Pangolins possess a spectacular, dense network of diploic veins for brain drainage!

In our latest study, we show that this pattern may also provide rare morphological evidence linking pangolins and carnivorans in the Ferae clade.

Check it out here: academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/a...

Postdoc advert now live! Come and work with me at the UCL Centre for Integrative Anatomy @ucl-c4ia.bsky.social on the Mediterranean Neogene insular giant fauna. You'll also get to work with a great team: @toriherridge.bsky.social @nannonstevens.bsky.social and Jesse Hennekam

Evolutionary modularity of the primate vestibular system: Morphological distinction of otolithic and canalicular organs Abstract. The mammalian inner ear is traditionally divided into two systems: the peripheral vestibular system (for balance) and the cochlea (for hearing).

Out today in @pnasnexus.org! We present evidence for a new way to characterize the vestibular organs, challenging traditional assumptions about how the human inner ear is organized.🧵 1/5

academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...

Skeletal muscle adaptation to muscle activity and hypoxia: Differential structural and metabolic remodelling Abstract figure legend There has been controversy about the structural (capillary) response of skeletal muscle to altered O2 status, involving decreased supply (hypoxia) or increased demand (activity...

Have you ever wondered what happens to your muscles if you exercise up a mountain? 🗻
New paper out by Roger Kissane and colleagues looks to understand the skeletal muscle response to training under hypoxia:

Come learn about how pufferfish puff into such adorable angry balls...in a bar! Join us tonight at @chesterscibar.bsky.social :)

'erotically' - this geology fetish of yours has gone too far

Black line drawings and text, with yellow and red highlighting, diagraming heart physiology research

Productive afternoon in @livuni-ilcams.bsky.social weekly seminar practicing sketchnoting and learning a little bit about cardiophysiology :)
Thanks to @rainbowlabuol.bsky.social for explaining his work so well and letting me share it.

We can move beyond the capitalist model and save the climate – here are the first three steps | Jason Hickel and Yanis Varoufakis Capitalism cares about our species’ prospects as much as a wolf cares about a lamb’s. But democratise our economy and a better world is within our grasp, say Jason Hickel and Yanis Varoufakis

We can move beyond the capitalist model and save the climate – here are the first three steps | Jason Hickel and Yanis Varoufakis www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Also this month, Manson and @nathanj.bsky.social used finite element modelling informed by neonatal MRI data, to test whether simple mechanical deformation from brain and masticatory muscle growth can predict early cranial shape change, focusing on the basicranium and face doi.org/10.1111/joa....

📣 📃 New paper out in press!

🦷 We look at the biomechanical impact of #tooth root morphology to inform #dental implant design.

👩‍💻We use finite element modelling to compare single vs. multiple roots on strain across the mandible.

@apwoodbailey.bsky.social @livevobiomech.bsky.social

(BBSRC NWD CASE) Selective breeding vs natural selection: how does body shape influence locomotor biomechanics in domesticated dogs and other mammals? at University of Liverpool on FindAPhD.com PhD Project - (BBSRC NWD CASE) Selective breeding vs natural selection: how does body shape influence locomotor biomechanics in domesticated dogs and other mammals? at University of Liverpool, listed ...

and another one! join us!

BBSRC PhD studentship investigating how different anatomy and locomotor patterns affect joint loading in domestic dogs and other mammals 🐩🦴🐎

The project will involve a variety of biomechanics techniques including finite element analysis and MDA modelling - info below

Nirvana on Rubber Chickens YouTube video by Vinheteiro

Joyous reminder of both Spitting Image circa 1986 and my misspent youth moshing in dingy 1990's night clubs youtube.com/shorts/xX8Vh...

Totally agree - it's become an attention seeking brat of an app.

an aerial view of a building being demolished with smoke coming out of it ALT: an aerial view of a building being demolished with smoke coming out of it

Been working on some validation data for AI tools commonly used to segment anatomical structures 🤔😞 😱 Almost impossible to get funding/university support to do this sort of work anymore. They only ever want to fund/support the penthouse of science, and never the ground floor or basement....

