Matthew Cobb
@matthewcobb.bsky.social
Professor Emeritus (University of Manchester), writes on biology, history of science & French Resistance. Biography of Francis Crick, out in Nov 2025.
Link to publications: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8258-4913
Link to publications: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8258-4913
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
Last night my father in law was like, wait, how many moons does Jupiter have?
Me: Like, a hundred now?
Him:
Me: Like, a hundred now?
Him:
January 20, 2026 at 4:43 AM
Last night my father in law was like, wait, how many moons does Jupiter have?
Me: Like, a hundred now?
Him:
Me: Like, a hundred now?
Him:
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
We have made the decision to formally close our X social media account. Once a vibrant platform to promote the interests of authors, we feel X is no longer a trusted place for balance, community support, and reliable information.
January 20, 2026 at 10:00 AM
We have made the decision to formally close our X social media account. Once a vibrant platform to promote the interests of authors, we feel X is no longer a trusted place for balance, community support, and reliable information.
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
Where are the trees?
We have A LOT of this landscape and less than 4% native woodland. This should be a rich mosaic of habitats, moor, bog, woodland, montane scrub…We force it to remain in this artificial state. We don’t need to give every inch of our uplands over to sheep, grouse and deer stalking.
We have A LOT of this landscape and less than 4% native woodland. This should be a rich mosaic of habitats, moor, bog, woodland, montane scrub…We force it to remain in this artificial state. We don’t need to give every inch of our uplands over to sheep, grouse and deer stalking.
January 17, 2026 at 9:50 AM
Where are the trees?
We have A LOT of this landscape and less than 4% native woodland. This should be a rich mosaic of habitats, moor, bog, woodland, montane scrub…We force it to remain in this artificial state. We don’t need to give every inch of our uplands over to sheep, grouse and deer stalking.
We have A LOT of this landscape and less than 4% native woodland. This should be a rich mosaic of habitats, moor, bog, woodland, montane scrub…We force it to remain in this artificial state. We don’t need to give every inch of our uplands over to sheep, grouse and deer stalking.
Early example of doomscrolling
In 1976, Yorkshire TV's children's show Music Scene highlighted the importance of music in TV productions by adapting M.R. James' MR HUMPHREYS AND HIS INHERITANCE. Oh, and it scared the pants off its young audience with this startling stop-motion sequence!
January 20, 2026 at 9:42 AM
Early example of doomscrolling
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
@drkevinfong.bsky.social Am I tight in thinking that if Artemis II were up there right now during an S4 solar particle event things would be looking a bit dicey for the crew?
January 19, 2026 at 10:23 PM
@drkevinfong.bsky.social Am I tight in thinking that if Artemis II were up there right now during an S4 solar particle event things would be looking a bit dicey for the crew?
Keir’s kids: “Dad we got bullied at school again”
Keir: “Be nice to the bullies, have a special relationship with them, and they will be nice to you”
Keir’s kids: “That’s what you said last time. And the time before. And the time before that.”
Keir: …
Keir: “Be nice to the bullies, have a special relationship with them, and they will be nice to you”
Keir’s kids: “That’s what you said last time. And the time before. And the time before that.”
Keir: …
January 20, 2026 at 9:30 AM
Keir’s kids: “Dad we got bullied at school again”
Keir: “Be nice to the bullies, have a special relationship with them, and they will be nice to you”
Keir’s kids: “That’s what you said last time. And the time before. And the time before that.”
Keir: …
Keir: “Be nice to the bullies, have a special relationship with them, and they will be nice to you”
Keir’s kids: “That’s what you said last time. And the time before. And the time before that.”
Keir: …
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
🌌 New insights from the ALMA survey reveal the teenage years of planetary systems! These detailed images of debris discs capture the chaotic growth stages of planets, akin to adolescence. #PlanetaryScience #ALMA @thenrao.bsky.social 🔭
www.mpia.de/news/science...
www.mpia.de/news/science...
ALMA Reveals Teenage Years of New Worlds
ARKS survey by ALMA provides insights into the early chaotic phases of planet formation, bridging gaps in our understanding of planetary systems.
www.mpia.de
January 20, 2026 at 8:32 AM
🌌 New insights from the ALMA survey reveal the teenage years of planetary systems! These detailed images of debris discs capture the chaotic growth stages of planets, akin to adolescence. #PlanetaryScience #ALMA @thenrao.bsky.social 🔭
www.mpia.de/news/science...
www.mpia.de/news/science...
