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Sarah Braner

@sarahbraner.bsky.social

329 followers 119 following 29 posts

i write about science a lot and culture very occasionally! current life sciences writer @cenmag.bsky.social, formerly the m*ssenger, business insider, slate, cnn, and one article about goo for the daily beast. views = my own. sorry i don't post much!

Posts Replies Media

Sarah Braner @sarahbraner.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

WE DID IT!! i got to talk to the incredible @eunayoo.bsky.social and i hope you all think her work is as interesting as i do!

Sarah Braner @sarahbraner.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

ACIP is likely to discuss metal-based vaccine ingredients at its upcoming meeting on february 25th. we took a deeper look at just what these ingredients are, why vaccines need them, and why they're likely not going anywhere: cen.acs.org/pharmaceutic...

MAHA’s next target: metals in vaccine ingredients

Officials are going after metal-containing ingredients, including aluminum adjuvants. Here’s why vaccines need them

Sarah Braner @sarahbraner.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

muse-scripts for this month courtesy of yours truly! these protein names have fascinated me since high school so it was a total blast to investigate them : )

Sarah Braner @sarahbraner.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

also i'm finally back (fully) from vacation, and if you missed this, it's definitely worth a read in my humble, biased (but correct) opinion. thank you evan for sharing your story with me!

Sarah Braner @sarahbraner.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

happy new year and happy new union! i'm so excited to get to be part of a union for the first time in my career. thank you to everyone who made this happen!

Sarah Braner @sarahbraner.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

if you're in line to vote for the skull, STAY IN LINE

Sarah Braner @sarahbraner.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

one of my previous editors (she's not on bsky but hi amy!) worked on this project - it's a great resource! as it says on the page, anyone can use these.

Sarah Braner @sarahbraner.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

i've had to be on a swedish fish hiatus for years now because the craving was getting really out of control, and i'm brave enough to admit that to you all. but swedish fish supremacy

Reposted by Sarah Braner

Overheard at C&EN @censays.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

I think I might've woken up in the middle of the night muttering "MOFs"

Reposted by Sarah Braner

Bri Barbu @bribarbu.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

It's the holey grail of chemistry awards! The moment many chemists (including a good chunk of @cenmag.bsky.social staff) have been waiting for! MOFs finally got a Nobel Prize! Read more in this story by my amazing colleague Prachi Patel: cen.acs.org/people/nobel...

The 2025 chemistry Nobel goes to MOFs

Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar M. Yaghi win the prize for developing metal–organic frameworks

Reposted by Sarah Braner

Bri Barbu @bribarbu.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

Nobel week is basically the super bowl for science journalists, and @sarahbraner.bsky.social (with @laurahowes.bsky.social & @maxhenrybarnhart.bsky.social) gave us a strong opening play with their coverage of the med+physio prize! (did i get the sports metaphor right?)

Sarah Braner @sarahbraner.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

calling it now: i don't think glp-1 will win for chemistry but i DO think it'll win physiology or medicine. check c&en monday morning to see if some of laura's clairvoyance has passed down to me!

Sarah Braner @sarahbraner.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

last time she totally called it so... you should probably see this one

Sarah Braner @sarahbraner.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

i know there's already another bonkers speech to unpack (or ignore, which is always a viable option imo!) but i wrote about *last night's* bonkers press conference about acetaminophen during pregnancy: cen.acs.org/policy/RFK-J...

RFK Jr.’s claim that Tylenol causes autism has no backing

Genetic factors are far more likely to influence a child’s later diagnosis

Sarah Braner @sarahbraner.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

if you're looking for some weekend reads, we've published our annual trailblazers series! this year, we highlighted some amazing chemists with disabilities. a belated congratulations to @mannyfoxmorone.bsky.social and @kvasquez.bsky.social for getting this out!

Reposted by Sarah Braner

Rowan Walrath @rowanwalrath.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

And this was published only hours before the CDC chaos!

Reposted by Sarah Braner

Manny I. Fox Morone @mannyfoxmorone.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

Did you know Dorothy Hodgkin had a disability? I did not! This is a little taster before @cenmag.bsky.social drops our big Trailblazers package featuring chemists with disabilities in Sept: cen.acs.org/careers/dive...

8 chemists with disabilities who left their mark on history

Scientists with disabilities ascended to the forefronts of their fields long before labs were accessible and civil rights were codified

Reposted by Sarah Braner

C&EN (Chemical & Engineering News) @cenmag.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

As human habitation expands into undeveloped areas, homes and businesses creep closer to forests, grasslands, and scrub. In this series, we examine the unique chemistry of these fires and how it might affect air quality and human health: cen.acs.org/environment/... #forestfires #chemsky 🧪

Living at wildfires' edge

Sarah Braner @sarahbraner.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

na na na na na na na na na, bat labs cen.acs.org/biological-c...

