Emma Barratt
@ebarratt.bsky.social
Editor of the British Psychological Society's Research Digest, Writer at SciShow.
Previously Editor/astronaut botherer at the European Space Agency, and more.
Previously Editor/astronaut botherer at the European Space Agency, and more.
Reposted by Emma Barratt
Experimental participants to us
November 12, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Experimental participants to us
Reposted by Emma Barratt
🚨Three Chinese astronauts couldn’t return to Earth after space junk hit their spacecraft. Scientists warn this could be just the first of more accidents caused by orbital debris.
The situation is concerning. “There are a lot of people up there,” one source told me.
My story @sciam.bsky.social 🧪
The situation is concerning. “There are a lot of people up there,” one source told me.
My story @sciam.bsky.social 🧪
A Piece of Space Junk Hit Their Ride Home. What Does This Mean for Space Exploration?
Three Chinese astronauts will likely return safely to Earth after a reported space-junk strike. But the incident highlights the growing risk of orbital debris
www.scientificamerican.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:46 PM
🚨Three Chinese astronauts couldn’t return to Earth after space junk hit their spacecraft. Scientists warn this could be just the first of more accidents caused by orbital debris.
The situation is concerning. “There are a lot of people up there,” one source told me.
My story @sciam.bsky.social 🧪
The situation is concerning. “There are a lot of people up there,” one source told me.
My story @sciam.bsky.social 🧪
Reposted by Emma Barratt
Nature suggests you use their "Manuscript Adviser" bot to get advice before submitting
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
November 3, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Nature suggests you use their "Manuscript Adviser" bot to get advice before submitting
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
Reposted by Emma Barratt
Psychedelics disrupt the link between vascular and neuronal activity, which complicates interpretations of fMRI data. Adopting a more holistic view of what constitutes brain activity may help.
By @callimcflurry.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/psychedelics...
By @callimcflurry.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/psychedelics...
Psychedelics muddy fMRI results: Q&A with Adam Bauer and Jonah Padawer-Curry
The drugs disrupt the link between vascular and neuronal activity, which complicates interpretations of fMRI data. Adopting a more holistic view of what constitutes brain activity may help…
www.thetransmitter.org
October 29, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Psychedelics disrupt the link between vascular and neuronal activity, which complicates interpretations of fMRI data. Adopting a more holistic view of what constitutes brain activity may help.
By @callimcflurry.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/psychedelics...
By @callimcflurry.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/psychedelics...
Reposted by Emma Barratt
in my post-academic era i have become extremely scathing of the way academia considers papers to the primary outcome of intellectual work, and refuses to give credit to academics who write software or build other tooling. in industry we very rarely read your papers; but we always use your software
October 28, 2025 at 2:15 AM
in my post-academic era i have become extremely scathing of the way academia considers papers to the primary outcome of intellectual work, and refuses to give credit to academics who write software or build other tooling. in industry we very rarely read your papers; but we always use your software
Reposted by Emma Barratt
“Science is never settled” sounds reasonable—but it’s often a rhetorical trick to undermine consensus on issues like vaccines or climate change.
Science evolves, but some things are overwhelmingly supported by evidence.
My latest for Live Science
www.livescience.com/...
1/10
Science evolves, but some things are overwhelmingly supported by evidence.
My latest for Live Science
www.livescience.com/...
1/10
There is such a thing as 'settled science' — anyone who says otherwise is trying to manipulate you
How bad-faith arguments sow doubt by weaponizing scientific humility.
www.livescience.com
October 28, 2025 at 8:36 AM
“Science is never settled” sounds reasonable—but it’s often a rhetorical trick to undermine consensus on issues like vaccines or climate change.
Science evolves, but some things are overwhelmingly supported by evidence.
My latest for Live Science
www.livescience.com/...
1/10
Science evolves, but some things are overwhelmingly supported by evidence.
My latest for Live Science
www.livescience.com/...
1/10
Reposted by Emma Barratt
Ouch.
AI chatbots fail at accurate news, major study reveals p.dw.com/p/528zp?maca...
"...four of the most commonly used AI assistants misrepresent news content 45% of the time..."
AI chatbots fail at accurate news, major study reveals p.dw.com/p/528zp?maca...
"...four of the most commonly used AI assistants misrepresent news content 45% of the time..."
AI chatbots fail at accurate news, major study reveals – DW – 10/22/2025
AI chatbots such as ChatGPT and Copilot routinely distort the news and struggle to distinguish facts from opinion. That's according to a major new study from 22 international public broadcasters, incl...
p.dw.com
October 22, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Ouch.
AI chatbots fail at accurate news, major study reveals p.dw.com/p/528zp?maca...
"...four of the most commonly used AI assistants misrepresent news content 45% of the time..."
AI chatbots fail at accurate news, major study reveals p.dw.com/p/528zp?maca...
