Helen Pearson
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helenpearson.bsky.social
Helen Pearson
@helenpearson.bsky.social
3K followers 100 following 41 posts
Science journalist & editor for Nature, author, teacher at University College London.
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Reposted by Helen Pearson
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
Reposted by Helen Pearson
stsucl.bsky.social
We’re hiring! We are recruiting for Science Communication Technician (Equipment and Resources) to join our Department from November 2025. For more info and to apply, please visit: http://bit.ly/43BnBxu

Closing Date: 10th November 2025
#WeAreSTS #Sciencecommunication #MSc
October 27, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Reposted by Helen Pearson
alexwitze.bsky.social
Fewer grad students means less science, but many STEM PhD programs in the US are cutting back on admissions this year due to federal funding uncertainties. Words by me for @nature.com:

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

@emsque.bsky.social @ucsdcooperlab.bsky.social @julieposselt.bsky.social 🧪
US PhD admissions shrink as fears over Trump’s cuts take hold
Some doctoral programmes are admitting no students at all amid uncertainty about federal science funding.
www.nature.com
October 21, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Reposted by Helen Pearson
rnadoctor.bsky.social
I listened to the article on the Nature podcast, Helen; Very timely. Too bad the scientifically unfounded claim that taking #acetaminophen #Tylenol during pregnancy is linked to autism came out just a few days later.
October 6, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Reposted by Helen Pearson
olivia.science
thx to @nature.com @helenpearson.bsky.social for including our words & letter‼️

> unis are allowing or even encouraging the use of AI tools — many of which are controlled by companies, have unknown cognitive impacts and are dogged by ethical and environmental concerns.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
October 21, 2025 at 2:45 PM
helenpearson.bsky.social
AI tools can, within seconds, analyse information and write essays — some of the exact skills that universities teach. My @nature.com story examines what this means for universities & students: is this the future of learning of the end of critical thinking?

www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Universities are embracing AI: will students get smarter or stop thinking?
Millions of students arriving at campuses are now using artificial intelligence. Worries abound.
www.nature.com
October 21, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Reposted by Helen Pearson
magdalenaskipper.bsky.social
Less than 70% of science Nobel prize winners awarded this century hail from the country in which they were awarded their prize.
“Mobility benefits everyone. Each newcomer brings fresh ideas, new techniques & different ways of looking at old problems”
🧪 #academicSky
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
More than 30% of this century’s science Nobel prizewinners immigrated: see their journeys
The most common destination for eventual Nobel laureates in physics, chemistry and medicine since 2000 is the United States, Nature has found.
www.nature.com
October 9, 2025 at 10:58 PM
helenpearson.bsky.social
Now might be a good time to repost this story about what scientists actually know about the complex causes of autism, and what's behind the increasing prevalence.

www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Autism is on the rise: what’s really behind the increase?
RFK Jr has vowed to find out what’s responsible, but scientists say he is ignoring answers from decades of research.
www.nature.com
September 22, 2025 at 3:17 PM
helenpearson.bsky.social
A good news story. A new birth cohort to add to the UK’s unique series of such studies
September 9, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Reposted by Helen Pearson
girlscientist.bsky.social
Good summary by my friend @helenpearson.bsky.social of what we have been saying for years: if there’s an epidemic in autism, it’s of diagnoses, which is not a bad thing www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Autism is on the rise: what’s really behind the increase?
RFK Jr has vowed to find out what’s responsible, but scientists say he is ignoring answers from decades of research.
www.nature.com
August 28, 2025 at 2:05 PM
helenpearson.bsky.social
“While X has primarily served as a dissemination tool, Bluesky may support a more interpretive, reflective mode of science communication.” 👇
August 29, 2025 at 8:34 AM
helenpearson.bsky.social
Very surprised and delighted to be one of 4 finalists for European Science Journalist of the Year Award 2025 - along with amazing reporters @mikepeeljourno.bsky.social, Jonas Reese & Christopher Weingart.
August 27, 2025 at 5:26 PM
helenpearson.bsky.social
What’s really driving the rise in prevalence of autism? My @nature.com story looks at what scientists and the autism community have learned about the causes of autism and the growth in diagnoses. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Autism is on the rise: what’s really behind the increase?
RFK Jr has vowed to find out what’s responsible, but scientists say he is ignoring answers from decades of research.
www.nature.com
August 26, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Reposted by Helen Pearson
magdalenaskipper.bsky.social
Congratulations to the fantastic crop of winners of the @absw.bsky.social Awards 2025 but especially (of course!) to our @nature.com winners Nisha Gaind (www.nature.com/articles/d41...) & Lizzy Gibney (www.nature.com/articles/d41... ) 🎉🎉🎉
@lizziegibney.bsky.social
🧪
www.absw.org.uk/pages/meet-t...
Meet the Winners 2025 | Association of British Science Writers
The winners of the 2025 ABSW Awards were announced at a ceremony held on Wednesday July 9, 2025
www.absw.org.uk
July 9, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Reposted by Helen Pearson
nature.com
Some sleuths fear that the business of cleaning up flawed studies is being weaponized against science itself

go.nature.com/3TwCNXA
Research-integrity sleuths say their work is being ‘twisted’ to undermine science
Some sleuths fear that the business of cleaning up flawed studies is being weaponized against science itself.
go.nature.com
July 9, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Reposted by Helen Pearson
jameswilsdon.bsky.social
‘Metascience can improve science — but it must be useful to society, too’. Good, thoughtful editorial in @nature.com on #Metascience2025 & the new Alliance

