@microbingle.bsky.social
Reposted
Currently dorking out over this graph about child mortality with my brother. Just mind boggling to take in.
December 2, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Currently dorking out over this graph about child mortality with my brother. Just mind boggling to take in.
Reposted
A bit late kicking off #ChemAdvent day 1, but here we are!
This year I'm finding chemical connections between some previous ChemAdvent editions 🧪
First up, earthy pyrazines are the connection between the smells of chocolate and green bean casserole 🍫
This year I'm finding chemical connections between some previous ChemAdvent editions 🧪
First up, earthy pyrazines are the connection between the smells of chocolate and green bean casserole 🍫
December 1, 2025 at 10:10 PM
A bit late kicking off #ChemAdvent day 1, but here we are!
This year I'm finding chemical connections between some previous ChemAdvent editions 🧪
First up, earthy pyrazines are the connection between the smells of chocolate and green bean casserole 🍫
This year I'm finding chemical connections between some previous ChemAdvent editions 🧪
First up, earthy pyrazines are the connection between the smells of chocolate and green bean casserole 🍫
Reposted
The newly discovered archaean 𝘚𝘶𝘬𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘦𝘶𝘮 𝘮𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘦 has a genome with 238,000 base pairs, far fewer than humans (billions) or 𝘌. 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘪 (millions). The species was named after Sukuna-biko-na, a Shinto deity known for being tiny.
A Cell So Minimal That It Challenges Definitions of Life | Quanta Magazine
The newly described microbe represents a world of parasitic, intercellular biodiversity only beginning to be revealed by genome sequencing.
www.quantamagazine.org
November 29, 2025 at 9:04 PM
The newly discovered archaean 𝘚𝘶𝘬𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘦𝘶𝘮 𝘮𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘦 has a genome with 238,000 base pairs, far fewer than humans (billions) or 𝘌. 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘪 (millions). The species was named after Sukuna-biko-na, a Shinto deity known for being tiny.
Reposted
Today we’ll get latest net immigration figures - They’ll show immigration for work is plummeting.
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
November 27, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Today we’ll get latest net immigration figures - They’ll show immigration for work is plummeting.
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
Reposted
If you want some good news this morning, I showed my three boys the PM doing the six/seven thing and now they have all stopped doing it.
November 27, 2025 at 7:03 AM
If you want some good news this morning, I showed my three boys the PM doing the six/seven thing and now they have all stopped doing it.
Reposted
Threshold for repaying student loans to converge with minimum wage on.ft.com/3M2AYkD
Threshold for repaying student loans to converge with minimum wage
Surprise move from chancellor means some university graduates in England may have to pay back debts sooner
on.ft.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Threshold for repaying student loans to converge with minimum wage on.ft.com/3M2AYkD
Reposted
In 1924, Calvin Coolidge's 16-yr-old son played tennis on the White House grounds w/o wearing socks. He got a blister and was dead from infection a week later.
This is unthinkable today—which is why I wrote this series. Cuz the systems that save us from this kind of fate are in urgent need of care.
This is unthinkable today—which is why I wrote this series. Cuz the systems that save us from this kind of fate are in urgent need of care.
For a yr, I've been working on a series for The New Atlantis about the vast systems that underlie our lives. Our ancestors built them up over decades to fend off hunger, thirst, darkness and disease. But too few of us know about them—and they're all at risk. The conclusion is now available online:
Why We Are Better Off Than a Century Ago
Our ancestors built grand public systems to conquer hunger, thirst, darkness, and squalor. That progress can be lost if we forget it.
www.thenewatlantis.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:03 PM
In 1924, Calvin Coolidge's 16-yr-old son played tennis on the White House grounds w/o wearing socks. He got a blister and was dead from infection a week later.
This is unthinkable today—which is why I wrote this series. Cuz the systems that save us from this kind of fate are in urgent need of care.
This is unthinkable today—which is why I wrote this series. Cuz the systems that save us from this kind of fate are in urgent need of care.
