Nathaniel Comfort
@nccomfort.bsky.social
Historian of science & medicine and writer @ Johns Hopkins & Berkeley. Biography of James Watson coming soonish from Basic Books. Also rock climbing, roots music, tattoos, dogs, humor. My opinions are his –>
Unusual scene today atop the Oakland-Berkeley hills. Massive thule fog came up out of the Central Valley and was blown *west*. Here’s Mt. Diablo, up to its neck in fog, doing its best imitation of Mt. Fuji.
November 29, 2025 at 3:11 AM
Unusual scene today atop the Oakland-Berkeley hills. Massive thule fog came up out of the Central Valley and was blown *west*. Here’s Mt. Diablo, up to its neck in fog, doing its best imitation of Mt. Fuji.
The retraction of the 1998 paper is an example of science's error-correction procedure at its best.
Yet today, under pressure from RFK Jr, the CDC home page now endorses this fraudulent claim, leaning on a bogus statement about what constitutes an evidence-based claim.
6/7
Yet today, under pressure from RFK Jr, the CDC home page now endorses this fraudulent claim, leaning on a bogus statement about what constitutes an evidence-based claim.
6/7
November 20, 2025 at 5:42 PM
The retraction of the 1998 paper is an example of science's error-correction procedure at its best.
Yet today, under pressure from RFK Jr, the CDC home page now endorses this fraudulent claim, leaning on a bogus statement about what constitutes an evidence-based claim.
6/7
Yet today, under pressure from RFK Jr, the CDC home page now endorses this fraudulent claim, leaning on a bogus statement about what constitutes an evidence-based claim.
6/7
An investigation found falsified data, improper financial incentives, etc. Wakefield's medical license was revoked.
Unable to practice in the UK, Wakefield came to the US & became a rabid anti-vaxxer. He is still preaching this crap. Here he is on the conspiracy site Infowars:
4/7
Unable to practice in the UK, Wakefield came to the US & became a rabid anti-vaxxer. He is still preaching this crap. Here he is on the conspiracy site Infowars:
4/7
November 20, 2025 at 5:42 PM
An investigation found falsified data, improper financial incentives, etc. Wakefield's medical license was revoked.
Unable to practice in the UK, Wakefield came to the US & became a rabid anti-vaxxer. He is still preaching this crap. Here he is on the conspiracy site Infowars:
4/7
Unable to practice in the UK, Wakefield came to the US & became a rabid anti-vaxxer. He is still preaching this crap. Here he is on the conspiracy site Infowars:
4/7
Here's the 1st p. of the paper, as you'll find it today. You may notice a large red "REDACTED" across it. Each p. of the paper carries those 8 scarlet letters. The study was unrepeatable.
@thelancet.com didn't rush this decision: the retraction came in 2010, 12 yrs after pub.
3/7
@thelancet.com didn't rush this decision: the retraction came in 2010, 12 yrs after pub.
3/7
November 20, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Here's the 1st p. of the paper, as you'll find it today. You may notice a large red "REDACTED" across it. Each p. of the paper carries those 8 scarlet letters. The study was unrepeatable.
@thelancet.com didn't rush this decision: the retraction came in 2010, 12 yrs after pub.
3/7
@thelancet.com didn't rush this decision: the retraction came in 2010, 12 yrs after pub.
3/7
Lol!
ICYI, here's my 2012 review of Davenport's Dream (CSHL Press). I mention Ridley's Foreword near the end.
ICYI, here's my 2012 review of Davenport's Dream (CSHL Press). I mention Ridley's Foreword near the end.
November 9, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Lol!
ICYI, here's my 2012 review of Davenport's Dream (CSHL Press). I mention Ridley's Foreword near the end.
ICYI, here's my 2012 review of Davenport's Dream (CSHL Press). I mention Ridley's Foreword near the end.
