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. 🧪
Me: Hey I'm donating a bunch of books to a group that's adding to the local public school libraries, any you want to add?
Partner: Oh good I thought we could stand to thin them out (turns to books) which ones?
Me: (shows waist high stack)
Partner: ...wait our shelves look like this AFTER?!
Partner: Oh good I thought we could stand to thin them out (turns to books) which ones?
Me: (shows waist high stack)
Partner: ...wait our shelves look like this AFTER?!
November 11, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Me: Hey I'm donating a bunch of books to a group that's adding to the local public school libraries, any you want to add?
Partner: Oh good I thought we could stand to thin them out (turns to books) which ones?
Me: (shows waist high stack)
Partner: ...wait our shelves look like this AFTER?!
Partner: Oh good I thought we could stand to thin them out (turns to books) which ones?
Me: (shows waist high stack)
Partner: ...wait our shelves look like this AFTER?!
Reposted by Bethany Brookshire
One thing to do, especially if you’re a science writer or editor, is when you have occasion to mention the names of the discoverers of the structure of DNA, just say “Watson, Crick, and Franklin.” No one can stop us, and it is correct.
November 7, 2025 at 9:52 PM
One thing to do, especially if you’re a science writer or editor, is when you have occasion to mention the names of the discoverers of the structure of DNA, just say “Watson, Crick, and Franklin.” No one can stop us, and it is correct.
Who got the structure of DNA? Franklin, Crick, and Watson. It's true and we can't be stopped.
Went to a great talk the other day where the speaker referred to "Watson, Crick, and Franklin" nucleotides & let's all adopt that terminology
November 10, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Who got the structure of DNA? Franklin, Crick, and Watson. It's true and we can't be stopped.
Reposted by Bethany Brookshire
Please someone write this story so I can forward to friends: what Google AI has done to smaller media websites, that is, Google Zero. Anecdote: was having someone over, said I'd made a green tomato chutney w/ last of my tomatoes, she said she asked ChatGPT and it recommended a couple of cheeses. 1/
November 10, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Please someone write this story so I can forward to friends: what Google AI has done to smaller media websites, that is, Google Zero. Anecdote: was having someone over, said I'd made a green tomato chutney w/ last of my tomatoes, she said she asked ChatGPT and it recommended a couple of cheeses. 1/
"Chat GPT is not hallucinating, it’s bullshitting,"
ChatGPT is that guy in law school, dangerously wrong, deeply uninformed, and totally sure Debate Team is real life.
Except now, in 2025? Everyone trusts him. www.lastwordonnothing.com/2025/11/10/a...
By @cragcrest.bsky.social
ChatGPT is that guy in law school, dangerously wrong, deeply uninformed, and totally sure Debate Team is real life.
Except now, in 2025? Everyone trusts him. www.lastwordonnothing.com/2025/11/10/a...
By @cragcrest.bsky.social
The Last Word On Nothing | AI is Full of Bullshit. Now It’s Faking Science
www.lastwordonnothing.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:10 PM
"Chat GPT is not hallucinating, it’s bullshitting,"
ChatGPT is that guy in law school, dangerously wrong, deeply uninformed, and totally sure Debate Team is real life.
Except now, in 2025? Everyone trusts him. www.lastwordonnothing.com/2025/11/10/a...
By @cragcrest.bsky.social
ChatGPT is that guy in law school, dangerously wrong, deeply uninformed, and totally sure Debate Team is real life.
Except now, in 2025? Everyone trusts him. www.lastwordonnothing.com/2025/11/10/a...
By @cragcrest.bsky.social
I don't know who needs this but sometimes I come up with petty curses.
Todays: I hope [your enemy] gets infected paper cuts every single time they touch a piece of paper. For the rest of their lives.
I hope every coffee order they ever make is incorrectly filled.
Todays: I hope [your enemy] gets infected paper cuts every single time they touch a piece of paper. For the rest of their lives.
I hope every coffee order they ever make is incorrectly filled.
November 10, 2025 at 3:43 PM
I don't know who needs this but sometimes I come up with petty curses.
Todays: I hope [your enemy] gets infected paper cuts every single time they touch a piece of paper. For the rest of their lives.
I hope every coffee order they ever make is incorrectly filled.
Todays: I hope [your enemy] gets infected paper cuts every single time they touch a piece of paper. For the rest of their lives.
