Meghan Rosen

@megrosen.bsky.social

Senior writer @sciencenews.bsky.social. Biochem Ph.D. Covering health, medicine, bio. Sometimes posting my cats. Signal: megrosen.84

Winding down mRNA vaccine research for infectious diseases may not seem like a big deal. But it could have a chilling effect on the development of mRNA-based medicines in general. That includes meds for treating cancer. Here’s what we stand to lose: www.sciencenews.org/article/mrna...

mRNA vaccines hold promise for many diseases. Now the tech is under fire

Researchers warn that halting federal contracts for mRNA vaccine research could weaken pandemic preparedness and slow medical advances.

sciencenews.org

The United States has recorded its highest annual measles cases in 33 years. The milestone marks a public health reversal in defeating a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease as the anti-vaccine movement gains strength.

U.S. measles cases reach 33-year record high as outbreaks spread

Johns Hopkins University data reflects the public health reversal in defeating the vaccine-preventable disease since measles was officially eliminated from the U.S. in 2000.

washingtonpost.com

For a good recap on the latest U.S. vaccine policy tumult, check out @thsaey.bsky.social's story: At the June ACIP meeting, “debunked science, an apparent nonchalance about preventable deaths and confusion over basic testing procedures often took center stage." www.sciencenews.org/article/vacc...

Vaccine policy in the U.S. is entering uncharted territory

A key advisory group vows to base decisions on evidence, boost confidence in vaccines and protect health. Experts fear the opposite is happening.

sciencenews.org

This type 1 diabetes study included only about a dozen people, but the results are impressive. A year after cell therapy, 10 of 12 people no longer needed supplemental insulin. That’s big, but we need data from more patients. (It's in the works; ETA is 2026.) www.sciencenews.org/article/type...

A new diabetes treatment could free people from insulin injections

In a small cell therapy trial, 10 out of 12 people with type 1 diabetes no longer needed supplemental insulin, even a year after treatment.

sciencenews.org

News: The American Academy of Pediatrics says it will no longer take part in the process of ACIP meetings. “We won’t lend our name or our expertise to a system that is being politicized at the expense of children’s health,” the group's president says. www.statnews.com/2025/06/25/c...

CDC vaccine advisory committee to review long-approved immunizations

A leader of the CDC's reconstituted vaccine advisory committee said the panel would start a review of long-approved shots.

statnews.com

If you have a minute, please consider signing our petition. It’s been more than 400 days since our union formed, and we’re still fighting to get a fair contract. 🙏 #unionstrong #solidarity

Science News Media Guild@sn-media-guild.bsky.social · last yr.

Sign our petition to let @society4science.bsky.social @mayaajmera.bsky.social know you stand with us! We just want management to value our work as much as we value its mission to inform, educate and inspire. A #faircontract shouldn't take over a year to negotiate! actionnetwork.org/petitions/fo...

We hear a lot about what foods to cut from our diets, but what stood out to me at the recent #Nutrition2025 meeting was the opposite. What foods should we be *adding* to our plates? (The answers probably won't surprise you!) www.sciencenews.org/article/heal...

Want to eat healthier? Add to your diet, rather than limit it

Nutrition experts say add more greens and beans to your diet; cooking classes can teach people to make these nutrient-dense foods taste delicious.

sciencenews.org

I had an interesting conversation with former #FDA commissioner Robert Califf. He said recent cuts could erode our food safety system - and it’s hard to predict where it may start to crumble. “There are a gazillion places where things could go wrong.” www.sciencenews.org/article/milk...

FDA cuts imperil food safety, but not how you might think

Layoffs at the FDA, USDA and CDC could erode the U.S. food safety system. Experts aren’t so worried about milk or chicken today; they’re concerned about the future.

sciencenews.org

Mankai! I’m new to the nutrition beat and just learned about this food at #Nutrition2025 Have you heard of it? It’s a tiny aquatic plant from Southeast Asia. Also known as watermeal and duckweed. Also a folate superstar. Also a complete protein. Also very cute. www.loc.gov/everyday-mys...

What is the smallest flower in the world?

Watermeal. (Wolffia spp.)The smallest species of vascular plants in Europe – Spotless watermeal, Wolffia arrhiza – on human fingers.Every single speck of less than 1 mm length is an individual plant. ...

loc.gov

"Some references include 'oaicite' attached to URLs — a definitive sign that the research was collected using artificial intelligence. The presence of 'oaicite' is a marker indicating use of OpenAI, a U.S. artificial intelligence company."

White House MAHA Report may have garbled science by using AI, experts say

The report, led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., was intended to address the reasons for the decline in Americans’ life expectancy.

washingtonpost.com

So my family is relocating to Minnesota this summer. Luckily, I can keep my amazing job at @sciencenews.bsky.social - I've been a remote worker here for 8 years. My colleagues who happen to live in DC should have the same freedom to move cities if they need or want to. It bugs me that they don't.

Science News Media Guild@sn-media-guild.bsky.social · last yr.

To our dismay, little progress was made yesterday during our negotiation for a fair contract. For one thing, @society4science.bsky.social is outright denying most of us the ability to remote work full-time, even though it doesn’t impact their bottom line. And…(1/4)

This is another sad story in a sea of bad news, but @sujatagupta.bsky.social’s piece on ending student mental health grants needs to be shared. “We are talking about critical services to kids,” says a deputy superintendent…”Things like this shouldn’t be cut.” www.sciencenews.org/article/stud...

Students’ mental health imperiled by $1 billion cuts to school funding

The Trump administration is cutting $1 billion in grants that support student mental health. That has educators worried.

sciencenews.org