September 18, 2020 Vol . LXXII, No . 19

place to place ‘FAIR’-MINDED and what to buy [and its reach] Hahnel Argues for Making AI ‘VIRTUALLY OMNIPRESENT’ continues to Data as Open as Possible expand.” BY ERIN WALKER Former NIH’er Horvath To illus- Explains Why Machines Won’t trate AI Speaking virtually from London to a group conquering new of more than 120 NIH employees at a recent Replace Doctors territory, Horvath NIH Data Science BY CARLA GARNETT described what Town Hall spon- he called the sored by the Office If it feels like computers control almost of Data Science everything these days and that soon we’ll “mood watch,” a Dr . Keith Horvath device designed Strategy, Dr. Mark all have to visit “Doctor Bot” to cure what Hahnel said, “To ails us, then the recent Clinical Center to absorb speech intonations and provide the wearer with social clues about the speaker’s get the most out of Grand Rounds talk “It’s an Artificial science, research Intelligence (AI) World and We Are All disposition or temperament. The high-tech wristband could help people with conditions data needs to be as Just Living in It” by the Association of open as possible, American Medical College’s Dr. Keith such as Asperger’s syndrome. “The general AI of science fiction movies as closed as Dr . Mark Hahnel Horvath, may offer some reassurance. necessary.” “AI is virtually omnipresent,” he is still a ways away,” Horvath reported. It’s specific AI—exemplified by machines such as For Hahnel, “open as possible” admitted. “It’s already telling us what to means data that is published openly and watch, what to listen to, how to get from IBM’s Deep Blue chess master computer of SEE HORVATH, PAGE 4 SEE HAHNEL, PAGE 8

CORRALLING COVID OLDEST ACTIVE SCIENTIST Behavioral Science Can Help Life, Longevity of Tabor Increase Social Mitigation Celebrated Adherence Dr. Herbert Tabor, the world’s foremost BY ERIC BOCK authority on the enzymatic pathways of polyamines, died The CDC has recommended that, in on Aug. 20. He response to the global coronavirus served 77 years pandemic, everyone at the National wash their hands Institutes of often, stay at least Health, the Everyone can help keep NIH cyber safe . See p . 3 . 6 feet away from oldest active NIH ALSO THIS ISSUE other people, wear scientist ever. face coverings in He was, until his Protecting NIH from Cyberattacks—What’s Your Role?...... 3 public and stay death at age 101, home if they’re sick, a senior investi- WALS Resumes, Virtually...... 5 said Dr. William gator in NIDDK’s Gopal Is NCI Global Health Center Director. . . . 7 Riley. Adhering to Dr . Herb Tabor in 2005 Laboratory of Brown Set for 2020 Mendelson Lecture. . . . . 7 these mitigation Dr . William Riley Biochemistry and ‘Mind the Gap’ Webinar Features Rivera. . . . 9 strategies is critical Genetics, where he had served as lab chief Digest...... 11 to slowing the spread of Covid-19. until 1999. NIAMS Intramural Staff Get Virtual Taste of Just telling people to follow these recom- “His death is such a great loss for the Life in Space...... 12 mendations, however, won’t persuade them NIH and broader scientific community of SEE RILEY, PAGE 6 SEE TABOR, PAGE 10 BRIEFS

Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey Is you before? Perhaps you’ve spotted a family of Kirsten, who served as associate director of the NCI Open Sept. 21-Nov. 2 deer, baby turtles, a colorful bird or butterfly, which at Frederick in the 1980s and 1990s . seem to be out in greater abundance these days . The 2020 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey “It truly is the mentors who are the heart and soul (FEVS) will be open Monday, Sept . 21 through Nov . The NIH Record wants to see your photo . We will of the Kirsten program,” said program manager 2 . The survey gives eligible federal employees an publish the most remarkable images we get . Send Marsha Nelson Duncan . “They generously offer our annual opportunity to provide confidential feed- your photo (high-resolution color digital image) students some of the most precious commodities: back about their work satisfaction, leadership and with a brief caption to rm26q@nih g. ov or cg9s@ their time, their wisdom and their guidance . Several work/life balance . This year, the survey will include nih gov. . generations of students are the better for it ”. an extensive section on the impact of Covid-19 . Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Kirsten NCI at Frederick Internship Program Wins program is at present on hiatus, save for a handful Presidential Honor of students working remotely . Thanks to the The National Cancer Institute in Frederick, Md ., has continuing commitment of so many mentors, its won a Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, return will be eagerly anticipated by the program’s Mathematics and Mentoring for its Werner H . mentors, as well as Kirsten students and the Kirsten Student Internship Program . partner school systems . Now 30 years old, the Kirsten program each year brings to NCI’s Frederick campus a cadre of high ORWH Hosts Webinar on Social school students, who spend a summer, followed by Determinants of Health, Disease their senior year, working in government and con- Outcomes tractor laboratories and offices . A hallmark of the The Office of Research on Women’s Health recently program, NCI’s only year-long immersion opportu- hosted an online panel discussion titled “Improving Last year, more than 11,000 employees took the nity for high schoolers, is the close involvement of Chronic Disease Outcomes Through Approaches survey . Results from FEVS are communicated to that Address Social Determinants of Health ”. NIH and IC leadership as soon as they become available and are used to develop specific pro- The webinar was part of ORWH’s Understudied, grams and resources aimed at making NIH and its Underrepresented and Underreported (U3) institutes and centers a better place to work . Each Women’s Health Lecture Series . Dr . Marie Lynn IC has designated representatives who focus on Miranda of the University of Notre Dame and communicating FEVS results to staff and are tasked Dr . Leah H . Rubin of Johns Hopkins University, a with conducting actionable plans to ensure NIH former scholar in the NIH Building Interdisciplinary continues to be employees’ leader of choice when Research Careers in Women’s Health program, it comes to employee engagement . gave lectures . A moderated Q&A session followed . NIH has posted all 2019 IC-specific FEVS results Miranda’s lecture, “Assessing Residential to a public FEVS website (https://hr .nih g. ov/ Segregation’s Role in Shaping Health and Well- workforce/fevs/2019-fevs-survey-results) in order Being,” characterized national and local population to enhance leadership accountability and open Mentor and mentee work together on a project patterns as they pertain to race, educational up conversation about how NIH can provide a with a GeneAmp PCR System 9700 . safe, effective and engaging workplace for all employees . mentors, who work one-on-one with students to FEVS is administered by the Office of Personnel develop their research, analytical and writing skills . Management and will be available to full- and More than 1,200 students have gone through the part-time permanent, non-seasonal employees, Kirsten program, which also includes discussions, on-board on or before Oct . 26, 2019 . Currently, seminars, poster presentations and journal clubs . contractors are not eligible for FEVS participation . More than 80 percent of Kirsten graduates, the For more information, visit https://hr .nih gov. /work- majority of whom are women, have continued force/fevs or email NIHFEVS@nih g. ov . onto careers in STEM fields, and 100 percent of Kirsten graduates completed a minimum of a attainment, health care availability and other factors correlated with health . What Have You bachelor’s degree, with many pursuing higher Noticed in Nature? academic achievements . Rubin’s lecture, “Social Determinants of Central Our formerly hurried The award, which is administered by the National Nervous System Dysfunction in Research and lives—with long, traf- Science Foundation, “recognizes the critical role Clinical Practice: A Lesson from HIV,” described fic-filled commutes—may mentors play outside the traditional classroom cognitive problems and mental health issues have prevented us from setting in the academic and professional develop- associated with HIV infection . noticing a lovely sunrise ment of the future STEM workforce,” said the White ORWH’s lecture series has been designed to or sunset, a post-storm House announcement . stimulate interest in the complex issues affecting giant rainbow or roaming In their comments, the award review panel cited the health of women, including the influences of wildlife . As many NIH’ers community attributes . continue to work from “the efforts of this program to effect change in home, or for those In 2018, baby the community” and the “scope and capacity To view the video recording of the webinar, visit back in their labs with a bluebirds recorded of this program to create impact on a national https://www yo. utu .be/eK0-j9AzBGU . quicker commute, what near Safra Lodge level” in giving the program its highest marks of have you noticed outside PHOTO: JENNIFER excellence . WATSON that might have escaped The internship program is named for Dr . Werner H .

2 • NIH RECORD • SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 ATTACKS ARE RELENTLESS you’ll join a cadre of more than 40 volunteers who have already stood up to embrace their Protecting NIH from Cyber commitment to cyber safety by spreading the Attacks—How You Can Help word through their own networks . BY JOTHI DUGAR Regardless of your title, IC or function, you are an essential part of NIH’s security posture . Your daily Picture this: You open your NIH laptop in the decisions regarding cyber safety matter and they morning and find an email asking you to provide can be the deciding factor between keeping NIH your NIH login credentials for verification safe and exposing us to cyber risk . By learning purposes . You pause to think—would NIH really more about cyber safety at NIH, you are making send me an email like this? You hit the Report a meaningful commitment to protect our people Phishing button in Outlook, sending the email for and our science from cyber threats . security review . Next, you open a Word document containing an RFP you’re preparing for a new virtual collaboration tool . You ping your informa- Jenny Spicer (l) and Jennifer Morgan Gray tion systems security officer (ISSO) to ask for an show their support for cybersecurity . update on the security review process—your ISSO tells you that everything is on track for your dead- The reality is that as cyber threats and actors line and assures you that her team will make sure become more sophisticated and aggressive, orga- the tool will keep your program’s data safe . You nizations like NIH are increasingly vulnerable . The switch back to Outlook where you draft an email to good news is that each one of us, regardless of our a colleague and attach a PDF containing sensitive role, has the power to help keep NIH safe by practic- information . Before hitting send, you make sure to ing cyber safety on a daily basis . As NIH director Dr . encrypt the email so that the PDF can’t fall into the Francis Collins noted last December, “Cyber safety wrong hands . is not solely the responsibility of staff in information This is the vision that the NIH Cyber Safety technology, security or privacy functions . It is the Awareness Campaign has for each of us—the concern of the whole NIH community ”. seamless integration of cyber-safe attitudes and If you’re feeling uncertain about what cyber behaviors into all of our roles, from scientist to safety means for your role, the NIH Cyber administrator . Safety Awareness Campaign is here to help . The The headlines around cybersecurity in health care campaign, an Optimize IT Security initiative, has ON THE COVER: Fruit Fly Hearing Organs. Five different fruit fly hearing organs are arranged to are sobering: each and every day, high-profile a website (https://ocio .nih go. v/InfoSecurity/ Pages/CyberSafety .aspx) that is constantly form a flower in this image. A protein, NompA (red), health organizations around the world are being attaches the hearing units to the exoskeleton. Human being updated with new, easy-to-understand targeted by cyber criminals who seek to steal data, genes and hearing organs are similar to those in fruit disrupt operations and pursue financial gain at the one-pagers on a variety of cyber safety topics flies. This allows researchers to use fruit flies to identify expense of patients, staff and science . NIH is not such as phishing and acquisitions . The website new genes and gene regulators involved in hearing immune from these types of attacks . In fact, more also provides contact information for security and and deafness in humans. than 98 percent of email to NIH servers is blocked privacy staff who can help answer your questions IMAGE: TONGCHAO LI, BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, because it contains dangerous malware or spam . and publishes new stories each month about real- WITH SUPPORT FROM NIDCD This amounts to more than 23 million malicious life cyber safety incidents that have happened at emails a day . NIH . The campaign invites you to bookmark the The NIH Record site and share it with your colleagues . Since 1949, the NIH Record has been published The campaign also hosts a variety biweekly by the Editorial Operations Branch, of engaging events each week, Office of Communications and Public Liaison, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health providing interactive presen- and Human Services . For editorial policies, email tations at all-hands meetings, editor or phone (301) 496-2125 . professional affiliation and networking events and more . If Editor: Rich McManus [email protected] you’d like staff to present to your audience or if you feel your group Associate Editor: Carla Garnett would benefit from receiving [email protected] monthly cyber safety emails with Staff Writers: helpful tips and real-life stories, Eric Bock • [email protected] email Jothi .Dugar@nih .gov . Dana Talesnik • [email protected] Subscribe via email: Follow: For NIH’ers who are ready to [email protected] http://nihrecord.nih.gov/ deepen their commitment to Facebook “f” Logo CMYK / .eps Facebook “f” Logo CMYK / .eps cyber safety at NIH, the campaign The NIH Record invites you to join the NIH Cyber is recyclable as Champion Program, a network mixed paper . of engaged employees at all levels and across all roles who are Also involved in the Cyber Safety Awareness Campaign are (from committed to improving adoption l) Uzma Cheema, Esther Ohrt, Madeline Cowan, Eric Kokuma and of cyber-safe behaviors at NIH . Jothi Dugar . By becoming a Cyber Champion,

