and structural ...
www.science.org
February 13, 2026 at 11:42 AM
How could a simple self-replicating system emerge at the origins of life? RNA polymerase ribozymes can replicate RNA, but existing ones are so large that their self-replication seems impossible. Could they be smaller?
Excited to share our latest work in @science.org on a new small polymerase.
1/n
Excited to share our latest work in @science.org on a new small polymerase.
1/n
Reposted by Emma Slack
"[the US's] premier infectious-disease research institute have been instructed to remove the words “biodefense” and “pandemic preparedness” from the institute’s web pages".
As leadership said, all as part of the effort to "restore trust".
Down is up and up is down.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
As leadership said, all as part of the effort to "restore trust".
Down is up and up is down.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Exclusive: Key US infectious-diseases centre to drop pandemic preparation
Staff members have been instructed to scrub this topic and ‘biodefense’ from the agency’s website.
www.nature.com
February 13, 2026 at 7:37 PM
"[the US's] premier infectious-disease research institute have been instructed to remove the words “biodefense” and “pandemic preparedness” from the institute’s web pages".
As leadership said, all as part of the effort to "restore trust".
Down is up and up is down.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
As leadership said, all as part of the effort to "restore trust".
Down is up and up is down.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Emma Slack
THESE 👇 ARE CRIMINALS......
February 8, 2026 at 11:52 AM
THESE 👇 ARE CRIMINALS......
Reposted by Emma Slack
It's long past time to stop indulging people who think you can meaningfully defend science without also defending democracy and academic freedom and opposing authoritarianism. It's the same fight, otherwise all you're defending is your own status.
February 8, 2026 at 2:26 PM
It's long past time to stop indulging people who think you can meaningfully defend science without also defending democracy and academic freedom and opposing authoritarianism. It's the same fight, otherwise all you're defending is your own status.
Reposted by Emma Slack
"President Trump moved on Friday to allow commercial fishing in the only marine national monument in the Atlantic Ocean, an area the size of Connecticut that is home to dolphins, endangered whales, sea turtles and ancient deep-sea corals."
This kind of stuff gets lost in the news cycle.
🎁🔗
This kind of stuff gets lost in the news cycle.
🎁🔗
Trump Opens Marine National Monument in Atlantic to Commercial Fishing
www.nytimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 1:02 PM
"President Trump moved on Friday to allow commercial fishing in the only marine national monument in the Atlantic Ocean, an area the size of Connecticut that is home to dolphins, endangered whales, sea turtles and ancient deep-sea corals."
This kind of stuff gets lost in the news cycle.
🎁🔗
This kind of stuff gets lost in the news cycle.
🎁🔗
Reposted by Emma Slack
Reporter: Do any of you have a favorite animal?
Child: My favorite one is a gold snake that can move. It has gold eyes, and it has a super-duper tail…
Reporter: Mr. Mamdani, the second question for you.
Mamdani: Yes. It’s also the golden snake.
Child: My favorite one is a gold snake that can move. It has gold eyes, and it has a super-duper tail…
Reporter: Mr. Mamdani, the second question for you.
Mamdani: Yes. It’s also the golden snake.
February 6, 2026 at 9:54 PM
Reporter: Do any of you have a favorite animal?
Child: My favorite one is a gold snake that can move. It has gold eyes, and it has a super-duper tail…
Reporter: Mr. Mamdani, the second question for you.
Mamdani: Yes. It’s also the golden snake.
Child: My favorite one is a gold snake that can move. It has gold eyes, and it has a super-duper tail…
Reporter: Mr. Mamdani, the second question for you.
Mamdani: Yes. It’s also the golden snake.
Reposted by Emma Slack
Evidence has emerged that RFKJr lied about his infamous 2019 trip to Samoa after which measles vax uptake plummeted and measles cases spiralled resulting in 83 deaths and thousands of measles cases …🧵 #HealthPolicy
Newly revealed emails undermine RFK Jr testimony about 2019 Samoa trip ahead of measles outbreak
Kennedy later said the purpose of his trip had nothing to do with vaccines. US embassy and UN staff at the time said otherwise, emails show
www.theguardian.com
February 7, 2026 at 8:20 AM
Evidence has emerged that RFKJr lied about his infamous 2019 trip to Samoa after which measles vax uptake plummeted and measles cases spiralled resulting in 83 deaths and thousands of measles cases …🧵 #HealthPolicy
Reposted by Emma Slack
Reposted by Emma Slack
1/ This pause is obviously concerning to researchers & universities & I’d like to specifically register the point that if the reason of ‘aligning with national priorities’ means more policy-driven & less free ideas-driven research then this move is of even more concern.
www.msn.com/en-in/politi...
www.msn.com/en-in/politi...
February 1, 2026 at 10:25 AM
1/ This pause is obviously concerning to researchers & universities & I’d like to specifically register the point that if the reason of ‘aligning with national priorities’ means more policy-driven & less free ideas-driven research then this move is of even more concern.
www.msn.com/en-in/politi...
www.msn.com/en-in/politi...
