Public comments about a proposal that would make science funding decisions open to political influence are removed from the record, but not by the submitters. A number mentioned that OMB Director Russell Vought's family has benefited from federally funded research. www.statnews.com/2026/08/25/r...

Comments on OMB research rule mysteriously removed from federal website

Some comments on a proposed OMB research rule have been mysteriously removed from a public-facing government webpage.

statnews.com

Thoughts on the latest Alzheimer’s data scandal:

More Alzheimer's Research Trouble

science.org

I'm a lifelong Laker fan (by birth, people! I grew up in the LA area; cut me some slack), but it's not easy to stay loyal to them. Having Josh Kushner as an owner, the same Kushner that tried to buy a stake in the World Cup, is pushing me toward my breaking point... www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

Sources: Josh Kushner, Bob Iger to buy Lakers for $12B

The Lakers are being sold to American businessman Josh Kushner and Bob Iger for over $12 billion, a record-breaking price, multiple sources told ESPN.

espn.com

"We are being governed by ignorant, malevolent fools who are leaving death and destruction in their wake. I can’t put it any more plainly than that."

Derek Lowe@dereklowe.bsky.social · 3w ago

My thoughts on Trump’s witless, dangerous attempt to reschedule childhood vaccinations:

Outstanding discussion of “Science: A New Golden Age” from @colesci.bsky.social www.techpolicy.press/ostp-vision-... 1/4

OSTP Vision for Science is a ‘Golden Age’ for Corporations

"Science: A New Golden Age" tries to reframe the conversation away from the ongoing destruction of American science, writes Cole Donovan.

techpolicy.press

Thoughts on the various Trump administration proposals to revamp US science funding - and what they all have in common:

The Assault On Science Funding Continues

science.org

Current #WorldCup feelings: great to have 9/10 African nations reach the knockouts, but absolutely maddening outcomes in the round of 32 so far (except Morocco)...

Been wondering why NSF isn't spending most of its FY26 appropriation? A $1.5B tech initiative may be the reason. And big cuts to hundreds of research programs could be just the beginning of the bad news. www.science.org/content/arti...

Exclusive: NSF slashes research programs to support new tech initiative, insiders say

Unexpected shift in funds has meant sharp drop in grants this fiscal year

science.org

We interrupt normally scheduled BlueSky angst to bring you the following public service announcement: Kamasi Washington is a musical genius. Researchers consistently find that listening to his music brings #Joy. #NotScience #NotChemistry #Reproducibility www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8cK...

Kamasi Washington - Prologue (Official Music Video)

YouTube video by Kamasi Washington

youtube.com

Great news, everyone: Van Deventer Lab member Briana Lino has successfully defended her PhD! Since joining the lab, Briana has made some excellent scientific contributions while also showing a tremendous amount of resilience. (1/n) #ChemSky #Science

🆕New paper🗞️! Sometimes a paper can be in a works for a long time because trainees leave the group and their priorities change. But I'm so glad that former post-doc Vikas Trivedi found time to finish this paper with @vandeventerjim.bsky.social and me! @tufts.edu doi.org/10.1128/spec...

Engineered antimicrobial-derived peptides to manipulate mixed microbial systems | Microbiology Spectrum

We demonstrate a novel approach for top-down manipulation of microbial co-cultures by leveraging the narrow-spectrum activity of a class IIa bacteriocin (bacterial-derived antimicrobial peptide). We e...

doi.org

Today, I'm grateful to NOT have to submit a partnership proposal. Why? I was told in advance of a submission deadline that my proposed work was going to fall outside of the scope of the request solutions. So, my submission would have been dead on arrival... (1/2)

Senegal!!! #Afcon #Senegal

Today, I'm grateful for Gojira and other death metal. Major score-driving reason: have you seen the news coming out of the US?!?!? (Minor score-driving reason: I'm up against a deadline for grant reviews and death metal is keeping me awake and on task)

Great crash course in tumor dormancy (featuring quotes from Tufts faculty member Shelly Peyton. Ahem; Tufts bias at play here).

