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Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

There are two secret ingredients necessary for great science media. Here‘s a hint: they rhyme with honey and lime

reviewertoo.com

The two secret ingredients of great science media

Here's a hint: they rhyme with honey and lime.

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Quanta Magazine @quantamagazine.org · 23/09/2026

Scientists have a history of trying — and failing — to link biology and quantum mechanics. The real connection between them may be in the math. @elisecutts.bsky.social reports: www.quantamagazine.org/biology-migh...

quantamagazine.org

Biology Might Not Be Quantum, but Its Math Is Quantumlike | Quanta Magazine

Scientists have a history of trying — and failing — to link biology and quantum mechanics. The real connection between them may be in the math.

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Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Early-career science journalists: apply for this! I'm currently in the program and it has been a truly amazing and enriching experience.

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Quanta Magazine @quantamagazine.org · 23/09/2026

New on Transformation: Software developer finds first 3D “einstein” tile @kkakaes.bsky.social reports: www.quantamagazine.org/updates/tran...

quantamagazine.org

Transformation | Quanta Magazine

A weekly dispatch exploring the latest news in math and AI…

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Zach Weinersmith @zachweinersmith.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

We are about to see an avalanche of AI generated animations. I think all those low-quality children's animations can already be replaced, which suggests they will be soon. Opus 5.5 is incredibly powerful and cheap. The weirdening is accelerating. Like, this isn't even obviously AI.

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Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

A scammer impersonated a science journalist to pitch (AI-generated?) stories to Science and Nature, and it worked in at least one case. This is unfortunately not an isolated case. And this kind of fraud, which LLMs make too easy, could have serious consequences for (science) journalism as a whole.

reviewertoo.com

A scammer impersonated a science journalist. It worked.

AI fraud is going to make it harder for new voices to break into science journalism

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Chelsea Harvey @chelseaeharvey.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Friends! If you're attending #sciwri26 this weekend, stop through our Saturday panel: how to report on science with a policy lens. With the great @aniloza.bsky.social @dangaristo.bsky.social @alexwitze.bsky.social -- gonna be a 🔥 session, y'all sciencewriters2026.org/schedule/

Putting Policy in Perspective: How to report on science with a policy lens
NASW Professional Development Session
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
CH2M Hill Alumni Center, Cascade Ballroom C
Description
Sweeping changes to U.S. science policy made by the Trump administration have upended the research landscape and, by association, the science writers who cover it. From student writers to seasoned correspondents, we’re all struggling to understand often-byzantine policies and their impacts, so that we can explain to our readers and listeners. This session will equip science writers with the tools to cover science policy and its effects on science.

Some of the most important and compelling science stories incorporate policy: coverage of pollution regulations, vaccination schedules, missions to Mars, and more. Many, if not most, science stories can be made stronger and more insightful with policy context included. Just as meteorologists now talk about climate change during their weather forecasts, science writers can include relevant policy details into their stories to place scientific results in context.

Our speakers have a wealth of experience covering science policy in the Trump administration and will speak about how they've broken news, investigated, and turned policy news into a narrative. They’ll share broadly applicable resources for sourcing, contacting government agencies, using databases, understanding legal battles — the nuts and bolts of what’s needed to cover science policy in this environment. Following these presentations, there will be a moderated Q&A and time for questions from the audience.

Speakers
Anil Oza, STAT, Staff Reporter
Chelsea Harvey, POLITICO – E&E News, Reporter

Moderator and Organizer
Dan Garisto, Freelance, Science Journalist

Organizer
Alex Witze, Nature, Retained Correspondent

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Rachel Courtland @rachelcourtland.com · 21/09/2026

If you're attending #sciwri26 this weekend and have an interest in AI—and the kinds of questions to ask when covering it—I'll be talking with three very smart experts on Saturday about ethics and accountability and where we go from here.

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Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Update: the entire wing of F gates seems to be one big ad for Codex. Also a canned coffee cost $10

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Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

In case I forgot I was in the San Francisco airport, there are ads for coding agents to remind me 😂 Codex: you, too, can sit in front of 4 computer screens in striped socks, one foot on your chair, playing a spaceship video game in a room that also contains a Shiba Inu and an expensive looking rug

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Kate Evans @kategevans.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

So chilling - but thanks @elisecutts.bsky.social for the roundup and thoughtful commentary. "If AI scams — and even just lazy AI pitches that flood inboxes — force us to rely on relationship networks to establish trust, science journalism is going to close up." www.reviewertoo.com/2026-09-21-s...

reviewertoo.com

A scammer impersonated a science journalist. It worked.

AI fraud is going to make it harder for new voices to break into science journalism

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Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I'm starting to get wary of reposting any image that isn't idk a centuries-old painting I recognize without first inspecting it closely for signs of AI

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Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I'm so tired of AI doomer rhetoric because it makes worrying about AI sound like a crazy person thing. No, I am not worried about Claude paperclip maximizing us all into oblivion tomorrow. Yes, I am worried about people doing unspeakably horrible things to each other using the AI we already have.

