Christian Elliott
@christianelliott.me
Science journalist & audio producer / Making podcasts at NASA / Other words in Nat Geo, The Atlantic, Science, Sci Am, Hakai, bioGraphic, Undark, etc. / Iowan 🌽
Views expressed here are my own.
Portfolio: christianelliott.me
Views expressed here are my own.
Portfolio: christianelliott.me
Pinned
Christian Elliott
@christianelliott.me
· Jun 30
You hear this a lot on the left but it isn't true. USAID did not "fail to tell its story to Americans," the right targeted the agency with lies and misinformation.
Ultimately this narrative turns conservative attacks into even more calls for the left to reform.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/29/o...
Ultimately this narrative turns conservative attacks into even more calls for the left to reform.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/29/o...
NASA just won an Emmy for our live broadcast of the total solar eclipse last year. We produced a documentary film about the James Webb Space Telescope that's out in theaters and on Netflix. We have podcasts, we write feature stories. People wear the agency logo on t-shirts. We're still getting cut.
Reposted by Christian Elliott
“The heating is going to be so big and so obvious that it will lead, for the first time, to a real global discussion of solar geoengineering as a response. I think that is tragic and also increasingly likely.” @billmckibben.bsky.social on the brewing El Niño and the next chapter of the climate fight
One thing that may dramatically shake up our political life on this planet is the advent of a strong new El Niño. (Also our, you know, life life)
billmckibben.substack.com/p/an-el-nino...
billmckibben.substack.com/p/an-el-nino...
An El Niño is brewing
And with it the next, pivotal, chapter of the climate fight.
billmckibben.substack.com
February 20, 2026 at 3:53 AM
“The heating is going to be so big and so obvious that it will lead, for the first time, to a real global discussion of solar geoengineering as a response. I think that is tragic and also increasingly likely.” @billmckibben.bsky.social on the brewing El Niño and the next chapter of the climate fight
Reposted by Christian Elliott
The snow this week has been very welcome, but we’re still way behind for the winter. Coverage of the implications of low mountain snowpack in The Atlantic:
The West’s Winter Has Been a Slow-Moving Catastrophe
Without snow in the mountains, the places that depend on the West’s rivers will hurt for water.
www.theatlantic.com
February 19, 2026 at 6:59 PM
The snow this week has been very welcome, but we’re still way behind for the winter. Coverage of the implications of low mountain snowpack in The Atlantic:
Reposted by Christian Elliott
I loved the piece & the interview, but idk if this is what "creative nonfiction" is. With the hed it's clear the piece is hypothetical, but to call it cnf the piece itself should make that clear. I think it's... deeply researched activist fiction? Genres don't matter but trust with the reader does.
So I asked her a bunch of questions, beginning with the choice to write this as "creative nonfiction," which she kindly answered! Interview here: www.niemanlab.org/2026/02/the-...
The Atlantic’s Elizabeth Bruenig on her “hypothetical,” heavily reported measles essay
"We were attracted to the idea of providing a play-by-play of the progression of measles in granular detail."
www.niemanlab.org
February 19, 2026 at 3:06 PM
I loved the piece & the interview, but idk if this is what "creative nonfiction" is. With the hed it's clear the piece is hypothetical, but to call it cnf the piece itself should make that clear. I think it's... deeply researched activist fiction? Genres don't matter but trust with the reader does.
Reposted by Christian Elliott
NIH director Bhattacharya responds to my article on X, calling it misleading. He denies that there is a "banned words list"
The only problem: My article never asserts there's a banned words list at NIH. I report that NIAID staff have been directed to modify "biodefense" and "pandemic preparedness".
The only problem: My article never asserts there's a banned words list at NIH. I report that NIAID staff have been directed to modify "biodefense" and "pandemic preparedness".
February 18, 2026 at 11:08 PM
NIH director Bhattacharya responds to my article on X, calling it misleading. He denies that there is a "banned words list"
The only problem: My article never asserts there's a banned words list at NIH. I report that NIAID staff have been directed to modify "biodefense" and "pandemic preparedness".
The only problem: My article never asserts there's a banned words list at NIH. I report that NIAID staff have been directed to modify "biodefense" and "pandemic preparedness".
maybe this is a stupid question but why do all AI models do this thing where they tell you something that's false and then you say "hey that's not true" and then they "go sorry, you're right"? Whenever I get the idea to mess around with one this happens to me and I give up & think they're useless.
February 18, 2026 at 7:56 PM
maybe this is a stupid question but why do all AI models do this thing where they tell you something that's false and then you say "hey that's not true" and then they "go sorry, you're right"? Whenever I get the idea to mess around with one this happens to me and I give up & think they're useless.
Some good tips in here for scientists talking to journalists:
How to wow a popular-science writer with your research expertise
Prepping for an interview with an author? Keep it simple, meet in person if possible, and stick to your subject, say five writers who regularly talk to scientists about their research.
www.nature.com
February 17, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Some good tips in here for scientists talking to journalists:
Reposted by Christian Elliott
I've transcribed dozens of interviews. With rare exceptions, everyone speaks with those um/uh tics, little restarts, hesitations, and most of us speak in sentence fragments with emphases, tones, pauses that create coherence not replicable in print. Spoken and written are distinct. Translate fairly.
