Allison Parshall
@parshallison.bsky.social
Mind and brain news editor at Scientific American. Follow for weekly science quizzes! Views are my own.
Reposted by Allison Parshall
Marcel Proust so famously wrote of the rush of memories invoked by smelling and eating a madeleine cake that the phenomenon of scent-induced nostalgia became known as "Proust's madeleine." Now neuroscientists have figured out how it works in the brain.
Neuroscientists pinpoint how smells bring back childhood memories
Smell can bring back vivid childhood memories—the so-called “Proust’s madeleine” phenomenon—and neuroscientists now think they know why
www.scientificamerican.com
July 30, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Marcel Proust so famously wrote of the rush of memories invoked by smelling and eating a madeleine cake that the phenomenon of scent-induced nostalgia became known as "Proust's madeleine." Now neuroscientists have figured out how it works in the brain.
Reposted by Allison Parshall
In late June, Springer Nature sold Scientific American to LabX Media. I have since decided to step out of my role as a senior graphics editor for the magazine :: #sciart 📊 🧪 :: 🧵 [1/7]
July 6, 2026 at 1:04 PM
In late June, Springer Nature sold Scientific American to LabX Media. I have since decided to step out of my role as a senior graphics editor for the magazine :: #sciart 📊 🧪 :: 🧵 [1/7]
Come take my Science Quiz! I have a ton of fun writing these every week -- share your score in the comments
Happy Friday! Test your knowledge of recent science news with our weekly quiz and let us know how you do
Science Quiz
Put your science knowledge to the test with this week’s news quiz. Play now.
www.scientificamerican.com
May 29, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Come take my Science Quiz! I have a ton of fun writing these every week -- share your score in the comments
Reposted by Allison Parshall
Scientific American spoke to one of the people who are currently being monitored for possible hantavirus infection at the National Quarantine Unit in Nebraska--here's his story
“I could be in this room for 42 days and literally not get to breathe fresh air.” What it’s like quarantining for hantavirus
Scientific American spoke to one of the people who are currently being monitored for possible hantavirus infection at the National Quarantine Unit in Nebraska
www.scientificamerican.com
May 19, 2026 at 7:33 PM
Scientific American spoke to one of the people who are currently being monitored for possible hantavirus infection at the National Quarantine Unit in Nebraska--here's his story
Reposted by Allison Parshall
The filmmaker behind the newly released movie Silent Friend shares the scientific and historical inspiration for its story of botanical consciousness
Can plants have consciousness? The film Silent Friend reimagines the science
The filmmaker behind the newly released movie Silent Friend shares the scientific and historical inspiration for its story of botanical consciousness
www.scientificamerican.com
May 15, 2026 at 6:11 PM
The filmmaker behind the newly released movie Silent Friend shares the scientific and historical inspiration for its story of botanical consciousness
Reposted by Allison Parshall
Hantavirus misinformation is spreading fast. COVID trauma and social media algorithms may be to blame
How to arm yourself against hantavirus misinformation
Hantavirus misinformation is spreading fast. COVID trauma and social media algorithms may be to blame
www.scientificamerican.com
May 15, 2026 at 6:29 PM
Hantavirus misinformation is spreading fast. COVID trauma and social media algorithms may be to blame
Reposted by Allison Parshall
At SciAm, we've been covering the hantavirus outbreak since it began: www.scientificamerican.com/hantavirus/. As we continue our reporting, we want to know--what questions you do you have about the virus, the outbreak, and what it means for public health?
May 15, 2026 at 6:47 PM
At SciAm, we've been covering the hantavirus outbreak since it began: www.scientificamerican.com/hantavirus/. As we continue our reporting, we want to know--what questions you do you have about the virus, the outbreak, and what it means for public health?
Reposted by Allison Parshall
Several teams appeared to spend the second half of the U.S. professional basketball season losing games on purpose for a better chance at a high draft pick. New ideas propose to fix this incentive problem
Tanking is ruining NBA basketball. Can math save it?
