Usha Lee McFarling
@usha.bsky.social
I direct the Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT. Working hard to advance science journalism and support its practitioners at a time they are needed more than ever.
How is AI changing how we communicate and how can we use its tools more ethically? Join us at MIT on Feb. 27 for this important conversation about journalism, free speech, and public discourse -- all currently under threat. Please share; all are welcome.
January 13, 2026 at 12:47 AM
How is AI changing how we communicate and how can we use its tools more ethically? Join us at MIT on Feb. 27 for this important conversation about journalism, free speech, and public discourse -- all currently under threat. Please share; all are welcome.
Reposted by Usha Lee McFarling
From an email to one of our faculty members....
Not even Plato can escape censorship at Texas A&M!
Not even Plato can escape censorship at Texas A&M!
January 6, 2026 at 8:15 PM
From an email to one of our faculty members....
Not even Plato can escape censorship at Texas A&M!
Not even Plato can escape censorship at Texas A&M!
Reposted by Usha Lee McFarling
Copy Editing Matters, from HHS's release on the new childhood vaccine schedule: All the diseases will still be available to anyone who wants them
January 6, 2026 at 1:12 AM
Copy Editing Matters, from HHS's release on the new childhood vaccine schedule: All the diseases will still be available to anyone who wants them
Incredible poetry event Jan. 23 to make visible all the cuts (and trauma) from cutting federal research funding. Register here: luma.com/phmnhtwn
January 6, 2026 at 11:50 PM
Incredible poetry event Jan. 23 to make visible all the cuts (and trauma) from cutting federal research funding. Register here: luma.com/phmnhtwn
A reminder that applications for the MIT KSJ Fellowship close this Friday, January 9. So if you're applying this year, get those applications and references in. ksj.mit.edu/fellowships/...
Knight Science Journalism Academic-Year Fellowship - Knight Science Journalism @MIT
Applications for the 2026-2027 fellowship class opened on November 15, 2025 and will close on January 9, 2026. Apply Now→ In December 2025, KSJ held an informational webinar for applicants […]
ksj.mit.edu
January 6, 2026 at 9:25 PM
A reminder that applications for the MIT KSJ Fellowship close this Friday, January 9. So if you're applying this year, get those applications and references in. ksj.mit.edu/fellowships/...
Wild story by Richard Stone at Science. Do we have Leonardo's DNA? www.science.org/content/arti...
Exclusive: Have scientists found Leonardo da Vinci’s DNA?
Inside the decadeslong quest to reveal the genes of a genius—and revolutionize art authentication
www.science.org
January 6, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Wild story by Richard Stone at Science. Do we have Leonardo's DNA? www.science.org/content/arti...
We want to highlight the incredible science reporting being done at the local and regional level. Please submit your work for the Victor McElheny Award, which comes with a $10,000 prize. ksj.mit.edu/mcelheny-awa...
The Victor K. McElheny Award for Local and Regional Science Journalism
The Victor K. McElheny Award honors outstanding local and regional journalism covering issues in science, public health, technology, or the environment.
ksj.mit.edu
December 23, 2025 at 7:39 PM
We want to highlight the incredible science reporting being done at the local and regional level. Please submit your work for the Victor McElheny Award, which comes with a $10,000 prize. ksj.mit.edu/mcelheny-awa...
For those who missed our informational webinar last week about the @ksjatmit.bsky.social fellowships and tips on how to create a strong application, here’s a recording. 👇🏽https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dLw88Oempos
KSJ Fellowship Info Session for 2026 Applicants (Recording)
YouTube video by MIT Knight Science Journalism Program
m.youtube.com
December 22, 2025 at 7:22 PM
For those who missed our informational webinar last week about the @ksjatmit.bsky.social fellowships and tips on how to create a strong application, here’s a recording. 👇🏽https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dLw88Oempos
"It is not surprising that health news site STAT has some of the best reporting of what is happening now, including a December multipart piece, “American Science, Shattered,” which is the most comprehensive telling of this year’s carnage out there." Thanks for shoutout @gregggonsalves.bsky.social
Here are the people and institutions that gave me hope in 2025. 1/ www.thenation.com/article/soci...
