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Scientific Inquirer

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Scientific Inquirer @scientificinquirer.bsky.social · Aug 15

On August 8, 2024, Patrick White opened fire on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Atlanta headquarters, killing police officer David Rose before dying from gunshot wounds. #misinformation #vaccines #science youtu.be/ywb8unk1Tio

Blood on Their Hands: How RFK Jr.’s War on Science Fueled Violence Against Public Health Officials

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Scientific Inquirer @scientificinquirer.bsky.social · 5d

LIVE FOREVER PROJECT: From bondage to classroom: In 1827 James W.C. Pennington escaped Maryland, found Quaker aid, taught himself, opened a Black school in Newtown, audited Yale, and rejected colonization—claiming America as home. #History #Abolition
scientificinquirer.com/2025/10/06/t...

Scientific Inquirer @scientificinquirer.bsky.social · 8d

Caltech’s new Jupiter simulation shows how its 10-hour spin stirs water unevenly—rain gets dragged deep, boosting humidity far below clouds. Insights aid Juno’s water hunt and even exoplanet studies. ☁️🪐 #science #astronomy
scientificinquirer.com/2025/10/01/d...

Alt text: A black-and-white illustration of Jupiter beneath a dark storm cloud. Large raindrops fall from the cloud onto the planet, whose swirling bands and Great Red Spot are visible. Rippling patterns extend below Jupiter as though rainwater flows outward, with cattails framing the scene on both sides. A crescent moon and scattered stars shine in the background, giving the cosmic storm a playful, surreal feel.

Scientific Inquirer @scientificinquirer.bsky.social · 9d

Feeling like you don’t belong fuels impostor syndrome and hurts success, but simple interventions—like hearing alumni share struggles—boost grades and well-being. Reframing slights and open dialogue can build real inclusion. 🌱 #Belonging
scientificinquirer.com/2025/10/01/d...

Alt text: A black-and-white illustration of a young man sitting alone on a chair, hunched slightly forward with a worried expression. His light sweater contrasts with the dark, looming silhouettes of four larger figures surrounding him. The shadowy figures emphasize his sense of isolation and unease, symbolizing feelings of not belonging.

Scientific Inquirer @scientificinquirer.bsky.social · 9d

NASA just confirmed 6,000 exoplanets—ranging from rocky worlds to lava planets and gas giants. With 8,000+ candidates still pending, new telescopes will soon hunt Earth-like planets and possible biosignatures. 🌍✨ #Exoplanets
scientificinquirer.com/2025/10/01/d...

Alt text: A black-and-white cartoon-style illustration of space filled with seven distinct exoplanets. Some are rocky and cratered, others striped like gas giants, and one has rings like Saturn. A large star shines brightly in the background among scattered smaller stars, with a crescent moon to the side. The planets hover playfully above a watery horizon, framed by tall cattails on either side.

Scientific Inquirer @scientificinquirer.bsky.social · 9d

OHSU scientists used “mitomeiosis” to turn skin cells into human eggs—9% grew into blastocysts. Still early and reliant on donor eggs, but it could reshape infertility treatment and offer hope for same-sex couples and cancer survivors. 🌱🧬
scientificinquirer.com/2025/10/01/d...

Alt text: A black-and-white illustration showing the process of turning a skin cell into a human egg. On the left, a textured circular skin cell is labeled “skin cell.” Arrows point toward a larger circular egg cell on the right, labeled “human egg,” with a lightning bolt symbol above representing the electric pulse. Above the egg, another circle shows sperm entering for fertilization. The style is shaded like charcoal or graphite, with strong contrasts on a dark background.

Scientific Inquirer @scientificinquirer.bsky.social · 10d

Scientists using the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment — the world’s most sensitive dark matter detector — have just released new results that shrink the list of what dark matter could be. #science

Scientific Inquirer @scientificinquirer.bsky.social · 11d

LIGO just caught the clearest gravitational wave ever: two 33-solar-mass black holes merged into one, ringing like a cosmic bell. The pristine signal confirmed Einstein & Hawking’s predictions about spacetime and black holes. 🌌🖤 #Physics
scientificinquirer.com/2025/09/30/d...

Alt text: A black-and-white woodcut-style illustration of two black holes colliding in deep space. The two dark spheres touch at their edges, with a sharp flash between them. Concentric ripples radiate outward, representing gravitational waves spreading through the star-filled cosmos. The scene is stark and dramatic, emphasizing the immense power and precision of the merger.

Scientific Inquirer @scientificinquirer.bsky.social · 11d

Venus flytraps snap shut thanks to ion channels in trigger hairs that turn touch into electrical signals—2 touches = trap closed. New research reveals calcium’s role, offering clues for future bio-inspired tech. 🌱⚡ scientificinquirer.com/2025/09/30/d...

