The Royal Society
@royalsociety.org
The Royal Society is a Fellowship of many of the world's most eminent scientists and is the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence.
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Nominations for the the Royal Society's medals and awards are now open. Help us to celebrate excellence across the sciences and across the globe, with nominations open to both individuals and teams. Nominate now: #RSMedals https://royalsociety.org/medals-and-prizes/nominations/
Born #OnThisDay in 1780 was the polymath Mary Somerville. She was the first woman to have a paper read to and published by the Royal Society with her paper on the relationship between light and magnetism, and she in fact inspired the coining of the word 'scientist' itself. #WomenInSTEM
December 26, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Born #OnThisDay in 1780 was the polymath Mary Somerville. She was the first woman to have a paper read to and published by the Royal Society with her paper on the relationship between light and magnetism, and she in fact inspired the coining of the word 'scientist' itself. #WomenInSTEM
Happy birthday to Sir Isaac Newton PRS, born on Christmas Day, 1642. One of the most influential scientific minds in history, his work spanned optics, colour theory, planetary motion and gravitation, calculus and classical mechanics, as well as more archaic fields such as alchemy. #OnThisDay
December 25, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Happy birthday to Sir Isaac Newton PRS, born on Christmas Day, 1642. One of the most influential scientific minds in history, his work spanned optics, colour theory, planetary motion and gravitation, calculus and classical mechanics, as well as more archaic fields such as alchemy. #OnThisDay
Number 7 in our year-end countdown of most popular @royalsocietypublishing.org papers takes a look at a twist in avian biology: up to 6% of individuals in five wild bird species naturally switch sex, a discovery that could reshape conservation strategies. https://bit.ly/4qihFCL
Prevalence and implications of sex reversal in free-living birds
Abstract. The ability to unequivocally identify the sex and reproductive status of individuals is crucial across many fields of study. Recent evidence indi
royalsocietypublishing.org
December 24, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Number 7 in our year-end countdown of most popular @royalsocietypublishing.org papers takes a look at a twist in avian biology: up to 6% of individuals in five wild bird species naturally switch sex, a discovery that could reshape conservation strategies. https://bit.ly/4qihFCL
If you're indulging in a large festive dinner this week, this man could probably tell you how much energy you would need to cook it: James Prescott Joule FRS, born #OnThisDay in 1818. His work on heat was crucial to the first law of thermodynamics, and the SI unit for for energy is named for him.
December 24, 2025 at 11:13 AM
If you're indulging in a large festive dinner this week, this man could probably tell you how much energy you would need to cook it: James Prescott Joule FRS, born #OnThisDay in 1818. His work on heat was crucial to the first law of thermodynamics, and the SI unit for for energy is named for him.
No.8 in our list of the most popular @royalsocietypublishing.org papers of 2025 reveals that rig sharks can create clicking sounds, the first evidence of active sound production in sharks: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article/12/3/242212/117580/Evidence-of-active-sound-production-by-a
Evidence of active sound production by a shark
Abstract. Elasmobranchs are an evolutionarily ancient group of cartilaginous fishes that can hear underwater sounds but are not historically viewed as acti
royalsocietypublishing.org
December 23, 2025 at 9:00 AM
No.8 in our list of the most popular @royalsocietypublishing.org papers of 2025 reveals that rig sharks can create clicking sounds, the first evidence of active sound production in sharks: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article/12/3/242212/117580/Evidence-of-active-sound-production-by-a
Make your nominations for our medals and awards now, including our Royal Medal for the applied sciences. Find out more on our website: #RSMedals https://royalsociety.org/medals-and-prizes/royal-medals/
