Catherine S.
@cadamoo.bsky.social
Some science easily distracted by knitting, doodling, bird watching, cooking and heavy metal (that is, whenever my two tots allow it)
Reposted by Catherine S.
So reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) can't fly, but they are VERY MAGICAL.
For example, their EYES CHANGE COLOR during the year & they're one of the few large mammals that can see UV. Golden brown in summer, deep blue in winter.
Let's talk about the unique visual adaptations of Rudolph and company.
For example, their EYES CHANGE COLOR during the year & they're one of the few large mammals that can see UV. Golden brown in summer, deep blue in winter.
Let's talk about the unique visual adaptations of Rudolph and company.
December 20, 2025 at 11:36 PM
So reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) can't fly, but they are VERY MAGICAL.
For example, their EYES CHANGE COLOR during the year & they're one of the few large mammals that can see UV. Golden brown in summer, deep blue in winter.
Let's talk about the unique visual adaptations of Rudolph and company.
For example, their EYES CHANGE COLOR during the year & they're one of the few large mammals that can see UV. Golden brown in summer, deep blue in winter.
Let's talk about the unique visual adaptations of Rudolph and company.
Reposted by Catherine S.
"Must deliver societal benefits"....the research that found T. aquaticus would never be funded under these rules. Imagine the breakthroughs that won't ever happen because some (seemingly niche) basic science never received funding.
The National Science Board, which oversees NSF, has published recommendations to update the foundation's merit review (which was just updated).
Below are the main points. www.nsf.gov/nsb/updates/...
Below are the main points. www.nsf.gov/nsb/updates/...
December 18, 2025 at 8:16 PM
"Must deliver societal benefits"....the research that found T. aquaticus would never be funded under these rules. Imagine the breakthroughs that won't ever happen because some (seemingly niche) basic science never received funding.
Reposted by Catherine S.
A male rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) in winter plumage.
Ptarmigan is from Gaelic 'tarmachan' meaning "croaker". The p- was added when people mistakenly assumed it was a Greek word.
A bird forever warning people: "A werewolf!" (just in case of werewolves).
Ptarmigan is from Gaelic 'tarmachan' meaning "croaker". The p- was added when people mistakenly assumed it was a Greek word.
A bird forever warning people: "A werewolf!" (just in case of werewolves).
December 6, 2025 at 1:46 PM
A male rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) in winter plumage.
Ptarmigan is from Gaelic 'tarmachan' meaning "croaker". The p- was added when people mistakenly assumed it was a Greek word.
A bird forever warning people: "A werewolf!" (just in case of werewolves).
Ptarmigan is from Gaelic 'tarmachan' meaning "croaker". The p- was added when people mistakenly assumed it was a Greek word.
A bird forever warning people: "A werewolf!" (just in case of werewolves).
Reposted by Catherine S.
One of the things I wonder sometimes is what it means to have a society in which a large fraction of adults of a certain age have lost a child, vs one in which that is an uncommon experience. Surely it has to durably change people and their orientation to the world.
Currently dorking out over this graph about child mortality with my brother. Just mind boggling to take in.
December 2, 2025 at 7:42 PM
One of the things I wonder sometimes is what it means to have a society in which a large fraction of adults of a certain age have lost a child, vs one in which that is an uncommon experience. Surely it has to durably change people and their orientation to the world.
Reposted by Catherine S.
In non- pipeline news: I'm at a diner and the kid at the next table informs me that "This is the best apple juice I've had IN MY LIFE."
Small joys
Small joys
November 28, 2025 at 5:43 PM
In non- pipeline news: I'm at a diner and the kid at the next table informs me that "This is the best apple juice I've had IN MY LIFE."
Small joys
Small joys
This year this vegetarian is making turkey for thanksgiving… out of newspaper and wheatpaste!
November 26, 2025 at 4:18 PM
This year this vegetarian is making turkey for thanksgiving… out of newspaper and wheatpaste!
Reposted by Catherine S.
my latest investigation for @consumerreports.org is based on months of reporting and 60+ lab tests of leading protein supplements
we found that most protein powders and shakes have more lead in one serving than our experts say is safe to have in a day (🧵)
www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein...
we found that most protein powders and shakes have more lead in one serving than our experts say is safe to have in a day (🧵)
www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein...
Protein Powders and Shakes Contain High Levels of Lead - Consumer Reports
CR tests of 23 popular protein powders and shakes found that most contain high levels of lead.
www.consumerreports.org
October 14, 2025 at 4:37 PM
my latest investigation for @consumerreports.org is based on months of reporting and 60+ lab tests of leading protein supplements
we found that most protein powders and shakes have more lead in one serving than our experts say is safe to have in a day (🧵)
www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein...
we found that most protein powders and shakes have more lead in one serving than our experts say is safe to have in a day (🧵)
www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein...
