Kai Kupferschmidt
@kakape.bsky.social
science journalist. author. molecular biologist. curious.
interested in #microbes, #misinformation and all things #blue
contributing correspondent at @science.org
co-host of @pandemia.bsky.social
2024 KSJ fellow at MIT
Signal: kakape.93
interested in #microbes, #misinformation and all things #blue
contributing correspondent at @science.org
co-host of @pandemia.bsky.social
2024 KSJ fellow at MIT
Signal: kakape.93
Pinned
Kai Kupferschmidt
@kakape.bsky.social
· Nov 1
The five biggest challenges facing misinformation researchers
The burgeoning field is still grappling with fundamental problems, from getting access to data to defining 'misinformation' in the first place
www.science.org
So what have I learnt about #misinformation research? I tried to condense it into a list of the 5 biggest challenges the field faces.
Second story in my package of stories about misinformation research is up here (and thread to come):
www.science.org/content/arti...
Second story in my package of stories about misinformation research is up here (and thread to come):
www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
The science surrounding giving babies their 1st dose of #hepatitisB vaccine at birth is clear. The practice is safe and saves lives, a report released before this week’s #ACIP meeting shows. The committee has mused about delaying the birth dose. www.statnews.com/2025/12/02/c...
Expert review finds delaying the hepatitis B vaccine birth dose would increase chronic infections in kids
Delaying the timing of vaccinating infants against hepatitis B — which ACIP could vote on later this week — would likely lead to more chronic infections in kids.
www.statnews.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:08 PM
The science surrounding giving babies their 1st dose of #hepatitisB vaccine at birth is clear. The practice is safe and saves lives, a report released before this week’s #ACIP meeting shows. The committee has mused about delaying the birth dose. www.statnews.com/2025/12/02/c...
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
"Prosecutors said Mr. Hernández was key to a scheme that lasted more than 20 years and brought more than 500 tons of cocaine into the United States." www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/n...
December 2, 2025 at 2:06 PM
"Prosecutors said Mr. Hernández was key to a scheme that lasted more than 20 years and brought more than 500 tons of cocaine into the United States." www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/n...
This time last year, I was on the South Lawn of the White House helping to lay out the AIDS Memorial Quilt.
This year the White House did nothing and the State Department instructed empoyees and grant recipients to “refrain from publicly promoting World Aids Day through any communication channels”
This year the White House did nothing and the State Department instructed empoyees and grant recipients to “refrain from publicly promoting World Aids Day through any communication channels”
This morning I had the honor of helping lay out some panels of the #AIDS Memorial Quilt on the South Lawn of the White House. Seeing all these individual lives that were lost and knowing they are just a miniscule part of that great tapestry of loss is haunting.
December 1, 2025 at 5:48 PM
This time last year, I was on the South Lawn of the White House helping to lay out the AIDS Memorial Quilt.
This year the White House did nothing and the State Department instructed empoyees and grant recipients to “refrain from publicly promoting World Aids Day through any communication channels”
This year the White House did nothing and the State Department instructed empoyees and grant recipients to “refrain from publicly promoting World Aids Day through any communication channels”
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
News media has to do better with headlines that present false and unverified public health claims.
November 29, 2025 at 11:48 PM
News media has to do better with headlines that present false and unverified public health claims.
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
I really appreciate that @pbsnews.org ended the interview with this graphic.
It captures, in the simplest and starkest terms, the brutal arithmetic driving this country's homelessness catastrophe.
It captures, in the simplest and starkest terms, the brutal arithmetic driving this country's homelessness catastrophe.
November 30, 2025 at 1:33 AM
I really appreciate that @pbsnews.org ended the interview with this graphic.
It captures, in the simplest and starkest terms, the brutal arithmetic driving this country's homelessness catastrophe.
It captures, in the simplest and starkest terms, the brutal arithmetic driving this country's homelessness catastrophe.
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
Fascinating story about evidence that #H5N1 #birdflu infected vampire bats in South America, raising the prospect of a potential new & dangerous host for the virus. Some good news: The virus didn't appear to spread well among the bats. By @martinenserink.bsky.social. www.science.org/content/arti...
Vampire bats may have contracted H5N1 bird flu in Peru, raising worries about further spread
Bats could form a bridge between marine and terrestrial mammals, scientists say
www.science.org
November 26, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Fascinating story about evidence that #H5N1 #birdflu infected vampire bats in South America, raising the prospect of a potential new & dangerous host for the virus. Some good news: The virus didn't appear to spread well among the bats. By @martinenserink.bsky.social. www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
NEWS --> BBC confirms to me that they did edit a line out of historian @rutgerbregman.com's speech. It called Trump "the most openly corrupt president in US history."
