This study demonstrates that sabre-tooth canine shape is exceptionally diverse. A functional analysis of theoretical and actual tooth shapes shows that these canines represent a compromise between sharpness, curvature, and length vs. robustness and material investment.

The second paper (based on the 3rd-year project of former student Caitlin Shelbourne) explores the shape diversity of the eponymous canine teeth across different sabre-tooth groups.
anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Our results show that Barbourofelis was a force to be reckoned with and that its skull could withstand higher stresses than that of Smilodon hinting at a more generalist behaviour to subdue prey.

The first paper (with co-authors @bortxaf.bsky.social and Shane West) investigates the feeding biomechanics of the “false sabre-tooth cat” Barbourofelis and how it compares to the iconic Smilodon:
anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Very happy to have contributed two papers to this Special Issue on Sabertooths:

As we see so often in research, bullies and abusers do terrible things while everyone who could stop them wrings their hands and gives free speech platitudes just so they don't have to act with unity and strength.

This is just another example of academic inequalities and harms writ large. Appalling

He should have been expelled. This is way more than policing opinions.

- Inciting violence at far right rallies
- Interfering in government affairs
- Destroying health and science infrastructures
- Ensuring thousands will die

Abusers, excused and enabled by craven others, always grow in power.

Until a few weeks ago I knew next to nothing about early Devonian jawless fish. To be honest, I still know shamefully little about them. But I’m currently illustrating a bunch of them, and have become utterly fascinated by these extraordinary little freaks.
Anyway, just saying 🤷‍♂️

Is it really *that hard* to say that it is totally morally wrong to say to people who have come here legally, worked, paid taxes, built their lives here, contributed to Britain, that they have to fuck off now, rather than "unfunded".

That feeling of desperately wanting your elected government to loudly call out racism & far right violent extremists...

And nothing.

Labour so afraid to lose power, it has forgotten both how to use it & that with power comes responsibility.

As America gets ever darker, too little light here.

Expect more silence from the Royal Society in the face of their most notorious fellow advocating for the overthrow of the democratically elected government of a country he is neither a citizen nor a resident of (yet he is a fellow of their most prestigious learned society).

@palaeostephan.bsky.social - you might enjoy this one. 😉

Wow, this is excellent. I will have to get a print of this from you for my office! Will be a nice addition to your Erlikosaurus pencil sketch I got from @veganjenny.bsky.social

Should All Earth Scientists Be Vegan?

Watch our full discussion with Earth Scientist & Geophysicist Chris MacAskill from Viva Longevity on the PBN YouTube channel 📺🌱

Megalosaurus: an illustration for an exhibition last year at Lapworth Museum to mark 200 years since it was officially described.

The Prime Minister imitating Enoch Powell’s ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech is sickening.

That speech fuelled decades of racism and division. Echoing it today is a disgrace. It adds to anti-migrant rhetoric that puts lives at risk.

Shame on you, Keir Starmer.

You are a "citizen of nowhere", they said.

A "queue-jumper", they said.

Now I am a "squalid chapter", they say.

A risk as I might make this an "island of strangers", they say.

I am "pulling the country apart", they say.

Nice write-up of our Rancor study: www.iflscience.com/is-a-bone-a-...

This is horrendous but far from just a problem in German academia (albeit exacerbated by its civil servant system)! One of the problems outlined in the article is the lack of consequences and the precarity for those who have experienced abuse and bullying.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...

We have a new social media feature starting: #WhatsNewWednesdays!

For our first post we want to tell you about Ben Miller's #comedy show at the Museum in September! Have you ever watched a #comedian perform under a #dinosaur?

Book earlybird tickets now: lapworth-comedy.even...

#LapworthRocks

I'm disappointed to resign from the editorial board of @royalsocietypublishing.org @royalsociety.org journal Biology Letters. I won't give my time and labour away to an organisation that - through inaction - condones the destruction of US science by one of its own, Elon Musk FRS.

🧪⚒️

And this is Thomas' excellent video abstract you are looking for: www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3Js...

The bite force is strong with this one!

Reposting our recent study by @taphonomist.bsky.social and myself investigating the biomechanics and bite of the Rancor. jgeekstudies.org/2025/03/08/i... in @jgeekstudies.bsky.social‬

Happy May the 4th!!!!

#StarWarsDay #StarWars #MayThe4thBeWithYou