Bárbara Pinho
@barbarapinho.com
Freelance science writer covering agriculture, climate change and health
Excited about #EarthObservation and #Space
Porto, Portugal
she/her
barbarapinho.com
Excited about #EarthObservation and #Space
Porto, Portugal
she/her
barbarapinho.com
Pinned
Bárbara Pinho
@barbarapinho.com
· Sep 3
Consumers question safety of parabens and PFAS in personal care products amid health concerns
Growing research into cosmetic ingredients has been raising safety concerns among consumers. Bárbara Pinho explores the future of safer chemistry amid the 'clean beauty' trend
www.chemistryworld.com
The “clean beauty” movement is reshaping cosmetics
Consumers push for products free from parabens, PFAS & phthalates - but the science behind safety is layered, uncertain & (at times) misinterpreted
Read more in my latest @chemistryworld.com story: www.chemistryworld.com/features/con...
Consumers push for products free from parabens, PFAS & phthalates - but the science behind safety is layered, uncertain & (at times) misinterpreted
Read more in my latest @chemistryworld.com story: www.chemistryworld.com/features/con...
(I'm also grateful (and excited!) that this article was featured in the Nature Briefing newsletter 🥹 )
September 3, 2025 at 9:29 AM
(I'm also grateful (and excited!) that this article was featured in the Nature Briefing newsletter 🥹 )
The “clean beauty” movement is reshaping cosmetics
Consumers push for products free from parabens, PFAS & phthalates - but the science behind safety is layered, uncertain & (at times) misinterpreted
Read more in my latest @chemistryworld.com story: www.chemistryworld.com/features/con...
Consumers push for products free from parabens, PFAS & phthalates - but the science behind safety is layered, uncertain & (at times) misinterpreted
Read more in my latest @chemistryworld.com story: www.chemistryworld.com/features/con...
Consumers question safety of parabens and PFAS in personal care products amid health concerns
Growing research into cosmetic ingredients has been raising safety concerns among consumers. Bárbara Pinho explores the future of safer chemistry amid the 'clean beauty' trend
www.chemistryworld.com
September 3, 2025 at 9:29 AM
The “clean beauty” movement is reshaping cosmetics
Consumers push for products free from parabens, PFAS & phthalates - but the science behind safety is layered, uncertain & (at times) misinterpreted
Read more in my latest @chemistryworld.com story: www.chemistryworld.com/features/con...
Consumers push for products free from parabens, PFAS & phthalates - but the science behind safety is layered, uncertain & (at times) misinterpreted
Read more in my latest @chemistryworld.com story: www.chemistryworld.com/features/con...
Cutting methane emissions is a smart, fast way to tackle climate change.
This satellite was such a crucial tool for tracking who’s emitting methane and helping to hold them accountable. It’s a sad day.
This satellite was such a crucial tool for tracking who’s emitting methane and helping to hold them accountable. It’s a sad day.
On Friday, June 20 we lost contact with our methane-measuring satellite. Despite considerable efforts we were unable to reestablish contact. This morning we learned that the satellite has lost power, and it is anticipated to be unrecoverable.
methanesat.org/project-upda...
methanesat.org/project-upda...
MethaneSAT Loses Contact with Satellite
methanesat.org
July 1, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Cutting methane emissions is a smart, fast way to tackle climate change.
This satellite was such a crucial tool for tracking who’s emitting methane and helping to hold them accountable. It’s a sad day.
This satellite was such a crucial tool for tracking who’s emitting methane and helping to hold them accountable. It’s a sad day.
I've been a fan of Nature's newsletter 'Anthropocene' for a while now and was so happy to see my @chemistryworld.com article on period products featured in today's edition 😊
Read the story here: www.chemistryworld.com/features/how...
Read the story here: www.chemistryworld.com/features/how...
How safe and sustainable are period products?
