Eva Amsen
@evaamsen.com
Science writer. 🇳🇱🇪🇺in🇬🇧 I write about science in magazines, in a newsletter, in books, on social media and on loose scraps of paper. Also a violinist. 🔬🧬👩💻🎨🎻 🐈 Fun newsletter: https://mixture.substack.com Portfolio: https://evaamsen.com/writing/
Scicomm/sciwriting coworking sessions are back from holiday break! They're at 2PM UK time on Thursdays, so the next one is January 8th. This all takes place on Discord, so just follow the link, explore the #scicomm coworking server and you'll find the link we use on Thursdays. discord.gg/MDSC8Ny7dd
Join the SciComm Coworking Discord Server!
This is a place for science communicators, science writers and scientists to work on scicomm projects and share tips. | 523 members
discord.gg
January 6, 2026 at 4:34 PM
Scicomm/sciwriting coworking sessions are back from holiday break! They're at 2PM UK time on Thursdays, so the next one is January 8th. This all takes place on Discord, so just follow the link, explore the #scicomm coworking server and you'll find the link we use on Thursdays. discord.gg/MDSC8Ny7dd
In an attempt to get more organized this year, I've updated my handle here to my domain name. Wow, so professional.
January 6, 2026 at 1:03 PM
In an attempt to get more organized this year, I've updated my handle here to my domain name. Wow, so professional.
I’m updating my scicomm guide for the first time since January 2020. I was expecting changes related to the post-covid world, but also had to deal with addressing AI and scrubbing every mention of the birdsite.
January 5, 2026 at 4:56 PM
I’m updating my scicomm guide for the first time since January 2020. I was expecting changes related to the post-covid world, but also had to deal with addressing AI and scrubbing every mention of the birdsite.
Reposted by Eva Amsen
Can We Save Wine from Wildfires? The industry has lost billions of dollars, largely because smoke makes the drink taste like licking an ashtray (smoke taint). Now a team of scientists is chasing a solution. www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Can We Save Wine from Wildfires?
The industry has lost billions of dollars, largely because smoke makes the drink taste like licking an ashtray. Now a team of scientists is chasing a solution.
www.newyorker.com
January 5, 2026 at 1:06 PM
Can We Save Wine from Wildfires? The industry has lost billions of dollars, largely because smoke makes the drink taste like licking an ashtray (smoke taint). Now a team of scientists is chasing a solution. www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
I spent way too much of this morning troubleshooting a Teams setting only to find out that it's a "feature" not a bug. Here's someone with the EXACT same problem and the response is that it's just supposed to default you to a random client. learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answer...
January 5, 2026 at 12:33 PM
I spent way too much of this morning troubleshooting a Teams setting only to find out that it's a "feature" not a bug. Here's someone with the EXACT same problem and the response is that it's just supposed to default you to a random client. learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answer...
This is still heavily discounted for the next 10 days. If you're a @notion.com user and a freelance writer, grab it while it's cheap and get organised in 2026!
Features:
✏️Track your articles from pitch to invoice
✏️Linked databases match clients to articles to editors
✏️Page to set quarterly goals
Features:
✏️Track your articles from pitch to invoice
✏️Linked databases match clients to articles to editors
✏️Page to set quarterly goals
A while ago I created a @notion.com template for freelance writers. It's quite a complicated set of linked databases, so I usually charge $12 for it but because everyone wants to start 2026 more productive, it's 75% off until January 15th! So now you can get organised for only $3. payhip.com/b/v2wLM
Notion template: Freelance Writing Hub & Article Tracker
This Notion template is created specifically for freelance journalists and writers who pitch articles to editors. The simple design and all functionality is completely customisable to fit your needs.T...
payhip.com
January 5, 2026 at 9:29 AM
This is still heavily discounted for the next 10 days. If you're a @notion.com user and a freelance writer, grab it while it's cheap and get organised in 2026!
Features:
✏️Track your articles from pitch to invoice
✏️Linked databases match clients to articles to editors
✏️Page to set quarterly goals
Features:
✏️Track your articles from pitch to invoice
✏️Linked databases match clients to articles to editors
✏️Page to set quarterly goals
A random theory I have: Cats and dogs are about equally intelligent, but people think of one being as smarter than the other based on how they think about introverts/extroverts. (see next post)
January 1, 2026 at 5:07 PM
A random theory I have: Cats and dogs are about equally intelligent, but people think of one being as smarter than the other based on how they think about introverts/extroverts. (see next post)
One time a Canadian friend asked me if the Netherlands had any interesting wild animals (like how Canada has moose and beavers) and I immediately said “seals!”
