Erin Gerecke, PhD, ELS

Back when the news was good and maybe even made us laugh. A welcome break from today’s headlines. youtu.be/NYPXox5aMno

A newly described role for mRNAs in chromatin regulation/gene expression in plants? Yes, please! My inner genetics nerd loves this for RNA.❣️

Year 15 volunteering for Celebrate Science Indiana (give or take a few), this time with Indiana Academy of Science. Had fun helping kids make lava lamp models for a couple of hours on a Saturday afternoon! 👩‍🔬

A recent survey of Aldabra giant tortoises brings some good news--about 180,000 estimated on a single island in the Seychelles! They still face threats from climate change and invasive species, so they continue to be a target of conservation efforts. 🧪🌎 www.theguardian.com/environment/...

23,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 joules. That’s the amount of heat the oceans absorbed in 2025. A number so huge it’s almost meaningless…until you realise it’s roughly 40× humanity’s annual energy use. The ocean is buying us time. We’re running out of it. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

The MacArthur Fellows have been announced! A great way to feel warm fuzzy thoughts about science, the arts, and humanities and human creativity. youtu.be/OZgdPqoN2QI

Where do you read about science? An interesting look at science journalism today vs other decades. theconversation.com/is-science-j...

File under “more research is needed but this could be good news.” Another reason I’m glad to have become eligible for a shingles vaccine, in addition to not getting shingles again. www.science.org/content/arti...

Multiple people have recommended “More Than Words” by @biblioracle.bsky.social, about the importance of the human act of writing in a rapidly changing AI-infused landscape of word generation. Professionally and personally, I spend a lot of time with words. I recommend in turn! 📚 #writing #books

It’s hot. Sadly, it’s not unexpected. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

Exciting vaccine news for older adults—I hope this will allow us to have better matches for quickly evolving flu strains. 🧪 www.nytimes.com/2026/08/05/h...

In the age of AI, I find myself gravitating to books like this one from 2013, about slowing down and really putting in the work for the writing and editing process. I don’t want to go back to typewriters, but I do miss edits on paper sometimes. 📝

I finished another really interesting read by science writer @carlzimmer.com called “Air-Borne”—a history of studying life in our atmosphere. Meanwhile: Once eradicated in the U.S., measles has made a sad comeback in the U.S. due to falling vaccination rates. www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...

Almost…there…

Are you a science, environment, or education journalist? Do you want to join me and my students for a day of shark research in Florida this fall? I have spots for a few journalists to join a shark research expedition!

A possible new link between ovaries and the immune system after menopause. We still have a lot to learn about female life history! 🧪 www.science.org/content/arti...

The new nonprofit home of the former climate.gov resources from NOAA and beyond is at climate.us! climate.us

Some good science news! mRNA vaccines are one step closer to potentially changing the game against influenza. www.npr.org/2026/06/18/n...

Hello! 👋🌻

This is a big deal. Public comment is open. www.npr.org/2026/06/03/n...

Can confirm. I can still feel the heft of Maniatis or Current Protocols as I splayed them across the top of a centrifuge to look something up. Fun fact: I also copy edited CSH Protocols in a different life.

Scientists are scrambling to test vaccines and drugs that can work against the Bundibugyo virus. Here's my story on some of their prime candidates. Gift link: nyti.ms/4u7cN4A

Researchers are feeling more hopeful about the future for people with pancreatic cancer. 🧪 www.npr.org/2026/05/12/n...

Not letting the chaos of the news cycle (i.e., people with guns) push this one off the radar—firing the advisory board for the National Science Foundation. Congress has supported science. Most people do. This is one more attack from a few bad actors. www.nytimes.com/2026/04/25/u...

Happy #EarthDay! Learning about my home and its inhabitants has been a lifelong pursuit. Such a beautiful home we have. Let’s take care of it.

www.nbcnews.com/health/cance...

The Artemis crew is experiencing a total solar eclipse from the far side of the moon, and they’re live streaming it. Smart people working together for science and humanity. Tune in! www.youtube.com/live/m3kR2KK...

Thank you to NASA for this beautiful new photo of home. www.nasa.gov/image-detail...

Predictable, but sad nonetheless. 🧪

The entire annual budget for NASA is $24.4 B. Annual budget for the National Science Foundation (NSF): $10.2 B. NOAA: $6.9 B. US Geological Survey: $1.45 B.

"This is a significant victory for public health, evidence-based medicine, the rule of law, and the American people," Richard Hughes, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, told reporters after the ruling. 🧪 www.npr.org/2026/03/16/n...

#SciComm 🧪🌎🦑

I was excited to score a signed copy of Barbara Gastel’s “Medical Editing”at the AMWA annual meeting last fall. It’s full of tips and resources I can use in my work. Students and others curious about working in medical editing may find it particularly valuable! #editing #scicomm

In North Dakota, a 14-year-old girl's near-fatal battle with measles demonstrates how serious the virus can be for the immunocompromised. She was exposed to the virus at school👇

Attention Science Communicators! We are conducting a survey on the landscape of science communication & need your help gathering experiences. Please send this to #SciComm ppl you know. We want to get as thorough a sense of the state of the field as we can. umiami.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

Ig Nobels to move awards to Europe due to concern over US travel visas www.theguardian.com/science/2026... “We cannot in good conscience ask the new winners, or the international journalists who cover the event, to travel to the USA this year.”"

“The vanilla, lavender and sandalwood industries, to name a few, are facing significant threats due to climate change and other negative influences such as habitat destruction”—can conservationists and perfumers team up for plant conservation? #plants #conservation 🧪🌎 www.nytimes.com/2026/03/06/f...

Or why Indiana didn’t do DST for a long time. The first Monday morning is terrible. ⚫️🥱

I’d like to overseed my Midwestern grass with some #clover for a lower maintenance and #pollinator friendly yard. Recommendations for sourcing seed welcome!

I’m grateful to #mentors that helped in my work in science, higher education, science & public communication—& music! I pay it forward where I can to help promote success for everyone, regardless of gender. #InternationalWomensDay www.nature.com/articles/d41... #InternationalWomensDay

"The destruction that Kennedy has wrought in 1 year might take generations to repair, and there is little hope for US health and science while he remains at the helm." www.npr.org/2026/02/28/n...