How We Talk About Science

How We Talk About Science | Isabella Cisneros | Substack A newsletter covering exciting advances in science, current issues, and musings on the importance of science communication. Click to read How We Talk About Science, a Substack publication with hundred...

Hi Dani! Could we be added? We’re a science communication blog on Substack run by scientists @isabellaclsci.bsky.social and @jessicaoros.bsky.social. Link to our homepage below. Feel free to let us know if we can provide any additional info!

By The Skin of Your... Exoskeleton? The Evolutionary Origins of Modern Teeth (Fixations #5) In our latest Fixations post, we explore how modern teeth may have evolved from sensory tissues in the exoskeletons of early vertebrates.

The next time you have a toothache, you may want to thank (or curse) our vertebrate ancestors. In our latest, we cover a recent study from researchers at the University of Chicago and Harvard’s Museum of Comparative Zoology tracing the evolutionary origins of our modern teeth. Check it out! #scicomm

What It Would Mean To Lose The National Science Foundation In a companion piece to our previous article on the NIH, we discuss the importance of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and how the agency is currently being affected by political interference.

The NIH isn’t the only federal agency that funds U.S. science, and it isn’t the only agency imperiled by political interference, either. Read our latest on the National Science Foundation and what we stand to lose if cuts to funding and training programs continue: open.substack.com/pub/isabella...

A New T(r)ick Up Our Sleeve: Piperacillin as a Novel Treatment for Lyme Disease (Fixations #4) In our latest post, we discuss a study published this past April identifying a new and more effective drug against Lyme disease.

In our latest Fixations post, we discuss a recently published study characterizing the antibiotic piperacillin as a potentially more effective treatment for Lyme disease, a promising development given that tickborne diseases are on the rise in the US. Read it here: open.substack.com/pub/isabella...

What It Would Mean To Lose the National Institutes of Health In this piece, we provide readers with an in-depth explainer of what the NIH does and how its mission is being threatened by current political interference.

In our newest piece, we take a deep dive into how the NIH works, the effects of recent executive orders and cuts to funding, and what we stand to lose if current political interference remains unchallenged. Read it here: open.substack.com/pub/isabella...

Heads Will Turn: How Neck Muscles Supported A Major Evolutionary Transition (Fixations #3) In our latest Fixations post, we explore how evolution built upon existing muscle groups to craft a mobile neck during the water-to-land transition.

When our fishy ancestors came onto land, there was a lot that had to change: not just fins, but also necks! In our latest post, we cover a recent study that shows how neck muscles were co-opted to build a mobile neck during evolution. Read it here: isabellacisneros.substack.com/p/heads-will...

Migrate, Hibernate, or Tolerate: Nature’s Ultimate Winter Survival Guide In our latest piece for Everyday Science, we learn about three main strategies that organisms use to tackle the biological challenges presented by the winter season.

As we all enjoy the warmer weather, let’s take a second to look back on the winter season and think about the different strategies that organisms use to brave the physiological challenges posed by the season. Read our latest here: isabellacisneros.substack.com/p/migrate-hi... #scicomm

How We Talk About Science | Isabella Cisneros | Substack A newsletter covering exciting advances in science, current issues, and musings on the importance of science communication. Click to read How We Talk About Science, a Substack publication with hundred...

If you want to help us get to 500, you can subscribe using the following link: open.substack.com/pub/isabella...

We’re excited to share that we’ve recently reached 400 subscribers! We are so grateful for your support of our science communication work. In just over a year, we’ve recruited a managing editor and 2 contributors, in addition to expanding our content to four sections. Looking forward to what’s next!

The Truth About Vaccines: Myths and Misinformation In an age of growing vaccine hesitancy, we discuss some of the current disease outbreaks and debunk common misconceptions that contribute to vaccine skepticism.

