iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Geoff Brumfiel @gbrumfiel.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

The IceCube neutrino detector has won the 2026 Nobel Prize in physics. The Trump administration has proposed slashing its budget in half in 2027.

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Mark Peifer (He, him) @peiferlabunc.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Earlier this year the scientific community successfully fought back on dramatic changes in Federal funding proposed by the Trump Administration.Now another RFI is proposing substantial changes that would damage peer review. This letter from SDB President Helen McNeill lays out the issue clearly 1/n

Dear SDB Members,

I am writing you now to ask everyone to respond to a proposed change to the way that grant review information at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is communicated to grant applicants, institutions, and NIH program staff. This is your opportunity to provide feedback on the process that selects our grants for funding.

The proposed change means that individuals, institutes and NIH staff will no longer receive the final overall impact score or percentile score that reflects the scientific opinion of a panel of experts. Currently, three reviewers provide their detailed opinion of a grant, and then the entire panel asks questions, can examine figures, and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of a grant, and then members all independently score. The final overall impact score reflects this discussion and careful consideration of the entire scientific panel.

The proposed change is to now simply divide the scored grants into three categories: Scored applications would be grouped into three broad categories - “Most Competitive (top 25%),” “Competitive (26%-50%),” and “Not Discussed”. The motivation for the change is that decisions would now focus on the comments of reviewers, not the score of the grant to determine which grants to support. However, the current mechanism allows for scores and comments to be considered. Thus, removing the score component from NIH staff makes selection of which grants to fund more burdensome for NIH staff.

The loss of detailed scores will also make it more difficult for researchers to assess how competitive an application was and determine whether to revise and resubmit it. An application ranked top 2% and one ranked 24th% would receive the same label, even if the scientific panel viewed them quite differently. Meanwhile, applications ranked 25th%and 26th% would be placed in different categories because of a tiny difference that NIH itself says should not be treated as meaningful. The proposal would erase potentially important differences while creating arbitrary new dividing lines.

This is a dramatic loss of transparency in the scientific review process. Under the new plan, principal investigator(s), applicant institutions, NIH program staff, ICO leadership, and the relevant NIH Advisory Council will no longer have access to the final overall score.

NIH is explicitly asking for input on this particular question.

This is a Request for Information (RFI), not simply an announcement of a policy that has already been finalized. NIH says comments will be used to inform the final recommendation, including implementation and communication.

Please comment here: https://rfi.grants.nih.gov/?s=6a2b1c22c3fcfda46e0badd2

Deadline for response receipt is October 13, 2026, 11:59 PM ET.

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Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

The combined MMR vaccine, developed by Dr. Maurice Hilleman in 1971, “is more convenient for patients, and this convenience actually saves lives. Fewer injections translate as fewer missed doses, and therefore more protection in a shorter time. The MMR vaccine has saved millions of lives worldwide.”

si.edu

Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccines | Smithsonian Institution

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Bahaar @springcyclone.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

When in doubt, ask who benefits The vaccine schedule from HHS is what insurance companies will pay for. If the vaccine is no longer on the schedule, will insurance companies pay for it? Who benefits from not paying? 👀 Not hospitals, not schools, not families, and definitely not children

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Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

I mean in the U.S. we’re in the midst of the worst measles outbreak in decades and the President decides that it’s critical, right at this very moment, to further undermine trust in the MMR vaccine.

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Bahaar @springcyclone.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Ngl but that’s exactly why I’m grateful I took an alternative postdoctoral fellowship. My friends in traditional postdocs are so terrified rn

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Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 05/08/2026

Congrats @abdulelsayed.bsky.social! If he wins in November, he will be the first Senate member with an advanced public health degree, which we so desperately need right now!

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Heather Burns @heatherburnstech.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

The most terrifying enshittification I've discovered has been learning that Microsoft Word documents no longer auto-save if you are not saving them to one of their own proprietary cloud services. I'm slapping control-S like it's 1999.

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Boo-tros Boo-tros Ghoulish @dlbowman76.com · 03/08/2026

I'm going to alienate some people now. Abortion is a critical part of gynecological care. Full stop. Hormonal birth control is used by many individuals simply to regulate difficult menstrual cycles. Legislators who don't understand the minutiae of reproductive biology should SHUT THE FUCK UP.

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Abdul El-Sayed @abdulelsayed.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

No corporation or corporate PAC should be able to buy a seat in Congress.

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Gillian Branstetter @gbbranstetter.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

An initiative on the ballot in Washington state in November would require all athletes seeking to play girl's sports from kindergarten to high school to undergo "genetic screening, a testosterone-levels test, or an examination of their reproductive anatomy" before they can play

The Campaign to Force Genital Exams on Girl Athletes Soon Washington State could require sex-verification tests for those playing sports in schools.
Portrait of Andrea González-Ramírez
By Andrea González-Ramírez, a senior writer for The Cut who covers systems of power.

