Asher Jones
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Science writer for @UPMCnews @PittHealthSci | @AAASMassMedia Fellow | PhD in Entomology | 🇳🇿➡️🇺🇲 | 🐛🐞🐝🌱👩🔬✍️ | she/her
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Articles by Asher Jones
Brown paint really is what it says on the tin: ‘The History of Art in One Sentence’ Off The Shelf Review
★★★★★ Variety Babbs is an art historian and comedian who has a range of achievements throughout her career so far – from exhibits at the Tate and the British Museum to the creation of the comedic events group Art Laughs. Her new book ‘The History of Art in One Sentence’ explores 50 art movements across 500 years. There is a comedic line throughout the talk that keeps the audience engaged and participating in the activities.
John Grindrod’s Tales of the Suburbs: Off The Shelf Review
Rating:★★★★☆ Stumbling upon this event as part of the Off The Shelf festival felt particularly fitting for the themes and stories told in John Grindrod’s Tales of the Suburbs. Although I have not read any of his previous works, understanding from the title and cover that this would be about the voices of queer people who have not previously received attention piqued my interest immediately. Grindrod discusses how he grew up in the suburbs of Croydon as a gay man.
“Simi becomes a friend or older sister”: ẸBỌ (The Offering) Review
Rating:★★★★☆ Hosted by Utopia Theatre, ẸBỌ (The Offering) is written by Bimbo Olorunmola and performed by Tosin Adeyemi. A self-funded work in progress that began its journey in Abuja, Nigeria and has begun its UK journey in Sheffield. Simi captures our attention from the start, offering versions of herself to people she interacts with throughout her life. No one version is her full self as she sits in her bedroom getting ready to attend her best friend’s wedding.
“A level of intimacy that stayed with me long after”: Review of Ijakadi
Rating: ★★★★★ Entering the Montgomery theatre, the awaiting audience was buzzing with conversation before Ijakadi, a Yoruba word meaning ‘the wrestle’, initially conceptualised and performed by a group of four, was performed as a one-person show. Julius Obende, the creator and performer, alongside Joshua Alabi, director and co-creator, brought this Work in Progress to Open Works Festival hosted by Sheffield Theatres.
Week 7 Clips
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Themes of identity “resonating on a very personal level”: Tuesdays At Tescos Review
Entering the Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse, the atmosphere was one of anticipation. The only actress in the performance was already on stage, with lighting and ambient music that enhanced the intended setting. There was minimal staging, with only a wooden high stool, a side table, and an armchair. Tuesdays at Tesco’s is a work in progress being shown as part of the Sheffield Theatre’s Open Works Festival.
Week 1-2 tape
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T cells ditch exhaustion marker to escape tumors and protect against cancer relapse
As the immune system battles cancer, chronic stimulation gradually drives T cells to a state of exhaustion. But some of these exhausted T cells can lose expression of the exhaustion marker LAG3, move out of the tumor and confer long-lasting immunity to cancer in mice, according to a surprising new study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine that describes a new method to track these cells for the first time. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest sci-tech news updates.
T cells ditch exhaustion marker to escape tumors and protect against cancer relapse
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain As the immune system battles cancer, chronic stimulation gradually drives T cells to a state of exhaustion. But some of these exhausted T cells can lose expression of the exhaustion marker LAG3, move out of the tumor and confer long-lasting immunity to cancer in mice, according to a surprising new study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine that describes a new method to track these cells for the first time.
Reinhard Hinterleitner won the Society for Mucosal Immunology Young Investigator Award
Reinhard Hinterleitner, associate professor in the School of Medicine’s Department of Immunology, has been selected to receive the Young Investigator Award from the Society for Mucosal Immunology. Established in 2017, the award honors investigators within 15 years of their postdoctoral experience who have made significant contributions to the field of mucosal immunology.
2 Pitt researchers received Cytokine Society awards
Two researchers in the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have received awards from The Cytokine Society. They will both be honored and speak at the Cytokines 2026 meeting Oct. 18-21 in Glasgow, Scotland. Victor S. Cortez, who joined the Department of Immunology as an assistant professor last year, received the 2026 Cytokine Society-Regeneron New Investigator Award for Excellence in Cytokine and Interferon Research.
Week 5 Highlights Asher Jones
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Scientists Find a Way to “Bulletproof” T Cells Against Cancer
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have discovered that the harsh environment inside tumors, characterized by low oxygen and high acidity, induces stress in T cells’ mitochondria, which then release reactive oxygen species (ROS) that damage telomeres and drive T cell exhaustion. Credit: Shutterstock Telomere damage drives T cell exhaustion. Antioxidants restored their cancer-fighting strength in mice. Tumor environments place heavy stress on immune cells that fight cancer.
