I am fascinated by this idea that a color signal on a plant or animal is evidence of life — it takes work to evolve structures or organize pigments, it is a sign of work against the forces of entropy. From this excellent story by @mollyherring.bsky.social: www.quantamagazine.org/when-did-nat...

Roses are red, Violets are blue, My friend @mollyherring.bsky.social wrote another banger for you: www.quantamagazine.org/when-did-nat...

Manu Prakash invented “frugal science” tools that drastically reduce the cost of diagnosing malaria.Talking to @mollyherring.bsky.social, he discusses the advantages of following curiosity: “Observation is a practice, and if you don’t practice, you lose it.”

Manu Prakash works on the world’s most urgent problems and seemingly frivolous questions at the same time. They add up to a philosophy he calls “recreational biology.” @mollyherring.bsky.social: www.quantamagazine.org/how-paradoxi...

My first piece published in @sierraclub.org Magazine, featuring NYC's ecological oasis, Randall's Island. 'Twas a joy to explore, write, and photograph! www.sierraclub.org/sierra/five-...

Samples from asteroids Ryugu and Bennu suggest salty water was not rare in the early solar system! So fun reporting on this new research for @AGU_Eos Magazine eos.org/articles/ast...

Samples from asteroids Ryugu and Bennu suggest salty water was not rare in the early solar system. 🔭 Story by @mollyherring.bsky.social eos.org/articles/ast...

A study recently combined field work, chemical analysis and community ecology to examine rare and powerful “keystone molecules,” compounds that build invisible webs of interactions among species. @mollyherring.bsky.social reports: www.quantamagazine.org/a-new-chemic...

I learned so much about the underlying alchemy of ecosystems while writing this article for @quantamagazine.bsky.social www.quantamagazine.org/a-new-chemic...

Dropping in with an essay every now and then :) open.substack.com/pub/herringl...

Grateful to have concept cells for Dewey in his formalwear. www.quantamagazine.org/concept-cell...

Is it possible to unscramble billions of years of genetics to trace back the origin of eukaryotes? Maybe, in the coming decades, thanks to burgeoning analytical tools. www.quantamagazine.org/meet-the-euk...

Microbiomes in the gut have major impacts on our digestion, our immune system, even our social skills. If microbes are present in the brain, it could reveal layers of neurological regulation that we never knew existed. www.quantamagazine.org/fish-have-a-...