Elizabeth Preston

@inkfish
813 Followers
120 Following
69 Posts
Freelance science journalist for the NYT, Boston Globe, etc. Humor writer at McSweeney's. Aspiring cephalopod. Writing a book about the evolution of parenting.
Websitehttps://elizabethgpreston.com/
Twitterhttps://twitter.com/Inkfish
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Elizabeth PrestonJun 2, 2023
One thing about being from a place like Syracuse, NY, is that it only makes the national news when something deranged happens in a neighboring suburb (such as three teenagers killing and eating a celebrity swan under the impression that it was a large duck): https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/01/nyregion/manlius-ny-swan-eaten.html
3 Teens Killed and Ate a New York Village’s Beloved Swan, Police Say

The teenagers told the police that they thought the swan was a “very large duck,” and were not aware of the significance of swans to the village of Manlius.

The New York Times
Elizabeth PrestonMay 11, 2023
Boost your stinging-insect savvy with this interactive quiz I wrote for the NYT!
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/05/11/science/murder-hornets-wasps.html
Can You Pick a ‘Murder Hornet’ Out of a Lineup?

As spring gives way to summer, you're sure to notice wasps and hornets buzzing around you. Test your identification skills.

The New York Times
Elizabeth PrestonMay 11, 2023
bug_gwen 🪲May 11, 2023
Can you pick a "murder hornet" out of a lineup? A fun interactive quiz! https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/05/11/science/murder-hornets-wasps.html
Can You Pick a ‘Murder Hornet’ Out of a Lineup?

As spring gives way to summer, you're sure to notice wasps and hornets buzzing around you. Test your identification skills.

The New York Times
Elizabeth PrestonMay 8, 2023
bug_gwen 🪲May 8, 2023
Much more interesting news about kings and queens: termites! https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/05/science/termite-kings.html
All Hail the King (of the Termites)

The bugs are unique among colony-forming insects in that their queens cannot rule without a king.

The New York Times
Elizabeth PrestonMay 7, 2023
In our third week of household #covid and I’m on my way for groceries because I’m the only one negative. I’m supposed to be writing a book and haven’t touched it in weeks. Toddler will be home again tomorrow. Kindergartener’s school wants her to come back on day 6 regardless of testing. And we’re supposed to do this over and over until…??
Elizabeth PrestonMay 5, 2023

Wrote this story with Covid, and without childcare, because I couldn't turn down such a delightful assignment (evolutionary biology PLUS jokes about the monarchy??):

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/05/science/termite-kings.html?unlocked_article_code=MDlp5ItBrfuyTrlCzI4t4WuWG2iAkBM9Z-Yb8ep0BHSb1-t6bViNIhPwlHEXrJ99q_2uv4ROBsPytSnNZFoe0mKg4LM7apb8PiO-vkkEMcrBI_aSwbMxrM-Lor3gxP6MSiuBsu-IOkUf4d1VRTA3KVfhUHdkt7gVg64gbhk5LKfBdpsuYRzo9lG3Dct2RZb9kVWlM_bvvlQ5_fpgan7MXhvEFFbY22xt_6pWbNkcDOO_AaskZiAQBCsEu-VJeYJo_p8A1FySQ6ipvz65dysIOXFSX-hzS-10CsOtVRmZoZsjFfKw5N1GbN1TW_gB7pboIDMmvcNHZw&smid=url-share

All Hail the King (of the Termites)

The bugs are unique among colony-forming insects in that their queens cannot rule without a king.

The New York Times
Show threadElizabeth PrestonApr 30, 2023
@coreyspowell I also have my first infection now! (clinking tea mugs) Didn't let down my guard so much as continued to live with my children, ha. Feel better soon.
Elizabeth PrestonApr 27, 2023

This Nextdoor post is a JOURNEY.

#nextdoor #vegetarian #mysonisadrinker #faxmachine

Elizabeth PrestonApr 25, 2023
Nuke the LukeApr 25, 2023
Powering a midsize city with the wind generated by Nate Silver’s inevitable rush to substack
Show threadElizabeth PrestonApr 25, 2023
@r_heisman Everyone else in my family had various other ailments last week, including one barfing on me, but all of their PCRs came back negative! What the hell. Hope you guy are all feeling better soon!