Reposted
🆕 We’re looking for a Summer Intern to generate microscopy videos of bacteria bursting in response to administering antibiotics as part of a public education video on the uses of antibiotics and risks of misuse 🔬
🗓️ Apply by 5 January 2026
➡️ buff.ly/YlUQUho
🗓️ Apply by 5 January 2026
➡️ buff.ly/YlUQUho
November 24, 2025 at 1:01 PM
🆕 We’re looking for a Summer Intern to generate microscopy videos of bacteria bursting in response to administering antibiotics as part of a public education video on the uses of antibiotics and risks of misuse 🔬
🗓️ Apply by 5 January 2026
➡️ buff.ly/YlUQUho
🗓️ Apply by 5 January 2026
➡️ buff.ly/YlUQUho
Reposted
‼️🚨🗓️ CONTAMCALENDAR 2026 🗓️🚨‼️
Excited to say the ContamCalendar is back for its fifth edition! We’ve created a fresh new design, folding out for an A3 monthly spread. It’s our best yet, we hope you’ll love it 🗓️🦠🧫🍄
Get yours here ➡️ www.contam.club ⬅️
Excited to say the ContamCalendar is back for its fifth edition! We’ve created a fresh new design, folding out for an A3 monthly spread. It’s our best yet, we hope you’ll love it 🗓️🦠🧫🍄
Get yours here ➡️ www.contam.club ⬅️
November 21, 2025 at 3:30 PM
‼️🚨🗓️ CONTAMCALENDAR 2026 🗓️🚨‼️
Excited to say the ContamCalendar is back for its fifth edition! We’ve created a fresh new design, folding out for an A3 monthly spread. It’s our best yet, we hope you’ll love it 🗓️🦠🧫🍄
Get yours here ➡️ www.contam.club ⬅️
Excited to say the ContamCalendar is back for its fifth edition! We’ve created a fresh new design, folding out for an A3 monthly spread. It’s our best yet, we hope you’ll love it 🗓️🦠🧫🍄
Get yours here ➡️ www.contam.club ⬅️
Reposted
Chemist Rachel Fuller Brown was born #OTD in 1898. She co-discovered the antifungal nystatin while doing research for the New York State Department of Health, hence the name. (1/2) 🧪 👩🔬
Image: Smithsonian Institution
Image: Smithsonian Institution
November 23, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Chemist Rachel Fuller Brown was born #OTD in 1898. She co-discovered the antifungal nystatin while doing research for the New York State Department of Health, hence the name. (1/2) 🧪 👩🔬
Image: Smithsonian Institution
Image: Smithsonian Institution
Reposted
Hot off the press! Our latest paper led by @fernpizza.bsky.social, understanding how plasmids evolve inside cells. These small, self-replicating DNA circles live inside bacteria and carry antibiotic resistance genes, but also compete with one another to replicate. 1/
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Intracellular competition shapes plasmid population dynamics
From populations of multicellular organisms to selfish genetic elements, conflicts between levels of biological organization are central to evolution. Plasmids are extrachromosomal, self-replicating g...
www.science.org
November 20, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Hot off the press! Our latest paper led by @fernpizza.bsky.social, understanding how plasmids evolve inside cells. These small, self-replicating DNA circles live inside bacteria and carry antibiotic resistance genes, but also compete with one another to replicate. 1/
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted
The black hole in Durham County Council’s budget has grown by £11.1mn in the past two months under the control of Reform UK.
Its cabinet has been forced to approve a £10mn list of cuts.
Its cabinet has been forced to approve a £10mn list of cuts.
Reform cabinet backs £10mn cuts to start filling Durham’s growing black hole
Reform is now learning that running a big council is not as easy as it probably thought
northeastbylines.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 7:31 PM
The black hole in Durham County Council’s budget has grown by £11.1mn in the past two months under the control of Reform UK.
Its cabinet has been forced to approve a £10mn list of cuts.
Its cabinet has been forced to approve a £10mn list of cuts.
Reposted
🚨 BREAKING: Kent County Council is hurtling towards financial oblivion under Reform.
A shocking new council report reveals a projected budget black hole of £46.5 million for this year. The Reform Administration has completely lost control of our finances. 🔶
A shocking new council report reveals a projected budget black hole of £46.5 million for this year. The Reform Administration has completely lost control of our finances. 🔶
November 19, 2025 at 11:46 AM
🚨 BREAKING: Kent County Council is hurtling towards financial oblivion under Reform.
