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Reposted by Dan Gruner, Ph.D.

UMD Entomology @umdentomology.bsky.social · 21d

🏝️🐜A new study out by Dr. Evan Economo and colleagues reveals a decline in Fiji’s native ant species. With insects playing a crucial role in ecosystems, this research is key to understanding insect populations and guiding conservation efforts.🐜🏝️

UMD Science @umdscience.bsky.social · 23d

“Insects are essential for the environment,” said @umdentomology.bsky.social's Evan Economo. “As scientists, we need to play our part in their protection.”

Read about Evan's novel approach to studying ant populations, which revealed signs of decline in 79% of species found only in Fiji ⤵️ #BugSky

New Study Shows Island Ant Communities in Sharp Decline | College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences | University of Maryland

UMD entomologist Evan Economo’s novel approach to studying ant populations revealed signs of decline in

go.umd.edu

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Reposted by Dan Gruner, Ph.D.

Colin Carlson @colincarlson.bsky.social · 21d

🚨 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 Dan Gruner, Ph.D.

Erin Sikorsky @erinsikorsky.bsky.social · 21d

The National Academies' response to the EPA's proposed removal of the endangerment finding is out today. It does not mince words about the effect of GHGs on the climate. Kudos to the authors.

Key paragraph below; you can read the whole thing here: nas.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?...

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Reposted by Dan Gruner, Ph.D.

Conrad Hackett @conradhackett.bsky.social · Sep 4

Disease prevalence in US states before & after vaccine introduction 🧪

From Edward Tufte & graphics.wsj.com/infectious-d...

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Reposted by Dan Gruner, Ph.D.

Sandra M Durán @sandramduran.bsky.social · Sep 6

Looking for a #postdoct for a NSF project integrating ecosystem productivity, hyperspectral remote sensing and airborne LiDAR to test prominent hypothesis of the effect of #biodiversity on #forest #productivity @fluxnetecn.bsky.social @ngaps.bsky.social Apply at: jobs.colostate.edu/postings/165...

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Reposted by Dan Gruner, Ph.D.

Dr. Simon D. A. Clark @kelpiesi.bsky.social · Aug 21

How do scientists push back against autocratic, anti-science ideologies?

The "Anti-Autocracy Handbook: The Scholars’ Guide to Navigating Democratic Backsliding" provides some insights on what can be done, from lower risk to extreme risk groups:

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Reposted by Dan Gruner, Ph.D.

UMD Entomology @umdentomology.bsky.social · Aug 21

🔬🪲An approach for long term mgmt of #EAB has been to introduce parasitic wasps to the US for #biocontrol. The Gruner Lab monitors the effectiveness of this approach one log at a time.Watch as Estes debarks trees to assess the presence of EAB larvae & the extent to which they have been parasitized.🪲🔬

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Reposted by Dan Gruner, Ph.D.

Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · Aug 17

NIH FY26 #SCIMaP scorecards are now available for

* All states
* All districts

The White House has shared its vision of priorities for this year and years to come. This vision comes with consequences for our health and innovation economy.

Explore and share: scienceimpacts.org/fy26

SCIMaP - Impacts of Federal Cuts to Science and Medical Research

View Projected Impact of the FY2026 Budget Cuts to the NIH

scienceimpacts.org

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Reposted by Dan Gruner, Ph.D.

Max Helmberger @vermivorax.bsky.social · Aug 15

Had to try this out with insects and HOO BOY is this embarrassing.

ChatGPT's response to the prompt "Create a detailed diagram of generalized insect external anatomy, labelling all the major anatomical features such as body regions, mouthparts, and leg segments." It produced a scientific-esque drawing of a wasp-like creature with various incorrect labels. "Compound eye" points to the labrum, "mandible" points to the labial palps, maxilla points to the front tarsi, palpus points to the front pretarsus, coxa and trochanter point to the same on a very deformed middle leg, femur also points to a tarsus, tibia points to the hind pretarsus, head points to the thorax, and thorax points to the wings. The only accurate label is for the abdomen, and then a "cuticle" label that points to the end of the abdomen, which is technically sort of correct but misleading, as the cuticle covers the entire body.

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Reposted by Dan Gruner, Ph.D.

UMD Science @umdscience.bsky.social · Jul 11

Biology's Sean Carroll's latest documentary won an Emmy for outstanding science documentary filmmaking!

The documentary follows an evolutionary biologist's quest to find DNA in 2-million-year-old soil from Greenland. Sean shared the challenges and triumphs of this project ➡️ go.umd.edu/hunt-DNA

Film poster for "Hunt for the Oldest DNA." Image courtesy of Tangled Bank and Handful of Films.

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Dan Gruner, Ph.D. @dsgruner.bsky.social · Aug 11

Casey, this is an old post - November 2023. Not sure how it got back into circulation

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Dan Gruner, Ph.D. @dsgruner.bsky.social · Aug 11

This is getting some sudden reposts but please note it was November 2023

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Reposted by Dan Gruner, Ph.D.

Chris Becker @chrisbecker.bsky.social · Jul 18

Also, sign up for PBS Passport! You pay what you want, money goes to your local station, and you get access to tons more great programming on-demand. help.pbs.org/support/solu...

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Reposted by Dan Gruner, Ph.D.

Steve Vladeck @stevevladeck.bsky.social · Jul 14

Since April 4, #SCOTUS has issued 15 rulings on 17 emergency applications filed by Trump (three birthright citizenship apps were consolidated).

It has granted relief to Trump ... in all 15 rulings.

It has written majority opinions in only 3.

