Sara Brinton
@sarabrinton.bsky.social
PhD student at Brown University researching climate change and public health. Union leader. Ballet dancer. 🌎🩰🌈📚
I spent two weeks in France and Spain this summer. I was impressed how Madrid and Toulouse had adapted to the heat. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/24/w...
Faced With Heat and Wildfires, France Turns to Spain to Learn How to Cope
A French government delegation will travel to its southern neighbor to learn how it copes with long spells of hot weather.
nytimes.com
Whether it’s a “cruel heat day” in Japan, “roasting like a sweet potato” in Taiwan or “barbecue mode” in Shenzen, we all need new words to describe extreme heat waves putting humanity at risk. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/23/w...
It’s So Hot That Japan Needs a New Word for It
Japan this week recorded its first kokushobi, a term that means “cruel heat day,” as temperatures reached 104 degrees. It is not the only country that has scrambled for a new summer vocabulary.
nytimes.com
Every mayor in America should be following Mamdani’s lead and helping communities stay safe in this extreme heat.
Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani@mayor.nyc.gov · last mo.Here’s what you should know about the historic heat wave headed our way. Especially if you’re (hypothetically) having your wedding at MSG this weekend.
As a doctoral student at Brown, my research focuses on heat related health risks to vulnerable populations. Temperatures just a few degrees above normal can be dangerous, especially for children, pregnant women, older populations, and people with disabilities or chronic conditions.
David Ho@davidho.bsky.social · last mo.A single day of extreme heat kills 3,400 people in India; a five-day heatwave kills nearly 30,000. Fossil Fuel burning is making heatwaves more frequent.
The proposed OMB regulations threaten critical health research. Speak up to your elected leaders and leave a public comment!
Stand Up for Science!@standupforscience.net · last mo.Our analysis found that the White House's proposed OMB regulations would threaten nearly 5,000 clinical trials. This includes more than 1,000 cancer treatment studies. Join the fight by taking action against the OMB grant funding proposal at the link in our bio! #standupforscience #vought #omb
In Hawaiʻi, the only way to get between islands is by air. There's now a demonstration program to test the feasibility of electric aircrafts in Hawaiʻi and potentially pave the way for more sustainable and affordable interisland travel.
Electric plane could transform interisland travel
An all-electric aircraft is now beginning demonstration flights in Hawaii, powered by batteries and producing almost no noise, to test whether electric aircraft can safely and efficiently serve the…
khon2.com
A entire region of National Parks just unionized. About 650 workers in eight states and over 10 parks have won their union. The parks represented include: - Glacier National Park - Grand Canyon National Park - Grand Teton National Park - Rocky Mountain National Park And more.
This is fascinating look at the use of grey market peptides in the US. The idea that people can do their own research to determine if is safe to inject an unverified substance into their body is so misleading. Peptides may be “naturally occurring”, but there is no regulation of what’s in the vials.
The Guardian@theguardian.com · 2mo agoThe peptide boom: how the US got hooked on unregulated ‘miracle’ drugs | On the Ground
NEW: A lot of bad has happened to American science over the last year but nothing comes even close to what’s about to happen if we don’t speak out in opposition to the OMB rule changes and I hope @aaas-socsci.bsky.social @apsphysics.bsky.social and others will launch public campaigns about this. 🧪🔭⚛️
It's the End of American Science As We Know It
We have 45 days to express our opposition to catastrophic changes.
news.chanda.science
I wonder how much Universities like Harvard, Brown and Cornell spend on fighting unions. It might be less costly to just pay grad workers living wages.
Robert Reich@rbreich.bsky.social · 2mo agoCorporations spend more than $1.5 billion a year on union-busting. That’s $1.5 billion they could have spent on higher wages, better benefits, and improving workplace safety. Remember: if they weren’t so scared of worker power, they wouldn’t fight so hard against unions.
I am celebrating one year after brain surgery! 🧠 Last May 25, I had a microvascular decompression for trigeminal and glossopharyngeal neuralgia. The surgery was successful, but recovery was more difficult than I expected. I experienced pain and hypersensitivity at the site of my craniotomy.
This is outright theft. Trump is stealing $1.7 BILLION of your money to set up a totally unprecedented, first-in-American-history political slush fund that he can use to dole out cash to win loyalty and favors for him and his family.
My son Zeph is competing in YAGP Finals in the next 30 minutes! Live stream to watch some brilliant young dancers. www.youtube.com/live/lNAsvlU...
