Maya Wei-Haas, PhD
@mayaweihaas.bsky.social
Science writer | Lover of rocks and rxns | Ex-National Geographic reporter | Words at NYT, Science Mag, Smithsonian, & more | Author of What a Rock Can Reveal | Follow for geology and weird happenings on Earth and beyond!
https://bio.site/mayaweihaas
https://bio.site/mayaweihaas
Pinned
Hiya! I've been quiet here, but want to fix that. SO let me re-introduce myself:
I'm a freelance writer who revels in the weird and wonderful on our world and beyond! I write about all things geology/Earth science and dabble in early humans. Words at NYT, Science Mag, Natgeo, Smithsonian, & more ⚒️
I'm a freelance writer who revels in the weird and wonderful on our world and beyond! I write about all things geology/Earth science and dabble in early humans. Words at NYT, Science Mag, Natgeo, Smithsonian, & more ⚒️
Reposted by Maya Wei-Haas, PhD
Seismic monitoring stations in Alaska are closing after a denied federal grant, risking delayed tsunami warnings for people living on the West Coast ⚒️
www.nbcnews.com/science/tsun...
www.nbcnews.com/science/tsun...
U.S. tsunami warning system, reeling from funding and staffing cuts, is dealt another blow
Seismic monitoring stations in Alaska are closing after a denied federal grant, risking delayed tsunami warnings for people living on the West Coast.
www.nbcnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Seismic monitoring stations in Alaska are closing after a denied federal grant, risking delayed tsunami warnings for people living on the West Coast ⚒️
www.nbcnews.com/science/tsun...
www.nbcnews.com/science/tsun...
Reposted by Maya Wei-Haas, PhD
Kīlauea episode 35 has arrived. The double fountain shot is from one of the HVO interns, Christina. All are taken from the public viewing areas.
October 18, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Kīlauea episode 35 has arrived. The double fountain shot is from one of the HVO interns, Christina. All are taken from the public viewing areas.
Reposted by Maya Wei-Haas, PhD
For those who are curious about the #qld earthquake on Saturday morning here is an article in the @aunz.theconversation.com written by @deeninis.bsky.social and @mojtabarajabi.bsky.social - why does Australia get earthquakes when it isn’t close to any plate boundaries? Read to find out more.
Why does Australia have earthquakes? The whole continent is under stress from distant forces
Australia is a long way from the tectonic plate boundaries where most earthquakes happen – but we can’t escape the forces they create.
theconversation.com
August 19, 2025 at 11:02 AM
For those who are curious about the #qld earthquake on Saturday morning here is an article in the @aunz.theconversation.com written by @deeninis.bsky.social and @mojtabarajabi.bsky.social - why does Australia get earthquakes when it isn’t close to any plate boundaries? Read to find out more.
Reposted by Maya Wei-Haas, PhD
🧪⚒️ Have you seen our latest paper in Journal of Anatomy?
We trace the origin of air sacs in pterosaurs back to their Triassic forerunners. Using micro-CT on the pterosauromorph Venetoraptor, we show invasive air sacs were in place before true pterosaurs.
We trace the origin of air sacs in pterosaurs back to their Triassic forerunners. Using micro-CT on the pterosauromorph Venetoraptor, we show invasive air sacs were in place before true pterosaurs.
August 19, 2025 at 11:26 AM
🧪⚒️ Have you seen our latest paper in Journal of Anatomy?
We trace the origin of air sacs in pterosaurs back to their Triassic forerunners. Using micro-CT on the pterosauromorph Venetoraptor, we show invasive air sacs were in place before true pterosaurs.
We trace the origin of air sacs in pterosaurs back to their Triassic forerunners. Using micro-CT on the pterosauromorph Venetoraptor, we show invasive air sacs were in place before true pterosaurs.
Question for geologists studying zircons: I remember hearing that zircons are sometimes picked using a brush that has a single hair. But I can't find where I noted this in my interviews.