Today's order is the 7th with no explanation *at all.*

Steve Vladeck @stevevladeck.bsky.social · Jul 14

Here we go again: Over an acerbic dissenting opinion by Justice Sotomayor (joined in full by Justices Kagan and Jackson), #SCOTUS, with no explanation, grants a stay in the Department of Education RIFs case—effectively clearing the way for the Trump administration to dismantle much of the agency:

www.supremecourt.gov

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Reposted by Dan Gruner, Ph.D.

Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 @davidimiller.bsky.social · Jul 10

🧪 BREAKING (good news): Senate subcommittee says NO! to Trump's proposed slashes to NASA & NSF funding.

Today, the subcommittee said to keep NASA + NSF funding at $33.9 billion, the same as in FY24.

See 7:15 below. Full Senate appropriations committee meets tomorrow about it.

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Subcommittee Markup of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act | United States Senate Committee on Appropriations

United States Senate Committee on Appropriations

www.appropriations.senate.gov

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Dan Gruner, Ph.D. @dsgruner.bsky.social · Jul 9

Maybe this one will last a little longer?

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Dan Gruner, Ph.D. @dsgruner.bsky.social · Jul 9

Kilauea Caldera, Halema'uma'u crater, big island of Hawai'i, current status

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Dan Gruner, Ph.D. @dsgruner.bsky.social · Jun 25

Callous and corrupt, this will deepen the devastating impact of this administration on basic science, scientists, and National Science Foundation staff, for whom there is NO plan www.alxnow.com/2025/06/24/r... 🧪

Report: National Science Foundation headquarters to be taken over by HUD, displacing 1,800+ employees | ALXnow

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will reportedly take over the National Science Foundation (NSF) headquarters building (2415 Eisenhower Ave.), displacing more than 1,833 NSF emplo...

www.alxnow.com

Dan Gruner, Ph.D. @dsgruner.bsky.social · Jun 19

Do the authors understand irony? Or maybe that's their hidden point of publishing behind a paywall

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Reposted by Dan Gruner, Ph.D.

UMD Entomology @umdentomology.bsky.social · May 28

🌞 Summer is prime time for ticks & mosquitoes, but don’t let these pests deter you from your next outdoor adventure🏕️. #UMD entomologist, Dr. Dan Gruner shares w/ NPR's Morning Edition that it's perfectly fine to enjoy outdoor activities, just take precautionary measures.👇
www.npr.org/2025/05/28/n...

How to protect your kids from mosquitoes and other bugs this summer

NPR's A Martinez speaks with Dan Gruner, professor of entomology at the University of Maryland, about how to safely protect kids this summer from mosquitoes and other biting insects.

www.npr.org

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Reposted by Dan Gruner, Ph.D.

Meade Krosby @meadekrosby.bsky.social · Apr 28

Well, it's official. We just received notice that all authors on the Sixth National Climate Assessment have just been released from their roles.

The NCA is a vital, Congressionally mandated resource for our nation as we prepare for the impacts of climate change. This is a huge loss.

NCA6 Update
April 28, 2025
Dear NCA6 Participants,

Thank you for your participation in the 6th National Climate Assessment. At this time, the scope of the NCA6 is currently being reevaluated in accordance with the Global Change Research Act of 1990. We are now releasing all current assessment participants from their roles. As plans develop for the assessment, there may be future opportunities to contribute or engage.

Thank you for your service.

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Reposted by Dan Gruner, Ph.D.

Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social · Apr 29

The iceberg headed toward the economy

Phil Williams @philinvestigates.com · Apr 29

“The consequence will be empty shelves in US stores in a few weeks and Covid-like shortages for consumers and for firms using Chinese products as intermediate goods,” Torsten Slok, chief economist at Apollo, wrote in a note to clients Friday. www.cnbc.com/2025/04/28/e...

Empty shelves, trucking layoffs lead to a summer recession in Apollo's shocking trade fight timeline

U.S. consumers could start to notice trade-related shortages in their local stores next month, according to Apollo.

www.cnbc.com

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Reposted by Dan Gruner, Ph.D.

Asha Rangappa @asharangappa.bsky.social · Apr 29

If this wasn’t posted by @atrupar.com I would have thought it had to be a doctored screenshot. But…it’s not

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · Apr 29

lmao Hannity's Trump accomplishments ticker got even more pathetic

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Dan Gruner, Ph.D. @dsgruner.bsky.social · Apr 28

🌏🧪

The Associated Press @apnews.com · Apr 26

A new carnivorous caterpillar that wears the remains of its prey has been dubbed the bone collector.

A carnivorous 'bone collector' caterpillar dresses in the remains of its prey

A new carnivorous caterpillar that wears the remains of its prey has been dubbed the bone collector. The odd insect is only found on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

bit.ly

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Reposted by Dan Gruner, Ph.D.

DrArchivalGenomics @ehekkala.bsky.social · Apr 24

🧪🧬🦠🌎

Tammie Visintainer @proftv.bsky.social · Apr 23

If you, like me, had you NSF granted terminated, here’s what I learned from a hopeful meeting with my VP of research:
1. We have 30 days to act! Meet with your admin asap
2. APPEAL: Everyone can appeal! It must go through your institution, there’s a template, sent registered mail. My VP told me ⬇️

Tammie Visintainer @proftv.bsky.social · Apr 19

I’m so angry & heart broken. My NSF CAREER grant was stolen today; dream project supporting science teachers/students as climate justice action researchers, tackling urban heat. Truly transformative, the culmination of my life’s work, we won’t stop, not in this climate crisis. Gonna fight like hell!

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