McKenzie Prillaman

A giant planet may orbit our closest sunlike neighbor Alpha Centauri A, four light-years from Earth, may host a gas giant. If confirmed, no Earthlike planets orbit in the star’s habitable zone.

I haven't been posting much, but I HAVE been busily writing about all things astronomy for @sciencenews.bsky.social — including this cool new planet candidate seen near our stellar neighbor! 🪐🌟

www.sciencenews.org/article/plan...

Judge rules against NIH grant cuts — and calls them discriminatory The decision means that the US biomedical agency has to restore funding to hundreds of research projects, but the government will likely appeal.

After ruling the NIH grant cuts were illegal yesterday, Judge Young, a Reagan appointee on the bench since 1985, ended the hearing with a blistering 15-minute speech.

I've cleaned up my notes — here are his remarks in full. 🧵

Quick vibe check at the NIH, per a staffer there:

"We have lost so many people: we have no comms, no HR, no acquisitions, no one to do travel or purchasing. So many people have left that there are chains of email bounces..."

How one mom is navigating vaccines' uncertain future With CDC upheaval, new limits on who can get some vaccines and an ongoing measles outbreak, parents like me face unfamiliar hurdles to protecting our kids.

I have not stopped thinking about vaccines since November. The idea that my kid (and so many others) might end up with protection against fewer diseases is heartbreaking www.sciencenews.org/article/mom-...

FDA cuts imperil food safety, but not how you might think Layoffs at the FDA, USDA and CDC could erode the U.S. food safety system. Experts aren’t so worried about milk or chicken today; they’re concerned about the future.

I had an interesting conversation with former #FDA commissioner Robert Califf. He said recent cuts could erode our food safety system - and it’s hard to predict where it may start to crumble.

“There are a gazillion places where things could go wrong.”

www.sciencenews.org/article/milk...

Pivoting to become an astronomy reporter at @sciencenews.bsky.social for the next 5 months ☄️🌌🔭🚀

Send me your outta-this-world tips and ideas at mprillaman [at] sciencenews [dot] org or meprillaman.01 on Signal

🧪I'm looking for studies that explain WHY fruit ripen (and why they suck to eat/are toxic before they are ripe). This is proving surprisingly hard. Are any plant folks out there able to lend a hand?

Here are some numbers: The @society4science.bsky.social CEO @mayaajmera.bsky.social received a $77K raise in 2022, and then a $63K raise in 2023. That first number is more than some employees’ entire salaries!

Our employees deserve a transparent and equitable pay structure.

A wild story by a fantastic reporter -- give it a read!

This caterpillar wears the body parts of insect prey Dubbed the “bone collector,” this caterpillar found on a Hawaiian island disguises itself while stalking spider webs for trapped insects to eat.

A carnivorous caterpillar dubbed the “bone collector” decorates itself with the body parts of its prey. ✍️ @meprillaman.bsky.social @sciencenews.bsky.social

you're basically a youtuber now haha

Looking for former FDA employees for a story I’m working on about food safety. If that’s you, I’d love to talk. You can send me a DM here, find me on signal, or email me at mrosen@sciencenews.org. 🙏

This caterpillar wears the body parts of insect prey Dubbed the “bone collector,” this caterpillar found on a Hawaiian island disguises itself while stalking spider webs for trapped insects to eat.

The bone collector might be one of the creepiest caterpillars you'll ever meet. It wears the body parts of prey as camouflage while it stalks spider webs for trapped bugs to eat. www.sciencenews.org/article/cate...

Thank you! Couldn’t have done it without your edits!

thank you for sharing!

Clinical trials face uncertain futures amid Trump cuts The Trump administration has reportedly disrupted over 100 clinical trials. Science News spoke to researchers about the impacts on four of them.

