Short Takes – 3-21-25

Former NASA astronauts endorse Isaacman as administrator. SpaceNews.com article. Pull quote: ““We believe that Jared Isaacman is uniquely qualified to lead NASA at this critical juncture. As an entrepreneur, pilot, and having commanded two groundbreaking space missions, he brings credibility and capability to make a difference now,” states the letter, signed by 28 former NASA astronauts and posted to social media March 21 by one of them, Garrett Reisman.”

Hair Loss: Another Wegovy Side Effect? MedPageToday.com article. Pull quote: “Hormonal changes driven by a rapid reduction in glucose and increase in insulin could also impact hair. Hair loss could also be caused by GLP-1 agents' appetite suppressing effects. "Patients have less food intake that can potentially cause nutrient deficiencies, and in particular, protein deficiencies which has been shown to be associated with hair loss," said Etminan's group.”

I Was Diagnosed With Autism at 53. I Know Why Rates Are Rising. NYTimes.com article. Pull quote: “Other people, including some but by no means all family members of individuals with very high support needs (sometimes called profound autism), may be more likely to consider autism as a medical condition worthy of pharmaceutical intervention and research into treatment and prevention. Although I subscribe to the neurodiversity view for me, I oversee a scientific journal that publishes research from both perspectives, and I believe proponents of both ways of viewing it have a lot to learn from each other.”

Measles is surging in the US: how bad could it get? Nature.com article. A series of FAQ type questions and discussions. Pull quote: “Measles is the most contagious disease that is transmitted directly between people. Epidemiologists use a metric called R0 to indicate how many people, on average, one person with a given illness is expected to infect. The R0 for measles is a whopping 12–18. By comparison, the R0 for COVID-19 at the start of the pandemic was estimated to be about 1.4–2.5, and the R0 for influenza is about 1–2.”

Texas Measles Outbreak Expected to Last for Months, Though Vaccinations Are Rising. MedPageToday.com article. Pull quote: “"Within this community, it'd be perfectly reasonable to think probably another couple months before things die out," Lessler said. "But if it gets into another community, you just potentially start that clock over again."”

As Trump Broadens Crackdown, Focus Expands to Legal Immigrants and Tourists. NYTimes.com article. Pull quote: “To deport people living in the United States with green cards or valid visas, the Trump administration has invoked a rarely used provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act that gives the secretary of state sweeping power to expel foreigners who are seen as a threat to the country’s foreign policy interests.”

Low-Cost Drone Add-Ons From China Let Anyone With a Credit Card Turn Toys Into Weapons of War. Wired.com article. Pull quote: ““Somebody who designs a plan and puts it into action could do some sophisticated damage for really, really cheap,” Red Ballon's Torres says. "I wonder if the US military can even get defense contractors to build these devices for them for the price they're selling online.””