“Presenting the cliff honey as just a psychoactive drug to get high is not only misleading marketing, but also at some level disrespectful to the Indigenous community, who have used it for centuries for many other purposes too” | via @scigat.bsky.social @thexylom.com

🚀 Almost there! Your contribution, no matter the size, keeps rigorous, fact-checked science journalism alive at Knowable Magazine. Support us today. knowmag.org/donate

Friends! We’re so close! If you’ve been thinking about supporting @knowablemag.bsky.social, today is the day — YOU could be the one getting us over the finish line Ever dollar is an investment in public understanding of science. Let’s end the year on a high note 👉 secure.qgiv.com/for/knowable...

“These outages are an opportunity for libraries to remind their communities—whether academic or local—that when the internet goes dark, the physical library remains a bedrock of information access.” | via Katina Magazine @chashub.bsky.social

We're 60% of the way there! If you value fact-based science journalism -- and want to help it keep going strong in 2026 -- please consider making a tax-deductible donation to @KnowableMag.bsky.social: secure.qgiv.com/for/knowable...

A few months ago I worked with @adance.bsky.social to create a science comic for @knowablemag.bsky.social about the journey sperm makes to reach the egg. Little did I know that that this would involve me being immortalised in cartoon form. Check it out .... knowablemagazine.org/content/arti...

An important story from @richardastone.bsky.social -- thanks to the @pulitzercenter.org for supporting his reporting and for highlighting the article in this year's picks.

For her 2025 #PulitzerStaffPicks, Alexandra Waddell, Digital Content Coordinator & Research Assistant at the Pulitzer Center, selected "The Pernicious Infections Infiltrating Ukraine’s Front Lines," by @richardastone.bsky.social for @knowablemag.bsky.social. 👉 bit.ly/YIStories25

“For the study’s authors, and experts who have reviewed the research, the findings confirm that not only are influencers now potentially more powerful than traditional media, but content creators who rarely share political content may be the most powerful of all.” via @Wired.com

“Across the world... managers and local communities are working together to find and protect similar climate change refugia that can provide pockets of stability for local species as the planet warms.” via @us.theconversation.com

Absolutely obsessed with this "combing" contraption, which measures the force required to run a comb through hair. Tho it looks like a little hair guillotine to me. From “The science of green hair care”, via @knowablemag.bsky.social: knowablemagazine.org/content/arti...

“The problem of high energy prices is not new, but it is urgent. And it comes at a time when the U.S. is deeply divided on its approaches to energy policy and the politics of solving collective problems.” | via @us.theconversation.com theconversation.com/rising-elect...

“Like the baobab sustains life, libraries sustain community knowledge across generations, preserving equitable access to knowledge as scholarly communication systems develop and evolve.” | Andiswa Mfengu via Katina Magazine @chashub.bsky.social katinamagazine.org/content/arti...

Algunas criaturas que comen especies que contienen toxinas mortales han desarrollado una serie de estrategias inteligentes para mantenerse a salvo. 📝 Conozca más en nuestro reportaje publicado por La Nación.

”By better understanding clouds, researchers hope to improve their predictions of extreme rainfall, especially in the tropics where some of the most ferocious thunderstorms hit and where future rainfall projections are the most uncertain.” | Clare Watson via @KnowableMag.bsky.social

“Most clothes start their lives deep in the ground, either as seeds of cotton or in the nearly 342 million barrels of crude oil that go into the making of synthetic fabrics every year. Most of the problems start with one of these two origin stories.” | via The Nation

“We found that reducing exposure to polarizing content measurably improved participants’ feelings toward people from the opposing party and reduced their negative emotions while scrolling their feed.“ via @us.theconversation.com theconversation.com/down-ranking...

🚀 At Knowable Magazine, we translate complex research into stories that everyone can understand — no paywalls, no ads. Help us keep science accessible to all. knowmag.org/donate

ICYMI, an article I wrote for the fantastic online magazine Knowable earlier this year.

“It was the first time I’d experienced my brain wanting to ask ChatGPT to do cognition that I could just do myself.” | The People Outsourcing Their Thinking to AI via The Atlantic www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...

Three years on, and this video is still resonating: @knowablemag.bsky.social''s “Long Covid: A parallel pandemic” accrued over 22,000 views this year, totaling over 2,100 watch hours. 📽️ Watch now: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lfG...

“Fabric-folding robots are still science fiction, but new advances in training robotic arms are really attempting to overcome this infamously difficult-to-automate household chore of machine laundry folding.” Thanks for the shoutout, Numlock News!

Folks, if you read one comic today, I hope it's this story about sperm as portrayed by your D&D party. Written by Amber Dance and edited by @eva-emerson.bsky.social

OK, confession -- ever since learning how Marie Kondo folds clothes, folding laundry is actually a chore I enjoy. Now, if the robots could handwash my dishes...

Robots still struggle with the unpredictable ways that fabric crumples and creases. But newer approaches offer the hope of better robotic household help. ✍️ Kaia Glickman knowmag.org/48Hwl6Y

It’s not an open-and-shut case. But researchers are finding out plenty by genetically altering the numbers of these openings, as well as simulating future atmospheres, and more. 📝 Learn more about this in our recent article republished by The Wire.