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
Trump’s Fury at BBC Gets Unnerving Results with Pro-MAGA Edit Stunner
First, British Broadcasting Corporation execs resigned after Trump complained about a segment. Now the BBC edited out a line from a historian that was critical of Trump. Where does this end?
newrepublic.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:10 PM
NEWS --> BBC confirms to me that they did edit a line out of historian @rutgerbregman.com's speech. It called Trump "the most openly corrupt president in US history."
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
WOW! Autism Society of America, The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, the Autism Science Foundation, the Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network and Autism Speaks put out a statement denouncing the CDC changing its website on vaccines
autisticadvocacy.org/2025/11/lead...
autisticadvocacy.org/2025/11/lead...
Leading Autism and Disability Organizations Statement on CDC's Vaccines and Autism Page
As national organizations dedicated to advancing the well-being of autistic individuals and partners across the disability and public health sectors, we are deeply disappointed by the latest update to...
autisticadvocacy.org
November 24, 2025 at 11:18 PM
WOW! Autism Society of America, The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, the Autism Science Foundation, the Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network and Autism Speaks put out a statement denouncing the CDC changing its website on vaccines
autisticadvocacy.org/2025/11/lead...
autisticadvocacy.org/2025/11/lead...
Finally started on AppleTV adaptation of Foundation. Gorgeous to look at, but so far it seems to completely forgo Asimov’s more cerebral idea of psychohistory as a kind of predictive statistics of humans en masse for more of the usual individual with special abilities storytelling… #scifi
November 25, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Finally started on AppleTV adaptation of Foundation. Gorgeous to look at, but so far it seems to completely forgo Asimov’s more cerebral idea of psychohistory as a kind of predictive statistics of humans en masse for more of the usual individual with special abilities storytelling… #scifi
I think this is probably right and also a complete disaster. Just an utter unwilligness to learn from what we all collectively went through just a few years ago…
The default pandemic strategy for many countries does now seem to be "Play it by ear then lockdown and wait for a vaccine"
November 24, 2025 at 10:11 PM
I think this is probably right and also a complete disaster. Just an utter unwilligness to learn from what we all collectively went through just a few years ago…
In the good news category:
After years of research and trials, the WHO this year recommended the first new tool to fight malaria in decades: spatial repellents. They last up to a year and they could help fight malaria as well as dengue and other diseases - and protect refugees.
#IDsky 🧪
After years of research and trials, the WHO this year recommended the first new tool to fight malaria in decades: spatial repellents. They last up to a year and they could help fight malaria as well as dengue and other diseases - and protect refugees.
#IDsky 🧪
New vapor tool fights mosquitoes by slowly releasing insecticide in homes. Will it catch on?
World Health Organization supports “spatial repellents” to prevent malaria, but it’s unclear who will pay for them
www.science.org
November 24, 2025 at 8:02 PM
In the good news category:
After years of research and trials, the WHO this year recommended the first new tool to fight malaria in decades: spatial repellents. They last up to a year and they could help fight malaria as well as dengue and other diseases - and protect refugees.
#IDsky 🧪
After years of research and trials, the WHO this year recommended the first new tool to fight malaria in decades: spatial repellents. They last up to a year and they could help fight malaria as well as dengue and other diseases - and protect refugees.
#IDsky 🧪
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
Sind selbst gespannt darauf, was wir da so alles zu hören kriegen.
Wenn euch das auch interessiert, gibt es hier einen Feed für euch:
wissenschaftspodcasts.de/feed-wisspod...
Wenn euch das auch interessiert, gibt es hier einen Feed für euch:
wissenschaftspodcasts.de/feed-wisspod...
Wisspod-PodcastWisspod-PodcastVorschau zur #WissPodWeihnacht: 24 Podcasts in 24 TürchenAusblick auf das #ganzohr 2025Wisspod-Jahresrückblick 2024 oder: Reichweite, my ass!Eindrücke vom GanzOhr2024Ausblick auf das #ganzohr 2024Jahresrückblick 2023Ausblick auf das #ganzohr 2023Ausblick auf das #ganzohr 2022Lewis MacKenzie about his study on science podcasts
wissenschaftspodcasts.de
November 24, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Sind selbst gespannt darauf, was wir da so alles zu hören kriegen.
Wenn euch das auch interessiert, gibt es hier einen Feed für euch:
wissenschaftspodcasts.de/feed-wisspod...
Wenn euch das auch interessiert, gibt es hier einen Feed für euch:
wissenschaftspodcasts.de/feed-wisspod...
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
Wir feiern dieses Jahr übrigens mit bei der #WisspodWeihnacht!