I hope every coffee order they ever make is incorrectly filled.
I 100% used this as an excuse to drop Sir Stewart into my feed and I have no regrets for showcasing this awesome actor who makes it clear baldness is hot actually.
Sometimes my textbook chooses to drop the sickest burns.
We’ve reached the face and scalp portion of the book and it describes the scalp thusly “The scalp consists of skin (normally hair bearing)”
Burn. BURN.
youtube.com/shorts/tZQMJ...
We’ve reached the face and scalp portion of the book and it describes the scalp thusly “The scalp consists of skin (normally hair bearing)”
Burn. BURN.
youtube.com/shorts/tZQMJ...
Insomniac anatomy academy 368: scalp #science #stem #anatomy #sciencefacts #bald
YouTube video by Bethany Brookshire
youtube.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:34 PM
I 100% used this as an excuse to drop Sir Stewart into my feed and I have no regrets for showcasing this awesome actor who makes it clear baldness is hot actually.
Every time I talk about the adorable anatomy of babies I end up also having to pre-empt the comments: BABIES DID NOT EVOLVE TO BE CUTE.
It's a whole lot easier for us to change to THINK they are. The changes have anatomical uses, we just ALSO think they're cute.
Evo psych is a curse.
It's a whole lot easier for us to change to THINK they are. The changes have anatomical uses, we just ALSO think they're cute.
Evo psych is a curse.
Have you ever wondered why babies have such incredibly cute huge chubby cheeks?
So yes, the chubby cheeks look super cute, of course they do! But that’s not WHY babies have them. The chubby cheeks of babies are caused by buccal fat pads. And they are there because of suction.
So yes, the chubby cheeks look super cute, of course they do! But that’s not WHY babies have them. The chubby cheeks of babies are caused by buccal fat pads. And they are there because of suction.
November 10, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Every time I talk about the adorable anatomy of babies I end up also having to pre-empt the comments: BABIES DID NOT EVOLVE TO BE CUTE.
It's a whole lot easier for us to change to THINK they are. The changes have anatomical uses, we just ALSO think they're cute.
Evo psych is a curse.
It's a whole lot easier for us to change to THINK they are. The changes have anatomical uses, we just ALSO think they're cute.
Evo psych is a curse.
I blame Shel Silverstein for my weird fixation on whether my head is funny shaped. youtube.com/shorts/Cyg6j...
November 10, 2025 at 3:29 PM
I blame Shel Silverstein for my weird fixation on whether my head is funny shaped. youtube.com/shorts/Cyg6j...
Your face is filled with holes, but they take time to grow with the net result that babies cannot get sinus infections.
Lucky babies.
Lucky us for not having babies with sinus infections TBH
Lucky babies.
Lucky us for not having babies with sinus infections TBH
Newborn babies cannot get sinus infections because their sinuses are FULL.
So you have a ton of sinuses in your head ok. You’ve got four pairs in the skull, two above your eyes those are the frontal sinus, a bunch of little ones on the insides of your eyes called the ethmoid sinus...
So you have a ton of sinuses in your head ok. You’ve got four pairs in the skull, two above your eyes those are the frontal sinus, a bunch of little ones on the insides of your eyes called the ethmoid sinus...
November 10, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Your face is filled with holes, but they take time to grow with the net result that babies cannot get sinus infections.
Lucky babies.
Lucky us for not having babies with sinus infections TBH
Lucky babies.
Lucky us for not having babies with sinus infections TBH
Victor Ambros. Won the Nobel for discovering microRNA, and will shout from the rooftops forever how much he wanted his wife, who runs his lab, to share the prize with him.
Also he shops at Costco like the rest of us (got recognized there after his win).
www.snexplores.org/article/nobe...
Also he shops at Costco like the rest of us (got recognized there after his win).
www.snexplores.org/article/nobe...
November 9, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Victor Ambros. Won the Nobel for discovering microRNA, and will shout from the rooftops forever how much he wanted his wife, who runs his lab, to share the prize with him.
Also he shops at Costco like the rest of us (got recognized there after his win).
www.snexplores.org/article/nobe...
Also he shops at Costco like the rest of us (got recognized there after his win).
www.snexplores.org/article/nobe...
Katalin Karikò, she won the Nobel for learning how to tweak mRNA and led to the COVID vaccine (and now others). I interviewed her for a piece, and she was generous and kind. She LOVES inspiring new generations of scientists.
www.snexplores.org/article/nobe...
www.snexplores.org/article/nobe...
