Helen Pearson
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Gone to Bluesky. Book: Beyond Belief out April 2026. Editor for Nature, science journalist, author, UCL prof.
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Articles by Helen Pearson
Audio long read: How to stay smart in the age of AI — the science of critical thinking
Download the October 2026 long read podcast Critical thinking is a skill that is under threat from the AI revolution in large language models. But all is not lost. Specialists in education and cognition have long been studying critical thinking, and some have useful tips on how to stay cognitively sharp in the age of AI. This is an audio version of our Feature: How to stay smart in the age of AI: the science of critical thinking Never miss an episode.
How to assemble science
Listen to this essay 26 minute listen When reading the news, you may occasionally be bemused by the flip-flopping science and health stories: one week you’re told coffee is good for you, the next week that it’s bad. Red wine extends your life, then it doesn’t. Over time, new scientific studies seemingly contradict one another, leaving us unsure what evidence to believe.
How to assemble science
How to assemble science Humanity produces a staggering amount of new knowledge every day. The question is how to make sense of it all by Helen Pearson BIO Sample analysis tubes at the Institute of Cancer Research in Sutton, UK. Photo by Stefan Wermuth/Reuters is an award-winning journalist and senior editor at Nature magazine in London, and an honorary professor at University College London.
How to stay smart in the age of AI: the science of critical thinking
4 hours ago What happens to leadership when the best idea in the room isn’t yours? The first time an AI system made a recommendation I disagreed with, I felt something I didn’t expect: ego. It was a resource allocation call on a complex project. The model had crunched variables no person could hold in their head …
How to stay smart in the age of AI: the science of critical thinking
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How to avoid dementia — what the science really says
Sometimes, Kristine Yaffe will hear a poignant question from someone at her memory clinic. “I walk five miles a day, don’t drink and play bridge,” they’ll say, “so why do I have Alzheimer’s disease?” How common is Alzheimer’s?
Have people stopped trusting science? The data tell a surprising story
UK Research and Innovation. Public Attitudes to Science 2025 (UKRI, 2026). Edelman Trust. 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report: Trust and Health (Edelman Trust, 2026). Cologna, V. et al. Nature Hum. Behav. 9, 713–730 (2025). Article PubMed Google Scholar Edelman Trust. 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer Global Report: Trust Amid Insularity (Edelman Trust, 2026). Herrick, A., Tryl, L. & Henderson, M. Britain Talks Trust in Science (Wellcome and More In Common, 2026). Schulman, J. et al. Public Opin. Q.
Why evidence matters
How can scientific evidence help us in an age of “alternative facts”? As chief data reporter for the Financial Times, John Burn-Murdoch uses statistics and graphics to dig into the most pressing issues of the day, covering everything from the economy to climate change, social issues and healthcare. His high-profile use of visualization and data science helped audiences around the world understand the complexities of the coronavirus pandemic.
How a remarkable trial on bedrest during the Korean war helped lead to evidence-based medicine
Catching up on the latest evidence. fizkes/Shutterstock.com In 1959, a young doctor named David Sackett stumbled on a clinical trial that would change his life – and most of ours. The study showed that conventional wisdom on bed rest in medicine was wrong. And it helped lead Sackett and others to develop evidence-based medicine, in which doctors today make decisions based on rigorous scientific research. It was a necessary corrective.
How a remarkable trial on bedrest during the Korean war helped lead to evidence-based medicine
In 1959, a young doctor named David Sackett stumbled on a clinical trial that would change his life – and most of ours. The study showed that conventional wisdom on bed rest in medicine was wrong. And it helped lead Sackett and others to develop evidence-based medicine, in which doctors today make decisions based on rigorous scientific research. It was a necessary corrective. The history of medicine is littered with practices once assumed to… Read complete article © The Conversation -
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Beyond Belief: How Evidence Shows What Really Works Helen Pearson 368 pages, Princeton University Press, 2026 Buy the book » In 1959, a doctor called David Sackett realized that much of what he’d been taught in medical school was wrong. Most decisions about treatment were based on someone’s opinion (“do this because I think it’s right”) or conventional wisdom (“do this because that’s how it’s always been done”). This meant that two doctors with differing opinions might hand out different advice.
Beyond Belief: How Evidence Shows What Really Works
Children make better progress if they are grouped in classroom ‘sets’ according to ability. Taking juvenile offenders to visit adult prisons helps to ‘scare them straight’. The best way to fix torn knee cartilage is with keyhole surgery. You may think that all these statements are logical, perhaps even obvious. But when researchers conducted rigorous studies, they actually found the opposite.
If it feels like the world is rejecting science and truth, here are five ways to fight back
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If it feels like the world is rejecting science and truth, here are five ways to fight back
‘You can also check if scientific claims stand up to scrutiny.’ Photograph: Matt Turner/AAP In 1992, a group of rebel doctors published a radical idea in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association. They argued that the practice of medicine needed to be transformed so that doctors didn’t rely on intuition and conventional wisdom, but on evidence from science – such as clinical trials showing whether a drug really worked.
If it feels like the world is rejecting science and truth, here are five ways to fight back
Helen Pearson In 1992, a group of rebel doctorspublished a radical ideain the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association. They argued that the practice of medicine needed to be transformed so that doctors didn't rely on intuition and conventional wisdom, but on evidence from science – such as clinical trials showing whether a drug really worked. This was called “evidence-based medicine”, and the backlash against it was fierce.
Protecting Wild Animals Has Never Been More Urgent. But There’s a Reason It Can Be Harder Than It Seems. Original
Skip to the content You’ll Discover Kernels of Introspection Science This essay is adapted from Beyond Belief: How Evidence Shows What Really Works, by Helen Pearson. Copyright © 2026 by the author and reprinted with permission of Princeton University Press. Near the border of Norfolk in England, some weird-looking wire bridges span a busy road. They consist of pairs of poles on each side of the road, with a strip of wire mesh strung between and running down to the ground on either side.
‘Staggering' number of people believe unproven claims about vaccines, raw milk and more
Survey results suggest a rise in questioning of scientific evidence More than two-thirds of the public believe at least one false or unproven health claim — such as the idea that taking paracetamol during pregnancy causes autism — a new survey finds. The results hint that a large, and potentially growing, number of people are questioning scientific evidence.
‘Staggering’ number of people believe unproven claims about vaccines, raw milk and more
Opposition to vaccines grew more visible during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images) More than two-thirds of the public believe at least one false or unproven health claim — such as the idea that taking paracetamol during pregnancy causes autism — a new survey finds. The results hint that a large, and potentially growing, number of people are questioning scientific evidence.
‘Staggering’ number of people believe unproven claims about vaccines, raw milk and more
Opposition to vaccines grew more visible during the COVID-19 pandemic.Credit: Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty More than two-thirds of the public believe at least one false or unproven health claim — such as the idea that taking paracetamol during pregnancy causes autism — a new survey finds. The results hint that a large, and potentially growing, number of people are questioning scientific evidence.
The trials that quietly changed our lives
If you bought a pint in some British pubs in 1998, you might have unknowingly been part of an unlikely experiment.
Are boys really in crisis? What the science says in the age of the manosphere
Last year, psychologist Lee Chambers set off across the United Kingdom to listen to boys. In his work training companies in equality, he had met hundreds of parents who said they were concerned that boys were struggling after the COVID-19 pandemic and being manipulated online. So he decided to go and find out what the lives of 12–16-year-olds are really like. The results of this research, which included the views of more than 1,000 adolescents, revealed boys’ frustrations with the modern world1.
Are health influencers making us sick?
Bad Influence: How the Internet Hijacked Our Health Deborah Cohen Viking (2026) Previously, when you felt ill, you consulted a doctor. Now, you consult the Internet. In 2025, nearly 80% of US adults said that they were likely to look online for answers to a health question, according to one survey (see go.nature.com/4qzhgiv). And 75% of 18–29-year-olds report using social media for health information and advice (see go.nature.com/4bqlcuw).
Why Are ADHD Rates On the Rise?
In some parts of the world, record numbers of people are being diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In the United States, for example, government researchers last year reported that more than 11% of children had received an ADHD diagnosis at some point in their lives — a sharp increase from 2003, when around 8% of children had. But now, top US health officials argue that diagnoses have spiralled out of control.
ADHD diagnoses are growing. What’s going on?
In some parts of the world, record numbers of people are being diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In the United States, for example, government researchers last year reported that more than 11% of children had received an ADHD diagnosis at some point in their lives1 — a sharp increase from 2003, when around 8% of children had (see ‘ADHD among US boys and girls’). Why is autism really on the rise?
NIH Funds New Autism Studies on Genes and Environment as Trump Focuses on Tylenol
Scientists moved a step closer to understanding the complex causes of autism this week. Although all of the headlines went to US President Donald Trump’s poorly evidenced statements that the painkiller acetaminophen is linked to the neurodevelopmental condition, his White House autism event brought welcome — and largely overlooked — news to scientists: the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) is investing US$50 million in an unusual autism-research effort.
NIH Funds New Autism Studies on Genes and Environment as Trump Focuses on Tylenol
Scientists moved a step closer to understanding the complex causes of autism this week. Although all of the headlines went to US President Donald Trump’s poorly evidenced statements that the painkiller acetaminophen is linked to the neurodevelopmental condition, his White House autism event brought welcome — and largely overlooked — news to scientists: the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) is investing US$50 million in an unusual autism-research effort.
Audio long read: Autism is on the rise - what’s really behind the increase?
Download the September 2025 long read podcast In April, Robert F. Kennedy Jr held a press conference about rising diagnoses of autism, and said he would soon be announcing a study to find the responsible agent. Although Kennedy said that environmental factors are the main cause of autism, research has shown that genetics plays a bigger part.
How autism research quietly advanced this week despite talk of Tyenol link
Scientists moved a step closer to understanding the complex causes of autism this week. Although all of the headlines went to US President Donald Trump’s poorly evidenced statements that the painkiller acetaminophen is linked to the neurodevelopmental condition, his White House autism event brought welcome — and largely overlooked — news to scientists: the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) is investing US$50 million in an unusual autism-research effort.
Why is autism really on the rise? What the science says
Autism is rising. Or at least that’s how it looks. But is it really increasing? And if so, why? Autism is on the rise: what’s really behind the increase? US president Donald Trump has claimed — controversially — that use of acetaminophen, or paracetamol, during pregnancy is linked to autism. But there’s already been decades of research on the condition. So, what does the science say?
Trump links autism and Tylenol: is there any truth to it? Original
The painkiller acetaminophen or paracetamol is one of the most widely taken drugs during pregnancy, used by roughly half of all pregnant people worldwide. But US president Donald Trump said Sunday that he thinks the medication is “a very big factor” in autism. And both the Washington Post and Politico report that an announcement from the Trump administration today will raise concerns about a link between autism and use of Tylenol by pregnant people.
Autism is on the rise: what’s really behind the increase?
On 16 April, Robert F. Kennedy Jr held a press conference about rising diagnoses of autism. The US Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary pointed to new data showing that autism prevalence in the United States had risen steeply from one in 150 eight-year-olds in 2000 to one in 31 in 2022. He called it an “epidemic” caused by “an environmental toxin” — and said he would soon be announcing a study to find the responsible agent.
The real problems with America's health
Nature Video 06 August 2025 We dive into the data behind the United States' poor health. You have full access to this article via your institution. How to make America healthy: the real problems — and best fixes Robert F Kennedy Jr. wants to make America healthy again. But how unhealthy is the United States? We take a look at some of the key figures and see how the US compares to other countries when it comes to life expectancy, early deaths and chronic disease.
Audio long read: How to speak to a vaccine sceptic - research reveals what works
Download the 04 July 2025 long read podcast Questions and doubts about vaccines are on the rise worldwide and public-health specialists worry that these trends could worsen. But while the shift in public attitudes towards immunizations can leave scientists, physicians and many others feeling disheartened, a surge of research on vaccine hesitancy is starting to offer ways to address the issue.
Three tips for talking to a vaccine sceptic
Doubts about vaccines are on the rise worldwide and this shift in public attitudes can leave many feeling disheartened. How to speak to a vaccine sceptic: research reveals what works So what should you say to someone who has doubts? Fortunately, a surge of research on vaccine hesitancy over the past decade is starting to offer some answers. So here are three tips for talking to people who are hesitant about vaccinations.
How to speed up peer review: make applicants mark one another
An experimental peer-review system more than halves the time taken to review grant applications, according to results from a small trial. The system could help research funders to process more quickly and efficiently the deluge of grant applications that they receive. The system, called distributed peer review, requires researchers who apply for a round of funding to review some of the other applications.
How to make America healthy: the real problems - and best fixes
Since taking over as the top US health official in February, Robert F. Kennedy Jr has overseen radical changes that have alarmed many public-health experts. The agency he leads announced that it would cut its workforce by 20,000, and cancelled billions of dollars in federal funding for research and public health. Earlier this month, Kennedy replaced all the members of an influential vaccine advisory committee with hand-picked ones, including some who have expressed scepticism about vaccines.
Viewpoint: How to engage with a vaccine skeptic
GLP Policy & Performance Review, 2024 The GLP is committed to full transparency. Download the report. Global Gene Editing Regulation Tracker Our interactive GLP global map explains the status of each country’s regulations for human and agricultural gene editing and gene drives. GLP 2021 Annual Report The GLP is committed to full transparency. Download our 2021 Annual Report.
AI slashes time to produce gold-standard medical reviews - but sceptics urge caution Original
Scientists say they have used artificial intelligence (AI) to reproduce 12 systematic reviews in two days — slashing the time it takes to produce these ‘gold-standard’ studies, which bring together the results of multiple publications and normally take many months to do. The new system, described in a preprint posted on medRxiv last week1, could help to accelerate the production of influential reviews used by doctors and policymakers, its developers say.
How to speak to a vaccine sceptic: research reveals what works
In her professional life, Sophia Newcomer analyses vaccination trends and safety in the United States. The epidemiologist, at the University of Montana, Missoula, has investigated the factors that stop some people from completing their children’s recommended immunizations. So it’s no surprise that in her personal life, Newcomer is asked questions about vaccines, too. “I’m a mom — I’ve had plenty of playground conversations,” she says.
Audio long read: Do smartphones and social media really harm teens’ mental health?
Download the 25 April long read podcast Research shows that, over the past two decades, rates of mental illness have been increasing in adolescents in many countries. While some scientists point to soaring use of smartphones and social media as a key driver for this trend, others say the evidence does not show a large effect of these technologies on teenagers’ psychological health.
Exclusive: the most-cited papers of the twenty-first century
The first quarter of the twenty-first century has produced some huge scientific breakthroughs, ranging from the first mRNA vaccines and CRISPR-based gene-editing techniques to the discovery of the Higgs boson and the first measurements of gravitational waves. But you won’t find any of these advances described in the top-cited papers published since 2000. That is one of the findings of an analysis by Nature’s news team of the 25 most-cited papers published in the twenty-first century.
Do smartphones and social media really harm teens’ mental health?
There’s a book perched near the top of The New York Times bestseller list about what’s wrong with kids today. The Anxious Generation (2024), by psychologist Jonathan Haidt, argues that increasing time spent on smartphones and social media, at the expense of play, is rewiring the brains of children and adolescents and driving soaring rates of mental illness. It leapt to the top of the bestseller list when it was released a year ago and has sat there ever since.
Research Integrity, Image Manipulation, Content Provenance and the C2PA
There are many aspects to research integrity, from correctly attributing authorship to the creation of, or manipulation of data, to the application of large language models in writing the text. Each presents its own problems for policing the integrity of scholarly record. In turn, each has received significant attention recently as scholarly publishers grapple with their fundamental duty, which is to provide vetted, trusted research to the world.
Alcohol and cancer risk: what you need to know
Early this year, the US surgeon general issued a bombshell report. Before his term ended in January, Vivek Murthy warned that alcohol increases the risk of at least seven types of cancer and called for alcoholic drinks to carry cancer warning labels as cigarette packs do. The report1 triggered a flurry of headlines about a risk that many people ignore. The link between alcohol and cancer is not new.
Gedächtnis: Verkümmert unser Gehirn durch KI-Tools und das Internet?
Hintergrund Lesedauer ca. 8 Minuten Drucken Teilen Gedächtnis: Verkümmert unser Gehirn durch KI-Tools und das Internet? Das Internet bietet einen enormen Wissensschatz, KI-Tools wie ChatGPT übernehmen für uns Denkaufgaben. Verlernen wir dadurch, selbst zu grübeln und uns zu erinnern? Exklusive Übersetzung aus Adrian Ward steuerte sein Auto neun Jahre lang souverän durch Austin im US-Bundesstaat Texas. Doch im November 2024 verfuhr er sich.
Are the Internet and AI affecting our memory? What the science says
Adrian Ward had been driving confidently around Austin, Texas, for nine years — until last November, when he started getting lost. Ward’s phone had been acting up, and Apple maps had stopped working. Suddenly, Ward couldn’t even find his way to the home of a good friend, making him realize how much he’d relied on the technology in the past. “I just instinctively put on the map and do what it says,” he says. Ward’s experience echoes a common complaint: that the Internet is undermining our memory.
How to protest so that your voice is heard
By Helen Pearson / The Observer On Sept. 27 last year, three climate activists were arrested for throwing soup over Sunflowers by Vincent van Gogh at London’s National Gallery. The Just Stop Oil protest landed on international front pages. But will the action help further the activists’ cause to end fossil fuels? Scientists are beginning to find answers to this question.
Stand up and be counted: six ways to protest that will make your voice heard
On 27 September last year, three climate activists were arrested for throwing soup over Sunflowers by Vincent van Gogh at the National Gallery. The Just Stop Oil protest landed on the national front pages. But will the action help further the activists’ cause to end fossil fuels? Scientists are beginning to find answers to this question.
Scientists are building a giant ‘evidence banks’ to create policies that actually work
Funders are injecting tens of millions of dollars into an ambitious plan to solve the biggest problem in science advice: supplying evidence to governments. Their goal is to build a system that allows policymakers worldwide to generate rapid syntheses of science that help them to make evidence-based policies aimed at solving critical issues such as climate change.
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