Bethany Brookshire
Staff Writer, Science News for Students, 2013–2021
Bethany Brookshire was the staff writer at Science News for Students from 2013 to 2021. She has a B.S. in biology and a B.A. in philosophy from The College of William and Mary, and a Ph.D. in physiology and pharmacology from Wake Forest University School of Medicine. She is also a host on the podcast Science for the People, and a 2019-2020 MIT Knight Science Journalism Fellow.

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All Stories by Bethany Brookshire
- Life
Thank insects and microbes that we aren’t over our knees in feces
Ever wondered why you’re not drowning in poop? Scientists harnessed the power of citizen science to find the beetles and microbes we can thank for that.
- Psychology
Do you want the good news or the bad news first?
Do you want to hear the good news or the bad news first? A new study purports to answer the question. But can we apply this to how we deliver news? Well, I have good news, and I have bad news.
- Animals
The hottest guy guppies stand out in a crowd
A new study shows that sexy male guppies are the ones who stand out the most, the rarest in the crowd. But what is the rare male effect for?
- Paleontology
Oldest bug bonk
Preserved as fossils, two insects remain caught in the act 165 million years later.
- Health & Medicine
The future of the robotic leg
While robotic legs have come incredibly far, the next step, integrating the function into the rest of the body, still has a way to go.
- Animals
The reefs are alive with the sound of oysters
How does an oyster figure out where to settle down in life? It listens for where the party’s at. A new study shows that oyster larvae can detect sound in the water.
- Animals
Wag the dog: When left vs. right matters
Most of us see a wagging dog’s tail and automatically think it’s a good sign. But are some wags more friendly than others? A new study says yes.
- Animals
Making a snake spectacle
Snakes have a thin layer over their eyes filled with blood vessels. A scientist has shown how snakes control those blood vessels to help them see.
- Neuroscience
Mining mouse movements to make more meds
Animal models are a great way to look at psychoactive drugs and how they work. A new paper purports to simplify it all down to one test.
- Animals
Don’t mount so fast! That bug could be a boy
Many insect males show same-sex mating behavior. What’s the cause? What’s the benefit? Is it real? Or are the bugs just in too much of a rush to stop?
- Humans
What makes a face go round
Genetic enhancers acting far away from their intended genes can help shape a face during development.
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Scicurious arrives!
Blogger Bethany Brookshire has joined Science News as its science education writer. With her expertise she brings her popular blog Scicurious to SN.