Can anyone verify that this is a real scientific practice or am I just crazy?? ⚒️🧪🙏
Can anyone verify that this is a real scientific practice or am I just crazy?? ⚒️🧪🙏
August 20, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Question for geologists studying zircons: I remember hearing that zircons are sometimes picked using a brush that has a single hair. But I can't find where I noted this in my interviews.
Can anyone verify that this is a real scientific practice or am I just crazy?? ⚒️🧪🙏
Can anyone verify that this is a real scientific practice or am I just crazy?? ⚒️🧪🙏
Reposted by Maya Wei-Haas, PhD
My ongoing request:
If your NSF or NIH grant was terminated--whether at Harvard or elsewhere--please report it here.
NSF: grant-watch.us/submit-nsf.h...
NIH: grant-watch.us/submit-nih.h...
Our trackers are actively used in lawsuits and are often the only record that terminations ever occurred.
If your NSF or NIH grant was terminated--whether at Harvard or elsewhere--please report it here.
NSF: grant-watch.us/submit-nsf.h...
NIH: grant-watch.us/submit-nih.h...
Our trackers are actively used in lawsuits and are often the only record that terminations ever occurred.
NSF appears to be terminating hundreds of its grants to Harvard, per internal sources at NSF and at Harvard. At least one division has had all its grants cut.
May 14, 2025 at 2:22 PM
My ongoing request:
If your NSF or NIH grant was terminated--whether at Harvard or elsewhere--please report it here.
NSF: grant-watch.us/submit-nsf.h...
NIH: grant-watch.us/submit-nih.h...
Our trackers are actively used in lawsuits and are often the only record that terminations ever occurred.
If your NSF or NIH grant was terminated--whether at Harvard or elsewhere--please report it here.
NSF: grant-watch.us/submit-nsf.h...
NIH: grant-watch.us/submit-nih.h...
Our trackers are actively used in lawsuits and are often the only record that terminations ever occurred.
Reposted by Maya Wei-Haas, PhD
Elon Musk's DOGE has spent the last several months dismantling the departments & agencies that regulate HIS businesses.
Our report found that Musk has a direct business interest in over 70% of the agencies & departments DOGE targeted.
The conflicts of interest are endless.
Our report found that Musk has a direct business interest in over 70% of the agencies & departments DOGE targeted.
The conflicts of interest are endless.
May 8, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Elon Musk's DOGE has spent the last several months dismantling the departments & agencies that regulate HIS businesses.
Our report found that Musk has a direct business interest in over 70% of the agencies & departments DOGE targeted.
The conflicts of interest are endless.
Our report found that Musk has a direct business interest in over 70% of the agencies & departments DOGE targeted.
The conflicts of interest are endless.
Reposted by Maya Wei-Haas, PhD
This is an absolute disaster. If we don't stop this, they will turn NSF into a pawn of the Trump administration. There will be no research on climate, biodiversity, or anything that isn't eugenics or AI or how to more efficiently destroy the planet for profit.
This cannot be allowed to happen.
This cannot be allowed to happen.
Exclusive: NSF faces radical shake-up as officials abolish its 37 divisions
Changes seen as a response to presidential directives on what research to fund
www.science.org
May 9, 2025 at 3:42 AM
This is an absolute disaster. If we don't stop this, they will turn NSF into a pawn of the Trump administration. There will be no research on climate, biodiversity, or anything that isn't eugenics or AI or how to more efficiently destroy the planet for profit.
This cannot be allowed to happen.
This cannot be allowed to happen.
Reposted by Maya Wei-Haas, PhD
@aaup.bsky.social is leading the fight against the attacks of the Trump/Musk administration against science and free speech at Universities. if you are a faculty member, join them! I joined @unc-ch-aaup.bsky.social in April!
www.aaup.org
www.aaup.org
May 9, 2025 at 12:17 AM
@aaup.bsky.social is leading the fight against the attacks of the Trump/Musk administration against science and free speech at Universities. if you are a faculty member, join them! I joined @unc-ch-aaup.bsky.social in April!
www.aaup.org
www.aaup.org
Reposted by Maya Wei-Haas, PhD
Go for the science, stay for the worm BBQ. This is incredible!
