Phie Jacobs
@phiejacobs.bsky.social
reporter at Science Magazine | cat parent | lover of farmer’s markets | Dungeons & Dragons enthusiast | (they/them)
Today marks three years of #ScienceAdviser and a new unofficial mascot for the year: the amazing axolotl! www.science.org/content/arti... @science.org
ScienceAdviser: We like you a-lotl!
Today in Science and science: ScienceAdviser celebrates its third anniversary
science.org
Had a blast writing about the Amazon molly, a truly odd little fish that has defied evolutionary odds by reproducing asexually for at least 100,000 years. My latest for @science.org:
A genetic trick helps this all-female fish species escape evolutionary doom
The Amazon molly, which reproduces asexually, has survived—and thrived—at least 10 times longer than predicted by evolutionary theory
science.org
Early career science journalists: Need something to do next summer? Apply to work with me as @science.org's newsletter intern! bit.ly/44yCu4o
a cartoon character laying on top of a keyboard with the letter g on it
ALT: a cartoon character laying on top of a keyboard with the letter g on it
media.tenor.com
Saturn's largest moon, Titan, has been a member of the deep-sea club for almost 2 decades. New research might revoke its water world card. 🪐 🌊 My 2nd #AGU2025 story of the week for @science.org : www.science.org/content/arti... #space #titan #nasa
Titan might not have an ocean after all
A reanalysis of data from NASA’s Cassini mission suggests Saturn’s icy moon may lack the subsurface ocean presumed for a decade
science.org
“An abdication of U.S. leadership”—that's how the scientific and policy communities see the White House's push to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research. 🌪️🪓 Read my 3rd story from AGU for @science.org: www.science.org/content/arti... #nasa #trump #science #ncar #climate #weather
Trump administration moves to break up leading U.S. climate and weather center
White House budget director calls the National Center for Atmospheric Research a source of “climate alarmism”
science.org
Nice way to finish the year with such a quote in @science.org news: "Stefanie Haustein, an information scientist at the University of Ottawa, doesn’t buy publishers’ arguments." Thank you @phiejacobs.bsky.social! doi.org/10.1126/scie...
A female wolf has been doing something unusual on the Central Coast of British Columbia. She's learned to pull crab traps up from the water, yanking on a rope to bring it to the surface. But is it tool use? Very fun story from @phiejacobs.bsky.social for @science.org
Have wild wolves learned to use tools?
Video captures a lone female pulling crab traps out of the water, but does it count as tool use?
science.org
If you're a CDC employee and have heard anything about the removal of Susan Monarez as director, please reach out! You can contact me at pjacobs@aaas.org or on Signal at phiejacobs.48 @altcdc.altgov.info
Spent the start of my week learning all about spectral bats, huge, carnivorous creatures who are shockingly sweet. Read (and watch!) what 3 months of monitoring a family of four showed us about the home lives of the tropical bats: www.science.org/content/arti... @science.org
Massive tropical bat is surprisingly family oriented, rare videos show
New footage reveals spectral bats “hugging,” playing, and bringing food to their young
science.org
My latest on the Health Sec who promised to figure out what causes autism and the autism research that's been stopped along the way www.propublica.org/article/rfk-...
RFK Jr. Vowed to Find the Environmental Causes of Autism. Then He Shut Down Research Trying to Do Just That.
While touting a $50 million initiative to identify the causes of autism, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is helping lead an administration that is rolling back protections against pollution and toxic chemicals,...
propublica.org
Researchers immediately condemned the recent HHS report on gender-affirming care for transgender youth, which declined to disclose its authors: “Scientists stand by their work. There is nobody standing by this thing.” My recent story for @science.org
Researchers slam HHS report on gender-affirming care for youth
Critics say the report, which declines to disclose its authors, contradicts decades of scientific research
science.org
It was a privilege to help tell the stories of U.S. scientists whose lives have been upended during the first 100 days of President Donald Trump’s administration in this recent piece for @science.org
U.S. scientists’ lives and careers are being upended. Here are five of their stories
As the second Trump administration sends U.S. science into upheaval, countless researchers are fighting for their futures
science.org
Experts share scathing reviews of last week's HHS report on gender-affirming care for youth: "...a rejection of decades of science, evidence, and direct experiences by young people, their doctors, and their families.” @phiejacobs.bsky.social's story for @science.org www.science.org/content/arti...
