Alex Taylor
@alexandrataylor.bsky.social
Science writer (she/her) | Communicate clearly about complexity. Subscribe to 𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘢: emergentphenomena.beehiiv.com
I was delighted to see my newsletter, emergent phenomena, featured this morning in a publication I deeply admire: The Intrinsic Perspective, written by neuroscientist and author Erik Hoel.
I’ll be working through the absorbing entries in this list for some time, and I invite you to do the same.
I’ll be working through the absorbing entries in this list for some time, and I invite you to do the same.
The Internet You Missed: A Last 2025 Snapshot
TIP's community writing: Part 2 of 2
www.theintrinsicperspective.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:13 PM
I was delighted to see my newsletter, emergent phenomena, featured this morning in a publication I deeply admire: The Intrinsic Perspective, written by neuroscientist and author Erik Hoel.
I’ll be working through the absorbing entries in this list for some time, and I invite you to do the same.
I’ll be working through the absorbing entries in this list for some time, and I invite you to do the same.
The 12 labors of Hercules
August 1, 2025 at 2:22 PM
The 12 labors of Hercules
RIP to one of my all-time favorite artists, the single point of overlap in my dad’s and my musical tastes www.nytimes.com/2025/06/11/a...
Brian Wilson, Songwriter and Leader of the Beach Boys, Dies at 82
A hitmaker elevated and burdened by the label of genius, he transcended the breezy surf genre to create complex harmonies and intricate soundscapes in the studio.
www.nytimes.com
June 11, 2025 at 8:44 PM
RIP to one of my all-time favorite artists, the single point of overlap in my dad’s and my musical tastes www.nytimes.com/2025/06/11/a...
"There’s no one left to answer patient calls, help the public navigate research studies or update life-saving information on cancer, chronic pain or dental care. This isn’t just a staffing issue — it’s a public health crisis.” www.baltimoresun.com/2025/06/10/t...
Trump fired hundreds of science communicators like me. Public health will suffer. | GUEST COMMENTARY
The current administration is waging a war on science, transparency and public health, writes Bushraa Khatib.
www.baltimoresun.com
June 11, 2025 at 3:01 PM
"There’s no one left to answer patient calls, help the public navigate research studies or update life-saving information on cancer, chronic pain or dental care. This isn’t just a staffing issue — it’s a public health crisis.” www.baltimoresun.com/2025/06/10/t...
Reposted by Alex Taylor
Hot take. The government isn’t subsidizing university budgets. Universities are lending subsidized expertise to research and development that contributes to the public good. It’s called partnership.
A study finds, US based academic research institutes account for 50% of new medical drugs in the last 4 years. 🧪
www.statnews.com/2025/06/06/u...
#science #savescience #stat
www.statnews.com/2025/06/06/u...
#science #savescience #stat
We set out to quantify U.S. academic contributions to medicines. The results stunned even us
From 2020 to 2024, universities contributed patents underpinning 50% of FDA-approved drugs. 87% of those academic breakthroughs came from American institutions.
www.statnews.com
June 8, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Hot take. The government isn’t subsidizing university budgets. Universities are lending subsidized expertise to research and development that contributes to the public good. It’s called partnership.
Reposted by Alex Taylor
Trump wants to shut down the Chemical Safety Board which has a unique role investigating chemical plant incidents.
The result: more chemical releases, worker deaths and community pollution.
All to save $14 million. And to make the chemical industry happy
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
The result: more chemical releases, worker deaths and community pollution.
All to save $14 million. And to make the chemical industry happy
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
White House proposes shutting down chemical safety agency
Since 1998, the Chemical Safety Board has played a key role in probing the causes of major chemical accidents.
www.washingtonpost.com
June 3, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Trump wants to shut down the Chemical Safety Board which has a unique role investigating chemical plant incidents.
The result: more chemical releases, worker deaths and community pollution.
All to save $14 million. And to make the chemical industry happy
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
The result: more chemical releases, worker deaths and community pollution.
All to save $14 million. And to make the chemical industry happy
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
The map is not the territory, and your audience’s mental models are probably different from yours.
This week’s 𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘢 explores why we mistake symbols for reality and what that confusion means for anyone trying to communicate clearly.
Subscribe here so you don’t miss it:
This week’s 𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘢 explores why we mistake symbols for reality and what that confusion means for anyone trying to communicate clearly.
Subscribe here so you don’t miss it:
emergent phenomena
communicate clearly about complexity
emergentphenomena.beehiiv.com
June 4, 2025 at 1:00 PM
The map is not the territory, and your audience’s mental models are probably different from yours.
This week’s 𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘢 explores why we mistake symbols for reality and what that confusion means for anyone trying to communicate clearly.
Subscribe here so you don’t miss it:
This week’s 𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘢 explores why we mistake symbols for reality and what that confusion means for anyone trying to communicate clearly.
