@pensivekitty.bsky.social
Reposted
Anchiornis. Detail from a drawing from 2019.
A new paper by Kiat et al indicates that Anchiornis probably couldn't fly.
(But I still think it might have been capable of 'falling with style'.)
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
A new paper by Kiat et al indicates that Anchiornis probably couldn't fly.
(But I still think it might have been capable of 'falling with style'.)
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
November 22, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Anchiornis. Detail from a drawing from 2019.
A new paper by Kiat et al indicates that Anchiornis probably couldn't fly.
(But I still think it might have been capable of 'falling with style'.)
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
A new paper by Kiat et al indicates that Anchiornis probably couldn't fly.
(But I still think it might have been capable of 'falling with style'.)
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
Reposted
This is both fascinating and terrifying.
1/ Today, ProPublica is running a piece I've been working on for a bit. It's about what happened with a devastating wave of bird flu earlier this year, as egg prices hit record highs.
And it's a story that illuminates the ways the U.S. is failing to control what could become the next pandemic. 🧵
And it's a story that illuminates the ways the U.S. is failing to control what could become the next pandemic. 🧵
November 22, 2025 at 3:54 PM
This is both fascinating and terrifying.
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Scientists are trying a revolutionary new approach to treat rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus and other devastating autoimmune diseases — by reprogramming patients’ out-of-whack immune systems. https://to.pbs.org/4oNrmJ6
Scientists explore new frontier in autoimmune disease treatment by resetting 'rogue' cells
When your body’s immune cells attack you instead of protecting you, today’s treatments tamp down the friendly fire but they don’t fix what’s causing it. Now in dozens of studies, scientists are testin...
www.pbs.org
November 14, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Scientists are trying a revolutionary new approach to treat rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus and other devastating autoimmune diseases — by reprogramming patients’ out-of-whack immune systems. https://to.pbs.org/4oNrmJ6
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So have I, and this shit is pathetic; we have lots of research collaborations with Chinese colleagues and I have taught in China many times
i’m proud to have studied and worked with many chinese public health scientists over the years. this red scare bullshit is unjust, bigoted, and utterly self-destructive
The only way we will win a better world is not only leftism for America, but internationalism. “Researchers who have anything to do with China should have their careers ended” is a bipartisan position, and it can’t be anymore. If we live in a fragmented world, it will burn in our lifetime
November 14, 2025 at 11:50 AM
So have I, and this shit is pathetic; we have lots of research collaborations with Chinese colleagues and I have taught in China many times
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In Oklahoma, oil companies inject tens of billions of gallons of toxic wastewater into the ground each year — enough to fill the Empire State Building 300+ times — frequently at pressures above the legal limit.
Regulators have failed to stop them.
With @readfrontier.bsky.social
Regulators have failed to stop them.
With @readfrontier.bsky.social
Toxic Wastewater From Oil Fields Keeps Pouring Out of the Ground. Oklahoma Regulators Failed to Stop It.
Salt water laced with cancer-causing chemicals, a byproduct of oil and gas drilling, is spewing from old wells. Experts warn of a pollution crisis spreading underground and threatening Oklahoma’s drin...
www.propublica.org
November 4, 2025 at 2:40 AM
In Oklahoma, oil companies inject tens of billions of gallons of toxic wastewater into the ground each year — enough to fill the Empire State Building 300+ times — frequently at pressures above the legal limit.
Regulators have failed to stop them.
With @readfrontier.bsky.social
Regulators have failed to stop them.
With @readfrontier.bsky.social
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I just recorded a short video--essentially an updated version of my social media threads--on the Bill Gates climate memo. Despite agreeing with some points therein, I still think its framing is fundamentally flawed and thus also its key conclusions.
Thoughts from a climate scientist on the Bill Gates climate memo
I wanted to offer my thoughts, as a climate scientist, on the widely discussed memo published by Bill Gates in late October 2025. While I actually do agree with some of the specific points made therein regarding the urgent global need to accelerate efforts to reduce global poverty and improve human
www.youtube.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:18 PM
I just recorded a short video--essentially an updated version of my social media threads--on the Bill Gates climate memo. Despite agreeing with some points therein, I still think its framing is fundamentally flawed and thus also its key conclusions.
