Alexandra Witze
@alexwitze.bsky.social
Science journalist and correspondent for Nature (she/her). Reach me at alexwitze.01 (Signal), witzescience (@gmail.com), or awitze (@protonmail.com).
Pinned
How Trump 2.0 is reshaping science
Since US President Donald Trump took office in January 2025, his team has made major changes to the federal government that have disrupted research and ...
www.nature.com
Nature reporters' ongoing coverage of Trump 2.0 impacts on science and scientists is collected here: www.nature.com/collections/...
Reach me at alexwitze.01 on Signal, or witzescience[at]gmail.com, with tips, feedback, follow-ups, anything we should be covering, etc.
Reach me at alexwitze.01 on Signal, or witzescience[at]gmail.com, with tips, feedback, follow-ups, anything we should be covering, etc.
Reposted by Alexandra Witze
Here's our reporting on the proposed dismantling of the jewel of US atmospheric science, @ncar-ucar.bsky.social.
The plan is to break NCAR apart and disburse some parts to other locations (like the research aircraft fleet) and eliminate others.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
🧪 #AGU25 #climate
The plan is to break NCAR apart and disburse some parts to other locations (like the research aircraft fleet) and eliminate others.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
🧪 #AGU25 #climate
Trump team plans to break up ‘global mothership’ of climate science
Much of the National Center for Atmospheric Research’s non-climate portfolio will be dispersed, the White House says.
www.nature.com
December 17, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Here's our reporting on the proposed dismantling of the jewel of US atmospheric science, @ncar-ucar.bsky.social.
The plan is to break NCAR apart and disburse some parts to other locations (like the research aircraft fleet) and eliminate others.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
🧪 #AGU25 #climate
The plan is to break NCAR apart and disburse some parts to other locations (like the research aircraft fleet) and eliminate others.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
🧪 #AGU25 #climate
@joeneguse.bsky.social, who represents Boulder CO (home to #NCAR) in Congress, is expected to zoom in to #AGU25 this afternoon to address NSF moving to dismantle the center.
December 17, 2025 at 10:19 PM
@joeneguse.bsky.social, who represents Boulder CO (home to #NCAR) in Congress, is expected to zoom in to #AGU25 this afternoon to address NSF moving to dismantle the center.
Here's our reporting on the proposed dismantling of the jewel of US atmospheric science, @ncar-ucar.bsky.social.
The plan is to break NCAR apart and disburse some parts to other locations (like the research aircraft fleet) and eliminate others.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
🧪 #AGU25 #climate
The plan is to break NCAR apart and disburse some parts to other locations (like the research aircraft fleet) and eliminate others.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
🧪 #AGU25 #climate
Trump team plans to break up ‘global mothership’ of climate science
Much of the National Center for Atmospheric Research’s non-climate portfolio will be dispersed, the White House says.
www.nature.com
December 17, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Here's our reporting on the proposed dismantling of the jewel of US atmospheric science, @ncar-ucar.bsky.social.
The plan is to break NCAR apart and disburse some parts to other locations (like the research aircraft fleet) and eliminate others.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
🧪 #AGU25 #climate
The plan is to break NCAR apart and disburse some parts to other locations (like the research aircraft fleet) and eliminate others.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
🧪 #AGU25 #climate
As we hear news of the Trump administration looking to dismantle NCAR, the nation’s preeminent climate research center in Boulder
#climate
#climate
Xcel Energy is warning it may preemptively shut off power to 50k Coloradans on Wednesday due to extreme winds and wildfire risk. Legal experts tell @spencersoicher that Xcel's decision is driven by public safety and potential liability.
