Dr Emma Byrne awarded the Rosalind Franklin Lecture medal

On Thursday evening, scientist, author, and broadcaster Dr Emma Byrne delivered the Humanists UK Rosalind Franklin Lecture 2025 on ‘The amazing science of bad language’. Her lecture explored the fascinating and often misunderstood role of swearing in human psychology and society, and its potential evolutionary basis.

The lecture was chaired by journalist and broadcaster Samira Ahmed. Celebrating  International Women’s Day, the lecture series honours the legacy of humanist and pioneering X-ray crystallographer Rosalind Franklin, whose groundbreaking contributions to science were long overlooked because she was a woman.

Swearing: a fundamental part of human expression

In a captivating and thought-provoking talk, Emma explored the psychological and social functions of swearing, challenging taboos and revealing its surprising benefits. She demonstrated how swearing can enhance pain tolerance, with studies showing that using expletives can help people endure physical pain, as well as strengthen social bonds by fostering trust and camaraderie. Swearing also serves as an emotional release, helping individuals process frustration, stress, and even grief. Additionally, she examined how gender and class biases influence attitudes toward swearing and how language policing can reinforce existing power structures.

Drawing on research in neuroscience, linguistics, and evolutionary biology, Emma explored how swearing was deeply embedded in human cognition. She shared findings on how the brain processes swear words, including neuropsychological studies revealing that stroke and brain injury patients sometimes retain the ability to swear, even when other language skills are impaired. This evidence underscores the deep-rooted emotional and neurological basis of swearing.

Swearing is part of what makes us human

Dr Emma Byrne’s lecture not only highlighted the fascinating psychology of swearing but also raised intriguing questions about the relationship between artificial intelligence and human expression. Drawing from her background in artificial intelligence (AI) and neuroscience, she argued that swearing is uniquely human, rooted in our emotional and social complexities – something even today’s most advanced machines ultimately lack. 

Unlike humans, AIs do not experience pain, social conflict, or the need for self-preservation – the factors that ultimately shaped the evolution of human language and self-expression. This means that while AI can be programmed to recognise or even generate profanity, it does so without understanding the deep emotional weight of the words it uses. This distinction underscores a broader point: the limitations of AI in replicating human cognition, particularly in areas driven by emotion, intuition, and social nuance. Emma’s insights suggest that, while AI may assist in language processing, it will never truly ‘swear’ in the way humans do – because it does not share our lived experiences, frustrations, or moments of catharsis that make swearing so powerful. In other words, swearing is part of what makes us human.

Following a lively Q&A session, Samira Ahmed presented Emma with the prestigious Rosalind Franklin Lecture medal, recognising:

‘Her insightful exploration into the science of swearing, challenging societal taboos and demonstrating its psychological and social benefits. Her pioneering research in artificial intelligence, notably contributing to the development of ‘Adam’, the first robot scientist capable of independently discovering new scientific knowledge. And her unwavering commitment to science communication, making complex scientific concepts accessible and engaging to the public, promoting humanist values and a more rational society.’

Humanists UK Chief Executive Andrew Copson said:

‘Emma’s brilliant insights into human communication are both timely and essential. From artificial intelligence to the cultural and psychological impact of swearing, her research sheds light on the deep connections between language, identity, and social change. Her work embodies the spirit of curiosity, critical thinking, and human progress that Rosalind Franklin herself championed. Congratulations, Emma, on this well-deserved recognition.’