Brigitte Nerlich
@bnerlich.bsky.social
Metaphor hunter, linguist, social scientist, blogger
blog: https://makingsciencepublic.com/
also sorted into categories at https://wakelet.com/@bnerlich
ORCID: 0000-0001-6617-7827
blog: https://makingsciencepublic.com/
also sorted into categories at https://wakelet.com/@bnerlich
ORCID: 0000-0001-6617-7827
Pinned
Brigitte Nerlich
@bnerlich.bsky.social
· Nov 17
So, I have created a starter pack for people interested in #metaphor. I bet I left a lot of people out. Please let me know if you want to be added. go.bsky.app/DvxejFX
Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich
Twas frymblal and the autism,
Did remech & runction in the wabe.
All mimsy where the fexcectorn,
And the bicylce outgrabe.
Did remech & runction in the wabe.
All mimsy where the fexcectorn,
And the bicylce outgrabe.
November 27, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Twas frymblal and the autism,
Did remech & runction in the wabe.
All mimsy where the fexcectorn,
And the bicylce outgrabe.
Did remech & runction in the wabe.
All mimsy where the fexcectorn,
And the bicylce outgrabe.
Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich
Imagine you lived in the 18th century.
Smallpox kills 1 in 3 cases. Yet you can’t culture pathogens, don’t know germ theory, and have no idea what a virus is. How would you invent a vaccine?
In a new episode of HARD DRUGS, we trace the history of vaccines!
Smallpox kills 1 in 3 cases. Yet you can’t culture pathogens, don’t know germ theory, and have no idea what a virus is. How would you invent a vaccine?
In a new episode of HARD DRUGS, we trace the history of vaccines!
The history of vaccines
open.spotify.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Imagine you lived in the 18th century.
Smallpox kills 1 in 3 cases. Yet you can’t culture pathogens, don’t know germ theory, and have no idea what a virus is. How would you invent a vaccine?
In a new episode of HARD DRUGS, we trace the history of vaccines!
Smallpox kills 1 in 3 cases. Yet you can’t culture pathogens, don’t know germ theory, and have no idea what a virus is. How would you invent a vaccine?
In a new episode of HARD DRUGS, we trace the history of vaccines!
In the olden days you needed an education to acquire knowledge, now you need an education to recognise knowledge....
November 27, 2025 at 9:31 AM
In the olden days you needed an education to acquire knowledge, now you need an education to recognise knowledge....
Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich
NEW from me - NSF cancels grant scheme for social science research.
Seems the NSF quietly archived ALL calls for DDRIG grants in the SBE directorate. This is a massive blow for PhD students wanting to do cutting-edge social science research. 🏺🧪
Seems the NSF quietly archived ALL calls for DDRIG grants in the SBE directorate. This is a massive blow for PhD students wanting to do cutting-edge social science research. 🏺🧪
Today's biggest science news: Doomed comet explodes | Comet 3I/ATLAS course alteration | Dark matter detected?
Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025: Your daily feed of the biggest discoveries and breakthroughs making headlines.
www.livescience.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:01 PM
NEW from me - NSF cancels grant scheme for social science research.
Seems the NSF quietly archived ALL calls for DDRIG grants in the SBE directorate. This is a massive blow for PhD students wanting to do cutting-edge social science research. 🏺🧪
Seems the NSF quietly archived ALL calls for DDRIG grants in the SBE directorate. This is a massive blow for PhD students wanting to do cutting-edge social science research. 🏺🧪
Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich
Nucleus Genomics faces criticism as it and other firms promise embryo optimization despite unresolved scientific, ethical questions ipscell.com/2025/11/nucl... elective IVF #stemcells
Nucleus Genomics faces criticism as it and other firms promise embryo optimization despite unresolved scientific, ethical questions - The Niche
Stem cell biologist discusses how elective IVF firm Nucleus Genomics faces serious accusations including of plagiarism.
