Simon J. Makin is an auditory perception researcher turned science journalist. Originally from Liverpool, he has a Ph.D in computational auditory modeling from the University of Sheffield. His writing has appeared in Nature, Scientific American and New Scientist, among other places.
Simon Makin
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From 0 to 60 in 10 years
After a decade of fast-paced discovery, researchers are racing toward bigger datasets, more genes and a deeper understanding of the biology of autism.
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Authors retract Science paper on controversial fMRI method
Several known but usually negligible MRI artifacts contribute to the neuronal activity signal picked up by the method, according to a preprint the authors posted earlier this month.
Authors retract Science paper on controversial fMRI method
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25 September 2025 | 6 min read
In memoriam: Stephanie “Steve” Shirley, autism philanthropist
Fueled by business success and her son, she played an outsized role in British autism research.
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Fueled by business success and her son, she played an outsized role in British autism research.
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Lauren Schneider
25 September 2025 | 6 min read
Ann Kennedy explains the theoretical neuroscience of survival behaviors
The Scripps neuroscientist calls for a broader theoretical neuroscience approach in her area of research, which focuses on how the subcortex bridges life and cognition.
Ann Kennedy explains the theoretical neuroscience of survival behaviors
The Scripps neuroscientist calls for a broader theoretical neuroscience approach in her area of research, which focuses on how the subcortex bridges life and cognition.
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Paul Middlebrooks
24 September 2025 | 1 min read