Dan Garisto
@dangaristo.bsky.social
science journalist | good physics, bad physics, and sometimes ugly physics
Signal: dgaristo.72
Email: [email protected]
Signal: dgaristo.72
Email: [email protected]
There are currently about ~250 active doctoral dissertation research grants, which support early career researchers (mainly in the social/behavioral/economic sciences) to the tune of ~10-30k. Sure looks like NSF is sunsetting the program.
All NSF SBE DDRIG solicitations have been archived and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Grants currently submitted will be processed, but as always, chances of funding remain very low. This means anyone aiming for the upcoming deadline will not be able to submit. 1/3
November 26, 2025 at 3:20 PM
There are currently about ~250 active doctoral dissertation research grants, which support early career researchers (mainly in the social/behavioral/economic sciences) to the tune of ~10-30k. Sure looks like NSF is sunsetting the program.
Reposted by Dan Garisto
Following Trump's DEI cuts, attendance has plunged at some conferences for scientists from underrepresented groups. The loss of federal support means fewer chances for people to network, share science, and develop new career paths.
Still, attendees say "the sense of solidarity remains strong".
Still, attendees say "the sense of solidarity remains strong".
‘Anti-woke’ policies blamed for falling attendance at some US conferences
Scientific meetings that support Black, Latino and Indigenous researchers are grappling with funding cuts and other restrictions.
www.nature.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Following Trump's DEI cuts, attendance has plunged at some conferences for scientists from underrepresented groups. The loss of federal support means fewer chances for people to network, share science, and develop new career paths.
Still, attendees say "the sense of solidarity remains strong".
Still, attendees say "the sense of solidarity remains strong".
Some meta commentary inspired by this piece.
There are basically four kinds of science policy stories about federal agencies these days:
-unprecedented/illegal actions (mass RIFs)
-changes to funding (budget, indirect costs)
-policy change w/clear intention (EPA overturning endangerment finding)
There are basically four kinds of science policy stories about federal agencies these days:
-unprecedented/illegal actions (mass RIFs)
-changes to funding (budget, indirect costs)
-policy change w/clear intention (EPA overturning endangerment finding)
NIH shake-up to grant decision-making draws concerns of political meddling
Policy drops “paylines” based on peer-review scores and requires geography and other factors to guide approvals
www.science.org
November 25, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Some meta commentary inspired by this piece.
There are basically four kinds of science policy stories about federal agencies these days:
-unprecedented/illegal actions (mass RIFs)
-changes to funding (budget, indirect costs)
-policy change w/clear intention (EPA overturning endangerment finding)
There are basically four kinds of science policy stories about federal agencies these days:
-unprecedented/illegal actions (mass RIFs)
-changes to funding (budget, indirect costs)
-policy change w/clear intention (EPA overturning endangerment finding)
A lot of clarifying details in here about how DOGE's influence waned after Musk's departure in May and what many of its key figures are now doing.
Inside the DOGE Succession Drama Elon Musk Left Behind
What really happened when he logged out of Washington.
www.politico.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:17 PM
A lot of clarifying details in here about how DOGE's influence waned after Musk's departure in May and what many of its key figures are now doing.
Reposted by Dan Garisto
"As I spent more and more of my life under the care of doctors, nurses, and researchers striving to improve the lives of others, I watched as Bobby cut nearly a half billion dollars for research into mRNA vaccines" www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
A Battle with My Blood
When I was diagnosed with leukemia, my first thought was that this couldn’t be happening to me, to my family.
www.newyorker.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:56 PM
"As I spent more and more of my life under the care of doctors, nurses, and researchers striving to improve the lives of others, I watched as Bobby cut nearly a half billion dollars for research into mRNA vaccines" www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
Reposted by Dan Garisto
About that exclusive, "closed-to-press" MAHA summit last week with RFK and JD Vance: I got in.
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
November 21, 2025 at 5:01 PM
About that exclusive, "closed-to-press" MAHA summit last week with RFK and JD Vance: I got in.
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Interesting update on avian magnetoreception. This is neat, but given the existing evidence I would be a bit surprised (sotto voce: and disappointed) if the cryptochrome mechanism with its elegant quantum biology turned out to be for naught.
