Richard Sima
@richardsima.bsky.social
Science journalist and Brain Matters columnist @washingtonpost.com. Erstwhile neuroscientist 🧠
https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/richard-sima/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/richard-sima/
Pinned
Richard Sima
@richardsima.bsky.social
· Mar 28
‘Something was wrong with my brain’: How covid leaves its mark on cognition
Five years after the pandemic began, the neurocognitive effects of long covid are numerous and troubling. And some may extend to people who quickly recovered.
www.washingtonpost.com
5 years of covid means 5 years of long covid. I wrote about the immense neurocognitive costs of LC, the effects that covid can have on the brain - and why it all continues to matter.
www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/202...
Reposted by Richard Sima
The Post (me and @kcrowebasspro.bsky.social) analyzed the social media posts and appearances of prominent politicians across the country.
We found that no one is talking about climate change anymore. In 2025, mentions are 60% lower than in 2024.
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
We found that no one is talking about climate change anymore. In 2025, mentions are 60% lower than in 2024.
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
November 10, 2025 at 4:24 PM
The Post (me and @kcrowebasspro.bsky.social) analyzed the social media posts and appearances of prominent politicians across the country.
We found that no one is talking about climate change anymore. In 2025, mentions are 60% lower than in 2024.
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
We found that no one is talking about climate change anymore. In 2025, mentions are 60% lower than in 2024.
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
NEW: I spoke with Norman Rosenthal, the psychiatrist who first described and named SAD (seasonal affective disorder), about what he does to address his own SAD—and what the rest of us can do to brighten our winter days. 🔆
www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/202...
How to avoid seasonal depression, according to the expert who discovered it
Norman Rosenthal uses light in his home to help with depression related to seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Spoiler alert: He has a lot of light boxes.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:31 PM
NEW: I spoke with Norman Rosenthal, the psychiatrist who first described and named SAD (seasonal affective disorder), about what he does to address his own SAD—and what the rest of us can do to brighten our winter days. 🔆
www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/202...
“The reductions take effect Friday. Details about which markets would be affected will be announced Thursday, administration officials said.”
www.washingtonpost.com/transportati...
@loriara.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/transportati...
@loriara.bsky.social
U.S. orders 10% cut in flights at several airports as shutdown drags on
The Trump administration says the move, which will affect 40 markets, is part of an effort to ease pressure on air traffic controllers.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 5, 2025 at 10:33 PM
“The reductions take effect Friday. Details about which markets would be affected will be announced Thursday, administration officials said.”
www.washingtonpost.com/transportati...
@loriara.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/transportati...
@loriara.bsky.social
Reposted by Richard Sima
DHS says our new piece is "dishonest, slanted, and fundamentally inaccurate" but won't say why. Here's the story where we show with evidence that DHS spliced together clips spanning years and multiple locations to create its own reality. Gift link wapo.st/4nuDGwf
October 30, 2025 at 3:26 AM
DHS says our new piece is "dishonest, slanted, and fundamentally inaccurate" but won't say why. Here's the story where we show with evidence that DHS spliced together clips spanning years and multiple locations to create its own reality. Gift link wapo.st/4nuDGwf
Reposted by Richard Sima
Scoop: The Trump admin's videos boasting triumphs on immigration have used misleading footage from months ago or thousands of miles away
When we showed them the errors, DHS said they make a lot of videos and the White House said it'll keep making "banger memes"
wapo.st/4nuDGwf
When we showed them the errors, DHS said they make a lot of videos and the White House said it'll keep making "banger memes"
wapo.st/4nuDGwf
Trump administration uses misleading videos to portray chaos, push deportations
Official videos purporting to show the triumph of recent immigration operations used footage that was years old or recorded thousands of miles away, a Washington Post analysis found.
wapo.st
October 29, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Scoop: The Trump admin's videos boasting triumphs on immigration have used misleading footage from months ago or thousands of miles away
When we showed them the errors, DHS said they make a lot of videos and the White House said it'll keep making "banger memes"
wapo.st/4nuDGwf
When we showed them the errors, DHS said they make a lot of videos and the White House said it'll keep making "banger memes"
wapo.st/4nuDGwf
It’s like if a broken escalator became a slide instead of stairs
The AWS outage bricked people's $2,700 smartbeds, leaving them in a reclining position or with the heat up. People were unable to use them, basically. A GitHub repo exists that lets people operate their beds without reliance on the normal infrastructure
www.404media.co/the-aws-outa...
www.404media.co/the-aws-outa...
