Whether Chemistry or the Cosmos, Always Looking at the Bigger Picture

Sep 23, 2026

The New York Times Science desk is changing its coverage to focus more on science itself, while keeping health journalism. Under new department head Bill Wasik, the desk is adding new areas such as biotechnology, China’s growing role in science, artificial intelligence, and broader stories about scientists and scientific institutions. Wasik emphasizes explaining not only what happened, but also why it matters and providing enough context to avoid exaggerating individual scientific studies. The Science desk is also launching four weekly columns, a redesigned newsletter, and a future project called “Unknowns,” focused on unanswered questions in science.

This article from Times Insider details the reorganization and digital relaunch of The New York Times‘s Science desk under its new department head, Bill Wasik.

Here is a summary of the key points:

Leadership Transition: Bill Wasik took over the Science desk in April 2026 following the retirement of long-time chief Celia W. Dugger. Wasik brings 12 years of experience from The Times Magazine.
Editorial Shift & Strategy: Under the direction of executive editor Joe Kahn, the desk is expanding beyond health policy and political coverage to invest heavily in pure science coverage. Wasik emphasizes a magazine-style approach—focusing on “big ideas,” broader context, and answerable questions like “Why does the news matter?” to avoid overhyping individual, isolated studies.
New Hires & Beats:
- Biotech: Carolyn Y. Johnson (formerly of The Washington Post).
- China Science: Zeyi Yang (formerly of Wired) covering China’s rise as a scientific superpower.
- Artificial Intelligence: Cade Metz (transitioned from the Business section).
- National Science Correspondent: Eric Boodman (formerly of STAT) focusing on the people, institutions, and processes behind science.
Upcoming Initiatives:
- Weekly Columns: Four new weekly columns featuring prominent writers, including Pulitzer winner Natalie Wolchover (cosmos) and nature writer David Quammen.
- Newsletter Relaunch: The Science Times newsletter is being revamped to send twice weekly with exclusive original content.
- “Unknowns” Project: A visual, multimedia series launching in the fall that explores unresolved scientific mysteries—such as universe expansion and black holes—using illustration and animation.

Reference

Ewing, V. (2026, September 15). Whether chemistry or the cosmos, always looking at the bigger picture. The New York Times. The New York Times article

Science journalism Biotechnology Artificial intelligence Scientific research China Science communication Context Scientific discoveries Unsolved questions “Unknowns”