resistance
Growing signs of discontent — and resistance — within NIH
Courtesy NIH staffer
The NIH has been rocked by turmoil during the first two months of the Trump administration, and there are growing signs employees within the agency's walls are looking for ways to resist. An internal email sent to staffers on Thursday and obtained by STAT noted that "NIH has seen a recent uptick in incidents of vandalism and destruction of federal property." The message went on to say that defacing federal portraits, sticking bumper stickers on walls, and similar activities could cause staff to be fired and face criminal action.
A photo obtained by STAT offers a potential example of what the agency is talking about. The image shows a print-out of American historian Timothy Snyder's 20 lessons for fighting tyranny attached to the inside of a bathroom stall. "Do not obey in advance," "defend institutions," and "remember professional ethics" the notice urges NIH staffers, right below a reminder to flush.
Despite the show of resistance, it's clear some employees' resolve to stick around is eroding. Case in point: The NIH staffer who shared this image with STAT is now planning to leave the agency. "Trying to live to fight another day," they wrote. — Jonathan Wosen
research
What did you say? (I said hearing loss affects dementia)
It's generally understood among scientists that hearing loss is a risk factor for dementia. But what's less clear is exactly how often cases of dementia can be attributed to hearing loss — previous research has estimated anywhere from 2% to 19% of cases. A new study, published yesterday in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, found that up to 32% of new cases of dementia over eight years could be attributable to hearing loss that's confirmed through clinical testing.
The study included almost 3,000 participants ages 66 to 90 in Mississippi, North Carolina, Minnesota, and Maryland communities, all of whom either had hearing loss tested "objectively" with an audiometric test or "subjectively," meaning they self-reported it. (Relying on self-reporting underestimated the prevalence of hearing loss, and so was not associated with a higher risk for dementia.) The results suggest that treating hearing loss could delay dementia for a large number of older adults, the authors write.
comebacks
'Get in luddite, we're going gene editing'
You know He Jiankui — he's the infamous Chinese scientist who performed a series of secretive, questionable genetic experiments that resulted in the birth of three CRISPR'd children and a three year prison sentence for "illegal medical practices." Last year, STAT's Megan Molteni spoke with He about his struggles to regain a foothold in the scientific community and the support he later received from a U.S. cryptocurrency entrepreneur.
This year, it appears that part of his comeback plan includes trying to go viral on X. "Get in luddite, we're going gene editing," a post from yesterday reads, with a picture of He in the driver's seat of a car, looking over his shoulder Regina-George-style. Scrolling down, it's hard to pick which posts to highlight: "Good morning bitches. How many embryos have you gene edited today?" Or: "Stop asking for cat girls, I'm trying to cure disease," followed hours later by "Meow >:)." Most posts are accompanied by a stock photo-like image of He in a clean, vacant lab or office space.
It's all so eccentric that some people have begun to question if the (verified) account is still run by He himself. Journalist Antonio Regalado reached out via email to confirm, prompting the account to post a screenshot of the email with a caption about how "some random journalist wanted proof of life." Regalado still seems to believe the account is not written by He. What do you think?
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