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Meagan Mulcair, Ph.D. @drmeagan.bsky.social · Aug 9

If confirmed, the discovery could give us clues about the formation of our solar system.

@newscientist.com

A planet the size of Saturn could orbit the nearest sun-like star

The James Webb Space Telescope has detected a possible gas giant the size of Saturn in the stellar system nearest our own

www.newscientist.com

Meagan Mulcair, Ph.D. @drmeagan.bsky.social · Aug 8

Age can cause DNA mutations, increasing the risk of disease. Research shows that human eggs may stay healthier for longer by minimizing the damage.

@newscientist.com @psupress.bsky.social @mitpress.bsky.social

Human eggs don't accumulate as many mutations with age as we thought

Mitochondrial mutations don't seem to build up in women's eggs as they age, which suggests they may have evolved a mechanism to avoid this

www.newscientist.com

Meagan Mulcair, Ph.D. @drmeagan.bsky.social · Aug 4

Some dinosaurs ripped at flesh, others crunched through bone. A closer look at their skulls tells us whose bite really packed a punch.

@newscientist.com

Giant meat-eating dinosaur skulls reveal ‘bone-crushing’ bite

Differences in the skulls of carnivorous dinosaurs suggest some dinosaurs ripped flesh while others crushed bones

www.newscientist.com

Meagan Mulcair, Ph.D. @drmeagan.bsky.social · Jul 31

Could human milk help prevent preterm birth? New story for @newscientist.com on the unique properties that could one day make this possible🍼

Thank you to Steven Townsend, @drlarsbode.bsky.social and
@katypatras.bsky.social for taking the time to chat with me.

www.newscientist.com/article/2490...

Human milk could help fight infections that endanger pregnancies

The prebiotic properties of human milk could be harnessed to treat a bacterial strain known to cause problems for immunocompromised people – and trigger premature birth

www.newscientist.com

Meagan Mulcair, Ph.D. @drmeagan.bsky.social · Jul 18

@alleghenycollege.bsky.social

Meagan Mulcair, Ph.D. @drmeagan.bsky.social · Jul 18

Why would an animal choose to eat microplastics? And what does that mean for us? Learn about the worms with an acquired taste.

Thanks to Song Lin Chua and Lee (Mick) Demi for taking the time to chat with me about this fascinating research.

@newscientist.com

www.newscientist.com/article/2488...

Exposure to microplastic makes animals want to eat it more

Over multiple generations, small nematode worms began preferring microplastic-contaminated food over cleaner options, which could have consequences for ecosystem health

www.newscientist.com

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Meagan Mulcair, Ph.D. @drmeagan.bsky.social · Jul 16

New article out this morning about how human egg cells may live longer by taking it easy.

@newscientist.com
@gzaffagnini.bsky.social
@crg.eu @yalepress.bsky.social

www.newscientist.com/article/2488...

How human eggs stay fresh for decades

In human beings, egg cells need to survive for about five decades, much longer than most other cell types – and they may achieve this unusually long lifespan by slowing down their natural cell process...

www.newscientist.com

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Meagan Mulcair, Ph.D. @drmeagan.bsky.social · Jul 9

The record for the oldest protein ever found has been smashed five-fold after analyzing ancient fossilized teeth 🦷

@paleoproteomicist.bsky.social @fridowelker.bsky.social @harvardpress.bsky.social @smithsonianmag.bsky.social @newscientist.com

www.newscientist.com/article/2487...

Oldest proteins yet recovered from 18-million-year-old teeth

The oldest protein fragments ever recovered have been extracted from fossilised teeth found in Kenya's Rift Valley, revealing the remains belonged to the ancient ancestors of rhinoceroses and elephant...

www.newscientist.com

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Meagan Mulcair, Ph.D. @drmeagan.bsky.social · Jul 3

✨️ New story, New Scientist ✨️

3D printing in long-term treatment of type 1 diabetes?

Read here:

www.newscientist.com/article/2486...

@newscientist.com

3D printing could enable a long-term treatment for type 1 diabetes

Small, 3D-printed devices, designed to be implanted directly under the skin, could allow people with type 1 diabetes to produce their own insulin

www.newscientist.com

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Meagan Mulcair, Ph.D. @drmeagan.bsky.social · Jul 2

✨️New story for @newscientist.com ✨️

Why you *should* use #emojis when texting people you care about — and not worry too much about which ones to send.

www.newscientist.com/article/2486...

Emojis give your friends a better impression of you

Red heart or thumbs up? Sending emojis to close friends makes them see you as more attentive and likeable than text-only messages do – no matter which emojis you use

www.newscientist.com

Meagan Mulcair, Ph.D. @drmeagan.bsky.social · Jun 18

Had the best time. I'm going to need you to keep discovering new species so we can do it all over again ✨️

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Meagan Mulcair, Ph.D. @drmeagan.bsky.social · Jun 18

Introducing: Bolg amondol 🦎

After 20 years in a jar, this prehistoric ancestor of the Gila monster was discovered — and assigned this wicked Tolkienian name. (Forever impressed, Dr. Woolley.)

Any fans among us who can figure it out without looking it up? 👀

www.newscientist.com/article/2484...

Ancient monstersaur had 'goblin-like' teeth and sheddable tail

The discovery of a prehistoric tail-shedding reptile reveals more about large lizard life and lineage during the Late Cretaceous Epoch

www.newscientist.com

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Meagan Mulcair, Ph.D. @drmeagan.bsky.social · Jun 7

And we're off! Thank you to @aaasmassmedia.bsky.social for an amazing crash course on all things journalism and the chance to get to know the other 2025 fellows in DC!
Next stop: New Scientist

AAAS Mass Media Fellowship @aaasmassmedia.bsky.social · Jun 6

The #MMF50th fellows have completed orientation and we're thrilled to watch as they use their learned #SciComm skills to write the news!

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Meagan Mulcair, Ph.D. @drmeagan.bsky.social · Apr 26

Thank you so much! Can't wait to get started.

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Meagan Mulcair, Ph.D. @drmeagan.bsky.social · Apr 25

Woohoo! I can't wait to work at @newscientist.com as one of the 2025 AAAS #MassMediaFellows! It is such an honor, and I am so grateful for the opportunity. Truly a longtime #SciComm dream come true. Bring on the summer!

AAAS Mass Media Fellowship @aaasmassmedia.bsky.social · Apr 24

This news is hot off the press! We are so excited to present the 2025 #MassMediaFellows! These 17 scientists will spend their summer writing, reporting, and working on their #SciComm skills in news outlets across the country! Learn more about the #MMF50th class here: www.aaas.org/news/aaas-ma...

Headshots of the 2025 AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellows

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