NIH RECORD • SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • 3  “Humans and machines together can excel in different Horvath CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 ways that individually they cannot. The two combined can the 1980s and 1990s—that is growing more accomplish what neither of them can do alone.” effective and quickly having an impact on ~DR. KEITH HORVATH medicine in the U.S. and around the world.  “In the past, AI has had a lot of hype and promise, but in many cases that has been processing, such as electrocardiography and the pictures. cooled by an ‘AI winter’ in which the promise audiology, and in jobs where integration with “It couldn’t tell the difference between has not been achieved,” he said. “Where we other datasets helps clinical workflow. a parrot and guacamole, or between a are right now is at another peak of that hype Types of machine learning include super- Chihuahua and a blueberry muffin,” he cycle. Is another winter to follow? We’ll see.” vised, unsupervised and reinforcement. pointed out. “Part of that has to do with Currently serving as AAMC’s senior An example of supervised machine needing human expertise to understand director of clinical transformation, Horvath, learning would be cancer detection from better.” a former clinical investigator at NIH who was MRI results, where the machine has AI’s journey to this point has not been director of cardiothoracic surgery research “learned” mapping from a tagged dataset. without pitfalls, Horvath said. Information at NHLBI and chief of cardiothoracic In unsupervised machine learning, overload remains a genuine concern. surgery for NIH’s Heart Center at Suburban Horvath explained, the machine is fed “We’ve gotten through the data tsunami Hospital, gave at least five reasons robots “massive datasets to sort through and make of 2005 to 2016 being generated by electronic won’t replace physicians. diagnoses or come up with predictive analyt- health records [EHRs], smartphones and Primarily, he said, advances in AI should ics.” Examples would be sepsis or identifying wearable devices,” he said. “Industry lined never be viewed as tech versus human. research subjects for different trials. up to figure out how to fix that in the last few “Humans and machines together can Reinforcement training is a hybrid that years. So, there’s been a fusion of that idea.” excel in different ways that individually they combines the other two. In essence, companies collaborated cannot,” Horvath pointed out. “The two There’s no question that computers can to find ways to use and model the wealth combined can accomplish what neither of search through more datasets faster than of data. “This has been buoyed by the 100 them can do alone.” humans, Horvath said, but speed and effi- percent adoption of EHRs,” Horvath pointed Secondly, physicians have a non-linear ciency may not always translate to accuracy. out. “In the next few years, we’re going to see working method that easily adapts to “Sometimes machines still get it wrong,” commercialization of this. ever-changing conditions and quickly he noted, “especially without being assisted “That will allow AI to enhance the treat- evolving situations. That dexterity is still or prompted by human guidance.” ment capabilities we have and make them difficult to teach to a computer. To illustrate, Horvath showed two more personalized and specific to potentially Next, competent digital technologies 4-by-4 grids of similar images in which the combine with other types of data such as need competent professionals. “The ability computer was unable to distinguish between home or genomic,” he predicted. “Then for humans to override the we’ll get to the point where AI machine is key,” Horvath applications are embedded in all noted. of our clinical and investigative Also, he said, there are tasks workflows.” that algorithms and robots Horvath also addressed the can’t complete. double-edged sword of EHRs. Most importantly, AI cannot On the one hand, he said, “AI replace empathy. “As we all feeds on data, which is critical know, the first thing in caring for delivering evidence-based for the patient is caring for the health care and developing any patient,” he emphasized. of the AI algorithms.” Horvath described areas of U.S. consumers use medicine and clinical research approximately 3 petabytes—3 where machine learning, a million gigabytes, or 39 years component of AI, already of high-definition television has made significant inroads. video—of internet data every For example, he said, it plays minute of every day. a major role in automated EHRs have been called both imaging disciplines—radiology, a “wellspring of data” and a ophthalmology, dermatology “cesspool of data,” Horvath said. and pathology. Machine To illustrate AI’s ever-expanding reach, Horvath described a “mood watch” It’s much easier to put data into device (shown above) that is designed to absorb speech intonations and provide learning can also be applied the wearer with social clues about the speaker’s temperament . systems than to get data out. to tasks involving signal A lot of folks have a lot riding

4 • NIH RECORD • SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 on perfecting EHR functionality. Horvath recalled ALBEIT REMOTELY that the HITECH NIH Director’s Wednesday Afternoon Act passed more Lecture Series Resumes than a decade ago has twice—in The 2020-2021 NIH Director’s Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series (WALS) 2009 and 2014— kicks off a new season on Wednesday, Sept. 23 with Dr. Joan Steitz, Sterling pro- infused $36 billion fessor of molecular biophysics and biochemistry and Howard Hughes Medical into the effort Institute investigator at Yale University. Her talk is titled “Viral Noncoding RNAs: Physicians who use AI to adopt EHRs Approaching Answers.” Noncoding ribonucleic acids (RNAs) play pivotal roles will most likely replace physicians who don’t into practice in the regulation of gene expression but exhibit a diversity of functions whether employ the technology, nationwide. encoded by cellular or viral genomes. For her lecture, the most recent high-resolu- Horvath predicts . And although tion X-ray structures will be discussed. acceptance is now Additional talks this fall include the annual William E. Paul Lecture with Dr. nearly universal in the medical community, Michel C. Nussenzweig on Oct. 7 and the annual Rolla E. Dyer Lecture with Dr. Lisa there have been significant side effects. Cooper on Oct. 28. “A lot of physicians now feel that they’re data entry clerks and not patient care folks,” Horvath reported. He said despite such issues, AI’s promise remains manifold—to increase efficiency and decrease costs by shifting human labor to the more complex tasks, to identify workflow optimization strategies, to reduce medical waste by strengthening coordination of care, eliminating over-treatment or low-value care and automating highly repetitive processes that are largely administrative and to allow the physician to focus on actual care. Basically, Horvath concluded, AI means more time available and less infrastructure Leading off the year’s Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series are (from l) Dr . Joan Steitz of required. “Time is essential to the quality of Yale, Dr . Michel Nussenzweig of the Rockefeller University and Dr . Lisa Cooper of Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity . care patients receive,” he noted. “And, better work/life balance for clinicians is critical Nussenzweig, the Zanvil A. Cohn and Ralph M. Steinman professor at the to success for everybody…AI is not going to Rockefeller University, will discuss his work that’s leading to new antibody-based replace physicians, but physicians who use therapies for infections by HIV, the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and other viruses. AI are going to replace physicians who don’t, Cooper directs the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity, where she and her and that may be the cautionary tale.” team work with stakeholders from health care organizations and communities ORWH Syndicates ‘7 Steps to Manage in the United States and Africa to implement rigorous clinical trials and identify Stress and Build Resilience’ interventions that alleviate racial and income disparities in social determinants and The Office of Research on Women’s Health used a health outcomes. placement service to provide editors of online and The fall WALS lectures will be held most Wednesdays, 3-4 p.m., and can be viewed print publications with an article titled “7 Steps to live online at videocast.nih.gov. The lectures will also be archived for later viewing. Manage Stress and Build Resilience ”. The article has To view the full list of speakers this year, visit http://wals.od.nih.gov. You can see reached an online audience of more than 213 million the entire 2020-2021 Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series schedule there, as well as readers through more than 1,100 outlets . Print circulation has yet to be reported . download the season’s poster. For any questions or requests, contact Jacqueline Roberts at robertsjm@ The article has obtained significant coverage od.nih.gov. across the country and has been featured in the 10 largest U .S . media markets . The article was a collaborative effort with input or review from NIH/ OBSSR, NIMH, NCCIH, Ethics, OGC and HHS . The article is available at https://orwh .od .nih g. ov/ in-the-spotlight/all-articles/7-steps-manage- stress-and-build-resilience .

