Michael Marshall is a freelance science journalist based in the United Kingdom. He writes about life sciences and the environment. He has a B.A. and an M.Phil. in natural sciences from the University of Cambridge and an M.Sc. in science communication from Imperial College London. Marshall was a staff journalist at New Scientist and at BBC Earth before going freelance in 2017. His work has since appeared in Nature, BBC Future and The Telegraph, among others. His first book, on the origin of life on Earth, is slated to be published in 2020.
![](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Michael-Marshall-portrait-photo-copy.jpg)
Michael Marshall
From this contributor
Autistic children’s sleep problems linked to behavioral regulation issues
Young autistic children with sleep troubles tend to have difficulty regulating their behavior later in childhood.
![Young child sitting at table with head down, asleep.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Sleep-844.jpg)
Autistic children’s sleep problems linked to behavioral regulation issues
Remote diagnosis, support could aid families during lockdown
Cut off from clients by the pandemic, clinicians are turning to video conferencing and other technologies to diagnose children with autism.
![doctor with remote patients on screen in his office](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/20200427-DelayedDiagnoses-844.jpg)
Remote diagnosis, support could aid families during lockdown
Autism’s relationship to head size, explained
Some people with autism have an unusually large head. What causes the enlargement? And does it have any bearing on outcome?
![Illustration shows heads and brains inside at various sizes.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/1970/01/20200409-HeadsizeExplainer844.jpg)
Autism’s relationship to head size, explained
U.K. government faces lawsuit over mistreatment of autistic people
Following a series of scandals in the United Kingdom over people with autism being held against their will and mistreated in hospitals, a watchdog group has issued a legal challenge to the government.
![Video still shows worker at Whorlton Hall mistreating or abusing a person with disabilities](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/20200319-Whorlton844.jpg)
U.K. government faces lawsuit over mistreatment of autistic people
Preprints of autism research, explained
Over the past decade, biologists have increasingly been posting their research results on preprint servers, ahead of the results' publication in traditional scientific journals.
Explore more from The Transmitter
New connectomes fly beyond the brain
Researchers are mapping the neurons in Drosophila’s ventral nerve cord, where the central nervous system meets the rest of the body.
![Research image of neurons in the fly’s ventral nerve cord.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/lede-motormodules-1200-1024x692.webp)
New connectomes fly beyond the brain
Researchers are mapping the neurons in Drosophila’s ventral nerve cord, where the central nervous system meets the rest of the body.
Building an autism research registry: Q&A with Tony Charman
A purpose-built database of participants who have shared genomic and behavioral data could give clinical trials a boost, Charman says.
![Illustration of researchers talking to laypeople amidst strands of DNA.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1200_Charman-1024x687.webp)
Building an autism research registry: Q&A with Tony Charman
A purpose-built database of participants who have shared genomic and behavioral data could give clinical trials a boost, Charman says.
Cerebellar circuit may convert expected pain relief into real thing
The newly identified circuit taps into the brain’s opioid system to provide a top-down form of pain relief.
![](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/paincircuit-1200-1024x692.webp)
Cerebellar circuit may convert expected pain relief into real thing
The newly identified circuit taps into the brain’s opioid system to provide a top-down form of pain relief.