Helen Pearson
@helenpearson.bsky.social
š¤ 3039
š„ 121
š 51
Science journalist & editor for Nature, author, teacher at University College London.
The race to develop AI tools that can review the scientific literature continues, and
@lizziegibney.bsky.social
@nature.com
reports on the open source AI tool OpenScholar. Big limitations: it may not retrieve the most relevant papers & cannot access paywalled ones
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
loading . . .
Open-source AI tool beats giant LLMs in literature reviews ā and gets citations right
Researchers can deploy the cheap and transparent model on their own computer system.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00347-9
10 days ago
0
3
0
It was a pleasure to review Deborah Cohen's excellent book 'Bad Influence' for
@nature.com
. She lays bare how influencers, algorithms, wellness apps (and hidden commercial interests) are transforming our health for better or, often, for worse. Essential reading!
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
loading . . .
Are health influencers making us sick?
Social media can help to raise awareness of health conditions ā but the wealth of dubious information online might do more harm than good.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00313-5
13 days ago
0
9
9
reposted by
Helen Pearson
Jack Stilgoe
16 days ago
We're advertising for a temporary history of science teaching post in
@stsucl.bsky.social
. Please share among history peeps
www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
loading . . .
UCL ā University College London
UCL is consistently ranked as one of the top ten universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2010-2022) and is No.2 in the UK for research power (Research Excellence Framework 2021).
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/search-ucl-jobs/details?nPostingId=17022&nPostingTargetId=41248&id=Q1KFK026203F3VBQBLO8M8M07&LG=UK&languageSelect=UK&mask=ext
0
0
4
reposted by
Helen Pearson
Nature
16 days ago
Hackathons using AlphaGenome and other AI models are hunting down the genetic causes of devastating conditions that have evaded diagnosis
go.nature.com/3OeX5oM
loading . . .
How DeepMind's genome AI could help solve rare disease mysteries
Hackathons using AlphaGenome and other AI models are hunting down the genetic causes of devastating conditions that have evaded diagnosis.
https://go.nature.com/3OeX5oM
1
22
5
reposted by
Helen Pearson
Max Kozlov
23 days ago
NIH will no longer support studies that use human fetal tissue derived from elective abortions, citing advances in alternate methods. āItās clearly a political decision, not a scientific one,ā says Lawrence Goldstein, a neuroscientist at UCSD. By
@heidiledford.bsky.social
and Edward Chen
loading . . .
NIH ends support for some human fetal-tissue research ā dismaying scientists
The US biomedical funding agency also hints at future restrictions on research involving human embryonic stem cells.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00251-2
4
48
34
reposted by
Helen Pearson
Max Kozlov
25 days ago
Trump has been in office for one year. We at
@nature.com
did a deep dive looking at the administration's disruption of science in numbers. Take a lookāthe numbers are staggering. By me,
@dangaristo.bsky.social
, Jeff Tollefson,
@kimay.bsky.social
, & help from
@noamross.net
@scott-delaney.bsky.social
loading . . .
US science after a year of Trump: what has been lost and what remains
A series of graphics reveals how the Trump administration has sought historic cuts to science and the research workforce.
https://www.nature.com/immersive/d41586-026-00088-9/index.html
10
507
348
Cool cell biology: āthe TimeVaults captured a small fraction of all of the mRNA molecules produced by a human cell line over a 24-hour window, and stored them for at least a weekā
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
loading . . .
A ātime capsule for cellsā stores the secret experiences of their past
Scientists have transformed enigmatic cell structures, called vaults, into storage units for messenger-RNA molecules made in the past.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00116-8
30 days ago
0
3
1
reposted by
Helen Pearson
Hilda Bastian
about 2 months ago
This was a light-bulb moment for me! My new post
@plos.org
comes from learning about the concept of science populists:
absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2025/12/19/s...
....
loading . . .
Science Populism, Medicine Style - Absolutely Maybe
I hadnāt been aware of the term science populism until a video about it did the rounds recently. It was a light-bulbā¦
https://absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2025/12/19/science-populism-medicine-style/
4
33
20
reposted by
Helen Pearson
Alexandra Witze
about 2 months ago
Here's our reporting on the proposed dismantling of the jewel of US atmospheric science, @ncar-ucar.bsky.social. The plan is to break NCAR apart and disburse some parts to other locations (like the research aircraft fleet) and eliminate others.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
š§Ŗ
#AGU25
#climate
loading . . .
