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Richard Sima

@richardsima.bsky.social
4.8K followers 1.3K following 53 posts

Science journalist and Brain Matters columnist @washingtonpost.com. Erstwhile neuroscientist 🧠 www.washingtonpost.com/people/richa…

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Richard Sima
Billy Hanlon @bhanlon15.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Washington Post: '‘Long flu’ can linger for months. Here’s how to reduce your risk.' 'The more we understand what acute infections are doing, the more we understand their long-term consequences, Al-Aly said. “It sort of eats something...." www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/202...
washingtonpost.com
Column | ‘Long flu’ can linger for months. Here’s how to reduce your risk.
Persistent symptoms can harm the lungs and other organs, including the brain.
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Scott Nover @scottnover.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
BREAKING: TV pool will not be providing coverage of presidential events until further notice b/c of CNN's ban, pool chair and FOX News Washington Bureau Chief Bryan Boughton said. It's effectively a boycott by the fellow members — ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX: www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
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Rosemary Mosco @rosemarymosco.com · 18/09/2026
Humaning.
A four-panel comic. In panel 1, a Northern Cardinal and American Goldfinch perch above a busy crowd in a city, looking down. The cardinal says "It's a nice day to go humaning." The goldfinch says "Just look at them. Majestic." In panel 2, a close-up of the two birds. The cardinal says "Nobody tells you that you'll reach a certain age and suddenly get into humaning. I hit 3 years old, and then bam."The birds are looking out over the crowd scene. In panel 3, the cardinal says "Their calls sound funny to us, but each one has a unique meaning." Below, people are saying various things: "I'm tired." "Where's my phone?" "I'd murder a burrito." In panel 4, the birds look down excitedly at a man walking by. The cardinal says "Wait, is that a guy who got dressed in the dark and put his shirt on inside out and backwards?" And the goldfinch exclaims, "Holy... that's a lifer!"
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The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 04/08/2026
Research shows that over time, alcohol can change the brain. And even relatively low levels of alcohol may worsen feelings of anxiety and depression, disrupt sleep, and, over time, increase dementia risk, in addition to upping other health problems.
washingtonpost.com
Column | Here's what happens to your brain when you stop drinking alcohol
Though even relatively low levels of drinking can cause harm, the brain can recover to an extent if you stop or cut back, evidence shows.
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PBF Comics @pbfcomics.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
“What a beautiful universe, hon" says a telescope as gazes upon an aurora borealis. “It really is”, responds the telescope's partner, who it turns out is not a telescope, but a microscope. Hands full of algae, she wades waist deep in a disgusting swamp, amazed by the heavenly microscopic life all around them.
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ProPublica @propublica.org · 18/07/2026
THREAD: The boy is called a liar. He’s told not to defend himself. Then the private school owner encourages all of his peers to attack him, one by one. She hits him, repeatedly, with a plastic pipe-like object. How does this school still exist — and receive state funds? 🧵
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Richard Sima @richardsima.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
My latest: Our sense of smell is linked to our brain health. In fact, over 85% of patients with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's have smell dysfunction. But there is evidence that smell training can boost our cognition: washingtonpost.com/wellness/2026/07/14/how-smell-training-may-improve-cognition/
washingtonpost.com
Column | How improving your sense of smell could save your brain
Smell loss can be an early sign of neurodegenerative diseases, but it’s possible to boost your sniffing abilities.
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ProPublica @propublica.org · 15/07/2026
NEW: Months after FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty cast a decisive vote approving Paramount’s historic $8 billion merger with Skydance Media, she and a guest accepted Kennedy Center gala tickets from the company worth more than $12,000.
propublica.org
FCC Officials Took Pricey Gifts From Paramount as the Company Needed Approval for Billion-Dollar Deals
Accepting tickets to the Kennedy Center honors gala compromised the commissioners’ impartiality, ethics experts told ProPublica. FCC Chair Brendan Carr has been gifted at least $63,000 worth of ticket...
