John Higgins

Non-binding letter of concern of course, but sternly written, yes sir, very sternly, quite concerned. Troubled, even.

My tombstone will read: it's composed of, not comprised of

Good to know where he draws the line.

Some mornings Bluesky serves up a dish of amazing 🤩

I've been thinking a lot about how teaching and learning from teaching, the teaching bond that made us human, provides essential contact points with reality...not only about skills and knowledge but about other human minds, other human beings.

People (and nations) slipping into dementia and delusional thinking need more reliable contact points with reality, not fewer.

Science and Democracy Under Siege Documenting Six Months of the Trump Administration’s Destructive Actions

We are six months into the second Trump administration and the scale and severity of its assault on our nation's science and democracy has been unrelenting.

Today, @ucs.org releases a detailed assessment of the damage so far and where we go from here: www.ucs.org/resources/sc... #ProtectScience

Explainer in Chief: "It ain't the way I wanted it! I can handle things! I'm smart! Not like everybody says... like dumb... I'm smart and I want respect!"

I guess I'll take all my taxpayer savings and relocate to a new planet.

Protein structure competition, of AlphaFold fame, nearing deal to replace lost NIH funding CASP, a popular research competition that spawned three Nobel laureates is set to lose NIH funding.

CASP, the protein structure competition that rocketed AlphaFold to fame and a Nobel, is losing its NIH funding.

David Baker on how CASP impacted his career (and Nobel Prize), and what's the latest on CASP's funding status:

#bioML 🧪🧬⚗️🩺🖥️
www.statnews.com/2025/07/16/c...

And with that new enormous budget and sadistic will, it will take on new targets and missions at the president's command far beyond controlling immigration.

I enjoyed writing this story. Teaching is sometimes considered a chore best pawned off on the least senior faculty, an impediment to research and accomplishment. But Michael and Harmit see mentorship as a high calling, essential for science and a true measure of accomplishment.

Since 1991, the Women’s Health Initiative has saved lives, cut costs, and fostered team science
Read more about the history of this initiative, featuring a new article by @fredhutch.bsky.social‬ and a timeline of past coverage of WHI.
https://cancerletter.com/in-the-archives/20250703_5/

We need a plan B for a US depleted of its science.

Fascinating discussion of early kind of canning to preserve food beyond initial butchering. "Caching would also have created large stores of bones for grease rendering activities, allowing maximum utilization of prey animals."

‘It’s a nightmare.’ U.S. funding cuts threaten academic science jobs at all levels “There is a lot of pressure to essentially leave the country or not pursue research,” one Ph.D. student says

I can't stress enough how close U.S. science is to the cliff.

"Numbers released in May by the National Science Foundation (NSF) indicate that if Congress approves the cuts to the agency proposed by the White House, the number of early-career researchers it supports could fall by 78%" (@science.org)

An estimated 86 billion neurons in the average human brain govern our body’s functions and conjure — somehow — the human mind. | Fred Hutch An estimated 86 billion neurons in the average human brain govern our body’s functions and conjure — somehow — the human mind. To better understand how those billions of cells talk to each other acro...

www.linkedin.com/posts/fredhu...

Having worked at newspapers going through layoffs and buyouts, I have seen folks only realize this kind of labor (like preparing contest entries, for example) was being done by a real person -- and not by elves overnight -- when she was no longer there to do it.

Maybe it's time to consider that all this $ isn't just or even mainly for removing immigrants.

They say to beware of the man who only wants one nuclear weapon; also, beware of the party that only has to win one election.

He led the Hands Off and No Kings protests in his hometown of Edmonds, WA, with fiery patriotic speeches tempered with his usual charm and grace in defense of democracy.

Terrific storytelling!

Balkanization of vaccine policy raises concerns about vaccine uptake, insurance coverage, experts warn The U.S. may be headed for a “choose your own adventure” approach to vaccine policy, in which skeptical parents follow the guidelines that confirm their beliefs.

That happens when #ACIP recommendations are no longer science based? When #CDC's vaccine schedules include recommendations based on opinions, not data? We're heading towards a balkanization of vaccination recommendations, experts fear. www.statnews.com/2025/06/24/v...

You had me at Eric Hoffer's "The True Believer."

Happy families boring; unhappy families uniquely sad, therefore interesting.”

This is incredibly beautiful storytelling.

Protect transgender scientists Transgender and gender nonconforming (TGnC) people are a primary target of the Trump administration. Multiple executive orders seek to erase TGnC protections; mandate denial of gender identity; and ba...

A letter with an appeal. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/.... "As queer and TGnC scientists, we call on researchers at all levels—from undergraduates to university presidents—to take direct, consistent, and rapid action."

Cover of the 2025 Community Health Assessment Report on a white background with pictures of people embedded into the Fred Hutch Cancer Center logo.

We're excited to share our 2025 Community Health Assessment! The report identifies inequities in cancer outcomes across Washington and suggests strategies for achieving more equitable health access. We hope it's helpful in your work and welcome your questions and insights! #CHA #cancerdata

Edmonds' own Rick Steves fires up the crowd, introduced by a Navy vet of Iraq war who said the only channel she got growing up in Appalachia was PBS. Watching Rick Steves inspired her to enlist and see the world.

Best sign in Edmonds WA today: support king salmon, not president kings