Reposted by Emma Slack
Einstein & Oppenheimer had socialist leanings ➡️ general relativity and quantum mechanics cannot be trusted
An email I received today from a Fox "News" "reporter"
January 28, 2026 at 10:51 PM
Einstein & Oppenheimer had socialist leanings ➡️ general relativity and quantum mechanics cannot be trusted
Reposted by Emma Slack
Brutal.
Science and Technology Facilities Council seeking £162m in cuts by 29-30, with existing research projects facing axe, @resprofnews.bsky.social reveals.
Backdrop is wider funding shift at UKRI.
Big story from @francesjones.bsky.social
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Backdrop is wider funding shift at UKRI.
Big story from @francesjones.bsky.social
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
UK physics research and science facilities face ‘substantial’ cuts - Research Professional News
Exclusive: Science and Technology Facilities Council seeks £162m cost savings, with existing projects facing axe
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
January 28, 2026 at 10:39 PM
Brutal.
Reposted by Emma Slack
Just so we're clear, and so a tiny handful of wankers online don't create the wrong impression, the vast majority of your European friends are incredibly impressed by Minnesotans' courage against both the ice and ICE.
January 24, 2026 at 4:11 PM
Just so we're clear, and so a tiny handful of wankers online don't create the wrong impression, the vast majority of your European friends are incredibly impressed by Minnesotans' courage against both the ice and ICE.
Reposted by Emma Slack
ICE has now carried out two summary executions of innocent people in the streets of an American city.
If you work for ICE, there's no denying that's the mission you're supporting now. You don't get to claim in one year or ten or twenty that you didn't know what ICE was doing. You're complicit.
If you work for ICE, there's no denying that's the mission you're supporting now. You don't get to claim in one year or ten or twenty that you didn't know what ICE was doing. You're complicit.
January 24, 2026 at 3:55 PM
ICE has now carried out two summary executions of innocent people in the streets of an American city.
If you work for ICE, there's no denying that's the mission you're supporting now. You don't get to claim in one year or ten or twenty that you didn't know what ICE was doing. You're complicit.
If you work for ICE, there's no denying that's the mission you're supporting now. You don't get to claim in one year or ten or twenty that you didn't know what ICE was doing. You're complicit.
Reposted by Emma Slack
Here is the newly-unsealed State Department memo confirming -- finally -- that the detention of Tufts student Rümeysa Öztürk was based on an op-ed.
No antisemitic activity. No support of terrorism.
An op-ed in a student newspaper.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
No antisemitic activity. No support of terrorism.
An op-ed in a student newspaper.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
![Action Memo for Senior Bureau Official John Armstrong
FROM:
SUBJECT:
CA/VO - Stuart Wilson, Deputy Assistant Secretary
(SBU) Revocation of Fl Visa for Rumeysa OZTURK
(SBU) Recommendation 1: That you approve the revocation of the Fl visa,
effective immediately, for
under section 221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act
(INA). Due to ongoing ICE operational security, this revocation will be silent;
the Department will not notify the subject. (Approve/Disapprove by
03/21/25)
Decision: [Approved]
(SBU) Recommendation 2: That you authorize the transmission of the
attached notification to the Department of Homeland Security noting the,
immediate revocation of OZTURK's visa. (Approve/Disapprove by 03/21/25)
Decision: [Approved]
Background
(SBU} On March 21, 2025, the Assistant Director of the National Security Division of DHS/ICE's Homeland Security Investigations referred to CA information regarding Rumeysa OZTURK, a Turkish national, for a possible determination by the Secretary that the alien is deportable under INA section 237(a)(4)(C). As a nonimmigrant visa holder, such a determination is not necessary for OHS/ICE to pursue removal of OZTURK from the United States, as INA section 237(a}(1)(B) provides that an alien is deportable if their nonimmigrant visa has been revoked under INA section 221(i).](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:7r477jd7q7p2mzmyqfm7jmp7/bafkreigphzxypvufgeipmnblj3rj5bjvnpsifwim4gx2nxdcv3cqhgqj5q@jpeg)
January 23, 2026 at 2:27 PM
Here is the newly-unsealed State Department memo confirming -- finally -- that the detention of Tufts student Rümeysa Öztürk was based on an op-ed.
No antisemitic activity. No support of terrorism.
An op-ed in a student newspaper.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
No antisemitic activity. No support of terrorism.
An op-ed in a student newspaper.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Emma Slack
these are the 7 house democrats who voted to give ICE another $10 billion on thursday btw
January 24, 2026 at 4:10 PM
these are the 7 house democrats who voted to give ICE another $10 billion on thursday btw
Reposted by Emma Slack
Every single person doing ICE watch in Minnesota is doing it knowing that they’re putting their bodies and lives on the line and every ICE agent and cop would shoot at their shadow if it startled them. That’s not professionalism, that’s being a coward.
January 24, 2026 at 3:52 PM
Every single person doing ICE watch in Minnesota is doing it knowing that they’re putting their bodies and lives on the line and every ICE agent and cop would shoot at their shadow if it startled them. That’s not professionalism, that’s being a coward.
