Andrea Thompson
@andreatweather.bsky.social
Senior Desk Editor for Life Sciences at Scientific American, covering earth and the environment. (she/her) Posts are entirely my own and not reflective of my employer. Email: andrea.thompson@sciam.com Signal: @AndreaT.95
Pinned
We finally made it to Bluesky—just a few billion years after the Big Bang, and only slightly late to the party ✨🌌
We’re sharing some of our best stories from the year so far to kick off our Bluesky journey!
We’re sharing some of our best stories from the year so far to kick off our Bluesky journey!
What is Scientific American?
YouTube video by Scientific American
www.youtube.com
Big news science folks!! 🧪
Reposted by Andrea Thompson
🚨 BREAKING: Canada has lost its measles-free status after a year of continuous transmission — meaning the Americas region is no longer measles-free.
What does this mean?
My story for @sciam.bsky.social 🧪
What does this mean?
My story for @sciam.bsky.social 🧪
The Americas Are No Longer Officially Measles-Free
Canada lost its official measles elimination status after a year of continuous transmission
www.scientificamerican.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:02 PM
🚨 BREAKING: Canada has lost its measles-free status after a year of continuous transmission — meaning the Americas region is no longer measles-free.
What does this mean?
My story for @sciam.bsky.social 🧪
What does this mean?
My story for @sciam.bsky.social 🧪
What a lovely story.
November 8, 2025 at 5:22 PM
What a lovely story.
Reposted by Andrea Thompson
Scientists found the world’s largest spiderweb inside a sulfur cave on the Albania–Greece border. It’s about half the size of a tennis court—or, you know, a pretty decent studio apartment in Manhattan 🕷️ 🕸️
My story for @sciam.bsky.social 🧪
www.scientificamerican.com/article/worl...
My story for @sciam.bsky.social 🧪
www.scientificamerican.com/article/worl...
This Cave Holds a Spider Web “Megacity” the Size of Half a Tennis Court
The finding is the first documented case of colonial behavior between two solitary species
www.scientificamerican.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Scientists found the world’s largest spiderweb inside a sulfur cave on the Albania–Greece border. It’s about half the size of a tennis court—or, you know, a pretty decent studio apartment in Manhattan 🕷️ 🕸️
My story for @sciam.bsky.social 🧪
www.scientificamerican.com/article/worl...
My story for @sciam.bsky.social 🧪
www.scientificamerican.com/article/worl...
🧪
Clinicians are noticing a steady climb in diagnoses of ARFID, a type of eating disorder that presents as a food avoidance so persistent and pervasive it can cause severe malnutrition in kids and adults. More @sciam.bsky.social: www.scientificamerican.com/article/what...
ARFID Is More Than Picky Eating—And the Condition Is on the Rise
Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, or ARFID, can cause malnutrition and weight loss in children and adults even when body image is not a factor
www.scientificamerican.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:27 PM
🧪
New map of the ancient Roman road network just dropped. It found 60,000 miles of previously uncharted roads. 🧪
(By Tom Metcalfe for @sciam.bsky.social)
(By Tom Metcalfe for @sciam.bsky.social)
All the Roads That Led to Ancient Rome in One New Digital Map
New findings increase the known length of the Roman Empire’s road network by more than 60,000 miles
www.scientificamerican.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:27 PM
New map of the ancient Roman road network just dropped. It found 60,000 miles of previously uncharted roads. 🧪
(By Tom Metcalfe for @sciam.bsky.social)
(By Tom Metcalfe for @sciam.bsky.social)
Reposted by Andrea Thompson
Getting new details on this now:
As the arrest unfolded, teachers pleaded with the agents telling them the teacher had a work permit. The agents went into multiple rooms looking for teachers while children were present. One teacher hid with a child in her care while the agents stormed the facility.
As the arrest unfolded, teachers pleaded with the agents telling them the teacher had a work permit. The agents went into multiple rooms looking for teachers while children were present. One teacher hid with a child in her care while the agents stormed the facility.
Raids inside day cares had been off limits until this year, when, on his first day in office, President Donald Trump removed that protection.
The arrest reportedly took place in front of children.
19thnews.org/2025/11/chil...
The arrest reportedly took place in front of children.
19thnews.org/2025/11/chil...
‘I have papers’: Child care worker detained by ICE officers inside a Chicago day care
Raids inside day cares had been off limits until this year, when, on his first day in office, President Donald Trump removed that protection.
19thnews.org
November 5, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Getting new details on this now:
As the arrest unfolded, teachers pleaded with the agents telling them the teacher had a work permit. The agents went into multiple rooms looking for teachers while children were present. One teacher hid with a child in her care while the agents stormed the facility.
As the arrest unfolded, teachers pleaded with the agents telling them the teacher had a work permit. The agents went into multiple rooms looking for teachers while children were present. One teacher hid with a child in her care while the agents stormed the facility.
Our pediatrician does something I love: They’ll give parents flu shots at the same appointment as the kids. It’s so convenient and I’m sure helps with uptake. Plus you can get a rad bandaid with skateboarding dinosaurs.
