Aidan Maartens
@aidanmaartens.bsky.social
Scientific writer at the Sanger Institute, Cellular Genetics programme. Formerly at Development journal. Lapsed flypusher (Gurdon Institute, University of Sussex). Creative writing MA at UEA. Likes novels and gardens, lives in Cambridge.
Reposted by Aidan Maartens
After already having sat through two rounds of Trump's attempts to solve the Ukraine-Russia war I find it quite remarkable that so many analysts, journalists and scholars still get sucked into taking the car crash diplomacy seriously of a chaotically inept US government.
November 21, 2025 at 3:08 PM
After already having sat through two rounds of Trump's attempts to solve the Ukraine-Russia war I find it quite remarkable that so many analysts, journalists and scholars still get sucked into taking the car crash diplomacy seriously of a chaotically inept US government.
Reposted by Aidan Maartens
Nature research paper: Rewiring an olfactory circuit by altering cell-surface combinatorial code
go.nature.com/3MbCoZT
go.nature.com/3MbCoZT
Rewiring an olfactory circuit by altering cell-surface combinatorial code - Nature
In Drosophila, changing the expression of a small set of cell-surface proteins in just one type of olfactory neuron rewires its connections almost entirely to a new postsynaptic partner neuron type, altering the fly’s odour response and courtship behaviour.
go.nature.com
November 21, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Nature research paper: Rewiring an olfactory circuit by altering cell-surface combinatorial code
go.nature.com/3MbCoZT
go.nature.com/3MbCoZT
Gorgeous vid
New on bioRxiv! 🚨
“Pericyte and Endothelial Primary Cilia and Centrioles have Disparate Organization Across the Brain Microvasculature”
This project studying #microvascular cells took an unexpected turn when we discovered that #pericytes have primary #cilia!
🔗 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🧪 🧵1/8
“Pericyte and Endothelial Primary Cilia and Centrioles have Disparate Organization Across the Brain Microvasculature”
This project studying #microvascular cells took an unexpected turn when we discovered that #pericytes have primary #cilia!
🔗 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🧪 🧵1/8
November 21, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Gorgeous vid
Reposted by Aidan Maartens
70 teaspoons placed in tearooms around the institute & observed weekly over 5 months. 80% of spoons disappeared; spoon halflife~81 days. Communal room halflife lower than in specific labs. 250 spoons annually required to maintain 70 spoon population.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
The case of the disappearing teaspoons: longitudinal cohort study of the displacement of teaspoons in an Australian research institute
Objectives To determine the overall rate of loss of workplace teaspoons and whether attrition and displacement are correlated with the relative value of the teaspoons or type of tearoom. Design Longitudinal cohort study. Setting Research institute ...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 20, 2025 at 3:44 AM
70 teaspoons placed in tearooms around the institute & observed weekly over 5 months. 80% of spoons disappeared; spoon halflife~81 days. Communal room halflife lower than in specific labs. 250 spoons annually required to maintain 70 spoon population.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Reposted by Aidan Maartens
The CDC website has been “updated” to indicate that
The claim "vaccines do not cause autism" is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism.
www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safe...
1/2
The claim "vaccines do not cause autism" is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism.
www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safe...
1/2
Autism and Vaccines
Answers to common questions about vaccine safety and autism.
www.cdc.gov
November 20, 2025 at 4:17 AM
The CDC website has been “updated” to indicate that
The claim "vaccines do not cause autism" is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism.
www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safe...
1/2
The claim "vaccines do not cause autism" is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism.
www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safe...
1/2
Reposted by Aidan Maartens
It’s the exclusive everyone wanted, the story that will win next year’s Pulitzer…
I can reveal London’s giant AI generated Christmas artwork, the subject of much online mockery, is being torn down - and I honestly *genuinely* think you’ll never guess why. www.londoncentric.media/p/ai-artwork...
I can reveal London’s giant AI generated Christmas artwork, the subject of much online mockery, is being torn down - and I honestly *genuinely* think you’ll never guess why. www.londoncentric.media/p/ai-artwork...
London's giant AI artwork to be torn down
The bizarre story of why a much-talked-about creation is being torn down. Plus: Docklands Light Railway extension, giant laser stalks the night sky, and more tales of Android phone theft rejection.
www.londoncentric.media
November 20, 2025 at 7:18 AM
It’s the exclusive everyone wanted, the story that will win next year’s Pulitzer…
I can reveal London’s giant AI generated Christmas artwork, the subject of much online mockery, is being torn down - and I honestly *genuinely* think you’ll never guess why. www.londoncentric.media/p/ai-artwork...
I can reveal London’s giant AI generated Christmas artwork, the subject of much online mockery, is being torn down - and I honestly *genuinely* think you’ll never guess why. www.londoncentric.media/p/ai-artwork...
