Dr Mel T
@drmel.bsky.social
🇦🇺Microbiologist in 🇬🇧 again adrift from Academia…. Disabled STEMMinist who has grown weary of discrimination in STEMM. #FuckMS #OneHealth 🌈 pan&poly she/her
Pinned
Dr Mel T
@drmel.bsky.social
· Oct 18
Welcome to BlueSky! This is my vibe, new followers! (There will also be #SciComm #DisabilityInSTEM #OneHeakth #Microbiology and nostalgia for the quaint (now obsolete) concept of Public Health. Ah, remember when we cared for the vulnerable? And had IPC? THOSE WERE THE DAYS, my friends!
Reposted by Dr Mel T
The US Dollar share of global reserve currency has fallen to its lowest level this century.
It’s hard to think Trump isn’t acting purely in the interests of Russia and China.
It’s hard to think Trump isn’t acting purely in the interests of Russia and China.
January 27, 2026 at 8:49 AM
The US Dollar share of global reserve currency has fallen to its lowest level this century.
It’s hard to think Trump isn’t acting purely in the interests of Russia and China.
It’s hard to think Trump isn’t acting purely in the interests of Russia and China.
Reposted by Dr Mel T
Invasion Day in Perth was targeted with a homemade explosive device yesterday. Aboriginal communities are under threat from neo-Nazis, racists and white supremacists. Yet politicians don't write special laws to combat hatred and violence against them. thewest.com.au/news/perth/i...
Cops say potential explosive device thrown into Oz Day crowd
WA Police are investigating what they’ve called a ‘very, very serious’ incident at Perth’s Invasion Day rally in which a potential explosive device was thrown into a crowd.
thewest.com.au
January 26, 2026 at 10:42 PM
Invasion Day in Perth was targeted with a homemade explosive device yesterday. Aboriginal communities are under threat from neo-Nazis, racists and white supremacists. Yet politicians don't write special laws to combat hatred and violence against them. thewest.com.au/news/perth/i...
Reposted by Dr Mel T
How many STEM Ph.D.s were lost from the U.S. federal government last year?
My colleagues @mghersher.bsky.social and @policyhound.bsky.social dug into a recent data release to find the answer. A @science.org exclusive.
www.science.org/content/arti...
My colleagues @mghersher.bsky.social and @policyhound.bsky.social dug into a recent data release to find the answer. A @science.org exclusive.
www.science.org/content/arti...
January 26, 2026 at 11:39 PM
How many STEM Ph.D.s were lost from the U.S. federal government last year?
My colleagues @mghersher.bsky.social and @policyhound.bsky.social dug into a recent data release to find the answer. A @science.org exclusive.
www.science.org/content/arti...
My colleagues @mghersher.bsky.social and @policyhound.bsky.social dug into a recent data release to find the answer. A @science.org exclusive.
www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Dr Mel T
“Every sexist command, every abusive interaction, feeds back into systems that shape future outputs. Without intervention, we risk hardcoding human misogyny into the digital infrastructure of everyday life.”
Artificial intelligence tools require greater regulation and institutional accountability.
Artificial intelligence tools require greater regulation and institutional accountability.
Most AI assistants are feminine – and it’s fuelling dangerous stereotypes and abuse
Without intervention, we risk hardcoding human misogyny into the digital infrastructure of everyday life.
theconversation.com
January 26, 2026 at 11:40 PM
“Every sexist command, every abusive interaction, feeds back into systems that shape future outputs. Without intervention, we risk hardcoding human misogyny into the digital infrastructure of everyday life.”
Artificial intelligence tools require greater regulation and institutional accountability.
Artificial intelligence tools require greater regulation and institutional accountability.
