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Reposted by Crystal Chow

The Xylom @thexylom.com · 21/07/2026

Congrats to our very own @crystalcchow.bsky.social, who has been named a 2026 Ocean Nexus @uprootproject.bsky.social International Fellow! An award-winning independent bilingual journalist from Hong Kong, Crystal will be reporting on Southeast Asian mangrove ecosystems and shipworm foodways.

oceannexus.org

Crystal Chow

HOME/ PEOPLE Crystal ChowJournalist Fellow Crystal Chow is an award-winning independent bilingual journalist from Hong Kong, primarily covering climate change, global health, and culture across Asi…

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Crystal Chow @crystalcchow.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

But then that is all it is, those memories, as flimsy as they may be, are what you opt to live for. [3/3] #writinghongkong #hongkong

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Crystal Chow @crystalcchow.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

And now you realise this enforced silence has inevitably encroached upon your life, and you must accept it, for you have resolved to remain, to "bear witness", or whatever that means. [2/3]

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Crystal Chow @crystalcchow.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

In vain I tried to reach for a word to describe this feeling; the sorrow of having to relegate your earliest conviction and old friends to anecdotes you now (in)conveniently call "past lives". Memories you no longer feel safe to honour aloud. [1/3]

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Reposted by Crystal Chow

The Xylom @thexylom.com · 24/11/2025

As the climate crisis, food scarcity, and health threats intensify globally, shipworms may become our unlikely ally — offering not only healing and nourishment, but unseen insight into their ecological habitat and lessons in adaptation to a changing environment, writes @crystalcchow.bsky.social.

thexylom.com

A Clammy Glimpse Into The Philippines’ Climate, Culinary, And Medical Future

Earlier this year, I embarked on a probing trip to a small coastal area in Southeast Asia to see what this ancient wood-eater could offer us: about resilience, and the many ways life endures, adapts,…

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Reposted by Crystal Chow

Longreads @longreads.com · 17/11/2025

"The shipworms are many things at once. They have carried different names — from maritime menace to indigenous delicacy to scientific marvel — yet none alone captures their multitude." @crystalcchow.bsky.social for The Contrapuntal: thecontrapuntal.com/are-these-cl...

thecontrapuntal.com

Are These Clams Key to Climate Adaptation? - The Contrapuntal

Shipworms are touted as tomorrow’s superfood and miracle medicine. But the story of these tiny molluscs illustrates an intricate ecological complexity that flashy green solutions often ignore.

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Crystal Chow @crystalcchow.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

I hope y'all find these creatures fascinating & enjoy reading the story! @longreads.com Hi there, first time nominating my own work - I hope you'll find it interesting and consider featuring it as an editor's pick 🫶

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Crystal Chow @crystalcchow.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

I hope this story adds something small but meaningful to the conversation on what real, science-grounded, people-first climate adaptation should look like. The shipworms have plenty to teach us — if we’re willing to listen. 🧵

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Crystal Chow @crystalcchow.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

And now, as the Philippines battles yet another relentless typhoon season, those same ecosystems — and the vulnerable communities that rely on them — are more at risk than ever. 🧵

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Crystal Chow @crystalcchow.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

But there’s a heavier, sobering side too. While reporting in June, I kept hearing how destructive “flood-control” projects were threatening vital habitats in the mangroves meant to shield coastal communities from storm surges — weeks before the #Floodgate corruption scandal erupted. 🧵

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Crystal Chow @crystalcchow.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

It’s also shaped by the people who shared their stories with me along the way! The story is as much about the science as it is about the people who keep that science rooted in place. 🧵

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Crystal Chow @crystalcchow.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

These strange-looking slug-like creatures are not just an exotic delicacy — they’re a whole world of ecological, cultural & biomedical stories wrapped into one. This piece came together through long days in the field, meticulous research & producing every photo myself. 🧵

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Crystal Chow @crystalcchow.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

My new feature story, which follows a team of scientists in 🇵🇭 through mangroves & rivers to learn about shipworms: strange, wood-eating molluscs (not worms!) that might help us understand how life endures, adapts & sustains others as the seas rise. /🧵 thecontrapuntal.com/are-these-cl...

thecontrapuntal.com

Are These Clams Key to Climate Adaptation? - The Contrapuntal

Shipworms are touted as tomorrow’s superfood and miracle medicine. But the story of these tiny molluscs illustrates an intricate ecological complexity that flashy green solutions often ignore.

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