Jenny Cox
@jencox11.bsky.social
Retired writer of science who still does some freelance. Lover of science, dogs, long walks at the beach and mountains, all things nature, reading science-related books and mysteries and well-written novels. SCONC and NASW member.
Reposted by Jenny Cox
What are your favorite science-related vacations? Here are some of mine.
(Every vacation can be a science vacation if you interpret "science" broadly, which we should, and look at it right.) www.lastwordonnothing.com/2025/10/20/s...
(Every vacation can be a science vacation if you interpret "science" broadly, which we should, and look at it right.) www.lastwordonnothing.com/2025/10/20/s...
The Last Word On Nothing | Science Vacations Are the Best Vacations
www.lastwordonnothing.com
October 20, 2025 at 10:43 AM
What are your favorite science-related vacations? Here are some of mine.
(Every vacation can be a science vacation if you interpret "science" broadly, which we should, and look at it right.) www.lastwordonnothing.com/2025/10/20/s...
(Every vacation can be a science vacation if you interpret "science" broadly, which we should, and look at it right.) www.lastwordonnothing.com/2025/10/20/s...
Reposted by Jenny Cox
FEMA Acting Administrator Richardson describes a conversation with a cable news producer that sounds very real and not at all made up:
May 15, 2025 at 7:19 PM
FEMA Acting Administrator Richardson describes a conversation with a cable news producer that sounds very real and not at all made up:
Reposted by Jenny Cox
In the course of an answer to a question about state budgets for disaster response and recovery, FEMA Acting Director Richardson said he just learned from his girlfriend (who has “huge red hair”) that Texas is bigger than Spain. He consulted a map to be sure.
May 15, 2025 at 7:05 PM
In the course of an answer to a question about state budgets for disaster response and recovery, FEMA Acting Director Richardson said he just learned from his girlfriend (who has “huge red hair”) that Texas is bigger than Spain. He consulted a map to be sure.
You have to be a special kind of stupid to put a tariff on islands solely occupied by penguins
April 3, 2025 at 9:41 PM
You have to be a special kind of stupid to put a tariff on islands solely occupied by penguins
Reposted by Jenny Cox
"Frankly unconscionable"
"NIH will cease to function"
@maxkozlov.bsky.social covers Trump's purge of leadership at the National Institutes of Health, the world's leading biomedical research agency
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
"NIH will cease to function"
@maxkozlov.bsky.social covers Trump's purge of leadership at the National Institutes of Health, the world's leading biomedical research agency
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
‘One of the darkest days’: NIH purges agency leadership amid mass layoffs
In shock move, four institute directors at the US biomedical agency are removed from their posts.
www.nature.com
April 1, 2025 at 7:45 PM
"Frankly unconscionable"
"NIH will cease to function"
@maxkozlov.bsky.social covers Trump's purge of leadership at the National Institutes of Health, the world's leading biomedical research agency
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
"NIH will cease to function"
@maxkozlov.bsky.social covers Trump's purge of leadership at the National Institutes of Health, the world's leading biomedical research agency
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Jenny Cox
Sen. Booker’s speech was a substantive and moral account of this moment. He did not read the phone book. He did not babble.
For 24 hours @booker.senate.gov laid out a detailed, damning, and critical narrative of truth, history, politics, morality, humanity.
What will you do?
For 24 hours @booker.senate.gov laid out a detailed, damning, and critical narrative of truth, history, politics, morality, humanity.
What will you do?
April 1, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Sen. Booker’s speech was a substantive and moral account of this moment. He did not read the phone book. He did not babble.
For 24 hours @booker.senate.gov laid out a detailed, damning, and critical narrative of truth, history, politics, morality, humanity.
What will you do?
For 24 hours @booker.senate.gov laid out a detailed, damning, and critical narrative of truth, history, politics, morality, humanity.
What will you do?
