Buzz Baum
@buzzbaum.bsky.social
In search of a platform that widens and deepens our understanding of the world. Less re-posting, more reading. Listening more, talking less. My opinions are my own. Some of them aren’t even mine.
It’s a beautiful summer morning in Cambridge, but it’s quiet. The birds are silent. Last night we found a bedraggled wren in our garden desperate, I think, for water. Nature seems to be on the brink. This morning I made a bird bath. I hope it’s not too late for the wren.
Dear fellow researchers. I think we need to discuss this: www.newscientist.com/article/2532... While peer review is flawed, and while preprints are a great way to share data before publication, as a community we mustn’t trade rigour for hype. This paper was peer reviewed and rejected.
What is 'SpudCell'? Arguably the greatest bioengineering feat yet
A prototype cell partly capable of replicating itself has been created using 36 existing bacterial genes, but it's not really a living organism – yet
newscientist.com
Super excited to launch this search for a new endowed professor at the @biozentrum.unibas.ch! Join us to build a research cluster in Climate Biophysics! 🌍🌊🌾🔬🧪 This is a unique opportunity to create a community in Basel🇨🇭working together on this timely topic! ⏳🌡️ Questions? Please reach out! 👩🔬👨🔬
Biozentrum, University of Basel@biozentrum.unibas.ch · last mo.New Assistant (tenure-track) or Associate Professor position in Climate #Biophysics! Join our international research community to explore fundamental molecular mechanisms underlying climate-relevant biological processes. Apply by 7 Sept 2026! www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/de/open-posi...
The MBoA2026 merch has arrived! Every delegate will get one - no paper/plastic cups at this EMBO conference!
Archaeaophiles! Last chance to sign up as a virtual attendee for MBoA2026. It’s cheap and you will have access to all the talks include our archaea@50 celebration with a special guest: meetings.embo.org/event/26-arc...
Molecular Biology of Archaea: Life Through the Prism of Archaea
In 1977, Woese and colleagues revealed Archaea as a distinct domain of life. Building on this insight, the discovery of Asgard archaea has strengthened the view that many hallmarks of eukaryotic cell…
meetings.embo.org
Register now for the EMBO Workshop "The cell cycle: Exploring conservation and divergence in life's engine" in #Lisbon, Portugal, 5–7 October 2026. Registration by 31 May Abstract submission by 15 June https://meetings.embo.org/event/26-cell-cycle #EMBOCellCycleEvolution #meeting #EMBOevents 🧪
Keep an eye out for this book. Coming soon by the brilliant @buzzbaum.bsky.social www.amazon.co.uk/I-Biography-...
I: A Biography of the Biological Self
Buy I: A Biography of the Biological Self by Baum, Buzz (ISBN: 9780241768846) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
amazon.co.uk
New Pre-Print Alert! Evolving initial conditions: an alternative developmental route to morphological diversity with Shannon Taylor and @jamesehammond.bsky.social www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
bbc.com/audio/brand/... Now free for all archaea lovers to hear!
BBC Audio | In Our Time
Listen to the latest episodes of In Our Time on BBC Audio
bbc.com
🧬 Last call to join us in Cambridge for #EMBOMBoA26 (July 6th-10th)! We are just one week away from the registration and abstract submission deadline for the EMBO Workshop on the Molecular Biology of Archaea!
The leafless flower in my office shot up, looked out of the window for signs of spring, then bloomed!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... Amazing work by Kris and gang! For the first time we have been able to image division ring components live in Sulfolobus. And guess what - CdvA is asymmetrically inherited.
biorxiv.org
New paper from my team detailing a greatly expanded genomic database of Asgard archaea revealing of high energy metabolism those related to eukaryotes! Led by @katyappler.bsky.social lots of help from @jameslingford.bsky.social @valdeanda.bsky.social @kassipan.bsky.social doi.org/10.1038/s415...
july 10th > I expect frenzied arm-waving at this event...