Clinical trials across the U.S. have suddenly stopped due to actions by the Trump administration. I talked to several researchers involved in such studies, a patient advocate & @apha.org about the impacts

#NIH #HHS #Trump #ClinicalResearch #ClinicalTrials #COVID #HIV #SexualHealth #MaternalHealth 🧪

A shadowy market for weight-loss drugs has emerged online People are buying semaglutide and tirzepatide, the key ingredients in Ozempic and Zepbound, from unconventional sources. Doctors have safety concerns.

I’m excited to share this story on GLP-1 drugs that I’ve been working on for months. It’s about the unconventional (and potentially dangerous) places people have been sourcing their meds. Why would people take that risk? A longish 🧵
www.sciencenews.org/article/weig...

How Trump 2.0 is slashing NIH-backed research — in charts Nature analyses which fields of science and US states are being hit hardest by grant terminations.

NEW: Entire scientific fields have been wiped out by the nearly 800 grants cancelled at NIH, finds a @nature.com analysis of the unprecedented cuts.

About half of all 2024 NIH projects related to LGBT+ health or vaccine hesitancy — gone.

See the other topics and US states hardest hit here:

Our deputy managing editor Cassie and her baby with an important message 💛 @cassiemartin.bsky.social #faircontractnow @wbng.org @sciencenews.bsky.social @snexplores.bsky.social

Science News’ editorial assistant Aina with an awesome sign 😍❤️🌈 @wbng.org @sciencenews.bsky.social @snexplores.bsky.social #unionstrong

Fermenting miso in orbit reveals how space can affect a food’s taste A miso test on the International Space Station shows fermenting food is not only possible in space, it adds nuttier notes to the Japanese condiment.

Miso, the umami-rich paste made from cooked soybeans, holds promise as a food for astronauts: It’s highly nutritious, firm (and thus not prone to leakage) and rich in flavor.

And space might add some spice.

—via @meprillaman.bsky.social @sciencenews.bsky.social

🚨 Know of a #ClinicalTrial that's been delayed or canceled due to actions by the #Trump administration? I'm highlighting impacts on trials & what the public could lose for @sciencenews.bsky.social 🚨

Please reach out: mprillaman [at] sciencenews [dot] org or meprillaman.01 on signal. #JournoRequest

23andMe has filed for bankruptcy. Should you delete your data from the site? As 23andMe prepares to be sold, Science News spoke with two experts about what’s at stake and whether consumers should delete their genetic data.

Wondering what's up with 23andMe's bankruptcy? I talked with @alondra.bsky.social and @anyaprince.bsky.social about the implications for genetic privacy.
www.sciencenews.org/article/23an...

Thank you so much

@jonrauch.bsky.social Sorry to hear your friend's chemo trial was canceled. I'm writing about trials delayed/canceled due to the Trump admin's actions for @sciencenews.bsky.social. Would your friend be willing to chat? I'm at mprillaman[at]sciencenews[dot]org and meprillaman.01 on signal. Thanks!

I'm sorry to hear someone you know was removed from a clinical trial. I'm writing about trials being delayed/canceled due to the Trump admin's actions for @sciencenews.bsky.social. Would the person you know be willing to chat? I'm at mprillaman[at]sciencenews[dot]org or meprillaman.01 on signal.

I'm sorry to hear the clinical trial you were going to participate in has been canceled. I'm writing about trials delayed/canceled due to the Trump admin's actions for @sciencenews.bsky.social. If you'd like to chat, I'm at mprillaman [at] sciencenews [dot] org and meprillaman.01 on signal

Freda Kreier -- Science Writer and Journalist Freda Kreier is a freelance science writer and journalist. She writes about science, nature, and more.

🧪 Hey, scientists of bluesky. I’m curious how American immigration news over the last few weeks is impacting decisions about traveling in and out of the US, and what you think the longer term impacts might be. You can contact me though my website at www.fredakreier.com

In 15 yrs of reporting, I've never had so many health & biomed researchers & outreach orgs tell me they're afraid to talk w/press or barred from speaking bc of new comms policies.

I understand the fear of losing funds. I don't know if silence does more harm than good. If you can speak up, pls do.