In a fitting end, I concluded my time as a science reporter at McClatchy Media covering one of the most resilient creatures on earth, one I'm gobsmacked exists at all.

The killifish.

A brief thread 🧵🐟

A thread re: my journalism layoff and a bit of silliness.

I'm a science journalist. I joked recently that my greatest legacy would be convincing my coworkers to adore bats as much as I do. After learning McClatchy Media has eliminated my whole team of 25+, I’ve been reflecting on my actual legacy.

🦇Our @biggive.bsky.social #ChristmasChallenge campaign, 'A voice for bats' goes live in 3 weeks! This is a match-funding campaign - every donation we receive up to £10,000 will be doubled - but we only have 1 week to raise funds!
Register to be notified when we go live: forms.office.com/e/84S5utrSYH

🦇 A group of bats can be called a colony, a cauldron, or even a cloud. But with over 1,500 bat species worldwide (and 18 here in the UK!), we think it’s time to get a little more imaginative.

Surely our brilliant bats deserve names as unique as they are. Join our campaign and help us #NameThatBat

🦇 #NameThatBat ! Help us choose collective nouns for bats this autumn: www.bats.org.uk/news/2025/11... .

Halloween may be over — but we still need your help to #NameThatBat! Join in and vote in Bat Conservation Trust's first bat naming competition.

Because I am a nerd (and a science writer), I wrote a little essay about two of my favorite things: moths and movie scores.

(In this instance, Han’s Zimmer scores and pūriri moths)

I hope you'll read it!

bit.ly/48CoitQ

This lovely cross orb weaver made a massive web across my office window.
Look at that cute little shadow she’s casting.

Did you know monarchs’ wings are pretty tiny immediately after they eclose? They pump fluid from their abdomens, which are noticeably swollen after they exit, to “inflate” them.

This whole process took 30 minutes. 🧡
#invertefest

Bereft, verklempt, melting with sadness over Lee Corso’s last #collegegameday 🥹 #notsofast #osu

The only known population of a new species recently described from China has a “complete absence” of young individuals.

“It will soon become extinct without protective measures,” researchers said.

Read my latest on this @zse.pensoft.net study.
#newspecies
www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-...

My first time ever seeing the incredible Megarhyssa macrurus, or the long-tailed giant ichneumon wasp!

Spotted her buzzing around our milkweed. Look at that ovipositor! She’s a beauty 💚
#invertefest

📍Salem, Massachusetts
👀 Aug. 25