Bethany Brookshire
@beebrookshire.bsky.social
Sci journo, author of Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains. Highly caffeinated. All bad takes mine. She/her
Pinned
Alright Skeeties! I wanted to put all the anatomy facts in a thread to keep them organized so:
WELCOME to class of 2023 Insomniac Anatomy Academy! In which I study anatomy when I can't sleep and share the best facts with you. 🧪
WELCOME to class of 2023 Insomniac Anatomy Academy! In which I study anatomy when I can't sleep and share the best facts with you. 🧪
In the past year or so, Colorado released 25 wolves, to re establish a population. But it isn't going to be easy.
10 are dead.
And half of those? PEOPLE.
www.vox.com/climate/4700...
10 are dead.
And half of those? PEOPLE.
www.vox.com/climate/4700...
Colorado has wolves again for the first time in 80 years. Why are they dying?
A controversial reintroduction program is off to a messy start.
www.vox.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:20 PM
In the past year or so, Colorado released 25 wolves, to re establish a population. But it isn't going to be easy.
10 are dead.
And half of those? PEOPLE.
www.vox.com/climate/4700...
10 are dead.
And half of those? PEOPLE.
www.vox.com/climate/4700...
Meat's back on the menu, Charlie Brown.
You can be my wingman any time, Charlie Brown.
Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should, Charlie Brown
November 24, 2025 at 3:13 AM
Meat's back on the menu, Charlie Brown.
RIP Hildegaard von Bingen, you would have loved neuroscience I am convinced.
You'd most DEFINITELY love triptan medications.
You'd most DEFINITELY love triptan medications.
Layered ink paintings with neuron images and half-legible quotes from Hildegard of Bingen artologica.etsy.com
You're not gonna find this at Macy's #sciart
You're not gonna find this at Macy's #sciart
November 21, 2025 at 8:20 PM
RIP Hildegaard von Bingen, you would have loved neuroscience I am convinced.
You'd most DEFINITELY love triptan medications.
You'd most DEFINITELY love triptan medications.
Things I did not have on my 2025 Bingo Card: A Canadian arguing for us to talk about climate change in Fahrenheit. 😂
It's legit tho. by @roxannek.bsky.social slate.com/technology/2...
It's legit tho. by @roxannek.bsky.social slate.com/technology/2...
Americans Don’t Take Climate Change Seriously. Might I Suggest One Simple Fix?
It's time to retire the old catchphrase.
slate.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Things I did not have on my 2025 Bingo Card: A Canadian arguing for us to talk about climate change in Fahrenheit. 😂
It's legit tho. by @roxannek.bsky.social slate.com/technology/2...
It's legit tho. by @roxannek.bsky.social slate.com/technology/2...
I feel you all should know I just went on a mental and mathematical tide odyssey in this poor writer's comments trying to figure out exactly how much time that is.
how much time am I going to spend trying to figure out what "12 tide turns" (the amount of time passed between Wicked and For Good) is supposed to mean
November 21, 2025 at 6:13 PM
I feel you all should know I just went on a mental and mathematical tide odyssey in this poor writer's comments trying to figure out exactly how much time that is.
HE GOT THE SWAG BAG.
@maxkozlov.bsky.social please let me know if the mouth tape is like...just athletic tape? Or something else?
@maxkozlov.bsky.social please let me know if the mouth tape is like...just athletic tape? Or something else?
And yes, the swag bags. Attendees received MAHA-branded tote bags with:
- Packets of creatine
- Beef tallow potato chips ($79 for a 6-pack!!)
- Mouth tape
- RFK Jr's biography
- Beef protein bars
- Packets of creatine
- Beef tallow potato chips ($79 for a 6-pack!!)
- Mouth tape
- RFK Jr's biography
- Beef protein bars
November 21, 2025 at 5:33 PM
HE GOT THE SWAG BAG.
@maxkozlov.bsky.social please let me know if the mouth tape is like...just athletic tape? Or something else?
@maxkozlov.bsky.social please let me know if the mouth tape is like...just athletic tape? Or something else?
