Elisa Fadda
@elisafadda.bsky.social
Associate Professor in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Southampton, head chef at https://GlycoShape.org, Salem's butler, fucose fanatic #glycotime everyday! She/Her
Pinned
Elisa Fadda
@elisafadda.bsky.social
· Nov 13
As we (my lab and I) are new here 😻, let me introduce some exciting #glycotime work we recently published in Nature Methods doi.org/10.1038/s415... GlycoShape is a completely OA database and toolbox to restore the 3D structure of glycans on glycoproteins 🥳 You can find it at glycoshape.org 1/2
Reposted by Elisa Fadda
PaperBanana: Automating Academic Illustration for AI Scientists
doi.org/10.48550/arX...
dwzhu-pku.github.io/PaperBanana/
doi.org/10.48550/arX...
dwzhu-pku.github.io/PaperBanana/
February 4, 2026 at 10:18 AM
PaperBanana: Automating Academic Illustration for AI Scientists
doi.org/10.48550/arX...
dwzhu-pku.github.io/PaperBanana/
doi.org/10.48550/arX...
dwzhu-pku.github.io/PaperBanana/
Reposted by Elisa Fadda
🚨BREAKING: The UK economy would be 3.6% smaller by 2040 if net migration fell to zero, forcing the government to raise taxes to combat a much bigger budget deficit, a thinktank has predicted.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
February 4, 2026 at 9:09 AM
🚨BREAKING: The UK economy would be 3.6% smaller by 2040 if net migration fell to zero, forcing the government to raise taxes to combat a much bigger budget deficit, a thinktank has predicted.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
“Back then there was a clear national vision for universities, and they were mostly publicly funded,” he says. “Now you stand or fall on your student demand.”
On the societal impact of unis that need (now more than ever) the support of a forward-looking government! Innovation is built on education
On the societal impact of unis that need (now more than ever) the support of a forward-looking government! Innovation is built on education
Excellent article but stark reminder that for all the perceptions of universities as ivory towers for elites, they are actually vital hubs in towns n cities supporting local businesses and providing key services as well as education….
‘If I think about what this means, I want to cry’: what happens when a city loses its university?
When Essex University’s Southend campus opened, it was a message of hope for a ‘left behind’ UK seaside town. Its closure will be felt far beyond its 800 students, some of whom will not get their degr...
www.theguardian.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:12 AM
“Back then there was a clear national vision for universities, and they were mostly publicly funded,” he says. “Now you stand or fall on your student demand.”
On the societal impact of unis that need (now more than ever) the support of a forward-looking government! Innovation is built on education
On the societal impact of unis that need (now more than ever) the support of a forward-looking government! Innovation is built on education
Reposted by Elisa Fadda
Excellent article but stark reminder that for all the perceptions of universities as ivory towers for elites, they are actually vital hubs in towns n cities supporting local businesses and providing key services as well as education….
‘If I think about what this means, I want to cry’: what happens when a city loses its university?
When Essex University’s Southend campus opened, it was a message of hope for a ‘left behind’ UK seaside town. Its closure will be felt far beyond its 800 students, some of whom will not get their degr...
www.theguardian.com
February 4, 2026 at 8:12 AM
Excellent article but stark reminder that for all the perceptions of universities as ivory towers for elites, they are actually vital hubs in towns n cities supporting local businesses and providing key services as well as education….
Reposted by Elisa Fadda
In this week's column I seek to explain Keir Starmer's flat refusal to change our electoral system, even though its gross unfairness could put Reform UK in power on <30% of the vote. The reasons, I believe, are deeply cynical and disturbing. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
If Reform ever wins power in Westminster, it will be because of Labour’s cowardice | George Monbiot
Starmer could improve our unfair electoral system to stop the hard right, but he won’t. All the party has left are threats about ‘splitting the vote’, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
February 4, 2026 at 8:26 AM
In this week's column I seek to explain Keir Starmer's flat refusal to change our electoral system, even though its gross unfairness could put Reform UK in power on <30% of the vote. The reasons, I believe, are deeply cynical and disturbing. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Elisa Fadda
Calling all runners!
Please consider supporting our son's 100km run on his 18th birthday for the mental health organisation Headspace.
His motivations 👉 www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
His fundraising page 👉 www.mycause.com.au/page/385454/...
