SCIENCE sciencemag.orgCREDITS: (PHOTO) ESTÚDIO 41; (GRAPHIC) J. BRAINARD/
SCIENCE
; (DATA) WELLCOME TRUST
that he pioneered. A radiologist by training,
Terawan claims he has successfully treated
thousands of patients since 2012 with intra-
arterial heparin flushing (IAHF), which uses
a blood thinner to reduce clots that may
have formed during strokes. Indonesian
neurologists have argued that there’s no
evidence that the therapy works and pointed
out that it carries a small risk of complica-
tions and even death. Terawan’s critics say
his advocacy for the therapy disqualifies him
from setting health policy for the world’s
fourth most populous nation. The Ministry
of Health did not respond to a request for
details about IAHF’s proposed rollout.New virus? Yada yada
MICROBIOLOGY | The researchers had to
admit their discovery wasn’t all that excit-
ing. The team at AgriBio, the Centre for
AgriBioscience in Melbourne, Australia,
had found a new alphavirus in RNA from
large numbers of mosquitoes collected
in Australia’s Victoria state. Although
some viruses in that group cause human
epidemics, the new one infects only
mosquitoes—and it isn’t the first insect-
only alphavirus. Although co-discoverer
Jana Batovska says the new virus might aid
knowledge of virus evolution and vaccine
production, she and colleagues chose a
prosaic name for it in their short paper pub-
lished 9 January in Microbiology Resource
Announcements: Yada Yada virus. The catch
phrase was made famous in a 1997 episode
of Seinfeld to tar boring, empty talk.Survey finds bullying pervasive
WORKPLACE | Many researchers are proud
and passionate about their work, but
workplace problems are sapping research
quality and leaving them feeling stressed
and lonely, says a report this week from the
Wellcome Trust. The findings come from
what the London-based biomedical char-
ity describes as the largest study of views
about workplace culture among researchersat different career stages in multiple
disciplines. The survey’s more than 4200
respondents included some working outside
the biomedical sciences, including in earth
science and the humanities; 76% worked
in the United Kingdom. Four-fifths believe
that high levels of competition for grants
and jobs are creating unkind or aggressive
working conditions; many reported being
bullied by colleagues. The report suggests
possible methods for improvement, such
as institutional ombudsmen to collect and
consider complaints.MIT details Epstein donations
#METOO | Jeffrey Epstein donated
$750,000 to the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT) after his 2008 crimi-
nal conviction for procuring a minor for
prostitution, and three MIT vice presidents
knew about and approved most of the
gifts, according to a report by an outside
law firm. The report, issued on 10 January,
says Epstein visited the campus at least
nine times from 2013 to 2017 and met oncewith students, without the knowledge of
senior administrators. The postconviction
donations “were driven either by former
Media Lab Director Joi Ito or by [mechani-
cal engineering] Professor [Seth] Lloyd,”
the report finds. MIT President Rafael
Reif announced on 10 January that Lloyd,
who received $225,000 in research sup-
port from Epstein and a personal gift of
$60,000, has been put on paid administra-
tive leave. Ito resigned in September 2019.
Epstein died of an apparent suicide in
federal custody in New York City in August
2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex
trafficking minors.Florida probes foreign influences
RESEARCH COLLABORATION | Florida’s
legislature is diving into the contentious
issue of foreign influences on U.S. research.
The move comes after the Moffitt Cancer
Center in Tampa last month fired six sci-
entists, including CEO Alan List, for failing
to disclose ties to Chinese institutions. A
special committee will begin hearings nextSupervisor/
managerOther senior
colleaguePeer015304560% Bullied respondent
Bullied co-workerB
razil planned to dedicate a new scientific outpost in Antarctica this week,
8 years after a fire destroyed its original base there. The new, $100 million
Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station (above) is nearly twice the size of the
old one and stands out for its sleek architectural design. It can house up to
64 people, including scientists and military personnel; 17 laboratories will
support research in a range of fields, including environmental microbiology, human
physiology, paleontology, and climate change. Since the fire, Brazilian scientists
have continued to do research in a series of container modules at the site on the
Keller Peninsula of King George Island. But many scientists worry that the Brazilian
government—whose spending for research has plummeted in recent years—may
not provide enough funds for the new facility to use its full potential. Currently
allocated funds for Brazil’s Antarctic research program are set to expire in 2022.m Who the bullies are
More than four in 10 survey respondents reported that a
colleague bullied or harassed them or a co-worker.POLAR SCIENCEBrazil opens new Antarctic research center
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