Brigitte Nerlich
@bnerlich.bsky.social
Metaphor hunter, linguist, social scientist, blogger
blog: https://makingsciencepublic.com/
also sorted into categories at https://wakelet.com/@bnerlich
ORCID: 0000-0001-6617-7827
blog: https://makingsciencepublic.com/
also sorted into categories at https://wakelet.com/@bnerlich
ORCID: 0000-0001-6617-7827
Pinned
Brigitte Nerlich
@bnerlich.bsky.social
· Nov 17
So, I have created a starter pack for people interested in #metaphor. I bet I left a lot of people out. Please let me know if you want to be added. go.bsky.app/DvxejFX
Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich
'For those with the largest followings on X, it has been universities who are most reluctant to let go....over half of the 141 institutions in my list remain active' [on X].
UK academia’s presence on X is reaching a tipping point - Impact of Social Sciences
Data collected on UK universities’ use of social media shows academic engagement with X is at a tipping point with more institutions off the platform than on.
blogs.lse.ac.uk
January 16, 2026 at 12:10 PM
'For those with the largest followings on X, it has been universities who are most reluctant to let go....over half of the 141 institutions in my list remain active' [on X].
With a shout-out to @dougmcneall.bsky.social and @benmsanderson.bsky.social on 'peak shaving'
I have been looking at #geoengineering #metaphors since around 2009. At the beginning of this year, they changed a bit - so I had to write about it HT @wanderinggaia.bsky.social makingsciencepublic.com/2026/01/16/d...
“Don’t bang your head on the guardrails”: Geoengineering metaphors, 2026
Sitting on a bus and browsing my timeline on Bluesky on Friday 9 January, I came across a comment by Gaia Vince saying: “Interesting to see the Guardian running a couple sensible opinion pieces on …
makingsciencepublic.com
January 16, 2026 at 2:37 PM
With a shout-out to @dougmcneall.bsky.social and @benmsanderson.bsky.social on 'peak shaving'
I have been looking at #geoengineering #metaphors since around 2009. At the beginning of this year, they changed a bit - so I had to write about it HT @wanderinggaia.bsky.social makingsciencepublic.com/2026/01/16/d...
“Don’t bang your head on the guardrails”: Geoengineering metaphors, 2026
Sitting on a bus and browsing my timeline on Bluesky on Friday 9 January, I came across a comment by Gaia Vince saying: “Interesting to see the Guardian running a couple sensible opinion pieces on …
makingsciencepublic.com
January 16, 2026 at 7:23 AM
I have been looking at #geoengineering #metaphors since around 2009. At the beginning of this year, they changed a bit - so I had to write about it HT @wanderinggaia.bsky.social makingsciencepublic.com/2026/01/16/d...
Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich
“ I think the Royal Society needs to be very clear that it has to push back against those efforts to try and export our wilful ignorance to this country and to Europe.”
@science.org.au
@science.org.au
Important and timely wide-ranging interview with one of the world's most influential climate scientists.
Some of what he tells @rtmcswee.carbonbrief.org is, frankly, breathtaking.
A call to action for all scientists, not just those focused on climate change.
Some of what he tells @rtmcswee.carbonbrief.org is, frankly, breathtaking.
A call to action for all scientists, not just those focused on climate change.
NEW – Prof Ben Santer: Trump administration is ‘embracing ignorance’ on climate science | @rtmcswee.carbonbrief.org
Read here:
Read here:
January 15, 2026 at 8:32 PM
“ I think the Royal Society needs to be very clear that it has to push back against those efforts to try and export our wilful ignorance to this country and to Europe.”
@science.org.au
@science.org.au
Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich
Another example of how pushing back is key!
Researchers from around the world made this happen. Bandim Health Project and RFK Jr.'s study was unethical and it is good that this has been cancelled. But the Danish government should investigate Bandim's role in exporting their anti-vax efforts globally. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Controversial US study on hepatitis B vaccines in Africa is cancelled
$1.6m project drew outrage over ethical questions about withholding vaccines proven to prevent disease
www.theguardian.com
January 15, 2026 at 6:23 PM
Another example of how pushing back is key!
Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich
Anyone want to comment for an article I'm writing for The Guardian? Have you dealt with AI-generated workslop or know someone who has? If so, let’s talk! hbr.org/2025/09/ai-g...
AI-Generated “Workslop” Is Destroying Productivity
Despite a surge in generative AI use across workplaces, most companies are seeing little measurable ROI. One possible reason is because AI tools are being used to produce “workslop”—content that appea...
hbr.org
January 15, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Anyone want to comment for an article I'm writing for The Guardian? Have you dealt with AI-generated workslop or know someone who has? If so, let’s talk! hbr.org/2025/09/ai-g...
Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich
BREAKING: The controversial hepatitis B vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau has been *cancelled,* I can now report. A senior official with Africa CDC confirmed the cancellation and said GB officials are working to make sure any research is conducted ethically:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Controversial US study on hepatitis B vaccines in Africa is cancelled
$1.6m project drew outrage over ethical questions about withholding vaccines proven to prevent disease
www.theguardian.com
January 15, 2026 at 3:28 PM
BREAKING: The controversial hepatitis B vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau has been *cancelled,* I can now report. A senior official with Africa CDC confirmed the cancellation and said GB officials are working to make sure any research is conducted ethically:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Oh no I had just finished writing something on geoengineering metaphors argh
January 15, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Oh no I had just finished writing something on geoengineering metaphors argh
Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich
“This is another Tuskegee” is no exaggeration from Dr @pauloffit.bsky.social who is not prone to hyperbole.