Reposted by Jenny Cox
In a landmark commentary last year, 24 scientists from around the globe—all of whom either identify as trans or have trans family members—called for recognition and support from the research community. #TransDayOfVisibility scim.ag/4l8LK5O
‘We’re hurting.’ Trans scientists call for recognition and support from research community
“Rigorous science demands” it, authors write in landmark commentary
scim.ag
March 31, 2025 at 1:15 PM
In a landmark commentary last year, 24 scientists from around the globe—all of whom either identify as trans or have trans family members—called for recognition and support from the research community. #TransDayOfVisibility scim.ag/4l8LK5O
Well, there goes our typically safe food and any food recalls that may be needed.
Scoop: As federal health agencies are gutted, Kyle Diamantas, a Florida attorney w/ a slim resume + no prior gov't experience, is the new head of food safety at @US_FDA. Turns out, he's Donald Trump Jr.'s hunting buddy, @vanityfair.com is reporting exclusively: www.vanityfair.com/news/story/f... /1
America’s Food Safety Is Now in the Hands of Don Jr.’s Hunting Buddy
As federal health agencies are gutted with abandon, a Florida attorney with a history of hunting with the president’s son has been put in charge of food safety at the FDA, overseeing the nation’s food...
www.vanityfair.com
February 25, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Well, there goes our typically safe food and any food recalls that may be needed.
Our veterans deserve better care and services, not over stressed and declining services. 🤬
The Department of Veterans Affairs has terminated over 1,400 employees.
February 25, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Our veterans deserve better care and services, not over stressed and declining services. 🤬
Looking forward to reading this.
When the Earth Was Green has something for everyone. Humid coal swamps full of immense arthropods. Hungry, hungry dinosaurs. Sabercats rolling in catnip. Prehistoric bats sipping from flowers. Early monkeys rafting across the sea. Tooting mastodons. And so much more. 🌱
“Essential”
“Brilliant”
“Vivid”
“Another triumph from Black”
When the Earth Was Green: Plants, Animals, and Evolution’s Greatest Romance, blooming on bookshelves February 25th. 🌱
us.macmillan.com/books/978125...
“Brilliant”
“Vivid”
“Another triumph from Black”
When the Earth Was Green: Plants, Animals, and Evolution’s Greatest Romance, blooming on bookshelves February 25th. 🌱
us.macmillan.com/books/978125...
February 25, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Looking forward to reading this.
Reposted by Jenny Cox
I’m thrilled When the Earth Was Green is out!
I’m grateful to @stmartinspress.bsky.social for taking another one from me, and to @cassidygraham.bsky.social for helping me weed the manuscript. @mullanelit.bsky.social got it sold, and of course I couldn’t have done it without @dinopupper.bsky.social.
I’m grateful to @stmartinspress.bsky.social for taking another one from me, and to @cassidygraham.bsky.social for helping me weed the manuscript. @mullanelit.bsky.social got it sold, and of course I couldn’t have done it without @dinopupper.bsky.social.
When the Earth Was Green: Plants, Animals, and Evolution's Greatest Romance
Plants, Animals, and Evolution's Greatest Romance
bookshop.org
February 25, 2025 at 5:05 PM
I’m thrilled When the Earth Was Green is out!
I’m grateful to @stmartinspress.bsky.social for taking another one from me, and to @cassidygraham.bsky.social for helping me weed the manuscript. @mullanelit.bsky.social got it sold, and of course I couldn’t have done it without @dinopupper.bsky.social.
I’m grateful to @stmartinspress.bsky.social for taking another one from me, and to @cassidygraham.bsky.social for helping me weed the manuscript. @mullanelit.bsky.social got it sold, and of course I couldn’t have done it without @dinopupper.bsky.social.
Reposted by Jenny Cox
It's the "again" that makes MAHA, like MAGA, so sickening. My mini-profile of RFK Jr. is part of Slate's new cast of characters in the Trump circle. I understand not wanting to read about these creeps & grifters & demagogues, but this series is clever & we can't not know slate.com/technology/2...
