Orléans.

Just another day of stumbling over the debris created by Brexit that is yet to be cleaned up.

Speaker Naman Jain has just told us that the CHIME radio telescope is detecting about 2 new fast radio bursts A DAY. No wonder it has the largest uniform sample of FRBs around. #SALFXI Image: CHIME collaboration + MIT News

Visiting Orleans for SALF conference and looking forward to lots of low frequency radio science and a trip to the Nancay Observatory.

2026 LAD Laboratory Astrophysics Prize Daniel W. Savin will receive Laboratory Astrophysics Division's highest honor in recognition of contributions to studies in X-ray astrophysics & early universe star formation & extensive service to the laboratory astrophysics community. aas.org/posts/news/2...

From Stoppard’s Arcadia:

Absolutely loved Ken Liu’s Dandelion Dynasty series of books. Super engaging and creative “Silkpunk”. I’m astonished I’d never heard anyone talking about it.

Dementia is a terrible thing. So often the personality is present, but completely detached from the world.

It’s appalling that the Trump administration is trying to push a near surrender on Ukraine, all to give Putin time to rearm for a second attempt at total conquest. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...

My favourite London haunt.

Good to see @defjaf.bsky.social new book - the Random Universe - out in the wild. Heffers in Cambridge.

⏳ Two weeks to go! Interested in a PhD in Astrophysics at Imperial? Join our Astrophysics PhD Open Day — 3 Dec 2025, in person or online! ✨ 👩‍🏫 Meet supervisors 🔭 Explore projects ❓ Ask your questions Info & registration: imperial.ac.uk/astrophysics... #PhD #Astrophysics

Just once I’d love to attend an #SKAO meeting/telecon where the telescope was going to be bigger, faster, better than previously advertised. Just once.

Old Peculiar in the old Pickerel. One of my few timeless Cambridge traditions.

Congratulations to the newly minted Dr Simon Pochinda! Fine work on multi-observation inference of cosmic dawn and super-resolution for 21cm simulations. Fun to discuss in his viva today.

Labour seem to have completely lost the plot. They’re getting bogged down in political nonsense and failing to push forward the practical policies that are actually needed.

Passing through KingsX to Cambridge once more.

Sunset from my office takes some beating.

The Random Universe isn’t out until tomorrow (November 11), but the Kindle edition is on sale in both the US and in the UK. (And if you look very carefully, you’ll see that it has broken into the top 100 UK cosmology bestsellers…)

On the event of James Watson's death, I highly recommend this 2023 commentary from @matthewcobb.bsky.social and Nathaniel Comfort with crucial new insights into the discovery of the double helix. (And also check out Cobb's brand new biography of Francis Crick) www.nature.com/articles/d41...

A significant new development in the Imperial College pay dispute. The Joint Trade Unions have uncovered that key 2018 pay benchmarking recommendations—based on extensive staff consultation—were quietly set aside by College management. Read the full update here: ucu.imperial.ac.uk/archives/1143

Celebrating St Martin in the center of Bonn. Children with lanterns, a legionary on a white horse, and a huge bonfire!

Too long for Jon, too short for Jonathan. That seems my current state of play.

Are you a grad student interested in writing for Astrobites, or do you know one? We're recruiting! Apply by November 26 :) astrobites.org/2025/10/31/a...

Americans should be seriously concerned about the state of their democracy. It won’t get better if you deny the problem. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

#nasa is shuttering the Goddard #space #flight center in a move that may not be entirely legal, according to critics. For months, our #staff #writer @joshdinner.bsky.social interviewed NASA #employees, read #senate reports and more to give you the deepest dive yet. www.space.com/space-explor...

Wowed by the “Nigerian Modernism” exhibition at Tate Modern. Fascinating subject matter and colour palettes.

“Wherever law ends, tyranny begins…” - John Locke (1689)

Professor Alice Gast, former Imperial President and Emeritus Professor of Chemical Engineering, died on 27 October 2025. Remembering Alice Gast: www.imperial.ac.uk/news/270893/...

Frustrating how messed up is UK policy around Higher Education. Even if there’s so many sectors already in breakdown, maybe fixing things before there’s one more would be wise.

Godspeed to the poor people of Jamaica and other countries affected. Terrifying. www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...

Kudos to PSF. Definitely the right call.

The Random Universe isn’t due out until November 11, but not only can you pre-order your copy today, you can also download a free sample from the e-book. (Similar on Amazon UK and Apple Books — though it’s even better if you buy your hardcopy from an independent bookseller!)

Imperial UCU members are on strike today and tomorrow. This action covers all parts of the College — academic, technical, administrative, and operational. It’s about fairness, dignity, and pay that keeps pace with the cost of living.

Definitely a Glen Powell fan. www.theguardian.com/film/2025/oc...

Poor guy. Great actor. “Suddenly, I can’t come up with names,” Skarsgård said. “I can’t follow a thought or make an argument that spans several sentences that gets to the point […] That is extremely frustrating. But on the other hand, I’m alive. I can work.” www.theguardian.com/film/2025/oc...

Surely the Wagner Group is a bit more than a “terrorist group”? It’s a fairly direct arm of the Russian state. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

CJ and Josh aged well. #TheDiplomat

It’s problematic that, as we come to letter writing season, I’m reading “Dear Committee Members” and tempted to write a livelier style of reference letter.

Do you know an outstanding woman astronomer based in Germany? We want to hear about them! 🔭👩🔬 Together with the @germanastrosoc.bsky.social we're now welcoming nominations for the prestigious Caroline Herschel Medal.🏅 Don't delay, get those nominations in via: ras.ac.uk/awards-and-g...

National defences against malicious drone activity is shaping up to be a big issue. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/w...

I will be chatting about quantum mechanics and the multiverse in the Science Gallery London this Friday, in conjunction with their brilliant Quantum Unentangled exhibition! london.sciencegallery.com/sgl-events/f...

🔊Announcing a new Physics/Astro PhD scholarship scheme in Edinburgh, for students from a Black heritage, inc mixed Black background. Please help me spread the word. The scholarship covers all tuition fees, living costs & research travel. #blackinSTEM 🔭👩‍🔬⚛️ ℹ️: www.ph.ed.ac.uk/studying/pos...

“Protest is when I say I don’t like this, resistance is when I put an end to what I don’t like”

It’s a tough year for knowing what to tell students that ask about PhDs in the US. So much funding instability…

Very struck by German museum staff telling a Chinese tourist that China is the future and Germany is the past. More politicians need to articulate the dream of a European future.

Cosmologists! We have a faculty job going here in Oxford - happy to answer questions. Brief version is that this remains a great & collaborative place to do science and the students are superb. 🔭 www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOP628/a...

Between fires and layoffs, it’s been a dark few years for JPL.

“Chatfishing”. It’s fascinating how people are playing with ChatGPT. Bizarre, but fascinating. www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Keep Portland weird.