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Richard Sima @richardsima.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
"In downtown D.C., Arlington and the Capitol Hill area, where pollution will be 'very unhealthy,' the document says that people should 'expect irritation symptoms' and limit their postshow exposure to the pollution." @jakespring.bsky.social
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Richard Sima @richardsima.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Imagine she says no though
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Tressie McMillan Cottom @tressiemcphd.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
So painful. www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/...
washingtonpost.com
Four Black women. Nine degrees. Not one steady paycheck.
The president promised to save “Black jobs,” but his policies have resulted in fresh pain for the Black middle class as the employment gap widens.
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The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 19/06/2026
Column: Research shows that mothers undergo dramatic changes during pregnancy and following childbirth. Studies suggest that fathers may also undergo a shift in their biology in preparation for and in response to the responsibilities of parenthood.
washingtonpost.com
Column | The surprising science of how fatherhood changes the brain
Studies suggest that, like mothers, fathers may undergo a shift in their biology in preparation for and in response to the responsibilities of parenthood.
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Richard Sima @richardsima.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202... “As I joked … backstage, if Watergate happened tomorrow, it would be like a 12-hour news story,” Vance said in remarks at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in California. “The idea that it would have taken down a presidency is crazy.”
washingtonpost.com
Vance dismisses Watergate scandal, says ‘deep state’ went after Nixon
The vice president said he admired Nixon and drew parallels between the past president, who resigned amid pressure in 1974, and Trump today.
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Abbey @abbeyarletto.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
When reality surpasses fiction! Top: fictional forecast for August 2050, broadcast by French TV in 2014 to warn about the consequences of global warming. Bottom: Real French forecast for yesterday, June 22, 2026.
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Dan Vergano @danvergano.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Scientific American is being sold to LabX Media, publisher of Discover: group.springernature.com/gp/group/med... They've fired me and other union staff, ahead of June 26 vote ratification. My rates are suddenly more reasonable, if you need editing or reporting - Argonaut2026@gmail.com
group.springernature.com
Springer Nature to divest its consumer media businesses | Springer Nature Group | Springer Nature
Strategic divestment of consumer media portfolio enables Springer Nature to focus on its core business Transaction supports the long-term development
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Richard Sima @richardsima.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
As a new dad, I wondered what was going on with my brain. Turns out, quite a lot! Like mothers, we also have hormonal shifts and brain shrinkage, which certainly sounds scary but is actually adaptive for getting ready for parenthood. My first story back from leave (gift link): wapo.st/44hsjAw
wapo.st
Column | The surprising science of how fatherhood changes the brain
Studies suggest that, like mothers, fathers may undergo a shift in their biology in preparation for and in response to the responsibilities of parenthood.
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Josh Gondelman @joshgondelman.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
My crankiest old man take is that referring to all art/entertainment/journalism/criticism/comedy/advertising as “content” helped pave the way for broad-ish acceptance of AI slop.
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Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Campos: While I want to thank CBS news for funding this generous gift towards my education, I want to acknowledge how the recent direction of the outlet stains the legacy of Mike Wallace, the namesake of this scholarship.
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Alex Ip 葉清霖 @alexip718.com · 18/05/2026
If you're reading this, my cat and I have boarded a one-way flight out of the United States. The Trump administration wrongfully denied my work permit renewal; after months of demanding that they follow the law, we have run out of legal recourse, and I have no choice but to leave the country. (🧵)
giveinmay.org
Support Alex's Emergency Relocation + Next Steps on Give In May
Alex is leaving the US after his work permit renewal was wrongfully denied by Trump's USCIS.
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Duaa Eldeib @deldeib.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
This was a hard story to report. Newborns who don’t get a vitamin K shot are 81 times more likely to develop a condition where they bleed uncontrollably. But more and more families are declining the shot. And babies are dying. www.propublica.org/article/more...
propublica.org
Babies Are Bleeding to Death as Parents Reject a Vitamin Shot Given at Birth
A lifesaving injection given at birth to prevent severe bleeding has become collateral damage of the anti-vaccine movement.
