Becca Dzombak
@rdzombak.bsky.social
science journalist covering climate, conservation, geology | words in New York Times, National Geographic, others | PhD in very old rocks
Read this investigation into CA's child labor:
A "climate of fear has made families more reluctant than ever to complain about unsafe working conditions, concerned that employers will retaliate. Even so, young people continue to work to help their parents pay bills and put food on the table."
A "climate of fear has made families more reluctant than ever to complain about unsafe working conditions, concerned that employers will retaliate. Even so, young people continue to work to help their parents pay bills and put food on the table."
Lax oversight, few inspections leave child farmworkers exposed to toxic pesticides
Lax oversight, few inspections leave child farmworkers exposed to toxic pesticides
Child laborers and other farmworkers in California are being exposed to toxic pesticides, in part because of splintered enforcement of safety regulations.
www.latimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Read this investigation into CA's child labor:
A "climate of fear has made families more reluctant than ever to complain about unsafe working conditions, concerned that employers will retaliate. Even so, young people continue to work to help their parents pay bills and put food on the table."
A "climate of fear has made families more reluctant than ever to complain about unsafe working conditions, concerned that employers will retaliate. Even so, young people continue to work to help their parents pay bills and put food on the table."
The ant queen is dead. Long live the queen!
Some parasitic ant queens can sneak into other species' colonies and douse the true queen in an acid that compels the workers—her daughters—to turn against her.
After the workers kill their queen, the usurper swoops in.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/s...
Some parasitic ant queens can sneak into other species' colonies and douse the true queen in an acid that compels the workers—her daughters—to turn against her.
After the workers kill their queen, the usurper swoops in.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/s...
Parasitic Queen: Now She’s Stealing an Ant Fief
www.nytimes.com
November 17, 2025 at 6:37 PM
The ant queen is dead. Long live the queen!
Some parasitic ant queens can sneak into other species' colonies and douse the true queen in an acid that compels the workers—her daughters—to turn against her.
After the workers kill their queen, the usurper swoops in.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/s...
Some parasitic ant queens can sneak into other species' colonies and douse the true queen in an acid that compels the workers—her daughters—to turn against her.
After the workers kill their queen, the usurper swoops in.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/s...
Today in fish news: After more than 100 years away, salmon are back in the headwaters of the Klamath River. At least 140 Chinook adults are spawning, and more are coming.
But there's restoration work still to do. Some federal funding for it is delayed. @nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/c...
But there's restoration work still to do. Some federal funding for it is delayed. @nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/c...
A River Restoration in Oregon Gets Fast Results: The Salmon Swam Right Back
www.nytimes.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Today in fish news: After more than 100 years away, salmon are back in the headwaters of the Klamath River. At least 140 Chinook adults are spawning, and more are coming.
But there's restoration work still to do. Some federal funding for it is delayed. @nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/c...
But there's restoration work still to do. Some federal funding for it is delayed. @nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/c...
A new study argues that in the past, Cascadia quakes have triggered the San Andreas to go off, and that it could happen again.
But other experts, while recognizing that may technically be possible, want more evidence.
Read more at NatGeo:
www.nationalgeographic.com/science/arti...
But other experts, while recognizing that may technically be possible, want more evidence.
Read more at NatGeo:
www.nationalgeographic.com/science/arti...
How ‘the big one’ near Seattle could trigger an earthquake in San Francisco
Are two of the deadliest earthquake zones in North America linked? It's possible—but controversial.
www.nationalgeographic.com
October 23, 2025 at 6:43 PM
A new study argues that in the past, Cascadia quakes have triggered the San Andreas to go off, and that it could happen again.
But other experts, while recognizing that may technically be possible, want more evidence.
Read more at NatGeo:
www.nationalgeographic.com/science/arti...
But other experts, while recognizing that may technically be possible, want more evidence.
Read more at NatGeo:
www.nationalgeographic.com/science/arti...
The @nytimes.com climate section is profiling federal scientists who have been terminated and their work.
