Richard Sima

Scientist on green card detained for a week without explanation, lawyer says A Korean citizen studying in Texas on a green card was detained in San Francisco after a trip overseas. His lawyer says authorities won’t give a reason.

Tae Heung Kim, 40:
- Lived in US since he was 5
- Has green card
- Getting PhD at Texas A&M
- Researching vaccine for Lyme disease
- Has 1 minor pot charge from 2011, since sealed

Also: Detained incommunicado by DHS after returning from wedding in Korea

www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...

it’s even more demoralizing when the history you’re repeating is history you were around for the first time

A timeline of changes to Covid-19 vaccine recommendations over the last month

As part of my @thesicktimes.bsky.social piece, we made this timeline summarizing the dizzying changes RFK, Jr. and his colleagues have been making over the past month. With the vax advisory committee meeting in just a few days, it feels like the chaos is the point. thesicktimes.org/2025/06/19/t...

Transparent peer review to be extended to all of Nature’s research papers From today, all new submissions to Nature that are published will be accompanied by referees’ reports and author responses — to illuminate the process of producing rigorous science.

Really excellent news. For journalists, access to peer review reports can clarify expert opinion, help us highlight excellent research, and—crucially—lead to accountability.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Huge news, and a confirmation of what NSF staff have suspected/feared for a while.

Wikipedia definition of "idiot plot": In literary criticism, an idiot plot is one which is "kept in motion solely by virtue of the fact that everybody involved is an idiot",[1]: 26  and where the story would quickly end, or possibly not even happen, if this were not the case.

We just got an email that Hopkins is freezing salaries, hiring, and some construction projects. In addition to the 800 million USAID we lost, we’ve had another 50 million in grants canceled so far. And a 2/3 year over year decline in funded grants despite an increase in submissions

"To understand who is in control, observe who you are not allowed to criticize." -Voltaire

Diseases are spreading. The CDC isn't warning the public like it was months ago Some of the CDC's main channels for communicating urgent health information to the public have gone silent.

Some of the CDC's main channels for communicating urgent health information to the public have gone silent.

Long covid patients are desperate for treatments. These trials may help. Some trials are focusing on drugs that target the immune system, which is affected by different pathways to long covid.

#LongCOVID patients are desperate for treatments. These trials may help. Some trials are focusing on drugs that target the immune system, which is affected by different pathways to long covid, by @richardsima.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/202... via @washingtonpost.com #COVID19

Long covid patients are desperate for treatments. These trials may help. Some trials are focusing on drugs that target the immune system, which is affected by different pathways to long covid.

Five years since the pandemic began, millions of people are still grappling with long covid. Some trials are focusing on drugs that target the immune system, which is affected by different pathways to long covid.

FDA to limit covid shot approval to elderly, those with medical conditions The agency will narrow its approval for updated coronavirus vaccines, marking a significant shift in the agency’s approach to green-lighting shots that have been recommended broadly to the public.

The FDA has unveiled plans to narrow its approval for updated coronavirus vaccines to older adults and people with at least one health condition that puts them at high risk for severe disease, marking a significant shift in the agency’s approach to green-lighting the shots.

Long covid patients are desperate for treatments. These trials may help. Some trials are focusing on drugs that target the immune system, which is affected by different pathways to long covid.

Washington Post: 'Long covid patients are desperate for treatments. These trials may help.'

'Some trials are focusing on drugs that target the immune system, which is affected by different pathways to long covid.'

www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/202...

A Chicago Pope implies the existence of an MLA Pope and APA Pope

Great job everyone

Why catchy songs get stuck in your head (and how to stop it) Scientists studying earworms say they tend to be faster, simple, short and repetitive.

I wrote about the science behind earworms and fulfilled a lifelong goal of rickrolling people professionally:

www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/int...

(But seriously, the art and design really make this story sing!)

Check out how the anchors of CBS Evening News ended their broadcast tonight:

FDA making plans to end its routine food safety inspections, sources say Food safety inspections would be left to state and local authorities under the plan being developed by the FDA.

FDA “is drawing up plans that would end most of its routine food safety inspections work, multiple federal health officials tell CBS News, and effectively outsource this oversight to state and local authorities.”

from the great @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social

"The proposal would cut the CDC’s budget by about 44 percent.... and would eliminate all of the agency’s chronic disease programs and domestic HIV work. The chronic disease programs being eliminated include work on heart disease, obesity, diabetes and smoking cessation."

Compare Boeing and airbus

Fun fact: Planes have sexual dimorphism

CDC denies help for lead poisoning in Milwaukee schools due to layoffs The CDC rejected a request for help "due to the complete loss" of their lead poisoning experts.

CDC has rejected a request from health officials in Milwaukee for help with a lead poisoning investigation, after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. eliminated the agency's response team. Story by @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social www.cbsnews.com/news/milwauk...

DOGE takes over federal grants website, wresting control of billions A DOGE engineer removed users’ access to grants.gov, threatening to further slow the process of awarding thousands of federal grants per year.

Scoop: DOGE now controls how grant opportunities get posted across government.

DOGE engineer removed users’ permissions to post to Grants-dot-gov without telling them. Now requests flow thru DOGE-controlled mailbox.

with @carolynyjohnson.bsky.social + @hannahnatanson.bsky.social

Very informative chart from Washington Post

Проект "Поговорим о деменции" - ОО "БАСР"

I’m a brain health expert. Here’s why #shingles vaccines may fight #dementia. The findings could have implications for managing the large and growing burden of dementia, by @richardsima.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/202... via @washingtonpost.com

This is why I use a browser tab manager so I can hoard links even after I close them and say I will come back to them (knowing full well I won't).

Christmas is a state of mind

The CDC sent a forecast for the measles outbreak to HHS for approval, but it has not been publicly released.

And there are more ways this federal response to measles is unusual. Gift link: wapo.st/4i3sKmn

Join DCSWA members on April 19 to enjoy a fun science trivia night with food and drinks! No registration is needed, just show up and have a good time with us!

📌 Closest metro station: Shaw - Howard University.

Exclusive | Ousted Vaccine Chief Says RFK Jr.’s Team Sought Data to Justify Anti-Science Stance Dr. Peter Marks says the new health secretary’s team wants to show vaccines aren’t safe while promoting dangerous and unproven treatments.

“Kennedy’s team requested that Marks turn over data on cases of brain swelling and deaths caused by the measles vaccine—data that Marks said doesn’t exist because there have been no such confirmed cases in the U.S.” www.wsj.com/health/healt...