diff --git a/prisma/migrations/20250602194010_remove_post_excerpt/migration.sql b/prisma/migrations/20250602194010_remove_post_excerpt/migration.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..19688ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/prisma/migrations/20250602194010_remove_post_excerpt/migration.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+-- AlterTable
+ALTER TABLE "Post" DROP COLUMN "excerpt";
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/prisma/schema.prisma b/prisma/schema.prisma
index 46d1737..e918944 100644
--- a/prisma/schema.prisma
+++ b/prisma/schema.prisma
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@ model Post {
   postType           String    @db.VarChar(50) // blog, microblog, link, photo, album
   title              String?   @db.VarChar(255) // Optional for microblog posts
   content            Json?     // BlockNote JSON for blog/microblog
-  excerpt            String?   @db.Text
   
   // Type-specific fields
   linkUrl            String?   @db.VarChar(500)
diff --git a/src/lib/components/DynamicPostContent.svelte b/src/lib/components/DynamicPostContent.svelte
index c39940a..e54394e 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/DynamicPostContent.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/DynamicPostContent.svelte
@@ -75,10 +75,6 @@
 		<div class="post-body">
 			{@html renderedContent}
 		</div>
-	{:else if post.excerpt}
-		<div class="post-body">
-			<p>{post.excerpt}</p>
-		</div>
 	{/if}
 
 	<footer class="post-footer">
diff --git a/src/lib/components/SegmentedController.svelte b/src/lib/components/SegmentedController.svelte
index 31ae2df..f0ab44d 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/SegmentedController.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/SegmentedController.svelte
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@
 	// Second item is Photos (index 2) - animation handled by individual rect animations
 
 	// Third item is Labs (index 3)
-	.nav-item:nth-of-type(3) :global(svg.animate) {
+	.nav-item:nth-of-type(2) :global(svg.animate) {
 		animation: tubeRotate 0.6s ease;
 		transform-origin: center bottom;
 	}
@@ -205,19 +205,19 @@
 	}
 
 	// Specific animation for photo masonry rectangles
-	.nav-item:nth-of-type(2) :global(svg.animate rect:nth-child(1)) {
+	.nav-item:nth-of-type(3) :global(svg.animate rect:nth-child(1)) {
 		animation: masonryRect1 0.6s ease;
 	}
 
-	.nav-item:nth-of-type(2) :global(svg.animate rect:nth-child(2)) {
+	.nav-item:nth-of-type(3) :global(svg.animate rect:nth-child(2)) {
 		animation: masonryRect2 0.6s ease;
 	}
 
-	.nav-item:nth-of-type(2) :global(svg.animate rect:nth-child(3)) {
+	.nav-item:nth-of-type(3) :global(svg.animate rect:nth-child(3)) {
 		animation: masonryRect3 0.6s ease;
 	}
 
-	.nav-item:nth-of-type(2) :global(svg.animate rect:nth-child(4)) {
+	.nav-item:nth-of-type(3) :global(svg.animate rect:nth-child(4)) {
 		animation: masonryRect4 0.6s ease;
 	}
 </style>
diff --git a/src/lib/components/UniverseCard.svelte b/src/lib/components/UniverseCard.svelte
index 7cb03f3..717167c 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/UniverseCard.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/UniverseCard.svelte
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 <script lang="ts">
 	import type { Snippet } from 'svelte'
 	import UniverseIcon from '$icons/universe.svg'
+	import PhotosIcon from '$icons/photos.svg'
 	import { formatDate } from '$lib/utils/date'
 	import { goto } from '$app/navigation'
 
@@ -55,12 +56,18 @@
 					{formatDate(item.publishedAt)}
 				</time>
 			</a>
-			<UniverseIcon class="universe-icon" />
+			{#if type === 'album'}
+			<PhotosIcon class="card-icon" />
+		{:else}
+			<UniverseIcon class="card-icon" />
+		{/if}
 		</div>
 	</div>
 </article>
 
 <style lang="scss">
+	@import '../../assets/styles/animations';
+
 	.universe-card {
 		width: 100%;
 		max-width: 700px;
@@ -107,7 +114,7 @@
 		transition: color 0.2s ease;
 	}
 
-	:global(.universe-icon) {
+	:global(.card-icon) {
 		width: 16px;
 		height: 16px;
 		fill: $grey-40;
@@ -120,7 +127,7 @@
 				color: $red-60;
 			}
 
-			:global(.universe-icon) {
+			:global(.card-icon) {
 				fill: $red-60;
 				transform: rotate(15deg);
 			}
@@ -143,9 +150,32 @@
 				color: $red-60;
 			}
 