We have the CDC-funded Hepatitis Vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau protocol.
It’s worse than you thought.
Check it out, first in Inside Medicine…
with @pauloffit.bsky.social David Boulware and others.
insidemedicine.substack.com/p/scoop-the-...
It’s worse than you thought.
Check it out, first in Inside Medicine…
with @pauloffit.bsky.social David Boulware and others.
insidemedicine.substack.com/p/scoop-the-...
Scoop: The leaked protocol of the CDC-funded Hepatitis B vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau. “This is another Tuskegee.”
The protocol reveals that the trial will withhold the Hepatitis B birth dose from thousands—without placebos, without universal maternal screening, and with endpoints critics call indefensible.
insidemedicine.substack.com
January 15, 2026 at 12:11 PM
“This is another Tuskegee” is no exaggeration from Dr @pauloffit.bsky.social who is not prone to hyperbole.
You deserve a medal!
a cartoon cat with its eyes closed and a medal around its neck
Alt: a cartoon cat with its eyes closed and a medal around its neck
media.tenor.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:09 PM
You deserve a medal!
I have finally found the email one has to use for patient queries at the central Nottingham hospital and ... it's longer than "War and Peace"!! 😂
January 15, 2026 at 11:36 AM
I have finally found the email one has to use for patient queries at the central Nottingham hospital and ... it's longer than "War and Peace"!! 😂
I once ordered a half-shot latte at Cambridge station and the server said 'of course I can do that for you' - I have loved that server ever since (I can now have one-shot lattes again, but still remember that)
January 15, 2026 at 11:20 AM
I once ordered a half-shot latte at Cambridge station and the server said 'of course I can do that for you' - I have loved that server ever since (I can now have one-shot lattes again, but still remember that)
Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich
For non-German speakers:
“Dear media, I can’t stand the headline "No agreement between the US and Denmark” any longer. If an armed man storms a bank, you don't run the headline: "Robber and cashier can't reach an agreement on money transfer." Stop framing imperial aggression as normal diplomacy.”
“Dear media, I can’t stand the headline "No agreement between the US and Denmark” any longer. If an armed man storms a bank, you don't run the headline: "Robber and cashier can't reach an agreement on money transfer." Stop framing imperial aggression as normal diplomacy.”
Liebe Medien, ich kann die Schlagzeile "Keine Einigung zwischen USA und Dänemark" nicht mehr sehen. Wenn ein Bewaffneter eine Bank stürmt, titelt ihr doch auch nicht: "Räuber und Kassiererin finden keinen Konsens über Geldübergabe." Hört auf, imperiale Aggression als normale Diplomatie zu framen.
January 15, 2026 at 11:11 AM
For non-German speakers:
“Dear media, I can’t stand the headline "No agreement between the US and Denmark” any longer. If an armed man storms a bank, you don't run the headline: "Robber and cashier can't reach an agreement on money transfer." Stop framing imperial aggression as normal diplomacy.”
“Dear media, I can’t stand the headline "No agreement between the US and Denmark” any longer. If an armed man storms a bank, you don't run the headline: "Robber and cashier can't reach an agreement on money transfer." Stop framing imperial aggression as normal diplomacy.”
Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich
In the interests of more open and informed discussion of the issues raised by the Royal Society's failure to address Musk's actions, I have published a longer version of my critique of President Nurse's recent interviews (highlighted in today's Guardian): occamstypewriter.org/scurry/2026/...
Critique of comments by the President of the Royal Society on the Musk Affair | Reciprocal Space
occamstypewriter.org
January 14, 2026 at 5:06 PM
In the interests of more open and informed discussion of the issues raised by the Royal Society's failure to address Musk's actions, I have published a longer version of my critique of President Nurse's recent interviews (highlighted in today's Guardian): occamstypewriter.org/scurry/2026/...
Wow. I have an article on the fires submitted just after them which is still under review! (ah yes, yes yet another one) entitled "Fire, wind and lies: Mapping the metaphorical landscape of the January 2025 Southern California wildfires"
January 14, 2026 at 2:13 PM
Wow. I have an article on the fires submitted just after them which is still under review! (ah yes, yes yet another one) entitled "Fire, wind and lies: Mapping the metaphorical landscape of the January 2025 Southern California wildfires"
Oh I have to get that!!
January 14, 2026 at 2:06 PM
Oh I have to get that!!
Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich
The stripes from @edhawkins.org are getting redder.
January 14, 2026 at 12:02 PM
The stripes from @edhawkins.org are getting redder.
" It’s really harshing his vibe". That made me smile
January 14, 2026 at 7:26 AM
" It’s really harshing his vibe". That made me smile
Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich
I am calling for a complete and total boycott of the Mercator projection in all news stories about Greenland until every member of the American public has seen this
January 13, 2026 at 5:32 PM
I am calling for a complete and total boycott of the Mercator projection in all news stories about Greenland until every member of the American public has seen this
Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich
Prediction: Labour will try to do this in two weeks time, when it is least effective, after coming under attack for their own continued use of the site, which they fail to justify.
Labour can extend this beyond X and start going after Reform politicians making money from the site. "Will Farage give back the money he made from this sex offender site?" Etc...
Has there ever been any poll showing the public this united? yougov.co.uk/technology/a...
January 13, 2026 at 4:05 PM
Prediction: Labour will try to do this in two weeks time, when it is least effective, after coming under attack for their own continued use of the site, which they fail to justify.
My part-time cat Cleo has the most amazing eye-whiskers!
January 13, 2026 at 2:56 PM
My part-time cat Cleo has the most amazing eye-whiskers!