Maureen Kearney
@maureenmkearney.bsky.social
Biology, evolution, phylogenetics, biodiversity. Also: nature, music, poetry, history, philosophy and such. **All opinions are mine and do not reflect views of the NSF.
Reposted by Maureen Kearney
What is the most profitable industry in the world, this side of the law? Not oil, not IT, not pharma.
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
November 12, 2025 at 10:31 AM
What is the most profitable industry in the world, this side of the law? Not oil, not IT, not pharma.
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
Reposted by Maureen Kearney
Patti Smith spoke with @amyweissmeyer.bsky.social over matcha lattes about her new memoir, “Bread of Angels.” In the book, Smith reflects on her lifetime of reinvention—and the twists in her story that have surprised even her. Read more from their conversation:
Patti Smith’s Family Secrets
Nearing 80, the punk poet reflects on the twists in her story that have surprised even her.
bit.ly
November 8, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Patti Smith spoke with @amyweissmeyer.bsky.social over matcha lattes about her new memoir, “Bread of Angels.” In the book, Smith reflects on her lifetime of reinvention—and the twists in her story that have surprised even her. Read more from their conversation:
Reposted by Maureen Kearney
"Michael Mann to Bill Gates: You can’t reboot the planet if you crash it" | Repost of my @thebulletin.org commentary by #MROnline: mronline.org/2025/11/04/m...
November 4, 2025 at 9:23 PM
"Michael Mann to Bill Gates: You can’t reboot the planet if you crash it" | Repost of my @thebulletin.org commentary by #MROnline: mronline.org/2025/11/04/m...
Reposted by Maureen Kearney
Landmark report shows how decision-makers can manage global crises.
For the first time, researchers have compiled decades of resilience science research into nine critical Must-Knows, refined through dialogue with decision-makers.
Access the full report: www.stockholmresilience.org/research/res...
For the first time, researchers have compiled decades of resilience science research into nine critical Must-Knows, refined through dialogue with decision-makers.
Access the full report: www.stockholmresilience.org/research/res...
November 4, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Landmark report shows how decision-makers can manage global crises.
For the first time, researchers have compiled decades of resilience science research into nine critical Must-Knows, refined through dialogue with decision-makers.
Access the full report: www.stockholmresilience.org/research/res...
For the first time, researchers have compiled decades of resilience science research into nine critical Must-Knows, refined through dialogue with decision-makers.
Access the full report: www.stockholmresilience.org/research/res...
Reposted by Maureen Kearney
For 41 weeks now, I’ve been sitting down every Friday night to chronicle the damage this administration is doing to science & higher ed.
We must stay focused. We’re in this for the long haul. We are finding ways not just to block them, but build something better.
buttondown.com/liminalcreat...
We must stay focused. We’re in this for the long haul. We are finding ways not just to block them, but build something better.
buttondown.com/liminalcreat...
Week 41
October 25-31 - a seasonal shift
buttondown.com
November 1, 2025 at 3:26 PM
For 41 weeks now, I’ve been sitting down every Friday night to chronicle the damage this administration is doing to science & higher ed.
We must stay focused. We’re in this for the long haul. We are finding ways not just to block them, but build something better.
buttondown.com/liminalcreat...
We must stay focused. We’re in this for the long haul. We are finding ways not just to block them, but build something better.
buttondown.com/liminalcreat...
Reposted by Maureen Kearney
I also talk about de-extinction in this paper & the need to have some name to call the organisms. Like many people, I know that the Colossal "Dire Wolves" are not the descendants of the extinct wolves they are named after. But they are *something*, so we need to have a name for them.
I've often wondered about what we should call organisms whose similarity might be due to acquired genetic material. It got a little complicated, but I made a stab at it here
Classifying Convergences in the Light of Horizontal Gene Transfer: Epaktovars and Xenotypes academic.oup.com/mbe/article/...
Classifying Convergences in the Light of Horizontal Gene Transfer: Epaktovars and Xenotypes academic.oup.com/mbe/article/...
Classifying Convergences in the Light of Horizontal Gene Transfer: Epaktovars and Xenotypes
Abstract. The classification of living systems presents significant challenges due to the prevalence of gene transfer between genomes. Traditional taxonomi
academic.oup.com
October 30, 2025 at 11:36 AM
I also talk about de-extinction in this paper & the need to have some name to call the organisms. Like many people, I know that the Colossal "Dire Wolves" are not the descendants of the extinct wolves they are named after. But they are *something*, so we need to have a name for them.
