Abby Beall
@abbybeall.bsky.social
specials editor @newscientist.com
Reposted by Abby Beall
My end-of-year leader for 2025 is about the need to defend science against the encroaching darkness, not just because it is the best way to make sense of the world, but also because it is an endless source of wonder and whimsy www.newscientist.com/article/mg26...
Science still produced many wonders in 2025 despite being under siege
Though there were setbacks on climate change and funding for science this year, there was still plenty of amazing discoveries to marvel at
www.newscientist.com
December 11, 2025 at 9:47 AM
My end-of-year leader for 2025 is about the need to defend science against the encroaching darkness, not just because it is the best way to make sense of the world, but also because it is an endless source of wonder and whimsy www.newscientist.com/article/mg26...
Reposted by Abby Beall
Let's hope for a better 2026!
December 11, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Let's hope for a better 2026!
"Three breaths is all you need to tune into the present moment" - how small bursts of mindfulness practices lasting a minute or less can have unexpected benefits for those with busy lives, by @davidarobson.bsky.social www.newscientist.com/article/2502...
Too busy to meditate? Microdosing mindfulness has big health benefits
Small bursts of mindfulness practices lasting a minute or less can have unexpected benefits for those with busy lives - here’s how
www.newscientist.com
December 10, 2025 at 2:13 PM
"Three breaths is all you need to tune into the present moment" - how small bursts of mindfulness practices lasting a minute or less can have unexpected benefits for those with busy lives, by @davidarobson.bsky.social www.newscientist.com/article/2502...
From machine learning to voting, the workings of the world demand randomisation, but true sources of randomness are surprisingly hard to find. Now quantum mechanics has supplied the answer - by @drmichaelbrooks.bsky.social
www.newscientist.com/article/2494...
www.newscientist.com/article/2494...
We’ve finally cracked how to make truly random numbers
From machine learning to voting, the workings of the world demand randomisation, but true sources of randomness are surprisingly hard to find. Now quantum mechanics has supplied the answer
www.newscientist.com
December 10, 2025 at 2:09 PM
From machine learning to voting, the workings of the world demand randomisation, but true sources of randomness are surprisingly hard to find. Now quantum mechanics has supplied the answer - by @drmichaelbrooks.bsky.social
www.newscientist.com/article/2494...
www.newscientist.com/article/2494...
this is a fascinating story by @grahamlawton.bsky.social about one of the most audacious scientific experiments ever attempted - a young physicist's quest to recreate the northern lights on the top of a mountain in northern Finland www.newscientist.com/article/2497...
The audacious quest to light up the sky with artificial auroras
How a Finnish physicist named Karl Lemström once became obsessed with recreating the aurora borealis from scratch – and may have ended up creating something even more intriguing
www.newscientist.com
December 10, 2025 at 9:06 AM
this is a fascinating story by @grahamlawton.bsky.social about one of the most audacious scientific experiments ever attempted - a young physicist's quest to recreate the northern lights on the top of a mountain in northern Finland www.newscientist.com/article/2497...
our bumper holiday double issue hits the newsstands this weekend, which means our Christmas features are starting to come out! 🎅
here's one of my favourites, about the saga of a family of interbreeding polar and grizzly bears www.newscientist.com/article/2496...
here's one of my favourites, about the saga of a family of interbreeding polar and grizzly bears www.newscientist.com/article/2496...
What the family drama of interbreeding polar and grizzly bears reveals
A hybrid grolar bear saga is unfolding in the Arctic, and the tale of this strange family has much to tell us about nature on our changing planet
www.newscientist.com
December 10, 2025 at 9:04 AM
our bumper holiday double issue hits the newsstands this weekend, which means our Christmas features are starting to come out! 🎅
here's one of my favourites, about the saga of a family of interbreeding polar and grizzly bears www.newscientist.com/article/2496...
here's one of my favourites, about the saga of a family of interbreeding polar and grizzly bears www.newscientist.com/article/2496...
