Elizabeth Preston
@inkfish.bsky.social
Science journalist, humor writer and aspiring cephalopod. Author of THE CREATURES' GUIDE TO CARING, coming in 2026.
elizabethgpreston.com
elizabethgpreston.substack.com
elizabethgpreston.com
elizabethgpreston.substack.com
Pinned
The Creatures' Guide to Caring by Elizabeth Preston: 9780593657102 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
A lively and revelatory journey through the evolution of caretaking on Earth, from animal parents to modern-day humans, making the case that caring for children and each other made us who we are Pois...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
(ahem) Friends, my book has a cover! And a pub date (5/5/26)! And a preorder button! I can't wait to share it with you: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/741329... 🧪
Reposted by Elizabeth Preston
Even in THEIR OWN AD, Charlie at the end looks like he’s thinking, “This is sad and weird.” Promising people you can prevent feelings of loss is not only ridiculous; it’s perverse. Sad things and happy things need each other. This company is promising numbness.
This is possibly the most fucked thing I've ever seen but also the bit at the end where the grandmother is straight up being tricked into providing training content for the app feels particularly revealing.
Nightmarish idea for a startup tbh
November 14, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Even in THEIR OWN AD, Charlie at the end looks like he’s thinking, “This is sad and weird.” Promising people you can prevent feelings of loss is not only ridiculous; it’s perverse. Sad things and happy things need each other. This company is promising numbness.
Reposted by Elizabeth Preston
Strange things are afoot in the forests of Madagascar. @inkfish.bsky.social investigates for @biographic.bsky.social! 🧪
www.biographic.com/investigatin...
www.biographic.com/investigatin...
Investigating a Treetop Baby Boom
Why a sudden spike in pregnancies in one Madagascan lemur population might actually be a bad sign for the species.
www.biographic.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Strange things are afoot in the forests of Madagascar. @inkfish.bsky.social investigates for @biographic.bsky.social! 🧪
www.biographic.com/investigatin...
www.biographic.com/investigatin...
Naked mole rats can survive in a crowded space that's so airless, it would kill a human. In fact, they seek it out. Can these cuddle-obsessed mammals inspire us to make it through the holiday season with our families? elizabethgpreston.substack.com/p/how-to-lov... 🧪
How to Love a Family That Suffocates You
Shallow breaths?
elizabethgpreston.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Naked mole rats can survive in a crowded space that's so airless, it would kill a human. In fact, they seek it out. Can these cuddle-obsessed mammals inspire us to make it through the holiday season with our families? elizabethgpreston.substack.com/p/how-to-lov... 🧪
My 9-year-old to my husband: "Are you a Leo?"
Him: "Are you talking about my zodiac sign?"
Her, annoyed: "I'm talking about ASTROMAGY."
Him: "Are you talking about my zodiac sign?"
Her, annoyed: "I'm talking about ASTROMAGY."
November 12, 2025 at 1:21 PM
My 9-year-old to my husband: "Are you a Leo?"
Him: "Are you talking about my zodiac sign?"
Her, annoyed: "I'm talking about ASTROMAGY."
Him: "Are you talking about my zodiac sign?"
Her, annoyed: "I'm talking about ASTROMAGY."
As we approach the holiday season, the naked mole rats have some lessons for us about tolerating family time:
elizabethgpreston.substack.com/p/how-to-lov...
elizabethgpreston.substack.com/p/how-to-lov...
How to Love a Family That Suffocates You
Shallow breaths?
elizabethgpreston.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:05 PM
As we approach the holiday season, the naked mole rats have some lessons for us about tolerating family time:
elizabethgpreston.substack.com/p/how-to-lov...
elizabethgpreston.substack.com/p/how-to-lov...
I asked my kindergartener if she'd chosen a candle for her "spa bath" and she said "I can't decide between grapefruit and cheddar blossom."
November 7, 2025 at 2:50 PM
I asked my kindergartener if she'd chosen a candle for her "spa bath" and she said "I can't decide between grapefruit and cheddar blossom."
These endangered lemurs don't have babies often. (You won't believe how females keep males from mating with them!) When they do give birth, they raise kids communally. But in today's climate, their patterns are changing. By me, for @biographic.bsky.social: www.biographic.com/investigatin...
Investigating a Treetop Baby Boom
Why a sudden spike in pregnancies in one Madagascan lemur population might actually be a bad sign for the species.
www.biographic.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:51 PM
These endangered lemurs don't have babies often. (You won't believe how females keep males from mating with them!) When they do give birth, they raise kids communally. But in today's climate, their patterns are changing. By me, for @biographic.bsky.social: www.biographic.com/investigatin...