#Running #MentalHealth @scidocmartin.bsky.social
Please consider supporting our son's 100km run on his 18th birthday for the mental health organisation Headspace.
His motivations 👉 www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
His fundraising page 👉 www.mycause.com.au/page/385454/...
#Running #MentalHealth @scidocmartin.bsky.social
Melbourne teen to run 100km for his 18th birthday - ABC listen
Instead of nightclubbing, Rohan Martin Ritchie wants to raise money for Headspace when he turns 18.
www.abc.net.au
February 3, 2026 at 11:54 PM
Calling all runners!
Please consider supporting our son's 100km run on his 18th birthday for the mental health organisation Headspace.
His motivations 👉 www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
His fundraising page 👉 www.mycause.com.au/page/385454/...
#Running #MentalHealth @scidocmartin.bsky.social
Please consider supporting our son's 100km run on his 18th birthday for the mental health organisation Headspace.
His motivations 👉 www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
His fundraising page 👉 www.mycause.com.au/page/385454/...
#Running #MentalHealth @scidocmartin.bsky.social
Reposted by Elisa Fadda
This research paper is the first time that a tipping point of a switch from a carbon sink to a carbon emission source in tropical rainforests has been identified clearly – not just for one year but for the last 20 years. Cause is a change in the local climate. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Australian tropical rainforest trees switch in world first from carbon sink to emissions source
Researchers say carbon emissions change in Queensland tropical rainforests may have global climate implications
www.theguardian.com
February 3, 2026 at 10:26 PM
This research paper is the first time that a tipping point of a switch from a carbon sink to a carbon emission source in tropical rainforests has been identified clearly – not just for one year but for the last 20 years. Cause is a change in the local climate. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
"there is no guarantee that human intelligence is not itself a sophisticated version of a stochastic parrot." gulp! But undeniable for some humans 🙄
And if we consider 'intelligent' something that can't count consistently, well then be it!
Remarkably disappointing 👇🏻
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
And if we consider 'intelligent' something that can't count consistently, well then be it!
Remarkably disappointing 👇🏻
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Does AI already have human-level intelligence? The evidence is clear
The vision of human-level machine intelligence laid out by Alan Turing in the 1950s is now a reality. Eyes unclouded by dread or hype will help us to prepare for what comes next.
www.nature.com
February 4, 2026 at 7:24 AM
"there is no guarantee that human intelligence is not itself a sophisticated version of a stochastic parrot." gulp! But undeniable for some humans 🙄
And if we consider 'intelligent' something that can't count consistently, well then be it!
Remarkably disappointing 👇🏻
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
And if we consider 'intelligent' something that can't count consistently, well then be it!
Remarkably disappointing 👇🏻
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Elisa Fadda
3. New info I think:
BBSRC grants are in a pause of a 'few weeks' while they transition to an always-open system, ie accepting applications at any time.
BBSRC grants are in a pause of a 'few weeks' while they transition to an always-open system, ie accepting applications at any time.
February 3, 2026 at 1:57 PM
3. New info I think:
BBSRC grants are in a pause of a 'few weeks' while they transition to an always-open system, ie accepting applications at any time.
BBSRC grants are in a pause of a 'few weeks' while they transition to an always-open system, ie accepting applications at any time.
Reposted by Elisa Fadda
I watched much of Ian Chapman's (Head of @ukri.org) appearance this morning at @ukparliament.parliament.uk Science, Innovation and Technology Committee..
A few points and new information that bioscientists may find interesting...
A 🧵
A few points and new information that bioscientists may find interesting...
A 🧵
February 3, 2026 at 1:57 PM
I watched much of Ian Chapman's (Head of @ukri.org) appearance this morning at @ukparliament.parliament.uk Science, Innovation and Technology Committee..
A few points and new information that bioscientists may find interesting...
A 🧵
A few points and new information that bioscientists may find interesting...
A 🧵
Reposted by Elisa Fadda
"AI is rapidly populating medical records with synthetic content, creating a feedback loop [that] drives a rapid erosion of pathological variability and diagnostic reliability...this renders AI generated documentation clinically useless after just two generations" www.medrxiv.org/content/10.6...
