Tamar Haspel
@tamarhaspel.bsky.social
James Beard winning WaPo columnist writing about food & science, author of TO BOLDLY GROW, gentleman oyster farmer.
Reposted by Tamar Haspel
Unless a disaster happens in the next few weeks, this year US farmers will have a record corn harvest and record soy yield (they're related, but not the same thing). Sure hope some malign force hasn't screwed up agricultural export markets. esmis.nal.usda.gov/sites/defaul...
November 24, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Unless a disaster happens in the next few weeks, this year US farmers will have a record corn harvest and record soy yield (they're related, but not the same thing). Sure hope some malign force hasn't screwed up agricultural export markets. esmis.nal.usda.gov/sites/defaul...
If you're going to advocate for "consumerism" in health care, I think you have to require that doctors & hospitals tell patients how much a procedure will cost them before they get it.
Ron Johnson: "We've basically driven free market competition out of healthcare. The way you return it? Consumerism."
November 24, 2025 at 3:07 PM
If you're going to advocate for "consumerism" in health care, I think you have to require that doctors & hospitals tell patients how much a procedure will cost them before they get it.
Reposted by Tamar Haspel
Funding alert: @grist.org is offering grants of up to $5,000 for reporting on rural climate issues and environmental justice in the United States. Newsrooms and freelancers are welcome to apply. Please share! grist.org/updates/gris...
Grist opens applications for new rural reporting grants on climate and environmental justice
Applicants can request up to $5,000 per project.
grist.org
November 11, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Funding alert: @grist.org is offering grants of up to $5,000 for reporting on rural climate issues and environmental justice in the United States. Newsrooms and freelancers are welcome to apply. Please share! grist.org/updates/gris...
Even Charles Darwin used the passive voice crutch
on this day in 1859 Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species was first published.
"Therefore I should infer from analogy that probably all the organic beings which have ever lived on this earth have descended from some one primordial form, into which life was first breathed."
"Therefore I should infer from analogy that probably all the organic beings which have ever lived on this earth have descended from some one primordial form, into which life was first breathed."
November 24, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Even Charles Darwin used the passive voice crutch
You might think this study involved actual people eating actual beans.
But it doesn't. It's what they're generously calling a model, where they substitute theoretical beans for actual, less nutritious, protein foods and conclude that diet quality goes up.
Oy vey!
esmed.org/MRA/mra/arti...
But it doesn't. It's what they're generously calling a model, where they substitute theoretical beans for actual, less nutritious, protein foods and conclude that diet quality goes up.
Oy vey!
esmed.org/MRA/mra/arti...
Replacing Protein Foods for Canned Beans Increases Shortfall Nutrient Intakes and Improves Diet Quality in Adults
| Medical Research Archives
esmed.org
November 24, 2025 at 2:11 PM
You might think this study involved actual people eating actual beans.
But it doesn't. It's what they're generously calling a model, where they substitute theoretical beans for actual, less nutritious, protein foods and conclude that diet quality goes up.
Oy vey!
esmed.org/MRA/mra/arti...
But it doesn't. It's what they're generously calling a model, where they substitute theoretical beans for actual, less nutritious, protein foods and conclude that diet quality goes up.
Oy vey!
esmed.org/MRA/mra/arti...
Semaglutide works for weight loss but not, alas, Alzheimer's.
www.globenewswire.com/news-release...
www.globenewswire.com/news-release...
Novo Nordisk A/S: Evoke phase 3 trials did not demonstrate a statistically significant reduction in Alzheimer's disease progression
Bagsværd, Denmark, 24 November 2025 – Novo Nordisk today announced the top-line results from the 2-year primary analysis of evoke and evoke+ phase 3 trials...
www.globenewswire.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Semaglutide works for weight loss but not, alas, Alzheimer's.
www.globenewswire.com/news-release...
www.globenewswire.com/news-release...
Vaccines & autism make headlines. But the root of the problem -- statistical shenanigans - doesn't
If you test enough variables, you're gonna find some associations.
@adamjkucharski.bsky.social explains.
kucharski.substack.com/p/is-this-pa...
If you test enough variables, you're gonna find some associations.