#ResourceReview: Gale’s Archives of Sexuality and Gender is a collection of primary source documents concerning the history and study of sex, sexuality, and gender, primarily in the US | via Katina Magazine katinamagazine.org/content/arti...

Put it this way... if every one of our Bluesky followers donated just $10, we'd fly past our goal! secure.qgiv.com/for/knowable...

Ohhhh, we're halfway there! @knowablemag.bsky.social has passed the 50% mark for our end-of-year fundraising 🎉 We still have about $12,000 to go. If you value smart, fact-based science -- and getting that science to everyone, anywhere, for free -- then please consider making an end-of-year gift.

“[We’d] all do well to consider that most members of the public are not the antagonists harassing journalists, nor are they the allies of journalism meaningfully engaging in its production. Most people just don’t care that much. It’s our job to try & change that.” @jnelz.bsky.social @niemanlab.org

“Perhaps the most interesting thing about many of the videos is how clearly fake they are. Rather than trying to deceive the viewer into thinking a depicted event actually happened, the videos serve a different purpose.“ | @lkfazio.bsky.social @us.theconversation.com

Looking for an *L.A. based* artist who (against all odds) has time for a poster gig before the end of the year. It's for a science + art event. We can offer $500 for the gig. Dreadfully sorry about the timeline. Link a portfolio if you're interested, I'll delete this post when we found someone.

“Mentoring is not an add-on. It is central to librarians’ professional growth. Global evidence and ELLSSA’s experience confirm that mentors can support transformative leadership, ground professional practice, and help emerging leaders build networks.” | via Katina Magazine @chashub.bsky.social

Pancreatic cancer makes up only about 3% of cancers in the United States, but it's one of the deadliest. The five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is 13%. And by 2030, it’s expected to kill more people in the US than any cancer except for lung cancer. But there are reasons for hope.

We are joining other newsrooms in the Climate News Task Force to provide a single hub for signing up for all our newsletters. It’s a simple way to access climate coverage — and to support reporting that keeps powerful industries accountable. trustfnd.com/collaboratio...

FERN is looking for its next Assistant Engagement Producer. This role includes assisting with podcast production for audio and video, creating multimedia content and more for FERN’s social media channels, and aiding in audience tracking and analysis. ⬇️

Yes I have wanted to see the Sperm's Journey portrayed by the Lord of the Rings fellowship, and finally an outlet stepped up to do it! Thank you @knowablemag.bsky.social.

Have you ever wanted to see the Sperm's Journey portrayed by the Lord of the Rings fellowship? Then you are in luck 😍 Behold, this new comic by @makinaro.com & Amber Dance for @knowablemag.bsky.social knowablemagazine.org/content/arti...

“By exchanging presents, we can double-dip, spreading feelings of gratitude all around.” Via @us.theconversation.com 🎁 theconversation.com/whats-the-po...

“For audiences, it means we have spent the better part of a decade living within a 24/7 digital infomercial, with social media—sponsored content & organic posts alike—resembling not much more than a buying guide, a catalog of unabashed and conspicuous consumption.” @miasato.bsky.social @theverge.com

A heartening milestone: @knowablemag.bsky.social's end-of-year fundraiser has passed $10K in donations! 🎉 🥳

“It’s not the fabric itself that is the challenge. It’s the amount of variations that can be created by the way fabric can be crumpled, and all the different kinds of clothing items that exist.” —robotics researcher David Held | via @knowablemag.bsky.social knowablemagazine.org/content/arti...

“It’s really easy to make a wolf, because wolves eat basically what their body looks like. Their diet mirrors their body. But it’s really, really hard to make a moose, because a moose’s diet does not.” How do plant-eaters get their protein fix? @katarinazimmer.bsky.social @knowablemag.bksy.social👇🧪

Early animals took an evolutionary risk: They gave up the ability to synthesize 9 of the 20 amino acids that living things need to make protein. Scientists are now learning how they ensure they get these amino acids from their diet. @knowablemag.bsky.social: knowablemagazine.org/content/arti...

It was a pleasure to work with writer Andrea Teagle on this @knowablemag.bsky.social article about progress toward a functional cure for HIV. 🧪https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/health-disease/2025/lasting-remission-hiv-with-broadly-neutralizing-antibodies

It’s not an open-and-shut case. But researchers are finding out plenty by genetically altering the numbers of these openings, as well as simulating future atmospheres, and more. ✍️ Tim Vernimmen knowmag.org/4paZ4Iq

From collecting whale snot to capturing surprising behaviors, aerial drones are giving scientists a new view of life at sea. ✍️ Gennaro Tomma knowmag.org/4hWOLVv

Handled right, AI has potential to bring back middle-skill jobs lost to the rise of computers, economists argue. Or, like the mechanised mills of the past, it could toss whole sectors out of work. 📝 Learn more about this in our recent article republished by The Wire.

Early in evolution, we animals lost the ability to manufacture nine of the 20 building blocks needed to make proteins. Herbivores evolved an impressive array of tricks to ensure their dietary needs are met. ✍️ Katarina Zimmer knowmag.org/49VWwcC

'Tis the season for some holly jolly science. @KnowableMag.bsky.social has curated a few of our favorite wintery reads, perfect for a chilly night by the fire (or a day on the beach if you're in the southern hemisphere?) and put it altogether in a lovely @Flipboard.com storyboard. Enjoy 🎁