I spoke with tsunami expert Corina Allen, who worked to ensure tsunami alerts made it to the public. She was fired in February.
Read her story and others':
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/23/c...
I spoke with tsunami expert Corina Allen, who worked to ensure tsunami alerts made it to the public. She was fired in February.
Read her story and others':
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/23/c...
She Made Sure That Tsunami Warnings Reached the Public
www.nytimes.com
October 23, 2025 at 6:20 PM
The @nytimes.com climate section is profiling federal scientists who have been terminated and their work.
I spoke with tsunami expert Corina Allen, who worked to ensure tsunami alerts made it to the public. She was fired in February.
Read her story and others':
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/23/c...
I spoke with tsunami expert Corina Allen, who worked to ensure tsunami alerts made it to the public. She was fired in February.
Read her story and others':
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/23/c...
This is one of my favorite stories I've gotten to write. And it's that time of year again, when the skies in northwestern Washington are painted with squiggly black Vs of snow geese looking for a snack bar to settle down at for the winter.
Just don't get hit by poop when you're looking up at them!
Just don't get hit by poop when you're looking up at them!
Us, peering out the window: "Look, sire. The snow geese are on the move."
In honor of fall migration, we're reupping this gorgeous photo essay, with words by @rdzombak.bsky.social, about how Washington state is handling too much of a good thing. 🐦
In honor of fall migration, we're reupping this gorgeous photo essay, with words by @rdzombak.bsky.social, about how Washington state is handling too much of a good thing. 🐦
Washington’s Runaway Snow Geese - bioGraphic
Mae West said too much of a good thing is wonderful. But she’d never seen the beautiful, marauding snow geese that swoop in each fall to take over Washington State’s Skagit Valley.
www.biographic.com
October 16, 2025 at 10:37 PM
This is one of my favorite stories I've gotten to write. And it's that time of year again, when the skies in northwestern Washington are painted with squiggly black Vs of snow geese looking for a snack bar to settle down at for the winter.
Just don't get hit by poop when you're looking up at them!
Just don't get hit by poop when you're looking up at them!
Economy or environment? That's the question that plagues public land managers, and Washington's forests are not immune. 77,000 acres of ecologically important stands will be conserved, but some worry rural schools will lose out.
For @highcountrynews.org:
www.hcn.org/articles/was...
For @highcountrynews.org:
www.hcn.org/articles/was...
Washington moves to conserve its state forests - High Country News
The proposal would protect 77,000 acres of ‘structurally complex’ forests.
www.hcn.org
September 23, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Economy or environment? That's the question that plagues public land managers, and Washington's forests are not immune. 77,000 acres of ecologically important stands will be conserved, but some worry rural schools will lose out.
For @highcountrynews.org:
www.hcn.org/articles/was...
For @highcountrynews.org:
www.hcn.org/articles/was...
A wildfire has been burning in the Olympic Peninsula for a month, growing to more than 5,100 acres at just 3% containment.
Washington state is working to raise awareness of fire risk in its wet, forested environs and developing a plan to best fight fires here.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/06/c...
Washington state is working to raise awareness of fire risk in its wet, forested environs and developing a plan to best fight fires here.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/06/c...
Washington State Braces for ‘Inevitable’ Megafire. Climate Change May Bring It Sooner.
www.nytimes.com
August 6, 2025 at 10:53 PM
A wildfire has been burning in the Olympic Peninsula for a month, growing to more than 5,100 acres at just 3% containment.
Washington state is working to raise awareness of fire risk in its wet, forested environs and developing a plan to best fight fires here.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/06/c...
Washington state is working to raise awareness of fire risk in its wet, forested environs and developing a plan to best fight fires here.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/06/c...
Climate change is whipping up worse fire weather and more severe fire seasons. Longer hot dry spells mean drought-stricken soils and crispy vegetation, and when the winds shift and something sparks—wildfire.
In 2023 and 2024, forests were hit hard, two studies show.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/21/c...
In 2023 and 2024, forests were hit hard, two studies show.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/21/c...