I wrote a new book and here it is, out in the wild! a lovely Christmas present, perhaps, for any 7 to 12 year-olds interested in space or the stars... uk.bookshop.org/p/books/an-a...
December 10, 2025 at 8:50 AM
I wrote a new book and here it is, out in the wild! a lovely Christmas present, perhaps, for any 7 to 12 year-olds interested in space or the stars... uk.bookshop.org/p/books/an-a...
Reposted by Abby Beall
I wrote about the ocean quahog, aka the Icelandic cyprine
December 9, 2025 at 7:29 PM
I wrote about the ocean quahog, aka the Icelandic cyprine
Reposted by Abby Beall
One point to add about fake AI journalists: the people that will suffer most are young newbie journalists.
I’ve been writing for years and have an extensive footprint: no editor is going to think I’m AI.
But someone new, with few published stories, will necessarily look “less real”.
I’ve been writing for years and have an extensive footprint: no editor is going to think I’m AI.
But someone new, with few published stories, will necessarily look “less real”.
Really worrying. I now frequently receive pitches that are clearly written by AI - the worrying part will be when that stops being clear. I'm fairly confident our editorial processes and numerous rounds of edits would eventually unmask an AI writer, but you never know... thelocal.to/investigatin...
Investigating a Possible Scammer in Journalism’s AI Era | The Local
A suspicious pitch from a freelancer led editor Nicholas Hune-Brown to dig into their past work. By the end, four publications, including The Guardian and Dwell, had removed articles from their sites.
thelocal.to
November 24, 2025 at 9:58 AM
One point to add about fake AI journalists: the people that will suffer most are young newbie journalists.
I’ve been writing for years and have an extensive footprint: no editor is going to think I’m AI.
But someone new, with few published stories, will necessarily look “less real”.
I’ve been writing for years and have an extensive footprint: no editor is going to think I’m AI.
But someone new, with few published stories, will necessarily look “less real”.
New Scientist is looking for someone to join our brilliant features team! preferably with expertise in evolution, ecology, human sciences and biology, but applicants with any science specialism are welcome www.dmgmedia.co.uk/careers/jobs...
Features Editor (beat specialist) - dmg media
Features Editor (beat specialist) Location: New Scientist Headquarters – London Position: Full-time, permanent Salary: £40,000 to £43,000, depending on experience Workplace Type: Hybrid – 3 days ...
www.dmgmedia.co.uk
October 31, 2025 at 9:28 AM
New Scientist is looking for someone to join our brilliant features team! preferably with expertise in evolution, ecology, human sciences and biology, but applicants with any science specialism are welcome www.dmgmedia.co.uk/careers/jobs...
Reposted by Abby Beall
So, is the US actually going to start testing nuclear weapons? Here's what the experts tell @sparkes.bsky.social and New Scientist www.newscientist.com/article/2502...
The US is unlikely to test nuclear weapons, despite what Trump says
President Donald Trump appears to have ordered a return to nuclear testing after decades of uneasy but effective treaties banning the practice – but will it actually happen?
www.newscientist.com
October 30, 2025 at 4:12 PM
So, is the US actually going to start testing nuclear weapons? Here's what the experts tell @sparkes.bsky.social and New Scientist www.newscientist.com/article/2502...
Reposted by Abby Beall
Here is our exclusive survey asking leading climate scientists to give their views on solar geoengineering:
*66% believe we will see it attempted this century
*52% say it will probably be done by a "rogue actor"
*81% want an international treaty to manage risk
www.newscientist.com/article/2498...
*66% believe we will see it attempted this century
*52% say it will probably be done by a "rogue actor"
*81% want an international treaty to manage risk
www.newscientist.com/article/2498...
Exclusive: Climate scientists expect attempts to dim the sun by 2100
An exclusive New Scientist survey of leading scientists reveals widespread concern that schemes to tweak Earth’s atmosphere could launch within decades in a risky bid to cool the planet
www.newscientist.com
October 22, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Here is our exclusive survey asking leading climate scientists to give their views on solar geoengineering:
*66% believe we will see it attempted this century
*52% say it will probably be done by a "rogue actor"
*81% want an international treaty to manage risk
www.newscientist.com/article/2498...
