Christian Elliott
@christianelliott.me
Science journalist & audio producer / Making podcasts at NASA / Other words in Nat Geo, The Atlantic, Science, Sci Am, Hakai, bioGraphic, Undark, etc. / Iowan 🌽
Views expressed here are my own.
Portfolio: christianelliott.me
Views expressed here are my own.
Portfolio: christianelliott.me
Pinned
Christian Elliott
@christianelliott.me
· Jun 30
You hear this a lot on the left but it isn't true. USAID did not "fail to tell its story to Americans," the right targeted the agency with lies and misinformation.
Ultimately this narrative turns conservative attacks into even more calls for the left to reform.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/29/o...
Ultimately this narrative turns conservative attacks into even more calls for the left to reform.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/29/o...
NASA just won an Emmy for our live broadcast of the total solar eclipse last year. We produced a documentary film about the James Webb Space Telescope that's out in theaters and on Netflix. We have podcasts, we write feature stories. People wear the agency logo on t-shirts. We're still getting cut.
One thing you'll learn about—the Orion spacecraft's "Flywheel Exercise Device," basically a space-age rowing machine. Representation for my favorite mode of at-home workout!
February 10, 2026 at 8:36 PM
One thing you'll learn about—the Orion spacecraft's "Flywheel Exercise Device," basically a space-age rowing machine. Representation for my favorite mode of at-home workout!
Reposted by Christian Elliott
The high proportion of US scientists among those recruited by France shows that “enthusiasm and morale for doing science is low” in the US, says Sharon Milgram, who led early-career researcher programs at NIH for nearly 20 years, until she retired in December.
By @lizziegibney.bsky.social and me
By @lizziegibney.bsky.social and me
February 10, 2026 at 3:56 PM
The high proportion of US scientists among those recruited by France shows that “enthusiasm and morale for doing science is low” in the US, says Sharon Milgram, who led early-career researcher programs at NIH for nearly 20 years, until she retired in December.
By @lizziegibney.bsky.social and me
By @lizziegibney.bsky.social and me
Fun fact: the Soviets proposed spreading coal dust over sea ice to melt it and gain access to Arctic routes during the Cold War. Kind of ironic that geopolitics are so central to this debate yet again
Black carbon: Soot that spews from ships is making Arctic ice melt even faster.
By Peter Prengaman @apnews.com
apnews.com/article/arct...
By Peter Prengaman @apnews.com
apnews.com/article/arct...
In the Arctic, the major climate threat of black carbon is overshadowed by geopolitical tensions
A coalition of nations and environmental groups is lobbying the International Maritime Organization to create regulations around black carbon, or soot, that spews from ships and blankets parts of glac...
apnews.com
February 10, 2026 at 5:17 PM
Fun fact: the Soviets proposed spreading coal dust over sea ice to melt it and gain access to Arctic routes during the Cold War. Kind of ironic that geopolitics are so central to this debate yet again
In our latest episode of NASA's Curious Universe podcast, I report out on the science behind the Artemis II mission—both the lunar observations the astronaut crew will make and the human health experiments of which they'll be the subjects.
Listen to the full episode:
www.nasa.gov/podcasts/cur...
Listen to the full episode:
www.nasa.gov/podcasts/cur...
February 10, 2026 at 4:28 PM
In our latest episode of NASA's Curious Universe podcast, I report out on the science behind the Artemis II mission—both the lunar observations the astronaut crew will make and the human health experiments of which they'll be the subjects.
Listen to the full episode:
www.nasa.gov/podcasts/cur...
Listen to the full episode:
www.nasa.gov/podcasts/cur...
There is a subpar doordasher in Chandler, Arizona and I know this because I keep getting angry texts from their customers about messed up deliveries lol. Somehow they all have my number
February 10, 2026 at 5:07 AM
There is a subpar doordasher in Chandler, Arizona and I know this because I keep getting angry texts from their customers about messed up deliveries lol. Somehow they all have my number
Reposted by Christian Elliott
Since the early days of the space program, astronauts have quarantined before missions because any illness could be disastrous. It’s eminently logical — not “extreme” — for athletes who’ve trained their WHOLE LIVES for one event to take similar precautions in order to stay in peak physical condition
For most people, the pandemic days of masking are behind us. In certain corners of the Winter Olympics, though, things still look a lot like they did in Covid times. Some athletes are taking extreme measures to stay healthy. n.pr/4akK70l
Olympic Covid restrictions are gone, but some athletes still self-quarantining
For most people, the pandemic days of masking are behind us. In certain corners of the Winter Olympics, though, things still look a lot like they did in Covid times. Some athletes are taking extreme measures to stay healthy.
n.pr
February 9, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Since the early days of the space program, astronauts have quarantined before missions because any illness could be disastrous. It’s eminently logical — not “extreme” — for athletes who’ve trained their WHOLE LIVES for one event to take similar precautions in order to stay in peak physical condition
Reposted by Christian Elliott
Bad Bunny performed part of the Super Bowl halftime show from a powerline set, drawing attention to the problem of widespread blackouts in Puerto Rico
Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show highlighted Puerto Rico's power grid. Here's why
Bad Bunny performed part of the Super Bowl halftime show from a powerline set, drawing attention to the problem of widespread blackouts in Puerto Rico
www.scientificamerican.com
February 9, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Bad Bunny performed part of the Super Bowl halftime show from a powerline set, drawing attention to the problem of widespread blackouts in Puerto Rico
gonna start telling people i was a bush in the bad bunny superbowl 60 halftime show
February 9, 2026 at 3:23 PM
gonna start telling people i was a bush in the bad bunny superbowl 60 halftime show
Reposted by Christian Elliott
I will eventually shut up about this but Bad Bunny’s use of the power lines is an outstanding example of how to communicate about climate and energy issues. Not about who is the smartest nerd in the room and spewing numbers but about people’s actual lives. Genius.
February 9, 2026 at 2:29 AM
I will eventually shut up about this but Bad Bunny’s use of the power lines is an outstanding example of how to communicate about climate and energy issues. Not about who is the smartest nerd in the room and spewing numbers but about people’s actual lives. Genius.
I was waiting so long for the bushes to dance
February 9, 2026 at 1:48 AM
I was waiting so long for the bushes to dance
The drone shots are pretty cool but I hate the whining sound. Can't they pipe in one of the other 100 mics along the hill??
The follow cam on the luge is really great
February 8, 2026 at 6:04 AM
The drone shots are pretty cool but I hate the whining sound. Can't they pipe in one of the other 100 mics along the hill??
The worst crime AI has committed imo
February 5, 2026 at 6:04 PM
The worst crime AI has committed imo
Reposted by Christian Elliott
What fraction of it all -- gestures around -- is attributable to one, and then another billionaire realizing a capricious American administration is still for a few years (and who knows) the main customer who could conceivably pay for their particular astrofuturist dreams?
February 4, 2026 at 11:04 PM
What fraction of it all -- gestures around -- is attributable to one, and then another billionaire realizing a capricious American administration is still for a few years (and who knows) the main customer who could conceivably pay for their particular astrofuturist dreams?
Reposted by Christian Elliott
always bears repeating that this is NOT a financial decision. jeff bezos is worth over 250 billion dollars. he can afford to lose many millions and never even notice it. this is, at its core, a political and personal decision by bezos to destroy the post
WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Post says one-third of its staff across all departments, not just the newsroom, is being laid off.
February 4, 2026 at 3:04 PM
always bears repeating that this is NOT a financial decision. jeff bezos is worth over 250 billion dollars. he can afford to lose many millions and never even notice it. this is, at its core, a political and personal decision by bezos to destroy the post
Reposted by Christian Elliott
There are 12 solid tips here to help you turn your next pitch into a story, straight from the editors themselves. 🧪
Twelve Tips to Tune Up Your Next Pitch - The Open Notebook
Saugat Bolakhe Making your pitch stand out is a crucial skill for any freelancer or staff reporter. This may seem like an elusive talent, but with practice and careful attention to detail, you can lea...
www.theopennotebook.com
February 4, 2026 at 5:30 PM
There are 12 solid tips here to help you turn your next pitch into a story, straight from the editors themselves. 🧪
Reposted by Christian Elliott
A combination of capitalism, corporate media failures, and anti-journalism propaganda has convinced a lot of people that journalists exist to turn a profit. They no longer seem to realize that the purpose of journalism is for them, the people.
February 4, 2026 at 3:36 PM
A combination of capitalism, corporate media failures, and anti-journalism propaganda has convinced a lot of people that journalists exist to turn a profit. They no longer seem to realize that the purpose of journalism is for them, the people.
Reposted by Christian Elliott
My grandfather, a journalist, made the same number of dollars for a piece in 1955 that a freelancer might make for a piece today — as if there were no inflation. $300 in 1955 should be $3600+ today, but in 2026 you still make $300.
I think the #1 thing people who aren't freelance reporters don't understand about freelance reporting is how laughably bad the pay rate/hours worked is – you can pitch many publications and get published, make a few hundred bucks.
But to earn a living wage requires hours that do not exist in a day.
But to earn a living wage requires hours that do not exist in a day.
A lot of people cannot just start a paid newsletter or become freelancers to sustain their careers. The sports, metro, and international desks did work that requires *team* resources, like legal checks, documents, access to archives, and long-term beat experience.
February 4, 2026 at 5:05 PM
My grandfather, a journalist, made the same number of dollars for a piece in 1955 that a freelancer might make for a piece today — as if there were no inflation. $300 in 1955 should be $3600+ today, but in 2026 you still make $300.
Reposted by Christian Elliott
I think the #1 thing people who aren't freelance reporters don't understand about freelance reporting is how laughably bad the pay rate/hours worked is – you can pitch many publications and get published, make a few hundred bucks.
But to earn a living wage requires hours that do not exist in a day.
But to earn a living wage requires hours that do not exist in a day.
A lot of people cannot just start a paid newsletter or become freelancers to sustain their careers. The sports, metro, and international desks did work that requires *team* resources, like legal checks, documents, access to archives, and long-term beat experience.
February 4, 2026 at 4:53 PM
I think the #1 thing people who aren't freelance reporters don't understand about freelance reporting is how laughably bad the pay rate/hours worked is – you can pitch many publications and get published, make a few hundred bucks.
But to earn a living wage requires hours that do not exist in a day.
But to earn a living wage requires hours that do not exist in a day.
Reposted by Christian Elliott
For a TON International Students Slack Community pitch slam, @scigat.bsky.social hosted guests @rachelcourtland.com, @wwrfd.bsky.social, and @laurenjyoung.bsky.social. He condensed their best tips into this free resource, edited by @laurahelmuth.bsky.social, to help everyone pitch with success. 🧪
Twelve Tips to Tune Up Your Next Pitch - The Open Notebook
Saugat Bolakhe Making your pitch stand out is a crucial skill for any freelancer or staff reporter. This may seem like an elusive talent, but with practice and careful attention to detail, you can lea...
www.theopennotebook.com
February 3, 2026 at 8:09 PM
For a TON International Students Slack Community pitch slam, @scigat.bsky.social hosted guests @rachelcourtland.com, @wwrfd.bsky.social, and @laurenjyoung.bsky.social. He condensed their best tips into this free resource, edited by @laurahelmuth.bsky.social, to help everyone pitch with success. 🧪
Reposted by Christian Elliott
Take me down to the Parallax city where the far moves slow and the near moves quickly
February 1, 2026 at 3:40 PM
Take me down to the Parallax city where the far moves slow and the near moves quickly
One story for a major outlet about Antarctica / climate change and I'm getting emails to my website contact form asking me to report on "why the glaciers aren't melting as Al Gore and AOC predicted."
My first piece for @theatlantic.com: Curtains for Thwaites Glacier?
Scientists have long opposed polar geoengineering, but some now believe it will be necessary. The first steps towards one audacious "preservation" intervention in Antarctica are underway today. 🧊
Scientists have long opposed polar geoengineering, but some now believe it will be necessary. The first steps towards one audacious "preservation" intervention in Antarctica are underway today. 🧊
The ‘Doomsday Glacier’ Could Flood the Earth. Can a 50-Mile Wall Stop It?
Scientists have long opposed polar geoengineering. Some now believe it will be necessary.
www.theatlantic.com
February 1, 2026 at 7:11 PM
One story for a major outlet about Antarctica / climate change and I'm getting emails to my website contact form asking me to report on "why the glaciers aren't melting as Al Gore and AOC predicted."
My first piece for @theatlantic.com: Curtains for Thwaites Glacier?
Scientists have long opposed polar geoengineering, but some now believe it will be necessary. The first steps towards one audacious "preservation" intervention in Antarctica are underway today. 🧊
Scientists have long opposed polar geoengineering, but some now believe it will be necessary. The first steps towards one audacious "preservation" intervention in Antarctica are underway today. 🧊
The ‘Doomsday Glacier’ Could Flood the Earth. Can a 50-Mile Wall Stop It?
Scientists have long opposed polar geoengineering. Some now believe it will be necessary.
www.theatlantic.com
January 31, 2026 at 6:22 PM
My first piece for @theatlantic.com: Curtains for Thwaites Glacier?
Scientists have long opposed polar geoengineering, but some now believe it will be necessary. The first steps towards one audacious "preservation" intervention in Antarctica are underway today. 🧊
Scientists have long opposed polar geoengineering, but some now believe it will be necessary. The first steps towards one audacious "preservation" intervention in Antarctica are underway today. 🧊
Reposted by Christian Elliott
Hubble Space Telescope: old and busted or bold and trusted?
www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-...
[My words, on Sciam]
🧪 🔭
www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-...
[My words, on Sciam]
🧪 🔭
The Hubble Space Telescope is old, but it’s far from busted
The venerable Hubble observatory is going strong despite its decades in space and the advent of next-generation successors
www.scientificamerican.com
January 30, 2026 at 3:51 PM
Hubble Space Telescope: old and busted or bold and trusted?
www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-...
[My words, on Sciam]
🧪 🔭
www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-...
[My words, on Sciam]
🧪 🔭
Reposted by Christian Elliott
I gotta write. But how write when doomscroll never stop
January 30, 2026 at 1:57 PM
I gotta write. But how write when doomscroll never stop
Reposted by Christian Elliott
The violent occupation of Minneapolis started with a vlog. I've wanted to find a framework to describe Nick Shirley & others like him: "Influencer" is too quaint. "Journalist" is obviously wrong.
I landed on "slopagandist."
Gift link (open in a web browser) www.theverge.com/news/869824/...
I landed on "slopagandist."
Gift link (open in a web browser) www.theverge.com/news/869824/...
What is Nick Shirley?
Slop doesn’t need to be AI-generated
www.theverge.com
January 29, 2026 at 4:11 PM
The violent occupation of Minneapolis started with a vlog. I've wanted to find a framework to describe Nick Shirley & others like him: "Influencer" is too quaint. "Journalist" is obviously wrong.
I landed on "slopagandist."
Gift link (open in a web browser) www.theverge.com/news/869824/...
I landed on "slopagandist."
Gift link (open in a web browser) www.theverge.com/news/869824/...