December 17, 2025 at 2:43 AM
As we hear news of the Trump administration looking to dismantle NCAR, the nation’s preeminent climate research center in Boulder
#climate
#climate
Reposted by Alexandra Witze
Exclusive: The Trump administration is moving to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, according to a senior White House official, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
Trump moves to dismantle major US climate research center in Colorado
The Trump administration is breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
bit.ly
December 17, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Exclusive: The Trump administration is moving to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, according to a senior White House official, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
Attendance at US-based science conferences is bouncing around this year but generally down. #AGU25 has ~10k fewer this year! I explored these trends for @nature.com — including solutions to keep conferences local & productive:
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
🧪
Scientists skip key US meetings — and seize on smaller alternatives
Researchers are devising creative ways to get together as Trump’s policies curb travel to US gatherings.
www.nature.com
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Attendance at US-based science conferences is bouncing around this year but generally down. #AGU25 has ~10k fewer this year! I explored these trends for @nature.com — including solutions to keep conferences local & productive:
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
🧪
The funniest thing about this is I don’t know what story is quoted here. I think it might be a @sciencenews.bsky.social piece but i could not identify it in my clips/their archive.
Shout-out to @alexwitze.bsky.social for being included in @merriam-webster.com's definition for "heliophysics" (which has long been a word, but is now a *recognised* word)
December 16, 2025 at 12:33 AM
The funniest thing about this is I don’t know what story is quoted here. I think it might be a @sciencenews.bsky.social piece but i could not identify it in my clips/their archive.
Good set of #AGU25 talks this AM on establishing trust in an age of mistrust. Among the tips:
Be transparent
Be ethical
Acknowledge failures
Open data & methods to scrutiny
Separate assessments from policy
"Work must be visible, relatable & accessible to the people it serves" - Janice Lachance
Be transparent
Be ethical
Acknowledge failures
Open data & methods to scrutiny
Separate assessments from policy
"Work must be visible, relatable & accessible to the people it serves" - Janice Lachance
December 15, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Good set of #AGU25 talks this AM on establishing trust in an age of mistrust. Among the tips:
Be transparent
Be ethical
Acknowledge failures
Open data & methods to scrutiny
Separate assessments from policy
"Work must be visible, relatable & accessible to the people it serves" - Janice Lachance
Be transparent
Be ethical
Acknowledge failures
Open data & methods to scrutiny
Separate assessments from policy
"Work must be visible, relatable & accessible to the people it serves" - Janice Lachance
#AGU25 travel tip - if landing at MSY, take a taxi rather than rideshare to the convention center area, it’s a flat $36 for 1-2 people and you can avoid the Uber pickup chaos.
December 14, 2025 at 11:45 PM
#AGU25 travel tip - if landing at MSY, take a taxi rather than rideshare to the convention center area, it’s a flat $36 for 1-2 people and you can avoid the Uber pickup chaos.
#AI models do pretty darn well at forecasting the #weather. But they've struggled to predict weather extremes (e.g. strong storms, heat waves, heavy rains).
I wrote about one of the many teams of scientists looking to change that. 🧪 #AGU25 #wx @pedramh.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
I wrote about one of the many teams of scientists looking to change that. 🧪 #AGU25 #wx @pedramh.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
This AI model ‘studied’ physics — and learnt to forecast extreme weather
Combining artificial intelligence with a conventional climate model can predict heatwaves faster than the standard model alone.
www.nature.com
December 11, 2025 at 1:44 PM
#AI models do pretty darn well at forecasting the #weather. But they've struggled to predict weather extremes (e.g. strong storms, heat waves, heavy rains).
I wrote about one of the many teams of scientists looking to change that. 🧪 #AGU25 #wx @pedramh.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
I wrote about one of the many teams of scientists looking to change that. 🧪 #AGU25 #wx @pedramh.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
RIP John Noble Wilford, one of the deans of American science writing www.nytimes.com/2025/12/08/s...
John Noble Wilford, Times Reporter Who Covered the Moon Landing, Dies at 92
www.nytimes.com
December 8, 2025 at 11:42 PM
RIP John Noble Wilford, one of the deans of American science writing www.nytimes.com/2025/12/08/s...