NIH RECORD • SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • 5 Riley While avoiding physical CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 contact is effective, officials must be aware that physical to do it, said Riley, director of NIH’s Office of distancing can affect Behavioral and Social Sciences Research. He people’s mental health. spoke at a recent NIH Adherence Network People are social animals Distinguished Speakers program webinar. who like to be around each Rather, health officials must use several other and develop physical strategies to encourage behavioral change. connections. One challenge One of the most important strategies, for officials is developing he said, is for public health officials to alternatives to in-person communicate credible and trustworthy socializing that allow people information quickly, honestly and repeat- to feel the benefits of edly. These officials must also refresh physical proximity without their messaging campaigns periodically to being close to one another. maintain adherence and acknowledge how Another challenge is hard it is to follow the CDC’s recommenda- getting more people to tions over time. wear face coverings. Riley Exemplars of this approach include said studies of health NIAID director Dr. Anthony Fauci, White care workers have shown House coronavirus response coordinator Dr. that availability of masks, Deborah Birx and U.S. surgeon general Dr. training on how to use them Jerome Adams, Riley noted. handwashing reminder inside face cov- correctly, whether other workers wear them Next, public health should be treated as erings can help increase the frequency and organizational support for wearing a collective issue, not an individual one. For of handwashing after people use the masks all influence face mask use. Other example, those who are more likely to have bathroom or remove their mask. predictors include the perceived risk and milder cases of the disease must still change “Simple prompts can lead to a more seriousness of a disease. their behavior because they can still spread conditioned response over time,” he noted. Finally, asking people to stay home if the virus to higher-risk populations. Most research on increasing handwash- they’re sick does not guarantee that they will “Being able to increase that sense of ing adherence has been done in hospital do so. About 40 percent of U.S. workers don’t group identity and systems and in devel- have paid sick leave. the idea that we’re • • • oping countries where “If you ask someone to stay home but the all in it together is an diarrheal diseases result of having to stay home is that you lose important component “Being able to increase that are common. Lessons pay, in all likelihood people will still go to of what we need to sense of group identity and can be adapted work under those circumstances,” Riley said. do,” Riley explained. the idea that we’re all in it from this research Without paid sick leave, employees are Before people can to population-level three times more likely to forego medical take concrete steps to together is an important handwashing adher- and preventive care, including influenza reduce transmission, component of what we need ence, reported Riley. vaccinations. Guaranteeing paid sick leave they must know how to do.” Physical- can reduce the spread of contagious diseases. they can contribute. distancing measures “We haven’t done enough research on However, although ~DR. WILLIAM RILEY are important tools adherence to mitigation strategies,” Riley knowledge is a nec- • • • for preventing the said, “We need to get a better sense of how essary condition, it is spread of Covid-19. we can improve how well people adhere to seldom a sufficient one. To encourage people During the 1918 influenza pandemic, such such strategies.” to change their behavior, officials must measures were introduced. Back then, NIH is funding research on adherence to promote specific actions, like handwashing. said Riley, there was no research on its mitigation strategies and the social, behav- Research on handwashing has shown that effectiveness and no one studied physical ioral and economic impacts of the pandemic. reminding people to wash their hands can distancing as a means of slowing disease Some preliminary findings may influence increase adherence, Riley said. Mass media spread, or on whether people would adhere our response to the current pandemic, but, handwashing campaigns have shown to be to distancing recommendations. “it’d be really nice to have solid data about effective. When people know better when to Physical distancing is, of course, easier improving adherence for things like physical handwash, they are more likely to do it. for people who can work remotely, he noted. distancing, face mask use and handwashing Asking people to put up a sign in their Those who cannot telework and must go to a in a future epidemic that will probably come bathroom that reminds them to wash physical workplace are regularly exposed to along—hopefully many, many years after their hands or putting a label with a conditions where they can contract the virus. most of us are long gone,” Riley said.