Climate Change Is Making Fire Weather Worse for World’s Forests
www.nytimes.com
July 22, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Climate change is whipping up worse fire weather and more severe fire seasons. Longer hot dry spells mean drought-stricken soils and crispy vegetation, and when the winds shift and something sparks—wildfire.
In 2023 and 2024, forests were hit hard, two studies show.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/21/c...
In 2023 and 2024, forests were hit hard, two studies show.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/21/c...
NOAA's network of climate monitoring stations and sample collectors is the backbone of tracking global climate change.
Trump's proposed budget would shut it down.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/17/c...
Trump's proposed budget would shut it down.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/17/c...
After 7 Decades of Measurements From a Peak in Hawaii, Trump’s Budget Would End Them
www.nytimes.com
July 17, 2025 at 5:54 PM
NOAA's network of climate monitoring stations and sample collectors is the backbone of tracking global climate change.
Trump's proposed budget would shut it down.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/17/c...
Trump's proposed budget would shut it down.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/17/c...
Today NASA backtracked on its statement earlier this month that the National Climate Assessments would be hosted on their website.
“NASA has no legal obligations to host globalchange.gov’s data,” a spokeswoman said today. “We never did and will not host the data.”www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/c...re
“NASA has no legal obligations to host globalchange.gov’s data,” a spokeswoman said today. “We never did and will not host the data.”www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/c...re
NASA Website Will Not Provide Previous National Climate Reports
www.nytimes.com
July 15, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Today NASA backtracked on its statement earlier this month that the National Climate Assessments would be hosted on their website.
“NASA has no legal obligations to host globalchange.gov’s data,” a spokeswoman said today. “We never did and will not host the data.”www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/c...re
“NASA has no legal obligations to host globalchange.gov’s data,” a spokeswoman said today. “We never did and will not host the data.”www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/c...re
The Trump administration's proposed budget would slash NOAA's climate research funds.
It still has to pass Congress, but it's already affecting scientists. A program supporting promising new climate scientists furloughed its current cohort and canceled 2025 awards.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/09/c...
It still has to pass Congress, but it's already affecting scientists. A program supporting promising new climate scientists furloughed its current cohort and canceled 2025 awards.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/09/c...
Recipients of a U.S. Climate Science Fellowship Are Put on Unpaid Leave
www.nytimes.com
July 10, 2025 at 3:08 PM
The Trump administration's proposed budget would slash NOAA's climate research funds.
It still has to pass Congress, but it's already affecting scientists. A program supporting promising new climate scientists furloughed its current cohort and canceled 2025 awards.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/09/c...
It still has to pass Congress, but it's already affecting scientists. A program supporting promising new climate scientists furloughed its current cohort and canceled 2025 awards.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/09/c...
The levees that protect New Orleans from storm surges are sinking. It's built into their design: they're big and heavy and basically built on mud.
But in some spots, they're sinking faster than expected. A new study shows where and how fast it's happening.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/07/c...
But in some spots, they're sinking faster than expected. A new study shows where and how fast it's happening.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/07/c...
Map of New Orleans Highlights Sinking and Stable City Spots
www.nytimes.com
July 7, 2025 at 6:26 PM
The levees that protect New Orleans from storm surges are sinking. It's built into their design: they're big and heavy and basically built on mud.
But in some spots, they're sinking faster than expected. A new study shows where and how fast it's happening.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/07/c...
But in some spots, they're sinking faster than expected. A new study shows where and how fast it's happening.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/07/c...
Three DoD/NOAA satellites that help scientists track sea ice (and hurricanes) are slated to cease providing their data at the end of July due to "cybersecurity concerns."
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/c...
July 2, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Three DoD/NOAA satellites that help scientists track sea ice (and hurricanes) are slated to cease providing their data at the end of July due to "cybersecurity concerns."
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/c...
The national climate assessment "shows how climate is changing in the places where we live, in ways that matter to people's lives," @katharinehayhoe.com told me. It explains those effects in "clear and unmistakable terms."