Chatted with a grandma at a birthday party, who mentioned she was surprised when one of her grandkids was named Allo. She asked her daughter-in-law if it was after the folk singer, Allo Guthrie, but she just liked the name! And wouldn't you know there are 3 other Allos at his preschool!
#boston
#boston
November 6, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Chatted with a grandma at a birthday party, who mentioned she was surprised when one of her grandkids was named Allo. She asked her daughter-in-law if it was after the folk singer, Allo Guthrie, but she just liked the name! And wouldn't you know there are 3 other Allos at his preschool!
#boston
#boston
Oof. A really good investigation by Sarah Kliff into electronic fetal monitoring, the moms and babies it doesn't help, and the lawyers and corporations it does: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/h... 🧪
The Flawed Technology Behind America’s High C-Section Rate
www.nytimes.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Oof. A really good investigation by Sarah Kliff into electronic fetal monitoring, the moms and babies it doesn't help, and the lawyers and corporations it does: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/h... 🧪
Reposted by Elizabeth Preston
In the treetops of a remote Madagascar rainforest, black-and-white ruffed lemurs are enjoying a baby boom. But what looks like unprecedented fecundity might actually be a sign of scrambled signals from a changing climate. @inkfish.bsky.social reports:
Investigating a Treetop Baby Boom
Why a sudden spike in pregnancies in one Madagascan lemur population might actually be a bad sign for the species.
www.biographic.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:34 PM
In the treetops of a remote Madagascar rainforest, black-and-white ruffed lemurs are enjoying a baby boom. But what looks like unprecedented fecundity might actually be a sign of scrambled signals from a changing climate. @inkfish.bsky.social reports:
Last month's delightful conversation with Mary Roach is online now! youtu.be/6FUVkG8kieI?... @harvardbookstore.bsky.social 🧪
Mary Roach, in conversation with Elizabeth Preston, "Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy"
YouTube video by Harvard Science Book Talks and Research Lectures
youtu.be
November 5, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Last month's delightful conversation with Mary Roach is online now! youtu.be/6FUVkG8kieI?... @harvardbookstore.bsky.social 🧪
Reposted by Elizabeth Preston
Huge thanks to everyone who has donated wood to our woodchuck enclosure. We have reached an undetermined percentage of our goal.
November 4, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Huge thanks to everyone who has donated wood to our woodchuck enclosure. We have reached an undetermined percentage of our goal.
I wasn't planning to post pictures of my kids' Halloween costumes BUT my feed is telling me it's #WorldJellyfishDay?! 🧪
November 3, 2025 at 1:49 PM
I wasn't planning to post pictures of my kids' Halloween costumes BUT my feed is telling me it's #WorldJellyfishDay?! 🧪
Your spooky Lego art for the day: "Pumpkin carving," by my sister @akpresto.bsky.social
(On non-spooky days, she makes Lego art about climate, cities and data: aangles.ghost.io)
(On non-spooky days, she makes Lego art about climate, cities and data: aangles.ghost.io)
October 31, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Your spooky Lego art for the day: "Pumpkin carving," by my sister @akpresto.bsky.social
(On non-spooky days, she makes Lego art about climate, cities and data: aangles.ghost.io)
(On non-spooky days, she makes Lego art about climate, cities and data: aangles.ghost.io)
This year both my kids are jellyfish for Halloween; we made costumes out of clear umbrellas, and I was feeling smug that they were prepared for every possible weather scenario. So of course the forecast for this evening is high wind.
October 31, 2025 at 12:38 PM
This year both my kids are jellyfish for Halloween; we made costumes out of clear umbrellas, and I was feeling smug that they were prepared for every possible weather scenario. So of course the forecast for this evening is high wind.
Reposted by Elizabeth Preston
It’s always amazing to me that so many endangered species have the word “common” in their name.
Really hammers home how quickly these conservation crises can arise. These animals were common as recently as when we were naming stuff!
Really hammers home how quickly these conservation crises can arise. These animals were common as recently as when we were naming stuff!
October 29, 2025 at 12:15 PM
It’s always amazing to me that so many endangered species have the word “common” in their name.
Really hammers home how quickly these conservation crises can arise. These animals were common as recently as when we were naming stuff!
Really hammers home how quickly these conservation crises can arise. These animals were common as recently as when we were naming stuff!
Oh. My God. What.
Also I literally read this book already; it was called Little Eyes, by Samanta Schweblin, and it was a horror novel.
Also I literally read this book already; it was called Little Eyes, by Samanta Schweblin, and it was a horror novel.