Reposted by Alexandra Witze
In recognition of TON’s 15th birthday, we have set an ambitious goal: to raise $60,000 to support the future of science journalism. With $15,000 already raised and $7,500 pledged in matching gifts so far, giving today can help us get there.🧪
The Open Notebook's 15th Anniversary - The Open Notebook
For 15 years, The Open Notebook has been the trusted home for journalists worldwide who cover science. What started as an experiment to demystify the craft of science writing has grown into a vital, g...
www.theopennotebook.com
December 8, 2025 at 5:35 PM
In recognition of TON’s 15th birthday, we have set an ambitious goal: to raise $60,000 to support the future of science journalism. With $15,000 already raised and $7,500 pledged in matching gifts so far, giving today can help us get there.🧪
I'll be at #AGU25 starting 12/15. If you want to talk about
🧪 Your science
🧑🤝🧑 Your community
🤔 What it's like to try to have science + community in a country with increased travel restrictions and a city facing an immigration crackdown
Get in touch! Contact details in my bio.
🧪 Your science
🧑🤝🧑 Your community
🤔 What it's like to try to have science + community in a country with increased travel restrictions and a city facing an immigration crackdown
Get in touch! Contact details in my bio.
December 5, 2025 at 5:36 PM
I'll be at #AGU25 starting 12/15. If you want to talk about
🧪 Your science
🧑🤝🧑 Your community
🤔 What it's like to try to have science + community in a country with increased travel restrictions and a city facing an immigration crackdown
Get in touch! Contact details in my bio.
🧪 Your science
🧑🤝🧑 Your community
🤔 What it's like to try to have science + community in a country with increased travel restrictions and a city facing an immigration crackdown
Get in touch! Contact details in my bio.
Reposted by Alexandra Witze
This is one of the many projects that makes @theopennotebook.bsky.social a worthy cause. Any reporters can make their stories stronger by including relevant science & scholarship. This how-to explains how to add important evidence to any story. (1/2)
You don’t need to be a science reporter to cover science well. The Science Reporting Navigator from The Open Notebook and @rjionline.bsky.social helps any reporter confidently incorporate scientific evidence, perspectives, or context into their reporting— regardless of background or deadline. 🧪
Science Reporting Navigator - The Open Notebook
Bring Scientific Evidence into Any Beat Every story is a science story. From education and public health to transportation and local policy, science intersects with every beat journalists cover. The S...
www.theopennotebook.com
December 2, 2025 at 3:39 PM
This is one of the many projects that makes @theopennotebook.bsky.social a worthy cause. Any reporters can make their stories stronger by including relevant science & scholarship. This how-to explains how to add important evidence to any story. (1/2)
Reposted by Alexandra Witze
After 2 years of war, 98% of tree cropland and 75% of greenhouses in Gaza have been destroyed. Remote sensing maps tracking the progression of damage can help identify the best ways to remediate the land & rebuild Gaza’s agricultural sector. #AGU25
My latest for @eos.org:
eos.org/articles/98-...
My latest for @eos.org:
eos.org/articles/98-...
98% of Gaza’s Tree Cropland Destroyed by Israel - Eos
Maps based on remote sensing analysis could inform remediation efforts by identifying whether agricultural lands were damaged by bombs, debris, or forced displacement of its caretakers.
eos.org
December 3, 2025 at 2:56 PM
After 2 years of war, 98% of tree cropland and 75% of greenhouses in Gaza have been destroyed. Remote sensing maps tracking the progression of damage can help identify the best ways to remediate the land & rebuild Gaza’s agricultural sector. #AGU25
My latest for @eos.org:
eos.org/articles/98-...
My latest for @eos.org:
eos.org/articles/98-...
You've probably heard about how the rapidly increasing numbers of satellites are affecting #astronomy. A new paper in @nature.com looks at the possible future for space-based telescopes — and finds 96% of some images could be impacted. 🧪🔭🛰️
By @jennaahart.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
By @jennaahart.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Satellite swarms set to photobomb more than 95% of some telescopes’ images
Planned megaconstellations would contaminate the view of the cosmos of four orbiting telescopes
www.nature.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:16 PM
You've probably heard about how the rapidly increasing numbers of satellites are affecting #astronomy. A new paper in @nature.com looks at the possible future for space-based telescopes — and finds 96% of some images could be impacted. 🧪🔭🛰️
By @jennaahart.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
By @jennaahart.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Alexandra Witze
Top 4 takeaways from a "Careers in #SciComm" panel I just did 🧵
1. Scicomm is a disorganized career path! (evergreen reminder) You can come into it with a variety of degrees and experience. If you're coming from science, know what motivates you and what skills from academia translate to comms
1. Scicomm is a disorganized career path! (evergreen reminder) You can come into it with a variety of degrees and experience. If you're coming from science, know what motivates you and what skills from academia translate to comms
December 1, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Top 4 takeaways from a "Careers in #SciComm" panel I just did 🧵
1. Scicomm is a disorganized career path! (evergreen reminder) You can come into it with a variety of degrees and experience. If you're coming from science, know what motivates you and what skills from academia translate to comms
1. Scicomm is a disorganized career path! (evergreen reminder) You can come into it with a variety of degrees and experience. If you're coming from science, know what motivates you and what skills from academia translate to comms
A more equitable and more robust future for #journalism? Yes please!
