Jonathan Lambert

Books We Love Here are 380+ great reads from 2025 handpicked just for you by NPR staffers and trusted critics.

Books We Love is back with a brand new batch of hand-picked titles. Mix and match tags like “Book Club Ideas” and “Eye-Opening Reads.” Find 380+ new 2025 reads, and stick around to browse more than 4,000 books from the last 13 years.

A glorious selfie with the official MAHA lanyard seconds after I made it past Secret Service screening.

About that exclusive, "closed-to-press" MAHA summit last week with RFK and JD Vance: I got in.

Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

A 'breakthrough' drug to prevent HIV, an 'unprecedented' rollout The drug lenacapavir will be distributed to Eswatini and Zambia — the first step toward providing at least 2 million doses to the countries with the highest HIV burden, largely in Africa, by 2028.

The first doses of the blockbuster HIV prevention drug lenacapavir have arrived in Africa.

The doses came remarkably fast, just 5 months after approval in the US. But they're entering a system upended by Trump administration aid cuts.
www.npr.org/sections/goa...

Jeffrey Epstein Emails Reveal Depth of Ties to High-Profile Scientists A trove of emails of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was released Wednesday by a Congressional committee.

Jeffrey Epstein Emails Reveal Depth of Ties to High-Profile Scientists

A trove of emails of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was released Wednesday by a Congressional committee

www.scientificamerican.com/article/jeff...

New malaria drug could be a life-saver as the standard drug shows signs of weakness The best drug to fight malaria is facing increased resistance from the parasites it fights. Now there's an alternative in the pipeline and it looks promising.

Promising clinical trial results for what could become the first new antimalarial drug in more than two decades. Comes as resistance to current drugs is on the rise.

“This is a big deal.”

www.npr.org/sections/goa...

Why next year's flu shot might not be as good as it should be America's withdrawal from the World Health Organization is affecting the ability of U.S. scientists to track flu and other pathogens. That could be a blow to the development of the 2025 flu vaccine.

The US withdrawal from WHO could impact the flu shot.

Flu samples sent to CDC from around the world are down 60% this year, as of July.

"When those viruses are not coming in, we don't know what to put in the vaccine, and you're going to have less effective vaccines."
www.npr.org/sections/goa...

Why next year's flu shot might not be as good as it should be America's withdrawal from the World Health Organization is affecting the ability of U.S. scientists to track flu and other pathogens. That could be a blow to the development of the 2025 flu vaccine.

The US withdrawal from WHO could impact the flu shot.

Flu samples sent to CDC from around the world are down 60% this year, as of July.

"When those viruses are not coming in, we don't know what to put in the vaccine, and you're going to have less effective vaccines."
www.npr.org/sections/goa...

Why next year's flu shot might not be as good as it should be America's withdrawal from the World Health Organization is affecting the ability of U.S. scientists to track flu and other pathogens. That could be a blow to the development of the 2025 flu vaccine.

Sharing of flu samples from around the world with CDC is down 60% this year as of July, and other WHO labs have seen a dip too in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from WHO.

That patchier view of influenza's evolution could mean a less effective flu shot next year.
www.npr.org/sections/goa...

Wielding Obscure Budget Tools, Trump’s ‘Reaper’ Vought Sows Turmoil in Public Health - KFF Health News Through shrouded bureaucratic maneuvers, White House budget director Russell Vought and DOGE have quietly upended outbreak response, HIV treatment, and dementia care in communities across America.

🔔 When Trump posted a video of budget director Russell Vought as the grim reaper, public health workers recognized a kernel of truth.

My latest piece @kffhealthnews.org couldn't be more important. Art by the incredible @oonazenda.bsky.social

🧵
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...

the image says "time's up! science news media guild is officially on STRIKE. rally with us on Nov 5. 8am-8pm 1776 Massachusetts Ave NW." a picture of an alarm block is at the bottom

Today's the big day — we're officially on strike all day! We'll be picketing from 8am to 8pm at 1776 Massachusetts NW. Come show your support! @wbng.org @newsguild.org

Workers of the Science News Media Guild will conduct a 24-hour #strike on Wednesday, 11/5. This comes after our members voted to reject the Society’s latest contract proposal. Our members previously voted by 92% to authorize a strike against the @society4science.bsky.social, if necessary.

CBS News kills its climate unit David Ellison, the new pro-Trump chief executive of Paramount Skydance, has dismantled the best climate change reporting team in cable news.

A scoop that I’m not happy to report:

CBS News has gutted its climate change reporting team, one of the best in the business, and one of the only ones on cable news that consistently called out fossil fuels as the main source of climate pollution.

heated.world/p/cbs-news-k...

Why it’s so hard to bust the weather control conspiracy theory From effective rain-enhancing technology to a long, secretive history of trying to weaponize storms, there’s fertile ground for misinformation.

As part of @technologyreview.com's big new package on conspiracy theories, I went long on weather modification — what's possible, what's not, what's happening and where, and why people will probably always find ways to blame weather disasters on shady forces:

White-necked jacobin, a hummingbird, perched on a branch

Here's my latest contribution to the "Lost Science" series at the New York Times: Jay Falk, a scientist who studies why some female hummingbirds look just like males. Gift link: nyti.ms/4qF7Qje

US PhD admissions shrink as fears over Trump’s cuts take hold Some doctoral programmes are admitting no students at all amid uncertainty about federal science funding.

