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...
“You cannot act upon what you cannot see. And we are plagued by dead language and dead stories that serve people whose aim is nothing short of a dead world.”
Listening to Ta-Nehisi Coates’ beautiful, moving thoughts on journalism in “The Message”.
So much there as I think about misinfo…
Listening to Ta-Nehisi Coates’ beautiful, moving thoughts on journalism in “The Message”.
So much there as I think about misinfo…
November 14, 2025 at 11:16 PM
“You cannot act upon what you cannot see. And we are plagued by dead language and dead stories that serve people whose aim is nothing short of a dead world.”
Listening to Ta-Nehisi Coates’ beautiful, moving thoughts on journalism in “The Message”.
So much there as I think about misinfo…
Listening to Ta-Nehisi Coates’ beautiful, moving thoughts on journalism in “The Message”.
So much there as I think about misinfo…
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
The deadly fever in Ethiopia has been identified as Marburg disease.
It’s the first time a Marburg outbreak has been identified in Ethiopia.
#IDsky 🧪
www.afro.who.int/countries/et...
It’s the first time a Marburg outbreak has been identified in Ethiopia.
#IDsky 🧪
www.afro.who.int/countries/et...
Ethiopia confirms first outbreak of Marburg virus disease
Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health has confirmed an outbreak of Marburg virus disease in the South Ethiopia Region, the first of its kind in the country, following laboratory testing of samples from a clus...
www.afro.who.int
November 14, 2025 at 8:07 PM
The deadly fever in Ethiopia has been identified as Marburg disease.
It’s the first time a Marburg outbreak has been identified in Ethiopia.
#IDsky 🧪
www.afro.who.int/countries/et...
It’s the first time a Marburg outbreak has been identified in Ethiopia.
#IDsky 🧪
www.afro.who.int/countries/et...
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
Wer unsere neueste Folge schon gehört hat, weiß, dass Ägypten eine wichtige Rolle spielt in der Geschichte des Trachoms.
Gestern kam die Nachricht von der @who.int:
Ägypten hat die Krankheit eliminiert. Es ist Land Nummer 27. Damit bleiben 30 Länder, in denen Trachom weiter eine Gefahr ist.
Gestern kam die Nachricht von der @who.int:
Ägypten hat die Krankheit eliminiert. Es ist Land Nummer 27. Damit bleiben 30 Länder, in denen Trachom weiter eine Gefahr ist.
Egypt becomes the seventh country in the Eastern Mediterranean Region to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem
The World Health Organization (WHO) today announced that Egypt has successfully eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, marking a historic public health milestone for the country and WHO’s Eas...
www.who.int
November 13, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Wer unsere neueste Folge schon gehört hat, weiß, dass Ägypten eine wichtige Rolle spielt in der Geschichte des Trachoms.
Gestern kam die Nachricht von der @who.int:
Ägypten hat die Krankheit eliminiert. Es ist Land Nummer 27. Damit bleiben 30 Länder, in denen Trachom weiter eine Gefahr ist.
Gestern kam die Nachricht von der @who.int:
Ägypten hat die Krankheit eliminiert. Es ist Land Nummer 27. Damit bleiben 30 Länder, in denen Trachom weiter eine Gefahr ist.
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
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...
"So far, eight suspected cases have been reported. Laboratory testing is ongoing at the Ethiopia Public Health Institute to determine the exact cause."
Always worrying when viral hemorrhagic fever outbreak is suspected anywhere, definitely something to watch.
#IDsky
www.afro.who.int/news/ethiopi...
Always worrying when viral hemorrhagic fever outbreak is suspected anywhere, definitely something to watch.
#IDsky
www.afro.who.int/news/ethiopi...
Ethiopia reports suspected viral haemorrhagic fever outbreak
Health authorities in Ethiopia are carrying out further investigations and ramping up response after suspected cases of viral haemorrhagic fever were reported in the country’s South Ethiopia Region.
www.afro.who.int
November 13, 2025 at 4:57 PM
"So far, eight suspected cases have been reported. Laboratory testing is ongoing at the Ethiopia Public Health Institute to determine the exact cause."
Always worrying when viral hemorrhagic fever outbreak is suspected anywhere, definitely something to watch.
#IDsky
www.afro.who.int/news/ethiopi...
Always worrying when viral hemorrhagic fever outbreak is suspected anywhere, definitely something to watch.
#IDsky
www.afro.who.int/news/ethiopi...
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...
“This is a very important development,” says Dyann Wirth, a malaria researcher at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health who was not involved in the work. “We’ve been looking for this for a long time.”