The Public Health Heroes of 2025
The Trump administration wants to destroy our health infrastructure. These warriors aren't letting that happen without a fight.
www.thenation.com
December 19, 2025 at 4:24 PM
"It is not surprising that health news site STAT has some of the best reporting of what is happening now, including a December multipart piece, “American Science, Shattered,” which is the most comprehensive telling of this year’s carnage out there." Thanks for shoutout @gregggonsalves.bsky.social
Reposted by Usha Lee McFarling
(2035) Glad I got heart surgery before LLMs were used to teach surgeons anatomy
December 19, 2025 at 4:21 PM
(2035) Glad I got heart surgery before LLMs were used to teach surgeons anatomy
Reposted by Usha Lee McFarling
The flu is ramping up, friends. A few thoughts on that new strain driving cases and what we all can do to try to mitigate the worst of it. My latest for @opinion.bloomberg.com:
The Flu Is Trying to Ruin Your Holiday. Don’t Let It.
As travelers wedge themselves into planes, trains and automobiles for holiday trips, there’s a good chance they’ll be joined by an unwanted passenger: a new flu strain that seems intent on derailing t...
www.bloomberg.com
December 19, 2025 at 4:02 PM
The flu is ramping up, friends. A few thoughts on that new strain driving cases and what we all can do to try to mitigate the worst of it. My latest for @opinion.bloomberg.com:
Reposted by Usha Lee McFarling
Really important.
A new US Government Accountability Report found that HHS does not collect data related to accessibility for disabled people in health care. www.gao.gov/products/gao...
www.gao.gov
December 19, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Really important.
Reposted by Usha Lee McFarling
Given all the recent buzz about how great ChatGPT has gotten, including its prowess with images, I figured I'd check in on its anatomical skills. Nope.
December 19, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Given all the recent buzz about how great ChatGPT has gotten, including its prowess with images, I figured I'd check in on its anatomical skills. Nope.
Reposted by Usha Lee McFarling
Before satellite mega-constellations began taking off in 2019, satellites used to go months without risking a collision in orbit.
Now they have less than a week to take evasive maneuvers, and the window keeps shrinking. My @sciam.bsky.social story below.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/sate...
Now they have less than a week to take evasive maneuvers, and the window keeps shrinking. My @sciam.bsky.social story below.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/sate...
Satellites Used to Have Months to Avoid Collisions—Now They Have Days
In the era of mega constellations, spacecraft typically have less than a week to avoid crashes
www.scientificamerican.com
December 18, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Before satellite mega-constellations began taking off in 2019, satellites used to go months without risking a collision in orbit.
Now they have less than a week to take evasive maneuvers, and the window keeps shrinking. My @sciam.bsky.social story below.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/sate...
Now they have less than a week to take evasive maneuvers, and the window keeps shrinking. My @sciam.bsky.social story below.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/sate...
An excellent opportunity for journalists interesting in covering AI (and holding the companies building it to account.) Deadline is Jan. 7. www.tarbellcenter.org/fellowship
Tarbell Fellowship
A one-year program for journalists interested in covering artificial intelligence.
www.tarbellcenter.org
December 19, 2025 at 3:59 PM
An excellent opportunity for journalists interesting in covering AI (and holding the companies building it to account.) Deadline is Jan. 7. www.tarbellcenter.org/fellowship
Reposted by Usha Lee McFarling
Interested in applying to KSJ's world-renowned science journalism fellowships? Attend our informational webinar THIS THURSDAY, Dec 18 at 2:00 pm EST, where @usha.bsky.social and @ashleythesmart.bsky.social will be on hand to take your questions. Registration Required: mit.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Applying to the Knight Science Journalism Academic-Year Fellowship . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
KSJ directors will host a live webinar to answer questions about the academic-year fellowship and the application process. This session is a great way to learn what we look for in candidates and how t...
mit.zoom.us
December 15, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Interested in applying to KSJ's world-renowned science journalism fellowships? Attend our informational webinar THIS THURSDAY, Dec 18 at 2:00 pm EST, where @usha.bsky.social and @ashleythesmart.bsky.social will be on hand to take your questions. Registration Required: mit.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Reposted by Usha Lee McFarling
I fact checked this book and I cannot recommend it highly enough as an essential way to understand the history of propaganda and disinformation and how that impacts us right now.
Now is a really good time to read @annaleen.bsky.social’s book Stories Are Weapons if you haven’t already.
