Phie Jacobs

Have wild wolves learned to use tools? Video captures a lone female pulling crab traps out of the water, but does it count as tool use?

A female wolf has been doing something unusual on the Central Coast of British Columbia. She's learned to pull crab traps up from the water, yanking on a rope to bring it to the surface. But is it tool use? Very fun story from @phiejacobs.bsky.social for @science.org

If you're a CDC employee and have heard anything about the removal of Susan Monarez as director, please reach out! You can contact me at pjacobs@aaas.org or on Signal at phiejacobs.48

@altcdc.altgov.info

Massive tropical bat is surprisingly family oriented, rare videos show New footage reveals spectral bats “hugging,” playing, and bringing food to their young

Spent the start of my week learning all about spectral bats, huge, carnivorous creatures who are shockingly sweet.

Read (and watch!) what 3 months of monitoring a family of four showed us about the home lives of the tropical bats: www.science.org/content/arti...
@science.org

RFK Jr. Vowed to Find the Environmental Causes of Autism. Then He Shut Down Research Trying to Do Just That. While touting a $50 million initiative to identify the causes of autism, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is helping lead an administration that is rolling back protections against pollution and toxic chemicals,...

My latest on the Health Sec who promised to figure out what causes autism and the autism research that's been stopped along the way www.propublica.org/article/rfk-...

Researchers slam HHS report on gender-affirming care for youth Critics say the report, which declines to disclose its authors, contradicts decades of scientific research

Researchers immediately condemned the recent HHS report on gender-affirming care for transgender youth, which declined to disclose its authors: “Scientists stand by their work. There is nobody standing by this thing.”

My recent story for @science.org

U.S. scientists’ lives and careers are being upended. Here are five of their stories As the second Trump administration sends U.S. science into upheaval, countless researchers are fighting for their futures

It was a privilege to help tell the stories of U.S. scientists whose lives have been upended during the first 100 days of President Donald Trump’s administration in this recent piece for @science.org

Researchers slam HHS report on gender-affirming care for youth Critics say the report, which declines to disclose its authors, contradicts decades of scientific research

Experts share scathing reviews of last week's HHS report on gender-affirming care for youth: "...a rejection of decades of science, evidence, and direct experiences by young people, their doctors, and their families.”

@phiejacobs.bsky.social's story for @science.org www.science.org/content/arti...

Researchers slam HHS report on gender-affirming care for youth Critics say the report, which declines to disclose its authors, contradicts decades of scientific research

A 400-page Trump administration report—authors unknown—on treatments for gender dysphoria “misrepresents the current medical consensus and fails to reflect the realities of pediatric care." www.science.org/content/arti... (By @phiejacobs.bsky.social)

Crucial training pipeline for Deaf scientists dismantled by NIH funding cuts The one-of-a-kind initiative offered support from high school to postdoctoral levels

The Deaf Scientists Pipeline in Rochester, NY offers support for students and researchers from high school to postdoctoral levels. Now, due to NIH funding cuts, this one-of-a-kind initiative has been dismantled. My recent story for @science.org

Crucial training pipeline for Deaf scientists dismantled by NIH funding cuts The one-of-a-kind initiative offered support from high school to postdoctoral levels

Days late to this, but you should read @phiejacobs.bsky.social's story about how NIH funding cuts gutted the deaf scientist pipeline in Rochester

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

Researchers slam HHS report on gender-affirming care for youth Critics say the report, which declines to disclose its authors, contradicts decades of scientific research

The HHS report “is a rejection of decades of science, evidence, and direct experiences by young people, their doctors, and their families.” scim.ag/3Gx74Cn

If you're a researcher who focuses on gender-affirming care, I'd love to hear your reactions to the HHS report on gender dysphoria treatment for youth. You can contact me at pjacobs@aaas.org or on Signal at phiejacobs.48

FDA's proposed ban of electric shock devices has taken too long, autism advocates say With a new administration coming in, advocates worry that the FDA may lose its sense of urgency to ban electrical shock devices.

Disability rights activists have spent decades pushing the FDA to ban electric shock devices. The ban seemed on track for 2025 — until Trump won reelection. Now, people worry that Trump and RFK Jr's influence could delay the ruling. @statnews.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2024/12/11/j...

An artist’s reconstruction of Clovis life. Eric Carlson in collaboration with archaeologists Ben Potter and Jim Chatters

The ancient Clovis people apparently thought mammoth was *delicious*—and that could explain how they spread across the Americas so quickly. That story and more of the best from @science.org and science in this edition of #ScienceAdviser: www.science.org/content/arti...

Each tiny NanoGripper “hand” has a palm and four bendable fingers, all folded from a single long strand of DNA. Zhou et al. / Science Robotics (2024)

These teeny bots could change the way we test for viruses—and maybe even prevent infections. That story and more of the best from @science.org and science in this edition of #ScienceAdviser: www.science.org/content/arti... 🧪

Mona Lisa, the very good kitty sprawled on the floor here, has no idea that her beautiful calico coat stems from an elusive genetic mutation. She’s more focused on snacks and snuggles. PHIE JACOBS

Is it super exciting that scientists have finally figured out the gene for orange cat fur? Or did I just want to share a cute cat pic? (Answer: Both) That story and more of the best in Science and science in this edition of #ScienceAdviser: www.science.org/content/arti... 🧪 🐈

ScienceAdviser: Giving thanks for the sometimes ugly, sometimes delightful, always necessary truth Today in Science and science: A special Thanksgiving edition of ScienceAdviser

It's Thanksgiving in the U.S., and today, I'm especially thankful for my incredible Science colleague (and friend!) @phiejacobs.bsky.social, who penned the wonderful essay for this holiday edition of #ScienceAdviser: www.science.org/content/arti... 🧪🦃

Gene behind orange fur in cats found at last After 60 years, scientists know why gingers, calicos, and tortoiseshells look the way they do

Sara Reardon's story on the genetics of coat color in cats was a delight to read (and not just because my sweet calico, Mona Lisa, got to make her Science debut). Now I'm just waiting for scientists to make a discovery about tabbies, so Mo's brother Vinny can get his moment in the spotlight!

‘We’re hurting.’ Trans scientists call for recognition and support from research community “Rigorous science demands” it, authors write in landmark commentary

For my first post here, and in honor of Transgender Awareness Week, I'd like to share my Q+A from earlier this year, which features the voices of several incredible scientists: www.science.org/content/arti...