December 22, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Make your nominations for our medals and awards now, including our Royal Medal for the applied sciences. Find out more on our website: #RSMedals https://royalsociety.org/medals-and-prizes/royal-medals/
A new generation of ultrafast laser light sources promises to answer fundamental questions in chemistry and materials science. Join our upcoming residential scientific meeting in Edinburgh to explore them in depth. You can also apply to present a poster at the meeting. https://bit.ly/3XhtqNj
December 22, 2025 at 3:25 PM
A new generation of ultrafast laser light sources promises to answer fundamental questions in chemistry and materials science. Join our upcoming residential scientific meeting in Edinburgh to explore them in depth. You can also apply to present a poster at the meeting. https://bit.ly/3XhtqNj
No.9 in the most popular @royalsocietypublishing.org papers of the year: wild sea bream can recognise individual divers using visual cues, remembering who brings them snacks. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rsbl/article/21/2/20240558/63692/Wild-fish-use-visual-cues-to-recognize-individual
Wild fish use visual cues to recognize individual divers
Abstract. Many animal species have been shown to discriminate between individual humans in captive settings and may use a variety of cues to do so. Empiric
royalsocietypublishing.org
December 22, 2025 at 12:09 PM
No.9 in the most popular @royalsocietypublishing.org papers of the year: wild sea bream can recognise individual divers using visual cues, remembering who brings them snacks. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rsbl/article/21/2/20240558/63692/Wild-fish-use-visual-cues-to-recognize-individual
Born #OnThisDay in 1887 was Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. Despite having almost no training in mathematics, he is regarded as one of the greatest mathematicians of all time. He became one of the youngest Fellows in the Royal Society's history when he was elected in 1918 at the age of 31.
December 22, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Born #OnThisDay in 1887 was Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. Despite having almost no training in mathematics, he is regarded as one of the greatest mathematicians of all time. He became one of the youngest Fellows in the Royal Society's history when he was elected in 1918 at the age of 31.
Number 10 in our 2025 @royalsocietypublishing.org paper countdown: herring gulls respond differently to loud and soft conversations. Want to keep your chips? Raise your voice! https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rsbl/article/21/11/20250394/234054/Herring-gulls-respond-to-the-acoustic-properties
Herring gulls respond to the acoustic properties of men’s voices
Abstract. Due to ongoing global urbanization, some animals have settled in urban environments and rely increasingly on anthropogenic resources. One such ur
royalsocietypublishing.org
December 21, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Number 10 in our 2025 @royalsocietypublishing.org paper countdown: herring gulls respond differently to loud and soft conversations. Want to keep your chips? Raise your voice! https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rsbl/article/21/11/20250394/234054/Herring-gulls-respond-to-the-acoustic-properties
#DidYouKnow that nominations for most of our medals and awards are open to teams as well as individuals? Find out more:
#RSMedals
https://royalsociety.org/medals-and-prizes/nominations/
#RSMedals
https://royalsociety.org/medals-and-prizes/nominations/
December 21, 2025 at 2:45 PM
#DidYouKnow that nominations for most of our medals and awards are open to teams as well as individuals? Find out more:
#RSMedals
https://royalsociety.org/medals-and-prizes/nominations/
#RSMedals
https://royalsociety.org/medals-and-prizes/nominations/
#OnThisDay in 1872, the expedition of HMS Challenger set sail from Portsmouth, travelling nearly 70,00 nautical miles and cataloguing over 4000 unknown species over 4 years. This pioneering expedition, organised by the Royal Society, laid the foundations of oceanography.
December 21, 2025 at 12:43 PM
#OnThisDay in 1872, the expedition of HMS Challenger set sail from Portsmouth, travelling nearly 70,00 nautical miles and cataloguing over 4000 unknown species over 4 years. This pioneering expedition, organised by the Royal Society, laid the foundations of oceanography.
