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.
Measles cases continue to rise across the U.S., with most cases occurring in Texas. Vaccination is highly effective and the best way to protect yourself. Update on numbers Confirmed cases are correct as of Friday April 4, 2025 (Note that the CDC updates their numbers on Friday afternoons) Reported cases for Texas are correct as Read more…
A recent Consumer Report has made waves for its coverage about synthetic braiding hair products and their potential link to chronic health issues, especially among Black women. While these concerns are valid, the report has significant blindspots and should be interpreted with caution. Since time immemorial, braided hair extensions have been used as a protective Read more…
Riddle us this, Nerdies! What is crucial for the well-being of everyone but is all but invisible when it’s working effectively? Public Health, of course! It’s National Public Health Week, and Those Nerdy Girls would like to show our support to all our public health colleagues and raise up their voices and good deeds. We Read more…
As we prepare to usher in Black Maternal Health Week, I’d like to pay tribute to the first post I ever wrote for Those Nerdy Girls, titled, “We Need to Move the Needle on Black Reproductive Health. Like, Yesterday.” In early 2023, I was intensely homesick while studying in Oxford. In my search for recourse Read more…
Tl;dr: Commitment bias is when we stick to what we did or said in the past, even when we were clearly wrong, and the outcome didn’t turn out well. We are more likely to exhibit this if those behaviors were public and others were aware. Commitment bias can limit our personal growth and ability to Read more…
Watch the video to find out! As a child, Nerdy Girl Gabriella Kountourides, PhD, remembers going to the zoo and asking her mother when the chimpanzees would turn into humans. This innocent childhood question reveals some of the most common misconceptions about evolution. In this video, Dr. Kountourides busts some common myths and offers an Read more…
Recently, there was some concern that we may not have an updated flu vaccine for next season. Luckily, the FDA has announced the strains that will be included in the 25-26 flu vaccine. Every year, we get new versions of the influenza (flu) vaccines. This is because influenza viruses can change very quickly from year Read more…
Tl;DR: Prebunking is an effective strategy to combat misinformation. Prebunking makes people aware in advance that they might be misled & teaches folks ways to recognize misinformation at the get-go. Prebunking, sometimes called attitudinal inoculation, alerts people in advance that misinformation and disinformation might be coming their way. Prebunking is an effective “heads up” for Read more…
Drinking alcohol increases cancer risk – even at low or moderate levels. Public health experts are raising awareness about the harms of alcohol. We’re here to help you make informed choices. If you’re like us, you grew up knowing that drinking and driving is dangerous, that long-term heavy drinking can cause liver disease, and that Read more…
GLP-1 medications (like Ozempic and Wegovy) manage Type 2 diabetes and obesity. They also protect the heart and kidneys in people with higher risks. Ask a clinician who knows your medical history if a GLP-1 could benefit you. If you’re wondering if you should take a GLP-1, you’re not alone. Whether it’s health news of Read more…
A candid look at breast cancer risk It’s time to shift the conversation about breast cancer risk and be candid about what we can and cannot control. We are bombarded by messages about everything we should be doing, or not doing, to avoid cancer. Mainstream media cranks out endless stories about cancer-causing chemicals in our Read more…
Vaccination is the safest option to protect yourself and your loved ones from measles. Even if you are unsure if you have natural immunity, have been vaccinated before or can’t be vaccinated, there may be options for you. Vaccination recommendations for the U.S.* (*if you live outside the U.S. recommendations might be different, so please Read more…
The Glucola test is given to pregnant people to test for gestational diabetes and is both necessary and safe. Untreated gestational diabetes can have serious health consequences for both the pregnant person and the baby. What is gestational diabetes? Gestational diabetes occurs when a person has elevated blood sugar levels during pregnancy. In gestational diabetes, Read more…
HKU5 coronavirus is unlikely to lead to a pandemic, but to prevent future coronavirus pandemics it is important to support scientific research, emerging disease surveillance, and vaccine and medication development. Main points: HKU5-CoV-2 did not infect laboratory cells under controlled conditions as well as the virus that causes COVID-19 Current antivirals and monoclonal antibodies inhibited Read more…
Tl;dr: The Dunning-Kruger effect occurs when someone’s lack of knowledge or skill in a certain area causes them to overestimate their own ability. It also causes people who are the most competent to think less of their skill. Self-reflection, objective measures of performance, and getting meaningful feedback can help keep you from falling victim to Read more…
An infodemic occurs when there is so much information that it becomes difficult to sort good information from bad. It is a tidal wave of info that can be incredibly overwhelming. That type of information overload can make it hard to make decisions, find trustworthy resources, or use information to make good choices. Infodemics are Read more…
This week, we’ve been celebrating 5 years of trusted, science-backed health information—and today, we’re looking ahead. Watch our Executive Director, MK Haber, on what’s next for Those Nerdy Girls. Now and in the future, you can count on Those Nerdy Girls to: Educate, not commentate—always rooted in the best available science Provide actionable steps to Read more…
When we hear about someone experiencing grief, it is often about the loss of a pet, a loved one, or a long-term relationship. However, grief extends beyond these experiences – it can also stem from what never was. Grief is how we respond to loss. When loss doesn’t have a specific event or something that Read more…
Nerdy Girl Jenn posted last year in 2024 about our Origin Story. Read about it here. March 2020 feels like both a million years ago and the blink of an eye. We Nerdy Girls thought we might be answering questions on here for a few weeks at the most. Despite all the stress, grief, and Read more…
What happens behind the scenes at Those Nerdy Girls? For 5 years, Those Nerdy Girls has been your trusted source for clear, science-backed health information. But to keep going, we need you. 🎥 Meet our Production Team and see what goes on behind the scenes at Those Nerdy Girls! Link to Original Facebook Post
