The backbone of a hero shrew; photo by John Weinstein, Field Museum

Hero shrew specimen and partial skeleton showing enlarged backbone at the University of Zurich Zoological Museum. Photo by Peter Spelt.

Did you know that hero shrews' amazingly complex vertebrae allow them to hold a 70kg man on their backs for a few mins and remain unharmed? Don't try this at home!
A relatively new discovery is Thor's hero shrew (epic species name) pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
🧪🌍🦊

Also, "Panzerspitzmaus"?🤣😍

Here is how we know that vaccines do not cause autism Vaccines do not cause autism. You’ve almost certainly read that before — but often without a full explanation of how we know it to be true. Here's how we know.

This sort of "here is how we know" article, in which the evidence is thoroughly summarized and clearly explained and common counter-arguments are calmly debunked with evidence, is probably something we should be doing a lot more of.

Some people are not persuadable. Many are.

#SciComm 🧪

How Maryland Hit Its 30x30 Goal (Gift Article) Nine states have set goals to conserve 30 percent of their land by 2030. Maryland got there first.

Good news for Earth Day! Nine U.S. states have set goals to conserve 30% of their land by 2030-and MD got there first.

This story is part of a NYT series, "50 States, 50 Fixes." Tune into NPR at 10AM eastern this morning to hear from authors @carabuckley.bsky.social, @catrineinhorn.bsky.social & I.

1/ RFK Jr. started touring nationwide to Make America Health Again ( #MAHA). Chronic disease is a big problem in the U.S.—but his claims that “scientists in the health agencies represent an utter failure,” don’t match the data. Let’s break down what’s true, what’s not, and what really needs fixing.👇

Sun’s out, game’s out!! Play @fathomverse.bsky.social and discover all life in the ocean! 🦑🌊🧪 fathomverse.game. #onwardsanddownwards

Screening performance and characteristics of breast cancer detected in the Mammography Screening with Artificial Intelligence trial (MASAI): a randomised, controlled, parallel-group, non-inferiority, ... The findings suggest that AI contributes to the early detection of clinically relevant breast cancer and reduces screen-reading workload without increasing false positives.

This post seems to have legs, so, I want to remind folks, medical AI has both potential and pitfalls.

Case in point: a recent very large RCT found AI-supported mammography increased cancer detection by 29% while cutting radiologists' workload by 44%, without more false positives.

AI failed to detect critical health conditions: study AI systems designed to predict the likelihood of a hospitalized patient dying aren't detecting worsening health conditions.

AI models in hospitals miss 66% of patient injuries, failing to detect worsening health. A study urges integrating medical expertise, as 65% of US hospitals rely on these systems for patient care. 🩺💻

Direct link to the study: www.nature.com/articles/s43...

We need to organize--let’s help each other.

NIH is cancelling grants, but it's not clear exactly what they're cancelling and why. Without this information, we can't respond.

I've started a Google Sheet to track grant cancellations.

Please add any canceled grants you know of and spread the word!

TIL about MADE-PUBLIC, a collaboration to print “bio-based, biodegradable, and recyclable” electronics, sourced from local plants and materials. 🧪

www.fmrg.pme.uchicago.edu

Thanks!

Thanks!

Thanks for the source! I was just wondering about the specific targets or genetic drivers of the labeling. Looks like even the source lacks such info. Still a great image!

Wonderful imaging!

What are each color labeling? Is this from a paper or an independent image?

Apolipoprotein E is a marker of all chondrocytes in the growth plate resting zone - Bone Research The resting zone (RZ) in mammalian growth plates is critical for maintaining and regulating chondrocyte turnover during longitudinal bone growth as a control tower and stem cell reservoir. Although re...

New paper from Otsuru Lab in Bone Research
linked below (PMCID: PMC11873292 )🧪🦴🔬
link.springer.com/article/10.1...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...

Amazing "pre-Christmas" gift for the Vascular Biology Community! What a treat!!! 💫 www.nature.com/articles/s41...

NEW: #NASAWebb has spotted a reverberating light echo spreading across space. As a light pulse travels through space, it illuminates previously unseen material, revealing intricate structures resembling wood grain: webbtelescope.pub/422ET6Z #AAS245 🔭 🧪

Bacteria in the brain: Friend, foe or figment? Does the brain, like the gut, have a microbiome?

You may have heard about your gut's microbiome, but what about your brain?

This week, Margaret Gardner walks us through the controversial evidence for your brain's microbiome and what it could mean in health and disease: pennneuroknow.com/2025/01/14/b...

#neuroskyence #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧪

Computer-aided drug design to generate a unique antibiotic family - Nature Communications Holo-acyl carrier protein synthase (AcpS) is an enzyme that catalyses the first step in lipid synthesis and is essential for bacterial survival, but no current antibiotics targeting AcpS are known. He...

This is the @naturecomms.bsky.social article describing the antibiotic discovery research. www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Find Your Flame SEGA SOUND TEAM, Tomoya Ohtani, Kellin Quinn, Tyler Smyth · Sonic Frontiers Original Soundtrack Stillness & Motion · Song · 2022

This slaps
open.spotify.com/track/1O80Lh...

Dune has the same plot as the Westminster Dog Show: After generations of careful breeding, we have produced this perfect little freak of nature and now it has behavioral issues

EPA Scientists Said They Were Pressured to Downplay Harms From Chemicals. A Watchdog Found They Were Retaliated Against. Three reports issued by the agency’s inspector general detailed personal attacks suffered by the scientists — including being called “stupid,” “piranhas” and “pot-stirrers” — and called on the EPA to take “appropriate corrective action” in response.

Under Trump, EPA scientists say they were pressured to make the new chemicals they were vetting seem safer than they really were. They were encouraged to delete evidence of harms, including cancer, from their reports. Sometimes, they say, managers deleted the info themselves.
www.propublica.org/a...

shout out to kendrick lamar for making this the Worst Week Alive for every single hot dog stand employee

#Chiefs #AFCWest #ChiefsKingdom
#FlagBeggerMahomes #nflmemes #NFL #nfl

Text from The Athletic: Police and team staff stepped in to break up the fight. In the process, some players were seen on the ground rubbing their faces after coming into contact with pepper spray.

"After coming into contact with pepper spray"

Expert deployment of the exonerative tense by the Athletic.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/595...

🚨 If you haven’t seen it yet…

📢 The NIH BioArt Source provides a library of FREE professionally designed illustrations and icons, available for anyone to use. They can be Downloaded in High Definition.

Check it out at bioart.niaid.nih.gov

If starting your weekend with a stoat on a trampoline is wrong, then I don't want to be right.

📹: Robert Fuller

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