UCL Faculty of Life Sciences
@ucllifesciences.bsky.social
Home to a thriving community of students, researchers and academics, who together research, teach and study the science and biology of life. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lifesciences-faculty/
Pinned
Discover how our researchers are creating real-world impact, developing innovative solutions to tackle humanity's most pressing challenges.
Watch the full video here: shorturl.at/mYLQV
Watch the full video here: shorturl.at/mYLQV
Join us at our Life and Medical Sciences Postgraduate Open Evening on Wednesday 19 November to hear a talk by Professor Tim Newbold on harnessing big data and new computational tools to understand biodiversity decline. Book your place: www.ucl.ac.uk/medical-scie...
November 11, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Join us at our Life and Medical Sciences Postgraduate Open Evening on Wednesday 19 November to hear a talk by Professor Tim Newbold on harnessing big data and new computational tools to understand biodiversity decline. Book your place: www.ucl.ac.uk/medical-scie...
Reposted by UCL Faculty of Life Sciences
Our Maricci Basa (Felice Lab) has published a first-author paper in J Anat: she describes using comparative #embryology and various #imaging techniques to investigate how #snakes are able to have such wide gapes. #anatomy #formandfunction #jaws @ucl.ac.uk #biology @ucllifesciences.bsky.social
October 27, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Our Maricci Basa (Felice Lab) has published a first-author paper in J Anat: she describes using comparative #embryology and various #imaging techniques to investigate how #snakes are able to have such wide gapes. #anatomy #formandfunction #jaws @ucl.ac.uk #biology @ucllifesciences.bsky.social
Reposted by UCL Faculty of Life Sciences
You can now see more details in our longer news item on our website, here: www.ucl.ac.uk/life-science...
#WAD2025 #WAD #WorldAnatomyDay @ucllifesciences.bsky.social @ucl.ac.uk @ucl-cdb.bsky.social #anatomy #biology #palaeo #paleo #evodevo #crocodile #food #digestion #skeleton #fossil @GrantMuseum
#WAD2025 #WAD #WorldAnatomyDay @ucllifesciences.bsky.social @ucl.ac.uk @ucl-cdb.bsky.social #anatomy #biology #palaeo #paleo #evodevo #crocodile #food #digestion #skeleton #fossil @GrantMuseum
October 28, 2025 at 1:26 PM
You can now see more details in our longer news item on our website, here: www.ucl.ac.uk/life-science...
#WAD2025 #WAD #WorldAnatomyDay @ucllifesciences.bsky.social @ucl.ac.uk @ucl-cdb.bsky.social #anatomy #biology #palaeo #paleo #evodevo #crocodile #food #digestion #skeleton #fossil @GrantMuseum
#WAD2025 #WAD #WorldAnatomyDay @ucllifesciences.bsky.social @ucl.ac.uk @ucl-cdb.bsky.social #anatomy #biology #palaeo #paleo #evodevo #crocodile #food #digestion #skeleton #fossil @GrantMuseum
Reposted by UCL Faculty of Life Sciences
Was this the FLUFFIEST #dinosaur!? 🦖 🦕 #palaeontology youtube.com/shorts/DQsji....
This summer, our Laura Porro was interviewed by TV presenter Maddie Moate, resulting in fun, educational videos on #reptile teeth, dinosaur #diets & animal #brains!” @ucllifesciences.bsky.social @ucl-cdb.bsky.social
This summer, our Laura Porro was interviewed by TV presenter Maddie Moate, resulting in fun, educational videos on #reptile teeth, dinosaur #diets & animal #brains!” @ucllifesciences.bsky.social @ucl-cdb.bsky.social
Was this the FLUFFIEST dinosaur!? 🦖 🦕 #dinosaur #paleontology
YouTube video by Maddie Moate
youtube.com
October 29, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Was this the FLUFFIEST #dinosaur!? 🦖 🦕 #palaeontology youtube.com/shorts/DQsji....
This summer, our Laura Porro was interviewed by TV presenter Maddie Moate, resulting in fun, educational videos on #reptile teeth, dinosaur #diets & animal #brains!” @ucllifesciences.bsky.social @ucl-cdb.bsky.social
This summer, our Laura Porro was interviewed by TV presenter Maddie Moate, resulting in fun, educational videos on #reptile teeth, dinosaur #diets & animal #brains!” @ucllifesciences.bsky.social @ucl-cdb.bsky.social
Reposted by UCL Faculty of Life Sciences
How a microscopic, single-celled organism can help us to understand how animals first evolved: Prof @maxjtelford.bsky.social @ucllifesciences.bsky.social writes about choanoflagellates, the closest living relative to animals, in @uk.theconversation.com theconversation.com/how-the-firs...