Those physicals, Maria explains, are usually perfunctory: “Like, Are you walking normally? Are you lightheaded? I have never had to take any clothes off. I’ve never felt uncomfortable or violated.” If IL26-638 were to pass and Maria were still in school, she says she would likely drop out of her team. (We’re withholding Maria’s real name to protect her privacy.) “I honestly don’t know if I would be able to do these tests,” she adds. “It would also make me question, If I do it, are all my teammates going to too? Or would I just play with the three or four girls who are willing to or have access to do it?”

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I-270, Exit 1 @i270exit1.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

🚨🚨 FEDS and everyone else 🚨🚨 🧵Tomorrow is the last day to comment on the Office of Personnel Management rule, “Promoting Employee Accountability" at www.regulations.gov/commenton/OP... This rule eliminates employee protections and rights, and hastens the firing process. Specifically, it... 1/4

regulations.gov

Regulations.gov

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Abdul El-Sayed @abdulelsayed.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

They cannot stop a movement. Not here in Michigan.

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Shiv Ramdas Mens Rice Activist @nameshiv.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

I think it also revealed just how quickly a bunch of otherwise very hard problems can be to solve with global collective action. The fuckin Ganga was running clear water for the only time in my lifetime because for 2 weeks nobody threw garbage in it. The canals in Venice had fish.

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Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

What the US government is doing to Dr. Fauci is the embodiment of what they are doing to scientific infrastructure overall.

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Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 30/07/2026

Let’s be clear here, when scientists say mistakes were made at the start of the pandemic, we DO NOT mean that we did too much. We mean not socially distancing quickly enough, not making tests widely available, and not acknowledging COVID is airborne and distributing N95 masks to everyone.

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Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 30/07/2026

Scientists and healthcare workers have saved millions of lives throughout the pandemic and in return have received relentless attacks and harassment. If we don’t support those who work hard to protect us, what exactly do you think will happen next time there is a deadly global outbreak?

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Bahaar @springcyclone.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

The only reason I got through Jane Eyre was Thandiwe Newton’s amazing voice acting. Her voice for Mr. Rochester came from the depths of the Earth. I still have no idea how she did it

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Bahaar @springcyclone.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Shoutout to @genetics-gsa.bsky.social’s Early Career Leadership Program! I can’t wait to share more about my work on funding and advocacy for other ECRs! genestogenomes.org/early-career...

genestogenomes.org

Early Career Leadership Spotlight: Bahaar Chawla

We’re taking time to get to know the members of the GSA Early Career Scientist Subcommittees. Join us to learn more about members of the Early Career Leadership Program.

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Bahaar @springcyclone.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Also the discfree version of the ps5 was $100 less in cost – so while they blame the consumer, they created the circumstances to force the fo market in that direction!

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CoolCoolSkies @coolcoolskies.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

I cannot emphasize enough that people need to read. Anything and everything. Read shit you don't understand, read about points you don't agree with, read someone's praise AND criticism of something you love. You cannot stop learning. You cannot get lazy or complacent. Don't let them dumb you down.

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DEI Virologist @kyt-thatsme.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

I’m not even rooting for Spain like that but this is wildly egregious. That was a goal.

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Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 19/07/2026

Our last hope of saving this World Cup. Vamos España!

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DaveO @daveon.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

I don’t know what I just watched. That was the maddest football match I’ve ever watched.

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Dr Kathleen Millen @neurodevkathy.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

🚨 Heads up. Time to keep submitting comments. NSF is planning to comply in advance to OMB proposed grant policies. Comment by Aug 24. You should be an expert on this now!!

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Bahaar @springcyclone.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

I used the tool to get the bones of my comment. Thank you to the team who built it! I also forwarded a shortened version to my senators and representative. #savescience

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Jacquelyn Gill @jacquelyngill.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

For folks asking why bother commenting because the OMB won't care: comments help build cases for the courts by explicitly laying out harms. That's why it's really important to have your comments be as specific as possible. Also, contact your senators and reps! They actually do care about this.

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Julia Métraux @juliametraux.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Scoop: NIH is on a mission to enlist one million Americans to share their genetic data to help with health research through a precision medicine program called “All of Us.” What participants don’t know is that at one research site, Palantir stores the data. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

motherjones.com

Palantir has a hand in NIH's most ambitious health initiative

The defense tech firm's work with public health data has largely flown under the radar.

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Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.net · 03/07/2026

🚨 HEADS UP: If you haven't submitted a comment on the OMB proposal yet, there's still time - but it's running out! There are only 10 days left to push back against Russell Vought's attempt to give political appointees unprecedented control over federal research funding. Take Action: zurl.co/Bl59I

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Martyn @martynpedler.com · 02/07/2026

"I don't think the robots are taking over. I think the men who play with toys have taken over. And if we don't take the toys out of their hands, we're fools." — Ray Bradbury.

