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Those Nerdy Girls

@thosenerdygirls.bsky.social

4.8K followers 390 following 620 posts

A team of women & non-binary scientists & clinicians here to empower people to better navigate science & health info. Creators of Dear Pandemic. #publichealth #scicomm #WomenInStem https://thosenerdygirls.org/ https://thosenerdygirls.substack.com/

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Those Nerdy Girls @thosenerdygirls.bsky.social · May 15

5/ 📭 Please subscribe to our Substack, and help amplify Nerdy voices (now more than ever). thosenerdygirls.substack.com

Subscribe to News from Those Nerdy Girls

Your trusted messengers for practical and factual health information. Click to read News from Those Nerdy Girls, a Substack publication with tens of thousands of subscribers.

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Those Nerdy Girls @thosenerdygirls.bsky.social · 17h

Don’t get fooled by apples and oranges.

When you see headlines about changes in something scary like crime or disease, make sure it’s an apples-to-apples comparison. Otherwise, you might get fooled by faulty #statistics.

Keep reading here:
thosenerdygirls.substack.com/p/dont-get-f...

Don’t get fooled by apples and oranges.

When you see headlines about changes in something scary like crime or disease, make sure it’s an apples-to-apples comparison. Otherwise, you might get fooled by faulty statistics.

thosenerdygirls.substack.com

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Those Nerdy Girls @thosenerdygirls.bsky.social · 1d

Do we all have worms?
#Worms have been all over celebrity news lately, and there are a lot of TikTok creators who are selling worm “#cleanses.” But the average person in the United States isn’t usually infected by worms.
Get the full story from Rebecca Raskin-Wish:

Do we all have worms?

Worms have been all over celebrity news lately, and there are a lot of TikTok creators who are selling worm “cleanses.” But the average person in the United States isn’t usually infected by worms.

thosenerdygirls.substack.com

Those Nerdy Girls @thosenerdygirls.bsky.social · 1d

There are multiple over-the-counter fever and pain-reducing medications, but they are not all equal and some can be dangerous for certain people. It is important to know the differences so you can keep you and your family safe.

Check out the full piece from @cindyleifer.bsky.social here:

There has been a lot about Tylenol in the news lately. Can you explain what the different pain and fever reducers are?

There are multiple over-the-counter fever and pain-reducing medications, but they are not all equal and some can be dangerous for certain people.

thosenerdygirls.substack.com

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Reposted by Those Nerdy Girls

Sabina Vohra-Miller @sabivm.bsky.social · 7d

Flu shot saves lives.
Remember: children aged 6 months and older are eligible to receive a flu shot. Two doses, one month apart are required if receiving a flu shot for the first time in children aged 8 and under.

PEDIATRIC
Influenza Deaths 2024-2025, USA

Among children eligible to be vaccinated,
90% of the deaths occurred in those who were not fully vaccinated.

Demographics

279
Pediatric deaths

7 years
Mean age (range: 2
weeks - 17 years)

43.5%
Had no known risk factors (amongst those with a known medical history)

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Reposted by Those Nerdy Girls

Liz Marnik @sciencewhizliz.bsky.social · 2d

I am so honored! 💕

MDI Biological Laboratory @mdibiolab.bsky.social · 2d

We are so proud of MDI Bio Lab's Liz Marnik — named one of Maine’s “40 Under 40” by @mainebiz.bsky.social!

Inspiring, leading and making science accessible for all!

🧪 🤝 🍎 👩‍🔬 🧬 #AcademicSky #SciEd #iTeachBio #EduSky
#standwithscience #researchmatters

MDI Bio Lab’s Elisabeth Marnik Is One of Maine’s “40 Under 40” Leaders

mdibl.org

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Reposted by Those Nerdy Girls

Irini Hadjisavva @dririnih.bsky.social · 2d

💩 Are home #microbiome #testkits worth it?

➡️ Probably not.

TL;DR: Right now, these tests don’t provide actionable information to diagnose health conditions, guide medical treatments, or tailor our #diets.

Find out more in this post I wrote for @thosenerdygirls.bsky.social :

Are home microbiome test kits worth it?

Are home microbiome test kits worth it? Probably not. TL;DR: Right now, these tests don’t provide actionable information to diagnose health conditions,

thosenerdygirls.org

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Reposted by Those Nerdy Girls

Jenn Dowd @drjenndowd.bsky.social · 9d

With apologies to Jimmy Buffett....
jenndowd.substack.com/p/wasting-yo... #episky #medsky #dementia

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Reposted by Those Nerdy Girls

Ruth Ann Crystal @drruth.bsky.social · 5d

The HPV vaccine is doing what had been promised.
17 years after it became available, HPV infections decreased significantly in vaccinated people and unvaccinated people because of herd immunity. buff.ly/WvjQ1BS

h/t @boghuma.bsky.social

#medsky #pedsky 🛟🧪

Light blue background. Young woman with dark hair makes a sign of strength with her arm and she has a vaccine bandaid on her upper arm. It says "The HPV Vaccine Works!"

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Those Nerdy Girls @thosenerdygirls.bsky.social · 3d

Check out this podcast episode featuring our CSO @sciencewhizliz.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...

"In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe talks with Elisabeth Marnik, PhD about bridging the gap between science and everyday life, especially when it comes to kids’ health."

Speaking of Kids...

Parenting Podcast · Updated Biweekly · Who speaks for kids when lawmakers, the government, and elected officials are making decisions about their education, health and safety? You do! Children need ou...

podcasts.apple.com

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Those Nerdy Girls @thosenerdygirls.bsky.social · 7d

2/ Officers in the USPHS work on the frontlines of public health, fighting #disease, conducting #research, and caring for patients in underserved communities. Read on to find out more about this amazing service. 👇
thosenerdygirls.org/usphs/

“Is that the Navy?” An introduction to the United States Public Health Service.

“Is that the Navy?” An introduction to the United States Public Health Service. The United States Public Health Service (USPHS) is one of the federal

thosenerdygirls.org

Those Nerdy Girls @thosenerdygirls.bsky.social · 7d

1/ The United States Public Health Service (#USPHS) is one of the federal uniformed services of the U.S. made up of highly skilled #publichealth professionals. Think of them as America’s Health Responders.

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Those Nerdy Girls @thosenerdygirls.bsky.social · 9d

2/ For additional information, check out the full post by Nerdy Girl Cindy Leifer, PhD @cindyleifer.bsky.social here:
thosenerdygirls.org/shingles-vac...

Your Shingles vaccine questions answered

There were so many questions on our recent Shingles vaccine post (February 4, 2025) that we decided to make it a post! Here we answer some nerdy

thosenerdygirls.org

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Those Nerdy Girls @thosenerdygirls.bsky.social · 9d

1/ Watch this video for answers to some of your nerdy questions on the #ShinglesVaccine, but remember, you should always talk to your physician about specific recommendations for you.

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Those Nerdy Girls @thosenerdygirls.bsky.social · 14d

There are steps that all of us can take to raise awareness around suicide, to help someone who is struggling, & to intervene when there is a risk of suicide.

Read the full post from MK Haber, FNP-C @emkayhey.bsky.social to learn more about the different levels of prevention.

#suicideprevention

What can I do to help prevent suicide?

There are steps that all of us can take to raise awareness around suicide, to help someone who is struggling, and to intervene when there is a risk of suicide.

thosenerdygirls.substack.com

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Those Nerdy Girls @thosenerdygirls.bsky.social · 15d

#OrganDonation is a complicated medical and legal topic, and some are calling for more transparency and regulation. Learning about the process can help you know how to communicate your wishes ahead of time.
Get the full story from Heather Duncan, MPH, PhD here:
thosenerdygirls.org/organ-donati...

I've been hearing a lot about organ donation — should I worry, and how can I make my wishes known?

Organ donation is a complicated medical and legal topic, and some are calling for more transparency and regulation. Learning about the process can help

thosenerdygirls.org

Those Nerdy Girls @thosenerdygirls.bsky.social · 16d

2/ If you have the ability, you should discuss access with your clinician, & remember that tools like masking & ventilation can also help reduce your risk of infection.
Read the full post from @cindyleifer.bsky.social & @sciencewhizliz.bsky.social here:
thosenerdygirls.substack.com/p/there-is-s...