Johanna Joyce@johannajoyce.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Understanding why cancers relapse - sometimes years or decades after successful treatment - is a major challenge in the cancer field This perspective in Nature discusses several of the important recent advances and new studies in the field of tumor dormancy 🧪⚕️ www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Can confirm that this is definitely happening in our house. Can also confirm that our kids are destined for infamy in middle school.

Allison Van Deventer@allisonvandev.bsky.social · 9mo ago

The children have been forbidden to call each other "noob," and so they're calling each other "you NEOPHYTE" instead

Today, I'm grateful for some morning Norwegian Death Metal. I'm definitely awake as I put the finishing touches on a long overdue writing project...

A lot of my recent posts express gratitude, but today I'm going to say that I am decidedly NOT grateful for FIFA (at least not in its current state...).

Things I'm thankful for this Thanksgiving weekend: --Kid 2 skips. A lot! It brings me joy every time I see it. --Kid 1 has an incredible sense of humor. --My brother drove up from DC to spend the holiday with us. --My spouse made some stellar food (especially pies + stuffing).

Today, I'm grateful that Alanna Schepartz is visiting Tufts. Alanna's leadership of @cgemcci.bsky.social has led to impressive advances in genetic code expansion, including recently published work pushing encoding beyond alpha-amino acids. #ChemSky #ChemChat www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Site-selective protein editing by backbone extension acyl rearrangements - Nature Chemical Biology

A post-translational backbone extension acyl rearrangement (BEAR) reaction has now been developed that converts a ribosomal protein product into a new product containing a β-peptide, γ-peptide or δ-pe...

nature.com

Today, I'm grateful for my seven-year-old's rekindled excitement about engineering. We went to a local makerspace/playspace that specializes in building toys and engineering challenges, and now all the kid wants to do is build with K'Nex! www.einsteinsworkshop.com

Shoot, I've fallen out of the habit of finding something to be grateful for. As the world (especially the US!) continues to burn, this habit of finding something to be grateful for has been centering for me. So, let's restart with two things today (1/3):

Our 7yo has coined a new word: "interrupdate." I think he meant it as a fancier or more nuanced version of "interrupt," but I'm sure we can all see the possibilities.

Today, I'm grateful to have two PhD students presenting at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers annual meeting. Briana Lino: release factor engineering to enhance noncanonical amino acid incorporation Sean Williams: protein-small molecule hybrid discovery (1/2) #ChemSky

Today, I'm grateful for kid #2's excitement about Halloween. However, I am NOT grateful for the resulting inability to sleep past 3am and its effects on MY sleep...

“Meritocracy” www.science.org/content/arti...

JD Vance officiated the wedding of new head of NIH environmental institute

Unusual hiring process raises fears of political favoritism

science.org

...With thought-provoking presentations from Han Xiao and Ali Deliz Liang this morning! #Chemsky

Jim Van Deventer@vandeventerjim.bsky.social · 11mo ago

Today, I'm grateful for the International Genetic Code Expansion (GCE) Webinar. gce4all.oregonstate.edu/tools-and-tr... This series has done a really good job of featuring a wide range of speakers using noncanonical amino acids and GCE in creative ways! (1/2)

Today, I'm grateful for the International Genetic Code Expansion (GCE) Webinar. gce4all.oregonstate.edu/tools-and-tr... This series has done a really good job of featuring a wide range of speakers using noncanonical amino acids and GCE in creative ways! (1/2)

International GCE Webinar | GCE4All

gce4all.oregonstate.edu

Today, I'm grateful for Thundercat. No, I will not be taking questions. www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhVg...

Thundercat: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

YouTube video by NPR Music

youtube.com

Today, I'm grateful for the Maria Flytzani-Stephanopoulos Symposium on Single-Site Catalysis at Tufts. This symposium celebrates Maria's legacy in the field by bring together current researchers in the field (1/2). #ChemSky #Catalysis #SingleAtoms sites.tufts.edu/mfscatalysis...