Rachel
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rachelmarietaylor.bsky.social
Rachel
@rachelmarietaylor.bsky.social
PhD Candidate studying the intersection between human development and methods/statistics. Research should help people live better lives ❤️ nature, knitting, my cats, my frogs, my family, and my wonderful partner, Gordon.
Reposted by Rachel
June 12, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Reposted by Rachel
If you need a breather from all this bullshit, here's a photo of Earth.

From Saturn.

We're that slightly brighter star at centre right.
June 6, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Reposted by Rachel
This is a new image from #JWST.

The bright points with spikes are stars in the Milky Way.

Everything else is a galaxy.

Everything. Else. Is. A. Galaxy.
April 29, 2025 at 6:47 PM
For those who need something positive right now, here is Jason having his bath. He moved the leaf into the pool, then sat on it. #frogs #petfrogs #cute
March 13, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Reposted by Rachel
I hope you read, really consider its implications, and share it widely.

"It is often said: When the government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. If that is true, then only weeks into Donald Trump’s four-year term, we are approaching tyranny."
We Can’t Give In to Fear
From Marc | No one wants to speak up. Everyone wants to hide or lay low.
www.democracydocket.com
March 11, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Reposted by Rachel
But our work is far from done—science is still under attack.

We’ve got ideas, but we want to hear from you. What’s worrying you most? What should we do next? How can we grow this movement together?

Fill out this quick form to share your thoughts & stay connected: forms.gle/QAxH4wD4Y3sg...
How do we keep Standing Up for Science?
A heartfelt thank you for everyone that Stood Up for Science with us on March 7th—whether it be volunteering, donating, sharing, or attending in event, we're forever indebted to people like you who ca...
forms.gle
March 9, 2025 at 3:13 PM
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WHERE WILL YOU BE TOMORROW?
March 6, 2025 at 3:11 PM
People don’t normally think of participating in research as being part of democracy but imo it is one of the main ways you can get your voice heard. Or, well, it used to be. I hope state education departments are getting ready to step in and fill the gap this leaves. Our kids deserve better.
Opinion | Ed Data Goes Dark: Why It Matters

Cuts to the Institute of Education Sciences are part of an authoritarian playbook, Robert Ubell writes. #HigherEd #EDUSky #AcademicSky bit.ly/3QNv5qz
Ed data goes dark: Why it matters (opinion)
Cuts to the Institute of Education Sciences are part of an authoritarian playbook, Robert Ubell writes.
bit.ly
March 6, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Reposted by Rachel
Of the 4000 researchers at NIH, only 20% are tenured. They’re going to fire all the rest as their contracts come up for renewal, absolutely decimating research at the NIH. This is catastrophic, not just for Americans, but for the whole world.

www.science.org/content/arti...
NIH ban on renewing senior scientists adds to assaults on its in-house research
Policy follows firings of tenure-track scientists and suspension of training programs
www.science.org
February 28, 2025 at 6:19 AM
In progress sweater!

thb I need motivation to actually finish. I always stall once I finish the colorwork. It has been six months! but I want to actually wear this gah

#knitting #inprogress #showmeyourknits
February 26, 2025 at 2:53 AM
Finished knitting my naturally dyed cowl! Here I am wearing it out with my awesome husband (I also knit all the stuff he’s wearing 🤣)

I used lace weight yarn held together dyed with home-grown madder, marigold, indigo+marigold, and indigo to create a natural rainbow 😁 #knitting #naturaldye
February 22, 2025 at 8:53 PM
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“If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”

A classic quote from Malcolm X, who was assassinated 60 years ago today.
February 22, 2025 at 4:50 AM
More socks! I’m on a roll.

Actually, I’m just writing my dissertation and need something to do with my hands while reading/thinking 🙃 #knitting #knitsocks #dissertating #nearlydone
February 20, 2025 at 5:04 PM
This is exactly the kind of data analysis we need. Policy impacts real people in real situations. Decisions should be made based off what benefits people’s lives.
After Texas banned abortion, dozens more pregnant and postpartum women died in Texas hospitals than had in pre-pandemic years, which ProPublica used as a baseline to avoid COVID-19-related distortions.
Texas Banned Abortion. Then Sepsis Rates Soared.
ProPublica’s first-of-its-kind analysis is the most detailed look yet into a rise in life-threatening complications for women experiencing pregnancy loss under Texas’ abortion ban.
www.propublica.org
February 20, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Reposted by Rachel
Knitting has been an act of resistance against oppression for centuries. Thanks @aoc.bsky.social for reminding folks of what a powerful symbol of liberation women's handwork is in this dark time.
Why is AOC Knitting? Knitting as Resistance
YouTube video by Parkrose Permaculture
youtu.be
February 14, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Hand spinning! I have not figured out what I want to make with this but I have like 250g of it total? So I should definitely knit something! #handspinning #yarn #knitting #whattoknit
February 17, 2025 at 9:27 PM
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soon enough, the mere presence of black and latino students on campus will be illegal racial discrimination against white students www.insidehighered.com/news/diversi...
Trump admin threatens to rescind federal funds over DEI
In a sweeping and unprecedented letter issued over the weekend, the Office for Civil Rights declared race-based scholarships, cultural centers and even graduation ceremonies illegal.
www.insidehighered.com
February 16, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Madder, Marigold, Indigo. All grown and dyed from my garden. There can be such a strong connection between nature and knitting <3 But for real, I love experimenting with what I can do!

(pattern is similar to pilot/copilot on Ravelry)

#knitting #dye #naturaldye #cowl #handknit #handspun
February 14, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Reposted by Rachel
BREAKING

On Monday, Popular Information broke the news that the NIH had frozen virtually all grant funding in violation of 2 federal court orders

On Wednesday, NIH leadership distributed a memo, acknowledging that its funding freeze was illegal and directing staff to resume issuing grants.
BREAKING: NIH admits funding freeze is illegal, will resume issuing grants
An internal memo issued February 12 was obtained by Popular Information.
popular.info
February 12, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Reposted by Rachel
Stromatolites xkcd.com/3046
February 4, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Officially ended my prime membership ☺️ I feel free, actually #amazon #endprime #free
February 13, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Reposted by Rachel
BREAKING: Judge orders Trump to immediately unfreeze funds for federal grant programs
February 10, 2025 at 6:29 PM