Daniel Colón-Ramos

Can we make brains “smarter”? By boosting mitochondrial metabolism in neurons of memory circuits, we improved memory in flies and mice. Thrilled to see this work out - congrats to @amrapalianjali.bsky.social for spectacular work, and to all lab members for invaluable contributions!

Rep. Delia Ramirez to DHS officials: "I have as much respect for you as I do for the last white men who put on masks to terrorize communities of color. I have no respect for the inheritors of the Klanhood and the slave patrol. Those activities were criminal and so are yours."

must read

Bad Bunny’s Sign Language Interpreter Will Make Super Bowl History, Too Puerto Rican Sign Language is not the same as American Sign Language. Celimar Rivera Cosme will uniquely capture the rapper’s slang for the game’s deaf viewers.

Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show will be interpreted by Celimar Rivera Cosme into Puerto Rican Sign Language, a unique dialect used on the island that academic researchers and other experts consider endangered.

When I was growing up, many songs played over the airwaves in Puerto Rico were in English. I did not understand most of the words. I have to be frank, for many I still don’t. But, I enjoyed them and don’t remember complaining about it. I think that is the case for most of the World.

Bad Bunny gives Super Bowl viewers two choices: crash out or tap in The claim that music sung in Spanish will alienate viewers ignores the fact that many people would rather join the fun than risk being left out of it

Bad Bunny gives Super Bowl viewers two choices: crash out or tap in

We are watching in real time who some scientists are willing to sacrifice in favor of access to funding: early career researchers, trainees, scientists from historically excluded groups and immigrants.

Photo of 7 year old Diana Crespo sitting with her parents at a table in a restaurant. Her dad is giving a thumbs up.

The public made noise for Liam Ramos and it got him released from Dilley.

Now we must make noise for 7 year old Diana Crespo.

Her parents were taking her for emergency medical care when ICE grabbed them, and she’s rotting in the camp sick and exposed to measles.

Get them out!

Neil H. Shubin has been elected as the next NAS President! A leading evolutionary biologist and science communicator, Shubin will succeed Marcia McNutt on July 1. The Academy also named Cherry Murray as International Secretary and elected new councilors. Read more: www.nasonline.org/news/2026_pr...

You can ignore science, but science will never ignore you.

Measles incidence in the United States.

Scientist who helped eradicate smallpox dies at age 89 A leader in the global fight against smallpox and a champion of vaccine science, William Foege died last Saturday

Very few people in the history of our species have saved as many people's lives as William Foege, who designed and lead the global elimination of smallpox, a highly contagious disease that killed 1 out 3 people it infected. ✊ www.scientificamerican.com/article/smal...

“Freedom is not free. We have to work at it. Nurture it. Protect it. Even sacrifice for it.”

Please share. 💔

In a screengrab from a video, Alex Jeffrey Pretti is seen holding a phone as agents approach him. A headline reads: "How Federal Agents Shot And Killed Alex Jeffrey Pretti, Moment by Moment." Credit: dangjessie, via Instagram

Videos verified by The New York Times show the man federal agents shot and killed in Minneapolis on Saturday was holding a phone, not a gun, before the agents took him to the ground and shot him. At least 10 shots appear to have been fired within five seconds. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

“.. He cared about people deeply ..,” said Michael Pretti, Alex’s father. “He thought it was terrible, you know, kidnapping children, just grabbing people off the street. He cared about those people, and he knew it was wrong ..”

@washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/national/202...

Alex Pretti "used to tell people off when they made sexist comments to female physicians. He bought me coffee when I had a really bad day as an intern...I laughed alongside him daily. He made a point to teach medical residents without judgement, but with a smile on his face and a joke."

Remember when these guys lied that they were preserving Confederate monuments because you had to leave up the whole messy contested historical record rather than erasing history?

Preschooler and three other students detained by ICE, school district leader says The detentions of Columbia Heights students come after weeks of heightened concern and enforcement presence near and on Twin Cities school property.

"Liam’s teacher, Ella Sullivan, teared up when thinking about Liam. 'He’s a bright young student,' she said, 'and he’s so kind and loving. His classmates miss him.'"

www.startribune.com/preschooler-...

Yale events celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Yale will honor the late civil rights leader with a series of events, including a special exhibition, a celebration of the music of the civil rights movement, and a discussion on building community connections.

Yale is honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through events centered on service, scholarship, and community, including programs at the Peabody Museum, an open mic night, and a keynote conversation with Col. (Ret.) Edna W. Cummings. #Yale

Paging @nbcnews.com @nytimes.com @washingtonpost.com @cnn.com @cbsnews.com @theatlantic.com @apnews.com @wsj.com @abcbreakingnews.bsky.social @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social @msnowcomms.bsky.social @nytimespr.bsky.social

MLK was only 39 when he was killed. Growing up, I thought that was old. But I’m 43 now and I’m stunned by the burden he shouldered at such a young age. I’m also a lot more aware of how hard it is, at any age, to carry the hopes and dreams of an oppressed people on your shoulders, as so many do.

Dr. Bill Cassidy gave green light to the nomination of RFK, in spite of his training as a physician and huge concerns about RFK’s views on vaccines/science, due to political pressures and to avoid this scenario. Yet here he is.

Another truly dark event for science.

Excellent article, must read

How Nature Became a 'Prestige' Journal Since launching in 1869, Nature has evolved from a periodical offering commentary on pigeons to the prestige journal in science. But how did Nature build its reputation, and can it last?

Piece on why Nature became so influential and “important”. This quote: “history shows that much of its success has been circumstantial and opportunistic rather than meritorious…we should not mistake the system that emerged for one that reliably surfaces the best work.” www.asimov.press/p/nature

Everyone has an accent

“I have treated patients who have harmed others. I have cared for people in police custody, people accused of violent crimes…. None of that alters my obligation.

When someone is bleeding in front of you, your duty is to stop the bleeding.” @josephsakran.bsky.social

Universities Need a New Defense The authoritarian threat is growing. The old playbook won’t work.

"In every society fallen to authoritarianism, the state goes after the press first+ closes in on universities next.
All of us who live, work,+learn within the university should think of our institution as part of the larger constitutional structure of the nation."
www.chronicle.com/article/univ...

Pirates of the Caribbean, 2026 edition.

Currently in Puerto Rico. My flight today was canceled bc the airspace was closed by US military. Archipelago is highly militarized, with frequent military patrols. Flashback to cold war theater of 1980s.