*66% believe we will see it attempted this century
*52% say it will probably be done by a "rogue actor"
*81% want an international treaty to manage risk
www.newscientist.com/article/2498...
Reposted by Abby Beall
The future of space exploration and habitation: with first Briton in space Helen Sharman, biomedical space engineer Irene di Giulio, and BioOrbit CEO Katie King. Recorded live at the @royalsociety.org, with co-host @abbybeall.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVf_...
Space 2075: How Humans Will Live Off-Planet in 50 Years
YouTube video by New Scientist
www.youtube.com
October 13, 2025 at 3:06 PM
The future of space exploration and habitation: with first Briton in space Helen Sharman, biomedical space engineer Irene di Giulio, and BioOrbit CEO Katie King. Recorded live at the @royalsociety.org, with co-host @abbybeall.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVf_...
Reposted by Abby Beall
“The results were surprising, even for me,” says Llavero Pasquina. “I knew they were playing a very little role in the energy transition. I knew it was only for show. It was only for dressing their narrative. But I didn’t expect this low number.”
www.newscientist.com/article/2499...
www.newscientist.com/article/2499...
Top 250 oil and gas firms own just 1.5% of the world's renewable power
Despite public promises by many fossil fuel firms that they are investing in the green transition, it turns out that they have made little contribution to the growth of renewable energy
www.newscientist.com
October 9, 2025 at 9:38 AM
“The results were surprising, even for me,” says Llavero Pasquina. “I knew they were playing a very little role in the energy transition. I knew it was only for show. It was only for dressing their narrative. But I didn’t expect this low number.”
www.newscientist.com/article/2499...
www.newscientist.com/article/2499...
Reposted by Abby Beall
does this paper...make sense to anyone? "women’s menstrual cycles recorded before the introduction of LEDs in 2010 and the extensive use of smart phones significantly synchronized with the Moon, while those after 2010 coupled to the Moon mostly in January" www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Synchronization of women’s menstruation with the Moon has decreased but remains detectable when gravitational pull is strong
In modern times, menstrual cycles run in synchrony with the Moon only during Perihelion and Minor Lunar Standstills.
www.science.org
September 26, 2025 at 12:38 PM
does this paper...make sense to anyone? "women’s menstrual cycles recorded before the introduction of LEDs in 2010 and the extensive use of smart phones significantly synchronized with the Moon, while those after 2010 coupled to the Moon mostly in January" www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Abby Beall
We analyse the LIFE ON MARS data... with comment from Janice Bishop of @setiinstitute.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzMW...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzMW...
Did We Just Find Signs of Life on Mars?
YouTube video by New Scientist
www.youtube.com
September 10, 2025 at 3:03 PM
We analyse the LIFE ON MARS data... with comment from Janice Bishop of @setiinstitute.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzMW...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzMW...
in a few weeks I'll be hosting a special live episode of our @newscientist.com podcast "The world, the universe and us" at @royalsociety.org. it's going to be all about spaceflight and the human body, with some amazing guests!
sign up here www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-world-...
sign up here www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-world-...
The world, the universe and us: live
Join us for at Royal Society Lates - 2075: A space odyssey for a special live edition of New Scientist’s award-winning podcast
www.eventbrite.co.uk
September 5, 2025 at 12:37 PM
in a few weeks I'll be hosting a special live episode of our @newscientist.com podcast "The world, the universe and us" at @royalsociety.org. it's going to be all about spaceflight and the human body, with some amazing guests!
sign up here www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-world-...
sign up here www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-world-...
there's a total lunar eclipse this weekend! www.newscientist.com/article/mg26...
Get ready for a glorious Harvest Blood Moon on 7 September
Sky watchers are in for a treat next month, says Abigail Beall, when there is a total lunar eclipse visible in much of the world
www.newscientist.com
September 4, 2025 at 1:18 PM
there's a total lunar eclipse this weekend! www.newscientist.com/article/mg26...