Watson's over-simplification of Crick's Central Dogma is thus responsible for the mistaken belief in 1970 that reverse transcriptase contradicted it! See doi:10.1038/227561a0
7/n #JDWxNC
7/n #JDWxNC
November 8, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Watson's over-simplification of Crick's Central Dogma is thus responsible for the mistaken belief in 1970 that reverse transcriptase contradicted it! See doi:10.1038/227561a0
7/n #JDWxNC
7/n #JDWxNC
James Watson with his younger son, Duncan, 1978. Courtesy @cshlaboratory.bsky.social archives
November 8, 2025 at 12:23 AM
James Watson with his younger son, Duncan, 1978. Courtesy @cshlaboratory.bsky.social archives
If you're looking for suggestions of possible dedicatees, the Somalian who contracted the last case of smallpox wouldn't be inappropriate...
October 31, 2025 at 8:27 PM
If you're looking for suggestions of possible dedicatees, the Somalian who contracted the last case of smallpox wouldn't be inappropriate...
Look what the dog fetched up! @matthewcobb.bsky.social’s new biography of Francis Crick.
Folks, it’s like no other Crick biog. Full of new research, fresh insights, juicy stories, & it’s a romp.
Having watched this develop from the larval stage, it’s a thrill to hear it thunk! on my table
Folks, it’s like no other Crick biog. Full of new research, fresh insights, juicy stories, & it’s a romp.
Having watched this develop from the larval stage, it’s a thrill to hear it thunk! on my table
October 29, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Look what the dog fetched up! @matthewcobb.bsky.social’s new biography of Francis Crick.
Folks, it’s like no other Crick biog. Full of new research, fresh insights, juicy stories, & it’s a romp.
Having watched this develop from the larval stage, it’s a thrill to hear it thunk! on my table
Folks, it’s like no other Crick biog. Full of new research, fresh insights, juicy stories, & it’s a romp.
Having watched this develop from the larval stage, it’s a thrill to hear it thunk! on my table
PSAC report continued, "So far, the increase of CO2 has been of the order of 10%, and the oceans are already experiencing some rise of temperature."
Future historians of climate change will note what idiots we were for understanding this existential problem & not robustly addressing it.
3/3
Future historians of climate change will note what idiots we were for understanding this existential problem & not robustly addressing it.
3/3
October 5, 2025 at 5:55 PM
PSAC report continued, "So far, the increase of CO2 has been of the order of 10%, and the oceans are already experiencing some rise of temperature."
Future historians of climate change will note what idiots we were for understanding this existential problem & not robustly addressing it.
3/3
Future historians of climate change will note what idiots we were for understanding this existential problem & not robustly addressing it.
3/3
Just back from @librarycongress.bsky.social and NASA, where i hung w/ all but 1 of the Blumberg Chairs of Astrobiology past/present. @drfunkyspoon.bsky.social @dhbaron.bsky.social @dagomardegroot.bsky.social
& other cool folk were mixing it up. fun! also we gave talks @ NASA HQ
& other cool folk were mixing it up. fun! also we gave talks @ NASA HQ
September 18, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Just back from @librarycongress.bsky.social and NASA, where i hung w/ all but 1 of the Blumberg Chairs of Astrobiology past/present. @drfunkyspoon.bsky.social @dhbaron.bsky.social @dagomardegroot.bsky.social
& other cool folk were mixing it up. fun! also we gave talks @ NASA HQ
& other cool folk were mixing it up. fun! also we gave talks @ NASA HQ
Gotta share this pic of Seeker, my 3 yo Chesapeake Bay Retriever. What a dog. He’s at the kennel where he’s staying while I’m in Africa. I say this in warning: if you’re one of those interesting ppl who don’t like bird and animal pix, my content could be slightly disturbing for a couple weeks
August 1, 2025 at 2:53 AM
Gotta share this pic of Seeker, my 3 yo Chesapeake Bay Retriever. What a dog. He’s at the kennel where he’s staying while I’m in Africa. I say this in warning: if you’re one of those interesting ppl who don’t like bird and animal pix, my content could be slightly disturbing for a couple weeks
Unmute your phones if you can: Here’s 10 secs of pure joy. Because all things considered, you deserve it.
