Science, Policy, and Other News that Caught My Eye
Or blew my mind the week of April 6th - April 13th
Greetings, SciLight readers. Another week with a barrage of troubling news – not limited to the economic chaos of Trump’s so-called Liberation Day tariffs. Read on for non-tariff tidbits of craziness. And this is just a smattering of news items that caught my attention and disrupted my equanimity this past week. What caught your eye? Tell us in the comments.
And be sure to scroll down for some fun news. Because we can all use some levity in these challenging times.
Amid Trump Cuts, NOAA Halts Upkeep of Critical Weather Satellites | Scientific American --putting at risk the accuracy of weather forecasts and extreme storm predictions. But then changed their minds.
Testing the Boundaries of Presidential Powers in Health | HIV | JAMA | JAMA Network …”Relationships built over decades, once broken, are difficult to repair; the lives that could have been saved have been lost forever.”
This is what happens when you cut staff, Mr. Musk. Social Security’s website keeps crashing, as DOGE demands cuts to IT staff - The Washington Post
And this….NIH firings delay cancer immunotherapy trials after promising development - The Washington Post
And this…. RFK Jr.'s health agency layoffs halt lead poisoning response efforts nationwide - EHN
And this…. Protection for miners, firefighters in jeopardy after NIOSH cuts.
Long COVID activists fought Trump team’s research cuts and won ― for now – a rare victory for science.
Supreme Court sides with Trump for now on fired probationary federal workers - The Washington Post For now, a temporary victory for the president’s efforts to radically downsize the government and dismantle some agencies. And more here Supreme Court lets Trump move forward with firing thousands of federal workers : NPR
RFK Jr: If you smoke or eat donuts, should society pay for your health care? - The Washington Post His answer: “The best answer to that is to realign our incentives so that the economic incentives, the individuals and the industry align with the public health outcomes that we desire.” Hmmmm….
As RFK Jr. Champions Chronic Disease Prevention, Key Research Is Cut - The New York Times Grants and contracts addressing some of our nation’s leading health problems are being eliminated.
But…. RFK Jr. pledges an answer to the 'autism epidemic' by September - ABC News
And RFK making headlines another way: RFK Jr. says Deep State 'is real,' references past work with 'the retarded' in speech to FDA staff
Science’s big problem is a loss of influence, not a loss of trust. “Evidence shows that science and scientists remain highly trusted. But genuine scientific voices are not shouting loud enough over the noise to hold sway.”
Check out the charts in this article. 154 million lives and counting: 5 charts reveal the power of vaccines -- illustrating the enormous lifesaving impact of vaccines.
New Trump-era EPA move could let polluters dodge toxic air rules - The Daily Climate Like mercury, benzene, and other hazardous pollutants
New toolkit on energy insecurity — lack of access to reliable, affordable energy — harms public health, especially in marginalized communities.
Podcast on the invisibility of good public health work. The increasing threats to local public health efforts | STAT
Opinion | Why DOGE Slashed the National Endowment for the Humanities - The New York Times NEH awards grants that fund research fellowships, programs at museums and historic sites, website development and documentary filmmaking, and also disburses a great chunk of its appropriation directly to nonprofit humanities councils in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and five territories.
Honestly not a joke….Emails with pronouns are ignored, Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt says - The Washington Post Nor this one. Trump signs order to roll back shower head rule limiting water flow - The Washington Post
Good News
Small group of college presidents emerge as leaders of resistance against Trump
Judge Orders White House to Restore AP’s Access to Trump - The New York Times
How to Stop Stressing About Your Schedule - The New York Times
And Just for Fun or Entertainment
Two women have sent each other the same weathered birthday card for 81 years
Crows Are Surprisingly Good at Geometry | Scientific American
Hope you didn’t miss it. April's full 'Pink Moon' rises this weekend — here's how to see it, and why it's so special
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