Reposted by Aidan Maartens
Occasional reminder that if you're interested in the history and practice of scientific writing, and folks who give advice about scientific writing, I made a starter pack: go.bsky.app/TwZVnjU
November 18, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Occasional reminder that if you're interested in the history and practice of scientific writing, and folks who give advice about scientific writing, I made a starter pack: go.bsky.app/TwZVnjU
Reposted by Aidan Maartens
This mural has gone up in Kingston, ostensibly for Christmas but AI has ensured it's actually to celebrate the return of our dark lord Cthulhu
November 18, 2025 at 9:44 AM
This mural has gone up in Kingston, ostensibly for Christmas but AI has ensured it's actually to celebrate the return of our dark lord Cthulhu
Reposted by Aidan Maartens
#ZebrafishZunday: Cytoplasmic (or ooplasmic) streaming leads to the segregation of embryo from yolk granules. Credit to @shamipourshayan.bsky.social & @heisenbergcplab.bsky.social. 🧪
November 16, 2025 at 9:31 AM
#ZebrafishZunday: Cytoplasmic (or ooplasmic) streaming leads to the segregation of embryo from yolk granules. Credit to @shamipourshayan.bsky.social & @heisenbergcplab.bsky.social. 🧪
Reposted by Aidan Maartens
Anti-imm right will share the Guardian article and decide Labour have a woke open borders policy; progressive left will share the Sun article and conclude Labour are thugs snatching jewelry from the desperate. Instead of persuading both sides the risk is you anger both and persuade no one.
November 17, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Anti-imm right will share the Guardian article and decide Labour have a woke open borders policy; progressive left will share the Sun article and conclude Labour are thugs snatching jewelry from the desperate. Instead of persuading both sides the risk is you anger both and persuade no one.
Reposted by Aidan Maartens
Congratulations @hilarycmartin.bsky.social from @sangerinstitute.bsky.social on being awarded the 2026 Balfour Lecture!
November 14, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Congratulations @hilarycmartin.bsky.social from @sangerinstitute.bsky.social on being awarded the 2026 Balfour Lecture!
Reposted by Aidan Maartens
Using AI to write your application letter != technological progress.
As member of a committee evaluating hundreds of PhD fellowship applicants twice a year I can tell you it is a HUGE loss of signal that virtually all write ups are now produced by AI. And no obvious 'new one' available.
As member of a committee evaluating hundreds of PhD fellowship applicants twice a year I can tell you it is a HUGE loss of signal that virtually all write ups are now produced by AI. And no obvious 'new one' available.
According to signaling theory, some signals must be costly just to be costly—that's how you get a separating equilibrium. Think peacocks and their oversized feathers. So even if AI removes one costly signal, it doesn't mean we should stop technological progress — we'll just find new ones.
Is AI making job recruitment less meritocratic? We're getting some v interesting research studies on this question now, and the news is... not good. @jburnmurdoch.ft.com & I dive in, in the latest edition of our newsletter The AI Shift www.ft.com/content/e5b7...
November 14, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Using AI to write your application letter != technological progress.
As member of a committee evaluating hundreds of PhD fellowship applicants twice a year I can tell you it is a HUGE loss of signal that virtually all write ups are now produced by AI. And no obvious 'new one' available.
As member of a committee evaluating hundreds of PhD fellowship applicants twice a year I can tell you it is a HUGE loss of signal that virtually all write ups are now produced by AI. And no obvious 'new one' available.
Reposted by Aidan Maartens
A handy translation guide for non-academic speakers.
November 13, 2025 at 2:19 PM
A handy translation guide for non-academic speakers.
Reposted by Aidan Maartens
With sequencing of Hitler's DNA making headlines, time for a reminder: analysing a polygenic score from a dead historically-significant figure won't give new insights into that person's behaviour. In a brief paper last year, we used Beethoven's genome to directly illustrate the fallacies involved.🧪👇
Notes from Beethoven’s genome
Wesseldijk et al. compare the genomic information collected from Ludwig van Beethoven
with population-based datasets used to quantify musical achievement.
www.cell.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:26 AM
With sequencing of Hitler's DNA making headlines, time for a reminder: analysing a polygenic score from a dead historically-significant figure won't give new insights into that person's behaviour. In a brief paper last year, we used Beethoven's genome to directly illustrate the fallacies involved.🧪👇
Fantastic work from Sam Behajti's lab in the Cellular Genomics programme at the Sanger
A new type of cancer cell has been discovered in childhood leukaemia, which could impact clinical care for children with T-cell leukaemia (T-ALL).
Read more about this discovery and how it could help children with blood cancer, here ⤵️
www.sanger.ac.uk/news_item/my...
Read more about this discovery and how it could help children with blood cancer, here ⤵️
www.sanger.ac.uk/news_item/my...
