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#sciencecommunication

18 posts18 participants1 post today
Public
Pinky and the Brain | Scicomm

Interested in pursuing #SciComm as a profession? Then this new Master's program in Germany might be for you: tuition-free (also for international students), entirely taught in English, covering everything from #ScienceCommunication to #ScienceJournalism, #SciArt, public engagement and more.

👉 hs-ansbach.de/en/master/scienc

Application period starts on May 1st.

Hochschule AnsbachScience Communication
#ScienceMastodon#journalism#AcademicMastodon
Public
CosmicRami

You may have seen headlines today - such as in The New York Times - suggesting the possible detection of a biosignature on an exoplanet. It’s an exciting prospect, no doubt. But it’s also an extraordinary claim, and as the saying goes, "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence" (Carl Sagan).

While the molecule in question is associated with biological processes, it’s important to note that non-biological (abiotic) pathways for its formation exist as well (see: Reed et al. 2024 ApJL; Sanz-Novo et al. 2025 ApJL). These results are interesting, but far from conclusive.

Scientists work within a robust framework to test such claims. This includes:

- Peer review and replication
- Community feedback and critique
- Cross-validation through multiple instruments and techniques
- Avoiding sensationalism in science communication
- Building consensus through sustained investigation

I am looking forward to hearing more from the exoplanet and astrobiology communities on these findings before drawing conclusions.

In the meantime, the ripple effect of bold headlines - like "Possible Signs of Extraterrestrial Life" - has already begun. A friend at the dentist this morning spotted a very misleading headline about this on Channel 9 News!

This is where science communication becomes critical: managing public interest and excitement without compromising scientific accuracy.

We should use moments like these to show the process - how scientific ideas are proposed, tested, debated, and refined - to broader audiences. Whether we’re talking about space, climate change, or pandemics, this transparency is essential to building trust in science.

Aliens make for a great headline, but the real story is in how we do the science.

Screenshot of NYTimes article with a picture of Earth and teh headline that reads "Astronomers Detect a Signature of Life on a Distant Planet"
The search for life beyond Earth has led scientists to explore many suggestive mysteries, from plumes of methane on Mars to clouds of phosphine gas on Venus. But as far as we can tell, Earth’s inhabitants remain alone in the cosmos. Now a team of researchers is offering what it contends is the strongest indication yet of extraterrestrial life, not in our solar system but on a massive planet, known as K2-18b, that orbits a star 120 light-years from Earth. A repeated analysis of the exoplanet’s atmosphere suggests an abundance of a molecule that on Earth has only one known source: living organisms such as marine algae. “It is in no one’s interest to claim prematurely that we have detected life,” said Nikku Madhusudhan, an astronomer at the University of Cambridge and an author of the new study, at a news conference on Tuesday. Still, he said, the best explanation for his group’s observations is that K2-18b is covered with a warm ocean, brimming with life. “This is a revolutionary moment,” Dr. Madhusudhan said. “It’s the first time humanity has seen potential biosignatures on a habitable planet.”
#JWST#Astronomy#Astrobiology
Public
Dr. Marie McNeely

From an early age, Keshav K Singh, PhD, has been inspired to make a difference in the world. Through his pioneering research on mitochondria, aging, and longevity, he is making important new discoveries and translating them into therapeutic advancements. Learn more about how he overcame early-career challenges, some of his most exciting successes, life outside the lab, and more in this new podcast episode!

peoplebehindthescience.com/dr-

Thank you to Innovative Research for providing support for this episode!

There is a headshot photo of Dr. Keshav K. Singh on the left. On the right, the text reads, "Episode 808 featuring Dr. Keshav Singh". Below, the podcast cover art is displayed. The text reads, "People Behind the Science with Dr. Marie McNeely."
#mitochondria#genetics#aging
Public
doctorambient

Creationism is exhausting.

Anti-vaxxers are exhausting.

They just keep making the same stupid, flawed, or deceptive arguments over and over again despite these arguments being fully discredited.

And since every new generation joins the web and sees these old arguments *still floating around* you find yourself having the same conversations again and again and again...

It's just so fucking exhausting.

#science#scicomm#sciencecommunication
Replied in thread
Public
skua

@3TomatoesShort
There is a form of #MedicalJournalism / #ScienceCommunication that is predatory and abusive.

It takes a recent hopeful discovery that has not had even animal trials and writes about it as if it was likely to be a successful treatment / cure. We could ask others if this is being done by researchers wanting publicity, editors wanting clicks, journalists wanting exposure or some combination of these.

I have not read the linked article. It may not be one of these horrid articles.

Public
Ed Wiebe

"Communicating complex science in a way that the public can understand is crucial. A new study from the University of Adelaide reveals that in scientific societies, women are shouldering the bulk of this work—often voluntarily—due to societal expectations and a sense of duty."

"It seems that women are not only taking on this work at home but also in the workplace—often without recognition, compensation, or career benefits"

journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.11

phys.org/news/2025-04-gendered

#ScienceCommunication
Continued thread
Public
Suzanne Aldrich (she/her)

🎬 PS: For a beautifully clear (and delightfully mind-bending!) explanation of what might have existed before the Big Bang, check out PBS Space Time’s fantastic episode, "What Happened Before the Big Bang?" hosted by astrophysicist Matt O’Dowd. Highly recommended as a thoughtful companion to this thread! 🌌🌀✨

👉 Watch it here on PBS Space Time pbs.org/video/what-happened-be

www.pbs.orgPBS Space Time | What Happened Before the Big Bang? | Season 5 | Episode 29We actually have a pretty good idea of what might have happened before the Big Bang.
#PBS#SpaceTime#Cosmology
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