A shocking new council report reveals a projected budget black hole of £46.5 million for this year. The Reform Administration has completely lost control of our finances. 🔶
A shocking new council report reveals a projected budget black hole of £46.5 million for this year. The Reform Administration has completely lost control of our finances. 🔶
Reposted
Solarion, a newly discovered, very weird Jekyll-and-Hyde protist, makes its debut in @Nature doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Rare microbial relict sheds light on an ancient eukaryotic supergroup - Nature
The discovery of an unusual protist named Solarion arienae, which has a mitochondrial genome with some intriguing features, provides insight into the early radiation of eukaryotic groups.
doi.org
November 19, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Solarion, a newly discovered, very weird Jekyll-and-Hyde protist, makes its debut in @Nature doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Reposted
This #WAAW Don’t forget to get your awesome AMR abstracts submitted to join us in Hinxton to discuss AMR genomics, innovations in diagnostics,
therapeutics, and data analytics, and novel mechanisms of antimicrobial survival! #AMR2026
therapeutics, and data analytics, and novel mechanisms of antimicrobial survival! #AMR2026
Present your #AMR work at our dedicated forum for global researchers and practitioners! 🧫
🗓️ 23-25 March 2026
Submit abstract by 1 December 📩
Share #genomics and big data approaches for navigating the growing complexities in the AMR field.
📎bit.ly/3SWzJUm
#MicroSky #AMR2026
🗓️ 23-25 March 2026
Submit abstract by 1 December 📩
Share #genomics and big data approaches for navigating the growing complexities in the AMR field.
📎bit.ly/3SWzJUm
#MicroSky #AMR2026
November 19, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Reposted
PhD studentship opportunity! Join us at St Andrews to study the factors controlling plasmid transmission in the gut. Competition-funded as part of the EASTBIO DTP, co-supervised with Dr Jaclyn Pearson. Please share & pass on to anyone interested! 🦠🧫 Deadline 15th December👇
www.findaphd.com
November 18, 2025 at 11:41 AM
PhD studentship opportunity! Join us at St Andrews to study the factors controlling plasmid transmission in the gut. Competition-funded as part of the EASTBIO DTP, co-supervised with Dr Jaclyn Pearson. Please share & pass on to anyone interested! 🦠🧫 Deadline 15th December👇
Reposted
Happy to share our latest T6SS review:
nature.com/articles/s41...
Thank you, Jan, Danny (@dannyjamesward.bsky.social), Joana (@joanampereira.bsky.social), as well as reviewers and editors @natrevmicro.nature.com!
nature.com/articles/s41...
Thank you, Jan, Danny (@dannyjamesward.bsky.social), Joana (@joanampereira.bsky.social), as well as reviewers and editors @natrevmicro.nature.com!
The type VI secretion system and associated effector proteins - Nature Reviews Microbiology
In this Review, Basler and colleagues examine the type VI secretion system (T6SS), focusing on the diversity of antibacterial T6SS effectors and the evolutionary forces that shape them. They explain h...
nature.com
November 17, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Happy to share our latest T6SS review:
nature.com/articles/s41...
Thank you, Jan, Danny (@dannyjamesward.bsky.social), Joana (@joanampereira.bsky.social), as well as reviewers and editors @natrevmicro.nature.com!
nature.com/articles/s41...
Thank you, Jan, Danny (@dannyjamesward.bsky.social), Joana (@joanampereira.bsky.social), as well as reviewers and editors @natrevmicro.nature.com!
Reposted
If you'd like to celebrate the biology of viruses - or the fight against viral diseases - this winter, try out our free and updated #VirusSnowflake designs.
Please share, and if you have any photos of Virus Snowflakes in your area it would be lovely to see them!
cvr-engagement.co.uk/virus-snowfl...
Please share, and if you have any photos of Virus Snowflakes in your area it would be lovely to see them!
cvr-engagement.co.uk/virus-snowfl...
