Rarament m'he sentit més còmode parlant de ciència que al pòdcast de @revistametode.bsky.social amb @annamateu.bsky.social i @lsapina.bsky.social #arseniclife
www.youtube.com/watch?v=adBw...
@ccbiologiquesuv.bsky.social @i2sysbio.es @dicv.csic.es @ucciuv.bsky.social @socreisjuan.bsky.social

Communicating Discoveries in the Search for Life in the Universe Workshop Report | Astrobiology The potential discovery of life beyond Earth presents unique communication challenges for astrobiology. These include ambiguous data, public misconceptions, and the dynamics of social media platforms. Building on National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s 2021 Standards of Evidence (SoE) workshop, a diverse group of experts—scientists, science journalists, content creators, and scholars—were convened during February and March of 2024 for the Communicating Discoveries in the Search for Life in the Universe workshop. This report summarizes structured discussions focused on how to responsibly share findings with different public audiences. Key themes that emerged from the workshop included the following: communicating uncertainty, reaching consensus, and building trust between the scientific community and the public. Such efforts will involve navigating the rapidly evolving landscapes of social media and academic (peer-reviewed) journal publishing. Workshop participants emphasized the need for proactive communication, early-career training in science communication, and interdisciplinary partnerships, all of which can foster sound public understandings of astrobiology research and its myriad of practices, mitigate misinformation, and sustain ongoing support for the search for life. In brief, this report includes the workshop rationale and structure, insights gleaned from past case studies and hypothetical future scenarios, common themes that emerged from the breakout groups, a discussion of the relationship of workshop outcomes to SoE, and guidance for individuals, agencies, and institutions. Key Words: Astrobiology—Science communication—Biosignature detection. Astrobiology xx, xxx–xxx.

Continued refusal of NASA, Arizona State U. & others to admit that the retracted #arseniclife article was bad science. liebertpub.com/doi/10.1177/... Article claims that "past controversial scientific revelations" include "arsenic-based life discoveries." It was not a "revelation" nor a "discovery."

@revistametode.bsky.social @lsapina.bsky.social @annamateu.bsky.social #arseniclife

Retraction The Research Article “A bacterium that can grow by using arsenic instead of phosphorus” by F. Wolfe-Simon et al. (1) has been the subject of discussion and critique since its online publication in 201...

The #arseniclife paper has finally been retracted, 15 years later www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... 2010 was a golden age of scientific social media, and #arseniclife was one of the all-time classics. I can't believe it's been 15 years!

Whether you agree with @jeremymberg.bsky.social (who didn’t retract the #arseniclife paper) or the current editor of @science.org, you owe it to read Jeremy’s thread. I still come down on the side of retracting, but less firmly than I did before.

Widely panned arsenic life paper gets retracted—15 years after brouhaha In December 2010, a study led by a NASA astrobiology fellow claimed to have found an alien-like microbe in a salty, alkaline lake in California. This extraordinary bacterium could reportedly thrive using...

Widely panned arsenic life paper gets retracted—15 years after brouhaha #Science #Chemistry #EnvironmentalChemistry #ArsenicLife #ScientificRetraction #EnvironmentalScience

Fifteen years later, Science retracts ‘arsenic life’ paper despite study authors’ protests Belated decision on widely disputed 2010 study pleases some critics but puzzles and dismays others

#arseniclife retracted at last!!!

Fifteen years later, Science retracts ‘arsenic life’ paper despite study authors’ protests | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...

‘Arsenic Life’ Microbe Study Retracted after 15 Years of Controversy A controversial arsenic microbe study unveiled 15 years ago has been retracted. The study’s authors are crying foul

‘Arsenic Life’ Microbe Study Retracted after 15 Years of Controversy #Science #Biology #Microbiology #ArsenicLife #MicrobeResearch #ScientificRetracttion

Claim of Microbe That Survives on Arsenic Is Retracted After 15 Years

Science Magazine retracts the 2010 #ArsenicLife paper, NASA and authors disagree.

(gift article) www.nytimes.com/2025/07/24/s...

With #ArsenicLife back in the news for the retraction:

After the original paper was released, the authors released a PDF to respond to critics.

I have looked for it many times but can’t find an archived copy. Does anyone have it?

A stunning panoramic view of Mono Lake, California, from Mount Dana, with an inset close-up of GFAJ-1 bacteria, a species found in the lake that may use arsenic in place of phosphorus, suggesting the possibility of life forms with different fundamental elements than those found on Earth.

Astronomy Picture from 06/12/2010

Mono Lake: Home to the Strange Microbe GFAJ-1

Source: https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap101206.html


#MonoLake #ArsenicLife #AlienLife #Extremophiles #Astrobiology #SpaceBiology #GFAJ1 #NASA #ExtraterrestrialLife #California #Lake #Bacteria #Phosphorus #Science

Her Discovery Wasn’t Alien Life, but Science Has Never Been the Same

Interesting update on #ArsenicLife, with a look on the consequences of data misinterpretation and social media reviews. Written by @sarahscoles.bsky.social.

Her Discovery Wasn’t Alien Life, but Science Has Never Been the Same www.nytimes.com/2025/02/11/s...

Hi Theo, thanks for highlighting the @science.org Editorial by @holdenthorp.bsky.social & me, and the NYT story on #arseniclife. That story noted how the research team wasn’t ready to engage w/ media, at the time, so it dovetails w/ our Editorial. We hope the related "tips" for authors are useful.