@adamjkucharski.bsky.social explains.
kucharski.substack.com/p/is-this-pa...
How good are you at spotting patterns?
The perils of mistaking randomness for meaning
kucharski.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Vaccines & autism make headlines. But the root of the problem -- statistical shenanigans - doesn't
If you test enough variables, you're gonna find some associations.
@adamjkucharski.bsky.social explains.
kucharski.substack.com/p/is-this-pa...
If you test enough variables, you're gonna find some associations.
@adamjkucharski.bsky.social explains.
kucharski.substack.com/p/is-this-pa...
A 3-year post-chemo exercise program for colon cancer patients increased 5-year disease-free survival to 80.3%, from 73.9% in the control group.
There's almost nothing exercise doesn't help.
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
There's almost nothing exercise doesn't help.
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
Structured Exercise after Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer | NEJM
Preclinical and observational studies suggest that exercise may improve cancer outcomes.
However, definitive level 1 evidence is lacking. In this phase 3, randomized trial
conducted at 55 centers, ...
www.nejm.org
November 22, 2025 at 7:26 PM
A 3-year post-chemo exercise program for colon cancer patients increased 5-year disease-free survival to 80.3%, from 73.9% in the control group.
There's almost nothing exercise doesn't help.
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
There's almost nothing exercise doesn't help.
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Tamar Haspel
Honestly, it's wild to watch the nutrition community continue to get behind a term like UPF (defined by looking at a ingredients and giving a 'bad' label by the presence of an 'industrial' additive) while this exact, scientifically hollow tactic is being rolled out to scare folks away from vaccines.
Ultra-processed foods – what’s the impact?
In a new Lancet Series, experts warn a global rise in #UPFs presents a growing public health threat.
Read the evidence & policy recommendations ⬇️
spkl.io/63327AduhR
In a new Lancet Series, experts warn a global rise in #UPFs presents a growing public health threat.
Read the evidence & policy recommendations ⬇️
spkl.io/63327AduhR
November 22, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Honestly, it's wild to watch the nutrition community continue to get behind a term like UPF (defined by looking at a ingredients and giving a 'bad' label by the presence of an 'industrial' additive) while this exact, scientifically hollow tactic is being rolled out to scare folks away from vaccines.
This, from @kcklatt.bsky.social on x, is exactly right.
November 22, 2025 at 3:33 PM
This, from @kcklatt.bsky.social on x, is exactly right.
Reposted by Tamar Haspel
A person in Washington State who kept backyard poultry has died from #H5N5 #flu. The person was the first known infection with this subtype of flu globally & the second recorded death in the US from an #H5 flu virus. Health authorities say there's no evidence the person spread the virus to others.
November 22, 2025 at 2:41 PM
The people that will fix science are the ones doing the deep digging required to find errors, statistical shenanigans, and out-and-out fraud.
Hats off.
Hats off.
lads i found ANOTHER Table of Impossible Summary Statistics in a "green economics" paper 🚩
Can you see the problem?
Can you see the problem?
November 22, 2025 at 2:31 PM
The people that will fix science are the ones doing the deep digging required to find errors, statistical shenanigans, and out-and-out fraud.
Hats off.
Hats off.
The whole-wheat croissant at Seylou is astonishing.
I love to see the focus on different grains and growing techniques.
But this is NOT a climate solution. It's luxury products for rich people, using low-yielding grains.
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solu...
I love to see the focus on different grains and growing techniques.
But this is NOT a climate solution. It's luxury products for rich people, using low-yielding grains.
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solu...
Better bread and booze start with healthier soil
Bakers, distillers and brewers are looking for grains grown with old-school techniques that help the planet and bring more flavor to your plate or glass.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:27 PM
The whole-wheat croissant at Seylou is astonishing.
I love to see the focus on different grains and growing techniques.
But this is NOT a climate solution. It's luxury products for rich people, using low-yielding grains.
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solu...
I love to see the focus on different grains and growing techniques.
But this is NOT a climate solution. It's luxury products for rich people, using low-yielding grains.
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solu...
Reposted by Tamar Haspel
We’ll need to grow 50% more calories by 2050 to feed the world, and we’ll need to do it with less land. People keep telling me, no, we just need to stop wasting food and eating meat, but how’s that going? The math sucks, but the math is the math.