There Seems to Be One Principle Governing RFK Jr.’s View of Health
Despite the name, he’s no Kennedy.
slate.com
January 21, 2025 at 12:09 AM
It's the "again" that makes MAHA, like MAGA, so sickening. My mini-profile of RFK Jr. is part of Slate's new cast of characters in the Trump circle. I understand not wanting to read about these creeps & grifters & demagogues, but this series is clever & we can't not know slate.com/technology/2...
Found this very interesting Pew Research report on where we get our political news and whether we can tell if it is accurate. It’s from October 2024.
www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2...
www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2...
Americans’ Views of 2024 Election News
About three-quarters of U.S. adults say they’ve seen inaccurate election news at least somewhat often, and many say it’s hard to tell what’s true.
www.pewresearch.org
January 19, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Found this very interesting Pew Research report on where we get our political news and whether we can tell if it is accurate. It’s from October 2024.
www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2...
www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2...
Reposted by Jenny Cox
The threat of fire is growing, particularly in areas where development meets open land. About a third of U.S. homes are in these high-risk areas.
Dr. Kimiko Barrett and Dr. Alexandra Syphard join us to discuss the science of urban fires.
Dr. Kimiko Barrett and Dr. Alexandra Syphard join us to discuss the science of urban fires.
Fire Risk To Homes Where Cities And Wildlands Meet
About a third of US homes are in a wildland-urban interface, a kind of high-risk area where development meets open land.
buff.ly
January 17, 2025 at 7:21 PM
The threat of fire is growing, particularly in areas where development meets open land. About a third of U.S. homes are in these high-risk areas.
Dr. Kimiko Barrett and Dr. Alexandra Syphard join us to discuss the science of urban fires.
Dr. Kimiko Barrett and Dr. Alexandra Syphard join us to discuss the science of urban fires.
Reposted by Jenny Cox
Are you a science writer at a university, federal agency or other institution? The @sciencewriters.org PIO Committee wants to hear from you by Jan. 22! Take this survey to share what kind of programming you may be interested in in 2025, and share how you'd like to get involved. 🧪
NASW "PIO Committee" Member Survey Dec. 2024
New co-chairs Lauren Quinn and Gary Werner want to hear from you! Please share your thoughts below. You can also reach us anytime at pio@nasw.org.
docs.google.com
January 17, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Are you a science writer at a university, federal agency or other institution? The @sciencewriters.org PIO Committee wants to hear from you by Jan. 22! Take this survey to share what kind of programming you may be interested in in 2025, and share how you'd like to get involved. 🧪
Reposted by Jenny Cox
My tip sheet on helping people understand the unprecedented #LAfires, including underreported topics journalists can dig into:
healthjournalism.org/blog/2025/01...
healthjournalism.org/blog/2025/01...
How to help your audience understand the unprecedented LA fires
Journalists need to help audiences understand how new and different the LA fires are, and what that means going forward.
healthjournalism.org
January 18, 2025 at 6:35 PM
My tip sheet on helping people understand the unprecedented #LAfires, including underreported topics journalists can dig into:
healthjournalism.org/blog/2025/01...
healthjournalism.org/blog/2025/01...
Reposted by Jenny Cox
Frogs, lizards, snakes, spiders & other insect pests are being transported across the world on cut flowers and potted plants, with the potential to harm nature, according to scientists. 🧪🐸🦎🐍🕷️🦋
Link to original study posted below.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Link to original study posted below.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Warning of stowaway snakes and tree-frogs hiding in pot plants
Frogs, lizards, snakes and insect pests are being transported across the world on ornamental plants.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 17, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Frogs, lizards, snakes, spiders & other insect pests are being transported across the world on cut flowers and potted plants, with the potential to harm nature, according to scientists. 🧪🐸🦎🐍🕷️🦋
Link to original study posted below.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Link to original study posted below.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Thank you Governor Stein for caring about the wellbeing of women and girls.
www.wral.com/story/nc-gov...
www.wral.com/story/nc-gov...
