Author Archives

Madeline Shaw

Madeline is a New York-based journalist who covers a wide range of issues at the intersection of science, health and the environment, with an emphasis on conservation and biodiversity. Her work has been published in The New York Times, Inside Climate News, Mongabay and elsewhere.

The pink feathers of a flamingo stand out against a natural background.

Do state birds have a leg up in conservation?

Environment

Madeline Shaw • April 8, 2026

Public attention and pride could help support state mascots and the habitats they rely on

The spiral Andromeda galaxy shines against the darkness of space.

Is dark matter just an illusion?

Space, Physics, and Math

Madeline Shaw • January 30, 2026

The dark matter debate drags on with an unconventional cosmological model that claims to explain the strange behavior of galaxies

A close up image of the pollen in the center of a yellow flower.

Researchers create reef-safe sunscreen prototype from pollen

Environment

Madeline Shaw • January 20, 2026

How the “diamond of the organic world” could help protect skin from damaging UV rays

Air pollution linked to accelerated Alzheimer’s disease

Health

Madeline Shaw • November 8, 2025

New study shows breathing more air pollution also associated with faster cognitive decline

Illustration shows the three Nobel laureates for this year's prize in Chemistry. From left to right: Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M. Yaghi

2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry recognizes development of new molecular architecture

Blogs

Madeline Shaw • October 8, 2025

Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar Yaghi jointly awarded for their work developing new porous materials with wide-ranging applications