The final paragraph of this speaks for itself. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
"At the end of the summit, attendees received MAHA-branded tote bags containing items from sponsors. Among them were as a biography of Kennedy; creatine supplements...and potato crisps cooked in beef tallow"
"At the end of the summit, attendees received MAHA-branded tote bags containing items from sponsors. Among them were as a biography of Kennedy; creatine supplements...and potato crisps cooked in beef tallow"
Psychedelics and immortality: Nature went to a health summit starring RFK and JD Vance
The Make America Healthy Again summit, attended by health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr and vice-president JD Vance, gave a sense of what’s driving US health policy.
www.nature.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:24 PM
The final paragraph of this speaks for itself. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
"At the end of the summit, attendees received MAHA-branded tote bags containing items from sponsors. Among them were as a biography of Kennedy; creatine supplements...and potato crisps cooked in beef tallow"
"At the end of the summit, attendees received MAHA-branded tote bags containing items from sponsors. Among them were as a biography of Kennedy; creatine supplements...and potato crisps cooked in beef tallow"
This is my periodic reminder that I am a freelancer.
I do not always have access to the pieces that I write. If I do I'll give it to you.
It's not me. It's late stage capitalism.
I do not always have access to the pieces that I write. If I do I'll give it to you.
It's not me. It's late stage capitalism.
November 20, 2025 at 7:29 PM
This is my periodic reminder that I am a freelancer.
I do not always have access to the pieces that I write. If I do I'll give it to you.
It's not me. It's late stage capitalism.
I do not always have access to the pieces that I write. If I do I'll give it to you.
It's not me. It's late stage capitalism.
Reposted by Bethany Brookshire
I have posted before about how my GLP-1 pretty much saved my life after covid, but I also strongly believe that people taking them should have access to mental health support, because these medications & discussion around them & how folks treat you would make it so very very easy to hurt yourself.
One of the things I want people to take away from this is (CN: EDs): Anorexia doesn't look like you think.
Sometimes, yes, it does.
But a LOT of times it does not. 🧵
www.nationalgeographic.com/health/artic...
Sometimes, yes, it does.
But a LOT of times it does not. 🧵
www.nationalgeographic.com/health/artic...
Doctors are worried about prescribing GLP-1s to certain patients
With one in eight adults taking drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro, emerging evidence shows that the medication has potential to both help and harm people with eating disorders.
www.nationalgeographic.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:11 PM
I have posted before about how my GLP-1 pretty much saved my life after covid, but I also strongly believe that people taking them should have access to mental health support, because these medications & discussion around them & how folks treat you would make it so very very easy to hurt yourself.
Reposted by Bethany Brookshire
The reason people don't know that the numbers we use are Arabic is because school, IME, rarely teaches that fact explicitly.
We sure do learn that we use the Roman alphabet though.
People's negative reaction to the "test" of Arabic numbers being taught in school is Islamphobia though.
We sure do learn that we use the Roman alphabet though.
People's negative reaction to the "test" of Arabic numbers being taught in school is Islamphobia though.
November 20, 2025 at 5:15 PM
The reason people don't know that the numbers we use are Arabic is because school, IME, rarely teaches that fact explicitly.
We sure do learn that we use the Roman alphabet though.
People's negative reaction to the "test" of Arabic numbers being taught in school is Islamphobia though.
We sure do learn that we use the Roman alphabet though.
People's negative reaction to the "test" of Arabic numbers being taught in school is Islamphobia though.
One of the things I want people to take away from this is (CN: EDs): Anorexia doesn't look like you think.
Sometimes, yes, it does.
But a LOT of times it does not. 🧵
www.nationalgeographic.com/health/artic...
Sometimes, yes, it does.
But a LOT of times it does not. 🧵
www.nationalgeographic.com/health/artic...
Doctors are worried about prescribing GLP-1s to certain patients
With one in eight adults taking drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro, emerging evidence shows that the medication has potential to both help and harm people with eating disorders.
www.nationalgeographic.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:42 PM
One of the things I want people to take away from this is (CN: EDs): Anorexia doesn't look like you think.
Sometimes, yes, it does.
But a LOT of times it does not. 🧵
www.nationalgeographic.com/health/artic...
