iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Amanda Shendruk @not-ship.com · 24/09/2026

One of the msot famous data visualizations of all time actually does a lot of things wrong. No axes, no labels, no text or numbers at all! But does that make it a bad chart? www.not-ship.com/warming-stri...

not-ship.com

No axes, no labels, no numbers: How this chart became a climate change icon

A data visualization designed to start conversations, not report numbers

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Alberto Cairo @albertocairo.com · 24/09/2026

In the newsletter: "Visualization as epistemic representation" openvisualizationacademy.beehiiv.com/p/visualizat... Or: Building bridges between information design and the philosophy of science & scientific representation #dataViz #dataVisualization #infographics

A diagram depicting the cycle of epistemic representation. An object called the "vehicle" (a chart, for example) represents another object, called the "target" (for instance, a data set). The reader of the "vehicle" can make inferences about the vehicle itself, and later they can use those inferences to make inferences about the "target"

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Moritz Stefaner / Truth & Beauty @moritzstefaner.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Looking forward to speaking in New York on Monday, September 21 as part of the "Underground Science. Underground Stories." panel at Narrative Change Summit @ the Climate Film Festival 2026 during #ClimateWeekNYC luma.com/usdw1nsy Come by and say hi in case you are around!

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Jan Willem Tulp @tulpinteractive.com · 10/09/2026

Excellent #dataviz community @bsky.app #starter-pack go.bsky.app/R3nSyyy by @chezvoila.com Follow the best in the world and share!

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Jen Christiansen @jenchristiansen.com · 08/09/2026

An intensive Climate Solutions and Strategies course I’ve enrolled in had its first session today. And damn, I’m excited. Such a warm welcome from the organizers, who are serious about fostering a co-learning community of care. Bring on the readings, lectures, conversations, and projects! 😍🌏📓

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Alberto Cairo @albertocairo.com · 03/09/2026

Thoughts about GenAI & design in the newsletter: "Cognitive augmentation, cognitive surrender, and oblivious centaurs" openvisualizationacademy.beehiiv.com/p/cognitive-... #dataViz #infographics #dataJournalism #dataVisualization

openvisualizationacademy.beehiiv.com

Cognitive augmentation, cognitive surrender, and oblivious centaurs

We're back with a new introductory course in the Open Visualization Academy

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Jen Christiansen @jenchristiansen.com · 15/08/2026

Such a treat to visit Parc national de Miguasha today. Pretty amazing to see Devonian fossils in a museum setting, then pop outside and walk along the riverside cliffs from which they were unearthed.

Museum case holding a prepared fossil of E. watsoni. The full length of the fish is present, assembled like a puzzle from about 20 pieces of rock.

View down a wide river. Small boulders make up the shore in the foreground. Cliffs are visible in the background.

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Jen Christiansen @jenchristiansen.com · 01/08/2026

Thanks to @carol-hrejsa.bsky.social and the Association of Medical Illustrators for inviting me to present on the art of planning and editing graphics at this year’s annual meeting in Madison, WI. #SciArt 🧵 ami.org meetings.ami.org/2026/

ami.org

AMI - Association of Medical Illustrators

The Associaton of Medical Illustrators (AMI) is a global community that promotes the power of visual media to advance scientific understanding, communication, education, and research.

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Jen Christiansen @jenchristiansen.com · 29/07/2026

Information Design Conference in the Netherlands has been on my bucket list for a while. So excited to be participating this year as a speaker! Perhaps I’ll see you there? Event is Oct 30. More info here: www.informationdesigncon.eu 📊 #dataviz #infodesign #IDC26

informationdesigncon.eu

Information Design Conference | Hilversum

Get ready for IDC26: an inspiring day about information design, infographics and data visualization in The Netherlands

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Kate Wong @katewong.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Today at 10 AM EDT Sotheby's will start the live bidding on its natural history auction featuring one of the largest, most complete skeletons of T. rex ever found. It could fetch $30M+ and go to a private collector. Here's what science--and the public--stand to lose. My story for @wired.com 🧪

wired.com

Sotheby’s Big T. Rex Auction Raises Concerns Hype and Wealth Are Upending Science

Private buyers are increasingly outbidding museums for fossils. That’s making it difficult—or even impossible—for researchers to improve our understanding of the past.

