Robin Lloyd

To anyone laid off from the Post today, we are hiring:

Victor Cohn Prize for Excellence in Med Sci Reporting: apply by 6/30 casw.org/awards-fello...
Evert Clark/Seth Payne Award for a young science journalist: apply by 6/30 casw.org/awards-fello...

entry window for CASW '26 awards & fellowships is open:
Taylor/Blakeslee grad fellowships: apply by 3/16 casw.org/awards-fello...
Sharon Begley Science Reporting Award: by 4/30 casw.org/awards-fello...

Capital: Solvang

Renfrew Christie Dies at 76; Sabotaged Racist Regime’s Nuclear Program

Holy hell, what an obituary

Vaccines Are Helping Older People More Than We Knew

Oh, just get vaccinated (part 5,000)

"Many shots seem to have “off-target” benefits, such as lowering the risk of dementia, studies have found." (gift article)

20 public health wins in 2025 We have your back

Uplifting year-ender by @kkjetelina.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/yourloca...

Social: These Orcas Are on the Brink—And So Is the Science That Could Save Them Inside the desperate rush to save the southern resident killer whales

“The science is endangered now, just like the whales.”

illuminating piece on tight links between cardiovascular, pancreas (insulin/diabetes), and kidney diseases - really all 1 condition! by @smjyoti.bsky.social

Same here!

Everyone's Favorite Fruitcake This moist, dark cake is loaded with yummy-tasting dried fruits, not the icky, bitter candied peel and citron you remember from visiting your grandma at Christmas.

yum. Not same but I make King Arthur's "everyone's favorite fruit cake," with dried fruit dialed back. The allspice, golden syrup, and booze clinch it. share.google/k9S8IrqCDpHN...

This Tiny ‘Fire Amoeba’ Just Redefined Life’s Limits It was thought that complex cells couldn’t survive above a certain temperature, but a tiny amoeba has proven that assumption wrong

It's been thought since the early 70s that eukaryotes (basically any life with a cell nucleus) wouldn't survive above 62C and no complex life had been shown living above 60C. Until the "fire amoeba"... 🧪

(These are some of my favorite stories to write, just weird neat stuff we're learning.)

This Season, Feed Your Own Curiosity Up to 50% off all subs

Scientific American subscriptions are up to 50% off throughout December
sciam.com/getsciam/
sciam.com/getsciam/gift/

AI video slop is everywhere, take our quiz to try and spot it There's no one way to be absolutely sure about a video's authenticity, but experts say there are some simple clues that can help.

Quiz teaches you how to spot AI-generated video www.npr.org/2025/11/30/n...

Hot wings
Taiwan Blue Magpie
Photographer unknown

Opinion | Jeffrey Epstein's Crimes: Child Sexual Abuse Isn't a 'Type' Playing semantics over what constitutes a pedophile serves no clinical purpose

good essay, refutes & defeats any MK-type hair-splitting, "age-nuance," "skepticism" nonsense www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/seco...

Thank you for attending ScienceWriters2025 Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

pls take #SciWri25 survey *today* if you attended any sessions including virtual & haven't yet (last chance today): u1108354.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn... #SciWri2025 🧪

Where-ish

Even if Congress strikes a deal, millions still need food now. Here’s where to find help Millions need food while waiting for benefits to resume. Find food banks, free groceries, money-saving apps, and state-supported emergency assistance.

Resources for addressing food scarcity: www.aol.com/finance/arti...

Some tips for those considering a shift to PIO from journalism. I get it. See tips below. #sciwri25 🧪

Tips:
- find a place less reliant on fed or public funds
- where scientists are strongly respected
-where there are several strong depts, not just one or two
-more researchers not fewer (= more stories)
-collaborates with other sci institutions
- work for a place that public appreciates

Considering a shift to science writing (esp. writing for a sci-med institution) from science journalism? I did this for 5 years in '00s and loved it, it allowed me to stay in NYC, live independently. I always support choices writers make "between" PR, PIO, and journalism.

Don’t miss Dr. Dominique Brossard at #SciWri25 on Nov 9! She’ll join a panel on childhood vaccines & how science writers can fight misinformation.

With Tina Tan, Jessica McDonald & moderated by Dan Vergano.
Register ⬇️

sciencewriters2025.org/register #ScienceCommunication

Great history thread on CIO & US unions

James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.

A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.

Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."

Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫

For investigative or research-driven stories, get a grant *first* to support the work & then ask editors to greenlight project, say Patricia Clarembaux & Wendy Ruderman #sciwri25 🧪 (resembles Grave Hopper axiom "It is better to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission")

want to be on TikTok to communicate science but "not good at TikTok"? Collaborate with someone who *is* good at it. We don't have to be good at everything, says Rudy Molinek. #sciwri25 🧪

Before taking on add'l work, ask yourself: 1- would I rather be relaxing at home? 2- what will I give up to make time for this? 3- does this new work align with my strategic plans? 4- would I do this for free?
Tips from @katrinamillerphd.bsky.social & @notnotrocketscience.com #sciwri25 🧪

success tip for freelancers from @notnotrocketscience.com: figure out what your unique talents/offerings are in the field. Mentions op-eds, explainers, outreach events. #sciwri25 🧪

solid advice for early career freelance science journalists and writers, from Katrina Millet at NYT: build relationships with as many assigning editors as possible so you minimize time spent cold pitching #sciwri25 🧪