Science Mom
@thesciencemom.bsky.social
Live in SE Alaska
Science educator
Naturalist
Also known as Jenny Ballif
Science educator
Naturalist
Also known as Jenny Ballif
Pinned
Science Mom
@thesciencemom.bsky.social
· Feb 27
My first time on the front page of a newspaper was after a 10-hour shift firefighting. I was so dirty, my own mom didn’t recognize me.
When I called her the next day she exclaimed, “That was YOU?!?”
A story about the federal firings. 1/
When I called her the next day she exclaimed, “That was YOU?!?”
A story about the federal firings. 1/
The swans are back for the winter at Ward Lake!
Today while I was walking, there was a spontaneous gathering of people watching them. Everyone whispered and moved slowly while sharing in the joy.
It was a lovely moment. #AlaskaSky
Today while I was walking, there was a spontaneous gathering of people watching them. Everyone whispered and moved slowly while sharing in the joy.
It was a lovely moment. #AlaskaSky
November 29, 2025 at 4:23 AM
The swans are back for the winter at Ward Lake!
Today while I was walking, there was a spontaneous gathering of people watching them. Everyone whispered and moved slowly while sharing in the joy.
It was a lovely moment. #AlaskaSky
Today while I was walking, there was a spontaneous gathering of people watching them. Everyone whispered and moved slowly while sharing in the joy.
It was a lovely moment. #AlaskaSky
Happy Thanksgiving! We picked cranberries this morning and enjoyed a beautiful walk.
Today I’m thankful for nature, family, friends, and the beauty of the Tongass. #AlaskaSky
Today I’m thankful for nature, family, friends, and the beauty of the Tongass. #AlaskaSky
November 27, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Happy Thanksgiving! We picked cranberries this morning and enjoyed a beautiful walk.
Today I’m thankful for nature, family, friends, and the beauty of the Tongass. #AlaskaSky
Today I’m thankful for nature, family, friends, and the beauty of the Tongass. #AlaskaSky
Oof is right.
November 26, 2025 at 5:04 AM
Oof is right.
Reposted by Science Mom
"One constituent, a retired marketing executive named Susan, told him that she’s currently paying about $600 a month with ACA tax credits. Next year, that will jump to $2,120, a 250 percent increase." prospect.org/2025/11/21/a...
Panic Tears Through U.S. as Health Insurance Costs Spike - The American Prospect
The end of expanded subsidies for the Affordable Care Act exchanges means more people will go without health insurance.
prospect.org
November 21, 2025 at 4:37 PM
"One constituent, a retired marketing executive named Susan, told him that she’s currently paying about $600 a month with ACA tax credits. Next year, that will jump to $2,120, a 250 percent increase." prospect.org/2025/11/21/a...
Adorable! 😍
Earlier today, I was notified that someone was at my door.
This is who it was:
This is who it was:
November 21, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Adorable! 😍
blue sky over muskeg and late oyster mushrooms growing from alder. sights from Sunday morning botany club yesterday. #AlaskaSky
November 17, 2025 at 2:22 PM
blue sky over muskeg and late oyster mushrooms growing from alder. sights from Sunday morning botany club yesterday. #AlaskaSky
Reposted by Science Mom
Check out this crazy mosaic image of the auroral oval from space on the night of Nov 11-12!
You an can see just how extended the oval was due to the impressive solar storm that impacted and delivered a G4 (Kp 9-) geomagnetic storm - the third strongest of solar cycle 25!
You an can see just how extended the oval was due to the impressive solar storm that impacted and delivered a G4 (Kp 9-) geomagnetic storm - the third strongest of solar cycle 25!
November 13, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Check out this crazy mosaic image of the auroral oval from space on the night of Nov 11-12!
You an can see just how extended the oval was due to the impressive solar storm that impacted and delivered a G4 (Kp 9-) geomagnetic storm - the third strongest of solar cycle 25!
You an can see just how extended the oval was due to the impressive solar storm that impacted and delivered a G4 (Kp 9-) geomagnetic storm - the third strongest of solar cycle 25!
Bit tricky to see due to clouds, but we caught a few glimpses of the aurora tonight! 🥰
November 12, 2025 at 6:40 AM
Bit tricky to see due to clouds, but we caught a few glimpses of the aurora tonight! 🥰
Enough hail this morning in Ketchikan to pile up and leave little white drifts here and there. Not quite the same as getting snow, but still pretty.
November 11, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Enough hail this morning in Ketchikan to pile up and leave little white drifts here and there. Not quite the same as getting snow, but still pretty.
