Tracing the Evolution of Human Immunity Through Ancient DNA Infections have imposed strong selection pressures throughout human evolution, making the study of natural selection's effects on immunity genes highly complementary to disease-focused research. ...

Tracing the Evolution of Human Immunity Through Ancient DNA - www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
"Ancient genomics enables tracking of how immunity has evolved across cultural transitions.. and genetic adaptations to epidemics during the Middle Ages and the European colonization of the Americas"

Palantir's Swiss Exit Highlights Global Data Sovereignty Challenge | NewsCase Switzerland's military has terminated its contract with Palantir Technologies Inc. following a security audit. The review concluded that U.S. intelligence ag

"Switzerland’s military has terminated its contract with Palantir… following a security audit… concluded that U.S. intelligence agencies could potentially access sensitive Swiss defense data… significant reputational warning for the data analytics firm"

www.newscase.com/palantirs-sw...

#R4Today

Building the camps The warehouseification of detention and initial thoughts on stopping it.

When I got the contract to write a history of concentration camps in 2014, I hoped to keep the US from ending up here. That didn't work out! But now it's critical to understand how much is already in process and the enormity of what's coming. The sooner we act to stop it, the more people we'll save.

"History is women following behind with the bucket."

So Morgan McSweeney has been replaced by Jill Cuthbertson and Vidhya Alakeson. Antonia Romeo is about to take over from Chris Wormald. Steph Driver may return to fill Tim Allan's vacancy.

Sense that now there's a mess to mop up, get the women in

Wetherspoon boss urges pubs to back Reform By Henry Saker-Clark The founder of Wetherspoon has urged other pubs to back Reform UK. Sir Tim Martin, chairman of JD Wetherspoon, said Reform's plans to slash beer duty would help the sector move towards "tax parity with supermarkets". Nigel Farage's party announced a series of proposals to support pubs last week. They included pledges to cut VAT in the hospitality sector by 10 per cent, cut beer duty by the same fraction. Reform also said it would reverse the recent rise in employers' national insurance contributions (NICs) for the sector and gradually remove business rates for all pubs. The party has said it would fund this package with around 23on, which it plans to secure through reinstating the two-child benefit cap, except for families with two British-born parents. In a lengthy stock exchange filing yesterday, Martin (inset) told industry leaders "there's no question that this initiative would utterly transform the competitiveness of pubs" He said: "By eliminating the tax differential between supermarkets and the hospitality industry, and restoring margins to devastated businesses, these changes would enable pubs to regain some, or all, of their lost trade. "You would think that this offer from Reform would have been greeted by a crescendo of enthusiasm, ecstasy and support from the licensed trade and its supporters. "However, surpris-ingly, initial support has been underwhelming, at least from the great and the good in the hospitality industry" Last month, Labour announced additional business rates support for pubs. The announcement was a U-turn following complaints from pubs about rates changes in November's Budget.

Multimillionaire Brexiter, Tim Martin, urges pubs to back Reform. Just like he urged the country to vote for Brexit. Too bad if it makes you poorer. Too bad for the children he’ll push back into poverty. Tim wants more money. And he couldn’t give a shit about the cost for everybody else.
(iPaper)

BREAKING: The Epstein survivors are releasing this ad on this Super Bowl Sunday to send the message that they will not “move on” from the largest sex trafficking scandal in the world. #standwithsurvivors

Ian McKellen performs “The Strangers’ Case” speech from “Sir Thomas More” on Colbert.

Gladys Mae West obituary: mathematician who pioneered GPS technology She made key contributions to US cold-war science despite facing huge barriers as a Black woman.

No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition.

Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...

We gotta come up with a better system than “everything rests on whether these twelve billionnaires are nice”

Brighton Argus: DOG STEALS BABY’S BRIOCHE.

The most Brighton news headline ever.

11 stunning finalists for the #Youth #Photographer of the Year prize: from showy peacocks to flying BMXers.

Link for more amazing #photos and information: www.popsci.com/environment/...

Take me down to the Parallax city where the far moves slow and the near moves quickly

Thanks to @thefnl.bsky.social this exceptionally rare Tudor map of Kingsbridge in Devon has been acquired for public research at the Devon Heritage Centre, after more than four centuries in private hands.

We brought some children on a school trip to your palace. The loo-sponge-stick combo was pretty much all they talked about afterwards....

Title page of Psalterium cum hymnis, London, 1524

A printed indulgence from c.1515

A lovely & extremely rare psalter printed in London by Richard Pynson 502 years ago, made all the more special by what someone thought to tuck inside it: a unique printed 'indulgence', offering to reduce a sinner's time in purgatory in return for funds towards Hereford Cathedral.

There's a lot of anti-health, anti-vaccination rhetoric and policy in the US. Some of this misinformation and disinformation influences what happens in the UK.

And that affects us all.

Get vaccinated.