The reports' website disappeared on Monday. NASA will now host them online.
The reports' website disappeared on Monday. NASA will now host them online.
The federal website for the national climate reports and other climate change information went dark Monday afternoon, the latest ripple of the shutdown of the legislatively mandated Global Change Research Program.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/c...
National Climate Report Website Goes Dark
www.nytimes.com
July 2, 2025 at 7:19 PM
The national climate assessment "shows how climate is changing in the places where we live, in ways that matter to people's lives," @katharinehayhoe.com told me. It explains those effects in "clear and unmistakable terms."
The reports' website disappeared on Monday. NASA will now host them online.
The reports' website disappeared on Monday. NASA will now host them online.
The federal website for the national climate reports and other climate change information went dark Monday afternoon, the latest ripple of the shutdown of the legislatively mandated Global Change Research Program.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/c...
National Climate Report Website Goes Dark
www.nytimes.com
July 1, 2025 at 5:19 PM
The federal website for the national climate reports and other climate change information went dark Monday afternoon, the latest ripple of the shutdown of the legislatively mandated Global Change Research Program.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/c...
In a temporary pivot, the DoD will keep supplying satellite data important for forecasting hurricanes (and monitoring sea ice) until July 31.
Today's announcement cited cybersecurity concerns as the reason for originally pulling the data.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/c...
Today's announcement cited cybersecurity concerns as the reason for originally pulling the data.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/c...
Data Crucial to Hurricane Forecasts Will Continue, but for One Month Only
www.nytimes.com
June 30, 2025 at 8:29 PM
In a temporary pivot, the DoD will keep supplying satellite data important for forecasting hurricanes (and monitoring sea ice) until July 31.
Today's announcement cited cybersecurity concerns as the reason for originally pulling the data.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/c...
Today's announcement cited cybersecurity concerns as the reason for originally pulling the data.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/c...
Forecasters will imminently lose observations crucial for hurricane tracking and prediction, as data from three NOAA/DOD satellites will go unmonitored.
The satellites aren't being decommissioned. The agencies will simply stop providing the satellites' data.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/27/c...
The satellites aren't being decommissioned. The agencies will simply stop providing the satellites' data.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/27/c...
Critical Hurricane Monitoring Data Is Going Offline
www.nytimes.com
June 27, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Forecasters will imminently lose observations crucial for hurricane tracking and prediction, as data from three NOAA/DOD satellites will go unmonitored.
The satellites aren't being decommissioned. The agencies will simply stop providing the satellites' data.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/27/c...
The satellites aren't being decommissioned. The agencies will simply stop providing the satellites' data.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/27/c...
State geological agencies create maps that oil & gas, mining and energy industries use for exploration and development, supporting Trump's goals around energy and critical minerals.
But delayed federal funds and a proposed budget cut threaten this key work.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/20/c...
But delayed federal funds and a proposed budget cut threaten this key work.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/20/c...
There Might Not Be a Map for That: Budget Cuts Threaten Geological Surveys
www.nytimes.com
June 20, 2025 at 3:22 PM
State geological agencies create maps that oil & gas, mining and energy industries use for exploration and development, supporting Trump's goals around energy and critical minerals.
But delayed federal funds and a proposed budget cut threaten this key work.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/20/c...
But delayed federal funds and a proposed budget cut threaten this key work.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/20/c...
Airplanes are designed to handle extreme heat and cold, strong winds and more. Climate change and weather extremes mean some planes are hitting their limits more often.
But it's still safe to fly on hot days, experts said.
Read on to learn why:
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/13/c...
But it's still safe to fly on hot days, experts said.
Read on to learn why:
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/13/c...
How Is Extreme Heat Affecting Air Travel?
www.nytimes.com
June 13, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Airplanes are designed to handle extreme heat and cold, strong winds and more. Climate change and weather extremes mean some planes are hitting their limits more often.
But it's still safe to fly on hot days, experts said.
Read on to learn why:
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/13/c...