Subscribe here so you don’t miss it:
By the power vested in me by Mother’s Day, I dragged my family to the Hancock Shaker Village. We spent a beautiful spring day exploring the grounds and buildings of an 18th-century village, remnants of a Utopian experiment that took root in New England and beyond during the Second Great Awakening.
May 29, 2025 at 5:16 PM
By the power vested in me by Mother’s Day, I dragged my family to the Hancock Shaker Village. We spent a beautiful spring day exploring the grounds and buildings of an 18th-century village, remnants of a Utopian experiment that took root in New England and beyond during the Second Great Awakening.
Reposted by Alex Taylor
I’m trying to find a phrase to describe an important phenomenon: When we fix a problem, we forget it. Pop culture forgets, and the mass media forgets, and young people never learn about the problem or how it was solved. Can you help suggest a name for this phenomenon? Read more here:
The Last Word On Nothing | We Need to Remember Problems We Solved
www.lastwordonnothing.com
May 14, 2025 at 2:28 PM
I’m trying to find a phrase to describe an important phenomenon: When we fix a problem, we forget it. Pop culture forgets, and the mass media forgets, and young people never learn about the problem or how it was solved. Can you help suggest a name for this phenomenon? Read more here:
Reposted by Alex Taylor
I'm helping lead @cenmag.bsky.social's Trailblazers 2025, and I want you 🫵 to nominate a chemist with disabilities for us to feature. Before June 4, fill out this form and recognize a chemist who inspires you: cenm.ag/nominatetrai...
Microsoft Forms
cenm.ag
May 12, 2025 at 6:50 PM
I'm helping lead @cenmag.bsky.social's Trailblazers 2025, and I want you 🫵 to nominate a chemist with disabilities for us to feature. Before June 4, fill out this form and recognize a chemist who inspires you: cenm.ag/nominatetrai...
On the newsletter this week, I wrote about how we are definitely going to hell—most of us, multiple times—and why that's not such a bad thing emergentphenomena.beehiiv.com/p/get-in-we-...
Get in—we’re going to hell 🔥
The road through hell is paved with good material
emergentphenomena.beehiiv.com
May 9, 2025 at 12:00 PM
On the newsletter this week, I wrote about how we are definitely going to hell—most of us, multiple times—and why that's not such a bad thing emergentphenomena.beehiiv.com/p/get-in-we-...
Reposted by Alex Taylor
yikes
Ironically, "for more than 50 years, the journal has received funding from the National Institutes of Health to review studies on the health effects of environmental toxins—from 'forever chemicals' to air pollution—and publish the research free of charge," which are two of RFK's priorities.
Ironically, "for more than 50 years, the journal has received funding from the National Institutes of Health to review studies on the health effects of environmental toxins—from 'forever chemicals' to air pollution—and publish the research free of charge," which are two of RFK's priorities.
Citing N.I.H. Cuts, a Top Science Journal Stops Accepting Submissions
With federal support, Environmental Health Perspectives has long published peer-reviewed studies without fees to readers or scientists.
www.nytimes.com
April 30, 2025 at 11:43 AM
yikes
Ironically, "for more than 50 years, the journal has received funding from the National Institutes of Health to review studies on the health effects of environmental toxins—from 'forever chemicals' to air pollution—and publish the research free of charge," which are two of RFK's priorities.
Ironically, "for more than 50 years, the journal has received funding from the National Institutes of Health to review studies on the health effects of environmental toxins—from 'forever chemicals' to air pollution—and publish the research free of charge," which are two of RFK's priorities.
Reposted by Alex Taylor
Useful thinking here for poets, writers & science communicators from the desk of @alexandrataylor.bsky.social
Emergent phenomena: emergentphenomena.beehiiv.com/p/how-does-a...
Emergent phenomena: emergentphenomena.beehiiv.com/p/how-does-a...
April 27, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Useful thinking here for poets, writers & science communicators from the desk of @alexandrataylor.bsky.social
Emergent phenomena: emergentphenomena.beehiiv.com/p/how-does-a...
Emergent phenomena: emergentphenomena.beehiiv.com/p/how-does-a...
This was an incredible book and is sure to be an incredible evening, with or without cake
Western Mass folk: Karen Brown and I will be talking about my latest book and rape kits at Forbes Library on May 20! There will be a reception afterwards! Possibly with cake!
