Emily Mullin
@emilymullin.bsky.social
Staff writer @wired.com, covering biotech (you know, the stuff that sounds like science fiction, but isn't)
Contact me: emullin.06 on Signal or emily_mullin@wired.com
emilymullin.com
Contact me: emullin.06 on Signal or emily_mullin@wired.com
emilymullin.com
Pinned
A New Startup Wants to Edit Human Embryos
Seven years after the first gene-edited babies were revealed, biotech startup Manhattan Genomics is reviving the idea of editing human embryos to make disease-free children.
www.wired.com
Seven years after the first gene-edited babies were revealed, a new biotech startup called Manhattan Genomics is reviving the idea of editing human embryos. My latest for @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/startu...
Reposted by Emily Mullin
Yesterday, the NIH abruptly placed @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social, who has been a vocal critic of the administration’s changes to the NIH, on leave
“It is intended as a threat,” she told me yesterday
www.statnews.com/2025/11/14/n...
“It is intended as a threat,” she told me yesterday
www.statnews.com/2025/11/14/n...
NIH abruptly places outspoken critic of Trump administration on leave
Jenna Norton, a vocal critic of Trump administration actions at the NIH, was abruptly placed on administrative leave this week.
www.statnews.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Yesterday, the NIH abruptly placed @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social, who has been a vocal critic of the administration’s changes to the NIH, on leave
“It is intended as a threat,” she told me yesterday
www.statnews.com/2025/11/14/n...
“It is intended as a threat,” she told me yesterday
www.statnews.com/2025/11/14/n...
Reposted by Emily Mullin
GLP-1s are being studied for a wide range of conditions. Now, scientists will test whether their anti-inflammatory properties can help alleviate symptoms of #LongCovid. @wired.com @emilymullin.bsky.social
www.wired.com/story/weight...
www.wired.com/story/weight...
Weight-Loss Drug Zepbound Is Being Tested as a Treatment for Long Covid
GLP-1s are being studied for a wide range of conditions. Now, scientists will test whether their anti-inflammatory properties can help alleviate symptoms of long Covid.
www.wired.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:22 PM
GLP-1s are being studied for a wide range of conditions. Now, scientists will test whether their anti-inflammatory properties can help alleviate symptoms of #LongCovid. @wired.com @emilymullin.bsky.social
www.wired.com/story/weight...
www.wired.com/story/weight...
It's been nearly two years since the first gene-editing therapy, Casgevy, was approved for sickle cell disease. Just 39 patients worldwide have received it in that time. This is from a Nov. 10 update from manufacturer Vertex:
November 12, 2025 at 4:58 PM
It's been nearly two years since the first gene-editing therapy, Casgevy, was approved for sickle cell disease. Just 39 patients worldwide have received it in that time. This is from a Nov. 10 update from manufacturer Vertex:
Reposted by Emily Mullin
Three German universities offering post-docs for researchers "who cannot conduct or continue their work in the USA appropriately because of actual political pressure. "
www.uni-konstanz.de/zukunftskoll...
www.uni-konstanz.de/zukunftskoll...
Early Career Rescue Fellowship
www.uni-konstanz.de
November 11, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Three German universities offering post-docs for researchers "who cannot conduct or continue their work in the USA appropriately because of actual political pressure. "
www.uni-konstanz.de/zukunftskoll...
www.uni-konstanz.de/zukunftskoll...
The Wall Street Journal has more details on Preventive, the latest human embryo editing company. Sam Altman of OpenAI and and his husband are among its backers:
www.wsj.com/tech/biotech...
www.wsj.com/tech/biotech...
Genetically Engineered Babies Are Banned. Tech Titans Are Trying to Make One Anyway.
Silicon Valley startups are pushing the boundaries of reproductive genetics, hoping to prevent diseases as well as improve chances for a high IQ and other traits.
www.wsj.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:37 PM
The Wall Street Journal has more details on Preventive, the latest human embryo editing company. Sam Altman of OpenAI and and his husband are among its backers:
www.wsj.com/tech/biotech...
www.wsj.com/tech/biotech...
