James Catterson
@scotsfriction.bsky.social
Researching neurodegeneration using flies. Based at Edinburgh University. UKDRI.
Also Music. Politics. Ceramics. Leith4Life
Also Music. Politics. Ceramics. Leith4Life
Pinned
I also had a chance to speak with HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh about our work using flies in dementia research. Everybody loves the flies. 😇😅🥰
Reposted by James Catterson
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
The truth about impartiality at the BBC
And the hysteria of the current "crisis"
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:22 PM
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
Reposted by James Catterson
The worst you can accuse Panorama of doing is making a misleading edit – and I’d dispute that! – to make *a point that was true*.
The programme aired without anyone seeing any issues with the edit. It was on iPlayer for a year without complaints. Donald Trump *did* incite Jan 6th.
The programme aired without anyone seeing any issues with the edit. It was on iPlayer for a year without complaints. Donald Trump *did* incite Jan 6th.
Tory culture spox demanding the BBC "grovel" to Trump is baffling. Who is this supposed to chime with?
Just a bizarre line that no one who doesn't use X would ever think.
Just a bizarre line that no one who doesn't use X would ever think.
November 11, 2025 at 8:54 AM
The worst you can accuse Panorama of doing is making a misleading edit – and I’d dispute that! – to make *a point that was true*.
The programme aired without anyone seeing any issues with the edit. It was on iPlayer for a year without complaints. Donald Trump *did* incite Jan 6th.
The programme aired without anyone seeing any issues with the edit. It was on iPlayer for a year without complaints. Donald Trump *did* incite Jan 6th.
Reposted by James Catterson
50 years of ZUMA. Just like everyday, it's a good day to listen to one of the best albums ever.
November 10, 2025 at 3:56 PM
50 years of ZUMA. Just like everyday, it's a good day to listen to one of the best albums ever.
Reposted by James Catterson
Which is a long way round of saying: a lot of the pieces I’m reading on the crucial role of the BBC massively overweight news and underplay the wider role of 50 odd radio stations, a dozen TV stations and the vast majority of its output.
November 10, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Which is a long way round of saying: a lot of the pieces I’m reading on the crucial role of the BBC massively overweight news and underplay the wider role of 50 odd radio stations, a dozen TV stations and the vast majority of its output.
Reposted by James Catterson
I reckon a shared national popular culture is just as important (if not more important) than a fact based, impartial news service for liberal democracy to work.
November 10, 2025 at 2:56 PM
I reckon a shared national popular culture is just as important (if not more important) than a fact based, impartial news service for liberal democracy to work.
Reposted by James Catterson
Maybe Keir should demand the heads of major US news networks any time they imply Britain is on the brink of civil war or that we live under sharia law. Or does it not work both ways?
November 10, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Maybe Keir should demand the heads of major US news networks any time they imply Britain is on the brink of civil war or that we live under sharia law. Or does it not work both ways?
Reposted by James Catterson
Two children lost. The wrong one found.
The award-winning author of #TheMidnightKing, @tariqashkanani.bsky.social, returns with #TheHollowBoys. A dark and haunting thriller about lost children in a dying rust-belt town, coming May 2026.
www.waterstones.com/book/the-hol...
The award-winning author of #TheMidnightKing, @tariqashkanani.bsky.social, returns with #TheHollowBoys. A dark and haunting thriller about lost children in a dying rust-belt town, coming May 2026.
www.waterstones.com/book/the-hol...
November 7, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Two children lost. The wrong one found.
The award-winning author of #TheMidnightKing, @tariqashkanani.bsky.social, returns with #TheHollowBoys. A dark and haunting thriller about lost children in a dying rust-belt town, coming May 2026.
www.waterstones.com/book/the-hol...
The award-winning author of #TheMidnightKing, @tariqashkanani.bsky.social, returns with #TheHollowBoys. A dark and haunting thriller about lost children in a dying rust-belt town, coming May 2026.
www.waterstones.com/book/the-hol...
Reposted by James Catterson
Finally it’s here! 🌟⬇️
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
I’m sooo excited to share our latest article led by Steve Hill and Isabel Bravo-Ferrer
1- How does the vasculature communicate with astrocytes?
2- Is this communication dependent to what happens in the body.
3- Is it relevant to human diseases?
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
I’m sooo excited to share our latest article led by Steve Hill and Isabel Bravo-Ferrer
1- How does the vasculature communicate with astrocytes?
