Kerim's Triptych ❧ USAID Cuts, Pollution Workout, Sirocco Pass

Welcome 👋 to Kerim's Triptych, a free newsletter that delivers three fabulous links to your inbox, two or three times a month. (If you didn't intend to subscribe, or you don't want to receive these anymore, there is an unsubscribe link at the bottom.)

If you enjoy Triptych, please tell a friend about it. Thanks!

1️⃣ USAID Cuts

Science writer Carl Zimmer's newsletter, Friday's Elk, has been carefully documenting the destruction of science and health policy under the current administration. The most recent issue was particularly depressing, but I think it is necessary reading.

In it, he highlights the tremendous number of lives (over 90 million) saved by USAID's tuberculosis-fighting operations, and by George W. Bush's PEPFAR program to fund providing HIV-fighting drugs to other countries (26 million lives saved), and discusses what it means to have these programs cut.

Epidemiologists have looked ahead to see how much death from HIV, TB, and other causes will come out due to the USAID program cuts. They estimate that as many as 14 million people may die by 2030—just four years from now—if the cuts stay in place.

Not only that, but the Trump administration has also "halted ongoing research into vaccines and antivirals for future pandemics."

2️⃣ Pollution Workout

While on sabbatical in India, I have been trying hard to stay in shape, but I can't help but wonder how effective it is to work out amidst such heavy pollution? It turns out that a team of scientists, led by a Taiwanese professor, recently looked into this very question!

First they established a baseline at lower levels of pollution, and found that "150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week can lower all-cause mortality by about 30 percent" when the AQI is below 80. In my experience, Taipei is usually between 50 and 70. But what about places like North India, where the AQI rarely goes below 150 and is often over 200?

Turns out that it is still worth your time working out, but you will get much less benefit from it—only about "12-15 percent lower mortality" for preventing cardiovascular illness and almost no impact at all on cancer.

3️⃣ Sirocco Pass

I love this wonderful 2025 painting by Tseng Chien-Ying. It looks to me like a bodhisattva wearing one of those translucent disposable yellow raincoats every Taiwanese scooter driver seems to wear.

Endnote

❤️ Enjoying Triptych? Let your friends know! Encourage them to sign up via the Triptych website. I can't begin tell you how happy it makes me to see even one new subscriber!

💬 Or maybe you'd consider writing a short endorsement for the "kudos" page? You can just email it to me, or fill out this Google form.

💰 Want to ensure the long term sustainability of this newsletter? Consider becoming a sponsor. Sponsorship helps pay for my hosting costs as well as the newspaper and journal subscriptions which, in turn, allow me to provide "gift links" to all subscribers. A big shout-out to my current paid subscribers, you help keep me motivated!

🧧 Don't want to enter into a long term commitment, but still want to support the newsletter? You can always leave a one-time tip if you like.

🦋 Three links not enough for you? Follow me on Bluesky for all the links that don't make it to the newsletter. The newsletter also has its own Bluesky account.

Thank you!