AI-generated data contamination erodes pathological variability and diagnostic reliability
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly populating medical records with synthetic content, creating a feedback loop where future models are increasingly at risk of training on uncurated AI ...
www.medrxiv.org
February 3, 2026 at 1:59 AM
"AI is rapidly populating medical records with synthetic content, creating a feedback loop [that] drives a rapid erosion of pathological variability and diagnostic reliability...this renders AI generated documentation clinically useless after just two generations" www.medrxiv.org/content/10.6...
Reposted by Elisa Fadda
I wouldn’t want to be on the wrong side of an argument with Martin Lewis. Can’t see the govt holding the line here given that they’ve now effectively privatised HE. www.theguardian.com/money/2026/f...
Student loans: why is Martin Lewis clashing with Rachel Reeves?
MoneySavingExpert founder has said changes that will lead to some graduates in England and Wales paying more are ‘not moral’
www.theguardian.com
February 3, 2026 at 12:42 PM
I wouldn’t want to be on the wrong side of an argument with Martin Lewis. Can’t see the govt holding the line here given that they’ve now effectively privatised HE. www.theguardian.com/money/2026/f...
Reposted by Elisa Fadda
1. In 2009 I wrote this. I argued that Peter Mandelson's department “functions as a fifth column within government, working for corporations to undermine democracy and the public interest.”
This thread explains what I saw, and reaches a startling conclusion.🧵
www.monbiot.com/2009/05/04/m...
This thread explains what I saw, and reaches a startling conclusion.🧵
www.monbiot.com/2009/05/04/m...
Mandelson’s Fifth Column
The British government’s business department exists to undermine democracy.
www.monbiot.com
February 3, 2026 at 7:32 AM
1. In 2009 I wrote this. I argued that Peter Mandelson's department “functions as a fifth column within government, working for corporations to undermine democracy and the public interest.”
This thread explains what I saw, and reaches a startling conclusion.🧵
www.monbiot.com/2009/05/04/m...
This thread explains what I saw, and reaches a startling conclusion.🧵
www.monbiot.com/2009/05/04/m...
"the MFFI web portal, a platform designed around
five core pillars: (i) avoiding reliance on a group or local server; (ii) minimizing
maintenance; (iii) reducing technical barriers; (iv) providing a unified
home; and (v) enabling
timely dissemination of updates"
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
five core pillars: (i) avoiding reliance on a group or local server; (ii) minimizing
maintenance; (iii) reducing technical barriers; (iv) providing a unified
home; and (v) enabling
timely dissemination of updates"
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
February 3, 2026 at 7:47 AM
"the MFFI web portal, a platform designed around
five core pillars: (i) avoiding reliance on a group or local server; (ii) minimizing
maintenance; (iii) reducing technical barriers; (iv) providing a unified
home; and (v) enabling
timely dissemination of updates"
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
five core pillars: (i) avoiding reliance on a group or local server; (ii) minimizing
maintenance; (iii) reducing technical barriers; (iv) providing a unified
home; and (v) enabling
timely dissemination of updates"
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Reposted by Elisa Fadda
If you liked Mr Nobody Against Putin or was astonished by the hostile environment the BBC's Russia editor, Steve Rosenberg is working in, you might as well like #TheGlobalJigsaw look into how Russian propaganda works:
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
And how we got there:
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
And how we got there:
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p...
BBC World Service - The Global Jigsaw, Russia’s propaganda firehose
The talk shows taking over the TV schedules
www.bbc.co.uk
February 3, 2026 at 7:09 AM
If you liked Mr Nobody Against Putin or was astonished by the hostile environment the BBC's Russia editor, Steve Rosenberg is working in, you might as well like #TheGlobalJigsaw look into how Russian propaganda works:
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
And how we got there:
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
And how we got there:
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p...
Reposted by Elisa Fadda
pdb101.rcsb.org/motm/314 histones outside of the eukaryotic domain are the 'molecule of the month'! nice!
PDB101: Molecule of the Month: Histones Across the Tree of Life
Uncovering the evolutionary diversity of histones
pdb101.rcsb.org
February 3, 2026 at 7:14 AM
pdb101.rcsb.org/motm/314 histones outside of the eukaryotic domain are the 'molecule of the month'! nice!
Reposted by Elisa Fadda
At no point in my journey have I had ANY symptoms. Prostate cancer is often silent. If caught early it is highly treatable. Survival rates are effectively 100% at 5 years for localised cancers and 95% at 15 years.