Cross Country Hits the Starting Line
August 25, 2025 Dhara Patel The Cross Country team competes in the first meet of the season at Kingwood High School on Aug. 23. The cross country team plans to head into this season with determination, and confidence to help them succeed. The team already has history behind them, but they're not just thinking about the past. They want to continue building the school's legacy. "We want to be remembered as a 3-peat winning team which has never been done before in our district," Ervin said.
Pitt will continue bolstering Pennsylvania’s dental workforce with a new Regional Training Center
According to a recent study, nearly 25 million Americans live in areas where there are not enough dentists to serve the needs of the population. “In Pennsylvania, more than 1.5 million residents live in areas facing a dental shortage,” said Marnie Oakley, dean of Pitt’s School of Dental Medicine.
Some Gut Bacteria Could Make Certain Drugs Less Effective
By: Asher Jones A new study published April 3 in Nature Chemistry, by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and Yale University, shows how common gut bacteria can metabolize certain oral medications that target cellular receptors called GPCRs, potentially rendering these important drugs less effective.
Study Highlights Barriers to Including Non-English Speakers in Research
By Asher Jones Health research frequently excludes speakers of languages other than English (LOE) in their studies due to lack of training, challenges securing interpreter services, budget constraints and other barriers, according to a new study published March 28 in JAMA Network Open. “Non-English-speaking individuals are being excluded from research, and we wanted to understand why,” said senior author Maya Ragavan, associate professor of pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
New Pitt Study Highlights Scope of Economic Abuse in Teens
By Asher Jones Adolescence is a formative time for attaining education, gaining financial independence and building the foundations of a future career. At the same time, many young people are navigating their first romantic relationships.
Five New Papers Highlight Cancer Inequities, Challenges and Opportunities in South Asia
By Asher Jones and Cynthia Patton South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries — Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka — are shown in blue. Credit: Created with mapchart.net. A series of five papers, published Dec.
Study Untangles How COVID-19 Wreaks Widespread Damage in the Body
By Asher Jones New research published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences sheds light on the pathways that drive organ damage and death in severe COVID-19 and helps explain why survivors of the disease can experience long-term complications.
"A Study of Genetic Variation in Geographically Separated Populations o" by Asher Jones and Dr. Keith A. Crandall
Keywords genetic variation, geographically separated populations, Pediomelum pariense Abstract Pediomelum pariense, also known as Paria River Indian Breadroot, has been listed by NatureServe as an imperiled organism because of its low population numbers. However, no state or federal agency has made any effort to promote the preservation of this species. Ashley Egan, PhD, designed a study with the purpose of changing that.
Pitt Study Identifies Potential New Treatment for Liver Fibrosis
By Asher Jones New research from the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy sheds light on the processes that lead to liver fibrosis and suggests a novel treatment approach for this common and serious condition. Led by senior author Wen Xie, Joseph Koslow Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and cofirst authors Hung-Chun Tung, graduate student, and Jong-Won Kim, postdoctoral fellow, the study was recently published in Science Translational Medicine.
Pitt Launches New Center for Space Biomedicine With Afshin Beheshti at its Helm
By: Asher Jones Afshin Beheshti will lead biomedical research at Pitt as director of the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine’s new Center for Space Biomedicine, one pillar of the Pitt Space initiative that launched this month. The mission of the center, which also includes space engineering and space science, is to develop new technologies to make spaceflight safer for humans and bring those advances back down to Earth to address terrestrial health care challenges.
Community resources linked with better teen mental health
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Community resources linked with better teen mental health
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Youth living in neighborhoods with more community assets—such as parks, libraries, health services and transportation options—were less likely to report feelings of hopelessness, according to a new JAMA Network Open study from the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC.
New study supports annual breast cancer screening for women over 40
Women diagnosed with breast cancer who had regular screening mammograms every year were less likely to have late-stage cancer and had higher overall survival than those who received screening every other year or less often, according to new research from the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Moon Cycles and Menstrual Cycles
As the average length of women’s menstrual cycles matches the moon’s 29.5-day waxing and waning cycle, many cultures associated the moon with fertility. The celestial body’s influence on humans biologyhas largely been dismissed as myth, but several studies have linked lunar phases with sleep and moods.
Unlimit Integrates with World App, Plans to Support World Chain to Unlock Fiat-to-Crypto Access Across Key Regions
The Worldcoin network will have regional access to fiat-crypto on/off-ramps, powered by Unlimit’s crypto solution Global fintech company Unlimit announced today its integration with Tools for Humanity’s World App and plans to support World Chain, a new blockchain designed to prioritize humans. This integration allows World Chain and World App users in Colombia, Mexico and certain regions in Europe to easily convert between Worldcoin (WLD) and fiat currencies.