The AWS Outage Bricked People’s $2,700 Smartbeds
When Amazon Web Services went offline, people lost control of their cloud-connected smart beds, getting stuck in reclined positions or roasting with the heat turned all the way up.
www.404media.co
October 23, 2025 at 6:58 PM
It’s like if a broken escalator became a slide instead of stairs
Reposted by Richard Sima
Stop and read this deep dive on TikTok and how it's consuming much more than hours of our time.
One user: "It was harder for me to create my own opinions, it was harder for me to express my own thoughts in the day, and I think that took a toll with me."
www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/int...
One user: "It was harder for me to create my own opinions, it was harder for me to express my own thoughts in the day, and I think that took a toll with me."
www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/int...
October 7, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Stop and read this deep dive on TikTok and how it's consuming much more than hours of our time.
One user: "It was harder for me to create my own opinions, it was harder for me to express my own thoughts in the day, and I think that took a toll with me."
www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/int...
One user: "It was harder for me to create my own opinions, it was harder for me to express my own thoughts in the day, and I think that took a toll with me."
www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/int...
Reposted by Richard Sima
🤳EXCLUSIVE: We analyzed real data from over 800 U.S. TikTok users to reveal how the app transforms casual users into power users.
Extremely proud of this one, over a year in the making w/ @richardsima.bsky.social Leslie Shapiro @asteckelberg.bsky.social @ence.bsky.social
wapo.st/4obueib
Extremely proud of this one, over a year in the making w/ @richardsima.bsky.social Leslie Shapiro @asteckelberg.bsky.social @ence.bsky.social
wapo.st/4obueib
Here’s how TikTok ‘power users’ end up scrolling 4 hours a day or more
Washington Post reporters analyzed data from over 800 TikTok users to learn how the app turns people into power users, some of whom spend hours per day scrolling.
wapo.st
October 7, 2025 at 11:14 AM
🤳EXCLUSIVE: We analyzed real data from over 800 U.S. TikTok users to reveal how the app transforms casual users into power users.
Extremely proud of this one, over a year in the making w/ @richardsima.bsky.social Leslie Shapiro @asteckelberg.bsky.social @ence.bsky.social
wapo.st/4obueib
Extremely proud of this one, over a year in the making w/ @richardsima.bsky.social Leslie Shapiro @asteckelberg.bsky.social @ence.bsky.social
wapo.st/4obueib
Reposted by Richard Sima
Children and teens who had a Covid reinfection had a doubling of #LongCovid risk (PASC) and a significant increase in many other adverse outcomes (Figure) www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
September 30, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Children and teens who had a Covid reinfection had a doubling of #LongCovid risk (PASC) and a significant increase in many other adverse outcomes (Figure) www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Excited to share that I'm doing a live chat tomorrow (September 30) at 11am Eastern to talk about brain health, dementia and whatever else may be on your mind!
You can also send in your Qs ahead of time - hope you can join :)
www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/202...
You can also send in your Qs ahead of time - hope you can join :)
www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/202...
What should you do to reduce your risk of dementia? Ask Richard Sima.
Brain health expert Richard Sima will answer your questions during a live chat on Tuesday at 11 a.m. Eastern.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 29, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Excited to share that I'm doing a live chat tomorrow (September 30) at 11am Eastern to talk about brain health, dementia and whatever else may be on your mind!
You can also send in your Qs ahead of time - hope you can join :)
www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/202...
You can also send in your Qs ahead of time - hope you can join :)
www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/202...
Reposted by Richard Sima
September 21, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Reposted by Richard Sima
Statement from Post Guild Leadership: The Washington Post Guild condemns the unjust firing of columnist Karen Attiah
September 15, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Statement from Post Guild Leadership: The Washington Post Guild condemns the unjust firing of columnist Karen Attiah
Reposted by Richard Sima
EXCLUSIVE: The new CDC director is being ousted weeks into the job.
@lenasun.bsky.social @ddiamond.bsky.social report www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
@lenasun.bsky.social @ddiamond.bsky.social report www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
CDC director being ousted weeks into job
Susan Monarez, a longtime federal government scientist, was confirmed by the Senate in late July to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 27, 2025 at 8:21 PM
EXCLUSIVE: The new CDC director is being ousted weeks into the job.
@lenasun.bsky.social @ddiamond.bsky.social report www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
@lenasun.bsky.social @ddiamond.bsky.social report www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Reposted by Richard Sima
A federal-state partnership that monitors for foodborne illnesses quietly scaled back its operations nearly two months ago.
As of July 1, the critical surveillance program is monitoring for only two pathogens instead of the usual eight, a spokesperson for the CDC says.
