Derek Lowe
@dereklowe.bsky.social
Medicinal chemist / chemical biologist, author of “In the Pipeline” at http://science.org/blogs/pipeline. [email protected] and on Signal at Dblowe.18
All opinions are mine; I don’t speak for my employer in any way.
All opinions are mine; I don’t speak for my employer in any way.
Reposted by Derek Lowe
This is real. A government agency calling Americans performing their democratic right of protest “imbecilic morons.” This Trump regime is a poison and never should have gotten power. A total disgrace.
November 15, 2025 at 9:55 PM
This is real. A government agency calling Americans performing their democratic right of protest “imbecilic morons.” This Trump regime is a poison and never should have gotten power. A total disgrace.
Reposted by Derek Lowe
OMG! I just got off the plane in Asheville and RFK Jr. Was boarding and someone passed by him and said “quack”
November 15, 2025 at 6:07 PM
OMG! I just got off the plane in Asheville and RFK Jr. Was boarding and someone passed by him and said “quack”
Reposted by Derek Lowe
This has gotten surprisingly little attention — it's not even on the front page of @science.org right now — but it's really hard to describe what the SAFE Research Act would do to US science and scientists without sounding insane
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
November 14, 2025 at 5:16 PM
This has gotten surprisingly little attention — it's not even on the front page of @science.org right now — but it's really hard to describe what the SAFE Research Act would do to US science and scientists without sounding insane
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Derek Lowe
Hearing a rumor that NIH/HHS may now plan to retaliate against other Bethesda Declaration signers.
I am one, but it’s not about me: we have been speaking out because of the ongoing damage to US medical research, cancer and Alzheimer’s research.
As @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social put well: 1/
I am one, but it’s not about me: we have been speaking out because of the ongoing damage to US medical research, cancer and Alzheimer’s research.
As @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social put well: 1/
November 14, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Hearing a rumor that NIH/HHS may now plan to retaliate against other Bethesda Declaration signers.
I am one, but it’s not about me: we have been speaking out because of the ongoing damage to US medical research, cancer and Alzheimer’s research.
As @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social put well: 1/
I am one, but it’s not about me: we have been speaking out because of the ongoing damage to US medical research, cancer and Alzheimer’s research.
As @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social put well: 1/
Reposted by Derek Lowe
NIH scientist Dr. Jenna Norton was just placed on nondisciplinary leave.
She led a team who wrote a sign-on letter critical of The Regime.
A person at NIH asked to give a reason for her leave called her “radical leftist”; while the NIH Director has claimed that “dissent is productive”.
She led a team who wrote a sign-on letter critical of The Regime.
A person at NIH asked to give a reason for her leave called her “radical leftist”; while the NIH Director has claimed that “dissent is productive”.
N.I.H. Worker Who Criticized Trump Health Policies Says She Is on Administrative Leave
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:52 PM
NIH scientist Dr. Jenna Norton was just placed on nondisciplinary leave.
She led a team who wrote a sign-on letter critical of The Regime.
A person at NIH asked to give a reason for her leave called her “radical leftist”; while the NIH Director has claimed that “dissent is productive”.
She led a team who wrote a sign-on letter critical of The Regime.
A person at NIH asked to give a reason for her leave called her “radical leftist”; while the NIH Director has claimed that “dissent is productive”.
If Texas A&M does this, it can be referred to as several things, but “university” is not one of them.
Message to all faculty: your expertise is no longer trusted or valued at this so-called “university.”
November 14, 2025 at 2:41 PM
If Texas A&M does this, it can be referred to as several things, but “university” is not one of them.
Reposted by Derek Lowe
What I’m saying is in the ChemTwitter glory days this would have been a 48 hour event
🎵I've made my schemes
Line after line
Written my sentence
Experimentals so fine
NMR tables
I've made a few
I've had my share of plans scooped in my face
But I've come through (and I mean to go on, and on, and on, and on)
🎼
We write the patents, my friends
And we'll keep on writing 'til the end🎵
Line after line
Written my sentence
Experimentals so fine
NMR tables
I've made a few
I've had my share of plans scooped in my face
But I've come through (and I mean to go on, and on, and on, and on)
🎼
We write the patents, my friends
And we'll keep on writing 'til the end🎵
November 14, 2025 at 1:42 PM
What I’m saying is in the ChemTwitter glory days this would have been a 48 hour event
Reposted by Derek Lowe
Yes, that's clear.
The same "looking from the outside in" that I get from popular science books re: physics and biology versus chemistry seems to be in play here, which is (I suppose) a very tarnished silver lining.
