Benjamin Plackett

Tardigrade-obsessed: meet the researchers trying to turn water bears into neuroscience models For water-bear enthusiasts, it’s the creature’s legs that make it stand out.

"There’s no two ways about it: tardigrades are badass." New @nature.com, a fun read by @benjplackett.bsky.social on the researchers who are working to make water bears a model organism for systems neuroscience. 🧪 www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Amid White House claims of a research ‘replication crisis,’ scientists offer solutions Efforts have been underway for years to improve the replicability of research studies, but some are skeptical of the US government’s motivations to help

RFK Jr and his MAHA crew are alleging a replication crisis in health research. Meet the scientists have been working on solutions for years. My latest for @cenmag.bsky.social cen.acs.org/research-int...

#abswss25 #SummerSchool
Don't miss the 6 workshops
🔗 zurl.co/tUAAn

🎥Becoming a science YouTuber🎥
Ins and outs of how to make a video and upload it, with a focus on what it's like to be a YouTuber.

🎯Producer: @benjplackett.bsky.social

📢Workshop leader: @tomrocksmaths.bsky.social

Clinical trials by the numbers Emerging companies and an evolving market are changing the dynamics of cancer trials.

Start-ups are dominating the cancer clinical trials space, and China has overtaken the US for most trial starts.

go.nature.com/3EoPuQi by @benjplackett.bsky.social

NYU canceled talk on USAID cuts for being ‘anti-governmental’, doctor says University called Dr Joanne Liu, ex-head of Doctors Without Borders, after planning to speak on Gaza and federal cuts

Even the most liberal of institutions are at. NYU, my Alma Mater, cancels a talk on the public health consequences of USAID cuts amid fears of “anti government tone”.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

US officials object to European push to buy weapons locally U.S. officials have told European allies they want them to keep buying American-made arms, amid recent moves by the European Union to limit U.S. manufacturers' participation in weapons tenders, five sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The gall of it is impressive.

www.reuters.com/world/us-off...

Help freelancers at Nine Publishing win fair rates Off the back of strike action last year, Nine management committed to engage in discussions about freelance rates and conditions with MEAA representatives. Despite this commitment, Nine management ha...

Nine pays its #freelancers a pittance, but refuses to negotiate on higher rates or regular rate increases.
Sign our petition, help #freelance #journalists #photographers and #cartoonists fight for fair rates. @withmeaa.bsky.social
@theageaustralia.bsky.social
@brisbanetimes.bsky.social

Horizon judges recognise “excellent” proposals from U.K. based scientists but aren’t funding them at the same rate as other member countries. The U.K. contributes €2.43 billion per year.

Pollutant-eating sewage bacteria offer hope for environmental cleanup Insights into their genes may help scientists engineer bacteria to tackle PFAS

Researchers have exploited bacteria they found in sewage plants to detoxify tetrachloroethene, a common chemical used to dry-clean clothes that can contaminate air and water. cen.acs.org/environment/... #chemsky🧪 #biosky

Mesdames et messieurs,

I cannot believe it's come to this, but Aix Marseille Université is specifically allocating funding for US scientists who can no longer carry out their work in the US. The scheme is called "safe place for science".

Les détails: www.univ-amu.fr/fr/public/ac...

How blowing the whistle on the Theranos scandal transformed Erika Cheung’s career Cheung, a laboratory assistant straight from university, raised the alarm over dodgy science and a duplicitous boss.

You've watched the Emmy-winning show "Dropout", now read the story behind Erika Cheung's decision to blow the whistle on dodgy science and a duplicitous boss: www.nature.com/articles/d41... @nature.com

How blowing the whistle on the Theranos scandal transformed Erika Cheung’s career Cheung, a laboratory assistant straight from university, raised the alarm over dodgy science and a duplicitous boss.

How blowing the whistle on the Theranos scandal transformed @erikamcheung.bsky.social's career
@nature.com @benjplackett.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...

The future of research collaborations involving Russia As sanctions take effect following its invasion of Ukraine, Russia risks its standing in the research world.

As Trump and Putin seek to carve up Ukraine, let's remind ourselves of the facts. When it comes to scientists' experiences, Ukrainian researchers overwhelmingly want colleagues in the West to show solidarity: www.nature.com/articles/d41...

I'm looking for #scientists (ideally #chemists) whose #career trajectory was changed as a result of the #pandemic. I'm also looking for #science uni #students whose experience was interrupted. Anyone know of such a person?

Ethiopia has highest rate of scientific paper retraction Countries with the highest retraction numbers in new analysis had sharp rise in publication output

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, China, and Egypt follow Ethiopia as the countries with the highest rate of retractions, according to a new study: cen.acs.org/research-int...

How hosting Ukrainian scientists offers a template for supporting other scholars at risk Ahead of the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, displaced academics describe their experiences settling into UK universities.

How hosting Ukrainian refugees has taught British universities how to support scholars fleeing other conflicts: www.nature.com/articles/d41... @nature.com