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Jen Christiansen @jenchristiansen.com · 13/07/2026

On July 18 I’ll be moderating a panel with Matthew Butterick, James Silverberg, and Bill Westwood on Artists' Rights in the Face of AI. Interested in joining us? Register for the Guild of Natural Illustrators virtual conference: www.gnsi.org/conference/2... #sciart @gnsiart.bsky.social

gnsi.org

Guild of Natural Science Illustrators (GNSI) | Science Illustration & Visual SciComm

GNSI supports science illustrators and visual science communicators with professional development, exhibitions, publications, and networking.

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Jen Christiansen @jenchristiansen.com · 06/07/2026

In late June, Springer Nature sold Scientific American to LabX Media. I have since decided to step out of my role as a senior graphics editor for the magazine :: #sciart 📊 🧪 :: 🧵 [1/7]

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Lauren J. Young @laurenjyoung.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Last week, my time as associate health editor at Scientific American came to an end when the publication was sold to a new owner. I will miss my brilliant colleagues more than words can say. I’m open to freelance work and full-time opportunities in newsrooms, classrooms and beyond. 🧵

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Tanya Lewis @tanyalewis.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

After nearly 10 yrs at Scientific American, I was laid off yesterday. It's been the honor of my career working w/such brilliant, caring colleagues & writers. I'm proud of all we achieved and will always love this magazine. I'm #opentowork but first I plan to spend time "cultivating [my] own garden."

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Kate Wong @katewong.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Today is my last day at Scientific American, which has been sold to LabX media group. For three decades I've led the magazine's coverage of human origins, archaeology, paleontology, animal behavior, ecology, BIRDS. End of an era. Anyway this feels weird to say, but I'm now available for assignments!

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Dan Vergano @danvergano.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Scientific American is being sold to LabX Media, publisher of Discover: group.springernature.com/gp/group/med... They've fired me and other union staff, ahead of June 26 vote ratification. My rates are suddenly more reasonable, if you need editing or reporting - Argonaut2026@gmail.com

group.springernature.com

Springer Nature to divest its consumer media businesses | Springer Nature Group | Springer Nature

Strategic divestment of consumer media portfolio enables Springer Nature to focus on its core business Transaction supports the long-term development

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Meghan Bartels @meghanbartels.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

I’m so sad to share that yesterday was my last day at Scientific American. It was an honor to work alongside my incredible colleagues and to speak with researchers across the sciences. If you’re looking to hire staff or freelance, please consider me and my other laid off coworkers (🧵)

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Jen Christiansen @jenchristiansen.com · 22/06/2026

Find a tick after a hike this weekend? My @sciam.bsky.social colleague @katewong.bsky.social calmly walks you through what to do, and beautiful identification illustrations by Diogo Guerra won’t gross you out as you arm yourself with information. www.scientificamerican.com/article/got-... 🧪 #sciart

scientificamerican.com

Bitten by a tick? Don’t panic—do this

Knowing what kind of tick bit you and where you got it can help inform next steps

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Seth Fletcher @sethfletcher.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Great @deborahb.bsky.social piece on what the past tells us about the current science-policy nightmare. "Maybe it could be seen as an opportunity,” one scientist tells her. "It’s like the opportunity you have to build a better house when yours burns down.” www.scientificamerican.com/article/scie...

scientificamerican.com

Scientists weathering Trump’s attacks on research can look to the past

It’s a complicated time to be a young scientist in America. Lessons from history can tell us what the future might hold

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Scientific American @sciam.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Meet our inaugural class of Young American Scientists: 28 researchers who are redefining the future of science. sciam.com/youngscientists

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Jen Christiansen @jenchristiansen.com · 08/06/2026

