Robert Insall
@robinsall.bsky.social
Chemotaxis. Math. Computers. Cells. Machine learning.
old man done good
February 8, 2026 at 12:12 AM
old man done good
Apple will try and persuade you to update Keynote.
Don't!
The new one is foul, the equivalent of a budget airline, advertising everywhere and nudges to try and extract more of your cash and embed their AI.
I'll give htem a month then find a new program.
Don't!
The new one is foul, the equivalent of a budget airline, advertising everywhere and nudges to try and extract more of your cash and embed their AI.
I'll give htem a month then find a new program.
February 4, 2026 at 10:46 PM
Apple will try and persuade you to update Keynote.
Don't!
The new one is foul, the equivalent of a budget airline, advertising everywhere and nudges to try and extract more of your cash and embed their AI.
I'll give htem a month then find a new program.
Don't!
The new one is foul, the equivalent of a budget airline, advertising everywhere and nudges to try and extract more of your cash and embed their AI.
I'll give htem a month then find a new program.
Reposted by Robert Insall
The "Friends Don't Let Friends Make Bad Graphs" list is great...
BUT
I STRONGLY disagree with the suggestion to use log scaled axis on barplots.
(the absolute worse being "stacked barplots on logscale")
Just don't use barplots if the values are on different orders of magnitude.
Who's with me?
BUT
I STRONGLY disagree with the suggestion to use log scaled axis on barplots.
(the absolute worse being "stacked barplots on logscale")
Just don't use barplots if the values are on different orders of magnitude.
Who's with me?
February 4, 2026 at 2:18 PM
The "Friends Don't Let Friends Make Bad Graphs" list is great...
BUT
I STRONGLY disagree with the suggestion to use log scaled axis on barplots.
(the absolute worse being "stacked barplots on logscale")
Just don't use barplots if the values are on different orders of magnitude.
Who's with me?
BUT
I STRONGLY disagree with the suggestion to use log scaled axis on barplots.
(the absolute worse being "stacked barplots on logscale")
Just don't use barplots if the values are on different orders of magnitude.
Who's with me?
I think Ian Chapman's focus throughout this process has been excessively PI-centred and ignores early career researchers and training.
A big funding pause doesn't cause them to worry about their jobs. It causes them to lose their jobs. And to be unable to get new ones. Their careers will be ended.
A big funding pause doesn't cause them to worry about their jobs. It causes them to lose their jobs. And to be unable to get new ones. Their careers will be ended.
"I realise that this causes upset, it causes uncertainty, it actually causes people to actually worry about their jobs"
"It’s my organisations fault for that, we have not managed that process well enough"
"It’s my organisations fault for that, we have not managed that process well enough"
February 3, 2026 at 11:36 AM
I think Ian Chapman's focus throughout this process has been excessively PI-centred and ignores early career researchers and training.
A big funding pause doesn't cause them to worry about their jobs. It causes them to lose their jobs. And to be unable to get new ones. Their careers will be ended.
A big funding pause doesn't cause them to worry about their jobs. It causes them to lose their jobs. And to be unable to get new ones. Their careers will be ended.
Reposted by Robert Insall
Today, we're sharing an open letter from our Chief Executive, Professor Sir Ian Chapman, outlining changes to UKRI investment approach, and addressing concerns about research funding and the financial position of STFC. Read his letter here: www.ukri.org/news/open-le...
Open letter from Ian Chapman to research and innovation community
UKRI Chief Executive outlines changes to UKRI investment approach, addressing concerns about research funding and the financial position of STFC.
www.ukri.org
February 1, 2026 at 5:16 PM
Today, we're sharing an open letter from our Chief Executive, Professor Sir Ian Chapman, outlining changes to UKRI investment approach, and addressing concerns about research funding and the financial position of STFC. Read his letter here: www.ukri.org/news/open-le...
Reposted by Robert Insall
Wiley: "We’re supporting responsible research assessment practices" onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1520...
Also Wiley: "Prove that your article is a good fit for this journal 😉😉😉😉😉 by citing at least two of our articles in your manuscript before we will even consider reviewing it" 🤡
Also Wiley: "Prove that your article is a good fit for this journal 😉😉😉😉😉 by citing at least two of our articles in your manuscript before we will even consider reviewing it" 🤡
January 30, 2026 at 11:29 AM
Wiley: "We’re supporting responsible research assessment practices" onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1520...
Also Wiley: "Prove that your article is a good fit for this journal 😉😉😉😉😉 by citing at least two of our articles in your manuscript before we will even consider reviewing it" 🤡
Also Wiley: "Prove that your article is a good fit for this journal 😉😉😉😉😉 by citing at least two of our articles in your manuscript before we will even consider reviewing it" 🤡
Reposted by Robert Insall
At least the physicists are standing up for themselves. Still waiting for the senior leaders of biological sciences to say anything at all about MRC/BBSRC actions.
