Michael Marshall
@michael-marshall.bsky.social
Freelance science writer covering life sciences, health and the environment. My first book The Genesis Quest is about the origins of life on Earth.
https://www.michaelcmarshall.com
https://www.michaelcmarshall.com
Pinned
Well hello newcomers to Bluesky!
I’m Michael Marshall, a freelance science writer focusing on life sciences, health and the environment. I wrote a book called The Genesis Quest about the origins of life on Earth.
Follow me for cool stories about the world, books, nerdiness, occasional opinions.
I’m Michael Marshall, a freelance science writer focusing on life sciences, health and the environment. I wrote a book called The Genesis Quest about the origins of life on Earth.
Follow me for cool stories about the world, books, nerdiness, occasional opinions.
Space geeks: Feedback in @newscientist.com has figured out how to get invited to visit NASA. You just have to behave more like Kim Kardashian.
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26835693-900-kim-kardashian-has-wrangled-an-invite-to-nasa-hq-can-we-get-one-too/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26835693-900-kim-kardashian-has-wrangled-an-invite-to-nasa-hq-can-we-get-one-too/
November 13, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Space geeks: Feedback in @newscientist.com has figured out how to get invited to visit NASA. You just have to behave more like Kim Kardashian.
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26835693-900-kim-kardashian-has-wrangled-an-invite-to-nasa-hq-can-we-get-one-too/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26835693-900-kim-kardashian-has-wrangled-an-invite-to-nasa-hq-can-we-get-one-too/
Our Human Story, in @newscientist.com:
After 60 years of exploration, the Omo-Turkana basin is still yielding new secrets about human evolution.
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2503899-cradle-of-humanity-is-still-revealing-new-insights-about-our-origins/
After 60 years of exploration, the Omo-Turkana basin is still yielding new secrets about human evolution.
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2503899-cradle-of-humanity-is-still-revealing-new-insights-about-our-origins/
November 12, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Our Human Story, in @newscientist.com:
After 60 years of exploration, the Omo-Turkana basin is still yielding new secrets about human evolution.
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2503899-cradle-of-humanity-is-still-revealing-new-insights-about-our-origins/
After 60 years of exploration, the Omo-Turkana basin is still yielding new secrets about human evolution.
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2503899-cradle-of-humanity-is-still-revealing-new-insights-about-our-origins/
It’s a bad sign that I had to quickly look up the number of people killed in World War Two / the Holocaust, in order to get a bit of historical perspective on the harms caused by Donald Trump’s government.
It’s also never good when a government has a death count so large you have to model it.
It’s also never good when a government has a death count so large you have to model it.
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 7, 2025 at 7:17 AM
It’s a bad sign that I had to quickly look up the number of people killed in World War Two / the Holocaust, in order to get a bit of historical perspective on the harms caused by Donald Trump’s government.
It’s also never good when a government has a death count so large you have to model it.
It’s also never good when a government has a death count so large you have to model it.
Feedback in @newscientist.com:
Some bright spark has built a robot that can pretend to serve you an ice cream, only to jerk it away at the last second.
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26835684-200-is-a-robot-programmed-to-prank-you-annoying-yes/
Some bright spark has built a robot that can pretend to serve you an ice cream, only to jerk it away at the last second.
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26835684-200-is-a-robot-programmed-to-prank-you-annoying-yes/
November 6, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Feedback in @newscientist.com:
Some bright spark has built a robot that can pretend to serve you an ice cream, only to jerk it away at the last second.
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26835684-200-is-a-robot-programmed-to-prank-you-annoying-yes/
Some bright spark has built a robot that can pretend to serve you an ice cream, only to jerk it away at the last second.
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26835684-200-is-a-robot-programmed-to-prank-you-annoying-yes/
Reposted by Michael Marshall
Incredible reporting from @carolinehaskins.bsky.social about a school Mark Zuckerberg opened on his Palo Alto compound and operated for years with no permits, permissions, anything at all
Mark Zuckerberg Opened an Illegal School at His Palo Alto Compound. His Neighbors Revolted
Neighbors complained about noise, security guards, and hordes of traffic. An unlicensed school named after the Zuckerbergs’ pet chicken tipped them over the edge.
www.wired.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Incredible reporting from @carolinehaskins.bsky.social about a school Mark Zuckerberg opened on his Palo Alto compound and operated for years with no permits, permissions, anything at all
Glaucoma remains one of the most common causes of avoidable blindness. So glaucoma patients and specialists came together to map out a better approach.
