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Alexandra Thompson

@alexthompo.bsky.social
400 followers 558 following 41 posts

Assistant news editor ‪at New Scientist‬ (health) | award-winning journo | author | irritating feminist | Taylor Swift fanatic | amateur ballerina

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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
More great job opportunities at NS! YouTube Video Producer www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/44... Social Video Producer www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/44...
linkedin.com
New Scientist hiring Video Producer in London Area, United Kingdom | LinkedIn
Posted 9:16:57 AM. Video producerLocation: New Scientist Headquarters, HSK, London, W8 5HYPosition: Full…See this and similar jobs on LinkedIn.
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Fish skin could be the best way of treating burns 🐟 www.newscientist.com/article/2586...
newscientist.com
Burns improve more rapidly after treatment with fish skin | New Scientist
Severe burns are often treated with synthetic products ahead of skin graft surgery, but there is evidence that a product made from minimally processed cod skin is more effective
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/44...
linkedin.com
New Scientist hiring Head of Visuals in London Area, United Kingdom | LinkedIn
Posted 2:28:47 PM. Location: New Scientist Headquarters, HSK, London, W8 5HYPosition: Full Time/PermanentJob…See this and similar jobs on LinkedIn.
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Finland has been named the happiest country in the world for the 9th year in a row - but how can we even measure a concept as slippery as happiness? And if it does stand up, how can we borrow the country's habits to be more joyful? www.newscientist.com/article/2533...
newscientist.com
What the world’s happiest countries can teach us about joyful living | New Scientist
As editor of the World Happiness Report, few people know more than Jan-Emmanuel De Neve about what makes a country happy. He reveals what we can learn from the nations where people feel the most conte...
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Such a fun and interesting new role, please join us! www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/44...
linkedin.com
New Scientist hiring Data Journalist in London Area, United Kingdom | LinkedIn
Posted 7:44:57 PM. Location: High Street Kensington, LondonPosition: Full time or part time, minimum 3 days/weekAbout…See this and similar jobs on LinkedIn.
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
How do superagers - people aged 80+ with the memory of someone in their 50s - manage to stay so sharp? I interviewed Emily Rogalski, neuroscientist and lead researcher of the superager study, to find out www.newscientist.com/article/2529...
newscientist.com
The secrets to keeping your brain sharp in old age
Neurologist Emily Rogalski studies "superagers" – people in their 80s or 90s with unusually keen memories, whose lifestyles suggest ways to slow cognitive decline
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Apply/reach out with Qs! www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/44...
linkedin.com
New Scientist hiring Health and Medical Science News Reporter in London Area, United Kingdom | LinkedIn
Posted 9:06:45 AM. Health and medical science news reporter Location: New Scientist Headquarters – LondonPosition:…See this and similar jobs on LinkedIn.
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Amid the wellness craze, here are three things you need to know about protein www.newscientist.com/article/2526...
newscientist.com
The 3 things you need to know about protein, according to an expert
Why have so many people become fixated on protein? Donald Layman is one of the people behind the research showing the benefits of getting more protein in your diet, but he thinks things have gone too ...
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
I wrote last week's leader, which emphasises the importance of subtyping medical conditions and doing away with the idea of one-size-fits-all treatments www.newscientist.com/article/mg27...
newscientist.com
Long covid reveals the harm of one-size-fits-all medical treatment
While exercise and diet are frequently recommended as a universal way to improve your health, some conditions require more careful treatment
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Exercise is always a good thing, right? Well, maybe not. For people with long covid or ME/CFS, it can be devastating. And science needs to catch up (all views my own blah blah blah) www.newscientist.com/article/2523...
newscientist.com
Exercise advice for long covid may be doing more harm than good
Exercise has been touted as a tool for managing and treating long covid, but much of the evidence has neglected one of its most debilitating symptoms: post-exertional malaise
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Reposted by Alexandra Thompson
Rowan Hooper @rowhoop.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
I don't think it's great that this will be offered to terminally ill people "to reconstruct the person… to allow them to continue, in effect, with their life". Discussion with @pennysarchet.bsky.social, @alexthompo.bsky.social and @thomaslewton.bsky.social. open.spotify.com/episode/7xlK...
open.spotify.com
Scientists Can Now Preserve a Brain After Death - What’s Next?
Spotify video
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
Why are we all so obsessed with protein? My review of a book written by sociologists who try to get to the bottom of this wellness trend (and I impressively snuck in a mention of Stephen Merchant somehow) www.newscientist.com/article/mg26...
newscientist.com
Why are we so obsessed with protein? A new book looks for answers
Samantha King and Gavin Weedon's new book Protein digs deep into the nutrient's role in our health. But can it tell you how much you should be eating? Alexandra Thompson explores
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
Really looking forward to chairing an event at Chatham House tomorrow (Tues 17/3, 4pm-5pm) on the importance of health literacy in health inclusivity www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/s... Please join us in the room if you can, or dial in
chathamhouse.org
Health literacy as an imperative to health inclusivity
Join Haleon and Chatham House for an in-depth discussion on scaling health literacy initiatives to unlock inclusive growth, productivity and long-term economic resilience.
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
New Scientist is looking for a health reporter! www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/43... Please apply/share, and message me with any Qs, thanks!
linkedin.com
New Scientist hiring Health and Medical Science News Reporter in London Area, United Kingdom | LinkedIn
Posted 11:43:18 AM. Location: New Scientist Headquarters – HSK, London, W8 5HYPosition: Full-time or part-time…See this and similar jobs on LinkedIn.
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Landmark vitiligo cream will soon become available on the NHS in England www.newscientist.com/article/2516... I'm thrilled for those who want it, but support others with vitiligo (like me) who embrace the patches 💗
newscientist.com
Landmark vitiligo cream targets immune cells that disrupt pigmentation
A cream that directly disrupts the underlying causes of the skin patches seen in the condition vitiligo will be made available on the NHS
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
Can grief be so severe and long-lasting that it tips over into a psychiatric condition? A review of brain activity research suggests yes, a fascinating and emotive topic to dig into on the pod www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WLd...
youtube.com
The World is Running Out of Water - Can Cloud-Seeding Save Us?
YouTube video by New Scientist
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
On this week's pod, I discuss a study that shows a specific type of braintraining game could cut the risk of dementia by 25! And such a pleasure to meet and be inspired by THE Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVrd...
youtube.com
Ancient Humans Crossed the Ocean Long Before We Thought Possible
YouTube video by New Scientist
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
I really enjoyed reading and reviewing Off the Scales, a powerful book that shines a light on an issue I have been banging on about for years: obesity is a medical condition and needs to be treated as such www.newscientist.com/article/mg26...
newscientist.com
As Ozempic goes global, a powerful book reframes how we see obesity
With the market for anti-obesity drugs already worth billions, Aimee Donnellan’s Off the Scales is a timely exploration of the controversial and life-changing GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic
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Reposted by Alexandra Thompson
Rowan Hooper @rowhoop.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
ALSO: We finally get an explanation for the junk DNA (aka dark DNA) in our genomes, from @mjflepage.bsky.social and @alexthompo.bsky.social on the rebound effect of coming off GLP-1 weight loss drugs With @pennysarchet.bsky.social
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
Happy new year! I'm looking for experienced freelance reporters to cover health, neuroscience and psychology-related stories for New Scientist. Please message me for details and email over pitches alexandra.thompson@newscientist.com - thank you! #sciencejournalism #scicomm
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Rowan Hooper @rowhoop.bsky.social · 02/01/2026
For our first podcast of 2026 we pick out some of the big science stories coming this year 👇 with @pennysarchet.bsky.social, @jjaron.bsky.social, @mjflepage.bsky.social and @alexthompo.bsky.social open.spotify.com/episode/2Ybb...
open.spotify.com
Humans are finally heading back to the moon; Cheaper weight loss drugs are coming; Milestone for LSD trials; Promise of new carbon tax
Spotify video
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 30/12/2025
Is dark chocolate actually good for you? Possibly...maybe...(don't shoot the messenger) www.youtube.com/shorts/MdatU... Or read my deceased column (goodbye my lover, goodbye my friend) www.newscientist.com/article/2481...
youtube.com
Is dark chocolate a health food?
YouTube video by New Scientist
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
The oral microbiome (a relatively stable ecosystem) undergoes drastic upheavals during pregnancy, which could explain why dental issues are common during this time www.youtube.com/shorts/wj6d3...
youtube.com
What is behind pregnancy tooth loss?
YouTube video by New Scientist
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
We're learning more about how exercise helps fight cancer - and it seems to partly be due to a battle between different types of cells! Another fun pod episode to be part of 🥰 www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fubg...
youtube.com
How Exercise Shrinks Cancer Tumours by 60% In Mice
YouTube video by New Scientist
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
If you're too lazy/cheap to read the 1400 insight article (two posts down), here I am condensing it into a 3 min video www.youtube.com/shorts/Jibmw...
youtube.com
Why aren't young people having sex any more?
YouTube video by New Scientist
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
#cyclesynching - is it a load of tosh (look at me not swearing like an adult)? Or does it have some scientific backing? And perhaps most importantly, what baby hue background will the audience team choose next? www.youtube.com/shorts/xcw2n...
youtube.com
Should you change your lifestyle based on your menstrual cycle?
YouTube video by New Scientist
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
The data is in, and it's consistent: sexual activity has plummeted among teens and young adults. The question is - why?! Some may say it doesn't matter - but at a time when birth rates in the West and Japan are at a record low, should we be worried? www.newscientist.com/article/2504...
newscientist.com
Why aren't young people having sex any more?
Sexual activity in young people is on the decline, but why? And what's more, should we be worried about what this means for society and the future of the human race?
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
So long cavities? Scientists may have sussed out a way for us to regenerate our tooth enamel www.youtube.com/shorts/iNwHv...
youtube.com
The gel that prevents cavities
YouTube video by New Scientist
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 18/10/2025
Should be prepping for my stage, got distracted by a stick insect #NewScientistLive
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 03/10/2025
PMS can be debilitating; it needs more research and less stigma. But The Period Brain book doesn't contribute much www.newscientist.com/article/mg26...
newscientist.com
Exploring PMS is a great idea, but The Period Brain can be simplistic
Premenstrual syndrome and its symptoms is neglected by science, so Sarah Hill's new book is welcome. But it needs more on genetics, not just lifestyle changes, says Alexandra Thompson
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
The volume of references from Swift's archive is truly enchanting www.newscientist.com/article/mg26... I'm not Ready For It, but I Can See You @michael-marshall.bsky.social
newscientist.com
How Taylor Swift is helping botany gain celebrity status
Feedback is delighted to learn that researchers have discovered what Taylor Swift is accidentally doing to rescue the science of plants from mid-ness. Just take a look at her videos – sorry, botany te...
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 13/09/2025
A bit late to post this but I loved delving into the research on the potential neuroscientific origins of that feeling we call intuition, and only partly because the study involved mice driving a Lego steering wheel www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZta...
youtube.com
Scientists Just Mapped Mammalian Brain Activity for the First Time
YouTube video by New Scientist
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
If you live in London, run - don't walk - to the sensational Every Brilliant Thing at sohoplace www.newscientist.com/article/mg26...
newscientist.com
New Scientist recommends one-person play Every Brilliant Thing
The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 31/08/2025
I like to imagine travelling back in time to tell Medieval folk that we can now manipulate the brain's electrical activity by implanting permanent electrodes. I'd probably be burned at the stake. Luckily, today I can discuss it on the NS podcast www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEpI...
youtube.com
Scientists Discovered a 100,000-Year-Old Organism
YouTube video by New Scientist
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Reposted by Alexandra Thompson
New Scientist @newscientist.com · 06/08/2025
Climate journalist and New Scientist contributor Alec Luhn has gone missing on a Norwegian glacier. His family is asking that anyone hiking in the region share any information with local authorities. www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...
cbsnews.com
American climate journalist Alec Luhn missing on Norwegian glacier
A search is underway for award-winning climate journalist Alec Luhn, a Wisconsin native, who is missing on a Norwegian glacier.
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 03/08/2025
We now have good-quality evidence that Ozempic (semaglutide) really does slow - or reverse! - biological ageing. *puts in a macro dose order as I approach 21 (ahem) www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmEj...
youtube.com
Is Ozempic the new anti-ageing drug?
YouTube video by New Scientist
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
Octopuses fall for the rubber arm illusion just like us! They really are amazing creatures, but obviously I have to insert a little sprinkling of health nuggets everywhere I go www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q8B...
youtube.com
Famous psychology trick works on octopuses too
YouTube video by New Scientist
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 27/07/2025
Mitochondria are...(think back to your GCSEs)...the energy powerhouses of cells! But what if they play a cruical role in sleep...? My latest on the pod: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4yd... I could just post the pod link, but it seems a shame to deny the world the wrinkling of my forehead when I talk
youtube.com
How mitochondria are linked to sleep (and Ozzy Osbourne)
YouTube video by New Scientist
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
Scientists have created cyborg tadpoles with implants that monitor their neural activity from the earliest embryonic stage 🤯 The critters could be a new window into neuroscience. Watch the below video to see me and my forehead spot explain more.
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
In my latest column, I explore whether dark chocolate deserves its health halo. Spoiler: it's tantalisingly inconclusive, despite what the supermodels say www.newscientist.com/article/2481...
newscientist.com
Dark chocolate is rich in flavanols. Does that make it a health food?
Antioxidants like cocoa flavanols may benefit heart health, brain ageing and the microbiome. Columnist Alexandra Thompson investigates whether it’s time to rethink chocolate
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Alexandra Thompson @alexthompo.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
Slowly easing myself off X cause you know....Musk....to get started here's a recent piece I'm particularly proud of www.newscientist.com/article/mg26... all about how Parkinson's may have two subtypes with different symptoms, manifestations and - hopefully one day - treatments
newscientist.com
A dramatic rethink of Parkinson’s offers new hope for treatment
Mounting evidence suggests there might be two separate types of the world’s fastest-growing neurological condition. Can this fresh understanding lead to much-needed new treatments?
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