Nobel winner and senior scientists slam cuts to UK physics
“These cuts are the inevitable consequence of the government’s choices,” Nobel winner Andre Geim tells me
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
“These cuts are the inevitable consequence of the government’s choices,” Nobel winner Andre Geim tells me
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Nobel winner and senior scientists slam cuts to UK physics - Research Professional News
Science and Technology Facilities Council’s £162 million cost-saving measures “will have catastrophic consequences”, government warned
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
January 29, 2026 at 4:00 PM
At least the physicists are standing up for themselves. Still waiting for the senior leaders of biological sciences to say anything at all about MRC/BBSRC actions.
Reposted by Robert Insall
Have a look at our latest preprint, "Nuclear plasticity regulates macrophage phagocytic capacity in vivo".
#apoptoticbodies #efferocytosis #nucleus #Drosophila #macrophages #mechanoresponse #InVivo #LiveImaging
doi.org/10.64898/202...
#apoptoticbodies #efferocytosis #nucleus #Drosophila #macrophages #mechanoresponse #InVivo #LiveImaging
doi.org/10.64898/202...
January 26, 2026 at 11:22 AM
Have a look at our latest preprint, "Nuclear plasticity regulates macrophage phagocytic capacity in vivo".
#apoptoticbodies #efferocytosis #nucleus #Drosophila #macrophages #mechanoresponse #InVivo #LiveImaging
doi.org/10.64898/202...
#apoptoticbodies #efferocytosis #nucleus #Drosophila #macrophages #mechanoresponse #InVivo #LiveImaging
doi.org/10.64898/202...
Reposted by Robert Insall
I'm seeing relatively little chatter or outcry about what is happening at the MRC, the UK's biomedical research funder.
Before Christmas MRC paused the acceptance of many of its grants, including the standard applicant-led research grant. There has been no public information on what is happening 🧵
Before Christmas MRC paused the acceptance of many of its grants, including the standard applicant-led research grant. There has been no public information on what is happening 🧵
January 23, 2026 at 1:50 PM
I'm seeing relatively little chatter or outcry about what is happening at the MRC, the UK's biomedical research funder.
Before Christmas MRC paused the acceptance of many of its grants, including the standard applicant-led research grant. There has been no public information on what is happening 🧵
Before Christmas MRC paused the acceptance of many of its grants, including the standard applicant-led research grant. There has been no public information on what is happening 🧵
My phone has started giving "low confidence transcripts" when my dad calls.
😂
😂
January 14, 2026 at 2:18 PM
My phone has started giving "low confidence transcripts" when my dad calls.
😂
😂
This is extremely good. Exemplary, even.
Won best thesis award with this video! 4 years of research and play in 3 minutes :')
youtu.be/so0fPlK1-LM
youtu.be/so0fPlK1-LM
Smart microscopy, computer vision, and controlling cells with light -- my PhD thesis in 3 minutes
YouTube video by Pertz Lab
youtu.be
January 8, 2026 at 9:14 PM
This is extremely good. Exemplary, even.
Reposted by Robert Insall
They're actually dis-recommending meningitis vaccines? They must really hate human beings.
In RFK's favour, he will be dead when lots of them die of meningitis in college. But that really is a foul game to play.
In RFK's favour, he will be dead when lots of them die of meningitis in college. But that really is a foul game to play.
January 5, 2026 at 9:38 PM
They're actually dis-recommending meningitis vaccines? They must really hate human beings.
In RFK's favour, he will be dead when lots of them die of meningitis in college. But that really is a foul game to play.
In RFK's favour, he will be dead when lots of them die of meningitis in college. But that really is a foul game to play.
Reposted by Robert Insall
You can see some of these stereotypes - the simple, morally pure countryside vs. the morally compromised, inauthentic city - play out in Greek and Roman literature.
So this is a very old idea that recurs regularly.
So this is a very old idea that recurs regularly.
Do other countries have this weird notion that you’re not a “real” representative of the nation if you live in an urban center? Like do the French say Parisians aren’t really French? Are you considered not a real German if you live in Berlin? Or is this mainly a weird American thing?
January 1, 2026 at 7:24 PM
You can see some of these stereotypes - the simple, morally pure countryside vs. the morally compromised, inauthentic city - play out in Greek and Roman literature.
So this is a very old idea that recurs regularly.
So this is a very old idea that recurs regularly.
