FiveThirtyEight Presents One-Time Series GUT SCIENCE WEEK, Beginning Today

Starting today through May 19, FiveThirtyEight is presenting Gut Science Week, a one-time series about the inner workings of our digestive system. From the probiotics movement of kombucha and pickled vegetables to a Canadian lab sampling feces by freeze-drying it, the column will look at the importance of intestinal health from a perspective that few have explored.

The series is part of FiveThirtyEight's ongoing expansion of its Science and health coverage, which explores topics including food, outer space, climate, animals, personal and mental health and more. Some of the reporters contributing to the section include Christie Aschwanden, Anna Maria Barry-Jester, Daniel Engber, Maggie Koerth-Baker and Katie Hobson. As the Science and health editorial team grows, so will assorted contributors and columns featured on the section.

"FiveThirtyEight's Science coverage goes deep and it goes weird. We investigate the mundane, put conventional wisdom to the test, and are willing to roll around in the ambiguity that Science so often presents - all while using data that sets us apart from other outlets," said senior editor Chadwick Matlin.

Two mainstay columns that are already publishing pieces include:

• The Digest: A column by Anna Maria Barry-Jester exploring the science, history and economics of food. Some of its pieces include:
  • The U.S. Produces About A Billion Pounds of Cheese Every Month
  • Toast Has Been A Fad For 150 Years
• Science Questions From a Toddler: Maggie Koerth-Baker heads up this series that uses kids' CURIOSITY as a jumping-off point to investigate the scientific wonders that surround us all. Articles include:
  • Why Am I Right-Handed?
  • Why Does The Sun Hurt My Eyes?
• Strength in Numbers: Spearheaded by Christie Aschwanden, the column explores the Science of sports and athleticism, featuring articles such as:
  • Even Tug-Of-Warriors Can Be Dopers
  • The Achiness Of The Long Distance Runner

Some of the foundational pieces from FiveThirtyEight's Science and health section include:

• What Went Wrong In Flint, by Anna Maria Barry-Jester
• How Two Grad Students UNCOVERED An Apparent Fraud - And A Way To Change Opinions On Transgender Rights, by Maggie Koerth-Baker and Christie Aschwanden
• Science Isn't Broken, by Christie Aschwanden

FiveThirtyEight, which launched as an ESPN entity in 2014, is a data journalism organization delivering compelling stories across the verticals of politics, economy, science, life and sports. The site, founded by award-winning author and statistician Nate Silver, first gained national attention during the 2008 presidential election, when it correctly predicted the results of the presidential election in 49 of 50 states, along with all 35 U.S. Senate races. Since its debut at ESPN, FiveThirtyEight has built a team with a broad set of skills and experiences in order to apply statistical analysis, data visualization, and data-literate reporting to topics in the news and in everyday life.

Image courtesy of ESPN press

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