Scientist (PhD she/her), writer, cartoonist. 🦘 Blogging & Newsletter: Living With Evidence https://hildabastian.wordpress.com/ Mastodon enthusiast: @hildabast@mastodon.onlinehttps://bsky.app/profile/hildabast.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/hildabast.bsky.social/post/3mkp6fazphs2eA slow month for next generation Covid vax results, but a big month for clinical trial news. New clinical trial for intranasal vax starting in the US, & another expanding to another 2 cities. A "variant-proof" vax going into phase 2a trial in Germany: https://absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2026/04/30/another-intranasal-covid-vaccine-starting-in-the-us-nextgen-vax-monthly-update/30 Apr 2026 08:16 +0000at://did:plc:gach437ebdeabknghhwubemh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkp6fazphs2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/hildabast.bsky.social/post/3mkmjegdjjk2fA recent paper got me frustrated about this again: There's still too much uncertainty about conflict of interest bias in research. My new post @plos.org https://absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2026/04/29/theres-still-too-much-uncertainty-about-conflict-of-interest-bias/29 Apr 2026 06:55 +0000at://did:plc:gach437ebdeabknghhwubemh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkmjegdjjk2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/hildabast.bsky.social/post/3mj4yp4ivum2n“No single raindrop…” "No single raindrop believes it is to blame for the flood." This is a line from a poster I used to have in my office. It popped into my head this week when I was in a queue to fuel my car. We've had shortages around here—not because the country didn't have enough, but because… https://hildabastian.wordpress.com/2026/04/10/no-single-raindrop/10 Apr 2026 09:21 +0000at://did:plc:gach437ebdeabknghhwubemh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mj4yp4ivum2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/hildabast.bsky.social/post/3mikvmckdk22cNew feature: Which nextgen Covid vaxes are advancing the most? I highlight 3 in mid- to late-stage trials with manufacturers—including a "universal" Covid vax & a mucosal one—and another 6 vaccines. Plus more trial results & 10 preclinical reports: https://absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2026/04/02/accelerating-development-for-some-nextgen-covid-vaxes-update-no-39/03 Apr 2026 04:38 +0000at://did:plc:gach437ebdeabknghhwubemh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mikvmckdk22chttps://bsky.app/profile/hildabast.bsky.social/post/3miexsfbkjk25My darling son Adam would have been 43 today. Cherishing memories of hanging out with him—here in 2012. ❤️31 Mar 2026 20:02 +0000at://did:plc:gach437ebdeabknghhwubemh/app.bsky.feed.post/3miexsfbkjk25https://bsky.app/profile/hildabast.bsky.social/post/3mi47fpczxk24In February 2021, a town in Brazil showed up for a groundbreaking randomized Covid vax trial, providing evidence of population effects of mass vaccination in a pandemic. My latest @plos.org post digs into this exciting precedent & why it matters: https://absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2026/03/28/a-unique-pandemic-control-trial/28 Mar 2026 08:24 +0000at://did:plc:gach437ebdeabknghhwubemh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mi47fpczxk24https://bsky.app/profile/hildabast.bsky.social/post/3mi47fpczxk24In February 2021, a town in Brazil showed up for a groundbreaking randomized Covid vax trial, providing evidence of population effects of mass vaccination in a pandemic. My latest @plos.org post digs into this exciting precedent & why it matters: https://absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2026/03/28/a-unique-pandemic-control-trial/28 Mar 2026 08:24 +0000at://did:plc:gach437ebdeabknghhwubemh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mi47fpczxk24https://bsky.app/profile/hildabast.bsky.social/post/3mgm6apzoxr2kAdjusting to the Changing Internet When ads flooded some parts of the internet, I adjusted by avoiding those places when I recognized the signs—or hitting the back button quickly when I hadn't. When "AI" scrapers led to an explosion of sites making me wait while checking if I'm a robot, I got used… https://hildabastian.wordpress.com/2026/03/09/adjusting-to-the-changing-internet/09 Mar 2026 05:55 +0000at://did:plc:gach437ebdeabknghhwubemh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgm6apzoxr2khttps://bsky.app/profile/hildabast.bsky.social/post/3mg2ih4m2y22pThe rose is hands down the prettiest flower in the rain today 😍 #BloomScrolling02 Mar 2026 05:10 +0000at://did:plc:gach437ebdeabknghhwubemh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mg2ih4m2y22phttps://bsky.app/profile/hildabast.bsky.social/post/3mfyf6w3yh22iNews-packed update on nextgen Covid vaccines this month at my @plos.org blog: - Preclinical results for an intranasal "universal" vaccine that provided some protection from coronaviruses, H1N1 flu, some bacterial infections, and an asthma allergen... 1/2 https://absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2026/03/01/progress-for-universal-vaccine-more-nextgen-covid-vax-news-update-no-38/01 Mar 2026 09:06 +0000at://did:plc:gach437ebdeabknghhwubemh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfyf6w3yh22ihttps://bsky.app/profile/hildabast.bsky.social/post/3mfyf6w3yh22iNews-packed update on nextgen Covid vaccines this month at my @plos.org blog: - Preclinical results for an intranasal "universal" vaccine that provided some protection from coronaviruses, H1N1 flu, some bacterial infections, and an asthma allergen... 