Had a big tidal swing in #ketchikan this week with a 19.47 ft high tide and -4 low. #AlaskaSky
November 8, 2025 at 5:42 AM
Had a big tidal swing in #ketchikan this week with a 19.47 ft high tide and -4 low. #AlaskaSky
To any other self-employed folks who had health insurance thru the state marketplace, WHAT DO WE DO? 🥺😭
The cheapest option for our family of 5 is $2,854 a month with a $15,000 deductible! #AlaskaSky #ACAtaxcredit
The cheapest option for our family of 5 is $2,854 a month with a $15,000 deductible! #AlaskaSky #ACAtaxcredit
November 1, 2025 at 4:23 PM
To any other self-employed folks who had health insurance thru the state marketplace, WHAT DO WE DO? 🥺😭
The cheapest option for our family of 5 is $2,854 a month with a $15,000 deductible! #AlaskaSky #ACAtaxcredit
The cheapest option for our family of 5 is $2,854 a month with a $15,000 deductible! #AlaskaSky #ACAtaxcredit
Reposted by Science Mom
Kristi Noem is telling bald-faced lies about ICE arrests.
More than 70% of those detained have no criminal convictions.
170+ of those arrested or detained have been American citizens.
More than 70% of those detained have no criminal convictions.
170+ of those arrested or detained have been American citizens.
October 30, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Kristi Noem is telling bald-faced lies about ICE arrests.
More than 70% of those detained have no criminal convictions.
170+ of those arrested or detained have been American citizens.
More than 70% of those detained have no criminal convictions.
170+ of those arrested or detained have been American citizens.
Reposted by Science Mom
Hurricanes feed off of warm water. Watch how quickly the eye of #Melissa collapsed as it moved onto land and over the mountainous terrain of Jamaica, and how quickly it is reforming now that it has moved back over water! I will be adding this radar loop to my earth science lectures.
October 29, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Hurricanes feed off of warm water. Watch how quickly the eye of #Melissa collapsed as it moved onto land and over the mountainous terrain of Jamaica, and how quickly it is reforming now that it has moved back over water! I will be adding this radar loop to my earth science lectures.
First snow of the season in Ketchikan! @alaskawx.bsky.social I’m guessing the snowline is between 2,000-2,500 ft
Pretty high up and not a lot, but I’m still happy to see it. 🥰
Pretty high up and not a lot, but I’m still happy to see it. 🥰
October 26, 2025 at 12:52 AM
First snow of the season in Ketchikan! @alaskawx.bsky.social I’m guessing the snowline is between 2,000-2,500 ft
Pretty high up and not a lot, but I’m still happy to see it. 🥰
Pretty high up and not a lot, but I’m still happy to see it. 🥰
Reposted by Science Mom
The Middle East is warming twice as fast as the globe thanks in no small part to its own oil + gas emissions—but from youth activists to engineers, people here are proving that even in the hottest places, change is happening.
Read on MailChimp: shorturl.at/SvFiy
Read on LinkedIn: shorturl.at/fjOiY
Read on MailChimp: shorturl.at/SvFiy
Read on LinkedIn: shorturl.at/fjOiY
From Oil Fields to Mangroves
Last week, I was in the United Arab Emirates for the IUCN’s World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, followed by the World Economic Forum's Global Future Councils meeting in Dubai. The WCC is a globa...
shorturl.at
October 22, 2025 at 6:01 PM
The Middle East is warming twice as fast as the globe thanks in no small part to its own oil + gas emissions—but from youth activists to engineers, people here are proving that even in the hottest places, change is happening.
Read on MailChimp: shorturl.at/SvFiy
Read on LinkedIn: shorturl.at/fjOiY
Read on MailChimp: shorturl.at/SvFiy
Read on LinkedIn: shorturl.at/fjOiY
Reposted by Science Mom
The @nytimes.com climate section is profiling federal scientists who have been terminated and their work.
I spoke with tsunami expert Corina Allen, who worked to ensure tsunami alerts made it to the public. She was fired in February.
Read her story and others':
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/23/c...
I spoke with tsunami expert Corina Allen, who worked to ensure tsunami alerts made it to the public. She was fired in February.
Read her story and others':
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/23/c...
She Made Sure That Tsunami Warnings Reached the Public
www.nytimes.com
October 23, 2025 at 6:20 PM
The @nytimes.com climate section is profiling federal scientists who have been terminated and their work.
I spoke with tsunami expert Corina Allen, who worked to ensure tsunami alerts made it to the public. She was fired in February.