6 • NIH RECORD • SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 Gopal Named NCI Center for role in advancing global cancer research. Brown To Give Virtual Mendelson Global Health Director Gopal also highly values CGH’s role in sup- Lecture on Alcohol, Adolescents porting cancer research training, promoting Dr . Sandra A . Brown will deliver a virtual presenta- Dr. Satish Gopal is the new director of the the integration of current scientific knowl- tion of the 2020 Jack Mendelson Honorary Lecture Center for Global Health (CGH) at the edge in global cancer control and engaging on Tuesday, Sept . 22 at 1:30 p .m . Her talk is titled National Cancer Institute. A key partners in global cancer “Discerning Risks and Effects of Alcohol in the medical oncologist and physi- control. Midst of Adolescent Development ”. Details about cian-scientist, he is dedicated Sharing his thoughts on the how to view the virtual lecture are available at www .niaaa .nih gov. . to helping people with cancer in future of CGH, Gopal under- low-resource settings, including stands that “the global cancer Brown is an internationally recognized scientist sub-Saharan Africa, where he burden is enormous; about whose research has substantially increased our understanding of how alcohol and other substances spent almost a decade caring for two-thirds of cancer deaths affect adolescent and learning from patients with occur each year in low- and development and lymphoid and HIV-associated middle-income countries, and how the impact of malignancies. He will now that’s increasing.” He is hopeful alcohol and other lead CGH and work across the that NCI can play a key role in substances contribute to outcomes that NCI and NIH communities to Dr . Satish Gopal addressing cancer as a truly persist into adult- support innovative research that PHOTO: MARLEEN VAN DEN global public health problem hood . Her pioneering addresses key scientific issues NESTE, EM PHOTOGRAPHY and believes that “studying research has yielded in global cancer control and cancer everywhere should important information leverages unique scientific opportunities benefit cancer patients everywhere.” on the neurocognitive Dr . Sandra A . Brown consequences and afforded by global collaboration. The current times present unique and developmental tra- Gopal joins NCI from the University of unprecedented opportunities and chal- jectories associated with adolescent substance use North Carolina, where since 2012 he led the lenges, particularly amid major disruptions and their implications for prevention and treatment . Cancer Program for UNC Project-Malawi, a to cancer research and control from the Brown currently serves as vice chancellor for clinical research collaboration between UNC ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. In Gopal’s view, research and distinguished professor of psychology and the Malawi Ministry of Health. His inter- these events have reinforced the importance and psychiatry at the University of California, national experience, which also includes of global scientific collaboration, the need San Diego, where she has played major roles in a former Fogarty International Research to learn from one another and to address establishing and spearheading two major nation- wide research consortia that are investigating the Scientist Development Award and service as new and unanswered questions as a global neurobiological and behavioral changes that occur associate chair of the NCI-sponsored AIDS community.—Doug Perin during adolescence and into emerging adulthood . Malignancy Consortium, will enhance CGH’s Since 2012, Brown has co-directed the NIAAA- supported National Consortium on Alcohol and Pandemic Product Gains Prizes Neurodevelopment in Adolescence, a longitudinal study investigating the effects of alcohol use on When the Record asked readers to talk about projects brain and behavioral development in more than they’d pursued during lockdown, one new NIH’er literally 800 adolescents ages 12-21 . shared volumes . Since its launch in 2015, she has served as “Over the coronavirus break, my fourth book won two co-principal investigator of the Adolescent Brain gold medals for best in animals/pets non-fiction . The Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, which is Story of Rex of White Way, The Blizzard King, for Young the largest long-term study of brain development Readers won gold in a global eLit competition in May and child health in the United States . Supported 2020,” noted Jim Cheskawich, OD . “On Aug . 16, Rex by NIDA, NIAAA, NCI and other NIH institutes/ won a second gold medal in Dan Poynter’s global eBook offices and federal partners, the ABCD Study is contest . [My] books have tracking the biological and behavioral develop- collectively won 6 golds, ment of about 12,000 9 to 10-year-olds into early 3 silvers and a Maxwell as adulthood to increase our understanding of the best single breed book . many factors that can enhance or disrupt a young “My writing career began person’s life trajectory . in human resources, where NIAAA established the lecture series as a tribute I wrote job descriptions to Dr . Jack Mendelson, who made remarkable con- and narrative evaluation tributions to the field of clinical alcohol research . statements, vacancy Honorees have made substantial contributions announcements, SOPs, toward increasing our understanding of the effects and even resumes . I of alcohol on health and well-being and improv- retired the first time as the Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and ing the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of Health Administration HR director . I am pleased to be back with NIH alcohol-related problems . working in HR as part of our team ”.

NIH RECORD • SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • 7 data management and FAIR data-sharing. What will Hahnel and his team take forward from the pilot? “It changed my mind that we need to be checking metadata for all our clients,” Hahnel said. “I don’t know how it’s going to scale, so that’s an interesting challenge to try to solve. “We’re also going to keep educating as many people as we can on tools and best prac- tices to improve their data-sharing.” The pilot project is now archived at https:// Hahnel describes the importance of people in making data FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable) for both humans nih.figshare.com/, with and machines . He spoke at a recent NIH Data Science Town Hall . the data still discover- able and reusable. Hahnel possible,” Hahnel said. “But there isn’t To learn more about the NIH Figshare CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 always a suitable repository available. In project, visit https://datascience.nih.gov/ those cases, a generalist repository—be it data-ecosystem/exploring-a-generalist-re- well-described. It also means educating Figshare or another—is an excellent way to pository-for-nih-funded-data. researchers on the importance of data-shar- share data.” ing and the tools available to them. A goal of the pilot project was to help “Given today’s technology, academia researchers implement the FAIR principles, NIDDK’s Gorden Honored should be moving further, faster,” he said. which state that data should be findable, Dr . Phillip Gorden, NIDDK director emeritus, is “To get there, we need open research data.” accessible, interoperable and reusable—by the recipient of the Endocrine Society’s 2021 Hahnel founded generalist data repos- humans and machines. Fred Conrad Koch Lifetime Achievement Award itory Figshare in 2011 while finishing “FAIR is a great example of how we can for his exceptional accomplishments in the field of endocri- his Ph.D. in stem cell biology at Imperial get closer to ‘open as possible,’” Hahnel said. nology . Gorden, College London. The company was born “Publishing datasets in a repository without who served as out of his personal need for a place to store some level of curation can get you to FAIR NIDDK director his research output. He quickly realized he for humans, but you’ll rarely get there for from 1986 to wasn’t the only researcher who needed a machines. 1999 and is now a section chief place to publicly share data that had no other “This pilot gave us an opportunity to test in the Diabetes, designated repository. the idea that we need people curating and Endocrinology “I wanted to allow scientists and improving the data when it is added to a and Obesity researchers like me to get credit and recogni- repository to make it FAIR for machines.” Branch, has tion for all their work,” Hahnel explained. The result was more discoverable data contributed significantly to Fast forward to today, and Hahnel is thanks to more descriptive titles and research advances a vocal advocate for open data and open metadata. in diabetes and research. He’s also been a partner for the “Truly FAIR data for humans and disorders of the past year on a project with NIH. machines takes more than just data and insulin receptor and insulin resistance . Under The ODSS launched a 1-year pilot project technology,” Hahnel said. “You need people his leadership, NIDDK expanded its clinical research portfolio and led initiatives that have with Figshare in July 2019 to see how NIH- in the mix working with researchers and helped shape current practice . The award will funded researchers would use a generalist checking files.” be presented at the Endocrine Society’s annual repository when they had no other logical As a result of the pilot, NIH plans to meeting in March . place to store their data. continue finding opportunities to better “We all agree that researchers should engage with and educate the biomedical use subject-specific repositories whenever research community on the value of effective