The result is a report, "The future of glaucoma", which I helped write and edit.
https://www.futureofglaucoma.co.uk
The result is a report, "The future of glaucoma", which I helped write and edit.
https://www.futureofglaucoma.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Glaucoma remains one of the most common causes of avoidable blindness. So glaucoma patients and specialists came together to map out a better approach.
The result is a report, "The future of glaucoma", which I helped write and edit.
https://www.futureofglaucoma.co.uk
The result is a report, "The future of glaucoma", which I helped write and edit.
https://www.futureofglaucoma.co.uk
<sigh> Talented and hard-working journalist laid off by dumbass bosses, part 9994
I was laid off from Teen Vogue today along with multiple other staffers, and today is my last day.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
November 3, 2025 at 7:57 PM
<sigh> Talented and hard-working journalist laid off by dumbass bosses, part 9994
For @newscientist.com, I interviewed Christopher Bae: an anthropologist who has proposed two new ancient human species, Homo juluensis and Homo bodoensis.
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2500833-does-the-family-tree-of-ancient-humans-need-a-drastic-rewrite/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2500833-does-the-family-tree-of-ancient-humans-need-a-drastic-rewrite/
November 3, 2025 at 6:16 PM
For @newscientist.com, I interviewed Christopher Bae: an anthropologist who has proposed two new ancient human species, Homo juluensis and Homo bodoensis.
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2500833-does-the-family-tree-of-ancient-humans-need-a-drastic-rewrite/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2500833-does-the-family-tree-of-ancient-humans-need-a-drastic-rewrite/
New for @newscientist.com:
We have a second high-quality genome of a Denisovan: a group of ancient humans who lived in east Asia.
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2502409-denisovans-may-have-interbred-with-mysterious-group-of-ancient-humans/
We have a second high-quality genome of a Denisovan: a group of ancient humans who lived in east Asia.
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2502409-denisovans-may-have-interbred-with-mysterious-group-of-ancient-humans/
November 3, 2025 at 12:38 PM
New for @newscientist.com:
We have a second high-quality genome of a Denisovan: a group of ancient humans who lived in east Asia.
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2502409-denisovans-may-have-interbred-with-mysterious-group-of-ancient-humans/
We have a second high-quality genome of a Denisovan: a group of ancient humans who lived in east Asia.
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2502409-denisovans-may-have-interbred-with-mysterious-group-of-ancient-humans/
Reposted by Michael Marshall
NEW from me:
Political hostility, high visa fees and (in the case of the UK) stagnant incomes are making the UK and US less attractive destinations for top international talent.
That steep decline in the appeal of moving to the US after 2016 is 👀
Political hostility, high visa fees and (in the case of the UK) stagnant incomes are making the UK and US less attractive destinations for top international talent.
That steep decline in the appeal of moving to the US after 2016 is 👀
October 31, 2025 at 2:32 PM
NEW from me:
Political hostility, high visa fees and (in the case of the UK) stagnant incomes are making the UK and US less attractive destinations for top international talent.
That steep decline in the appeal of moving to the US after 2016 is 👀
Political hostility, high visa fees and (in the case of the UK) stagnant incomes are making the UK and US less attractive destinations for top international talent.
That steep decline in the appeal of moving to the US after 2016 is 👀
Reposted by Michael Marshall
Basic research is easily mocked because it can seem impractical, but, in fact, it is a major driver of economic growth. “The return on investment in basic research—the return to society—is very high, typically multiple dollars back per dollar invested.”
— @michael-marshall.bsky.social @Nature.com
— @michael-marshall.bsky.social @Nature.com
7 basic science discoveries that changed the world
Ozempic, MRI machines and flat screen televisions all emerged out of fundamental research decades earlier — the very types of study being slashed by the US government.
www.nature.com
October 30, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Basic research is easily mocked because it can seem impractical, but, in fact, it is a major driver of economic growth. “The return on investment in basic research—the return to society—is very high, typically multiple dollars back per dollar invested.”
— @michael-marshall.bsky.social @Nature.com
— @michael-marshall.bsky.social @Nature.com
Feedback in @newscientist.com:
Have you ever played Minecraft and thought "you know, I could build a miniature version of ChatGPT out of all these blocks"?
Well, someone did, and they followed through.
https://loom.ly/64_xhQg
Have you ever played Minecraft and thought "you know, I could build a miniature version of ChatGPT out of all these blocks"?
Well, someone did, and they followed through.
https://loom.ly/64_xhQg
October 30, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Feedback in @newscientist.com:
Have you ever played Minecraft and thought "you know, I could build a miniature version of ChatGPT out of all these blocks"?