2- Is this communication dependent to what happens in the body.
3- Is it relevant to human diseases?
Fig. 1: Establishment of methods to identify astrocyte endfoot proteins. | Nature Communications
www.nature.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Finally it’s here! 🌟⬇️
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
I’m sooo excited to share our latest article led by Steve Hill and Isabel Bravo-Ferrer
1- How does the vasculature communicate with astrocytes?
2- Is this communication dependent to what happens in the body.
3- Is it relevant to human diseases?
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
I’m sooo excited to share our latest article led by Steve Hill and Isabel Bravo-Ferrer
1- How does the vasculature communicate with astrocytes?
2- Is this communication dependent to what happens in the body.
3- Is it relevant to human diseases?
Reposted by James Catterson
Reposted by James Catterson
amzn.eu/d/5cqnKGt
Although the official release date is 1 December, my latest novel The Night Watcher is available RIGHT NOW for Prime readers - and for free! Grab a copy and have a read 🥳
Although the official release date is 1 December, my latest novel The Night Watcher is available RIGHT NOW for Prime readers - and for free! Grab a copy and have a read 🥳
The Night Watcher (Callie Munro Thrillers Book 1)
The Night Watcher (Callie Munro Thrillers Book 1) eBook : Ashkanani, Tariq: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store
amzn.eu
November 1, 2025 at 7:34 PM
amzn.eu/d/5cqnKGt
Although the official release date is 1 December, my latest novel The Night Watcher is available RIGHT NOW for Prime readers - and for free! Grab a copy and have a read 🥳
Although the official release date is 1 December, my latest novel The Night Watcher is available RIGHT NOW for Prime readers - and for free! Grab a copy and have a read 🥳
Reposted by James Catterson
hello friends, loved ones, and haters, I wrote a long piece about the last 25 or so years of "indie," inspired by @chrisdeville.bsky.social's fine new book
open.substack.com/pub/ericdhar...
open.substack.com/pub/ericdhar...
October 27, 2025 at 12:00 PM
hello friends, loved ones, and haters, I wrote a long piece about the last 25 or so years of "indie," inspired by @chrisdeville.bsky.social's fine new book
open.substack.com/pub/ericdhar...
open.substack.com/pub/ericdhar...
Reposted by James Catterson
How does this timid quote tally with what Keir Starmer said in his speech - and in his interviews - just a fortnight ago?
October 21, 2025 at 10:11 AM
How does this timid quote tally with what Keir Starmer said in his speech - and in his interviews - just a fortnight ago?
Reposted by James Catterson
Should dementia research funding shift from biomedical science to social care?
Join our live debate with Nancy Brown & @sorayam.bsky.social on 22 Oct, 8pm BST.
Vote live & see if opinions change.
#Dementia #SocialCare #BiomedicalResearch
communities.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/c/events/deb...
Join our live debate with Nancy Brown & @sorayam.bsky.social on 22 Oct, 8pm BST.
Vote live & see if opinions change.
#Dementia #SocialCare #BiomedicalResearch
communities.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/c/events/deb...
Dementia Researcher Salon Debate - Biomedical vs Social Care Research
Dementia Researcher Salon Debate - Biomedical vs Social Care Research
communities.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
October 17, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Should dementia research funding shift from biomedical science to social care?
Join our live debate with Nancy Brown & @sorayam.bsky.social on 22 Oct, 8pm BST.
Vote live & see if opinions change.
#Dementia #SocialCare #BiomedicalResearch
communities.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/c/events/deb...
Join our live debate with Nancy Brown & @sorayam.bsky.social on 22 Oct, 8pm BST.
Vote live & see if opinions change.
#Dementia #SocialCare #BiomedicalResearch
communities.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/c/events/deb...
Reposted by James Catterson
Statistical analysis of connectivity within the central brain shows that around 6.5% of synaptic connections in the male and 1.3% of connections in the female are dimorphic. In the male, sex-specific circuit elements form highly interconnected clusters with similar connectivity. 9/10
October 15, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Statistical analysis of connectivity within the central brain shows that around 6.5% of synaptic connections in the male and 1.3% of connections in the female are dimorphic. In the male, sex-specific circuit elements form highly interconnected clusters with similar connectivity. 9/10
Reposted by James Catterson
Comparing the EM neurons to light microscopy datasets of fruitless and doublesex expression, we annotated the putative expression pattern of these genes for both the male and female connectomes. 7/10
October 15, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Comparing the EM neurons to light microscopy datasets of fruitless and doublesex expression, we annotated the putative expression pattern of these genes for both the male and female connectomes. 7/10
Reposted by James Catterson
We cross-matched neurons and identified over 7k isomorphic, 114 sexually dimorphic, 262 male- and 69 female-specific cell types. In total, these neurons make up 4.8% and 2.4% of the male and female brain, respectively. 6/10
October 15, 2025 at 4:22 PM
We cross-matched neurons and identified over 7k isomorphic, 114 sexually dimorphic, 262 male- and 69 female-specific cell types. In total, these neurons make up 4.8% and 2.4% of the male and female brain, respectively. 6/10
Reposted by James Catterson
Excited to share our new #biorxivpreprint:
“Sexual dimorphism in the complete connectome of the Drosophila male central nervous system” www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We describe the #connectomics reconstruction and analysis of an entire adult #maleCNS #drosophila central nervous system. 1/10
“Sexual dimorphism in the complete connectome of the Drosophila male central nervous system” www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We describe the #connectomics reconstruction and analysis of an entire adult #maleCNS #drosophila central nervous system. 1/10
October 15, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Excited to share our new #biorxivpreprint:
“Sexual dimorphism in the complete connectome of the Drosophila male central nervous system” www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We describe the #connectomics reconstruction and analysis of an entire adult #maleCNS #drosophila central nervous system. 1/10
“Sexual dimorphism in the complete connectome of the Drosophila male central nervous system” www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We describe the #connectomics reconstruction and analysis of an entire adult #maleCNS #drosophila central nervous system. 1/10
Reposted by James Catterson
Heartbroken that, per his social media accounts, Drew Struzan has left us. His poster and album art was quite simply shorthand for imagination for countless young people.
October 14, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Heartbroken that, per his social media accounts, Drew Struzan has left us. His poster and album art was quite simply shorthand for imagination for countless young people.
Reposted by James Catterson
If this happened at a steel plant there would be talk of government bail out to secure jobs
Cuts equivalent to 15,000 jobs planned at UK universities – UCU www.timeshighereducation.com/news/cuts-eq...
Cuts equivalent to 15,000 jobs planned at UK universities – UCU
Proposed job losses almost triple since March as unions prepare to vote on nationwide industrial action
www.timeshighereducation.com
October 13, 2025 at 9:50 AM
If this happened at a steel plant there would be talk of government bail out to secure jobs
Reposted by James Catterson
The right-wing campaign group that helped topple Roe v Wade in the US is now working to roll back abortion laws in the UK, with the help of Nigel Farage.
Its first step? Trying to create a debate around "free speech"
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/13/w...
Its first step? Trying to create a debate around "free speech"
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/13/w...
October 13, 2025 at 9:58 AM
The right-wing campaign group that helped topple Roe v Wade in the US is now working to roll back abortion laws in the UK, with the help of Nigel Farage.
Its first step? Trying to create a debate around "free speech"
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/13/w...
Its first step? Trying to create a debate around "free speech"
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/13/w...
Reposted by James Catterson
Reposted by James Catterson
This morning at CSHL, Kristen Davis from the lab gives an amazing talk on her work studying the sexually dimorphic mechanisms of synapse formation! Such a great job, Kristen!!!
October 10, 2025 at 1:20 PM
This morning at CSHL, Kristen Davis from the lab gives an amazing talk on her work studying the sexually dimorphic mechanisms of synapse formation! Such a great job, Kristen!!!
Reposted by James Catterson
Incredibly useful new story by @jburnmurdoch.ft.com on the 'crisis' for young college grads. Most analyses compare mid-20s workers with/without a degree. But as John points out, the relevant comparison group is actually *new entrants* with/without a degree - most non-degree workers enter at 18-19.
What the graduate unemployment story gets wrong
People with a degree are faring better, not worse than their non-graduate counterparts
www.ft.com
October 10, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Incredibly useful new story by @jburnmurdoch.ft.com on the 'crisis' for young college grads. Most analyses compare mid-20s workers with/without a degree. But as John points out, the relevant comparison group is actually *new entrants* with/without a degree - most non-degree workers enter at 18-19.
Reposted by James Catterson
A depressing graphic, but a wonderful defense of our tiniest lab partners! 🦠🪱🪰
October 10, 2025 at 10:30 PM
A depressing graphic, but a wonderful defense of our tiniest lab partners! 🦠🪱🪰