Millions of people around the world use period products every month. Bárbara Pinho finds out what their environmental footprint is and whether they carry chemicals harmful to human health
www.chemistryworld.com
May 30, 2025 at 1:34 PM
I've been a fan of Nature's newsletter 'Anthropocene' for a while now and was so happy to see my @chemistryworld.com article on period products featured in today's edition 😊
Read the story here: www.chemistryworld.com/features/how...
Read the story here: www.chemistryworld.com/features/how...
Ireland’s first case of glyphosate-resistant grass weed has been confirmed. It comes just three months after the UK’s first case of glyphosate-resistance was discovered in a weed in Kent, England.
www.irishexaminer.com/farming/arid...
www.irishexaminer.com/farming/arid...
First case of glyphosate-resistance confirmed in Ireland
Resistance was identified in a population of Italian ryegrass weed in field conditions and tested under lab and glasshouse conditions.
www.irishexaminer.com
April 16, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Ireland’s first case of glyphosate-resistant grass weed has been confirmed. It comes just three months after the UK’s first case of glyphosate-resistance was discovered in a weed in Kent, England.
www.irishexaminer.com/farming/arid...
www.irishexaminer.com/farming/arid...
Reposted by Bárbara Pinho
Trump’s immigration crackdown ensnared Kseniia Petrova, a scientist who fled Russia after protesting its invasion of Ukraine. She fears arrest if she is deported there.
She Worked in a Harvard Lab to Reverse Aging, Until ICE Jailed Her
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/11/s...
She Worked in a Harvard Lab to Reverse Aging, Until ICE Jailed Her
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/11/s...
She Worked in a Harvard Lab to Reverse Aging, Until ICE Jailed Her
www.nytimes.com
April 15, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Trump’s immigration crackdown ensnared Kseniia Petrova, a scientist who fled Russia after protesting its invasion of Ukraine. She fears arrest if she is deported there.
She Worked in a Harvard Lab to Reverse Aging, Until ICE Jailed Her
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/11/s...
She Worked in a Harvard Lab to Reverse Aging, Until ICE Jailed Her
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/11/s...
Love that 'we're' celebrating the return of extinct wolves, but we can’t even protect the ones already here. What’s the plan, bring back animals just to shoot them later when they go after livestock?
www.politico.eu/article/farm...
www.politico.eu/article/farm...
Farmers closer to shooting more wolves under proposed EU law
Law championed by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen would lower the protection status of Europe’s wolves.
www.politico.eu
April 9, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Love that 'we're' celebrating the return of extinct wolves, but we can’t even protect the ones already here. What’s the plan, bring back animals just to shoot them later when they go after livestock?
www.politico.eu/article/farm...
www.politico.eu/article/farm...
Reposted by Bárbara Pinho
and @barbarapinho.com examines the controversial pesticide’s presence in British farming while discussing the possibility of a ban in the UK
#ChemSky
#ChemSky
The glyphosate debate
The EU has recently approved the use of glyphosate for another decade. Bárbara Pinho examines the controversial pesticide's presence in British farming and considers the possibility of a ban in the UK
www.chemistryworld.com
March 25, 2025 at 1:40 PM
and @barbarapinho.com examines the controversial pesticide’s presence in British farming while discussing the possibility of a ban in the UK
#ChemSky
#ChemSky
Reposted by Bárbara Pinho
In many ways, the debate around glyphosate highlights long-standing scientific questions. How should we weigh evidence, and how do we calculate risk overall?
@broadwithp.bsky.social gets into the weeds of the controversy in this article, but that's not all we have on glyphosate this week...
@broadwithp.bsky.social gets into the weeds of the controversy in this article, but that's not all we have on glyphosate this week...
March 25, 2025 at 1:40 PM
In many ways, the debate around glyphosate highlights long-standing scientific questions. How should we weigh evidence, and how do we calculate risk overall?
@broadwithp.bsky.social gets into the weeds of the controversy in this article, but that's not all we have on glyphosate this week...
@broadwithp.bsky.social gets into the weeds of the controversy in this article, but that's not all we have on glyphosate this week...
UK writers, anyone else having trouble with logging into ALCS?