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The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 04/05/2026
The Washington Post won a Pulitzer Prize for public service for coverage of DOGE and the federal workforce. It’s the second time The Post has won the prestigious award in five years. Read more about our winning coverage here: wapo.st/3OX3l5A
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Robert Smith @bondhack.ft.com · 09/04/2026
Hall of fame FT correction
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Richard Sima @richardsima.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
always relevant @xkcd.com xkcd.com/2347/ - except this rather essential project of archiving the internet is run by some random person who uses said project to carry out a grudge
xkcd.com
Dependency
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Will Oremus @willoremus.com · 04/02/2026
Whatever you think of the Washington Post at this moment, here's a chance to support the dedicated, hard-working journalists who were just laid off. If you have the means, your donation is most welcome. If you don't, a kind thought and maybe spreading the word to others is support enough 💙
gofundme.com
Donate to Washington Post 2026 layoff fund, organized by Rachel Siegel
On Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, The Washington Post laid off hundreds of journalists. We ar… Rachel Siegel needs your support for Washington Post 2026 layoff fund
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Drew Harwell @drewharwell.com · 04/02/2026
I expected the cuts would be bad but I'm honestly stunned and sickened seeing how many great journalists the Washington Post just lost. People who nailed huge investigations, documented war zones, exposed horrific crimes, dropped all at once for failures they did not cause.
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Washington Post Guild @postguild.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
Join us Thursday for a rally to #SaveThePost!! The rally will run from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday at 1301 K St. NW!! Bring friends! Bring gloves! Bring a love of journalism!
This is an image of a poster promoting the rally that will run from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, at 1301 K St. NW to save The Washington Post newsroom from rumored mass layoffs.
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Trung Le Nguyen @trungles.com · 31/01/2026
It always feels like all the wrong people die, but I think it’s because there are far more beloved people than there are bastards.
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Washington Post Guild @postguild.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
The Washington Post Guild is alarmed and appalled by federal law enforcement’s search and seizure of reporter Hannah Natanson’s property and personal devices. Hannah is a valued member of our union whose work covering the federal workforce has been essential (1/3)
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Kendra "Gloom is My Beat" Pierre-Louis @kendrawrites.com · 12/01/2026
Friendly reminder that we call eggplant eggplant because the "normal" eggplant used to look like this
viney plant with white eggplants that loo, well like, eggs.
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Richard Sima @richardsima.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
This is brilliant and worth reading
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Rodger Sherman @rodger.bsky.social · 02/01/2026
went back and grabbed the full video of her intro. absolutely incredible 🇮🇹🍝👩‍🍳🤌🇮🇹🍝👩‍🍳🤌🇮🇹🍝👩‍🍳🤌🇮🇹🍝👩‍🍳🤌
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Andy Diggle @andydiggle.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
30 Rock "What a week" meme:
"What a year, huh?"
"Lemon, it's January 3rd."
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Caitlin Gilbert @caitlingilbert.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
EXCLUSIVE: @laurenweberhp.bsky.social & I have spent the last year collecting school+county-level vaccination data from across the US and found that only about 28% of counties now have herd immunity for kindergartners from measles—that leaves about 5.2mn kids unprotected. Gift link: wapo.st/49zDc43
wapo.st
U.S. vaccination rates are plunging. Look up where your school stands.
Take a look to see what the kindergarten measles vaccination rates are in your area.
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The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 22/12/2025
Video games may improve our cognition. But how we play them matters when it comes to the benefits they provide. Experts caution against overdoing it. Here’s what they say about cognitive engagement:
washingtonpost.com
Video games may be a surprisingly good way to get a cognitive boost
However, the type of game and how often you play it matters, with experts recommending moderation.
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Shannon Osaka @shannonosaka.bsky.social · 10/11/2025
The Post (me and @kcrowebasspro.bsky.social) analyzed the social media posts and appearances of prominent politicians across the country. We found that no one is talking about climate change anymore. In 2025, mentions are 60% lower than in 2024. www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
This bar chart shows a decrease in mentions of 'climate' since a peak in August 2022, when Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act.