Read her story and others':
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/23/c...
I spoke with tsunami expert Corina Allen, who worked to ensure tsunami alerts made it to the public. She was fired in February.
Read her story and others':
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/23/c...
Sunday Morning Botany Club highlights: toothed jelly fungus, lunch creek waterfall, and salmon egg slime molds 💜💜
The #Tongass is displaying a fabulous diversity of fungi right now. #AlaskaSky
The #Tongass is displaying a fabulous diversity of fungi right now. #AlaskaSky
October 20, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Sunday Morning Botany Club highlights: toothed jelly fungus, lunch creek waterfall, and salmon egg slime molds 💜💜
The #Tongass is displaying a fabulous diversity of fungi right now. #AlaskaSky
The #Tongass is displaying a fabulous diversity of fungi right now. #AlaskaSky
Today I found the cutest little mushrooms EVER! They only grow on spruce cones and are like something straight out of a fairy tale.
Strobilurus occidentalis, aka spruce cone mushroom or spruce conesprout.
Strobilurus occidentalis, aka spruce cone mushroom or spruce conesprout.
October 12, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Today I found the cutest little mushrooms EVER! They only grow on spruce cones and are like something straight out of a fairy tale.
Strobilurus occidentalis, aka spruce cone mushroom or spruce conesprout.
Strobilurus occidentalis, aka spruce cone mushroom or spruce conesprout.
Do you pick bog cranberries and lingonberries before or after the first frost?
Haven’t had a frost here yet, but I found a great berry spot while enjoying the morning sunshine and they were too delicious to pass up!
Haven’t had a frost here yet, but I found a great berry spot while enjoying the morning sunshine and they were too delicious to pass up!
October 9, 2025 at 5:41 AM
Do you pick bog cranberries and lingonberries before or after the first frost?
Haven’t had a frost here yet, but I found a great berry spot while enjoying the morning sunshine and they were too delicious to pass up!
Haven’t had a frost here yet, but I found a great berry spot while enjoying the morning sunshine and they were too delicious to pass up!
Sunday botany walk highlight #1:
Bog cranberries!
🌱They shine like ruby jewels in the muskeg.
🌱Crisp texture and wonderful flavor.
🌱A delightful ratio of plant to fruit.
If our blueberry bush adopted the same ratio, it would make berries the size of beach balls.
Bog cranberries!
🌱They shine like ruby jewels in the muskeg.
🌱Crisp texture and wonderful flavor.
🌱A delightful ratio of plant to fruit.
If our blueberry bush adopted the same ratio, it would make berries the size of beach balls.
October 6, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Sunday botany walk highlight #1:
Bog cranberries!
🌱They shine like ruby jewels in the muskeg.
🌱Crisp texture and wonderful flavor.
🌱A delightful ratio of plant to fruit.
If our blueberry bush adopted the same ratio, it would make berries the size of beach balls.
Bog cranberries!
🌱They shine like ruby jewels in the muskeg.
🌱Crisp texture and wonderful flavor.
🌱A delightful ratio of plant to fruit.
If our blueberry bush adopted the same ratio, it would make berries the size of beach balls.
Went out first thing this morning to try fishing from shore. Didn’t catch any fish, but a whale came by! Tossed the rod in the car and ran/watched along the highway for 20 minutes. What a great way to start the day 🥰
#AlaskaSky
#AlaskaSky
October 3, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Went out first thing this morning to try fishing from shore. Didn’t catch any fish, but a whale came by! Tossed the rod in the car and ran/watched along the highway for 20 minutes. What a great way to start the day 🥰
#AlaskaSky
#AlaskaSky
Today’s Sunday morning botany hike was magical. #AlaskaSky #Tongass
September 29, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Today’s Sunday morning botany hike was magical. #AlaskaSky #Tongass
Reposted by Science Mom
Reposted by Science Mom
Get the facts. There’s no benefit to logging the Tongass. None.
At a certain point it appears MAGA just wants to destroy stuff because they can.
#SaveRoadless #ProtectTheTongass
#akleg #akgov
At a certain point it appears MAGA just wants to destroy stuff because they can.
#SaveRoadless #ProtectTheTongass
#akleg #akgov
January 27, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Get the facts. There’s no benefit to logging the Tongass. None.
At a certain point it appears MAGA just wants to destroy stuff because they can.
#SaveRoadless #ProtectTheTongass
#akleg #akgov
At a certain point it appears MAGA just wants to destroy stuff because they can.
#SaveRoadless #ProtectTheTongass
#akleg #akgov