Reposted
'You're adopted'
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(For the non-palaeo folks, this is in light of a newly published paper re-establishing that #Nanotyrannus, previously understood to be a juvenile #T.rex, is indeed its own genus after all.)
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(For the non-palaeo folks, this is in light of a newly published paper re-establishing that #Nanotyrannus, previously understood to be a juvenile #T.rex, is indeed its own genus after all.)
November 3, 2025 at 10:07 PM
'You're adopted'
----------
(For the non-palaeo folks, this is in light of a newly published paper re-establishing that #Nanotyrannus, previously understood to be a juvenile #T.rex, is indeed its own genus after all.)
----------
(For the non-palaeo folks, this is in light of a newly published paper re-establishing that #Nanotyrannus, previously understood to be a juvenile #T.rex, is indeed its own genus after all.)
Reposted
Army Program Pairs Female Soldiers With Male Chaperones
October 6, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Army Program Pairs Female Soldiers With Male Chaperones
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3/ An agent then appeared to shove people away from the elevator entrance, which led to Elibol falling to the ground, as footage captured by photographer Stephanie Keith shows.
September 30, 2025 at 6:37 PM
3/ An agent then appeared to shove people away from the elevator entrance, which led to Elibol falling to the ground, as footage captured by photographer Stephanie Keith shows.
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Five days ago, an ICE agent shoved a woman asking questions about the detention of her husband.
Today they attacked two journalists.
We cannot accept or normalize what has now become routine violence at 26 Federal Plaza. It has no place in our city.
Today they attacked two journalists.
We cannot accept or normalize what has now become routine violence at 26 Federal Plaza. It has no place in our city.
ICE agents assault amNewYork reporter at Federal Plaza immigration court; another journalist seriously injured after shove | amNewYork
ICE agents assaulted amNewYork's own Dean Moses, and allegedly attacked another journalist, on Tuesday morning as they were documenting the ongoing arrests of
www.amny.com
September 30, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Five days ago, an ICE agent shoved a woman asking questions about the detention of her husband.
Today they attacked two journalists.
We cannot accept or normalize what has now become routine violence at 26 Federal Plaza. It has no place in our city.
Today they attacked two journalists.
We cannot accept or normalize what has now become routine violence at 26 Federal Plaza. It has no place in our city.
Reposted
Critical point 👇🏻. Measles will come roaring back in the coming months, with ever-larger outbreaks. Other vaccine-preventable disease will too. We are at the dawn of a massive public health crisis.
World leaders don’t realize what’s coming. Didn’t even mention it at #UNGA. We’re in so much trouble.
World leaders don’t realize what’s coming. Didn’t even mention it at #UNGA. We’re in so much trouble.
The measles website at CDC continues to share updated data. 1514 cases reported in 2025. 3 deaths. CDC scientists working hard but have to manage vaccine attacks from @SecKennedy and his minions. This will be the year that ends US’s measles elimination status. Not one word at #UNGA.
https://cdc.gov/measles/data-r…
September 28, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Critical point 👇🏻. Measles will come roaring back in the coming months, with ever-larger outbreaks. Other vaccine-preventable disease will too. We are at the dawn of a massive public health crisis.
World leaders don’t realize what’s coming. Didn’t even mention it at #UNGA. We’re in so much trouble.
World leaders don’t realize what’s coming. Didn’t even mention it at #UNGA. We’re in so much trouble.
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My next generation Covid vaccine update this month includes a surprise new phase 1 trial funded by US Project NextGen, & some trial results.
Plus 10 new preclinical reports, mostly for mucosal vaccines.
Now out @plos.org:
absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2025/08/31/m...
#Covid #Covid19 #Vaccines
Plus 10 new preclinical reports, mostly for mucosal vaccines.
Now out @plos.org:
absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2025/08/31/m...
