Reposted by Joe ForthAlchemy @aichemyhub.bsky.social · 10/07/2026🎥 It's been a busy week at AIchemy! Due to popular demand, we were thrilled to host another Inator Hackathon University College London this week. Huge thank you to Michael Parkes and Joe Forth for delivering the workshop. Take a look at some of the highlights below! 👇 031
Joe Forth @joeforth.bsky.social · 07/07/2026Getting essential treats in ahead of the @aichemyhub.bsky.social LabRat / inator Hackathon at @uclchemistry.bsky.social #chemsky 010
Reposted by Joe ForthAndrea Vezzoli @skeja24.bsky.social · 17/06/2026A paper is not complete without the story behind it... Take a look at our journey in the world of 1D carbon that led us to the Nature Chemistry publication! The story: pcwww.liv.ac.uk/~skeja/behin... The paper (OA): www.nature.com/articles/s41... The hashtags: #chemsky and a cheeky #PiSkypcwww.liv.ac.ukAndrea Vezzoli - Molecular Devices @ University of Liverpool 065
Joe Forth @joeforth.bsky.social · 17/06/2026An absolutely beautiful paper on active colloidal chains in PNAS from Daniela Kraft and Mengshi Wei. www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...pnas.orgLife-like behavior emerging in active and flexible microstructures | PNASMany organisms leverage an interplay between shape and activity to generate motion and adapt to their environment. Embedding such mechanical feedba... 010
Joe Forth @joeforth.bsky.social · 05/06/2026Roses are red, Ultraviolet caused a catastrophe, www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...bbc.co.ukPenis count debate rages over Bayeux TapestryA podcast has again investigated the penises on the embroidery, which has a replica in Reading. 000
Reposted by Joe ForthResearch and Partnerships team, UoL @livunirpteam.bsky.social · 02/06/2026UoL has secured more than £23.7M in new funding through the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF) 🙌 Liverpool is leading two high growth projects- AIM-HI and NBIC-LIVE Read more - news.liverpool.ac.uk/2026/06/01/u...news.liverpool.ac.ukUniversity awarded over £23M to turbocharge regional economic growth - University of Liverpool NewsUniversity awarded over £23M to turbocharge regional economic growth 042
Joe Forth @joeforth.bsky.social · 24/05/2026Spent last week cycling 250 miles from one end of Wales to the other on the Lôn Las Cymru. Passes through temperate rainforest, farmland managed in ways that have barely changed in a century (and is *alive* with birdlife), and villages where the default language predates England as a concept. 110
Reposted by Joe ForthNessa Carson @supersciencegrl.co.uk · 31/03/2026How to make your own robot! A review of people making awesome lab robots out of commercial 3D printers. Thank you @vsaggiomo.bsky.social and Sander for inviting me to help write this paper in @digital-discovery.rsc.org. Beep boop! 🤖 #chemsky doi.org/10.1039/D5DD...doi.orgHacking 3D printers as laboratory robotsThe emergence of affordable and reliable 3D printers has enabled laboratories to optimize setups, print custom parts, accelerate research, and rapidly prototype. A new movement has emerged in the past... 34220
Reposted by Joe ForthEPL (Europhysics Letters) @epljournal.bsky.social · 06/03/2026FREE TO READ - PERSPECTIVE - OPEN ACCESS: Towards animate droplets: Active, adaptive, and autonomous by Joe Forth, Robert Malinowski and Giorgio Volpe #FreeToRead #Perspective #OpenAccess @uclchemistry.bsky.social @livunisps.bsky.social 👉 iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1... 022
Joe Forth @joeforth.bsky.social · 05/03/2026New paper! Active Droplets: Active, Adaptive, Autonomous. Me, Rob Malinowski, and Giorgio Volpe pitch droplets as energy converting systems that act collectively. Out in @epljournal.bsky.social @uclchemistry.bsky.social and @livunisps.bsky.social. iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1... #chemsky 063
Reposted by Joe ForthAlchemy @aichemyhub.bsky.social · 26/02/2026AIchemy is BUSY 🚀 and the opportunities are stacking up! 💰 1 live funding opportunity (with Frontier Fund announcements coming 👀) 🎓 5 training & internship programmes 📅 14 events open for registration Funding. Training. Community. Momentum. Sign up to our newsletter and be part of it. 044
Joe Forth @joeforth.bsky.social · 24/02/2026Lads the internet is down at work. All my docs and work are "in the cloud" and installed software struggles to open local-only files. Do I: 1.) Persevere and grind out work that I will probably spend at least as long integrating into online versions afterwards OR 2.) Go to the pub? #chemsky 210
Reposted by Joe ForthAlchemy @aichemyhub.bsky.social · 20/02/2026📢 Liverpool delivered. A room full of curious minds, practical problem-solving and some genuinely exciting ideas taking shape. Take a look at our highlights ➡️ buff.ly/8fhonYg A huge thank you to Mike Parkes at UCL and Joe Forth at University of Liverpool for the delivery! 031
Reposted by Joe ForthAlchemy @aichemyhub.bsky.social · 10/02/2026🚀 Liverpool sold out - but we’ve got you covered! Due to popular demand, we’re running another Inator Hackathon at University of Strathclyde on 18 March 2026 🗓️. 📍 University of Strathclyde, Glasgow 🕘 09:00–17:00, 18 March 2026 🎟️ Free, register now before it fills up! 👉buff.lyThe Inator Hackathon: Raspberry Pi’s and Remote Sensing for Machine Learning – aichemy18 MARCH, 2026 011
Reposted by Joe ForthJohn Ward @jwward.bsky.social · 08/02/2026🚀 We’re recruiting a postdoc to join a @ukcatalysishub.bsky.social project at the @liverpooluni.bsky.social. Collaboration with @donnablack.bsky.social, @virtualatoms.bsky.social, @astrazeneca.bsky.social, @glaxosmithkline.bsky.social, @aichemyhub.bsky.social. Please share or apply if interestedmy.corehr.comJob Specification 033
Reposted by Joe ForthAlchemy @aichemyhub.bsky.social · 06/02/2026📢 We’re hiring! Join us as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in AI/ML-Driven Chemical Discovery Work at the intersection of AI, machine learning & chemistry on cutting-edge research. 📍 Liverpool | ⏰ Apply by 20 Feb 2026 👉buff.lyPostdoctoral Research Associate in AI/Ml-Driven Chemical Discovery - Grade 7 at University of LiverpoolApply now for the Postdoctoral Research Associate in AI/Ml-Driven Chemical Discovery - Grade 7 role on jobs.ac.uk - the leading job board for higher education jobs. View details. 043
Reposted by Joe ForthAndy Cooper @aicooper.bsky.social · 02/02/2026www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DQI473/p...jobs.ac.ukPostdoctoral Research Associate in AI/Ml-Driven Chemical Discovery - Grade 7 at University of LiverpoolAn academic position as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in AI/Ml-Driven Chemical Discovery - Grade 7 is being advertised on jobs.ac.uk. Click now to find more details and explore additional academic... 073
Joe Forth @joeforth.bsky.social · 30/01/2026Doing revisions to Reviewers comments and this observation is evergreen tbh. 221
Joe Forth @joeforth.bsky.social · 23/01/2026Fully funded, 3.5-year PhD position with me, Marco Giardiello, and Liam O'Brien developing Magnetic Particle Imaging towards direct imaging of local material properties (rheology, pH, etc). More here: www.findaphd.com/phds/project... @livuninews.bsky.social @livunislsj.bsky.social #chemskyfindaphd.comNew Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) methods based on complex nanocomposite particle dynamics at University of Liverpool on FindAPhD.comPhD Project - New Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) methods based on complex nanocomposite particle dynamics at University of Liverpool, listed on FindAPhD.com 001
Reposted by Joe ForthDr Sam Hirst @romgothsam.bsky.social · 13/01/2026I'm running a popular romance course at the University of Liverpool... but only if enough people sign up! Come and join us! www.liverpool.ac.uk/continuing-e... 15144118
Reposted by Joe ForthTom Forth @tomforth.co.uk · 23/12/2025When the Manchester Guardian calls, the people of the North heed the call. And if those people are me, we inject Manchester Liberalism, even from across the Pennines, right back in to the paper of Northern record. Get your fill. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...theguardian.comBritain’s cities are desperate for better transport. Why is Westminster derailing our plans in Leeds? | Thomas ForthA long-promised tram network has been pushed back to the late 2030s – unless we build local, northern growth will be snuffed out, says Thomas Forth, co-founder of tech firm The Data City 49939
Reposted by Joe ForthNick Greeves @nickgreeves.bsky.social · 17/12/2025www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...theguardian.comUK to rejoin EU’s Erasmus student exchange programmeExclusive: British students will be able to participate in EU-wide scheme from January 2027, sources say 041
Joe Forth @joeforth.bsky.social · 16/12/2025New pre-print! Giorgio Volpe, Rob Malinowski, and myself discuss the possibilities of making materials from droplets that can move, process information, and make decisions collectively. @livunisps.bsky.social @uclchemistry.bsky.social arxiv.org/abs/2512.13425 #chemsky 122
Reposted by Joe ForthMichael O’Neill @michaeloneill.org · 14/12/2025**new blog post** I thought it would be interesting to see what it would look like if tuition fees had grown with the "triple lock" approach of the state pension. www.michaeloneill.org/blog-1/2025/...michaeloneill.orgThe Triple-Locked Tuition Fee — Michael O'NeillI tried scaling the £9k tuition fee by the “triple lock” used for pensions to see what it looked like. 022
Joe Forth @joeforth.bsky.social · 12/12/2025There is truly no finer sight than walking into the group office to find a mess of screws, tools, and disassembled 3D-printers being hacked into god-knows-what. Looks like science to me, lads. #chemsky 061
Reposted by Joe ForthAnna Slater @annagslater.bsky.social · 03/12/2025Opportunity to join us at @liverpooluni.bsky.social as our new Chemistry HoD: www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPQ019/p... - lots of brilliant science & exciting plans going on, plus the joy of being my line manager :Djobs.ac.ukProfessor and Head of Department of Chemistry at University of LiverpoolApply now for the Professor and Head of Department of Chemistry role on jobs.ac.uk - the leading job board for higher education jobs. View details. 134
Reposted by Joe ForthAndy Cooper @aicooper.bsky.social · 03/12/2025Would you like to be our Head of Department? A unique opportunity to guide some important developments (see e.g., news.liverpool.ac.uk/2025/11/18/u...). Advert now live on jobs.ac.uk. www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPQ019/p...jobs.ac.ukJobs | Job Search | Job Vacancies on jobs.ac.ukStart your UK & international job search for academic jobs, research jobs, science jobs and managerial jobs in leading universities and top... 073
Reposted by Joe ForthNick Greeves @nickgreeves.bsky.social · 06/11/2025Ytterbium Surprise -a most unexpected paper from a former collaborator of mine, Helen Aspinall Be sure to checkout the 3D animations of various bell ringing peals! Visualisations of Minimus Methods #chemsky www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...sciencedirect.comYtterbium Surprise – the meeting of a rare earth element with symmetry, group theory and cultureThis article uses concepts of symmetry and group theory that are familiar to the inorganic chemist to explain some of the theory of the ancient (4 cen… 031
Reposted by Joe ForthNessa Carson @supersciencegrl.co.uk · 04/11/2025Hackathon time! Can you build an ML model for sigmatropic rearrangements of allylcatechols in flow? Teams of <=4; total prizes £2000; time limit 09 Jan. 🧪 #Chemsky Competition Link: www.kaggle.com/competitions... Example Notebook Link: www.kaggle.com/code/josepab...kaggle.comCatechol Benchmark Hackathon (NeurIPS 2025 DnB)ML model-building challenge for reaction yield prediction for catechol rearrangement reaction from transient flow dataset. 184
Joe Forth @joeforth.bsky.social · 31/10/2025Yeah so just a couple more major iterations and I reckon my grant will be ready submit. #chemsky 250
Reposted by Joe ForthAndy Cooper @aicooper.bsky.social · 29/10/2025I went tonight to see my PhD student Emma Brass’s fantastic AI art exhibit in Liverpool. It features a 4x4 m screen with a giant robot arm (see video below) and the whole thing is really fantastic! 2141
Joe Forth @joeforth.bsky.social · 29/10/2025Choose LaTeX. Choose spending 20 minutes looking for a "}". Choose waiting to compile before you can read what you've written. Choose editing decades-old templates so your margins match the current journal style and you can see the page count. Choose collaborating with Physicists. #chemsky 4232
Joe Forth @joeforth.bsky.social · 24/10/2025Pleased to announce I've reached the PI stage at which the group actually runs better when I disappear for a week or two. I assume at some point they start switching off experiments when I enter the lab just so I don't mess things up? #chemsky 180
Joe Forth @joeforth.bsky.social · 22/10/2025Heading home after 4 days visiting Chengdu and Sichuan University that were everything my inner @fuchsiadunlop.bsky.social fanboy wanted - might wait for a bit after getting back before weighing myself though. 010
Joe Forth @joeforth.bsky.social · 17/10/2025This morning's breakfast was peanut-butter-stuffed French toast at a cha chaan teng. The white lump? Butter. The accompanying drink? Condensed milk tea, just in case that's not rich enough. About 900 calories for £2.80. [Narrator] _He will not need to eat for some time_ 100
Joe Forth @joeforth.bsky.social · 16/10/2025Hull's transformation over the last few years has got to be one of the North-East's great secrets. 000
Joe Forth @joeforth.bsky.social · 14/10/2025There's something familiar about the guys they have working the coffee shop at XJTLU...can't put my finger on what it is though. #chemsky 140
Joe Forth @joeforth.bsky.social · 11/10/2025Treating myself to airport pints after a 6am start, an open day, and a train journey down to Gatwick for wee jaunt to China through Suzhou, Hong Kong, and Chengdu. 230
Reposted by Joe ForthSarah Boardman @sarahaimeeb.bsky.social · 01/10/2025Thrilled to share my first first-author review paper—now published in @jidjournal.bsky.social Massive thanks to all the co-authors for their time and insights! #InfectiousDiseases #Neuroinflammation #Neuroscience #BloodBrainBarrier #Virology #Research 051
Joe Forth @joeforth.bsky.social · 01/10/2025New paper! Sarah Boardman takes us on a tour of Viral Infection and the Blood-Brain Barrier. Just out in The Journal of Infectious Diseases. From the group of Benedict Michael, with Cordelia Dunai, Adjanie Patabendige, and a host of others including myself. academic.oup.com/jid/advance-...academic.oup.comViral Infection and the Blood-Brain Barrier: Molecular Research Insights and TherapiesViral infections can disrupt the blood-brain barrier via direct and indirect mechanisms and cause neurologic complications. Current treatment is limited to 020
Reposted by Joe ForthVittorio Saggiomo @vsaggiomo.bsky.social · 30/09/2025Our 6-hands review/perspective: "Hacking 3D printers as laboratory robots" is now on ChemRxiv. In there, we show how many robots you can make by simply modifying a 3D printer. #chemsky 1/n with @sandersays.bsky.social and @supersciencegrl.co.uk chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr... 25117
Reposted by Joe ForthMcSweeney's @mcsweeneys.net · 22/09/2025IT IS TIME.buff.lyIt’s Decorative Gourd Season, MotherfuckersFirst published on October 9, 2009, this classic by Colin Nissan is our most-read article of all time. We’re celebrating the 16th anniversary of th... 201632582
Reposted by Joe ForthAdam Clancy @clancylab.bsky.social · 23/09/2025Bruce Springsteen is going to feel silly when he learns about autoignition temperatures 021
Reposted by Joe ForthC&I: Chemistry & Industry magazine @chemistry-industry.bsky.social · 11/09/2025The UK is ‘losing the race’ for investment in R&D, clinical trials, and foreign direct investment, a new report warns. Since 2018, UK pharmaceutical R&D investment has underperformed against international rivals, the report from an pharma industry body said. www.soci.org/news/2025/9/... #chemsky 🧪soci.orgPharma R&D: Why the UK is losing the investment raceThe UK is ‘losing the race’ for investment in R&D, clinical trials, and foreign direct investment, a report published by the Association of the British Pharmaceuticals Industry (ABPI) warns. 132
Joe Forth @joeforth.bsky.social · 10/09/2025So this paper: spj.science.org/doi/10.34133... Aside from some major writing issues, appears to involve injecting *Ni-particle-filled-droplets of dodecane into a living creature*. Science Partner Journal. No ethical approval statement is given. Have @aaas.org just given up or am I misreading?spj.science.orgMagnetic Cell-Mimetic Droplet Microrobots with Division and Exocytosis Capabilities | ResearchThe first challenge in building a living robotic system inspired by life evolution is how to replicate the original form of life—the cell. However, current microrobots mimic cell motion control but fa... 000
Reposted by Joe ForthRicard Solé @ricardsole.bsky.social · 30/08/2025Can cellular life be created in the lab? We are not yet there, but clearly getting closer! Check this paper where a new scenario for protocell replication is presented by Job Boekhoven and co-workers @manlius.bsky.social www.cell.com/chem/pdf/S24... 03614
Reposted by Joe ForthAlex Blokhuis @alexblokhuis.bsky.social · 22/08/2025Our new preprint 📑 about oscillating chemical reactions ⚗ just came out! arxiv.org/abs/2508.15273 We introduce tools 🛠️ that expand the scope of oscillators that can be analyzed, and use them to extract a lot of new qualitative and quantitative insights about oscillating chemical reactions! 1/3arxiv.orgStoichiometric recipes for periodic oscillations in reaction networksOscillatory chemical reactions are functional components in a variety of biological contexts. In chemistry, the construction and identification of even rudimentary oscillators remain elusive and lack ... 293
Joe Forth @joeforth.bsky.social · 13/08/2025The Roadmap for Animate Matter is out! From self-building lasers to buildings that breathe, we lay out a vision for materials that are: 1. Active - they move, 2. Adaptive - they switch between dynamical states, 3. Autonomous - they can make a decision. iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1... #chemsky 010