How the first animals evolved – a new clue from a tiny relative
Meet the choanoflagellates - the microscopic cousins of animals.
theconversation.com
October 30, 2025 at 5:42 PM
How a microscopic, single-celled organism can help us to understand how animals first evolved: Prof @maxjtelford.bsky.social @ucllifesciences.bsky.social writes about choanoflagellates, the closest living relative to animals, in @uk.theconversation.com theconversation.com/how-the-firs...
The Faculty of Life Sciences' Professor Sandra Martelli is currently visiting schools and attending open days in India. Find out more about our UCL India Open Days and register for our next event in New Delhi on 8 November: https://bit.ly/4olbGw9
November 5, 2025 at 11:33 AM
The Faculty of Life Sciences' Professor Sandra Martelli is currently visiting schools and attending open days in India. Find out more about our UCL India Open Days and register for our next event in New Delhi on 8 November: https://bit.ly/4olbGw9
Reposted by UCL Faculty of Life Sciences
Our Ryan Felice wins a @leverhulmetrust.bsky.social Research Grant with Dr Alana Sharp @livuninews.bsky.social to study the evolution of hollow spaces in the skull of mammals: do huge land animals air-fill their skulls to lighten their big heads? #anatomy @ucl.ac.uk @ucllifesciences.bsky.social
October 27, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Our Ryan Felice wins a @leverhulmetrust.bsky.social Research Grant with Dr Alana Sharp @livuninews.bsky.social to study the evolution of hollow spaces in the skull of mammals: do huge land animals air-fill their skulls to lighten their big heads? #anatomy @ucl.ac.uk @ucllifesciences.bsky.social
Reposted by UCL Faculty of Life Sciences
Mary Yacoob, our #Artist-in-Residence, has made a series of #drawings inspired by her dialogues at the Centre. Speculative illustrations of sea creatures are rendered in fine white lines on deep blue backgrounds. Click for full details:
@ucllifesciences.bsky.social @ucl.ac.uk @ucl-cdb.bsky.social
@ucllifesciences.bsky.social @ucl.ac.uk @ucl-cdb.bsky.social
Artist-in-Residence inspired by research illustrations to imagine new sea creatures
Mary Yacoob has made a series of drawings inspired by her dialogues with researchers at the Centre. Speculative illustrations of sea creatures are rendered in fine white lines on deep blue backgrounds
www.ucl.ac.uk
October 24, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Mary Yacoob, our #Artist-in-Residence, has made a series of #drawings inspired by her dialogues at the Centre. Speculative illustrations of sea creatures are rendered in fine white lines on deep blue backgrounds. Click for full details:
@ucllifesciences.bsky.social @ucl.ac.uk @ucl-cdb.bsky.social
@ucllifesciences.bsky.social @ucl.ac.uk @ucl-cdb.bsky.social
Find out about UCL's Computational Cell Biophysics MRes by attending our online open event on 4 November. Meet the course leader, learn about the content of the programme, and ask any questions you might have about the course, application process, and life at UCL. Book now:
https://bit.ly/4o0Q9IZ
https://bit.ly/4o0Q9IZ
October 23, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Find out about UCL's Computational Cell Biophysics MRes by attending our online open event on 4 November. Meet the course leader, learn about the content of the programme, and ask any questions you might have about the course, application process, and life at UCL. Book now:
https://bit.ly/4o0Q9IZ
https://bit.ly/4o0Q9IZ
Reposted by UCL Faculty of Life Sciences
Humans evolved large brains and flat faces at a surprisingly rapid pace compared to other apes, likely reflecting the evolutionary advantages of these traits, finds a new analysis of ape skulls by Dr Aida Gomez-Robles (UCL Anthropology and @ucllifesciences.bsky.social).
www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/oc...
www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/oc...
Humans evolved fastest amongst the apes
The discovery of a human facial fragment aged over one million years represents the oldest known face in western Europe and confirms the region was inhabited by two species of human during the early P...
www.ucl.ac.uk
October 22, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Humans evolved large brains and flat faces at a surprisingly rapid pace compared to other apes, likely reflecting the evolutionary advantages of these traits, finds a new analysis of ape skulls by Dr Aida Gomez-Robles (UCL Anthropology and @ucllifesciences.bsky.social).
www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/oc...
www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/oc...