November 17, 2025 at 5:39 PM
If you'd like to celebrate the biology of viruses - or the fight against viral diseases - this winter, try out our free and updated #VirusSnowflake designs.
Please share, and if you have any photos of Virus Snowflakes in your area it would be lovely to see them!
cvr-engagement.co.uk/virus-snowfl...
Please share, and if you have any photos of Virus Snowflakes in your area it would be lovely to see them!
cvr-engagement.co.uk/virus-snowfl...
Reposted
The Home Secretary says "we have become the destination of choice in Europe, clearly visible to every people smuggler and would-be illegal migrant across the world"
That is a factually untrue claim: the Home Office shows that the UK is fifth, getting 1/10 claims, while Germany gets 1/5 claims
That is a factually untrue claim: the Home Office shows that the UK is fifth, getting 1/10 claims, while Germany gets 1/5 claims
November 17, 2025 at 3:51 PM
The Home Secretary says "we have become the destination of choice in Europe, clearly visible to every people smuggler and would-be illegal migrant across the world"
That is a factually untrue claim: the Home Office shows that the UK is fifth, getting 1/10 claims, while Germany gets 1/5 claims
That is a factually untrue claim: the Home Office shows that the UK is fifth, getting 1/10 claims, while Germany gets 1/5 claims
To Durham this evening for the last ever Lumiere. Maybe it's gilding the lily, but I thought the cathedral was spectacular & well worth the 25 minute queue.
November 15, 2025 at 11:39 PM
To Durham this evening for the last ever Lumiere. Maybe it's gilding the lily, but I thought the cathedral was spectacular & well worth the 25 minute queue.
Reposted
Are you a piano player?
Become part of a World Record Attempt and help support family-poverty charity, Love, Amelia
Read the BBC article below and then sign up at
tinyurl.com/KeysoftheCity
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Become part of a World Record Attempt and help support family-poverty charity, Love, Amelia
Read the BBC article below and then sign up at
tinyurl.com/KeysoftheCity
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
How Sunderland musicians can break a piano world record
If you can play a piano, Sunderland Music City wants you to help them join the longest piano relay.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Are you a piano player?
Become part of a World Record Attempt and help support family-poverty charity, Love, Amelia
Read the BBC article below and then sign up at
tinyurl.com/KeysoftheCity
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Become part of a World Record Attempt and help support family-poverty charity, Love, Amelia
Read the BBC article below and then sign up at
tinyurl.com/KeysoftheCity
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted
I am bewildered that this labour of Sisyphus is being carried out by volunteers, while Southern Water, which has admitted responsibility for the catastrophe, is doing nothing to remediate it.
‘We feel we’re fighting a losing battle’: the race to remove millions of plastic beads from Camber Sands
A huge cleanup effort has seen volunteers working to remove beads by hand and machine. They can only wait and see the extent of damage to wildlife and dune habitat
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 8:19 AM
I am bewildered that this labour of Sisyphus is being carried out by volunteers, while Southern Water, which has admitted responsibility for the catastrophe, is doing nothing to remediate it.
Reposted
Glasgow fought tuberculosis long after rates fell elsewhere in Britain. In 1957, the city launched a month-long mass X-ray drive—backed by a full media blitz. This ad appeared on the side of a tram. This image is from the Wellcome Collection, London.
#Glasgow #Scotland #PublicHealth #TB #MedHist
#Glasgow #Scotland #PublicHealth #TB #MedHist
November 10, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Glasgow fought tuberculosis long after rates fell elsewhere in Britain. In 1957, the city launched a month-long mass X-ray drive—backed by a full media blitz. This ad appeared on the side of a tram. This image is from the Wellcome Collection, London.
#Glasgow #Scotland #PublicHealth #TB #MedHist
#Glasgow #Scotland #PublicHealth #TB #MedHist
Have formed a vague impression that people disagree with (some aspects of) One Health, but don't really understand why. Is it is about how much animal AMR contributes to clinical AMR? Can someone please explain or point me at a paper?
November 10, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Have formed a vague impression that people disagree with (some aspects of) One Health, but don't really understand why. Is it is about how much animal AMR contributes to clinical AMR? Can someone please explain or point me at a paper?