#Covid #Covid19 #Vaccines
More New Covid Vaccine Candidates, Trials, and Preclinical Studies (NextGen Update 32) - Absolutely Maybe
This month, there was unexpected Project NextGen news: A new phase 1 clinical trial started, for an exosome vaccine. There was also…
absolutelymaybe.plos.org
August 31, 2025 at 8:38 AM
My next generation Covid vaccine update this month includes a surprise new phase 1 trial funded by US Project NextGen, & some trial results.
Plus 10 new preclinical reports, mostly for mucosal vaccines.
Now out @plos.org:
absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2025/08/31/m...
#Covid #Covid19 #Vaccines
Plus 10 new preclinical reports, mostly for mucosal vaccines.
Now out @plos.org:
absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2025/08/31/m...
#Covid #Covid19 #Vaccines
Reposted
A key difference here is that while either can be incorrect, the structure of Wikipedia *creates context* and the structure of LLMs *destroys context*
Wikipedia has linked sources and an edit history showing where information came from and who added it when
An LLM just generates text
Wikipedia has linked sources and an edit history showing where information came from and who added it when
An LLM just generates text
Some of the anti-AI stuff feels a bit like when people would say "don't use Wikipedia as a source." It's just like anything else, a piece of information that you weigh against multiple sources and your own understanding of its likely failure modes
April 26, 2025 at 6:39 PM
A key difference here is that while either can be incorrect, the structure of Wikipedia *creates context* and the structure of LLMs *destroys context*
Wikipedia has linked sources and an edit history showing where information came from and who added it when
An LLM just generates text
Wikipedia has linked sources and an edit history showing where information came from and who added it when
An LLM just generates text
Reposted
New SeaWorld Show Just Elephant Drowning In Large Tank Of Water With No Explanation theonion.com/new-sea...
August 16, 2025 at 4:00 PM
New SeaWorld Show Just Elephant Drowning In Large Tank Of Water With No Explanation theonion.com/new-sea...
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Every reputable expert I know considers mRNA vaccine technology to be one of the most revolutionary advances in medicine in our lifetimes. Its inventors won the Nobel Prize in 2023. Shutting it down now is pointless self-harm to humanity.
Release from HHS: HHS will wind down its development of the mRNA vaccine development activities under the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
August 5, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Every reputable expert I know considers mRNA vaccine technology to be one of the most revolutionary advances in medicine in our lifetimes. Its inventors won the Nobel Prize in 2023. Shutting it down now is pointless self-harm to humanity.
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When an Old Weak Theory Leads a Field Astray
Here's yet another example of influential theory that led a field down the wrong path: "Running Records were pivotal in shaping a view of reading which mistook the behaviours of poor readers for the behaviours of all readers, which in turn led to…
Here's yet another example of influential theory that led a field down the wrong path: "Running Records were pivotal in shaping a view of reading which mistook the behaviours of poor readers for the behaviours of all readers, which in turn led to…
When an Old Weak Theory Leads a Field Astray
Here's yet another example of influential theory that led a field down the wrong path: "Running Records were pivotal in shaping a view of reading which mistook the behaviours of poor readers for the behaviours of all readers, which in turn led to well-intentioned teachers actively teaching children poor reading behaviours." That was posted by Annie Unger on Bluesky. She's the lead author of a…
hildabastian.wordpress.com
August 6, 2025 at 8:34 AM
When an Old Weak Theory Leads a Field Astray
Here's yet another example of influential theory that led a field down the wrong path: "Running Records were pivotal in shaping a view of reading which mistook the behaviours of poor readers for the behaviours of all readers, which in turn led to…
Here's yet another example of influential theory that led a field down the wrong path: "Running Records were pivotal in shaping a view of reading which mistook the behaviours of poor readers for the behaviours of all readers, which in turn led to…
Reposted
So this interview lasted 2 hours so this “you’re scaring me” part might seem like an overreaction or fearmongering to someone without that context.
There’s a lot of evidence to support my hypothesis that a potential H5N1 pandemic would be worse than COVID.
There’s a lot of evidence to support my hypothesis that a potential H5N1 pandemic would be worse than COVID.
April 21, 2025 at 1:28 PM
So this interview lasted 2 hours so this “you’re scaring me” part might seem like an overreaction or fearmongering to someone without that context.
There’s a lot of evidence to support my hypothesis that a potential H5N1 pandemic would be worse than COVID.
There’s a lot of evidence to support my hypothesis that a potential H5N1 pandemic would be worse than COVID.
Reposted
Ghislaine Maxwell is not a victim. And if she is pardoned, it won’t be for the sake of justice | Arwa Mahdawi
Ghislaine Maxwell is not a victim. And if she is pardoned, it won’t be for the sake of justice | Arwa Mahdawi
The Epstein files may never be released, but it’s increasingly likely that Epstein’s right-hand woman could be. The groundwork is already being done, says Arwa Mahdawi
www.theguardian.com
July 29, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Ghislaine Maxwell is not a victim. And if she is pardoned, it won’t be for the sake of justice | Arwa Mahdawi
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“Their small bodies are shutting down — they can’t breathe, their immune systems are collapsing.” Children are dying from starvation.
Nearly 1 in 3 people are going days without food. This is preventable. They need food, water, care — urgently.
#BlueSky #MedSku #NewsSky #PedsSky #NurseSky
Nearly 1 in 3 people are going days without food. This is preventable. They need food, water, care — urgently.
#BlueSky #MedSku #NewsSky #PedsSky #NurseSky
Mass starvation stalks Gaza as deaths from hunger rise
Aid agencies warned for months that Israel’s harsh limits on food aid would bring acute malnutrition and widespread suffering to Gaza’s 2.1 million people.
www.washingtonpost.com
July 24, 2025 at 4:35 PM
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Everyone, don’t fall for that fake story about SMOC reversal; the actual paper says nothing about Southern Ocean overturning circulation or deep water formation.
See John Kennedy’s thread.
See John Kennedy’s thread.
Note that the words “reversal”, “circulation”, “collapse”, and “SMOC” do not appear in the paper, only the press release.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
July 7, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Everyone, don’t fall for that fake story about SMOC reversal; the actual paper says nothing about Southern Ocean overturning circulation or deep water formation.
See John Kennedy’s thread.
See John Kennedy’s thread.
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I study the history of Nazi resistance. Here’s what the US left can learn from it | Luke Berryman
I study the history of Nazi resistance. Here’s what the US left can learn from it | Luke Berryman
Effective opposition calls for a laser focus on change, no matter how small. We should consider these activists’ examples
www.theguardian.com
June 22, 2025 at 11:30 AM
I study the history of Nazi resistance. Here’s what the US left can learn from it | Luke Berryman
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You have more in common with the average Iranian citizen than you do with the people that run this country
June 22, 2025 at 3:03 AM
You have more in common with the average Iranian citizen than you do with the people that run this country
Reposted
Alcohol should have labels warning drinkers of cancer risks, charities say
Alcohol should have labels warning drinkers of cancer risks, charities say
Health organisations have written to Keir Starmer urging him to force drinks producers to include warnings
Cans and bottles of beer, wine and spirits should explicitly warn drinkers that alcohol causes cancer, an unprecedented alliance of doctors, charities and public experts have said.
Warning labels would tackle “shockingly low” public awareness in the UK that alcohol is proven to cause seven forms of cancer and 17,000 cases a year of the disease, they claim. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
June 21, 2025 at 5:20 AM
Alcohol should have labels warning drinkers of cancer risks, charities say
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UK-wide drug trial hailed as a ‘milestone’ in leukaemia treatment
UK-wide drug trial hailed as a ‘milestone’ in leukaemia treatment
Combination of two targeted drugs found to produce better outcomes and was more tolerable than chemotherapy
A groundbreaking UK-wide trial has found a chemotherapy-free approach to treating leukaemia that may lead to better outcomes for some patients, with the results being hailed as a “milestone”.
Led by researchers from Leeds, results from the Flair trial, which took place at 96 cancer centres across the UK, could reshape the way the most common form of leukaemia in adults is treated, scientists said. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
June 16, 2025 at 4:27 AM
UK-wide drug trial hailed as a ‘milestone’ in leukaemia treatment