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Liam Drew

@liamdrew.bsky.social
333 followers 608 following 94 posts

Freelance science journalist, dad, author of two books, has a writing shed at his allotment. liamdrew.net

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Liam Drew @liamdrew.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
A growing band of cancer researchers think they can use genetically engineered bacteria to deliver therapies selectively to tumours -- and emerging clinical data say they may be on to something. My latest for @nature.com www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Special delivery: bacterial couriers are smuggling drugs into cancers
Microorganisms that deliver treatments to tumours could make chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy safer and more effective.
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Liam Drew @liamdrew.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Late summer harvest: first ever homegrown water melon with aubergines. 1/2.
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Liam Drew @liamdrew.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Delighted to be among the finalists at the @mja-uk.bsky.social awards, in the mental health reporting category. Hoarding disorder needs more funding and research.
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Liam Drew @liamdrew.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
From jthe whole family, thank you for the joy and wonder, Yayoi
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Liam Drew @liamdrew.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
I’ve never noticed, and therefore can only assume no one has, how much Harry Kane sounds like hurricane.
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Liam Drew @liamdrew.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
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Michael Okun @michael-okun.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
I’ve officially resigned as Associate Editor for Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience. It used to be a reputable journal, but became a case study in how forced automation destroys academic integrity. 👇
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Liam Drew @liamdrew.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
Has anyone else noticed a gratitude inflation? People (I think) all say Thank you so much (or Thank you SOO much) these days. Thank you and Thanks can now feel a bit lacking.
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Liam Drew @liamdrew.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
As the neuroscience of cancer rapidly advances, here's my look at how links between neurons and small-cell lung cancers may offer new therapeutic opportunities. @nature.com www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
How the connection between lung cancer and the brain could lead to better treatments
The discovery that small cell lung cancer has several neuronal features is yielding biological insights that could ultimately save lives.
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Nature Portfolio @natureportfolio.nature.com · 19/05/2026
Harmful bacteria and other pathogens are rapidly developing countermeasures to the world’s antibiotic arsenal, and eroding physician’s ability to treat infections. Review the latest Nature Outlook on antimicrobial resistance. 🧪
go.nature.com
Antimicrobial resistance | Nature Outlook
Pathogens are becoming resistant to antibiotics. Scientists are working to slow the process and replenish the medicinal armoury.
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Magdalena Skipper @magdalenaskipper.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Wearable robot boosts strength of children with spinal muscular atrophy Original research published in our pages, in Nature www.nature.com/articles/s41... 🧪 #MedSky www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Wearable robot boosts strength of children with spinal muscular atrophy
The device helps muscle recovery in those receiving gene therapy for the rare neuromuscular condition.
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Nature @nature.com · 20/05/2026
This wearable robot provides resistance training for children who are unable to walk because of spinal muscular atrophy go.nature.com/4eYFJrM
go.nature.com
Wearable robot boosts strength of children with spinal muscular atrophy
The device helps muscle recovery in those receiving gene therapy for the rare neuromuscular condition.
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Liam Drew @liamdrew.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Short story about a small robot that could have a big impact. From me for @nature.com www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Wearable robot boosts strength of children with spinal muscular atrophy
The device helps muscle recovery in those receiving gene therapy for the rare neuromuscular condition.
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Liam Drew @liamdrew.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
What if the antibacterial properties of various commonly used non-antibiotic drugs -- for depression, diabetes and indigestion... -- could drive the evolution of antibiotic resistant bacteria? It's a possibility worth taking seriously. My latest for Nature Outlook. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Are non-antibiotic drugs contributing to antimicrobial resistance?
Plans to address drug resistance typically focus on the use of antibiotics, but there are signs that compounds with incidental antibacterial effects might be part of the problem, too.
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Liam Drew @liamdrew.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
What if the antibacterial properties of various commonly used non-antibiotic drugs -- for depression, diabetes and indigestion... -- could drive the evolution of antibiotic resistant bacteria? It's a possibility worth taking seriously. My latest for Nature Outlook. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Are non-antibiotic drugs contributing to antimicrobial resistance?
Plans to address drug resistance typically focus on the use of antibiotics, but there are signs that compounds with incidental antibacterial effects might be part of the problem, too.
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Mike Dawson @mikedawson.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
A lil’ cartoon on writing www.patreon.com/posts/157534...
patreon.com
On Writing | Mike Dawson
On Writing by Mike Dawson on Patreon. Join Mike Dawson's community for exclusive content and updates.
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Liam Drew @liamdrew.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Can octopuses, squid and cuttlefish reveal fundamental principles of brain evolution and function? More and more neuroscientists think they can and are flocking to research these enduringly fascinating creatures. My latest for @nature.com www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Do octopus brains work like humans’ — or is there another way to be smart?
Just like vertebrates, cephalopods — such as octopuses and squid — have elaborate brains. Neuroscientists are flocking to them for insights into how intelligence evolved.
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Mina Kimes @minakimes.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
I can't stop laughing at this post. It's perfect.
A guy asking ChatGPT to review a series of fart sound effects and getting a serious kiss ass response that calls it atmospheric
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Nature @nature.com · 20/02/2026
An innovative approach supercharges the innate immune system to provide a first line of defence against respiratory infections. go.nature.com/4qQncQx
go.nature.com
‘Universal vaccine’ protects mice against multiple pathogens
An innovative approach supercharges the innate immune system to provide a first line of defence against respiratory infections.
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Liam Drew @liamdrew.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
This was a fascinating study to report on - a new vaccine (if it fits that definition) that activates the innate immune system to protect against all tested respiratory diseases - even allergies! ’Universal vaccine’ protects mice against multiple pathogens www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
‘Universal vaccine’ protects mice against multiple pathogens
An innovative approach supercharges the innate immune system to provide a first line of defence against respiratory infections.
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Kim Kelly @kimkelly.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
journalists are workers who deserve to be paid fairly for our labor and I think that far too few consumers of media recognize or even care about this fact
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Ilhan Omar @ilhanmn.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
The arrests of Don Lemon, Georgia Fort, and Jamael Lundy are unacceptable and a clear violation of the Constitution. This is a dangerous abuse of power that threatens the rights of every single American. They must be released immediately.
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 22/01/2026
What happens when the taps run dry? England is about to find out | Aditya Chakrabortty
theguardian.com
What happens when the taps run dry? England is about to find out | Aditya Chakrabortty
It’s not just Tunbridge Wells – a country famous around the world for its rain is in danger of self-imposed drought, says Guardian columnist Aditya Chakrabortty
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Liam Drew @liamdrew.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
Watched this tonight. Laughed a LOT and cried a bit, possibly in the perfect ratio. Grab yourself a ticket.
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Herb Brody @hbrody.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
To understand better what makes this such a major step backward, check out our piece on the urgent need to stop mother-to-child transmission of Hep-B, by @liamdrew.bsky.social. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
How to stop mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B
The global effort to eliminate the disease depends heavily on blocking the most common mode of viral infection.
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Kendra "Gloom is My Beat" Pierre-Louis @kendrawrites.com · 02/12/2025
I'm so tired of measles. I'm also tired of people using needle shots on stories like this. Show what measles looks like.
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Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
Even @channel4news.bsky.social opens its budget coverage by asking "What will this do for Labour's position in the polls?" Polls are not even a good predictor of future elections. They're certainly not a test by which budgets should be measured. We have to break their cold, dead grip on politics.
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Max Kozlov @maxkozlov.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
About that exclusive, "closed-to-press" MAHA summit last week with RFK and JD Vance: I got in. Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪 www.nature.com/articles/d41...
A glorious selfie with the official MAHA lanyard seconds after I made it past Secret Service screening.
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Liam Drew @liamdrew.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
Elon and Neuralink have company -- options and exploring the design space is definitely a good thing. My latest for @nature.com www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
A brain implant that could rival Neuralink's enters clinical trials
Neurotechnology company Paradromics will test its device in a trial aimed at safely restoring speech for people with severe motor impairments.
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Nature @nature.com · 19/11/2025
Ethicists say AI-powered advances will threaten the privacy and autonomy of people who use mind-reading devices go.nature.com/4r947us
go.nature.com
Mind-reading devices can now predict preconscious thoughts: is it time to worry?
Ethicists say AI-powered advances will threaten the privacy and autonomy of people who use neurotechnology.
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Liam Drew @liamdrew.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
How will neurotechnologies impact the way we think and behave? And can we keep our thoughts private? My latest look at the ethical challenges posed by brain reading technologies…. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Mind-reading devices can now predict preconscious thoughts: is it time to worry?
Ethicists say AI-powered advances will threaten the privacy and autonomy of people who use neurotechnology.
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Liam Drew @liamdrew.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
Huge advance - but still some questions
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Liam Drew @liamdrew.bsky.social · 18/10/2025
If someone unequivocally does the work of a study author (helps design study, analyse data and write the paper) are they ethically obliged to be listed as an official author the study?
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Liam Drew @liamdrew.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
Absolutely delighted to have scooped this year’s gong for cancer research reporting.
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Medical Journalists' Association @mja-uk.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
At our awards ceremony next week we will find out our winners but until then we will continue to celebrate the finalists! Shortlisted for the Gordon McVie Award for Reporting Cancer Research are @liamdrew.bsky.social @rosietaylorjourno.bsky.social and Clare Wilson 👏
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Liam Drew @liamdrew.bsky.social · 19/08/2025
Don’t stop believin’, not even while you…
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Liam Drew @liamdrew.bsky.social · 17/08/2025
Very happily in Paris for a few days en famille. Remembering the second time I came, 23-year-old me taking my nan on her first trip abroad… www.liamdrew.net/articles/201...
liamdrew.net
Paris with my grandmother — Liam Drew
READER’S DIGEST Liam Drew takes us along on his Parisian adventure with his grandmother and explores the importance of spending quality time with the people in your life
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Liam Drew @liamdrew.bsky.social · 15/08/2025
I'm absolutely delighted to be shortlisted for The Gordon McVie Award for Reporting Cancer Research.
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Liam Drew @liamdrew.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
Hi all, I’m going to be writing an article that looks at when in their careers scientists feel they do their most satisfying work… I’m sure it’ll vary hugely but if you’d like to help provide a starting point please fill in this survey - and please share! survey.alchemer.com/s3/8407348/C...
survey.alchemer.com
Careers survey - best work
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Liam Drew @liamdrew.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
Hi all, I’m going to be writing an article that looks at when in their careers scientists feel they do their most satisfying work… I’m sure it’ll vary hugely but if you’d like to help provide a starting point please fill in this survey - and please share! survey.alchemer.com/s3/8407348/C...
survey.alchemer.com
Careers survey - best work
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Liam Drew @liamdrew.bsky.social · 06/07/2025
As a relative of someone with CBD, this pair can go fuck themselves.
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ABSW @absw.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
#abswss25 #SummerSchool #hybrid 🔗 zurl.co/tUAAn 💻Panel 1 - 5 things we wish we'd known when we began our feature-writing careers 🎯Producer: Aisling Irwin 📢Speakers: Rachel Brazil @rachelbrazil.bsky.social @liamdrew.bsky.social Clare Wilson @theipaper.com Shaoni Bhattacharya
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Eliot Higgins @eliothiggins.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
🧵 Several people have raised questions about what I meant by "deservedly so" when referring to the decline of institutional trust. It's a fair question, so I want to explain that, because it sits at the heart of my work on how democracies collapse when their epistemic foundations rot.
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Liam Drew @liamdrew.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
This paper is wild.
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Liam Drew @liamdrew.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
A new paper in @nature.com suggests that cancer cells that have lost their Y chromosomes can induce this same mutation in nearby immune cells! And when both cell types have this mutation there's cancers are way more aggressive. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Cancer more deadly when tumours lack Y chromosomes — and the loss could be contagious
Losing the Y chromosome seems to make cancer cells more aggressive in men and the phenomenon may even spread between cells.
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Liam Drew @liamdrew.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
I spoke to Vox's Unexplainable podcast -- alongside the brilliant Jennifer French -- about the problem of people having neural implants then losing support for those devices. www.vox.com/unexplainabl...
vox.com
Sorry, we left an implant in your brain
What happens if you get a life-changing device implanted…and the company that maintains it goes bankrupt?
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Liam Drew @liamdrew.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
If you have a Y chromosome and are approaching middle age, chances are a good chunk of your immune cells are beginning to lose this chromosome - and that's likely bad for your health. It might help explain why men die earlier than women... My latest www.newscientist.com/article/mg26...
newscientist.com
How vanishing Y chromosomes could help explain men's ill health
The enigmatic Y chromosome has a tendency to disappear from cells with age. Now, research is revealing the long-term impacts this can have on disease risk and life expectancy
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MꙬse Allain @mooseallain.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
Time Machine. I can draw this for you as a cartoon www.worldofmoose.com/products/tim... And it's also available as a T shirt! www.redbubble.com/i/t-shirt/Ti...
Cartoon of a man wearing a T shirt which says “IF I HAD A TIME-MACHINE I WOULD GO BACK AND CORRECT THE SPELLING MISTAKE ON THIS T-SHIRT” (There is no spelling mistake).
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Liam Drew @liamdrew.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
Whoop - I’m part of a @nature.com team nominated for a Webby Award for our short video on cancer busting vaccines! Any votes would be hugely appreciated :) vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting...
vote.webbyawards.com
Vote for the best of the internet
I just voted in The Webby People's Voice Awards and checked my voter registration.
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Liam Drew @liamdrew.bsky.social · 28/03/2025
Thrilled for my friend @helenscales.bsky.social
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