Reposted by Emily Mullin
Oh, to be a fly on the wall. www.statnews.com/2025/11/11/m...
At ‘hush-hush’ MAHA summit, RFK Jr. and deputies to mix with biotech leaders
A who's who of MAHA federal officials will be speaking at an event, stacked with industry executives and activists, organized largely in secrecy.
www.statnews.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Oh, to be a fly on the wall. www.statnews.com/2025/11/11/m...
Reposted by Emily Mullin
Super excited that we're hiring a senior writer to join @wired.com's culture team! If you're obsessed with internet culture and like our vibe, apply! condenast.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/CondeC...
Senior Writer, Culture
WIRED is where a better future is imagined. For three decades, we have been the indispensable guide to a world in constant transformation. We cover humanity’s biggest challenges, from climate change t...
condenast.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Super excited that we're hiring a senior writer to join @wired.com's culture team! If you're obsessed with internet culture and like our vibe, apply! condenast.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/CondeC...
Reposted by Emily Mullin
Incredible reporting from @carolinehaskins.bsky.social about a school Mark Zuckerberg opened on his Palo Alto compound and operated for years with no permits, permissions, anything at all
Mark Zuckerberg Opened an Illegal School at His Palo Alto Compound. His Neighbors Revolted
Neighbors complained about noise, security guards, and hordes of traffic. An unlicensed school named after the Zuckerbergs’ pet chicken tipped them over the edge.
www.wired.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Incredible reporting from @carolinehaskins.bsky.social about a school Mark Zuckerberg opened on his Palo Alto compound and operated for years with no permits, permissions, anything at all
Over on the other site, gene-editing scientist Lucas Harrington announced a new company to explore "preventive gene editing."
In case you're counting, this is the third startup openly pursuing plans to edit human embryos. More on the company here: www.preventive.bio/blog/announc...
In case you're counting, this is the third startup openly pursuing plans to edit human embryos. More on the company here: www.preventive.bio/blog/announc...
November 3, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Over on the other site, gene-editing scientist Lucas Harrington announced a new company to explore "preventive gene editing."
In case you're counting, this is the third startup openly pursuing plans to edit human embryos. More on the company here: www.preventive.bio/blog/announc...
In case you're counting, this is the third startup openly pursuing plans to edit human embryos. More on the company here: www.preventive.bio/blog/announc...
Seven years after the first gene-edited babies were revealed, a new biotech startup called Manhattan Genomics is reviving the idea of editing human embryos. My latest for @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/startu...
A New Startup Wants to Edit Human Embryos
Seven years after the first gene-edited babies were revealed, biotech startup Manhattan Genomics is reviving the idea of editing human embryos to make disease-free children.
www.wired.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Seven years after the first gene-edited babies were revealed, a new biotech startup called Manhattan Genomics is reviving the idea of editing human embryos. My latest for @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/startu...
Remember when RFK Jr. was against fracking? Kennedy once said he'd ban fracking, which is known to contaminate groundwater and surface water and has been linked to certain cancers. Yet now he's taking the administration's stance against wind energy: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
RFK Jr. Orders CDC to Study Alleged Harms of Offshore Wind Farms
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. directed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staff to probe the potential harms of offshore wind farms, according to people familiar wi...
www.bloomberg.com
October 28, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Remember when RFK Jr. was against fracking? Kennedy once said he'd ban fracking, which is known to contaminate groundwater and surface water and has been linked to certain cancers. Yet now he's taking the administration's stance against wind energy: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
WIRED has learned that surgeons at Massachusetts General Hospital have removed a gene-edited pig kidney from 67-year-old Tim Andrews. The organ functioned for nearly nine months, longer than any previous pig organ transplant. www.wired.com/story/man-ha...