Reposted by Catherine S.
Genomic divergence across the tree of life 🧪🌐https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2319389122
Genomic divergence across the tree of life | PNAS
Nucleotide sequence data are being harnessed to identify species, even in cases in
which organisms themselves are neither in hand nor witnessed. Bu...
www.pnas.org
September 27, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Genomic divergence across the tree of life 🧪🌐https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2319389122
Reposted by Catherine S.
UCLA’s funds reinstated after yesterday’s court order! Thanks to the brave researchers and their amazing counsel, including Dean Chemerinsky, who brought suit. This is just another turn in the ongoing fight, but a great result for now.
September 24, 2025 at 10:08 PM
UCLA’s funds reinstated after yesterday’s court order! Thanks to the brave researchers and their amazing counsel, including Dean Chemerinsky, who brought suit. This is just another turn in the ongoing fight, but a great result for now.
Reposted by Catherine S.
#Bacteria use weapons to outdo rivals, but what happens if they're transferred? @prokaryota.bsky.social @jdpal.bsky.social &co show that HGT of toxin #plasmids is rare but recipients can thrive under relaxed nutrient competition, reshaping bacterial warfare @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/43vC3X7
May 22, 2025 at 1:31 PM
#Bacteria use weapons to outdo rivals, but what happens if they're transferred? @prokaryota.bsky.social @jdpal.bsky.social &co show that HGT of toxin #plasmids is rare but recipients can thrive under relaxed nutrient competition, reshaping bacterial warfare @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/43vC3X7
Reposted by Catherine S.
let's go back to publishing every weird little thing we see an organism do as a natural history note. i love a good kitchen sink paper that gets into the nitty gritty of a whole-ass system, but when you're trying to research something less well-known, you really need people writing "so one time..."
May 15, 2025 at 4:39 PM
let's go back to publishing every weird little thing we see an organism do as a natural history note. i love a good kitchen sink paper that gets into the nitty gritty of a whole-ass system, but when you're trying to research something less well-known, you really need people writing "so one time..."
Reposted by Catherine S.
Widely detected in global waterways, clobazam—a common drug used to treat anxiety—is altering the migration behavior of wild Atlantic salmon, according to a new Science study.
The findings underscore the far-reaching ecological consequences of pharmaceutical pollutants. scim.ag/4inFhBl
The findings underscore the far-reaching ecological consequences of pharmaceutical pollutants. scim.ag/4inFhBl
Pharmaceutical pollution influences river-to-sea migration in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)
Despite the growing threat of pharmaceutical pollution, we lack an understanding of whether and how such pollutants influence animal behavior in the wild. Using laboratory- and field-based experiments...
scim.ag
April 21, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Widely detected in global waterways, clobazam—a common drug used to treat anxiety—is altering the migration behavior of wild Atlantic salmon, according to a new Science study.
The findings underscore the far-reaching ecological consequences of pharmaceutical pollutants. scim.ag/4inFhBl
The findings underscore the far-reaching ecological consequences of pharmaceutical pollutants. scim.ag/4inFhBl
Reposted by Catherine S.
A tricky thing about modern society is that no one has any idea when they don’t die.
Like, the number of lives saved by controlling air pollution in America is probably over 200,000 per year, but the number of people who think their life was saved by controlling air pollution is zero.
Like, the number of lives saved by controlling air pollution in America is probably over 200,000 per year, but the number of people who think their life was saved by controlling air pollution is zero.
April 7, 2025 at 4:13 AM
A tricky thing about modern society is that no one has any idea when they don’t die.
Like, the number of lives saved by controlling air pollution in America is probably over 200,000 per year, but the number of people who think their life was saved by controlling air pollution is zero.
Like, the number of lives saved by controlling air pollution in America is probably over 200,000 per year, but the number of people who think their life was saved by controlling air pollution is zero.
Reposted by Catherine S.
Several months ago, I was honored to be invited by JMB Editor-in-Chief Mike Summers to write a Perspective for the Pioneers in Molecular Biology special issue. It was a chance to reflect on the journey that led me here. You can read the pieces here: tinyurl.com/2pb967u9 & tinyurl.com/kkwfynt2
Making Every Penny Count: Kinase Signaling Transduction, Copper Homeostasis, & Nutrient Sensing
I am the Harrison McCrea Dickson, MD, and Clifford C. Baker, MD Presidential Associate Professor of Cancer Biology at the University of Pennsylvania P…
tinyurl.com
April 6, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Several months ago, I was honored to be invited by JMB Editor-in-Chief Mike Summers to write a Perspective for the Pioneers in Molecular Biology special issue. It was a chance to reflect on the journey that led me here. You can read the pieces here: tinyurl.com/2pb967u9 & tinyurl.com/kkwfynt2
A small tribute to the valiant laptop charger that saw me through my entire dissertation 🫡
#drawing#charcoal#anthropomorphicobjects
#drawing#charcoal#anthropomorphicobjects
April 6, 2025 at 2:01 PM
A small tribute to the valiant laptop charger that saw me through my entire dissertation 🫡
#drawing#charcoal#anthropomorphicobjects
#drawing#charcoal#anthropomorphicobjects
Reposted by Catherine S.
THIS IS HUGE! Researchers at McMaster University have discovered a NEW peptide antibiotic that targets a broad range of disease-causing bacteria INCLUDING those RESISTANT to existing antibiotics. This discovery marks the first potential new class of antibiotics in NEARLY 30 YEARS. 🧪🧵⬇️
March 31, 2025 at 4:00 PM
THIS IS HUGE! Researchers at McMaster University have discovered a NEW peptide antibiotic that targets a broad range of disease-causing bacteria INCLUDING those RESISTANT to existing antibiotics. This discovery marks the first potential new class of antibiotics in NEARLY 30 YEARS. 🧪🧵⬇️
Reposted by Catherine S.
When FDA inspectors went to a Glenmark Pharmaceuticals plant last month — their first inspection in five years — they discovered problems with cleaning and testing that they said could affect medicines that were shipped to Americans.
By @sheinvestigates.bsky.social
By @sheinvestigates.bsky.social
The FDA Finally Visited an Indian Drug Factory Linked to U.S. Deaths. It Found Problems.
The inspection comes after a ProPublica investigation revealed that drugs made at the Glenmark Pharmaceuticals plant accounted for an outsized share of U.S. recalls for pills that didn’t dissolve…
propub.li
March 22, 2025 at 10:00 PM
When FDA inspectors went to a Glenmark Pharmaceuticals plant last month — their first inspection in five years — they discovered problems with cleaning and testing that they said could affect medicines that were shipped to Americans.
By @sheinvestigates.bsky.social
By @sheinvestigates.bsky.social
Reposted by Catherine S.
Bacterial ABC peptide transporters are involved in processes like nutrient uptake. This study solves #cryoEM structures of the #Ecoli dipeptide #transporter DppABCDF in both apo & ATP analog-bound forms, providing insights into assembly & import mechanism 🧪 @plosbiology.org plos.io/3DxP8pU
March 11, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Bacterial ABC peptide transporters are involved in processes like nutrient uptake. This study solves #cryoEM structures of the #Ecoli dipeptide #transporter DppABCDF in both apo & ATP analog-bound forms, providing insights into assembly & import mechanism 🧪 @plosbiology.org plos.io/3DxP8pU
When you need to scream into the void for a little while. An amazing lineup for anyone in the Denver area!
loudwire.com/unhinged-fes...
loudwire.com/unhinged-fes...
29 Bands Announced for Inaugural Unhinged Festival - See Who's Playing
Lamb of God and Knocked Loose will headline the inaugural Unhinged Festival in Denver, Colorado. See the full lineup and how to get tickets.
loudwire.com
March 10, 2025 at 4:12 PM
When you need to scream into the void for a little while. An amazing lineup for anyone in the Denver area!
loudwire.com/unhinged-fes...
loudwire.com/unhinged-fes...
Reposted by Catherine S.
If you feel up to it, attend a Stand Up for Science protest tomorrow. I think it will lift your spirits. Standupforscience2025.org
March 6, 2025 at 1:43 PM
If you feel up to it, attend a Stand Up for Science protest tomorrow. I think it will lift your spirits. Standupforscience2025.org
Reposted by Catherine S.
if you tagged us yesterday after reading headlines about the Supreme Court and the Clean Water Act, we understand.
it's important you also read a headline from a utility cited in the decision:
ours.
it's important you also read a headline from a utility cited in the decision:
ours.
What yesterday’s Supreme Court decision means for clean water
Trending headlines implied a weakening of the Clean Water Act, but utilities working for clean water see a victory.
neorsd.medium.com
March 5, 2025 at 7:17 PM
if you tagged us yesterday after reading headlines about the Supreme Court and the Clean Water Act, we understand.
it's important you also read a headline from a utility cited in the decision:
ours.
it's important you also read a headline from a utility cited in the decision:
ours.