Reposted by Dr Mel T
The loss of expertise is staggering. The US is sacrificing its future under the Trump administration. 🧪
U.S. government has lost more than 10,000 STEM Ph.D.s since Trump took office
A Science analysis reveals how many were fired, retired, or quit across 14 agencies
www.science.org
January 27, 2026 at 3:56 AM
The loss of expertise is staggering. The US is sacrificing its future under the Trump administration. 🧪
Reposted by Dr Mel T
(Dude suddenly stops pushing his broom across the floor of the Death Star)
Does this look like a big laser to anyone else
Does this look like a big laser to anyone else
Palantir employees are pressing company leadership over its work for ICE in internal company Slacks obtained by @wired.com
"In my opinion ICE are the bad guys. I am not proud that the company I enjoy so much working for is part of this."
Scoop from @makenakelly.bsky.social
"In my opinion ICE are the bad guys. I am not proud that the company I enjoy so much working for is part of this."
Scoop from @makenakelly.bsky.social
Palantir Defends Work With ICE to Staff Following Killing of Alex Pretti
“In my opinion ICE are the bad guys. I am not proud that the company I enjoy so much working for is part of this,” one worker wrote on Slack.
www.wired.com
January 27, 2026 at 2:51 AM
(Dude suddenly stops pushing his broom across the floor of the Death Star)
Does this look like a big laser to anyone else
Does this look like a big laser to anyone else
👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
Lessons of history # 101
The Brownshirts were removed/ relegated AFTER they had commenced the “dirty work” in terrorising the “enemies” of Hitler et-al through state sanctioned dispossession/ demonisation and unfettered violence/ murder
The SS - Gestapo then became the front line of action
The Brownshirts were removed/ relegated AFTER they had commenced the “dirty work” in terrorising the “enemies” of Hitler et-al through state sanctioned dispossession/ demonisation and unfettered violence/ murder
The SS - Gestapo then became the front line of action
Bye, Temu Himmler. Enjoy El Centro.
January 27, 2026 at 4:32 AM
👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
😔😬🤬
European countries including U.K. lose measles elimination status
CTV News / Reuters
January 26, 2026
stillcoviding.ca/en/news/euro...
#health #measles #antivaxxers
CTV News / Reuters
January 26, 2026
stillcoviding.ca/en/news/euro...
#health #measles #antivaxxers
European countries including U.K. lose measles elimination status
stillcoviding.ca
January 27, 2026 at 4:30 AM
😔😬🤬
Reposted by Dr Mel T
What happens to the human body in 49C heat? Australians are finding out
What happens to the human body in 49C heat? Australians are finding out
Doctors warn there are biological limits to temperatures we can survive, and exposure to extreme heat can provoke a heart attack
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Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates
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Australia’s southern states are scorching in extreme heat that could break temperature records in Victoria and South Australia on Tuesday.
January and all-time records were forecast to be set in both states, with temperatures approaching 50C across inland areas, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
January 27, 2026 at 3:11 AM
What happens to the human body in 49C heat? Australians are finding out
Reposted by Dr Mel T
Minnesotans are also fighting for the rest of us and the preservation of representative democracy in America, because it won't end with them. Their fight is our fight. Nothing but admiration and respect and gratitude for their courage.
In the midst of the violence, let’s allow ourselves to be inspired by the heroism that is on display here.
Right now, it is not an exaggeration to say, Minnesotans are putting their lives on the line to fight for their city, protect their neighbors, and defend the Republic against tyranny.
Right now, it is not an exaggeration to say, Minnesotans are putting their lives on the line to fight for their city, protect their neighbors, and defend the Republic against tyranny.
January 26, 2026 at 1:44 PM
Minnesotans are also fighting for the rest of us and the preservation of representative democracy in America, because it won't end with them. Their fight is our fight. Nothing but admiration and respect and gratitude for their courage.
Reposted by Dr Mel T
“Call them the Cassandras: the people—mostly not white and male—who smelled the fascism all over Trump from jump street. Why were they “alarmists,” and how did “anti-alarmism” become cool?”
those who predicted authoritarianism were both dismissed, & deeply misunderstood, by the media
my latest for @newrepublic.com
newrepublic.com/article/2042...
my latest for @newrepublic.com
newrepublic.com/article/2042...