I'm very excited to work on this with an amazing team including @rnf.bsky.social @nathanj.bsky.social @apwoodbailey.bsky.social and @lucyhholmes.bsky.social

Storm Huntley. Always see her name whilst scrolling through the TV guide and mistake it for some meteorological docuseries each and every time. Pretty sure she can help champion your cause!

Happy Birthday

UKRI chief: ‘Do fewer things in research but do them really well’ Ian Chapman backs ministers’ calls for more research specialisation by universities in first public comments since taking over at £9 billion-a-year research funder

Bit of a cliché. Assumes that current leadership know what will be needed/important in the future. The betamax of funding strategies....

UKRI chief: ‘Do fewer things in research but do them really well’ www.timeshighereducation.com/news/ukri-ch...

Do different dog breeds move differently? – A DogWalk Study outreach event By James Charles Since the dawn of civilisation, humans have pondered the question: do Dachshunds move the same as German Shepherds? Ponder no longer. Starting in July 2023, myself, Prof Karl Bates…

📝🐕‼️ Think you really know the difference between a dachshund and a German shepherd? Not without reading our latest blog post!

embliverpool.wordpress.com/2025/08/22/d...

Hi all, me, @richardjbutler.bsky.social and the amazing UK-US-Moroccan team are delighted to announce that.. we have a new specimen of Spicomellus AND IT'S WAY WEIRDER AND WAY COOLER THAN WE EVER IMAGINED!!

Extreme armour in the world’s oldest ankylosaur - Nature The ankylosaurian dinosaur Spicomellus afer possessed a tail weapon and uniquely elaborate dermal armour.

Meet Spiny Norman, the earliest known and definitely the most outrageously spiky ankylosaur ever discovered, as presented by @tweetisaurus.bsky.social & @richardjbutler.bsky.social in @nature.com. Q: how did it mate? A: carefully. www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Factors impacting the complexity of the leporid intracranial joint Anatomy of the intracranial joint and the 2D semi-landmarks used to capture complexity in the intracranial joint. (a) The intracranial joint can be seen here (in red) between the parietal and occipit...

A study (with our @drphilcox.bsky.social) in #rabbits & #hares, found: those adapted for running have greater facial tilt & simpler #skull joints versus those with scrambling or hopping-based #locomotion, which could help with hinge-like mobility. @ucl.ac.uk onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

Building giants: tissue relationships during skull growth in large mammals at University of Liverpool on FindAPhD.com PhD Project - Building giants: tissue relationships during skull growth in large mammals at University of Liverpool, listed on FindAPhD.com

Last day to apply! 📣
Come and join my lab in Liverpool @livevobiomech.bsky.social for a PhD on the skulls of giant mammals! Full funding for 4 years (UK Home rates) 🐘🦌🦘🐂🐪🦏
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

New paper out today with the amazing @apwoodbailey.bsky.social all about the unusual leporid intracranial joint.

New paper where we look at complexity of the intracranial joint in rabbits and hares.
Second paper from @apwoodbailey.bsky.social PhD work 🎉🐇

Factors impacting the complexity of the leporid intracranial joint Anatomy of the intracranial joint and the 2D semi-landmarks used to capture complexity in the intracranial joint. (a) The intracranial joint can be seen here (in red) between the parietal and occipit....

Check out our new paper in @journalofanatomy.bsky.social!

🐇💀

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

📣I’m hiring!
Two weeks to apply for an October start.
Start date is also flexible.
#PhD #Morphology #evolution

Interested in the functional morphology of mammal heads and want to come join us in Liverpool? Apply for this exciting new PhD project with Alana!

Amber with EMB lab

Amber with supervisors, Alana and Nathan

Amber with Caroline (wife)

Amber with pint

Teamwork makes the dream work. Officially PhDone 🎓

Thanks to the lovely lot at @livevobiomech.bsky.social, my supervisors @acsharp.bsky.social, @drphilcox.bsky.social and @nathanj.bsky.social and my awesome wife @naturecaroline.bsky.social.

We're not done here 👀 Watch this space 💀🧠🐴🦍🦁🐂🐅🐫🦌🦏🦒🫎

It was renamed the Leggate theatre in 1990. Originally used for smoking concerts & elaborate soirees!

Leggate Lecture Theatre - Victoria Gallery & Museum - University of Liverpool share.google/b1Xp5P54O9Mv...