Trump team plans to break up āglobal mothershipā of climate science
Much of the National Center for Atmospheric Researchās non-climate portfolio will be dispersed, the White House says.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-04134-w
20
504
365
reposted by
Helen Pearson
Kai Kupferschmidt
about 2 months ago
āThe influenza season has begun roughly four weeks earlier than in previous seasons. At least 27 of the 38 countries in the WHO European Region reporting data are now seeing high or very high influenza activity.ā
@whoeurope.bsky.social
warning of an intense, early flu season
#IDsky
š§Ŗ
loading . . .
More than half of the WHO European Region experiencing intense, early influenza season driven by new strain
Copenhagen, 17 December 2025 Influenza is sweeping across the European Region earlier than
https://news.cision.com/who-regional-office-for-europe/r/more-than-half-of-the-who-european-region-experiencing-intense--early-influenza-season-driven-by-new,c4283264
2
40
20
reposted by
Helen Pearson
James Lind Library
about 2 months ago
Listen in as
@richard-lehman.bsky.social
and
@raj-mehta.bsky.social
explore why it took so long for fair tests of treatments to develop, and the transition from anecdotal and authority-based decisions to empirical methodologies in the 18th and 19th centuries.
www.jameslindlibrary.org/blogs/the-fi...
loading . . .
Podcast: The first steps towards Evidence-Based Medicine - The James Lind Library
This video covers the first section of the James Lind Library essays, exploring why it took so long for fair assessments of medical treatments to develop.
https://www.jameslindlibrary.org/blogs/the-first-steps-towards-evidence-based-medicine/
0
6
4
Fascinating study covered by
@maxkozlov.bsky.social
that analyses the shared genetic roots of many neurodevelopmental (ADHD, autism) and mental health conditions
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
loading . . .
Huge genetic study reveals hidden links between psychiatric conditions
Analysis of more than one million people shows that mental-health disorders fall into five clusters, each of them linked to a specific set of genetic variants.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-04037-w
2 months ago
0
15
7
reposted by
Helen Pearson
Eva Amsen
2 months ago
For the overly prepared among you: You can already buy a ticket to the 2027 World Conference of Science Journalists! It will be in London, so I am definitely there.
#scicomm
add a skeleton here at some point
1
2
2
reposted by
Helen Pearson
Nature
2 months ago
A fired public-health official, a mosquito breeder and a baby with a smile seen around the world. These are just a few of the remarkable people chosen for Natureās 10 2025 Check out the full list:
go.nature.com/4rIQH8H
loading . . .
0
27
9
reposted by
Helen Pearson
Kai Arzheimer
2 months ago
Behold: a genuinely useful flowchart
#AcademicChatter
4
96
28
ADHD diagnoses are climbing in some countries. Whatās going on? My
@nature.com
story looks at what specialists and people with ADHD are learning about the rise in diagnoses and how best to provide support
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
loading . . .
ADHD diagnoses are growing. Whatās going on?
More children and adults are being diagnosed with ADHD in some countries. Science is helping to understand why ā and how best to provide support.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03855-2
3 months ago
1
3
0
This deep-dive course in evidence synthesis looks great
add a skeleton here at some point
3 months ago
0
0
1
Thoughtful and informed post about the past and future of science journalism, based on an excellent talk
add a skeleton here at some point
3 months ago
0
4
4
reposted by
Helen Pearson
Magdalena Skipper
4 months ago
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 š§Ŗ
@nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
loading . . .
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.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03470-1
1
49
38
reposted by
Helen Pearson
UCL Science and Technology Studies (STS)
4 months ago
Weāre 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
0
4
4
reposted by
Helen Pearson
Alexandra Witze
4 months ago
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
š§Ŗ
loading . . .
US PhD admissions shrink as fears over Trumpās cuts take hold
Some doctoral programmes are admitting no students at all amid uncertainty about federal science funding.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03417-6
13
216
126
reposted by
Helen Pearson
Matteo Ruggiu, PhD
4 months ago
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.
