Laura Cooper
@transitionalform.bsky.social
PhD student in Devonian Palaeobotany at the University of Edinburgh
Pinned
🎊We are very pleased to announce that our paper investigating what we think Prototaxites, the mysterious giant of the Devonian landscape, actually was is now available as a pre-print on @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Laura Cooper
Did you know. That the meme-explosion that was the wooden model of Sacabambaspis (an Ordovician jawless fish) held at a Museum in Helsinki, was created by a pioneering Estonian fish paleontologist and palaeoartist, Elga Mark-Kurik. 🧵
November 11, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Did you know. That the meme-explosion that was the wooden model of Sacabambaspis (an Ordovician jawless fish) held at a Museum in Helsinki, was created by a pioneering Estonian fish paleontologist and palaeoartist, Elga Mark-Kurik. 🧵
Reposted by Laura Cooper
💡 Need support to attend your next palaeontology event?
Apply for a PalAss Diversity Bursary! 🌍✨
👉 palass.org/palaeontolog...
💷 Funding available: up to £250 GBP per individual bursary.
📝 What you’ll need:
A short supporting statement
A breakdown of your anticipated expenses [1/2]
Apply for a PalAss Diversity Bursary! 🌍✨
👉 palass.org/palaeontolog...
💷 Funding available: up to £250 GBP per individual bursary.
📝 What you’ll need:
A short supporting statement
A breakdown of your anticipated expenses [1/2]
November 11, 2025 at 4:54 PM
💡 Need support to attend your next palaeontology event?
Apply for a PalAss Diversity Bursary! 🌍✨
👉 palass.org/palaeontolog...
💷 Funding available: up to £250 GBP per individual bursary.
📝 What you’ll need:
A short supporting statement
A breakdown of your anticipated expenses [1/2]
Apply for a PalAss Diversity Bursary! 🌍✨
👉 palass.org/palaeontolog...
💷 Funding available: up to £250 GBP per individual bursary.
📝 What you’ll need:
A short supporting statement
A breakdown of your anticipated expenses [1/2]
Reposted by Laura Cooper
Reposted by Laura Cooper
Huge congratulations @jeremywyman.bsky.social @instmolplantsci.bsky.social for publishing the results of your masters thesis @annbot.bsky.social
The work includes a new reconstruction of the Carboniferous isoetalean Oxroadia by the brilliant @palaeojules.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/aob/advance-...
The work includes a new reconstruction of the Carboniferous isoetalean Oxroadia by the brilliant @palaeojules.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/aob/advance-...
November 5, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Huge congratulations @jeremywyman.bsky.social @instmolplantsci.bsky.social for publishing the results of your masters thesis @annbot.bsky.social
The work includes a new reconstruction of the Carboniferous isoetalean Oxroadia by the brilliant @palaeojules.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/aob/advance-...
The work includes a new reconstruction of the Carboniferous isoetalean Oxroadia by the brilliant @palaeojules.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/aob/advance-...
Reposted by Laura Cooper
If you need a professional terrestrial phototroph you need a symbiont of plant+fungi. Lichen (Spongiophyton sp) colonized the land already at least in the Early Devonian:
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
🧪 ⚒️ #Paleobio #EvoBio #Geology
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
🧪 ⚒️ #Paleobio #EvoBio #Geology
November 3, 2025 at 3:03 PM
If you need a professional terrestrial phototroph you need a symbiont of plant+fungi. Lichen (Spongiophyton sp) colonized the land already at least in the Early Devonian:
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
🧪 ⚒️ #Paleobio #EvoBio #Geology
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
🧪 ⚒️ #Paleobio #EvoBio #Geology
Reposted by Laura Cooper
Devil's Fingers, Clathrus archeri, on a Dorset heath today. #wildfungihour
November 2, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Devil's Fingers, Clathrus archeri, on a Dorset heath today. #wildfungihour
Reposted by Laura Cooper
What looked like a hearing organ on a tiny stinkbug’s leg turned out to be something far stranger: a fungal nursery that mother bugs use to coat their newly laid eggs in protective symbiotic hyphae, shielding their offspring from parasitic wasps.