ipscell.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Nucleus Genomics faces criticism as it and other firms promise embryo optimization despite unresolved scientific, ethical questions ipscell.com/2025/11/nucl... elective IVF #stemcells
Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich
RFKJr has cut ALL mRNA vax research in the USA where all the work discussed in this thread was developed. Other countries can step in. But the rhetoric about mRNA vax from the likes of him are HUGELY harming the trust in mRNA vaccine technology. We address common questions n myths here
independentsage.org
November 26, 2025 at 6:42 AM
RFKJr has cut ALL mRNA vax research in the USA where all the work discussed in this thread was developed. Other countries can step in. But the rhetoric about mRNA vax from the likes of him are HUGELY harming the trust in mRNA vaccine technology. We address common questions n myths here
Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich
Historian Rutger Bregman is a well-respected proponent of a universal basic income. The Guardian has called him “the Dutch wunderkind of new ideas.”
The BBC invited Bregman to give this year’s Reith Lecture series.
Before airing, the BBC removed one sentence from his lecture, “A Time of Monsters.”
The BBC invited Bregman to give this year’s Reith Lecture series.
Before airing, the BBC removed one sentence from his lecture, “A Time of Monsters.”
November 25, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Historian Rutger Bregman is a well-respected proponent of a universal basic income. The Guardian has called him “the Dutch wunderkind of new ideas.”
The BBC invited Bregman to give this year’s Reith Lecture series.
Before airing, the BBC removed one sentence from his lecture, “A Time of Monsters.”
The BBC invited Bregman to give this year’s Reith Lecture series.
Before airing, the BBC removed one sentence from his lecture, “A Time of Monsters.”
Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich
Some of the most important words ever written: 'Endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.' – Charles Darwin, 'On the Origin of Species'. It was published #OnThisDay 1859.
November 24, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Some of the most important words ever written: 'Endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.' – Charles Darwin, 'On the Origin of Species'. It was published #OnThisDay 1859.
Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich
The Cost of Forgetting
by Chelsi — Vaccines have made a world that is safer and healthier. But, vaccines have made us comfortable enough to forget.
by Chelsi — Vaccines have made a world that is safer and healthier. But, vaccines have made us comfortable enough to forget.
The Cost of Forgetting
by Chelsi — Vaccines have made a world that is safer and healthier. But, vaccines have made us comfortable enough to forget.
smallthingsconsidered.blog
November 24, 2025 at 9:00 AM
The Cost of Forgetting
by Chelsi — Vaccines have made a world that is safer and healthier. But, vaccines have made us comfortable enough to forget.
by Chelsi — Vaccines have made a world that is safer and healthier. But, vaccines have made us comfortable enough to forget.
Sean Trott, over at The Counterfactual, explores the metaphor 'ChatGPT is grown not made' - great post, also quotes a nice metaphor "attention heads are a “matchmaking service for words”);" #AI #metaphors
seantrott.substack.com/p/is-chatgpt...
seantrott.substack.com/p/is-chatgpt...
Is ChatGPT "grown, not made"?
What we do and don't know about large language models.
seantrott.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Sean Trott, over at The Counterfactual, explores the metaphor 'ChatGPT is grown not made' - great post, also quotes a nice metaphor "attention heads are a “matchmaking service for words”);" #AI #metaphors
seantrott.substack.com/p/is-chatgpt...
seantrott.substack.com/p/is-chatgpt...
Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich
This guest post by my colleague Andrew Maynard is a bit of a palate cleanser between all my explorations of metaphors for AI. It is about Cambridge Dictionary's word of the year: #parasocial. makingsciencepublic.com/2025/11/23/p...
Parasocial Relationships: Problematic Practice or Public Promise?
This year’s Cambridge Dictionary Word of the Year is “parasocial”—spurred on by growing concerns over our love affair with AI chatbots. ••• This is a guest post/repost by Andrew M…
makingsciencepublic.com
November 23, 2025 at 7:27 AM
This guest post by my colleague Andrew Maynard is a bit of a palate cleanser between all my explorations of metaphors for AI. It is about Cambridge Dictionary's word of the year: #parasocial. makingsciencepublic.com/2025/11/23/p...
Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich
Las metáforas se usan comúnmente en la literatura o el teatro con el fin de crear imágenes alegóricas, retóricas o analogías varias. Pero otras veces las usamos en nuestra vida diaria para simplificarnos la vida.
November 23, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Las metáforas se usan comúnmente en la literatura o el teatro con el fin de crear imágenes alegóricas, retóricas o analogías varias. Pero otras veces las usamos en nuestra vida diaria para simplificarnos la vida.
Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich
A few thoughts on the future of science journalism from a talk I gave recently--at UCL for the American Association of Science Journalism.
open.substack.com/pub/overmatt...
open.substack.com/pub/overmatt...
From Print to Prompts
What the past tells us about the future of science journalism
open.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 10:28 AM
A few thoughts on the future of science journalism from a talk I gave recently--at UCL for the American Association of Science Journalism.
open.substack.com/pub/overmatt...
open.substack.com/pub/overmatt...
Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich
Boston's Mayor Wu playing with Yo-Yo Ma at Symphony Hall
November 23, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Boston's Mayor Wu playing with Yo-Yo Ma at Symphony Hall
Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich
“a restoration team from Gaza's Ministry of Religious Endowments is painstakingly retrieving historical manuscripts, rare volumes, and archival documents — some nearly 700 years old — from beneath the rubble.”
The secret mission to save Gaza's historical artefacts
Palestinians scramble to save centuries-old books and manuscripts before they are lost
With a ceasefire in effect in Gaza, a restoration team is painstakingly retrieving historical manuscripts, rare volumes, and archival documents from beneath the rubble of a destroyed mosque.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 23, 2025 at 10:41 AM
“a restoration team from Gaza's Ministry of Religious Endowments is painstakingly retrieving historical manuscripts, rare volumes, and archival documents — some nearly 700 years old — from beneath the rubble.”
This guest post by my colleague Andrew Maynard is a bit of a palate cleanser between all my explorations of metaphors for AI. It is about Cambridge Dictionary's word of the year: #parasocial. makingsciencepublic.com/2025/11/23/p...
Parasocial Relationships: Problematic Practice or Public Promise?
This year’s Cambridge Dictionary Word of the Year is “parasocial”—spurred on by growing concerns over our love affair with AI chatbots. ••• This is a guest post/repost by Andrew M…
makingsciencepublic.com
November 23, 2025 at 7:27 AM
This guest post by my colleague Andrew Maynard is a bit of a palate cleanser between all my explorations of metaphors for AI. It is about Cambridge Dictionary's word of the year: #parasocial. makingsciencepublic.com/2025/11/23/p...
Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich
For weekend readers, my second instalment of posts trying to get to grips with growing research into how we try to understand 'AI' through metaphors in recent times #metaphor #AI #LLMs makingsciencepublic.com/2025/11/21/a...
Metaphors for AI: An overview of recent studies
In my previous post (part 1 of a trilogy) I called for an AI metaphor observatory to watch how people make sense (and sometimes nonsense) of generative artificial intelligence, or GenAI, through me…
makingsciencepublic.com
November 22, 2025 at 7:26 AM
For weekend readers, my second instalment of posts trying to get to grips with growing research into how we try to understand 'AI' through metaphors in recent times #metaphor #AI #LLMs makingsciencepublic.com/2025/11/21/a...
Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich
A person in Washington State who kept backyard poultry has died from #H5N5 #flu. The person was the first known infection with this subtype of flu globally & the second recorded death in the US from an #H5 flu virus. Health authorities say there's no evidence the person spread the virus to others.
November 22, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich
This is on the X account of the UK Home Office. A Labour government.
Where is this country going?
I would like to remind the British government that among the taxpayers in the UK there are millions of non-British people.
#notonationalism #migrantsarenotcriminals
Where is this country going?
I would like to remind the British government that among the taxpayers in the UK there are millions of non-British people.