Her Discovery Wasn’t Alien Life, but Science Has Never Been the Same (Gift Article) The internet erupted in controversy over Felisa Wolfe-Simon and colleagues’ claim of a microbe thriving on arsenic. Nearly 15 years later, she’s pursuing new research on the boundaries of life.

The #arseniclife story will never die, apparently, but lessons can still be learned and are perhaps more relevant now than ever.

www.nytimes.com/2025/02/11/s...

Her Discovery Wasn’t Alien Life, but Science Has Never Been the Same The internet erupted in controversy over Felisa Wolfe-Simon and colleagues’ claim of a microbe thriving on arsenic. Nearly 15 years later, she’s pursuing new research on the boundaries of life.

Dr. Wolfe-Simon has long-deserved a "redemption" story, and there was never any sin to redeem anyway. The arsenic bacteria paper will always be one of my favorites, regardless of conclusions. Science shouldn't punish anomalies, that's where all the fun is! #arseniclife

The irony that this article on #arseniclife coincided with the confirmation of #RFKJr has not escaped attention. A characteristic of #pseudoscience is that despite all of the evidence, its proponents never admit failure.

Her Discovery Wasn’t Alien Life, but Science Has Never Been the Same The internet erupted in controversy over Felisa Wolfe-Simon and colleagues’ claim of a microbe thriving on arsenic. Nearly 15 years later, she’s pursuing new research on the boundaries of life.

This is a cool story! I love hearing science evolving like this #arsenicLife www.nytimes.com/2025/02/11/s...

I have been calling for the retraction of #arseniclife
since it was first published. The authors knew that the arsenate was contaminated with phosphate [see the table in the supplementary material in the article] retractionwatch.com/2021/01/21/w...

Those who "fabricate data or commit fraud?" Perhaps "self-deluding" and "bad-faith attention seeking" referring to multiple authors on the article. I am surprised that you omitted from your article a primary #arseniclife miscreant, Paul Davies.

Why one biologist says it’s not too late to retract the “arsenic life” paper David Sanders An anniversary has prompted this reconsideration of the revolution in biochemistry that wasn’t: the “arsenic bacteria.” Just over 10 years have passed since an infamous Dec. 2, 2010, …

For more information on #arseniclife and why the paper should have been retracted long ago, please see retractionwatch.com/2021/01/21/w...

Personal harassment of authors was always inappropriate. Criticism of the data in the article, the quality of the peer review, the persistent pursuit of media attention by the authors & their refusal to produce meaningful responses was valid. I hope the decision to retract is maintained #arseniclife

Algunos son muy jóvenes para recordarlo, pero en 2010, una conferencia de la NASA, un paper en Science y #ArsenicLife en las redes —haciendo referencia a una bacteria 🦠 que usaba arsénico en vez de fósforo—, sacudieron los medios (y los corazones de científicas jóvenes ingenuas como yo entonces 🙈).

#Arseniclife Revisited The internet erupted in controversy over Dr. Felisa Wolfe-Simon and colleagues’ claim of a microbe thriving on arsenic. Nearly 15 years later, she’s pursuing new research on the boundaries of life.

#Arseniclife Revisited

The internet erupted in controversy over Dr. Felisa Wolfe-Simon and colleagues’ claim of a microbe thriving on arsenic. Nearly 15 years later, she’s pursuing new research on the boundaries of life.

Her Discovery Wasn’t Alien Life, but Science Has Never Been the Same The internet erupted in controversy over Felisa Wolfe-Simon and colleagues’ claim of a microbe thriving on arsenic. Nearly 15 years later, she’s pursuing new research on the boundaries of life.

Do you remember the #arseniclife controversy from the long-ago internet? Here's my retrospective about what went on behind the scenes and within the science community back then, what happened to the scientist at the center of it all, and what's going on now. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/11/s...

#ArsenicLife in soft focus I am glad to hear that Felisa Wolfe-Simon is doing well and still loves science. But lots of other information in a new article in the New Y...

🆕 Blog post!

A new profile on #ArsenicLife lead author Felisa Wolfe-Simon paints her as someone wronged by others, not as someone who was wrong scientifically.

Disclaimer: I was active in the blogosphere and discussion of this story when it happened.

neurodojo.blogspot.com/2025/02/arse...

"Dr. Thorp says Science can’t justify the idea that #arseniclife is arsenic life, and he says that the original peer reviewers didn’t have the right expertise in biochemistry to evaluate the paper."

Her Discovery Wasn’t Alien Life, but Science Has Never Been the Same The internet erupted in controversy over Felisa Wolfe-Simon and colleagues’ claim of a microbe thriving on arsenic. Nearly 15 years later, she’s pursuing new research on the boundaries of life.

This is unlikely to get a lot of attention today given all the other news, but @sarahscoles.bsky.social is out with an excellent and long story about the so-called #arseniclife paper that was in Science in 2010. 1/n www.nytimes.com/2025/02/11/s...

That’s kind of what Science and Nature do when big data citation magnets are published. It’s the small “high impact” brain microbiome studies and #arseniclife nonsense that are problematic.

Given a large representative dataset, replication is usually straightforward, in my experience.

Probably because of smashing successes like Wakefield’s autism vaccine, #arseniclife, tumor microbiome, and AF3