February 2, 2026 at 9:58 AM
At no point in my journey have I had ANY symptoms. Prostate cancer is often silent. If caught early it is highly treatable. Survival rates are effectively 100% at 5 years for localised cancers and 95% at 15 years.
Reposted by Elisa Fadda
Very soon, I am going for surgical treatment for cancer.
I wanted to use this opportunity to share my journey and advocate for prostate cancer screening for men. @prostatecanceruk.bsky.social
prostatecanceruk.org/about-us/new...
I wanted to use this opportunity to share my journey and advocate for prostate cancer screening for men. @prostatecanceruk.bsky.social
prostatecanceruk.org/about-us/new...
Have we finally reached a turning point on prostate cancer screening?
After years of research and campaigning, we’re closer than ever to a prostate cancer screening programme. Here’s why 2025 could be the year things finally change.
prostatecanceruk.org
February 2, 2026 at 9:58 AM
Very soon, I am going for surgical treatment for cancer.
I wanted to use this opportunity to share my journey and advocate for prostate cancer screening for men. @prostatecanceruk.bsky.social
prostatecanceruk.org/about-us/new...
I wanted to use this opportunity to share my journey and advocate for prostate cancer screening for men. @prostatecanceruk.bsky.social
prostatecanceruk.org/about-us/new...
Reposted by Elisa Fadda
The US isn't Denmark when it comes to vaccines, written by a scientist from Denmark @annalsofim.bsky.social
www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/...
www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/...
February 2, 2026 at 10:18 PM
The US isn't Denmark when it comes to vaccines, written by a scientist from Denmark @annalsofim.bsky.social
www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/...
www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/...
"you are never quite sure what it is going to come up with" would that maybe explain women's skepticism toward AI? 🧪🧑🏻🔬
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
February 2, 2026 at 10:29 PM
"you are never quite sure what it is going to come up with" would that maybe explain women's skepticism toward AI? 🧪🧑🏻🔬
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Reposted by Elisa Fadda
When the Guinea worm eradication program began in 1986, there were an estimated 3.5 million cases across 21 countries in Africa and Asia.
Guinea worm on track to be 2nd eradicated human disease; only 10 cases in 2025
When the eradication program began in 1986, there were a 3.5 million cases.
arstechnica.com
February 2, 2026 at 9:42 PM
When the Guinea worm eradication program began in 1986, there were an estimated 3.5 million cases across 21 countries in Africa and Asia.
Reposted by Elisa Fadda
Looking forward to read this from @bonomimax.bsky.social
Learning Dynamic Protein Representations at Scale with Distograms
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Learning Dynamic Protein Representations at Scale with Distograms
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
February 2, 2026 at 7:24 PM
Looking forward to read this from @bonomimax.bsky.social
Learning Dynamic Protein Representations at Scale with Distograms
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Learning Dynamic Protein Representations at Scale with Distograms
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Reposted by Elisa Fadda
Thank God we're not polarised today folks. I know floods are bad, but polarisation would be very uncomfortable. #spéirgorm
February 2, 2026 at 11:53 AM
Thank God we're not polarised today folks. I know floods are bad, but polarisation would be very uncomfortable. #spéirgorm
Reposted by Elisa Fadda
🤖🫧💥
"We find that AI use impairs conceptual understanding, code reading, and debugging abilities, without delivering significant efficiency gains on average"
arxiv.org/abs/2601.20245
arxiv.org/abs/2601.20245
How AI Impacts Skill Formation
AI assistance produces significant productivity gains across professional domains, particularly for novice workers. Yet how this assistance affects the development of skills required to effectively su...
arxiv.org
February 2, 2026 at 12:29 PM
🤖🫧💥
Reposted by Elisa Fadda
Kirk Malhoan acting chair for US ACIP that make recommendations for vaccines is saying he wants to reconsider all US vaccines recommendations. 🧪🧵 #HealthPolicy
US committee is reconsidering all vaccine recommendations
Move is dramatic departure for advisory group under Kirk Milhoan, who says he doesn’t like the term ‘established science’
www.theguardian.com
February 2, 2026 at 8:31 AM
Kirk Malhoan acting chair for US ACIP that make recommendations for vaccines is saying he wants to reconsider all US vaccines recommendations. 🧪🧵 #HealthPolicy