Reposted by Maureen Kearney
My little book on Schrödinger's famous classic 'What Is Life?' is out! Offering the most comprehensive analysis ever undertaken of the book's origins, reception, impact, and legacy, it uncovers Schrödinger's motivations in writing it, and shows how it has shaped our current understanding of the cell
<i>What Is Life?</i> Revisited
Cambridge Core - Philosophy: General Interest - <i>What Is Life?</i> Revisited
www.cambridge.org
October 10, 2025 at 1:52 PM
My little book on Schrödinger's famous classic 'What Is Life?' is out! Offering the most comprehensive analysis ever undertaken of the book's origins, reception, impact, and legacy, it uncovers Schrödinger's motivations in writing it, and shows how it has shaped our current understanding of the cell
Reposted by Maureen Kearney
On Thursday, I'll join Megan Molteni at the 2025 @statnews.com Summit for a fireside chat on the future of science, technology, and research policy--from AI governance to public trust, from access to human rights. And how to ensure science serves the public good. www.statnews.com/stat-summit-...
October 11, 2025 at 9:02 PM
On Thursday, I'll join Megan Molteni at the 2025 @statnews.com Summit for a fireside chat on the future of science, technology, and research policy--from AI governance to public trust, from access to human rights. And how to ensure science serves the public good. www.statnews.com/stat-summit-...
Reposted by Maureen Kearney
How far can NSF bend before it breaks? Science looks at what's happened to the agency under Trump. www.science.org/content/arti...
Under Trump, NSF faces worst crisis in its 75-year history
Political directives have undermined agency's independence and record of supporting the best basic research
www.science.org
September 19, 2025 at 8:23 PM
How far can NSF bend before it breaks? Science looks at what's happened to the agency under Trump. www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Maureen Kearney
Great to see our new paper "Health losses attributed to anthropogenic climate change" out in print today in @natclimate.nature.com, which builds on our landscaping project on climate-health attribution a couple of years ago, funded by @wellcometrust.bsky.social
🚨 NEW: Climate change is already causing 30,000 deaths per year - a global annual economic loss of $100-350B USD - but the true damage is probably 10x higher. Out TODAY in Nature Climate Change: the first systematic look at the science of "health impact attribution" 🔓 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
September 17, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Great to see our new paper "Health losses attributed to anthropogenic climate change" out in print today in @natclimate.nature.com, which builds on our landscaping project on climate-health attribution a couple of years ago, funded by @wellcometrust.bsky.social
Yes! And de-commodify tenure criteria.
And yes, now is the right time.
New for @undark.org
"The fundamental problem with the tenure process is that it has struggled to recognize that knowledge is curated, created, and consumed differently today than even a decade ago."
undark.org/2025/09/11/o...
New for @undark.org
"The fundamental problem with the tenure process is that it has struggled to recognize that knowledge is curated, created, and consumed differently today than even a decade ago."
undark.org/2025/09/11/o...
It’s Time to Rethink the Academic Tenure Process
Opinion | To fight the war on science, higher education needs to reimagine the most important career milestone for faculty.
undark.org
September 11, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Yes! And de-commodify tenure criteria.
Reposted by Maureen Kearney
“In a scientific sense, this is a total loss.”
US Supreme Court allows NIH to cut $2 billion in research grants www.nature.com/articles/d41...
US Supreme Court allows NIH to cut $2 billion in research grants www.nature.com/articles/d41...
US Supreme Court allows NIH to cut $2 billion in research grants
The decision will hinder lawsuits against grant terminations, legal specialists say.
www.nature.com
August 26, 2025 at 4:08 PM
“In a scientific sense, this is a total loss.”
US Supreme Court allows NIH to cut $2 billion in research grants www.nature.com/articles/d41...
US Supreme Court allows NIH to cut $2 billion in research grants www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Maureen Kearney
Crystal clear.
Pritzker: To the members of the press who are assembled here today and listening across the country, I am asking for your courage to tell it like it is. This is not a time to pretend here that there are two sides to this story.
August 26, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Crystal clear.
When your grown child is listening to the 500 greatest albums of all time (according to Rolling Stone) and providing commentary and critique on the music you lived through your entire life...🫣. Hearing things that are so so familiar and loaded with meaning through the ears of others is interesting.
August 13, 2025 at 6:48 PM
When your grown child is listening to the 500 greatest albums of all time (according to Rolling Stone) and providing commentary and critique on the music you lived through your entire life...🫣. Hearing things that are so so familiar and loaded with meaning through the ears of others is interesting.