In a follow up to our last piece covering the history of vaccines, our latest covers the current measles outbreak, among others, and breaks down major myths and misinformation surrounding vaccination. Read it here: open.substack.com/pub/isabella... #scicomm

If you know of any colleagues or trainees who may be interested in participating, please share this initiative with them. You can reach us at howwetalkaboutscience@gmail.com or submit ideas using our Google Form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1H7L...

Recently, we have seen scientists asking what they can do to both communicate the importance of their research and how it’s being affected by recent executive orders. In response, we are proposing a new initiative through our Substack to help scientists communicate directly with the public. #scicomm

Vaccine Development: A Brief History In this piece, we take a look at the evolution of vaccines over time, accomplishments in disease eradication, and the different types of vaccines.

Amid rising vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, our latest piece reviews the history of vaccine development, the role that vaccines have played in disease eradication and control, and the different types of vaccines that exist. Read it here: isabellacisneros.substack.com/p/vaccine-de... #scicomm

Science Under Attack: A Current State of Affairs Almost two months into the Trump administration, we review how recent executive orders have set out to debilitate scientific research across the nation–and what might come next.

The last two months have seen science in the U.S. destabilized. In our latest post, we review some of the biggest headlines and what they mean, how you can expect to be affected, and how you can take action to protect American science. Read it here: open.substack.com/pub/isabella... #scicomm

This series will be helmed by our newest contributor, Iris Berman, an incredibly talented writer and soon-to-be medical student. We are eager to have her perspectives and her voice on our Substack. Check it out using the link above!

Motherhood, So Confusing (1 of 5) Introducing a mini-series on the history of in vitro fertilization (IVF), the fertility industry, and the social and legal implications surrounding family planning in 2025.

We’re excited to share a new mini-series, which will cover the science of in vitro fertilization, the history of this technology, the rise of the fertility industry, as well as what can happen when the science isn’t understood by policymakers and the general public. open.substack.com/pub/isabella...

For Winter: An Inspiring Story of Science & Sacrifice In our first post of the year, we review the National Geographic documentary, For Winter, which tells the story of Dr. Alison Criscitiello's quest to collect ice cores from Canada's highest mountain.

We’re excited to kick off 2025 with a review of the National Geographic documentary For Winter. The film follows ice core scientist Dr. Alison Criscitiello and her team as they attempt a bold scientific expedition on Mt. Logan. Read it here: isabellacisneros.substack.com/p/for-winter... #scicomm

Looking Back and Looking Forward: A Year of How We Talk About Science In this brief retrospective piece, we take a look back at what we've accomplished in our first year and what we're planning for the year ahead.

In our last post of 2024, we reflect on How We Talk About Science first began, how the blog has evolved throughout the course of the year, and what Jessica and I have in store for 2025. Read our brief retrospective here: open.substack.com/pub/isabella...

How Snakes Get Their... Blotches? (Fixations #2) In our latest Fixations post, we explore how the gene PMEL contributes to snakeskin patterning during corn snake development.

Have you ever looked at a snake and wondered how it got its stripes, or in the case of the corn snake, blotches? Well, lucky for us, scientists have! Check out our new Fixations post covering a recent study by @genevunige.bsky.social’s Milinkovitch-Tzika lab here: open.substack.com/pub/isabella...

Fall Foliage Fervor: The Science Behind A Beloved Autumnal Phenomenon To kick off our new section Everyday Science, contributor Addison Parker tells us about the science underlying the brilliant colors of autumn.

Happy Thanksgiving from How We Talk About Science! Make sure to kick off your holiday by checking out our latest piece from guest writer Addison Parker on how and why leaves change color in the fall: open.substack.com/pub/isabella... #scicomm 🍁

The Flying Flu: Updates On a Mutating Virus In this piece, we provide an important update on the current outbreak of avian influenza in the United States.

What better way to introduce ourselves on 🦋 than with a post about our latest piece? In The Flying Flu: Updates on a Mutating Virus, contributor Jessica Oros provides us with an update on the current outbreak of avian influenza. Check it out: isabellacisneros.substack.com/p/the-flying... #scicomm