November 21, 2025 at 8:03 PM
We’ll need to grow 50% more calories by 2050 to feed the world, and we’ll need to do it with less land. People keep telling me, no, we just need to stop wasting food and eating meat, but how’s that going? The math sucks, but the math is the math.
Make it stop!
Endless papers pitting low-carb, low-fat, keto, Mediterranean, whatever diets against each other when ALL the differences are just a few pounds.
It doesn't matter. No diet ever tested works for long-term, substantial weight loss.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Endless papers pitting low-carb, low-fat, keto, Mediterranean, whatever diets against each other when ALL the differences are just a few pounds.
It doesn't matter. No diet ever tested works for long-term, substantial weight loss.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Effects of carbohydrate-restricted diets and macronutrient replacements on cardiovascular health and body composition in adults: a meta-analysis of randomized trials
Carbohydrate-restricted diets (CRDs) are widely promoted for improving cardiovascular and body composition outcomes, yet evidence remains mixed across…
www.sciencedirect.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Make it stop!
Endless papers pitting low-carb, low-fat, keto, Mediterranean, whatever diets against each other when ALL the differences are just a few pounds.
It doesn't matter. No diet ever tested works for long-term, substantial weight loss.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Endless papers pitting low-carb, low-fat, keto, Mediterranean, whatever diets against each other when ALL the differences are just a few pounds.
It doesn't matter. No diet ever tested works for long-term, substantial weight loss.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
A 2024 report by food/climate scientists said livestock "must" peak by 2025 in high-income countries. (HT @nicholasdcarter.bsky.social)
It won't.
It's futile to call something people *will not do* a requirement for climate mitigation.
animal.law.harvard.edu/wp-content/u...
It won't.
It's futile to call something people *will not do* a requirement for climate mitigation.
animal.law.harvard.edu/wp-content/u...
November 21, 2025 at 3:03 PM
A 2024 report by food/climate scientists said livestock "must" peak by 2025 in high-income countries. (HT @nicholasdcarter.bsky.social)
It won't.
It's futile to call something people *will not do* a requirement for climate mitigation.
animal.law.harvard.edu/wp-content/u...
It won't.
It's futile to call something people *will not do* a requirement for climate mitigation.
animal.law.harvard.edu/wp-content/u...
"Cost transparency" is, apparently, the new euphemism for farm payouts.
It's like "Lobachevsky," the Tom Lehrer song about plagiarism. "Only call it please 'research.'"
It's like "Lobachevsky," the Tom Lehrer song about plagiarism. "Only call it please 'research.'"
Rep. Ashley Hinson on a bailout for farmers: "I'm pleased to hear that the administration acknowledges the struggles our farmers are facing and will be focused on this bridge. We need this bridge, these payments to go out to our folks so they can continue to operate."
November 21, 2025 at 1:13 PM
"Cost transparency" is, apparently, the new euphemism for farm payouts.
It's like "Lobachevsky," the Tom Lehrer song about plagiarism. "Only call it please 'research.'"
It's like "Lobachevsky," the Tom Lehrer song about plagiarism. "Only call it please 'research.'"
Reposted by Tamar Haspel
We’re looking for a news reporter interested in writing about weather science and weather history for a social platform. This is a really great team and you should join us careers.wbd.com/global/en/jo...
News Reporter, CNN Weather in Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America | Creative, Content & Editorial at CNN
Apply for News Reporter, CNN Weather job with CNN
careers.wbd.com
November 17, 2025 at 10:53 PM
We’re looking for a news reporter interested in writing about weather science and weather history for a social platform. This is a really great team and you should join us careers.wbd.com/global/en/jo...
