Maya Wei-Haas, PhD

Hiya! I've been quiet here, but want to fix that. SO let me re-introduce myself: I'm a freelance writer who revels in the weird and wonderful on our world and beyond! I write about all things geology/Earth science and dabble in early humans. Words at NYT, Science Mag, Natgeo, Smithsonian, & more ⚒️

I'm working on an amethyst entry for my NatGeo Book on Gems/Minerals/Rocks of the world and had to check how quartz did in #MinCup26. I'm SO late to the news, but yay it won! #FunFact: amethyst comes from the Greek "amethystos" meaning "not drunk" bc the ancients thought it warded off drunkenness ⚒️

On this topic: I’m currently hunting for scientists in this realm who are willing to let me tag along for field/lab work next year. Are you breaking down plate tectonics? Mantle dynamics? Hot spot volcanism? Those giant blobs near the core? Diamonds, ophiolites, xenoliths or other things! Hit me up!

BIG NEWS! I’m writing a book about the amazing processes of the deep Earth that shaped the surface as we know it. We’ll venture from the crust to the core, examining the surprising links that connect us to Earth’s deepest reaches. I’m so excited to dig in! ⚒️🧪🪨🌎🌋

So excited to share that I served as a subject matter expert for Crash Course's new Geology series! Helping lay out & shape these 25 episodes with an incredible team (and host Sage!) was a dream. 16 episodes are live right now—check them out! 🌋🪨⚒️🧪 www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...

So excited to share that I served as a subject matter expert for Crash Course's new Geology series! Helping lay out & shape these 25 episodes with an incredible team (and host Sage!) was a dream. 16 episodes are live right now—check them out! 🌋🪨⚒️🧪 www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...

Mineralogists out there - Help!! I'm writing a script for SciShow that has a ton of names of otherworldly minerals (things like Elaliite, Panguite, Changesite-Y) and I need to include a guide for pronunciations. I can't find any good sourcing online. Any suggestions on where to find this?? ⚒️🧪

Absolutely devastating story about a gene-editing trial that killed a 6-year-old girl in China. A Nature paper from the researchers glossed over the death, and the researchers responsible have fallen silent in the family's demands to take accountability. www.science.org/content/arti...

Sorry, I've been MIA. I've been a little preoccupied :) We're equal parts exhausted and enthralled with a new tiny human. She's full of spice, and I love her more than I knew I could. There will be more from me soon — I have new projects on the horizon that I can't wait to share with you!

Seismic monitoring stations in Alaska are closing after a denied federal grant, risking delayed tsunami warnings for people living on the West Coast ⚒️ www.nbcnews.com/science/tsun...

Kīlauea episode 35 has arrived. The double fountain shot is from one of the HVO interns, Christina. All are taken from the public viewing areas.

For those who are curious about the #qld earthquake on Saturday morning here is an article in the @aunz.theconversation.com written by @deeninis.bsky.social and @mojtabarajabi.bsky.social - why does Australia get earthquakes when it isn’t close to any plate boundaries? Read to find out more.

Question for geologists studying zircons: I remember hearing that zircons are sometimes picked using a brush that has a single hair. But I can't find where I noted this in my interviews. Can anyone verify that this is a real scientific practice or am I just crazy?? ⚒️🧪🙏

My ongoing request: If your NSF or NIH grant was terminated--whether at Harvard or elsewhere--please report it here. NSF: grant-watch.us/submit-nsf.h... NIH: grant-watch.us/submit-nih.h... Our trackers are actively used in lawsuits and are often the only record that terminations ever occurred.

Elon Musk's DOGE has spent the last several months dismantling the departments & agencies that regulate HIS businesses. Our report found that Musk has a direct business interest in over 70% of the agencies & departments DOGE targeted. The conflicts of interest are endless.

@aaup.bsky.social is leading the fight against the attacks of the Trump/Musk administration against science and free speech at Universities. if you are a faculty member, join them! I joined @unc-ch-aaup.bsky.social in April! www.aaup.org

Go for the science, stay for the worm BBQ. This is incredible!

**BIG NEWS in the geology world!** For the first time, scientists spotted an active eruption along the mid-ocean ridge!! They visited the hydrothermal vent the day before, where a vibrant ecosystem thrived in the sweltering water. The next day, everything was gone. ⚒️🧪 My latest for @nytimes.com

It break my heart after reading a story like this today - such cool, exciting NSF research, and it's going to be lost. The world will be a much poorer place for it. Just imagine having fewer stories like this to read in the years to come: bsky.app/profile/maya...