This gives you some idea of how little we know about the oceans. This species of sea star has been seen only once in over a century.
A spiny friend called Calliaster spinosus! Most likely not seen since Hubert Lyman Clark described it in 1916! #coralseafrontiers thanks to @oceancensus.bsky.social @drtimohara.bsky.social
January 20, 2026 at 9:00 AM
This gives you some idea of how little we know about the oceans. This species of sea star has been seen only once in over a century.
BTW in case you hadn't heard (anglo media don't seem to have picked it up), he has threatened 200% tariffs on French wine and champagne because Macron has declined to join his Gaza committee...
Donald Trump menace d’imposer « 200 % de droits de douane » sur les vins et les champagnes français, après le refus d’Emmanuel Macron de rejoindre son « conseil de la paix »
L’Elysée a aussitôt réagi, jugeant « inacceptables » et « inefficaces » ces menaces de taxes américaines destinées à « influencer la politique étrangère » française.
www.lemonde.fr
January 20, 2026 at 8:59 AM
BTW in case you hadn't heard (anglo media don't seem to have picked it up), he has threatened 200% tariffs on French wine and champagne because Macron has declined to join his Gaza committee...
I really need to concentrate on work today, but the world is still going mad, so I fear it will be more doomscrollin.
January 20, 2026 at 7:55 AM
I really need to concentrate on work today, but the world is still going mad, so I fear it will be more doomscrollin.
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
“giving up Chagos was stupid and this proves you should therefore give up Greenland”
January 20, 2026 at 7:31 AM
“giving up Chagos was stupid and this proves you should therefore give up Greenland”
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
Here’s a green moray swimming free.
#marinelife 🤿
#marinelife 🤿
January 20, 2026 at 12:19 AM
Here’s a green moray swimming free.
#marinelife 🤿
#marinelife 🤿
And so to bed. Hope there’s something left to wake up to…
January 19, 2026 at 11:27 PM
And so to bed. Hope there’s something left to wake up to…
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
Ballycastle Co. Mayo
January 19, 2026 at 9:52 PM
Ballycastle Co. Mayo
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
One of the most awe-inspiring displays I've ever seen - the #NorthernLights just a short while ago.
The colours are exactly as we witnessed - vibrant, rich and profound. I am completely overwhelmed and utterly humbled.
#AuroraBorealis
@stormhour.com
The colours are exactly as we witnessed - vibrant, rich and profound. I am completely overwhelmed and utterly humbled.
#AuroraBorealis
@stormhour.com
January 19, 2026 at 9:35 PM
One of the most awe-inspiring displays I've ever seen - the #NorthernLights just a short while ago.
The colours are exactly as we witnessed - vibrant, rich and profound. I am completely overwhelmed and utterly humbled.
#AuroraBorealis
@stormhour.com
The colours are exactly as we witnessed - vibrant, rich and profound. I am completely overwhelmed and utterly humbled.
#AuroraBorealis
@stormhour.com
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
Woohoo. Northern lights from Greystones this evening #auroraborealis
January 19, 2026 at 9:56 PM
Woohoo. Northern lights from Greystones this evening #auroraborealis
in case you haven’t looked out, Manchester, don’t bother.
January 19, 2026 at 10:42 PM
in case you haven’t looked out, Manchester, don’t bother.
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
January 19, 2026 at 9:54 PM
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
Had a little spare time to interact with some ophiuroids too. These are the understudied yet ubiquitous and cryptic denizens of the coral reefs.
December 6, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Had a little spare time to interact with some ophiuroids too. These are the understudied yet ubiquitous and cryptic denizens of the coral reefs.
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
A truly big deal: Vitruvius' basilica in Fano has reportedly been found. This would be a key link to the author of one of the most influential texts on architecture in world history. (bummed this was announced just 3 days after I got home from the Marche!) www.finestresullarte.info/en/archaeolo...
Basilica of Vitruvius found in Fano:
In Fano, the Basilica of Vitruvius, the building described in De Architectura that had been sought for half a millennium, emerges from excavations in Piazza Andrea Costa: a discovery that rewrites the...
www.finestresullarte.info
January 19, 2026 at 8:31 PM
A truly big deal: Vitruvius' basilica in Fano has reportedly been found. This would be a key link to the author of one of the most influential texts on architecture in world history. (bummed this was announced just 3 days after I got home from the Marche!) www.finestresullarte.info/en/archaeolo...
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
"l no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace"
January 19, 2026 at 7:17 PM
"l no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace"