COMING TOMORROW! The full ScienceWriters2026 program debuts online July 15 along with travel grant program announcements. Registration for September's in-person events in Corvallis, OR and October's virtual events opens on August 4. Bookmark the SciWri26 site: sciencewriters2026.org/

Just a reminder that there's only about a week left to leave comments on the OMB proposal that will cripple federally funded research. Here's my attempt to convince you that you should, along with info on how to do so effectively.

Ars Technica@arstechnica.com · last mo.

🧪The authors say the findings show that preventing #PFAS pollution would be less costly and more impactful than relying on remediation after release and is the only viable long-term strategy to protect human health and ecosystems.

Environmental Science@envsci.rsc.org · last mo.

📢 Check out the RSC article on the new 𝘌𝘚𝘗𝘐 publication on PFAS remediation: www.rsc.org/news/pfa... #PFAS #EnvSci #EnvironmentalScience

Early-life exposure to certain environmental chemicals is linked to sperm with extra X or Y chromosomes in adulthood, potentially impacting male fertility and reproductive health. doi.org/hb2nkw

Early-life chemical exposure may leave extra X and Y chromosomes in sperm

An estimated 7% of all men are affected by infertility. Multiple animal studies indicate that exposure to persistent environmental chemicals in early life can negatively impact male reproductive health, and now a human study suggests the same.

medicalxpress.com

If 2028 sees the election of a science-friendly administration, what policy innovations should be put in place to make federal science and evidence-informed policy more resilient? SciLight is offering a $500 honorarium for your ideas! Learn more: scilight.substack.com/p/scilight-l...

SciLight Launches “The Science Fix”

Ideas for Rebuilding Resilient Federal Science

scilight.substack.com

Buried in a recent Trump EPA proposal to rollback air pollution limits for certain facilities is the argument that the Clean Air Act doesnt allow for updated risk assessments on a regulated pollutant, even if new data becomes available My story @bloomberg.com: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

How Trump’s EPA Is Easing Rules on a Carcinogenic Gas

A decade ago, researchers at the Environmental Protection Agency determined that a gas called ethylene oxide used for a range of industrial purposes was much more carcinogenic than previously thought....

bloomberg.com

A new synthesis of the literature finds that ubiquitous exposure to #toxic chemicals, together with climate change, causes reductions in #fertility and fecundity across global species – including humans, fish and wildlife, that can lead to population decline and biodiversity loss.

Science X / Phys.org@sciencex.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Synthetic chemicals and climate change are jointly reducing fertility and reproductive health across a wide range of species, with impacts spanning from developmental abnormalities to declining populations. doi.org/hbzqtp

Synthetic chemicals and climate change are jointly reducing fertility and reproductive health across a wide range of species, with impacts spanning from developmental abnormalities to declining populations. doi.org/hbzqtp

Invisible fertility crisis: Chemicals and climate change threaten reproduction across species

The rise in infertility is not limited to humans, as environmental stressors are quietly undermining the reproductive potential of different forms of life.

phys.org

Urinary levels of plastics-associated #phthalates and #bisphenol chemicals were associated with #cardiometabolic risk biomarkers and can be lowered by reducing plastic use in food and personal-care products.

Low-plastic diet and urinary levels of plastic-associated phthalates and bisphenols: the randomized controlled PERTH Trial - Nature Medicine

Urinary levels of plastics-associated phthalates and bisphenols chemicals were associated with cardiometabolic risk biomarkers and can be lowered by reducing plastic use in food and personal-care products.

dlvr.it

Today, global scientists called on regulators around the world to address glyphosate's well-documented harms to human health and its links to cancer and other chronic diseases. #Glyphosate is the world’s most widely used herbicide and the active ingredient in Roundup. deohs.washington.edu/news/sgs

Global scientists say regulators must address glyphosate’s strong links to health harms

Epidemiologists, toxicologists, cancer specialists meet in Seattle to review latest science tying widely used pesticide to disease, including cancer

deohs.washington.edu

👇 Our study published New England Journal of Medicine establishes the corporations that make 5 health harming products (#fossilfuels, #chemicals, #ultraprocessedfoods, #tobacco & #alcohol) are the leading risk factors for death globally. @c2ech.bsky.social www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....

Corporations as vectors of chronic disease, @nejm.org Calling out 6 commercial products that contribute to 31% of all deaths globally. Chemicals include pesticides, PFAS, manufactured. And counterstrategies to address www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/...

"Go niche. Algorithms reward repetition, expertise, and clarity about what you’re “about.” The more defined your beat or topic area, the easier it is for audiences — and platforms — to understand and surface your work." Great advice on building audience: thewritethrough.substack.com/p/people-wan...

“People want that human connection”: Advice on building audience from NBCUniversal's Sari Zeidler

"The idea of traffic as the central metric feels increasingly limited," says Sari Zeidler of NBCUniversal.

thewritethrough.substack.com

“People need to recognize that this pollution is causing disease, it’s causing premature death,” said Dr. Philip Landrigan, a pediatrician and public health physician at Boston College, who is one of the study’s authors.

Breathe Project@breathe-project.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Dr. Landrigan's study found that 11.1 and 12.5 percent of all deaths in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area are due to air pollution. Also 229 premature births, 177 low‑weight births and 12 stillbirths could be attributed to pollution. www.alleghenyfront.o...