Learn more in Science: https://scim.ag/4nDrDNm
Learn more in Science: https://scim.ag/4nDrDNm
![(A) An adult female in the field on Sicyos angulatus. (B) Back view of an adult female reared on cucumber, whose hindleg organs are covered with fungal hyphae (arrowheads). (C) Magnified image of the hindleg organ. (D to L) Morphology of hind tibia of adult male [(D) to (F)], immature adult female [(G) to (I)], and mature adult female [(J) to (L)]. [(D), (G), and (I)] Brightfield images. [(E), (H), and (K)] Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. [(F), (I), and (L)] Magnified SEM images. (M to O) Peculiar behavior of egg-laying adult female. After laying each egg (M), the female rhythmically scratches the hyphae-covered hindleg organ with tarsal claws of the opposite hindleg (N) and then rubs the egg surface with the claws in a skillful manner (O). Also see movie S1. (P to R) Egg mass covered with fungal hyphae at 0-day (P), 3-day (Q), and 10-day (R) intervals after oviposition. Reddish color of 10-day eggs reflects the body color of developing nymphs inside.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:vqgovau5gkirnk3ss5qwjdmz/bafkreiatozcclrv3q5pr2susooiojtvkwr6kwnd22hwxh3ijzh7lpi276q@jpeg)
November 1, 2025 at 9:14 PM
What looked like a hearing organ on a tiny stinkbug’s leg turned out to be something far stranger: a fungal nursery that mother bugs use to coat their newly laid eggs in protective symbiotic hyphae, shielding their offspring from parasitic wasps.
Learn more in Science: https://scim.ag/4nDrDNm
Learn more in Science: https://scim.ag/4nDrDNm
Reposted by Laura Cooper
✨ Paper spotlight ✨
Mycelial Dynamics in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
(🧵 1/5) Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form vast underground hyphal networks that support plant life.
Mycelial Dynamics in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
(🧵 1/5) Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form vast underground hyphal networks that support plant life.
October 30, 2025 at 12:11 AM
✨ Paper spotlight ✨
Mycelial Dynamics in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
(🧵 1/5) Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form vast underground hyphal networks that support plant life.
Mycelial Dynamics in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
(🧵 1/5) Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form vast underground hyphal networks that support plant life.
Reposted by Laura Cooper
Very excited to announce that our collaborative manifesto for 🌱 #PlantScience #Education has now been published! Educators from >10 countries and 30 institutions have contributed to it and we are incredibly proud of the final output. Here is a short thread 🧵1/4 doi.org/10.1002/ppp3...
A manifesto for plant science education
Plants provide oxygen, food, shelter, medicines and environmental services, without which human society could not exist. Tackling pressing and global challenges requires well-trained plant scientists....
doi.org
October 29, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Very excited to announce that our collaborative manifesto for 🌱 #PlantScience #Education has now been published! Educators from >10 countries and 30 institutions have contributed to it and we are incredibly proud of the final output. Here is a short thread 🧵1/4 doi.org/10.1002/ppp3...
Reposted by Laura Cooper
Dinosaur diversity before the asteroid | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Dinosaur diversity before the asteroid
Evidence for low dinosaur diversity ahead of extinction event grows dimmer
www.science.org
October 23, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Dinosaur diversity before the asteroid | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Laura Cooper
🚨We have exciting new webinar series starting next Wednesday @1730 BST!
Join me as we discuss the #ERCStartingGrant with our panel speakers who have recently obtained this funding.
Anyone is welcome to join this webinar - register here 👇
us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Join me as we discuss the #ERCStartingGrant with our panel speakers who have recently obtained this funding.
Anyone is welcome to join this webinar - register here 👇
us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
October 22, 2025 at 4:13 PM
🚨We have exciting new webinar series starting next Wednesday @1730 BST!
Join me as we discuss the #ERCStartingGrant with our panel speakers who have recently obtained this funding.
Anyone is welcome to join this webinar - register here 👇
us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Join me as we discuss the #ERCStartingGrant with our panel speakers who have recently obtained this funding.
Anyone is welcome to join this webinar - register here 👇
us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Reposted by Laura Cooper
Some recent hens. They do look good together like this. 🐔
Friendly reminder that I have a Ko-fi by way of a tip jar, if you enjoy my work and would like to send a little material support. Thank you so much to everyone who contributes. ☺️🥲🙏💙
Link also in profile.
ko-fi.com/himmapaan
Friendly reminder that I have a Ko-fi by way of a tip jar, if you enjoy my work and would like to send a little material support. Thank you so much to everyone who contributes. ☺️🥲🙏💙
Link also in profile.
ko-fi.com/himmapaan
October 20, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Some recent hens. They do look good together like this. 🐔
Friendly reminder that I have a Ko-fi by way of a tip jar, if you enjoy my work and would like to send a little material support. Thank you so much to everyone who contributes. ☺️🥲🙏💙
Link also in profile.