-			:global(.universe-icon) {
+			:global(.card-icon) {
 				fill: $red-60;
-				transform: rotate(15deg);
+			}
+
+			:global(.card-icon rect:nth-child(1)) {
+				transition: all 0.3s ease;
+				height: 6px;
+				y: 2px;
+			}
+
+			:global(.card-icon rect:nth-child(2)) {
+				transition: all 0.3s ease;
+				height: 10px;
+				y: 2px;
+			}
+
+			:global(.card-icon rect:nth-child(3)) {
+				transition: all 0.3s ease;
+				height: 8px;
+				y: 10px;
+			}
+
+			:global(.card-icon rect:nth-child(4)) {
+				transition: all 0.3s ease;
+				height: 4px;
+				y: 14px;
 			}
 
 			:global(.card-title-link) {
@@ -153,6 +183,11 @@
 			}
 		}
 
+		// Base state for smooth transition back
+		:global(.card-icon rect) {
+			transition: all 0.3s ease;
+		}
+
 		:global(.card-title-link) {
 			color: $grey-10;
 			text-decoration: none;
diff --git a/src/lib/components/UniversePostCard.svelte b/src/lib/components/UniversePostCard.svelte
index e2582a3..3c4c3df 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/UniversePostCard.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/UniversePostCard.svelte
@@ -4,6 +4,16 @@
 	import type { UniverseItem } from '../../routes/api/universe/+server'
 
 	let { post }: { post: UniverseItem } = $props()
+
+	// Check if content is truncated
+	const isContentTruncated = $derived(() => {
+		if (post.content) {
+			// Check if the excerpt is shorter than the full content
+			const excerpt = getContentExcerpt(post.content)
+			return excerpt.endsWith('...')
+		}
+		return false
+	})
 </script>
 
 <UniverseCard item={post} type="post">
@@ -25,15 +35,13 @@
 		</div>
 	{/if}
 
-	<div class="post-excerpt">
-		{#if post.excerpt}
-			<p>{post.excerpt}</p>
-		{:else if post.content}
-			<p>{getContentExcerpt(post.content)}</p>
-		{/if}
-	</div>
+	{#if post.content}
+		<div class="post-excerpt">
+			<p>{getContentExcerpt(post.content, 150)}</p>
+		</div>
+	{/if}
 
-	{#if post.postType === 'essay'}
+	{#if post.postType === 'essay' && isContentTruncated}
 		<p>
 			<a href="/universe/{post.slug}" class="read-more" onclick={(e) => e.preventDefault()} tabindex="-1">Continue reading</a>
 		</p>
@@ -97,7 +105,7 @@
 			line-height: 1.5;
 			display: -webkit-box;
 			-webkit-box-orient: vertical;
-			-webkit-line-clamp: 4;
+			-webkit-line-clamp: 2;
 			overflow: hidden;
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/src/lib/components/admin/EssayForm.svelte b/src/lib/components/admin/EssayForm.svelte
index cbafcb4..e1bbb53 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/admin/EssayForm.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/admin/EssayForm.svelte
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@
 		initialData?: {
 			title: string
 			slug: string
-			excerpt: string
 			content: JSONContent
 			tags: string[]
 			status: 'draft' | 'published'
@@ -33,7 +32,6 @@
 	// Form data
 	let title = $state(initialData?.title || '')
 	let slug = $state(initialData?.slug || '')
-	let excerpt = $state(initialData?.excerpt || '')
 	let content = $state<JSONContent>(initialData?.content || { type: 'doc', content: [] })
 	let tags = $state<string[]>(initialData?.tags || [])
 	let status = $state<'draft' | 'published'>(initialData?.status || 'draft')
@@ -103,7 +101,6 @@
 				postType: 'blog', // 'blog' is the database value for essays
 				status,
 				content,
-				excerpt,
 				tags
 			}
 
@@ -268,15 +265,6 @@
 
 							<Input label="Slug" bind:value={slug} placeholder="essay-url-slug" />
 
-							<Input
-								type="textarea"
-								label="Excerpt"
-								helpText="Brief description shown in post lists"
-								bind:value={excerpt}
-								rows={3}
-								placeholder="A brief summary of your essay..."
-							/>
-
 							<div class="tags-field">
 								<label class="input-label">Tags</label>
 								<div class="tag-input-wrapper">
diff --git a/src/lib/components/admin/PhotoPostForm.svelte b/src/lib/components/admin/PhotoPostForm.svelte
index f543a33..5946c96 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/admin/PhotoPostForm.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/admin/PhotoPostForm.svelte
@@ -125,7 +125,6 @@
 							.map((tag) => tag.trim())
 							.filter(Boolean)
 					: [],
-				excerpt: generateExcerpt(editorContent)
 			}
 
 			const url = mode === 'edit' ? `/api/posts/${postId}` : '/api/posts'
@@ -160,22 +159,6 @@
 		}
 	}
 
