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Grace Wade

@gracewade.bsky.social

580 followers 110 following 33 posts

Health reporter at New Scientist covering psychedelics, addiction, nutrition and more 🕵️‍♀️📝🦠

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Grace Wade @gracewade.bsky.social · Jul 31

More research is uncovering that aritficial sweeteners aren't as harmless as we once thought. Not only may they increase hunger and raise blood sugar, but a new study finds they could also be interfering with crucial cancer treatments. www.newscientist.com/article/2490...

Common artificial sweetener may interfere with cancer treatments

People who consume some artificial sweeteners are less likely to respond to certain cancer therapies, potentially because of the impact on their gut microbiome

www.newscientist.com

Reposted by Grace Wade

Rowan Hooper @rowhoop.bsky.social · Jul 19

We discuss what could be the first step towards having gene-edited microbiomes. With @pennysarchet.bsky.social and @gracewade.bsky.social
m.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs9r...

Gene-editing your gut microbiome could revolutionise your health

YouTube video by New Scientist

Grace Wade @gracewade.bsky.social · Jul 18

The US is the midst of its largest measles outbreak since it eradicated the virus in 2000. And it isn't alone. Countries around the world are losing ground against measles as more people choose to forego vaccination. www.newscientist.com/article/2488...

The world is losing major ground in the fight against measles

A wave of anti-vaccine sentiment has spurred measles outbreaks around the world, and could lead to outbreaks of other preventable illnesses

www.newscientist.com

Grace Wade @gracewade.bsky.social · Jul 18

Certainly -- and that's a great point!

Reposted by Grace Wade

Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD DSc(hon) @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social · Jul 18

My interview with @gracewade.bsky.social @newscientist.com

www.newscientist.com/article/2488...

The world is losing major ground in the fight against measles

A wave of anti-vaccine sentiment has spurred measles outbreaks around the world, and could lead to outbreaks of other preventable illnesses

www.newscientist.com

Reposted by Grace Wade

Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · Jul 18

We're losing control of measles, and that's not great, as @gracewade.bsky.social explains www.newscientist.com/article/2488...

The world is losing major ground in the fight against measles

A wave of anti-vaccine sentiment has spurred measles outbreaks around the world, and could lead to outbreaks of other preventable illnesses

www.newscientist.com

Grace Wade @gracewade.bsky.social · Jul 16

We know little about the neurobiology of eating disoders, especially in children. Now, the largest-ever neuroimaging study of young children with anorexia finds the brain's outer layer drastically thins in those with the condition. www.newscientist.com/article/2488...

Brain changes with eating disorders similar to those in OCD and autism

In children with anorexia nervosa or other restrictive eating disorders, changes in the brain’s outer layer don’t seem to be due to lack of nutrition alone – and some mirror those seen in other neurol...

www.newscientist.com

Grace Wade @gracewade.bsky.social · Jul 14

Appreciate it! :)

Reposted by Grace Wade

David Robson @davidarobson.bsky.social · Jul 13

I'm really enjoying @gracewade.bsky.social's fitness column in @newscientist.com. This week's is super-interesting about the health benefits of exercises like planking, squats or wall sits that involve contracting and then holding our muscles in that position.

www.newscientist.com/article/mg26...

The unexpected benefits of wall squats and other isometric exercises

Isometric exercises like wall squats are gentle on your body, but can enhance your fitness in a surprisingly efficient way, discovers Grace Wade

www.newscientist.com

Grace Wade @gracewade.bsky.social · Jul 8

I must admit that I knew very little about ivermectin before writing this story. So I was surprised to learn just how important it has been for improving global health – and that some researchers believe it still has untapped potential. www.newscientist.com/article/2487...

The truth about ivermectin’s supposed health benefits

Interest in the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin skyrocketed during the covid-19 pandemic, but evidence for many of its supposed health claims are lacking

www.newscientist.com

Reposted by Grace Wade

Michael Le Page @mjflepage.bsky.social · Jun 26

The study also estimates that there were nearly 9000 more non-violent deaths during this period than would normally be expected in the Gaza Strip. This is the first estimate of indirect deaths, and is lower than some have suggested

doi.org/10.1101/2025...

