Maaike van Zuilen

There are no words.

Tens of thousands of publications from 2025 might include invalid references generated by AI, a Nature analysis suggests go.nature.com/4dnjvil

….research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/en/horizon-mag… my views on the future of early detection for preparedness

Meteorologen: aarde houdt meer warmte vast dan ooit, gevolgen nog eeuwen voelbaar nos.nl/artikel/260747…

World first virtual reality train opens in Aussie aged care facility, where residents enjoy afternoon tea while touring 10 countries.

In a 2024 Science paper, researchers detailed a nanoscale-resolution reconstruction of a millimeter-scale fragment of human cerebral cortex, giving an unprecedented view into the structural organization of brain tissue at the supracellular, cellular, and subcellular levels. Learn more during #BrainAwarenessWeek: scim.ag/3ZEKgpZ

6 years ago today I went on my last run (pic left) — today I’m 36 and I’ve spent my entire 30’s with #LongCovid struggling to walk up and down the block, or work more than 1-2 hours a day. Heres 4 things I never thought I’d lose at this age:

🎉 The overall winner of this year’s #DanceYourPhD contest is Sofia Papa. She and five other dancers—in red and blue outfits representing positive and negative charges, respectively—re-create the piezoelectric effect, the ability of some crystalline materials to generate electricity when subjected to stress. Watch her dance and learn more about the other category winners: scim.ag/3MYT8oj

Recently, we found first evidence of West Nile in The Netherlands. This was done through research projects, and triggered a cascade of actions involving many parties. In this after action review, we describe what we can learn for preparedness. @minvws eurosurveillance.org/content/10.280…

"You have to focus on what you can do." Life advice from 2023 medicine laureate Katalin Karikó who is encouraging us all to focus on things that are within our control and pay less attention to what we can't control. For more life advice and to hear her life story, watch our full interview with her: youtu.be/X-jLB2cbdB8

“When girls stay in school, economies grow. When women lead, institutions are stronger.” At today's @UN observance of International Women's Day, @UN_PGA urged the world to advance equal representation, rights and justice #ForAllWomenAndGirls. 💡unwomen.org/en/get-involve… #IWD2026

The science of women’s health is at a crossroads. For decades, it has been limited by an underrepresentation of women in clinical trials and research, resulting in diagnostic blind spots, treatment gaps, and inequities in health outcomes. However, a growing wave of research is addressing these disparities. This work not only advances knowledge of the unique biological and social dimensions of women’s health but also facilitates broad discoveries in biology and innovations in human medicine.⁠ ⁠ A special issue of @ScienceAdvances last year highlighted some of the most exciting areas of discovery in women’s health science. The group of articles also explored psychological, systemic, and policy issues that shape women’s well-being. ⁠ ⁠ Advancing women’s health is integral to advancing science itself. By prioritizing women’s unique physiological and psychological experiences, the frontiers of knowledge are expanded in ways that benefit everyone.⁠ Learn more on #InternationalWomensDay: scim.ag/3Rw1jH0

I am a chemist. I choose to talk about science. Because fear spreads faster than facts. Because I believe science shouldn't stay locked in labs and journals. Because "chemical-free" gets more likes than "dose makes the poison." Science belongs in everyday conversations - where trust is built, and myths are broken. I share because people deserve to know that chemistry isn't the villain. It's the reason we have clean water, safe food, vaccines, and even the phone you're holding. If I don't speak up, someone else will and they might not care about evidence. So I show up. To explain. To debunk. To inspire curiosity. Because chemistry is everywhere. And it’s time people see it for what it truly is: essential, powerful, and worth understanding.

I’m a chemist. I need to say this - because it’s getting dangerous out there. The biggest health myth in the world isn’t about vaccines. Or GMOs. Or fluoride. It’s the root of all of them. It’s called chemophobia - and it’s killing science. Fear of “chemicals” now drives vaccine rejection, GMO bans, food hysteria, and entire political movements. From tampons to tap water, people have been taught to fear chemistry - the very thing that keeps us alive. Chemophobia tells us: “Natural is good.” “Synthetic is bad.” That’s a lie. Botulinum toxin is 100% natural and one of the deadliest molecules known. Aspirin is synthetic and life-saving. We’ve gone from banning harmful substances for good reason…to banning safe, well-tested molecules for emotional reasons. You’ve seen the slogans: “If you can’t pronounce it, don’t eat it.” “Paraben-free.” “Clean beauty.” They sound empowering. But they’re not science - they’re marketing. And they’re making the world dumber, poorer, and sicker. Your body doesn’t care if a molecule comes from a plant or a lab. Vitamin C is vitamin C. Formaldehyde is formaldehyde and your body makes more of it every day than any vaccine ever could. Dose matters. Source doesn’t. This fear isn’t harmless. It shapes public policy. It blocks innovation. It raises food prices. It slows down cancer treatments. Chemophobia is now mainstream and it’s costing lives. Scientists aren’t losing because we’re wrong. We’re losing because fear spreads faster than facts. Because influencers sell fear for clicks. Because lawyers monetize doubt. And because scientists are too tired to fight back. So here’s my message, as a chemist and as a citizen: Learn how toxicology works. Call out chemical fear-mongering. Support policies based on evidence, not emotion. Chemistry isn’t the enemy. It’s the reason you have clean water, safe food, and modern medicine. If we let fear win, we lose all of it.

Another key outcome of our @OneHealthPact project nature.com/articles/s4155… . While black birds are heavily affected by Usutu virus, they cannot be the sole reservoir. Combining data from multiple sources with in depth modelling.

nos.nl/nieuwsuur/arti… en nee, dat moet niet alleen bij rivm en ggd. De pandemie heeft laten zien dat de systemen die we hebben niet meer voldoen. Is ook niet gek want die zijn decennia geleden bedacht. Nieuw denken en nieuwe soirten samenwerking nodig

60 Minutes: "Refik Anadol told us since 2020, he's only worked with what he calls ethically sourced datasets." Below: @refikanadol explaining the ethically sourced dataset behind the Large Nature Model.

60 Minutes visited RenderCon speaker @refikanadol's LA studio, DATALAND - a fully immersive AI experience where scents are generated in real time and visitors’ vital signs shape the environment itself. He’s expanding what art can be in the age of AI.

This isn’t just about punishment. It’s part of France’s wider “right to repair” movement, which aims to reduce electronic waste, stop hidden forced upgrades, and encourage companies to make products that last longer and can be repaired more easily.

Nobody, and I repeat, absolutely nobody should ever upload their medical information into an AI platform. I am telling you this as a former intelligence officer.