Brendan Maher

Critics of de-extinction research hit by mystery smear campaign Several researchers who have been critical of Colossal Biosciences’ plans to revive extinct animals say they have been targeted by online articles trying to discredit them

New Scientist's @sparkes.bsky.social was also trying to get to the bottom of these strange posts. www.newscientist.com/article/2490...

This company claimed to ‘de-extinct’ dire wolves. Then the fighting started. Colossal’s bold announcements have drawn criticism from many scientists, but the billion-dollar firm is not backing down.

Dire-wolf drama continues to unfold. A scientist who has been critical of the company behind some audacious de-extinction claims believes that it has been trying to undermine the credibility of its critics ahead of major announcements. The company denies involvement. www.nature.com/articles/d41...

‘Congress has your back’: US senators tell scientists they want to protect NIH budget Senate budget bill includes small increase for the health-research agency — but faces a long road before being signed into law.

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

UCLA's NIH grants are also impacted, its chancellor says. The university receives about $500m in NIH funds each year.

NIH grants staff I've spoken to haven't heard anything. But for institutions frozen out by the Trump admin, the agency now issues awards but limits their ability to withdraw funds.

I mean, people go to Vegas to gamble, right?

Physicists disagree wildly on what quantum mechanics says about reality, Nature survey shows First major attempt to chart researchers’ views finds interpretations in conflict.

A Nature survey shows how widely researchers disagree on what quantum mechanics says about reality.

Read the results - and find out what interpretation suits you - at this @nature.com article by @lizziegibney.bsky.social

A run-down of major findings: 🧵
www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Exclusive: Netflix to replace 'Is it cake?' with 'Might be maggots'

Nothing yet.

Controversial ‘arsenic life’ paper retracted after 15 years — but authors fight back The journal Science retracts a headline-grabbing study, but the authors vigorously defend their data and say the retraction is unwarranted.

A controversial paper claiming that an extraordinary microorganism can thrive on the toxic element arsenic has been retracted by the journal Science, nearly 15 years after its original publication -- but the paper's authors say the retraction is unwarranted.

go.nature.com/44MQsQI

Enormous shoes to fill. I’m so grateful that I had a chance to work with you!

Exclusive: NIH to dismiss dozens of grant reviewers to align with Trump priorities The move would undo years of work, leaving advisory councils understaffed, and without the full expertise needed for reviews.

NEW: In an unprecedented move, the NIH will soon disinvite dozens of scientists about to take positions on advisory councils that make final decisions on grant funding.

NIH staff were told to select others aligned with the Trump administration and told to expect placements by political appointees.

US senators poised to reject Trump’s proposed massive science cuts Committee gives first hint that policymakers might preserve, rather than slash, funding for US National Science Foundation and other agencies.

The Senate Committee on Appropriations gave the first signs Congress will push back on Trump's proposed budget cuts to science and instead keep funding flat, though an unrelated issue (the location of the FBI headquarters) stalled any vote today.

@alexwitze.bsky.social and I report:

Science on the catwalk: Iris van Herpen gives gowns a glow up Microorganisms, materials and movement inspire high-fashion dress designs.

High fashion meets the science of the deep. This is the delightful read about a couture dressmaker that you maybe didn’t know you needed.

www.nature.com/immersive/d4...

Phallacy Audiobook on Libro.fm A wry look at what the astonishing world of animal penises can tell us about how we use our own.The fallacy sold to many of us is that the penis signals dominance and power. But this wry and penetrati...

Wrote a spicy defense of Nature's ingenuity w/sex&gender +a hate letter to the sex/gender binary in my book PHALLACY: Life Lessons from the Animal Penis. Useful for discovering Nature's wonders+declawing bigots +enough genitalia facts to make you the life of most parties🍆🥳

libro.fm/audiobooks/9...

Stress is wrecking your health: how can science help? Better stress assessment and tailored interventions could give clinicians the tools they need to fend off lasting damage.

