Erin Ross
@erineaross.bsky.social
I write about science. I climb big (and lil) mountains. Currently freelance. Past: OPB, Axios, Nature, NPR. Sometimes I do museum stuff too (go see the DC Botanic Garden Dangerous Plants exhibit!)
Reposted by Erin Ross
Terrifying. An Associated Press investigation found more than 420 bills attacking longstanding public health protections such as vaccines, milk safety and fluoride have been introduced in statehouses across the US so far this year. Around 30 bills in 12 states have already been enacted or adopted.
October 22, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Terrifying. An Associated Press investigation found more than 420 bills attacking longstanding public health protections such as vaccines, milk safety and fluoride have been introduced in statehouses across the US so far this year. Around 30 bills in 12 states have already been enacted or adopted.
It sounds like Merkley will be wrapping up soon — he noted that he’s 20 minutes from his “goal,” which seems to be to surpass Wayne Morse’s speech in length.
That will make this the third longest speech in U.S. Senate History.
(Morse, incidentally, was also an Oregonian.)
That will make this the third longest speech in U.S. Senate History.
(Morse, incidentally, was also an Oregonian.)
October 22, 2025 at 8:46 PM
It sounds like Merkley will be wrapping up soon — he noted that he’s 20 minutes from his “goal,” which seems to be to surpass Wayne Morse’s speech in length.
That will make this the third longest speech in U.S. Senate History.
(Morse, incidentally, was also an Oregonian.)
That will make this the third longest speech in U.S. Senate History.
(Morse, incidentally, was also an Oregonian.)
Reposted by Erin Ross
Many editors and writers at the Wall Street Journal's Health and Science desk have just been laid off. I've worked closely with many of them; they've done amazing work through difficult circumstances. It's devastating to hear about these cuts at a time when we need science journalism more than ever.
October 22, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Many editors and writers at the Wall Street Journal's Health and Science desk have just been laid off. I've worked closely with many of them; they've done amazing work through difficult circumstances. It's devastating to hear about these cuts at a time when we need science journalism more than ever.
This is now the fifth longest speech in U.S. senate history.
Would be something if the two longest speeches were held in the same year, in response to the same president’s policies.
Would be something if the two longest speeches were held in the same year, in response to the same president’s policies.
October 22, 2025 at 6:18 PM
This is now the fifth longest speech in U.S. senate history.
Would be something if the two longest speeches were held in the same year, in response to the same president’s policies.
Would be something if the two longest speeches were held in the same year, in response to the same president’s policies.
Reposted by Erin Ross
taps the evergreen sign
Please don't doomsplain at me in the replies and tell me we're cooked! The future hasn't been written yet and we're all part of writing that story. Thanks.
October 22, 2025 at 2:30 PM
taps the evergreen sign
Tbt to that time I spent like 2 hours asking GPT4 how to spell different berries
August 8, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Tbt to that time I spent like 2 hours asking GPT4 how to spell different berries
Level 3 Evacuation orders have been expanded for the fire in Oakridge, Oregon.
The area under evacuation now is larger, geographically, than Oakridge is. Not a lot of people live in this area. It’s wild to see such a large evac area next to a town under none, but that’s weather for you.
The area under evacuation now is larger, geographically, than Oakridge is. Not a lot of people live in this area. It’s wild to see such a large evac area next to a town under none, but that’s weather for you.
August 8, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Level 3 Evacuation orders have been expanded for the fire in Oakridge, Oregon.
The area under evacuation now is larger, geographically, than Oakridge is. Not a lot of people live in this area. It’s wild to see such a large evac area next to a town under none, but that’s weather for you.
The area under evacuation now is larger, geographically, than Oakridge is. Not a lot of people live in this area. It’s wild to see such a large evac area next to a town under none, but that’s weather for you.
I understand that fires in small towns like this can seem unimportant compared to fires in California. But for a very small community that is *not* wealthy, they can be devastating.
They also matter because wildland firefighters are a national resource, and are shuffled around with fire seasons.
They also matter because wildland firefighters are a national resource, and are shuffled around with fire seasons.
Oakridge is a town that doesn’t have a lot. As the logging industry collapsed, they attempted to pivot to outdoor adventure. Mountain biking caught on, but not enough to support a town. And it’s further from ski mountains and major hikes than other towns. It has a lake, but it isn’t lakeside.
August 7, 2025 at 11:45 PM
I understand that fires in small towns like this can seem unimportant compared to fires in California. But for a very small community that is *not* wealthy, they can be devastating.
They also matter because wildland firefighters are a national resource, and are shuffled around with fire seasons.
They also matter because wildland firefighters are a national resource, and are shuffled around with fire seasons.
Eugene, OR & Bend OR vacationers heading out for an early weekend: HWY 58 is closed.