Scientists have uncovered how Venus flytraps detect and close on prey with such rapid precision. Each trigger hair on the trap contains specialized ion channels that convert mechanical touch into an electrical signal. Two touches within about 30 seconds generate enough charge to snap the trap shut, ensuring efficiency and reducing false alarms. Advanced imaging and electrophysiology revealed how calcium flows inside the plant’s cells to amplify the signal. The discovery provides new insights into plant sensory biology and could inspire bioengineered materials or robotics that mimic the flytrap’s responsive mechanics. Researchers see the work as a step toward linking plant neurobiology with applied technology. (Ars Technica)

Scientific Inquirer @scientificinquirer.bsky.social · 11d

Scientists think will-o’-the-wisps might be caused by tiny lightning bursts from marsh gases, not ghosts or simple combustion. Lab tests showed faint blue “microlightning,” matching folklore accounts. Next step: testing in wetlands. ⚡✨ scientificinquirer.com/2025/09/30/d...

Alt text: A black-and-white cartoon of a swamp at night. In the center, a glowing will-o’-the-wisp floats above the water, drawn as a round smiling face with a lightning bolt body. It radiates light, illuminating cattails, grasses, and rippling water around it. A crescent moon and stars shine in the sky above, creating a whimsical, playful atmosphere.

Scientific Inquirer @scientificinquirer.bsky.social · 11d

Anthropic’s new AI stayed focused for 30 HOURS on complex tasks like debugging & research, thanks to better attention-control. Huge leap in reasoning—but big questions remain on cost, oversight & misuse. #AI scientificinquirer.com/2025/09/30/d...

Alt text: A black-and-white cartoon drawing of a cheerful robot sitting at a desk. The robot, with a rounded face and an antenna on its head, holds a pencil and works on diagrams while surrounded by books, papers, and neatly stacked documents. A clock on the wall shows time passing, and pinned notes hang nearby. The scene conveys focus and energy, with the robot calmly engaged in multi-step tasks.

Scientific Inquirer @scientificinquirer.bsky.social · 13d

Chimps in Uganda & Côte d’Ivoire eat fruit with low levels of alcohol—about a human drink a day when scaled. They even prefer riper, boozier fruit 🍌🍷. Supports the “drunken monkey” idea of our evolutionary taste for ethanol. #Science #Evolution
scientificinquirer.com/category/eve...

A black-and-white ink cartoon showing four chimpanzees at a mock cocktail party. Each holds an oversized cocktail glass with fruit garnish. One chimp slurps from a straw, another nibbles fruit floating in the drink, a third appears tipsy and smiling, while the fourth blows into a handheld breathalyzer with a wide-eyed, guilty expression.

Scientific Inquirer @scientificinquirer.bsky.social · 18d

Researchers used large AI models (Evo 1 and Evo 2) to generate complete bacteriophage genomes, then synthesized and tested the best designs in lab. #science #AI

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Scientific Inquirer @scientificinquirer.bsky.social · 19d

AI just designed working viruses: researchers trained models on millions of phage genomes, generated 300+ candidates, and lab-tested 16 that killed antibiotic-resistant E. coli. Big promise for phage therapy—big biosafety questions too. 🦠🤖 #AI #Biotech
scientificinquirer.com/2025/09/22/d...

A darkly witty black-and-white cartoon shows a smiling robot labeled “AI” holding a dropper over a Petri dish filled with cartoon-like bacteriophages. Beside it, a human scientist in a lab coat watches nervously, brows furrowed and lips pursed with worry. Test tubes sit in the background, emphasizing the lab setting and the uneasy contrast between the AI’s cheerfulness and the human’s apprehension.

Scientific Inquirer @scientificinquirer.bsky.social · 20d

A huge Nordic trial found daily aspirin cut colorectal cancer recurrence risk by 55%—but only in patients with PI3K mutations (~40% of cases). Genetic testing may guide who benefits most. 🧬💊 #CancerResearch #Aspirin
scientificinquirer.com/2025/09/18/d...

A sharp black-and-white cartoon shows two robed, bearded ancient doctors solemnly presenting an enormous aspirin tablet to a patient sitting on an exam table, who looks surprised and uncertain. Behind him, two modern scientists in lab coats observe, one holding a laptop displaying a DNA double helix, highlighting the clash between old remedies and new genetic precision.

Scientific Inquirer @scientificinquirer.bsky.social · 20d

A new study claims rulers’ hand gestures on Copán’s Altar Q encode Maya calendar dates—hinting at a “dual-script” system mixing signs + glyphs. Some see a Rosetta Stone, others call it pattern-hunting. Debate is on. 🗿⏳ #Maya #Archaeology scientificinquirer.com/2025/09/18/d...

A witty black-and-white cartoon depicts four Maya rulers seated on a carved stone bench, each wearing elaborate headdresses and jewelry. Instead of solemn poses, they are making exaggerated hand signals—one flashing an “OK” sign, another showing two fingers and pointing, another doubling the “OK” gesture, and the last resting a hand on his chest. The stone below them is decorated with stylized glyphs.

Scientific Inquirer @scientificinquirer.bsky.social · 21d

Google’s Gemini 2.5 “Deep Think” just competed in the ICPC finals—solving 10/12 problems (gold-level, 2nd place overall) and even cracked one no human team solved. AI is officially in the algorithm Olympics. 🤯 #ICPC #AI
scientificinquirer.com/2025/09/18/d...

