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beckyferreira.bsky.social
Becky Ferreira
@beckyferreira.bsky.social
87 followers 50 following 29 posts
Great ape. bylines 404 Media, NYT, WIRED & more.
FIRST CONTACT out now
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/becky-ferreira/first-contact/9781523527755/
Sign up for the BeX Files! https://bexfiles.ghost.io/
Posts Replies Media Videos
beckyferreira.bsky.social
don't ever say I don't do anything for you
www.404media.co/breathing-th...
Breathing Through Our Butts Declared Safe After First Human Trial
The first application of enteral ventilation—aka breathing through the bum—to humans proved the technique is safe.
www.404media.co
October 23, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Reposted by Becky Ferreira
samleecole.bsky.social
follow @jasonkoebler.bsky.social on a journey to make not only the first @404media.co neon sign, but the first 404 Media mini-documentary: www.404media.co/how-artists-...
How Artists Are Keeping 'The Lost Art' of Neon Signs Alive
Watch 404 Media’s first short documentary, about an artist keeping real neon signs alive.
www.404media.co
October 20, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Reposted by Becky Ferreira
ryansprague.bsky.social
🚨 NEW EPISODE ALERT! 🚨

What would first contact with aliens really look like? We're joined by @beckyferreira.bsky.social to discuss her new book,
"First Contact: The Story of our Obsession with Aliens" 👽

Watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdZE...

Listen: open.spotify.com/episode/3jZy...

#UFOsky 🚀
October 13, 2025 at 2:14 PM
beckyferreira.bsky.social
I had a great time speaking about FIRST CONTACT with @space.com. Read on for more on interstellar objects, E.T. communication, & what alien tropes are GOOD and BAD in my not-humble opinion.
www.space.com/entertainmen...
"First Contact:" A new book looks at humanity's alien obsession
In her new book "First Contact," journalist Becky Ferreira explores the scientific search for alien life, our cultural obsessions with extraterrestrials and why the truth may be more human than we exp...
www.space.com
October 7, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Reposted by Becky Ferreira
historyasif.bsky.social
Sputnik was 66 years ago today. I curated a set of about a dozen original Soviet archival sources (translated!) on the origins of the world's first satellite, hosted by The Wilson Center in Washington, DC: www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/ne... #histsci #histtech
New Sources on Sputnik
Documents added to DigitalArchive.org provide a look at the origins of Sputnik, the first Soviet satellite.
www.wilsoncenter.org
October 4, 2023 at 9:15 PM
beckyferreira.bsky.social
My fellow Earthlings: My book FIRST CONTACT is out today! It's got prehistoric aliens, monster aliens, savior aliens, super ALIEN aliens, & the skinny on the scientific search for REAL aliens.

The truth is not out there—it's in HERE 👽👇
www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/becky...
First Contact
A narrative and visual exploration of humanity’s age-old search for and fixation with extraterrestrials.First Contact explores the ancient idea—a...
www.hachettebookgroup.com
September 30, 2025 at 4:32 PM
beckyferreira.bsky.social
If you happen to be cruising around the Hamptons Monday night, come watch Contact at the Southampton Playhouse!

I'll be there talking aliens after the screening, & the 1st ppl to show up will get a signed copy of my book FIRST CONTACT👽
www.southamptonplayhouse.com/movie/contact
CONTACT | Ft. A Post Screening Q+A
Contact: A Special Anniversary Screening Followed by Q&A with Becky Ferreira, New York Times space journalist and author of the new book First Contact A radio astronomer receives the first extr...
www.southamptonplayhouse.com
September 21, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Reposted by Becky Ferreira
404media.co
The Department of Justice has removed a study showing that white supremacist and far-right violence “continues to outpace all other types of terrorism and domestic violent extremism” in the United States.

