freelance science journalist and author
From Nature, 4 November 2026: In 1972, sociologist and criminologist Stanley Cohen published a book called Folk Devils and Moral Panics, which explored the concept of moral panic: the idea that societies periodically fixate on a newly emerged condition, behaviour, identity or community as being a threat to the public. The fixation is characterized by … Continue reading Is social media changing children’s brains?
From The Guardian, 4 February 2024: The comedian and actor Hannah Gadsby quipped in her hit show Nanette that she identified as [pause for dramatic effect] “tired”. In a monologue that resonated with many hard truths, that one particularly struck home for me. The common refrain is so many of us are exhausted, have trouble … Continue reading Big brain boost? What science says about the power of nootropics to enhance our minds
From Australian Geographic, May 2022: “Never has a bodily organ been so adored as the brain – not since Narcissus looked at his face reflected in water and fell in love with it,” Professor George Paxinos says. “And never was there so little justification for it.” It’s a surprising comment from a man who’s spent … Continue reading Making sense of the brain