November 9, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Katalin Karikò, she won the Nobel for learning how to tweak mRNA and led to the COVID vaccine (and now others). I interviewed her for a piece, and she was generous and kind. She LOVES inspiring new generations of scientists.
www.snexplores.org/article/nobe...
www.snexplores.org/article/nobe...
A shout out to the amazing food service people who will use sneaky techniques to fill my reusable mug because companies are crap about it but we all want to reduce waste.
One guy had a dedicated pour mug for this purpose. He couldn’t touch my mug. He could just pour from another.
One guy had a dedicated pour mug for this purpose. He couldn’t touch my mug. He could just pour from another.
November 9, 2025 at 6:20 PM
A shout out to the amazing food service people who will use sneaky techniques to fill my reusable mug because companies are crap about it but we all want to reduce waste.
One guy had a dedicated pour mug for this purpose. He couldn’t touch my mug. He could just pour from another.
One guy had a dedicated pour mug for this purpose. He couldn’t touch my mug. He could just pour from another.
I have always wanted to feel like I'm living in a place where I can sip coffee and watch snowflakes dance outside huge, floor to ceiling windows. Magical.
But I'm by these floor to ceiling windows because I'm stranded in O'Hare and I gotta admit there's some magic lacking.
But I'm by these floor to ceiling windows because I'm stranded in O'Hare and I gotta admit there's some magic lacking.
November 9, 2025 at 5:18 PM
I have always wanted to feel like I'm living in a place where I can sip coffee and watch snowflakes dance outside huge, floor to ceiling windows. Magical.
But I'm by these floor to ceiling windows because I'm stranded in O'Hare and I gotta admit there's some magic lacking.
But I'm by these floor to ceiling windows because I'm stranded in O'Hare and I gotta admit there's some magic lacking.
This obit, pre-written by Sharon Begley before she passed...made me miss her amazing work. This is how you do it.
www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/j...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/j...
November 9, 2025 at 5:08 PM
This obit, pre-written by Sharon Begley before she passed...made me miss her amazing work. This is how you do it.
www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/j...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/j...
Hi! If you’re going to @sciencewriters.org I am pleased to see you and if I am looking at your badge it is because honestly I’m super bad at faces and I only know most of you from the Internet where you icon is like a pusheen plushie.
A+ for dressing as a pusheen tho if you do.
A+ for dressing as a pusheen tho if you do.
November 7, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Hi! If you’re going to @sciencewriters.org I am pleased to see you and if I am looking at your badge it is because honestly I’m super bad at faces and I only know most of you from the Internet where you icon is like a pusheen plushie.
A+ for dressing as a pusheen tho if you do.
A+ for dressing as a pusheen tho if you do.
The wonderful writers @sn-media-guild.bsky.social have been waiting on a fair contract almost long enough to gestate a baby elephant (620 days).
They have neither a contract NOR a baby elephant.
All they want is a contract, to be paid for their amazing expertise.
They have neither a contract NOR a baby elephant.
All they want is a contract, to be paid for their amazing expertise.
🚨 STRIKE ALERT: Journalists at Science News are on strike and holding a 12-hour picket outside of the office!
After 560 days of bargaining, the Science News Media Guild (@sn-media-guild.bsky.social) is demanding and fair contract NOW!
After 560 days of bargaining, the Science News Media Guild (@sn-media-guild.bsky.social) is demanding and fair contract NOW!
November 6, 2025 at 4:56 PM
The wonderful writers @sn-media-guild.bsky.social have been waiting on a fair contract almost long enough to gestate a baby elephant (620 days).
They have neither a contract NOR a baby elephant.
All they want is a contract, to be paid for their amazing expertise.
They have neither a contract NOR a baby elephant.
All they want is a contract, to be paid for their amazing expertise.
There's so many brains here it's like a little watercolor zombie buffet.
Holy shit. This is most of the 8x10 and 11x14 paintings I made for SfN in the past 6 weeks 😅 #sciart
That's a lot of brains
That's a lot of brains
November 5, 2025 at 6:03 PM
There's so many brains here it's like a little watercolor zombie buffet.
Reposted by Bethany Brookshire
We have fully remote workers who are essential to our publications. They get freedom to work wherever they can do their best work. Those of us in the DMV have to go sit in an office building 2 days a week where it is very difficult to work. Why?
