RJ Mackenzie is a freelance science reporter based in Glasgow, Scotland. He covers biological and biomedical science, with a focus on the complexities and curiosities of the brain. Mackenzie has degrees in neuroscience from the University of Edinburgh and the University of Cambridge. He has written for National Geographic, Popular Science and The Scientist, among other publications.
RJ Mackenzie
Science writer
From this contributor
Video catches microglia in the act of synaptic pruning
Live cell imaging reveals the clearest picture yet of this elusive process. Whether it’s something these cells do regularly remains up for debate.
Video catches microglia in the act of synaptic pruning
By
RJ Mackenzie
26 March 2025 | 0 min watch
Microglia’s pruning function called into question
Scientists are divided over the extent to which the cells sculpt circuits during development.
Microglia’s pruning function called into question
By
RJ Mackenzie
24 October 2024 | 9 min read
Explore more from The Transmitter
Hessameddin Akhlaghpour outlines how RNA may implement universal computation
Could the brain’s computational abilities extend beyond neural networks to molecular mechanisms? Akhlaghpour describes how natural universal computation may have evolved via RNA mechanisms.
Hessameddin Akhlaghpour outlines how RNA may implement universal computation
Could the brain’s computational abilities extend beyond neural networks to molecular mechanisms? Akhlaghpour describes how natural universal computation may have evolved via RNA mechanisms.
By
Paul Middlebrooks
26 November 2024 | 107 min listen
Immune cell interlopers breach—and repair—brain barrier in mice
The choroid plexus, the protective network of blood vessels and epithelial cells that line the brain’s ventricles, recruits neutrophils and macrophages during inflammation, a new study shows.
Immune cell interlopers breach—and repair—brain barrier in mice
The choroid plexus, the protective network of blood vessels and epithelial cells that line the brain’s ventricles, recruits neutrophils and macrophages during inflammation, a new study shows.
By
Claudia López Lloreda
20 November 2024 | 6 min listen
Grace Hwang and Joe Monaco discuss the future of NeuroAI
Hwang and Monaco organized a recent workshop to hear from leaders in the field about how best to integrate NeuroAI research into the BRAIN Initiative.
Grace Hwang and Joe Monaco discuss the future of NeuroAI
Hwang and Monaco organized a recent workshop to hear from leaders in the field about how best to integrate NeuroAI research into the BRAIN Initiative.
By
Paul Middlebrooks
4 December 2024 | 97 min listen