1
1
1
reposted by
Helen Pearson
Olivia Guest Ā· Īλίβια ĪκεĻĻ
4 months ago
thx to
@nature.com
@helenpearson.bsky.social
for including our words & letterā¼ļø > unis are allowing or even encouraging the use of AI tools ā many of which are controlled by companies, have unknown cognitive impacts and are dogged by ethical and environmental concerns.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
add a skeleton here at some point
2
51
23
AI tools can, within seconds, analyse information and write essays ā 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...
loading . . .
Universities are embracing AI: will students get smarter or stop thinking?
Millions of students arriving at campuses are now using artificial intelligence. Worries abound.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03340-w
4 months ago
5
39
23
reposted by
Helen Pearson
Magdalena Skipper
4 months ago
Less than 70% of science Nobel prize winners awarded this century hail from the country in which they were awarded their prize. āMobility benefits everyone. Each newcomer brings fresh ideas, new techniques & different ways of looking at old problemsā š§Ŗ
#academicSky
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
loading . . .
More than 30% of this centuryās 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.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03247-6
3
103
46
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...
loading . . .
Autism is on the rise: whatās really behind the increase?
RFK Jr has vowed to find out whatās responsible, but scientists say he is ignoring answers from decades of research.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-02636-1
5 months ago
1
69
42
A good news story. A new birth cohort to add to the UKās unique series of such studies
add a skeleton here at some point
5 months ago
0
3
0
reposted by
Helen Pearson
Chris Gunter š§¬
6 months ago
Good summary by my friend
@helenpearson.bsky.social
of what we have been saying for years: if thereās an epidemic in autism, itās of diagnoses, which is not a bad thing
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
loading . . .
Autism is on the rise: whatās really behind the increase?
RFK Jr has vowed to find out whatās responsible, but scientists say he is ignoring answers from decades of research.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-02636-1
0
9
3
āWhile X has primarily served as a dissemination tool, Bluesky may support a more interpretive, reflective mode of science communication.ā š
add a skeleton here at some point
6 months ago
0
5
2
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.
add a skeleton here at some point
6 months ago
0
6
2
Whatās 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...
loading . . .
Autism is on the rise: whatās really behind the increase?
RFK Jr has vowed to find out whatās responsible, but scientists say he is ignoring answers from decades of research.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-02636-1
6 months ago
6
46
19
reposted by
Helen Pearson
Magdalena Skipper
7 months ago
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...
) ššš
@lizziegibney.bsky.social
š§Ŗ
www.absw.org.uk/pages/meet-t...
loading . . .
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
https://www.absw.org.uk/pages/meet-the-winners-2025
0
24
7
reposted by
Helen Pearson
Nature
7 months ago
Some sleuths fear that the business of cleaning up flawed studies is being weaponized against science itself
go.nature.com/3TwCNXA
loading . . .
Research-integrity sleuths say their work is being ātwistedā to undermine science
Some sleuths fear that the business of cleaning up flawed studies is being weaponized against science itself.
https://go.nature.com/3TwCNXA
0
19
13
reposted by
Helen Pearson
James Wilsdon
7 months ago
āMetascience can improve science ā but it must be useful to society, tooā. 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
loading . . .
Metascience can improve science ā but it must be useful to society, too
Researchers studying research must avoid the temptation to get too stuck in the academic weeds.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-02065-0
1
23
21
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...
loading . . .
How to speed up peer review: make applicants mark one another
āDistributed peer reviewā of grants makes process more than twice as fast ā and includes some cheat-prevention measures.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-02090-z
8 months ago
0
13
2
Iām at
#Metascience2025
this week, aka the āGlastonbury of metascienceā. Looking fwd to
#sciencepolicy
but not the
#heatwave
metascience.info
Metascience 2025 Conference
loading . . .
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.
https://metascience.info/
8 months ago
1
10
0
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 briefš§µ
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
loading . . .
How to make America healthy: the real problems ā 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.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-01969-1
8 months ago
2
21
8
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...
loading . . .
AI slashes time to produce gold-standard medical reviews ā but sceptics urge caution
Although language models can help to accelerate systematic reviews, a fully automated system is still some way off.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-01942-y
8 months ago
0
25
15
reposted by
Helen Pearson
Max Kozlov
8 months ago
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 ā here are his remarks in full. š§µ
loading . . .