March 21, 2025 at 4:49 PM
UK writers, anyone else having trouble with logging into ALCS?
Reposted by Bárbara Pinho
The glyphosate debate: nice to see our own @hmetcalfe1.bsky.social quoted in this in-depth feature by @barbarapinho.com www.chemistryworld.com/features/the...
The glyphosate debate
The EU has recently approved the use of glyphosate for another decade. Bárbara Pinho examines the controversial pesticide's presence in British farming and considers the possibility of a ban in the UK
www.chemistryworld.com
March 17, 2025 at 5:07 PM
The glyphosate debate: nice to see our own @hmetcalfe1.bsky.social quoted in this in-depth feature by @barbarapinho.com www.chemistryworld.com/features/the...
Definitely a hot topic! Funny enough, I also wrote about it with a focus on soils, feel free to check it out! www.chemistryworld.com/features/the...
The problem of plastic in our soils
Not just a marine issue, new research shows microplastics are also changing agricultural land. Bárbara Pinho finds out how and what we can do to prevent it affecting our food
www.chemistryworld.com
March 17, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Definitely a hot topic! Funny enough, I also wrote about it with a focus on soils, feel free to check it out! www.chemistryworld.com/features/the...
I've been covering agriculture and agrochemicals for a couple of years now, and glyphosate remains one of the most hotly debated topics. I truly enjoyed diving into this discussion and the science behind it! Big thanks to @neilwithers.bsky.social for the opportunity to write this one.
March 17, 2025 at 3:24 PM
I've been covering agriculture and agrochemicals for a couple of years now, and glyphosate remains one of the most hotly debated topics. I truly enjoyed diving into this discussion and the science behind it! Big thanks to @neilwithers.bsky.social for the opportunity to write this one.
In 2023, the EU approved glyphosate for another decade of use. This got me thinking: how does this decision affect British farms in a post-Brexit Europe? I explore this and more in my latest feature for Chemistry World.
Beginning as a failed experiment, glyphosate has become the epicentre of debates about pesticide use and how people and the environment are impacted by it. With the EU recently approving its use for another decade, Bárbara Pinho digs into the science around the controversy.
The glyphosate debate
The EU has recently approved the use of glyphosate for another decade. Bárbara Pinho examines the controversial pesticide's presence in British farming and considers the possibility of a ban in the UK
www.chemistryworld.com
March 17, 2025 at 3:23 PM
In 2023, the EU approved glyphosate for another decade of use. This got me thinking: how does this decision affect British farms in a post-Brexit Europe? I explore this and more in my latest feature for Chemistry World.
Reposted by Bárbara Pinho
📢 Methane emissions are underreported - by a lot
A new study finds that inconsistencies in carbon accounting standards lead to a massive underreporting of methane emissions - up to 3.3Gt CO₂ equivalent, depending on the metric used.
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#Climate #Methane #SciComm 🧪
A new study finds that inconsistencies in carbon accounting standards lead to a massive underreporting of methane emissions - up to 3.3Gt CO₂ equivalent, depending on the metric used.
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#Climate #Methane #SciComm 🧪
Lack of harmonisation of greenhouse gases reporting standards and the methane emissions gap - Nature Communications
Companies benefit from some discretion on how to disclose their emissions, leading to potential underestimations of GHG footprints. Focusing on direct methane emissions, this paper quantifies a sizeab...
www.nature.com
February 18, 2025 at 11:20 AM
📢 Methane emissions are underreported - by a lot
A new study finds that inconsistencies in carbon accounting standards lead to a massive underreporting of methane emissions - up to 3.3Gt CO₂ equivalent, depending on the metric used.
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#Climate #Methane #SciComm 🧪
A new study finds that inconsistencies in carbon accounting standards lead to a massive underreporting of methane emissions - up to 3.3Gt CO₂ equivalent, depending on the metric used.
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#Climate #Methane #SciComm 🧪
Reposted by Bárbara Pinho
Pesticides Harm More Than Pests
A large-scale analysis of 1,705 studies shows that pesticides negatively impact non-target plants, animals, and microbes - raising concerns about biodiversity loss.