"...four of the most commonly used AI assistants misrepresent news content 45% of the time..."
Reposted by Emma Barratt
Today and tomorrow 11a-3p EST, I'll be live posting this terrific workshop. It's open to all! So register at this link if you'd like to watch too (or follow this 🧵 for the highlights).
Agenda: 16 presentations + overviews, discussions, recaps and reviews.
www.nationalacademies.org/en/event/451...
Agenda: 16 presentations + overviews, discussions, recaps and reviews.
www.nationalacademies.org/en/event/451...
October 22, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Today and tomorrow 11a-3p EST, I'll be live posting this terrific workshop. It's open to all! So register at this link if you'd like to watch too (or follow this 🧵 for the highlights).
Agenda: 16 presentations + overviews, discussions, recaps and reviews.
www.nationalacademies.org/en/event/451...
Agenda: 16 presentations + overviews, discussions, recaps and reviews.
www.nationalacademies.org/en/event/451...
Reposted by Emma Barratt
mRNA Covid shots may boost the effects of certain cancer treatments, study www.statnews.com/2025/10/19/m...
"Patients who got Covid shots before starting cancer immunotherapy lived significantly longer."
Prelim & better data needed. But what will Republicans, antivaxxers, et al. do?
"Patients who got Covid shots before starting cancer immunotherapy lived significantly longer."
Prelim & better data needed. But what will Republicans, antivaxxers, et al. do?
mRNA Covid shots may boost the effects of certain cancer treatments, study suggests
The potential reasons that a Covid vaccine would help treat cancer are intriguing.
www.statnews.com
October 20, 2025 at 1:35 PM
mRNA Covid shots may boost the effects of certain cancer treatments, study www.statnews.com/2025/10/19/m...
"Patients who got Covid shots before starting cancer immunotherapy lived significantly longer."
Prelim & better data needed. But what will Republicans, antivaxxers, et al. do?
"Patients who got Covid shots before starting cancer immunotherapy lived significantly longer."
Prelim & better data needed. But what will Republicans, antivaxxers, et al. do?
Reposted by Emma Barratt
🚨 New preprint 🚨
Analyzing the academic trajectories of 78,216 psychology researchers, we demonstrate a persistent gender attrition gap, with women psychologists dropping out of academia at consistently higher rates than men psychologists.
Preprint: arxiv.org/pdf/2510.13273
Analyzing the academic trajectories of 78,216 psychology researchers, we demonstrate a persistent gender attrition gap, with women psychologists dropping out of academia at consistently higher rates than men psychologists.
Preprint: arxiv.org/pdf/2510.13273
October 16, 2025 at 9:38 AM
🚨 New preprint 🚨
Analyzing the academic trajectories of 78,216 psychology researchers, we demonstrate a persistent gender attrition gap, with women psychologists dropping out of academia at consistently higher rates than men psychologists.
Preprint: arxiv.org/pdf/2510.13273
Analyzing the academic trajectories of 78,216 psychology researchers, we demonstrate a persistent gender attrition gap, with women psychologists dropping out of academia at consistently higher rates than men psychologists.
Preprint: arxiv.org/pdf/2510.13273
Reposted by Emma Barratt
Happening next week! This is exactly the type of high-level "meeting of the minds" we need to be having more of to advance brain health: scientists, policy makers and individuals with lived experience, talking across disciplines.
Workshop open to all (virtual).
Workshop open to all (virtual).
October 16, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Happening next week! This is exactly the type of high-level "meeting of the minds" we need to be having more of to advance brain health: scientists, policy makers and individuals with lived experience, talking across disciplines.
Workshop open to all (virtual).
Workshop open to all (virtual).
Reposted by Emma Barratt
This is really nice.
But at the same time it is sad that a separate journal for replications is needed. Replications are not a different kind of thing but instead a foundational aspect of normal run of the mill science biz. We should not reinforce the idea that they should be treated differently.
But at the same time it is sad that a separate journal for replications is needed. Replications are not a different kind of thing but instead a foundational aspect of normal run of the mill science biz. We should not reinforce the idea that they should be treated differently.
ReplicationResearch.org is now open for submissions!
Submit replications and reproductions from many different fields, as well as conceptual contributions. With diamond OA, open and citable peer review reports, and reproducibility checks, we push the boundaries of open and fair publishing.
Submit replications and reproductions from many different fields, as well as conceptual contributions. With diamond OA, open and citable peer review reports, and reproducibility checks, we push the boundaries of open and fair publishing.
October 10, 2025 at 7:39 AM
This is really nice.
But at the same time it is sad that a separate journal for replications is needed. Replications are not a different kind of thing but instead a foundational aspect of normal run of the mill science biz. We should not reinforce the idea that they should be treated differently.