As 2025 draws to a close, take a look at the 10 most popular papers from @royalsocietypublishing.org from the year, from dolphin innovations to the infamous 'Chicago Rat Hole': https://royalsociety.org/blog/2025/12/popular-papers-2025/
Celebrating the most popular papers of 2025 | Royal Society
As 2025 draws to a close, we’re excited to reveal the top 10 most popular papers from across the Royal Society’s journals, ranked by Altmetric attention scores. These studies captured global interest,...
royalsociety.org
December 20, 2025 at 1:40 PM
As 2025 draws to a close, take a look at the 10 most popular papers from @royalsocietypublishing.org from the year, from dolphin innovations to the infamous 'Chicago Rat Hole': https://royalsociety.org/blog/2025/12/popular-papers-2025/
Research into #AI has been happening in the UK long before the current explosion of LLMs. On our blog, Royal Society Modern Records Archivist Jon Bushell takes a look at the AI research of Christopher Longuet-Higgins FRS in the 1960s and 70s: https://royalsociety.org/blog/2025/12/brain-boxes/
Brain boxes | Royal Society
Jon Bushell looks at the Edinburgh University artificial intelligence research of Christopher Longuet-Higgins FRS, and the impact on AI of the 1973 Lighthill report.
royalsociety.org
December 20, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Research into #AI has been happening in the UK long before the current explosion of LLMs. On our blog, Royal Society Modern Records Archivist Jon Bushell takes a look at the AI research of Christopher Longuet-Higgins FRS in the 1960s and 70s: https://royalsociety.org/blog/2025/12/brain-boxes/
Ann Bishop FRS, British protozoologist and parasitologist who worked to understand the malaria parasite, was born #OnThisDay in 1899. Her work on drug resistance in both parasites and host organisms earned her election as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1959. #WomenInSTEM
December 19, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Ann Bishop FRS, British protozoologist and parasitologist who worked to understand the malaria parasite, was born #OnThisDay in 1899. Her work on drug resistance in both parasites and host organisms earned her election as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1959. #WomenInSTEM
Three outstanding international researchers are set to establish new research groups in the UK through the Royal Society’s fast-track scheme for global talent, the Faraday Discovery Fellowships Accelerated International Route. #RSGrants royalsociety.org/news/2025/12...
Leaders in black hole imaging, glaciology and human development to come to UK via Royal Society fast-track international route | Royal Society
First three researchers awarded Royal Society Faraday Discovery Fellowships through accelerated international route
royalsociety.org
December 19, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Three outstanding international researchers are set to establish new research groups in the UK through the Royal Society’s fast-track scheme for global talent, the Faraday Discovery Fellowships Accelerated International Route. #RSGrants royalsociety.org/news/2025/12...
New President of the Royal Society Paul Nurse sat down with new Director of The Francis Crick Institute Edith Heard FRS for a reflection of his years leading @crick.ac.uk, the role of science in society today, and more.
Watch the full conversation now:
Watch the full conversation now:
“We need to take on the defence of science for the world.”
In a wide-ranging and frank conversation, Paul Nurse reflects on his years leading the Francis Crick Institute with our new director, Edith Heard.
www.crick.ac.uk/news/2025-12...
In a wide-ranging and frank conversation, Paul Nurse reflects on his years leading the Francis Crick Institute with our new director, Edith Heard.
www.crick.ac.uk/news/2025-12...
Paul Nurse in conversation with Edith Heard
Standing up for science, the art of leadership and cups of tea with the Prime Minister - Paul Nurse reflects on his years as CEO of the Francis Crick Institute with new director Edith Heard.
www.crick.ac.uk
December 18, 2025 at 5:46 PM
New President of the Royal Society Paul Nurse sat down with new Director of The Francis Crick Institute Edith Heard FRS for a reflection of his years leading @crick.ac.uk, the role of science in society today, and more.
