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Kai Chen

@kaichenyale.bsky.social

1.7K followers 610 following 58 posts

Associate Professor @YaleSPH @YaleDeptEHS. #Humboldtian Working on #ClimateChange, #AirPollution, and public health.

Videos

Environmental science 49%

Geography 12%

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Reposted by Qiang Zhang, Katharine Hayhoe, Stefan Rahmstorf , and 9 more Qiang Zhang, Katharine Hayhoe, Stefan Rahmstorf, Jesse M. Shapiro, Du Toit, Karen R. Lips, Kai Chen, Johan P. Olsen, Stephen D. Murphy, Mary Jane Curry, Hisham Zerriffi, Peter Jacobs

Colin Carlson @colincarlson.bsky.social · 22d

🚨 NEW: Climate change is already causing 30,000 deaths per year - a global annual economic loss of $100-350B USD - but the true damage is probably 10x higher. Out TODAY in Nature Climate Change: the first systematic look at the science of "health impact attribution" 🔓 www.nature.com/articles/s41...

"Health losses attributed to anthropogenic climate change," a brief communication in the journal Nature Climate Change. There's a map showing regions of the world, and pie charts of relevant studies as they apply to different health impacts like "heat-related deaths" and "maternal and child health"

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Reposted by Rebecca Solnit, Joshua S. Weitz, Steve Peers , and 7 more Rebecca Solnit, Joshua S. Weitz, Steve Peers, Kai Chen, Melissa Johnson, Esther K. Choo, Alan Richardson, Els Torreele, Meredith Farkas, Nathan P. Kalmoe

Gregg Gonsalves @gregggonsalves.bsky.social · Aug 28

#NIH is hanging by a thread. The #CDC has been decimated. #RFK Jr. and Russell #Vought are psychopaths--I don't say this frivolously--they are cold, calculating, inflicting violence on millions through public policy. It is where we are right now. These men are not normal. 1/

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Reposted by Kai Chen, Kate Starbird

Colin Carlson @colincarlson.bsky.social · Aug 15

Something I wish more people understood: part of the point of shock-and-awe grant terminations at NIH and NSF has been to make scientists and university administrators afraid to speak out against the administration. And it's working. But, some of us were never going to get a grant from them anyway.

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Reposted by Kai Chen

Climate Central @climatecentral.org · Aug 7

🔴 #THISISCLIMATECHANGE

🔥 Wildfires in Canada—sending smoke into the Northeast U.S.—were fueled by extreme heat, 20°F+ above average for early August.

🌡️ Meanwhile, 53M people in the U.S. Southwest & Mexico are facing extreme heat that’s nearly impossible without climate change.
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Two side-by-side maps of Canada highlighting the influence of climate change on early August 2025 heat. The left map shows temperature departures from normal, with widespread areas in central and eastern Canada 12–14°C above average (shaded in dark red). The right map shows Climate Shift Index (CSI) values, indicating that the extreme heat in these regions is strongly linked to climate change (CSI values of 3 to 5 shown in red). Data from ECMWF ERA5 and NOAA GFS.

Map highlighting the Southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico with Climate Shift Index (CSI) values for August 4–8, 2025. Deep red areas over Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and northern Mexico indicate CSI values of 5—the highest level—showing extreme heat that is almost entirely attributable to climate change. Lighter shades extend across surrounding regions. Source: Climate Central; analysis based on ECMWF ERA5 and NOAA GFS data.

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Reposted by Scott C. Doney, Kai Chen, Juan Cole , and 4 more Scott C. Doney, Kai Chen, Juan Cole, Aaron Sojourner, Dana R. Fisher, Andrew Watkins, Beth Tellman

Lauren Rosenthal @laurenthal.bsky.social · Aug 5

Scoop: The U.S. billion-dollar disaster database is set to return this fall over at @climatecentral.org. They've hired the former NOAA scientist who ran the project for 10+ years www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Researchers Are Resurrecting Billion-Dollar Disaster Tool Trump Killed

Nonprofit Climate Central has hired the scientist behind a key database of costly weather disasters to rebuild it.

www.bloomberg.com

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Kai Chen @kaichenyale.bsky.social · Aug 5

Wildfire smoke in New England, please stay safe!

Reposted by Kai Chen

Dan Garisto @dangaristo.bsky.social · Aug 1

The Trump administration is launching a new wave of attacks on universities, and UCLA is the latest target.

My reporting on how the university has been hit and how some of its scientists are responding:
www.science.org/content/arti...

NSF and NIH suspend grants to UCLA

Move follows Trump administration finding that school didn’t effectively combat antisemitism

www.science.org

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Reposted by Marc Lynch, Richard S.J. Tol, Jonathan A. Eisen , and 6 more Marc Lynch, Richard S.J. Tol, Jonathan A. Eisen, Kimberly A. Prather, Kai Chen, Efrén O. Pérez, Michael Jones‐Correa, Erin O’Donnell, Kate Starbird

Alicia Izquierdo @aliciaizquierdo.bsky.social · Aug 1

Suspension of all grants to UCLA www.latimes.com/california/s...

Trump freezes $200 million in UCLA science and medical research funding, citing antisemitism

The Trump administration has frozen roughly $200 million in National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health and other federal agency-funded research at UCLA, citing allegations the school d...

www.latimes.com

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Kai Chen @kaichenyale.bsky.social · Jul 31

Wildfire smoke and unhealthy air fills the Midwest before spreading to the East

wapo.st/45f1ddo

Wildfire smoke and unhealthy air fills the Midwest before spreading to the East

As has been the case much of the summer, the smoke invasion is targeting the Upper Midwest to Great Lakes. Beyond Thursday, smoke may impact more of the Northeast U.S. through and beyond Friday.

wapo.st

Reposted by Jonathan J. Buonocore

Kai Chen @kaichenyale.bsky.social · Jul 30

In Game-Changing Climate Rollback, E.P.A. Aims to Kill a Bedrock Scientific Finding www.nytimes.com/2025/07/29/c...

In Game-Changing Climate Rollback, E.P.A. Aims to Kill a Bedrock Scientific Finding

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Kai Chen

Colin Carlson @colincarlson.bsky.social · Jul 29

One thing very few people know, even in the climate-health research space, is that - in addition to NIH / NSF / NASA / EPA blocking any new research on climate change and health - all the philanthropies have decided to take NGO-shaped roles rather than fund research, and so they aren't stepping in.

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Reposted by Kai Chen, Amy McGovern, Michael Westphal

Costa Samaras @costasamaras.com · May 2

Last week, the govt dismissed 400 researchers working on the US National Climate Assessment. I was one of them. Today, @agu.org & @ametsoc.org announced they are joining forces to sustain the momentum. It's not a replacement, it's a reminder that science is unstoppable. news.agu.org/press-releas...

AGU and AMS join forces on special collection to maintain momentum of research supporting the U.S. National Climate assessment

Congressionally mandated, the NCA draws on the latest scientific research to evaluate how climate change is affecting the United States. The new special collection does not replace the NCA but instead...

news.agu.org

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Reposted by Kai Chen

lingzhichu.bsky.social @lingzhichu.bsky.social · Jul 24

🎆NEW RESEARCH OUT
In our new study published in One Earth, we uncovered hard truths about NO2-related health disparities in the U.S. Racial-ethnic minorities were generally more exposed and susceptible. The most affected race-ethnicity group was location-specific.

Disparities in NO2-related health burden prevalent across race-ethnicity and income groups in the United States

Increasing evidence has linked long-term NO2 exposures to adverse health, while current research on the NO2-related health burden rarely assesses exposure and susceptibility disparities jointly. In th...

www.cell.com

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Kai Chen @kaichenyale.bsky.social · Jul 22

In ‘blow to the environment,’ EPA begins to dismantle its research office | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...

In ‘blow to the environment,’ EPA begins to dismantle its research office

Extensive layoffs could have wide-ranging impacts on conservation and human health

www.science.org

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Kai Chen @kaichenyale.bsky.social · Jul 21

🔬 Using new deep learning + chem transport models, we reconstructed daily 1km NO₂ levels for 42 years.
📉 All groups saw declines, but widening relative gaps among racial groups persisted.
💡 Why care? Short-term NO₂ spikes = asthma/heart risks.
⚠️ Progress isn’t equal. Targeted interventions needed!

Kai Chen @kaichenyale.bsky.social · Jul 21

🚨 NEW STUDY: Despite falling CA air pollution 1980-2022, relative racial disparities in short-term NO₂ exposure worsened.
➡️ Hispanic/Latino communities faced 3X MORE high-pollution days (>50µg/m³) than White residents in 2020.
Paper: doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134211

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Reposted by Kai Chen

Pam McElwee @pammcelwee.bsky.social · Jul 18

Well tonight’s Friday government news dump is horribly depressing- EPA to eliminate their entire research branch (ORD). I’ve been on ORD’s science advisory board the last few years and they do amazing work across climate, air, water and other issue. This sucks www.nytimes.com/2025/07/18/c...

E.P.A. Says It Will Eliminate Its Scientific Research Arm

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Kai Chen

Yale School of Public Health @yalesph.bsky.social · Jul 15

Beyond just physical damage and lives lost, floodwaters can cause increased health risks including:
➡️ Diarrhea
➡️ Mold
➡️ Chronic conditions
➡️ Stress and mental health disorders
➡️ Disruption to health care services

Read more ⬇️
abcnews.go.com/Health/texas...

Texas floodwaters can increase health risks that could last for months: Experts

Floodwaters be contaminated with debris as well as high levels of bacteria, chemicals, waste and other pollutants, which can cause prolonged health risks, experts say.

abcnews.go.com

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Kai Chen @kaichenyale.bsky.social · Jul 15

www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/w...

Storms Pummel New York City and Suburbs, Flooding Subway and Highways

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Kai Chen

Dr. Robert D. Bullard @drrobertbullard.bsky.social · Jul 7

NYTimes: Texas Flood Live Updates: Death Toll Tops 100, Including 27 at a Girls’ Camp www.nytimes.com/live/2025/07...

Texas Flood Live Updates: Death Toll Tops 100, Including 27 at a Girls’ Camp

www.nytimes.com

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Kai Chen @kaichenyale.bsky.social · Jul 6

Not in this study, but working on it! Would love to chat if you are interested in potentially collaboration!

Kai Chen @kaichenyale.bsky.social · Jul 6

Devastating to see over 50 lives lost in Texas floods💔This tragedy reflects a broader pattern our Nature Communications study uncovered:~100 Texans died yearly from flooding—not just from drowning, but injuries, heart, and lung diseases.
@lingzhichu.bsky.social
📊 www.nature.com/articles/s41...

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Reposted by Kai Chen, Megan L. Ranney

Megan Ranney MD MPH @meganranney.bsky.social · Jul 3

As US population level health data becomes ever-more unreliable … we are proud to unveil a new resource for families, policy makers, and healthcare providers @yalesph.bsky.social

Yale School of Public Health @yalesph.bsky.social · Jul 2

America's health data system is fragmented, outdated, and hard to access. This slows the response to emerging health threats. PopHIVE unites diverse partners and data in one location, creating a solution for improved public health data for action.

4/5 @meganranney.bsky.social

“National health data has been too fragmented and too slow for too long. PopHIVE changes that.” - Dean Megan L. Ranney
PopHIVE unites diverse partners and data in one location, creating a solution for improved public health data for action.

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Kai Chen @kaichenyale.bsky.social · Jul 3

Methane-Tracking Satellite Is Lost, in a Blow to Climate Efforts www.nytimes.com/2025/07/02/c...

Methane-Tracking Satellite Is Lost, in a Blow to Climate Efforts

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Cary P. Gross, Kai Chen

Yale School of Public Health @yalesph.bsky.social · Jul 2

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Kai Chen @kaichenyale.bsky.social · Jun 21

Intense Heat Wave Will Leave the Midwest Sweltering This Weekend www.nytimes.com/2025/06/19/w...

Intense Heat Wave Will Leave the Midwest Sweltering This Weekend

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Brady T. West, David Brady, Jesse M. Shapiro , and 3 more Brady T. West, David Brady, Jesse M. Shapiro, Kai Chen, Ameet Sarpatwari, Goldie Blumenstyk

Max Kozlov @maxkozlov.bsky.social · Jun 16

🚨 BREAKING: Nearly 4 months the NIH cut its first grants, a judge has ruled that the directives and process that led to cuts are arbitrary and capricious.

"The explanations are bereft of reasoning — virtually in their entirety... unsupported by [facts]."

Each of them are VOID and ILLEGAL, he says.

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Reposted by Jennifer Bussell, Cary P. Gross, Kai Chen , and 1 more Jennifer Bussell, Cary P. Gross, Kai Chen, Katrina M. Walsemann

Megan Ranney MD MPH @meganranney.bsky.social · Jun 15

Over the next 25 years, if proposed cuts in NIH funding are made real, “In a population of more than 340 million, this reflects **82 million** fewer years of life.”

In the US alone.

jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

Cutting the NIH—The $8 Trillion Health Care Catastrophe

This JAMA Forum discusses the recent budget cuts to National Institutes of Health (NIH), the effects of these cuts on scientific research and health of individuals in the US, and the prospects for cha...

jamanetwork.com

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Reposted by Kai Chen

Bill McKibben @billmckibben.bsky.social · Jun 11

Today's the day when the US government officially throws in the towel on the climate fight. Which means the rest of us have to pick up the slack
www.politico.com/news/2025/06...

EPA to propose rolling back climate rule for power plants Wednesday

It marks an escalation in President Donald Trump's effort to purge climate initiatives from the federal government.

www.politico.com

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Kai Chen @kaichenyale.bsky.social · Jun 4

The National Weather Service issued air quality alerts for New York City for Wednesday and many of the surrounding suburbs, including those in New Jersey and most of southern Connecticut.

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/03/w...

Smoke From Canadian Wildfires Approaches the Northeast