@laurahelmuth@mastodon.social avatar

laurahelmuth

@laurahelmuth@mastodon.social

Editor in Chief of Scientific American. Birder. Previously at Washington Post, National Geographic, Slate, Smithsonian & Science.

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laurahelmuth , to random
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There are “no links whatsoever between the offshore wind development activity and especially the humpback whale mortalities. None. Zero.” But oil & gas & shipping interests sure want you to think wind energy is what's killing whales https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/whales-are-dying-but-not-from-offshore-wind/

laurahelmuth , to random
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What happens if a nuclear weapon goes off in space? Here's what we know from Starfish Prime and other tests from 60 years ago and why it would be even more catastrophic today https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-happens-if-a-nuclear-weapon-goes-off-in-space/ by @parshallison.bsky.social

laurahelmuth , to random
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Google's AI Overviews must create entirely new information in response to a search query. That costs an estimated 30 times more energy than simply extracting information from a source through a traditional search. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-do-googles-ai-answers-cost-the-environment/

laurahelmuth , to random
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Elephants call each other by name, and they respond to their own names. It's a type of communication previously undocumented in nonhuman animals https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/elephants-call-their-relatives-by-name-across-the-savanna/

laurahelmuth , to random
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Why ARE bears friend-shaped? A beary scientific analysis of the meme "If not friend, why friend-shaped?" https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-are-bears-friend-shaped/

laurahelmuth , to random
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The anti-reality industry pushes lies about abortion, climate, COVID, gender-affirming care, race, sex, evolution, education & more, and it's all connected https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/we-must-face-down-the-expanding-anti-reality-industry/ @SeattleBryn traces the intersectional awfulness on Scientific American

laurahelmuth , to random
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Derelict satellites pass within 1,000 kilometers of each other 1,000 times a year, and any collision would instantly double the amount of space debris. A space rush is filling up orbit with unregulated satellites, mostly from private companies, and we need better protections https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/there-is-too-much-trash-in-space/

laurahelmuth , to random
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Anthony Comstock was even worse than you might imagine. His soldier-of-Christ, misogynistic work to punish the fallen and blasphemous never really ended, and now it is having a horrifying revival https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-comstock-act-originated-with-disregard-for-womens-lives-it-still-does/

laurahelmuth , to random
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Does anybody have a good term to describe people you used to respect who turned out to be horrible? Like Steven Pinker, J.K. Rowling, Richard Dawkins. It's like a milkshake duck but more consequential and even more disappointing

laurahelmuth , to random
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A scholar of social movements & activism explains how the campus protesters are doing everything right and repressive university administrations are doing everything wrong https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/repression-draws-attention-to-campus-protests-like-those-over-the-conflict/

laurahelmuth , to random
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We are hiring a podcast editor for Scientific American's multimedia team. (Sharing again because weekends are a good time to think about a new job). Thanks for considering or sharing with anyone looking to join a creative, welcoming, humane & fun team https://careers.springernature.com/job/New-York-Multimedia-Editor%2C-Audio%2C-Scientific-American/1058691801/

laurahelmuth , to random
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Scientific American is hiring a multimedia editor to work on our "Science, Quickly" podcast. Thanks for sharing with anyone who might be interested in the job! https://careers.springernature.com/job/New-York-Multimedia-Editor%2C-Audio%2C-Scientific-American/1058691801/

laurahelmuth , to random
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Millions of pregnant people have received COVID vaccines, and the data are solid: the vaccines are safe and effective for the pregnant person, and a growing consensus is emerging that vaccination during pregnancy also protects newborns. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/covid-vaccination-during-pregnancy-protects-newborn-babies/

laurahelmuth , to random
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Did you see a red dot during totality? That was a solar prominence -- a massive loop of the sun’s plasma attached to the visible surface of the sun, which can form within a day but last as long as several months https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/red-dots-around-total-solar-eclipse-explained/

laurahelmuth , to random
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It's the year 2024 and West Virginia just signed a law that will allow the teaching of religious alternatives to science (meaning creationism) in public schools. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-law-allowing-religion-into-science-classrooms-is-dangerous-for-everyone/

laurahelmuth , to random
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So much ice is melting from the poles that the water is redistributing Earth's mass and slowing its rotation https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/global-warming-is-slowing-the-earths-rotation/

laurahelmuth , to random
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Florida and Texas keep finding new ways to compete for the Most Horrible State title. Florida may ban local heat protection rules for outdoor workers https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/florida-considers-banning-local-heat-protections-for-workers/

laurahelmuth , to random
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There have been three major waves of opposition to transgender health care in the past century, including today's. Each wave has used pseudoscience to justify its hostility to trans people, including today's. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/pseudoscience-has-long-been-used-to-oppress-transgender-people/

laurahelmuth , to random
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My compliments to the headline chefs https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00217-2

laurahelmuth , to random
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A recent AI survey "emphasizes baseless speculation about human extinction ... Such vague, hyped-up notions are dangerous because they draw attention away from mundane but much more urgent issues that are happening right now” https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ai-survey-exaggerates-apocalyptic-risks/ by @stokel

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