Trilobites column shares short, surprising science stories

Michael Roston, a senior staff editor on The New York Times Science desk, edits Trilobites, a bite-size column that highlights new discoveries intended to delight or surprise readers.

Recent columns have explored topics such as unexpected animal friendships, a peekaboo squid and seal milk. Roston, who began editing Trilobites in 2016, says he scans scientific societies and publishers for studies that “sound really cool” and then pitches writers or taps an “army of freelancers” who bring engrossing ideas to the column.

Reporters and editors also face visual challenges: scientific institutions sometimes release only low-resolution images, so the team works on alternative presentations. Roston cited examples of staff contributors — Cara Giaimo on ants, plants and animal fluorescence, and James Crugnale on unusual bird sightings — and praised photo editor Matt McCann for finding the right images. “One of my favorite stories was one where we described the process of marine biologists sneaking up on whales, as they’re sleeping, with cameras,” he said.

Roston is currently finishing a piece about researchers dating a giant volcanic mudflow at Mount Rainier by counting tree rings. He said he values the column as a space for fascination amid heavier news coverage and that eliciting a smile from Times editors remains a career highlight.

Key Topics

Science, Trilobites, Michael Roston, Mount Rainier, Lahar, Cara Giaimo