C. R. Fisher
@cruthfisher.bsky.social
Scientist. Improv artist. DM. Beekeeper. Program manager. Corporate drone. Goblin. Bug girl. Computer girl. Labor organizer. How all these things? Bitch I'm middle aged.
This was a GREAT weekend con! I <3 my poor dummies who ran Trial of the Slime Lord (they killed Raka Ooku!) and my fantastic table of heroes for Critical Core! #ArcaneCon #OSR #ShadowDark #ttrpg
ArcaneCon is less than a month away! I hope to see you there! www.arcaneswordpress.com/arcanecon
November 10, 2025 at 12:10 AM
This was a GREAT weekend con! I <3 my poor dummies who ran Trial of the Slime Lord (they killed Raka Ooku!) and my fantastic table of heroes for Critical Core! #ArcaneCon #OSR #ShadowDark #ttrpg
It was great to meet you at #ArcaneCon this weekend!
I'm heading up to ArcaneCon this weekend! I'll be running a game and giving away stuff! Hope to see you there!
#ttrpg #osr
www.arcaneswordpress.com/arcanecon
#ttrpg #osr
www.arcaneswordpress.com/arcanecon
ArcaneCon | Arcane Sword Press
www.arcaneswordpress.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:07 AM
It was great to meet you at #ArcaneCon this weekend!
Hey, I don't know who needs to hear this right now, but when you're doing Trizol RNA extractions from tissues stored in RNALater, and the high ammonium sulfate content causes a salt phase preventing pelleting of the RNA, you can solve this by diluting out the salt with 50/50 isopropanol solution.
June 7, 2025 at 3:41 AM
Hey, I don't know who needs to hear this right now, but when you're doing Trizol RNA extractions from tissues stored in RNALater, and the high ammonium sulfate content causes a salt phase preventing pelleting of the RNA, you can solve this by diluting out the salt with 50/50 isopropanol solution.
Reposted by C. R. Fisher
URGENT: FlyBase has lost practically all its funding overnight; even user fees are tied up in denied grant funding. 🤬🤯
Any lab using @flybase.bsky.social please donate using the link in post below.
This incredible community, on whose backs our #Drosophila labs depend, can't be left out to dry.
Any lab using @flybase.bsky.social please donate using the link in post below.
This incredible community, on whose backs our #Drosophila labs depend, can't be left out to dry.
My lab studies bacterial infections. We spend a lot of time looking at (or for) species-specific genetic and genomic databases for hosts and microbes. FlyBase is the best of all—there is literally no comparison. Its existence is under threat. Please donate.
www.philanthropy.cam.ac.uk/give-to-camb...
www.philanthropy.cam.ac.uk/give-to-camb...
Drosophila Genetic Database
The Drosophila Genetic Database, FlyBase, is on the brink of collapse due to the sudden termination of the FlyBase NIH grant, which includes salaries for 5 literature curators based at the University ...
www.philanthropy.cam.ac.uk
June 3, 2025 at 5:20 PM
URGENT: FlyBase has lost practically all its funding overnight; even user fees are tied up in denied grant funding. 🤬🤯
Any lab using @flybase.bsky.social please donate using the link in post below.
This incredible community, on whose backs our #Drosophila labs depend, can't be left out to dry.
Any lab using @flybase.bsky.social please donate using the link in post below.
This incredible community, on whose backs our #Drosophila labs depend, can't be left out to dry.
FLYBASE. Losing this resource would be actually absolutely devastating to science.
FlyBase, a crucial resource for drosophila research, has lost its funding because its grant is awarded to Harvard. The team is scrambling to find other sources of funds, including donations from labs. Read more: www.thetransmitter.org/community/fl... @flybase.bsky.social
FlyBase funding squashed amid Harvard grant terminations
The team behind the Drosophila genetics database is now requesting donations from labs to keep the resource afloat.
www.thetransmitter.org
June 5, 2025 at 4:43 PM
FLYBASE. Losing this resource would be actually absolutely devastating to science.