The same "looking from the outside in" that I get from popular science books re: physics and biology versus chemistry seems to be in play here, which is (I suppose) a very tarnished silver lining.
November 13, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Yes, that's clear.
The same "looking from the outside in" that I get from popular science books re: physics and biology versus chemistry seems to be in play here, which is (I suppose) a very tarnished silver lining.
The same "looking from the outside in" that I get from popular science books re: physics and biology versus chemistry seems to be in play here, which is (I suppose) a very tarnished silver lining.
Reposted by Derek Lowe
According to a source, Jenna Norton, who led a letter criticizing Trump's decimation of the NIH (see below), has been placed on administrative leave. She's the first at NIH to be put on leave, joining EPA officials who criticized Trump policies.
www.pbs.org/newshour/nat...
www.pbs.org/newshour/nat...
NIH scientists publish letter criticizing Trump's deep cuts in public health research
The letter addresses the termination of 2,100 research grants valued at more than $12 billion and some of the human costs that have resulted, such as cutting off medication regimens to participants in...
www.pbs.org
November 13, 2025 at 8:58 PM
According to a source, Jenna Norton, who led a letter criticizing Trump's decimation of the NIH (see below), has been placed on administrative leave. She's the first at NIH to be put on leave, joining EPA officials who criticized Trump policies.
www.pbs.org/newshour/nat...
www.pbs.org/newshour/nat...
I’ve been waiting for this shoe to drop after these latest releases. . .
Jeffrey Epstein Emails Reveal Depth of Ties to High-Profile Scientists
A trove of emails of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was released Wednesday by a Congressional committee
www.scientificamerican.com/article/jeff...
A trove of emails of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was released Wednesday by a Congressional committee
www.scientificamerican.com/article/jeff...
Jeffrey Epstein Emails Reveal Depth of Ties to High-Profile Scientists
A trove of emails of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was released Wednesday by a Congressional committee.
www.scientificamerican.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:18 PM
I’ve been waiting for this shoe to drop after these latest releases. . .
Reposted by Derek Lowe
CAN LLMs write about science? @science.org decided to find out, and they did it the curious, scientific way. They did an experiment.
Love this thoughtful convo. www.lastwordonnothing.com/2025/11/12/w...
Love this thoughtful convo. www.lastwordonnothing.com/2025/11/12/w...
The Last Word On Nothing | Why AAAS won’t be using AI to write press releases anytime soon
www.lastwordonnothing.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:19 PM
CAN LLMs write about science? @science.org decided to find out, and they did it the curious, scientific way. They did an experiment.
Love this thoughtful convo. www.lastwordonnothing.com/2025/11/12/w...
Love this thoughtful convo. www.lastwordonnothing.com/2025/11/12/w...
Reposted by Derek Lowe
"existing AI tools are 'not great at actually finding the insightful pieces' within legislative and regulatory texts, according to Sanofi’s EU/AMEE head of regulatory science and policy, Rebecca Lumsden"
"while AI could 'give you a summary, you don’t get the insight.'"
"while AI could 'give you a summary, you don’t get the insight.'"
AI’s Attempt To Decode EU Pharma Reform Called A ‘Car Crash’
Sanofi’s EU regulatory science and policy head draws on a “nightmare” experience with using a generative AI tool to compare versions of the draft EU pharma reform text to explain the benefits and limi...
insights.citeline.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:16 PM
"existing AI tools are 'not great at actually finding the insightful pieces' within legislative and regulatory texts, according to Sanofi’s EU/AMEE head of regulatory science and policy, Rebecca Lumsden"
"while AI could 'give you a summary, you don’t get the insight.'"
"while AI could 'give you a summary, you don’t get the insight.'"
Reposted by Derek Lowe
I’ve been in Toronto at the #astmh meeting these past few days and last night some very good news was presented here: A new malaria drug has proven efficacious in a large trial and could soon be approved.🧪
My story in @science.org (and 🧵on why it's important to come):
www.science.org/content/arti...
My story in @science.org (and 🧵on why it's important to come):
www.science.org/content/arti...
‘A sigh of relief’: New malaria drug succeeds in large clinical trial
As existing drugs falter because of resistance, the world gets a backup—but hard choices loom on how to use it
www.science.org
November 13, 2025 at 1:27 PM
I’ve been in Toronto at the #astmh meeting these past few days and last night some very good news was presented here: A new malaria drug has proven efficacious in a large trial and could soon be approved.🧪
My story in @science.org (and 🧵on why it's important to come):
www.science.org/content/arti...
My story in @science.org (and 🧵on why it's important to come):
www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Derek Lowe
Here’s what is interesting about this answer: It is not a “no.” bsky.app/profile/just...
