Annie Roth

Were Neanderthal men the Romeos of the prehistoric world? When ancient humans interbred, new research shows that the pairings were predominantly male Neanderthals and female Homo sapiens.

Human women are hot (duh), and Neanderthal men thought so too, according to a new study that I covered for Nat Geo.

www.nationalgeographic.com/history/arti...

The social team for the U.S men’s Olympic hockey team has turned off comments on all their posts celebrating the win due to backlash over footage of the team partying with Kash Patel and making fun of the US women’s Olympic hockey team on a call with Trump. #olympics #hockey

Interesting, cause based on the footage is was all about supporting MAGA and belittling the US women’s Olympic hockey team.

It was great working with you Liz!

Why does sound startle these caterpillars even though they don't have ears? Tobacco hornworm caterpillars have no organs that resemble ears. Yet, scientists were able to figure out how they hear—and it could inspire next generation microphones.

Great working with @annieroth.bsky.social on this story about caterpillar hearing:

www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...

Where and who is selling it ?

I'm looking for animal studies to cover again! Hit me up!

Seems like updates on this situation are hard to comeby. Thanks tho!

Does anyone have an update on the orcas at the abandoned aquarium in France? Are they still there?

Watch Veronika the brown cow pick up a rake to scratch herself—a scientific first Veronika the cow has learned to scratch herself with deck brushes and other tools. Scientists took note.

Moooving on to less annoying news..

For the first time, scientists have documented a cow using a tool.

“(Their) discovery not only shows that cows are smarter than we think they are, but also that other cows could develop similar skills, given the chance.”

By Annie Roth via
National Geographic

How to Kill a Million Sea Stars - bioGraphic Synthetic pheromones offer a promising new means of controlling troublesome crown-of-thorns starfish.

Scientists have "a new way to help control crown-of-thorns starfish—one that co-opts the animals’ own communication systems to lure them to their deaths. "

www.biographic.com/how-to-kill-...

Australians “have been fighting against [COTS] for 50 years,” Cummins says. “It’s an exciting time.”

Seals - Clowns of the Sea on Curiosity Stream.

And while you're there, check out Little Penguin Love Island!

curiositystream.com/title/video/...

When you and the boys are trying to enjoy some fondue, but it's forbidden

Chimpanzees are better at solving resource dilemmas in larger, more tolerant groups Despite being one of the most cooperative species on the planet, humans routinely fail to manage shared resources sustainably. We overfish from the oceans, burn fossil fuels, and over-prescribe antibi...

The scientific illustration for this paper is sending me. Post your best caption below

phys.org/news/2026-01...

How to Kill a Million Sea Stars - bioGraphic Synthetic pheromones offer a promising new means of controlling troublesome crown-of-thorns starfish.

How to Kill a Million Sea Stars

Synthetic pheromones offer a promising new means of controlling troublesome crown-of-thorns starfish.

www.biographic.com/how-to-kill-...

I'm looking for animal studies to cover again! Hit me up!

In the ocean's 'twilight zone,' divers risk their lives in search of mysteries For deep reef divers, descending into the ocean’s mesophotic layer can feel like exploring the moon. Discovering never-before-seen marine species is part of the mission.

For my latest NatGeo story, I traveled to Guam to watch scientists from the California Academy of Sciences dive a whopping 330 feet to sample a reef in the oceans mesophotic zone. What they found was astounding!

www.nationalgeographic.com/science/arti...

I know it’s 90’s night, but if I don’t hear t.A.T.u’s 2002 smash hit “All The Things She Said” tonight at the Shark Tank I’m gonna be so sad #SJSharks

🙂‍↕️

Omg Chris! Thank you so much!

Let's collab on a story!

Thanks for your great edits on this! We’re back baby! 👯‍♀️

Spooky will-o’-the-wisps finally explained A newly discovered molecular phenomenon is responsible for the spectral balls of light seen in swamps and cemeteries

No one has ever photographed a will-'o'-the-wisp, and their origins have been shrouded in mystery. Until now! @annieroth.bsky.social has the spooky season tale for @cenmag.bsky.social cen.acs.org/environment/... #halloween #spookyseason #chemsky

Spooky will-o’-the-wisps finally explained A newly discovered molecular phenomenon is responsible for the spectral balls of light seen in swamps and cemeteries

cen.acs.org/environment/...

At long last, scientists have figured out what causes will-o’-the-wisps. It’s not ghosts or ghouls, but a newly discovered phenomenon called “microlightning.” Learn more in my latest for @cenmag.bsky.social

‘The city that draws the line’: one Arizona community’s fight against a huge datacenter Questions grow over water and energy costs of warehouse of computers in Sonoran desert – but will Project Blue be stopped?

AWS is (reportedly) the company behind Project Blue, the huge data center that's going forward outside Tucson, AZ, despite community opposition.

Read all about it in my @theguardian.com feature.

#awsoutage
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Sea Otters Are Stealing Surfboards in California. Again.

“being an otter is not a crime”

Great reportage from @annieroth.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/s...

🥹

🫡

Sea Otters Are Stealing Surfboards in California. Again.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/s...

An unknown sea otter was spotted stealing surfboards at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz this week. Is 841 back to her old ways or have other otters learned to hang 10? Check out my latest for @nytimes.com

Save the microbes? The world’s smallest species may soon get protections. Researchers are calling for the conservation of teeny tiny organisms that normally get overlooked, and conservationists are listening.

TL;DR: Shout out to microbes, our tiny, invaluable allies!

Learn how scientists plan to protect them in my latest for Nat Geo
www.nationalgeographic.com/science/arti...

Idk who runs the @amnh.org social but they are crushing it.