What happened to Keri happened to my former roommate, too. Fired, reinstated, unreinstated, and health insurance cancelled retroactively.
The Trump admin has illegally fired THOUSANDS of federal employees who work every day to deliver for the American people.
People like Keri in MD — whose work promoted US manufacturing & jobs, until she was fired. I shared her story in a hearing with Sec. Lutnick this morning:
People like Keri in MD — whose work promoted US manufacturing & jobs, until she was fired. I shared her story in a hearing with Sec. Lutnick this morning:
June 5, 2025 at 12:50 PM
What happened to Keri happened to my former roommate, too. Fired, reinstated, unreinstated, and health insurance cancelled retroactively.
These are my favorite people in the world. The folks at the NCI that I've worked with are diligent, productive, passionate, and good to their bones. All my love and support.
This account is for sharing info with the cancer community & combating the lies coming from RFK Jr/HHS. We're ready to start some "good trouble."
Education is power, and we can help advocate for cancer research together 💪
We're a small & mighty team of NCI people. Pls ask us questions you may have
Education is power, and we can help advocate for cancer research together 💪
We're a small & mighty team of NCI people. Pls ask us questions you may have
June 5, 2025 at 12:47 PM
These are my favorite people in the world. The folks at the NCI that I've worked with are diligent, productive, passionate, and good to their bones. All my love and support.
Reposted by C. R. Fisher
Public science data is quietly disappearing—with big consequences for research and innovation. We’re gathering global input on how this affects your work and what action is needed. Take this anonymous survey by June 2 www.surveymonkey.com/r/BioITPubli...
Let’s protect the data that powers discovery!
Let’s protect the data that powers discovery!
May 7, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Public science data is quietly disappearing—with big consequences for research and innovation. We’re gathering global input on how this affects your work and what action is needed. Take this anonymous survey by June 2 www.surveymonkey.com/r/BioITPubli...
Let’s protect the data that powers discovery!
Let’s protect the data that powers discovery!
Reposted by C. R. Fisher
This New Drug Could Help End the HIV Epidemic—but US Funding Cuts Are Killing Its Rollout | WIRED www.wired.com/story/lenaca...
This New Drug Could Help End the HIV Epidemic—but US Funding Cuts Are Killing Its Rollout
Lenacapavir, a twice yearly injection that prevents HIV transmission, was named the breakthrough medicine of 2024. But without US foreign aid dollars, its delivery to millions worldwide is under threa...
www.wired.com
February 23, 2025 at 3:14 PM
This New Drug Could Help End the HIV Epidemic—but US Funding Cuts Are Killing Its Rollout | WIRED www.wired.com/story/lenaca...
What was the first album you bought with your own money? It was definitely this Ace of Base - The Sign. I wanted to think it was Poe's "Hello", but that would have been a couple years later.
February 24, 2025 at 1:48 AM
What was the first album you bought with your own money? It was definitely this Ace of Base - The Sign. I wanted to think it was Poe's "Hello", but that would have been a couple years later.
Reposted by C. R. Fisher
And yes, you are probably right many don't appreciate Operation Warp Speed's ability to get vaccines within a year of the pandemic, depended on decades of work, much of it NIH-funded. They probably also don't appreciate that that capability is being dismantled now.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
The story behind COVID-19 vaccines
Amid the staggering amount of suffering and death during this historic pandemic of COVID-19, a remarkable success story stands out. The development of several highly efficacious vaccines against a pre...
www.science.org
February 23, 2025 at 7:47 AM
And yes, you are probably right many don't appreciate Operation Warp Speed's ability to get vaccines within a year of the pandemic, depended on decades of work, much of it NIH-funded. They probably also don't appreciate that that capability is being dismantled now.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Best follow
February 23, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Best follow
Reposted by C. R. Fisher
The Democrats on the House Science Committee have set up a website to collect stories from fired federal employees, anonymously if desired. Please amplify. (This helps the lawyers establish standing for bringing legal cases against the administration!)
