MIT Graduate Program in Science Writing

FDA won’t review Moderna application for first mRNA-based flu vaccine The decision, which shocked company officials, comes as the FDA says it will take a stricter approach to federal vaccine approvals.

FDA refuses to review Moderna’s application for first mRNA flu vaccine www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/... @rachelroubein.bsky.social

How much energy does your AI prompt use? It depends AI models such as ChatGPT consume serious power. Experts break down where that energy goes, and what you can do to help.

And read her award-winning story here: www.sciencenews.org/article/ai-e...

Science News Names Inaugural Winner of the Starks-Murcutt Prize for Excellence in Science Journalism Science News is proud to name Celina Zhao as the inaugural winner of the $1,000 Starks-Murcutt Prize for Excellence in…

Congratulations to @celinaz.bsky.social, '25, for winning the inaugural Starks-Murcutt Prize for Excellence in Science Journalism. The award honors an early-career Science News intern or fellow. You can read more about Celina and the award here: www.societyforscience.org/blog/science...

Compared with the 1st year of previous admins, including Trump’s 1st term, the current admin has taken fewer polluters to court & settled fewer existing court cases, per a new review of federal court records by the nonprofit EIP.

Story @bloomberg.com w/gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Info Session - Metcalf Ocean Nexus Academy (MONA) Fellowship. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Join us for an info session to learn more about the MONA Fellowship! We'll hear about the program experience from three past fellows - Eva Tesfaye, Rachel Ramirez, and Luis Joel Méndez González. More...

Join us TONIGHT at 6PM ET for an info session about the Metcalf Ocean Nexus Academy (MONA) Fellowship. Last year's fellows will share their experiences with the fellowship! The new deadline for applications is 02/08 at 11:59 PM. us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

I edited a @thexylom.com story which cited research that found the tear gas concentration in Portland during George Floyd protests was high enough to cause severe and irreversible health effects, including asthma, shortness of breath, and panic.

And in Nepal, hospitalizations more than doubled:

Oh hey! MIT science writing alum @rokazmier.bsky.social chats with @indiejournalists.bsky.social about her work @scifri.bsky.social. The death metal story mentioned here is by our associate director, @ohyeahitscouch.bsky.social

www.sciencefriday.com/segments/dea...

TikTok users “absolutely justified” in fearing MAGA makeover, experts say TikTok’s tech issues abound as censorship fears drive users to delete app.

Experts told me that TikTok users freaked out by "bugs" censoring anti-Trump content are not paranoid, they're just used to platforms manipulating what they see. arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...

Submit by Feb. 1: Entries open for NASW’s annual awards Each year, the #SciWriAwards recognize some of the best works in science journalism and science writing, as judged by fellow science journalists and science writers. Deadline to enter is Feb. 1, 2026.

DEADLINE ALERT: Enter your best work from 2025 in the National Association of Science Writers' Science in Society Journalism Awards or Excellence in Institutional Writing Awards by February 1, 2026. Discounted entry fees for members. Membership not required:

Looking for sources for a @nature.com story about how researchers are coping in the midst of current events: If you're a PhD or other academic who's struggling to focus with everything that's happening in the world and would like to be interviewed for this story, please get in touch ASAP!

Still thinking about this gross catch-22 where the quickest way to remove images is to ask Grok but if you ask Grok and the images don’t come down, the act of asking Grok to remove them may make it harder to sue.

Why the same cold virus makes some people more miserable than others A new study shows the intricacies of the cold virus and how it interacts with nasal airway cells, revealing why some people are hit harder than others.

Scientists grew tiny models of our nasal airways, complete with mucus-secreting cells and cilia that beat rhythmically to understand how our bodies fight the common cold wapo.st/4qzFZQY

Awards for Excellence AHCJ has been recognizing the best health reporting in print, broadcast and online media since 2004. Enter your own work today.

Got great health reporting from 2025? Enter the AHCJ Awards for Excellence! Early-bird deadline: Jan. 16 at 5 pm ET. Don’t wait! 🏅 healthjournalism.org/awards-for-e...

What an excellent idea for a Starter Pack, in these days of #AISlop spilling everywhere - here is a bunch of outlets you can trust.
Hats-off to @alexip718.com.

go.bsky.app/8cn1XfT

The Weight-Loss Drug Revolution—Shots, Pills and the Science behind the Hype Behind the hype of GLP-1 medications lies complex science, serious side effects and a pharmaceutical arms race.