Reposted by UCL Faculty of Life Sciences
We are looking for partner institutions within the conservation sector for Nature Smart 2026. Could you be one of them? @izzybis.bsky.social
August 27, 2025 at 7:21 AM
We are looking for partner institutions within the conservation sector for Nature Smart 2026. Could you be one of them? @izzybis.bsky.social
Reposted by UCL Faculty of Life Sciences
#Research by our Ryan Felice's & Abigail Tucker's (@KCL) #labs highlights adaptations needed to allow extreme lower #jaw mobility and independence of the two sides of the jaw found in large-mouthed #snakes. @ucl.ac.uk @ucllifesciences.bsky.social #anatomy
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
The wide gape of snakes: A comparison of the developing mandibular symphysis in sauropsids
Our analysis explores the adaptations at the mandibular symphysis required to allow extreme lower jaw mobility in macrostomate snakes taking a comparative approach.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
October 9, 2025 at 9:45 AM
#Research by our Ryan Felice's & Abigail Tucker's (@KCL) #labs highlights adaptations needed to allow extreme lower #jaw mobility and independence of the two sides of the jaw found in large-mouthed #snakes. @ucl.ac.uk @ucllifesciences.bsky.social #anatomy
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
🎙️ New BBC podcast: Digital Dolittles – Talking to the animals? 🐘🦉
Featuring UCL’s Prof. Kate Jones @profkatej.bsky.social @ucl-pnl.bsky.social and UCL's PhD students, exploring how tech is changing the way we listen to nature 🌍✨
🔗 www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Featuring UCL’s Prof. Kate Jones @profkatej.bsky.social @ucl-pnl.bsky.social and UCL's PhD students, exploring how tech is changing the way we listen to nature 🌍✨
🔗 www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
October 3, 2025 at 6:06 PM
🎙️ New BBC podcast: Digital Dolittles – Talking to the animals? 🐘🦉
Featuring UCL’s Prof. Kate Jones @profkatej.bsky.social @ucl-pnl.bsky.social and UCL's PhD students, exploring how tech is changing the way we listen to nature 🌍✨
🔗 www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Featuring UCL’s Prof. Kate Jones @profkatej.bsky.social @ucl-pnl.bsky.social and UCL's PhD students, exploring how tech is changing the way we listen to nature 🌍✨
🔗 www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Reposted by UCL Faculty of Life Sciences
From finding a "universal language" in science, to comedy, conferences and following her passion, Prof Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu @ucllifesciences.bsky.social tells BBC World Service about her fascinating path to becoming a pioneer of pharmaceutical nanoscience and champion for race equality
Outlook - One suitcase, three kids: a broke scientist pursues a dream - BBC Sounds
Once a homeless single mum, Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu is now a nanomedicine pioneer
www.bbc.co.uk
October 2, 2025 at 4:53 PM
From finding a "universal language" in science, to comedy, conferences and following her passion, Prof Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu @ucllifesciences.bsky.social tells BBC World Service about her fascinating path to becoming a pioneer of pharmaceutical nanoscience and champion for race equality
Reposted by UCL Faculty of Life Sciences
A fossil found in Scotland has revealed a new species and family of Jurassic reptile linked to the origins of lizards and snakes, in a study co-led by Prof Susan Evans @ucllifesciences.bsky.social. It's named Breugnathair elgolensis, for ‘false snake of Elgol’ @amnh.org @ntlmuseumsscot.bsky.social
Fossil discovered in Scotland reveals new species of ‘false snake’ reptile
A fossil discovered in Scotland has revealed a new species and family of Jurassic reptile linked to the origins of lizards and snakes, reports a study co-led by a UCL researcher.
www.ucl.ac.uk
October 2, 2025 at 10:00 AM
A fossil found in Scotland has revealed a new species and family of Jurassic reptile linked to the origins of lizards and snakes, in a study co-led by Prof Susan Evans @ucllifesciences.bsky.social. It's named Breugnathair elgolensis, for ‘false snake of Elgol’ @amnh.org @ntlmuseumsscot.bsky.social
Reposted by UCL Faculty of Life Sciences
Applications open: Cultural Understanding Small Grants 2025/26
We're offering up to £5,000 for interdisciplinary projects that explore Cultural Understanding. Open to UCL staff.
🗓 Apply by 20 Oct 2025
🔗 More info: https://shorturl.at/kNx4q
We're offering up to £5,000 for interdisciplinary projects that explore Cultural Understanding. Open to UCL staff.
🗓 Apply by 20 Oct 2025
🔗 More info: https://shorturl.at/kNx4q
Cultural Understanding Small Grants Call 2025/26
Funding of up to £5,000 is now available for impactful, interdisciplinary projects that address the theme of Cultural Understanding.
www.ucl.ac.uk
September 23, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Applications open: Cultural Understanding Small Grants 2025/26
We're offering up to £5,000 for interdisciplinary projects that explore Cultural Understanding. Open to UCL staff.
🗓 Apply by 20 Oct 2025
🔗 More info: https://shorturl.at/kNx4q
We're offering up to £5,000 for interdisciplinary projects that explore Cultural Understanding. Open to UCL staff.
🗓 Apply by 20 Oct 2025
🔗 More info: https://shorturl.at/kNx4q
Reposted by UCL Faculty of Life Sciences
Susan Evans has just returned from the Institute of #Vertebrate #Paleontology and #Paleoanthropology, Beijing. She has been working on Mesozoic #fossil #reptiles with colleague, Dr Liping DONG, Professor (Associate). english.ivpp.cas.cn/about/Introd... @ucl.ac.uk @ucllifesciences.bsky.social
September 24, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Susan Evans has just returned from the Institute of #Vertebrate #Paleontology and #Paleoanthropology, Beijing. She has been working on Mesozoic #fossil #reptiles with colleague, Dr Liping DONG, Professor (Associate). english.ivpp.cas.cn/about/Introd... @ucl.ac.uk @ucllifesciences.bsky.social
Reposted by UCL Faculty of Life Sciences
Congratulations to UCL-supported startup, Camera Intelligence, on raising $2 million in seed funding to revolutionise content creation its AI camera.
The founder, Vishal Kumar, was supported to grow his business through the Hatchery incubator programme.
Read now: bit.ly/47I86XF
#10YearsBaseKX
The founder, Vishal Kumar, was supported to grow his business through the Hatchery incubator programme.
Read now: bit.ly/47I86XF
#10YearsBaseKX
September 17, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Congratulations to UCL-supported startup, Camera Intelligence, on raising $2 million in seed funding to revolutionise content creation its AI camera.
The founder, Vishal Kumar, was supported to grow his business through the Hatchery incubator programme.
Read now: bit.ly/47I86XF
#10YearsBaseKX
The founder, Vishal Kumar, was supported to grow his business through the Hatchery incubator programme.
Read now: bit.ly/47I86XF
#10YearsBaseKX
Reposted by UCL Faculty of Life Sciences
Micronutrients may have influenced human evolution more than previously understood, finds a new study by @ucllifesciences.bsky.social and @uclchildhealth.bsky.social researchers showing how some groups developed genetic adaptations in response to shortages and surpluses of minerals in their diets
How micronutrient shortages changed human DNA
Tiny elements in the human diet, such as micronutrients, may have influenced human evolution in ways greater than previously recognised, according to a new study led by UCL researchers.
www.ucl.ac.uk
September 11, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Micronutrients may have influenced human evolution more than previously understood, finds a new study by @ucllifesciences.bsky.social and @uclchildhealth.bsky.social researchers showing how some groups developed genetic adaptations in response to shortages and surpluses of minerals in their diets
A message of congratulations to our new graduates from the UCL School of Pharmacy’s director, Professor Cate Whittlesea. We hope you enjoyed your graduation day! Welcome to our #UCL alumni community!
September 15, 2025 at 3:15 PM
A message of congratulations to our new graduates from the UCL School of Pharmacy’s director, Professor Cate Whittlesea. We hope you enjoyed your graduation day! Welcome to our #UCL alumni community!
Reposted by UCL Faculty of Life Sciences
What do wasps eat? First molecular data for native zone Vespula Yellowjackets.
So happy to see this out, finally!
Started in 2018.. or maybe 2017.. 🫣involving @uclcber.bsky.social MRes (Ben Bellekom) and MSci (Georgia Law) students @ucllifesciences.bsky.social
@dr-bob-brown.bsky.social
So happy to see this out, finally!
Started in 2018.. or maybe 2017.. 🫣involving @uclcber.bsky.social MRes (Ben Bellekom) and MSci (Georgia Law) students @ucllifesciences.bsky.social
@dr-bob-brown.bsky.social
New short communication! 📄
Drinkwater, @waspwoman.bsky.social et al. used metabarcoding to analyze the gut contents of 554 wasp larvae, revealing their diverse diet and their role as predators 🐝
🔗 doi.org/10.1007/s000...
#SocialInsects #WaspEcology #ArthropodRegulation #NativeEcosystems #Vespula
Drinkwater, @waspwoman.bsky.social et al. used metabarcoding to analyze the gut contents of 554 wasp larvae, revealing their diverse diet and their role as predators 🐝
🔗 doi.org/10.1007/s000...
#SocialInsects #WaspEcology #ArthropodRegulation #NativeEcosystems #Vespula
August 28, 2025 at 5:57 PM
What do wasps eat? First molecular data for native zone Vespula Yellowjackets.
So happy to see this out, finally!
Started in 2018.. or maybe 2017.. 🫣involving @uclcber.bsky.social MRes (Ben Bellekom) and MSci (Georgia Law) students @ucllifesciences.bsky.social
@dr-bob-brown.bsky.social
So happy to see this out, finally!
Started in 2018.. or maybe 2017.. 🫣involving @uclcber.bsky.social MRes (Ben Bellekom) and MSci (Georgia Law) students @ucllifesciences.bsky.social
@dr-bob-brown.bsky.social
Reposted by UCL Faculty of Life Sciences
Great piece today by Simon Barnes, one of last to see a Slender-billed Curlew observer.co.uk/news/science... following research confirming extinction @rspb.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social @birdlifeglobal.bsky.social @naturalis.bsky.social @nhm-london.bsky.social @ucllifesciences.bsky.social
Why we should all mourn the slender-billed curlew
A bird that hasn’t been photographed since 1995 has now been declared extinct. Its fate is cause for wider alarm
observer.co.uk
September 7, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Great piece today by Simon Barnes, one of last to see a Slender-billed Curlew observer.co.uk/news/science... following research confirming extinction @rspb.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social @birdlifeglobal.bsky.social @naturalis.bsky.social @nhm-london.bsky.social @ucllifesciences.bsky.social
Reposted by UCL Faculty of Life Sciences
[Join us on 19 Sep, 2-3pm] Webinar: Fragment Screening using 19F NMR at the UCL School of Pharmacy, @ucllifesciences.bsky.social
Register now to join our speakers to delve into the subject and interact with research fellows: bit.ly/4lpBftT
Register now to join our speakers to delve into the subject and interact with research fellows: bit.ly/4lpBftT
August 21, 2025 at 9:01 AM
[Join us on 19 Sep, 2-3pm] Webinar: Fragment Screening using 19F NMR at the UCL School of Pharmacy, @ucllifesciences.bsky.social
Register now to join our speakers to delve into the subject and interact with research fellows: bit.ly/4lpBftT
Register now to join our speakers to delve into the subject and interact with research fellows: bit.ly/4lpBftT
Reposted by UCL Faculty of Life Sciences
Celebrating ten years of BaseKX – UCL’s Entrepreneurship Hub🎉
Today on #WorldEntrepreneursDay, we’re celebrating some of the remarkable achievements of those who received entrepreneurial support from UCL.
Read about some of UCL’s inspiring entrepreneurs: bit.ly/45sLTeI
Today on #WorldEntrepreneursDay, we’re celebrating some of the remarkable achievements of those who received entrepreneurial support from UCL.
Read about some of UCL’s inspiring entrepreneurs: bit.ly/45sLTeI
August 21, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Celebrating ten years of BaseKX – UCL’s Entrepreneurship Hub🎉
Today on #WorldEntrepreneursDay, we’re celebrating some of the remarkable achievements of those who received entrepreneurial support from UCL.
Read about some of UCL’s inspiring entrepreneurs: bit.ly/45sLTeI
Today on #WorldEntrepreneursDay, we’re celebrating some of the remarkable achievements of those who received entrepreneurial support from UCL.
Read about some of UCL’s inspiring entrepreneurs: bit.ly/45sLTeI
The Centenary Special Issue of The Annals of Human Genetics is now available!
First published in 1925, this special issue celebrates recent advances in human genetics, and features contributions from 13 @ucl.ac.uk researchers.
Check out the issue online: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/14691809...
First published in 1925, this special issue celebrates recent advances in human genetics, and features contributions from 13 @ucl.ac.uk researchers.
Check out the issue online: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/14691809...
August 18, 2025 at 10:36 AM
The Centenary Special Issue of The Annals of Human Genetics is now available!
First published in 1925, this special issue celebrates recent advances in human genetics, and features contributions from 13 @ucl.ac.uk researchers.
Check out the issue online: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/14691809...
First published in 1925, this special issue celebrates recent advances in human genetics, and features contributions from 13 @ucl.ac.uk researchers.
Check out the issue online: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/14691809...