This is fascinating! 🤩 Such a good investigative story about the ubiquitous place holding text—with a more satisfying conclusion than you might expect. m.youtube.com/watch?v=kL1P... (Thanks to @parshallison.bsky.social for sharing it with me)

m.youtube.com

The Unsolved Mystery of Lorem Ipsum

YouTube video by Rabbit Hole

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Amanda Shendruk @not-ship.com · 04/06/2026

Everything feels the same. And AI won't help. Over and over, researchers put AI image generators in a feedback loop. All starting with a different prompt. What did they do? They converged on the same 12 generic image themes. They called it "visual elevator music." www.not-ship.com/nothing-new/

not-ship.com

Nothing new here: Another sequel, another lighthouse

Movies, music, everything feels the same. It's not your imagination.

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Jen Christiansen @jenchristiansen.com · 29/05/2026

In which Violet Frances describes how she developed the June @sciam.bsky.social cover art. The journey includes a print of Grace Jones & grappling w/what it means to be an artist in the age of generative AI. (Collabs like this one are why I love my job.) www.violetfrances.com/casestudies/... #SciArt

violetfrances.com

Scientific American — Violet Frances

A Cover About the Second Quantum Revolution

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Jen Christiansen @jenchristiansen.com · 20/05/2026

Do you have any favorite non-Google browsers for directly finding *primary* sources (not AI summaries) and/or tips on which are best at searching for images specifically? (I'm looking to change my research habits for data source exploration and graphics references.) #sciart #dataviz

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Jen Christiansen @jenchristiansen.com · 19/05/2026

Happy June @sciam.bsky.social issue launch day! As always, thanks to the artists who make it all possible. (Scroll through the 🧵 for a #sciart lagerstätten.) I'm THRILLED with Violet Frances' fresh take on quantum computing for the cover. Check out more of Violet’s work here: www.violetfrances.com

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Kate Wong @katewong.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

When I heard the theory that the cruise ship hantavirus outbreak originated at a landfill in Argentina that is popular with birders, I had questions. I visited that dump on a bird-watching trip last year. It seemed like an unlikely infection site. So I did some digging. Here's what I found out 🧪 🪶

scientificamerican.com

Did a bird-watching visit to this Argentine landfull spark the cruise ship hantavirus outbreak? Experts raise doubts

The hantavirus cruise outbreak may not have started in a garbage dump in Ushuaia, Argentina, after all

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Adam Kovac @adamjkovac.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Scoop for @sciam.bsky.social: Last year's sweeping NIH grant cuts included funding to study hantavirus transmission, the virus that's likely killed three people on a cruise ship. The cuts shuttered a network of facilities meant to study dangerous pathogens. www.scientificamerican.com/article/trum...

scientificamerican.com

Trump administration cut funding to study hantavirus behind deadly cruise ship outbreak

The Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases were designed to study viruses that could jump from animals to people, including hantavirus, but the National Institutes of Health in 2025 said...

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SciAm Union @sciamunion.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

As @springernature.com continues to employ tired and costly union-busting tactics, we just wanted to say we’re so grateful to all the subscribers, scientists and journalists who’ve reached out and said they’ll stand with us as we fight to ensure @sciam.bsky.social lasts another 180 years. Thank you!

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Alberto Cairo @albertocairo.com · 17/04/2026

Join us in Bologna!

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Scientific American @sciam.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Hey Bluesky! 👋🦋 We’ve been reading your replies about our paywall, and we’re listening. We want to share why it’s there—and an easy, low-cost way to read more. TL;DR: You can unlock every Scientific American article for 90 days for just $1 spklr.io/6003EyRIR More context below 🧵 1/6

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Jen Christiansen @jenchristiansen.com · 16/04/2026

#sciart (Trying the hashtag again on a thread filled with artist shout-outs. Looks like it didn’t work a few days ago.)

