Dr. Ahna Skop
@ahnaskop.bsky.social
Cell biologist, artist, science artist, educator, scientific cake baker, foodie, and traveler. I study the RNA granule in the Midbody and MBR.
The midbody remnant (MBR) is a large translating Extracelluar vesicle that is generated in mitosis.
The midbody remnant (MBR) is a large translating Extracelluar vesicle that is generated in mitosis.
Support science!
What's at risk when federal research funding to universities is cut | 60 Minutes
Federal research funding to universities has fueled breakthroughs for years. The White House is pressuring universities to align with the president's political agenda, or risk losing their funding.
www.cbsnews.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:31 AM
Support science!
“Getting Franklin’s story right is crucial, because she has become a role model for women going into science. She was up against not just the routine sexism of the day, but also more subtle forms embedded in science — some of which are still present today.”
What Rosalind Franklin truly contributed to the discovery of DNA’s structure
Franklin was no victim in how the DNA double helix was solved. An overlooked letter and an unpublished news article, both written in 1953, reveal that she was an equal player.
www.nature.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:53 PM
“Getting Franklin’s story right is crucial, because she has become a role model for women going into science. She was up against not just the routine sexism of the day, but also more subtle forms embedded in science — some of which are still present today.”
“Jim now holds the view that women can’t be great at anything,” and certainly not science. “He has adopted these outrageous positions as a new badge of honor, [embracing] political incorrectness.”
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:25 PM
“Jim now holds the view that women can’t be great at anything,” and certainly not science. “He has adopted these outrageous positions as a new badge of honor, [embracing] political incorrectness.”
Reposted by Dr. Ahna Skop
He really is unhinged.
Not present in reality *at all*.
25A time. For real.
Not present in reality *at all*.
25A time. For real.
November 8, 2025 at 2:30 AM
He really is unhinged.
Not present in reality *at all*.
25A time. For real.
Not present in reality *at all*.
25A time. For real.
Reposted by Dr. Ahna Skop
A federal judge just ordered the White House to restore sign language interpreters at all briefings conducted by Trump or Leavitt.
Judge orders White House to restore sign language interpreters at briefings by Trump, Leavitt
U.S. District Judge Amir Ali said the White House’s decision to end ASL interpretation illegally excluded deaf Americans from crucial updates from the government.
www.politico.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:41 AM
A federal judge just ordered the White House to restore sign language interpreters at all briefings conducted by Trump or Leavitt.
Reposted by Dr. Ahna Skop
“The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) filed a lawsuit against the White House after it stopped providing live American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters at major press briefings.”
November 5, 2025 at 2:13 AM
“The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) filed a lawsuit against the White House after it stopped providing live American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters at major press briefings.”
The DNA Helix Changed How We Thought About Ourselves www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
The DNA Helix Changed How We Thought About Ourselves
www.nytimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:31 PM
The DNA Helix Changed How We Thought About Ourselves www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
Visit @unlincoln.bsky.social fulfilling one of my last few states left to visit! Excellent visit and wonderful colleagues!
November 7, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Visit @unlincoln.bsky.social fulfilling one of my last few states left to visit! Excellent visit and wonderful colleagues!
James Watson, Co-Discoverer of the Structure of DNA, Is Dead at 97 www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
James Watson, Co-Discoverer of the Structure of DNA, Is Dead at 97
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:52 PM
James Watson, Co-Discoverer of the Structure of DNA, Is Dead at 97 www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
Anyone @unlincoln.bsky.social in Lincoln, Nebraska
I’m speaking at the Johnny Carson center for the emerging media arts tomorrow night! Parents with kids are welcome!
Come hear about my career path and find out how important art is in science!
#nebraska #lincoln #science #art
I’m speaking at the Johnny Carson center for the emerging media arts tomorrow night! Parents with kids are welcome!
Come hear about my career path and find out how important art is in science!
#nebraska #lincoln #science #art
November 5, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Anyone @unlincoln.bsky.social in Lincoln, Nebraska
I’m speaking at the Johnny Carson center for the emerging media arts tomorrow night! Parents with kids are welcome!
Come hear about my career path and find out how important art is in science!
#nebraska #lincoln #science #art
I’m speaking at the Johnny Carson center for the emerging media arts tomorrow night! Parents with kids are welcome!
Come hear about my career path and find out how important art is in science!
#nebraska #lincoln #science #art
Are We Losing Our Democracy? “The clearest sign that a democracy has died is that a leader and his party make it impossible for their opponents to win an election and hold power. Once that stage is reached, however, the change is extremely difficult to reverse.”
Opinion | In Trump’s America, Are We Losing Our Democracy?
