Brendan Maher

Cracked, but still there: the glass ceiling persists for senior women in science To mark International Women’s Day on 8 March, Mangala Srinivas reminds junior colleagues that career success won’t protect you from gender-based bias.

Leading in science as a woman doesn't mean smooth sailing through gender bias, unfortunately, writes @mangalasrinivas.bsky.social @nature.com. She gives practical advice for navigating the shards of the cracked glass ceiling (hint: there's no magic bullet).

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

White House stalls release of approved US science budgets The US Congress rejected sweeping cuts to science agencies. But the NIH, the NSF and NASA have had their spending slowed.

Congress rejected massive cuts to US science budgets for 2026, but much of the money still isn’t flowing to researchers.

The culprit? The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is quietly slow-walking the release of funds. 🧵👇

Pokémon turns 30 — how the fictional pocket monsters shaped science The Japanese media sensation has inspired generations of researchers in fields as diverse as evolution, biodiversity and research integrity.

Happy 30th birthday, Pokémon! Since 1996, the Japanese media sensation has inspired generations of researchers in fields as diverse as evolution, biodiversity and research integrity. go.nature.com/4bcjZ9w

Do you: Have a strong interest in science? A passion for journalism and writing? Our paid 3-month internship might be for you! We are looking for talented candidates from all backgrounds, especially those traditionally underrepresented in publishing. Applications close 9 March 2026.

Calling all budding science writers!

Applications for our paid London-based internship, starting in June, are now open.

Deadline: 9 March 2026

Full info here: springernature.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Spring...

#PaidInternship #Internship #Journalism

China is waging war on Alzheimer’s. What can its approach teach the rest of the world? The country is facing a coming wave of dementia for its ageing population, and is investing in research into drugs, diagnostics and even surgery to prepare itself.

China is facing a coming wave of dementia for its ageing population, and is investing in research into drugs, diagnostics and even surgery to prepare itself

go.nature.com/40ttXgs

COVID’s origins: what we do and don’t know Researchers summarize key insights from the world’s first comprehensive investigation into how a pandemic started.

After nearly 3.5 years of deliberations, researchers concluded their independent assessment of the origin of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2

go.nature.com/4qUxijx

Yuck. Feel better soon.

Why do curling stones slide across ice the way they do?

After a century of study, physicists have theories — but they’re still not 100% sure.

Stellar lede from @jennaahart.bsky.social

Read the full story in @nature.com:
www.nature.com/articles/d41...

The PA resorts used to have free or deeply discounted season tix for kids. But it was only one age band - like 3rd graders. And the program dried up a few years ago.
The companies got huge subsidies during the pandemic and poured them all into ways of mechanizing and maximizing profits only.

Coffee linked to slower brain ageing in study of 130,000 people Study suggests moderate caffeine intake might reduce dementia risk and slow cognitive decline.

Coffee linked to slower brain ageing in study of 130,000 people

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

Had some friends and their kids over for the Super Bowl. So much fun! They are big 🐰 fans. They were gleefully translating lyrics and giving backstory. Might be one of the funnest ever to watch. (And I’m an 🦅 fan)

Epstein files reveal deeper ties to scientists than previously known Latest batch of documents show researchers consulting the financier and sex offender on publications, visas and more.

Sorry for the preview pic in your feed, but we've posted a thoughtful story by @dangaristo.bsky.social that delves into the tangled web of relationships between Jeffrey Epstein and various scientists: www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Yeesh! Anyway, it’s a great obituary. And worth sharing.

But does it help with learning? Fhat's the 2uestion!

How learning handwriting trains the brain: the science behind the cursive wars Handwriting requirements were cut from school curricula around the world. Now it’s looping back, riding on a wave of evidence.

In NJ and around the world, schools are reintroducing mandates to learn cursive writing. Does it make a difference? My colleague @marilenharo.bsky.social digs into the science.

