@askpippa.bsky.social
I'm a science and medical writer curious about the world. I like to share what I find out. I also write for kids, teens and specialty audiences. Remember Ask Pippa in the Toronto Star? That's me. Also Medscape, Medical Post, CHN, Globe&Mail, Vice, etc
History offers a lot of lessons about non-vaccinated populations.
November 11, 2025 at 2:53 PM
History offers a lot of lessons about non-vaccinated populations.
Stories from the past can help put risks into perspective. Many of the adult islanders died because they had never been exposed to #measles. They hadn't had it as kids, and no #vaccines. Zero protection. Measles also decimated indigenous populations in the Americas when Europeans first arrived.
November 11, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Modern medicine and vaccines really aren't that bad.
November 11, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Modern medicine and vaccines really aren't that bad.
Diphtheria was described as the Strangling Disease. The disease causes a build-up of thick sticky mucous, so thick small children couldn't cough it up. It built up to a point where they literally were strangled to death. Diphtheria is still around. Treatments aren't that great. Vaccines prevent it.
November 11, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Diphtheria was described as the Strangling Disease. The disease causes a build-up of thick sticky mucous, so thick small children couldn't cough it up. It built up to a point where they literally were strangled to death. Diphtheria is still around. Treatments aren't that great. Vaccines prevent it.
November 10, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Print copies of "From Typewriters to Twitter" are now available. I helped create this fun book for the Science Writers and Communicators of Canada (SWCC). It's a snapshot history of science writing in Canada and covers the 1960s through 2021.To buy copies, contact the SWCC office.
sciencewriters.ca
sciencewriters.ca
November 7, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Print copies of "From Typewriters to Twitter" are now available. I helped create this fun book for the Science Writers and Communicators of Canada (SWCC). It's a snapshot history of science writing in Canada and covers the 1960s through 2021.To buy copies, contact the SWCC office.
sciencewriters.ca
sciencewriters.ca
Meanwhile, in Norway a simple way to prevent bird deaths.
Painting one blade of a wind turbine black can dramatically reduce #bird collisions and death by up to 70%. When the blades turn, birds see a grey smudge in the air that they know they need to fly around. #energy #wind
Painting one blade of a wind turbine black can dramatically reduce #bird collisions and death by up to 70%. When the blades turn, birds see a grey smudge in the air that they know they need to fly around. #energy #wind
November 6, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Seat belts have come a long way.
October 13, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Seat belts have come a long way.
If you're pining for the olden days, did you know you can get a handset for your cell phone? Lots of online places sell them.
And there are apps you can install so you can dial numbers instead of pressing the button images.
Full circle?
And there are apps you can install so you can dial numbers instead of pressing the button images.
Full circle?
August 12, 2025 at 7:30 PM
If you're pining for the olden days, did you know you can get a handset for your cell phone? Lots of online places sell them.
And there are apps you can install so you can dial numbers instead of pressing the button images.
Full circle?
And there are apps you can install so you can dial numbers instead of pressing the button images.
Full circle?
Ok, weird. About 2 minutes ago, the 'Is It Down' website said it was down -- but now it says it's working. But I still can't access it -- and I tried 2 different browsers. Maybe it just doesn't like me. 🤷
August 6, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Ok, weird. About 2 minutes ago, the 'Is It Down' website said it was down -- but now it says it's working. But I still can't access it -- and I tried 2 different browsers. Maybe it just doesn't like me. 🤷
Been growing a tomato plant in a pot in the bedroom for most of the winter. The odd tomato appeared a few weeks ago. Today I harvested a bumper crop! It took a LONG time for the plant to do much. Next winter: a better grow light.
June 24, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Been growing a tomato plant in a pot in the bedroom for most of the winter. The odd tomato appeared a few weeks ago. Today I harvested a bumper crop! It took a LONG time for the plant to do much. Next winter: a better grow light.
Before vaccines, diphtheria killed so many kids, some places built specialized cemeteries. Diphtheria used to kill about 15% of young children each year. The #vaccine is very effective, basically eliminated the disease from North America. There are still no good medical treatments for it.
June 17, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Before vaccines, diphtheria killed so many kids, some places built specialized cemeteries. Diphtheria used to kill about 15% of young children each year. The #vaccine is very effective, basically eliminated the disease from North America. There are still no good medical treatments for it.
Good advice from a bank. Avoid scams and fraud. Some tips.
June 13, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Good advice from a bank. Avoid scams and fraud. Some tips.
Missed posting this May 4. But hey, it's still May!
May 19, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Missed posting this May 4. But hey, it's still May!
There was even the odd specialized cemetery before vaccines were widely used. Diphtheria killed about 15% of all kids each year. It's a disease that's still around in some parts of the world. Still no good treatments for it. Vaccines *prevent* it.
May 2, 2025 at 7:06 PM
There was even the odd specialized cemetery before vaccines were widely used. Diphtheria killed about 15% of all kids each year. It's a disease that's still around in some parts of the world. Still no good treatments for it. Vaccines *prevent* it.
Did you know that pre-vaccines diphtheria killed ~15% of young kids each year? So many deaths, some were buried in specialized cemeteries. Thick mucus builds up in the throat kids can't cough up, strangling them. There is still no cure. It's still around, but prevented by #vaccines. Look at history.
May 2, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Did you know that pre-vaccines diphtheria killed ~15% of young kids each year? So many deaths, some were buried in specialized cemeteries. Thick mucus builds up in the throat kids can't cough up, strangling them. There is still no cure. It's still around, but prevented by #vaccines. Look at history.
A note about formaldehyde. It's actually formed naturally in many living things in processes related to DNA synthesis. The amounts made in our body is so small it's easily eliminated. The amount that MIGHT be in a #vaccine is tinier than what you get in fruit, or is made by your own body.
May 2, 2025 at 3:29 PM
A note about formaldehyde. It's actually formed naturally in many living things in processes related to DNA synthesis. The amounts made in our body is so small it's easily eliminated. The amount that MIGHT be in a #vaccine is tinier than what you get in fruit, or is made by your own body.
It's all about who gets tested. Lots of kids have been tested. Very few of their parents have been. And the definitions for what autism is have changed which affects numbers. While there has been some increase, much is related to genetics. Lots of things to consider, but #vaccines aren't a cause.
May 2, 2025 at 3:23 PM
It's all about who gets tested. Lots of kids have been tested. Very few of their parents have been. And the definitions for what autism is have changed which affects numbers. While there has been some increase, much is related to genetics. Lots of things to consider, but #vaccines aren't a cause.
This population had never been exposed to #measles. This means adults, as well as kids and babies, got the infection when it showed up on the island. When adults get measles, well, it's not fun.
May 1, 2025 at 6:11 PM
This population had never been exposed to #measles. This means adults, as well as kids and babies, got the infection when it showed up on the island. When adults get measles, well, it's not fun.
In US history, the effectiveness of #vaccines was recognized. Getting the disease is far riskier than the tiny risks from a vaccine. Besides, who wants to spend any time getting sick?
May 1, 2025 at 6:02 PM
In US history, the effectiveness of #vaccines was recognized. Getting the disease is far riskier than the tiny risks from a vaccine. Besides, who wants to spend any time getting sick?