-	function generateExcerpt(content: JSONContent): string {
-		// Extract plain text from editor content for excerpt
-		if (!content?.content) return ''
-
-		let text = ''
-		const extractText = (node: any) => {
-			if (node.type === 'text') {
-				text += node.text
-			} else if (node.content) {
-				node.content.forEach(extractText)
-			}
-		}
-
-		content.content.forEach(extractText)
-		return text.substring(0, 200) + (text.length > 200 ? '...' : '')
-	}
 
 	async function handlePublish() {
 		status = 'published'
diff --git a/src/lib/components/admin/PostMetadataPopover.svelte b/src/lib/components/admin/PostMetadataPopover.svelte
index bec23d2..19ebbf1 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/admin/PostMetadataPopover.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/admin/PostMetadataPopover.svelte
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 		post: any
 		postType: 'post' | 'essay'
 		slug: string
-		excerpt: string
 		tags: string[]
 		tagInput: string
 		triggerElement: HTMLElement
@@ -19,7 +18,6 @@
 		post,
 		postType,
 		slug = $bindable(),
-		excerpt = $bindable(),
 		tags = $bindable(),
 		tagInput = $bindable(),
 		triggerElement,
@@ -32,8 +30,6 @@
 	function handleFieldUpdate(key: string, value: any) {
 		if (key === 'slug') {
 			slug = value
-		} else if (key === 'excerpt') {
-			excerpt = value
 		} else if (key === 'tagInput') {
 			tagInput = value
 		}
@@ -48,17 +44,6 @@
 				label: 'Slug',
 				placeholder: 'post-slug'
 			},
-			...(postType === 'essay'
-				? [
-						{
-							type: 'textarea' as const,
-							key: 'excerpt',
-							label: 'Excerpt',
-							rows: 3,
-							placeholder: 'Brief description...'
-						}
-					]
-				: []),
 			{
 				type: 'tags',
 				key: 'tags',
@@ -79,7 +64,6 @@
 	// Create a reactive data object
 	let popoverData = $state({
 		slug,
-		excerpt,
 		tags,
 		tagInput,
 		createdAt: post.createdAt,
@@ -91,7 +75,6 @@
 	$effect(() => {
 		popoverData = {
 			slug,
-			excerpt,
 			tags,
 			tagInput,
 			createdAt: post.createdAt,
@@ -109,4 +92,4 @@
 	{onAddTag}
 	{onRemoveTag}
 	{onClose}
-/>
+/>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/lib/utils/content.ts b/src/lib/utils/content.ts
index 66bff41..cebbcf2 100644
--- a/src/lib/utils/content.ts
+++ b/src/lib/utils/content.ts
@@ -73,17 +73,27 @@ export const renderEdraContent = (content: any): string => {
 
 // Extract text content from Edra JSON for excerpt
 export const getContentExcerpt = (content: any, maxLength = 200): string => {
-	if (!content || !content.content) return ''
+	if (!content) return ''
+
+	// Handle both { blocks: [...] } and { content: [...] } formats
+	const blocks = content.blocks || content.content || []
+	if (!Array.isArray(blocks)) return ''
 
 	const extractText = (node: any): string => {
+		// For block-level content
+		if (node.type && node.content && typeof node.content === 'string') {
+			return node.content
+		}
+		// For inline content with text property
 		if (node.text) return node.text
+		// For nested content
 		if (node.content && Array.isArray(node.content)) {
 			return node.content.map(extractText).join(' ')
 		}
 		return ''
 	}
 
-	const text = content.content.map(extractText).join(' ').trim()
+	const text = blocks.map(extractText).join(' ').trim()
 	if (text.length <= maxLength) return text
 	return text.substring(0, maxLength).trim() + '...'
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/src/routes/api/posts/+server.ts b/src/routes/api/posts/+server.ts
index dc71a0b..406930e 100644
--- a/src/routes/api/posts/+server.ts
+++ b/src/routes/api/posts/+server.ts
@@ -126,7 +126,6 @@ export const POST: RequestHandler = async (event) => {
 				postType: data.type,
 				status: data.status,
 				content: postContent,
-				excerpt: data.excerpt,
 				linkUrl: data.link_url,
 				linkDescription: data.linkDescription,
 				featuredImage: featuredImageId,
diff --git a/src/routes/api/posts/[id]/+server.ts b/src/routes/api/posts/[id]/+server.ts
index a3e60ba..37f5f60 100644
--- a/src/routes/api/posts/[id]/+server.ts
+++ b/src/routes/api/posts/[id]/+server.ts
@@ -95,7 +95,6 @@ export const PUT: RequestHandler = async (event) => {
 				postType: data.type,
 				status: data.status,
 				content: postContent,
-				excerpt: data.excerpt,
 				linkUrl: data.link_url,
 				linkDescription: data.linkDescription,
 				featuredImage: featuredImageId,
diff --git a/src/routes/api/universe/+server.ts b/src/routes/api/universe/+server.ts
index 85edc61..ebe6511 100644
--- a/src/routes/api/universe/+server.ts
+++ b/src/routes/api/universe/+server.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ export interface UniverseItem {
 	type: 'post' | 'album'
 	slug: string
 	title?: string
-	excerpt?: string
 	content?: any
 	publishedAt: string
 	createdAt: string
@@ -47,7 +46,6 @@ export const GET: RequestHandler = async (event) => {
 				postType: true,
 				title: true,
 				content: true,
-				excerpt: true,
 				linkUrl: true,
 				linkDescription: true,
 				attachments: true,
@@ -96,7 +94,6 @@ export const GET: RequestHandler = async (event) => {
 			type: 'post' as const,
 			slug: post.slug,
 			title: post.title || undefined,
-			excerpt: post.excerpt || undefined,
 			content: post.content,
 			postType: post.postType,
 			linkUrl: post.linkUrl || undefined,
@@ -113,7 +110,6 @@ export const GET: RequestHandler = async (event) => {
 			slug: album.slug,
 			title: album.title,
 			description: album.description || undefined,
-			excerpt: album.description || undefined,
 			location: album.location || undefined,
 			date: album.date?.toISOString(),
 			photosCount: album._count.photos,
diff --git a/src/routes/rss/universe/+server.ts b/src/routes/rss/universe/+server.ts
index 77808c4..15ecf42 100644
--- a/src/routes/rss/universe/+server.ts
+++ b/src/routes/rss/universe/+server.ts
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ export const GET: RequestHandler = async (event) => {
 				id: post.id.toString(),
 				title:
 					post.title || `${post.postType.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + post.postType.slice(1)} Post`,
-				description: post.excerpt || extractTextSummary(post.content) || '',
+				description: extractTextSummary(post.content) || '',
 				content: convertContentToHTML(post.content),
 				link: `${event.url.origin}/universe/${post.slug}`,
 				guid: `${event.url.origin}/universe/${post.slug}`,
diff --git a/src/routes/universe/[slug]/+page.svelte b/src/routes/universe/[slug]/+page.svelte
index 4afddbe..2a96862 100644
--- a/src/routes/universe/[slug]/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/universe/[slug]/+page.svelte
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 <script lang="ts">
 	import Page from '$components/Page.svelte'
 	import DynamicPostContent from '$components/DynamicPostContent.svelte'
+	import { getContentExcerpt } from '$lib/utils/content'
 	import type { PageData } from './$types'
 
 	let { data }: { data: PageData } = $props()
@@ -8,6 +9,9 @@
 	const post = $derived(data.post)
 	const error = $derived(data.error)
 	const pageTitle = $derived(post?.title || 'Post')
+	const description = $derived(
+		post?.content ? getContentExcerpt(post.content, 160) : `${post?.postType === 'essay' ? 'Essay' : 'Post'} by jedmund`
+	)
 </script>
 
 <svelte:head>
@@ -15,14 +19,14 @@
 		<title>{pageTitle} - jedmund</title>
 		<meta
 			name="description"
-			content={post.excerpt || `${post.postType === 'essay' ? 'Essay' : 'Post'} by jedmund`}
+			content={description}
 		/>
 
 		<!-- Open Graph meta tags -->
 		<meta property="og:title" content={pageTitle} />
 		<meta
 			property="og:description"
-			content={post.excerpt || `${post.postType === 'essay' ? 'Essay' : 'Post'} by jedmund`}
+			content={description}
 		/>
 		<meta property="og:type" content="article" />
 		{#if post.attachments && post.attachments.length > 0}