February 16, 2026 at 8:52 PM
I've transcribed dozens of interviews. With rare exceptions, everyone speaks with those um/uh tics, little restarts, hesitations, and most of us speak in sentence fragments with emphases, tones, pauses that create coherence not replicable in print. Spoken and written are distinct. Translate fairly.
Reposted by Christian Elliott
Writing is thinking.
It's not some marginal boring task you can skip. It's the heart of it.
It's not some marginal boring task you can skip. It's the heart of it.
It’s easy to think writing is mainly the transcription of ideas you already have—that is, until you try to write something worthwhile, and you find what you thought were saying transform into something far more interesting in the process. This skips that last step, and that is *not* an improvement.
“We plan to hire an AI rewrite specialist to ingest the reporting by Hannah and others and use AI to convert it into stories.”
The editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer said it will use AI to ‘write’ its articles.
www.cleveland.com/news/2025/10...
The editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer said it will use AI to ‘write’ its articles.
www.cleveland.com/news/2025/10...
February 16, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Writing is thinking.
It's not some marginal boring task you can skip. It's the heart of it.
It's not some marginal boring task you can skip. It's the heart of it.
Reposted by Christian Elliott
Good essay. Would add that any attempt to assess public understanding/sentiment of science which doesn't attempt some kind of disaggregation of the public writ large is not going to have the necessary resolving power to actually measure what's going on.
Why we don’t really know what the public thinks about science
Measuring trust isn’t enough. Furthering knowledge about the institutions and norms of science is the best way to build credibility.
www.nature.com
February 16, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Good essay. Would add that any attempt to assess public understanding/sentiment of science which doesn't attempt some kind of disaggregation of the public writ large is not going to have the necessary resolving power to actually measure what's going on.
Reposted by Christian Elliott
NEW: Alarmingly low snow levels across a wide swath of the West augur nothing good for the coming wildfire season; @mollytaft.com reports
Record Low Snow in the West Will Mean Less Water, More Fire, and Political Chaos
Snowpack levels across a wide swath of Western US states are among the lowest seen in decades, even as regulators struggle to negotiate water rights in the region.
www.wired.com
February 13, 2026 at 6:29 PM
NEW: Alarmingly low snow levels across a wide swath of the West augur nothing good for the coming wildfire season; @mollytaft.com reports
Reposted by Christian Elliott
You can't... repeal... a scientific finding. At that point it's just called lying about it.
Breaking News: The Trump administration repealed the bedrock scientific finding that greenhouse gases threaten human life and well being, meaning that the EPA can no longer regulate them. nyti.ms/4rSszQu
February 12, 2026 at 8:38 PM
You can't... repeal... a scientific finding. At that point it's just called lying about it.
Reposted by Christian Elliott
Happy birthday to one of my favourite haters, Charles Darwin
February 12, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Happy birthday to one of my favourite haters, Charles Darwin
Reposted by Christian Elliott
Covering issues of scientific integrity, such as fraud, fabricated data, or problematic publishing practices? Maintaining good journalism practices is one way to avoid fueling mistrust as you cover flaws in science. 🧪
Reporting on Flaws in Science in an Era of Mistrust - The Open Notebook
Science journalism that reports on flaws in the scientific process operates in a fraught environment, with attacks on science and scientists worldwide and increasing concern about public mistrust in s...
www.theopennotebook.com
February 10, 2026 at 9:50 PM
Covering issues of scientific integrity, such as fraud, fabricated data, or problematic publishing practices? Maintaining good journalism practices is one way to avoid fueling mistrust as you cover flaws in science. 🧪
Man, the World Factbook was a load-bearing pillar of the American middle school experience. Spent so many hours cruising around on there (and on nationstates.net).
The CIA shut down its World Factbook. Graham: "This is different from the [Trump] administration’s assault on truth... It’s a series of steps that by design or in effect block access to data, and in doing so erode the concept of a shared frame for all Americans." www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...
America Is Losing the Facts That Hold It Together
The Trump administration is erasing the country’s shared understanding.
www.theatlantic.com
February 11, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Man, the World Factbook was a load-bearing pillar of the American middle school experience. Spent so many hours cruising around on there (and on nationstates.net).
One thing you'll learn about—the Orion spacecraft's "Flywheel Exercise Device," basically a space-age rowing machine. Representation for my favorite mode of at-home workout!
February 10, 2026 at 8:36 PM
One thing you'll learn about—the Orion spacecraft's "Flywheel Exercise Device," basically a space-age rowing machine. Representation for my favorite mode of at-home workout!
Reposted by Christian Elliott
The high proportion of US scientists among those recruited by France shows that “enthusiasm and morale for doing science is low” in the US, says Sharon Milgram, who led early-career researcher programs at NIH for nearly 20 years, until she retired in December.