So the $20,000 humanoid robot housekeeper actually just webcams your house to a random person in a call center with an Xbox controller www.wsj.com/tech/persona... @joannastern.bsky.social
I Tried the Robot That’s Coming to Live With You. It’s Still Part Human.
1X’s Neo wants to be your housekeeper. First, it needs to be controlled by a human in your home. Cool with you?
www.wsj.com
October 29, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Oh. My God. What.
Also I literally read this book already; it was called Little Eyes, by Samanta Schweblin, and it was a horror novel.
Also I literally read this book already; it was called Little Eyes, by Samanta Schweblin, and it was a horror novel.
In my latest newsletter, we get advice from an eel about wriggling into uncomfortable environments (and get a look at my book galleys!!) elizabethgpreston.substack.com/p/how-to-be-... 🧪
How to Be a Fish out of Water
Hold your breath and leap
elizabethgpreston.substack.com
October 28, 2025 at 1:20 PM
In my latest newsletter, we get advice from an eel about wriggling into uncomfortable environments (and get a look at my book galleys!!) elizabethgpreston.substack.com/p/how-to-be-... 🧪
This is giving me life
"I DON'T NEED YOU TO FUCKING REWRITE WHAT I'VE JUST WRITTEN!"
October 28, 2025 at 12:37 PM
This is giving me life
Advice from an eel about putting yourself out there: elizabethgpreston.substack.com/p/how-to-be-... 🧪
How to Be a Fish out of Water
Hold your breath and leap
elizabethgpreston.substack.com
October 27, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Advice from an eel about putting yourself out there: elizabethgpreston.substack.com/p/how-to-be-... 🧪
Don't forget allergies!
I really think we should do a whole series about facts like this:
Have you noticed that poison ivy seems worse and itchier?
It's not your imagination. It's Climate Change.
grist.org/climate/clim...
Have you noticed that poison ivy seems worse and itchier?
It's not your imagination. It's Climate Change.
grist.org/climate/clim...
October 27, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Don't forget allergies!
Reposted by Elizabeth Preston
“I am not interested, nor will I ever be interested. I'm 61, and I hope to be able to remain uninterested in using it at all until I croak. ... The other day, somebody wrote me an email, said, ‘What is your stance on AI?’ And my answer was very short. I said, ‘I'd rather die.’” 🫡
Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro says 'I'd rather die' than use generative AI
Del Toro's new Frankenstein adaption reimagines Mary Shelley's 1818 Gothic novel. Frankenstein was like a tech bro: "creating something without considering the consequences," he explains.
www.npr.org
October 23, 2025 at 10:08 PM
“I am not interested, nor will I ever be interested. I'm 61, and I hope to be able to remain uninterested in using it at all until I croak. ... The other day, somebody wrote me an email, said, ‘What is your stance on AI?’ And my answer was very short. I said, ‘I'd rather die.’” 🫡
"I'm the real fake Trump." A great story about a Chinese man who does an astonishing impersonation but can't figure out how to monetize his talent: www.nytimes.com/2025/10/23/w...
He’s Never Been to America. But in China, He’s Trump.
www.nytimes.com
October 23, 2025 at 12:51 PM
"I'm the real fake Trump." A great story about a Chinese man who does an astonishing impersonation but can't figure out how to monetize his talent: www.nytimes.com/2025/10/23/w...
Reposted by Elizabeth Preston
"as if the act of dreaming has been rendered obsolete, inefficient"
Excellent essay from @cwarzel.bsky.social
Excellent essay from @cwarzel.bsky.social
Hi. I wrote an essay about AI slop: How it feels like an invasive species for the internet. How its boosters describe building a future that’s devoid of craft. How frictionlessness can be nihilistic & how this stuff seems to leach part of our shared humanity out of the world. I hope you'll read it.
AI’s Invasive Species
The slop is winning.
www.theatlantic.com
October 21, 2025 at 1:16 PM
"as if the act of dreaming has been rendered obsolete, inefficient"
Excellent essay from @cwarzel.bsky.social
Excellent essay from @cwarzel.bsky.social
When I told my Brazilian neighbor that we were going apple picking and I hoped they still had Empires, she said it's all the same to her because in Brazil there's only one kind of apple, but there are like 10 kinds of bananas. My mind is blown.
October 20, 2025 at 12:36 PM
When I told my Brazilian neighbor that we were going apple picking and I hoped they still had Empires, she said it's all the same to her because in Brazil there's only one kind of apple, but there are like 10 kinds of bananas. My mind is blown.