November 6, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Our pediatrician does something I love: They’ll give parents flu shots at the same appointment as the kids. It’s so convenient and I’m sure helps with uptake. Plus you can get a rad bandaid with skateboarding dinosaurs.
Reposted by Andrea Thompson
Typhoon #Kalmaegi has intensified to the equivalent of a category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph. It will be making landfall in the next several hours over central Vietnam.
November 6, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Typhoon #Kalmaegi has intensified to the equivalent of a category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph. It will be making landfall in the next several hours over central Vietnam.
Reposted by Andrea Thompson
Daycares in our neighborhood are no longer answering their doors after morning drop-off. Parents have to call the daycare when they arrive and they let them in for pickup. It's insane how we live now.
November 5, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Daycares in our neighborhood are no longer answering their doors after morning drop-off. Parents have to call the daycare when they arrive and they let them in for pickup. It's insane how we live now.
Reposted by Andrea Thompson
I was laid off from Teen Vogue this week, alongside multiple other phenomenal team members.
At our Summit, I was asked how it felt to be 1 of 2 Black women left and what that meant for representation. Now, there are no Black women at Teen Vogue and that is incredibly painful to think about.
At our Summit, I was asked how it felt to be 1 of 2 Black women left and what that meant for representation. Now, there are no Black women at Teen Vogue and that is incredibly painful to think about.
November 3, 2025 at 11:57 PM
I was laid off from Teen Vogue this week, alongside multiple other phenomenal team members.
At our Summit, I was asked how it felt to be 1 of 2 Black women left and what that meant for representation. Now, there are no Black women at Teen Vogue and that is incredibly painful to think about.
At our Summit, I was asked how it felt to be 1 of 2 Black women left and what that meant for representation. Now, there are no Black women at Teen Vogue and that is incredibly painful to think about.
Reposted by Andrea Thompson
today’s information came out piecemeal, and people should be able to share their own situations on their own time, but I could share this much ^ as it is pretty cut and dry on the facts.
Teen Vogue also no longer has any trans staffers as of today.
Teen Vogue also no longer has any trans staffers as of today.
November 3, 2025 at 11:28 PM
today’s information came out piecemeal, and people should be able to share their own situations on their own time, but I could share this much ^ as it is pretty cut and dry on the facts.
Teen Vogue also no longer has any trans staffers as of today.
Teen Vogue also no longer has any trans staffers as of today.
Reposted by Andrea Thompson
thank you for all the support; the statement from our union is now live here with some more reporting.
now that this is public I can confirm that the majority of today’s layoffs were women of color. there are no longer any Black women working at Teen Vogue.
now that this is public I can confirm that the majority of today’s layoffs were women of color. there are no longer any Black women working at Teen Vogue.
November 3, 2025 at 11:25 PM
thank you for all the support; the statement from our union is now live here with some more reporting.
now that this is public I can confirm that the majority of today’s layoffs were women of color. there are no longer any Black women working at Teen Vogue.
now that this is public I can confirm that the majority of today’s layoffs were women of color. there are no longer any Black women working at Teen Vogue.
Reposted by Andrea Thompson
Forrest Smith, the only National Park Service engineer cleaning up abandoned oil and gas wells, lost his contract, leaving 93 orphaned wells on park lands unmanaged. These leaking wells release methane and toxins, threatening human health and the environment.
He Alone Tracked Leaky Oil Wells in National Parks. He Was Let Go.
www.nytimes.com
November 3, 2025 at 5:58 AM
Forrest Smith, the only National Park Service engineer cleaning up abandoned oil and gas wells, lost his contract, leaving 93 orphaned wells on park lands unmanaged. These leaking wells release methane and toxins, threatening human health and the environment.
Happy Marathon Sunday NYC!!
November 2, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Happy Marathon Sunday NYC!!
Reposted by Andrea Thompson
Reposted by Andrea Thompson
CBS went to a military food pantry (those words, in order) to interview moms. 13% of military families rely on SNAP/WIC. When a military spouse of a deployed soldier on enlisted salary was asked if people should be surprised: “No they shouldn’t. We live in poverty just like everybody else.”
October 30, 2025 at 1:06 PM
CBS went to a military food pantry (those words, in order) to interview moms. 13% of military families rely on SNAP/WIC. When a military spouse of a deployed soldier on enlisted salary was asked if people should be surprised: “No they shouldn’t. We live in poverty just like everybody else.”
Reposted by Andrea Thompson
A look at the devastating power loss across Jamaica following the historic crossing of Hurricane Melissa, captured by NOAA-21.
October 30, 2025 at 6:27 PM
A look at the devastating power loss across Jamaica following the historic crossing of Hurricane Melissa, captured by NOAA-21.