Reposted by Robert Insall
Just making sure that 2025 is definitely over
January 1, 2026 at 4:43 AM
Just making sure that 2025 is definitely over
Extraordinary narrative about weaponized ignorance
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has stated that the 1918 flu pandemic was caused by a lab virus from vaccine research, a defective influenza vaccine. Let’s analyze what a lie this is. First, in 1918, 107 years ago, virology was in its infancy
December 28, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Extraordinary narrative about weaponized ignorance
Reposted by Robert Insall
The Gothic arms were less fatal to the schools of Athens than the establishment of a new religion, whose ministers superseded the exercise of reason, resolved every question by an article of faith, and condemned the infidel or sceptic to eternal flames.
-Gibbon #DeclineAndFall
-Gibbon #DeclineAndFall
December 23, 2025 at 8:33 AM
The Gothic arms were less fatal to the schools of Athens than the establishment of a new religion, whose ministers superseded the exercise of reason, resolved every question by an article of faith, and condemned the infidel or sceptic to eternal flames.
-Gibbon #DeclineAndFall
-Gibbon #DeclineAndFall
Nice image from Anamul Hoque "tidied up" a bit by ChatGPT - won us the "best image" prize at UCL Life Sciences.
Ernst Haeckel, eat your heart out.
Ernst Haeckel, eat your heart out.
December 18, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Nice image from Anamul Hoque "tidied up" a bit by ChatGPT - won us the "best image" prize at UCL Life Sciences.
Ernst Haeckel, eat your heart out.
Ernst Haeckel, eat your heart out.
Reposted by Robert Insall
“A process which led from the amoeba to man appeared to the philosophers to be obviously a progress - though whether the amoeba would agree with this opinion is not known"
- Bertrand Russell, 1976.
Time-lapse video of Vampyrella lateritia eating Spirogyra algae from Science Source/Oliver Skibbe. 🦠
- Bertrand Russell, 1976.
Time-lapse video of Vampyrella lateritia eating Spirogyra algae from Science Source/Oliver Skibbe. 🦠
December 17, 2025 at 4:53 PM
“A process which led from the amoeba to man appeared to the philosophers to be obviously a progress - though whether the amoeba would agree with this opinion is not known"
- Bertrand Russell, 1976.
Time-lapse video of Vampyrella lateritia eating Spirogyra algae from Science Source/Oliver Skibbe. 🦠
- Bertrand Russell, 1976.
Time-lapse video of Vampyrella lateritia eating Spirogyra algae from Science Source/Oliver Skibbe. 🦠
Contact Inhibition coordinating tissues made sparsely of mesenchymal cells.
From Alex Grigas @ ManningGroup and @mongeralab.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
From Alex Grigas @ ManningGroup and @mongeralab.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Sparse mesenchymal cell networks as a fluid under tension
Sparse mesenchymal cellular networks are ubiquitous across animals, shaping both embryonic and adult structures through dynamic interactions with epithelia. Yet, the physical principles underlying the...
www.biorxiv.org
December 17, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Contact Inhibition coordinating tissues made sparsely of mesenchymal cells.
From Alex Grigas @ ManningGroup and @mongeralab.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
From Alex Grigas @ ManningGroup and @mongeralab.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
YASSSSSS!!!!!
December 17, 2025 at 8:07 AM
YASSSSSS!!!!!
Reposted by Robert Insall
December 17, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Looked on Twitter/X for news on the Brown shooting and to check if any of my many colleagues and friends has been harmed.
And my lord has that place ever become a cesspit. Awful.
And my lord has that place ever become a cesspit. Awful.
December 14, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Looked on Twitter/X for news on the Brown shooting and to check if any of my many colleagues and friends has been harmed.
And my lord has that place ever become a cesspit. Awful.
And my lord has that place ever become a cesspit. Awful.
Hahahahahaha
They've realised the disaster they've directly brought to the country, wilfully promoting antivax propaganda and propagandists, but they manage to blame it on BIDEN? Spectacular mental gymnastics.
They've realised the disaster they've directly brought to the country, wilfully promoting antivax propaganda and propagandists, but they manage to blame it on BIDEN? Spectacular mental gymnastics.
December 13, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Hahahahahaha
They've realised the disaster they've directly brought to the country, wilfully promoting antivax propaganda and propagandists, but they manage to blame it on BIDEN? Spectacular mental gymnastics.
They've realised the disaster they've directly brought to the country, wilfully promoting antivax propaganda and propagandists, but they manage to blame it on BIDEN? Spectacular mental gymnastics.
Excellent final sessions to complete an excellent #cellbio2025...
December 10, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Excellent final sessions to complete an excellent #cellbio2025...