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Richard Sima @richardsima.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
NEW: I spoke with Norman Rosenthal, the psychiatrist who first described and named SAD (seasonal affective disorder), about what he does to address his own SAD—and what the rest of us can do to brighten our winter days. 🔆 www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/202...
washingtonpost.com
How to avoid seasonal depression, according to the expert who discovered it
Norman Rosenthal uses light in his home to help with depression related to seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Spoiler alert: He has a lot of light boxes.
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Richard Sima @richardsima.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
“The reductions take effect Friday. Details about which markets would be affected will be announced Thursday, administration officials said.” www.washingtonpost.com/transportati... @loriara.bsky.social
washingtonpost.com
U.S. orders 10% cut in flights at several airports as shutdown drags on
The Trump administration says the move, which will affect 40 markets, is part of an effort to ease pressure on air traffic controllers.
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Drew Harwell @drewharwell.com · 30/10/2025
DHS says our new piece is "dishonest, slanted, and fundamentally inaccurate" but won't say why. Here's the story where we show with evidence that DHS spliced together clips spanning years and multiple locations to create its own reality. Gift link wapo.st/4nuDGwf
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Drew Harwell @drewharwell.com · 29/10/2025
Scoop: The Trump admin's videos boasting triumphs on immigration have used misleading footage from months ago or thousands of miles away When we showed them the errors, DHS said they make a lot of videos and the White House said it'll keep making "banger memes" wapo.st/4nuDGwf
wapo.st
Trump administration uses misleading videos to portray chaos, push deportations
Official videos purporting to show the triumph of recent immigration operations used footage that was years old or recorded thousands of miles away, a Washington Post analysis found.
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Richard Sima @richardsima.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
It’s like if a broken escalator became a slide instead of stairs
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Brad Heath @bradheath.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
Stop and read this deep dive on TikTok and how it's consuming much more than hours of our time. One user: "It was harder for me to create my own opinions, it was harder for me to express my own thoughts in the day, and I think that took a toll with me." www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/int...
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Caitlin Gilbert @caitlingilbert.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
🤳EXCLUSIVE: We analyzed real data from over 800 U.S. TikTok users to reveal how the app transforms casual users into power users. Extremely proud of this one, over a year in the making w/ @richardsima.bsky.social Leslie Shapiro @asteckelberg.bsky.social @ence.bsky.social wapo.st/4obueib
wapo.st
Here’s how TikTok ‘power users’ end up scrolling 4 hours a day or more
Washington Post reporters analyzed data from over 800 TikTok users to learn how the app turns people into power users, some of whom spend hours per day scrolling.
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Eric Topol @erictopol.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
Children and teens who had a Covid reinfection had a doubling of #LongCovid risk (PASC) and a significant increase in many other adverse outcomes (Figure) www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
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Richard Sima @richardsima.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
Excited to share that I'm doing a live chat tomorrow (September 30) at 11am Eastern to talk about brain health, dementia and whatever else may be on your mind! You can also send in your Qs ahead of time - hope you can join :) www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/202...
washingtonpost.com
What should you do to reduce your risk of dementia? Ask Richard Sima.
Brain health expert Richard Sima will answer your questions during a live chat on Tuesday at 11 a.m. Eastern.
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Eric Topol @erictopol.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
More on this here—World #AlzheimersDay www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/202...
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Washington Post Guild @postguild.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
Statement from Post Guild Leadership: The Washington Post Guild condemns the unjust firing of columnist Karen Attiah
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Fenit Nirappil @fenitn.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
EXCLUSIVE: The new CDC director is being ousted weeks into the job. @lenasun.bsky.social @ddiamond.bsky.social report www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
washingtonpost.com
CDC director being ousted weeks into job
Susan Monarez, a longtime federal government scientist, was confirmed by the Senate in late July to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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