Sometimes, yes, it does.
But a LOT of times it does not. 🧵
www.nationalgeographic.com/health/artic...
Look if there's a spider in the car, we are forming a careful, delicate truce.
You don't crawl on me. I drive. You get a free ride.
Drop on my head? OUT. OUT OUT OUT.
You don't crawl on me. I drive. You get a free ride.
Drop on my head? OUT. OUT OUT OUT.
I am pulled over to a grassy tree lawn because I had to evict Carl the car spider. Dropping on my head while I’m driving—three strikes, you are out. Hopefully he enjoys the great outdoors.
November 20, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Look if there's a spider in the car, we are forming a careful, delicate truce.
You don't crawl on me. I drive. You get a free ride.
Drop on my head? OUT. OUT OUT OUT.
You don't crawl on me. I drive. You get a free ride.
Drop on my head? OUT. OUT OUT OUT.
We talk a lot about loneliness.
We don't talk about social frailty. Which is much MORE than that. It can be loneliness, but it's also not enough money to be social, seeing people rarely, or not at all.
And social frailty? Is a risk for dementia. www.nationalgeographic.com/health/artic...
We don't talk about social frailty. Which is much MORE than that. It can be loneliness, but it's also not enough money to be social, seeing people rarely, or not at all.
And social frailty? Is a risk for dementia. www.nationalgeographic.com/health/artic...
The disturbing connection between loneliness and dementia
Scientists are studying the effect of “social frailty” on memory loss—and testing whether AI companions can help.
www.nationalgeographic.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:26 PM
We talk a lot about loneliness.
We don't talk about social frailty. Which is much MORE than that. It can be loneliness, but it's also not enough money to be social, seeing people rarely, or not at all.
And social frailty? Is a risk for dementia. www.nationalgeographic.com/health/artic...
We don't talk about social frailty. Which is much MORE than that. It can be loneliness, but it's also not enough money to be social, seeing people rarely, or not at all.
And social frailty? Is a risk for dementia. www.nationalgeographic.com/health/artic...
GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic or Zepbound make food less appealing, they make "food noise" disappear.
That might be helpful for some. But for people with atypical anorexia, for example, that can be dangerous. (CW: EDs) www.nationalgeographic.com/health/artic...
That might be helpful for some. But for people with atypical anorexia, for example, that can be dangerous. (CW: EDs) www.nationalgeographic.com/health/artic...
Doctors are worried about prescribing GLP-1s to certain patients
With one in eight adults taking drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro, emerging evidence shows that the medication has potential to both help and harm people with eating disorders.
www.nationalgeographic.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:15 PM
GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic or Zepbound make food less appealing, they make "food noise" disappear.
That might be helpful for some. But for people with atypical anorexia, for example, that can be dangerous. (CW: EDs) www.nationalgeographic.com/health/artic...
That might be helpful for some. But for people with atypical anorexia, for example, that can be dangerous. (CW: EDs) www.nationalgeographic.com/health/artic...
As we grow old, we can grow frail.
But did you know we can also grow frail SOCIALLY? And that this can put us at a greater risk for dementia?
Social frailty is much, much more than loneliness. www.nationalgeographic.com/health/artic...
But did you know we can also grow frail SOCIALLY? And that this can put us at a greater risk for dementia?
Social frailty is much, much more than loneliness. www.nationalgeographic.com/health/artic...
The disturbing connection between loneliness and dementia
Scientists are studying the effect of “social frailty” on memory loss—and testing whether AI companions can help.
www.nationalgeographic.com
November 19, 2025 at 9:26 PM
As we grow old, we can grow frail.
But did you know we can also grow frail SOCIALLY? And that this can put us at a greater risk for dementia?
Social frailty is much, much more than loneliness. www.nationalgeographic.com/health/artic...
But did you know we can also grow frail SOCIALLY? And that this can put us at a greater risk for dementia?
Social frailty is much, much more than loneliness. www.nationalgeographic.com/health/artic...
In grad school I had a small shrine on top of my HPLC machine, with lucky items from my fellow grad students (and from around the world!), to make him work correctly (the HPLC's name was Randy, because that's the sound the compressor made).
Scientists can be some of the most superstitious people on Earth, because so much of what we do is a black box with a high statistical chance of failure.
I have absolutely had haunted 👻 instruments that had to be placated by small sacrifices of enzyme or culture media.
I have absolutely had haunted 👻 instruments that had to be placated by small sacrifices of enzyme or culture media.
do you believe in ghosts or are you like me, a person who finds themself saying all the time “I absolutely don’t believe in ghosts, but this place has ghosts.”
November 19, 2025 at 7:31 PM
In grad school I had a small shrine on top of my HPLC machine, with lucky items from my fellow grad students (and from around the world!), to make him work correctly (the HPLC's name was Randy, because that's the sound the compressor made).
Look sometimes I really sacrifice for this job.
I get up super super early...to interview Chris Hemsworth.
SACRIFICE
www.nationalgeographic.com/health/artic...
I get up super super early...to interview Chris Hemsworth.
SACRIFICE
www.nationalgeographic.com/health/artic...
Chris Hemsworth on reminiscence therapy and an epic road trip with his father
The actor talks to National Geographic about taking the journey of a lifetime to help reawaken old memories.
www.nationalgeographic.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Look sometimes I really sacrifice for this job.
I get up super super early...to interview Chris Hemsworth.
SACRIFICE
www.nationalgeographic.com/health/artic...
I get up super super early...to interview Chris Hemsworth.
SACRIFICE
www.nationalgeographic.com/health/artic...
I find it slightly odd how much we laud people who isolate themselves from other humans...to write about human nature.
They go live in a cave or whatever and write about humans...without seeing humans? They proudly state how much they love to never see other humans and we're like "OMG brilliant"
They go live in a cave or whatever and write about humans...without seeing humans? They proudly state how much they love to never see other humans and we're like "OMG brilliant"
November 19, 2025 at 3:04 PM
I find it slightly odd how much we laud people who isolate themselves from other humans...to write about human nature.
They go live in a cave or whatever and write about humans...without seeing humans? They proudly state how much they love to never see other humans and we're like "OMG brilliant"
They go live in a cave or whatever and write about humans...without seeing humans? They proudly state how much they love to never see other humans and we're like "OMG brilliant"
Is it tool use? Is it not?
Regardless, this is one Clever Girl
Regardless, this is one Clever Girl
Is this wolf using a tool to get a seafood snack? Or does it not count, because the animal didn't construct the trap itself? @phiejacobs.bsky.social dives into that debate, plus more of the best from @science.org and science in this edition of #ScienceAdviser: www.science.org/content/arti... 🧪
November 18, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Is it tool use? Is it not?
Regardless, this is one Clever Girl
Regardless, this is one Clever Girl
I love this idea of a quick, easy experiment you can do with a class, to show how experiments work, what variables to keep track of, etc.
epiellie.substack.com/p/when-youre...
epiellie.substack.com/p/when-youre...
When you're ripping off a bandaid, do it quick!
Over the last few weeks, the weight of the world has really been getting to me and I’ve found it hard to get motivated to write any articles. But today I'm ripping off the bandaid. With a post about r...
epiellie.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:11 PM
I love this idea of a quick, easy experiment you can do with a class, to show how experiments work, what variables to keep track of, etc.
epiellie.substack.com/p/when-youre...
epiellie.substack.com/p/when-youre...
This is correct.
1. I just finished reading Sisters in Hate by Seward Darby. It's really good and also horrifying and also necessary. www.amazon.com/Sisters-Hate...
2. People volunteered to be buried upside down in the snow for science www.sciencenews.org/article/oxyg...
1. I just finished reading Sisters in Hate by Seward Darby. It's really good and also horrifying and also necessary. www.amazon.com/Sisters-Hate...
2. People volunteered to be buried upside down in the snow for science www.sciencenews.org/article/oxyg...
November 17, 2025 at 9:46 PM
This is correct.
1. I just finished reading Sisters in Hate by Seward Darby. It's really good and also horrifying and also necessary. www.amazon.com/Sisters-Hate...
2. People volunteered to be buried upside down in the snow for science www.sciencenews.org/article/oxyg...
1. I just finished reading Sisters in Hate by Seward Darby. It's really good and also horrifying and also necessary. www.amazon.com/Sisters-Hate...
2. People volunteered to be buried upside down in the snow for science www.sciencenews.org/article/oxyg...
You know we all marvel that like, dolphins can sleep with half their brain at a time, and wow that's so weird.
But we rely fully on being STRAIGHT UP COMPLETELY UNCONSCIOUS FOR A THIRD OF OUR LIVES (if we are lucky enough to get that sleep). Defenseless!
WHICH of us is the weirdo!?
But we rely fully on being STRAIGHT UP COMPLETELY UNCONSCIOUS FOR A THIRD OF OUR LIVES (if we are lucky enough to get that sleep). Defenseless!
WHICH of us is the weirdo!?
November 17, 2025 at 8:50 PM
You know we all marvel that like, dolphins can sleep with half their brain at a time, and wow that's so weird.
But we rely fully on being STRAIGHT UP COMPLETELY UNCONSCIOUS FOR A THIRD OF OUR LIVES (if we are lucky enough to get that sleep). Defenseless!
WHICH of us is the weirdo!?
But we rely fully on being STRAIGHT UP COMPLETELY UNCONSCIOUS FOR A THIRD OF OUR LIVES (if we are lucky enough to get that sleep). Defenseless!
WHICH of us is the weirdo!?
Reposted by Bethany Brookshire
It's been 572 days since we started bargaining with the @society4science.bsky.social . That's way too long to wait for the fair contract our workers deserve. Looking to help? Be sure to✍️our petition calling on CEO @mayaajmera.bsky.social for a fair contract!
shorturl.at/RinYU
shorturl.at/RinYU
For a Fair Contract at Science News!
Workers at Science News and Science News Explores have been bargaining their first union contract for over a year now. Despite the entire staff's proven ability to work effectively from home, manageme...
shorturl.at
November 17, 2025 at 8:10 PM
It's been 572 days since we started bargaining with the @society4science.bsky.social . That's way too long to wait for the fair contract our workers deserve. Looking to help? Be sure to✍️our petition calling on CEO @mayaajmera.bsky.social for a fair contract!
shorturl.at/RinYU
shorturl.at/RinYU
Reposted by Bethany Brookshire
YES to this from @jeffvandermeer.bsky.social. There's *so* much fear projected around these coyotes- I see/hear it frequently, and compared to actual coyote behaviors it's way overblown, as if all pets and children in a mile radius will be coyote-disappeared within days. #coyotes #wildlife #nature
Personally, I think off-leash dogs whose owners who have zippo control over them are a much, much bigger problem than, say, urban coyotes.
November 17, 2025 at 3:43 PM
YES to this from @jeffvandermeer.bsky.social. There's *so* much fear projected around these coyotes- I see/hear it frequently, and compared to actual coyote behaviors it's way overblown, as if all pets and children in a mile radius will be coyote-disappeared within days. #coyotes #wildlife #nature
Apropos of nothing; I regret to inform you
Sometimes the twists and turns,
the switchbacks of run-on sentences,
the interspersion of
One.
Word.
Is not poetry.
Sometimes, there are those times,
when a gibbous moon shines on
a burning hellscape
of what is actually terrible, horrible writing.
Sometimes the twists and turns,
the switchbacks of run-on sentences,
the interspersion of
One.
Word.
Is not poetry.
Sometimes, there are those times,
when a gibbous moon shines on
a burning hellscape
of what is actually terrible, horrible writing.
November 17, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Apropos of nothing; I regret to inform you
Sometimes the twists and turns,
the switchbacks of run-on sentences,
the interspersion of
One.
Word.
Is not poetry.
Sometimes, there are those times,
when a gibbous moon shines on
a burning hellscape
of what is actually terrible, horrible writing.
Sometimes the twists and turns,
the switchbacks of run-on sentences,
the interspersion of
One.
Word.
Is not poetry.
Sometimes, there are those times,
when a gibbous moon shines on
a burning hellscape
of what is actually terrible, horrible writing.