Matthew Cobb
@matthewcobb.bsky.social
Professor Emeritus (University of Manchester), writes on biology, history of science & French Resistance. Most recent book: a biography of Francis Crick. Now writing THE IDEA OF HEREDITY.
Link to publications: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8258-4913
Link to publications: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8258-4913
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
Welcome to the Brexit, sir
New data shows #Brexit has lowered UK GDP by 6-8% over the past decade. Investment down 12-18%, employment down 3-4%. It's even worse than economists had predicted pre-referendum, because they thought there would be a bounce-back long term. "Economists were roughly right on the
Brexit’s slow‑burn hit to the UK economy
The UK is once again debating why its economy has grown slowly since the mid‑2010s. This column examines the impact of the decision to leave the European Union in 2016. Using almost a decade of data s...
cepr.org
February 18, 2026 at 7:21 AM
Welcome to the Brexit, sir
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
Recent Commissions!
Weird round dinosaurs inspired by cattle painting :3
Weird round dinosaurs inspired by cattle painting :3
November 3, 2024 at 12:18 PM
Recent Commissions!
Weird round dinosaurs inspired by cattle painting :3
Weird round dinosaurs inspired by cattle painting :3
Like others, I stumbled over the fact that this doesn’t seem to look like Sting from the Police, but I have mild face blindness so I gave up and assumed he was hench at some point. Turns out it’s a US wrestler, but that isn’t the point. What Far Side cartoon is he reading? Follow the thread…
what if i told you, through the power of forensic analysis, we are closer than ever to knowing the exact Far Side cartoon that is making Sting smile in this iconic photo. 🧵 👇
February 18, 2026 at 6:59 AM
Like others, I stumbled over the fact that this doesn’t seem to look like Sting from the Police, but I have mild face blindness so I gave up and assumed he was hench at some point. Turns out it’s a US wrestler, but that isn’t the point. What Far Side cartoon is he reading? Follow the thread…
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
New #PhD on #bees (BeeHd?)! Despite the ad saying "UK Students only", a limited number of scholarships are available for international candidates. So please apply!
New PhD alert! We'll be applying animal welfare ideas to look at how stress affects bees, looking at the effect on bee brains with @lenariab.bsky.social, and working with @sensibee.bsky.social developing new monitoring methods.
Please spread the word! #bees #PhD 🧪
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Please spread the word! #bees #PhD 🧪
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
The effect of stress on pollinator behaviour at Newcastle University on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - The effect of stress on pollinator behaviour at Newcastle University, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
February 3, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
Historian of medicine here. Yes. Yes, they did.
before antibiotics did people just die all the time from everything?
February 17, 2026 at 5:47 PM
Historian of medicine here. Yes. Yes, they did.
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
In this short video I explain that parenting is about choosing to care for a child, helping them to become a member of the human community (a good citizen). Parenting is not first and foremost about genetics (passing on one’s genes). www.linkedin.com/posts/staten...
Vocies on bioethics - Françoise Baylis | Smer - Swedish National Council on Medical Ethics
Rådet möter många nationella och internationella experter. För att fler ska kunna få ta del av deras kunskap och insikter gör Smer nu en intervjuserie. I serien kommer du få möta ledande experter och ...
www.linkedin.com
February 17, 2026 at 6:44 PM
In this short video I explain that parenting is about choosing to care for a child, helping them to become a member of the human community (a good citizen). Parenting is not first and foremost about genetics (passing on one’s genes). www.linkedin.com/posts/staten...
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
Years ago I was obsessed with these Antarctic "tulips"-eventually learned they were TUNICATES, Molgula pedunculata #tunicateTuesday Such crazy lookin' things! www.researchgate.net/publication/...
February 17, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Years ago I was obsessed with these Antarctic "tulips"-eventually learned they were TUNICATES, Molgula pedunculata #tunicateTuesday Such crazy lookin' things! www.researchgate.net/publication/...
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
Anyone please aware of people here who might be experts on industrial trawling vessels? Looking for help with terminology and ship types, thanks!
February 17, 2026 at 6:12 PM
Anyone please aware of people here who might be experts on industrial trawling vessels? Looking for help with terminology and ship types, thanks!
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
Girl next to me at this cafe: "Just say the thing you want to say and get it over with, and I'll say 'Wow Jeffrey that's interesting'."
Jeffrey: "Okay fine. So I figured out a way to calculate the area of a solid using an unconventional method."
Girl: "Wow Jeffrey that's interesting."
Jeffrey: "Okay fine. So I figured out a way to calculate the area of a solid using an unconventional method."
Girl: "Wow Jeffrey that's interesting."
February 17, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Girl next to me at this cafe: "Just say the thing you want to say and get it over with, and I'll say 'Wow Jeffrey that's interesting'."
Jeffrey: "Okay fine. So I figured out a way to calculate the area of a solid using an unconventional method."
Girl: "Wow Jeffrey that's interesting."
Jeffrey: "Okay fine. So I figured out a way to calculate the area of a solid using an unconventional method."
Girl: "Wow Jeffrey that's interesting."
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
Back in the time when the sun was pink
February 17, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Back in the time when the sun was pink
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
Do folklore and digital tech seem like odd bedfellows? 'Father of the supercomputer' Seymour Cray attributed some of his success to advice he received from elves while digging a tunnel (if you don't stumble across an entrance to a subterranean otherworld, home-made is fine). 1/3
February 12, 2026 at 9:28 AM
Do folklore and digital tech seem like odd bedfellows? 'Father of the supercomputer' Seymour Cray attributed some of his success to advice he received from elves while digging a tunnel (if you don't stumble across an entrance to a subterranean otherworld, home-made is fine). 1/3
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
Sorry I haven't been posting a lot, been super busy! Meet Siphonophores! #LetsChangeThat
February 14, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Sorry I haven't been posting a lot, been super busy! Meet Siphonophores! #LetsChangeThat
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
Cephalopods are an odd bunch, and that's saying something considering they are molluscs! #LetsChangeThat
February 17, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Cephalopods are an odd bunch, and that's saying something considering they are molluscs! #LetsChangeThat
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
🧪 I've definitely asked about aDNA & hair texture before, but this is 1st paper I've seen with an assessment (curly, rather than just dark).
Can anyone with expertise suggest if this is smthg assessed widely, or likely to be found in previous studies' data?
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Can anyone with expertise suggest if this is smthg assessed widely, or likely to be found in previous studies' data?
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Life history and ancestry of the late Upper Palaeolithic infant from Grotta delle Mura, Italy - Nature Communications
Here, the authors present paleogenomics, dental histology, geochemistry, radiocarbon dating, and bioarchaeological analysis of an Upper Palaeolithic infant from Grotta delle Mura (southern Italy). The...
www.nature.com
February 17, 2026 at 2:42 PM
🧪 I've definitely asked about aDNA & hair texture before, but this is 1st paper I've seen with an assessment (curly, rather than just dark).
Can anyone with expertise suggest if this is smthg assessed widely, or likely to be found in previous studies' data?
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Can anyone with expertise suggest if this is smthg assessed widely, or likely to be found in previous studies' data?
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
I found this beautiful big Gold-ringed cat snake on the edge of the suburbs of Singapore. I love finding these stunners.
February 16, 2026 at 7:44 AM
I found this beautiful big Gold-ringed cat snake on the edge of the suburbs of Singapore. I love finding these stunners.
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
A new study uncovers why adenovirus-based COVID-19 shots caused rare, dangerous side effects in some people.
Learn more: https://scim.ag/4qCgVrV
Learn more: https://scim.ag/4qCgVrV
February 17, 2026 at 2:31 PM
A new study uncovers why adenovirus-based COVID-19 shots caused rare, dangerous side effects in some people.
Learn more: https://scim.ag/4qCgVrV
Learn more: https://scim.ag/4qCgVrV
A cracker from Squires. You don't need to know anything about football to get this (I'm sure Ratcliffe understands it and he...)
February 17, 2026 at 2:38 PM
A cracker from Squires. You don't need to know anything about football to get this (I'm sure Ratcliffe understands it and he...)
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
What's with all the ducks?
February 17, 2026 at 1:03 PM
What's with all the ducks?
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
If you've ever felt that local journalism here could be smarter, deeper - this is how it starts. And if you can, we'd love you to be part of it.
👉🏼 Pledge your support here:
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Leeds' new local paper
West Yorkshire deserves great local journalism. Help us launch it.
leeds.ghost.io
February 17, 2026 at 11:35 AM
If you've ever felt that local journalism here could be smarter, deeper - this is how it starts. And if you can, we'd love you to be part of it.
👉🏼 Pledge your support here:
👉🏼 Pledge your support here:
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
Every year on #PancakeDay we bake a Peter Pancake 🥞
February 17, 2026 at 10:46 AM
Every year on #PancakeDay we bake a Peter Pancake 🥞
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
Buenas tardes from the monument in the market square at Chicxulub!
February 16, 2026 at 10:11 PM
Buenas tardes from the monument in the market square at Chicxulub!
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
I tried to toss a pancake once,
But found it quite impossible.
Now, maybe I am just a dunce,
But IS a pancake tossable?
But found it quite impossible.
Now, maybe I am just a dunce,
But IS a pancake tossable?
February 17, 2026 at 8:01 AM
I tried to toss a pancake once,
But found it quite impossible.
Now, maybe I am just a dunce,
But IS a pancake tossable?
But found it quite impossible.
Now, maybe I am just a dunce,
But IS a pancake tossable?
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
Looking for a sense check, or indeed some #palaeography help for this Tudor will: I read this as 'Also I geve and bequeth to my Cosyn Hughe Aldersaye of chester an Eyrye of Sivannys yn prest lande poole'.
'Priestland' is a name - but can anyone help with 'Eyrye of Sivannys'? What could this be?
'Priestland' is a name - but can anyone help with 'Eyrye of Sivannys'? What could this be?
February 17, 2026 at 9:01 AM
Looking for a sense check, or indeed some #palaeography help for this Tudor will: I read this as 'Also I geve and bequeth to my Cosyn Hughe Aldersaye of chester an Eyrye of Sivannys yn prest lande poole'.
'Priestland' is a name - but can anyone help with 'Eyrye of Sivannys'? What could this be?
'Priestland' is a name - but can anyone help with 'Eyrye of Sivannys'? What could this be?
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
It is sort of amazing that we have a bigger surveillance infrastructure than at any time in UK history - and we're incapable of identifying the large vehicles moving massive piles of rubbish around.
Stinking hill of filth owned by King still unsecured
youtu.be/DvSYZJIO0-4?...
youtu.be/DvSYZJIO0-4?...
More waste dumped on giant illegal site owned by King Charles - exclusive
YouTube video by Channel 4 News
youtu.be
February 17, 2026 at 9:08 AM
It is sort of amazing that we have a bigger surveillance infrastructure than at any time in UK history - and we're incapable of identifying the large vehicles moving massive piles of rubbish around.
Reposted by Matthew Cobb
We've been on the Northern Line. The idea that it's 2000 years old seems completely reasonable.
February 17, 2026 at 9:18 AM
We've been on the Northern Line. The idea that it's 2000 years old seems completely reasonable.