Marina Wang
@marinacoladas.bsky.social
460 followers 140 following 50 posts
Freelance journalist of science and other things weird and wonderful. Up for hire. Bylines in Hakai Magazine, Scientific American, Atlas Obscura, etc. marina-wang.com
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marinacoladas.bsky.social
Beaked whales are the most elusive large animals on the planet. They live offshore, dive deep, and are nearly impossible to distinguish from each other visually. But with acoustics and genetics, scientists finally have inroads on how to study these mysterious whales. 🐬🔍

nautil.us/hunting-the-...
Hunting the Most Elusive Whale
Historically, beaked whales have been near impossible to study. But modern acoustic and genetic technologies are giving scientists new hope.
nautil.us
Reposted by Marina Wang
biographic.bsky.social
We’re doing this work because we believe that informed and inspired people will build a better relationship with the natural world. And we intentionally produce bioGraphic for regular people—not just politicians or professors—because it’s regular people, everywhere, who push our societies to change.
biographic.bsky.social
Why we think readers like you can change the world

link.calacademy.org/nl3/DEWRxP2w...
marinacoladas.bsky.social
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species is the world's largest agreement overseeing wildlife trafficking. Yet hundreds of species slip through the cracks. What gets protected? And is there a systematic solution?
🦌🐼🐯

www.biographic.com/triaging-the...
Triaging the Global Wildlife Trade - bioGraphic
Can we take a more systematic approach to protecting endangered species from international trade?
www.biographic.com
Reposted by Marina Wang
judeisabella.bsky.social
In an alternate universe, I am an epidemiologist. What can we learn about animal burrows when we train cameras on them? Who visits them? Many curious animals and, well, that could be worrisome: www.biographic.com/aardvark-bur... 🧪🦤🌍 #conservation #biodiversity
Aardvark Burrows Could be Ground Zero for the Next Pandemic - bioGraphic
Animals of all kinds mix and mingle in underground burrows, offering troubling opportunities for diseases to jump species.
www.biographic.com
marinacoladas.bsky.social
Filled with blubber, a beluga’s melon is squishy with good bounce. They can make different shapes and movements with these fat stores, and scientists documented how different wiggles are used for communication.

#ThrowbackThursday to possibly my favorite comic.

hakaimagazine.com/videos-visua...
Say It with a Beluga Bauble Wobble | Hakai Magazine
Melon shape is to belugas what expressive eyebrows are to people.
hakaimagazine.com
marinacoladas.bsky.social
And a big thanks to @amcglashen.bsky.social for sharp edits 🔥
Reposted by Marina Wang
serenarenner.com
It feels like we're going backward, but there are hopeful projects underway, like the MPA network off the British Columbia coast. If done right, it “could be a real, meaningful model for reconciliation” with First Nations. My latest in @biographic.bsky.social.

www.biographic.com/welcome-to-t...
Welcome to the Great Bear Sea
After decades of discord, Canada and First Nations are working together to build a network of marine protected areas stretching from Vancouver Island to Alaska.
www.biographic.com
Reposted by Marina Wang
jameswsthomson.com
Note to freelancers: I'm open to pitches for @nationalobserver.com! We pay pretty well, and we're flexible with timelines for assigned stories. I don't need a long pitch — think 2 paragraphs — but please give an idea of what your story is.

Some recently published freelance pieces:
marinacoladas.bsky.social
My first story for New Scientist! 🐬

Turns out it's not just humans that like feeding other animals. The tables have turned.
newscientist.com
Researchers have documented orcas seemingly gifting rays, seals and fish to scientists and divers, which could suggest they have theory of mind and engage in altruism – even across species
What does it mean when an orca wants to share its lunch with you?
www.newscientist.com
marinacoladas.bsky.social
Thanks Jared Towers at Bay Cetology for sharing the research and @chelswhyte.bsky.social for quick edits.

This was such a fun story to write for @newscientist.com!
💙
marinacoladas.bsky.social
Since 2004, 34 cases of whales feeding humans have been documented around the world. These include Akela and Quiver, two young whales on the BC coast who tried feeding a scientist dead seabirds, and Funky Monkey, a New Zealand whale that approached a scientist with a stingray draped over its head.
marinacoladas.bsky.social
It’s not just humans that love feeding other animals! A new study documents killer whales trying to feed seabirds, rays, and fish to humans.

The behavior shows that kindness and curiosity are more than just human traits.
🐬🍽️

www.newscientist.com/article/2486...
What does it mean when an orca wants to share its lunch with you?
Researchers have documented orcas seemingly gifting rays, seals and fish to scientists and divers, which could suggest they have theory of mind and engage in altruism – even across species
www.newscientist.com
marinacoladas.bsky.social
In remote forests of west Africa, wildlife traffickers are filling orders for hundreds of hornbill skulls. The bulbous-billed birds are protected in Asia, but conservationists now worry the market has shifted to African birds.

My latest for @nautil.us

nautil.us/the-hornbill...
The Hornbills Left Behind
Protecting Asian species may have shifted poachers’ focus to African birds
nautil.us
marinacoladas.bsky.social
Can I be in here? 👉👈
marinacoladas.bsky.social
Please link the research paper
Reposted by Marina Wang
biographic.bsky.social
Each summer, we publish the best shots from the BigPicture Photography Competition, along with the stories behind the shots. From self-heating plants to land-dwelling fish, this year's winners highlight the remarkable diversity of life on Earth. Take a look 👇 📸 🧪
The Big Picture 2025 - bioGraphic
From the beautiful to the bizarre, this annual photographic showcase shines a light on some of our planet’s most breathtaking species and places.
www.biographic.com
marinacoladas.bsky.social
Do I have another NMA nomination? Or is this from 2023?