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#SciComm #Biodiversity #Pesticides 🧪
A large-scale analysis of 1,705 studies shows that pesticides negatively impact non-target plants, animals, and microbes - raising concerns about biodiversity loss.
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#SciComm #Biodiversity #Pesticides 🧪
Pesticides have negative effects on non-target organisms - Nature Communications
Pesticides affect a diverse range of non-target species and the magnitude of this hazard remains only partially understood. Wan et al. found that insecticides, fungicides and herbicides have negative ...
www.nature.com
February 14, 2025 at 6:19 AM
Pesticides Harm More Than Pests
A large-scale analysis of 1,705 studies shows that pesticides negatively impact non-target plants, animals, and microbes - raising concerns about biodiversity loss.
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#SciComm #Biodiversity #Pesticides 🧪
A large-scale analysis of 1,705 studies shows that pesticides negatively impact non-target plants, animals, and microbes - raising concerns about biodiversity loss.
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#SciComm #Biodiversity #Pesticides 🧪
Reposted by Bárbara Pinho
🐟 Cod shrinking from centuries of fishing
A new study reconstructs 1100 years of Atlantic cod fishing. Viking-era cod were 25% larger & lived 3x longer than today.
Overfishing drove size & age declines - not climate.
🔗 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
🧪 #Ecology #Fish #SciComm
A new study reconstructs 1100 years of Atlantic cod fishing. Viking-era cod were 25% larger & lived 3x longer than today.
Overfishing drove size & age declines - not climate.
🔗 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
🧪 #Ecology #Fish #SciComm
Mortality drives production dynamics of Atlantic cod through 1100 years of commercial fishing
Fishing in the Viking era did not affect the Icelandic cod population, but foreign markets in the 14th century changed everything.
www.science.org
February 8, 2025 at 1:37 PM
🐟 Cod shrinking from centuries of fishing
A new study reconstructs 1100 years of Atlantic cod fishing. Viking-era cod were 25% larger & lived 3x longer than today.
Overfishing drove size & age declines - not climate.
🔗 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
🧪 #Ecology #Fish #SciComm
A new study reconstructs 1100 years of Atlantic cod fishing. Viking-era cod were 25% larger & lived 3x longer than today.
Overfishing drove size & age declines - not climate.
🔗 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
🧪 #Ecology #Fish #SciComm
Reposted by Bárbara Pinho
🌍 Wetlands & methane: a warming cycle
Wetlands are releasing more methane due to rising temperatures, about 6–7 million tonnes more each year since 2000. Climate change is fueling this increase, making it harder to slow global warming
🔗 bg.copernicus.org/articles/22/...
#SciComm #ClimateCrisis 🧪
Wetlands are releasing more methane due to rising temperatures, about 6–7 million tonnes more each year since 2000. Climate change is fueling this increase, making it harder to slow global warming
🔗 bg.copernicus.org/articles/22/...
#SciComm #ClimateCrisis 🧪
Ensemble estimates of global wetland methane emissions over 2000–2020
Abstract. Due to ongoing climate change, methane (CH4) emissions from vegetated wetlands are projected to increase during the 21st century, challenging climate mitigation efforts aimed at limiting glo...
bg.copernicus.org
January 20, 2025 at 1:41 PM
🌍 Wetlands & methane: a warming cycle
Wetlands are releasing more methane due to rising temperatures, about 6–7 million tonnes more each year since 2000. Climate change is fueling this increase, making it harder to slow global warming
🔗 bg.copernicus.org/articles/22/...
#SciComm #ClimateCrisis 🧪
Wetlands are releasing more methane due to rising temperatures, about 6–7 million tonnes more each year since 2000. Climate change is fueling this increase, making it harder to slow global warming
🔗 bg.copernicus.org/articles/22/...
#SciComm #ClimateCrisis 🧪
Reposted by Bárbara Pinho
🐟💧 PFAS and Cancer: A Link in Drinking Water
A new study connects PFAS ('forever chemicals') in US drinking water with cancer risks.
Researchers estimate up to 6,800 yearly cases are now tied to these contaminants.
🔗 doi.org/10.1038/s413...
#PFAS #SciComm 🧪 #Health
A new study connects PFAS ('forever chemicals') in US drinking water with cancer risks.
Researchers estimate up to 6,800 yearly cases are now tied to these contaminants.
🔗 doi.org/10.1038/s413...
#PFAS #SciComm 🧪 #Health
Associations between per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and county-level cancer incidence between 2016 and 2021 and incident cancer burden attributable to PFAS in drinking water in the United S...
Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology - Associations between per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and county-level cancer incidence between 2016 and 2021 and incident...
doi.org
January 16, 2025 at 11:43 AM
🐟💧 PFAS and Cancer: A Link in Drinking Water
A new study connects PFAS ('forever chemicals') in US drinking water with cancer risks.
Researchers estimate up to 6,800 yearly cases are now tied to these contaminants.
🔗 doi.org/10.1038/s413...
#PFAS #SciComm 🧪 #Health
A new study connects PFAS ('forever chemicals') in US drinking water with cancer risks.
Researchers estimate up to 6,800 yearly cases are now tied to these contaminants.
🔗 doi.org/10.1038/s413...
#PFAS #SciComm 🧪 #Health
Reposted by Bárbara Pinho
“Honestly, I am running out of metaphors to explain the warming we are seeing,” said Copernicus director Carlo Buontempo.
www.ft.com/content/fd91...
www.ft.com/content/fd91...
World breaches 1.5C global warming target for first time in 2024
Data for warmest year sparks fears climate change is accelerating faster than expected
www.ft.com
January 10, 2025 at 12:56 PM
“Honestly, I am running out of metaphors to explain the warming we are seeing,” said Copernicus director Carlo Buontempo.
www.ft.com/content/fd91...
www.ft.com/content/fd91...
Reposted by Bárbara Pinho
NEW: 2024 has just been confirmed as the warmest year on record, and the first to breach the 1.5C threshold.
We used a ridgeline (Joy Division inspired) chart to visualise daily temperature anomalies since 1940.
2024 clearly stands out with 100% of its days above 1.3C and 75% above 1.5C.
We used a ridgeline (Joy Division inspired) chart to visualise daily temperature anomalies since 1940.
2024 clearly stands out with 100% of its days above 1.3C and 75% above 1.5C.
January 10, 2025 at 8:04 AM
NEW: 2024 has just been confirmed as the warmest year on record, and the first to breach the 1.5C threshold.
We used a ridgeline (Joy Division inspired) chart to visualise daily temperature anomalies since 1940.
2024 clearly stands out with 100% of its days above 1.3C and 75% above 1.5C.
We used a ridgeline (Joy Division inspired) chart to visualise daily temperature anomalies since 1940.
2024 clearly stands out with 100% of its days above 1.3C and 75% above 1.5C.
Reposted by Bárbara Pinho
💙🤍 A little heart-shaped cloud and its shadow, over the Adriatic Sea, seen by #Sentinel2.
January 7, 2025 at 3:18 PM
💙🤍 A little heart-shaped cloud and its shadow, over the Adriatic Sea, seen by #Sentinel2.
Reposted by Bárbara Pinho
Going to an arts event or taking part in a cultural activity, even only occasionally confers an array of “significant” benefits that can include alleviating pain, frailty, depression and dependence on medication, a government-commissioned review has found.
www.theguardian.com/society/2024...
www.theguardian.com/society/2024...
Consuming arts and culture is good for health and wellbeing, research finds
Engaging with arts improves quality of life, increases productivity and creates financial ‘dividend’
www.theguardian.com
December 17, 2024 at 9:14 AM
Going to an arts event or taking part in a cultural activity, even only occasionally confers an array of “significant” benefits that can include alleviating pain, frailty, depression and dependence on medication, a government-commissioned review has found.
www.theguardian.com/society/2024...
www.theguardian.com/society/2024...