Eva Amsen
@evaamsen.com
Science writer. π³π±πͺπΊinπ¬π§ I write about science in magazines, in a newsletter, in books, on social media and on loose scraps of paper. Also a violinist. π¬π§¬π©βπ»π¨π» π Fun newsletter: https://mixture.substack.com Portfolio: https://evaamsen.com/writing/
What was up with that anyway? Are dogs just healthier now? Is their food better? Or are more people picking up poo so we simply see less poo of any colour?
January 9, 2026 at 3:21 PM
What was up with that anyway? Are dogs just healthier now? Is their food better? Or are more people picking up poo so we simply see less poo of any colour?
Thanks for this reminder to clean the top of the fridge before having tall guests over.
January 6, 2026 at 9:31 PM
Thanks for this reminder to clean the top of the fridge before having tall guests over.
Scicomm/sciwriting coworking sessions are back from holiday break! They're at 2PM UK time on Thursdays, so the next one is January 8th. This all takes place on Discord, so just follow the link, explore the #scicomm coworking server and you'll find the link we use on Thursdays. discord.gg/MDSC8Ny7dd
Join the SciComm Coworking Discord Server!
This is a place for science communicators, science writers and scientists to work on scicomm projects and share tips. | 523 members
discord.gg
January 6, 2026 at 4:34 PM
Scicomm/sciwriting coworking sessions are back from holiday break! They're at 2PM UK time on Thursdays, so the next one is January 8th. This all takes place on Discord, so just follow the link, explore the #scicomm coworking server and you'll find the link we use on Thursdays. discord.gg/MDSC8Ny7dd
You need to figure out where you can upload a DNS record. For me it was somewhere in my cpanel but sometimes it's on a dashboard at the place where you registered the domain or host the site. Then you create a new TXT record with the info Bluesky gives you when you follow the steps from the settings
January 6, 2026 at 1:42 PM
You need to figure out where you can upload a DNS record. For me it was somewhere in my cpanel but sometimes it's on a dashboard at the place where you registered the domain or host the site. Then you create a new TXT record with the info Bluesky gives you when you follow the steps from the settings
In an attempt to get more organized this year, I've updated my handle here to my domain name. Wow, so professional.
January 6, 2026 at 1:03 PM
In an attempt to get more organized this year, I've updated my handle here to my domain name. Wow, so professional.
Iβm updating my scicomm guide for the first time since January 2020. I was expecting changes related to the post-covid world, but also had to deal with addressing AI and scrubbing every mention of the birdsite.
January 5, 2026 at 4:56 PM
Iβm updating my scicomm guide for the first time since January 2020. I was expecting changes related to the post-covid world, but also had to deal with addressing AI and scrubbing every mention of the birdsite.
That's perfect, because yesterday I found a VERY discounted Christmas cheese board on sale. Still well before the "best before" date; they only discounted it because it had christmas branding.
January 5, 2026 at 1:09 PM
That's perfect, because yesterday I found a VERY discounted Christmas cheese board on sale. Still well before the "best before" date; they only discounted it because it had christmas branding.
Reposted by Eva Amsen
Can We Save Wine from Wildfires? The industry has lost billions of dollars, largely because smoke makes the drink taste like licking an ashtray (smoke taint). Now a team of scientists is chasing a solution. www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Can We Save Wine from Wildfires?
The industry has lost billions of dollars, largely because smoke makes the drink taste like licking an ashtray. Now a team of scientists is chasing a solution.
www.newyorker.com
January 5, 2026 at 1:06 PM
Can We Save Wine from Wildfires? The industry has lost billions of dollars, largely because smoke makes the drink taste like licking an ashtray (smoke taint). Now a team of scientists is chasing a solution. www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
This whole saga reminds me of the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus, although that was a deliberate test for internet literacy. AI today is not internet literate enough to distinguish fact from fiction. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific...
Pacific Northwest tree octopus - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
January 5, 2026 at 12:41 PM
This whole saga reminds me of the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus, although that was a deliberate test for internet literacy. AI today is not internet literate enough to distinguish fact from fiction. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific...
This is why I use Zoom. It's much more suitable for anyone who isn't a company.
January 5, 2026 at 12:33 PM
This is why I use Zoom. It's much more suitable for anyone who isn't a company.
I don't need a fully functional paid account as a freelancer - I just need to be able to hop on other people's calls, so I don't have an "organisation". But since one client added me as a guest to their organisation, I'm now always defaulted to that instead of my own independent self.
January 5, 2026 at 12:33 PM
I don't need a fully functional paid account as a freelancer - I just need to be able to hop on other people's calls, so I don't have an "organisation". But since one client added me as a guest to their organisation, I'm now always defaulted to that instead of my own independent self.
I spent way too much of this morning troubleshooting a Teams setting only to find out that it's a "feature" not a bug. Here's someone with the EXACT same problem and the response is that it's just supposed to default you to a random client. learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answer...
January 5, 2026 at 12:33 PM
I spent way too much of this morning troubleshooting a Teams setting only to find out that it's a "feature" not a bug. Here's someone with the EXACT same problem and the response is that it's just supposed to default you to a random client. learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answer...
I've been meaning to read this! People keep writing books faster than I can read them.