Reposted by Emma Slack
Thank goodness I'm not Angela Raynor, otherwise the press would have hounded me out of office.
January 21, 2026 at 5:42 PM
Thank goodness I'm not Angela Raynor, otherwise the press would have hounded me out of office.
Reposted by Emma Slack
Farage has the unbelievable nerve to talk at Davos about Britain’s “moral decline”.
This repulsive piece of shit IS Britain’s moral decline. He’s betrayed our country for self-interest, prejudice and greed. Shame on everyone who’s allowed that.
#NeverPM
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
This repulsive piece of shit IS Britain’s moral decline. He’s betrayed our country for self-interest, prejudice and greed. Shame on everyone who’s allowed that.
#NeverPM
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
World would be a ‘better place’ if US took over Greenland, says Nigel Farage
Reform leader says he agrees ‘strategically’ with Trump but adds that views of Greenlanders must be respected
www.theguardian.com
January 21, 2026 at 6:25 PM
Farage has the unbelievable nerve to talk at Davos about Britain’s “moral decline”.
This repulsive piece of shit IS Britain’s moral decline. He’s betrayed our country for self-interest, prejudice and greed. Shame on everyone who’s allowed that.
#NeverPM
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
This repulsive piece of shit IS Britain’s moral decline. He’s betrayed our country for self-interest, prejudice and greed. Shame on everyone who’s allowed that.
#NeverPM
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Reposted by Emma Slack
Holy shit. HHS says the Africa CDC "is a powerless, fake organization attempting to manufacture credibility by repeating its claims publicly. It is not a reliable source, and its statements should be treated accordingly."
NEW: We're publishing an astonishing outburst the Dep of Health and Human Services left in our inbox.
In an unsolicited email about our coverage of a horrific vaccine experiment, the HHS insisted the Africa CDC was an unreliable source for information, calling it "fake" and "powerless."
In an unsolicited email about our coverage of a horrific vaccine experiment, the HHS insisted the Africa CDC was an unreliable source for information, calling it "fake" and "powerless."
Trump's HHS Trashes Top African Health Organization as "Fake" and "Powerless"
The HHS is disparaging its colleagues at the Africa CDC in coarse terms, that are striking even by the standards of the Trump administration.
futurism.com
January 20, 2026 at 7:38 PM
Holy shit. HHS says the Africa CDC "is a powerless, fake organization attempting to manufacture credibility by repeating its claims publicly. It is not a reliable source, and its statements should be treated accordingly."
Reposted by Emma Slack
There’s a big story everyone is missing—but this article hits on it.
We aren’t just seeing public health dismantled bc we’ve been taken over by conspiracy theorists and lunatics.
What we’re really seeing is the giant, predatory, underegulated wellness industry come to Washington.
We aren’t just seeing public health dismantled bc we’ve been taken over by conspiracy theorists and lunatics.
What we’re really seeing is the giant, predatory, underegulated wellness industry come to Washington.
FDA deletes warning on bogus autism therapies touted by RFK Jr.‘s allies
The agency used to warn of chelation, used by RFK Jr.'s anti-vaccine ally David Geier.
arstechnica.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:30 AM
There’s a big story everyone is missing—but this article hits on it.
We aren’t just seeing public health dismantled bc we’ve been taken over by conspiracy theorists and lunatics.
What we’re really seeing is the giant, predatory, underegulated wellness industry come to Washington.
We aren’t just seeing public health dismantled bc we’ve been taken over by conspiracy theorists and lunatics.
What we’re really seeing is the giant, predatory, underegulated wellness industry come to Washington.
Reposted by Emma Slack
He’s also pulling us out of scores of other organizations and agreements. This should be the top of the news. There’s nothing on TV right now and the story was buried.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/07/c...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/07/c...
Trump Pulls Out of Global Climate Treaty
www.nytimes.com
January 8, 2026 at 2:06 PM
He’s also pulling us out of scores of other organizations and agreements. This should be the top of the news. There’s nothing on TV right now and the story was buried.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/07/c...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/07/c...
Reposted by Emma Slack
“The GB News interview with President Trump was the most blatant example of a British media organisation collaborating with the Trump administration to undermine British democracy with this misinformation.”
NEW: There have been several detailed complaints about the GB News interview with Trump - on impartiality, accuracy & lack of pushback.
Ex-Ofcom official said they'd never seen anything like it.
Is this the moment Ofcom acts on increasingly politicised media?
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/d...
Ex-Ofcom official said they'd never seen anything like it.
Is this the moment Ofcom acts on increasingly politicised media?
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/d...
Ofcom urged to investigate GB News Trump interview over inaccuracy claims
US president’s assertions climate change is ‘a hoax’ and London has police no-go areas left unchallenged, say critics
www.theguardian.com
December 31, 2025 at 5:10 PM
“The GB News interview with President Trump was the most blatant example of a British media organisation collaborating with the Trump administration to undermine British democracy with this misinformation.”