I’ve been reading a lot about the end of the Roman republic recently, and the slide of that empire into imperial monarchy. The stamping of the leader’s face on coins, colossal statues and a reworking of the forum. But even Augustus didn’t build himself a ballroom-fortress.

John Schofield of York University on the value of archaeology - it’s not just about the past. theconversation.com/six-reasons-...

More Domination on tour! I love seeing it wild and free!

Laurence "the 6th most talented" Fox and teeny Tommy Robinson, have had their appearance at the Oxford Union cancelled. Enjoy your Bank Holiday weekend.

I’d like to suggest this may be the best book on genetics and history you’ll ever read. Unless you’ve read it already. In which case, this is the new updated version and you need it.

Fascinating lesson for future attempts to dismantle liberal democracy. Trumpism is failing because his despotism is geared toward delivering a super unpopular, decades old Republican policy agenda. Regime change wars abroad, swingeing cuts at home.

Open access publication klaxon! I was really honoured to be asked to write a response chapter in Communities, Connectivity and Complexity in Roman Britain. It is SO GOOD. www.barpublishing.com/book/communi...

The Lapworth Museum wants creative fiction from writers of any background! Stories must relate to themes including geology, dinosaurs, volcanoes, etc. Five winners selected by @profaliceroberts.bsky.social, Hannah Burrows, & Abbie Roberts. Submit through July. Full terms at ow.ly/5WU050Z28B0

We're celebrating two huge milestones today! Our education programme @humanismedu.bsky.social turns 10 years old – and we've officially reached half a million pupils! That more young people than ever learning about humanism as part of broad and balanced education. 🧵 humanists.uk/2026/05/19/c...

I've noticed how much I’ve aged in the past 5 years and I am really hoping that adding chia seeds to my yogurt can turn this whole thing around.

Hello to my Australian fans!

I’m enjoying writing something which may be a follow-up to Domination… ancient history again but the echoes live on!

Immigration make Britain brilliant

Repost if you’d like me to represent the UK at #Eurovision 2027.

Israel’s efforts to influence the vote for the Eurovision Song Contest to improve its international reputation were far broader than previously known, a New York Times investigation found. Here is the inside story of the controversy that almost broke Eurovision. nyti.ms/3Rellcg

Check out the programme for this year's Unravelling the Palaeolithic Conference and secure your place before we sell out! It will be amazing to see you there 🦣🏺

Who looks at these flags on roundabouts and lampposts and feels pride? Far right thugs and racists. And who looks at them with fear and loathing? Everyone else. National flags are being used as Nazi bunting by Reform and the far right. Let’s call this what it is. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Reform are targeting individual journalists now it seems

I was somewhat taken aback by the ritualistic interpretations of that find of a fragment of the Iliad on a piece of papyrus packed up with a mummy. More mundane explanations are always likely to be closer to the truth, and to me, it sounded like someone had just grabbed a scrap of paper to use. 1/4

Want to understand who “Tommy Robinson” really is? This page sets out the facts: his history, criminal record, networks, funding and latest activity. hopenothate.org.uk/who-is-tommy...

oh Ursula K. LeGuin was WAY ahead of you lol

Fascinating in showing the link between ‘Gender Critical’ [anti-trans ‘ideology’] & far right as represented by the Israeli govt. RTÉ is not taking part in Eurovision due to the genocide in Gaza. Equally it could boycott based on Israel breaking the rules of the competition as revealed in the NYT*

RTÉ to air Father Ted Eurovision episode in boycott of song contest

See: Wes Streeting is the Master of Animals.

Let’s not deny the good work Labour has done. But Starmer is too timid for the radical remedies needed now | Polly Toynbee

And so we return! The op nightingale team are going back to RAF Valley this weekend. Will we find more of the famed Llyn Cerrig Bach assemblage ? Watch this space - fingers firmly crossed 🤞… #chariot #celts #druids #ironage #archaeology

Today’s Education Select Committee report on higher education is the best report on HE to come from Govt/Parliament in ages. It takes a rounded view of the whole system, moving away from the more atomistic or narrow accounts we’ve seen 🧵 committees.parliament.uk/committee/20...

When Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social shared his article about why universities were in trouble and why they need investment, a Labour MP jumped in to say they weren’t a priority for her. She may be surprised at how many people are employed in universities and how important they are to the economy.

A brilliant piece by @samfr.bsky.social on why our universities are in trouble - and why it’s in ALL our best interests to save them.

The Society of Island Biology invites you to our next Alfred Russel Wallace webinar by Dr. Tom Matthews (University of Birmingham)! When: Wednesday May 27th, 4pm British Summer Time / 5pm Central European Summer Time Register with this link: forms.gle/Cn1wUvukAp2Y...

That’s like calling a cross-burning “a gathering of locals peacefully expressing their Southron identity.”

It’s always lovely to see my books out in the wild!

Beneath one of the harshest landscapes on Earth, archaeologists uncovered evidence of a forgotten world — and the scale of it is staggering. theconversation.com/we-found-hun... #ScienceAndTech

My latest at @hyperallergic.com looks at the new Homer papyrus on mummified remains from Oxyrhynchus—& what the press got wrong initially. Thanks to Celsiana Warwick, @robertamazza.bsky.social, @sentantiq.bsky.social & Leah Mascia (+ @christinajriggs.bsky.social & edits by @valentinadl.bsky.social).

Just been at something extraordinary. A measured discussion about England and identity and right vs left with both sides giving thoughtful perspectives and an attentive audience that listened and... boy oh boy if only this was our discourse Thank you Clive. And thank you @bylinetimes.bsky.social

“To all those of you, struggling with your own demons…” Martin Lewis’ acceptance speech as he received the Special Award on 10 May at this year's BAFTA TV awards.

If you're worried about whether your NHS Trust is already using Palantir, and would like to ask them not to, you can use this tool that we developed. goodlawproject.org/campaign/sto...

Here's where Louis Mosley, the black-shirt wearing grandson of the black-shirt wearing fascist Oswald Mosley, who runs Palantir in the UK, says how and when they might use your medical data for "immigration enforcement" and, by logical extension, whatever other purposes became convenient.

It’s so odd that Chris Mason & his colleagues are not inducing a ‘crunch moment’ for Farage. Why is he not obliged to explain how he became an MP pushing cryptocurrency after being given £5 million by a cryptocurrency billionaire? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

For once a good drug company ad The powerful medicine that's free

Meet the academics refusing to use generative AI Researchers say they have their reasons for avoiding AI tools — and they’re sick of arguing about it. www.nature.com/articles/d41... h/t @maartenp.bsky.social

Nice to see this written down, actually.

I started this thread on twitter back in 2017. I add to it occasionally whenever the opportunity offers itself, but want to start it again so I can add to it on here. So… Amazing how grater technology has developed. My current grater (left) and an original 80s grater, the size of a brick!

If your brain is struggling due to anxiety,sadness,the way others have behaved,ADHD, autism,burnout,chronic illness &/or because the world’s too full of grimness then hi,me too. Research shows my photo’ll provide relief for your thoughts-pause & zoom into the details-& keep going, you’re not alone 🌿

Just FIFTEEN more needed to hit 100 things/people/places named after David Attenborough, and I can rest. Can you help me? Please...?!

Back on my favourite archaeological project in the world, Llyn Cerrig Bach, RAF Valley on Anglesey. The bard and Druid are displaying this season’s wish list: Carnyx Sword Golden sickle Gold torc 🤞

I still don’t understand how Ofcom permits a channel that has “news” in its title to claim not to be “news” so that it doesn’t even have to attempt to be impartial.

Happy Birthday David Attenborough! From the earliest days of television, to controller of BBC2, to bringing the wonders, beauty and fragility of the natural world to our eyes & attention - you’re a legend! www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

God, it really never gets old does it? He's just *brilliant*.

I have written a novel! I really hope you like it. It's about Cleopatra and Marcus Antonius - their two stories intertwined - from the blood and mud of the Gallic Wars to the glittering splendour of ancient Alexandria. And you can pre-order it from TODAY linktr.ee/thegoddessqu...