Some things we see in space appear to outpace light. Now we are learning to harness these bizarre optical illusions to understand the mysteries of neutron stars, gamma ray bursts and more

Nothing can travel faster than light – but there are some pretty convincing illusions in the universe that appear to do so. From light echoes to backwards explosions, what can we learn from these unusual superluminal events? Story by me in @newscientist.com www.newscientist.com/article/2495...

Physics cements c as the ultimate speed limit, but I learnt that apparent superluminal motion is all around us, including when you flick on the lights These illusions are helping us study the big lights in the sky Amazing reporting by @astrojonny.bsky.social www.newscientist.com/article/2495...

Who knew that my first New Scientist cover would be as an editor! Not too late to find out how scientists are mapping the hidden quantum world inside materials ▶️ bit.ly/47NEx6Z

Physicists have measured the 'quantum geometric tensor' – a thing most people have never heard of but that may shapes the hidden world of all materials Had the pleasure of working with the brilliant @kpc.bsky.social for my first cover for @newscientist.com ⚛️ www.newscientist.com/article/2494...

I absolutely loved revisiting my dissertation for @sciam.bsky.social's anniversary special! Ever since I began communicating science, I was fascinated by why non-physicists felt drawn to quantum mechanics. To answer that question, I did a deep dive in the Scientific American's archive ⬇️

In the immortal words of Insane Clown Posse: "Magnets, how do they work?" We've just discovered a new form: altermagnets. Confused? Join the club Luckily @libor-s.bsky.social explains to me why magnets are as elegant as they are confusing for @newscientist.com www.newscientist.com/article/2487...

The Vera Rubin Observatory will change everything. Seeing wider, deeper, and faster. Investigating everything from dark energy to Planet 9. Here's all you need to know. 🔭🧪 @science.org @vrubinobs.bsky.social www.science.org/content/arti...

"Tested" is a great and beautifully made, thoughtful podcast miniseries on the history of testing for sex in sports and the way it mostly serves exclude trans women and to harm cis women with natural variation www.newamerica.org/fellows/even...

My feature article about the delayed-choice quantum eraser is out now in @physicsworld.bsky.social! physicsworld.com/a/the-quantu...

Is modern medicine overdiagnosing? www.bmj.com/content/389/...

Hello hello! Today was my first day at @newscientist.com as its new Features Editor My email inbox is now open to pitches! Send me your big-swing feature ideas about science's emerging research, disruptive discoveries or high-impact applications 📧 [email protected]

I'm leaving my role as Digital Comms Officer at @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social, and joining @newscientist.com as their new Features Editor for the next 6 months I should probably avoid cliches (esp in my new editor role) but it really is a dream come true! I start next week, so watch this space 👀

"Tropical tree in Panama has evolved to kill its 'enemies' with lightning" www.livescience.com/planet-earth... by @jacklinkwan.bsky.social for Live Sciences #PlantScience

Sharks aren't so silent after all! 🦈🔊 For the first time ever, researchers recorded rig sharks making loud clicking sounds underwater. It might be a stress signal, a defence tactic… or just their teeth snapping shut My latest for @livescience.com ⬇️ www.livescience.com/animals/shar...

When the US reported a year ago that the H5N1 avian influenza virus had infected dairy cattle, it seemed some rare confluence of factors had allowed the virus to infect the cows’ udders. Then it happened again. And again. Story in @science.org on some questions about the origins of H5N1 in cows… 🧪

I’ve had a several dozen requests to write or be interviewed about the 5th anniversary of Covid and said no to all of them… except this one with @alexis-madrigal.bsky.social. Here’s our chat on the things we’ve memory-holed, and where we go from here. www.kqed.org/forum/201010...

#23andMe declared bankruptcy, so it seems like a good time to re-share @wired.com feature 🧬 23andMe sells a story about personal heritage, told through genetics... But reality is often more subjective & politicised than they let on Palestinian identity in 23andMe 🇵🇸🔽 www.wired.com/story/23andm...

Scientists have used CO2 lasers to detect radioactive material from 10m away, over 10x farther than the previous record! ☢️ The approach could find a home in nuclear security & disaster response. Always a joy to cover nuclear detection for @physicsworld.bsky.social physicsworld.com/a/co2-laser-...

Oh, when will we learn?

Hello hello #BlueSky – I'm a science journalist, I have a background in physics, and I'm new in town 😉 If you don't know me, here's my highlight reel from the past year so you can decide whether you like the cut of my jib