Mystery of treatment-resistant childhood leukaemia uncovered
Discovery of a new cancer cell type could enable testing to predict treatment-resistant blood cancer in children with a certain type of leukaemia. This could allow them to reduce treatment intensity f...
www.sanger.ac.uk
November 12, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Fantastic work from Sam Behajti's lab in the Cellular Genomics programme at the Sanger
A name I remember well from my PhD. Spent an evening searching the library basement for his 1977 paper on fly wing development. Condolences to his family and friends.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
November 11, 2025 at 1:00 PM
A name I remember well from my PhD. Spent an evening searching the library basement for his 1977 paper on fly wing development. Condolences to his family and friends.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Aidan Maartens
The BBC is in crisis in the same way that GB News would be if you put Owen Jones on the board armed with a veto and plenty of coffee.
November 11, 2025 at 7:48 AM
The BBC is in crisis in the same way that GB News would be if you put Owen Jones on the board armed with a veto and plenty of coffee.
Reposted by Aidan Maartens
Reposted by Aidan Maartens
Just read this great quote from one of my scientific heroes: Franklin Harold: ‘The way of science is for the best of our achievements to endure in substance but lose their individuality, like raindrops falling into a pond.’
November 7, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Just read this great quote from one of my scientific heroes: Franklin Harold: ‘The way of science is for the best of our achievements to endure in substance but lose their individuality, like raindrops falling into a pond.’
Reposted by Aidan Maartens
Vinculin is a simple adapter protein right? Wrong!
That’s been the prevailing view for the 46 years since it was discovered.
Here we provide a new paradigm and show that vinculin is a complex mechanosensor itself, containing 6 binary switch domains.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
That’s been the prevailing view for the 46 years since it was discovered.
Here we provide a new paradigm and show that vinculin is a complex mechanosensor itself, containing 6 binary switch domains.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
The mechanical response of vinculin
Vinculin buffers force via dynamic domain unfolding/refolding under physiological load and lacks a stable head-tail lock.
www.science.org
October 31, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Vinculin is a simple adapter protein right? Wrong!
That’s been the prevailing view for the 46 years since it was discovered.
Here we provide a new paradigm and show that vinculin is a complex mechanosensor itself, containing 6 binary switch domains.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
That’s been the prevailing view for the 46 years since it was discovered.
Here we provide a new paradigm and show that vinculin is a complex mechanosensor itself, containing 6 binary switch domains.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Aidan Maartens
The opening paragraph to Crick’s thesis - about protein structure - from July 1953. Ok, he was 37, but even so the writing is so clear. Those last two sentences effectively set out a global research programme that would last decades.
November 6, 2025 at 8:34 AM
The opening paragraph to Crick’s thesis - about protein structure - from July 1953. Ok, he was 37, but even so the writing is so clear. Those last two sentences effectively set out a global research programme that would last decades.
Reposted by Aidan Maartens
EMBL scientists have new detailed info about Asgard archaea DNA structures offering important clues to more complex cell evolution.
With #cryoEM, scientists found both open and closed chomatin structures with a possible role in regulating chromatin.
doi.org/10.1016/j.mo...
With #cryoEM, scientists found both open and closed chomatin structures with a possible role in regulating chromatin.
doi.org/10.1016/j.mo...
October 29, 2025 at 8:29 AM
EMBL scientists have new detailed info about Asgard archaea DNA structures offering important clues to more complex cell evolution.
With #cryoEM, scientists found both open and closed chomatin structures with a possible role in regulating chromatin.
doi.org/10.1016/j.mo...
With #cryoEM, scientists found both open and closed chomatin structures with a possible role in regulating chromatin.
doi.org/10.1016/j.mo...
Reposted by Aidan Maartens
So much terrible political decision-making in the UK stems from a British political and media class marinated in MAGA Right online myths that still hasn't grasped that Trump won a pretty narrow majority and then quickly went on to become a deeply unpopular President.
October 29, 2025 at 8:27 AM
So much terrible political decision-making in the UK stems from a British political and media class marinated in MAGA Right online myths that still hasn't grasped that Trump won a pretty narrow majority and then quickly went on to become a deeply unpopular President.
Reposted by Aidan Maartens
Really excited to present the results of a fantastic collaboration with Jesse Veenvliet @jesseveenvliet.bsky.social @mpi-cbg.de @poldresden.bsky.social 🤩
We find a unique mechanism for body axis elongation in mammals, different from other vertebrate species
➡️ www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We find a unique mechanism for body axis elongation in mammals, different from other vertebrate species
➡️ www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
October 28, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Really excited to present the results of a fantastic collaboration with Jesse Veenvliet @jesseveenvliet.bsky.social @mpi-cbg.de @poldresden.bsky.social 🤩
We find a unique mechanism for body axis elongation in mammals, different from other vertebrate species
➡️ www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We find a unique mechanism for body axis elongation in mammals, different from other vertebrate species
➡️ www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...