Sam Mugford
@samtmugford.bsky.social
Pinned
Sam Mugford
@samtmugford.bsky.social
· Nov 18
The conserved aphid saliva chemosensory protein effector Mp10 targets plant AMSH deubiquitinases at cellular membranes to suppress pattern-triggered immunity https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.11.15.622802v1
The conserved aphid saliva chemosensory protein effector Mp10 targets plant AMSH deubiquitinases at cellular membranes to suppress pattern-triggered immunity https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.11.15.622802v1
Chemosensory proteins (CSPs) are a conserved family present in insects and other arthropods, recogni
www.biorxiv.org
We’re delighted to share our latest preprint from the Hogenhout lab (@saskiahogenhout.bsky.social) on the molecular mechanisms on plant-aphid interactions. Here we show how the aphid Mp10 effector protein acts as a local anaesthetic to suppress the plant perception of aphid attack
Reposted by Sam Mugford
Trees are amazing! They build their bodies from thin air, move water with pressures that would crush a human, and grow using a system of living cables wrapped in layers of corpses. Watch our video to find out how they work, and why they might even be immortal: https://kgs.link/TreesAreDead
November 25, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Trees are amazing! They build their bodies from thin air, move water with pressures that would crush a human, and grow using a system of living cables wrapped in layers of corpses. Watch our video to find out how they work, and why they might even be immortal: https://kgs.link/TreesAreDead
Reposted by Sam Mugford
Environment groups are technicians trying to help maintain the life support systems on our spaceship. Their interests are definitely everyone's interests
Sally Sara #RNbreakfast on the #environment Bill:
"industry and environment groups continue to lobby for their interests".
No. Industry groups lobby for their interests/profits.
Environment groups lobby for the national interest, and future generations.
More 'both sides' media crap. #auspol
"industry and environment groups continue to lobby for their interests".
No. Industry groups lobby for their interests/profits.
Environment groups lobby for the national interest, and future generations.
More 'both sides' media crap. #auspol
November 25, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Environment groups are technicians trying to help maintain the life support systems on our spaceship. Their interests are definitely everyone's interests
Reposted by Sam Mugford
Google at its peak was basically the best information retrieval system in human history and they and every competitor decided going from there to “you didn’t want answers you wanted half-assed auto-complete 80%-wrong hallucinations” in a few years was the right idea
November 25, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Google at its peak was basically the best information retrieval system in human history and they and every competitor decided going from there to “you didn’t want answers you wanted half-assed auto-complete 80%-wrong hallucinations” in a few years was the right idea
It's the anniversary of Darwin publishing Origin of Species, if you've not read it just skip to the final paragraph. It slaps
November 24, 2025 at 10:59 PM
It's the anniversary of Darwin publishing Origin of Species, if you've not read it just skip to the final paragraph. It slaps
Reposted by Sam Mugford
PRESS RELEASE – Dr Hassan Salem to lead independent research group on plant-insect interactions
Following an international search, we are delighted to announce that Dr Hassan Salem @hassansalem.bsky.social will be joining us in early 2026: www.jic.ac.uk/press-releas...
Following an international search, we are delighted to announce that Dr Hassan Salem @hassansalem.bsky.social will be joining us in early 2026: www.jic.ac.uk/press-releas...
November 24, 2025 at 4:11 PM
PRESS RELEASE – Dr Hassan Salem to lead independent research group on plant-insect interactions
Following an international search, we are delighted to announce that Dr Hassan Salem @hassansalem.bsky.social will be joining us in early 2026: www.jic.ac.uk/press-releas...
Following an international search, we are delighted to announce that Dr Hassan Salem @hassansalem.bsky.social will be joining us in early 2026: www.jic.ac.uk/press-releas...
Reposted by Sam Mugford
There are over 18,000 types of lichen in existence. My personal favourite is ‘village bench lichen’, which devotes its entire existence selflessly to gradually making communal public seating more furry and comfortable.
November 19, 2025 at 9:05 AM
There are over 18,000 types of lichen in existence. My personal favourite is ‘village bench lichen’, which devotes its entire existence selflessly to gradually making communal public seating more furry and comfortable.
Reposted by Sam Mugford
“I asked ChatGPT” “I asked Claude” I asked this horseshoe crab and he said your ass wouldn’t have lasted two seconds in the Triassic
November 23, 2025 at 9:50 PM
“I asked ChatGPT” “I asked Claude” I asked this horseshoe crab and he said your ass wouldn’t have lasted two seconds in the Triassic
Reposted by Sam Mugford
November 23, 2025 at 3:11 AM
Reposted by Sam Mugford
When I was in 7th grade my science teacher had everybody write up the instructions for how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich
Then, he brought in the ingredients and followed the instructions very literally to hilarious effect.
It was an intro to describing methodology, and a good bit
Then, he brought in the ingredients and followed the instructions very literally to hilarious effect.
It was an intro to describing methodology, and a good bit
November 23, 2025 at 1:34 PM
When I was in 7th grade my science teacher had everybody write up the instructions for how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich
Then, he brought in the ingredients and followed the instructions very literally to hilarious effect.