8 • NIH RECORD • SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 Rivera To Give ‘Mind the Gap’ in overweight/obese Rochester, an M .S . degree in chemical engineer- pregnant women . ing from University of Wisconsin and a Ph .D . in Webinar, Sept. 30 Both interventions chemical engineering from California Institute of The NIH Office of Disease Prevention will host a are predicated on a Technology . His research interests span the topics Methods: Mind the Gap webinar on Wednesday, novel experimental of dynamic modeling using system identification, Sept . 30 at 2 p .m . Dr . Daniel E . Rivera will discuss design known as the robust process control and applications of control optimizing behavioral mobile health (mHealth) Control Optimization engineering to problems in supply chain man- interventions using control systems engineering . Trial, which takes agement and behavioral medicine . In 2007, he The presentation will build on aspects of the June advantage of a priori received a Mentored Quantitative Research Career 2019 webinar, “Using Control Systems Engineering information available Development Award from the National Institute on to Optimize Adaptive Mobile Health Interventions ”. to the user to Drug Abuse to examine how dynamical systems facilitate modeling and control engineering approaches can be used Control systems engineering is a broadly applicable (accomplished via to optimize interventions for the prevention and field that considers how to adjust system variables system identifica- treatment of drug abuse . over time to improve targeted outcomes . It is tion) and integrates Registration is required; visit https://prevention . responsible for diverse consumer products such it with controller Dr . Daniel E . Rivera as cruise control, the home thermostat and the design . Rivera will nih gov/education-training/methods-mind-gap/. artificial pancreas . It is receiving increasing atten- discuss his experience in advancing these concepts optimizing-behavioral-mhealth-interventions-us- tion in mHealth as a means to design and optimize within a team science environment as well as the ing-control-systems-engineering-control-optimiza- behavioral interventions for physical activity, contrast between control systems engineering and tion . The webinar will be recorded and available on smoking cessation and obesity . machine learning approaches, such as reinforce- the ODP website within approximately 1 week . ment learning . The talk will establish the relevance of control The webinar series explores research design, engineering to mHealth using two interventions A professor of chemical engineering in the School measurement, intervention, data analysis and other currently under development—Just Walk, to for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy methods of interest in prevention science . For promote walking in sedentary adults, and Healthy at Arizona State University, Rivera received a B .S . more information, visit https://prevention .nih gov. / Mom Zone, for managing gestational weight gain degree in chemical engineering from University of mindthegap .

VOLUNTEERS

NHLBI Seeks CHIP Patients NHLBI seeks patients with clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) . Patients with CHIP have a genetic mutation that has been NINR workshop panelists included Dr . Mary-Frances O’Connor, associate professor, director of clinical associated with blood cancer . The study will training, psychology department, University of Arizona . Also participating was Dr . Steve Cole, professor look at CHIP and try to determine its relationship of medicine and psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences, UCLA School of Medicine . to blood cancers and heart disease . The study will also try to discover other new organs or NINR Explores Role of Genes, diverse set of topics that crosscut diseases, diseases that may be linked with CHIP . There is Social Environment on Health populations and the lifespan. no charge for study-related tests, medications or Presenters talked about changes at procedures . Travel assistance may be provided . While it has long been recognized that social the cellular level that occur when disease For more information about study 19-H-0139, call 866-444-2214 or (800) 877-8339 TTY/ASCII . environment can influence risk, manifesta- processes are altered by environmental or Read more online at https://go .usa gov. /xpYyx . tion and trajectory of disease and associated social adversity. Much of this leads to inflam- symptoms, the underlying biological matory gene expression, which has negative CCUS Patients Sought mechanisms remain understudied. NINR health impacts. However, the flip side is that NHLBI seeks patients with clonal cytopenia of recently partnered with colleagues across research has also shown that improving undetermined significance (CCUS) . Patients with NIH to host the “Genomic Response to the well-being, for example by finding greater CCUS have low blood counts and a normal bone Social Environment: Implications for Health purpose in life, can have a positive impact on marrow exam but more advanced genetic testing shows the presence of a genetic mutation that Outcomes” workshop, which examined this health by reducing inflammatory genes and is likely causing the low counts . The study will research area. increasing positive gene expression. look at CCUS and try to determine its relation- The trans-disciplinary event provided a A recording of the full workshop is ship to blood cancers and heart disease . The platform to address the relationship among available at https://videocast.nih.gov/ study will also try to discover other new organs genomics (epigenomics, gene expression, watch=37955. or diseases it may be linked with . There is no charge for study-related tests, medications or microbiome, telomeres), social environmen- NINR was supported by the NIH Office procedures . Travel assistance may be provided . tal factors and both positive and negative of Disease Prevention and the NIH Office of For more information about study 19-H-0139, call health outcomes. Researchers from around Behavioral and Social Sciences Research for 866-444-2214, (800) 877-8339 TTY/ASCII or visit the country delivered presentations on a the workshop. https://go .usa gov. /xpYyx .

