Those Nerdy Girls
@thosenerdygirls.bsky.social
A team of women & non-binary scientists & clinicians here to empower people to better navigate science & health info. Creators of Dear Pandemic. #publichealth #scicomm #WomenInStem https://thosenerdygirls.org/ https://thosenerdygirls.substack.com/
1/ We say breasts are dense if they have more fibrous and connective tissue. Less dense breasts have more fat and less fibrous tissue. Tissue is typically graded from A through D in terms of density. A is almost entirely fat, while D is almost entirely thicker fibrous tissue.
Hand foot and mouth disease is another one of those pesky viral rashes. While it is extremely common and is highly infectious, fortunately it usually causes only mild disease.✋🦶🏽👄 Read the full post from @cindyleifer.bsky.social here:
My kid recently had a rash on his hands, and my doctor told me it was hand foot and mouth disease. Can you tell us about it?
Hand foot and mouth disease is another one of those pesky viral rashes. While it is extremely common and is highly infectious, fortunately it usually
thosenerdygirls.org
Welcome to the September edition of the Those Nerdy Girls’ Monthly Roundup—our quick, curated collection of the evidence-based posts that sparked the most conversation this past month. ⤵️
Monthly Roundup: September 2026
Welcome to the September edition of the Those Nerdy Girls’ Monthly Roundup—our quick, curated collection of the evidence-based posts that sparked the most conversation this past month.
thosenerdygirls.substack.com
1/ In this collaboration series, Dr. Kristen Panthagani of You Can Know Things dissects some common logical fallacies that can lead people astray. Logical fallacies are common patterns of reasoning that seem true on the surface but have one or more critical flaws.
Series on Logical Fallacies
In this collaboration series, Dr. Kristen Panthagani of You Can Know Things dissects some common logical fallacies that can lead people astray.
thosenerdygirls.substack.com
I saw people on social media say you shouldn't do a newborn screening for your baby so I wrote about it. Get your newborn screened! It's so important!
Those Nerdy Girls@thosenerdygirls.bsky.social · 4w ago2/ These tests help babies get any treatment they might need early. thosenerdygirls.substack.com/p/what-are-n...
Measles cases continue to rise in the US, and four people have died recently. Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and those around you. @sandylaping.bsky.social @sciencewhizliz.bsky.social
What’s happening with the ongoing measles outbreaks? How can I protect myself and my loved ones?
Measles cases continue to rise in the US, and four people have died recently. Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and those around you.
thosenerdygirls.substack.com
With respiratory virus season looming, we can all do our bit to help protect those who can’t get vaccinated.. be a good neighbour, get your flu and COVID jab if you can
Those Nerdy Girls@thosenerdygirls.bsky.social · 3w agoCommunity immunity (aka “herd immunity”) is a really important factor in preventing the spread of infectious diseases… and just like an umbrella can protect you and the person standing next to you from the rain, vaccination can do the same. @sandylaping.bsky.social
Community immunity (aka “herd immunity”) is a really important factor in preventing the spread of infectious diseases… and just like an umbrella can protect you and the person standing next to you from the rain, vaccination can do the same. @sandylaping.bsky.social
What do vaccination and umbrellas have in common?
Just like an umbrella can protect you and the person standing next to you from the rain, vaccination can do the same.
thosenerdygirls.substack.com
What can I do to help prevent suicide? TL; DR: There are steps that all of us can take to raise awareness around suicide, to help someone who is struggling, and to intervene when there is a risk of suicide. Read on to learn more about the different levels of prevention. @emkayhey.bsky.social
What can I do to help prevent suicide?
There are steps that all of us can take to raise awareness around suicide, to help someone who is struggling, and to intervene when there is a risk of suicide. Read on to learn more.
thosenerdygirls.substack.com
1/ Newborn screenings are simple tests, recommended by ACOG done in the hospital, birth center, or clinical office soon after your baby is born. They contain a hearing screen, a screen to look at oxygen levels & a blood test to check for metabolic conditions.
"The rate of Michigan parents declining to get their children fully vaccinated for school, as recommended by health experts, reached a 12-year high during the 2025-26 school year." www.mlive.com/news/2026/09... via @mlive.com
Michigan schools see 12-year-high vaccine waiver rate. How covered is your kid’s school?
The waiver rate has more than doubled in five years, with Michigan's chief medical executive citing politicization of vaccines and contradictory guidance as key factors.
mlive.com
The process of #grief is different for everyone, taking place over weeks, months, and often years. This post provides science on grief as well as perspective on coping with the death of a loved one with the hope of normalizing a process that is both extremely personal and universally shared.
How long does it take to grieve the death of a loved one?
The process of grief is different for everyone, taking place over weeks, months, and often years. This post provides science on grief as well as
thosenerdygirls.org
What happens at a cervical cancer screening, a.k.a. a pap smear? Another in our series Nerdy Notes: Science in Story & Verse thosenerdygirls.substack.com/p/what-happe... #cancerscreening #cervicalcancer
What happens at a cervical cancer screening, a.k.a. a pap smear?