December 17, 2025 at 8:24 PM
I fact checked this book and I cannot recommend it highly enough as an essential way to understand the history of propaganda and disinformation and how that impacts us right now.
Reposted by Usha Lee McFarling
A rare opportunity to ask KSJ's director your questions about applying for our world-renowned fellowship program. Don't miss it!
We’ll be hosting a webinar 12/18 on the @ksjatmit.bsky.social science journalism fellowships and how to apply. Bring your questions and stay for the tips. Register 👇🏽
mit.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
mit.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Applying to the Knight Science Journalism Academic-Year Fellowship . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
KSJ directors will host a live webinar to answer questions about the academic-year fellowship and the application process. This session is a great way to learn what we look for in candidates and how t...
mit.zoom.us
December 15, 2025 at 3:41 PM
A rare opportunity to ask KSJ's director your questions about applying for our world-renowned fellowship program. Don't miss it!
Reposted by Usha Lee McFarling
Pay attention to what the regime is doing and bear in mind that ingredients for supplements aren't regulated & can come from dubious sources. Frankly, @joho.bsky.social says it best in a split-screen👇
December 16, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Pay attention to what the regime is doing and bear in mind that ingredients for supplements aren't regulated & can come from dubious sources. Frankly, @joho.bsky.social says it best in a split-screen👇
Reposted by Usha Lee McFarling
Grading and googling hallucinated citations, as one does nowadays, and now that LLMs have been around for a while, I've discovered new horrors: hallucinated journals are now appearing in Google Scholar with dozens of citations bc so many people are citing these fake things
December 15, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Grading and googling hallucinated citations, as one does nowadays, and now that LLMs have been around for a while, I've discovered new horrors: hallucinated journals are now appearing in Google Scholar with dozens of citations bc so many people are citing these fake things
Reposted by Usha Lee McFarling
CONTAINS SQUIRRELS
Ahem hello this is a reminder that books are a great holiday gift.
I read a lot fewer science books than usual this year for various reasons, but the ones I did read I loved. And here they are.
First, you could buy mine (I didn't read it this year though) www.harpercollins.com/products/pes...
I read a lot fewer science books than usual this year for various reasons, but the ones I did read I loved. And here they are.
First, you could buy mine (I didn't read it this year though) www.harpercollins.com/products/pes...
Pests
An engrossing and revealing study of why we deem certain animals “pests” and others not—from cats to rats, elephants to pigeons—and what this tells us about...
www.harpercollins.com
December 15, 2025 at 3:20 PM
CONTAINS SQUIRRELS
We’ll be hosting a webinar 12/18 on the @ksjatmit.bsky.social science journalism fellowships and how to apply. Bring your questions and stay for the tips. Register 👇🏽
mit.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
mit.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Applying to the Knight Science Journalism Academic-Year Fellowship . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
KSJ directors will host a live webinar to answer questions about the academic-year fellowship and the application process. This session is a great way to learn what we look for in candidates and how t...
mit.zoom.us
December 15, 2025 at 3:20 PM
We’ll be hosting a webinar 12/18 on the @ksjatmit.bsky.social science journalism fellowships and how to apply. Bring your questions and stay for the tips. Register 👇🏽
mit.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
mit.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
"AI is everywhere. It's like Dubai chocolate. But sometimes you just don't want pistachios." Hallway conversation at the great Computation and Journalism Symposium in Miami. #cplusj2025
December 12, 2025 at 3:37 PM
"AI is everywhere. It's like Dubai chocolate. But sometimes you just don't want pistachios." Hallway conversation at the great Computation and Journalism Symposium in Miami. #cplusj2025
Chat-GPT: Make me a magazine cover that completely rips off a human artist and looks like it’s been poorly photoshopped. (What an apt metaphor for AI.)
December 12, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Chat-GPT: Make me a magazine cover that completely rips off a human artist and looks like it’s been poorly photoshopped. (What an apt metaphor for AI.)
Reposted by Usha Lee McFarling
It's fitting that the cover on AI mindlessly apes an earlier creation and also displaces workers while elevating Silicon Valley plutocrats.
December 12, 2025 at 3:40 AM
It's fitting that the cover on AI mindlessly apes an earlier creation and also displaces workers while elevating Silicon Valley plutocrats.