🔗 www.404media.co/doj-deletes-...
September 16, 2025 at 8:53 PM
beckyferreira.bsky.social
Just TWO WEEKS until my book FIRST CONTACT will be published! It's got centuries-old UFOs, ruminations on time-distorting aliens (from All You Need is Kill to Outer Wilds), a history of possible biosignatures, EYEBALL PLANETS & lots more. Preorder here! 👽🛸🌌
www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/becky...
First Contact
A narrative and visual exploration of humanity’s age-old search for and fixation with extraterrestrials.First Contact explores the ancient idea—and epic ...
www.hachettebookgroup.com
September 16, 2025 at 3:18 PM
beckyferreira.bsky.social
This week on the Abstract @404media.co

- Microbes on ice!
- Microbes in heat!
- microbes on Mars!
- More horrors from USAID cuts
- Welcome to...Jurassic autopsy
- PARTY LIKE IT'S THE BRONZE-IRON AGE TRANSITION
www.404media.co/nasa-rover-f...
NASA Rover Finds ‘Potential Biosignature’ on Mars
Strange “leopard spots” on Mars are the most promising signs of alien life on the planet yet, but they could also have a geological origin.
www.404media.co
September 13, 2025 at 3:10 PM
beckyferreira.bsky.social
As a longtime listener of Science Friday, it was so cool to talk about my new book on aliens FIRST CONTACT with Ira!

We covered UFOs, ancient Greek aliens, biosignatures, Klaatu, and Solaris (and more!) Latter half of the segment here ⬇️👽🛸🖖
September 12, 2025 at 4:30 PM
beckyferreira.bsky.social
My latest for @404media.co

upshot: scientists have done a very good science this time.

bsky.app/profile/404m...
404media.co 404 Media @404media.co · Sep 10
Scientists have captured the clearest ever gravitational waves—ripples in the fabric of spacetime—a breakthrough that has resolved decades-old mysteries about black holes and the nature of our reality.

🔗 www.404media.co/scientists-j...
Scientists Just Got an Unprecedented Glimpse into the Nature of Reality
“We had promised that gravitational waves would open a new window into the universe, and that has materialized,” one researcher said.”
www.404media.co
September 10, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Reposted by Becky Ferreira
leighannlord.bsky.social
Hey Science Lovers! On Thur., 9/4, 7PM ET, I'm hosting CFI's livestream show, Skeptical Inquirer Presents: Separating Hope from Hype in the Search for Alien Life with science reporter, @beckyferreira.bsky.social!

The event is free. The information is priceless.

skepticalinquirer.org/presents/
September 3, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Reposted by Becky Ferreira
404media.co
The Trump administration is making buying cameras, retro games, board games, skincare, flashlights, sex toys, watches, and anything else from overseas far more complicated, slow, and expensive.

🔗 www.404media.co/trump-tariff...
Trump Tariffs Cause Chaos on Ebay as Every Hobby Becomes Logistical Minefield
Buying cameras, retro games, board games, skincare, flashlights, sex toys, watches, and anything else from overseas just became far more complicated, slow, and expensive.
www.404media.co
August 28, 2025 at 2:38 PM
beckyferreira.bsky.social
I'm really excited to present an online talk for @skepticalinquirer.bsky.social on the exciting new phase we are entering in the search for aliens. Hope you can join at Thursday, September 4 at 7pm ET. 🤨👽
skepticalinquirer.org/video/separa...
Separating Hope from Hype in the Search for Alien Life | Becky Ferreira | Skeptical Inquirer Presents
Science has advanced enormously in the past 500 years, guided by experimental tests of theory and practice.  In that same time, science teaching and education—guided primarily by tradition and dogma—h...
skepticalinquirer.org
August 27, 2025 at 1:22 PM
beckyferreira.bsky.social
Move over, Planet Nine. There's a new hypothetical planet in town and it's closer, smaller, and likely to be homegrown—if it indeed exists.

My latest for @404media.co
www.404media.co/a-warp-in-ou...
A ‘Warp’ In Our Solar System Might Be an Undiscovered World: Planet Y
In addition to Planet Nine, the solar system may also contain a closer, smaller world that could be spotted soon, according to a new preprint study.
www.404media.co
August 21, 2025 at 5:32 PM
beckyferreira.bsky.social
For @technologyreview.com I wrote about the cinematic appeal of Trump's Golden Dome, which it inherits from the beta version space-shield: Reagan's SDI

