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Reposted by David Grimm

Leah Shaffer @leahshaffer.bsky.social · 22d

I knew it! Fiber is for cleaning the pipes. For cats, it's all about clearing upstairs pipes. Humans need it for downstairs pipes. 🧪🐈

David Grimm @david-grimm.bsky.social · 22d

What does grass and a drain snake have in common? Both contain jagged edges that help dislodge clumps of hair. Great for pipes--and, it turns out, also for cats. 🐱

Gold-covered hairballs may reveal why cats eat grass

Spiky projections on plant matter may act like “drain snakes,” helping felines dislodge wads of fur

www.science.org

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David Grimm @david-grimm.bsky.social · 22d

@scifri.bsky.social

David Grimm @david-grimm.bsky.social · 22d

What does grass and a drain snake have in common? Both contain jagged edges that help dislodge clumps of hair. Great for pipes--and, it turns out, also for cats. 🐱

Gold-covered hairballs may reveal why cats eat grass

Spiky projections on plant matter may act like “drain snakes,” helping felines dislodge wads of fur

www.science.org

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David Grimm @david-grimm.bsky.social · 24d

@science.org exclusive! Scientists--and owners--have puzzled for years about why cats eat grass, only seemingly to throw it up for no reason. Could a new study finally solve the mystery? Cool--and very fun--story by Christa Lesté-Lasserre

Gold-covered hairballs may reveal why cats eat grass

Spiky projections on plant matter may act like “drain snakes,” helping felines dislodge wads of fur

www.science.org

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David Grimm @david-grimm.bsky.social · Aug 20

“It’s the most challenging time I’ve ever seen for animal care." Facing enormous challenges, the USDA agency that oversees the animal welfare act--covering everything from lab to zoo animals--is struggling to do its job. The impact on animal welfare could be devastating. My latest for @science.org

Facing ‘impossible’ workload, USDA struggles to oversee lab animal welfare

Shrinking staff and other handicaps threaten enforcement of federal law that protects research animals

www.science.org

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Reposted by David Grimm

Robin Berghaus @robinberghaus.bsky.social · Aug 19

Writers, bring your 1-minute pitches for live feedback from editors on November 9 @1:30pm in Chicago at Pitch Slam. @sciencewriters.org #NASW #SciWri25

🔗View the program 👇
sciencewriters2025.org

🖥️ Registration opens September 4.

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At the top of the graphic is a train and this text:
Pitch Slam
November 9 at 1:30pm
ScienceWriters25
November 7-9, Chicago

In the middle of the graphic are portraits of editors, including their names and publications:

Steven Bedard | bioGraphic
Kendall Powell | Nature
David Grimm | Science
Sarah Zielinski | Science News Explores
Clara Moskowitz | Scientific American

At the bottom of the graphic is the following text:

Moderated and organized by: Sarah Scoles, Virginia Gewin, and Robin Berghaus

LIVE in Chicago, writers will pitch one-minute article ideas and receive immediate feedback from editors!

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Reposted by David Grimm

Jérôme OLLIER @jeromeollier.bsky.social · Aug 8

#InternationalCatDay - Via News from Science - Why do cats love tuna so much? Scientists may finally know - @david-grimm.bsky.social @science.org

www.science.org/content/arti...

Why do cats love tuna so much? Scientists may finally know

Study identifies taste receptors that give our feline friends a craving for meat—and one fish in particular

www.science.org

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David Grimm @david-grimm.bsky.social · Aug 8

Honored to appear on a *third* podcast this week, this one also on cats and dogs. For Pets add Life, I discuss the evolving legal status of our pets, and my greatest hopes--and fears--for the future. (My segment starts around 8:00). Enjoy!

76. Coral Reefs, Cloning Cats & Clear the Shelters

This week on Pets Add Life, Kristen Levine and Chris Bonifati dive into a jam-packed summer episode filled with science, sustainability, and shelter adoptions.

petsaddlife.org

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Reposted by David Grimm

Sar Crespi @boron110.bsky.social · Aug 7

This week on the @science.org podcast: Why anteaters keep evolving w/ @david-grimm.bsky.social, and how giant whales get enough food to live w/ Ashley Blawas LISTEN HERE:

www.science.org/content/podc...

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David Grimm @david-grimm.bsky.social · Aug 6

Video version here www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zv7B...

Episode 63: David Grimm: Citizen Canine

YouTube video by Shelter Cats Podcast

www.youtube.com

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David Grimm @david-grimm.bsky.social · Aug 6

Honored to be featured on @sheltercatspodcast.bsky.social this week, where I do a deep dive into how cats and dogs evolved from wild animals to family members. I highly recommend the last 4 minutes, where I give my thesis statement about why cats are so special.

Episode 63: David Grimm: Citizen Canine

YouTube video by Shelter Cats Podcast

www.youtube.com

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David Grimm @david-grimm.bsky.social · Aug 1

All praise to @erikstokstad.bsky.social :-)

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David Grimm @david-grimm.bsky.social · Jul 31

My favorite headline of the week, courtesy of @erikstokstad.bsky.social, who also wrote this cool story for @science.org. Tomatoes gave rise to potatoes!