Some cannibal pirate spiders trick their cousins into ‘walking the plank’
A Costa Rican pirate spider lives up to the family name: It tricks closely related orb weaver spiders into “walking the plank,” right to their doom. The world’s many pirate spiders exploit a very particular food source — other spiders. But while most pirate spiders invade the webs of other arachnids, Gelanor siquirres dupes potential prey into building a web right into a trap, researchers report in an upcoming Animal Behaviour.
A little snake’s big gulp may put all other snakes to shame
Hulking hunters like Burmese pythons may be famous for scarfing up deer, alligators and other enormous prey (SN: 11/25/15). But one unassuming little African snake may take the title for most outsized meals. The nonvenomous, nearly toothless Dasypeltis gansi can open its mouth wider than any other snake of its size, biologist Bruce Jayne reports August 8 in the Journal of Zoology. D.
This bird nest becomes a ‘fortress’ using antibird spikes
biodiversity: (short for biological diversity) The number and variety of species found within a localized geographic region. biologist: A scientist involved in the study of living things. carrion: The dead and rotting remains of an animal. citizen science: Scientific research in which the public — people of all ages and abilities — participate. The data that these citizen “scientists” collect helps to advance research.
Study unlocks clues about naked mole-rats’ exceptional fertility
Unlike humans and other mammals, which become less fertile with age, naked mole-rats can reproduce throughout their remarkably long lifespans. A new study, published Feb. 21 in Nature Communications, sheds light on unique processes that bestow the rodents with what seems like eternal fertility, findings that could eventually point to new therapies for people.
Scientists thought snakes didn't have clitorises. They were wrong Original
Female snakes have clitorises too, a new study finds. The research raises the possibility that the sex lives of snakes are more complicated and diverse than previously understood, researchers report December 14 in Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Clitorises are found in a wide range of vertebrate life, from crocodiles to dolphins (SN: 1/10/22). One exception is birds, which lost their clitorises over the course of their evolution.
This acrobatic spider flips for its food - literally
Move over, Spider-Man. One tiny Australian spider has its own secret superpower: somersaults. And it uses that skill to take on ants twice its size. Ants are dangerous prey. They’re armed with powerful jaws and sometimes chemical weapons. Fewer than one percent of spiders try to hunt this risky food. But high-speed footage now shows how the Australian ant-slayer spider (Euryopis umbilicata) does it. They leap over their victims, lassoing them with silk.
Alien Species’ Introductions to Increase Globally by 36% by 2050
Asian kudzu vines smothering the southern United States. Pacific lionfish devouring Caribbean sealife. South American cane toads killing their way across Australia. As bad as invasive species are today, a study says they will get worse. Researchers predict that non-native—or alien—species introductions will increase globally by around 36 percent during the first half of the 21st century. Follow NewsGram on Quora Space to get answers to all your questions.
Never underestimate a western banded gecko. These small lizards don’t look like they’d win in a fight. But new videos reveal how these unassuming creatures make a meal out of venomous scorpions. Researchers shared footage of the showdowns in the March Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. To take down scorpions, western banded geckos (Coleonyx variegatus) fight dirty. One of these lizards will bite a scorpion, then thrash its head and upper body back and forth.
The scent of queen ‘murder hornets’ can lure males into traps
Scientists may have just found a new weapon for their war against North America’s recent invasion of Asian giant hornets. These so-called “murder hornets” take their nickname from their habit of feeding honeybees to their young. The hornets (Vespa mandarinia) are native to China and other countries in Asia. But the species emerged in western North America a few years ago. New generations are born when males mate with queens. So, traps that smell like queen hornets could lure males to their doom.
Newfound ‘bambootula’ spider lives inside bamboo stems
Meet “bambootula.” This newfound tarantula lives in northern Thailand. It gets its nickname from the bamboo stems where it makes a home. This spider is a member of a genus — a group of related species — that scientists had never seen before. Its discoverers say it’s the first time in 104 years that anyone has turned up a new genus of tarantula in Asia. But that’s not all that’s new. Bambootula “is the world’s first tarantula with a biology tied to bamboo,” says Narin Chomphuphuang.
Newfound ‘bambootula’ spider lives inside bamboo stems
Meet “bambootula.” This newfound tarantula lives in northern Thailand. It gets its nickname from the bamboo stems where it makes a home. This spider is a member of a genus — a group of related species — that scientists had never seen before. Its discoverers say it’s the first time in 104 years that anyone has turned up a new genus of tarantula in Asia. But that’s not all that’s new. Bambootula “is the world’s first tarantula with a biology tied to bamboo,” says Narin Chomphuphuang.