Well, someone did, and they followed through.
https://loom.ly/64_xhQg
Have you ever played Minecraft and thought "you know, I could build a miniature version of ChatGPT out of all these blocks"?
Well, someone did, and they followed through.
https://loom.ly/64_xhQg
New for @nature.com:
Here are seven examples of curiosity-driven research that had massive impacts on society.
This is what Donald Trump's gutting of the US science budget will destroy - and what Republicans in Congress could still save.
https://loom.ly/hmD43LU
Here are seven examples of curiosity-driven research that had massive impacts on society.
This is what Donald Trump's gutting of the US science budget will destroy - and what Republicans in Congress could still save.
https://loom.ly/hmD43LU
October 29, 2025 at 6:15 PM
New for @nature.com:
Here are seven examples of curiosity-driven research that had massive impacts on society.
This is what Donald Trump's gutting of the US science budget will destroy - and what Republicans in Congress could still save.
https://loom.ly/hmD43LU
Here are seven examples of curiosity-driven research that had massive impacts on society.
This is what Donald Trump's gutting of the US science budget will destroy - and what Republicans in Congress could still save.
https://loom.ly/hmD43LU
New in @newscientist.com:
#Fibromyalgia causes #ChronicPain and we don't understand why. Now two big genetics studies have given us pointers to the real causes of the condition.
https://loom.ly/5LjQCQg
#Fibromyalgia causes #ChronicPain and we don't understand why. Now two big genetics studies have given us pointers to the real causes of the condition.
https://loom.ly/5LjQCQg
October 29, 2025 at 12:34 PM
New in @newscientist.com:
#Fibromyalgia causes #ChronicPain and we don't understand why. Now two big genetics studies have given us pointers to the real causes of the condition.
https://loom.ly/5LjQCQg
#Fibromyalgia causes #ChronicPain and we don't understand why. Now two big genetics studies have given us pointers to the real causes of the condition.
https://loom.ly/5LjQCQg
Cool: my story about lost prehistoric human groups is in the Dutch version of @newscientist.com ⬇️
'Het heeft een vrij bizarre implicatie: er was dus een mensenpopulatie bestaande uit slechts een paar honderd individuen die verspreid leefde over een afstand van ruim 1500 kilometer.’ Michael Marshall
@michael-marshall.bsky.social @newscientistnl.bsky.social
www.newscientist.nl/premium/het-...
@michael-marshall.bsky.social @newscientistnl.bsky.social
www.newscientist.nl/premium/het-...
October 29, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Cool: my story about lost prehistoric human groups is in the Dutch version of @newscientist.com ⬇️
Reposted by Michael Marshall
Yay. Priceless. The right column at the right time. And a gleefully English two fingers to the haters.
October 25, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Yay. Priceless. The right column at the right time. And a gleefully English two fingers to the haters.
Feedback in @newscientist.com:
Many scientists emphasise their achievements. And then there's the researcher who wrote: "Sometimes you just kinda phone it in for a year, you know?"
https://loom.ly/H5cEHTk
Many scientists emphasise their achievements. And then there's the researcher who wrote: "Sometimes you just kinda phone it in for a year, you know?"
https://loom.ly/H5cEHTk
October 23, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Feedback in @newscientist.com:
Many scientists emphasise their achievements. And then there's the researcher who wrote: "Sometimes you just kinda phone it in for a year, you know?"
https://loom.ly/H5cEHTk
Many scientists emphasise their achievements. And then there's the researcher who wrote: "Sometimes you just kinda phone it in for a year, you know?"
https://loom.ly/H5cEHTk
New for @newscientist.com:
Banning phones in schools may make students a bit more lonely, rather than rescuing their mental health as is often claimed
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2500228-school-phone-bans-may-actually-harm-some-students-mental-health/
Banning phones in schools may make students a bit more lonely, rather than rescuing their mental health as is often claimed
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2500228-school-phone-bans-may-actually-harm-some-students-mental-health/
October 17, 2025 at 11:34 AM
New for @newscientist.com:
Banning phones in schools may make students a bit more lonely, rather than rescuing their mental health as is often claimed
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2500228-school-phone-bans-may-actually-harm-some-students-mental-health/
Banning phones in schools may make students a bit more lonely, rather than rescuing their mental health as is often claimed
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2500228-school-phone-bans-may-actually-harm-some-students-mental-health/
Bad news, everyone: the human species will go extinct by the year 2339.
At least, so says one of the silliest scientific papers @newscientist.com's Feedback has ever encountered.
https://loom.ly/Y1dJ4wE
At least, so says one of the silliest scientific papers @newscientist.com's Feedback has ever encountered.
https://loom.ly/Y1dJ4wE
October 16, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Bad news, everyone: the human species will go extinct by the year 2339.
At least, so says one of the silliest scientific papers @newscientist.com's Feedback has ever encountered.
https://loom.ly/Y1dJ4wE
At least, so says one of the silliest scientific papers @newscientist.com's Feedback has ever encountered.
https://loom.ly/Y1dJ4wE
Reposted by Michael Marshall
🧵🚨
The UK’s independent scientific bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation - over the past 5 months I've been working with @martinmckee.bsky.social to map out their vulnerabilities and it's not good news.
Today our report is published!
www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
1/11
The UK’s independent scientific bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation - over the past 5 months I've been working with @martinmckee.bsky.social to map out their vulnerabilities and it's not good news.
Today our report is published!
www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
1/11
UK’s arm’s length public bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation
Seven in ten Britons say it is important for top scientific institutions to be independent in exclusive new polling.
www.ucl.ac.uk
October 9, 2025 at 3:47 PM
🧵🚨
The UK’s independent scientific bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation - over the past 5 months I've been working with @martinmckee.bsky.social to map out their vulnerabilities and it's not good news.
Today our report is published!
www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
1/11
The UK’s independent scientific bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation - over the past 5 months I've been working with @martinmckee.bsky.social to map out their vulnerabilities and it's not good news.
Today our report is published!
www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
1/11
Reposted by Michael Marshall
Kemi Badenoch wants to end ‘rip-off degrees’ – but I wouldn’t have created Horrid Henry without mine | Francesca Simon
Kemi Badenoch wants to end ‘rip-off degrees’ – but I wouldn’t have created Horrid Henry without mine | Francesca Simon
I studied Old and Middle English. Although I didn’t know it, I couldn’t have chosen a better subject to train me to become a children’s author, says author Francesca Simon
www.theguardian.com
October 15, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Kemi Badenoch wants to end ‘rip-off degrees’ – but I wouldn’t have created Horrid Henry without mine | Francesca Simon
New "Our Human Story" in @newscientist.com:
Who were the first ancient humans to reach the British Isles?
And why did it take them so long to get there?
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2499788-who-were-the-first-humans-to-reach-the-british-isles/
Who were the first ancient humans to reach the British Isles?
And why did it take them so long to get there?
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2499788-who-were-the-first-humans-to-reach-the-british-isles/
October 15, 2025 at 5:28 PM
New "Our Human Story" in @newscientist.com:
Who were the first ancient humans to reach the British Isles?
And why did it take them so long to get there?
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2499788-who-were-the-first-humans-to-reach-the-british-isles/
Who were the first ancient humans to reach the British Isles?
And why did it take them so long to get there?
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2499788-who-were-the-first-humans-to-reach-the-british-isles/
New for BBC Future:
The foundations are being laid for the world's first commercial-scale liquid air energy storage facility.
If successful, it will help the electricity grid to handle more renewable energy.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20251009-the-liquid-air-alternative-to-fossil-fuels
The foundations are being laid for the world's first commercial-scale liquid air energy storage facility.
If successful, it will help the electricity grid to handle more renewable energy.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20251009-the-liquid-air-alternative-to-fossil-fuels
October 15, 2025 at 11:10 AM
New for BBC Future:
The foundations are being laid for the world's first commercial-scale liquid air energy storage facility.
If successful, it will help the electricity grid to handle more renewable energy.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20251009-the-liquid-air-alternative-to-fossil-fuels
The foundations are being laid for the world's first commercial-scale liquid air energy storage facility.
If successful, it will help the electricity grid to handle more renewable energy.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20251009-the-liquid-air-alternative-to-fossil-fuels
Reposted by Michael Marshall
Each month, @michael-marshall.bsky.social unearths the latest news and ideas about ancient humans, evolution, archaeology and more. Sign up to the Our Human Story newsletter here www.newscientist.com/sign-up/our-...
Sign up to Our Human Story
Each month, Michael Marshall unearths the latest news and ideas about ancient humans, evolution, archaeology and more.
www.newscientist.com
October 14, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Each month, @michael-marshall.bsky.social unearths the latest news and ideas about ancient humans, evolution, archaeology and more. Sign up to the Our Human Story newsletter here www.newscientist.com/sign-up/our-...