Thank ketchup for your French fries

Interbreeding with tomatoes 9 million years ago gave potatoes the genes to develop tubers

www.science.org

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David Grimm @david-grimm.bsky.social · Jul 31

ack! we'll get that fixed asap. thanks for flagging!

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David Grimm @david-grimm.bsky.social · Jul 30

Extending up to 2.3 micrometers, this is the longest virus tail described to date--19 times larger than the tail of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Cool stuff from @nazeefa-ahmed.bsky.social for @science.org

Giant virus with record-long tail discovered in Pacific Ocean

Infecting marine plankton, the pathogen may use its extreme appendage to enter host cells

www.science.org

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David Grimm @david-grimm.bsky.social · Jul 30

First example of a laser cavity in the animal kingdom! Cool stuff from Rachel Berkowitz at @science.org

Peacock feathers can be lasers

Tail feathers can emit narrow beams of light, a first in the animal kingdom

www.science.org

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David Grimm @david-grimm.bsky.social · Jul 28

Crab-like creatures are famed for having evolved five times in evolutionary history. But anteaters have evolved at least 12 times--in half the evolutionary span. Cool story by @jakebuehler.bsky.social for @science.org

‘Things keep evolving into anteaters.’ Odd animals arose at least 12 separate times

Findings speak to the dramatic impact ants and termites can have on mammalian evolution

www.science.org

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David Grimm @david-grimm.bsky.social · Jul 25

Not sure I needed this spelled out for me: "'Chonkus Maximus' literally translates to something like 'Greatest Chonk' or 'Largest Chonk,'", but otherwise a delightful story 🐱

Chonkus Maximus: Crete's Celebrity Cat Steals Hearts (and Google Map Reviews) - GreekReporter.com

Forget Greece's ancient ruins and pristine beaches for a moment—a celebrity cat is stealing the spotlight in Chania, Crete.

greekreporter.com

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David Grimm @david-grimm.bsky.social · Jul 22

EXCLUSIVE @science.org: In an unorthodox approach to needle-free vaccines, researchers have developed a special kind of floss that can protect against infectious disease. “The results are quite impressive.” Cool story by @annikainampudi.bsky.social

Engineers transform dental floss into needle-free vaccine

New method places inactivated viruses directly into mice’s gums

www.science.org

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David Grimm @david-grimm.bsky.social · Jul 22

Cover a person’s hand and place a rubber hand next to it, then stroke their hand and its facsimile, and suddenly the person will begin to “feel” the touch in the fake appendage. Octopuses also fall for this rubber arm trick. Cool story by @jasmin-galvan.bsky.social for @science.org

Octopuses fall for the ‘rubber arm’ illusion, just like us

Experiment shows octopuses feel body ownership, a trait previously seen only in mammals

www.science.org

David Grimm @david-grimm.bsky.social · Jul 22

In an unorthodox approach to needle-free vaccines, researchers have developed a special kind of floss that can protect against infectious disease. “The results are quite impressive.” Cool story by @annikainampudi.bsky.social for @science.org

Engineers transform dental floss into needle-free vaccine

New method places inactivated viruses directly into mice’s gums

www.science.org

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David Grimm @david-grimm.bsky.social · Jul 16

“The kids went crazy... Kids were chanting, ‘Barbie!’ and they all got one, and they literally had tears.” www.science.org/content/arti... Nice story by @cohenjon.bsky.social for @science.org

Meet the diabetes researcher behind Barbie’s new pink (insulin) pumps

New line of dolls aims to help children with type 1 diabetes feel more included

www.science.org

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David Grimm @david-grimm.bsky.social · Jul 1

Scientists have created the first lasers made entirely from edible materials, which could someday help monitor and track the properties of foods and medications with sensors that can be harmlessly swallowed. @science.org

These tiny lasers are completely edible

Edible sensors made of glowing droplets could improve food and drug monitoring

www.science.org

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David Grimm @david-grimm.bsky.social · Jul 1

Between June 2024 and January 2025, a full 62% of commercial honey bee colonies in the U.S. died, the largest on record. USDA efforts were slowed by funding cuts and layoffs. Now, USDA scientists have finally identified a culprit. But it may be too late. www.science.org/content/arti...

Scientists identify culprit behind biggest-ever U.S. honey bee die-off

USDA research points to viruses spread by pesticide-resistant mites, indicating a worrying trend

www.science.org

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David Grimm @david-grimm.bsky.social · Jun 27

When exposed to UV-C, the most radiation-resistant life form on Earth died in less than a minute. Not so for a hardy black lichen known as Clavascidium lacinulatum. It just kept going and going, even when scientists continued to blast it for moths. Really cool story by @hannah-richter.bsky.social

UV-C light kills nearly everything—except this unusual organism

Built-in Sun protection might be a blueprint for surviving in space

www.science.org

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