Fewer grad students means less science, but many STEM PhD programs in the US are cutting back on admissions this year due to federal funding uncertainties. Words by me for @nature.com:

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

@emsque.bsky.social @ucsdcooperlab.bsky.social @julieposselt.bsky.social 🧪

Study: We're losing the war against drug-resistant infections faster than we thought Antimicrobial resistance is responsible for some 1.2 million deaths a year a year and contributes to millions more. Data in the new report shows that the problem is growing at an alarming rate.

"We're sleepwalking into a disaster ... I shouldn't say we are — we already have sleepwalked into a disaster."

www.npr.org/sections/goa...

Week 38 Oct 4-10, 2025 - failure state

Each Friday, I summarize what is happening to American science & higher ed. 🧪
This was Week 38:
- MIT declines loyalty oath/compact & I review latest at other 8 universities
- Newest RIFs gutting CDC
- “Payroll pirates” targeting university HR

& so much more buttondown.com/liminalcreat...

Are you a fed who works in global health who’s been affected by this latest round of RIFs?

Reach out via signal @jonlambert.12, NPR can protect your anonymity.

Greater noctule bats prey on and consume passerines in flight Despite billions of passerines seasonally migrating during the night at high altitudes, only three bat species have been found to consistently tap into this rich prey resource. However, it remains unk...

EXTREMELY COOL BAT STUFF: A study out in Science today found that the greater noctule bat, Europe's largest, hunts and catches *migrating birds* while in flight. In at least one case, a bat climbed to more than 1200 feet, then chased a robin downward FAST until it caught it near the ground.

Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE

Babies take a lesson from soldiers in the war against malaria Inspired by a military strategy to ward off disease-carrying mosquitoes, researchers see if the technique will help cut malaria infections in little ones.

In many parts of rural Africa, babies bop around on mom's back during the daytime, where they're exposed to malaria. Treating those baby wraps with permethrin cuts that risk drastically.

"It was a level of effect that was beyond even our wildest expectations."

www.npr.org/sections/goa...

All Life on Earth Today Descended From a Single Cell. Meet LUCA. | Quanta Magazine The clearest picture yet of our “last universal common ancestor” suggests it was a relatively complex organism living 4.2 billion years ago, a time long considered too harsh for life to flourish.

www.quantamagazine.org/all-life-on-...

Coming soon! The Best American Science & Nature Writing 2025 Discover the 2025 Best American Science & Nature Writing anthology, curated by Susan Orlean and featuring exceptional science writing that explores the wonders of our natural world.

My first time appearing in the "Notables" section of a book I eagerly await each year!

For a @quantamagazine.bsky.social story I wrote last fall about LUCA.
jaimealyse.beehiiv.com/p/basnw25

Jane Goodall, legendary primatologist, has died at age 91 Jane Goodall, primatologist who transformed our understanding of the lives of apes, has died, according to an announcement from the Jane Goodall Institute.

JUST IN: Jane Goodall, primatologist who transformed our understanding of the lives of apes, has died, according to an announcement from the Jane Goodall Institute.

Today marks the first day in public media’s history without federal funding. And we’re not going anywhere.

Listeners like you keep our mission alive. Protect one of the last places where America comes together to hear itself.

Stand with us today. Donate at this link: n.pr/46wamAj

From vultures to hyenas: How scavengers protect human health : Short Wave Worldwide, populations of scavenging animals that feed on rotting carcasses are declining. Scientists are finding that this can seriously hurt human health. NPR science reporter Jonathan Lambert has b...

Had a blast going on Short Wave to talk scavengers and why they're surprisingly important for human health.
www.npr.org/2025/10/01/n...

Neglected form of diabetes with unusual symptoms finally gets its own name An unusual type of diabetes linked to malnutrition now has a name. Scientists are calling for wider recognition of the newly classified Type 5 diabetes to spur better treatments.

Researchers have known about a form of diabetes linked to malnutrition for 70 years, but it's been largely neglected. That's a problem for patients, since standard treatment can be lethal.

Now, scientists are hoping a new name - Type 5 diabetes - will spur more research.
www.npr.org/sections/goa...

Official communication from FDA to physicians on acetaminophen use in pregnancy acknowledges there is no causal link between its use in pregnancy and autism. Also states clearly that this is the safest over the counter treatment for fever and pain in pregnancy. It is very different from what was communicated at the press conference.

This is the official communication from the FDA to physicians on acetaminophen use in pregnancy.
- They acknowledge the lack of a causal link with autism
- Essentially tell physicians to keep doing what we've been doing anyway
It's very different from the press conference.
Pass it on.

World health officials reject Trump's claims that Tylenol is linked to autism The President says pregnant women should stay away from Tylenol due to possible autism link. World health authorities strongly disagree, say the drug is safe in pregnancy.

We did!
www.npr.org/2025/09/23/g...

World health officials reject Trump's claims that Tylenol is linked to autism The President says pregnant women should stay away from Tylenol due to possible autism link. World health authorities strongly disagree, say the drug is safe in pregnancy.

"Don't pay any attention whatsoever to what Donald Trump says about medicine ... I've just got to be really clear about this: there is no evidence to link the use of paracetamol by pregnant women to autism in their children. None." -- UK Health Secretary

www.npr.org/2025/09/23/g...