Science, Policy, and Other News that Caught My Eye
Or blew my mind the week of February 16-22, 2025
Greetings, SciLight readers. This past week has brought another tsunami of troubling news. Honestly, I don’t know how to begin. Below are just a few news items that caught my attention. And it’s only Saturday morning, so many more hours for another shoe to drop. Add what caught your attention in the comments. And don’t despair; there are good news stories as well.
Not satisfied with calling himself king, Trump floats idea of a third term.
The US Postal service is 250 years old. Trump plans to take it over. Trump expected to take control of U.S. Postal Service, fire postal board - The Washington Post
Vaccine news:
o Despite flu levels being higher than they’ve been in 15 years, RFK halts CDC vaccination campaign. He’d rather focus on informed consent.
o And a meeting of CDC’s Vaccine Advisory Panel was abruptly cancelled.
o Finally, take it from a smart epidemiologist: Vaccines are actually popular
Billions $$ of EPA funding of state and local governments and nonprofits remain on hold. Climate and Environmental Justice Programs Stalled by Trump Freeze, Despite Court Orders - Inside Climate News
Angst, anxiety, and grief in the science community as Trump targets science and research.
DOGE’s playbook for eliminating DEI – read it yourself here.
Plastic takeout containers -- Handy, but not healthy.
Human activities increase the risk of infectious disease
The President seeks backing of the Supreme Court for yet more power. Independent agency heads, beware.
Panel of nutrition and pediatric experts say kids should drink more water and limit amounts of juice. Pretty sure many parents already know this.
A worrisome increase in contaminated food. Read the Food for Thought Report.
168 fired at the National Science Foundation, the nation’s leading agency that funds scientific and engineering research, education and training.
In their own words: Stories from fired federal scientists
Losing talent for generations to come…. A DOGE brain drain
Head in sand? Energy Secretary calls net zero goal by 2050 “terrible, sinister… and lunacy.”
The United States' system for monitoring and predicting famine globally has been taken offline
No joke…..Republican proposes making Trump’s birthday a public holiday | Republicans | The Guardian ……. [Almost as good as earlier news that Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13) introduced legislation to have President Trump’s face carved on the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota.]
Also, some good news…
Talk about a lucky day! Kayaker swallowed by whale recalls feeling 'slimy texture' in its mouth
Scientists tell us how to cook a perfect egg.
And then there’s good news about nuts.
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