Magdalena Skipper
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magdalenaskipper.bsky.social
Magdalena Skipper
@magdalenaskipper.bsky.social
7.5K followers 260 following 480 posts
Editor in Chief of Nature, geneticist, editor, accidental potter. All views my own
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magdalenaskipper.bsky.social
This is a fascinating approach - a systems engineering-based life-cycle assessment framework - for identifying ecologically responsible innovation in next-generation wearable electronics 🧪

@nature.com

www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Quantifying the global eco-footprint of wearable healthcare electronics - Nature
An integrated systems engineering framework based on life-cycle inventories is used to quantify the global eco-footprint of wearable healthcare electronics and identify effective mitigation strategies...
www.nature.com
January 3, 2026 at 8:13 PM
magdalenaskipper.bsky.social
Science in 2026: what to expect this year 🧪

@naturepodcast.bsky.social

www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Science in 2026: what to expect this year
Hear the biggest stories from the world of science | 01/01/2026
www.nature.com
January 2, 2026 at 9:11 PM
magdalenaskipper.bsky.social
There is no question that AI tools are transforming our lives, on a personal & professional level. And the future direction of travel is clear. So before it’s too late, the world needs to come together on AI safety. How about making it a New Year’s resolution?

🧪

www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Let 2026 be the year the world comes together for AI safety
AI technologies need to be safe and transparent. There are few, if any, benefits from being outside efforts to achieve this.
www.nature.com
December 31, 2025 at 11:36 AM
magdalenaskipper.bsky.social
This is incredibly sad news! It was a highlight of this past year to have met Emma Johnston in Melbourne, when we collaborated on an event that Melbourne University and @springernature.com held together in May. Emma was a thoughtful and energetic leader. What a loss!

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12...
Family, colleagues in 'disbelief' after leading scientist dies aged 52
University of Melbourne vice-chancellor Emma Johnston has died from complications associated with cancer, aged 52.
www.abc.net.au
December 29, 2025 at 4:04 PM
magdalenaskipper.bsky.social
Taking a proper break with this rather incredible book. The intro talks about the effect of Industrial Revolution on craft in Britain & gives this tantalising stat - in mid 1880s Britain was responsible for 43% of world’s manufactured exports. Apparently China accounts for less than 30% today!
Cover of the book by James Fox - Craftland
December 28, 2025 at 7:18 PM
magdalenaskipper.bsky.social
Seven feel-good science stories to round up 2025. All too often we forget to celebrate the positives
🧪
#AcademicSky

www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Seven feel-good science stories to restore your faith in 2025
Immense progress in gene-editing, drug discovery and conservation are just some of the reasons to be cheerful about 2025.
www.nature.com
December 18, 2025 at 8:15 AM
magdalenaskipper.bsky.social
Some very good news for science and education in the UK and EU! 🎉
🧪 #AcademicSky

www.theguardian.com/education/20...
EU’s Erasmus scheme to reopen to UK students for first time since Brexit at cost of £570m
Deal agreed to rejoin exchange programme in 2027, fulfilling Labour election manifesto pledge
www.theguardian.com
December 17, 2025 at 4:12 PM
magdalenaskipper.bsky.social
Auto-focus glasses would transform my life… I just found about this impressive bit of tech (and design)

🧪 #TechSky (does this tag exist?)

www.dezeen.com/2025/11/18/a...
"Auto-focus glasses" switch from reading to long-distance prescriptions
www.dezeen.com
December 14, 2025 at 12:12 PM
magdalenaskipper.bsky.social
Many of you responded to our Nature Briefing call asking about their favourite presents that first got you interested in the research.

So what are the top gifts that shaped people’s career in science?
By Anne Marie Conlon
🧪 #AcademicSky
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
The gift that shaped my career in science
Nature asked about your most memorable scientific gifts. You delivered.
www.nature.com
December 13, 2025 at 3:12 PM
magdalenaskipper.bsky.social
What will be the first AI-designed drug? These disease-fighting antibodies are top contenders

🧪 @nature.com

www.nature.com/articles/d41...
What will be the first AI-designed drug? These disease-fighting antibodies are top contenders
Just a year after the first AI-designed antibody was made, scientists say clinical trials are on the horizon.
www.nature.com
December 11, 2025 at 11:32 AM
magdalenaskipper.bsky.social
So hard to watch well-established medical advances being discarded willfully
🧪 #MedSky

Hepatitis B vaccine guidance set to be rolled back for US babies: what the science says www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Hepatitis B vaccine guidance set to be rolled back for US babies: what the science says
A panel of US vaccine advisers voted to rescind a recommendation that all newborns should receive a hepatitis B vaccine at birth.
www.nature.com
December 6, 2025 at 6:59 AM
magdalenaskipper.bsky.social
Artificial intelligence promises rapid and polite feedback on papers — but we must first review the reviewer. This stand first says it all…
A timely World View Colin in our pages by Giorgio Gilestro

🧪 #academicSky
@nature.com

www.nature.com/articles/d41...
AI reviewers are here — we are not ready
Artificial intelligence promises rapid and polite feedback on papers — but we must first review the reviewer.
www.nature.com
December 3, 2025 at 2:09 PM
magdalenaskipper.bsky.social
Chinese-born ‘boffins’ have long made up the largest group of foreign researchers in the US; Silicon Valley is still full of them as the US remains the top destination for AI talent worldwide. But China is the top source of that talent
Their exodus will be harmful
🧪
www.economist.com/china/2025/1...
America is foolishly waving goodbye to thousands of Chinese boffins
Hostile policies and attacks on science are driving them back into China’s arms
www.economist.com
December 3, 2025 at 6:45 AM
magdalenaskipper.bsky.social
The world has lost a giant of virology, molecular biology and science advocacy