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Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I usually try to be respectful and constructive. But after being disrespected enough, there comes a point when I feel like it's almost *lying* to be polite. I'm not talking about personal insults, more dropping the pretense that things are fine — and calling garbage garbage if that's what it is.

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Bethany Brookshire @beebrookshire.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Carl Sagan was many things, brilliant, a wonderful communicator. But he wasn’t a journalist, he wasn’t investigating, or even asking tough questions. That was NOT HIS JOB. And that’s fine! But so many people, including journalists, have said "we need another Carl Sagan."

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Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I spent the last several months talking to a lot of people running indie media outlets. And: 1. Subscription-based models like a paid Substack also only work in certain niches. 2. Indie media is risky + usually requires at least a year of on-ramp before it can replace a salary (if it ever does)

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Bethany Brookshire @beebrookshire.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Many things to think about in here. I'm sure @chriscmooney.bsky.social and Lewenstein could have used another 10,000 words to unpack it all. Some thoughts: 1. The most popular science voices HAVE ALWAYS BEEN communicators. Not journalists. theconversation.com/is-science-j...

theconversation.com

Is science journalism dying? Comparing a ‘science crash’ 40 years ago to today

While science journalism layoffs pile up and publications shutter, more science communication than ever is available via other online venues.

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Courtney Hilton @courtneybhilton.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

These AI-slop email enquiries from students are so depressing. I am not anti AI, but if you can't be bothered to spend the time to write me an email yourself—you know, just straight up with your brain; old-school style—I don't see why I should spend any time writing back.

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Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Are birds as soft as they look?

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Simon Fisher @profsimonfisher.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

A decade ago, a “weird” kitten was found on a road near a Bolivian forest. Too small to be a housecat, he had a scrunched-up face, short round ears, long whiskers, & a coat of leopard-like spots. DNA analysis now reveals him as the very first of a newly discovered species & I think I'm in love. 😻🧬🧪👇

nationalgeographic.com

Meet the First New Cat Species Discovered in 100 Years

A small, spotted tiger cat from Bolivia may just be the beginning of a wave of new small cat species.

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Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

It's always a great sign when an interview with a scientist starts like this: Me: Hi there, thanks for talking to me. I'd like to ask you some questions about [thing]. Scientist: OH MY GOODNESS I LOVE [thing]!!! I could talk about [thing] for hours!!!!!

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Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Is AI slop going to force us to admit that maybe having taste is good, actually?

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Philipp Markolin @philippmarkolin.eurosky.social · 15/09/2026

I want to give a shoutout for this independent science journalism newsletter from @elisecutts.bsky.social Lots of value in science news reporting and developments packed together, contextualized, or just listed in case you missed it. I keep enjoying it a lot www.reviewertoo.com/openai-is-tu...

reviewertoo.com

OpenAI's million-dollar proof: Math is now pay-to-win

Also: NSF science funding overhaul, more newspaper layoffs, and people trust scientists who seem "on their side"

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Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Look, I get that you're probably really tired of "AI solved math problem!!!" headlines at this point. But OpenAI's claim to have solved the Navier-Stokes problem—and the controversy around it, and the implications for scholarship—is significant. It is worth taking 5 minutes to get the gist of.

reviewertoo.com

OpenAI's million-dollar proof: Math is now pay-to-win

Also: NSF science funding overhaul, more newspaper layoffs, and people trust scientists who seem "on their side"

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Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

I haven't drawn regularly in years, but finally clearing off a large table in the spare room and just leaving a block of paper on it next to a nice lamp and a cozy chair has... changed that? Maybe? Having a dedicated space for something sure makes it easier to do.

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Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Erik Hoel writes about something I'm genuinely worried about in the wake of the Navier-Stokes drama: Are scholars going to stop being open about their work for fear of AI companies burning millions to scoop them now? And if so, what does that mean for science journalism?

theintrinsicperspective.com

Culture Becomes a Dark Forest

“Wallfacing” to solve Navier-Stokes

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Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

The great irony of journalism is that journalists are paid so badly that most of us can't afford to read our own paywalled articles. The "Hi editor, I'm submitting this article for an award can you please send me a PDF of my own work" struggle is real.

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Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Meanwhile the crows in my neighborhood seem pretty motivated to avoid flying at all costs, preferring to waddle around until there's literally no other option. But I guess that makes sense if birds are anything like us. "Do humans enjoy running? Scientists asked humans." The result: "yes and no."