There is so much information about who can and can’t get the COVID vaccine this fall. Can you clear things up?

The fall COVID vaccines received FDA approval recently, but had significant changes to who can get them.

thosenerdygirls.substack.com

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Those Nerdy Girls @thosenerdygirls.bsky.social · 16d

1/ The fall #COVIDvaccines received FDA approval recently, but had significant changes to who can get them. These changes mean that the COVID-19 vaccines may be harder to access this year than in the past. But their importance has not changed, nor has the science that supports their effectiveness.

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Those Nerdy Girls @thosenerdygirls.bsky.social · 17d

“I asked a bunch of kids what a “healthy neighborhood” looks like to them. This is what they told me.”

⬇️⬇️
Read the full story from Nerdy Girl Kenzie Isaac here:
thosenerdygirls.substack.com/p/i-asked-a-...?

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Those Nerdy Girls @thosenerdygirls.bsky.social · 19d

2/ As cannabis becomes legal in more areas around the US, more and more older adults* are beginning to use cannabis for issues like chronic pain, difficulty sleeping, or as a mental health boost.

Those Nerdy Girls @thosenerdygirls.bsky.social · 20d

How can workplace culture be healthier for everyone?

Workplace cultures get healthier when trust, fairness, and belonging are built into daily routines, and people are treated as real humans with unique needs and circumstances.
Read the full post from @daphneberryhill.bsky.social here:

How can workplace culture be healthier for everyone?

Workplace cultures get healthier when trust, fairness, and belonging are built into daily routines, and people are treated as real humans with unique needs and circumstances.

thosenerdygirls.substack.com

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Reposted by Those Nerdy Girls

Jenn Dowd @drjenndowd.bsky.social · 26d

1/ Contrary to recent claims by two political scientists, new work by @adrianraftery.bsky.social & Nick Irons estimates that COVID non-pharmacuetical interventions (NPIs) saved an estimated 860,000 lives in the US *in 2020 alone*.

bmcglobalpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....

Optimal pandemic control strategies and cost-effectiveness of COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical interventions in the United States - BMC Global and Public Health

Background Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a trade-off between the health impacts of viral spread and the social and economic costs of restric...

bmcglobalpublichealth.biomedcentral.com

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Reposted by Those Nerdy Girls

Unbiased Science @unbiasedscipod.bsky.social · 24d

🚨 Don’t let VAERS myths fool you!

You may have seen claims that “VAERS proves COVID-19 vaccines killed kids.” That’s not what VAERS shows.

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Those Nerdy Girls @thosenerdygirls.bsky.social · 22d

In the U.S., about 1 in 5 people live in rural areas. That’s 60 million people, yet their challenges are sometimes left out of public health conversations.
👇👇
thosenerdygirls.substack.com/p/health-in-...?

Health in Rural America: 8 Challenges and Things That Can Help

In the U.S., about 1 in 5 people live in rural areas. That’s 60 million people, yet their challenges are sometimes left out of public health conversations.

thosenerdygirls.substack.com

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Those Nerdy Girls @thosenerdygirls.bsky.social · 23d

Despite the discussions on social media, #statins are a safe and effective medication option for lowering “bad” #cholesterol. Statins reduce the risk of heart events.
⬇️⬇️
thosenerdygirls.substack.com/p/why-are-pe...?

Why are people on social media worried about statins?

Despite the discussions on social media, statins are a safe and effective medication option for lowering “bad” cholesterol. Statins reduce the risk of heart events.

thosenerdygirls.substack.com

Those Nerdy Girls @thosenerdygirls.bsky.social · 24d

There are tons of myths and misconceptions out there about the #flushot. Time to break some of them down and set the record straight! 👇
thosenerdygirls.org/busting-flu-...

#vaccineswork

Busting Flu Shot Myths!

There are tons of myths and misconceptions out there about the flu shot. Time to break some of them down and set the record straight! Note: This post was

thosenerdygirls.org

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