🧪 #IDsky
www.science.org/content/arti...
🧪 #IDsky
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 12, 2025 at 10:21 PM
“This is a very important development,” says Dyann Wirth, a malaria researcher at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health who was not involved in the work. “We’ve been looking for this for a long time.”
🧪 #IDsky
www.science.org/content/arti...
🧪 #IDsky
www.science.org/content/arti...
“When it comes to understanding how things spread – and what to do about it – we need good science and careful reasoning, not just great stories.”
Couldn’t agree more. And it’s always worth reading @adamjkucharski.bsky.social because you usually get both…
Couldn’t agree more. And it’s always worth reading @adamjkucharski.bsky.social because you usually get both…
What happened when I dug into some of the key studies and ideas quoted in The Tipping Point and its sequel… kucharski.substack.com/p/the-real-r...
November 9, 2025 at 2:05 PM
“When it comes to understanding how things spread – and what to do about it – we need good science and careful reasoning, not just great stories.”
Couldn’t agree more. And it’s always worth reading @adamjkucharski.bsky.social because you usually get both…
Couldn’t agree more. And it’s always worth reading @adamjkucharski.bsky.social because you usually get both…
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
Six people died from tampered Tylenol and the company pulled 30 million bottles off the market. ChatGPT is accused of urging seven people towards suicide, and OpenAI just assures us they’re still working out the kinks. Billions in investment, zero accountability.
OpenAI faces 7 lawsuits claiming ChatGPT drove people to suicide, delusions
OpenAI is facing seven lawsuits claiming ChatGPT drove people to suicide and harmful delusions even when they had no prior mental health issues.
apnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Six people died from tampered Tylenol and the company pulled 30 million bottles off the market. ChatGPT is accused of urging seven people towards suicide, and OpenAI just assures us they’re still working out the kinks. Billions in investment, zero accountability.
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
Watson's original title for The Double Helix was Honest Jim.
I think it was honest, but only in the sense that it revealed Watson and not reality.
He was an ambitious, arrogant, misogynistic, and opportunistic man who managed to get himself into the right place at the right time.
41/41
I think it was honest, but only in the sense that it revealed Watson and not reality.
He was an ambitious, arrogant, misogynistic, and opportunistic man who managed to get himself into the right place at the right time.
41/41
November 8, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Watson's original title for The Double Helix was Honest Jim.
I think it was honest, but only in the sense that it revealed Watson and not reality.
He was an ambitious, arrogant, misogynistic, and opportunistic man who managed to get himself into the right place at the right time.
41/41
I think it was honest, but only in the sense that it revealed Watson and not reality.
He was an ambitious, arrogant, misogynistic, and opportunistic man who managed to get himself into the right place at the right time.
41/41
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
Bluetorial-Jim Watson
I met Jim Watson a few times but did not know him well. However, I was greatly influenced by his book “The Double Helix”. He was a complicated human being with some very, very bad features, but some good contributions.
What follows is my personal perspective.
1/41
I met Jim Watson a few times but did not know him well. However, I was greatly influenced by his book “The Double Helix”. He was a complicated human being with some very, very bad features, but some good contributions.
What follows is my personal perspective.
1/41
a cartoon says hey everybody an old man 's talking while bart simpson looks on
ALT: a cartoon says hey everybody an old man 's talking while bart simpson looks on
media.tenor.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Bluetorial-Jim Watson
I met Jim Watson a few times but did not know him well. However, I was greatly influenced by his book “The Double Helix”. He was a complicated human being with some very, very bad features, but some good contributions.
What follows is my personal perspective.
1/41
I met Jim Watson a few times but did not know him well. However, I was greatly influenced by his book “The Double Helix”. He was a complicated human being with some very, very bad features, but some good contributions.
What follows is my personal perspective.
1/41
James Watson, Co-Discoverer of the Structure of DNA, Is Dead at 97
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:04 PM
James Watson, Co-Discoverer of the Structure of DNA, Is Dead at 97
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
"'Der heilige Franziskus hatte Chlamydien' klingt irgendwie komisch, ist aber wahrscheinlich wahr.”
Unsere neue Folge darüber, was passiert, wenn Chlamydien ins Auge gehen. Es geht um Napoleons Ägyptenfeldzug, eine Expedition nach Java und zweckentfremdete Stiefelknöpfer...
Jetzt für alle hier:
Unsere neue Folge darüber, was passiert, wenn Chlamydien ins Auge gehen. Es geht um Napoleons Ägyptenfeldzug, eine Expedition nach Java und zweckentfremdete Stiefelknöpfer...