April 25, 2025 at 1:40 AM
This was an incredible book and is sure to be an incredible evening, with or without cake
Pink pony song
I’m gonna keep on askin’ for the
Pink pony song
I’m gonna keep on askin’ ‘til my
Mom puts it on
I’m gonna keep on askin’ for the
Pink pony song
Pink pony song
I’m gonna keep on askin’ for the
Pink pony song
I’m gonna keep on askin’ ‘til my
Mom puts it on
I’m gonna keep on askin’ for the
Pink pony song
Pink pony song
April 20, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Pink pony song
I’m gonna keep on askin’ for the
Pink pony song
I’m gonna keep on askin’ ‘til my
Mom puts it on
I’m gonna keep on askin’ for the
Pink pony song
Pink pony song
I’m gonna keep on askin’ for the
Pink pony song
I’m gonna keep on askin’ ‘til my
Mom puts it on
I’m gonna keep on askin’ for the
Pink pony song
Pink pony song
I used to think finding an elegant metaphor was all about inspiration. Then I started learning about system dynamics, and something clicked.
April 8, 2025 at 5:27 PM
I used to think finding an elegant metaphor was all about inspiration. Then I started learning about system dynamics, and something clicked.
Reposted by Alex Taylor
Fun NYT #fungi feature by my friend @allakat.bsky.social
A new exhibition “Outcasts,” recognizes a 19th-century woman's outsized scientific legacy
Elizabeth Banning identified 23 new fungi species around Baltimore, but this was long-overlooked
Exhibit opens this month at New York State Museum:
A new exhibition “Outcasts,” recognizes a 19th-century woman's outsized scientific legacy
Elizabeth Banning identified 23 new fungi species around Baltimore, but this was long-overlooked
Exhibit opens this month at New York State Museum:
A Fungi Pioneer’s Lifelong Work on Exhibit (Gift Article)
Mushrooms in 19th-century watercolors: The paintings of a self-taught female mycologist are featured at the New York State Museum.
www.nytimes.com
March 26, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Fun NYT #fungi feature by my friend @allakat.bsky.social
A new exhibition “Outcasts,” recognizes a 19th-century woman's outsized scientific legacy
Elizabeth Banning identified 23 new fungi species around Baltimore, but this was long-overlooked
Exhibit opens this month at New York State Museum:
A new exhibition “Outcasts,” recognizes a 19th-century woman's outsized scientific legacy
Elizabeth Banning identified 23 new fungi species around Baltimore, but this was long-overlooked
Exhibit opens this month at New York State Museum:
Have you ever tried to do washing up without the washing up liquid?
A Secret Way to Fight Off Stomach Bugs
It isn’t hand sanitizer.
www.theatlantic.com
January 15, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Have you ever tried to do washing up without the washing up liquid?
TIL the nutrient profile of spaghetti sauce is nearly identical that of infant formula.
Filing this away for the next national shortage of spaghetti sauce. www.nist.gov/blogs/taking...
Filing this away for the next national shortage of spaghetti sauce. www.nist.gov/blogs/taking...
Talk NISTy to Me: When Everyday Words Take On Different Meanings in Measurement Science
Words that have common meanings have different definitions in the world of measurement science.
www.nist.gov
December 4, 2024 at 8:13 PM
TIL the nutrient profile of spaghetti sauce is nearly identical that of infant formula.
Filing this away for the next national shortage of spaghetti sauce. www.nist.gov/blogs/taking...
Filing this away for the next national shortage of spaghetti sauce. www.nist.gov/blogs/taking...
Fun fact! My husband's high school band, Lawn Option, played at Jane Goodall's birthday party in the early 2000s. They were kicked off the stage after singing "Happy Birthday" and replaced with puppets.
Dr. Jane Goodall celebrated her 90th birthday today, April 3, 2024. 🎉
To mark the occasion, she sat down with Mongabay's Rhett Ayers Butler and delved into the evolving consciousness regarding environmental degradation and the loss of biodiversity, stressing the importance of fostering hope.
Read:
To mark the occasion, she sat down with Mongabay's Rhett Ayers Butler and delved into the evolving consciousness regarding environmental degradation and the loss of biodiversity, stressing the importance of fostering hope.
Read:
Jane Goodall at 90: On fame, hope, and empathy
Jane Goodall turns 90 today. For the past few weeks, the world has been marking her birthday in a variety of ways, from a unique 90-dog salute on a beach in Carmel, California, symbolizing her life-lo...
news.mongabay.com
April 3, 2024 at 6:05 PM
Fun fact! My husband's high school band, Lawn Option, played at Jane Goodall's birthday party in the early 2000s. They were kicked off the stage after singing "Happy Birthday" and replaced with puppets.
Was honored to share my scicomm journey with UCSD students last night. Check out their awesome chem/biochem journal, Graphite. All writing and graphic design done by undergrads: graphite.ucsd.edu
GRAPHITE – UC San Diego
UC San Diego
graphite.ucsd.edu
November 9, 2023 at 3:29 PM
Was honored to share my scicomm journey with UCSD students last night. Check out their awesome chem/biochem journal, Graphite. All writing and graphic design done by undergrads: graphite.ucsd.edu