Reposted by Maureen Kearney
We've been waiting for this report from NSF for many months — results of a survey on sexual harassment at US Antarctic stations. The numbers aren't good, but at least this problem is out in the open & starting to be tackled. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Sexual harassment is rife at US Antarctic research bases, fresh survey finds
More than two-thirds of people polled had witnessed sexual harassment or assault on the ice.
www.nature.com
August 6, 2025 at 5:59 PM
We've been waiting for this report from NSF for many months — results of a survey on sexual harassment at US Antarctic stations. The numbers aren't good, but at least this problem is out in the open & starting to be tackled. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Update on agency appropriations... www.aaas.org/sites/defaul...
www.aaas.org
August 5, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Update on agency appropriations... www.aaas.org/sites/defaul...
Reposted by Maureen Kearney
It's too early to take to the bank, but the Senate may come to the rescue of researchers whose NSF grants were cancelled www.science.org/content/arti...
Senate panel raises hopes that NSF will restore killed grants
Republicans promise to work with Democrats to salvage defeated amendment
www.science.org
July 18, 2025 at 1:50 AM
It's too early to take to the bank, but the Senate may come to the rescue of researchers whose NSF grants were cancelled www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Maureen Kearney
It is not a political statement to note the fact that science enhances our well being, expands our knowledge of the world, and drives economic growth 🧪
July 15, 2025 at 10:17 PM
It is not a political statement to note the fact that science enhances our well being, expands our knowledge of the world, and drives economic growth 🧪
Easy to follow, continuously updated... www.aaas.org/news/fy-2026...
FY 2026 R&D Appropriations Dashboard | American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
www.aaas.org
July 14, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Easy to follow, continuously updated... www.aaas.org/news/fy-2026...
Reposted by Maureen Kearney
Do we need a new generation of public institutions for ST&I?
Join us tomorrow at 4pm for the first in a new UCL-STEaPP seminar series with @geoffmulgan.bsky.social, followed by a discussion with @anjahuja.bsky.social & @williamcb.bsky.social. Details here:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/do-we-need...
Join us tomorrow at 4pm for the first in a new UCL-STEaPP seminar series with @geoffmulgan.bsky.social, followed by a discussion with @anjahuja.bsky.social & @williamcb.bsky.social. Details here:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/do-we-need...
Do we need a new generation of public institutions for ST&I?
Is science stuck in the past? Join us to explore how rethinking public institutions could transform science, technology and innovation.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
April 29, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Do we need a new generation of public institutions for ST&I?
Join us tomorrow at 4pm for the first in a new UCL-STEaPP seminar series with @geoffmulgan.bsky.social, followed by a discussion with @anjahuja.bsky.social & @williamcb.bsky.social. Details here:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/do-we-need...
Join us tomorrow at 4pm for the first in a new UCL-STEaPP seminar series with @geoffmulgan.bsky.social, followed by a discussion with @anjahuja.bsky.social & @williamcb.bsky.social. Details here:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/do-we-need...
Reposted by Maureen Kearney
The evil that men do lives after them
July 3, 2025 at 6:42 PM
The evil that men do lives after them
Reposted by Maureen Kearney
I spoke to @ninalakhani.bsky.social for this article and reading it was still a gut punch. The US’s gold-standard scientific funding system has been completely demolished. I genuinely don’t know what to do with what remains.
And it’s going to get even worse under the new budget.
And it’s going to get even worse under the new budget.
By me: A generation of scientific talent is at the brink of being lost to overseas competitors by the Trump administration’s dismantling of the National Science Foundation (NSF), with unprecedented political interference jeopardizing the future of US enterprise.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Scientists warn US will lose a generation of talent because of Trump cuts
Political interference and chaotic cuts to staff, programs and grants at the National Science Foundation are producing ‘devastating consequences’
www.theguardian.com
July 3, 2025 at 12:39 PM
I spoke to @ninalakhani.bsky.social for this article and reading it was still a gut punch. The US’s gold-standard scientific funding system has been completely demolished. I genuinely don’t know what to do with what remains.
And it’s going to get even worse under the new budget.
And it’s going to get even worse under the new budget.
Reposted by Maureen Kearney
I grew up in rural South Carolina with a single mom who worked multiple jobs. At times, we relied on Medicaid and SNAP—like so many others. My heart breaks for those now wondering if that help will still be there.
Imagine having all that power and choosing to make people’s lives worse.
Shameful.
Imagine having all that power and choosing to make people’s lives worse.
Shameful.
July 3, 2025 at 12:44 PM
I grew up in rural South Carolina with a single mom who worked multiple jobs. At times, we relied on Medicaid and SNAP—like so many others. My heart breaks for those now wondering if that help will still be there.
Imagine having all that power and choosing to make people’s lives worse.
Shameful.
Imagine having all that power and choosing to make people’s lives worse.
Shameful.