ko-fi.com/himmapaan
Friendly reminder that I have a Ko-fi by way of a tip jar, if you enjoy my work and would like to send a little material support. Thank you so much to everyone who contributes. ☺️🥲🙏💙
Link also in profile.
ko-fi.com/himmapaan
Reposted by Laura Cooper
Drawing from early 2023, Lepidocaris rhyniensis, a crustacean from the Rhynie chert swimming through charophyte algae #crustacean #arthropod
October 18, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Drawing from early 2023, Lepidocaris rhyniensis, a crustacean from the Rhynie chert swimming through charophyte algae #crustacean #arthropod
Reposted by Laura Cooper
From the vault: my Arthropleura (Carboniferous) model for Muse - Museo delle Scienze di Trento (2015). This is a smaller one, just 50cm long, but they grew to be over 2m long.
#SciArt #SciComm #PaleoArt #PalaeoArt #Paleontology #Palaeontology #JurassicWorld #Arthropleura #Carboniferous
#SciArt #SciComm #PaleoArt #PalaeoArt #Paleontology #Palaeontology #JurassicWorld #Arthropleura #Carboniferous
October 16, 2025 at 5:27 PM
From the vault: my Arthropleura (Carboniferous) model for Muse - Museo delle Scienze di Trento (2015). This is a smaller one, just 50cm long, but they grew to be over 2m long.
#SciArt #SciComm #PaleoArt #PalaeoArt #Paleontology #Palaeontology #JurassicWorld #Arthropleura #Carboniferous
#SciArt #SciComm #PaleoArt #PalaeoArt #Paleontology #Palaeontology #JurassicWorld #Arthropleura #Carboniferous
Reposted by Laura Cooper
Walking in the footsteps of…giant Carboniferous trees?
Some 325 million years ago these coal swamp trees were so heavy they made ‘tree prints’ in the soft coral-infused limestone under the soil.
And today we saw them on our University of Edinburgh undergrad trip to Barns Ness!
Some 325 million years ago these coal swamp trees were so heavy they made ‘tree prints’ in the soft coral-infused limestone under the soil.
And today we saw them on our University of Edinburgh undergrad trip to Barns Ness!
October 13, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Walking in the footsteps of…giant Carboniferous trees?
Some 325 million years ago these coal swamp trees were so heavy they made ‘tree prints’ in the soft coral-infused limestone under the soil.
And today we saw them on our University of Edinburgh undergrad trip to Barns Ness!
Some 325 million years ago these coal swamp trees were so heavy they made ‘tree prints’ in the soft coral-infused limestone under the soil.
And today we saw them on our University of Edinburgh undergrad trip to Barns Ness!
Reposted by Laura Cooper
Here are some “leaf” or phyllid cells from moss Physcomitrium patens gametophore. Cells are expressing a green fluorescence marker that labels the vacuolar membrane. Chloroplasts' autofluorescence is in magenta.
Can you spot dividing chloroplasts?
#microscopymonday #moss #plantcells
Can you spot dividing chloroplasts?
#microscopymonday #moss #plantcells
October 13, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Here are some “leaf” or phyllid cells from moss Physcomitrium patens gametophore. Cells are expressing a green fluorescence marker that labels the vacuolar membrane. Chloroplasts' autofluorescence is in magenta.
Can you spot dividing chloroplasts?
#microscopymonday #moss #plantcells
Can you spot dividing chloroplasts?
#microscopymonday #moss #plantcells
Reposted by Laura Cooper
🦕 For #PalAss members:
Are you planning to participate in #PalAss2025? 🌍
Don’t forget to check this option ✅
💡 All information can be found here ⬇️
🔗 palass.org/palaeontolog...
#palass #conference #bursary #possibility #apply
Are you planning to participate in #PalAss2025? 🌍
Don’t forget to check this option ✅
💡 All information can be found here ⬇️
🔗 palass.org/palaeontolog...
#palass #conference #bursary #possibility #apply
October 13, 2025 at 2:44 PM
🦕 For #PalAss members:
Are you planning to participate in #PalAss2025? 🌍
Don’t forget to check this option ✅
💡 All information can be found here ⬇️
🔗 palass.org/palaeontolog...
#palass #conference #bursary #possibility #apply
Are you planning to participate in #PalAss2025? 🌍
Don’t forget to check this option ✅
💡 All information can be found here ⬇️
🔗 palass.org/palaeontolog...
#palass #conference #bursary #possibility #apply
Reposted by Laura Cooper
Excited to share our research on the evolution of fossil forests from the Devonian to Jurassic! By analyzing 38 global fossil forests, we explored key parameters to better understand how these fossil forests developed over time.
doi.org/10.1016/j.ea...
doi.org/10.1016/j.ea...
October 12, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Excited to share our research on the evolution of fossil forests from the Devonian to Jurassic! By analyzing 38 global fossil forests, we explored key parameters to better understand how these fossil forests developed over time.
doi.org/10.1016/j.ea...
doi.org/10.1016/j.ea...
Reposted by Laura Cooper
I'm frequently asked if we can use XRM imaging to study Arabidopsis, and the answer is absolutely yes. The pollen grains were segmented using basic grayscale thresholding. This scan used the 4X lens, stayed tuned for results from the 20X.
@danforthcenter.bsky.social
@zeiss-microscopy.bsky.social
@danforthcenter.bsky.social
@zeiss-microscopy.bsky.social
October 10, 2025 at 1:54 PM
I'm frequently asked if we can use XRM imaging to study Arabidopsis, and the answer is absolutely yes. The pollen grains were segmented using basic grayscale thresholding. This scan used the 4X lens, stayed tuned for results from the 20X.
@danforthcenter.bsky.social
@zeiss-microscopy.bsky.social
@danforthcenter.bsky.social
@zeiss-microscopy.bsky.social
Reposted by Laura Cooper
Well, it's official. After our paper last year (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....), the Slender-billed Curlew is officially declared Extinct today.
Scientists dream of describing new species, not writing their obituary and epitaph, knowing that they are gone forever #ornithology
Scientists dream of describing new species, not writing their obituary and epitaph, knowing that they are gone forever #ornithology
October 10, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Well, it's official. After our paper last year (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....), the Slender-billed Curlew is officially declared Extinct today.
Scientists dream of describing new species, not writing their obituary and epitaph, knowing that they are gone forever #ornithology
Scientists dream of describing new species, not writing their obituary and epitaph, knowing that they are gone forever #ornithology
Reposted by Laura Cooper
🍀🔬
MSL10 is a high-sensitivity mechanosensor in the tactile sense of the Venus flytrap @natcomms.nature.com from Toyota lab.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
MSL10 is a high-sensitivity mechanosensor in the tactile sense of the Venus flytrap @natcomms.nature.com from Toyota lab.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
October 1, 2025 at 2:57 PM
🍀🔬
MSL10 is a high-sensitivity mechanosensor in the tactile sense of the Venus flytrap @natcomms.nature.com from Toyota lab.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
MSL10 is a high-sensitivity mechanosensor in the tactile sense of the Venus flytrap @natcomms.nature.com from Toyota lab.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Laura Cooper
Our latest, led by Edu Ocaña-Pallarès and @ssolo.bsky.social, a timescale for fungal phylogeny that wrangles calibration from the unstructured fossil record of fungi and a history of horizontal gene transfers
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A timetree of Fungi dated with fossils and horizontal gene transfers - Nature Ecology & Evolution
Combining fossil-based and molecular calibrations with data on horizontal gene transfer events, the authors develop a time-calibrated phylogeny of Fungi. This timescale, which integrates analytic uncertainties, suggests an older age of crown Fungi (1,401–896 million years ago), as well as a minimum age for ancient interactions involving fungi and the algal ancestors of embryophytes in terrestrial ecosystems (1,253–797 Ma).
www.nature.com
October 7, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Our latest, led by Edu Ocaña-Pallarès and @ssolo.bsky.social, a timescale for fungal phylogeny that wrangles calibration from the unstructured fossil record of fungi and a history of horizontal gene transfers
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Laura Cooper
Saw this in Maine in early August - just doesn’t look entirely real
October 5, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Saw this in Maine in early August - just doesn’t look entirely real
Reposted by Laura Cooper
Interrupted Clubmoss (Lycopodium annotinum) and Marsh Clubmoss (Lycopodiella inundata)
Two evergreen beauties and real bog-specials spotted this week!
#WildflowerHour
Two evergreen beauties and real bog-specials spotted this week!
#WildflowerHour
October 5, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Interrupted Clubmoss (Lycopodium annotinum) and Marsh Clubmoss (Lycopodiella inundata)
Two evergreen beauties and real bog-specials spotted this week!
#WildflowerHour
Two evergreen beauties and real bog-specials spotted this week!
#WildflowerHour