I've not tweeted for a long time but now I'm formally joining the eXodus. Find me on

The Netherlands may soon have the most right-wing government it has ever had. That's bad news for scientists. My story:

Lots of outlandish details in a report released last week by Leiden University about two Dutch archaeologists who allegedly abused their power for thee decades. Here's my story:.

I'm honored that a deep dive into the very strange story of the @GISAID database, by @sciencecohen and me, is among the finalists for an @NIHCMfoundation award. We're in great company - including @cpiller's blockbuster investigation of a stroke drug, also in @ScienceMagazine.

It wasn't a slam dunk, however. One in five experts believes there is at least a 50% chance that it wasn't a natural event. (2/2)

Most virologists and epidemiologists think the COVID-19 pandemic is more likely the result of a natural zoonotic event than of a lab leak, a global survey shows. I explained the poll in 6 questions: (1/2).

RT @macroliter: Truly a fantastic podcast episode! **Highly recommend** Great backstory on Judy Mikovits (of XMRV & “Plandemic” infamy). ….

"We're Coming After You, Honey" . I helped shed light on the origins of the first major COVID-19 conspiracy in a new episode of the BBC podcast 'Things Fell Apart'. (Also on Spotify, Apple etc). Great storytelling by @jonronson and @sarah_shebbeare.

I'm giving a public lecture tonight at @UniHeidelberg about the importance of independent, critical science journalism. (Part of the my visiting professorship at the @MKolleg.).It's at 7 PM at the Alte Aula - entry free for all.

I'm organizing a workshop on academic whistleblowing on January 11. With veteran whistleblower @Josefin_Sundin and Joachim Kirsch, research integrity ombudsman. If you' re at the @UniHeidelberg: There are still a few places! Registration here:

The 'Fireside chat' that kicked off my Nature Marsilius visiting professorship at @UniHeidelberg - with Friederike Nüssel, @kammler_suecker, and Kathia Serrano Velarde - is available online here:

I'm very excited to be this winter's Nature Marsilius visiting professor in science journalism and communication at @UniHeidelberg . I'll start next week. Here's the program:

RT @ScienceJF: #Happening_Now #SJF23 Long-awaited Panel Discussion ”A Tactical Guide to Science Journalism: New Perspectives on Global Repo….

RT @johnstravis: We've posted an interesting update to the remarkable story on @GISAID written by @martinenserink and @sciencecohen this sp….

My condolences to @Ola_AlGhazawy and their children for this terrible loss.

Very sad to hear about the death of @MohammedY, whom I met at many @WFSJ meetings. Mohammed was a smart and lovely guy who was passionate about science journalism, especially in the Arab world. He had just embarked on a new adventure in the United States.

@UDelaware @SCUniversity PS - this again vindicates whistleblowers @Timothy_D_Clark, @FredrikJutfelt, @Josefin_Sundin, @dom_roche, @coral_robot.and others, who literally spent years on this case. For background, see

@UDelaware @SCUniversity We have added an update to the story. (4/4).

@UDelaware But @SCUniversity, the employer of co-author Anna Scott, has done its own investigation and *has* shared its evidence with the journal, which has now “lost confidence in the reliability of the data.” Here’s the retraction notice. (3/4)

As part of a broad investigation into the work of Danielle Dixson, @UDelaware had concluded that the paper (and two others by Dixson) were fraudulent. But strangely, it didn’t share details of the evidence with the journal, whose own investigation left room for doubt. (2/4).