Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Uta Frith @utafrith.bsky.social · 8d

Many congratulations, Masud!!

Masud Husain @masudhusain.bsky.social · Feb 23

A big thank you to all those who have been so positive about my new book. It's about how neurological patients can tell us so much about our selves, how personal and social identities are forged by different cognitive functions, and what it means to belong.

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Uta Frith @utafrith.bsky.social · 8d

A brilliant book- can’t recommend it highly enough. Congratulations to Masud Husain!

Five Books - Expert Book Recommendations @fivebooks.com · 8d

NEWS: “A beautiful exploration of how problems in our brains can cause us to change." "Our Brains, Our Selves" by Masud Husain wins the 2025 Royal Society (@royalsociety.org) Trivedi Science Book Prize:
fivebooks.com/book/our-bra...

Our Brains, Our Selves: What a Neurologist’s Patients Taught Him About the Brain

🏆 Winner of the 2025 Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize

fivebooks.com

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Five Books - Expert Book Recommendations @fivebooks.com · 8d

NEWS: “A beautiful exploration of how problems in our brains can cause us to change." "Our Brains, Our Selves" by Masud Husain wins the 2025 Royal Society (@royalsociety.org) Trivedi Science Book Prize:
fivebooks.com/book/our-bra...

Our Brains, Our Selves: What a Neurologist’s Patients Taught Him About the Brain

🏆 Winner of the 2025 Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize

fivebooks.com

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Simon Fisher @profsimonfisher.bsky.social · 8d

Here's a nice clear explainer of the main findings from the new autism study, by @hannahdevlin.bsky.social, including comments from @utafrith.bsky.social.

Autism should not be seen as single condition with one cause, say scientists

Those diagnosed as small children typically have distinct genetic profile from those diagnosed later, study finds

www.theguardian.com

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Dr Ellie Murray, ScD @epiellie.bsky.social · 14d

If you’ve been following the RFK Jr autism news, then you’ve probably heard that there’s a systematic review “proving” Tylenol causes autism.

Here’s my review of that paper👇🏼

open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...

The best evidence Tylenol causes autism isn't great

On Monday, RFK Jr announced Tylenol ‘causes’ autism referencing three studies as evidence. Let's dive in.

open.substack.com

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Sam Wang @samwang.bsky.social · 15d

Here's the key chart from that piece.

Note what's on here with significant risk: genetic inheritance (twin on autism spectrum, sibling), third trimester stress, and factors that can affect maternal/paternal DNA.

What doesn't carry risk? SSRIs. Sonograms. And vaccination. All very well tested.

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Uta Frith @utafrith.bsky.social · 15d

Is the outgroup is immoral (dishonest, corrupt) by definition?

Jay Van Bavel, PhD @jayvanbavel.bsky.social · 15d

Therefore, the fundamental question driving moral expression is: “what does my group consider moral?”

osf.io/preprints/ps...

Led by @KareenadelRosario and @TessaWest

OSF

osf.io

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Jay Van Bavel, PhD @jayvanbavel.bsky.social · 15d

Therefore, the fundamental question driving moral expression is: “what does my group consider moral?”

osf.io/preprints/ps...

Led by @KareenadelRosario and @TessaWest

OSF

osf.io

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The Royal Society @royalsociety.org · Sep 8

Marthe Vogt FRS, who was born #OnThisDay in 1903, was one of the 20th century's leading neuroscientists, with a research career spanning 50 years. She is best known for her work to understand the role of neurotransmitters like epinephrine. #WomenInSTEM

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Uta Frith @utafrith.bsky.social · Sep 4

royalsociety.org/blog/2025/08...

Kindly Urania | Royal Society

Who is the earliest female author on the shelves of the Royal Society Library? Rupert Baker investigates...

royalsociety.org

Uta Frith @utafrith.bsky.social · Aug 27

Thank you, Mica and Francesca and congratulations to you too.

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Uta Frith @utafrith.bsky.social · Aug 27

Thank you, Uri!

Uta Frith @utafrith.bsky.social · Aug 27

Thanks, Jenny! We're planning an outing to vineyards in Kent to celebrate our anniversary.

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Uta Frith @utafrith.bsky.social · Aug 27

Many congratulations, Roger. Looking forward to your lecture already.

Roger Highfield @rogerhighfield.bsky.social · Aug 27

🏅 Honoured, amazed and daunted to receive the Royal Society’s David Attenborough Award, following in the footsteps of Hannah Fry, Richard Wiseman, Adam Rutherford, Jonathan Van-Tam and Alice Roberts. Gulp!

The Royal Society @royalsociety.org · Aug 27

We are happy to announce the winners of the Royal Society's medals and awards for 2025. “[They] have all made outstanding contributions to science and its applications for the benefit of humanity." said Sir Adrian Smith PRS. Meet the winners: #RSMedals royalsociety.org/news/2025/08...

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Uta Frith @utafrith.bsky.social · Aug 27

A review just in time for our 59th Wedding Anniversary on 1st September
Scenes from a Marriage: How We Found Our Way from Experimental Psychology to Social Neuroscience | Annual Reviews - www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...

Scenes from a Marriage: How We Found Our Way from Experimental Psychology to Social Neuroscience | Annual Reviews

Looking back on our life and work, we reflect on the changes in our thinking due to three scientific and technological revolutions. These are information processing, computers, and brain imaging, and ...

www.annualreviews.org

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Roger Highfield @rogerhighfield.bsky.social · Aug 27

🏅 Honoured, amazed and daunted to receive the Royal Society’s David Attenborough Award, following in the footsteps of Hannah Fry, Richard Wiseman, Adam Rutherford, Jonathan Van-Tam and Alice Roberts. Gulp!

The Royal Society @royalsociety.org · Aug 27

We are happy to announce the winners of the Royal Society's medals and awards for 2025. “[They] have all made outstanding contributions to science and its applications for the benefit of humanity." said Sir Adrian Smith PRS. Meet the winners: #RSMedals royalsociety.org/news/2025/08...

Invisibility cloak pioneer Sir John Pendry awarded Royal Society’s top prize | Royal Society

The Royal Society announces the medals and awards recipients 2025

royalsociety.org

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Marc Hudson @marchudson.bsky.social · Aug 5

As Philip K. Dick said, "Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away."

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Nationale Akademie der Wissenschaften Leopoldina @leopoldina.org · Jul 29

Gemeinsam mit drei Ärzten wollte der Schweinfurter Mediziner Georg Balthasar Metzger „die Natur erforschen zur Ehre Gottes und zum Wohle der Menschen“. Hierfür gründete das Quartett 1652 die Academia Naturae Curiosorum – die heutige Leopoldina. Mehr zu Metzger:
www.leopoldina.org/mitgliederve...

Schwarz-weißes historisches Porträtgemälde von Georg Balthasar Metzger, mit mittellangem Haar und schmalem Schnurrbart. Er trägt einen dunklen Gelehrtenrock mit breitem, hellem Kragen. In der rechten Hand hält er ein Papier, die linke Hand ist leicht erhoben. Oben rechts befinden sich eine Inschrift und ein Wappen.

Black-and-white historical portrait painting of Georg Balthasar Metzger, with medium-length hair and a narrow mustache. He wears a dark scholar’s robe with a broad light-colored collar. He holds a paper in his right hand while his left hand is slightly raised. An inscription and a coat of arms appear in the upper right corner.

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Taylor Mitchell Brown @tmitchellbrown.bsky.social · Jul 24

Ancient Romans had a strong fascination with fossils, often viewing them as protective talismans. Archaeologists just unearthed the first trilobite fossil linked to the Roman world—and it was likely worn as jewelry.

#Archaeology #AncientHistory #RomanHistory

New at @science.org 🧪🏺

This trilobite fossil became ancient Roman bling

It’s the first example of this common fossil found in the ancient Roman world

www.science.org

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Uta Frith @utafrith.bsky.social · Jul 25

Mysteries of the past were appreciated in the past.

Taylor Mitchell Brown @tmitchellbrown.bsky.social · Jul 24

Ancient Romans had a strong fascination with fossils, often viewing them as protective talismans. Archaeologists just unearthed the first trilobite fossil linked to the Roman world—and it was likely worn as jewelry.

#Archaeology #AncientHistory #RomanHistory

New at @science.org 🧪🏺

This trilobite fossil became ancient Roman bling

It’s the first example of this common fossil found in the ancient Roman world

www.science.org

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Uta Frith @utafrith.bsky.social · Jul 24

No empirical support for 'Double Empathy' hypothesis from preregistered study:
doi.org/10.1038/s415...

"We hypothesized that information transfer would deteriorate faster and rapport would be lower in mixed-neurotype compared with single-neurotype chains."
But no difference was found.

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Alice Roberts @profaliceroberts.bsky.social · Mar 23

I’m so sad to hear the news that Richard Fortey is no longer with us. He was a brilliant palaeontologist, writer and tv presenter - and a lovely person. I had the pleasure of interviewing him and working with him. He was so passionate about sharing his science.
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...

Richard Fortey obituary

Palaeontologist at the Natural History Museum who was also a bestselling science writer and accomplished TV presenter

www.theguardian.com

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Prof Nichola Raihani @nicholaraihani.bsky.social · Mar 22

Small announcement. Book 2 (which is not yet complete) has a title.

THE THINKING ANIMAL: What Other Minds Reveal About Our Own

Writing is picking up speed (finally). I’m psyched about it - can’t wait to share more. 📚 🤓 🧠

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Paul Bloom @paulbloomatyale.bsky.social · Mar 24

New post!
smallpotatoes.paulbloom.net/p/is-it-natu...

"Is it nature or is it nurture?" is a damn good question

Some psychologists are confused about this

smallpotatoes.paulbloom.net

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The Royal Society @royalsociety.org · Mar 24

With the 80th anniversary of the first two female Fellows being elected to the Royal Society, watch our short documentary on pioneering microbiologist Marjory Stephenson FRS with Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock and Professor Judy Armitage FRS: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xK7B...

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Athene Donald @athenedonald.bsky.social · Mar 24

Are all professional sectors similarly challenging for successful women? Is Ballroom Dancing like Academia? occamstypewriter.org/athenedonald...

Is Ballroom Dancing like Academia? | Athene Donald's Blog

occamstypewriter.org

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Hilary Martin @hilarycmartin.bsky.social · Mar 24

New work from my group led by @olivia-wootton.bsky.social and Patrick Campbell, on the interplay between genetics and prematurity in developmental disorders - slightly different from our usual 'pure genetics' work. Please see Olivia's thread here.

Olivia Wootton @olivia-wootton.bsky.social · Mar 24

1/ Thrilled to share our new preprint now out on medRxiv, where we explore genetic factors contributing to prematurity in developmental disorders and examine how prematurity influences clinical presentations: www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...

Investigating the Interplay Between Prematurity and Genetic Variation in the Context of Rare Developmental Disorders

Rare damaging genetic variation accounts for a substantial proportion of the risk of rare developmental disorders (DDs), but common genetic variants as well as environmental factors, including prematu...

www.medrxiv.org

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The Royal Society @royalsociety.org · Mar 25

In the second of our films celebrating the first women elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Society, Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock returns to our archives with astrophysicist Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell to explore the life and career of Kathleen Lonsdale FRS: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jwcf...

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The Royal Society @royalsociety.org · Mar 25

"Lonsdale’s dedication to promoting ethics in science is something which I found particularly powerful and moving,” said Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell. The films kick off a year of activity celebrating, supporting and empowering women in STEM. Find out more here: royalsociety.org/news-resourc...

Women in STEM | Royal Society

royalsociety.org

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Dan Jagger @auditorynerves.bsky.social · Mar 25

How did we become so emboldened to pronounce neurodivergence in others?

“We are currently focused on making yes/no distinctions in diagnoses. But why not say ‘Somebody has these traits. How might that be affecting their life and what we can do to help?’” 🧪🧠

www.independent.co.uk/life-style/a...

We need to stop diagnosing each other with autism and ADHD

As Bella Ramsey reveals their autism diagnosis came after a ‘The Last Of Us’ crew member spotted the signs, Helen Coffey questions why we’ve become so emboldened to pronounce neurodivergence in others

www.independent.co.uk

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