Violent and Nonviolent Death Tolls for the Gaza War: New Primary Evidence

High-quality war mortality estimates, such as those that were produced for Kosovo, Iraq, and Darfur play a critical role in illuminating the human cost of war. During the tumult of war they are, howev...

Reposted by Grace Wade

Michael Le Page @mjflepage.bsky.social · Jun 26

Around 75,000 people - 3.6 per cent of the population - in the Gaza Strip died from violent causes between 7 October 2023 and 5 January 2025, according to an independent study. That is higher than the estimate of 46,000 violent deaths by Gaza’s health ministry

www.newscientist.com/article/2485...

Independent estimate of Gaza deaths is higher than official figures

A study based on household surveys suggests that from October 2023 to January 2025, around 75,000 people in Gaza died violent deaths, while Gaza's health ministry estimates 46,000 for the same period

www.newscientist.com

Reposted by Grace Wade

Karmela Padavic-Callaghan (they/them) @kpc.bsky.social · Jun 26

When my publisher asked about inspiration for my book's cover I just sent a bunch of old textbook images, truly they used to be so good!

Lizzie Kodpuak née Acid Lich (Gröbnerpilled era) @acidlich.bsky.social · Nov 5

Some great moments in graphic design via math books

A dank early edition of Convex Polytopes by Branko Grünbaum. Lettering is sort of bubble soft italicized curvy serif and there are an assortment of convex polytopes (a sort of multidimensional polygon). Mustard with yellow and white

A photo of On Formally Undecidable Propositions of Principia Mathematica and Related Systems by Kurt Gödel, Dover edition. Nice block lettering framed by a reflected motif of a pyramid of dots of decreasing size. Black background, dots are pale blue. Lettering & name are in yellow and orange. Notably this is being perused in a hot tub.

A math book called complex analytic varieties by hassler (what a name!) Whitney. Black background, soft robin blue lettering whose shape is telling me this book is not only gonna have math but almost certainly 1960s sitcom style bawdy shenanigans

The one and only tilings and patterns by Branko Grünbaum & G.C Shephard. Dover 2ndedition, yellow background with an assortment of tilings framing the block San serif red title. This is taken at PDX and one can see a fantastic abstract deco carpet behind the book. Both this one and Gödel have been camping with me

Grace Wade @gracewade.bsky.social · Jun 18

Loved @davidarobson.bsky.social's latest column for @newscientist.com. I only started feeling comfortable in a swimsuit when I began appreciating my body for what it could do rather than how it looked. I am a big fan of the body-neutrality movement! www.newscientist.com/article/mg26...

How to use psychology to feel better about how you look in a swimsuit

Recent research delves into our issues with "seasonal body image dissatisfaction", says David Robson, who has advice on how to combat it during the summer months

www.newscientist.com

Reposted by Grace Wade

Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · Jun 16

It's absolutely wild that US government policy is that cows should be protected against bird flu, but people shouldn't - really interesting piece from @gracewade.bsky.social www.newscientist.com/article/2484...

How a US agriculture agency became key in the fight against bird flu

Amidst an ongoing outbreak of a deadly bird flu virus in livestock, the US Department of Agriculture is doing more to prevent the spread than public health agencies are

www.newscientist.com

Grace Wade @gracewade.bsky.social · Jun 6

Last week, RFK Jr announced the CDC would stop reccomending covid-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnancies. In practice, not much has changed when it comes to who can access covid-19 vaccines in the US – but the news still sets a troubling precedent. www.newscientist.com/article/2483...

US stops endorsing covid-19 shots for kids – are other vaccines next?

When Robert F Kennedy Jr announced that the US would stop recommending covid-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnancies, he bypassed standard protocols and set the stage for future vaccine rollb...

www.newscientist.com

Reposted by Grace Wade

New Scientist @newscientist.com · Jun 4

TB may have caused more suffering than any other disease and still wreaks havoc today. To understand why, look to its ability to fly, writes Carl Zimmer.

TB's extraordinary evolution reveals why the ancient disease lives on

Once thought to have originated in cows and spread through dust, the surprising evolutionary story of tuberculosis reveals why it's so hard to stamp out this ancient disease, writes Carl Zimmer

www.newscientist.com

Grace Wade @gracewade.bsky.social · May 6

I can't speak to psychedelic research under the Trump admin, but I would say that, at least under Biden, the FDA was open to psychedelics. It asked Lykos to conduct another clinical trial of MDMA for PTSD that addressed its concerns. You can read more here: www.newscientist.com/article/2448...