But at the same time it is sad that a separate journal for replications is needed. Replications are not a different kind of thing but instead a foundational aspect of normal run of the mill science biz. We should not reinforce the idea that they should be treated differently.
Reposted by Emma Barratt
OK so I read through this study, and here are my conclusions:
- What a cool tech to examine epigenetic factors so closely!
- This is a small study
- This only differentiates severe-presenting patients from healthy controls; hasn't been used to diagnose ME/CFS *versus* other inflammatory illness. 🧪
- What a cool tech to examine epigenetic factors so closely!
- This is a small study
- This only differentiates severe-presenting patients from healthy controls; hasn't been used to diagnose ME/CFS *versus* other inflammatory illness. 🧪
Open Access Government: 'UEA develops blood test for ME/CFS with 96% accuracy'
'A groundbreaking blood test from UEA can diagnose ME/CFS with 96% accuracy, offering hope for patients and new insights into chronic fatigue syndrome'
www.openaccessgovernment.org/uea-develops...
'A groundbreaking blood test from UEA can diagnose ME/CFS with 96% accuracy, offering hope for patients and new insights into chronic fatigue syndrome'
www.openaccessgovernment.org/uea-develops...
UEA develops blood test for ME/CFS with 96% accuracy
A blood test from UEA can diagnose ME/CFS with 96% accuracy, offering hope for patients and new insights into chronic fatigue syndrome
www.openaccessgovernment.org
October 9, 2025 at 12:56 PM
OK so I read through this study, and here are my conclusions:
- What a cool tech to examine epigenetic factors so closely!
- This is a small study
- This only differentiates severe-presenting patients from healthy controls; hasn't been used to diagnose ME/CFS *versus* other inflammatory illness. 🧪
- What a cool tech to examine epigenetic factors so closely!
- This is a small study
- This only differentiates severe-presenting patients from healthy controls; hasn't been used to diagnose ME/CFS *versus* other inflammatory illness. 🧪
Reposted by Emma Barratt
Sometimes even a huge amount of feedback just doesn't make a dent in overconfidence — as demonstrated by this new study involving chess players: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...
Overconfidence can thrive even with detailed, continuous feedback | BPS
A new study looks at overconfidence in chess players, and suggests that efforts to reduce it in everyday life via feedback can still fall flat.
www.bps.org.uk
October 6, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Sometimes even a huge amount of feedback just doesn't make a dent in overconfidence — as demonstrated by this new study involving chess players: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...
Reposted by Emma Barratt
Please spread the word! I am recruiting a PhD student this cycle (Fall 2026 start) to join my team in a new venture: the neuroscience of mood.
If you are curious to learn more, this short talk provides a good overview of why, what and how.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjIK...
If you are curious to learn more, this short talk provides a good overview of why, what and how.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjIK...
Nicole Rust - The representation of mood in the primate insula (May 6, 2025)
YouTube video by Simons Foundation
www.youtube.com
October 7, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Please spread the word! I am recruiting a PhD student this cycle (Fall 2026 start) to join my team in a new venture: the neuroscience of mood.
If you are curious to learn more, this short talk provides a good overview of why, what and how.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjIK...
If you are curious to learn more, this short talk provides a good overview of why, what and how.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjIK...
Reposted by Emma Barratt
New preprint 🌟 Psychology is core to cognitive science, and so it is vital we preserve it from harmful frames. @irisvanrooij.bsky.social & I use our psych and computer science expertise to analyse and craft:
Critical Artificial Intelligence Literacy for Psychologists. doi.org/10.31234/osf...
🧵 1/
Critical Artificial Intelligence Literacy for Psychologists. doi.org/10.31234/osf...
🧵 1/
October 4, 2025 at 5:33 AM
New preprint 🌟 Psychology is core to cognitive science, and so it is vital we preserve it from harmful frames. @irisvanrooij.bsky.social & I use our psych and computer science expertise to analyse and craft:
Critical Artificial Intelligence Literacy for Psychologists. doi.org/10.31234/osf...
🧵 1/
Critical Artificial Intelligence Literacy for Psychologists. doi.org/10.31234/osf...
🧵 1/
Reposted by Emma Barratt
Really cool story - bird species from across the world make the same sound to warn against cuckoos, and they can even understand each other. Feeds into ideas Darwin had about the origin of language! www.newscientist.com/article/2498...
20 bird species can understand each other’s anti-cuckoo call
Several species of birds from different continents use and understand similar alarm calls when they see an invader that might lay an egg in their nest – this shared call hints at the origin of languag...
www.newscientist.com
October 3, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Really cool story - bird species from across the world make the same sound to warn against cuckoos, and they can even understand each other. Feeds into ideas Darwin had about the origin of language! www.newscientist.com/article/2498...
Reposted by Emma Barratt
The UK Covid Inquiry will be looking at children and young people from today.