Jetzt für alle hier:
Chlamydien (2) | Der Feind in deinem Lid
Podcast Episode · Pandemia · 11/03/2025 · 48m
podcasts.apple.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:54 PM
"'Der heilige Franziskus hatte Chlamydien' klingt irgendwie komisch, ist aber wahrscheinlich wahr.”
Unsere neue Folge darüber, was passiert, wenn Chlamydien ins Auge gehen. Es geht um Napoleons Ägyptenfeldzug, eine Expedition nach Java und zweckentfremdete Stiefelknöpfer...
Jetzt für alle hier:
Unsere neue Folge darüber, was passiert, wenn Chlamydien ins Auge gehen. Es geht um Napoleons Ägyptenfeldzug, eine Expedition nach Java und zweckentfremdete Stiefelknöpfer...
Jetzt für alle hier:
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
Für unsere Unterstützer ist die Folge jetzt schon raus und nächste Woche dann für alle.
Wenn ihr uns auch unterstützen wollt, geht das hier:
steady.page/de/pandemia/...
Oder ihr abonniert uns bei Apple Podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/p...
Wenn ihr uns auch unterstützen wollt, geht das hier:
steady.page/de/pandemia/...
Oder ihr abonniert uns bei Apple Podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/p...
Pandemia +
Ein Podcast von Laura Salm-Reifferscheidt und Kai Kupferschmidt.
steady.page
October 31, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Für unsere Unterstützer ist die Folge jetzt schon raus und nächste Woche dann für alle.
Wenn ihr uns auch unterstützen wollt, geht das hier:
steady.page/de/pandemia/...
Oder ihr abonniert uns bei Apple Podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/p...
Wenn ihr uns auch unterstützen wollt, geht das hier:
steady.page/de/pandemia/...
Oder ihr abonniert uns bei Apple Podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/p...
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
Hatte der heilige Franziskus Chlamydien? Warum wurden Napoleons Soldaten in Ägypten blind? Und was hat das alles mit Stiefelknöpfern zu tun?
In unserer zweiten Folge zu den Chlamydien sprechen wir über das Trachom und wie ein winziges Bakterium unsere Wimpern gegen uns wendet.
In unserer zweiten Folge zu den Chlamydien sprechen wir über das Trachom und wie ein winziges Bakterium unsere Wimpern gegen uns wendet.
October 31, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Hatte der heilige Franziskus Chlamydien? Warum wurden Napoleons Soldaten in Ägypten blind? Und was hat das alles mit Stiefelknöpfern zu tun?
In unserer zweiten Folge zu den Chlamydien sprechen wir über das Trachom und wie ein winziges Bakterium unsere Wimpern gegen uns wendet.
In unserer zweiten Folge zu den Chlamydien sprechen wir über das Trachom und wie ein winziges Bakterium unsere Wimpern gegen uns wendet.
“The biggest lesson of the past two decades of Silicon Valley is that Meta, Amazon, and Google—and even the newer AI labs such as OpenAI—have remade our world and have become unfathomably rich for it, all while being mostly oblivious or uninterested in the fallout.”
Worth a read!
Worth a read!
so @matteowong.bsky.social & I wrote on data centers: arguably the most important buildings in the world & are, in a way, holding the economy hostage. Byzantine financial instruments, private equity, depreciating tech, hype, $trillion valuations. it’s all there. an ai crash prob starts here.
Here’s How the AI Crash Happens
The U.S. is becoming an Nvidia-state.
www.theatlantic.com
October 31, 2025 at 9:15 AM
“The biggest lesson of the past two decades of Silicon Valley is that Meta, Amazon, and Google—and even the newer AI labs such as OpenAI—have remade our world and have become unfathomably rich for it, all while being mostly oblivious or uninterested in the fallout.”
Worth a read!
Worth a read!
I was asked by @ksjatmit.bsky.social to share my advice for journalists dealing with misinformation. It’s a really important topic so I was happy to oblige.
It’s also a topic where we are all trying to navigate a constantly changing landscape, so do let me know what you’ve found works or doesn’t…
It’s also a topic where we are all trying to navigate a constantly changing landscape, so do let me know what you’ve found works or doesn’t…
The Lies Have It: Advice for Journalists Approaching Misinformation
Kai Kupferschmidt, KSJ '24, shares actionable tips for journalists seeking to reduce the harm of misinformation.
ksj.mit.edu
October 31, 2025 at 8:49 AM
I was asked by @ksjatmit.bsky.social to share my advice for journalists dealing with misinformation. It’s a really important topic so I was happy to oblige.