By @lizziegibney.bsky.social and me
By @lizziegibney.bsky.social and me
February 10, 2026 at 3:56 PM
The high proportion of US scientists among those recruited by France shows that “enthusiasm and morale for doing science is low” in the US, says Sharon Milgram, who led early-career researcher programs at NIH for nearly 20 years, until she retired in December.
By @lizziegibney.bsky.social and me
By @lizziegibney.bsky.social and me
Fun fact: the Soviets proposed spreading coal dust over sea ice to melt it and gain access to Arctic routes during the Cold War. Kind of ironic that geopolitics are so central to this debate yet again
Black carbon: Soot that spews from ships is making Arctic ice melt even faster.
By Peter Prengaman @apnews.com
apnews.com/article/arct...
By Peter Prengaman @apnews.com
apnews.com/article/arct...
In the Arctic, the major climate threat of black carbon is overshadowed by geopolitical tensions
A coalition of nations and environmental groups is lobbying the International Maritime Organization to create regulations around black carbon, or soot, that spews from ships and blankets parts of glac...
apnews.com
February 10, 2026 at 5:17 PM
Fun fact: the Soviets proposed spreading coal dust over sea ice to melt it and gain access to Arctic routes during the Cold War. Kind of ironic that geopolitics are so central to this debate yet again
In our latest episode of NASA's Curious Universe podcast, I report out on the science behind the Artemis II mission—both the lunar observations the astronaut crew will make and the human health experiments of which they'll be the subjects.
Listen to the full episode:
www.nasa.gov/podcasts/cur...
Listen to the full episode:
www.nasa.gov/podcasts/cur...
February 10, 2026 at 4:28 PM
In our latest episode of NASA's Curious Universe podcast, I report out on the science behind the Artemis II mission—both the lunar observations the astronaut crew will make and the human health experiments of which they'll be the subjects.
Listen to the full episode:
www.nasa.gov/podcasts/cur...
Listen to the full episode:
www.nasa.gov/podcasts/cur...
There is a subpar doordasher in Chandler, Arizona and I know this because I keep getting angry texts from their customers about messed up deliveries lol. Somehow they all have my number
February 10, 2026 at 5:07 AM
There is a subpar doordasher in Chandler, Arizona and I know this because I keep getting angry texts from their customers about messed up deliveries lol. Somehow they all have my number
Reposted by Christian Elliott
Since the early days of the space program, astronauts have quarantined before missions because any illness could be disastrous. It’s eminently logical — not “extreme” — for athletes who’ve trained their WHOLE LIVES for one event to take similar precautions in order to stay in peak physical condition
For most people, the pandemic days of masking are behind us. In certain corners of the Winter Olympics, though, things still look a lot like they did in Covid times. Some athletes are taking extreme measures to stay healthy. n.pr/4akK70l
Olympic Covid restrictions are gone, but some athletes still self-quarantining
For most people, the pandemic days of masking are behind us. In certain corners of the Winter Olympics, though, things still look a lot like they did in Covid times. Some athletes are taking extreme measures to stay healthy.
n.pr
February 9, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Since the early days of the space program, astronauts have quarantined before missions because any illness could be disastrous. It’s eminently logical — not “extreme” — for athletes who’ve trained their WHOLE LIVES for one event to take similar precautions in order to stay in peak physical condition
Reposted by Christian Elliott
Bad Bunny performed part of the Super Bowl halftime show from a powerline set, drawing attention to the problem of widespread blackouts in Puerto Rico
Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show highlighted Puerto Rico's power grid. Here's why
Bad Bunny performed part of the Super Bowl halftime show from a powerline set, drawing attention to the problem of widespread blackouts in Puerto Rico
www.scientificamerican.com
February 9, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Bad Bunny performed part of the Super Bowl halftime show from a powerline set, drawing attention to the problem of widespread blackouts in Puerto Rico
gonna start telling people i was a bush in the bad bunny superbowl 60 halftime show
February 9, 2026 at 3:23 PM
gonna start telling people i was a bush in the bad bunny superbowl 60 halftime show
Reposted by Christian Elliott
I will eventually shut up about this but Bad Bunny’s use of the power lines is an outstanding example of how to communicate about climate and energy issues. Not about who is the smartest nerd in the room and spewing numbers but about people’s actual lives. Genius.
February 9, 2026 at 2:29 AM
I will eventually shut up about this but Bad Bunny’s use of the power lines is an outstanding example of how to communicate about climate and energy issues. Not about who is the smartest nerd in the room and spewing numbers but about people’s actual lives. Genius.
I was waiting so long for the bushes to dance
February 9, 2026 at 1:48 AM
I was waiting so long for the bushes to dance
The drone shots are pretty cool but I hate the whining sound. Can't they pipe in one of the other 100 mics along the hill??
The follow cam on the luge is really great
February 8, 2026 at 6:04 AM
The drone shots are pretty cool but I hate the whining sound. Can't they pipe in one of the other 100 mics along the hill??