Could bats help us fight the very diseases they give us?

Bats’ unique physiology provides ample opportunities—and research difficulties

Sarah Braner @sarahbraner.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

also while you're on our NEWLY REDESIGNED WEBSITE, check out this measles q&a from @maxhenrybarnhart.bsky.social and (new editorial fellow!) elizabeth walsh! featuring some actually good news about how durable the existing vaccines are cen.acs.org/biological-c...

Measles cases are rising. Here’s a deep dive into 6 key questions

Experts tell C&EN whether the measles virus can mutate, how durable the vaccine is, and more

Sarah Braner @sarahbraner.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

so shiny, so chrome

Sarah Braner @sarahbraner.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

go vote and stay cool!! tldr, if you registered between 6/9 - 6/14 it may not show up in the system. but your affidavit vote WILL count - i forgot to update my residential address (🤦‍♂️) and the poll workers were super kind and helpful! it just might take a bit longer but it's extremely worthwhile.

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Sarah Braner @sarahbraner.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

true to the account's purpose, i have no idea what the context is here but yeah uhh don't cross me i'm tall and i know how to fight. definitely. i'm sure someone will back me up on this

Reposted by Sarah Braner

Krystal Vasquez @kvasquez.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

From @maxhenrybarnhart.bsky.social: 36 chem department chairs have published an open letter calling out recent federal policy decisions impacting science. cen.acs.org/policy/resea... #ChemSky @cenmag.bsky.social

Chairs of 36 US chemistry departments call to restore funding

Open letter in <i>Science</i> says federal policy decisions ‘threaten the strength of the US research enterprise’

Reposted by Sarah Braner

betsy ladyzhets 😷 @betsyladyzhets.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

So excited to have Delfi joining us this summer!! We'll be publishing her first Sick Times story next week.

Reposted by Sarah Braner

Krystal Vasquez @kvasquez.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

Feels relevant: www.compoundchem.com/2020/06/09/t...

compoundchem.com

Tear gas: Chemistry, dispersal methods, and effects

Click to enlarge The US government have been busy this week denying that pepper spray is a chemical (spoiler, it is a chemical). They've also been at pains to point out that it's not the same as te...

Reposted by Sarah Braner

Fionna Samuels @fmorningstar.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

Back in 2020, when protesters gathered around the country calling for the end of police brutality and were met with tear gas and pepper spray, my colleague @craigofwaffles.bsky.social reported on the chemistry of such riot-control agents. The story still seems pertinent: cen.acs.org/policy/chemi...

Tear gas and pepper spray: What protesters need to know

Experts discuss the use and chemistry of the riot-control agents and how to neutralize their effects

Reposted by Sarah Braner

Laurel Oldach @laureloldach.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

cen.acs.org/policy/resea...

NIH staff break ranks in open letter to Director Jay Bhattacharya

Bethesda Declaration urges reversal of recent policies, including funding cuts

Reposted by Sarah Braner

Laurel Oldach @laureloldach.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

Lots of people are keeping silent, because lots of people are scared. But my colleague Aayushi Pratap found a group of chemists at Columbia willing to talk about what's going on in the labs they lead. Her story, and Natalie Keyssar's portraits, are worth your time. cen.acs.org/policy/resea...

At Columbia, dismay among chemical scientists

Some have already lost grants, while others fear for students and future funding

Reposted by Sarah Braner

Bri Barbu @bribarbu.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

A couple of us on the science reporting team decided to start skeeting out some of the weird things our coworkers say on Slack!

Reposted by Sarah Braner

The Washington Sun @washingtonsun.com · 29/05/2025

RFK Jr. says his “Make America Healthy Again” Commission report harnesses “gold-standard” science. Its citations, however, are rife with errors, from broken links to misstated conclusions -- and seven of the cited sources don't appear to exist at all.

The MAHA Report Cites Studies That Don’t Exist

The Trump administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” report misinterprets some studies and cites others that don’t exist, according to the listed authors.

Reposted by Sarah Braner

Bethany Halford @bethanyhalford.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

I'm looking to talk to international students in the chemical sciences at #Harvard about the Trump administration's halt on the school's ability to enroll international students for @cenmag.bsky.social. #chemsky Signal: bethanyhalford.29 www.nytimes.com/2025/05/22/u...

Trump Administration Halts Harvard’s Ability to Enroll International Students

Sarah Braner @sarahbraner.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

are YOU also getting instagram ads from australia saying you should do your research there? are you considering moving? we want to hear from you! you can even test drive your aussie accent judgment-free cen.acs.org/policy/resea...

Tell us: Are you a US-based researcher who’s tempted to move abroad?

Initiatives are springing up to tempt researchers to move from the US. We want to hear from people considering these offers

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Reposted by Sarah Braner

Laurel Oldach @laureloldach.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Things are changing so fast at the FDA that when I emailed a trade group for comment on a policy announced yesterday morning, they sent me an answer about the new policy from the day before. Here's a humble attempt to tally up the way these changes might affect drug dev: cen.acs.org/pharmaceutic...