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

@helenpearson.bsky.social @magdalenaskipper.bsky.social @briannosek.bsky.social
Metascience can improve science — but it must be useful to society, too
Researchers studying research must avoid the temptation to get too stuck in the academic weeds.
www.nature.com
July 9, 2025 at 7:06 AM
helenpearson.bsky.social
An experimental peer-review system slashes the time taken to review grant applications, according to results reported at #Metascience2025. 'Distributed peer review' requires researchers who apply for funding to review the other applications.

My story for @nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
How to speed up peer review: make applicants mark one another
‘Distributed peer review’ of grants makes process more than twice as fast — and includes some cheat-prevention measures.
www.nature.com
July 1, 2025 at 4:37 PM
helenpearson.bsky.social
I’m at #Metascience2025 this week, aka the ‘Glastonbury of metascience’. Looking fwd to #sciencepolicy but not the #heatwave metascience.info Metascience 2025 Conference
Metascience 2025 Conference
A global gathering for knowledge sharing, community building, and opportunities to define a roadmap of research and intervention priorities to accelerate science.
metascience.info
June 30, 2025 at 7:58 AM
helenpearson.bsky.social
RFK Jr wants to Make America Healthy Again. But is America really that unhealthy?

I spoke with public health experts & data analysts to find out. My story for @nature.com and brief🧵

www.nature.com/articles/d41...
How to make America healthy: the real problems — and best fixes
The United States has lower life expectancy than most similarly wealthy nations. Chronic disease is part of the cause, but so are guns, drugs and cars.
www.nature.com
June 24, 2025 at 12:28 PM
helenpearson.bsky.social
Scientists say they used LLMs to reproduce 12 gold-standard #Cochrane systematic reviews in 2 days - rather than 12 years.

But other experts are sceptical; the system doesn't automate some review steps and needs independent testing. My news story for @nature.com

www.nature.com/articles/d41...
AI slashes time to produce gold-standard medical reviews — but sceptics urge caution
Although language models can help to accelerate systematic reviews, a fully automated system is still some way off.
www.nature.com
June 19, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Reposted by Helen Pearson
maxkozlov.bsky.social
After ruling the NIH grant cuts were illegal yesterday, Judge Young, a Reagan appointee on the bench since 1985, ended the hearing with a blistering 15-minute speech.

I've cleaned up my notes — here are his remarks in full. 🧵
Judge rules against NIH grant cuts — and calls them discriminatory
The decision means that the US biomedical agency has to restore funding to hundreds of research projects, but the government will likely appeal.
www.nature.com
June 17, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Reposted by Helen Pearson
meharpist.bsky.social
Do girls and boys really differ in their mathematical skills? A recent @nature.com paper by @standehaene.bsky.social et al shows that French boys and girls enter school with similar abilities, but after just four months, boys pull ahead 🧪 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Rapid emergence of a maths gender gap in first grade - Nature
Boys and girls exhibit very similar maths scores upon school entry, but a gender gap in favour of boys becomes highly significant after 4 months of schooling, which increases with years of schooling,&...
www.nature.com
June 13, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Reposted by Helen Pearson
magdalenaskipper.bsky.social
Critics fear that anti-vaccine leader’s picks for crucial committee will be a ‘disaster for public health’.

So our news team asks: who is on RFK Jr’s new vaccine panel — and what will they do?

🧪 #MedSky

@nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Who is on RFK Jr’s new vaccine panel — and what will they do?
Critics fear that anti-vaccine leader’s picks for crucial committee will be a ‘disaster for public health’.
www.nature.com
June 13, 2025 at 11:15 AM
helenpearson.bsky.social
Trust in vaccines is being undermined.💉But what should you say to someone who has doubts? I spoke with vaccine hesitancy researchers for @nature.com to find out how best to speak to someone with questions /concerns about vaccines.

Anyone can use their helpful advice
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
How to speak to a vaccine sceptic: research reveals what works
Hesitancy about vaccinations is on the rise, but studies show there are specific ways to overcome people’s doubts.
www.nature.com
June 10, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Reposted by Helen Pearson
natureportfolio.nature.com
Nature has launched its seventh global survey of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) doctoral students, which will probe graduate students’ views about their goals and challenges, and their experiences of their studies so far. Survey runs until June 11. #Academicsky 🧪
PhD students in STEM: Nature wants to hear from you
Buried in lab work or drowning in data? Take a break and help shape the future of PhD education.
go.nature.com
May 28, 2025 at 1:11 AM