Amanda Heidt
@scattercushion.bsky.social
🏜️Southwest National Parks Editor, SFGate |✨Freelance Science Journalist |👩🔬 Once-Upon-A-Time Scientist | 📰 Clips in Nature, Science, The New York Times, Nat Geo, NPR, et al. | Signal: aheidt.16 | She/Her 🏳️🌈 | amandaheidt.com
I keep a particular meme shortcutted for responding to lengthy criticisms about my work. (Which is NOT to say I won't engage with legitimate concerns. I'm 👀 at you, guy who argued I was being funded by woke leftists b/c I used the word "diversity" too much in a story about the Cambrian Explosion.)
November 18, 2025 at 10:02 PM
I keep a particular meme shortcutted for responding to lengthy criticisms about my work. (Which is NOT to say I won't engage with legitimate concerns. I'm 👀 at you, guy who argued I was being funded by woke leftists b/c I used the word "diversity" too much in a story about the Cambrian Explosion.)
Aurora over Moab tonight. I've been waiting my whole life to see this. 🌌
November 12, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Aurora over Moab tonight. I've been waiting my whole life to see this. 🌌
🧪Fun #sourcerequest: Have you, a scientist, read the book Microbe Hunters, and if so, did it leave a lasting impact on you? This book--perhaps the first popular science text--is turning 100 next year, and I'm covering it for @nautil.us! Also interested in speaking with medical or science historians.
November 4, 2025 at 4:38 PM
🧪Fun #sourcerequest: Have you, a scientist, read the book Microbe Hunters, and if so, did it leave a lasting impact on you? This book--perhaps the first popular science text--is turning 100 next year, and I'm covering it for @nautil.us! Also interested in speaking with medical or science historians.
🏜️Today is the day! I have officially started at @sfgate.com and am on the hunt for stories about our southwest national parks. If you've got a tip, know of an iconic local in your town, or otherwise wanna chat public lands, I'm at [email protected].
November 3, 2025 at 9:10 PM
🏜️Today is the day! I have officially started at @sfgate.com and am on the hunt for stories about our southwest national parks. If you've got a tip, know of an iconic local in your town, or otherwise wanna chat public lands, I'm at [email protected].
After two glorious months away backpacking in Colorado and climbing in Canada, I'm finally sitting back down at my desk. More on that eventually, but in the meantime, a few belated shares of stories that ran while I was away:
August 23, 2025 at 3:02 PM
After two glorious months away backpacking in Colorado and climbing in Canada, I'm finally sitting back down at my desk. More on that eventually, but in the meantime, a few belated shares of stories that ran while I was away:
I have officially accepted my last assignment before I go dark for two months to hike 500 miles across Colorado with my pup! It's wild that this thing I decided to do last fall is now happening. Here are some pics from old trips I've taken in the same areas. Cannot wait to get out there!
June 4, 2025 at 5:30 PM
I have officially accepted my last assignment before I go dark for two months to hike 500 miles across Colorado with my pup! It's wild that this thing I decided to do last fall is now happening. Here are some pics from old trips I've taken in the same areas. Cannot wait to get out there!
Well gosh, if 2025 hasn't just turned into a year of faffing off as much as humanely possible while still working enough to support my baseline needs. Just got back from three weeks in California and Oregon during which I rarely had service, and I cannot recommend enough.
June 2, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Well gosh, if 2025 hasn't just turned into a year of faffing off as much as humanely possible while still working enough to support my baseline needs. Just got back from three weeks in California and Oregon during which I rarely had service, and I cannot recommend enough.
Trying to get out every weekend for some adventures closer to home. So far it's going swimmingly!
March 17, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Trying to get out every weekend for some adventures closer to home. So far it's going swimmingly!
10/10 recommend walking off alone into the desert in these trying times. See: this past weekend's solo backpacking trip into Canyonlands, where I saw and spoke to no one for two whole days.