Reposted by Abby Beall
How to build a telescope the size of the moon, a 🧵
Very-long baseline interferometry (VLBI) is a clever way astronomers combine inputs from radio telescopes to make a giant network of telescopes. It's how the Event Horizon Telescope imaged the black hole at the centre of our galaxy 1/5
Very-long baseline interferometry (VLBI) is a clever way astronomers combine inputs from radio telescopes to make a giant network of telescopes. It's how the Event Horizon Telescope imaged the black hole at the centre of our galaxy 1/5
August 29, 2025 at 9:41 AM
How to build a telescope the size of the moon, a 🧵
Very-long baseline interferometry (VLBI) is a clever way astronomers combine inputs from radio telescopes to make a giant network of telescopes. It's how the Event Horizon Telescope imaged the black hole at the centre of our galaxy 1/5
Very-long baseline interferometry (VLBI) is a clever way astronomers combine inputs from radio telescopes to make a giant network of telescopes. It's how the Event Horizon Telescope imaged the black hole at the centre of our galaxy 1/5
excited to share that I will be starting in a new role when I come back to work @newscientist.com next month, as Specials Editor.
I've had a lovely year with my tiny human but I am very excited to get back to editing and commissioning, with a focus on our special issue packages!
I've had a lovely year with my tiny human but I am very excited to get back to editing and commissioning, with a focus on our special issue packages!
July 24, 2025 at 12:31 PM
excited to share that I will be starting in a new role when I come back to work @newscientist.com next month, as Specials Editor.
I've had a lovely year with my tiny human but I am very excited to get back to editing and commissioning, with a focus on our special issue packages!
I've had a lovely year with my tiny human but I am very excited to get back to editing and commissioning, with a focus on our special issue packages!
Reposted by Abby Beall
An astonishing headline reporting on new observations from a team led to Nikku Madhusudhan claims they’ve found ‘hints of life’ on a planet orbiting a dwarf star some 124 light years away. What’s going on? (1/n) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... 🔭 🧪
Promising hints of life found on distant planet K2-18b
Scientists find new but tentative evidence that a faraway world orbiting another star may be home to life.
www.bbc.co.uk
April 17, 2025 at 3:24 AM
An astonishing headline reporting on new observations from a team led to Nikku Madhusudhan claims they’ve found ‘hints of life’ on a planet orbiting a dwarf star some 124 light years away. What’s going on? (1/n) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... 🔭 🧪
Reposted by Abby Beall
April 1, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Reposted by Abby Beall
1/ Some things to keep in mind about the “planetary parade” that news reports breathlessly say is happening today: (1) The planets mostly move pretty slowly from day to day, so today's sky is pretty similar to a few days ago or a few days from now — except for Mercury (cont'd)
February 28, 2025 at 5:34 PM
1/ Some things to keep in mind about the “planetary parade” that news reports breathlessly say is happening today: (1) The planets mostly move pretty slowly from day to day, so today's sky is pretty similar to a few days ago or a few days from now — except for Mercury (cont'd)
Reposted by Abby Beall
The FEP is one of those ideas everyone and no one seems to understand. I tried to wrap my head around it for New Scientist, but I feel like I barely even *found* the surface , let alone scratched it.
For those of you who enjoy tying your brain in knots:
shorturl.at/9wakH
For those of you who enjoy tying your brain in knots:
shorturl.at/9wakH
The free-energy principle: Can one idea explain why everything exists?
What life is and how the mind works fall within the compass of one bold concept. But critics say that by attempting to explain everything, it may end up explaining nothing
www.newscientist.com
February 14, 2025 at 4:03 PM
The FEP is one of those ideas everyone and no one seems to understand. I tried to wrap my head around it for New Scientist, but I feel like I barely even *found* the surface , let alone scratched it.
For those of you who enjoy tying your brain in knots:
shorturl.at/9wakH
For those of you who enjoy tying your brain in knots:
shorturl.at/9wakH