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Jen Christiansen @jenchristiansen.com · 14/04/2026

The post below triggered a flood of memories. I took a scientific illustration course at Shoals Marine Lab years ago. Such a great environment to for inspiration and to hone skills! #sciart

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Jen Christiansen @jenchristiansen.com · 14/04/2026

Happy May @sciam.bsky.social issue launch day! Just one more full issue as acting design chief for me, as I'm thrilled to report that Maria Amador has joined the magazine as chief art director! // cover illustration by Maria Corte, animation by me www.scientificamerican.com/issue/sa/202... 🧪#sciart

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SciAm Union @sciamunion.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Hello, Bluesky! We, the staff of Scientific American, are pleased to announce we have formed a union with @wgaeast.bsky.social. Just as mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell, we are the powerhouse of the publication, and we’re excited to have a new way to contribute to its success.

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Meghan Bartels @meghanbartels.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

The crew of Artemis II is experiencing a total solar eclipse RIGHT NOW from just a few thousand miles above the lunar surface. Here's why it's cool and what they could see 🧪 🔭

scientificamerican.com

NASA’s Artemis II crew experience total solar eclipse from space

From the perspective of the Orion capsule, the moon will fully block the sun’s disk for nearly an hour

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Lee Billings @leebillings.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

It's Moonday, not Monday, for the crew of Artemis II! As they approach their lunar rendezvous (watch live: www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3kR...), a reminder you can follow all @sciam.bsky.social's coverage here: www.scientificamerican.com/report/nasa-...

scientificamerican.com

NASA Returns to the Moon

NASA is gearing up to launch four astronauts on a pioneering journey around the moon—the Artemis II mission. Follow our coverage here.

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Lee Billings @leebillings.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Who's ready to watch history being made? Let's send Artemis II to the moon!!! @sciam.bsky.social's got the key details for today's launch attempt—timing, livestreams, and so on. Click here to learn more, and tune in to follow along: www.scientificamerican.com/article/nasa...

scientificamerican.com

NASA’s Artemis II moon mission heads to launch

The U.S. space agency is targeting Wednesday evening to loft four astronauts on what may be a record-breaking trip around the moon—see the spacecraft live

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Amanda Montañez @unamandita.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Excited to share this piece by @parshallison.bsky.social and me in the April issue of @sciam.bsky.social. This is my fav type of #dataviz challenge: tackling a concept that is complex, fascinating, and that I haven’t seen represented in this way before. 📊 🧪 www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-...

scientificamerican.com

What 39 traits reveal about the autism spectrum

The autism spectrum is big, vibrant and complicated, a new graphic of 39 traits shows

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Jen Christiansen @jenchristiansen.com · 17/03/2026

Happy April issue launch day! (My fourth as acting design chief @sciam.bsky.social). Two covers this month: kids for the newsstand & dark matter for subscribers. I’m particularly excited about Chad Hagen’s modernist galaxy art, designed w/some of my favorite vintage SciAm covers in mind. 🧪 #SciArt

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Amanda Montañez @unamandita.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

🚨Internship opportunity!🚨 Now accepting applications for Scientific American summer/fall graphics internship: springernature.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Spring... Apply by March 26. Please feel free to share, especially within the 📊 dataviz community.

springernature.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com

Graphics Intern

Job Title: Graphics Intern Location: New York Application Deadline: March 26th, 2026. About Springer Nature Springer Nature is one of the leading publishers of research in the world. We publish the la...

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Jen Christiansen @jenchristiansen.com · 17/02/2026

Happy March issue launch day! My wild ride as acting design chief at @sciam.bsky.social continues. 🧪 #Sciart // Many thanks to the fabulous artists who make it all possible, including....

Photo of an issue of Scientific American on a wood surface flanked by a plant. The cover illustration is a woman in an urban scene surrounded by AI-enabled tech. Coverline is “Life in the Age of AI.”

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Jen Christiansen @jenchristiansen.com · 17/02/2026

If you’re in DC, stop by the AAAS building for a really neat exhibit that showcases a decade of visuals in Science magazine 🤩 www.aaas.org/programs/art... Kudos to Beth Rakouskas and the Science Visuals team! 🧪#SciArt 📊

Exhibit intro text on a wall: “Invisible, Novel, and Complex”

Science cover featuring a genome dataviz

View along a gallery wall featuring a series of scientist portraits

View along a gallery wall featuring a series of science graphics.

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