Today is #NationalPenguinDay so we're remembering that time we made a Penguin out of Penguin Books. It's a Penguin Penguin. 🐧

That was a lovely way to spend a morning: nattering to the rather wonderful Dermot O’Leary @ BBC about my new book on genetics. Dermot is one of those people with that rare talent of making it feel like you’re chatting to an old friend. 😊 Book out May 28th, you can pre-order it now from bookstores.

My lovely friend, Jonathan Milner, has a powerful regenerative farming project: Sapperton Wilder. It's a science-based case study for nature-friendly farming. Excited to see their new video - such a wonderful project! Help us get the word out! youtu.be/uPmyu5Du8T8/... @chrisgpackham.bsky.social

So very sad to hear that David Baker has passed away. It's hard to overstate the impact he made in his life. Not only did he help change the face of policing but he was a dear and lovely man. My heartfelt condolences to the family. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Oooo! @waterstones.bsky.social is running a big pre-order promotion of various books including mine! Running until 23:59 on Feb 20th, you can get 25% off by using FEB26 at the checkout! Book out May 28th!

Every now and again I get asked, ‘but didn’t a DNA test in 2007 prove that those weren’t her remains in the cellar?’ If you have the same question, I would urge you to read @turiking.bsky.social assessment of the (problematic) findings in the white paper, in the appendix of Story of a Murder.

Nice article in @thetimes.com by @hackblackburn.bsky.social about my unusual career path and how I came to be involved leading the genetic analysis of Hitler's DNA.

The news is out! Really nice piece by Jack Blackburn of @Times about the genetic study been leading into Hitler’s DNA. It’s been a massive group effort as part of a documentary with the team Blink Films & a huge number of experts! We have to put the caveats in and the article does that nicely.

A new paper [2023] based on long-lost documents confirms that DNA discoverer Rosalind Franklin should be credited for discovering the double helix. www.livescience.com/health/genet...

An interesting piece in @timeshighered.bsky.social about the recent settlement. The project was a huge collaboration. I'm always at great pains to say that Philippa instigated the project & fund-raised for part of it - but she didn't pay for the 1/3 www.timeshighereducation.com/news/will-co...

further to this, here's a thread (sorry, from Over There) by Mike Pitts, who followed the whole process closely, on some of the, um, discrepancies in the film (via @turiking.bsky.social) x.com/pittsmike/st...

Good article by Steve Boggan about Richard Taylor about the impact on Richard & his family as a result of him being defamed in The Lost King. It's taken years to resolve. A judge ruled the film was defamatory last year but settlement only this week. www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...

There were a whole bunch of really cool women who led various aspects of the project all of whom were mysteriously absent from the story. 😉😉

I am SO pleased to see this! Richard Taylor has quite rightly won his case. I was shocked at how the project and people, Richard T in particular, were so falsely portrayed in the film. Good to see it’s being put right. Do see Richard T’s X thread below. 👇 x.com/richardtaylo...

Podcast with me and @turiking.bsky.social for the @milnerevolution.bsky.social series, on plasmid evolution over the last 100 years, talking about our ( @cazares-adr.bsky.social , Nick Thomson, @sarah1alexander.bsky.social & co) recent paper www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... youtu.be/Mzr3TD4ijs0?...

Um. There’s a woman presenting this too.

Happy Thanksgiving, fellow Canadians! 🍁🇨🇦

So, I've been rather quiet of late as been working incredibly hard on something fairly big with BlinkFilms and @channel4.bsky.social deadline.com/2025/10/chan....

Heading back to the University of Leicester for a celebration of the Adrian Building (which was basically my second home) ahead of its closure & celebrating 40 years since invention of DNA fingerprinting! An afternoon of interesting talks. Free to attend! Deets here le.ac.uk/news/2025/se...

My amazing kids got me a Book Spa gift at Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights in Bath. What a treat! The lovely team there fed me tea & cake, nattered to me about my book tastes & then brought me a stack of books they thought I would like! Heaven! Reader, I bought several! mrbsemporium.com

Super proud of this! Still top 10 on Audible. It follows two families brought together by an unexpected discovery that changes everything they thought they knew about their father & takes us into the stories of the Home Children. Listen now on Audible: adbl.co/orphansmith

Super proud of this! Our Audible @bbcstudios.bsky.social podcast series, Orphan Smith, is in the top ten! We tell the story of the Home Children in Canada through the moving experience of one family. Get your tissues! You can listen here 🎧 www.audible.co.uk/.../Orphan-S...

An Early View: Dr @nancybird1.bsky.social , Prof @turiking.bsky.social, & Prof Hellenthal examine the methodological advances and interpretive limits of genetic ancestry inference. The authors emphasize the need for a stronger focus on conveying uncertainty to mitigate risks of over-interpretation.

