Natasha Sokol

Intelligence on Earth Evolved Independently at Least Twice Complex neural circuits likely arose independently in birds and mammals, suggesting that vertebrates evolved intelligence multiple times.

New research provides the best evidence yet that birds and mammals did not inherit the neural pathways that generate intelligence from a common ancestor, but rather evolved them independently.

The Trump administration intends to block $510 million in federal contracts and grants for Brown University, expanding its campaign to hold universities accountable for what it says is relentless antisemitism on campus, according to two White House officials familiar with the plans.

Every lede like this is a fundamental journalistic failure.

(There is no "relentless antisemitism on campus" and you don't need to give the administration's propaganda priority). www.nytimes.com/2025/04/03/u...

“Ludicrous” Situation: Epstein Case Review Takes Over FBI’s New York Office The bureau’s New York field office normally chases drug dealers and spies. Right now, according to multiple sources, priority one is redacting the sex trafficker’s case files.

NEW: The FBI's biggest, most important field office has been reprioritized to a single task: redacting the Jeffrey Epstein files.

By me in @vanityfair.com...

www.vanityfair.com/news/story/e...

Cut-rate care: the systemic problems shaping 'healthcare' behind bars In correctional healthcare systems, care is secondary to controlling costs and avoiding lawsuits -- a problem plaguing both private and public healthcare delivery. What will it take to get people the ...

there is no such thing as "healthcare" in jails and prisons.

what exists is a cost control service sold to DOCs, which only incidentally provides care to incarcerated ppl. it's "healthcare theater" as a strategy to suppress spending and defang legal challenges www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/heal...

measles is one of the few diseases that has a vaccine that is almost completely sterilizing. conversation about the measles outbreak needs to be about vaccination and increasing vaccine coverage. seeing people talk about masking for measles without mentioning vaccination and it's driving me nuts

GITMO preceded Trumpism but shares one of its central themes: there should be people outside the law, people with no rights anybody is bound to respect. That accompanies belief that there should also be people with rights superior to all others, people not bound by any law.

Uh, this is a nuclear bomb on university budgets if I am reading it correctly. Mandating an indirect cost rate of 15% *overnight*?

⚠️ Effective Monday 2/10/25, NIH indirect rate capped at 15%. Applies to existing & future grants.

—> Deep budget cuts & program closures coming to a university near you.

Is this the break the glass moment for university administrators who have been silent so far about the attack on science?

Have already fucked up by mentioning the words ethnic white straight off the bat. Fuck fuck fuck.

Was literally just checking to see what usernames were taken and took a wrong turn. Haven’t felt this self conscious since I chose to refer to my ethnic white heritage in my LiveJournal username.

Truly chilling prospect