I talked with @beebrookshire.bsky.social about GLP-1's

Trump’s EPA Could Limit Its Own Ability to Use New Science to Strengthen Air Pollution Rules In government records that have flown under the radar, the EPA is questioning its legal authority to revise pollution rules more than once when new science shows unacceptable health risks.

Alumna @lisalsong.bsky.social, '09, covers how the EPA is questioning its own ability to adjust pollution rules when new science emerges. Published in @propublica.org: www.propublica.org/article/air-...

Stellar work from Zoe Beketova, Class of 2026:

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

We need your help! So far, we’ve raised $28,000 from 103 donors (incl. matching funds), which tells us that many of you understand the importance of this work. We report on global health and environmental disparities. Our goal is to raise $30,000 by Dec. 31st. Can you support our work?

Titan might not have an ocean after all A reanalysis of data from NASA’s Cassini mission suggests Saturn’s icy moon may lack the subsurface ocean presumed for a decade

Saturn's largest moon, Titan, has been a member of the deep-sea club for almost 2 decades. New research might revoke its water world card. 🪐 🌊

My 2nd #AGU2025 story of the week for @science.org : www.science.org/content/arti... #space #titan #nasa

The Open Notebook's 15th Anniversary - The Open Notebook For 15 years, The Open Notebook has been the trusted home for journalists worldwide who cover science. What started as an experiment to demystify the craft of science writing has grown into a vital, g...

What’s better than giving to something you care about? Having what you give count twice! Before the end of the year, we’re hoping you consider supporting The Open Notebook. Your donation will be matched by a group of generous donors, up to a total of at least $7,500. 🧪

Scientists discover oldest evidence of human-made fire in a 400,000-year-old hearth A new archaeological find pushes back the timeline on when humans mastered the ability to make fires, a transformative technology.

🔥Scientists discover oldest evidence of human-made fire — a 400,000-year-old English hearth wapo.st/4aaP3GM

If Farm School NYC Closes, What Will the City Lose? | Nonprofit Quarterly | Civic News. Empowering Nonprofits. Advancing Justice. If FSNYC is forced to permanently close, what historical, cultural, and institutional knowledge will New York City lose?

For Farm School NYC, federal funding cuts have "put their work with various community partners in jeopardy." Uprooter Iris M. Crawford for @npquarterly.bsky.social

nonprofitquarterly.org/if-farm-scho...

Program announcement! Join us for a short virtual session on December 12, to learn about the past, present and future of efforts to restore the Chesapeake Bay. To register, send an email to contact@ijnr.org and we'll send you the link!

Travelers delayed briefly after evacuation of BWI Concourse A Chaos ensued briefly for travelers Wednesday evening as parts of Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport were evacuated.

I spoke with @thebaltimorebanner.com today about being evacuated from Concourse A at BWI. Happy to say I’m on my plane now. www.thebanner.com/community/tr...

Grist opens applications for new rural reporting grants on climate and environmental justice Applicants can request up to $5,000 per project.

DEADLINE EXTENDED! We're giving you an extra few days to apply for up to $5,000 to cover climate and environmental stories in rural communities. Apply by **Dec. 8** https://grist.org/updates/grist-opens-applications-for-new-rural-reporting-grants-on-climate-and-environmental-justice/

Climate Change Is Already Costing U.S. Households Up to $900 Per Year A new working paper from a trio of eminent economists tallies the effects of warming — particularly extreme weather — on Americans’ budgets.

In light of policy arguments over the cost of climate action, a trio of economists ask: how much is climate change costing Americans right now? heatmap.news/economy/clim...

This is really good. You have to make readers care, and that means connecting the science to something they know, or something they can relate to.

In case you missed it, catch the recording of the recent SHERF informational webinar here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5vu...

Apply by Dec. 19: healthjournalism.org/fellowships/...

National Science-Health-Environment Reporting Fellowships The SHERF fellowships are made to support early-career journalists who are pursuing careers in science, health or environmental reporting.

🎉 The SHERF Fellowship is BACK! Science, health & environment reporters — this is your chance to level up your skills, get mentoring and deepen your expertise. Applications now open! Apply here ➡️ healthjournalism.org/fellowships/...

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: GPSW 2025 Admissions Information Session . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: GPSW 2025 Admissions Information Session . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

Join us for our fall information session at 3pm today. Registration is here: mit.zoom.us/webinar/regi...