June 25, 2025—Some people have fantastical orgasms. Plus, Danish metal detection is a booming endeavor, and we republish vaccine schedules as a public service.
—Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor |
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Kristen Nedergaard Dreiøe (left) and Marie Aagaard Larsen (right) swing their metal detectors over a field where grain is typically grown in southern Denmark. Alastair Philip Wiper |
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In 2016 three hobbyist metal detectorists in Denmark discovered nearly 1.5 kilograms of Viking Age gold artifacts near the modern town of Fæsted. It’s the largest hoard of Viking gold ever discovered in Denmark. Two years later, the same group discovered a cache of 200 iron weapons, and subsequent digs by archeologists at the same site found evidence of temples dating back to year 0 C.E.
Why this is interesting: Many European countries have prohibited or heavily restricted hobbyist metal detecting, but Denmark has embraced it, creating a system for members of the public to hand over their finds to one of 28 local archaeology museums. The detectorists might receive a fee from the government if one of their finds is valuable. The program has exploded in recent years: in 2013 about 5,600 items were turned in, by 2021 the number had skyrocketed to more than 30,000.
What the experts say: Metal detectorists in Denmark have helped create a rich picture of the past, uncovering ancient trade routes, temple complexes and settlements. “Private detectorists have rocketed Denmark ahead of its neighbors in archaeological research,” says Torben Trier Christiansen, curator of archaeology at Denmark’s North Jutland Museums. “There’s nothing ‘amateur’ about them.”
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 National Museum of Denmark A solid gold ring set with a garnet was found by a detectorist near the hamlet of Emmerlev in Denmark. A detail of the setting ties the ring to the Merovingian dynasty of central Europe, suggesting that a noble Merovingian woman might have married into the ruling Nordic elites near Emmerlev. |
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Two weeks ago, Health and Human Services secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. dismissed all 17 sitting members of a crucial vaccine oversight group, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). In the past, the group (whose members are not paid) has made independent, science-based recommendations on vaccine access for people in the U.S. JFK, Jr. replaced them with eight new members, some with links to anti-vaccine activism and misinformation, who met today.
Why it matters: Kennedy’s decision to replace ACIP wholesale and the comments he has made about deviating from standard vaccine policymaking practice suggest that any forthcoming recommendations won’t be backed by established vaccine science. Access to the COVID vaccine this fall already appears to be limited to special groups.
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Jen Christiansen; Source: “Recommended Immunizations for Children 7–18 Years Old, United States, 2025.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Version dated to November 22, 2024. Accessed June 18, 2025 (primary reference) |
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