Maya Ajmera
@mayaajmera.bsky.social
President & CEO of @society4science.bsky.social. Executive Publisher of @sciencenews.bsky.social. Founder of Global Fund for Children. Children’s Book Author. Mom.
A recent study adds to existing evidence that mRNA vaccines can prolong survival. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/covid-19-vaccine-mrna-cancer-survival
The COVID-19 vaccine may offer brain cancer patients a surprise benefit
A recent shot of the COVID-19 vaccine doubled survival time in glioblastoma patients who had undergone tumor biopsy or surgery.
sciencenews.org
Congratulations to the newest @society4science.bsky.social Advocates! They are some of the most dedicated STEM educators in the country, and I can't wait to see all they achieve this school year.
Society for Science@society4science.bsky.social · yesterdayWe're excited to announce this year's #SocietyAdvocates, 100 outstanding educators working to expand opportunities for young people in STEM! https://bit.ly/4wHEsey
"Three in four U.S.-based researchers overall have considered leaving the country, according to a survey by the journal Nature." https://hechingerreport.org/once-globally-preeminent-u-s-universities-are-sliding-into-decline/
Once globally preeminent, U.S. universities are sliding into decline
High costs, political attacks take a toll as fewer students come, top scholars leave
hechingerreport.org
Meet the five amazing #SocietyAlumni who have been named 2026 Rhodes Scholars. https://www.societyforscience.org/blog/five-society-alumni-named-2026-rhodes-scholars/
Five Society alumni headed to Oxford this fall as 2026 Rhodes Scholars
The scholars will pursue fields ranging from ecology and social data science to anthropology, theoretical physics and musculoskeletal health. The…
societyforscience.org
A new light-based technology scans pre-term babies' intestines for early signs of a life-threatening disease. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/light-scan-deadly-bowel-disease-babies
A light-based scan could detect deadly bowel disease in preterm babies
Necrotizing enterocolitis strikes premature babies with almost no warning. A new approach aims to detect it early with a quick, low-risk scan.
sciencenews.org
@snexplores.bsky.social asked the experts what should teens know before using AI tools for mental health advice. https://www.snexplores.org/article/ai-chatbots-therapy-mental-health
What to know about using AI chatbots for therapy
More and more young people are turning to AI chatbots for mental health help. Know how these tools can actually help — plus the risks of treating chatbots like therapy.
snexplores.org
Coronal mass ejections are regular occurrences on the sun, but hard to find on other stars. A new study suggests that the stars’ magnetic fields could be the reason. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/stars-eruptions-plasma-magnetic-fields
Stars’ plasma spurts may be blocked by magnetic fields
The sun frequently flings plasma into space, but sightings of such eruptions on other stars are rare. Magnetic fields could explain why.
sciencenews.org
"The more I listen to teachers from Generation Z, the more I realize they are forcing educational leaders to confront an uncomfortable question: Have we confused dedication with depletion?” https://www.ascd.org/blogs/what-generation-z-is-teaching-school-leaders-about-work
What Generation Z Is Teaching School Leaders About Work
Newer teachers are setting boundaries and questioning assumptions that can change the education profession for the better—if leaders are willing to listen.
ascd.org
A plastic vest could help protect astronauts from solar radiation storms. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/vest-artemis-mission-blocked-radiation
A vest tested on the Artemis I mission blocked some radiation exposure
A 26-kilogram plastic garment, flown on a model human torso on the uncrewed Artemis I mission, may one day protect astronauts from solar storms.
sciencenews.org
Mississippi Delta Nature and Learning Center is one of this year's STEM Action Grant awardees. https://www.deltanews.tv/news/mississippi-delta-nature-and-learning-center-awarded-10-000-stem-grant-to-expand-science-education/article_8aa8ef24-776e-4236-8cf1-524788a3ac98.html
Mississippi Delta Nature and Learning Center Awarded $10,000 STEM Grant to Expand Science Education
GREENVILLE, Miss. — More young people across the Mississippi Delta will soon have new opportunities to explore science through hands-on learning thanks to a national STEM education grant.
deltanews.tv
Honored to be included on the #ForbesOver50 list for Innovation. More than anything, it is a recognition that our work at @society4science.bsky.social and @sciencenews.bsky.social is more vital than ever. Thank you @forbes.com! www.forbes.com/sites/maggie...
From @snexplores.bsky.social: A pair of newly found planets are the puffiest worlds ever seen. https://www.snexplores.org/article/superpuff-planets-dense-as-cotton-candy
‘Superpuff‘ planets are as dense as cotton candy
The puffiest planets known in our galaxy orbit a sunlike star more than 1,000 light-years from Earth.
snexplores.org
Dogs may be even more attuned to people’s feelings than we think. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/dogs-understand-emotions-humans-face
Sad or afraid? Dogs may be able to read your face
A new brain-imaging study suggests that dogs may be able to distinguish between certain negative human emotions just by looking at people’s faces.
sciencenews.org
The 2026 #RegeneronSTS finalists have had a busy few months before heading off to college in the fall. https://www.societyforscience.org/blog/one-last-summer/
One Last Summer: How Regeneron STS 2026 Finalists Are Spending the Weeks Before College
In just a few weeks, these students will pack up bedrooms, say goodbye to family and friends, and begin new…
societyforscience.org
Researchers found that social status can change whether an AI agent complies with its conversation partner. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/ai-bosses-subordinate-response-safety
AI may respond differently to bosses and subordinates
In simulated conversations, social hierarchy can sway AI agents, making lower-status systems more likely to follow harmful requests.
sciencenews.org
“I feel like having that faith in yourself is where everything starts," says 2025 Thermo Fisher Scientific #JuniorInnovators finalist and winner of The Lemelson Foundation Award for Invention Evann Sun. https://www.lemelson.org/inventors-envision-the-future-of-accessibility-with-ai/
Envisioning the Future of Accessibility with AI
These young inventors are harnessing AI to create affordable text-to-speech glasses for visually impaired students.
lemelson.org
"We must take extremely seriously the issues of equal opportunities and ensuring that we eliminate barriers to access decent work, to a healthy work environment and to career progression." https://www.ohchr.org/en/stories/2026/08/pushing-against-global-backlash-protect-womens-right-work-and-lead?789
Pushing against a global backlash to protect women’s right to work and lead
Global figures show women remain far less likely than men to work or lead. Women’s advocates in Morocco, Tanzania and in international bodies share how mentorship programmes, union organising and femi...
ohchr.org
Simulations paint a frightening picture of the dinosaurs' fate. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/asteroid-dust-incinerated-dinosaurs
Heat-trapping asteroid dust may have incinerated the dinosaurs within hours
Within minutes of impact, debris began heating Earth’s atmosphere. Fine dust trapped that heat, potentially killing the dinosaurs quickly.
sciencenews.org
“Heat calls” can reprogram baby birds' brains in preparation for the heat, even before they leave the egg. www.snexplores.org/article/song...
Songs prep unhatched finches' brains for a hot world
Adult finches make “heat calls” to their eggs when temps rise. Exposure to those songs trigger chicks' developing brains to change in ways that better handle heat.
snexplores.org
Swirling whirlpools of magnetized plasma may energize solar flares. www.sciencenews.org/article/tiny...
These tiny swirls on the sun could trigger solar flares
Scientists have finally seen a long-predicted motion on the sun, and it may help explain explosive solar activity.
sciencenews.org
Congratulations to the 61 amazing organizations named today as @society4science.bsky.social STEM Action Grantees! www.societyforscience.org/blog/2026-st...
Society for Science awards $295,000 to 61 organizations bringing STEM to communities across the nation
Society for Science, a national nonprofit leader in science education and STEM literacy, today announced $295,000 in grants to 61…
societyforscience.org
A slow grassland burn gave off enough infrasound for sensors to follow its spread. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/fire-sound-monitoring-tracking
Scientists tracked a fire using sound alone
Researchers tracked a prescribed grassland fire using infrasound, sound waves pitched too low for people to hear.
sciencenews.org
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to actually help and try to change the country for the better.” https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/66507/adults-have-struggled-to-set-rules-for-ai-in-school-these-teens-figured-it-out
Adults Have Struggled to Set Rules for AI In School. These Teens Figured It Out | KQED
Should students be allowed to use AI on assignments? What about on tests? Who should teach AI literacy? About 100 teenagers got together to try to decide.
kqed.org
Can the ancient art of origami solve modern problems? 2025 Thermo Fisher #JuniorInnovators Challenge winner Miles Wu thinks so! https://www.ted.com/talks/miles_wu_origami_the_ancient_art_form_solving_modern_problems
Origami, the ancient art form solving modern problems
14-year-old student Miles Wu is obsessed with origami, transforming everyday scraps of paper into unexpected creations. In a joyful talk, he explores the ancient art form — from making Christmas ornam...
ted.com
A new FDA-approved sunscreen ingredient may be more effective than some of the current options. https://www.snexplores.org/article/new-sunscreen-option-bemotrizinol
U.S. sunscreen users are finally getting a new option
FDA will now allow the use of bemotrizinol in U.S. sunscreens. This long-lasting chemical protects against the solar radiation that ages and damages skin.
snexplores.org
A diet rich in the amino acid arginine might help the immune system fend off cancer and infection. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/amino-acid-argininine-colon-cancer-diet
How one amino acid might help fight colon cancer and infections
Dietary arginine reduces tumor formation and viral load in mice by boosting key immune proteins.
sciencenews.org
Watch Miles Wu, top winner of the Thermo Fisher Scientific #JuniorInnovators Challenge, deliver an inspiring Ted Talk about how his interest in origami has fueled his STEM journey. https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=1U4dPKq6mJ4
Origami, the Ancient Art Form Solving Modern Problems | Miles Wu | TED
YouTube video by TED
youtube.com
From @snexplores.bsky.social: What makes the "butterflies of the sea" dazzle like they do. https://www.snexplores.org/article/how-sea-slugs-get-bright-colors
How sea slugs get their flashy colors
Crystals beneath the skin of nudibranchs, also called sea slugs, allow the creatures to make an array of intense hues with just one material.
snexplores.org
How the world's 6 million dolphins respond to marine pollution can provide early warnings for human health. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/forever-chemicals-aging-dolphins
‘Forever chemicals’ could be aging dolphins beyond their years
Common dolphins in New Zealand are biologically older than their calendar ages. Trace metals and “forever chemicals” may be to blame.
sciencenews.org