The Americans Who Saw All This Coming—but Were Ignored and Maligned
Call them the Cassandras: the people—mostly not white and male—who smelled the fascism all over Trump from jump street. Why were they “alarmists,” and how did “anti-alarmism” become cool?
newrepublic.com
January 26, 2026 at 11:57 AM
“Call them the Cassandras: the people—mostly not white and male—who smelled the fascism all over Trump from jump street. Why were they “alarmists,” and how did “anti-alarmism” become cool?”
Well, I joined the Green Party UK over the week end and had a call from my local group organiser, welcoming me to the party and to canvas my opinions. They wanted to add me to the WhatsApp group and I was like ‘HELL NO!’ Emails only please!
January 26, 2026 at 12:23 PM
Well, I joined the Green Party UK over the week end and had a call from my local group organiser, welcoming me to the party and to canvas my opinions. They wanted to add me to the WhatsApp group and I was like ‘HELL NO!’ Emails only please!
Reposted by Dr Mel T
More myths about vaccines debunked
CIDRAP Op-ed: Vaccine myths that won’t die and how to counter them—part 2
www.cidrap.umn.edu
January 26, 2026 at 10:33 AM
More myths about vaccines debunked
Reposted by Dr Mel T
For anyone interested, thread here 🙂:
bsky.app/profile/hans...
bsky.app/profile/hans...
Thousands of scientists inflate their CVs with self-published studies that cost millions of dollars of public money
1 in 8 'special issues' is filled with articles written by the editor, particularly at the publisher MDPI
@manuelansede.bsky.social
english.elpais.com/science-tech...
1 in 8 'special issues' is filled with articles written by the editor, particularly at the publisher MDPI
@manuelansede.bsky.social
english.elpais.com/science-tech...
Thousands of scientists inflate their CVs with self-published studies that cost millions of dollars of public money
An analysis of 100,000 special issues of academic journals reveals that one in eight is filled with articles written by the editor, particularly at the publisher MDPI
english.elpais.com
January 25, 2026 at 11:32 PM
For anyone interested, thread here 🙂:
bsky.app/profile/hans...
bsky.app/profile/hans...
Reposted by Dr Mel T
You’re about 13 months late here, Guardian.
America feels like a country on the brink of an authoritarian takeover | Francine Prose
America feels like a country on the brink of an authoritarian takeover | Francine Prose
This is the news we should be paying attention to. At least for the moment, everything else is a distraction
www.theguardian.com
January 26, 2026 at 5:06 AM
You’re about 13 months late here, Guardian.
Reposted by Dr Mel T
The burning of fossil fuels has led to the cancellation of an Invasion Day event in Adelaide, South Australia
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
Coal, oil and gas usage cancels scheduled celebration of invasion of Australia by white Europeans
An annual event celebrating the violent and bloody invasion of Australia has been cancelled due to the avoidable use of fossil fuels
www.abc.net.au
January 25, 2026 at 10:30 PM
The burning of fossil fuels has led to the cancellation of an Invasion Day event in Adelaide, South Australia
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
Reposted by Dr Mel T
This is how you illustrate an article about extreme heat. None of this 'day at the beach' bullshit
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Intense heat could smash temperature records in south-east Australia with catastrophic fire danger forecast
High to extreme fire danger expected across several states as inland parts of SA, Victoria, NSW and Queensland may have more than five days above 40C
www.theguardian.com
January 26, 2026 at 12:45 AM
This is how you illustrate an article about extreme heat. None of this 'day at the beach' bullshit
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Dr Mel T
As Bill Foege (RIP) said:
RFK Jr “would be less hazardous if he decided to do cardiac surgery. Then he’d kill people only one at a time rather than his current ability to kill by the thousands. Why is…killing a single person..seen as murder but killing masses is excused if you are a politician?”