Watch the full conversation now:
Watch the full conversation now:
Are you a researcher with an interest in human-focused biomedical technologies? Register now to join our Science+ meeting in London on 3-4 February 2026. Apply to present your poster at the meeting now: https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2026/02/life-sciences/
December 18, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Are you a researcher with an interest in human-focused biomedical technologies? Register now to join our Science+ meeting in London on 3-4 February 2026. Apply to present your poster at the meeting now: https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2026/02/life-sciences/
Trailblazing mathematician Mary Cartwright FRS was born #OnThisDay in 1900. She was one of the pioneers of what would become chaos theory, the first woman to serve on the Council of the Royal Society, and the first to win our Sylvester Medal for contributions to mathematics. #WomenInSTEM
December 17, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Trailblazing mathematician Mary Cartwright FRS was born #OnThisDay in 1900. She was one of the pioneers of what would become chaos theory, the first woman to serve on the Council of the Royal Society, and the first to win our Sylvester Medal for contributions to mathematics. #WomenInSTEM
Nominations for the Royal Society's medals and awards are still open. Help us celebrate excellence across the sciences and across the world, with nominations open to both individuals and teams. Find out more: #RSMedals
https://royalsociety.org/medals-and-prizes/nominations/
https://royalsociety.org/medals-and-prizes/nominations/
December 17, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Nominations for the Royal Society's medals and awards are still open. Help us celebrate excellence across the sciences and across the world, with nominations open to both individuals and teams. Find out more: #RSMedals
https://royalsociety.org/medals-and-prizes/nominations/
https://royalsociety.org/medals-and-prizes/nominations/
French natural philosopher and mathematician Émilie du Châtelet was born #OnThisDay in 1706. Her 'Institutions de Physique' caused debate throughout Europe, and her translation of Newton's 'Principia Mathematica' is still considered the standard translation in France.
#WomenInSTEM
#WomenInSTEM
December 17, 2025 at 7:31 AM
French natural philosopher and mathematician Émilie du Châtelet was born #OnThisDay in 1706. Her 'Institutions de Physique' caused debate throughout Europe, and her translation of Newton's 'Principia Mathematica' is still considered the standard translation in France.
#WomenInSTEM
#WomenInSTEM
The work of Sheina Marshall FRS on plankton and coral reefs revealed new dimensions of the ocean’s complexity, as Eloise Barber explains over on our blog: WomenInSTEM https://royalsociety.org/blog/2025/12/plankton-tales/
Plankton tales | Royal Society
The work of Sheina Marshall FRS on plankton and coral reefs revealed new dimensions of the ocean’s complexity, as Eloise Barber explains.
royalsociety.org
December 15, 2025 at 11:17 AM
The work of Sheina Marshall FRS on plankton and coral reefs revealed new dimensions of the ocean’s complexity, as Eloise Barber explains over on our blog: WomenInSTEM https://royalsociety.org/blog/2025/12/plankton-tales/
Born #OnThisDay in 1546 was Tycho Brahe, astronomer, supernova-spotter, alchemist, duelist, instrument-maker, Johannes Kepler’s mentor, keeper of a drunken pet elk and sporter of a distinctive metal nose. Find out more about this larger-than-life character: https://bit.ly/44PUIhK
December 14, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Born #OnThisDay in 1546 was Tycho Brahe, astronomer, supernova-spotter, alchemist, duelist, instrument-maker, Johannes Kepler’s mentor, keeper of a drunken pet elk and sporter of a distinctive metal nose. Find out more about this larger-than-life character: https://bit.ly/44PUIhK
Our Davy Medal is awarded to an outstanding researcher in the field of chemistry. Open to teams and groups as well as individuals of all career stages, make your nomination now: #RSMedals https://royalsociety.org/medals-and-prizes/davy-medal/
December 13, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Our Davy Medal is awarded to an outstanding researcher in the field of chemistry. Open to teams and groups as well as individuals of all career stages, make your nomination now: #RSMedals https://royalsociety.org/medals-and-prizes/davy-medal/
Should we try to talk to aliens? Do they already know about us, and what are the risks of trying to make contact? Experts answer these questions and more in our new video made in partnership with #BBCIdeas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHHAhFzLuCA
Should we try to talk to aliens? | The Royal Society
YouTube video by The Royal Society
www.youtube.com
December 11, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Should we try to talk to aliens? Do they already know about us, and what are the risks of trying to make contact? Experts answer these questions and more in our new video made in partnership with #BBCIdeas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHHAhFzLuCA