Kristina Killgrove
@killgrove.bsky.social
Staff writer @LiveScience.com
Email: kkillgrove@livescience.com
Web: Livescience.com/author/kristina-killgrove
PhD in anthropology, MA in classical archaeology. Former professor & Roman bioarchaeologist.
I crochet and bake a lot. Time zone: US Eastern
Email: kkillgrove@livescience.com
Web: Livescience.com/author/kristina-killgrove
PhD in anthropology, MA in classical archaeology. Former professor & Roman bioarchaeologist.
I crochet and bake a lot. Time zone: US Eastern
Pinned
Being a science writer right now is like…
9am - Coffee and constitutional crisis!
10am - Read a neat study on 5000-year-old beads.
11am - US science funding is off/on/off/on!
Noon - Email a researcher about Iron Age skeletons.
Afternoon - More constitutional crises and screaming into the void!
9am - Coffee and constitutional crisis!
10am - Read a neat study on 5000-year-old beads.
11am - US science funding is off/on/off/on!
Noon - Email a researcher about Iron Age skeletons.
Afternoon - More constitutional crises and screaming into the void!
One of the two human evolution news roundups I wrote to close out the year! 🧪🏺
10 things we learned about our human ancestors in 2025
Findings about our human ancestors continue to surprise us, especially those from 2025.
www.livescience.com
December 26, 2025 at 3:07 PM
One of the two human evolution news roundups I wrote to close out the year! 🧪🏺
Reposted by Kristina Killgrove
Home Depot Introduces New 12-Foot-Tall Baby Jesus Skeleton https://theonion.com/home-depot-introduces-new-12-foot-tall-baby-jesus-skele-1851069460/
December 25, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Home Depot Introduces New 12-Foot-Tall Baby Jesus Skeleton https://theonion.com/home-depot-introduces-new-12-foot-tall-baby-jesus-skele-1851069460/
Reposted by Kristina Killgrove
This story is absolutely wild. Did you know that avocados change sex over the course of a day? And that it's controlled by a single ancient balanced polymorphism? This is flat our crazy
Balanced polymorphism in a floral transcription factor underlies an ancient rhythm of daily sex alternation in avocado https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.22.695989v1
December 25, 2025 at 6:33 AM
This story is absolutely wild. Did you know that avocados change sex over the course of a day? And that it's controlled by a single ancient balanced polymorphism? This is flat our crazy
Reposted by Kristina Killgrove
This week’s astonishing artifact (holiday edition) is the Holy Crib: five pieces of centuries-old sycamore wood that many believe are from Jesus’ manger. 🏺🧪
Reliquary of the Holy Crib: Remains of Jesus' manger from Bethlehem
Five pieces of wood in a silver-and-gold container at a basilica in Rome may be the remains of the manger Jesus was laid on when he was born.
www.livescience.com
December 22, 2025 at 1:43 PM
This week’s astonishing artifact (holiday edition) is the Holy Crib: five pieces of centuries-old sycamore wood that many believe are from Jesus’ manger. 🏺🧪
Reposted by Kristina Killgrove
If you’re wondering why your friends in academia are a little on edge right now, it’s because an eighteen-year-old who hasn’t done the reading, doesn’t look at the assignment, and has does no critical thinking skills more complex than “because I think it’s in the Bible” can literally end your career
The University of Oklahoma has removed an instructor who was accused by a student of religious discrimination over a failing grade on a psychology paper in which she cited the Bible and argued that promoting a “belief in multiple genders” was “demonic.” https://cnn.it/4b6g3rd
Oklahoma instructor removed from teaching for failing a Bible-based gender essay | CNN
The University of Oklahoma has removed an instructor who was accused by a student of religious discrimination over a failing grade on a psychology paper in which she cited the Bible and argued that promoting a “belief in multiple genders” was “demonic.”
cnn.it
December 24, 2025 at 6:21 PM
If you’re wondering why your friends in academia are a little on edge right now, it’s because an eighteen-year-old who hasn’t done the reading, doesn’t look at the assignment, and has does no critical thinking skills more complex than “because I think it’s in the Bible” can literally end your career
Reposted by Kristina Killgrove
Pennsylvania joined 18 states and the District of Columbia Tuesday in a lawsuit challenging a Health and Human Services declaration last week that health care facilities offering gender-affirming care to minors would be barred from Medicare and Medicaid.
From @marylandmatters.org.web.brid.gy
From @marylandmatters.org.web.brid.gy
Pa. joins 18 states to reject plan to block gender-affirming -- what HHS calls 'sex rejecting' -- care • Pennsylvania Capital-Star
Pennsylvania joined 18 states and the District of Columbia Tuesday in a suit challenging a Health and Human Services declaration last week that health care facilities offering gender-affirming care to...
penncapital-star.com
December 24, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Pennsylvania joined 18 states and the District of Columbia Tuesday in a lawsuit challenging a Health and Human Services declaration last week that health care facilities offering gender-affirming care to minors would be barred from Medicare and Medicaid.
From @marylandmatters.org.web.brid.gy
From @marylandmatters.org.web.brid.gy
Reposted by Kristina Killgrove
I am an evolutionary biologist (though publishing more in medicine these days). I think trans modality is an evolutionary spandrel. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spandre...
December 24, 2025 at 2:57 AM
I am an evolutionary biologist (though publishing more in medicine these days). I think trans modality is an evolutionary spandrel. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spandre...
Reposted by Kristina Killgrove
Wrote this: Two ancient humans, including famed ‘Iceman,’ had cancer-causing virus | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...
Two ancient humans, including famed ‘Iceman,’ had cancer-causing virus
Findings from ancient DNA may shed light on HPV’s history in our species
www.science.org
December 23, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Wrote this: Two ancient humans, including famed ‘Iceman,’ had cancer-causing virus | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Kristina Killgrove
Need inspiration for your Saturnalia parties? 🥂 Villa curator Judith is here to help! 🏺
Thirsty for more information on these drinking vessels? Dive into this thread to learn more. ⬇️
#museumfinds #homegoodsfinds
Thirsty for more information on these drinking vessels? Dive into this thread to learn more. ⬇️
#museumfinds #homegoodsfinds
December 23, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Need inspiration for your Saturnalia parties? 🥂 Villa curator Judith is here to help! 🏺
Thirsty for more information on these drinking vessels? Dive into this thread to learn more. ⬇️
#museumfinds #homegoodsfinds
Thirsty for more information on these drinking vessels? Dive into this thread to learn more. ⬇️
#museumfinds #homegoodsfinds
Reposted by Kristina Killgrove
yet another desperate story about elite universities and their treatment of the dead — this time from Harvard
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/u...
Ex-Harvard Medical Morgue Manager Who Sold Body Parts Gets 8-Year Sentence
www.nytimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 9:54 PM
yet another desperate story about elite universities and their treatment of the dead — this time from Harvard
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/u...
Reposted by Kristina Killgrove
BREAKING: The Supreme Court rejects the Trump administration’s request to deploy National Guard troops in Illinois at this time, over the dissenting votes of Justices Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch.
Background: www.lawdork.com/p/trump-admi...
Background: www.lawdork.com/p/trump-admi...
![We conclude that the term "regular forces" in §12406(3) likely refers to the regular forces of the United States mili-tary. This interpretation means that to call the Guard into active federal service under § 12406(3), the President must be "unable" with the regular military "to execute the laws of the United States." Because the statute requires an assessment of the military's ability to execute the laws, it likely applies only where the military could legally execute the laws. Such circumstances are exceptional: Under the Posse Comitatus Act, the military is prohibited from "execut[ing] the laws" "except in cases and under circumstances expressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress.
18 U.S. C. §1385. So before the President can federalize the Guard under §12406(3), he likely must have statutory or constitutional authority to execute the laws with the regular military and must be "unable" with those forces to perform that function.
At this preliminary stage, the Government has failed to identify a source of authority that would allow the military to execute the laws in Illinois. The President has not invoked a statute that provides an exception to the Posse](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:36eqtmzysqf7wsslczw4uxcd/bafkreibdsy2sqw2yxt3ztz7pwc6pigtulgalqxwwnzxhlmyg2ntchkswwu@jpeg)
![Comitatus Act. Instead, he relies on inherent constitutional authority that, according to the Government, allows him to use the military to protect federal personnel and property. But the Government also claims-consistent with the longstanding view of the Executive Branch-that performing such protective functions does not constitute
"executing] the laws" within the meaning of the Posse Comitatus Act. See Supp. Letter Reply Brief for Applicants
8; 1 Supp. Op. OLC 343, n. 1 (1971) (collecting sources). If that is correct, it is hard to see how performing those functions could constitute "executing] the laws" under
§12406(3). See Azar v. Allina Health Services, 587 U.S. 566, 574 (2019) ("This Court does not lightly assume that Congress silently attaches different meanings to the same term in e same or related statutes"). Thus, at least in this posture, the Government has not carried its burden to show that §12406(3) permits the President to federalize the Guard in the exercise of inherent authority to protect federal personnel and property in Illinois. We need not and do not address the reviewability of findi „s made by the Pres-
ident under §12406(3) or any other statute.
The application for stay is denied.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:36eqtmzysqf7wsslczw4uxcd/bafkreid5gspjdv7pcrmexr4orqigpujw2rnwoyphysinbcbwarn23rzim4@jpeg)
December 23, 2025 at 8:24 PM
BREAKING: The Supreme Court rejects the Trump administration’s request to deploy National Guard troops in Illinois at this time, over the dissenting votes of Justices Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch.
Background: www.lawdork.com/p/trump-admi...
Background: www.lawdork.com/p/trump-admi...
Reposted by Kristina Killgrove
According to the Hopkins/IVAC measles tracker, the SC outbreak is the third largest in the US this year. The nation has now surpassed 2K cases, the most since 1992.
December 23, 2025 at 7:09 PM
According to the Hopkins/IVAC measles tracker, the SC outbreak is the third largest in the US this year. The nation has now surpassed 2K cases, the most since 1992.
Reposted by Kristina Killgrove
This means the VA won't cover abortions EVEN in the case of rape, incest, or serious threat to the health of the patient.
The DOJ memo was authored by Josh Craddock, one of the chief legal advocates for fetal personhood, i.e. imposing a nationwide abortion ban through the courts.
The DOJ memo was authored by Josh Craddock, one of the chief legal advocates for fetal personhood, i.e. imposing a nationwide abortion ban through the courts.
🚨🚨 SCOOP @ms.now : The Department of Veteran Affairs has quietly implemented its abortion ban following a DOJ memo issued last week.
This will affect 9 million veterans and their dependents, and has been a long time coming: It was outlined in Project 2025.
Read/share 👇
This will affect 9 million veterans and their dependents, and has been a long time coming: It was outlined in Project 2025.
Read/share 👇
Department of Veterans Affairs quietly implements abortion ban
A VA spokesperson confirmed to MS NOW that the ban was in place following a Department of Justice memo issued last week.
www.ms.now
December 23, 2025 at 7:18 PM
This means the VA won't cover abortions EVEN in the case of rape, incest, or serious threat to the health of the patient.
The DOJ memo was authored by Josh Craddock, one of the chief legal advocates for fetal personhood, i.e. imposing a nationwide abortion ban through the courts.
The DOJ memo was authored by Josh Craddock, one of the chief legal advocates for fetal personhood, i.e. imposing a nationwide abortion ban through the courts.
Reposted by Kristina Killgrove
It's pretty disgusting for the BBC to be using genAI slop images in an article about slavery of all things
www.bbc.co.uk/news/extra/1...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/extra/1...
December 23, 2025 at 12:12 PM
It's pretty disgusting for the BBC to be using genAI slop images in an article about slavery of all things
www.bbc.co.uk/news/extra/1...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/extra/1...
Reposted by Kristina Killgrove
"Researchers found that withdrawing support for rapidly advancing mRNA vaccine technology could result in over 49,000 preventable deaths annually among patients diagnosed with four major cancers..."
Pro-death administration.
Pro-death administration.
A new report from researchers at the Yale School of Public Health warns that the U.S. government’s abrupt cancellation of funding for mRNA vaccine research could have devastating health and economic consequences for the nation.
New report sounds alarm on health fallout from mRNA vaccine funding cuts
A new report from the Yale School of Public Health warns that the U.S. government’s abrupt cancellation of funding for mRNA vaccine research could have
ysph.yale.edu
December 22, 2025 at 8:55 PM
"Researchers found that withdrawing support for rapidly advancing mRNA vaccine technology could result in over 49,000 preventable deaths annually among patients diagnosed with four major cancers..."
Pro-death administration.
Pro-death administration.
Reposted by Kristina Killgrove
If you got a problem, yo, I'll solvent, check out the gunk, isopropyl dissolves it
December 22, 2025 at 6:33 PM
If you got a problem, yo, I'll solvent, check out the gunk, isopropyl dissolves it
Reposted by Kristina Killgrove
suspect a big reason why many academics and others who work in areas where getting facts RIGHT is key are disinterested in using LLMs for research:
they’ve tried it, they keep noticing major errors in output, and they conclude that having to verify all that doesn’t actually save them time.
they’ve tried it, they keep noticing major errors in output, and they conclude that having to verify all that doesn’t actually save them time.
December 21, 2025 at 4:16 PM
suspect a big reason why many academics and others who work in areas where getting facts RIGHT is key are disinterested in using LLMs for research:
they’ve tried it, they keep noticing major errors in output, and they conclude that having to verify all that doesn’t actually save them time.
they’ve tried it, they keep noticing major errors in output, and they conclude that having to verify all that doesn’t actually save them time.
This week’s astonishing artifact (holiday edition) is the Holy Crib: five pieces of centuries-old sycamore wood that many believe are from Jesus’ manger. 🏺🧪
Reliquary of the Holy Crib: Remains of Jesus' manger from Bethlehem
Five pieces of wood in a silver-and-gold container at a basilica in Rome may be the remains of the manger Jesus was laid on when he was born.
www.livescience.com
December 22, 2025 at 1:43 PM
This week’s astonishing artifact (holiday edition) is the Holy Crib: five pieces of centuries-old sycamore wood that many believe are from Jesus’ manger. 🏺🧪
Reposted by Kristina Killgrove
1. BREAKING
Sharyn Alfonsi, a correspondent for 60 Minutes, sent an internal email to colleagues stating that CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss “spiked our story” about the Trump administration and the transfer of deportees to a prison in El Salvador.