As of July 1, the critical surveillance program is monitoring for only two pathogens instead of the usual eight, a spokesperson for the CDC says.
The CDC quietly scaled back a surveillance program for foodborne illnesses
As of July 1, a critical surveillance program is monitoring for only two pathogens instead of the usual eight.
nbcnews.to
August 26, 2025 at 3:20 PM
A federal-state partnership that monitors for foodborne illnesses quietly scaled back its operations nearly two months ago.
As of July 1, the critical surveillance program is monitoring for only two pathogens instead of the usual eight, a spokesperson for the CDC says.
As of July 1, the critical surveillance program is monitoring for only two pathogens instead of the usual eight, a spokesperson for the CDC says.
Reposted by Richard Sima
Good to see @bsky.app has emerged as the social media platform of choice for science stuff
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
Bluesky now platform of choice for science community
It’s not just you. Survey says: “Twitter sucks now and all the cool kids are moving to Bluesky”…
arstechnica.com
August 27, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Good to see @bsky.app has emerged as the social media platform of choice for science stuff
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
Reposted by Richard Sima
Rock Looked Way Cooler Wet
August 25, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Rock Looked Way Cooler Wet
Reposted by Richard Sima
Got to see these little guys making their way into the ocean this morning! 🐢 #seaturtles #conservation #beach #nature #miamibeach
August 24, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Got to see these little guys making their way into the ocean this morning! 🐢 #seaturtles #conservation #beach #nature #miamibeach
Everybody’s gangster until they see a lesbian couple on the big screen
Snoop Dogg says he's 'scared to go to the movies' after bringing his grandson to 2022's 'Lightyear,' which features a lesbian couple. 'They're putting it everywhere,' he said of LGBTQ+ representation.
Snoop Dogg criticizes LGBTQ+ representation in children's films: 'They're putting it everywhere'
Snoop Dogg says he's 'scared to go to the movies' after bringing his grandson to 2022's 'Lightyear,' which features a lesbian couple. 'They're putting it everywhere,' he said of LGBTQ+ representation.
bit.ly
August 25, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Everybody’s gangster until they see a lesbian couple on the big screen
Reposted by Richard Sima
The part where he doesn’t put the stick down to take a wee on the tree is simply legendary. I cackled.
This is Tuffy. He is the only example of taking up the whole sidewalk that is not only justifiable, but encouraged. 14/10 (IG: mypittuffy)
August 21, 2025 at 10:20 PM
The part where he doesn’t put the stick down to take a wee on the tree is simply legendary. I cackled.
Reposted by Richard Sima
Maybe I would be more tempted to use LLMs if I didn't really like writing and thinking, but, well,
August 22, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Maybe I would be more tempted to use LLMs if I didn't really like writing and thinking, but, well,
Reposted by Richard Sima
I spent the 2010's arguing with my white colleagues that we were facing a crisis in newsroom diversity. The smart, dedicated, talented cis white journalists I thought of as my friends didn't want to hear it. Most of them ignored me. At least one of them told me to go to hell.
The only thing I can say about this paragraph is read it. Sit with it. Read it again. @michaelharriot.bsky.social
August 22, 2025 at 11:32 AM
I spent the 2010's arguing with my white colleagues that we were facing a crisis in newsroom diversity. The smart, dedicated, talented cis white journalists I thought of as my friends didn't want to hear it. Most of them ignored me. At least one of them told me to go to hell.
Reposted by Richard Sima
This new WaPo piece by @richardsima.bsky.social addresses a rarely studied topic in procrastination research: if/why people put off ENJOYABLE activities. It features a PNAS Nexus article by Hagen & O'Brien. I was honored to be asked to comment on their interesting findings. Check it out!
Why we procrastinate on joy — and how to stop
We may fall into a “trap” of wanting something to feel special, which causes us to delay enjoying it now, research suggests.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 6, 2025 at 4:58 PM
This new WaPo piece by @richardsima.bsky.social addresses a rarely studied topic in procrastination research: if/why people put off ENJOYABLE activities. It features a PNAS Nexus article by Hagen & O'Brien. I was honored to be asked to comment on their interesting findings. Check it out!
Reposted by Richard Sima
New: My deep dive into the business of AI slop. wapo.st/4mFECxC
Making cash off ‘AI slop’: The surreal video business taking over the web
A mad rush of creators is using AI video tools to flood the web — and turn a profit — with videos that can seem remarkably real.
wapo.st
August 18, 2025 at 10:49 AM
New: My deep dive into the business of AI slop. wapo.st/4mFECxC