All the posts from our Those Nerdy Girls Facebook page dating back to May 1st, 2020, are currently archived here and can be searched for by category, key words, etc. Be sure to check back often as additional posts are being added each day.
June is Pride Month in the U.S. and many countries around the world. (Pride is celebrated during other months in countries such as Denmark.) Pride events serve to celebrate, honor, uplift, educate, and increase understanding and visibility for and among members of Queer communities and their families and loved ones. Visibility is important because it Read more…
A: Here is what’s new in the realm of COVID-19 right now: In a nutshell: ➡️ There is a new COVID variant family called FLiRT that may lead to an increase in cases this summer. ➡️ Current vaccines will provide some protection against FLiRT variants. ➡️ Data so far does not suggest that FLiRT variants Read more…
Mineral sunscreens aren’t absorbed into the body, so they may be safer than chemical ones. But when you need sunscreen, any type of sunscreen is better than none. Protecting your skin from the sun is the best way to avoid skin cancer and visible signs of sun damage. While it’s true that some people have Read more…
A: In the first 5 months of 2024, there were nearly 3 times the number of cases reported in the U.S. by this time last year. Cases are also up globally. Make sure you are up-to-date on this vaccine! TL; DR: Whooping cough cases are on the rise. Key time points for this vaccine are Read more…
A: Swimming is a great way to beat the heat and get some healthy, fun exercise outdoors and there are simple steps that we can take to protect children from water injury and drowning. Learn CPR, fence off pools, keep a watchful eye on children around water, teach kiddos how to swim, and use life Read more…
It’s hard to believe that Those Nerdy Girls is now four years old! As we continue to grow and expand as a sustainable organization, we are pleased to introduce our first Annual Report. While preparing this overview, we were once again filled with gratitude for your generous support in 2023. Your contributions have been instrumental Read more…
Unfortunately, data is mixed on the usefulness of Paxlovid for the prevention of long COVID. We need more data, including clinical trials that are carefully designed, to evaluate whether or not there is a benefit. Long COVID, also known as post-acute sequelae of COVID-19, refers to lingering symptoms that emerge in some individuals following a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Read more…
Vaping has not been around long enough to know the long-term health effects, but research so far shows that vaping is less harmful than smoking cigarettes. E-cigarettes (also called vapes) and regular cigarettes have a lot in common. They both contain nicotine, the addictive part of tobacco products, and people inhale both products to access Read more…
This information is up to date as of May 29, 2024 at 12 pm EDT. Here is what’s new and what we know about the current HPAI/H5N1/avian/bird flu situation (We know, we know, how many names can one virus have?! Jeesh! In this post we will call it the avian flu unless quoting another source.) Read more…
As we wind down this beautiful month of May, we would like to take a moment to highlight Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. People of Asian and Pacific Islander ancestries are from approximately 50 distinct ethnic groups speaking over 100 languages. These ancestries include Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean, Hawaiian, and more. Read more…
A: Yes! So glad you asked! Tl; DR: The News Literacy Project just released a new (and free!) ‘Camp Fact-Check” kit that is designed to help educators build kids in searching for information, evaluating evidence, and assessing claims. Are you teaching summer school and looking for curriculum ideas that can boost kids skills in news Read more…
There is no evidence that ivermectin can prevent or treat COVID-19, and it can cause harm. In the early days of a pandemic when there are no vaccines or treatments, sometimes we look at existing drugs to see if they might be effective against a new virus. This is what happened in 2020 with a Read more…
*This information is up to date as of May 22, 2024 Press releases from the CDC and the Victoria, Australia Department of Health were sent out today regarding two new cases of human H5N1 infections. Here is what we know about each case: Michigan, USA Dairy Worker This is the second US case this year Read more…
Heuristics are fast, efficient mental shortcuts that we use all the time to help us make decisions and solve problems. These rule-of-thumb strategies can decrease our cognitive load to make choices without becoming overwhelmed. Heuristics can be both helpful and harmful so it’s important to recognize when a heuristic might not be such a great Read more…
*World Immunization Week was 24-30 April, 2024 In recognition of World Immunization Week 2024, we’re highlighting five breakthrough vaccines in development that could transform the fight against some of the world’s deadliest diseases. The rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines has shown the incredible power of immunization, saving millions of lives. Today, vaccines prevent over 20 Read more…
A: The short answer is probably, but no one really knows. But: we do know that cooking your food properly and practicing good food safety to avoid cross-contamination is always SAFER. Reducing your risk is effective no matter what the risk was in the first place or how badly we understand it, so risk-reduction is Read more…
Nearly 1 in 5 people will experience a mental health condition in any given year. And over half of all people will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime. This is not just about some of us. It is about all of us. Our mental health is complex and influenced by many factors. Mental Read more…
The month of May is brimming with blooms, celebrations, and plans. As you gear up for summer, it’s also a good time to check in on your sun-safety routine. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light is a major risk factor for skin cancer, but it’s a preventable one with good daily habits. The 3 essential sun-safe Read more…
Are there any updates on what’s happening with the current Bird Flu outbreak? Here is what’s new and what we know about the current H5N1 outbreak: In a nutshell: ⚫ According to the USDA there are now 46 affected cattle herds across nine states (although testing remains patchy and spread is likely wider). ⚫ There Read more…
National Women’s Health Week is an observance that aims to ➡️ Highlight women’s health issues and priorities and ➡️ Encourage women of all ages to prioritize their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This year’s theme is Empowering Women, Cultivating Health: Celebrating Voices, Wellness, and Resilience. The Office on Women’s Health uses this week to celebrate Read more…