Sharyn Alfonsi, a correspondent for 60 Minutes, sent an internal email to colleagues stating that CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss “spiked our story” about the Trump administration and the transfer of deportees to a prison in El Salvador.
December 22, 2025 at 3:34 AM
1. BREAKING
Sharyn Alfonsi, a correspondent for 60 Minutes, sent an internal email to colleagues stating that CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss “spiked our story” about the Trump administration and the transfer of deportees to a prison in El Salvador.
Sharyn Alfonsi, a correspondent for 60 Minutes, sent an internal email to colleagues stating that CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss “spiked our story” about the Trump administration and the transfer of deportees to a prison in El Salvador.
Reposted by Kristina Killgrove
Alright scientists! It's that time again!
Time to sign up for Skype a Scientist's spring semester.
Want to get matched with a classroom in 2026?
Sign up now 🥰
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Time to sign up for Skype a Scientist's spring semester.
Want to get matched with a classroom in 2026?
Sign up now 🥰
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
December 10, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Alright scientists! It's that time again!
Time to sign up for Skype a Scientist's spring semester.
Want to get matched with a classroom in 2026?
Sign up now 🥰
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Time to sign up for Skype a Scientist's spring semester.
Want to get matched with a classroom in 2026?
Sign up now 🥰
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Reposted by Kristina Killgrove
people have been wearing binders since *antiquity*
Wild to me that they’re still even trying to pretend they’re terrorizing trans people to “protect children” when they’re now targeting companies for selling gender-affirming products that don’t permanently change a body at all www.advocate.com/politics/fda...
Trump's FDA sends warning letters to companies selling chest binders
Trump's FDA claims that companies selling chest binders have "misbranded" medical devices.
www.advocate.com
December 21, 2025 at 3:13 PM
people have been wearing binders since *antiquity*
Reposted by Kristina Killgrove
“Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. came within hours of publicly promoting Denmark’s childhood vaccine schedule as an option for American parents — before legal &political concerns got in the way…the HHS Office of the General Counsel said it would invite a lawsuit the administration could lose”
RFK Jr. wanted to endorse the Danish vaccine schedule. He was forced to pull back.
Legal and political concerns prompted the health department to cancel a planned announcement on Friday, officials said.
www.politico.com
December 21, 2025 at 3:18 PM
“Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. came within hours of publicly promoting Denmark’s childhood vaccine schedule as an option for American parents — before legal &political concerns got in the way…the HHS Office of the General Counsel said it would invite a lawsuit the administration could lose”
Reposted by Kristina Killgrove
A student's paper just described the interaction between Homo sapiens and Neandertals as "a situationship rather than a relationship" and I'm still laughing ten minutes later 💀🏺
December 21, 2025 at 1:12 AM
A student's paper just described the interaction between Homo sapiens and Neandertals as "a situationship rather than a relationship" and I'm still laughing ten minutes later 💀🏺
Reposted by Kristina Killgrove
Behold: the first-ever list of news outlets that have banned generative AI in their reporting. As of today, this is literally information that you cannot find on Google.
My goal is to fill the starter pack, so please send over suggestions with supporting evidence!
go.bsky.app/8cn1XfT
My goal is to fill the starter pack, so please send over suggestions with supporting evidence!
go.bsky.app/8cn1XfT
December 17, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Behold: the first-ever list of news outlets that have banned generative AI in their reporting. As of today, this is literally information that you cannot find on Google.
My goal is to fill the starter pack, so please send over suggestions with supporting evidence!
go.bsky.app/8cn1XfT
My goal is to fill the starter pack, so please send over suggestions with supporting evidence!
go.bsky.app/8cn1XfT
Reposted by Kristina Killgrove
“Rather than relying on an implant or a patient's own body fat to add volume to hips or augment breasts, alloClae — which can cost as much as $100,000 per procedure — uses donor fat from a cadaver as a first-of-its-kind body filler.”
Corporate types are clamoring for a new kind of plastic surgery — using dead people's fat
Corporate types are waiting weeks for — and spending big on — alloClae, which cuts out the recovery time typically associated with body enhancements.
www.businessinsider.com
December 20, 2025 at 5:05 PM
“Rather than relying on an implant or a patient's own body fat to add volume to hips or augment breasts, alloClae — which can cost as much as $100,000 per procedure — uses donor fat from a cadaver as a first-of-its-kind body filler.”