Das ist ein schöner Adventskalender den wissenschaftspodcasts.de organisiert hat: 24 Türchen, 24 verschiedene Wissenschaftspodcasts, 24 kurze Folgen für euch!
wissenschaftspodcasts.de/themenseiten...
Das ist ein schöner Adventskalender den wissenschaftspodcasts.de organisiert hat: 24 Türchen, 24 verschiedene Wissenschaftspodcasts, 24 kurze Folgen für euch!
wissenschaftspodcasts.de/themenseiten...
Wisspod-Adventskalender 2025 - wissenschaftspodcasts.de
Bei Wissenschaftspodcasts.de gibt es dieses Jahr einen Adventskalender: 24 verschiedene Podcasts haben jeweils eine Folge beigesteuert.
wissenschaftspodcasts.de
November 24, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Wir feiern dieses Jahr übrigens mit bei der #WisspodWeihnacht!
Das ist ein schöner Adventskalender den wissenschaftspodcasts.de organisiert hat: 24 Türchen, 24 verschiedene Wissenschaftspodcasts, 24 kurze Folgen für euch!
wissenschaftspodcasts.de/themenseiten...
Das ist ein schöner Adventskalender den wissenschaftspodcasts.de organisiert hat: 24 Türchen, 24 verschiedene Wissenschaftspodcasts, 24 kurze Folgen für euch!
wissenschaftspodcasts.de/themenseiten...
What most impresses me as a reader is when writers manage to tell stories and make me feel things while at the same time questioning those very stories and feelings, shaping the ambiguity and nuance that is everywhere around us in this world into something tangible instead of ignoring it.
November 23, 2025 at 8:58 PM
What most impresses me as a reader is when writers manage to tell stories and make me feel things while at the same time questioning those very stories and feelings, shaping the ambiguity and nuance that is everywhere around us in this world into something tangible instead of ignoring it.
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
Science journalist Kai Kupferschmidt has written a book entitled ‚Blue | In Search of Nature's Rarest Color’ , which we highly recommend. It is available in German and English. @kakape.bsky.social
November 21, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Science journalist Kai Kupferschmidt has written a book entitled ‚Blue | In Search of Nature's Rarest Color’ , which we highly recommend. It is available in German and English. @kakape.bsky.social
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
How can a PhD blend science with art, and dessert with creativity? 🤔
I tried it by making a “night-sky cake“— colored with phycocyanin, the same vivid blue pigment 💙 found in the algae I study. My supervisor recognized the source of the color immediately — he’s incredibly sharp!
I tried it by making a “night-sky cake“— colored with phycocyanin, the same vivid blue pigment 💙 found in the algae I study. My supervisor recognized the source of the color immediately — he’s incredibly sharp!
November 21, 2025 at 2:30 PM
How can a PhD blend science with art, and dessert with creativity? 🤔
I tried it by making a “night-sky cake“— colored with phycocyanin, the same vivid blue pigment 💙 found in the algae I study. My supervisor recognized the source of the color immediately — he’s incredibly sharp!
I tried it by making a “night-sky cake“— colored with phycocyanin, the same vivid blue pigment 💙 found in the algae I study. My supervisor recognized the source of the color immediately — he’s incredibly sharp!
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
EXCLUSIVE: CDC to end all monkey studies. Decision handed down by recent college grad and former DOGE employee who is now deputy chief of staff at the agency. Animals were being used in studies of HIV prevention. Some may be euthanized. My latest for @science.org
Exclusive: CDC to end all monkey research
Studies related to HIV and other infectious diseases will be phased out, sources say; fate of the agency's animals remains unclear
www.science.org
November 21, 2025 at 2:16 PM
EXCLUSIVE: CDC to end all monkey studies. Decision handed down by recent college grad and former DOGE employee who is now deputy chief of staff at the agency. Animals were being used in studies of HIV prevention. Some may be euthanized. My latest for @science.org
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
About that exclusive, "closed-to-press" MAHA summit last week with RFK and JD Vance: I got in.
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
November 21, 2025 at 5:01 PM
About that exclusive, "closed-to-press" MAHA summit last week with RFK and JD Vance: I got in.
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
The official CDC website on autism and vaccines is now a screed of cherry-picked data and conspiratorial thinking claiming that actually vaccines *might* cause autism.
This is where we’re at folks…
🧪
This is where we’re at folks…
🧪
November 20, 2025 at 11:54 AM
The official CDC website on autism and vaccines is now a screed of cherry-picked data and conspiratorial thinking claiming that actually vaccines *might* cause autism.
This is where we’re at folks…
🧪
This is where we’re at folks…
🧪
The official CDC website on autism and vaccines is now a screed of cherry-picked data and conspiratorial thinking claiming that actually vaccines *might* cause autism.
This is where we’re at folks…
This is where we’re at folks…
November 20, 2025 at 11:35 AM
The official CDC website on autism and vaccines is now a screed of cherry-picked data and conspiratorial thinking claiming that actually vaccines *might* cause autism.
This is where we’re at folks…
This is where we’re at folks…
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
Last week, Suncoast Searchlight's four reporters wrote a letter to their board. Their editor-in-chief had secretly been using ChatGPT and inserting hallucinated quotes into their drafts.
The next day, one of those reporters was fired. My latest for @niemanlab.org. www.niemanlab.org/2025/11/flor...
The next day, one of those reporters was fired. My latest for @niemanlab.org. www.niemanlab.org/2025/11/flor...
Florida nonprofit news reporters ask board to investigate their editor’s AI use
Suncoast Searchlight’s four reporters told the board their editor-in-chief was using AI editing tools and inserting hallucinations into drafts. The next day, one of the reporters was fired.
www.niemanlab.org
November 19, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Last week, Suncoast Searchlight's four reporters wrote a letter to their board. Their editor-in-chief had secretly been using ChatGPT and inserting hallucinated quotes into their drafts.
The next day, one of those reporters was fired. My latest for @niemanlab.org. www.niemanlab.org/2025/11/flor...
The next day, one of those reporters was fired. My latest for @niemanlab.org. www.niemanlab.org/2025/11/flor...
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
NEWS: During a hearing in federal court in VA, prosecutors confirmed that the operative indictment in the case against James Comey was never shown to or voted on by the entire grand jury before it was presented in open court.
Defense counsel argued that’s a complete bar to further prosecution
Defense counsel argued that’s a complete bar to further prosecution
November 19, 2025 at 4:36 PM
NEWS: During a hearing in federal court in VA, prosecutors confirmed that the operative indictment in the case against James Comey was never shown to or voted on by the entire grand jury before it was presented in open court.
Defense counsel argued that’s a complete bar to further prosecution
Defense counsel argued that’s a complete bar to further prosecution
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
🎉 Wahnsinn! Wir haben die 50.000 € in unserer Crowdfunding-Kampagne geknackt! 🙌
Einen riesigen Dank an euch alle – ihr habt das möglich gemacht! 💚
#Crowdfunding #RiffReporter #Danke #FollowerPower
Einen riesigen Dank an euch alle – ihr habt das möglich gemacht! 💚
#Crowdfunding #RiffReporter #Danke #FollowerPower
November 19, 2025 at 1:10 PM
🎉 Wahnsinn! Wir haben die 50.000 € in unserer Crowdfunding-Kampagne geknackt! 🙌
Einen riesigen Dank an euch alle – ihr habt das möglich gemacht! 💚
#Crowdfunding #RiffReporter #Danke #FollowerPower
Einen riesigen Dank an euch alle – ihr habt das möglich gemacht! 💚
#Crowdfunding #RiffReporter #Danke #FollowerPower
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
I will never forget having to edit Jamal’s final, posthumous piece for the Washington Post, after he was murdered.
He was calling for free expression in the Arab world. You can read it here :
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/glo...
He was calling for free expression in the Arab world. You can read it here :
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/glo...
Opinion | Jamal Khashoggi: What the Arab world needs most is free expression
The Arab world needs a modern version of the old transnational media so citizens can be informed about global events.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:48 PM
I will never forget having to edit Jamal’s final, posthumous piece for the Washington Post, after he was murdered.
He was calling for free expression in the Arab world. You can read it here :
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/glo...
He was calling for free expression in the Arab world. You can read it here :
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/glo...
Laura und ich sind gerade beide unterwegs auf Recherchereise, aber bevor wir abgehauen sind haben wir noch eine Bonusfolge @pandemia.bsky.social für unsere Unterstützer veröffentlicht.
Es geht um Fotos der dritten Pestpandemie, um Masken, Murmeltierfelle und die Mandschurei.
🧪
Es geht um Fotos der dritten Pestpandemie, um Masken, Murmeltierfelle und die Mandschurei.
🧪
Pest (Bonus) | Forscher, Fotos, Fellhändler
Podcast Episode · Pandemia · 11/12/2025 · Subscribers Only · 40m
podcasts.apple.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Laura und ich sind gerade beide unterwegs auf Recherchereise, aber bevor wir abgehauen sind haben wir noch eine Bonusfolge @pandemia.bsky.social für unsere Unterstützer veröffentlicht.
Es geht um Fotos der dritten Pestpandemie, um Masken, Murmeltierfelle und die Mandschurei.
🧪
Es geht um Fotos der dritten Pestpandemie, um Masken, Murmeltierfelle und die Mandschurei.
🧪