Decades of research have shown that, although short bursts of stress can be healthy, unrelenting stress contributes to heart disease, cancer, stroke, respiratory disorders, suicide

https://go.nature.com/4lbvmkA

Recently turned in a deeply researched draft of a book on What AI Actually Is and reader, this is 100% correct

Eureka! The brain science behind lightbulb moments Experiences of insight come with a burst of brain activity — and a memory boost.

Studying the AHA! moments. This story about insight by @humbertobasilio.bsky.social is truly inspiring. Take on the test within to see if you feel it, too.

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

The full ruling explaining why NIH grant cuts are illegal came out today.

It's just as blistering as the judge's oral remarks. And it uncovers fresh details in DOGE's role orchestrating the cuts — and on the cuts at Columbia.

Here are my top highlights from the 103-page ruling. 🧵

pt. 1 of the nature editorial (too many characters for alt text) —just ask me if you need a pdf

pt. 2

One of the editorials that sparked this condemnation:

"We have seen a great country, until of late rightly proud of its universities and its scientific achievements, abandoning its belief in reason, destroying the careers of a fifth of its scholars."
www.nature.com/articles/139...

Nazi Germany did literally ban Nature:

"Articles are often published in the London weekly scientific journal Nature containing outrageous and vile attacks on German science and the national socialist state.

The journal must therefore be excluded from general use in the scientific libraries."

Trump team axes contracts with publishing giant Springer Nature The action comes as high-ranking US officials criticize top journals as ‘woke’ and ‘corrupt’.

Trump team axes contracts with publishing giant Springer Nature

At first, NIH told me its contracts with SN were active and that they help “advance scientific discovery”.

Hours later, HHS said the opposite: "Precious taxpayer dollars should not be used on unused subscriptions to junk science.”

Happy birthday Jaws! How the movie changed shark science Half a century after its cinematic release, Jaws is still shaping how we view — and protect — the ocean’s top predators.

Nature is one of the most prestigious scientific journals. The first time I was ever in Nature, I was talking about the value of karaoke as a professional networking skill for scientists.

Pretty cool to go from that to a featured interview about my actual area of expertise! 🧪🦑🦈

How to make America healthy: the real problems — and best fixes Nature - 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.

Chronic disease is part of why the US has lower life expectancy than most similarly wealthy nations - but so are guns, drugs, and cars

https://go.nature.com/3I0hHON

NIH-funded science must now be free to read instantly: what you should know US biomedical agency’s public-access policy kicks in on 1 July. Nature talks to specialists about how to comply.

So... I guess this is the Biden-era equity and inclusion provision that Trump liked SO much that they accelerated it's adoption by six months? (shrug) www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Can AI build a virtual cell? Scientists race to model life’s smallest unit Several groups hope to develop artificial-intelligence models that can predict how cells behave.

Ewen Callaway reports on biology's rush for AI-enabled 'virtual cells'.

So far it "has a lot of hype, but not a lot of concrete results or a clear path to success".

"I don’t think there is a clear definition of a virtual cell", says CZI's Jonah Cool.
@nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Here’s Your Cheat Sheet for Vaccine Recommendations Backed by Science These graphics will guide you through science-based vaccine guidelines for children and adults

Vaccination schedules on the CDC website have already started changing under RFK Jr. So we published a guide to the evidence-based vaccine recommendations in place *before* all 17 members of the advisory panel were abruptly dismissed by the new admin. www.scientificamerican.com/article/see-... 🧪

NEW: NSF will be kicked out of their building. Announcement will be made tomorrow by HUD Sec. and Governor of VA. HUD will take over the NSF building over the next two years.

NSF staffer: "There is no planning for NSF, no identified future location, appropriation for a new building or a move."

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.

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 your brain controls ageing — and why zombie cells could be key Research is revealing the cellular mechanisms that link mental well-being and longevity.

Research is revealing the cellular mechanisms that link mental well-being and longevity

https://go.nature.com/40h70gQ

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