NC Gov. Josh Stein issues executive order on abortion, reproductive rights
Protecting women's rights, particularly around reproductive freedoms, was a key focus of Stein's 2024 campaign for governor. He positioned himself in stark contrast with the Republican-led state legis...
www.wral.com
January 17, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Thank you Governor Stein for caring about the wellbeing of women and girls.
www.wral.com/story/nc-gov...
www.wral.com/story/nc-gov...
Reposted by Jenny Cox
December 24, 2024 at 6:08 AM
Just do your best not to shop at Walmart. It abuses its workers and pulls money out of the community and kills locally owned businesses.
Walmart’s defenders argue that the company's low prices are a boon to poor and middle-class families, Rogé Karma writes. But new research suggests that Walmart “makes the places it operates in poorer than they would be if it had never shown up at all”: theatln.tc/qiYz3E5C
The Walmart Effect
New research suggests that the company makes the communities it operates in poorer—even taking into account its famous low prices.
theatln.tc
December 24, 2024 at 3:42 PM
Just do your best not to shop at Walmart. It abuses its workers and pulls money out of the community and kills locally owned businesses.
Reposted by Jenny Cox
We put together something for the season, to remind you of the power of vaccination. Full story on our blog (link in the bio). Enjoy...
youtube.com/shorts/L7EXz...
youtube.com/shorts/L7EXz...
The Smallpox Outbreak That Almost Stole Christmas: Sussex County, 1919
YouTube video by Epi Ren
youtube.com
December 24, 2024 at 3:11 PM
We put together something for the season, to remind you of the power of vaccination. Full story on our blog (link in the bio). Enjoy...
youtube.com/shorts/L7EXz...
youtube.com/shorts/L7EXz...
Reposted by Jenny Cox
I wrote about the elephant in the room at COP: National debt. Developing countries are drowning in debts owed to states, private bondholders, and banks. Disasters provoke more debt. New climate finance often comes as debt, too. It's a dangerous spiral. Gift link: www.theatlantic.com/science/arch...
Climate Diplomacy’s $300 Billion Failure
Climate negotiations at COP29 ended in a deal that mostly showed how far the world is from facing climate change’s real dangers.
www.theatlantic.com
November 25, 2024 at 6:17 PM
I wrote about the elephant in the room at COP: National debt. Developing countries are drowning in debts owed to states, private bondholders, and banks. Disasters provoke more debt. New climate finance often comes as debt, too. It's a dangerous spiral. Gift link: www.theatlantic.com/science/arch...
So once again he gets away with a criminal act.
November 25, 2024 at 8:16 PM
So once again he gets away with a criminal act.
Reposted by Jenny Cox
ANNOUNCEMENT: The National Association of Science Writers awards its 2024 NASW Diane McGurgan Service Award for member volunteerism to Jennifer Huber. Congratulations Jennifer—and thank you for everything you do for NASW! www.nasw.org/article... 💚🧪📝
November 25, 2024 at 6:54 PM
ANNOUNCEMENT: The National Association of Science Writers awards its 2024 NASW Diane McGurgan Service Award for member volunteerism to Jennifer Huber. Congratulations Jennifer—and thank you for everything you do for NASW! www.nasw.org/article... 💚🧪📝
Reposted by Jenny Cox
One of my favorite podcasts and probably the best show on NPR, On The Media, had a wonderful segment this weekend talking to Hank Green about how he makes "truth go viral." @onthemedia.bsky.social
It is truly one of the best shows available and you should be listening weekly.
It is truly one of the best shows available and you should be listening weekly.
This is one of those videos that you could work on forever, but suddenly it felt very important to make it, so I finally did: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8Pn...
Populism, Media Revolutions, and Our Terrible Moment
YouTube video by vlogbrothers
www.youtube.com
November 25, 2024 at 7:05 PM
One of my favorite podcasts and probably the best show on NPR, On The Media, had a wonderful segment this weekend talking to Hank Green about how he makes "truth go viral." @onthemedia.bsky.social
It is truly one of the best shows available and you should be listening weekly.
It is truly one of the best shows available and you should be listening weekly.