Pigeons sense Earth’s magnetic field in an entirely new way
Specialized hair cells pick electric currents induced by magnetism
www.science.org
November 21, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Interesting update on avian magnetoreception. This is neat, but given the existing evidence I would be a bit surprised (sotto voce: and disappointed) if the cryptochrome mechanism with its elegant quantum biology turned out to be for naught.
Reposted by Dan Garisto
HEADS UP: CDC website now officially asserts that vaccines may cause autism.“Studies supporting a link have been ignored by health authorities.” Also says the “vaccines do not cause autism” header remains b/c of an agreement with Cassidy.
November 20, 2025 at 2:53 AM
HEADS UP: CDC website now officially asserts that vaccines may cause autism.“Studies supporting a link have been ignored by health authorities.” Also says the “vaccines do not cause autism” header remains b/c of an agreement with Cassidy.
NSF sent about the same amount of money out as the previous year, but to about 20% fewer new recipients (8800 new grants this year vs. 11,000 last year). NIH did something similar.
Despite Trump chaos, NSF avoided feared dip in research financing | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...
Despite Trump chaos, NSF avoided feared dip in research financing
Number of new grants fell by 20%, but got larger, as funder braced for potential budget cut
www.science.org
November 19, 2025 at 11:56 PM
NSF sent about the same amount of money out as the previous year, but to about 20% fewer new recipients (8800 new grants this year vs. 11,000 last year). NIH did something similar.
First results taken with 59 days of measurements from JUNO, which studies neutrinos emitted by nuclear reactors off the coast of China.
Already exceeds previous leading measurements for two parameters that govern solar neutrino oscillation. Not bad!
arxiv.org/abs/2511.14593
Already exceeds previous leading measurements for two parameters that govern solar neutrino oscillation. Not bad!
arxiv.org/abs/2511.14593
November 19, 2025 at 5:52 PM
First results taken with 59 days of measurements from JUNO, which studies neutrinos emitted by nuclear reactors off the coast of China.
Already exceeds previous leading measurements for two parameters that govern solar neutrino oscillation. Not bad!
arxiv.org/abs/2511.14593
Already exceeds previous leading measurements for two parameters that govern solar neutrino oscillation. Not bad!
arxiv.org/abs/2511.14593
Unclear how this will hold up in an inevitable court case, but worth noting:
We knew this regulation was going into effect, but we didn't yet know whether and how NIH might seek to use it.
Yesterday, we found out. NIH will indeed add specific language to new grant terms and, in doing so, it'll preserve the option to use this new power.
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
2/
Yesterday, we found out. NIH will indeed add specific language to new grant terms and, in doing so, it'll preserve the option to use this new power.
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
2/
November 19, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Unclear how this will hold up in an inevitable court case, but worth noting:
Researchers publish paper about the promise and perils of post-publication peer review (e.g. Pubpeer). Turns out the paper has several hallucinated citations, which are pointed out on... Pubpeer.
Commenters have also spotted that the last author (and EIC of the journal) has 11 retractions. 🤷♂️
Commenters have also spotted that the last author (and EIC of the journal) has 11 retractions. 🤷♂️
PubPeer - An expert criticism on post-publication peer review platform...
There are comments on PubPeer for publication: An expert criticism on post-publication peer review platforms: the case of pubpeer (2025)
pubpeer.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Researchers publish paper about the promise and perils of post-publication peer review (e.g. Pubpeer). Turns out the paper has several hallucinated citations, which are pointed out on... Pubpeer.
Commenters have also spotted that the last author (and EIC of the journal) has 11 retractions. 🤷♂️
Commenters have also spotted that the last author (and EIC of the journal) has 11 retractions. 🤷♂️
I realize that this is not the main takeaway for most, but this [gesturing at Epstein scandal] probably has significant implications for federal science funding, which depends largely on Congress rejecting the sweeping cuts proposed by Trump/Vought.
NEW: Donald Trump’s grip on his party appears to be faltering in ways unseen since the immediate aftermath of the Jan. 6 attack.
He may yet reassert himself, but the gathering clouds signal a GOP reckoning with its post-Trump future.