MDMA was hyped as a promising treatment for PTSD – what went wrong?

For years, it seemed MDMA-assisted therapy would revolutionise PTSD treatment. But poor trial design and alleged misconduct ultimately stopped the treatment from receiving government approval

www.newscientist.com

Grace Wade @gracewade.bsky.social · May 5

More and more research is suggesting that psychedelics can reduce inflammation. This raises the possibility of using the drugs to treat non-psychiatric conditions linked with excess inflammation, such as inflammatory bowel disease or chronic Lyme disease.
www.newscientist.com/article/2479...

Psychedelics may boost mental health by dampening inflammation

Psychedelic drugs like MDMA and psilocybin may help treat depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions by reducing the number of inflammatory cells around the brain

www.newscientist.com

Grace Wade @gracewade.bsky.social · Apr 29

The US government has faced swift backlash over plans to create a massive health database to study autism. But the initiative, as it turns out, could be a boon for public health research — so long as it is executed ethically.
Read more:
www.newscientist.com/article/2478...

US plans massive health database to study autism – will it work?

The US government’s proposal for a vast health database to study autism could improve our understanding of the condition – but there is a risk it could do more harm than good

www.newscientist.com

Grace Wade @gracewade.bsky.social · Apr 24

It was a pleasure to join Science Vs this week to discuss measles! Listen to the episode below :)

Science Vs @sciencevs.bsky.social · Apr 24

In today's episode on MEASLES, New Scientist reporter @gracewade.bsky.social gives us the scoop on where the outbreak stands ... then we go deep on the science and where we might go from here 🧪

open.spotify.com/episode/0nFi...

Measles: How Worried Should We Be?

Science Vs · Episode

open.spotify.com

Reposted by Grace Wade

The New York Times @nytimes.com · Apr 24

Bad Bunny will be the subject of a course at Yale University this fall, joining the handful of living artists, including Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga, who have amassed enough cultural clout to have a college class taught about them.

Yale Will Teach a Course on Bad Bunny’s Cultural Impact

With a new fall offering, Yale becomes the latest university to offer a course on the cultural impact of the Puerto Rican star.

www.nytimes.com

Grace Wade @gracewade.bsky.social · Apr 24

Took a break from health news to write about what has to be the most metal caterpillar of all time. This lil guy adorns itself with dead insects, lives with spiders, steals their prey AND is a cannibal. If that isn't hardcore enough, its named the bone collector. www.newscientist.com/article/2477...

'Bone collector' caterpillar wears dead insect body parts as disguise

A carnivorous caterpillar species camouflages itself with dead insects so it can live safely alongside spiders, stalking their webs and stealing their prey

www.newscientist.com

Grace Wade @gracewade.bsky.social · Apr 17

It is ridiculous I am even saying this, but the fact some students experience not just one, but TWO(?!) school shootings in their lifetime is downright deplorable. It shouldn't be a surprise as to why young people are jaded on US government/politics...

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · Apr 17

Anna Griffin, 18, said she was in class at Florida State University when she heard loud noises, which she believes were gunshots.

Griffin overheard another student talking about how this was her second school shooting, having endured one in high school.

Live updates: At least 6 injured in Florida State University shooting; person in custody

Students were sheltering in place as police continued to clear buildings after Thursday’s shooting at Florida State.

Reposted by Grace Wade

Jeremy Hsu @jeremyhsu.bsky.social · Apr 1

Seems hard to track US progress in addressing the opioid crisis and mental health issues without this national survey...

Grace Wade @gracewade.bsky.social · Apr 1

Today, @HHSGov abruptly laid off all 17 employees running the United State's only nationwide survey on drug use and mental health. The survey has tracked these issues across the US for more than half a century. Its future is now uncertain. www.newscientist.com/article/2474...

US government fired researchers running a crucial drug use survey

A termination letter obtained by New Scientist reveals that the Trump administration has gutted the office that runs the country’s only nationwide survey on drug use and mental health

www.newscientist.com