Lovely article by @edhollox.bsky.social in the @gensocuk.bsky.social magazine about the University of Leicester's Department of Genetics reaching the grand old age of 60! 🧬😊

So lovely to be part of Orphan Smith: My Father's Secret. We follow two families brought together by an unexpected discovery that changed everything they thought they knew about their father! Narrated by the fab Megan Follows & hosted by me. On Audible adbl.co/orphansmith

Happy #CanadaDay to all who celebrate! 😊🇨🇦🍁

Looking forward to giving at talk at the Ashbourne Festival this evening. I'll be chatting about how DNA can be used to solve mysteries past and present. 😊 Tickets here: 👇 www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/bux...

You will not believe what arrived today! Squeak! Nothing less than #SystonKnittingBanxy's @richard-third.bsky.social! He's amazing! So touched! Have taken him to see @uniofbath.bsky.social & @milnerevolution.bsky.social He now has pride of place on my desk! 😍

It was a great pleasure to host Richard Dawkins at the Edinburgh Science Festival last night where we chatted about his latest book, The Genetic Book of the Dead. It’s an excellent introduction to his work if you’ve never read any of his books before, and beautifully illustrated by Jana Lenzová.

Somehow feels extra important to vote this time round. 🇨🇦 #CanadaVotes2025

Professors, cleaners, students and administrative staff were among those highlighted on a “Wall of Women” at the University as part of International Women’s Day. The event, led by @turiking.bsky.social, asked people dedicate a plaque to a woman at the University who had inspired or supported them.

Looooook at this! It’s Richard III by Syston Knitting Banxy! Obviously like to think that he would have been so chuffed to see himself in knitted form! 🤩

Yaaaaaay! They’ve changed it!! I know a bunch of you wrote in. Huge thanks to you all! Honestly, sometimes I wonder what century we’re in. 😍

Lovely to be quoted but how come ‘Ms’ King, not Dr or Prof? Being quoted in my professional capacity as the scientist who led the identification of the remains of King Richard III. Notice male Prof gets his title.😉 #everydaysexism www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Honoured to help The Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit by explaining about how familial DNA testing works as they carry out a cold case investigation (Op. Otterington) into a 1991 rape. If you have information, contact herts.police.uk/contact youtu.be/nUsqlcKPzmg?...

This #BSW25 we're excited to announce two new trustees have joined BSA Council! Welcome Dr Rachel Williams @sciwithrach.bsky.social & Professor Turi King @turiking.bsky.social, brilliant scientists committed to public communication and engagement: www.britishscienceassociation.org/news/british...

Well this is rather nice. My podcast, which my husband and I basically do in spare time, has been named as one of best 100 genetics podcasts. 😊🧬 www.millionpodcasts.com/Genetics-pod...

An excellent response by @adamrutherford.bsky.social to the latest attempt to de-extinct mammoths. I also wonder who gets to decide which species they target for attempted de-extinction. I see they’re also going for the Dodo… 👇

My very sensible friend @adamrutherford.bsky.social on the absolute NONSENSE of trying to “de-extinct” mammoths. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

I had the absolute pleasure of nattering with my lovely mate @bengarrod.bsky.social for the @milnerevolution.bsky.social podcast.Hear about his career and love of all things evolution here: youtu.be/eX4AMXxWEvw?...

The project is being led by @turiking.bsky.social, Director of our Milner Centre for Evolution. #IWD2025 www.bath.ac.uk/announcement...

Soooooo much writing to do!

Patricia Cornwall has had an interest in the Ripper case for years & we’ve chatted numerous times. If it’s one thing I know about her, it’s that she wants rigorous scientific study & that’s definitely not been the case with the shawl supposedly associated with the Catherine Eddowes murder. 👇

Congratulations to @turiking.bsky.social, Director of the Milner Centre for Evolution, for being appointed a trustee of the @britsciassoc.bsky.social. The Association works to bring people and science together in ways that will have a lasting, positive impact on communities, #research, and society.

Congratulations to our Milner Centre for Evolution Director @turiking.bsky.social on being appointed a trustee of the British Science Association. #Science #WomeninSTEM

Join renowned evolution biologist, Professor @bengarrod.bsky.social as he explores how extinction is one of the most complex, interesting and evolving topics in his upcoming lecture: 'I Do Love A Good Extinction!" https://buff.ly/40IHvEH @turiking.bsky.social

In 2023 EXCEED celebrated its 10th anniversary. To celebrate we hosted a scientific symposium, and launched a podcast series (hosted by @turiking.bsky.social) showcasing the research projects to come out of the study. You can listen to the podcasts here: exceed.org.uk/symposium/

That's not a Roman Beaker. THIS is a Roman Beaker...

Nobody asked us for #SquirrelAppreciationDay plans, but here they are anyway 🌰 Tomorrow, we're handing over the Bluesky keys to Priscilla, the most chronically online red squirrel and self-styled Queen of Formby 🐿️✨ She made us post this photo because she says "it's my best side". 📸Gary Bailey

How this story about the DNA on the so-called Eddowes shawl is still in the headlines baffles me. It’s been debunked numerous times by scientists, including @adamrutherford.bsky.social and @turiking.bsky.social on my podcast, Bad Women ep. 10 www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/bad...