A playful black-and-white cartoon shows four contestants at a programming contest. Three are humans, looking stressed, puzzled, or anxious as they work at their computers. Between them sits a cheerful humanoid robot with “AI” on its chest, happily typing at its keyboard. A banner overhead reads “PROGRAMMING CONTEST.”

Scientific Inquirer @scientificinquirer.bsky.social · 25d

Childhood vaccination rates are dropping fast—77% of US counties have seen declines since 2019, with most below herd immunity levels. Experts warn measles outbreaks could return. #PublicHealth #Vaccines scientificinquirer.com/2025/09/16/d...

A black-and-white cartoon shows five worried children huddled under a large umbrella labeled “HERD IMMUNITY.” Angry cartoon viruses rain down from storm clouds above. Two smiling adults jab the umbrella with oversized syringes marked “EXEMPTION” and “EXEMPTIONS,” creating holes that let the rain and viruses leak through onto the children.

Scientific Inquirer @scientificinquirer.bsky.social · Sep 4

Japan’s first Neoparadoxia fossil has been found in Hokkaido 🦴🌊 The 15M-year-old marine mammal expands its range from the U.S. West Coast, shedding light on Miocene oceans and ancient species migration. #Fossils #Paleontology scientificinquirer.com/2025/09/03/d...

Alt text:
Black-and-white illustration of an extinct Neoparadoxia swimming peacefully in shallow ocean waters under a calm sky with the sun partially hidden by clouds. Below it on the seafloor lies a detailed fossil skeleton of the same creature, half-buried among rocks and seaweed. The contrast evokes a poetic sense of deep time and marine evolution.

Scientific Inquirer @scientificinquirer.bsky.social · Sep 4

Many nations may be lowballing their carbon budgets, a study warns—using rosy assumptions that hide the true cuts needed for net zero. Experts call for transparent, standardized accounting to keep Paris goals on track. #Climate #NetZero scientificinquirer.com/2025/09/03/d...

Black-and-white illustration of a smiling man in a suit and glasses holding a document titled "Optimistic Carbon Budget" with an upward-trending graph. Behind him, the Earth emits thick black smoke, highlighting the contrast between cheerful projections and worsening environmental reality.

Scientific Inquirer @scientificinquirer.bsky.social · Sep 4

Worms that munch plastic 🪱➡️🛠️ New research shows their gut microbes can break down polyethylene, hinting at future bio-based recycling. The real goal: harness enzymes, not release worms into landfills. #Sustainability #Plastics scientificinquirer.com/2025/09/03/d...

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Scientific Inquirer @scientificinquirer.bsky.social · Sep 4

House Republicans are signaling support to keep NIH funding flat in 2026—easing fears of deep cuts. Advocates warn flat dollars still squeeze research as costs rise, but bipartisan backing shows science remains a priority. #Research #NIH
scientificinquirer.com/2025/09/03/d...

Scientific Inquirer @scientificinquirer.bsky.social · Sep 4

Metformin, a cheap diabetes drug, is linked to lower long COVID risk in new research. Not a vaccine replacement, but if benefits hold, it could become a safe, low-cost tool for high-risk adults. #LongCOVID #Health scientificinquirer.com/2025/09/03/d...

Alt text:
Black-and-white illustration of a serious-looking doctor wearing glasses and a lab coat, holding up a large pill labeled "Metformin." Behind him, a symbolic image of the COVID-19 virus looms, while a shadowy, hunched figure representing a fatigued long COVID patient appears in the background. The composition emphasizes hope and clinical focus.

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Scientific Inquirer @scientificinquirer.bsky.social · Sep 3

Cheerful, soft music might ease motion sickness 🎶 A small study found travelers listening to upbeat playlists felt less nausea and discomfort—pointing to a simple, drug-free fix worth testing in real rides. #Health #Travel scientificinquirer.com/2025/09/03/d...

A black-and-white cartoon illustration of a man happily driving a car while wearing large headphones, surrounded by floating musical notes. In the passenger seat beside him, a woman looks visibly carsick, holding her face with a pained expression, sweat marks on her forehead, and wavy lines above her head suggesting nausea. The scene outside the windows shows a simple, rolling landscape with clouds and hills.

Scientific Inquirer @scientificinquirer.bsky.social · Aug 28

University of Georgia and Brigham Young University researchers have identified the key to combating loneliness through live events. #science

Scientific Inquirer @scientificinquirer.bsky.social · Aug 25

Illness in Christian art wasn’t just sickness—it carried moral weight: punishment, purification, or redemption. That legacy still echoes in how we talk about #disease today. 🎨🙏 #ArtHistory #science scientificinquirer.com/2025/08/25/s...

A somber black-and-white woodcut-style illustration is divided into three arched panels. On the left, a serene saint with a radiant halo raises one hand in blessing. In the center, a frail sick man lies in bed, eyes closed and face gaunt, embodying suffering. On the right, an anguished figure scowls while engulfed in stylized flames, representing a sinner. The stark shading and medieval-inspired framing emphasize the moral coding of illness, sanctity, and sin.