Donald Trump has wielded power as no previous president has.
www.nytimes.com
November 1, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Are We Losing Our Democracy? “The clearest sign that a democracy has died is that a leader and his party make it impossible for their opponents to win an election and hold power. Once that stage is reached, however, the change is extremely difficult to reverse.”
This is pretty incredible. Super interesting
The remarkably long lifespan of bowhead whales could be due to an increased ability to repair DNA mutations, according to research in Nature. go.nature.com/4hzvDN7 🌏 🧪
October 30, 2025 at 12:57 AM
This is pretty incredible. Super interesting
Reposted by Dr. Ahna Skop
“Both of the grants I lost were trying to answer some really fundamental questions about how the spread of cancer works.”
On “The Weekend Intelligence”, how science became collateral damage in the war between Donald Trump and universities
On “The Weekend Intelligence”, how science became collateral damage in the war between Donald Trump and universities
Science under siege
A chill political wind is rattling America’s ivory towers. What does it mean for research?
econ.st
October 26, 2025 at 7:20 PM
“Both of the grants I lost were trying to answer some really fundamental questions about how the spread of cancer works.”
On “The Weekend Intelligence”, how science became collateral damage in the war between Donald Trump and universities
On “The Weekend Intelligence”, how science became collateral damage in the war between Donald Trump and universities
A new C. elegans coloring book is now out! Featuring the Worm Show and Art show too!
amzn.to/4noRpEG
amzn.to/4noRpEG
The Amazing World of Worms: A scientific coloring book
Vidal-Gadea Lab Coloring Book is a science-meets-art tour through the tiny world of . Drawings introduce worm anatomy, movement, muscles, and neurons, then celebrate discoveries that changed biology....
amzn.to
October 25, 2025 at 6:09 PM
A new C. elegans coloring book is now out! Featuring the Worm Show and Art show too!
amzn.to/4noRpEG
amzn.to/4noRpEG
Just watched this tonight on campus — what an incredible film! Fantastic storytelling that had me laughing, tearing up, and feeling completely inspired. It beautifully captures the science behind the biotech boom 💥 and the remarkable power of RNA!
www.pbs.org/independentl...
www.pbs.org/independentl...
Cracking the Code: Phil Sharp and the Biotech Revolution - Independent Lens
Cracking the Code: Phil Sharp and the Biotech Revolution, narrated by Mark Ruffalo, traces Sharp’s path from rural Kentucky to Nobel Prize winner.
www.pbs.org
October 23, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Just watched this tonight on campus — what an incredible film! Fantastic storytelling that had me laughing, tearing up, and feeling completely inspired. It beautifully captures the science behind the biotech boom 💥 and the remarkable power of RNA!
www.pbs.org/independentl...
www.pbs.org/independentl...
"The creation of spaces in which the humanistic pursuit of truth can truly flourish may also be what this violent and divided nation most needs from higher education."
Opinion | Professors Can Be Ignorant. That’s Why We Need Viewpoint Diversity.
A recent critique of the movement for intellectual pluralism fails.
www.chronicle.com
October 22, 2025 at 6:16 PM
"The creation of spaces in which the humanistic pursuit of truth can truly flourish may also be what this violent and divided nation most needs from higher education."
Wow! Vote for Paul!
Dear all, A scientist from UNC Chapel Hill, Paul Maddox, is running for congress in NC for a seat currently held by a republican. If you care about science (and democracy) please consider donating to his campaign #Standupforscience secure.actblue.com/donate/paul-...
Donate to Paul Maddox for Congress in NC 11
Paul is running for Congress because there’s a sickness in Washington, and no one is working to cure it.
secure.actblue.com
October 22, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Wow! Vote for Paul!
“At 15, he was ranked last out of 250 students in a notorious biology report. His teacher wrote: “He will not listen but will insist on doing his work in his own way. I believe he has ideas about becoming a scientist; on his present showing, this is quite ridiculous.”
John Gurdon obituary: Biologist who made cloning possible
He showed that specialized cells retain the genes to form an organism.
www.nature.com
October 22, 2025 at 1:41 AM
“At 15, he was ranked last out of 250 students in a notorious biology report. His teacher wrote: “He will not listen but will insist on doing his work in his own way. I believe he has ideas about becoming a scientist; on his present showing, this is quite ridiculous.”
"...papers with a higher proportion of beginner authors tended to be more disruptive than were papers with more early-career or senior authors. Disruption scores were highest when beginners made up the entire team..."
Want to do disruptive science? Include more rookie researchers
Papers from research teams with a substantial number of beginners are highly disruptive and innovative, study shows.
www.nature.com
October 20, 2025 at 2:38 PM
"...papers with a higher proportion of beginner authors tended to be more disruptive than were papers with more early-career or senior authors. Disruption scores were highest when beginners made up the entire team..."