Several teams appeared to spend the second half of the U.S. professional basketball season losing games on purpose for a better chance at a high draft pick. New ideas propose to fix this incentive pro...
www.scientificamerican.com
May 11, 2026 at 5:37 PM
Several teams appeared to spend the second half of the U.S. professional basketball season losing games on purpose for a better chance at a high draft pick. New ideas propose to fix this incentive problem
Reposted by Allison Parshall
Thank you to @sciam.bsky.social for letting me dig into the protein enhancement fad.
1. If you are an elite athlete, OR elderly/frail, maybe you do need extra protein.
2. That's not you. You're not an elite athlete.
3. If it is you: consider yogurt.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/prot...
1. If you are an elite athlete, OR elderly/frail, maybe you do need extra protein.
2. That's not you. You're not an elite athlete.
3. If it is you: consider yogurt.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/prot...
Are protein-boosted foods and drinks actually more healthy?
Extra protein can be found in everything now, from potato chips to Pop-Tarts. Does this benefit the average eater?
www.scientificamerican.com
May 11, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Thank you to @sciam.bsky.social for letting me dig into the protein enhancement fad.
1. If you are an elite athlete, OR elderly/frail, maybe you do need extra protein.
2. That's not you. You're not an elite athlete.
3. If it is you: consider yogurt.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/prot...
1. If you are an elite athlete, OR elderly/frail, maybe you do need extra protein.
2. That's not you. You're not an elite athlete.
3. If it is you: consider yogurt.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/prot...
Reposted by Allison Parshall
Come hangout with me and these amazing panelists at @greenlightbklyn.bsky.social June 1st 7:30pm 📚🧪
@sciam.bsky.social will be kicking off our first-ever Summer Reading Challenge 💫
www.eventbrite.com/e/scientific...
@sciam.bsky.social will be kicking off our first-ever Summer Reading Challenge 💫
www.eventbrite.com/e/scientific...
Scientific American Nonfiction Panel: Summer Reading Launch!
Scientific American launches their Summer Reading Challenge with a new nonfiction panel, highlighting some of the season's best releases!
www.eventbrite.com
May 7, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Come hangout with me and these amazing panelists at @greenlightbklyn.bsky.social June 1st 7:30pm 📚🧪
@sciam.bsky.social will be kicking off our first-ever Summer Reading Challenge 💫
www.eventbrite.com/e/scientific...
@sciam.bsky.social will be kicking off our first-ever Summer Reading Challenge 💫
www.eventbrite.com/e/scientific...
Reposted by Allison Parshall
Just in case you missed it over the weekend, here's my thoughts for @sciam.bsky.social about how the Artemis II mission is, at its core, a reminder of why we love the moon.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/nasa...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/nasa...
Artemis II reveals why humans still love the moon
The triumph of NASA’s first crewed lunar mission in a half-century is a reminder of what the moon really means for Earth—and why we’re going back
www.scientificamerican.com
April 13, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Just in case you missed it over the weekend, here's my thoughts for @sciam.bsky.social about how the Artemis II mission is, at its core, a reminder of why we love the moon.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/nasa...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/nasa...
Reposted by Allison Parshall
Hello, Bluesky! We, the staff of Scientific American, are pleased to announce we have formed a union with @wgaeast.bsky.social. Just as mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell, we are the powerhouse of the publication, and we’re excited to have a new way to contribute to its success.
April 13, 2026 at 6:44 PM
Hello, Bluesky! We, the staff of Scientific American, are pleased to announce we have formed a union with @wgaeast.bsky.social. Just as mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell, we are the powerhouse of the publication, and we’re excited to have a new way to contribute to its success.
Reposted by Allison Parshall
Now on @sciam.bsky.social: Have you been feeling "moon joy" about NASA's Artemis II lunar mission? If so, you might want to hang onto it as long as possible, because it seems to be rather good for you. By @parshallison.bsky.social.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/what...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/what...
‘Moon joy’ and the overview effect—how views from space change us
Artemis II’s views from space trigger a special type of awe. Psychologists suggest holding onto it
www.scientificamerican.com
April 13, 2026 at 3:53 PM
Now on @sciam.bsky.social: Have you been feeling "moon joy" about NASA's Artemis II lunar mission? If so, you might want to hang onto it as long as possible, because it seems to be rather good for you. By @parshallison.bsky.social.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/what...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/what...
