I suppose Cambridge is kinda nice

Four images featuring Matt in his office, the film crew setting up a couple of shots and Max from Matt's lab

We’re delighted to share a ‘behind-the-scenes’ peek of SBS TV filming Matt Higgins @parasitematt.bsky.social and his group this week for a documentary on the Future of Medicine with AlphaFold. It will air in South Korea in early May 2026. Watch this space for more!

Stop trying to jinx us 😡

I wrote an essay. It’s about gain-of-function mutations. And penguins. Also ion channels, chihuahuas, the film Alien, recycled cardboard, and the Apollonian mind. Oh, and muffins.
Thanks to the editors of #GENETICS @genetics-gsa.bsky.social for letting me take some stylistic liberties. 1/2

@stannescollege.bsky.social looks mighty fine today

Football really is a ridiculous sport.

Won’t get a chance this trip, alas. A few others have also recommended it. On the list for next time

Thank you!

In Basel. Nice view from the hotel. Giving a talk tomorrow: Molecular Choreography of Bacterial Membranes’

Thrilled to see my group’s work feature in this report on the returns on the UK’s investment in High Performance Computing

Investment in HPC makes scientific, societal and economic sense.

It’s been a week of alpacas and goats (donkeys and horses too, data not shown).

Idling about on the first day after the end of term. Just watched the set from Cat Stevens in Glastonbury from 2023 - damn it was good.

Comparative Epigenomics Reveals that RNA Polymerase II Pausing and Chromatin Domain Organization Control Nematode piRNA Biogenesis piRNAs are an important genome regulatory mechanism conserved across metazoans. In the nematode C. elegans, piRNA biogenesis evolved several differences from other metazoans. Beltran et al. study the ...

Happy pi (RNA) day everyone! And what better way to enjoy than to revisit the unusual features of nematode piRNAs: www.cell.com/developmenta...

Well done to Jude Tunyi from Simon Newstead’s group on a very successful DPhil viva. A pleasure to examine alongside @lizmillercu.bsky.social
All the very best for the future Jude

Characterizing the Conformational Dynamics of the Ribose Transporter B Protein in Escherichia coli: Enhanced Sampling via Multiple Force Fields We present a molecular dynamics simulation study of the E. coli ribose transporter protein B (RbsB), a conformationally labile protein found in the periplasm of the bacterium. The ribose transporter e...

Our latest paper in which we use multiple force fields to recover various conformations of the ribose transporter from E. coli. The work of DPhil student Nikolai Juraschko and postdoc Florencia Klein Rocha

pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....

Go talk to your Iranian friends, students, postdocs, colleagues. Offer to take on their tasks at work. There is little contact with Iran right now from outside - most of us have no idea what it is like not to have contact with family members while they are being attacked.

Come work with Ben Berks FRS in Oxford
2 x PDRA posts: Molecular Analysis of Bacterial Outer Membrane Protein Biogenesis

2 complementary projects investigating bacterial outer membrane protein biogenesis. Building on our recent work (Nature (2015) 647: 479-487)

my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...

Last night brought our termly Lockdown Translations Unlocked evening of creative translations. Here are just some of those who featured. Many thanks to Dr Francesca Beretta for organising a great event and all those who contributed.

Structural basis for domain coupling in heteromeric glycine receptors revealed by an atypical allosteric agonist Counteracting ligands stabilize glycine receptor states revealing mechanisms of pentameric ligand-gated channel allostery.

Check out our latest paper on the glycine receptor with
@chakrapanilab.bsky.social

where we show the interplay between the orthosteric and allosteric binding sites.

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Advanced Computational Methods in Protein Simulations: A Case Study of Enhanced Sampling Applied to Membrane Transporters We review the use of state-of-the-art enhanced sampling techniques in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We briefly introduce the principles and practical considerations underlying the application o...

Check out our latest review of advanced sampling of membrane transporter dynamics - link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...

Great work from Jon Colburn and @simonlichtinger.bsky.social !

View of the @britishlibrary.bsky.social from my hotel. A long day again, but a good day

Ancient wine-making tradition in Pakistan. An interesting read imho

www.wineenthusiast.com/kalash-wine-...

Raymond stands at the centre of the picture next to the entrance to the seminar room. He is surrounded by five family members including his wife.

Yesterday we came together to honour Professor Raymond Dwek through the naming of the Raymond Dwek Seminar Room. Raymond's family (pictured) joined the celebration and Raymond was visibly touched, saying: "Thank you for this amazing gesture. I'm humbled by it, but I will treasure it."

Andrew & Fergie hiding in the jungle to escape the Epstein allegations.
Credit: Sahdia Khalid

Where Genome Editing and Artificial Intelligence meet New Species Lie Podcast Episode · Science Of The Times · 05/02/2026 · 45m

In today's @scienceofthetimes.bsky.social @sykhalid.bsky.social ^& I talk with Adrian Wooflson about his new book "On the Future of Species". Where AI and genome editing meet, new species lie, and ethical questions emerge. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...

It’s a highlight of my career that I do know him.

Many layers to this mate, but mostly- let’s be kind to each other, who knows what’s coming around the corner?

A portrait of a woman, Mary Somerville, dressed in 19th-century attire, featuring a dark gown with a fur trim and a lace ruffle at the neckline. The person has a composed expression and an elegant hairstyle. The background is dark, highlighting the figure.

A historical text page discussing a scientific study titled "On the Magnetizing Power of the More Refrangible Solar Rays" by Mrs. M. Somerville, communicated by W. Somerville, M.D. F.R.S., dated February 2, 1826.

#OnThisDay in 1826, the first paper to be written by a woman was read at a Royal Society meeting. The paper, by noted polymath Mary Somerville, was read at the meeting by her husband, as she wasn't permitted to attend. https://bit.ly/2A3Cj2N

Bacteriocin biophysics: From protein-protein interaction models to navigators of the bacterial cell envelope Bacteriocins are toxins deployed by bacteria to kill their competitors. Here, I reflect on my laboratory’s work on protein bacteriocins and their immunity proteins from Gram-negative bacteria. We unco...

A gift of an article from the inimitable Colin Kleanthous as he says a moving farewell to his laboratory. A brave, unrepentant and scientifically brilliant journey is described - please have a read, friends.

www.jbc.org/article/S002...

Three UK research councils suspend funding opportunities Temporary block on grant applications by MRC, BBSRC and EPSRC heightens concerns over funding cuts

Scientists are concerned that curiosity-driven research is set to be further cut back after three research councils confirmed they have paused funding opportunities. @jgro-the.bsky.social reports #academicsky #researchfunding
https://ow.ly/lpvO50Y67ku