Man Has Pig Kidney Removed After Living With It for a Record 9 Months
With the demand for human donor organs desperately outstripping supply, scientists are working to see if genetically edited pig organs can bridge the gap.
www.wired.com
October 27, 2025 at 7:32 PM
WIRED has learned that surgeons at Massachusetts General Hospital have removed a gene-edited pig kidney from 67-year-old Tim Andrews. The organ functioned for nearly nine months, longer than any previous pig organ transplant. www.wired.com/story/man-ha...
The CDC's union estimates that a quarter of the agency been gutted under the Trump administration. Here's our story at @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/cdc-te...
A Quarter of the CDC Is Gone
Another round of terminations, combined with previous layoffs and departures, has reduced the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention workforce by about 3,000 people since January.
www.wired.com
October 14, 2025 at 10:37 PM
The CDC's union estimates that a quarter of the agency been gutted under the Trump administration. Here's our story at @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/cdc-te...
WIRED reporter here. If you're a CDC worker and would like to share any information on the RIFs, feel free to message me at emullin.06 on Signal.
October 13, 2025 at 7:18 PM
WIRED reporter here. If you're a CDC worker and would like to share any information on the RIFs, feel free to message me at emullin.06 on Signal.
Reposted by Emily Mullin
New from @sameagan.bsky.social: The right has capitalized off manosphere fitness content for years, but the left is finally pushing back. One prominent Democratic operative offered two fitness influencers over $10K each to make leftist content: www.wired.com/story/as-the...
As the Right Leans Into ‘Warrior’ Culture, Some Leftist Gym Bros Are Pushing Back
Right-wing fitness content has dominated the manosphere for years. Leftist gym influencers have taken notice—with some even being paid thousands of dollars to counter it.
www.wired.com
October 6, 2025 at 9:36 PM
New from @sameagan.bsky.social: The right has capitalized off manosphere fitness content for years, but the left is finally pushing back. One prominent Democratic operative offered two fitness influencers over $10K each to make leftist content: www.wired.com/story/as-the...
Despite indications that RFK Jr. would limit access to Covid vaccines, shots will be widely available again soon with insurance still covering them (at least through the end of the year). My latest for @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/covid-...
Covid Shots Are About to Be Widely Available Again
The CDC no longer broadly recommends the Covid-19 vaccine, but US residents will still be able to get one if they want.
www.wired.com
October 9, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Despite indications that RFK Jr. would limit access to Covid vaccines, shots will be widely available again soon with insurance still covering them (at least through the end of the year). My latest for @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/covid-...
Apropos of nothing, if you are an HHS employee and would like to securely send me a tip, you can contact me at emullin.06 on Signal. Or send me an anonymous email here: www.emilymullin.com/contact
October 1, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Apropos of nothing, if you are an HHS employee and would like to securely send me a tip, you can contact me at emullin.06 on Signal. Or send me an anonymous email here: www.emilymullin.com/contact
EXCLUSIVE: Startup Cognixion is launching the first-of-its-kind clinical trial to use the Apple Vision Pro as a brain-computer interface to help severely paralyzed people communicate.
www.wired.com/story/this-s...
www.wired.com/story/this-s...
This Startup Wants to Put Its Brain-Computer Interface in the Apple Vision Pro
California-based Cognixion is launching a clinical trial to allow paralyzed patients with speech disorders the ability to communicate without an invasive brain implant.
www.wired.com
October 1, 2025 at 2:20 PM
EXCLUSIVE: Startup Cognixion is launching the first-of-its-kind clinical trial to use the Apple Vision Pro as a brain-computer interface to help severely paralyzed people communicate.
www.wired.com/story/this-s...
www.wired.com/story/this-s...
NEW: In a controversial step that raises the possibility of a new kind of infertility treatment, scientists made eggs from human skin cells.
Spoiler: The resulting embryos were abnormal and importantly, they weren't used to start a pregnancy. My story for @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/scient...
Spoiler: The resulting embryos were abnormal and importantly, they weren't used to start a pregnancy. My story for @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/scient...