democrats-science.house.gov/sciencefirings
democrats-science.house.gov/sciencefirings
February 19, 2025 at 6:24 AM
The Democrats on the House Science Committee have set up a website to collect stories from fired federal employees, anonymously if desired. Please amplify. (This helps the lawyers establish standing for bringing legal cases against the administration!)
democrats-science.house.gov/sciencefirings
democrats-science.house.gov/sciencefirings
Reposted by C. R. Fisher
”Why aren’t [Democratic leaders] taking the fired federal workers who are sharing their heartbreaking stories—the ones that Musk says were being paid to do nothing—and making them famous?...
[Such as] the cancer researcher on the verge of a breakthrough?"
Good question. 🧪
[Such as] the cancer researcher on the verge of a breakthrough?"
Good question. 🧪
Why Democrats Won’t Throw a Real Punch
Faced with existential threats from the right, the Democratic leadership remains timid; faced with demands for justice from the left, it goes on the attack.
www.thenation.com
February 19, 2025 at 4:32 PM
”Why aren’t [Democratic leaders] taking the fired federal workers who are sharing their heartbreaking stories—the ones that Musk says were being paid to do nothing—and making them famous?...
[Such as] the cancer researcher on the verge of a breakthrough?"
Good question. 🧪
[Such as] the cancer researcher on the verge of a breakthrough?"
Good question. 🧪
yes, this is true. a friend of mine with a terminal illness is not paying attention to any of this. and why should they? it may affect them, sure, but not as much as the other things they are handling day to day.
I have friends who are genuinely confused when I point out to them that being politically engaged is a luxury item lots of folks don't invest time or money into. They don't think deeply about politics until and unless it directly affects them. It's an alien thought (and I get it!), but it's true.
Too many people on here seem to believe there are exactly two kinds of Americans: ardent politically-obsessed Bluesky users, and frothing MAGA cultists.
There are a LOT of people in this country who *just don’t pay a lot of attention one way or another*.
And we absolutely can reach them.
There are a LOT of people in this country who *just don’t pay a lot of attention one way or another*.
And we absolutely can reach them.
February 17, 2025 at 12:59 PM
yes, this is true. a friend of mine with a terminal illness is not paying attention to any of this. and why should they? it may affect them, sure, but not as much as the other things they are handling day to day.
My dream is to have a session at the ESA where three people give ten minutes talks about their bug research and then my improv troop does a Harold based on them and I think that this would be really good for collaborative research and all I need is a small grant from the MacArthur foundation
February 11, 2025 at 12:56 PM
My dream is to have a session at the ESA where three people give ten minutes talks about their bug research and then my improv troop does a Harold based on them and I think that this would be really good for collaborative research and all I need is a small grant from the MacArthur foundation
(also please invite me to come do a comedy set based on your research, it'll be so good, and also I'll do it for like, five dollars and thirty minutes on your dissecting scope looking at some of these big dumb things)
Excited to share our new paper! We developed a key to the genera of Caligidae, the largest family of parasitic copepods, which includes >500 species in 27 genera. Available here: doi.org/10.1645/24-97
I spent a lot of time imaging copepods for this project...🧪
[🧵1/5]
I spent a lot of time imaging copepods for this project...🧪
[🧵1/5]
February 8, 2025 at 1:54 AM
(also please invite me to come do a comedy set based on your research, it'll be so good, and also I'll do it for like, five dollars and thirty minutes on your dissecting scope looking at some of these big dumb things)
Jimmy Bernot is still out here trying to gaslight me into believing that all of these things are copepods. Come on, @jimmybernot.bsky.social , you're not fooling anybody. Copepods are tiny crustaceans, Professor (if that even is your real name).
