Dr Moira Nicolson
@moiranics.bsky.social
#SocialScientist and Public #Climate Comms and Engagement
Honorary Research Fellow @UCL
*Sharing research and views in a personal capacity*
Honorary Research Fellow @UCL
*Sharing research and views in a personal capacity*
If 90s and 00s girls magazines gave women body dysmorphia, LinkedIn is giving people career and life dysmorphia. Social media bias works in both directions it seems. 😢
February 18, 2026 at 9:20 AM
If 90s and 00s girls magazines gave women body dysmorphia, LinkedIn is giving people career and life dysmorphia. Social media bias works in both directions it seems. 😢
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
I've lots of complaints about analytic philosophy (c.f. my blog posts about it being a failing research programme!) but I always need to be clear that my objections to it are absolutely not in the "be clear about your argument structure and the conditions under which your claims would be true" part.
February 16, 2026 at 8:05 AM
I've lots of complaints about analytic philosophy (c.f. my blog posts about it being a failing research programme!) but I always need to be clear that my objections to it are absolutely not in the "be clear about your argument structure and the conditions under which your claims would be true" part.
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
Kent Psychology is hiring 🎓We have two posts: 1) open area and 2) cog neuro. More details can be found here: jobs.kent.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx... Feel free to reach out with questions!
Job Opportunity at the University of Kent: Lecturer in Psychology
The School of Psychology is seeking to appoint a Lecturer in Psychology and a Lecturer in Psychology focusing on Cognition and Neuroscience to join a collegial, supportive, and intellectually vibrant...
jobs.kent.ac.uk
February 16, 2026 at 10:10 AM
Kent Psychology is hiring 🎓We have two posts: 1) open area and 2) cog neuro. More details can be found here: jobs.kent.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx... Feel free to reach out with questions!
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
'Four minutes of air conditioning'
The new, excellent essay by my colleague @hannahritchie.bsky.social on energy poverty.
ourworldindata.org/four-minutes...
The new, excellent essay by my colleague @hannahritchie.bsky.social on energy poverty.
ourworldindata.org/four-minutes...
Four minutes of air conditioning
Billions of people have access to far less electricity per day than is required to run an air conditioner for just one hour.
ourworldindata.org
February 16, 2026 at 10:02 PM
'Four minutes of air conditioning'
The new, excellent essay by my colleague @hannahritchie.bsky.social on energy poverty.
ourworldindata.org/four-minutes...
The new, excellent essay by my colleague @hannahritchie.bsky.social on energy poverty.
ourworldindata.org/four-minutes...
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
The disruptive climate crisis makes hot weather hotter and cold, colder. This year, our overheated planet has been making some of our weather much colder and in Washington much snowier.
February 16, 2026 at 5:11 PM
The disruptive climate crisis makes hot weather hotter and cold, colder. This year, our overheated planet has been making some of our weather much colder and in Washington much snowier.
Great thread on what it takes to inspire climate action - especially this point on why people often need help with the basics - who do I speak to? How do I convene a group?
@parisawright.bsky.social has started a new network to help people set up their own community sustainability initiatives.
@parisawright.bsky.social has started a new network to help people set up their own community sustainability initiatives.
February 16, 2026 at 8:39 AM
Great thread on what it takes to inspire climate action - especially this point on why people often need help with the basics - who do I speak to? How do I convene a group?
@parisawright.bsky.social has started a new network to help people set up their own community sustainability initiatives.
@parisawright.bsky.social has started a new network to help people set up their own community sustainability initiatives.
I’ve wanted to go to Arizona ever since I watched Boyhood.
Good Morning ☀️ 🏜️ Growing up in Michigan, this is NOT what I thought the desert looked like…
February 15, 2026 at 6:43 PM
I’ve wanted to go to Arizona ever since I watched Boyhood.
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
Good Morning ☀️ 🏜️ Growing up in Michigan, this is NOT what I thought the desert looked like…
February 15, 2026 at 1:11 PM
Good Morning ☀️ 🏜️ Growing up in Michigan, this is NOT what I thought the desert looked like…
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
AI makes it much easier to produce fake news and disinformation- but I feel it’s massively under appreciated how much AI chatbots have removed one of the simplest rules of thumb everyone has for whether an article or piece of content is likely to be good or not - which is, how well it’s written.
February 15, 2026 at 2:26 PM
AI makes it much easier to produce fake news and disinformation- but I feel it’s massively under appreciated how much AI chatbots have removed one of the simplest rules of thumb everyone has for whether an article or piece of content is likely to be good or not - which is, how well it’s written.
AI makes it much easier to produce fake news and disinformation- but I feel it’s massively under appreciated how much AI chatbots have removed one of the simplest rules of thumb everyone has for whether an article or piece of content is likely to be good or not - which is, how well it’s written.
