Dani Sedbrook
@birdstobosons.bsky.social
Science writer based in Germany. Chemist/Ochem lecturer in a previous life. Writes about everything from…well…
Signal: birdstobosons.58
Out-of-date portfolio: dfsedbrook.com/writing
Signal: birdstobosons.58
Out-of-date portfolio: dfsedbrook.com/writing
Reposted by Dani Sedbrook
We were talking about these issues as normal, because companies have and are building systems and policies that make these questions unavoidable. We ended up debating the consequences of a world that someone else has decided to prototype into existence.
20/n
20/n
November 16, 2025 at 5:23 AM
We were talking about these issues as normal, because companies have and are building systems and policies that make these questions unavoidable. We ended up debating the consequences of a world that someone else has decided to prototype into existence.
20/n
20/n
Motherhood in a nutshell.
“You’re going to be disappointing other people or you’re going to be disappointing yourself. You have to choose.” — my partner to me today. Thought I’d mess yall up too. Thanks!
November 8, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Motherhood in a nutshell.
Also, you know, the fossil fuel industry is the third highest contributor to CO2 emissions…16%. Not the using, just the getting (extracting refining, what have you). It’s more than all of transportation combined. Mineral extraction? 0.4%, 40x less
Source: @climatetrace.org
climatetrace.org/sectors
Source: @climatetrace.org
climatetrace.org/sectors
September 29, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Also, you know, the fossil fuel industry is the third highest contributor to CO2 emissions…16%. Not the using, just the getting (extracting refining, what have you). It’s more than all of transportation combined. Mineral extraction? 0.4%, 40x less
Source: @climatetrace.org
climatetrace.org/sectors
Source: @climatetrace.org
climatetrace.org/sectors
Reposted by Dani Sedbrook
I AM GOING TO SCREAM
This is why journalism is dying.
Cause it’s impossible to be a reporter in this business while simultaneously paying for food.
This is why journalism is dying.
Cause it’s impossible to be a reporter in this business while simultaneously paying for food.
Science journos 🧪:
Earth dot com asked me about writing for them. They offer $50-60 PER STORY. And expect 15 to 25 stories EACH MONTH.
For reference, that rate is worse than what I got for a blogging role in 2012.
Steer clear af.
Earth dot com asked me about writing for them. They offer $50-60 PER STORY. And expect 15 to 25 stories EACH MONTH.
For reference, that rate is worse than what I got for a blogging role in 2012.
Steer clear af.
September 25, 2025 at 8:15 PM
I AM GOING TO SCREAM
This is why journalism is dying.
Cause it’s impossible to be a reporter in this business while simultaneously paying for food.
This is why journalism is dying.
Cause it’s impossible to be a reporter in this business while simultaneously paying for food.
Reposted by Dani Sedbrook
Science journos 🧪:
Earth dot com asked me about writing for them. They offer $50-60 PER STORY. And expect 15 to 25 stories EACH MONTH.
For reference, that rate is worse than what I got for a blogging role in 2012.
Steer clear af.
Earth dot com asked me about writing for them. They offer $50-60 PER STORY. And expect 15 to 25 stories EACH MONTH.
For reference, that rate is worse than what I got for a blogging role in 2012.
Steer clear af.
September 25, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Science journos 🧪:
Earth dot com asked me about writing for them. They offer $50-60 PER STORY. And expect 15 to 25 stories EACH MONTH.
For reference, that rate is worse than what I got for a blogging role in 2012.
Steer clear af.
Earth dot com asked me about writing for them. They offer $50-60 PER STORY. And expect 15 to 25 stories EACH MONTH.
For reference, that rate is worse than what I got for a blogging role in 2012.
Steer clear af.
Reposted by Dani Sedbrook
AI is now capable of designing a record-breaking deep sea submersible on its own. This marks a new age of exploration and I encourage all my fellow AI champions to build one and get in it so they can celebrate this achievement from the bottom of the sea.
August 7, 2025 at 3:15 AM
AI is now capable of designing a record-breaking deep sea submersible on its own. This marks a new age of exploration and I encourage all my fellow AI champions to build one and get in it so they can celebrate this achievement from the bottom of the sea.
Reposted by Dani Sedbrook
“Authors have until the end of August to opt out of the licensing agreement. If they do not, their work will be used to help train AI models.”
Johns Hopkins Press will license its books to train AI models
Authors at the Johns Hopkins University Press will be able to opt out of the AI licensing agreement until the end of August; if they do not, their work will be used to train AI models.
www.thebaltimorebanner.com
July 26, 2025 at 1:50 PM
“Authors have until the end of August to opt out of the licensing agreement. If they do not, their work will be used to help train AI models.”
Reposted by Dani Sedbrook
Re-upping this for #scicomm folks. Has anyone else seen AI use clauses? Is this the new normal?
I hate it.
#sciencejournalism @sciencewriters.org @theopennotebook.bsky.social
I hate it.
#sciencejournalism @sciencewriters.org @theopennotebook.bsky.social
Question for other #scicomm folks. After a long wait, I got a contract for a new magazine client…and it includes a provision that they can use my stuff for AI training and other AI uses. I haven’t seen this before, and it’s not something I would agree to sign. Is this just the brave new world? Wtf
June 17, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Re-upping this for #scicomm folks. Has anyone else seen AI use clauses? Is this the new normal?
I hate it.
#sciencejournalism @sciencewriters.org @theopennotebook.bsky.social
I hate it.
#sciencejournalism @sciencewriters.org @theopennotebook.bsky.social
Re-upping this for #scicomm folks. Has anyone else seen AI use clauses? Is this the new normal?
I hate it.
#sciencejournalism @sciencewriters.org @theopennotebook.bsky.social
I hate it.
#sciencejournalism @sciencewriters.org @theopennotebook.bsky.social
Question for other #scicomm folks. After a long wait, I got a contract for a new magazine client…and it includes a provision that they can use my stuff for AI training and other AI uses. I haven’t seen this before, and it’s not something I would agree to sign. Is this just the brave new world? Wtf
June 17, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Re-upping this for #scicomm folks. Has anyone else seen AI use clauses? Is this the new normal?
I hate it.
#sciencejournalism @sciencewriters.org @theopennotebook.bsky.social
I hate it.
#sciencejournalism @sciencewriters.org @theopennotebook.bsky.social
Question for other #scicomm folks. After a long wait, I got a contract for a new magazine client…and it includes a provision that they can use my stuff for AI training and other AI uses. I haven’t seen this before, and it’s not something I would agree to sign. Is this just the brave new world? Wtf
June 16, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Question for other #scicomm folks. After a long wait, I got a contract for a new magazine client…and it includes a provision that they can use my stuff for AI training and other AI uses. I haven’t seen this before, and it’s not something I would agree to sign. Is this just the brave new world? Wtf
Reposted by Dani Sedbrook
Faulheit? Würden wir nicht den Bürger*innen, sondern eher einer Regierung vorwerfen, die auf populistische Phrasen anstatt echter Lösungen setzt. Ob Lohnarbeit, Carearbeit oder Ehrenamt – die Deutschen leisten viel. Sie brauchen eine Politik, die sie unterstützt.
@ricardalang.bsky.social 📢
@ricardalang.bsky.social 📢
May 15, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Faulheit? Würden wir nicht den Bürger*innen, sondern eher einer Regierung vorwerfen, die auf populistische Phrasen anstatt echter Lösungen setzt. Ob Lohnarbeit, Carearbeit oder Ehrenamt – die Deutschen leisten viel. Sie brauchen eine Politik, die sie unterstützt.
@ricardalang.bsky.social 📢
@ricardalang.bsky.social 📢
B says she has super powers. So, I ask her what kind, and she says all the super powers. I say,
“Do you have super strength?”
“Yeah.”
“Can you see through walls.”
“Yeah. And know what, I can see in the future.”
“Oh really? What’s going to happen in the future?”
“You’re going to die.”
“Do you have super strength?”
“Yeah.”
“Can you see through walls.”
“Yeah. And know what, I can see in the future.”
“Oh really? What’s going to happen in the future?”
“You’re going to die.”
May 8, 2025 at 2:38 PM
B says she has super powers. So, I ask her what kind, and she says all the super powers. I say,
“Do you have super strength?”
“Yeah.”
“Can you see through walls.”
“Yeah. And know what, I can see in the future.”
“Oh really? What’s going to happen in the future?”
“You’re going to die.”
“Do you have super strength?”
“Yeah.”
“Can you see through walls.”
“Yeah. And know what, I can see in the future.”
“Oh really? What’s going to happen in the future?”
“You’re going to die.”
Nice thread if you want a reality check.
An astonishing headline reporting on new observations from a team led to Nikku Madhusudhan claims they’ve found ‘hints of life’ on a planet orbiting a dwarf star some 124 light years away. What’s going on? (1/n) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... 🔭 🧪
Promising hints of life found on distant planet K2-18b
Scientists find new but tentative evidence that a faraway world orbiting another star may be home to life.
www.bbc.co.uk
April 17, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Nice thread if you want a reality check.
Reposted by Dani Sedbrook
And yet most major science publications/major publication science sections covered it…. Even those covering it to comment on the fact that it’s bs to call this thing a dire wolf, end up spreading its reach. It’s an editorial choice to respond to this kind of marketing with news coverage.