A black and white photo of the archaeological excavations of Fishbourne roman palace in the 1960s, showing several neat archaeological trenches receding into the distance. Photo is taken from a raised position

Last chance to grab tickets for #CuraotrRob 's online talk tonight about the excavations of and ongoing research at Fishbourne Roman Palace!

There will be thrills. 🤩
There will be spills. 😮
There will be at least one weevil. 🤔

Book here: bit.ly/flaevents (8pm UK time)

A green wasabi root mascot with huge eyes stands in front of a roped off red carpet.

Sabi-chan is a big-eyed wasabi fairy from Shizuoka, Japan.

If you don’t want politicians re-writing history for political gain please share this video widely - because the only way to stop that happening is to constantly call out this absolute rubbish with the actual facts. If UK news shows are not up to the job let’s do it ourselves

Birkbeck, University of London, is seeking a Lecturer in Medieval Studies to join our dynamic team within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Autumn 2026. As Lecturer in Medieval Studies you will contribute to the teaching of Medieval English literature and Medieval history across the Faculty, within our School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication, and School of Historical Studies - this includes our BA English and BA History programmes, as well as postgraduate taught programmes in the two subject areas. This post is offered on a permanent contract at Birkbeck, full time 35 hours per week, with a salary of £44,247 rising to £60,858 per year. Teaching hours will vary from 6pm - 9pm, Monday to Friday. To be successful, you will bring research expertise in the literature, history and culture of the Late Medieval period (c.1300-1500), and demonstrate a capacity to contribute to interdisciplinary research and teaching, participate actively in curriculum development, supervise doctoral students, and help shape the intellectual life of our vibrant academic community. We would also welcome applicants who would be able to contribute to collaborative teaching programmes or research in the Faculty, in areas such as identity, race/ethnicity, or gender - experience of collaboration with cultural institutions, whether through research or teaching, is also welcome. Core responsibilities will initially include programme/module administration, teaching, supervision, assessment, student support and pastoral care. You will also be equipped to supervise doctoral students. With a PhD in any area of Medieval Studies, you will contribute the Faculty’s and Schools’ research impact and culture, and to the intellectual and cultural life of the institution and the various communities and partners with whom we work and serve.

Birkbeck is hiring a Lecturer in Medieval Studies (c.1300-1500), full-time and open-ended.

They will be formally based in English but expected to be able to contribute about 0.5FTE to History, including teaching and supervision.

Closing date Feb 23rd: cis7.bbk.ac.uk/vacancy/lect...

Doctoral Programmes for Healthcare Professionals | Grant funding | Wellcome Get guidance on applying to host and administer a Wellcome doctoral programme for healthcare professionals at your institution. Find out about eligibility and how to apply.

Clinical research drives innovation, new treatments and better healthcare systems.

That’s why we’re funding a new round of doctoral programmes for healthcare professionals.

Find out more ⤵️
https://wellcome.org/research-funding/schemes/doctoral-programmes-healthcare-professionals

More then 2,000 trafficked children and lone child asylum seekers missing from UK councils’ care Charities say vulnerable young people are being failed by local authorities, the police and central government

How is this not the top story on every news bulletin?
This has been happening for years and instead of doing anything to protect children successive governments have made the situation worse. This isn't just on councils. It is part of failings on a State level.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Meta halted internal research suggesting social media harm, court filing alleges Meta is alleged to have halted internal research suggesting social media harm, according to court documents.

Meta halted internal research that purportedly showed (young) people who stopped using Facebook became less depressed and anxious, according to an unredacted legal filing released on Friday. www.cnbc.com/2025/11/23/m...

Cartoon: two men standing looking at an armchair. One is saying "Rubbish!". Caption: Armchair Critics

Cartoon: Two men standing in front of a door looking disparaging. One says to the “Rubbish!”. Caption: DOOR KNOCKER

Armchair critics and door knockers

Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff dies, aged 81 The musician was known for hits like You Can Get It If You Really Want and I Can See Clearly Now.

Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff dies, aged 81

Chart showing local authority with the largest and smallest gap between LHA and the estimated 30th percentile for a two-bedroom property, by region: England, September 2025

The 'affordability gap' between Local Housing Allowance rates and the 30th percentile of local rents is biggest in London.

But every region of England is impacted. The affordability gap is now £170 a month in Salford; £144 a month in Hinckley and Bosworth; and £107 a month in Newcastle Upon Tyne.

@maacambridge.bsky.social @zoologymuseum.bsky.social @camglamresearch.bsky.social

““When you need to move fast” is the new tongue-in-cheek advertising tagline for the company Böcker” (who made the special ladder the thieves used!)

We're hidden on an industrial estate ... but do have work in Mortimer Gardens too!

Thei did the Mash; thei did the Monstere Mash.
The Monstere Mash: beholde, sepulchral smash!
Thei did the Mash, and it kaughte on moost fast -
Hark, heare the Mash! Forsooth, the Monstere Mash!