The 7 signs:
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
He may yet reassert himself, but the gathering clouds signal a GOP reckoning with its post-Trump future.
The 7 signs:
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
7 signs Trump is losing his groove
The president has faced a series of brush-offs and brushbacks that threaten his aura of invincibility.
www.politico.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:55 PM
I realize that this is not the main takeaway for most, but this [gesturing at Epstein scandal] probably has significant implications for federal science funding, which depends largely on Congress rejecting the sweeping cuts proposed by Trump/Vought.
Stunning local reporting from Syracuse about how the community came together to help someone escape from ICE. Also poignantly self-aware about who gets help, and why.
When ICE came for Jeremy, Syracuse’s underground railroad helped him escape the country
Friends and family helped a well-known Syracuse man elude detention and flee to France
www.syracuse.com
November 15, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Stunning local reporting from Syracuse about how the community came together to help someone escape from ICE. Also poignantly self-aware about who gets help, and why.
Terrific. You've created a metric that will consign all writing to AI.
This raises what I like to call the "AI test for tasks".
If many people use AI to do task X, then that tells you that task X is actually just a brainless administrative exercise.
Any such task should probably be eliminated, and if that's not an option, modified to make automation even easier.
If many people use AI to do task X, then that tells you that task X is actually just a brainless administrative exercise.
Any such task should probably be eliminated, and if that's not an option, modified to make automation even easier.
There was never any point to having reference letters. That's why we've all started using AI to do this nonesense task.
References should only be used for short-listed candidates for important positions/awards, and ideally, be done via a call to get the most honest opinion possible.
References should only be used for short-listed candidates for important positions/awards, and ideally, be done via a call to get the most honest opinion possible.
November 15, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Terrific. You've created a metric that will consign all writing to AI.
BREAKING: NSF will be relocating to the "Randolph Building," about half a mile from its current location in Alexandria, where they will co-locate with the US Patent and Trademark Office. The lease will begin January 1, 2026.
Below is a transcription of an email shared with me by NSF staff.
Below is a transcription of an email shared with me by NSF staff.
November 14, 2025 at 4:03 PM
BREAKING: NSF will be relocating to the "Randolph Building," about half a mile from its current location in Alexandria, where they will co-locate with the US Patent and Trademark Office. The lease will begin January 1, 2026.
Below is a transcription of an email shared with me by NSF staff.
Below is a transcription of an email shared with me by NSF staff.
Confirmed this with an NIH source. At the moment, not aware of anyone else who has been placed on leave though.
According to a source, Jenna Norton, who led a letter criticizing Trump's decimation of the NIH (see below), has been placed on administrative leave. She's the first at NIH to be put on leave, joining EPA officials who criticized Trump policies.
www.pbs.org/newshour/nat...
www.pbs.org/newshour/nat...
NIH scientists publish letter criticizing Trump's deep cuts in public health research
The letter addresses the termination of 2,100 research grants valued at more than $12 billion and some of the human costs that have resulted, such as cutting off medication regimens to participants in...
www.pbs.org
November 13, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Confirmed this with an NIH source. At the moment, not aware of anyone else who has been placed on leave though.
After a bruising 42-day shutdown, the government has finally reopened. We took a look at what's next for federal science—how quickly things will get back up to speed and whether there will be long-term consequences.
With Jeff Tollefson and @alexwitze.bsky.social:
With Jeff Tollefson and @alexwitze.bsky.social:
The US government shutdown is over: what’s next for scientists
Government researchers are heading back to work, but questions about the size of research-budget cuts will extend into next year.
www.nature.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:40 PM
After a bruising 42-day shutdown, the government has finally reopened. We took a look at what's next for federal science—how quickly things will get back up to speed and whether there will be long-term consequences.
With Jeff Tollefson and @alexwitze.bsky.social:
With Jeff Tollefson and @alexwitze.bsky.social:
High false alarm rate, but would be a hell of a thing to spot.
Oo! Interesting #GravitationalWave candidate #S251112cm potentially from a *subsolar* mass source
If real, the source is probably has chirp mass ~0.1–0.87 solar masses
False alarm rate 1 in 6.2 yr
GraceDB gracedb.ligo.org/superevents/...