Join me in supporting the invaluable work of @theopennotebook.bsky.social ⬇️
Join me in supporting the invaluable work of @theopennotebook.bsky.social ⬇️
Why support The Open Notebook? We’re shaping a more equitable and more robust journalism landscape. Your gift builds a foundation for quality science journalism. Every dollar you donate by Dec 31 will be matched (up to a total of $7,500 so far)! 🧪
The Open Notebook's 15th Anniversary - The Open Notebook
For 15 years, The Open Notebook has been the trusted home for journalists worldwide who cover science. What started as an experiment to demystify the craft of science writing has grown into a vital, g...
www.theopennotebook.com
December 1, 2025 at 2:53 PM
A more equitable and more robust future for #journalism? Yes please!
Join me in supporting the invaluable work of @theopennotebook.bsky.social ⬇️
Join me in supporting the invaluable work of @theopennotebook.bsky.social ⬇️
Reposted by Alexandra Witze
This announcement brimmed with hype but at its heart are interesting qs - what if models could learn from high-end scientific (rather than everyday) data? And are there specific science Qs that AI can help?
Done well, AI for science yields amazing stuff (see AlphaFold). But done badly brings risks
Done well, AI for science yields amazing stuff (see AlphaFold). But done badly brings risks
What's the deal with the AI-national labs-supercomputing initiative the federal government announced this week? @lizziegibney.bsky.social @jennaahart.bsky.social & I unpacked it: www.nature.com/articles/d41... 🧪
Trump's AI ‘Genesis Mission': what are the risks and opportunities?
National laboratories have been instructed to broaden access to their data sets to accelerate research as part of the federal government's AI platform. But who stands to benefit?
www.nature.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:06 PM
This announcement brimmed with hype but at its heart are interesting qs - what if models could learn from high-end scientific (rather than everyday) data? And are there specific science Qs that AI can help?
Done well, AI for science yields amazing stuff (see AlphaFold). But done badly brings risks
Done well, AI for science yields amazing stuff (see AlphaFold). But done badly brings risks
What's the deal with the AI-national labs-supercomputing initiative the federal government announced this week? @lizziegibney.bsky.social @jennaahart.bsky.social & I unpacked it: www.nature.com/articles/d41... 🧪
Trump's AI ‘Genesis Mission': what are the risks and opportunities?
National laboratories have been instructed to broaden access to their data sets to accelerate research as part of the federal government's AI platform. But who stands to benefit?
www.nature.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:54 PM
What's the deal with the AI-national labs-supercomputing initiative the federal government announced this week? @lizziegibney.bsky.social @jennaahart.bsky.social & I unpacked it: www.nature.com/articles/d41... 🧪
Following Trump's DEI cuts, attendance has plunged at some conferences for scientists from underrepresented groups. The loss of federal support means fewer chances for people to network, share science, and develop new career paths.
Still, attendees say "the sense of solidarity remains strong".
Still, attendees say "the sense of solidarity remains strong".
‘Anti-woke’ policies blamed for falling attendance at some US conferences
Scientific meetings that support Black, Latino and Indigenous researchers are grappling with funding cuts and other restrictions.
www.nature.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Following Trump's DEI cuts, attendance has plunged at some conferences for scientists from underrepresented groups. The loss of federal support means fewer chances for people to network, share science, and develop new career paths.
Still, attendees say "the sense of solidarity remains strong".
Still, attendees say "the sense of solidarity remains strong".