Robert Sansom
@fossilrob.bsky.social
Palaeobiologist in Manchester | Fossils, Parenting, Animal Evolution, Fish, Phylogeny, Existential Despair, Taphonomy, and occasionally Eurovision
Daily cycling commute through Gorton and Denton by election update- number of household placards I saw for each party:
Green 35
Labour 10
Other parties: 0
Green 35
Labour 10
Other parties: 0
February 11, 2026 at 9:24 AM
Daily cycling commute through Gorton and Denton by election update- number of household placards I saw for each party:
Green 35
Labour 10
Other parties: 0
Green 35
Labour 10
Other parties: 0
Reposted by Robert Sansom
The end Permian nearly wiped out all life on earth.🌋🦈🐬🐍🐊🐸 Now new data shows that life bounced back much faster than expected with a big diversity of predators right at the beginning of the Triassic. Find out more in today's new episode
February 10, 2026 at 9:28 AM
The end Permian nearly wiped out all life on earth.🌋🦈🐬🐍🐊🐸 Now new data shows that life bounced back much faster than expected with a big diversity of predators right at the beginning of the Triassic. Find out more in today's new episode
Reposted by Robert Sansom
What do you want to hear about? Every week we cover a new palaeo paper or discovery. This time, we are asking you to choose! Take a look at the options below and 'like' the title(s) you want @tweetisaurus.bsky.social and @fossilrob.bsky.social to do next!
February 10, 2026 at 9:52 AM
What do you want to hear about? Every week we cover a new palaeo paper or discovery. This time, we are asking you to choose! Take a look at the options below and 'like' the title(s) you want @tweetisaurus.bsky.social and @fossilrob.bsky.social to do next!
Reposted by Robert Sansom
So @fossilrob.bsky.social has posted me something and told me I'm not allowed to open it until we record the next Fossil Files podcast @thefossilfiles.bsky.social. I have concerns. Find out what it is by listening in wherever you get your podcasts... new episodes every other Tuesday
February 7, 2026 at 12:22 PM
So @fossilrob.bsky.social has posted me something and told me I'm not allowed to open it until we record the next Fossil Files podcast @thefossilfiles.bsky.social. I have concerns. Find out what it is by listening in wherever you get your podcasts... new episodes every other Tuesday
Reposted by Robert Sansom
Who’s that at our departmental seminar today? It’s the lovely @macroecoevoale.bsky.social wowing us with dinosaurs, ecology, and global science!
February 4, 2026 at 7:04 PM
Who’s that at our departmental seminar today? It’s the lovely @macroecoevoale.bsky.social wowing us with dinosaurs, ecology, and global science!
Who’s that at our departmental seminar today? It’s the lovely @macroecoevoale.bsky.social wowing us with dinosaurs, ecology, and global science!
February 4, 2026 at 7:04 PM
Who’s that at our departmental seminar today? It’s the lovely @macroecoevoale.bsky.social wowing us with dinosaurs, ecology, and global science!
On second thoughts, I'm not hungry
January 28, 2026 at 3:03 PM
On second thoughts, I'm not hungry
New paper story time. 👁️🐟🦴🩻
Here is your gormless jawless relative Jamoytius:
[1/8]
Here is your gormless jawless relative Jamoytius:
[1/8]
January 28, 2026 at 10:31 AM
New paper story time. 👁️🐟🦴🩻
Here is your gormless jawless relative Jamoytius:
[1/8]
Here is your gormless jawless relative Jamoytius:
[1/8]
Reposted by Robert Sansom
My new paper is out today!
With @fossilrob.bsky.social looking at Silurian jawless fish (obvs)
With the SLAC synchrotron we find evidence for true bone in these squishy fish AND camera eyes - a nice kismet moment with that great recent Nature paper
Early vertebrate eyes are SO HOT right now!
With @fossilrob.bsky.social looking at Silurian jawless fish (obvs)
With the SLAC synchrotron we find evidence for true bone in these squishy fish AND camera eyes - a nice kismet moment with that great recent Nature paper
Early vertebrate eyes are SO HOT right now!
