Got something for me? 🐶 #dogsofbluesky

The UKRI CEO has released a follow-up letter to the research community. While seemingly reassuring for other research councils, with specific commitments on paused grants, it remains vague on STFC and offers little that wasn't in the original letter. 1/ #astro www.ukri.org/news/ukri-ce...

“Hey, you’ve been working for a whole 20 minutes, play with me now!” 🐶 🍍 #dogsofbluesky

Realised that I haven’t done an Otis post for a while, so here is a very chill beagle 🐶 #dogsofbluesky

After a busy week the missing bricks finally arrived to finish my Lego Notre Dame! I decided to add some lights and I think it works pretty well 💡

Glad to see pushback picking up in the media about the proposed massive cuts to UK particle/astro/nuclear physics 🧪🔭. Everyone understands that tough choices have to be made, but not investing in your future is a surefire way of, well, not having much of one 🤷‍♀️ www.theguardian.com/science/2026...

I, along with many other UKRI, STFC and RS fellows are signing this open letter on the STFC cuts. The proposed reductions will devastate UK astronomy and the researchers who make it possible. Please read, share, and, if a fellow, sign. advancedfellows-openletter-stfc.github.io/index.html #astro

George Efstathiou explains why PPAN grants are bearing the brunt of STFC’s funding crisis. A must read on what’s happening to UK astronomy. #astro

New X-GAP paper on arXiv led by Ramananda Santra (NCRA-TIFR), studying old AGN plasma in galaxy groups with uGMRT, LOFAR & XMM-Newton. Found beautifully messy radio morphologies, showing the important role that group environment plays in the AGN feedback process. #astro #extragalactic #radioastro

Not wanting to intentionally use a BT slogan from my childhood and show my age, but it’s good to talk 💙☕️

This from @chrislintott.bsky.social nicely captures exactly what’s at stake with STFC cuts to fundamental science in the UK www.ox.ac.uk/news/2026-02... #astro

IOP President-elect Paul Howarth CBE warns of a "devastating blow to the foundations of physics" in the @financialtimes.com today following news of planned STFC cuts last week: www.ft.com/content/5732...

And there’s this…

I’m sure this does very little to assuage the concerns of people reliant on STFC funding, quite the opposite in fact. #astro

So glad I finally started Hollow Knight. Thoroughly enjoying slowly exploring and getting lost in the depths of Hallownest (and repeatedly being returned to benches, but that's part of the charm) #hollowknight #gaming

Of course Otis had to supervise me making cheese and ham toasties 🥪 And don’t worry, the cheese tax was paid 🧀 😆 #dogsofbluesky

Things move from bad to worse for UK astronomy. Continued cuts will directly impact early career researchers’ ability to find postdocs in the UK, affecting an entire generation of astronomers. #astro #science #stfc ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...

Have always loved Mew and Mewtwo so was super excited to get this today! #pokemon #pokemontcgp #mewtwo

Had a lovely surprise today when my PhD student gave me this physics themed wine from a recent workshop she attended 🍷 ❤️ #astro #quantum #physics

After hearing about Silksong, I finally started the original Hollow Knight. I can already see why people warned me it’s unforgivingly difficult 😅, and yet its gentle melancholy and soothing atmosphere keep pulling me back in without frustration.

I’m sure no one will blame me when I say that besides the interesting science, meeting these guys was probably one of the highlights of my recent trip ☺️

Had a great couple of days in Durham talking about all things supermassive black holes. Lots of lively discussions and a few new exciting collaborations are emerging. Thanks so much for the invite! #astro #supermassiveblackholes

Was great to work with Stefano Sotira (PhD student at Uni of Bologna, currently looking for a postdoc position) and co. on this paper, simulating cold gas formation due to jet feedback in galaxy clusters! #astro #astrocoding

On my way to @durhamphysics.bsky.social and @icc-durham.bsky.social in Durham to give this week’s Astro colloquium. Just adding the finishing touches to my slides. #astro

Of course, the one time my brain decides not to wake me at 5am with “hey, let’s think about 100 random things” is the morning I can’t have a lie-in.

Once more, because it's important Leaving X telescoper.blog/2026/01/18/l...

Academia often has a knack for making you question yourself. Imposter syndrome thrives here. It’s important to remember that everyone’s route is different, and that we should be kind and compassionate to ourselves and those around us.

Absolutely love my Lego Balrog, and happy to have rekindled my interest in these little plastic bricks!

Another nice day in London. Didn’t necessarily do much, but sometimes it’s enough just to be somewhere. I did, however, pick up some Pokémon cards and was followed by a crow for a bit 😂🐦‍⬛

Had a great evening! Thanks, @sachacoward.bsky.social for a really fun tour of the British Museum with a video game twist 👾🕹️🎮

Even Otis’s shadow is cute 🐶 #dogsofbluesky

Well at least one of us is comfortable 😂 #dogsofbluesky

Well, the sweet and sour chicken didn’t last long 😋

Been waiting for this one for a while, it’s stunning ☁️ ❤️ #Pokemon #PokemonTCGP

Absolutely amazing news that Debora has won this year’s @royalastrosoc.bsky.social Eddington Medal. She’s been an incredible mentor and source of inspiration to me for over a decade, and to so many others. Very well deserved! #astro #blackholes

Perfect food when it’s cold and wet outside 😋

First day back in the office this year, plenty arXiv papers to catch up on and slides to make! Glad Eugene is here 😄

Snap! 😂

Might have to go along to this 👾🎮🕹️

Seems the peace prize wasn’t all it was cracked up to be…

First run of the year done, a little longer (and colder) than anticipated but glad to have done it 🏃

No cheating, reskeet with the most recent photo of your pet.

Drop your favourite starter (of course I picked them on Pokemon Blue 😆)

Well I certainly hope so 💕

Otis insisted on a New Year’s Day walk on the beach 🏖️ 🐶 #DogsOfBluesky

We made it. Grateful for every bright spot and light moment. Here’s to a kinder, lighter 2026 ✨ “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” 🧙‍♂️ (Gandalf)

Yep, knew he wouldn’t last, the snores are cute though 🐶 💤 #DogsOfBlueSky

Not sure if someone is going to make it to midnight 😂🐶 #DogsOfBlueSky

Otis enjoying his last trip to the pub of 2025 #DogsOfBlueSky

A fairly decent couple of cards today 🐰🔥 #Pokemon #PokemonTCGP #Charizard #Lopunny