Sep 01, 2025
“Greetings from 51 Pegasi b”: How NASA Made Exoplanets into Tourist Destinations
A new JCOM paper analyzes the synergy between artists and scientists in a popular exoplanet science communication campaign
Looking for the perfect vacation? Do you crave late-night fun? PSO J318.5−22, the planet with no star where nightlife never ends, is perfect for you! Prefer some peace and a chance to catch some rays? Kepler-16b, the land of two suns—where your shadow always has company—is waiting!
In 2015, NASA launched an unusual and brilliant exoplanet outreach campaign, offering retro-style posters, virtual guided tours, and even coloring books. The project quickly went viral worldwide. What explains the success of a campaign about a relatively young field of science that—unlike other areas of space research—lacks spectacular imagery?
Ceridwen Dovey, science communicator, writer, filmmaker, and researcher, has just published in the Journal of Science Communication (JCOM) a Practice Insight paper that presents a case study focusing on the Exoplanet Travel Bureau’s poster campaign. Dovey describes the productive working relationships between scientists and artists that produced this standout work and shows how, in contexts like this, artists are not merely in service to science but can also inspire research itself and help scientists clarify their own thinking.
May 28, 2025
JCOM at PCST 2025
JCOM is at the PCST Conference 2025 in Aberdeen!
Editor-in-Chief Michelle Riedlinger and Deputy Editor Marina Joubert are attending the international gathering to engage with the global science communication community and discuss the evolving role of our field in a world shaped by both tradition and innovation.
In the picture: Michelle Riedlinger, Marina Joubert, Luisa Massarani, and Beatrice Biggio from the JCOM Editorial Office.
Mar 10, 2025
Can a Joke Make Science More Trustworthy?
Authoritative, intelligent, responsible, serious—if you were asked to describe the general figure of a scientist, you would probably use adjectives like these. However, “funny” would likely not be the first word that comes to mind. Scientists, in fact, rarely adopt a humorous tone when communicating with the public, perhaps out of fear of appearing less credible. Yet, a new study published in the Journal of Science Communication (JCOM) suggests exactly the opposite: the use of humor—in this study, specifically in the context of artificial intelligence—can enhance both the likability of scientists and the perceived reliability of the scientific information they convey.
Oct 28, 2024
When Science Speaks in Extremes
Oct 22, 2024
Communicating Discovery Science
Sep 09, 2024
Shakespeare in sign language, seen through AI
Jul 17, 2024
From Tatooine to Reality
Jul 17, 2024
Do Universities Use AI for Communication?
Nov 11, 2025
New special issue on emotions in science communication now online
JCOM has just released a special issue, “Emotions and Science Communication,” bringing together research and practice on how feelings shape public engagement with science. Guest editor Luisa Massarani (with Neta Shaby and Daniel Silva Luna) underscores the need for deeper inquiry: “Despite their significant role, emotions are under-theorised and under-researched in science communication… We hope this special issue inspires others to explore the many facets of emotions in sci-comm and to carry out more studies on the subject.”
The collection features international contributions spanning risk and health communication, environmental topics, and public engagement, offering evidence and tools for practitioners and researchers alike.