January 28, 2026 at 9:37 AM
My new paper is out today!
With @fossilrob.bsky.social looking at Silurian jawless fish (obvs)
With the SLAC synchrotron we find evidence for true bone in these squishy fish AND camera eyes - a nice kismet moment with that great recent Nature paper
Early vertebrate eyes are SO HOT right now!
With @fossilrob.bsky.social looking at Silurian jawless fish (obvs)
With the SLAC synchrotron we find evidence for true bone in these squishy fish AND camera eyes - a nice kismet moment with that great recent Nature paper
Early vertebrate eyes are SO HOT right now!
Reposted by Robert Sansom
Is it our ability to survive lead poisoning that made us human?☠️ 🦧 🧠 🦷 A new study combining data from gigant orangutan fossil teeth and artificially grown brains in jars paints a picture of distant human origins and language development. Episode out today!
January 27, 2026 at 11:32 AM
Is it our ability to survive lead poisoning that made us human?☠️ 🦧 🧠 🦷 A new study combining data from gigant orangutan fossil teeth and artificially grown brains in jars paints a picture of distant human origins and language development. Episode out today!
Gigantopicthecus was gigantic @tweetisaurus.bsky.social
Gigantopithecus was a massive fossil orangutan with a weird origin story. Sneak preview of next week's episode for #FossilFriday
January 23, 2026 at 4:13 PM
Gigantopicthecus was gigantic @tweetisaurus.bsky.social
Reposted by Robert Sansom
Thanks everybody for the support over the last year! 🥳 🎉 Here are the top 8 episodes for 2025- did your favourite make the list? Details of the episode and the artists of the images are on our YouTube channel and Libsyn pages
January 13, 2026 at 11:09 AM
Thanks everybody for the support over the last year! 🥳 🎉 Here are the top 8 episodes for 2025- did your favourite make the list? Details of the episode and the artists of the images are on our YouTube channel and Libsyn pages
Reposted by Robert Sansom
🚨 New episode out today: "Back breaking and baby making, the disturbing bedroom habits of hadrosaurs",
🦕❤️🦕we take a lurid look at pathologies and behaviours of duck bill fossils. Out now on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts
🦕❤️🦕we take a lurid look at pathologies and behaviours of duck bill fossils. Out now on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts
January 13, 2026 at 11:08 AM
🚨 New episode out today: "Back breaking and baby making, the disturbing bedroom habits of hadrosaurs",
🦕❤️🦕we take a lurid look at pathologies and behaviours of duck bill fossils. Out now on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts
🦕❤️🦕we take a lurid look at pathologies and behaviours of duck bill fossils. Out now on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts
Reposted by Robert Sansom
How did dinosaurs do it? We plumb new depths for the next episode 🦕❤️🦕
January 9, 2026 at 10:50 AM
How did dinosaurs do it? We plumb new depths for the next episode 🦕❤️🦕
Reposted by Robert Sansom
🚨 Pre-announcement! 🚨
We’re hiring for 2 x two-year, full-time roles to join me and the wider @palaeoverse.bsky.social team @es-ucl.bsky.social.
- Research Software Engineer (REF: B04-06999): lnkd.in/eNRBiPnP
- Community Engagement Coordinator (REF: B04-06998): lnkd.in/ejUACCzn
We’re hiring for 2 x two-year, full-time roles to join me and the wider @palaeoverse.bsky.social team @es-ucl.bsky.social.
- Research Software Engineer (REF: B04-06999): lnkd.in/eNRBiPnP
- Community Engagement Coordinator (REF: B04-06998): lnkd.in/ejUACCzn
December 23, 2025 at 7:38 PM
🚨 Pre-announcement! 🚨
We’re hiring for 2 x two-year, full-time roles to join me and the wider @palaeoverse.bsky.social team @es-ucl.bsky.social.