February 4, 2025 at 6:31 PM
10/10 recommend walking off alone into the desert in these trying times. See: this past weekend's solo backpacking trip into Canyonlands, where I saw and spoke to no one for two whole days.
I've had three federal scientists reach out to me this week being like "Hey, how's that science journalism going over there? Got room for more? 👀" And like...we do, but it's not so rosy over here either.
February 4, 2025 at 5:06 PM
I've had three federal scientists reach out to me this week being like "Hey, how's that science journalism going over there? Got room for more? 👀" And like...we do, but it's not so rosy over here either.
Well well well, if it isn't an echo of my life appearing in national media. Same thing happened to me after I started running as prep for a mountaineering trip last year, and I've only just gotten to a place where I can go on short runs again. Keep ya' butts strong!
www.nytimes.com/2025/01/14/m...
www.nytimes.com/2025/01/14/m...
January 16, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Well well well, if it isn't an echo of my life appearing in national media. Same thing happened to me after I started running as prep for a mountaineering trip last year, and I've only just gotten to a place where I can go on short runs again. Keep ya' butts strong!
www.nytimes.com/2025/01/14/m...
www.nytimes.com/2025/01/14/m...
🧪Come on by tomorrow night if you happen to be in the area. I'll be emceeing the second of our amazing On Tap events on the seemingly endless number of 100-year flood events we've had in Moab over the last few years. What gives!?
January 8, 2025 at 3:53 AM
🧪Come on by tomorrow night if you happen to be in the area. I'll be emceeing the second of our amazing On Tap events on the seemingly endless number of 100-year flood events we've had in Moab over the last few years. What gives!?
Spent the first day of the year climbing a desert tower to celebrate 10 years of friendship with my bestie. May we only go up from here, friends!
January 2, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Spent the first day of the year climbing a desert tower to celebrate 10 years of friendship with my bestie. May we only go up from here, friends!
🧪 Just realized I've never shared my tattoo on Bluesky. Nudi nerds of the world unite! The artist is Sol Tattoo, and he's taking appointments right now in Los Angeles.
November 20, 2024 at 7:41 PM
🧪 Just realized I've never shared my tattoo on Bluesky. Nudi nerds of the world unite! The artist is Sol Tattoo, and he's taking appointments right now in Los Angeles.
I feel like the Brassicas are even more alarming just because of how different all the spinoffs are.
November 18, 2024 at 6:35 PM
I feel like the Brassicas are even more alarming just because of how different all the spinoffs are.
👋 Excited to see so many faces, new and old, joining us here! To (re)introduce myself:
- I'm a freelance science journalist based in Utah🏜️;
- I love backpacking, rock climbing, SCUBA, & mountaineering🧗♀️;
- I have a dog (Goose) & an axolotl (Lenjamin)🐕;
- Let's chat GBBO, romantasy, & gardening🥧.
- I'm a freelance science journalist based in Utah🏜️;
- I love backpacking, rock climbing, SCUBA, & mountaineering🧗♀️;
- I have a dog (Goose) & an axolotl (Lenjamin)🐕;
- Let's chat GBBO, romantasy, & gardening🥧.
November 18, 2024 at 6:05 PM
👋 Excited to see so many faces, new and old, joining us here! To (re)introduce myself:
- I'm a freelance science journalist based in Utah🏜️;
- I love backpacking, rock climbing, SCUBA, & mountaineering🧗♀️;
- I have a dog (Goose) & an axolotl (Lenjamin)🐕;
- Let's chat GBBO, romantasy, & gardening🥧.
- I'm a freelance science journalist based in Utah🏜️;
- I love backpacking, rock climbing, SCUBA, & mountaineering🧗♀️;
- I have a dog (Goose) & an axolotl (Lenjamin)🐕;
- Let's chat GBBO, romantasy, & gardening🥧.
My first front page story was in the San Jose Mercury News in 2020. It was a piece about how clinical trials had been disrupted by the pandemic, and it ran right next to a story about hitting 1 million global deaths. Here we are in 2024, and my bylines are still landing next to garbage news 🙄.
October 29, 2024 at 1:44 AM
My first front page story was in the San Jose Mercury News in 2020. It was a piece about how clinical trials had been disrupted by the pandemic, and it ran right next to a story about hitting 1 million global deaths. Here we are in 2024, and my bylines are still landing next to garbage news 🙄.
I am in a deadline hell of my own creation, but every time I start to pity myself, I look at my dog who got neutered today and start typing again.
July 3, 2024 at 1:06 AM
I am in a deadline hell of my own creation, but every time I start to pity myself, I look at my dog who got neutered today and start typing again.
Back from vacation, which included a 15-hour ascent of Washington's Mt. Baker. My partner and I started at 2:30 AM on the solstice and were physically tied together on the ice for 11 hours. I think I microtore every muscle in my legs. Ahhh, so restful. 😊
June 26, 2024 at 8:26 PM
Back from vacation, which included a 15-hour ascent of Washington's Mt. Baker. My partner and I started at 2:30 AM on the solstice and were physically tied together on the ice for 11 hours. I think I microtore every muscle in my legs. Ahhh, so restful. 😊
Did a training jaunt up Colorado's Mount Wilson over the weekend. Haven't been up above 12,000 feet in a while and the altitude kicked my butt, but overall it felt much smoother than my last visit in 2021. Mount Sneffels in a few weeks and then on to Baker!
May 21, 2024 at 1:46 PM
Did a training jaunt up Colorado's Mount Wilson over the weekend. Haven't been up above 12,000 feet in a while and the altitude kicked my butt, but overall it felt much smoother than my last visit in 2021. Mount Sneffels in a few weeks and then on to Baker!
Every marine biologist has these boots and a sand dollar on the dash of their truck. I don't make the rules.
March 29, 2024 at 5:24 PM
Every marine biologist has these boots and a sand dollar on the dash of their truck. I don't make the rules.
- Building a garden in my yard!;
- Training to climb Mt. Rainier this summer (although I just stress fractured my foot, so *sad trombone*);
- Applying to the Great American Baking Show!;
- Taking my pup on his first backpacking trip;
- Reinvesting in my friendships/relationships
- Training to climb Mt. Rainier this summer (although I just stress fractured my foot, so *sad trombone*);
- Applying to the Great American Baking Show!;
- Taking my pup on his first backpacking trip;
- Reinvesting in my friendships/relationships
March 5, 2024 at 5:14 PM
- Building a garden in my yard!;
- Training to climb Mt. Rainier this summer (although I just stress fractured my foot, so *sad trombone*);
- Applying to the Great American Baking Show!;
- Taking my pup on his first backpacking trip;
- Reinvesting in my friendships/relationships
- Training to climb Mt. Rainier this summer (although I just stress fractured my foot, so *sad trombone*);
- Applying to the Great American Baking Show!;
- Taking my pup on his first backpacking trip;
- Reinvesting in my friendships/relationships
🧪I've done it, I've drunk of the gar KoolAid! Big thanks to @solomonrdavid.bsky.social and co for sharing this study with me. Read on to learn about how fish whose last common ancestor lived during the time of the dinosaurs can produce fertile hybrids today!
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
March 4, 2024 at 4:37 PM
🧪I've done it, I've drunk of the gar KoolAid! Big thanks to @solomonrdavid.bsky.social and co for sharing this study with me. Read on to learn about how fish whose last common ancestor lived during the time of the dinosaurs can produce fertile hybrids today!
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
I've really fallen off the axolotl-posting wagon since jumping to Blueksy, so please enjoy this photo from Halloween of me and Goose as axolotls and Lenjamin as a dog. Now with alt text!
February 21, 2024 at 4:52 PM
I've really fallen off the axolotl-posting wagon since jumping to Blueksy, so please enjoy this photo from Halloween of me and Goose as axolotls and Lenjamin as a dog. Now with alt text!