Simon Maechling

PhD Chemist 🧪
Chemistry • Biotech • Agriculture • AI
Separating scientific evidence from internet nonsense.

[Simon Maechling @simonmaechling]

Hi 👋 I’m Simon.
I’m a chemist with a PhD.

I spent years learning how science actually works.

Now I spend far too much time on the internet watching people confidently explain how it doesn’t.

So I write about chemicals, food, agriculture, medicine, AI and evidence.

I make complicated science simple.
I challenge claims that don’t survive the evidence.

And I explain what the headlines leave out.

Science is complicated enough.
The internet doesn’t need to make it worse.

Welcome.

[Simon Maechling @simonmaechling]

Being skeptical of science is healthy.

Being skeptical of everything except your own beliefs isn't skepticism.

[Stuart Smyth @stuartsmyth66]

Thanks to @CBC for reporting on my team's research on improved soil health from the adoption of zero tillage following the commercialization of genetically modified crops. https://t.co/jS5mmVrxZo

[Simon Maechling @simonmaechling]

Imagine telling a pilot you don't believe in aerodynamics.

Or a structural engineer that gravity is just a theory.

Now imagine telling a chemist that chemicals are dangerous because they have complicated names.

Welcome to my comment section.

[Simon Maechling @simonmaechling]

Your stomach contains hydrochloric acid. Your cells produce hydrogen peroxide. Your body makes formaldehyde.

And you’re worried about chemicals?
You ARE chemicals.

[Simon Maechling @simonmaechling]

We've reached a strange point in history.

Humanity has never had more access to scientific knowledge.

And yet millions of people are being convinced to fear vaccines, food technology and modern medicine.

The problem isn't a lack of information.

It's a crisis of trust.

[Simon Maechling @simonmaechling]

Imagine telling a pilot you don't believe in aerodynamics.

Or a structural engineer that gravity is just a theory.

Now imagine telling a chemist that chemicals are dangerous because they have complicated names.

Welcome to my comment section.

[Simon Maechling @simonmaechling]

In France, Farmers have the lowest overall cancer rates compared with the French population…

[🇫🇷 Patrick Hautefeuille @PHautefeuille]

🔴 Cancers en France · Les agriculteurs sont les moins touchés globalement par rapport à la population française…

En 2024, tous cancers confondus, la proportion d’assurés pris en charge ou sous surveillance pour un cancer était inférieure de 7,1 % au régime agricole, par rapport à l’ensemble des régimes d’assurance maladie, à âge et sexe comparables.

Ces chiffres viennent de la MSA (Mutualité sociale agricole), la Sécurité sociale du monde agricole. Elle couvre notamment les exploitants, les salariés agricoles et les retraités du régime.

Poumon et bronches · −25,7 %
Vessie · −24,7 %
Col de l’utérus · −17,8 %
Foie et voies biliaires · −16,2 %
Voies aérodigestives supérieures · −14,6 %
Sein · −14,4 %
Thyroïde · −10,3 %
Pancréas · −10,2 %
Estomac · −9,8 %
Œsophage · −7,0 %
Côlon et rectum · −4,6 %

Sources MSA — données 2024, publiées le 10 novembre 2026

Fiches détaillées « Cancers » (PDF)
https://t.co/JCBxaox6X3

Publication officielle et méthodologie
https://t.co/LVbgp4MQ6b

[Simon Maechling @simonmaechling]

Want to spot bad science instantly?
Ask three questions:

At what dose?
Compared to what?
Where’s the evidence?

You’ve just made 90% of internet health scares considerably less frightening.

[Simon Maechling @simonmaechling]

Your stomach contains hydrochloric acid. Your cells produce hydrogen peroxide. Your body makes formaldehyde.

And you’re worried about chemicals?
You ARE chemicals.

[Simon Maechling @simonmaechling]

Nature invented cyanide.
Nature invented poison ivy.
Nature invented botulinum toxin.

Humans invented the phrase “100% natural” as a selling point.

[Simon Maechling @simonmaechling]

@claudeai @kevin_t_ngo In science we call this a cartoon.

[Simon Maechling @simonmaechling]

Hi, chemist here.

Yes. But not for the reasons you think.

Designing a synthetic route is one thing.

Actually making the molecule is another.

[vittorio @IterIntellectus]

do you realise how fucking insane this is?!

[Simon Maechling @simonmaechling]

It’s time to make X Twitter again.

More curiosity.
More humour.
More science.
More intelligent conversations.

Less outrage.
Less misinformation.
Less manufactured division.

Make people smarter, not angrier.
Who’s with me?

[@camjenglish @camjenglish]

What does your support for @ACSHorg actually do?

✅$250 exposes useless supplements

✅$100 debunks drug myths

✅$50 confronts chemical scares

Every dollar you give now is DOUBLED—up to $152,000 thanks to our board.

@adolaskie breaks down the details:

[Simon Maechling @simonmaechling]

Big Pharma isn’t trying to kill you.

Vaccines work.
mRNA is in everything you eat.
Everything is made of chemicals.
Natural is not a synonym for safe.
It’s the dose that makes the poison.

Most internet health scares don’t survive five minutes of basic science.

[Simon Maechling @simonmaechling]

We've democratised access to information, but not the ability to distinguish evidence from lies.

[Simon Maechling @simonmaechling]

@DrNeilStone 😂

[Simon Maechling @simonmaechling]

@hopfner_john Thanks

[Simon Maechling @simonmaechling]

It’s time to make X Twitter again.

More curiosity.
More humour.
More science.
More intelligent conversations.

Less outrage.
Less misinformation.
Less manufactured division.

Make people smarter, not angrier.
Who’s with me?

[Simon Maechling @simonmaechling]

@noah_guttman Tell me how?

[Simon Maechling @simonmaechling]

@hangcat2 Me too