How will FDA changes reshape drug approval in 2025 and beyond?

Vaccines and complex biologics may face greater headwinds as processes change at a short-staffed agency

Reposted by Sarah Braner

Rowan Walrath @rowanwalrath.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

Tomorrow will have been 5 years since WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Today, @cenmag.bsky.social is publishing a cover package we're ambitiously describing as The Next 5 Years of COVID-19. 🧵

Reposted by Sarah Braner

Rowan Walrath @rowanwalrath.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

My latest for @cenmag.bsky.social: cen.acs.org/pharmaceutic...

Long COVID studies stymied by pharma’s lack of cooperation

Academic researchers want to repurpose drugs for the condition. Manufacturers aren’t supplying them

Reposted by Sarah Braner

C&EN (Chemical & Engineering News) @cenmag.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

Here's what we know about the recent layoffs at federal agencies and the ripple effects they're expected to have on US science. cen.acs.org/careers/empl... #chemsky🧪

Thousands of federal employees fired from US regulatory and science funding agencies

Impacts expected to be wide reaching

Reposted by Sarah Braner

Bethany Halford @bethanyhalford.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

A bit of #FridayFun for #Chemsky from the #Newscripts gang @cenmag.bsky.social: @braner.bsky.social gets the origin stories behind some unusual biotech names and ponders why one would want a rotovap in the kitchen. cen.acs.org/pharmaceutic...

Unique biotech names and an unexpected kitchen appliance

Origins of drugmakers’ unusual monikers and why cooks might want a rotovap

Reposted by Sarah Braner

Krystal Vasquez @kvasquez.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

California #ChemSky folks! How are you being affected by the #CAFires? Did you have to evacuate? Lots of chem labs are near fires and evac zones. Are you still going into work? Reach me by DM, email (k_vasquez@acs.org) or Signal (kvasquez.12).

Reposted by Sarah Braner

C&EN (Chemical & Engineering News) @cenmag.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

The deadline is approaching! C&EN is accepting nominations for the next Talented 12 Class of 2025 through January 21, 2025. Our program celebrates early-career chemists from academia, industry, and government who are making a global impact: cen.acs.org/sections/tal... #chemsky #phdsky #academicsky

C&EN's Talented 12

Know an extraordinary young researcher who is inspiring the next generation of chemists? Submit your nomination by January 21 for the Talented 12 class of 2025.

Sarah Braner @sarahbraner.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

hello #chemsky, esp. people in education! do you have any stories of weird chemistry final exam traditions? did you make shrines to marie curie or have séances with mendeleev's ghost? and are you willing to exhume those memories for a possible @cenmag.bsky.social story? dm me or lmk in the replies!

Reposted by Sarah Braner

Krystal Vasquez @kvasquez.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

Re-sharing for the evening crowd ⤵️ #ChemSky

Reposted by Sarah Braner

Rowan Walrath @rowanwalrath.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

Pharma Wrapped: C&EN published our 2024 Year in Pharma over the weekend. #biosky #chemsky cen.acs.org/pharmaceutic... 🧵

C&EN’s Year in Pharma 2024

The ups and downs of the pharmaceutical industry

Sarah Braner @sarahbraner.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

hi influx of new people, especially from chemsky! i took a semi-social media break after november 5, and i'm easing back into posting a bit more. as a reintro, i'm a writer at chemical & engineering news, where i focus on life science, pharma, and biotech! i'll be posting a bit more of my work soon!

Reposted by Sarah Braner

Krystal Vasquez @kvasquez.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Related, I also wanted to share a more recent @cenmag.bsky.social editorial (lead by @braner.bsky.social) that I encourage #chemsky folks to read. cen.acs.org/careers/dive...

Editorial: Supporting trans chemists for a stronger chemistry community

Chemists need to do more to include their transgender and nonbinary peers

Reposted by Sarah Braner

Krystal Vasquez @kvasquez.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Based on some posts I've seen today, I wanted to share something I wrote last year for @cenmag.bsky.social. Scientific societies need to consider where they hold their conferences AND ALSO support the members living in areas passing hostile legislation. cen.acs.org/careers/dive... #chemsky

Amid increasing anti-trans legislation, where should scientific societies hold their conferences?

Attending meetings in some states can present safety and legal hurdles to transgender attendees

Reposted by Sarah Braner

betsy ladyzhets 😷 @betsyladyzhets.bsky.social · 14/11/2023

Introducing THE SICK TIMES: A new nonprofit publication dedicated to #LongCovid, the continued COVID-19 pandemic, and infection-associated illnesses. From me and @mileswgriffis.bsky.social. (1/11 / attempting to do a thread here, bear with me)

thesicktimes.org