A fascinating new piece for @sciam.bsky.social by @squigglyvolcano.bsky.social about Hurricane Melissa being picked up by seismographs. Because the seismic record began long before the satellite era, we may be able to use older seismograms to learn more about past storms. 🧪
Hurricane Melissa Literally Made the Earth Shake Hundreds of Miles Away
Seismometers picked up the ferocious winds and waves of Hurricane Melissa, showing how the tools can be used to better understand storms today and those from the past
www.scientificamerican.com
October 30, 2025 at 5:24 PM
A fascinating new piece for @sciam.bsky.social by @squigglyvolcano.bsky.social about Hurricane Melissa being picked up by seismographs. Because the seismic record began long before the satellite era, we may be able to use older seismograms to learn more about past storms. 🧪
🧪
Now on @sciam.bsky.social: At least one nuclear-weapons expert (one of many, I’d reckon) is baffled by Trump’s call to “immediately” resume U.S. nuclear tests.
An enlightening convo with @armscontrolwonk.bsky.social, courtesy of @danvergano.bsky.social.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/trum...
An enlightening convo with @armscontrolwonk.bsky.social, courtesy of @danvergano.bsky.social.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/trum...
Resuming U.S. Nuclear Tests Would Only Help China, One Expert Says
“The only countries that will really learn more if testing resumes are Russia and to a much greater extent China,” Jeffrey Lewis says
www.scientificamerican.com
October 30, 2025 at 5:15 PM
🧪
Reposted by Andrea Thompson
DHS deceptively spliced images from different cities and times in videos sowing fear about "chaos" in Chicago and Washington, D.C., a WaPo investigation found.
DHS used footage from years ago, half the country away, or even in international waters, the Post found.
🎁 🔗 wapo.st/4nuDGwf
DHS used footage from years ago, half the country away, or even in international waters, the Post found.
🎁 🔗 wapo.st/4nuDGwf
wapo.st
October 29, 2025 at 7:48 PM
DHS deceptively spliced images from different cities and times in videos sowing fear about "chaos" in Chicago and Washington, D.C., a WaPo investigation found.
DHS used footage from years ago, half the country away, or even in international waters, the Post found.
🎁 🔗 wapo.st/4nuDGwf
DHS used footage from years ago, half the country away, or even in international waters, the Post found.
🎁 🔗 wapo.st/4nuDGwf
Reposted by Andrea Thompson
The EPA is picking and choosing who gets to work during the shutdown: "virtually everyone who is working to undo marquee Biden-era regulations for air pollution, climate change and
water quality is still on the job."
This is, to put it mildly, not normal.
www.eenews.net/articles/epa...
water quality is still on the job."
This is, to put it mildly, not normal.
www.eenews.net/articles/epa...
EPA flush with cash for ‘priority’ staff
The agency is taking an unprecedented approach to furloughs during this latest government shutdown.
www.eenews.net
October 29, 2025 at 6:46 PM
The EPA is picking and choosing who gets to work during the shutdown: "virtually everyone who is working to undo marquee Biden-era regulations for air pollution, climate change and
water quality is still on the job."
This is, to put it mildly, not normal.
www.eenews.net/articles/epa...
water quality is still on the job."
This is, to put it mildly, not normal.
www.eenews.net/articles/epa...
Reposted by Andrea Thompson
"I feel compelled to make people realize that this is not going away, that this is going to continue to happen over and over again, and that we need to harden ourselves in every possible way and adapt to these increasing disasters." —part of yesterday's #Melissa coverage on @nbcmiami.com
October 29, 2025 at 1:25 PM
"I feel compelled to make people realize that this is not going away, that this is going to continue to happen over and over again, and that we need to harden ourselves in every possible way and adapt to these increasing disasters." —part of yesterday's #Melissa coverage on @nbcmiami.com
Reposted by Andrea Thompson
The Copernicus Sentinel-2 polar-orbiting satellite made an extremely fortuitous pass over Hurricane Melissa right before it made landfall in Jamaica to provide these stunning images of one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes in history
October 28, 2025 at 10:04 PM
The Copernicus Sentinel-2 polar-orbiting satellite made an extremely fortuitous pass over Hurricane Melissa right before it made landfall in Jamaica to provide these stunning images of one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes in history
Reposted by Andrea Thompson
The eyewall of Category 4 Hurricane #Melissa is about to exit Jamaica and re-emerge over very warm water (30-31°C) as it heads for eastern Cuba. How much rebuilding will it do?
I have a couple long radar loops from Pilon and Guantanamo at bmcnoldy.earth.miami.edu/tropics/radar/
I have a couple long radar loops from Pilon and Guantanamo at bmcnoldy.earth.miami.edu/tropics/radar/
October 28, 2025 at 8:54 PM
The eyewall of Category 4 Hurricane #Melissa is about to exit Jamaica and re-emerge over very warm water (30-31°C) as it heads for eastern Cuba. How much rebuilding will it do?
I have a couple long radar loops from Pilon and Guantanamo at bmcnoldy.earth.miami.edu/tropics/radar/
I have a couple long radar loops from Pilon and Guantanamo at bmcnoldy.earth.miami.edu/tropics/radar/