Read on for a tale of nightmare scenarios, bottled scorpions & fictional special agent Brass Bancroft
www.technologyreview.com/2025/08/13/1...
Why Trump’s “golden dome” missile defense idea is another ripped straight from the movies
President Trump has proposed building an antimissile “golden dome” around the United States. But do cinematic spectacles actually enhance national security?
www.technologyreview.com
August 13, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Reposted by Becky Ferreira
samleecole.bsky.social
we obtained footage of an agent in the middle of a raid at a Home Depot wearing Meta's smart glasses, and talked to experts about what that means: www.404media.co/a-cbp-agent-...
A CBP Agent Wore Meta Smart Glasses to an Immigration Raid in Los Angeles
Video obtained and verified by 404 Media shows a CBP official wearing Meta's AI glasses, which are capable of recording and connecting with AI. “I think it should be seen in the context of an agency t...
www.404media.co
August 7, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Reposted by Becky Ferreira
katie-drummond.bsky.social
NASA is fast-tracking a plan to build a nuclear reactor on the moon. Which sounds insane.

Turns out, the idea is "an ambitious but potentially achievable goal that could transform space exploration." From @beckyferreira.bsky.social
Why the US Is Racing to Build a Nuclear Reactor on the Moon
NASA has set a 2030 deadline to build a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor on the moon. It’s an ambitious but potentially achievable goal that could transform space exploration, experts tell WIRED.
www.wired.com
August 7, 2025 at 6:30 PM
beckyferreira.bsky.social
I wrote about NASA's new plan to build a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030 for @wired.com

Could it happen? What would it look like? Why do this anyway? How many elephants are equivalent to one extraterrestial power plant? The important questions🌛⚛️🚀
www.wired.com/story/why-th...
Why the US Is Racing to Build a Nuclear Reactor on the Moon
NASA has set a 2030 deadline to build a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor on the moon. It’s an ambitious but potentially achievable goal that could transform space exploration, experts tell WIRED.
www.wired.com
August 7, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Reposted by Becky Ferreira
404media.co
Nearly 100,000 ChatGPT Conversations Were Searchable on Google

🔗 www.404media.co/nearly-100-0...
Nearly 100,000 ChatGPT Conversations Were Searchable on Google
A researcher has scraped a much larger dataset of indexed ChatGPT conversations, exposing contracts and intimate conversations.
www.404media.co
August 5, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Reposted by Becky Ferreira
dissimilator.bsky.social
It's always important to make proper citations.

@beckyferreira.bsky.social via: @404media.co

www.404media.co/scientists-d...
Burrowing animals are disproportionately threatened by the steady march of human land developments (citation: Watership Down). European blind mole rats, for instance, “have long been persecuted, and many species are threatened by extinction as they only exist in a few small and isolated populations,” according to a new study. A naked mole rat is depicted.
August 3, 2025 at 3:18 AM
beckyferreira.bsky.social
Scientists found chemosynthetic animals (hi, foot-long tubeworms!) nearly 10 km beneath the ocean surface, deeper than these sunless ecosystems have ever been seen.

my latest for @404media.co 🚫🌞 🌊🪱

www.404media.co/new-deep-sea...
New Deep Sea Creatures ‘Challenge Current Models of Life,’ Scientists Say
Scientists have discovered chemosynthetic animals, which don’t rely on the Sun to live, nearly six miles under the ocean surface—deeper than any found to date.
www.404media.co
July 30, 2025 at 8:11 PM
beckyferreira.bsky.social
It's never aliens? Stick with me & it'll ALWAYS BE ALIENS

That's bc I'm announcing RIGHT NOW that my book FIRST CONTACT: The Story of Our Obsession with Aliens, is coming out on September 30! 👽👾🛸🚀🔭📖

Preorder here: www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/becky...
First Contact
A narrative and visual exploration of humanity’s age-old search for and fixation with extraterrestrials.First Contact explores the ancient idea—a...
www.hachettebookgroup.com
July 29, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Reposted by Becky Ferreira
sebfalk.com
This is a really great write-up of the Song of Wade in @404media.co

www.404media.co/the-800-year...

Thanks for your interest and meticulous reporting @beckyferreira.bsky.social !
The 800-Year-Old Mystery of a Lost Medieval Legend Is Solved, Researchers Say
The Song of Wade was a popular legend that survives in only one enigmatic text. Now, researchers think they have solved a longstanding puzzle about its meaning.
www.404media.co
July 17, 2025 at 10:03 PM