Erin Gerecke, PhD, ELS

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.

I’m a scientist thanks to past support from the NIH. But we all have benefited from the support of federally funded science in some way. Join us in supporting science for the future!

The Em Dash Responds to the AI Allegations “In recent months, a curious fixation has emerged in corners of academia: the em dash. More specifically, the apparent moral panic around how it is...

The em dash has its say.
(I will support them—and en dashes—to the end.) #editing

www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/the...

Before states banned abortion, one of the gravest outcomes of early miscarriage could easily be avoided: Doctors could offer a dilation and curettage procedure, which quickly empties the uterus and allows it to close, protecting against a life-threatening hemorrhage.

Critical Hurricane Monitoring Data Is Going Offline

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/27/c...

All childhood vaccines in question after first meeting of RFK Jr.’s vaccine panel Overall, the meeting was packed with anti-vaccine talking points and arguments.

All childhood vaccines in question after first meeting of RFK Jr.’s vaccine panel arstechnica.com/health/2025/...

Trump Administration to End Protections for 58 Million Acres of National Forests

🌲🌲🌲 www.nytimes.com/2025/06/23/c...

For those who asked: this article is now temporarily open access for everyone.

HIV prevention drug hailed as a 'breakthrough' gets FDA approval A drug called lenacapavir, administered in two injections a year, offers protection from HIV comparable to daily pills. One looming question: Will it be affordable for lower resource countries?

Great science news: This sounds like it could be a game changer in the global fight against new HIV infections. A twice a year injection instead of PrEP’s daily pill. Now to figure out how to get it to the people who need it most. www.npr.org/sections/goa... 🧪

A popular climate website will be hobbled, after Trump administration eliminates entire staff Climate.gov is the main source of timely climate-related information for the public. It will stop publishing new information because the Trump administration laid off everyone who worked on it.

Climate.gov is the main source of timely climate-related information for the public. It will stop publishing new information because the Trump administration laid off everyone who worked on it.

ACOG Statement on HHS Recommendations Regarding the COVID Vaccine During Pregnancy ACOG strongly opposes the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' decision to stop recommending the COVID vaccination during pregnancy, citing clear evidence of its safety and effectiveness in p...

“The science hasn’t changed.” OB-GYNs speak out against changes in Covid-19 vaccine policy. www.acog.org/news/news-re...

Health expert calls Trump's medical research cuts "reckless destruction" Dr. Timothy Johnson, longtime network TV medical reporter and founding editor of the Harvard Medical School Health Letter, says that by cutting more than $1.8 billion in grants from the National Insti...

CBS Sunday Morning: Medical journalist Dr. Timothy Johnson, on the collapse to medical research funding.

www.cbsnews.com/video/health...

Backyard feeders changed the shape of hummingbird beaks, scientists say A new study details the evolutionary change of Anna's Hummingbirds, finding their beaks have grown longer and more tapered to get the most from common feeders.

Cool science. (Support science!) 🧪

www.npr.org/2025/05/23/n...

Trump Has Cut Science Funding to Its Lowest Level in Decades (Gift Article) The lag in funding extends far beyond D.E.I. initiatives, affecting almost every area of science: chemistry, computing, engineering, materials and more.

www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Covid-19 vaccines, what just happened at the FDA, and why it matters This is not how vaccine policy should be made.

I found this post by @kkjetelina.bsky.social to be a really good discussion of the recent FDA COVID vaccine announcement

yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/p/covid-19-v...

Most Americans use federal science information on a weekly basis, a new poll finds Most Americans frequently use federal science information. But few are concerned that cuts to federal science spending could affect their access to such information, a new poll finds.

Science is being drastically defunded, despite the practical value it brings to everyone and its economic return on investment.

www.npr.org/2025/05/06/n...

RFK Jr. Orders Search for New Measles Treatments Instead of Urging Vaccination (Gift Article) Decades of research have turned up no miracle treatment for measles, but studies show the M.M.R. shot is 97 percent effective in preventing the disease.

People don’t have to get sick and spread a highly contagious and sometimes lethal virus around. There’s a vaccine that all but prevents measles. Grr.

www.nytimes.com/2025/05/02/h...

Scientists fear Trump administration cuts to NIH could impact the health of Americans for generations Former National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Francis Collins, who abruptly left his NIH research lab in February, fears aggressive downsizing could impact Americans' health.

“60 Minutes” takes on the gutting of the NIH and what it means for all of us. Fun fact: 75% of scientists in a poll menitoned in the story are thinking of leaving the U.S. to be able to continue to do science.
www.cbsnews.com/news/scienti...

Federal Officials Promise to Restore Funding to Women’s Health Initiative (Gift Article) The decades-long research effort has contributed to thousands of research papers, altering medical care for women around the world.

Some good news.

www.nytimes.com/2025/04/24/h...

NIH cancels its first and largest study centered on women The Women’s Health Initiative has produced numerous influential findings

Well the NIH has cancelled the Women's Health Initiative, the largest study of women in history

It has been running continuously since 1991 and has provided massive key knowledge about diseases in women

Unreal

www.science.org/content/arti...

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to Launch National Autism Registry Using Americans’ Private Health Records Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is amassing Americans' private medical records for a new autism study. Data will be collected from pharmacy chains, lab tests, smartwatches and more.

This is a terrible idea from SO many angles. people.com/rfk-jr-to-la...

Harvard sues federal government after Trump administration slashed billions in funding The university called the funding freeze "unlawful and beyond the government’s authority" and warned of severe and long-lasting consequences.

Harvard standing up for science.

www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...

A cool science story to remind us of the unanswered questions smart people can try to answer when adequately resourced, such as: “Are we alone in the universe?” www.nytimes.com/2025/04/16/s...

“John Green for Mayor” sticker on a light pole.

Spotted outside my Indy neighborhood library branch. I suspect he would have a good number of supporters. 😄 #HoosierSky

Looking for external support for science in Indiana? The IAS offers grants for research, community projects, and inclusion in science and science education. Become a member and take advantage of these great opportunities! #HoosierSky

White House outlines plan to gut NOAA, smother climate research The agency’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research would be “eliminated as a line office,” according to a memo from the Office of Management and Budget.

Hard to overstate this plan's reach, which touches nearly every aspect of NOAA's work - dissolving its research arm, gutting climate science, diminishing sat observations, boosting fossil fuels. With amazing colleagues Daniel Cusick and @scottpwaldman.bsky.social :
www.politico.com/news/2025/04...

Trump’s draft budget eviscerates weather and climate tracking and research | CNN The move would devastate weather and climate research even as weather is becoming more erratic and extreme, and would cripple the US industries — including agriculture — that depend on free, accurate ...

The Trump administration plans to eliminate the research arm of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, close all weather and climate labs and eviscerate its budget along with several other NOAA offices, according to internal documents obtained by CNN.

I don’t know what to say other than this would be essentially apocalyptic.

NOAA Scientists Are Cleaning Bathrooms and Reconsidering Lab Experiments After Contracts for Basic Services Expire A Seattle lab has lost janitorial services, hazardous waste support, IT and building maintenance as it waits for the Commerce Department secretary to personally approve all contracts over $100,000.

People are running around looking for compost bags...Some scientists have bought their own soap and cleaning supplies.

A snapshot of the chaos at one NOAA lab as contracts for basic services expire. My latest:

www.propublica.org/article/noaa...

Now 6 cases of measles in Allen County, Indiana

If your kids aren't vaccinated now is a good time

If you were vaccinated or had measles as a kid, that provides pretty damn good lifelong immunity

#HoosierSky

From @kkjetelina.bsky.social: