Does a 3D model from scientists at the University of Manchester show how Cain and Abel, the sons of Adam and Eve, may have looked? No, that's not true: This rendering is not a scientific reconstruction of the biblical brothers' faces -- it's yet another spoof in a long-running joke. The joke format has been around since 2018, pairing the name of a university with a 3D rendering purporting to be a famous person in history, but is actually the likeness of a modern celebrity. In this case the Cain and Abel rendering is based on brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher of the British rock band Oasis.
The 3D rendering appeared in a post (archived here) published on X by @NoContextBrits on April 13, 2026. It was captioned:
Scientists from the University of Manchester have reconstructed a 3D model of Cain and Abel, the first two sons of Adam and Eve.
This is the image included with the post:
(Image source: @NoContextBrits post on X.)
The rendering appears to be based on a portrait featured in promotional materials for the 2016 documentary "Supersonic" about the band Oasis. The image (pictured below) appears in an Oct. 25, 2016 article in Rolling Stone (archived here). The 3D rendering has captured not only the individual facial expressions of the brothers, but copied the details of their hair styles.
(Image source: Rolling Stone.)
An entry (archived here) on Know Your Meme reviews the origins of the joke with a 2018 post "What Cleopatra May Have Looked Like" which featured the likeness of Britney Spears. Lead Stories has debunked variations on this joke, including one where the likeness of pop icon Madonna was used to represent "Mary Mother of Jesus" and another where the likeness of Kanye West was used to represent Mali ruler Mansa Musa.