(There are also boars and deer and other forest creatures, but to me the seals from the Waddenzee are the most iconic Dutch wildlife.)
(There are also boars and deer and other forest creatures, but to me the seals from the Waddenzee are the most iconic Dutch wildlife.)
Often brutal, always beautiful: the sea hounds of the Frisian Islands – in pictures
Often brutal, always beautiful: the sea hounds of the Frisian Islands – in pictures
For 10 years, the scientist and photographer Jeroen Hoekendijk has been observing pinnipeds (seals, sea lions and walruses) on the fragile North Sea archipelago. Highly susceptible to warming and rising seas, the islands act as an advance warning sign of the climate crisis
www.theguardian.com
January 1, 2026 at 8:53 AM
One time a Canadian friend asked me if the Netherlands had any interesting wild animals (like how Canada has moose and beavers) and I immediately said “seals!”
(There are also boars and deer and other forest creatures, but to me the seals from the Waddenzee are the most iconic Dutch wildlife.)
(There are also boars and deer and other forest creatures, but to me the seals from the Waddenzee are the most iconic Dutch wildlife.)
Happy New Year! In the last few hours of the year I managed to find a safe temporary home for a stray cat that had been in our garden for the last few days. Here he is in our bathroom but he’s now with my catsitter and got inside before the worst of the fireworks and frost.
January 1, 2026 at 8:37 AM
Happy New Year! In the last few hours of the year I managed to find a safe temporary home for a stray cat that had been in our garden for the last few days. Here he is in our bathroom but he’s now with my catsitter and got inside before the worst of the fireworks and frost.
This year has not always been the best, but I thought it was a surprisingly good year for music. I made a playlist with a selection of tracks from some of the 2025 albums I enjoyed. I put thought in the order so don’t just shuffle. It’s a mixtape! open.spotify.com/playlist/3FT...
Spotify – Web Player
open.spotify.com
December 31, 2025 at 8:19 PM
This year has not always been the best, but I thought it was a surprisingly good year for music. I made a playlist with a selection of tracks from some of the 2025 albums I enjoyed. I put thought in the order so don’t just shuffle. It’s a mixtape! open.spotify.com/playlist/3FT...
Reposted by Eva Amsen
Reposted by Eva Amsen
We present: The Art of #InverteFest - December 2025 Edition
A digital art book showcasing the work of 100 artists from around the world, in celebration of overlooked invertebrate fauna.
Thank you to the artists who contributed to our book!
Download: drive.google.com/file/d/1JCXz...
#Art #SciArt
A digital art book showcasing the work of 100 artists from around the world, in celebration of overlooked invertebrate fauna.
Thank you to the artists who contributed to our book!
Download: drive.google.com/file/d/1JCXz...
#Art #SciArt
December 28, 2025 at 3:55 AM
We present: The Art of #InverteFest - December 2025 Edition
A digital art book showcasing the work of 100 artists from around the world, in celebration of overlooked invertebrate fauna.
Thank you to the artists who contributed to our book!
Download: drive.google.com/file/d/1JCXz...
#Art #SciArt
A digital art book showcasing the work of 100 artists from around the world, in celebration of overlooked invertebrate fauna.
Thank you to the artists who contributed to our book!
Download: drive.google.com/file/d/1JCXz...
#Art #SciArt
Reposted by Eva Amsen
Now booking: Narrative Non-fiction (NNF) at City. Alumni books books from Penguin, Faber, Granta etc. New course starts Tuesday 20 January: “Terrific teacher! Encouraging, practical, demystifying and lots of specific feedback” (recent student)
www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/prospective-...
www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/prospective-...
Non-Fiction Writing Course | City St George's, University of London
This Narrative Non-fiction Writing online evening short course supports you in writing non-fiction, from biographies to memoirs or travel writing blogs.
www.citystgeorges.ac.uk
December 27, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Now booking: Narrative Non-fiction (NNF) at City. Alumni books books from Penguin, Faber, Granta etc. New course starts Tuesday 20 January: “Terrific teacher! Encouraging, practical, demystifying and lots of specific feedback” (recent student)
www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/prospective-...
www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/prospective-...
Reposted by Eva Amsen
Growing evidence reveals that creativity is one of the best-kept secrets for boosting your health. From live theatre to a quick crafting break, here’s how to harness the power of art in your everyday life
How to extend and improve your life by getting more creative
Growing evidence reveals that creativity is one of the best-kept secrets for boosting your health. From live theatre to a quick crafting break, here’s how to harness the power of art in your everyday life
www.newscientist.com
December 27, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Growing evidence reveals that creativity is one of the best-kept secrets for boosting your health. From live theatre to a quick crafting break, here’s how to harness the power of art in your everyday life
Santa doing some last-minute shopping in Waitrose
December 24, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Santa doing some last-minute shopping in Waitrose
Reposted by Eva Amsen
"While we have yet to pinpoint the attacker’s identity, we have narrowed the suspects down to three previous perpetrators of crimes against the season: E. Scrooge, Mr. Grinch, and Big City Lady-Lawyer With Christmas Eve Deadline."
The North Pole Has Suffered a Data Breach
Dear Valued Child, This letter was slipped into your stocking to inform you that we recently identified a breach of our North Pole Magic Systems (N...
buff.ly
December 24, 2025 at 2:40 AM
"While we have yet to pinpoint the attacker’s identity, we have narrowed the suspects down to three previous perpetrators of crimes against the season: E. Scrooge, Mr. Grinch, and Big City Lady-Lawyer With Christmas Eve Deadline."
Reposted by Eva Amsen
❄️ ’Tis the season for exploring the web’s past!
@InternetArchive.EU has transformed millions of Dutch websites from the #WaybackMachine into a festive, interactive Christmas mosaic. 🎄
It offers a new way to see the web & the scale & value of digital collections.
Try it ➡️ display.archive.org/xmas
@InternetArchive.EU has transformed millions of Dutch websites from the #WaybackMachine into a festive, interactive Christmas mosaic. 🎄
It offers a new way to see the web & the scale & value of digital collections.
Try it ➡️ display.archive.org/xmas
December 23, 2025 at 4:02 PM
❄️ ’Tis the season for exploring the web’s past!
@InternetArchive.EU has transformed millions of Dutch websites from the #WaybackMachine into a festive, interactive Christmas mosaic. 🎄
It offers a new way to see the web & the scale & value of digital collections.
Try it ➡️ display.archive.org/xmas
@InternetArchive.EU has transformed millions of Dutch websites from the #WaybackMachine into a festive, interactive Christmas mosaic. 🎄
It offers a new way to see the web & the scale & value of digital collections.
Try it ➡️ display.archive.org/xmas
Reposted by Eva Amsen
By requesting copies of the then-UK technology secretary's ChatGPT logs, New Scientist set a precedent for how freedom of information laws apply to chatbot interactions, helping to hold governments to account
New Scientist changed the UK's freedom of information laws in 2025
By requesting copies of the then-UK technology secretary's ChatGPT logs, New Scientist set a precedent for how freedom of information laws apply to chatbot interactions, helping to hold governments to account
www.newscientist.com
December 22, 2025 at 9:56 PM
By requesting copies of the then-UK technology secretary's ChatGPT logs, New Scientist set a precedent for how freedom of information laws apply to chatbot interactions, helping to hold governments to account
Looking at a weather report (not for London, don't worry) and it's giving me a number that I didn't even think existed. But I Googled it and apparently it's used when a negative number is rounded up to zero. So it's probably between -0.5 and 0 degrees here.
December 22, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Looking at a weather report (not for London, don't worry) and it's giving me a number that I didn't even think existed. But I Googled it and apparently it's used when a negative number is rounded up to zero. So it's probably between -0.5 and 0 degrees here.
During two decades of watching “Love Actually” almost every Christmas, I’ve always been confused by Aurelia seemingly moving back from France to Portugal so suddenly. Today I spotted this graffiti. They’re in France! She just lives in a Portuguese neighbourhood somewhere in France.
December 22, 2025 at 9:48 AM
During two decades of watching “Love Actually” almost every Christmas, I’ve always been confused by Aurelia seemingly moving back from France to Portugal so suddenly. Today I spotted this graffiti. They’re in France! She just lives in a Portuguese neighbourhood somewhere in France.
Reposted by Eva Amsen
Stop burning fossil fuels.
Thanks for coming to my Ted talk.
Thanks for coming to my Ted talk.
December 21, 2025 at 6:51 AM
Stop burning fossil fuels.
Thanks for coming to my Ted talk.
Thanks for coming to my Ted talk.
Update: I still have a cold but no longer have deadlines
Woe. I have a cold and a deadline at the same time. Why must winter be like this?
December 19, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Update: I still have a cold but no longer have deadlines