You know, it’s hard to say what Colossal has even done because there’s no research to show. No publication. No access to data. All we have is their say so about what they did and how. Slick marketing but nothing to fact check the research and methods directly.
April 8, 2025 at 7:53 AM
And yet most major science publications/major publication science sections covered it…. Even those covering it to comment on the fact that it’s bs to call this thing a dire wolf, end up spreading its reach. It’s an editorial choice to respond to this kind of marketing with news coverage.
Reposted by Dani Sedbrook
How to leak to a journalist!
featuring a bunch of good advice from those who know: @marisakabas.bsky.social @amandabecker.bsky.social @jeffhorwitz.bsky.social @rmac.bsky.social @swin24.bsky.social @juliaangwin.com @benmullin.bsky.social & @maxtani.bsky.social
featuring a bunch of good advice from those who know: @marisakabas.bsky.social @amandabecker.bsky.social @jeffhorwitz.bsky.social @rmac.bsky.social @swin24.bsky.social @juliaangwin.com @benmullin.bsky.social & @maxtani.bsky.social
How to leak to a journalist
Planning to leak? Read these tips first.
www.niemanlab.org
April 2, 2025 at 6:46 PM
How to leak to a journalist!
featuring a bunch of good advice from those who know: @marisakabas.bsky.social @amandabecker.bsky.social @jeffhorwitz.bsky.social @rmac.bsky.social @swin24.bsky.social @juliaangwin.com @benmullin.bsky.social & @maxtani.bsky.social
featuring a bunch of good advice from those who know: @marisakabas.bsky.social @amandabecker.bsky.social @jeffhorwitz.bsky.social @rmac.bsky.social @swin24.bsky.social @juliaangwin.com @benmullin.bsky.social & @maxtani.bsky.social
Reposted by Dani Sedbrook
People think being small will keep them safe.
It won't.
The reason we know who Mahmoud Kahlil is is because he was loud. Do you think he's the only person the administration has tried to disappear? He's just one of the first we've noticed
It won't.
The reason we know who Mahmoud Kahlil is is because he was loud. Do you think he's the only person the administration has tried to disappear? He's just one of the first we've noticed
I was interviewed this week for a major US news show. My interviewer asked me why so few of my colleagues are willing to talk.
It’s not just fear of losing funding, but of being singled out by a regime that wants to purge scientists from society.
That’s why I do speak out. I wish more people would
It’s not just fear of losing funding, but of being singled out by a regime that wants to purge scientists from society.
That’s why I do speak out. I wish more people would
In 15 yrs of reporting, I've never had so many health & biomed researchers & outreach orgs tell me they're afraid to talk w/press or barred from speaking bc of new comms policies.
I understand the fear of losing funds. I don't know if silence does more harm than good. If you can speak up, pls do.
I understand the fear of losing funds. I don't know if silence does more harm than good. If you can speak up, pls do.
March 22, 2025 at 3:10 AM
People think being small will keep them safe.
It won't.
The reason we know who Mahmoud Kahlil is is because he was loud. Do you think he's the only person the administration has tried to disappear? He's just one of the first we've noticed
It won't.
The reason we know who Mahmoud Kahlil is is because he was loud. Do you think he's the only person the administration has tried to disappear? He's just one of the first we've noticed
All my (very few) pubs from grad school are here… also many from my compsci Prof dad (who ironically wrote his own PhD thesis on using machine learning on medical imaging)
cool. cool, cool, cool.*
*absolutely not cool
cool. cool, cool, cool.*
*absolutely not cool
Meta used at least 16 of my books, and numerous articles, to help train the AI it will use to make billions.
Authors, search your name here:
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
Authors, search your name here:
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
Search LibGen, the Pirated-Books Database That Meta Used to Train AI
Millions of books and scientific papers are captured in the collection’s current iteration.
www.theatlantic.com
March 20, 2025 at 5:23 PM
All my (very few) pubs from grad school are here… also many from my compsci Prof dad (who ironically wrote his own PhD thesis on using machine learning on medical imaging)
cool. cool, cool, cool.*
*absolutely not cool
cool. cool, cool, cool.*
*absolutely not cool
Reposted by Dani Sedbrook
Meta used at least 16 of my books, and numerous articles, to help train the AI it will use to make billions.
Authors, search your name here:
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
Authors, search your name here:
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
Search LibGen, the Pirated-Books Database That Meta Used to Train AI
Millions of books and scientific papers are captured in the collection’s current iteration.
www.theatlantic.com
March 20, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Meta used at least 16 of my books, and numerous articles, to help train the AI it will use to make billions.
Authors, search your name here:
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
Authors, search your name here:
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
I don’t even no what to say other than, make it stop.