Rewilding returns lost species to strengthen ecosystems
In March 2020, a group of conservationists fenced in a large area of eucalyptus forest in the hills of southeastern Australia. They trapped and removed non-native foxes and feral cats. Then they trucked in and unloaded 28 PVC pipes. Each was wide and capped at both ends with a disk full of holes. They laid the pipes side-by-side on the ground beneath towering eucalyptus trees, then held their collective breath as they opened them.
Secret forest fungi partner with plants - and help the climate
E. Toby Kiers rarely wore shoes as a kid. She loved the feeling of soil between her toes. “I always felt like something was under there, something secret and hidden,” she says. Now, as an adult, she’s revealing that hidden world. It’s a tangled network of fungus and plant roots. They all trade resources and even messages. People walk over this network all the time without even realizing it’s there. Yet understanding its mysteries could help us better cope with Earth’s changing climate.
Meat-eating bees have something in common with vultures
Mention foraging bees, and most people will picture insects flitting from flower to flower in search of nectar. But in the jungles of Central and South America, so-called vulture bees have developed a taste for flesh. Scientists have puzzled over why the stingless buzzers seem to prefer rotting carcasses to nectar. Now one group of researchers thinks it has cracked the riddle. The key came from looking into the bees’ guts.
Potty-trained cows could help reduce pollution
A small herd of cows in Germany has learned an impressive trick. The cattle use a small, fenced-in area with artificial turf flooring as a bathroom stall. The cows’ toilet training talent isn’t just for show. This setup could allow farms to easily capture and treat cow urine — which often pollutes air, soil and water. Nitrogen and other components of that urine could be used to make fertilizer. Researchers described this idea online September 13 in Current Biology.
Endangered or just rare? Statistics give meaning to the head counts
Travis Booms scoured remote Alaska searching for a tiny bird. Not just any bird. He wanted evidence the gray-headed chickadee still existed here. Booms works for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Fairbanks. His job focuses on maintaining the diversity of Alaska’s wildlife. Mostly, he collects data on rare or declining species. He hopes the data he gleans can help prevent them from becoming threatened or endangered with extinction. Take the gray-headed chickadee.
Sunbirds’ dazzling feathers are hot, in both senses of the word Original
For sunbirds, all that shimmers is piping hot. The birds’ flashy, iridescent feathers heat up more than other types of feathers, possibly making it harder to stay cool in hot, sunny conditions. If so, the colorful plumes may be costly ornaments for luring mates, researchers report August 4 in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface.
Here’s how sea otters stay warm without blubber or a large body
A sea otter’s secret to staying warm isn’t in thick stores of blubber. It’s in its muscles. Otters burn calories at a rate three times as fast as predicted for a creature their size. The rate at which their bodies use energy (calories) is set by their metabolism. That’s the rate at which their cells and tissues work. Leaks in the energy-generating parts of their muscle cells help explain what’s going on. Researchers shared this new discovery July 9 in Science.
Uncovering secrets of the glasswing butterfly’s see-through wings
Most butterflies sport colorful, eye-catching wings. But some species flit about using mostly transparent wings. Researchers have now uncovered the tricks that one of these — the glasswing butterfly (Greta oto) — uses to hide in plain sight. Researchers viewed the wings of these Central American butterflies under the microscope. There they spied sparse, spindly scales overlaying a see-through wing membrane. That membrane also has antireflective properties.
Snake-eating spiders are surprisingly common
A spider’s typical dinner menu might include insects, worms or even small lizards and frogs (SN: 2/3/21). But some arachnids have more adventurous tastes — they can eat snakes up to 30 times their size. Take the Australian redback. Not including legs, a female of this species of spider is only about the size of an M&M candy. But she can take down relatively big prey such as juvenile eastern brown snakes, which are among the most venomous serpents in the world.
Spiders can take down and feast on surprisingly big snakes
A typical dinner menu for spiders might include insects, worms or even small lizards and frogs. But some arachnids have more adventurous tastes. A surprising new study finds that spiders can immobilize and then eat snakes up to 30 times their size. Take the Australian redback. Not including legs, a female of this species of spider is only about the size of an M&M candy. But she can take down big prey — such as the eastern brown snake. It’s one of the most venomous serpents in the world.
Focusing on ‘murder hornets’ distorts the view of invasive species
Fingers crossed for finding nothing: July marks the main trapping season to check for Asian giant hornets still infesting Washington state. The first of these invasive hornets found in North America in 2021, in June, was probably not from a nest made this year, scientists say. So that find doesn’t say how well, or if, the pests might have survived the winter. Yet that hornet shows quite well the relentless risk of newly arriving insects.
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