This is a very concerning fire popping up near Oakridge. Level 3 evacuation orders are already in effect for the Dunning Road area, and the fire is less than half an hour old. Only one acre, but spotting and vigorous torching. Oakridge is a logging town with one road in and one road out.
August 7, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Eugene, OR & Bend OR vacationers heading out for an early weekend: HWY 58 is closed.
This is a very concerning fire popping up near Oakridge. Level 3 evacuation orders are already in effect for the Dunning Road area, and the fire is less than half an hour old. Only one acre, but spotting and vigorous torching. Oakridge is a logging town with one road in and one road out.
August 7, 2025 at 11:13 PM
This is a very concerning fire popping up near Oakridge. Level 3 evacuation orders are already in effect for the Dunning Road area, and the fire is less than half an hour old. Only one acre, but spotting and vigorous torching. Oakridge is a logging town with one road in and one road out.
Reposted by Erin Ross
HONOLULU (AP) — Tsunami warning sirens blare in Honolulu and people are told to move to higher ground after earthquake off Russia.
July 30, 2025 at 1:39 AM
HONOLULU (AP) — Tsunami warning sirens blare in Honolulu and people are told to move to higher ground after earthquake off Russia.
This is a watch in WA, OR, and CA — not a warning yet.
IF it hits, it’ll be before midnight, depending on the location. It’ll be low tide, just around -.54 feet. For comparison, high tide today is 7 feet.
More updates from NOAA are incoming, but I would be surprised if this even causes flooding.
IF it hits, it’ll be before midnight, depending on the location. It’ll be low tide, just around -.54 feet. For comparison, high tide today is 7 feet.
More updates from NOAA are incoming, but I would be surprised if this even causes flooding.
July 30, 2025 at 1:11 AM
This is a watch in WA, OR, and CA — not a warning yet.
IF it hits, it’ll be before midnight, depending on the location. It’ll be low tide, just around -.54 feet. For comparison, high tide today is 7 feet.
More updates from NOAA are incoming, but I would be surprised if this even causes flooding.
IF it hits, it’ll be before midnight, depending on the location. It’ll be low tide, just around -.54 feet. For comparison, high tide today is 7 feet.
More updates from NOAA are incoming, but I would be surprised if this even causes flooding.
It’s been seven hours. And as every Survivor fan knows, that’s not a few. Several means seven.
[update] Identified: To fully fix bookmark creation, we will need to put AO3 in maintenance mode for a few hours. We'll be back once the fix has been fully applied.
Bookmark Creation Errors
To fully fix bookmark creation, we will need to put AO3 in maintenance mode for a few hours. We'll be back once the fix has been fully applied.
stspg.io
July 4, 2025 at 12:27 AM
It’s been seven hours. And as every Survivor fan knows, that’s not a few. Several means seven.
Reposted by Erin Ross
"Twenty-one-year-old Kovi Stevens, who is enrolled in the painting program, said she struggled with homelessness for years before joining the Job Corps and that she worries about ending up on the streets again."
The Dept. of Labor - headed by Lori Chavez-DeRemer - didn't reply with comment.
The Dept. of Labor - headed by Lori Chavez-DeRemer - didn't reply with comment.
Facing federal closures, Job Corps students and staff in Astoria weigh their futures
After the Department of Labor announced the closure of Tongue Point Job Corps Center last week, students were notified they only had a few days to leave the campus where they lived.
www.opb.org
June 6, 2025 at 2:48 PM
"Twenty-one-year-old Kovi Stevens, who is enrolled in the painting program, said she struggled with homelessness for years before joining the Job Corps and that she worries about ending up on the streets again."
The Dept. of Labor - headed by Lori Chavez-DeRemer - didn't reply with comment.
The Dept. of Labor - headed by Lori Chavez-DeRemer - didn't reply with comment.
Reposted by Erin Ross
🚨 My latest: Former biosecurity officials say Trump's actions are gutting America's defense against pandemics. Axing mRNA vaccines agst bird flu is just the latest step.
"No other country will come to our rescue and we will suffer greatly,” one of them told me.
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
"No other country will come to our rescue and we will suffer greatly,” one of them told me.
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
In Axing mRNA Contract, Trump Delivers Another Blow to US Biosecurity, Former Officials Say - KFF Health News
The Trump administration is eroding national pandemic flu defenses as it guts health agencies, cuts research and health budgets, and withdraws funding for bird flu vaccines, health security experts sa...
kffhealthnews.org
June 6, 2025 at 2:30 PM
🚨 My latest: Former biosecurity officials say Trump's actions are gutting America's defense against pandemics. Axing mRNA vaccines agst bird flu is just the latest step.
"No other country will come to our rescue and we will suffer greatly,” one of them told me.