#Kora master Karamo Sosso & Friends, La Peña, Berkeley
#Kora master Karamo Sosso & Friends, La Peña, Berkeley
July 26, 2025 at 6:07 AM
Unmute your phones if you can: Here’s 10 secs of pure joy. Because all things considered, you deserve it.
#Kora master Karamo Sosso & Friends, La Peña, Berkeley
#Kora master Karamo Sosso & Friends, La Peña, Berkeley
<sniff>
Srsly, the problem with his smooth jazz-pop is that it hides the musician. He had great chops and an incredibly sweet tone.
I just learned he was yet another great player who got his start with Art Blakey. Ck out this 5tet!
Srsly, the problem with his smooth jazz-pop is that it hides the musician. He had great chops and an incredibly sweet tone.
I just learned he was yet another great player who got his start with Art Blakey. Ck out this 5tet!
July 24, 2025 at 7:49 PM
<sniff>
Srsly, the problem with his smooth jazz-pop is that it hides the musician. He had great chops and an incredibly sweet tone.
I just learned he was yet another great player who got his start with Art Blakey. Ck out this 5tet!
Srsly, the problem with his smooth jazz-pop is that it hides the musician. He had great chops and an incredibly sweet tone.
I just learned he was yet another great player who got his start with Art Blakey. Ck out this 5tet!
No cheating. Post the last pic of your pet.
July 20, 2025 at 3:08 PM
No cheating. Post the last pic of your pet.
I know, I thought the same thing on my walk yesterday, 15 mins from downtown.
Why would anyone do this to themselves?
Why would anyone do this to themselves?
July 18, 2025 at 3:52 PM
I know, I thought the same thing on my walk yesterday, 15 mins from downtown.
Why would anyone do this to themselves?
Why would anyone do this to themselves?
No proof of viruses?
"Mein Gott! They've got tails!" — J. J. Bronfenbrenner, on seeing phage T4 in an electron micrograph, nineteen forty-fucking-two. (00:03)
"Mein Gott! They've got tails!" — J. J. Bronfenbrenner, on seeing phage T4 in an electron micrograph, nineteen forty-fucking-two. (00:03)
July 13, 2025 at 4:59 AM
No proof of viruses?
"Mein Gott! They've got tails!" — J. J. Bronfenbrenner, on seeing phage T4 in an electron micrograph, nineteen forty-fucking-two. (00:03)
"Mein Gott! They've got tails!" — J. J. Bronfenbrenner, on seeing phage T4 in an electron micrograph, nineteen forty-fucking-two. (00:03)
Somehow, Merlin took a fix on Seeker. And when I asked it what bird it thought it was, it answered…
July 9, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Somehow, Merlin took a fix on Seeker. And when I asked it what bird it thought it was, it answered…
I wasn’t throwing his ball, so he tried to get the cat to do it. She, however, wasn’t having any
July 3, 2025 at 1:51 AM
I wasn’t throwing his ball, so he tried to get the cat to do it. She, however, wasn’t having any
Here it is, your typo of the day:
June 26, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Here it is, your typo of the day:
Also, #medicalgenetics has been making the same promises for at least 85 years: Predictive medicine based on genes! Medicine will be preventive rather than curative! Genetics will defeat disease!
Surprising to me is how tech-independent these ideas are.
Viz., this article from 1940:
Surprising to me is how tech-independent these ideas are.
Viz., this article from 1940:
June 21, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Also, #medicalgenetics has been making the same promises for at least 85 years: Predictive medicine based on genes! Medicine will be preventive rather than curative! Genetics will defeat disease!
Surprising to me is how tech-independent these ideas are.
Viz., this article from 1940:
Surprising to me is how tech-independent these ideas are.
Viz., this article from 1940: