Families have a huge influence over what jobs people choose. In my advice column this week, the first question is from someone who grew up in a grueling family business. They rejected that path but are now tempted to start their own business. Family of origin issues can sneak up on you! https://slate.com/advice/2026/03/work-advice-family-business-requirements-career.html
Laura Helmuth
@laurahelmuth
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Freelance editor, writer, columnist & consultant. Former editor in Chief of Scientific American, before that at the Washington Post, National Geographic, Slate, Smithsonian & Science. Birder.
I've been writing a work advice column for a year now. Here are some of the themes that pop up a lot, about communication, power, promotions, and more.
Work is a lot of work! It helps if we help each other.
https://lastwordonnothing.com/2026/02/09/five-pieces-of-work-advice-from-an-agony-aunt/
Work is a lot of work! It helps if we help each other.
https://lastwordonnothing.com/2026/02/09/five-pieces-of-work-advice-from-an-agony-aunt/
Five Pieces of Work Advice from an Agony Aunt - The Last Word On Nothing
Work is a lot of work. Most of us have to work for about half of our waking hours for about half of our lives. And they’re mostly not easy hours. Work can be full of conflicts, confusion, drama, trauma, and awkwardness. I started writing a work advice column a year ago for Slate to […]
If you or yours could use a fresh perspective on a work problem, here's where to submit questions for my "Good Job" advice column:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScAyhXmriThctO-0OxkZlSWl9hQahMA_AI1lVnC6e9LKId_Vw/viewform
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScAyhXmriThctO-0OxkZlSWl9hQahMA_AI1lVnC6e9LKId_Vw/viewform
I've been writing an advice column about work, and WOW people have a lot of problems at work.
This week, a newly promoted manager has former peers (who once seemed like friends!) who are not doing their jobs. Another letter writer wants to support a long-unemployed partner. And the third question involves mentoring someone who needs more confidence.
https://slate.com/advice/2026/02/work-advice-boyfriend-layoffs-unemployment-tech.html
This week, a newly promoted manager has former peers (who once seemed like friends!) who are not doing their jobs. Another letter writer wants to support a long-unemployed partner. And the third question involves mentoring someone who needs more confidence.
https://slate.com/advice/2026/02/work-advice-boyfriend-layoffs-unemployment-tech.html
One or more accounts have been impersonating me here on mastodon. Thanks very much to the people who flagged the fakes and got them suspended.
I stopped hanging out here after some chaos at the end of 2024, but after logging in to deal with the fakes, I remembered that it's nice here! I'm back and glad to be back.
I stopped hanging out here after some chaos at the end of 2024, but after logging in to deal with the fakes, I remembered that it's nice here! I'm back and glad to be back.
The International Space Station has been leaking for five years. This is a fun story about the decay of the ISS and the future (or not) of space habitats https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-international-space-station-has-been-leaking-for-five-years/
Almost everyone will eventually have to give or receive long-term health care. Harris's proposal for supporting at-home care got lost in the chaos of this month. Here's why it is SO important https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-harriss-medicare-plan-could-make-at-home-care-for-older-adults-easier/
Pound for pound, there is more gold in cell phones than in ore from a gold mine. Here's some good news about cleaner new techniques to extract gold from electronics (plus an explanation of the difference between adsorb and absorb) https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/this-sponge-pulls-gold-from-electronic-waste/
This is a good resource for undecided or unmotivated voters, or people talking with same: comprehensive analyses of what the 2024 election means for science, health care, technology, education, nuclear weapons and more (issues, not horse race nonsense) https://www.scientificamerican.com/report/how-the-2024-presidential-election-will-shape-science-health-and-the-environment/
How the 2024 Presidential Election Will Shape Science, Health and the Environment
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris represent very different futures when it comes to science-related policy issues that deeply affect our lives. Scientific American has rounded up the U.S. presidential candidates’ stances on some of the most important of these areas, including health care, reproductive rights, climate change, artificial intelligence, gun violence, nuclear weapons, education and immigration. Each article takes a deep dive, based on expert interviews and scientific consensus, into what a Trump or Harris presidency might mean for each of these issues during the next term—and possibly for years to come.
The only way to determine whether a new apple variety is worth cultivating is to taste it. An apple scientist told me: “At the peak of crunch times, I’ve had to taste 600 apples a day. The first 100 are okay, but after that, it gets to be real work.” https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/apples-have-never-tasted-so-delicious-heres-why/
