NIH.gov DNS servers down, making PubMed, BLAST, etc. unreachable [fixed] (nslookup.io)

Article summary

The NIH.gov DNS servers were down, making websites like PubMed and BLAST unreachable. The issue was likely due to a technical problem rather than an intentional shutdown. A workaround was provided using Cloudflare's DNS resolver or by editing the /etc/hosts file. The problem has since been fixed.

Main themes

• NIH DNS outage
• US tech reliability
• Global alternatives
• Bioinformatics tools
• Government funding
• Technical competence

What commenters say

• The NIH DNS outage was likely due to technical incompetence rather than an intentional act.
• The US is becoming increasingly unreliable, and it may be wise for companies to reduce their reliance on US tech companies.
• Alternative solutions, such as self-hosting or using non-US cloud providers, are available and should be considered.
• The outage highlights the importance of having backups and alternative sources for critical services like BLAST.
• Some commenters believe that the issue is a sign of a larger problem with the US government's approach to technology and funding.
• Others argue that the problem is not unique to the US and that global alternatives and backups are available.
• There is a debate about whether the issue is a result of malice or incompetence, with some arguing that incompetence is a more convincing explanation.
• The discussion also touches on the importance of effective messaging and rally-the-base rhetoric in political campaigns.