This is amazing💕

No organisation existing solely to eliminate trans people should be a charity. #DeregisterSexMatters

I want to quote the whole article but this seems particularly relevant. "The appeal of a ban lies in its simplicity. But complex social problems rarely yield to simple technological solutions." I also recommend reading 'Unlocked' by @peteetchells.bsky.social

The US granted visas to Jews but only allowed 30,000 in from Germany a year. You had to wait for your number to come up. Meet Robert Smallbones. An unassuming British diplomat who 'hacked' this system so effectively (saving 48 THOUSAND Jews) the UK government kept his scheme secret for decades /1 🧵

We're on holiday in the most southerly bit of mainland Britain and we still saw a spectacular aurora.

A dramatic sunrise at Prussia Cove #Cornwall

Following coverage over the weekend of Sir Paul Nurse's comments that suggested that the only reason that a Fellow should be expelled from @royalsociety.org is scientific misconduct, I have written to him to explain the risks such an attitude poses of increasing sexual harassment in STEM.

I'm really enjoying reading Ring the Hill at the moment and this is now another book on my to-read list. Ring the Hill is reminding me of growing up in many of the places it visits, 1983 is the year I moved north (though now I realise I'm really a north-midlander, albeit west of the Pennines).

We've had a bunch of messages lately asking what the best way to support Shambles and @robinince.bsky.social is post Monkey Cage and the best bet is to sign up to our Patreon which is how we fund all Shambles documentaries, podcasts and such. Plenty on the horizon for 2026.

This is certain to be excellent - the best people take part in Cosmic Shambles productions.

I know many of you who follow me don't work in climate science, but this is the biggest story in climate right now. Breaking up NCAR makes us all less safe and is another act of self-harm that will take decades to recover from.

This is the best response I've seen so far to the sad news about The Infinite Monkey Cage. But there are thousands of other fans who recognised that Robin Ince practically defines what the BBC used to be; entertaining, enthusiastic and informative but delivered with absolute integrity.

What a treat for December! #JaneAusten250

We loved going to Indesign in Chester, though we couldn't afford to buy much at the time. This is a great addition to Chester city centre, and not too far from the Welsh Rarebit in the cathedral café.

As Trump and Infantino work the red carpet, bragging about setting records for ticket prices. (video below) Lets break down what “record prices" really mean for football fans and host countries. An important thread. 1/10

There's not much left of the rule of law if organisations can be financially bullied into not asserting their legal rights. goodlaw.social/sb50

We are mothers, daughters, friends and colleagues who stand together in support of trans people. Not In Our Name. Read our full statement here: notinourname.org.uk/trans-exclus...

This piece was greenlit and then killed by a British newspaper, so I’ve decided to publish myself instead. Trans People Deserve Better. "Gender critical" feminism doesn't help women but it does help the far right open.substack.com/pub/wellread...

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NEW: I wrote about British churches installing heat pumps, in some cases in 1,000-year-old buildings! Decarbonisation may not be easy, but many view it as an act of faith. This is a special feature to mark The Reengineer’s first anniversary! Spread the word! 🥳 www.thereengineer.pro/p/let-there-...

THREAD A week ago, we published this statement by the Greater Manchester Asylum Hotels Group. The response has been overwhelming. The group has had many messages of support from our local area and beyond, and people have been inspired to share the message far and wide in their own communities.

Wow. I did not know that Alfred Russell Wallace (co-discoverer of evolution by natural selection) wrote a book in 1904 about the biological potential for life on other planets, and I've just found this extraordinary paragraph setting out the insanity of atmospheric pollution [1/3]. In 1904!

If you're a National Trust member, it's that time of year again: Midnight tonight is the deadline. It's a shame people have to keep doing this to keep a toehold on historical truth in this country, but here we are. Voting link: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/who-we-are/a...

This will be a brilliant evening (as long as it goes ahead) Do buy tickets please!

If you're feeling a bit down today this should lift your spirits in less than 4 minutes.

My new book of science cartoons, PHYSICS FOR CATS is out in a week! Order a copy today from you local bookshop or at one of the links here: www.tomgauld.com/comic-books-v2

A page-turner of a book and you still have time to read it, enjoy it and vote for it. You can read it on Borrowbox but make sure you return it quickly to give others a chance.

You might not spot this story unless you go to the BBC News Wales page, so keep clicking on this link to make sure it gets noticed.

This is a fascinating thread, including this link to a short article that considerably widened my understanding of post-colonialism.

Every time we’re told schools are improving because of exam results, I ask: what about pupils’ well-being? If we only measure grades, well-being will suffer. #EducationForAll | #ChildWellbeing | beewellprogramme.org

This would be laughable if it wasn't so serious: yet again, the Tories are claiming that we can get "all our oil and gas" from the North Sea and that we should be doing even more to support the industry to extract. There are several reasons why we should treat this with maximum scepticism:

Most doctors, most of the time, draw on their years (decades, in my case) of medical training & expertise to do the best we can for you. What distinguishes us from snake oil salesmen - persuasive grifters who prey on human fears to line their pockets - is our expertise & our integrity. Trust… 1/n

I would definitely watch this version (though what would the heffalump be doing?)

Spreading the joy...

I'd known about some of the challenges to getting a car through Motability but this is a really good thread on how it works.

Just to be completely clear - this British Army Vet was NOT forced out of military housing to accommodate Afghans - who, by the way, put their own lives at risk to support and protect British soldiers. Just ever more rage-baiting by Matt! 🧵1/14

🏳️‍⚧️🚨 New letter from MPs on trans rights & EHRC Consultation on the #ForWomenScotland ruling. I have written a letter to the EHRC to urgently raise concerns about the Draft Code of Practice consultation after the ruling. I am proud to say that 32 of my colleagues have signed it too.

It looks like another trip to the North East is in order!

Climate mitigation and adaptation measures are not costs. They are investments. The true costs occur when mitigation fails and adaptation is too slow so we suffer from continually worsening extreme weather events like heatwaves and floods. Invest now to reduce costs in future.

Useful link here for an amazing new view of the cosmos on YouTube at 4pm tomorrow UK time. If you can't get to a watch party there's a YouTube link here. (Trailer and more info at the link)

‼️We're just TWO DAYS from Rubin's first images! #RubinFirstLook‼️ So let's talk images📷 NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory's LSST Camera — the largest digital camera ever built — produces 3200-megapixel images... 🔭🧪 But what does that mean, exactly? 🤨 📷: J. Orrell/SLAC Lab

Today is #ShowYourStripes Day! Created by @edhawkins.org, the warming stripes show temperature each year: blue for cool, white for avg, red for hot. Athletes are wearing them, knitters are knitting them, and cities are putting them on trams. Find + share your "stripes" here: showyourstripes.info

If Liverpool feels warm today it's not just about the weather #ClimateEmergency showyourstripes.info/l/europe/uni...

It was such a joy to share this celebration, to bump into old friends and share stories with new ones, and to sing the great song of justice, Tell Out My Soul, with 2000 people. As a bonus we can just spot ourselves at the edge of this photo taken by Westminster Abbey's photographer.

Rare Earth is one of the R4 programmes I still make sure I catch...

I think all the French words are close enough to the English to not need translating🌞 But the link to the Solar Dynamics Observatory in the second post shows (in English) that 'The Sun Now' is looking very exciting at the moment.

📢Speak up for a just peace now. ✍️Write to your MP and demand the UK Government ban all arms sales to Israel and ban all trade with Israeli settlements. Find out how 👉 caid.org.uk/BUC #Gaza

I learned a lot about Mary Anning in Impossible Monsters by @mhtaylor.bsky.social but I also bought this graphic novel in the French National Museum of Prehistory in Les Eyzies. I don't think you'd find this in English except as a children's book.

We tell stories when we're sharing our love of the night sky with the public. Now we're finding many people engaging through their own stories, of seeing the aurora or a meteor shower, experiencing an eclipse or managing to find their favourite constellations.