NIH RECORD • SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • 9 Nov. 28, 1918, in ship had just been sunk by the submarine as the midst of the well as to captured German sailors. flu pandemic. He As that year wound down, Tabor was grew up during the transferred to NIH, working under the Great Depression supervision of Dr. Sanford Rosenthal, and attended public chief of the Laboratory of Pharmacology schools. He received and Toxicology at the National Institute his undergradu- of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases, now ate degree from called the National Institute of Diabetes and Harvard University Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Together in biochemical they studied electrolyte changes in burns science in 1937 and and traumatic shock and determined how At left, Tabor and Dr . Sanford Rosenthal sit in front of an oxygen metabolism apparatus in their laboratory at NIH in 1944 . PHOTO: ASBMB At right, Tabor in his medical degree from to treat such injury using saline instead of lab during a 2019 oral history interview PHOTO: CLAIRE JOHNSON Harvard in 1941. plasma, as plasma was in short supply. Tabor’s oldest No summary of Tabor’s achievements Tabor son, Dr. Edward Tabor, recalled, “My father is complete without note of his leadership CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 was dedicated to working at the lab bench up of the Journal of Biological Chemistry. He a warm, humble, insightful and imagina- until the last year of his life and he spent time joined the JBC editorial board in 1961, tive man. Dr. Tabor was truly loved and every day at the bench. When I was growing became associate editor in 1968, and editor- respected by everyone who worked with up, he and my mother worked together in in-chief in 1971, a position he held until him, at the NIH and beyond,” said Dr. Griffin the evenings and weekends, writing papers 2010. Tabor oversaw the journal’s expansion Rodgers, NIDDK director, and Dr. Michael about their own work, writing scientific from 1,000 to 4,500 published articles per Gottesman, NIH deputy director for intra- review articles and working year and he was the moving mural research, in a message to all NIH staff on editing the journal as force behind its transition after Tabor’s death. well as several volumes in to online publishing in Tabor and his wife, Celia—also an NIH the Methods in Enzymology 1995. He also created the physician-scientist—revealed the many series. Their example was Minireview Compendium, functions served by polyamines, organic a way of teaching and I a yearly compilation of all compounds that interact with DNA, RNA learned a lot about a life in short reviews published in and proteins. The Tabors demonstrated that science just by watching how the JBC. polyamines are required for growth of most much they enjoyed the work In 2011, in honor of organisms; protect against oxidative damage, they did together.” Tabor’s scientific and elevated temperatures and environmental Tabor’s influence went Tabor celebrates his 70th year editorial legacy, the JBC beyond his family and NIH. of federal service with NIDDK established the Dr. Herbert insults; and help maintain mitochondria director Dr . Griffinodgers R in and the fidelity of protein biosynthesis. The During an internship at 2013 . For the occasion, former Tabor Young Investigator Tabors lived in housing on the NIH campus Yale New Haven Hospital President Barack Obama wrote Awards to recognize in 1942, Tabor saw both the a letter thanking Tabor for his early-career first authors and raised four children. “extraordinary commitment… “He was a consummate scientist to the clinical and biochemical to advancing science through of standout JBC papers very end, working remotely during the worlds. This included the public service ”. for their creativity and pandemic on research papers with NIH first clinical use in the PHOTO: BILL BRANSON scientific excellence. colleagues. Aside from leaving a profound country of penicillin, a drug Similarly, the Dr. Herbert scientific legacy, he was the last living that would prove crucial in saving the lives Tabor Research Award from the American voice of the NIH’s formative years, having of soldiers fighting in what would soon be Society for Biochemistry and Molecular arrived in 1943 to the then recently created labeled World War II. He assisted in the first Biology (ASBMB), established in 2004, Bethesda campus,” said the note from administration of penicillin in the United honors senior investigators. Rodgers and Gottesman. States, curing a deadly case of streptococcal “Herb left a legacy like none other In a 2019 oral history interview, Tabor septicemia. in JBC’s history,” said Dr. Lila Gierasch, described arriving at the Bethesda campus. In 1943, during WWII, Tabor entered the editor-in-chief of JBC. “Were it not for “The NIH was a small place then…Here I Public Health Service and became the sole Herb, I don’t know what the journal, and the am, a young fellow just out of school, and medical officer on the USCGC Duane, a Coast molecular bioscience he helped it shepherd, what do I do? I receive orders to report Guard cutter that sailed between the U.S. and would look like today.” to the commanding officer. So, I go up to England, guarding convoys bringing supplies Tabor’s honors are many. He received the Bldg. 1—to show how different things were to the British Isles. After one battle at sea, Arthur S. Flemming Award in 1956; received then—and I go into the NIH director’s office when the Duane sank a German submarine the PHS Meritorious Service Medal in 1970; and say: ‘Here I am.’” and captured its crew, Tabor provided was elected to the American Academy of Tabor was born in New York City on medical care to rescued Allied sailors whose Arts and Sciences in 1971; was elected to

10 • NIH RECORD • SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 DIGEST

Ancient Dog Species May Teach Us About Human Vocalization In a study published in PNAS, researchers used conservation biology and genomics to discover that the New Guinea singing dog, thought to be extinct for 50 years, still thrives . Scientists found that the ancestral dog population still stealthily wanders in the Highlands of New Guinea . This finding opens new doors for protecting a remarkable creature that can teach biologists about human vocal learning . The New Guinea singing dog can also be utilized as a valuable and unique animal model for studying how human vocal disorders arise and finding potential treatment opportunities . The Tabors on the side of their house on the NIH campus during a spring lunch break, 1967 The study was performed by researchers at NHGRI, PHOTO: ASBMB Cenderawasih University the National Academy of Sciences in 1977; in Indonesia and other academic centers . received the Hillebrand Prize from the American Chemical Society in 1986; and The New Guinea singing he and Celia received the William C. Rose dog was first studied in 1897, and became known for Award from the ASBMB in 1994. In honor its unique and characteristic of his 100th birthday, Montgomery County vocalization, able to make proclaimed Nov. 28, 2018, as Dr. Herbert pleasing and harmonic Tabor Day. sounds with tonal quality . Dr. Urs Ruegg, who worked at NIH in the Only 200-300 captive New Guinea singing dogs exist in Photograph of a Highland Wild Dog taken in Indonesia 1970s, recalls staying briefly with the Tabors conservation centers, with in their campus home in later years. “I will none seen in the wild since IMAGE: ANANG DIANTO, PTFI PAPUA PROVINCE, INDONESIA always remember how in the mornings, a the 1970s . bag with manuscripts that were assembled “The New Guinea singing dog that we know of today is a breed that was basically created by people,” the day before arrived on their front porch said Dr . Elaine Ostrander, NIH distinguished investigator and senior author of the paper . “Eight were with a big noise. At about 6 a.m., Herb would brought to the United States from the Highlands of New Guinea and bred with each other to create go and get that bag, in which there were this group ”. about 50 bundles of papers, and decided According to Ostrander, a large amount of inbreeding within captive New Guinea singing dogs which co-editor or associate editor would get changed their genomic makeup by reducing the variation in the group’s DNA . Such inbreeding is why which manuscript for further handling and the captive New Guinea singing dogs have most likely lost a large number of genomic variants that review. I was always very impressed with this existed in their wild counterparts . This lack of genomic variation threatens the survival of captive New Guinea singing dogs . Their origins, until recently, had remained a mystery . activity and the intensity of the way Herb talked and carried out science.” Another New Guinea dog breed found in the wild, called the Highland Wild Dog, has a strikingly Tabor was a prolific mentor of other similar physical appearance to the New Guinea singing dogs . Considered to be the rarest and most ancient dog-like animal in existence, Highland Wild Dogs are even older than the New Guinea scientists. One of many mentees is Dr. Reed singing dogs . Wickner, who trained under Tabor and succeeded him as chief of the Laboratory of Researchers previously hypothesized that the Highland Wild Dog might be the predecessor to captive New Guinea singing dogs, but the reclusive nature of the Highland Wild Dog and lack of genomic Biochemistry and Genetics in 1999. information made it difficult to test the theory . “Dr. Tabor taught me how to do science, and his devotion to science set a standard In 2016, in collaboration with the University of Papua, the New Guinea Highland Wild Dog Foundation led an expedition to Puncak Jaya, a mountain summit in Papua, Indonesia . They reported 15 Highland for me to aspire to,” Wickner said. “His Wild Dogs near the Grasberg Mine, the largest gold mine in the world . gentle sincerity combined with forthright critical thinking made him a leader through- A follow-up field study in 2018 allowed researchers to collect blood samples from three Highland Wild Dogs in their natural environment as well as demographic, physiological and behavioral data . out his career.” Tabor is survived by four children— “By getting to know these ancient, proto-dogs more, we will learn new facts about modern dog Edward, Marilyn, Richard and breeds and the history of dog domestication,” Ostrander said . “After all, so much of what we learn about dogs reflects back on humans ”. Stanley—as well as 10 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. The researchers also aim to study New Guinea singing dogs in greater detail to learn more about the The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has genomics underlying vocalization (a field that, to date, heavily relies on birdsong data) . Since humans are biologically closer to dogs than birds, researchers hope to study New Guinea singing dogs to gain limited the family’s ability to hold memorial a more accurate insight into how vocalization and its deficits occur, and the genomic underpinnings services. In lieu of flowers, donations are that could lead to future treatments for human patients . welcome in Tabor’s name to the Children’s Inn at NIH.