February 15, 2026 at 2:26 PM
AI makes it much easier to produce fake news and disinformation- but I feel it’s massively under appreciated how much AI chatbots have removed one of the simplest rules of thumb everyone has for whether an article or piece of content is likely to be good or not - which is, how well it’s written.
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
Beliefs serve at least two core functions.
1) they help us navigate the world
2) they serve as signals to manipulate others
Philosophers & psychologists have focused on the first while largely overlooking the second
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
1) they help us navigate the world
2) they serve as signals to manipulate others
Philosophers & psychologists have focused on the first while largely overlooking the second
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
February 14, 2026 at 5:52 PM
Beliefs serve at least two core functions.
1) they help us navigate the world
2) they serve as signals to manipulate others
Philosophers & psychologists have focused on the first while largely overlooking the second
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
1) they help us navigate the world
2) they serve as signals to manipulate others
Philosophers & psychologists have focused on the first while largely overlooking the second
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
A new article in Nature Medicine found that social connections were a surprisingly powerful predictor of a long life.
Living with a partner was roughly as beneficial as exercise.
www.powerofusnewsletter.com/p/debunking-...
Living with a partner was roughly as beneficial as exercise.
www.powerofusnewsletter.com/p/debunking-...
February 14, 2026 at 6:01 PM
A new article in Nature Medicine found that social connections were a surprisingly powerful predictor of a long life.
Living with a partner was roughly as beneficial as exercise.
www.powerofusnewsletter.com/p/debunking-...
Living with a partner was roughly as beneficial as exercise.
www.powerofusnewsletter.com/p/debunking-...
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
Are you applying for one of our @cam.ac.uk summer schools? Don't forget that applications for all University of Cambridge programmes close tomorrow. 🚨
summerschools.suttontrust.com/university-p...
summerschools.suttontrust.com/university-p...
February 11, 2026 at 9:01 AM
Are you applying for one of our @cam.ac.uk summer schools? Don't forget that applications for all University of Cambridge programmes close tomorrow. 🚨
summerschools.suttontrust.com/university-p...
summerschools.suttontrust.com/university-p...
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
Fascinated though not surprised to see a slow but steady decline in the number of US citizens using any form of social media - especially given all the research that shows people think it’s full of toxic horrible content that makes them feel bad about the world.
February 7, 2026 at 9:09 AM
Fascinated though not surprised to see a slow but steady decline in the number of US citizens using any form of social media - especially given all the research that shows people think it’s full of toxic horrible content that makes them feel bad about the world.
Fascinated though not surprised to see a slow but steady decline in the number of US citizens using any form of social media - especially given all the research that shows people think it’s full of toxic horrible content that makes them feel bad about the world.
February 7, 2026 at 9:09 AM
Fascinated though not surprised to see a slow but steady decline in the number of US citizens using any form of social media - especially given all the research that shows people think it’s full of toxic horrible content that makes them feel bad about the world.
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
Research finds that people overestimate how many social media users post harmful content--which makes us think the world is worse than it really is.
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
February 4, 2026 at 9:40 PM
Research finds that people overestimate how many social media users post harmful content--which makes us think the world is worse than it really is.
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
New planet just dropped and it
1) is almost exactly Earth-sized
2) has a year that's almost exactly 1 Earth year.
3) orbits a star that is not a 💢temperamental little shit M-dwarf 💢but is instead a 🧡 good orange boi 🧡
Me for @science.org based on results presented at #RockyWorlds4: 🔭🧪
1) is almost exactly Earth-sized
2) has a year that's almost exactly 1 Earth year.
3) orbits a star that is not a 💢temperamental little shit M-dwarf 💢but is instead a 🧡 good orange boi 🧡
Me for @science.org based on results presented at #RockyWorlds4: 🔭🧪
Earth-size planet spotted with yearlong orbit
Long-overlooked Kepler signal discovered by citizen scientists reveals promising world worth a closer look
www.science.org
January 28, 2026 at 9:42 PM
New planet just dropped and it
1) is almost exactly Earth-sized
2) has a year that's almost exactly 1 Earth year.
3) orbits a star that is not a 💢temperamental little shit M-dwarf 💢but is instead a 🧡 good orange boi 🧡
Me for @science.org based on results presented at #RockyWorlds4: 🔭🧪
1) is almost exactly Earth-sized
2) has a year that's almost exactly 1 Earth year.
3) orbits a star that is not a 💢temperamental little shit M-dwarf 💢but is instead a 🧡 good orange boi 🧡
Me for @science.org based on results presented at #RockyWorlds4: 🔭🧪
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
Making tests option is a bad idea.
New research finds that "test score optional policies harm the likelihood of elite college admission for high achieving applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds"
www.nber.org/papers/w33389
New research finds that "test score optional policies harm the likelihood of elite college admission for high achieving applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds"
www.nber.org/papers/w33389
January 22, 2026 at 9:58 PM
Making tests option is a bad idea.