GCN gcn.nasa.gov/circulars/42...
Rating 📏🍬
[🧪🔭⚛️]
If real, the source is probably has chirp mass ~0.1–0.87 solar masses
False alarm rate 1 in 6.2 yr
GraceDB gracedb.ligo.org/superevents/...
GCN gcn.nasa.gov/circulars/42...
Rating 📏🍬
[🧪🔭⚛️]
November 13, 2025 at 2:27 PM
High false alarm rate, but would be a hell of a thing to spot.
Alright, I think that's enough of these damn files for tonight.
G'night and good luck.
G'night and good luck.
November 13, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Alright, I think that's enough of these damn files for tonight.
G'night and good luck.
G'night and good luck.
In addition to the previously reported $270k in financial assistance, Chomsky and his wife were on friendly terms with Epstein between ~2015–2017, exchanging birthday and holiday greetings, discussing politics and science, and taking multiple visits to Epstein's properties.
In 2023, Chomsky told WSJ about his relationship with Epstein: “First response is that it is none of your business. Or anyone’s. Second is that I knew him and we met occasionally.”
Epstein: you are of course welcome to use apt in new york with your new leisure time, or visit new Mexico again
Epstein: you are of course welcome to use apt in new york with your new leisure time, or visit new Mexico again
November 13, 2025 at 7:09 AM
In addition to the previously reported $270k in financial assistance, Chomsky and his wife were on friendly terms with Epstein between ~2015–2017, exchanging birthday and holiday greetings, discussing politics and science, and taking multiple visits to Epstein's properties.
Some informal science advising here:
Epstein: i liked the argument that more co2 is good for plants?
Krauss: My goodness. So you are listening to an old Nobel laureate whose expertise has nothing to do with this, who has never studied this
in detail, built models, done experiments....
Epstein: i liked the argument that more co2 is good for plants?
Krauss: My goodness. So you are listening to an old Nobel laureate whose expertise has nothing to do with this, who has never studied this
in detail, built models, done experiments....
November 13, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Some informal science advising here:
Epstein: i liked the argument that more co2 is good for plants?
Krauss: My goodness. So you are listening to an old Nobel laureate whose expertise has nothing to do with this, who has never studied this
in detail, built models, done experiments....
Epstein: i liked the argument that more co2 is good for plants?
Krauss: My goodness. So you are listening to an old Nobel laureate whose expertise has nothing to do with this, who has never studied this
in detail, built models, done experiments....
By my count there's 65 documents with emails between Krauss and Epstein.
In many of them Krauss seems to ask Epstein for advice about the allegations of sexual misconduct leveled toward him.
In many of them Krauss seems to ask Epstein for advice about the allegations of sexual misconduct leveled toward him.
Short 🧵: Interesting to see Lawrence Krauss cropping up in today's Epstein documents. No date or context for this, but our reporting at BuzzFeed News identified Epstein as a significant source of funding for Krauss. (From prior reporting, "agreed in principle" may doing a lot of work here.)
In the Epstein documents release today, there is a file for a proposed Lawrence Krauss-led event series w/ proposed guests, 23 of which had "already agreed in principle" according to the doc. Some of those listed include Noam Chomsky, Woody Allen, Barack Obama, Larry Page and Elon Musk.
November 13, 2025 at 3:47 AM
By my count there's 65 documents with emails between Krauss and Epstein.
In many of them Krauss seems to ask Epstein for advice about the allegations of sexual misconduct leveled toward him.
In many of them Krauss seems to ask Epstein for advice about the allegations of sexual misconduct leveled toward him.
Reposted by Dan Garisto
if you can’t see the aurora borealis tonight, here is a sewer tunnel which is a wonder in itself.
November 12, 2025 at 3:58 AM
if you can’t see the aurora borealis tonight, here is a sewer tunnel which is a wonder in itself.
In which I said a few words about quantum computing and tried not to ramble too much.
Quantum computing: What's all the hype about?
We’ll unpack the promise of quantum computing.
www.marketplace.org
November 12, 2025 at 2:39 AM
In which I said a few words about quantum computing and tried not to ramble too much.