But it's still safe to fly on hot days, experts said.
Read on to learn why:
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/13/c...
Temperatures are soaring, and there's a limit to what plants can handle. Scientists are figuring out how to engineer crops to take the heat so they can get into the kitchen.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/12/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/12/c...
Soaring Temperatures Threaten Crops, So Scientists Are Looking to Alter the Plants
www.nytimes.com
June 12, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Temperatures are soaring, and there's a limit to what plants can handle. Scientists are figuring out how to engineer crops to take the heat so they can get into the kitchen.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/12/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/12/c...
The atmosphere is a needy sponge, demanding more and more water as it warms.
This "atmospheric thirst" is largely responsible for the increase in drought severity and areal extent seen in the last 40 years, a new study finds.
"A hotter world is a thirstier world."
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/04/c...
This "atmospheric thirst" is largely responsible for the increase in drought severity and areal extent seen in the last 40 years, a new study finds.
"A hotter world is a thirstier world."
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/04/c...
It’s Not Just Poor Rains Causing Drought. The Atmosphere Is ‘Thirstier.’
www.nytimes.com
June 4, 2025 at 4:09 PM
The atmosphere is a needy sponge, demanding more and more water as it warms.
This "atmospheric thirst" is largely responsible for the increase in drought severity and areal extent seen in the last 40 years, a new study finds.
"A hotter world is a thirstier world."
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/04/c...
This "atmospheric thirst" is largely responsible for the increase in drought severity and areal extent seen in the last 40 years, a new study finds.
"A hotter world is a thirstier world."
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/04/c...
The WH said the "gold standard of science" EO was to address "a crisis of trust between the scientific community and the American public," but according to Pew, "the American people trust scientists far more than the federal government."
www.pewresearch.org/science/2024...
Read Somini's piece:
www.pewresearch.org/science/2024...
Read Somini's piece:
The White House Gutted Science Funding. Now It Wants to ‘Correct’ Research. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/03/c...
The White House Gutted Science Funding. Now It Wants to ‘Correct’ Research.
www.nytimes.com
June 3, 2025 at 7:49 PM
The WH said the "gold standard of science" EO was to address "a crisis of trust between the scientific community and the American public," but according to Pew, "the American people trust scientists far more than the federal government."
www.pewresearch.org/science/2024...
Read Somini's piece:
www.pewresearch.org/science/2024...
Read Somini's piece:
The USGS ecosystems research program doesn't just study wildlife. Its researchers work on rangelands and forests, fisheries and aquaculture, and critically, wildfire.
Trump's proposed budget eliminates this program entirely, allocating $0 for 2026.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/31/c...
Trump's proposed budget eliminates this program entirely, allocating $0 for 2026.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/31/c...
Trump’s Proposed Budget Would Cut a Major Ecology Program
www.nytimes.com
June 2, 2025 at 7:38 PM
The USGS ecosystems research program doesn't just study wildlife. Its researchers work on rangelands and forests, fisheries and aquaculture, and critically, wildfire.
Trump's proposed budget eliminates this program entirely, allocating $0 for 2026.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/31/c...
Trump's proposed budget eliminates this program entirely, allocating $0 for 2026.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/31/c...
The world's mountain glaciers have been shrinking and disappearing for decades. Then-and-now photos raise the alarm, as do floods and landslides from glacial collapses.
But the biggest losses are yet to come, a new study finds. A lot of melt is already locked in.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/29/c...
But the biggest losses are yet to come, a new study finds. A lot of melt is already locked in.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/29/c...
Some Glaciers Will Vanish No Matter What, Study Finds
www.nytimes.com
May 29, 2025 at 6:29 PM
The world's mountain glaciers have been shrinking and disappearing for decades. Then-and-now photos raise the alarm, as do floods and landslides from glacial collapses.
But the biggest losses are yet to come, a new study finds. A lot of melt is already locked in.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/29/c...
But the biggest losses are yet to come, a new study finds. A lot of melt is already locked in.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/29/c...