January 5, 2026 at 9:39 AM
I've been meaning to read this! People keep writing books faster than I can read them.
This is still heavily discounted for the next 10 days. If you're a @notion.com user and a freelance writer, grab it while it's cheap and get organised in 2026!
Features:
βοΈTrack your articles from pitch to invoice
βοΈLinked databases match clients to articles to editors
βοΈPage to set quarterly goals
Features:
βοΈTrack your articles from pitch to invoice
βοΈLinked databases match clients to articles to editors
βοΈPage to set quarterly goals
A while ago I created a @notion.com template for freelance writers. It's quite a complicated set of linked databases, so I usually charge $12 for it but because everyone wants to start 2026 more productive, it's 75% off until January 15th! So now you can get organised for only $3. payhip.com/b/v2wLM
Notion template: Freelance Writing Hub & Article Tracker
This Notion template is created specifically for freelance journalists and writers who pitch articles to editors. The simple design and all functionality is completely customisable to fit your needs.T...
payhip.com
January 5, 2026 at 9:29 AM
This is still heavily discounted for the next 10 days. If you're a @notion.com user and a freelance writer, grab it while it's cheap and get organised in 2026!
Features:
βοΈTrack your articles from pitch to invoice
βοΈLinked databases match clients to articles to editors
βοΈPage to set quarterly goals
Features:
βοΈTrack your articles from pitch to invoice
βοΈLinked databases match clients to articles to editors
βοΈPage to set quarterly goals
@reveleth.com Thought you might like some eel history
January 1, 2026 at 10:42 PM
@reveleth.com Thought you might like some eel history
They're in for a big surprise when it goes down to -10
January 1, 2026 at 5:23 PM
They're in for a big surprise when it goes down to -10
This is definitely true for London, UK.
January 1, 2026 at 5:12 PM
This is definitely true for London, UK.
If you think introverts are often smart (e.g. because they're quietly thinking through a problem), do you also think cats are smarter than dogs?
If you think extroverts are often smart (e.g. because they have the confidence to bring their ideas forward) do you also think dogs are smarter than cats?
If you think extroverts are often smart (e.g. because they have the confidence to bring their ideas forward) do you also think dogs are smarter than cats?
January 1, 2026 at 5:07 PM
If you think introverts are often smart (e.g. because they're quietly thinking through a problem), do you also think cats are smarter than dogs?
If you think extroverts are often smart (e.g. because they have the confidence to bring their ideas forward) do you also think dogs are smarter than cats?
If you think extroverts are often smart (e.g. because they have the confidence to bring their ideas forward) do you also think dogs are smarter than cats?
A random theory I have: Cats and dogs are about equally intelligent, but people think of one being as smarter than the other based on how they think about introverts/extroverts. (see next post)
January 1, 2026 at 5:07 PM
A random theory I have: Cats and dogs are about equally intelligent, but people think of one being as smarter than the other based on how they think about introverts/extroverts. (see next post)
One time a Canadian friend asked me if the Netherlands had any interesting wild animals (like how Canada has moose and beavers) and I immediately said βseals!β
(There are also boars and deer and other forest creatures, but to me the seals from the Waddenzee are the most iconic Dutch wildlife.)
(There are also boars and deer and other forest creatures, but to me the seals from the Waddenzee are the most iconic Dutch wildlife.)
Often brutal, always beautiful: the sea hounds of the Frisian Islands β in pictures
Often brutal, always beautiful: the sea hounds of the Frisian Islands β in pictures
For 10 years, the scientist and photographer Jeroen Hoekendijk has been observing pinnipeds (seals, sea lions and walruses) on the fragile North Sea archipelago. Highly susceptible to warming and rising seas, the islands act as an advance warning sign of the climate crisis
www.theguardian.com
January 1, 2026 at 8:53 AM
One time a Canadian friend asked me if the Netherlands had any interesting wild animals (like how Canada has moose and beavers) and I immediately said βseals!β
(There are also boars and deer and other forest creatures, but to me the seals from the Waddenzee are the most iconic Dutch wildlife.)
(There are also boars and deer and other forest creatures, but to me the seals from the Waddenzee are the most iconic Dutch wildlife.)
Happy New Year! In the last few hours of the year I managed to find a safe temporary home for a stray cat that had been in our garden for the last few days. Here he is in our bathroom but heβs now with my catsitter and got inside before the worst of the fireworks and frost.
January 1, 2026 at 8:37 AM
Happy New Year! In the last few hours of the year I managed to find a safe temporary home for a stray cat that had been in our garden for the last few days. Here he is in our bathroom but heβs now with my catsitter and got inside before the worst of the fireworks and frost.
This year has not always been the best, but I thought it was a surprisingly good year for music. I made a playlist with a selection of tracks from some of the 2025 albums I enjoyed. I put thought in the order so donβt just shuffle. Itβs a mixtape! open.spotify.com/playlist/3FT...
Spotify β Web Player
open.spotify.com
December 31, 2025 at 8:19 PM
This year has not always been the best, but I thought it was a surprisingly good year for music. I made a playlist with a selection of tracks from some of the 2025 albums I enjoyed. I put thought in the order so donβt just shuffle. Itβs a mixtape! open.spotify.com/playlist/3FT...