It’s also a topic where we are all trying to navigate a constantly changing landscape, so do let me know what you’ve found works or doesn’t…
It’s also a topic where we are all trying to navigate a constantly changing landscape, so do let me know what you’ve found works or doesn’t…
Hier diskutieren wir gleich in den Franckeschen Stiftungen in Halle im Unterhausformat über Medien, Misinformation und Meinungsfreiheit u.a. mit @lorenzspreen.bsky.social und @tobiasrothmund.bsky.social
October 30, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Hier diskutieren wir gleich in den Franckeschen Stiftungen in Halle im Unterhausformat über Medien, Misinformation und Meinungsfreiheit u.a. mit @lorenzspreen.bsky.social und @tobiasrothmund.bsky.social
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
Breaking news: To avoid criminal prosecution for allegations of animal abuse, the second-largest breeder of research dogs in the United States will stop providing animals to research labs around the country, according to a settlement. https://scim.ag/4hT8dCV
Facing claims of animal abuse, a major breeder of research dogs will close its pipeline
Ridglan Farms has agreed to stop selling beagles for scientific studies, leaving just one major U.S. supplier
www.science.org
October 29, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Breaking news: To avoid criminal prosecution for allegations of animal abuse, the second-largest breeder of research dogs in the United States will stop providing animals to research labs around the country, according to a settlement. https://scim.ag/4hT8dCV
"Access to data by researchers is a crucial element of ensuring transparency and democratic accountability,” @lewan.bsky.social says. “The public is entitled to know what platforms and their algorithms are doing to the information landscape.”
I wrote for @science.org about Meta, TikTok and the DSA 🧪
I wrote for @science.org about Meta, TikTok and the DSA 🧪
Meta and TikTok are obstructing researchers’ access to data, European Commission rules
Data are needed to study how social media spreads misinformation and influences elections, scientists say
www.science.org
October 29, 2025 at 7:24 PM
"Access to data by researchers is a crucial element of ensuring transparency and democratic accountability,” @lewan.bsky.social says. “The public is entitled to know what platforms and their algorithms are doing to the information landscape.”
I wrote for @science.org about Meta, TikTok and the DSA 🧪
I wrote for @science.org about Meta, TikTok and the DSA 🧪
"Access to data by researchers is a crucial element of ensuring transparency and democratic accountability,” @lewan.bsky.social says. “The public is entitled to know what platforms and their algorithms are doing to the information landscape.”
I wrote for @science.org about the DSA
I wrote for @science.org about the DSA
Meta and TikTok are obstructing researchers’ access to data, European Commission rules
Data are needed to study how social media spreads misinformation and influences elections, scientists say
www.science.org
October 29, 2025 at 7:21 PM
"Access to data by researchers is a crucial element of ensuring transparency and democratic accountability,” @lewan.bsky.social says. “The public is entitled to know what platforms and their algorithms are doing to the information landscape.”
I wrote for @science.org about the DSA
I wrote for @science.org about the DSA
I’m going to be in Toronto next week for the @astmh.bsky.social annual meeting. So if you have a great story, a session I absolutely need to go to or just a recommendation on where to get the best coffee, feel free to hit me up.
#IDsky 🧪
#IDsky 🧪
October 29, 2025 at 1:56 PM
I’m going to be in Toronto next week for the @astmh.bsky.social annual meeting. So if you have a great story, a session I absolutely need to go to or just a recommendation on where to get the best coffee, feel free to hit me up.
#IDsky 🧪
#IDsky 🧪
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
It's not too late to tune in for the conversation with KSJ associate director @ashleythesmart.bsky.social and KSJ alum @kakape.bsky.social this Thursday. Tickets are still available for virtual access to #SFJ2025
sciencejf.com/slots/truth-...
sciencejf.com/slots/truth-...
Truth Decay: Science Journalism in the Misinformation Age - Science Journalism Forum
Society is awash in misinformation and disinformation about science, with significant implications for policy, personal decision-making, and the future of the global scientific enterprise. In this ses...
sciencejf.com
October 28, 2025 at 11:21 PM
It's not too late to tune in for the conversation with KSJ associate director @ashleythesmart.bsky.social and KSJ alum @kakape.bsky.social this Thursday. Tickets are still available for virtual access to #SFJ2025
sciencejf.com/slots/truth-...
sciencejf.com/slots/truth-...