Archaea Biology Vienna@archaea-vienna.bsky.social · 8mo agoAn Asgard Archaeon (Lokiarchaeum ossiferum) growing and retracting its arms
Extremophile alert! Registration is OPEN for the 2026 EMBO Archaeal workshop in Cambridge. Spaces are limited, so register soon with an abstract if you’d like to give a talk. If you can’t come in person, we are welcoming virtual attendees. So join us online where all talks will be screened!
EMBO@embo.org · 8mo agoSign up now for the EMBO Workshop "#MolecularBiology of #Archaea: Life Through the Prism of Archaea" in Cambridge, UK, 6–10 July 2026. Deadline: 15 April https://meetings.embo.org/event/26-archaea #EMBOArchaeaBiology #EMBOevents #CellBiology #StructuralBiology #ecology #evolution #biophysics 🧪
Recruitment for the EMBL International PhD Programme is officially open! 🔊 At EMBL, we train young scientists to become skilled and creative future leaders in academia, industry and other sectors. Start your career in the life sciences with us! 🔎 Read more here: tinyurl.com/4jdt2ra5
#LivingArchitectures Congratulations @manuelthery.bsky.social @lblanchoin.bsky.social and all Scientists of the #CytoMorphoLab for their poetic vision of the microscopic level.
Huge congrats to @manuelthery.bsky.social and all the Cytomorpho lab. The "Living Architectures" performance at @museeorsay.bsky.social was breathtakingly beautiful
#LivingArchitectures Brought further to life by the stunning music of Alexandre Desplat, Philippe Hersant, and Kaija Saariaho
Using micropatterning & thousands of hours on the microscope @manuelthery.bsky.social and the #CytoMorphoLab reimagined the Musée D’Orsay. Accompanied by an orchestra and poet, their images transported us into the cellular universe. I remembered why I am a cell biologist. All of this is in us. Wow!
#LivingArchitectures is a glorious convergence of science and art. @manuelthery.bsky.social and the #CytoMorphoLab turn the Orsay into a living canvas - its walls and ceilings pulsating with life. Cytoskeletal asters bloom. Cells stream, pause and surge. Magnifique!
A reminder to sign up for the 2026 EMBO archaeal meeting im Cambridge: meetings.embo.org/event/26-arc.... Registration is open. We are looking forward to hosting you!
Molecular Biology of Archaea: Life Through the Prism of Archaea
In 1977, Woese and colleagues revealed Archaea as a distinct domain of life. Building on this insight, the discovery of Asgard archaea has strengthened the view that many hallmarks of eukaryotic cell…
meetings.embo.org
📣 Please spread: we’re hiring a Lab Manager! It is a critical position in our new lab. As our lab moves to Barcelona and joins the @crg.eu, we’re looking for a Lab Manager to help build the lab and set the lab atmosphere. 🔗 Apply here 👉 recruitment.crg.eu/content/jobs...
🌐Our new LMB website is live!🌐 Fresh design, better navigation, same first-class science. Take a look around ➡️ mrclmb.ac.uk
How did eukaryotic cells with complex architecture evolve from simpler prokaryotic cells? DNA analyses offer possible answers @nature.com www.nature.com/articles/d41... www.nature.com/articles/s41... @bristoluni.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41... www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Genomic clues to the origin of eukaryotic cells
How did eukaryotic cells with complex architecture evolve from simpler prokaryotic cells? DNA analyses offer possible answers.
nature.com
@lancasterlab.bsky.social, Joint Head of the LMB’s Cell Biology Division, dives into the world of brain organoids with @latif.bsky.social at @radiolab.bsky.social 🧠 Listen via the link: radiolab.org/podcast/brai... #LMBintheNews
Brain Balls
Scientists can now grow tiny, human brain balls. They’re useful, but are they alive?
radiolab.org
Ordering of cell cycle events by regulated proteolysis is not just for eukaryotes: @buzzbaum.bsky.social et al define mechanisms underlying switch-like degradation of archaeal ESCRT-III CvdB in Sulfolobus Thanks to @reviewcommons.org for another #RefereedPreprint link.springer.com/article/10.1...
The Stanley Lab is hiring! For anyone looking for a post-doc and interested in mycorrhizal fungi 🍄, this could be of interest. Deadline 4th Jan. www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