Another in our series Nerdy Notes: Science in Story & Verse
thosenerdygirls.substack.com
When should you get your flu shot? Anytime is good, but October may be best. This post is a collaboration with Data for Health @drjenndowd.bsky.social, Those Nerdy Girls, and the Dartmouth International Vaccine Initiative.
When should you get your flu shot?
Anytime is good, but October may be best.
jenndowd.substack.com
1/ The FDA recently approved three updated COVID vaccines for the 2026-2027 season that will target the JN.1 lineage XFG subvariant of the virus (SARS-CoV-2), and they are available. @sandylaping.bsky.social @sciencewhizliz.bsky.social #CovidVaccines
I heard that updated COVID vaccines have been approved for the fall. Can you tell me more?
Yes, the FDA recently approved three updated COVID vaccines for the 2026-2027 season that will target the JN.1 lineage XFG subvariant of the virus (SARS-CoV-2), and they are available.
thosenerdygirls.substack.com
Monthly Roundup: August 2026 Our roundup is designed to help you stay informed on trending health topics and easily share trusted information with colleagues, friends, and your network. Check it out here:
Monthly Roundup: August 2026
Our roundup is designed to help you stay informed on trending health topics and easily share trusted information with colleagues, friends, and your network.
thosenerdygirls.substack.com
1/ Those Nerdy Girls would like to take time today to remember and honor those we’ve lost to opioid overdose. @emkayhey.bsky.social
Today is the 25th International Overdose Awareness Day
Those Nerdy Girls would like to take time today to remember and honor those we’ve lost to opioid overdose.
thosenerdygirls.substack.com
Prior Authorization (PA) is an approval process for insurance coverage for certain services, treatments, and medications. There is some evidence that it can cut healthcare costs, but on balance, it seems to do more harm than good to both patient care and healthcare spending.
What is Prior Authorization?
Prior Authorization is an approval process for insurance coverage for certain services, treatments, and medications.
thosenerdygirls.substack.com
For many Gen Xers, unprotected kiddie pool days are now showing up as sunspots, wrinkles, and for some of us, skin cancer. @daphneberryhill.bsky.social
From Gen X Pool Days to Gen Z Tanfluencers: Sharing the Sun, Not the Damage
Another in our series Nerdy Notes: Science in Story & Verse
thosenerdygirls.substack.com
i want to get vulnerable for a sec and talk about my experience with the GLP-1 as someone who had an alcohol addiction. now, at the time i started taking it, i didn't really get cravings anymore except under extreme stress (even then they were very brief). the GLP-1 eliminated my cravings 100%. BUT
Timothy McBride@mcbridetd.bsky.social · 2mo agoUnexpected GLP-1 side effect? Studies show the meds may help people with addictions thehill.com/policy/healt...
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CIDRAP Op-Ed: 3 vaccines are not better than 1 when it comes to MMR 3 shots are not better than 1. They involve more injections, more visits, higher costs, more time spent incompletely protected. And no demonstrated benefit. Op-Ed by @unbiasedscipod.bsky.social Jess Steier: https://bit.ly/3U6swEV
New paper alert 🧪 I'm a co-author on a guide just published in Cell on modern science communication. The problem: 83% of people say they want to hear from scientists directly. But most of us were never trained to talk to anyone outside our field. That gap gets filled by someone else.
In this Nerdy Nugget, Dr Gabriella explains how fish regulate their body temperature. Spoiler alert: they don’t need to sweat. A collaboration between @GabriellaExplains x Those Nerdy Girls
How do fish stay cool?
YouTube video by Those Nerdy Girls
youtu.be
1/ What's the deal with the new U.S. childhood vaccine schedule? The most important thing for you to know is that nothing has changed. The science is still clear about the benefits of vaccines & you still have access to them.
What is the deal with the new U.S. childhood vaccine schedule?
The most important thing for you to know is that nothing has changed. The science is still clear about the benefits of vaccines and you still have access to them.
thosenerdygirls.substack.com
Those Nerdy Girls trust #vaccines and know they’ve saved many lives so we are taking a moment to celebrate them in August, since it is #NationalImmunizationAwarenessMonth. @cindyleifer.bsky.social
August is National Immunization Awareness Month.
Those Nerdy Girls trust vaccines and know they’ve saved many lives so we are taking a moment to celebrate them in August, since it is National Immunization Awareness Month.
thosenerdygirls.substack.com
Yes, you can be depressed in the summer. Some people actually feel depressed every summer, and they may have summer seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
I’ve been feeling down even though it is bright and sunny out. Can I be depressed in the summer?
Yes, you can be depressed in the summer. Some people actually feel depressed every summer, and they may have summer seasonal affective disorder (SAD). 😥
thosenerdygirls.org
It's back-to-school season! Are your kids up-to-date on their vaccines? @drjenndowd.bsky.social @lindsleininger.bsky.social @ameracadpeds.bsky.social
It's back-to-school season!
Are your kids up-to-date on their vaccines?
thosenerdygirls.substack.com
As part of our collaboration with Normal Curves, we are sharing this clip from a podcast episode exploring the science behind the HPV vaccine, why it has the potential to dramatically reduce cervical cancer worldwide, and why HPV prevention matters for everyone, not just women. #HPV #HPVVaccine