It was an intro to describing methodology, and a good bit
Then, he brought in the ingredients and followed the instructions very literally to hilarious effect.
It was an intro to describing methodology, and a good bit
Reposted by Sam Mugford
Metaphors take the rest of the decade off. Great work lads
BREAKING: The UN climate talks COP30 have been evacuated due to a fire breaking out inside the venue in Belém, Brazil.
November 20, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Metaphors take the rest of the decade off. Great work lads
Reposted by Sam Mugford
In an era filled with tech dipshits who never developed emotionally past the age of 13 & use their wealth to become odious monsters ...
... listen to Steve Wozniak.
... listen to Steve Wozniak.
November 21, 2025 at 7:41 PM
In an era filled with tech dipshits who never developed emotionally past the age of 13 & use their wealth to become odious monsters ...
... listen to Steve Wozniak.
... listen to Steve Wozniak.
Reposted by Sam Mugford
The cricket score.
i googled that thing that people said not to google and i do not know what i was expecting but sometimes you actually really should listen to your internet friends
November 22, 2025 at 6:36 AM
The cricket score.
Reposted by Sam Mugford
Björk is 60.
Seen here in Lars von Trier’s Charlie’s Angels (1994)
Seen here in Lars von Trier’s Charlie’s Angels (1994)
November 21, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Björk is 60.
Seen here in Lars von Trier’s Charlie’s Angels (1994)
Seen here in Lars von Trier’s Charlie’s Angels (1994)
Reposted by Sam Mugford
The idea that being a scientist makes you “not spiritual” is such an ignorant, unfounded prejudice.
November 21, 2025 at 8:08 AM
The idea that being a scientist makes you “not spiritual” is such an ignorant, unfounded prejudice.
Reposted by Sam Mugford
Comparative genomics of a poinsettia-associated phytoplasma and functional validation of its SAP11-homologous effectors that induce plant branching https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.17.683024v1
October 17, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Comparative genomics of a poinsettia-associated phytoplasma and functional validation of its SAP11-homologous effectors that induce plant branching https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.17.683024v1
Reposted by Sam Mugford
And the BBC.
All together now: This is why we stand up and litigate frivolous and vexatious lawsuits rather than settling.
Let's hope @cbsnews.com and ABC are taking notes.
Let's hope @cbsnews.com and ABC are taking notes.
JUST IN: A federal appeals court panel (with 2/3 Trump appointees) calls his lawsuit against CNN — over use of the term Big Lie — "meritless" and affirms the decision by a lower court to throw it out. s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
November 18, 2025 at 6:24 PM
And the BBC.
Reposted by Sam Mugford
I keep thinking about the Raymond Williams line: "To be truly radical is to make hope possible rather than despair convincing".
Hope is not easy. Despair seems obvious. But every howl of despair manifests as further malignance. Compliance with fascism is despair metastasising.
Hope is not easy. Despair seems obvious. But every howl of despair manifests as further malignance. Compliance with fascism is despair metastasising.
November 18, 2025 at 12:06 PM
I keep thinking about the Raymond Williams line: "To be truly radical is to make hope possible rather than despair convincing".
Hope is not easy. Despair seems obvious. But every howl of despair manifests as further malignance. Compliance with fascism is despair metastasising.
Hope is not easy. Despair seems obvious. But every howl of despair manifests as further malignance. Compliance with fascism is despair metastasising.
Reposted by Sam Mugford
OH MY GOODNESS!
Kewl: Thomas Deininger is a Rhode Island artist known for crafting intricate assemblages from found and discarded objects, turning everyday trash into striking visual stories.
November 16, 2025 at 12:08 PM
OH MY GOODNESS!
I had the pleasure of talking to the good folk of the Wymondham nature group for an hour about the wierd toilet habits of sap sucking insects tonight. And my latest publication appeared in the village newsletter!
November 13, 2025 at 10:16 PM
I had the pleasure of talking to the good folk of the Wymondham nature group for an hour about the wierd toilet habits of sap sucking insects tonight. And my latest publication appeared in the village newsletter!
Google scholar citation count has just tipped over the 2024 number so that's the start of my christmas break i don't make the rules
November 13, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Google scholar citation count has just tipped over the 2024 number so that's the start of my christmas break i don't make the rules
Reposted by Sam Mugford
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
November 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
Reposted by Sam Mugford
Net zero is one of the many areas where commentators are out-of-touch with public opinion in Britain. There is still broad support for cutting carbon emissions - except from among Reform supporters, who are the outliers.
🧵/ How far does the public support net zero?
Support: 60%
Oppose: 25%
Net support by party
Green: +81
Lib Dem: +67
Lab: +64
Con: +11
Reform: -44
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
Support: 60%
Oppose: 25%
Net support by party
Green: +81
Lib Dem: +67
Lab: +64
Con: +11
Reform: -44
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
November 11, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Net zero is one of the many areas where commentators are out-of-touch with public opinion in Britain. There is still broad support for cutting carbon emissions - except from among Reform supporters, who are the outliers.