New research finds that "test score optional policies harm the likelihood of elite college admission for high achieving applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds"
www.nber.org/papers/w33389
New research finds that "test score optional policies harm the likelihood of elite college admission for high achieving applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds"
www.nber.org/papers/w33389
Fascinating. A proper AI assistant really appeals to me for the convenience, but also, what does it mean to give your health records to an AI company?
open.substack.com/pub/theglp1w...
open.substack.com/pub/theglp1w...
Consumer health apps are dead
Long live the agents
open.substack.com
January 21, 2026 at 8:52 AM
Fascinating. A proper AI assistant really appeals to me for the convenience, but also, what does it mean to give your health records to an AI company?
open.substack.com/pub/theglp1w...
open.substack.com/pub/theglp1w...
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
Writing is thinking
Outsourcing the entire task of writing to LLMs will deprive us of the essential creative task of interpreting our findings and generating a deeper theoretical understanding of the world.
Outsourcing the entire task of writing to LLMs will deprive us of the essential creative task of interpreting our findings and generating a deeper theoretical understanding of the world.
January 18, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Writing is thinking
Outsourcing the entire task of writing to LLMs will deprive us of the essential creative task of interpreting our findings and generating a deeper theoretical understanding of the world.
Outsourcing the entire task of writing to LLMs will deprive us of the essential creative task of interpreting our findings and generating a deeper theoretical understanding of the world.
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
"An actuarial review of key #climate change assumptions shows we may have seriously underestimated the rate of warming as well as the related economic impacts. Unless we rapidly change course, climate damages will start to impact growth & future prosperity"
#ClimateEmergency
#ClimateEmergency
Underestimates in global warming pose major climate and financial risks
New analysis suggests the planet may be more sensitive to greenhouse gases than many models assume, meaning temperatures could rise faster and bring much greater climate risks than policymakers and fi...
news.exeter.ac.uk
January 15, 2026 at 7:23 AM
"An actuarial review of key #climate change assumptions shows we may have seriously underestimated the rate of warming as well as the related economic impacts. Unless we rapidly change course, climate damages will start to impact growth & future prosperity"
#ClimateEmergency
#ClimateEmergency
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
Debate about London is obscured by the false binaries both sides put on it. Best on it is @jburnmurdoch.ft.com who shows it is both case violent crime down (an undisputed good) & crimes of disorder (shop lifting, snatching) up which affects/is visible to more but far less devastating consequences
January 13, 2026 at 10:29 AM
Debate about London is obscured by the false binaries both sides put on it. Best on it is @jburnmurdoch.ft.com who shows it is both case violent crime down (an undisputed good) & crimes of disorder (shop lifting, snatching) up which affects/is visible to more but far less devastating consequences
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
In this preprint, we (@ruettenauer.bsky.social, David Kretschmer and I) ask and address two questions: (i) How does immigrant-native #segregation vary across urban areas in Europe? (ii) Which urban area- and country-level characteristics are consistently linked to segregation? Check it out ⬇️⬇️⬇️
🎄 Still looking for a gift for your favourite social scientist?
How about a #preprint with 717 urban areas, 30 countries, and 16,164 models of #Immigrant #Segregation across Europe? Just published with @kasimirdederichs.bsky.social & David Kretschmer 🎅
🎁 Wrapped up here: arxiv.org/abs/2512.17037
How about a #preprint with 717 urban areas, 30 countries, and 16,164 models of #Immigrant #Segregation across Europe? Just published with @kasimirdederichs.bsky.social & David Kretschmer 🎅
🎁 Wrapped up here: arxiv.org/abs/2512.17037
January 12, 2026 at 8:39 AM
In this preprint, we (@ruettenauer.bsky.social, David Kretschmer and I) ask and address two questions: (i) How does immigrant-native #segregation vary across urban areas in Europe? (ii) Which urban area- and country-level characteristics are consistently linked to segregation? Check it out ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Reposted by Dr Moira Nicolson
Free webinar hosted by @relondon.bsky.social for local authorities, businesses, landlords, charities and others wanting support with how to help their communities transition to a low carbon, circular economy.
Wednesday 28th Jan 11:30-1pm
Register here: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/ab6d56...
Wednesday 28th Jan 11:30-1pm
Register here: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/ab6d56...
Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams
Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams
events.teams.microsoft.com
January 12, 2026 at 8:38 AM
Free webinar hosted by @relondon.bsky.social for local authorities, businesses, landlords, charities and others wanting support with how to help their communities transition to a low carbon, circular economy.
Wednesday 28th Jan 11:30-1pm
Register here: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/ab6d56...
Wednesday 28th Jan 11:30-1pm
Register here: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/ab6d56...