Proud of my colleagues!!! These are some of the best int he business, and they deserve to be paid for their work, and to be allowed to work where they NEED to.
Workers of the Science News Media Guild will conduct a 24-hour #strike on Wednesday, 11/5. This comes after our members voted to reject the Society’s latest contract proposal. Our members previously voted by 92% to authorize a strike against the @society4science.bsky.social, if necessary.
November 5, 2025 at 4:51 PM
We have fully remote workers who are essential to our publications. They get freedom to work wherever they can do their best work. Those of us in the DMV have to go sit in an office building 2 days a week where it is very difficult to work. Why?
There are LOADS of anecdotes out there about how GLP-1s have rendered people unexpectedly fertile.
1. It's not precisely true.
2. But it's easy to see why people think so. Fertility is a tough, painful issue, and so many people suffer alone. www.nationalgeographic.com/health/artic...
1. It's not precisely true.
2. But it's easy to see why people think so. Fertility is a tough, painful issue, and so many people suffer alone. www.nationalgeographic.com/health/artic...
Is there really an Ozempic baby boom? The unexpected ways GLP-1s could influence fertility.
These medications may be influencing fertility in ways scientists are only beginning to understand.
www.nationalgeographic.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:47 PM
There are LOADS of anecdotes out there about how GLP-1s have rendered people unexpectedly fertile.
1. It's not precisely true.
2. But it's easy to see why people think so. Fertility is a tough, painful issue, and so many people suffer alone. www.nationalgeographic.com/health/artic...
1. It's not precisely true.
2. But it's easy to see why people think so. Fertility is a tough, painful issue, and so many people suffer alone. www.nationalgeographic.com/health/artic...
This is beautiful. I want to see the next gen of happy herpers!
The #FindThatLizard Scholarship is accepting applications until 12/10.
We fund girls, women, and gender non conforming persons pursuing herpetology🦎🐍🐸🐢
I can’t wait to read your application! earynmcgee.com/findthatliza...
We fund girls, women, and gender non conforming persons pursuing herpetology🦎🐍🐸🐢
I can’t wait to read your application! earynmcgee.com/findthatliza...
November 5, 2025 at 2:41 PM
This is beautiful. I want to see the next gen of happy herpers!
Reposted by Bethany Brookshire
Our remote employees are showing up today too!
I've got my @sn-media-guild.bsky.social gear on today in solidarity with my colleagues who are out on the picket line! (My cat is clearly impressed.)
November 5, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Our remote employees are showing up today too!
Reposted by Bethany Brookshire
You have to admire the bloody-minded ambition of a pelican trying to eat a whole capybara (who seems utterly unconcerned).
The thing with pelicans is that they have ONE super-power & their brains default to "get it in your mouth & deal with it later."
Let's talk about the gular sac of the pelican.
The thing with pelicans is that they have ONE super-power & their brains default to "get it in your mouth & deal with it later."
Let's talk about the gular sac of the pelican.
November 5, 2025 at 2:01 PM
You have to admire the bloody-minded ambition of a pelican trying to eat a whole capybara (who seems utterly unconcerned).
The thing with pelicans is that they have ONE super-power & their brains default to "get it in your mouth & deal with it later."
Let's talk about the gular sac of the pelican.
The thing with pelicans is that they have ONE super-power & their brains default to "get it in your mouth & deal with it later."
Let's talk about the gular sac of the pelican.
Reposted by Bethany Brookshire
We have spent 560 days at the negotiating table with @society4science.bsky.social. Today's work stoppage is painful to us, and now where we want to be. We deserve a fair contract!
November 5, 2025 at 1:53 PM
We have spent 560 days at the negotiating table with @society4science.bsky.social. Today's work stoppage is painful to us, and now where we want to be. We deserve a fair contract!
Reposted by Bethany Brookshire
Don't cross the picket line--no reading Science News today! These journalists deserve a fair contract that recognizes the value they bring to the company.
Workers of the Science News Media Guild will conduct a 24-hour #strike on Wednesday, 11/5. This comes after our members voted to reject the Society’s latest contract proposal. Our members previously voted by 92% to authorize a strike against the @society4science.bsky.social, if necessary.
November 5, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Don't cross the picket line--no reading Science News today! These journalists deserve a fair contract that recognizes the value they bring to the company.