Scientists Made Human Eggs from Skin Cells and Used Them to Form Embryos
The embryos weren’t used to try to establish a pregnancy, but the researchers behind the technique say it could one day be used to address infertility.
www.wired.com
September 30, 2025 at 3:27 PM
NEW: In a controversial step that raises the possibility of a new kind of infertility treatment, scientists made eggs from human skin cells.
Spoiler: The resulting embryos were abnormal and importantly, they weren't used to start a pregnancy. My story for @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/scient...
Spoiler: The resulting embryos were abnormal and importantly, they weren't used to start a pregnancy. My story for @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/scient...
My local women’s hiking group is doing a horse yoga event and I have questions.
September 24, 2025 at 9:57 PM
My local women’s hiking group is doing a horse yoga event and I have questions.
EXCLUSIVE: A startup used AI to develop a psychedelic without the trip—and it worked (in a small, initial study).
It's part of a new class of drugs that could hopefully treat mental illness without the intensity of traditional psychedelics.
My latest for @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/a-star...
It's part of a new class of drugs that could hopefully treat mental illness without the intensity of traditional psychedelics.
My latest for @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/a-star...
A Startup Used AI to Make a Psychedelic Without the Trip
Mindstate Design Labs, backed by Silicon Valley power players, has created what its CEO calls “the least psychedelic psychedelic that’s psychoactive.”
www.wired.com
September 24, 2025 at 2:29 PM
EXCLUSIVE: A startup used AI to develop a psychedelic without the trip—and it worked (in a small, initial study).
It's part of a new class of drugs that could hopefully treat mental illness without the intensity of traditional psychedelics.
My latest for @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/a-star...
It's part of a new class of drugs that could hopefully treat mental illness without the intensity of traditional psychedelics.
My latest for @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/a-star...
Coming to a city near you
September 24, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Coming to a city near you
After recording 12+ hours of the ACIP meeting, my transcription software service just warned me that I am approaching my monthly account minutes limit.💀
September 19, 2025 at 10:05 PM
After recording 12+ hours of the ACIP meeting, my transcription software service just warned me that I am approaching my monthly account minutes limit.💀
Today, ACIP voted down its own proposal to require prescriptions for Covid vaccines.
It also voted to recommend “individual-based decision-making,” aka talk to a healthcare provider before getting one.
So, uh, what exactly was the point of this meeting?
www.wired.com/story/rfk-jr...
It also voted to recommend “individual-based decision-making,” aka talk to a healthcare provider before getting one.
So, uh, what exactly was the point of this meeting?
www.wired.com/story/rfk-jr...
RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Panel Votes Down Its Own Proposal to Require Prescriptions for Covid-19 Shots
In a chaotic meeting, ACIP voted not to recommend a prescription requirement for Covid-19 vaccines. Some panelists seemed unaware of the point of the meeting, while others went on strange tangents.
www.wired.com
September 19, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Today, ACIP voted down its own proposal to require prescriptions for Covid vaccines.
It also voted to recommend “individual-based decision-making,” aka talk to a healthcare provider before getting one.
So, uh, what exactly was the point of this meeting?
www.wired.com/story/rfk-jr...
It also voted to recommend “individual-based decision-making,” aka talk to a healthcare provider before getting one.
So, uh, what exactly was the point of this meeting?
www.wired.com/story/rfk-jr...
At the ACIP meeting this afternoon, a representative from the American Pharmacists Association had to point out to members that in many states, the authority for pharmacists to give vaccines is based on ACIP recommendations.
It's as if the new ACIP members don't actually know what ACIP does.
It's as if the new ACIP members don't actually know what ACIP does.
September 19, 2025 at 7:32 PM
At the ACIP meeting this afternoon, a representative from the American Pharmacists Association had to point out to members that in many states, the authority for pharmacists to give vaccines is based on ACIP recommendations.
It's as if the new ACIP members don't actually know what ACIP does.
It's as if the new ACIP members don't actually know what ACIP does.