Elated to moderate the panel, "Public Dialogue Through Media" tomorrow - great chance to glean insights on how journalists tackle local and statewide public health issues! See you there! #ShaleGas #PublicHealth

Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania@psrpennsylvania.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Shale Gas and Public Health Conference – February 19 Join us in person or online for a full day of learning, dialogue, and action at the Shale Gas and Public Health Conference. Free to attend – registration required Learn more & register: buff.ly/Ghie1fm

Trump is shrinking the EPA more quickly & aggressively than ever before, culminating in this week's move to rescind the crucial "endangerment finding" underpinning key regulations of planet-warming pollution. Here's what it all means (a gift link @bloomberg.com): www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Trump's EPA Rollbacks Will Reverberate for 'Decades'

The agency’s planned repeal of a cornerstone of US climate rules is part of an aggressive deregulatory agenda whose effects on the environment will outlast the president.

bloomberg.com

Even more concerning give a new study revealing PM 2.5 linked to adult death and adverse birth outcomes - with steel mills and coke ovens (#coal) are major point sources. #AirPollution annalsofglobalhealth.org/articles/10....

Particulate Air Pollution, Disease, and Death in the Cities and Towns of Southwestern Pennsylvania | Annals of Global Health

annalsofglobalhealth.org

Michael Grunwald@mikegrunwald.bsky.social · 6mo ago

I know they're referring to the physical act of removing coal from the ground, which is awful enough, but "Mine, Baby, Mine" should be this sociopathic administration's official slogan. And Coalie can be its planet-destroying mascot. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

Air pollution is now formally recognised as a cancer risk in Europe. “Individuals are encouraged to limit their exposure by choosing public transport, walking or cycling…and keeping homes free of smoke by avoiding the burning of coal or wood”. #WorldCancerDay #AirPollution

Air pollution joins Europe’s list of cancer risks

Air pollution has today (4th February) been formally recognised as a cancer risk in Europe for the first time, after being added to the European Code Against Cancer. The update appears in the fifth ed...

airqualitynews.com

Check out this handy breakdown for scientists who want to pitch their research to the media 🧪📝

Agents of Change @agentschangeej.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Most research pitches don’t fail on quality. They fail on clarity. We asked editors at Nature, Undark, and The Conversation what makes them say yes—and turned it into a quick checklist. Read it here👇 substack.com/home/post/p-...

new paper in @thelancet.com estimating the global health burdens of plastics I think this is one of the first analyses that quantifies the impacts of plastics across its entire lifecycle (from extraction to waste) and highlights the pretty staggering health effects of our current economic system

Global health burdens of plastics: a lifecycle assessment model from 2016 to 2040

Adverse health effects are associated with emissions throughout plastics lifecycles, particularly from production, though the non-disclosure of plastics chemical composition is severely limiting LCA c...

thelancet.com

There's yet more data showing that hardly anyone is recycling any plastic in California, even as the Newsom administration once again delays landmark single-use plastic regulations: www.latimes.com/environment/... via @susrust.bsky.social

Very little plastic being recycled in California as state efforts falter

California has hailed itself as a leader in single-use plastic reduction and legislation. But a scuttling of its pioneering law, and a new report on the dismal state of recycling in the state, shows t...

latimes.com

For many scientists, 2025 was the year of microplastics. It’s only in the past year or so that they have begun to understand that the tiny plastics are in our bodies and food as well. Here’s what we know now:

What we learned about microplastics in 2025

The year has been full of scary details about the tiny particles. Here’s what we know now.

washingtonpost.com

Mark the date and get ready: MICRO 2026 is happening (yes, it’s official!) and we want you all to join us in beautiful Cádiz from 12–16 October 2026 for a fantastic week of plastic science and community. micro2026.sciencesconf.org

Celebrity chefs told Californians that PFAS-coated pans were “safe,” and successfully lobbied Gavin Newsom to veto a bill phasing them out They didn’t mention they all sell PFAS-coated pans. New joint investigation with @mirandagreen.bsky.social and @atmosmag.bsky.social is out:

Why are famous chefs fighting PFAS bans?

The answer, in retrospect, is obvious—and it’s part of a larger campaign to stop bans on Teflon cookware nationwide.

heated.world

Salt water laced with cancer-causing chemicals, a byproduct of oil and gas drilling, keeps shooting out of the ground in Oklahoma. Experts say it means even more wastewater is spreading underground, poisoning the state’s water supply. With @readfrontier.bsky.social

Toxic Wastewater From Oil Fields Keeps Pouring Out of the Ground. Oklahoma Regulators Failed to Stop It.

Salt water laced with cancer-causing chemicals, a byproduct of oil and gas drilling, is spewing from old wells. Experts warn of a pollution crisis spreading underground and threatening Oklahoma’s drin...

propublica.org

New 🧪report on #ForeverChemicals #Phthalates Scientists have issued an urgent warning that some of the synthetic chemicals that help underpin the current food system are driving increased rates of cancer, neuro conditions and infertility = $$ health burdens www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Synthetic chemicals in food system creating health burden of $2.2tn a year, report finds

Scientists issue urgent warning about chemicals, found to cause cancer and infertility as well as harming environment

theguardian.com

Boost your science, health or environment reporting in 2026 — the SHERF Fellowship can help you do it. Applications are open now! Tell a colleague and apply today: 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.

healthjournalism.org

When I first saw the photos Annie took during the inversion, I immediately thought of historical photos from pre-EPA days. But these were taken in 2025. The Trump EPA has halted rules meant to reduce pollution in this community and others. Here's what we found: www.propublica.org/article/epa-...

ProPublica@propublica.org · 8mo ago

📽️ WATCH: Photographer @annie-flanagan.bsky.social went to Clairton, PA, where residents live in the shadow of the country’s largest coke plant. Coke is a product used to manufacture steel. This is what Annie saw — and inhaled — while on assignment in Clairton. Link to our story below ⤵️