Judge rules against NIH grant cuts ā 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.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-01914-2
9
410
226
reposted by
Helen Pearson
Mary Elizabeth Sutherland
8 months ago
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 š§Ŗ
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
loading . . .
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 4āmonths of schooling, which increases with years of schooling,&...
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09126-4
1
23
15
reposted by
Helen Pearson
Magdalena Skipper
8 months ago
Critics fear that anti-vaccine leaderās picks for crucial committee will be a ādisaster for public healthā. So our news team asks: who is on RFK Jrās new vaccine panel ā and what will they do? š§Ŗ
#MedSky
@nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
loading . . .
Who is on RFK Jrās new vaccine panel ā and what will they do?
Critics fear that anti-vaccine leaderās picks for crucial committee will be a ādisaster for public healthā.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-01852-z
1
20
15
Trust in vaccines is being undermined.šBut 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...
loading . . .
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 peopleās doubts.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-01771-z
8 months ago
2
56
26
reposted by
Helen Pearson
Nature Portfolio
9 months ago
Nature has launched its seventh global survey of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) doctoral students, which will probe graduate studentsā views about their goals and challenges, and their experiences of their studies so far. Survey runs until June 11.
#Academicsky
š§Ŗ
loading . . .
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.
https://go.nature.com/4kiKtYx
0
47
35
reposted by
Helen Pearson
Richard Van Noorden
9 months ago
"Please design a protein that is an alcohol dehydrogenase" Scientists are making AI tools that take plain-language instructions and turn them into proteins and other molecules, including potential drugs. Ewen Callaway |
@nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
loading . . .
I told AI to make me a protein. Hereās what it came up with
A new crop of artificial-intelligence models allows users to create, manipulate and learn about biology using ordinary language.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-01586-y
0
9
3
reposted by
Helen Pearson
Saheli Sadanand
9 months ago
š£
#NatureMedicine
is hiring a new editor with expertise in
#AI
,
#DigitalMedicine
and/or Health
#Informatics
! This job is open to applicants in NYC š½and Milano š! Deadline is Fri, May 30th. Please share!
springernature.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/SpringerNatu...
cc:
@natureportfolio.nature.com
loading . . .
Associate or Senior Editor, Nature Medicine, Digital Medicine and Artificial Intelligence
Job Title: Associate or a Senior, Nature Medicine (Digital Medicine and Artificial Intelligence) Location: New York or Milan (Hybrid Working) Application Deadline: May 30, 2025 About Springer Nature G...
https://springernature.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/SpringerNatureCareers/job/New-York/Associate-or-Senior-Editor--Nature-Medicine--Digital-Medicine-and-Artificial-Intelligence-_JR102965
0
11
12
reposted by
Helen Pearson
Nature
9 months ago
At least 2,500 applications for research funding have been denied so far this year, more than double the previous two years
https://go.nature.com/4dynTcw
loading . . .
Exclusive: NIH grant rejections have more than doubled amid Trump chaos
At least 2,500 applications for research funding have been denied so far this year.
https://go.nature.com/3FkP25O
0
43
27
reposted by
Helen Pearson
Nature
9 months ago
š¢ Calling PhD students š¢ we want to hear from you! Help shape the future of PhD education. Take our survey to tell us all about your experiences
https://go.nature.com/43iJAsi
loading . . .
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.
https://go.nature.com/4dhUeUR
2
40
47
reposted by
Helen Pearson
Nature
9 months ago
What do you think of this behaviour? We asked 5000 researchers their thoughts on using AI in peer review and writing papers. Let us know what you think:
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
3
26
16
reposted by
Helen Pearson
Nature
9 months ago
āThis no longer feels like the right place to raise a family and pursue a research careerā We spoke to five US-based researchers who are seeking, or moving to, jobs abroad because of the drastic changes imposed on US science by the Trump administration
https://go.nature.com/4mwfevl
loading . . .
US brain drain: the scientists seeking jobs abroad amid Trumpās assault on research
Five US-based researchers tell Nature why they are exploring career opportunities overseas.
https://go.nature.com/3SDshwU
2
115
48
reposted by
Helen Pearson
Richard Van Noorden
9 months ago
This is an excellent read.
add a skeleton here at some point
1
5
4
Load more
feeds!
log in