David Baltimore’s obituary by Stephen Goff www.nature.com/articles/d41...
David Baltimore obituary: virologist whose enzyme discovery transformed understanding of cancer and HIV/AIDS
The protein, reverse transcriptase, has become an essential tool for making DNA copies of RNA.
www.nature.com
December 1, 2025 at 1:25 PM
magdalenaskipper.bsky.social
A human-rights researcher on why she pushed back when China bullied her university

Kudos @lauratmurphy.bsky.social
An important lesson for our times for all

economist.com/by-invitatio...
A human-rights researcher on why she pushed back when China bullied her university
Democratic governments must resist authoritarian states trying to co-opt their institutions, writes Laura Murphy
economist.com
November 30, 2025 at 8:11 AM
magdalenaskipper.bsky.social
Craig Venter pays tribute to Ham Smith who passed away on October 25th - molecular biologist who co-discovered precise molecular scissors for cutting DNA
🧪 @nature.com

www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Hamilton Smith obituary: molecular biologist who co-discovered precise molecular scissors for cutting DNA
Nobel laureate who helped to sequence the first bacterial and human genomes.
www.nature.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:51 PM
magdalenaskipper.bsky.social
Jim Watson leaves a complex legacy. He will be remembered for one of THE discoveries of the 20th century but also for a baseless & damaging conviction for which there simply is no evidence
RIP
🧪

www.nature.com/articles/d41...
DNA pioneer James Watson has died ― colleagues wrestle with his legacy
The co-discoverer of the structure of DNA helped to strengthen a US research institute and wrote a classic textbook, but also earned a reputation for racist and sexist comments.
www.nature.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:35 AM
magdalenaskipper.bsky.social
Comprehensive & multimodal cell-type atlases of the developing human, mouse & non-human primate brains reported by the BRAIN Initiative Cell Atlas Network

How stem cells turn into neurons

🧪 #BICAN
@nature.com @natureportfolio.nature.com

www.nature.com/collections/...
BICAN: A cell census of the developing human brain
Building on their landmark efforts to create cell-type atlases of adult brains using single-cell and spatial genomics technologies, researchers in the BRAIN ...
www.nature.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:36 PM
magdalenaskipper.bsky.social
If you only read one thing today - a Q&A with Patricia Kingori, a remarkable scholar who uncovered a remarkable story about a huge ‘fake essay industry’.

🧪 #academicSky

@nature.com @ox.ac.uk

www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Shadow scholars: inside Kenya’s multibillion-dollar fake-essay industry
Sociologist Patricia Kingori is helping to expose contract cheating by scholars in high-income countries.
www.nature.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:37 AM
magdalenaskipper.bsky.social
In praise of fundamental research
Our editorial this week argues that I n these financially straitened times, funders must recognize that great discoveries often arise from work that was looking for something completely different
🧪
@nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
From MRI to Ozempic: breakthroughs that show why fundamental research must be protected
In these financially straitened times, funders must recognize that great discoveries often arise from work that was looking for something completely different.
www.nature.com
October 30, 2025 at 1:53 PM
magdalenaskipper.bsky.social
What next for the plastics treaty? 🧪
“negotiations have stalled partly because a false morality play of ambition versus obstruction took hold. Over the years, I have witnessed how this ‘heroes versus villains’ narrative has obscured the complex realities at stake”

www.nature.com/articles/d41...
What now for the global plastics treaty?
Ending plastic pollution will mean embracing the complexity of political and economic realities.
www.nature.com
October 29, 2025 at 6:18 AM
magdalenaskipper.bsky.social
We asked physicists which are the sci-fi films they like the most - two were consistently highlighted in interviews for their depictions of science: 2014’s Interstellar and 2006’s The Prestige — both of which were directed and co-written by Christopher Nolan
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
The sci-fi films that physicists love to watch — from Interstellar to Spider-Man
Nature surveyed scientists about their favourite cinematic moments to celebrate the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology.
www.nature.com
October 28, 2025 at 6:07 AM
magdalenaskipper.bsky.social
China seeks self-reliance in science in next 5-year plan & the focus is on advanced semiconductor technologies, AI & basic research

I’m just back from AI in medicine & biomedical
Innovation events in Beijing, and I sense China is also very keen on collaboration
🧪

www.nature.com/articles/d41...
China seeks self-reliance in science in next five-year plan
Beijing wants to double down on advanced semiconductor technologies, artificial intelligence and basic research.
www.nature.com
October 27, 2025 at 1:01 PM
magdalenaskipper.bsky.social
“I believe he has ideas about becoming a scientist; on his present showing, this is quite ridiculous.”

A privilege to have known John. He always listened to what one had to say with great intent. If you knew him, you know what I mean.
🧪

www.nature.com/articles/d41...
John Gurdon obituary: Biologist who made cloning possible
He showed that specialized cells retain the genes to form an organism.
www.nature.com
October 20, 2025 at 8:24 PM
magdalenaskipper.bsky.social
Today’s best AI models sail through the Turing test, a famous thought experiment that asks whether a computer can pass as a human by interacting via text.

Some see an upgraded test as a necessary benchmark for progress towards AGI

By @lizziegibney.bsky.social

🧪

www.nature.com/articles/d41...
AI language models killed the Turing test: do we even need a replacement?
Chatbots now ace the mathematician's famous imitation game, but imitation never equalled intelligence.
www.nature.com
October 20, 2025 at 6:01 PM