Classical Pas de Deux Competition Group 4 ~ #951 - #967 ~ YAGP Houston Finals 2026
YouTube video by YAGP - Youth America Grand Prix
youtube.com
This week Brown University proposed a 0% pay increase for the 26-27 year for graduate student workers, and only 1.5% a year for the next 3 years. This means a pay cut when adjusted for inflation that works out to be the equivalent of $4k a year by the end of the contract.
The rush to silence Black voters ahead of the 2026 election is stone cold racism. It's Jim Crow 2.0.
United Airlines flight attendants approved a new five-year union contract with average raises of 31%. About 30,000 flight attendants with @afacwa.org will now get their first raise in nearly six years. The contract also means attendants will finally get paid during boarding.
GLO is advocating for safety for all graduate student workers at Brown, including immigrants and international students. Where we invest our dollars reflects what we value.
Rachel Maddow@maddow.bsky.social · 3mo agoTaxpayers are paying billions to stop offshore wind development that would have lowered energy costs and carbon emissions.
New Documents Undermine Trump Administration’s Claims About Offshore Wind Deal
There was no new investment required from TotalEnergies, according to newly disclosed terms.
heatmap.news
Stevens to RFK Jr: "To top it off, Mr Secretary, I got a copy of HR-944. You know what it is? It's your impeachment articles, sir. You have abused your office, you have gutted America's public health! You should be ashamed."
More than 400 hospitals are at risk of closing thanks to Trump's "big, ugly bill." This will hit rural families—they'll now have to drive even farther before they can get care—if it's not too late by then. This is what happens when you prioritize billionaires & bombs over Americans.
Medicaid cuts threaten hundreds of hospitals, new report finds
Together, the hospitals provide care for nearly 7 million patients across the U.S., according to the analysis.
nbcnews.com
It's official. We're asking Brown University to recognize Fellows as a part of our Graduate Student Union. For many grads, the distinction between Research Assistant and Fellow is just about where the money comes from, not the work. #unionforall #unionstrong www.browndailyherald.com/article/2026...
Graduate fellows seek to unionize in unprecedented move
The action comes after the passage of a state law protecting all graduate workers’ right to unionize.
browndailyherald.com
My son is a ballet dancer. He’s graduating high school and pursuing a career as a dancer. He was born 9 weeks early weighing just 3 pounds. Incredibly proud of him.
"Just weeks after ratifying a historic contract with the University, Penn’s graduate worker union has been officially chartered by the United Auto Workers." https://ow.ly/AFeT50YwsQH
Penn graduate student union officially chartered following contract ratification
Graduate Employees Together — University of Pennsylvania will now also be recognized as UAW Local 5124.
ow.ly
Good news for graduate teaching assistants and researchers in the UC system! #unionstrong
UAW@uaw.org · 5mo ago"Members of three units of the UAW voted overwhelmingly to ratify their contracts, bringing gains such as pay increases, a legal consulting fund for international workers and more." @uawregion6.bsky.social www.dailycal.org/news/uc/uaw-...
EM-DAT is critical for climate change and health research.
Dr. Samantha Montano@samlmontano.bsky.social · 5mo ago‼️ Apparently EM-DAT was financially supported through USAID. There's an open letter you can sign to garner support CRED finding a new sustainable funding source. This is the most critical international disaster dataset we have that underlies both research & practice openletter.earth/the-worlds-c...
This is potentially huge. A whistleblower reported that OMB officials proposed transferring NCAR’s space weather program to a private, for-profit company, violating NSF’s public comment period and statutory limits.
Rep. Neguse Calls For Inspector General Investigation Into OMB, National Science Foundation & Allegations of Potential Sale of NCAR to For-Profit Corporation
Washington, D.C. — Today, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse wrote to the Inspector General of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and demanded an independent investigation into allegations of potentia...
neguse.house.gov
Crying. I miss having a president who inspired hope and courage.
Barack Obama@barackobama.bsky.social · 5mo agoToday, Michelle and I are proud to announce that we will be hosting the dedication ceremony for the Obama Presidential Center on June 18th in Chicago, and welcoming the public on June 19th. We can’t wait for you to visit. Go to obama.org to learn more.
First year PhD life. Submitted my first abstract for a conference. Survived midterms. Led union bargaining. Parented. Ate rice for dinner (PhD stipends only go so far). Danced, a lot, as that’s how I stay sane.