Watch @SkyNews at 7:30, CVF member Seren will be sharing her experiences ahead of her video to be shown at the inquiry.
Watch @SkyNews at 7:30, CVF member Seren will be sharing her experiences ahead of her video to be shown at the inquiry.
September 29, 2025 at 12:40 AM
The UK Covid Inquiry will be looking at children and young people from today.
Watch @SkyNews at 7:30, CVF member Seren will be sharing her experiences ahead of her video to be shown at the inquiry.
Watch @SkyNews at 7:30, CVF member Seren will be sharing her experiences ahead of her video to be shown at the inquiry.
Reposted by Emma Barratt
It continues to be weird to me that adult CNS neurons have a single, nonmotile cilium just hanging out, maybe acting as a site for receptor expression. Like a little extra antenna that we all just ignore in our drawings of neurons. www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Primary Cilia in the Developing and Mature Brain
Primary cilia emerge as key regulators of development, neurogenesis, and signaling
in the mammalian brain. Guemez-Gamboa et al. review the status, genetic basis, potential,
controversies, and unanswer...
www.cell.com
September 29, 2025 at 2:46 AM
It continues to be weird to me that adult CNS neurons have a single, nonmotile cilium just hanging out, maybe acting as a site for receptor expression. Like a little extra antenna that we all just ignore in our drawings of neurons. www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Reposted by Emma Barratt
💙💜💗 If you believe in our work, we urgently need your support 💙💜💗
🌬 We have been fighting for #CleanAir since we were founded in 2020.
👪 We want to raise the voices of children facing extreme challenges.
1/2 🙏 PLS RT 🙏
🌬 We have been fighting for #CleanAir since we were founded in 2020.
👪 We want to raise the voices of children facing extreme challenges.
1/2 🙏 PLS RT 🙏
![Image of a nativity scene drawn by a child in a school prayer book. "Jesus" is labeled in the manger and "mar" next to him. The donkey and kings are outside, and there are 2 stars in the sky.
"Wensday 8 december 2021
dear god,
Please let my family survive covid.
We hope we could make it thruot through covidand Bring peace to every one." [sic]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ubv6aix4vvpwhfepzi3z4vbl/bafkreifds3g4zbfg7he33coo7auolrehv7pvx6muhf5kxycmdj4an6hhti@jpeg)
September 27, 2025 at 10:02 AM
💙💜💗 If you believe in our work, we urgently need your support 💙💜💗
🌬 We have been fighting for #CleanAir since we were founded in 2020.
👪 We want to raise the voices of children facing extreme challenges.
1/2 🙏 PLS RT 🙏
🌬 We have been fighting for #CleanAir since we were founded in 2020.
👪 We want to raise the voices of children facing extreme challenges.
1/2 🙏 PLS RT 🙏
Reposted by Emma Barratt
We’re hiring! We’re looking for two RAs to study neuroplasticity in sight loss, sight rescue and development in children and adults @ucl.ac.uk using a wide range of neuroimaging and behavioral methods. Please help spread the word! Apply by 16 Oct! t.ly/q3aYe #neurojobs #NeuroSkyence
Research Assistant at UCL
Recruiting now: Research Assistant on jobs.ac.uk. Click for details and explore more academic job opportunities on the top job board
t.ly
September 27, 2025 at 10:57 AM
We’re hiring! We’re looking for two RAs to study neuroplasticity in sight loss, sight rescue and development in children and adults @ucl.ac.uk using a wide range of neuroimaging and behavioral methods. Please help spread the word! Apply by 16 Oct! t.ly/q3aYe #neurojobs #NeuroSkyence
Reposted by Emma Barratt
If confirmed, this is huge.
"Huntington's disease successfully treated for first time...
Data shows the disease was slowed by 75% in patients."
www.bbc.com/news/article...
"Huntington's disease successfully treated for first time...
Data shows the disease was slowed by 75% in patients."
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Huntington's disease successfully treated for first time
One of the most devastating diseases finally has a treatment that can slow its progression and transform lives, tearful doctors tell BBC.
www.bbc.com
September 24, 2025 at 12:29 PM
If confirmed, this is huge.
"Huntington's disease successfully treated for first time...
Data shows the disease was slowed by 75% in patients."
www.bbc.com/news/article...
"Huntington's disease successfully treated for first time...
Data shows the disease was slowed by 75% in patients."
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Emma Barratt
UK medicine regulator confirms there is no evidence paracetamol causes autism in children www.gov.uk/government/n...
MHRA confirms taking paracetamol during pregnancy remains safe and there is no evidence it causes autism in children
Paracetamol should be taken as directed in the patient information leaflet
www.gov.uk
September 22, 2025 at 5:17 PM
UK medicine regulator confirms there is no evidence paracetamol causes autism in children www.gov.uk/government/n...