**BIG NEWS in the geology world!** For the first time, scientists spotted an active eruption along the mid-ocean ridge!!
They visited the hydrothermal vent the day before, where a vibrant ecosystem thrived in the sweltering water. The next day, everything was gone. ⚒️🧪
My latest for @nytimes.com
They visited the hydrothermal vent the day before, where a vibrant ecosystem thrived in the sweltering water. The next day, everything was gone. ⚒️🧪
My latest for @nytimes.com
Volcanic Eruption in Deep Ocean Ridge Is Witnessed by Scientists for First Time (Gift Article)
Researchers diving in a submersible in the eastern Pacific realized that the landscape they had studied the day before had been glassed over by fresh lava.
www.nytimes.com
May 3, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Go for the science, stay for the worm BBQ. This is incredible!
Reposted by Maya Wei-Haas, PhD
**BIG NEWS in the geology world!** For the first time, scientists spotted an active eruption along the mid-ocean ridge!!
They visited the hydrothermal vent the day before, where a vibrant ecosystem thrived in the sweltering water. The next day, everything was gone. ⚒️🧪
My latest for @nytimes.com
They visited the hydrothermal vent the day before, where a vibrant ecosystem thrived in the sweltering water. The next day, everything was gone. ⚒️🧪
My latest for @nytimes.com
Volcanic Eruption in Deep Ocean Ridge Is Witnessed by Scientists for First Time (Gift Article)
Researchers diving in a submersible in the eastern Pacific realized that the landscape they had studied the day before had been glassed over by fresh lava.
www.nytimes.com
May 2, 2025 at 5:03 PM
**BIG NEWS in the geology world!** For the first time, scientists spotted an active eruption along the mid-ocean ridge!!
They visited the hydrothermal vent the day before, where a vibrant ecosystem thrived in the sweltering water. The next day, everything was gone. ⚒️🧪
My latest for @nytimes.com
They visited the hydrothermal vent the day before, where a vibrant ecosystem thrived in the sweltering water. The next day, everything was gone. ⚒️🧪
My latest for @nytimes.com
Reposted by Maya Wei-Haas, PhD
It break my heart after reading a story like this today - such cool, exciting NSF research, and it's going to be lost. The world will be a much poorer place for it. Just imagine having fewer stories like this to read in the years to come: bsky.app/profile/maya...
**BIG NEWS in the geology world!** For the first time, scientists spotted an active eruption along the mid-ocean ridge!!
They visited the hydrothermal vent the day before, where a vibrant ecosystem thrived in the sweltering water. The next day, everything was gone. ⚒️🧪
My latest for @nytimes.com
They visited the hydrothermal vent the day before, where a vibrant ecosystem thrived in the sweltering water. The next day, everything was gone. ⚒️🧪
My latest for @nytimes.com
Volcanic Eruption in Deep Ocean Ridge Is Witnessed by Scientists for First Time (Gift Article)
Researchers diving in a submersible in the eastern Pacific realized that the landscape they had studied the day before had been glassed over by fresh lava.
www.nytimes.com
May 2, 2025 at 7:35 PM
It break my heart after reading a story like this today - such cool, exciting NSF research, and it's going to be lost. The world will be a much poorer place for it. Just imagine having fewer stories like this to read in the years to come: bsky.app/profile/maya...
**BIG NEWS in the geology world!** For the first time, scientists spotted an active eruption along the mid-ocean ridge!!
They visited the hydrothermal vent the day before, where a vibrant ecosystem thrived in the sweltering water. The next day, everything was gone. ⚒️🧪
My latest for @nytimes.com
They visited the hydrothermal vent the day before, where a vibrant ecosystem thrived in the sweltering water. The next day, everything was gone. ⚒️🧪
My latest for @nytimes.com
Volcanic Eruption in Deep Ocean Ridge Is Witnessed by Scientists for First Time (Gift Article)
Researchers diving in a submersible in the eastern Pacific realized that the landscape they had studied the day before had been glassed over by fresh lava.
www.nytimes.com
May 2, 2025 at 5:03 PM
**BIG NEWS in the geology world!** For the first time, scientists spotted an active eruption along the mid-ocean ridge!!
They visited the hydrothermal vent the day before, where a vibrant ecosystem thrived in the sweltering water. The next day, everything was gone. ⚒️🧪
My latest for @nytimes.com
They visited the hydrothermal vent the day before, where a vibrant ecosystem thrived in the sweltering water. The next day, everything was gone. ⚒️🧪
My latest for @nytimes.com
Reposted by Maya Wei-Haas, PhD
This short story packs in a lot: Conflicts over oil/gas drilling near sacred lands, debates about genetics and the US legal system, genetic research's dark past/exploitation of indigenous peoples, and the smallest Pueblo tribe fighting to get their voices heard. My latest for @science.org
DNA traces Picuris Pueblo Tribe’s ancient ancestral ties to Chaco Canyon
The project could bolster tribal land rights and serve as a model for partnership between scientists and Indigenous communities
www.science.org
April 30, 2025 at 9:28 PM
This short story packs in a lot: Conflicts over oil/gas drilling near sacred lands, debates about genetics and the US legal system, genetic research's dark past/exploitation of indigenous peoples, and the smallest Pueblo tribe fighting to get their voices heard. My latest for @science.org
This short story packs in a lot: Conflicts over oil/gas drilling near sacred lands, debates about genetics and the US legal system, genetic research's dark past/exploitation of indigenous peoples, and the smallest Pueblo tribe fighting to get their voices heard. My latest for @science.org
DNA traces Picuris Pueblo Tribe’s ancient ancestral ties to Chaco Canyon
The project could bolster tribal land rights and serve as a model for partnership between scientists and Indigenous communities
www.science.org
April 30, 2025 at 9:28 PM
This short story packs in a lot: Conflicts over oil/gas drilling near sacred lands, debates about genetics and the US legal system, genetic research's dark past/exploitation of indigenous peoples, and the smallest Pueblo tribe fighting to get their voices heard. My latest for @science.org
I have a silly question — I've always pronounced Mafic like MAY-Fic, with the first part like the month MAY (As far as I can remember, all of my geo professors said it this way too?!) But I just saw that the Cambridge dictionary has the correct pronunciation as MAH-fic.
Which way is right?? ⚒️
Which way is right?? ⚒️
April 14, 2025 at 8:50 PM
I have a silly question — I've always pronounced Mafic like MAY-Fic, with the first part like the month MAY (As far as I can remember, all of my geo professors said it this way too?!) But I just saw that the Cambridge dictionary has the correct pronunciation as MAH-fic.
Which way is right?? ⚒️
Which way is right?? ⚒️
Reposted by Maya Wei-Haas, PhD
Are you planning to travel this year? Dreaming of the Caribbean? Sipping wine in Italy? Venturing around New Zealand?
All these places (and many more tourist hotspots) are at risk of earthquakes. Check out my latest for @nytimes.com for tips on staying safe 🧪 ⚒️
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/08/t...
All these places (and many more tourist hotspots) are at risk of earthquakes. Check out my latest for @nytimes.com for tips on staying safe 🧪 ⚒️
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/08/t...
How to Stay Safe if You’re Traveling and an Earthquake Strikes
Many popular vacation destinations, like California, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Thailand and the Caribbean are in active quake zones. Here are tips for staying safe.
www.nytimes.com
April 8, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Are you planning to travel this year? Dreaming of the Caribbean? Sipping wine in Italy? Venturing around New Zealand?
All these places (and many more tourist hotspots) are at risk of earthquakes. Check out my latest for @nytimes.com for tips on staying safe 🧪 ⚒️
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/08/t...
All these places (and many more tourist hotspots) are at risk of earthquakes. Check out my latest for @nytimes.com for tips on staying safe 🧪 ⚒️
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/08/t...
Reposted by Maya Wei-Haas, PhD
Fellow intrepid travelers to earthquake places @mayaweihaas.bsky.social has ideas for readiness.
It was fun share with her how I think about it. 🧪🥾 #travel #earthquake #adventure
It was fun share with her how I think about it. 🧪🥾 #travel #earthquake #adventure
Are you planning to travel this year? Dreaming of the Caribbean? Sipping wine in Italy? Venturing around New Zealand?
All these places (and many more tourist hotspots) are at risk of earthquakes. Check out my latest for @nytimes.com for tips on staying safe 🧪 ⚒️
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/08/t...
All these places (and many more tourist hotspots) are at risk of earthquakes. Check out my latest for @nytimes.com for tips on staying safe 🧪 ⚒️
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/08/t...
How to Stay Safe if You’re Traveling and an Earthquake Strikes
Many popular vacation destinations, like California, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Thailand and the Caribbean are in active quake zones. Here are tips for staying safe.
www.nytimes.com
April 8, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Fellow intrepid travelers to earthquake places @mayaweihaas.bsky.social has ideas for readiness.
It was fun share with her how I think about it. 🧪🥾 #travel #earthquake #adventure
It was fun share with her how I think about it. 🧪🥾 #travel #earthquake #adventure
Reposted by Maya Wei-Haas, PhD
What do you do if you’re in another country and you feel an earthquake?
This concise, timely article from @mayaweihaas.bsky.social gives advice on how to be prepared for earthquakes when traveling.
TL:DR - know before you go. ⚒️
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/08/t...
This concise, timely article from @mayaweihaas.bsky.social gives advice on how to be prepared for earthquakes when traveling.
TL:DR - know before you go. ⚒️
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/08/t...
How to Stay Safe if You’re Traveling and an Earthquake Strikes
Many popular vacation destinations, like California, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Thailand and the Caribbean are in active quake zones. Here are tips for staying safe.
www.nytimes.com
April 8, 2025 at 5:38 PM
What do you do if you’re in another country and you feel an earthquake?
This concise, timely article from @mayaweihaas.bsky.social gives advice on how to be prepared for earthquakes when traveling.
TL:DR - know before you go. ⚒️
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/08/t...
This concise, timely article from @mayaweihaas.bsky.social gives advice on how to be prepared for earthquakes when traveling.
TL:DR - know before you go. ⚒️
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/08/t...
Reposted by Maya Wei-Haas, PhD
Even if you don’t live in “earthquake country,” the places you travel to for work or fun may have earthquake hazards. Learn more here…
Are you planning to travel this year? Dreaming of the Caribbean? Sipping wine in Italy? Venturing around New Zealand?
All these places (and many more tourist hotspots) are at risk of earthquakes. Check out my latest for @nytimes.com for tips on staying safe 🧪 ⚒️
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/08/t...
All these places (and many more tourist hotspots) are at risk of earthquakes. Check out my latest for @nytimes.com for tips on staying safe 🧪 ⚒️
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/08/t...
How to Stay Safe if You’re Traveling and an Earthquake Strikes
Many popular vacation destinations, like California, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Thailand and the Caribbean are in active quake zones. Here are tips for staying safe.
www.nytimes.com
April 8, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Even if you don’t live in “earthquake country,” the places you travel to for work or fun may have earthquake hazards. Learn more here…
Are you planning to travel this year? Dreaming of the Caribbean? Sipping wine in Italy? Venturing around New Zealand?
All these places (and many more tourist hotspots) are at risk of earthquakes. Check out my latest for @nytimes.com for tips on staying safe 🧪 ⚒️
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/08/t...
All these places (and many more tourist hotspots) are at risk of earthquakes. Check out my latest for @nytimes.com for tips on staying safe 🧪 ⚒️
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/08/t...
How to Stay Safe if You’re Traveling and an Earthquake Strikes
Many popular vacation destinations, like California, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Thailand and the Caribbean are in active quake zones. Here are tips for staying safe.
www.nytimes.com
April 8, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Are you planning to travel this year? Dreaming of the Caribbean? Sipping wine in Italy? Venturing around New Zealand?
All these places (and many more tourist hotspots) are at risk of earthquakes. Check out my latest for @nytimes.com for tips on staying safe 🧪 ⚒️
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/08/t...