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David Bradley @sciencebase.com · 08/09/2026

If you're after a science writer, the Association of British Science Writers (ABSW) has a Bluesky starter pack just for you go.bsky.app/F6bdkUY

go.bsky.app

Association of British Science Writers members

Join the conversation

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Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

A recent trip to an art museum has me on a 1920s art kick and you're telling me THIS WAS AN ADVERTISEMENT???? Don't mind me crying over here in a corner trying to forget all the AI slop ads plastered everywhere

A beautiful piece of art by J.C. Leyendecker depicting a woman in a sea-green dress with red hair dancing with a man in a tuxedo against a black background. The man's suit melts into the background, so it looks like his hand appears out of nowhere on the woman's back. Warm light illuminates both their faces. It's an ad for Arrow Collars and Shirts for Dress.

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Scientists - read this super useful guide from @elisecutts.bsky.social. The best way to share our work with the world is via our wonderful journalist friends! "Dinosaurs, cute animals, black holes — if it is something you can imagine a child going through a "phase" about, it's probably a winner."🤗

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Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Scientists publish papers. Some of those papers end up becoming science news. But what happens in-between? Why do headlines suck? And seriously: why is it so often *those* papers? This week's newsletter goes into maybe too-much detail about how science goes from paper to headline 🧪

reviewertoo.com

This is how a science paper becomes science news

It is somehow both more and less complicated than it appears

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Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Scanning papers as a science journalist is a really different task than writing a lit review as a scientist — but I have found a use case for LLMs that helps me find papers I could be interested in. But this is NOT just typing "Hey Claude find me papers on XYZ topic" into a chatbot window.

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Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Sitting here having written ~$15,000 worth of stories that I turned in the drafts for months ago, one even as early as April, that I have still not been paid for 👍 It's on days like today that I really do wonder if this whole "freelance journalist" thing is going to work out.

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Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Wow. $15,000-20,000 refundable tax credit (you get the money like a grant if your taxes aren't as high as the benefit) for keeping journalists hired. $15,000 for hiring new ones. $7,500 for hiring part-time. For-profit, nonprofit, **sole-proprietors** — doesn't matter. How did this happen???

rebuildlocalnews.org

California Legislature Passes Nation’s Largest Proposed Investment in Community News

Historic effort provides support to local news outlets for hiring or retaining local journalists, AB 2222 now heads to Gov. Newsom's desk.

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Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

I suspect the MIT report on AI is going to be an important document for understanding how universities do — or don’t — rise to the challenges of the AI age

reviewertoo.com

Five takeaways from the MIT report on AI in higher ed

Also: Two AI math discoveries, unconventional science funding, and bunsen burner mythology

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Kai Kupferschmidt @kakape.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Feeling very honored and grateful today. Some of the journalists whose work I admire most have received this prize in the past and at a time when journalism is under threat in so many ways it’s just really heartening to be recognized by people who care deeply about journalism.

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Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Are there *actually* more food safety issues than usual in the US right now or is that just a vibe?

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Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Unironically asking: would there be any interest in crowdfunding a $180/year subscription to Pangram for me so I can vet the articles I recommend in my newsletter for AI text? I'm this close to setting up a kickstarter or something lol

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Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

I finally got around to watching the Netflix live action Avatar and... uh. I've had some controversial opinions but I think my most controversial opinion yet is that the forbidden M. Night Shyamalan movie had better costumes.

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Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

My newsletter now earns about 800 Euros a year! Um... before you subtract off the several hundred I pay for Ghost etc. I've crossed the threshold of "For writing 52 posts a year I earn the equivalent of writing 1 news story for a magazine" Yay! Progress! 🤣

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Rachel Courtland @rachelcourtland.com · 24/08/2026

I've been waiting for this feature to post online! For our Kids issue, @elisecutts.bsky.social explores a big open question: why children seem to acquire language so much more efficiently than LLMs. ter.li/0lqpwc1w

ter.li

Kids outlearn AI—and we still don’t know why

LLMs need vastly more data than children to learn language. Understanding why could help us create more efficient models—and reveal more about developing minds.

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Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Writing this story was so unbelievably fun. And not only bc @mcxfrank.bsky.social says quotes like this: “Kids’ experience looks really radically different than we thought ... They’ve got these little short arms, so the objects are, like, right in front of them. And they live in a forest of knees.”

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Alex Ip 葉清霖 @alexip718.com · 24/08/2026

Thank you so much for having me! I'll add that @thesicktimes.org @sequencermag.bsky.social @autonomynews.co @assignedmedia.org are some excellent follows. We are each (and oftentimes together!) working on growing the indie science media pie. You can support @thexylom.com's reporting here:

fundrazr.com

Sustain The Xylom!

Support The Xylom's independent reporting by making a monthly recurring donation!

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Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Science journalism had a rough summer: Sci Am was sold, Research Professional News is being shut down, etc. etc. Against this backdrop, some of us are likely pondering "going independent." So I invited @alexip718.com @thexylom.com to chat about the realities of running a small indie newsroom.

reviewertoo.com

"It's honestly a miracle that we're still around" — the Xylom's Alex Ip on indie newsroom realities

Also: Controversial changes to NIH peer review, 90% of biomedical papers show signs of AI use, and Harvard shuts down its writing center

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