what I’m into [oct/nov 2020]

To all my American friends, happy Thanksgiving! I hope it has been a restful weekend so far, one full of the ordinary yet abundant blessings that fill each of our lives.

Meanwhile, the weather has been getting winter-like over here in Canada. I’ve been resorting to my cosy sweater knits, and other cosy things like slow-cooker black bean chili, chai lattés and snuggling with my homemade rice handwarmer.

This edition of “what I’m into” mostly comprises articles that have filled my corner of the Internet and the various thoughts that float around in my brain (so, welcome into my brain :P).

There is a lot here, so feel free to peruse at your leisure and read whatever catches your eye 🙂

Articles

1. Scientific

While the urgency of the situation has led to an explosion of research on COVID, it has also led to a barrage of information that we now need to sift through to find what is trustworthy and “real”.

It also has pulled back the veil on science – that it is an evolving understanding.

This is a truth scientists are reluctant to admit, but when we do, I think it results in a science that is more humble and actually, more worth trusting.

Those of you who have been following my blog know that I have a lot to say regarding the uncertainty of science (I actually think it’s one of the reasons why I’m drawn to it :P) and I would dare say that the pandemic has caused a fundamental shift in how the public is relating to the scientific community.

In this milieu of information overload and misinformation, the science communication community has really risen to the challenge of trying to simplify complicated scientific studies for widespread public dissemination.

Below are a couple of articles I curated that I thought did an exceptionally good job of this.

NY Times: How to read a science study

When you read through a scientific paper, it’s important to maintain a healthy skepticism. The ongoing flood of papers that have yet to be peer-reviewed — known as preprints — includes a lot of weak research and misleading claims. Some are withdrawn by the authors. Many will never make it into a journal. But some of them are earning sensational headlines before burning out in obscurity.

NY Times: Charting a coronavirus infection

I loved the simple child-like diagrams in this article like the one below:

Wired: The strange and twisted tale of hydroxychloroquinine

Fascinating, detailed account of the confusion behind hydroxychoroquinine that I feel aptly illustrates how half-baked science can cause serious public health ramifications.

It ends:

Some researchers still think the drug might have a small, as yet unproven effect if used early enough, or in a different amount. It’s possible, and it’s also possible no one will ever know.

That would be normal. Part of knowing how to know stuff is knowing what the edges are. All science is settled, until it isn’t.

Avo Media: COVID-19 Video Series

I’ve been really enjoying the videos such as the one below that do an amazing job of distilling and communicating scientific concepts:

And then, for those of you who are interested, I spent October in quarantine writing a review paper on nanotechnology for reproductive medicine and came across really interesting articles on fertility, reproduction and egg-freezing!

Here are a few of my favorites:

Scientific American: Elective human egg freezing on the rise

NY Times: American fertility is falling short of what women want

Turner, 2020 (Cells): Male infertility is a women’s health issue

Aitken, 2018 (Mol Human Reprod): Not every sperm is sacred

Chamberlain, 2020 (Nature): Reboot contraceptives research – it has been stuck for decades

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2. Political

In light of the highly politicized landscape we’ve been living in lately and a couple of heated discussions I’ve had with my family, I’ve been trying to make sense of how faith fits in with everything.

Here are some articles I’ve found especially helpful:

Christianity Today: Why evangelicals disagree on the president

Medium: She supports Trump. Her daughter supports Biden. We helped them hash it out.

Weekend Reader: Why do so many evangelicals support Trump?

Medium: I’m a pro-life Christian. I’m voting for a pro-choice candidate. Here’s why.

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3. Personal/reflective

NY Times: The rich kids who want to tear down capitalism

On rich millennials and the movement to tax inheritance wealth/invest in social justice initiatives

To Ms. Thomas, the prospect of contributing to a solidarity economy is a refreshingly tangible expression of her values, compared to the abstraction of accumulating portfolio returns.

“At some point, these numbers on a screen are imaginary,” she said. “But what’s not imaginary is whether you have shelter, food and a community. Those are true returns.”

Harvard Business Review: Dads, commit to your family at home and at work

The Atlantic: Your professional decline is coming (much) sooner than you think

A sobering reflection on how we think our career trajectory is always up, and so, we never prepare for its inevitable decline.

New Yorker: Crying in H Mart

One of the most beautiful pieces I’ve read lately on culture, food and grief/loss.

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Music

I’ve been listening to a lot of R&B/jazz lately, perhaps because of the change of seasons.

Street by Street by Laufey (recommendation from my sis!)

The Trumpet Song by Nyah Grace

Love the vintage crackle in the beginning, the e-piano and that BASS BEAT that enters in the middle 😀

Paper – by LANY

My fav song from LANY’s new album release!

Malibu Nights – by LANY

What I listen to while knitting, on the bus back from lab.

TTCL – by Eloise

Other things I’ve loved

I’ve been learning about photography lately, and wandering around the city capturing beauty around me.

Here are some snapshots of the city I have come to know and love, through my eyes:

Other than that, I’m almost done knitting my cardigan (the result of many Zoom sessions spent sitting at my desk, needing something to occupy my hands with) –

and have been perfecting my seeded sourdough recipe:

As well as really grateful that I was able to make it to Denver in October, because the long distance in a pandemic is no joke…