- Research Software Engineer (REF: B04-06999): lnkd.in/eNRBiPnP
- Community Engagement Coordinator (REF: B04-06998): lnkd.in/ejUACCzn
We’re hiring for 2 x two-year, full-time roles to join me and the wider @palaeoverse.bsky.social team @es-ucl.bsky.social.
- Research Software Engineer (REF: B04-06999): lnkd.in/eNRBiPnP
- Community Engagement Coordinator (REF: B04-06998): lnkd.in/ejUACCzn
This student feedback has me dead. Does it mean they want more or less worms?🐛 🪱
January 8, 2026 at 5:09 PM
This student feedback has me dead. Does it mean they want more or less worms?🐛 🪱
Anomalocaris is my spirit animal
January 6, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Anomalocaris is my spirit animal
Reposted by Robert Sansom
Thanks everyone support over the last year! Here is a look back at top episodes of 2025 🥳🎉
January 6, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Thanks everyone support over the last year! Here is a look back at top episodes of 2025 🥳🎉
🪨💥🌎🦖🦕 What were dinosaurs up to before the asteroid hit? In the latest @thefossilfiles.bsky.social, @tweetisaurus.bsky.social and I sit down with @stevebrusatte.bsky.social to talk about new insights from New Mexico, out now on YouTube or where ever you get your podcasts youtu.be/l4Q6ifORvVY?...
December 16, 2025 at 12:55 PM
🪨💥🌎🦖🦕 What were dinosaurs up to before the asteroid hit? In the latest @thefossilfiles.bsky.social, @tweetisaurus.bsky.social and I sit down with @stevebrusatte.bsky.social to talk about new insights from New Mexico, out now on YouTube or where ever you get your podcasts youtu.be/l4Q6ifORvVY?...
Reposted by Robert Sansom
Rob snuck out a @thefossilfiles.bsky.social podcast on Tues and I missed it! Herein, we discuss AI and whether it is about to replace us, and I express 'scepticism' about some previous AI studies... fossils.libsyn.com You can find us here or wherever you get your podcasts 👇
The Fossil Files
In “The Fossil Files”, a pair of palaeontologists delve into the latest discoveries from the world of palaeontology and seek to bring fossils to back to life. Each episode, Susie and Rob will discuss ...
fossils.libsyn.com
December 8, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Rob snuck out a @thefossilfiles.bsky.social podcast on Tues and I missed it! Herein, we discuss AI and whether it is about to replace us, and I express 'scepticism' about some previous AI studies... fossils.libsyn.com You can find us here or wherever you get your podcasts 👇
Will AI replace palaeontologists? Can we use AI to find, classify, and interpret fossils? 🤖🦖🐚 New episode of @thefossilfiles.bsky.social looks at just that for #FossilFriday
December 5, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Will AI replace palaeontologists? Can we use AI to find, classify, and interpret fossils? 🤖🦖🐚 New episode of @thefossilfiles.bsky.social looks at just that for #FossilFriday
This is amazing 🥲
To mark the 85th Annual SVP Meeting 2025, we've curated a special open access collection.
Next up is jawless vertebrates: Phylogeny, classification and character polarity of the Osteostraci (Vertebrata) by Sansom (2009) buff.ly/M6bXNzx #2025SVP #PaleoSky @fossilrob.bsky.social #FossilFish #SVP2025
Next up is jawless vertebrates: Phylogeny, classification and character polarity of the Osteostraci (Vertebrata) by Sansom (2009) buff.ly/M6bXNzx #2025SVP #PaleoSky @fossilrob.bsky.social #FossilFish #SVP2025
November 15, 2025 at 2:40 PM
This is amazing 🥲
Reposted by Robert Sansom
The fossil files is at #SVP2025 to bring you all the hot gossip. First episode “Nanotyrannus and vertebrate origins” is out today with @jgn-paleo.bsky.social, @stevebrusatte.bsky.social and Yara Haridy
November 13, 2025 at 2:05 PM
The fossil files is at #SVP2025 to bring you all the hot gossip. First episode “Nanotyrannus and vertebrate origins” is out today with @jgn-paleo.bsky.social, @stevebrusatte.bsky.social and Yara Haridy