Bethany Brookshire

@beebrookshire
2.8K Followers
490 Following
1.6K Posts
Science journalist, podcaster, author. Book, Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains. Here for the trash pandas.
Latest workhttps://linktr.ee/BeeBrookshire
Bookhttps://www.harpercollins.com/products/pests-bethany-brookshire?variant=40262537379874
Podcastscienceforthepeople.ca
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Bethany Brookshire2d ago

Super fun to cover this pair of papers, one from @lachiescarsbrook.bsky.social about early dogs!

I esp love how they paired genetics with archaeology, to show that dogs were not "used" they were PART of human culture, and got similar funeral practices. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/dog-domestication-genetics-bones-europe

Humans have been hanging out with dogs for even longer than we thought

Two new papers have shown that dogs were fully distinct from wolves—and companions with people—more than 14,000 years ago.

Animals
Bethany Brookshire3d ago

It's NOT the first Fido, but a new pair of papers shows humans across Europe were paling around with Some Very Good Dogs more than 14,000 years ago, pushing a domestication even back another 5,000 years.

TY to @wwrfd.bsky.social for keeping my puns.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/dog-domestication-genetics-bones-europe

Humans have been hanging out with dogs for even longer than we thought

Two new papers have shown that dogs were fully distinct from wolves—and companions with people—more than 14,000 years ago.

Animals
Bethany Brookshire3d ago

Red-breasted nuthatches coat the edges of their nests in sap, keeping out pesky squirrels or other birds! By @rheisman.bsky.social

But wow can you imagine getting all this resin and spreading it and then trying to get it off your BILL with no HANDS. URGH. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/why-nuthatches-coat-nest-entrances-sap/

Why Do Nuthatches Coat Their Nest Entrances With Sap?

A simple series of experiments looked into why Red-breasted Nuthatches use sticky conifer resin to defend against nest predators and competitors.

All About Birds
Bethany Brookshire5d ago
Ooo this looks truly fascinating https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00881-6?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=nature&linkId=61022133
How the idea of human superiority over nature was invented

Scientific discoveries are increasingly eroding the human–animal divide and challenging long-standing assumptions about human exceptionalism.

Bethany BrookshireMar 19
"....the possum first arrived in the US disguised as a children's toy and purchased duty-free. As it happened, that possum was expecting, and now possum eradication efforts in the lower 48 cost upwards of $218 million per year" - us in 30 years, probably. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/mar/19/possum-hobart-airport-gift-shop-soft-toys
Possum found nestled in with plush toys at airport gift shop in Tasmania

A brushtail possum was found peering out among the toy kangaroos and dingoes in a retail store in Hobart’s airport, delighting staff and customers

The Guardian
Bethany BrookshireMar 16

Adults are super worried about kids these days turning to chatGPT to do their homework, for dating advice...

...what about NUTRITION. It's not good! https://www.sciencenews.org/article/ai-teen-nutrition-advice-chatbot-diet-food

OTOH I'm also remembering when I was a teen and the mags I turned to for nutrition advice....

AI may be giving teens bad nutrition advice

AI-generated meal plans for fictional teens cut an entire meal’s worth of calories and carbs while overemphasizing protein and fats, a new study reports.

Science News
Bethany BrookshireMar 11

“we took the sensor out of the chamber, and we were like, ‘Screw it. We’re going to try to measure a fart.’” So Hall stuck the device down his own pants and let rip. “And the signal was enormous.”

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/smart-underwear-human-fart-frequency

‘Smart underwear’ measures how often humans fart

“Zen digesters” rarely fart. “Hydrogen hyperproducers” fart a lot. Scientists are investigating what is typical.

Science News
Bethany BrookshireMar 11

You know how if you put your tongue on a freezing cold pole it'll stick?

It is called "tundra tongue"

And there's RESEARCH about it. With images of disembodied pig tongues that you will never unsee, thank you @jenlucpiquant.bsky.social https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/03/exploring-the-science-of-tundra-tongue/

Don't lick that cold metal pole in winter—if you do, don't panic

Highest risk of part of tongue being torn off is with temps between -5° and -15° C (23° to 5 °F).

Ars Technica
Bethany BrookshireMar 5

Humans might show commitment with a ring, penguins offer prospective mates rocks and some beetles gift a ball of dung. Wood-feeding cockroaches show commitment with a nibble of cannibalism.

You will never see a harder-core pre-nup.

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/cockroach-eat-wings-bond-fight-together

Cockroaches that eat each other’s wings turn into a fierce fighting force

The wood-feeding cockroach’s cannibalistic love bites lead to a lasting bond. Afterward, the pair prefer each other over all other roaches.

Science News
Bethany BrookshireMar 4

Humans sometimes say "if you love someone, set them free"

Wood-eating cockroaches, however, would say "if you love someone, eat their wings" https://www.sciencenews.org/article/cockroach-eat-wings-bond-fight-together

Cockroaches that eat each other’s wings turn into a fierce fighting force

The wood-feeding cockroach’s cannibalistic love bites lead to a lasting bond. Afterward, the pair prefer each other over all other roaches.

Science News