I hope this shatters non-Americans’ views of what my country is.
Notable: This did not start in January, but it’s getting worse.
I hope this shatters non-Americans’ views of what my country is.
Notable: This did not start in January, but it’s getting worse.
I’m the Canadian who was detained by Ice for two weeks. It felt like I had been kidnapped
I’m the Canadian who was detained by Ice for two weeks. It felt like I had been kidnapped
I was stuck in a freezing cell without explanation despite eventually having lawyers and media attention. Yet, compared with others, I was lucky
www.theguardian.com
March 20, 2025 at 6:04 AM
I don’t even no what to say other than, make it stop.
I hope this shatters non-Americans’ views of what my country is.
Notable: This did not start in January, but it’s getting worse.
I hope this shatters non-Americans’ views of what my country is.
Notable: This did not start in January, but it’s getting worse.
Reposted by Dani Sedbrook
Hi #ChemSky! With the ACS Spring meeting on the horizon, I’m curious how the current US political environment is affecting scientists’ decisions to travel in and out of the US for conferences.
Any insights to share?
Email: k_vasquez@acs.org
Signal: kvasquez.12
Any insights to share?
Email: k_vasquez@acs.org
Signal: kvasquez.12
March 18, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Hi #ChemSky! With the ACS Spring meeting on the horizon, I’m curious how the current US political environment is affecting scientists’ decisions to travel in and out of the US for conferences.
Any insights to share?
Email: k_vasquez@acs.org
Signal: kvasquez.12
Any insights to share?
Email: k_vasquez@acs.org
Signal: kvasquez.12
Reposted by Dani Sedbrook
Don't know who needs to hear this, but
Unclench your jaw
Let your shoulders drop
Liquefy all your connective tissue for the nutrients
Slither bonelessly off your chair
Wick yourself up the walls through capillary action
Envelop the room
Become a new god
Become a new god
Unclench your jaw
Let your shoulders drop
Liquefy all your connective tissue for the nutrients
Slither bonelessly off your chair
Wick yourself up the walls through capillary action
Envelop the room
Become a new god
Become a new god
October 18, 2023 at 11:04 AM
Don't know who needs to hear this, but
Unclench your jaw
Let your shoulders drop
Liquefy all your connective tissue for the nutrients
Slither bonelessly off your chair
Wick yourself up the walls through capillary action
Envelop the room
Become a new god
Become a new god
Unclench your jaw
Let your shoulders drop
Liquefy all your connective tissue for the nutrients
Slither bonelessly off your chair
Wick yourself up the walls through capillary action
Envelop the room
Become a new god
Become a new god
Imposter Syndrome Alarm is blaring, but . . .
Honored to be quoted about analogies and metaphors in @theopennotebook.bsky.social
Easily the most valuable website for science journalists anywhere.
Honored to be quoted about analogies and metaphors in @theopennotebook.bsky.social
Easily the most valuable website for science journalists anywhere.
Analogies can be useful in helping readers understand and visualize something they could never see, especially for topics within physics, astronomy, and neuroscience. Here’s a guide to analogies from @claudia-lopez.bsky.social with @angelapswafford.bsky.social, @nattyover.bsky.social and others. 🧪
Building Bridges: Crafting Analogies to Help Guide Your Readers - The Open Notebook
Crafting analogies in science writing is both an art and a challenge. Analogies act as bridges, connecting complex ideas to familiar concepts and making technical subjects more accessible. The most ef...
www.theopennotebook.com
March 18, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Imposter Syndrome Alarm is blaring, but . . .
Honored to be quoted about analogies and metaphors in @theopennotebook.bsky.social
Easily the most valuable website for science journalists anywhere.
Honored to be quoted about analogies and metaphors in @theopennotebook.bsky.social
Easily the most valuable website for science journalists anywhere.
Reposted by Dani Sedbrook
Anything and anyone we send to mars has to meet anti contamination standards. NASA has been exploring mars for decades and all that searching for life could be destroyed by one reckless entitled buffoon who wants to go it just because he can.
March 16, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Anything and anyone we send to mars has to meet anti contamination standards. NASA has been exploring mars for decades and all that searching for life could be destroyed by one reckless entitled buffoon who wants to go it just because he can.
Reposted by Dani Sedbrook
What did the lentil say to the flower when it bloomed?
Bean there, done that.
#ScienceHumor #ScienceJokes #BadJokes
Bean there, done that.
#ScienceHumor #ScienceJokes #BadJokes
March 4, 2025 at 4:36 PM
What did the lentil say to the flower when it bloomed?
Bean there, done that.
#ScienceHumor #ScienceJokes #BadJokes
Bean there, done that.
#ScienceHumor #ScienceJokes #BadJokes