**BIG NEWS in the geology world!** For the first time, scientists spotted an active eruption along the mid-ocean ridge!! They visited the hydrothermal vent the day before, where a vibrant ecosystem thrived in the sweltering water. The next day, everything was gone. ⚒️🧪 My latest for @nytimes.com

This short story packs in a lot: Conflicts over oil/gas drilling near sacred lands, debates about genetics and the US legal system, genetic research's dark past/exploitation of indigenous peoples, and the smallest Pueblo tribe fighting to get their voices heard. My latest for @science.org

This short story packs in a lot: Conflicts over oil/gas drilling near sacred lands, debates about genetics and the US legal system, genetic research's dark past/exploitation of indigenous peoples, and the smallest Pueblo tribe fighting to get their voices heard. My latest for @science.org

I have a silly question — I've always pronounced Mafic like MAY-Fic, with the first part like the month MAY (As far as I can remember, all of my geo professors said it this way too?!) But I just saw that the Cambridge dictionary has the correct pronunciation as MAH-fic. Which way is right?? ⚒️

Are you planning to travel this year? Dreaming of the Caribbean? Sipping wine in Italy? Venturing around New Zealand? All these places (and many more tourist hotspots) are at risk of earthquakes. Check out my latest for @nytimes.com for tips on staying safe 🧪 ⚒️ www.nytimes.com/2025/04/08/t...

Fellow intrepid travelers to earthquake places @mayaweihaas.bsky.social has ideas for readiness. It was fun share with her how I think about it. 🧪🥾 #travel #earthquake #adventure

What do you do if you’re in another country and you feel an earthquake? This concise, timely article from @mayaweihaas.bsky.social gives advice on how to be prepared for earthquakes when traveling. TL:DR - know before you go. ⚒️ www.nytimes.com/2025/04/08/t...

Even if you don’t live in “earthquake country,” the places you travel to for work or fun may have earthquake hazards. Learn more here…

A 4.3 and a 4.7 earthquake, two minutes apart, 2 km NNE of Reykjanestá in Iceland 15 minutes ago. Largest events in the current sequence up until now. 🌋⚒️ en.vedur.is/earthquakes-...

Impressive rupture 👇 for 28/03 #Myanmar #earthquake. Straight, simple. ⚒️ 🧪 It extends far to the south, much further than initially thought. Suggests that large part of segment broken in 1930 (Pyu quake) broke again. In addition to 1839 one of course. Congrats @zaxonlee.bsky.social for this work

Still hunting for anyone willing to share stories about experiencing earthquakes while they were traveling for a NYT story. Any leads or suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Have you experienced an earthquake while you were traveling either in the US or overseas? I'd love to hear from you for a story I'm working on for the New York Times! Feel free to DM or email at: mweihaas@gmail.com ⚒️🧪

Have you experienced an earthquake while you were traveling either in the US or overseas? I'd love to hear from you for a story I'm working on for the New York Times! Feel free to DM or email at: mweihaas@gmail.com ⚒️🧪

Hundreds of international students have just received an email telling them their visas have been revoked. The ‘justification’ is campus activism or social media posts. timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/hun...

These days, every headline reads like something out of The Onion. Example #995,678:

The Trump administration's efforts to end DEI programs is hitting some unexpected targets, including a nationwide effort planting shade trees in neighborhoods to reduce extreme heat.

I also recently discovered I needed an MMR booster shot. Thankfully, I'm now all up to date! It's a good idea to get this checked out, especially if you're born between 1957 and 1989. More about that in this recent slate story: slate.com/technology/2...

For anyone with kiddos interested in rocks and nature—I've got an event for you! I'll be at Bards Alley Bookshop in Vienna, VA this Saturday for an event with What a Rock Can Reveal! There will be lots of hands on activities and fun rocks and minerals to play with. I'd love to see you all there!! 🧪⚒️

For anyone with kiddos interested in rocks and nature—I've got an event for you! I'll be at Bards Alley Bookshop in Vienna, VA this Saturday for an event with What a Rock Can Reveal! There will be lots of hands on activities and fun rocks and minerals to play with. I'd love to see you all there!! 🧪⚒️

I also recently discovered I needed an MMR booster shot. Thankfully, I'm now all up to date! It's a good idea to get this checked out, especially if you're born between 1957 and 1989. More about that in this recent slate story: slate.com/technology/2...

📢 Job Alert! We are looking for a Post-Doc / Research associate (f/m/d) in the field of #MarineGeochemistry at the International Core Repository at the Universität Bremen (A126-25). ⏰ Application- #Deadline is April 1st 2025 Find out more here ➡ www.marum.de/jobs #jobs #wearehiring #Science