CBS News' Weijia Jiang: "Did the president ever spend hours at Jeffrey Epstein’s house with a victim?"
Karoline Leavitt: "These emails prove nothing other than the fact that President Trump did nothing wrong."
Karoline Leavitt: "These emails prove nothing other than the fact that President Trump did nothing wrong."
November 12, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Here’s what is interesting about this answer: It is not a “no.” bsky.app/profile/just...
Reposted by Derek Lowe
every company in 2025
November 12, 2025 at 5:59 PM
every company in 2025
Reposted by Derek Lowe
What is the most profitable industry in the world, this side of the law? Not oil, not IT, not pharma.
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
November 12, 2025 at 10:31 AM
What is the most profitable industry in the world, this side of the law? Not oil, not IT, not pharma.
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
The aurora seems to have calmed down here in MA for now. But you never know when another wave might hit. High activity forecast for the next 24 to 36 hours, it seems.
November 12, 2025 at 2:44 AM
The aurora seems to have calmed down here in MA for now. But you never know when another wave might hit. High activity forecast for the next 24 to 36 hours, it seems.
If you’re in North America and have a view to the north or northwest, there’s heavy auroral activity going right now!
November 12, 2025 at 2:06 AM
If you’re in North America and have a view to the north or northwest, there’s heavy auroral activity going right now!
Reposted by Derek Lowe
“For those who believe the health system is controlled by a conspiracy, Holmes is a victim of Big Pharma. For biohacking enthusiasts into wearable devices, she was an early adopter. For mothers who see themselves as protectors, she is a mom who is trying to provide the best care for her family”
MAHA Is Embracing Elizabeth Holmes. Here’s Why.
An alliance is building between the Trump-aligned movement and convicted Theranos founder.
www.politico.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:17 PM
“For those who believe the health system is controlled by a conspiracy, Holmes is a victim of Big Pharma. For biohacking enthusiasts into wearable devices, she was an early adopter. For mothers who see themselves as protectors, she is a mom who is trying to provide the best care for her family”
Reposted by Derek Lowe
People marvel at this, but this is what it’s all about for Trump. He needs this constant lavish praise as deeply and profoundly as you and I need air.
But also: Imagine what a basket case you would have to be psychologically to need this all the time.
But also: Imagine what a basket case you would have to be psychologically to need this all the time.
Pirro: "Mr President, there is in this room a group of people who love you, who believe in you, and who are so proud to be in this Oval Office and to be part of this amazing day because you have changed the course of America."
November 11, 2025 at 3:12 PM
People marvel at this, but this is what it’s all about for Trump. He needs this constant lavish praise as deeply and profoundly as you and I need air.
But also: Imagine what a basket case you would have to be psychologically to need this all the time.
But also: Imagine what a basket case you would have to be psychologically to need this all the time.
Whoever this is , wherever this was taken: these are my people.
Really wish I had gotten a better shot of this but holding a phone that says “who else was just ‘following orders’?” up to a riot cop is hard as hell
November 11, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Whoever this is , wherever this was taken: these are my people.
Reposted by Derek Lowe
One of the most widely prescribed drugs in the U.S. is the generic version of Lipitor.
FDA inspectors have found safety and quality violations at about half of the plants approved to produce it, records show.
FDA inspectors have found safety and quality violations at about half of the plants approved to produce it, records show.
Is Your Medication Made in a Contaminated Factory? The FDA Won’t Tell You.
The agency’s decision to conceal drug names on inspection reports has prevented doctors, pharmacists and patients from knowing whether medications made overseas are tainted by manufacturing failures t...
www.propublica.org
November 11, 2025 at 12:40 AM
One of the most widely prescribed drugs in the U.S. is the generic version of Lipitor.
FDA inspectors have found safety and quality violations at about half of the plants approved to produce it, records show.
FDA inspectors have found safety and quality violations at about half of the plants approved to produce it, records show.
Reposted by Derek Lowe
"I have lost count of the number of times over the years that I’ve said “Huh, I didn’t think mass spec could do that”."
Mass spec ID after screening hundreds of thousands of mixed library compounds - without any sort of tagging or labeling? Yikes:
Screening Without Tagging
www.science.org
November 10, 2025 at 10:52 PM
"I have lost count of the number of times over the years that I’ve said “Huh, I didn’t think mass spec could do that”."
On so many levels.
this man is an embarrassment to our Republic and its scientific and engineering history
Trump: "Nobody knows what magnets are."
November 10, 2025 at 10:07 PM
On so many levels.