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
"No other country will come to our rescue and we will suffer greatly,” one of them told me.
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Reposted by Erin Ross
always the shittiest people u most expect
This seems like a great day to remind Bluesky that Stephen Miller lived four doors down from me freshman year
And our student council person asked him (and everyone) to sign a birthday card for our dorm’s janitor
And he threw a tantrum and wrote an op-ed about not socializing with “the help.”
And our student council person asked him (and everyone) to sign a birthday card for our dorm’s janitor
And he threw a tantrum and wrote an op-ed about not socializing with “the help.”
June 6, 2025 at 3:42 AM
always the shittiest people u most expect
Reposted by Erin Ross
Ok now we’re cooking with gas
June 5, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Ok now we’re cooking with gas
Reposted by Erin Ross
Remember folks, women are too emotional to be president.
June 5, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Remember folks, women are too emotional to be president.
Reposted by Erin Ross
“I asked chatGPT-“ ok, and I asked Tinsel, and she said you’re an uninspired, vapid dork who needs a computer to think for them.
May 10, 2025 at 2:17 AM
“I asked chatGPT-“ ok, and I asked Tinsel, and she said you’re an uninspired, vapid dork who needs a computer to think for them.
Reposted by Erin Ross
The current proposed framework for Oregon’s major transportation package includes several new or increased taxes to pay for roads, public transit, bike paths, etc. But many say the Democrats’ proposal doesn’t go nearly far enough to provide adequate funding for important programs.
Advocates, Transit Agencies Say Oregon Legislators' Transportation Package Proposal Falls Short
Hilda Perez lives with her family in Forest Grove, where she relies on the bus to get around. While Perez said “public transportation has been a lifeline,” it’s not always easy or safe for her to use....
www.portlandmercury.com
May 9, 2025 at 9:46 PM
The current proposed framework for Oregon’s major transportation package includes several new or increased taxes to pay for roads, public transit, bike paths, etc. But many say the Democrats’ proposal doesn’t go nearly far enough to provide adequate funding for important programs.
I’m here for all the woke Marxist pope jokes, but also for American conservatives once again fundamentally misunderstanding Catholicism.
Supporting organized labor, wealth redistribution, and immigrants has been a part of Catholic doctrine since 1891 & the Rerum Novarum
Supporting organized labor, wealth redistribution, and immigrants has been a part of Catholic doctrine since 1891 & the Rerum Novarum
May 9, 2025 at 5:29 PM
I’m here for all the woke Marxist pope jokes, but also for American conservatives once again fundamentally misunderstanding Catholicism.
Supporting organized labor, wealth redistribution, and immigrants has been a part of Catholic doctrine since 1891 & the Rerum Novarum
Supporting organized labor, wealth redistribution, and immigrants has been a part of Catholic doctrine since 1891 & the Rerum Novarum
Reposted by Erin Ross
The massive explosion in use of satellite imagery by archaeologists has led to the discovery of hundreds of thousands of ancient sites and features across the world in the last 25 years, none of which were known about previously due to data resolution+coverage.
This is also a post about autism
This is also a post about autism
April 22, 2025 at 11:45 PM
The massive explosion in use of satellite imagery by archaeologists has led to the discovery of hundreds of thousands of ancient sites and features across the world in the last 25 years, none of which were known about previously due to data resolution+coverage.
This is also a post about autism
This is also a post about autism
Cooperating and negotiating didn’t work out for Columbia — so why should *anyone* cooperate or negotiate?
April 19, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Cooperating and negotiating didn’t work out for Columbia — so why should *anyone* cooperate or negotiate?
Reposted by Erin Ross
Happy tick season, everyone!
AKA that time of the year I go full Reply Guy online, because the top comment *always* has the same misinformation.
So I’ll say it here: y’all. If a tick bites you, YOU DO NOT NEED TO SAVE IT FOR TESTING.
Tick testing is a scam, and yes, I’ll tell you why.
AKA that time of the year I go full Reply Guy online, because the top comment *always* has the same misinformation.
So I’ll say it here: y’all. If a tick bites you, YOU DO NOT NEED TO SAVE IT FOR TESTING.
Tick testing is a scam, and yes, I’ll tell you why.
April 13, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Happy tick season, everyone!
AKA that time of the year I go full Reply Guy online, because the top comment *always* has the same misinformation.
So I’ll say it here: y’all. If a tick bites you, YOU DO NOT NEED TO SAVE IT FOR TESTING.
Tick testing is a scam, and yes, I’ll tell you why.
AKA that time of the year I go full Reply Guy online, because the top comment *always* has the same misinformation.
So I’ll say it here: y’all. If a tick bites you, YOU DO NOT NEED TO SAVE IT FOR TESTING.
Tick testing is a scam, and yes, I’ll tell you why.