Excited to share our new paper! We developed a key to the genera of Caligidae, the largest family of parasitic copepods, which includes >500 species in 27 genera. Available here: doi.org/10.1645/24-97
I spent a lot of time imaging copepods for this project...🧪
[🧵1/5]
I spent a lot of time imaging copepods for this project...🧪
[🧵1/5]
February 8, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Jimmy Bernot is still out here trying to gaslight me into believing that all of these things are copepods. Come on, @jimmybernot.bsky.social , you're not fooling anybody. Copepods are tiny crustaceans, Professor (if that even is your real name).
I'm going to make time today to call my representatives' offices. I live in deep blue CT, so it'll still be preaching to the choir, but they do need to know what their constituents want. They can't guess. Call them if they agree with you and call them if they don't.
February 5, 2025 at 1:52 PM
I'm going to make time today to call my representatives' offices. I live in deep blue CT, so it'll still be preaching to the choir, but they do need to know what their constituents want. They can't guess. Call them if they agree with you and call them if they don't.
Reposted by C. R. Fisher
Black History Month Stories.
Today I'm very excited to cover one of my favorite Black Civil War heroes and one of the most badass negroes to ever live: Robert Smalls!
His story is one of almost unimaginable bravery and intelligence. A story that embarrassed the fuck out of the confederacy.
Today I'm very excited to cover one of my favorite Black Civil War heroes and one of the most badass negroes to ever live: Robert Smalls!
His story is one of almost unimaginable bravery and intelligence. A story that embarrassed the fuck out of the confederacy.
February 4, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Black History Month Stories.
Today I'm very excited to cover one of my favorite Black Civil War heroes and one of the most badass negroes to ever live: Robert Smalls!
His story is one of almost unimaginable bravery and intelligence. A story that embarrassed the fuck out of the confederacy.
Today I'm very excited to cover one of my favorite Black Civil War heroes and one of the most badass negroes to ever live: Robert Smalls!
His story is one of almost unimaginable bravery and intelligence. A story that embarrassed the fuck out of the confederacy.
However, I did go to my first long form class last night, and good fucking God was that fun. There is just nothing better than playing pretend with several endlessly creative adults for three hours. Guys go do improv.
February 4, 2025 at 1:01 PM
However, I did go to my first long form class last night, and good fucking God was that fun. There is just nothing better than playing pretend with several endlessly creative adults for three hours. Guys go do improv.
Week two, now, that my NIH-sponsored scientific engagement job can't really happen; can't hold (highly attended) office hours for the program we run. Other folks are being hit way harder than we, but it is demoralizing. Talking to researchers is the best part of my job.
February 4, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Week two, now, that my NIH-sponsored scientific engagement job can't really happen; can't hold (highly attended) office hours for the program we run. Other folks are being hit way harder than we, but it is demoralizing. Talking to researchers is the best part of my job.
This is really important. Sure, peer review can be bitingly incisive, but it should never be rude. We're all extremely accomplished scientists. I have only once outright rejected a paper that truly was bad, but I was very kind about it. IT DOESN'T COST ANYTHING TO BE KIND.
Reviewed paper I quite like, but to my surprise, the other reviewer seemed to really disliked it and left pages of comments that at times offensive. Now we got the revision & response to reviewers back, glad to see the authors did on tolerate it! Gearing up to write a response to support them.
February 4, 2025 at 12:53 PM
This is really important. Sure, peer review can be bitingly incisive, but it should never be rude. We're all extremely accomplished scientists. I have only once outright rejected a paper that truly was bad, but I was very kind about it. IT DOESN'T COST ANYTHING TO BE KIND.
It's almos as bad as my least favorite error, the blank red popup that just has an "X" on it.
Few things on computers enrage me more than this. Tell me what's wrong and what I might do about it, don't act all cute and put your pinky to your lips. Be a professional for once.
February 3, 2025 at 9:22 PM
It's almos as bad as my least favorite error, the blank red popup that just has an "X" on it.