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Genetics Society of America @genetics-gsa.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

New research in #GENETICS from @springcyclone.bsky.social et al. dissect how the DNA-condensing complex, Condensin I-DC, with a functional ATPase domain, uses energy in #Celegans to organize DNA in non-dividing cells. 🪱 🔗 buff.ly/qPp3J8T

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T. Ryan Gregory 🇨🇦 @tryangregory.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Digital asbestos is polluting science. Please, scientists, don't contribute to this. Even just by using ChatGPT to "help" with your writing or whatever. Just don't do it. www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...

rollingstone.com

AI Is Inventing Academic Papers That Don't Exist -- And They're Being Cited in Real Journals

Academic articles from authors using large language model are creating an ecosystem of fake research that threatens human knowledge itself.

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Bahaar @springcyclone.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

Hot take time The only performances at the #mensfigureskating that moved me was Maxim Naumov and Mikhail Shaidorav. Mikhail obvs had the jumps, but Max matched him in artistry. They were the only ones who gave me the same feeling as watching Yuzu, Javi, and Adam from 2018

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Bahaar @springcyclone.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

So I started watching the extended editions of #lotr to do attempt the “so it begins” at midnight, but I needed to take a break to complain about #RingsofPower

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Bahaar @springcyclone.bsky.social · 04/08/2025

Small good news: Since getting my PhD, I’ve been reading for leisure again I finished 5 books so far this year and we’re onto #6 (#3 of the SA authors) #books #fiction

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D. Allan Drummond @dadrummond.art · 01/08/2025

Happy RNA Day to those who celebrate! 🧪 It’s AUG 1: the day we Met 🤓

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Abby Dernburg @adernburg.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

It’s the end of an era! 🙁 Announcing the Final Release of WormBase blog.wormbase.org/2025/07/23/a...

blog.wormbase.org

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Mallory Harris, PhD @malar0ne.bsky.social · 27/07/2025

The White House's proposed budget would cut NIH research by billions, including slashes to cancer research. My new home state Texas is projected to lose $2.1B in economic activity from the budget cuts, including $353M in losses from cuts to cancer research. How about you? scienceimpacts.org/fy26

Map of US, with states shaded by economic losses from NIH budget cuts. Popout for losses in Texas, including 9K jobs lost and $2.1B in total economic loss.

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Alt-NIHscience4ALL @alt-nihscience4all.altgov.info · 27/07/2025

This is infuriating, scary, and horrible. NIH needs to support a wide array of science that applies to ALL people. We never know when a finding in one area can apply to another disease or situation.

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Max Kozlov @maxkozlov.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

Picking new members takes time: NIH staff spend 1-2 years screening candidates, getting approval, doing background/ ethics checks. Some staff are now screening candidates’ social media to see if they've said anything negative about the Trump administration or have been involved with DEI efforts.

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Max Kozlov @maxkozlov.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

NEW: In an unprecedented move, the NIH will soon disinvite dozens of scientists about to take positions on advisory councils that make final decisions on grant funding. NIH staff were told to select others aligned with the Trump administration and told to expect placements by political appointees.

nature.com

Exclusive: NIH to dismiss dozens of grant reviewers to align with Trump priorities

The move would undo years of work, leaving advisory councils understaffed, and without the full expertise needed for reviews.

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Chanda Prescod-Weinstein 🌌 @chanda.blacksky.app · 03/07/2025

IF YOU ARE IN ONE OF THESE DISTRICTS PLEASE MAKE A CALL RIGHT NOW DOES NOT MATTER IF YOUR VOICE SHAKES CALL AND SAY YOU OPPOSE BBB Scripts here: 5calls.org

DCCC
2026 DISTRICTS IN PLAY
NICK
BEGICH
AK-AL
DAVID
SCHWEIKERT
AZ-OI
ELI
CRANE
AZ-02
JUAN
CISCOMANI
AZ-06
DAVID VALADAO
CA-22
YOUNG
KIM
CA-40
KEN
CALVERT
CA-41
GABE EVANS
CO-08
CORY MILLS
FL-07
ANNA
PAULINA LUNA
FL-13
MARIA ELVIRA
SALAZAR
FL-27
MARIANNETTE MILLER-MEEKS
IA-OI
ASHLEY HINSON
IA-02
ZACH NUNN
1A-03
ANDY BARR
KY-06
BILL
HUIZENGA
MI-04
TOM
BARRETT
MI-07
MIKE
LAWLER
NY-17
MAX
MILLER
OH-07
MIKE TURNER
OH-10
OPEN SEAT
MI-IO
MIKE CAREY
0H-15
ANN
WAGNER
MO-02
DON BACON
NE-02
TOM
KEAN JR.
NJ-07
BRIAN
FITZPATRICK
PA-OI
RYAN
MACKENZIE
PA-07
ROB
BRESNAHAN
PA-08
SCOTT PERRY
PA-10
ANDY OGLES
TN-05
MONICA
DE LA CRUZ
TX-15
ROB
WITTMAN
VA-O1
JEN
KIGGANS
VA-02
BRYAN STEIL
WI-OI
DERRICK VAN
ORDEN
WI-03

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Ebony Elizabeth Thomas @ebonyteach.blacksky.app · 02/07/2025

“The children are always ours, every single one of them, all over the globe; and I am beginning to suspect that whoever is incapable of recognizing this may be incapable of morality.” Baldwin.

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