All these places (and many more tourist hotspots) are at risk of earthquakes. Check out my latest for @nytimes.com for tips on staying safe 🧪 ⚒️
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/08/t...
Reposted by Maya Wei-Haas, PhD
Declaring emergencies to circumvent legal protections, in this case to justify logging national forests.
"The memo has the effect of declaring nearly 60% of all national forestlands to be in a state of emergency, thereby lifting the usual requirements for public comment and environmental review..."
"The memo has the effect of declaring nearly 60% of all national forestlands to be in a state of emergency, thereby lifting the usual requirements for public comment and environmental review..."
More details surface in Trump administration plan to cut national forests
More details surface in Trump administration plan to cut national forests
Memos from the Trump administration are increasing pressure to cut more national forests for timber and forest health.
www.seattletimes.com
April 6, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Declaring emergencies to circumvent legal protections, in this case to justify logging national forests.
"The memo has the effect of declaring nearly 60% of all national forestlands to be in a state of emergency, thereby lifting the usual requirements for public comment and environmental review..."
"The memo has the effect of declaring nearly 60% of all national forestlands to be in a state of emergency, thereby lifting the usual requirements for public comment and environmental review..."
Reposted by Maya Wei-Haas, PhD
A 4.3 and a 4.7 earthquake, two minutes apart, 2 km NNE of Reykjanestá in Iceland 15 minutes ago. Largest events in the current sequence up until now. 🌋⚒️
en.vedur.is/earthquakes-...
en.vedur.is/earthquakes-...
April 1, 2025 at 5:10 PM
A 4.3 and a 4.7 earthquake, two minutes apart, 2 km NNE of Reykjanestá in Iceland 15 minutes ago. Largest events in the current sequence up until now. 🌋⚒️
en.vedur.is/earthquakes-...
en.vedur.is/earthquakes-...
Reposted by Maya Wei-Haas, PhD
Impressive rupture 👇 for 28/03 #Myanmar #earthquake. Straight, simple. ⚒️ 🧪
It extends far to the south, much further than initially thought. Suggests that large part of segment broken in 1930 (Pyu quake) broke again. In addition to 1839 one of course.
Congrats @zaxonlee.bsky.social for this work
It extends far to the south, much further than initially thought. Suggests that large part of segment broken in 1930 (Pyu quake) broke again. In addition to 1839 one of course.
Congrats @zaxonlee.bsky.social for this work
Update: Preliminary coseismic displacements of 2025 Myanmar earthquake from @CopernicusEU @ESA #Sentinel2 images by using #CosiCorr, processed by @NTU_TW GEOG
#Copernicus
1. Rupture propagated from N to S
2. Max. offset >4m
3. Rupture length ~500km
#Copernicus
1. Rupture propagated from N to S
2. Max. offset >4m
3. Rupture length ~500km
April 1, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Impressive rupture 👇 for 28/03 #Myanmar #earthquake. Straight, simple. ⚒️ 🧪
It extends far to the south, much further than initially thought. Suggests that large part of segment broken in 1930 (Pyu quake) broke again. In addition to 1839 one of course.
Congrats @zaxonlee.bsky.social for this work
It extends far to the south, much further than initially thought. Suggests that large part of segment broken in 1930 (Pyu quake) broke again. In addition to 1839 one of course.
Congrats @zaxonlee.bsky.social for this work
Still hunting for anyone willing to share stories about experiencing earthquakes while they were traveling for a NYT story. Any leads or suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Have you experienced an earthquake while you were traveling either in the US or overseas? I'd love to hear from you for a story I'm working on for the New York Times!
Feel free to DM or email at: mweihaas@gmail.com ⚒️🧪
Feel free to DM or email at: mweihaas@gmail.com ⚒️🧪
the wing of an airplane is visible through a window
ALT: the wing of an airplane is visible through a window
media.tenor.com
April 1, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Still hunting for anyone willing to share stories about experiencing earthquakes while they were traveling for a NYT story. Any leads or suggestions are greatly appreciated!