RFK Jr “would be less hazardous if he decided to do cardiac surgery. Then he’d kill people only one at a time rather than his current ability to kill by the thousands. Why is…killing a single person..seen as murder but killing masses is excused if you are a politician?”
Re-upping this opinion piece by Dr. William Foege back in August: “How public health can fight back in a time of dangerous nonsense:
Three steps to surviving the drought of principles, values, and facts” #PublicHealth
www.statnews.com/2025/08/18/r...
Three steps to surviving the drought of principles, values, and facts” #PublicHealth
www.statnews.com/2025/08/18/r...
Former CDC Director William Foege: How public health can fight back in a time of dangerous nonsense
“Kennedy would be less hazardous if he decided to do cardiac surgery. Then he would kill people only one at a time,” writes former CDC Director William Foege.
www.statnews.com
January 25, 2026 at 8:02 PM
As Bill Foege (RIP) said:
RFK Jr “would be less hazardous if he decided to do cardiac surgery. Then he’d kill people only one at a time rather than his current ability to kill by the thousands. Why is…killing a single person..seen as murder but killing masses is excused if you are a politician?”
RFK Jr “would be less hazardous if he decided to do cardiac surgery. Then he’d kill people only one at a time rather than his current ability to kill by the thousands. Why is…killing a single person..seen as murder but killing masses is excused if you are a politician?”
Reposted by Dr Mel T
The horrific January 26 you never learnt about
Foundation Day 1838 - later to become Australia Day - was marked by events that could not have been more black and white: a day of celebration for some, death for others.
www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article...
Foundation Day 1838 - later to become Australia Day - was marked by events that could not have been more black and white: a day of celebration for some, death for others.
www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article...
The horrific January 26 you never learnt about
Foundation Day 1838 - later to become Australia Day - was marked by events that could not have been more black and white: a day of celebration for some, death for others.
www.sbs.com.au
January 26, 2026 at 4:23 AM
The horrific January 26 you never learnt about
Foundation Day 1838 - later to become Australia Day - was marked by events that could not have been more black and white: a day of celebration for some, death for others.
www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article...
Foundation Day 1838 - later to become Australia Day - was marked by events that could not have been more black and white: a day of celebration for some, death for others.
www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article...
It’s almost like a website originally controlled by a totalitarian state actor is being used for same - by another totalitarian state? WHY THE SURPRISE?
TikTok has been under new leadership for like a day and I made a slideshow with posts from the ICE rally today and it immediately got out under review and is not being published. Incredible.
January 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM
It’s almost like a website originally controlled by a totalitarian state actor is being used for same - by another totalitarian state? WHY THE SURPRISE?
Reposted by Dr Mel T
““There was definitely a signal of human-induced climate change behind this event,” said Prof Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick, one of the report’s co-authors and a climate scientist at the Australian National University.”
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Australia’s worst heatwave since black summer made five times more likely by global heating, analysis finds
Extreme heat ‘is getting worse and whether we like it or not … there’s ultimately a limit to what we can actually physically cope with,’ scientist says
www.theguardian.com
January 22, 2026 at 11:50 PM
““There was definitely a signal of human-induced climate change behind this event,” said Prof Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick, one of the report’s co-authors and a climate scientist at the Australian National University.”
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Reposted by Dr Mel T
I knew some of this, but not all of this, and now I’m just angry.
You should read it and be angry as well.
You should read it and be angry as well.
January 25, 2026 at 11:50 PM
I knew some of this, but not all of this, and now I’m just angry.
You should read it and be angry as well.
You should read it and be angry as well.
Reposted by Dr Mel T
I think this was our most furious podcast yet.
New episode with @wendyorent.bsky.social about how the destruction of public health ties into the destruction in the streets of Minnesota.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/w...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/w...
Polio Amnesia: When
Podcast Episode · We Want Them Infected Podcast · 01/25/2026 · 1h 8m
podcasts.apple.com
January 25, 2026 at 11:39 PM
I think this was our most furious podcast yet.