Reposted by Tamar Haspel
U of C doctor says study shows for-profit diagnostic screening will lead to unintended problems calgaryherald.com/news/local-n... w @bradenmannsyyc.bsky.social
"Blindly increasing access to medical tests will lead to wasted resources, higher anxiety ... the creation of a two-tiered system"
"Blindly increasing access to medical tests will lead to wasted resources, higher anxiety ... the creation of a two-tiered system"
U of C doctor says study shows for-profit diagnostic screening will lead to unintended problems
"We're going to prey on people's anxieties," says doctor who studied increased cardiac imaging in Alberta in the late 1990s.
calgaryherald.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:23 PM
U of C doctor says study shows for-profit diagnostic screening will lead to unintended problems calgaryherald.com/news/local-n... w @bradenmannsyyc.bsky.social
"Blindly increasing access to medical tests will lead to wasted resources, higher anxiety ... the creation of a two-tiered system"
"Blindly increasing access to medical tests will lead to wasted resources, higher anxiety ... the creation of a two-tiered system"
Reposted by Tamar Haspel
This is a really important new project on science funding.
Applications are now open! forms.gle/jWgWc5eZJncK...
Are you science faculty or a science teacher? We’re seeking reviewers for our review process in Dec or Jan: science-foundation.org/what-ifs-202...
Are you science faculty or a science teacher? We’re seeking reviewers for our review process in Dec or Jan: science-foundation.org/what-ifs-202...
November 15, 2025 at 4:30 PM
This is a really important new project on science funding.
Health-conscious consumer suing Cape Cod Potato Chips for using ... drumroll please ... synthetic citric acid, although the label says "all natural."
Live by the sword ...
www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/...
Live by the sword ...
www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/...
Cape Cod chips falsely claim to have "no artificial" ingredients, class action lawsuit alleges
Cape Cod Potato Chips are the subject of a class action lawsuit that takes issue with a claim on the brand's packaging.
www.cbsnews.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Health-conscious consumer suing Cape Cod Potato Chips for using ... drumroll please ... synthetic citric acid, although the label says "all natural."
Live by the sword ...
www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/...
Live by the sword ...
www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/...
I just started TIGERS BETWEEN EMPIRES and I'm looking forward to a whole book of interesting stuff like this.
If Slaght is new to you, start with OWLS OF THE EASTERN ICE, a fascinating, page-turning book about, obviously, owls.
If Slaght is new to you, start with OWLS OF THE EASTERN ICE, a fascinating, page-turning book about, obviously, owls.
A short 🧵: one astounding thing I learned while researching TIGERS BETWEEN EMPIRES was the existence of the Willow Palisade, a 700-km wall made of interlocking trees, an extension of the Great Wall planted in NE China in the 17th century. This map shows approx. Amur tiger range in 1850. 1/9
November 14, 2025 at 3:19 PM
I just started TIGERS BETWEEN EMPIRES and I'm looking forward to a whole book of interesting stuff like this.
If Slaght is new to you, start with OWLS OF THE EASTERN ICE, a fascinating, page-turning book about, obviously, owls.
If Slaght is new to you, start with OWLS OF THE EASTERN ICE, a fascinating, page-turning book about, obviously, owls.
Reposted by Tamar Haspel
So @jamesheathers.bsky.social & I answer the burning question: does Cake cause Herpes? No, but one can torture the data to give that impression, and that's a problem. Promiscuous dichotomisation in biomedical science hugely increases spurious findings, best avoided
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
November 13, 2025 at 12:42 PM
So @jamesheathers.bsky.social & I answer the burning question: does Cake cause Herpes? No, but one can torture the data to give that impression, and that's a problem. Promiscuous dichotomisation in biomedical science hugely increases spurious findings, best avoided
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Tamar Haspel
I’ve been in Toronto at the #astmh meeting these past few days and last night some very good news was presented here: A new malaria drug has proven efficacious in a large trial and could soon be approved.🧪
My story in @science.org (and 🧵on why it's important to come):
www.science.org/content/arti...
My story in @science.org (and 🧵on why it's important to come):
www.science.org/content/arti...
‘A sigh of relief’: New malaria drug succeeds in large clinical trial
As existing drugs falter because of resistance, the world gets a backup—but hard choices loom on how to use it
www.science.org
November 13, 2025 at 1:27 PM
I’ve been in Toronto at the #astmh meeting these past few days and last night some very good news was presented here: A new malaria drug has proven efficacious in a large trial and could soon be approved.🧪
My story in @science.org (and 🧵on why it's important to come):
www.science.org/content/arti...
My story in @science.org (and 🧵on why it's important to come):
www.science.org/content/arti...