Reposted by Allison Parshall
This is Sadie. She was finally reunited with her human, astronaut Christina Koch, after her mom’s voyage around the moon took her the furthest any human has ever been from their dog. She can't wait to hear all about the universe. 14/10 (IG: astro_christina)
April 13, 2026 at 3:21 PM
This is Sadie. She was finally reunited with her human, astronaut Christina Koch, after her mom’s voyage around the moon took her the furthest any human has ever been from their dog. She can't wait to hear all about the universe. 14/10 (IG: astro_christina)
Reposted by Allison Parshall
A new study of AI sycophancy shows how asking agreeable chatbots for advice can change your behavior
AITA? AI won’t tell you, and it’s affecting behavior and relationships
A new study of AI sycophancy shows how asking agreeable chatbots for advice can change your behavior
www.scientificamerican.com
March 26, 2026 at 6:54 PM
A new study of AI sycophancy shows how asking agreeable chatbots for advice can change your behavior
Reposted by Allison Parshall
Excited to share this piece by @parshallison.bsky.social and me in the April issue of @sciam.bsky.social. This is my fav type of #dataviz challenge: tackling a concept that is complex, fascinating, and that I haven’t seen represented in this way before. 📊 🧪 www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-...
What 39 traits reveal about the autism spectrum
The autism spectrum is big, vibrant and complicated, a new graphic of 39 traits shows
www.scientificamerican.com
March 17, 2026 at 6:05 PM
Excited to share this piece by @parshallison.bsky.social and me in the April issue of @sciam.bsky.social. This is my fav type of #dataviz challenge: tackling a concept that is complex, fascinating, and that I haven’t seen represented in this way before. 📊 🧪 www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-...
People often talk about the autism spectrum as if it's a simple sliding scale from "more autistic" to "less." This isn't true — the spectrum is dizzyingly complex, and @unamandita.bsky.social and I set out to visualize this in SciAm's April issue:
www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-...
What 39 traits reveal about the autism spectrum
The autism spectrum is big, vibrant and complicated, a new graphic of 39 traits shows
www.scientificamerican.com
March 18, 2026 at 5:16 PM
People often talk about the autism spectrum as if it's a simple sliding scale from "more autistic" to "less." This isn't true — the spectrum is dizzyingly complex, and @unamandita.bsky.social and I set out to visualize this in SciAm's April issue:
www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-...
Reposted by Allison Parshall
As we get ready to watch Ilia Malinin skate, please read this fascinating piece by my colleague @parshallison.bsky.social about how the self-appointed Quad God is able to do what he does. And how figure skaters have been able to land progressively more difficult jumps. ⛸️ 🧪
How the ‘Quad God’ cracked a seemingly impossible jump
How do figure skaters like Ilia Malinin keep landing harder and harder jumps?
www.scientificamerican.com
February 10, 2026 at 8:49 PM
As we get ready to watch Ilia Malinin skate, please read this fascinating piece by my colleague @parshallison.bsky.social about how the self-appointed Quad God is able to do what he does. And how figure skaters have been able to land progressively more difficult jumps. ⛸️ 🧪
Reposted by Allison Parshall
Got kind of obsessed with Connor Storrie's accent in Heated Rivalry so me and @parshallison.bsky.social interviewed the show's dialect coach
Science Quickly
Science Quickly brings you fresh discoveries and cutting-edge science stories. Host Rachel Feltman unpacks complex ideas with clarity, making it easy to stay informed and inspired—no science backgroun...
www.scientificamerican.com
February 11, 2026 at 11:48 PM
Got kind of obsessed with Connor Storrie's accent in Heated Rivalry so me and @parshallison.bsky.social interviewed the show's dialect coach
My feature is on the cover of @sciam.bsky.social !!
This is one of the more fascinating, maddening, mind-boggling stories I've reported in a long time. Please come on this journey with me.
This is one of the more fascinating, maddening, mind-boggling stories I've reported in a long time. Please come on this journey with me.
On the cover of our new issue--will brain science deliver answers about consciousness or hit another wall?
Inside the incredible, infuriating quest to explain consciousness
Will brain science deliver answers about consciousness or hit another wall?
www.scientificamerican.com
January 20, 2026 at 7:56 PM
My feature is on the cover of @sciam.bsky.social !!
This is one of the more fascinating, maddening, mind-boggling stories I've reported in a long time. Please come on this journey with me.
This is one of the more fascinating, maddening, mind-boggling stories I've reported in a long time. Please come on this journey with me.
Reposted by Allison Parshall
Lost in the Stock
Figuring out what’s actually in a box of chicken stock shouldn’t be that hard. Right?
www.eater.com/23552129/wha...
--> A wonderful look at the reality of reporting, as well as a insightful plunge into the abyss of Big Food. Answers all your questions about canned broth.
Figuring out what’s actually in a box of chicken stock shouldn’t be that hard. Right?
www.eater.com/23552129/wha...
--> A wonderful look at the reality of reporting, as well as a insightful plunge into the abyss of Big Food. Answers all your questions about canned broth.
What’s in Store-Bought Chicken Stock, and Why Are Brands so Secretive About It?
A long, winding journey to find out why companies treat their chicken broth recipes like state secrets.
www.eater.com
December 9, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Lost in the Stock
Figuring out what’s actually in a box of chicken stock shouldn’t be that hard. Right?
www.eater.com/23552129/wha...
--> A wonderful look at the reality of reporting, as well as a insightful plunge into the abyss of Big Food. Answers all your questions about canned broth.
Figuring out what’s actually in a box of chicken stock shouldn’t be that hard. Right?
www.eater.com/23552129/wha...
--> A wonderful look at the reality of reporting, as well as a insightful plunge into the abyss of Big Food. Answers all your questions about canned broth.
Reposted by Allison Parshall
It's been thought since the early 70s that eukaryotes (basically any life with a cell nucleus) wouldn't survive above 62C and no complex life had been shown living above 60C. Until the "fire amoeba"... 🧪
(These are some of my favorite stories to write, just weird neat stuff we're learning.)
(These are some of my favorite stories to write, just weird neat stuff we're learning.)
This Tiny ‘Fire Amoeba’ Just Redefined Life’s Limits
It was thought that complex cells couldn’t survive above a certain temperature, but a tiny amoeba has proven that assumption wrong
www.scientificamerican.com
December 5, 2025 at 4:18 PM
It's been thought since the early 70s that eukaryotes (basically any life with a cell nucleus) wouldn't survive above 62C and no complex life had been shown living above 60C. Until the "fire amoeba"... 🧪
(These are some of my favorite stories to write, just weird neat stuff we're learning.)
(These are some of my favorite stories to write, just weird neat stuff we're learning.)
Happy Halloween 🦇🦇🦇 Horror movie music can be deeply unsettling. Here's how composers achieve that effect www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-... 🧪
Why Horror Movie Music Sends a Chill Up Your Spine
Horror movie composers use musical tricks to hijack your nervous system and put you on edge
www.scientificamerican.com
October 31, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Happy Halloween 🦇🦇🦇 Horror movie music can be deeply unsettling. Here's how composers achieve that effect www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-... 🧪
Reposted by Allison Parshall
Horror movie composers use musical tricks to hijack your nervous system and put you on edge
Why Horror Movie Music Sends a Chill Up Your Spine
Horror movie composers use musical tricks to hijack your nervous system and put you on edge
www.scientificamerican.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Horror movie composers use musical tricks to hijack your nervous system and put you on edge
Reposted by Allison Parshall
A special class of immune proteins protect us from pathogens but also drive inflammation and cell death
Cells Have a Death Switch That Protects Us from Viruses but Also Leads to Aging
A special class of immune proteins protect us from pathogens but also drive inflammation and cell death
www.scientificamerican.com
October 20, 2025 at 1:36 PM
A special class of immune proteins protect us from pathogens but also drive inflammation and cell death