1/2 https://absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2026/03/01/progress-for-universal-vaccine-more-nextgen-covid-vax-news-update-no-38/01 Mar 2026 09:06 +0000at://did:plc:gach437ebdeabknghhwubemh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfyf6w3yh22ihttps://bsky.app/profile/hildabast.bsky.social/post/3mfbk4urefc2p@macalestercollege.bsky.social I've written a Wikipedia page for Catharine Deaver Lealtad, as well as a blog post: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catharine_Deaver_Lealtad https://absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2026/02/20/dr-catharine-d-lealtad-1895-1989-an-outspoken-life-of-humanitarian-action/20 Feb 2026 07:03 +0000at://did:plc:gach437ebdeabknghhwubemh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfbk4urefc2phttps://bsky.app/profile/hildabast.bsky.social/post/3mfbewdn27k2aFor #BlackHistoryMonth, I've written about a remarkable woman who blew me away. Meet Dr Catharine Deaver Lealtad (1895-1989) in my new post @plos.org: https://absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2026/02/20/dr-catharine-d-lealtad-1895-1989-an-outspoken-life-of-humanitarian-action/ She was a lifelong activist and international humanitarian...1/2 #BHM20 Feb 2026 05:30 +0000at://did:plc:gach437ebdeabknghhwubemh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfbewdn27k2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/hildabast.bsky.social/post/3mepomqkzxs2lMy best photo yet of a native Blue-Banded Bee! 😍 😍 😍 Doesn't do the brilliance of the blue justice, though. They are buzz pollinators, so as usual, I heard it before I saw it. (Buzz pollinators shake the pollen off by vibrating.) More about them: https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/blogs/creatura-with-bec-crew/2014/09/blue-banded-bee-a-native-beauty/13 Feb 2026 04:36 +0000at://did:plc:gach437ebdeabknghhwubemh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mepomqkzxs2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/hildabast.bsky.social/post/3mefyi5waom2vCartoonists Keep Meeting the Moment So many people in a position to do something are failing us, when it matters the most. The disappointments in cultural and political leadership just keep rolling in. Some parts of the culture keep meeting the moment, though—including many prominent political… https://hildabastian.wordpress.com/2026/02/09/cartoonists-keep-meeting-the-moment/09 Feb 2026 08:06 +0000at://did:plc:gach437ebdeabknghhwubemh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mefyi5waom2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/hildabast.bsky.social/post/3meflc7wx3k2vVale, Jon Kudelka (1972-2026).09 Feb 2026 04:10 +0000at://did:plc:gach437ebdeabknghhwubemh/app.bsky.feed.post/3meflc7wx3k2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/hildabast.bsky.social/post/3mdwrsuo3hk2kLots to think about in my annual roundup of peer review research: - AI, mostly bad; some suggestions of ways it may help - Evidence on financial rewards for peer review - Influence of editors' biases More on equity & diversity; librarians & systematic reviews https://absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2026/02/02/5-things-we-learned-about-journal-peer-review-in-2025/03 Feb 2026 06:56 +0000at://did:plc:gach437ebdeabknghhwubemh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdwrsuo3hk2khttps://bsky.app/profile/hildabast.bsky.social/post/3mdp37yclvc2iLots of news in my latest next generation Covid vax update: - Self-amplifying mRNA vax Kostaive approved in the UK - New trial for mucosal vax starting in Finland - Results from AstraZeneca phase 1 trial for mRNA vax ... https://absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2026/01/31/another-approval-and-more-nextgen-covid-vax-news-update-no-37/ 1/2 #Vaccines #Covid #Covid1931 Jan 2026 05:23 +0000at://did:plc:gach437ebdeabknghhwubemh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdp37yclvc2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/hildabast.bsky.social/post/3md54cz32mc2kNow * this * is some high quality blog spam! 🤣 🤣 🤣24 Jan 2026 01:55 +0000at://did:plc:gach437ebdeabknghhwubemh/app.bsky.feed.post/3md54cz32mc2khttps://bsky.app/profile/hildabast.bsky.social/post/3mcyl3kz6mk2aTuberose — such a cool, sweet-smelling customer in the summer heat! 😍 #BloomScrolling22 Jan 2026 06:36 +0000at://did:plc:gach437ebdeabknghhwubemh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcyl3kz6mk2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/hildabast.bsky.social/post/3mbvjt2mgrs2fThis photo is from camping a few years back—one of the major out-of-control fires in our area is burning there. 😢 We're into day 2 of >40 C (100 F), in catastrophic fire risk for another day at least. Ready to evacuate if the wind turns in our direction. 😬08 Jan 2026 08:10 +0000at://did:plc:gach437ebdeabknghhwubemh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbvjt2mgrs2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/hildabast.bsky.social/post/3mbl6rln5x72r“Blogging in the Ruins”—Some Counterpoints As of this month, I've been blogging—with words and cartoons—for 14 years. My enthusiasm for it has waned at times, but it always comes back. So when Joan Westerberg posted The Case for Blogging in the Ruins, I clicked quickly. And I anticipated being… https://hildabastian.wordpress.com/2026/01/04/blogging-in-the-ruins-some-counterpoints/04 Jan 2026 05:26 +0000at://did:plc:gach437ebdeabknghhwubemh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbl6rln5x72rhttps://bsky.app/profile/hildabast.bsky.social/post/3mbdjyu2d6k2jA major milestone for next generation Covid vax: The first clinical trial for a pancoronavirus formulation of an existing vaccine was registered. With more news incl trial results & 12 preclinical reports—in my monthly update @plos.org https://absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2025/12/31/major-milestone-for-pancoronavirus-vaccines-and-more-next-generation-covid-vax-update-no-36/ #Vaccines01 Jan 2026 04:26 +0000at://did:plc:gach437ebdeabknghhwubemh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbdjyu2d6k2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/hildabast.bsky.social/post/3mauhg45v7k2oSummer table, with hydrangea and gladioli 😍 #BloomScrolling26 Dec 2025 04:29 +0000at://did:plc:gach437ebdeabknghhwubemh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mauhg45v7k2o