#notonationalism #migrantsarenotcriminals
November 22, 2025 at 12:21 PM
This is on the X account of the UK Home Office. A Labour government.
Where is this country going?
I would like to remind the British government that among the taxpayers in the UK there are millions of non-British people.
#notonationalism #migrantsarenotcriminals
Where is this country going?
I would like to remind the British government that among the taxpayers in the UK there are millions of non-British people.
#notonationalism #migrantsarenotcriminals
Designer babies.... here we go again www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/ge...
Tech bros want to make gene-edited babies, but scientists are sounding the alarm
As tech titans back startups looking to create genetically modified babies, Claudia Cockerell asks: is it about stopping disease, or something darker?
www.standard.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Designer babies.... here we go again www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/ge...
For weekend readers, my second instalment of posts trying to get to grips with growing research into how we try to understand 'AI' through metaphors in recent times #metaphor #AI #LLMs makingsciencepublic.com/2025/11/21/a...
Metaphors for AI: An overview of recent studies
In my previous post (part 1 of a trilogy) I called for an AI metaphor observatory to watch how people make sense (and sometimes nonsense) of generative artificial intelligence, or GenAI, through me…
makingsciencepublic.com
November 22, 2025 at 7:26 AM
For weekend readers, my second instalment of posts trying to get to grips with growing research into how we try to understand 'AI' through metaphors in recent times #metaphor #AI #LLMs makingsciencepublic.com/2025/11/21/a...
Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich
I reckon you can learn a lot about the atmosphere in various Oxford colleges by looking at what they choose to name their cats (courtesy of @oxfordclarion.bsky.social ). We should all aspire to the energy of a Teabag, Isambard Kitten Brunel, or an Admiral Flapjack
oxfordclarion.uk/college-cats...
oxfordclarion.uk/college-cats...
November 21, 2025 at 1:01 PM
I reckon you can learn a lot about the atmosphere in various Oxford colleges by looking at what they choose to name their cats (courtesy of @oxfordclarion.bsky.social ). We should all aspire to the energy of a Teabag, Isambard Kitten Brunel, or an Admiral Flapjack
oxfordclarion.uk/college-cats...
oxfordclarion.uk/college-cats...
Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich
"A decade ago, science showed us a narrow window of opportunity to avert the looming planetary crisis. That window has closed. We are now in the midst of the storm"
My latest for Technosphere Earth reporting on a new paper published with the Earth League.
www.technosphere.earth/living-beyon...
My latest for Technosphere Earth reporting on a new paper published with the Earth League.
www.technosphere.earth/living-beyon...
Living beyond limits
Decades of climate policy failure means we must find ways to live in a more dangerous world
www.technosphere.earth
November 21, 2025 at 1:13 PM
"A decade ago, science showed us a narrow window of opportunity to avert the looming planetary crisis. That window has closed. We are now in the midst of the storm"
My latest for Technosphere Earth reporting on a new paper published with the Earth League.
www.technosphere.earth/living-beyon...
My latest for Technosphere Earth reporting on a new paper published with the Earth League.
www.technosphere.earth/living-beyon...
Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich
The fossil fuel lobbyists are sitting around saying “this is fine”
BREAKING: The UN climate talks COP30 have been evacuated due to a fire breaking out inside the venue in Belém, Brazil.
November 21, 2025 at 10:16 AM
The fossil fuel lobbyists are sitting around saying “this is fine”
Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich
type for books used to be set using little metal letters built into words in racks and then inked and pressed on to paper. If you had stock phrases you wanted to reuse a lot you could make a cast of them called a ‘stereotype’. The sound of them *clicking* into place, in French, is ‘cliché’
Man, everything is so bleak, anyone got a fun fact or little bit of trivia they want to share
November 21, 2025 at 10:17 AM
type for books used to be set using little metal letters built into words in racks and then inked and pressed on to paper. If you had stock phrases you wanted to reuse a lot you could make a cast of them called a ‘stereotype’. The sound of them *clicking* into place, in French, is ‘cliché’