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
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
A lovely chain of Lauderia annulata diatoms.
#marineplankton 🦑
#marineplankton 🦑
November 10, 2025 at 8:43 PM
A lovely chain of Lauderia annulata diatoms.
#marineplankton 🦑
#marineplankton 🦑
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
Cuttlefish camouflage
youtu.be/P66kyLEnDgI
#gili #giliislands #lombok #diving #scuba #trawangan #diveandstay #giliair #pets #ocean #sealife #marinelife #padi #fish #cuttlefish
youtu.be/P66kyLEnDgI
#gili #giliislands #lombok #diving #scuba #trawangan #diveandstay #giliair #pets #ocean #sealife #marinelife #padi #fish #cuttlefish
Camouflage of Cuttlefish in Gili Lombok
Diving with Terumbu Divers Gili - Lombok
Diving and/or stay :
https://terumbudivers.com/
Snorkeling trips with statues, turtles :
https://snorkelinggili.com/
youtu.be
November 10, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Cuttlefish camouflage
youtu.be/P66kyLEnDgI
#gili #giliislands #lombok #diving #scuba #trawangan #diveandstay #giliair #pets #ocean #sealife #marinelife #padi #fish #cuttlefish
youtu.be/P66kyLEnDgI
#gili #giliislands #lombok #diving #scuba #trawangan #diveandstay #giliair #pets #ocean #sealife #marinelife #padi #fish #cuttlefish
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
The Shirley Bassey Show (10th November 1979). Les Dawson gives some of his favourite jokes another airing whilst Shirley attempts (and fails) to keep a straight face.
November 10, 2025 at 5:02 PM
The Shirley Bassey Show (10th November 1979). Les Dawson gives some of his favourite jokes another airing whilst Shirley attempts (and fails) to keep a straight face.
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
I think this one has got to him because he's posted at least three separate responses to this over the last 10 hours:
November 9, 2025 at 5:00 PM
I think this one has got to him because he's posted at least three separate responses to this over the last 10 hours:
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
"SARS-CoV-2 is too well-adapted to humans [hence, insert your favorite conspiracy theory]".
That was never right because, for one, SARS-CoV-2 is a pandemic virus so it necessarily had to be "well-adapted".
Now, a new study shows the same is true for BANAL-236 - a related virus isolated from bats.
That was never right because, for one, SARS-CoV-2 is a pandemic virus so it necessarily had to be "well-adapted".
Now, a new study shows the same is true for BANAL-236 - a related virus isolated from bats.
November 10, 2025 at 8:09 PM
"SARS-CoV-2 is too well-adapted to humans [hence, insert your favorite conspiracy theory]".
That was never right because, for one, SARS-CoV-2 is a pandemic virus so it necessarily had to be "well-adapted".
Now, a new study shows the same is true for BANAL-236 - a related virus isolated from bats.
That was never right because, for one, SARS-CoV-2 is a pandemic virus so it necessarily had to be "well-adapted".
Now, a new study shows the same is true for BANAL-236 - a related virus isolated from bats.
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
perhaps you're in need of some vibrant colour? perhaps this Erythrina speciosa will serve? from the Botanic Garden in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, 2017. From the before times.
it looks like a starburst of vermilion, of satisfyingly substantial texture.
🌱
it looks like a starburst of vermilion, of satisfyingly substantial texture.
🌱
November 10, 2025 at 8:14 PM
perhaps you're in need of some vibrant colour? perhaps this Erythrina speciosa will serve? from the Botanic Garden in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, 2017. From the before times.
it looks like a starburst of vermilion, of satisfyingly substantial texture.
🌱
it looks like a starburst of vermilion, of satisfyingly substantial texture.
🌱
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
Related: Gary Numan is older than Gary Oldman.
US-EU copyright law differences mean that The Hobbit will be in the public domain in the US before the EU but The Lord of the Rings will be in the public domain in the EU before the US
November 10, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Related: Gary Numan is older than Gary Oldman.
Fair enough, I reckon.
Man answering his phone outside Reading Station: It’s too late, I’m on the train.
November 10, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Fair enough, I reckon.
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
history will ultimately decide this but i think joyce carol oates might have just landed the most devastating burn in human history. like the death star trench run of posting
November 10, 2025 at 7:03 PM
history will ultimately decide this but i think joyce carol oates might have just landed the most devastating burn in human history. like the death star trench run of posting
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha these people are idiots.
AI chatbots could help stop prisoner release errors, says justice minister
AI chatbots could help stop prisoner release errors, says justice minister
HMP Wandsworth gets ‘green light’ to use AI after team sent in to find ‘quick fixes’ after spate of mistakes
Artificial intelligence chatbots could be used to stop prisoners from being mistakenly released from jail, a justice minister told the House of Lords on Monday.
Lord Timpson said HMP Wandsworth had been given the “green light” to use artificial intelligence (AI) after a specialised team was sent in to find “some quick fixes”. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha these people are idiots.
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
HISTORIAN OF THE LIFE SCIENCES position at CSHL!
I’m thrilled to announce that the CSHL Center for Humanities and the History of Modern Biology is inviting applications for this position.
This is a remarkable opportunity to join a unique, internationally recognized institution and the Center
I’m thrilled to announce that the CSHL Center for Humanities and the History of Modern Biology is inviting applications for this position.
This is a remarkable opportunity to join a unique, internationally recognized institution and the Center
Career Opportunities | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Careers
www.schooljobs.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:52 PM
HISTORIAN OF THE LIFE SCIENCES position at CSHL!
I’m thrilled to announce that the CSHL Center for Humanities and the History of Modern Biology is inviting applications for this position.
This is a remarkable opportunity to join a unique, internationally recognized institution and the Center
I’m thrilled to announce that the CSHL Center for Humanities and the History of Modern Biology is inviting applications for this position.
This is a remarkable opportunity to join a unique, internationally recognized institution and the Center
Bon appétit!
Arrived today @matthewcobb.bsky.social tour de force about Crick’s biography. I can’t wait to devour it as soon as possible.
November 10, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Bon appétit!
And that is why, as Crick helped show before he moved to X-ray crystallography, the cytoplasm is a thixotropic gel.
The protein concentration in the cytoplasm is so high that the average protein has a water hydration shell with a thickness of only ≈ 10 water molecules separating it from the adjacent protein hydration shell.
1/2
1/2
November 10, 2025 at 4:26 PM
And that is why, as Crick helped show before he moved to X-ray crystallography, the cytoplasm is a thixotropic gel.
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
👋〰️🛸〰️ #southernstingray #stingraysofcoralcity #stingray #flyingsaucer #magiccarpet #flapflap #overhead #coralcitycamera #miami #portmiami #biscaynebay #coralcity
November 10, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
A month after Bari Weiss hired to lead CBS News division, heretic eugenics philosopher Jonathan Anomaly is on the morning show pitching bell curves and embryo scores.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvVM...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvVM...
November 10, 2025 at 2:27 PM
A month after Bari Weiss hired to lead CBS News division, heretic eugenics philosopher Jonathan Anomaly is on the morning show pitching bell curves and embryo scores.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvVM...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvVM...
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
Even the lawns at the Radcliffe Camera have stories to tell. 👏
This new pattern, designed by University Parks team leader James, transforms one of Oxford’s most iconic spaces into a work of art.
📸 | @jimigk13 (instagram)
This new pattern, designed by University Parks team leader James, transforms one of Oxford’s most iconic spaces into a work of art.
📸 | @jimigk13 (instagram)
November 10, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Even the lawns at the Radcliffe Camera have stories to tell. 👏
This new pattern, designed by University Parks team leader James, transforms one of Oxford’s most iconic spaces into a work of art.
📸 | @jimigk13 (instagram)
This new pattern, designed by University Parks team leader James, transforms one of Oxford’s most iconic spaces into a work of art.
📸 | @jimigk13 (instagram)
OK, I have set up a Substack and posted an article there going into much more detail about Francis Crick and the poet Michael McClure. If the link between science and art is your thing, or you just like psychedelic poetry, have a read:
The Powerful Knowledge: How the Poetry of Michael McClure Influenced the Scientist Francis Crick
In July 1959, the co-discoverer of the DNA double helix, Francis Crick, took a psychedelic trip on peyote through the power of poetry.
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:34 PM
OK, I have set up a Substack and posted an article there going into much more detail about Francis Crick and the poet Michael McClure. If the link between science and art is your thing, or you just like psychedelic poetry, have a read:
Remind me - how many years did it take for the BBC to admit that they had doctored the footage of the Battle of Orgreave during the 1984-5 miners' strike to make it look like the miners attacked the police, when the opposite was true?
November 10, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Remind me - how many years did it take for the BBC to admit that they had doctored the footage of the Battle of Orgreave during the 1984-5 miners' strike to make it look like the miners attacked the police, when the opposite was true?
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
I am greatly enjoying #TheTreeofLife by @maxjtelford.bsky.social published by @wwnorton.com, which I am reviewing for @wsj.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:02 PM
I am greatly enjoying #TheTreeofLife by @maxjtelford.bsky.social published by @wwnorton.com, which I am reviewing for @wsj.com
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
I tremendously enjoyed Matthew Cobb’s definitive new biography of Crick. It was hard to put down and provides many new perspectives. My review of it will appear in Science later this week.
November 10, 2025 at 1:45 PM
I tremendously enjoyed Matthew Cobb’s definitive new biography of Crick. It was hard to put down and provides many new perspectives. My review of it will appear in Science later this week.
Xmas shop display of Bethlehem in Coronation Street at The Curious Fox, Beech Rd, Chorlton. All made by Stewart, the co-owner. Zoom in for the details.
November 10, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Xmas shop display of Bethlehem in Coronation Street at The Curious Fox, Beech Rd, Chorlton. All made by Stewart, the co-owner. Zoom in for the details.
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
Delightful detail from the Roman “unswept floor” mosaic by Heraclitus, showing a mouse nibbling a walnut.
Superb use of darker tiles for subtle shadow effect!
2nd century AD. Vatican Museums www.museivaticani.va/content/muse...
#MosaicMonday
#Archaeology
Superb use of darker tiles for subtle shadow effect!
2nd century AD. Vatican Museums www.museivaticani.va/content/muse...
#MosaicMonday
#Archaeology
November 10, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Delightful detail from the Roman “unswept floor” mosaic by Heraclitus, showing a mouse nibbling a walnut.
Superb use of darker tiles for subtle shadow effect!
2nd century AD. Vatican Museums www.museivaticani.va/content/muse...
#MosaicMonday
#Archaeology
Superb use of darker tiles for subtle shadow effect!
2nd century AD. Vatican Museums www.museivaticani.va/content/muse...
#MosaicMonday
#Archaeology
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
A rather angry sea gryphon chases a cheeky dolphin across a 2nd century #Roman mosaic
Found at #Cirencester in 1849, the entirety of this decorated floor (featuring hunting dogs) can now be seen in the excellent @coriniummuseum.bsky.social
📷 Aug 2022
Don't play with your food this #MosaicMonday !
Found at #Cirencester in 1849, the entirety of this decorated floor (featuring hunting dogs) can now be seen in the excellent @coriniummuseum.bsky.social
📷 Aug 2022
Don't play with your food this #MosaicMonday !
November 10, 2025 at 7:24 AM
A rather angry sea gryphon chases a cheeky dolphin across a 2nd century #Roman mosaic
Found at #Cirencester in 1849, the entirety of this decorated floor (featuring hunting dogs) can now be seen in the excellent @coriniummuseum.bsky.social
📷 Aug 2022
Don't play with your food this #MosaicMonday !
Found at #Cirencester in 1849, the entirety of this decorated floor (featuring hunting dogs) can now be seen in the excellent @coriniummuseum.bsky.social
📷 Aug 2022
Don't play with your food this #MosaicMonday !