Researchers slam HHS report on gender-affirming care for youth
Critics say the report, which declines to disclose its authors, contradicts decades of scientific research
science.org
A 400-page Trump administration report—authors unknown—on treatments for gender dysphoria “misrepresents the current medical consensus and fails to reflect the realities of pediatric care." www.science.org/content/arti... (By @phiejacobs.bsky.social)
Researchers slam HHS report on gender-affirming care for youth
Critics say the report, which declines to disclose its authors, contradicts decades of scientific research
science.org
The Deaf Scientists Pipeline in Rochester, NY offers support for students and researchers from high school to postdoctoral levels. Now, due to NIH funding cuts, this one-of-a-kind initiative has been dismantled. My recent story for @science.org
Crucial training pipeline for Deaf scientists dismantled by NIH funding cuts
The one-of-a-kind initiative offered support from high school to postdoctoral levels
science.org
Days late to this, but you should read @phiejacobs.bsky.social's story about how NIH funding cuts gutted the deaf scientist pipeline in Rochester www.science.org/content/arti...
Crucial training pipeline for Deaf scientists dismantled by NIH funding cuts
The one-of-a-kind initiative offered support from high school to postdoctoral levels
science.org
The HHS report “is a rejection of decades of science, evidence, and direct experiences by young people, their doctors, and their families.” scim.ag/3Gx74Cn
Researchers slam HHS report on gender-affirming care for youth
Critics say the report, which declines to disclose its authors, contradicts decades of scientific research
scim.ag
If you're a researcher who focuses on gender-affirming care, I'd love to hear your reactions to the HHS report on gender dysphoria treatment for youth. You can contact me at pjacobs@aaas.org or on Signal at phiejacobs.48
Great writeup on the dire wolf kerfuffle by @phiejacobs.bsky.social in today's #ScienceAdviser. @nerdychristie.bsky.social www.science.org/content/arti...
ScienceAdviser: Five people have seen a color no one else has
Today in Science and science: What happened to Mars’s carbon, the oldest star map, and more
science.org
Disability rights activists have spent decades pushing the FDA to ban electric shock devices. The ban seemed on track for 2025 — until Trump won reelection. Now, people worry that Trump and RFK Jr's influence could delay the ruling. @statnews.bsky.social www.statnews.com/2024/12/11/j...
FDA's proposed ban of electric shock devices has taken too long, autism advocates say
With a new administration coming in, advocates worry that the FDA may lose its sense of urgency to ban electrical shock devices.
statnews.com
The ancient Clovis people apparently thought mammoth was *delicious*—and that could explain how they spread across the Americas so quickly. That story and more of the best from @science.org and science in this edition of #ScienceAdviser: www.science.org/content/arti...
These teeny bots could change the way we test for viruses—and maybe even prevent infections. That story and more of the best from @science.org and science in this edition of #ScienceAdviser: www.science.org/content/arti... 🧪
Is it super exciting that scientists have finally figured out the gene for orange cat fur? Or did I just want to share a cute cat pic? (Answer: Both) That story and more of the best in Science and science in this edition of #ScienceAdviser: www.science.org/content/arti... 🧪 🐈
It's Thanksgiving in the U.S., and today, I'm especially thankful for my incredible Science colleague (and friend!) @phiejacobs.bsky.social, who penned the wonderful essay for this holiday edition of #ScienceAdviser: www.science.org/content/arti... 🧪🦃
ScienceAdviser: Giving thanks for the sometimes ugly, sometimes delightful, always necessary truth
Today in Science and science: A special Thanksgiving edition of ScienceAdviser
science.org
Sara Reardon's story on the genetics of coat color in cats was a delight to read (and not just because my sweet calico, Mona Lisa, got to make her Science debut). Now I'm just waiting for scientists to make a discovery about tabbies, so Mo's brother Vinny can get his moment in the spotlight!
Gene behind orange fur in cats found at last
After 60 years, scientists know why gingers, calicos, and tortoiseshells look the way they do
science.org
For my first post here, and in honor of Transgender Awareness Week, I'd like to share my Q+A from earlier this year, which features the voices of several incredible scientists: www.science.org/content/arti...
‘We’re hurting.’ Trans scientists call for recognition and support from research community
“Rigorous science demands” it, authors write in landmark commentary
science.org