NIH RECORD • SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • 11 Above, movie night aboard the International Space Station . Right, Marsha Ivins aboard the in 2001 . Ivins spoke at the annual NIAMS intramural retreat . Below, Bangkok at night, with the green lights of fishing boats off its shore, as viewed from the ISS . Bottom, ISS acoustic jam session . The “drum” is a repurposed solid waste container .

PHOTOS: NASA NIAMS Intramural Staff Experience blobs of water, then add liquid soap . Human waste “loosely connected clothing molecules,” and then is handled based on its form . Solid waste is sealed in throw them away or use them like bubble wrap to Life in Space—Virtually plastic . Liquid waste is recycled into drinking water protect hardware and experiments returning to BY ALISA ZAPP MACHALEK (“making tomorrow’s coffee out of today’s coffee”) . Earth ).

On May 30, 2020, for the first time in nearly a Those aboard the ISS follow a rigorous schedule  People sweat when they exercise, and you store decade, NASA blasted into space in an that includes maintaining the space station; human waste for months . Does it stink up there? American-made rocket launched from U .S . soil . running experiments in botany, biology, human (Not too bad ). physiology and engineering; and exercising 2 hours Former Marsha Ivins knows just what  a day to ward off the loss of muscle and bone When will we land on Mars? (Likely not before they experienced—the jolt of accelerating to 17,500 2030 ). m .p .h . in under 10 minutes, then mass (of particular interest to floating, weightless, more than the NIAMS audience) . But they A question that elicited one of the most interesting 250 miles above . also have a bit of time to relax . answers came from the 8-year-old son of a NIAMS Popular entertainment options investigator: “Where does the oxygen come from?” A veteran of five spaceflights include watching movies on a The answer: In part, from wastewater . Liquid and now an independent wide-screen TV, or jamming waste can be either recycled or put into a Russian engineering consultant, Ivins with acoustic guitars, pipes and device that breaks it into oxygen and hydrogen . logged more than 1,300 hours in a clean, never-used solid waste The oxygen is released into the cabin and the space . She presented a keynote can repurposed into a drum . hydrogen is “thrown overboard ”. The Russians address recently at the annual Ivins showed a photo of an area also have a candle-like device that releases oxygen retreat for the NIAMS Intramural when it burns . Resupply crafts bring tanks of Research Program . of the station called the cupola . With its wrap-around windows, nitrogen, which is combined with oxygen to create In her talk, titled “A Short Story of Human the cupola is a favorite spot for taking selfies and a breathable mixture . Spaceflight,” Ivins captivated her Webex audience “watching the world go by,” she said . “We go Ivins ended her talk by reminding Earth-dwellers with a speedy run-through of NASA highlights . She around the Earth every 90 minutes . For 45 minutes of the vastness of space . She described a simple began with the 1961 flight of Alan Shepard (the we see daylight and for 45 minutes we see night… exercise that drove the lesson home: On a clear first American in space), then described progress So, 16 times a day we see the sun rise and 16 times night, go outside and raise a thumb at the sky, made by the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo missions, a day we see the sun set ”. holding it out at arm’s length . along with personal anecdotes and historic footage . The narrative culminated with photos of Ivins’s talk included a kaleidoscopic tour of Earth “This is a portion of sky that would be obscured by the International Space Station (ISS) and its current from above, featuring more than 150 photos taken your thumb,” she said, displaying a black expanse crew—three NASA astronauts and two Russian by orbiting astronauts . Some images highlighted shot through with pinpricks of white and gold . cosmonauts—including the two Americans who had the many colors of our home—the turquoise waters “Each point of light in this picture is not a star,” she arrived via their SpaceX vehicle just days earlier . of the Caribbean, the red soil of Australia’s outback, said . “Each point of light is a galaxy . Wrap your the curving green glow of our atmosphere . Others brain around that ”. Ivins spent much of her talk focusing on the exhila- featured familiar cities or recognizable land ration—and weirdness—of . masses, such as Italy’s boot or Florida’s “It’s so much fun [and] it’s so hard to get [the] hang sock . The last few photos revealed the of,” she said . “It’s so crazy to go places headfirst, impact of humans—smog above Beijing, go down a ladder headfirst, look at people upside residue outlining the BP oil spill, a squiggly down . I never got tired of that ”. red line marking the artificially illuminated boundary between India and Pakistan . Photos and videos of herself and others aboard the ISS visually reinforced her words and provided inti- Questions after the talk featured insatiable mate insight into the daily lives of space travelers . curiosity about life on the space station, For example, without gravity, water doesn’t flow . including: Instead, it forms flexible balls . To bathe, astronauts  How do you wash your clothes? (You smear one body part at a time with baseball-sized don’t—you wear them until they are

12 • NIH RECORD • SEPTEMBER 18, 2020