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

Still from 'How much exercise do you really need?' shows reporter Lizzy Gibney being helped out by SCIENCE

Do not miss this fab video from our team 😂
youtu.be/jskktKzWfys

HHS wasn't worried about South Carolina's measles outbreak. It's now enormous. “CDC is not currently concerned that this will develop into a large, long-running outbreak," the agency said in December.

New from me: Last month I asked HHS about South Carolina's measles outbreak. They brushed me off, saying they weren't "concerned that this will develop into a large, long-running outbreak."

A month later, it's the biggest since measles was declared eliminated. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

Longevity is in the genes: half of lifespan is heritable Understanding the genetic controls of ageing could lead to more therapies that forestall it.

Twin study power!!!! Genetics has a much larger role in how long a person lives than previously thought, according to a new analysis. www.nature.com/articles/d41...

AI chatbots are infiltrating social-science surveys — and getting better at avoiding detection A researcher has created a chatbot that is indistinguishable from human participants in online surveys. Some researchers fear that a workhorse of social science is now under threat.

Sneaky little bot. It said it was unable to quote the US constitution verbatim, when of course it could!!!
www.nature.com/articles/d41...

I wonder this almost every day

What your breath says about the bacteria in your gut Metabolites in mouse and human breath correlate to gut-microbe populations and might be helpful in diagnosing disease.

The chemicals found in a person’s breath might reveal the identity of the microbes in their guts

go.nature.com/49TbAWP

Exclusive: key NIH review panels due to lose all members by the end of 2026 Thirteen of the agency’s advisory councils, which must review grant applications before funding is awarded, are on track to have no voting members.

Exclusive: key NIH review panels due to lose all members by the end of 2026 www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Guinea-Bissau suspends a US-funded vaccine trial as African scientists question its motives Officials from the US Department of Health and Human Services, which funded the controversial study, say that it will proceed as planned.

For anyone following the on-again-off-again saga of the Guinea-Bissau hep B vaccine trial. The latest is that GB health authorities have SUSPENDED the trial.

@sciwriabdul.bsky.social tries to get to the bottom of it, here.

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

What your breath says about the bacteria in your gut Metabolites in mouse and human breath correlate to gut-microbe populations and might be helpful in diagnosing disease.

I love the photo my colleagues picked for this excellent story on a recent 'breathomics' study.

It's like an alternate Pink Floyd Dark Side cover!
www.nature.com/articles/d41...

"Breathe ... breathe out the air. Your microbiome shows it's there"

Spotify Wrapped: War on Science edition

What happens if fewer children get vaccinated? Japan holds lessons for US As Robert F. Kennedy Jr slashes the US childhood vaccine roster, Japan is racing to make up for lost ground after decades of setbacks.

When US officials announced earlier this month that they were cutting down the childhood vaccination schedule, physicians and scientists wondered what to expect.
Japan has some hard-won wisdom to offer.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...

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.

This immersive data visualization will help you comprehend the scope of historic cuts to grants and the research workforce:

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

By @maxkozlov.bsky.social Jeff Tollefson & @dangaristo.bsky.social, edited by @richmonastersky.bsky.social

(2/n) 🧪

How do vaccine cutbacks affect public health? Ask Japan As Robert F. Kennedy Jr slashes the US childhood vaccine roster, Japan is racing to make up for lost ground after decades of setbacks.

History is a great teacher.

In this piece our own @heidiledford.bsky.social looks at what we can learn from what happened in Japan when vaccine support was withdrawn and how the government is now working to reverse the effects 🧪
#MedSky

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

Don’t let Russell Vought trick Congress into destroying science by removing multiyear funding limits from the NIH funding bill.

How to improve vaccine uptake: a huge study offers clues Nature - An analysis of more than one million people in the UK found that two-thirds of people who were vaccine-hesitant during the COVID-19 pandemic went on to get vaccinated.

An analysis of more than one million people in the UK found that two-thirds of people who were vaccine-hesitant during the COVID-19 pandemic went on to get vaccinated

go.nature.com/4sKfBFk