Everyone I’ve shown this asks, “How did you know what my office was like!?” open.substack.com/pub/fictiona...

Latest thrilling — and in some ways terrifying — instalment of The Fictional Aether. That’s right, we’re going to London! open.substack.com/pub/fictiona...

Great culture can save lives. Literally. Amazing letter in today’s @thetimes.com about Tom Stoppard

Bluetorial-Jim Watson I met Jim Watson a few times but did not know him well. However, I was greatly influenced by his book “The Double Helix”. He was a complicated human being with some very, very bad features, but some good contributions. What follows is my personal perspective. 1/41

My latest, on reasons to read The Power Broker, and some things that might help you do it. open.substack.com/pub/fictiona...

I would expect that’s the one book I stubbornly would NOT have read…

Ahead of tomorrow’s #NobelPrize announcement, I went on a deep dive in search of the most obscure physics Nobel Prizes in history. That means it's time for a thread on...🧵 PHYSICS NOBEL PRIZES YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF – PART 1 (1/n)

In which I valiantly defend my artistic freedom and, of course, freedom of speech. open.substack.com/pub/fictiona...

In which I valiantly defend my artistic freedom and, of course, freedom of speech. open.substack.com/pub/fictiona...

Already several comments on this line. All I can say is, “Wow, you made it all the way* through the piece!” open.substack.com/pub/fictiona...

How Good Will Hunting helped me to find my dream postdoc… open.substack.com/pub/fictiona...

Me on the radio, taking massive black holes crashing into each other. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...

Our collaboration member Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social shares his insights on working on our latest discover, the particularly tricky gravitational-wave signal #GW231123 fictionalaether.substack.com/p/gw231123-a...

My summary of the latest @ligo.org observation paper. Massive black holes! open.substack.com/pub/fictiona...

Here we go: the first of three trials of the scientific paper writer! fictionalaether.substack.com/p/a-collisio...

In honour of the second night of Oasis in Cardiff, I’m at home listening to Blur.

Latest piece: “The 2025 vacation life hack” Including a (fashionably ambivalent) cameo appearance from Bluesky. open.substack.com/pub/fictiona...

The Trump Administration vs Springer? Please don’t ask me to pick a side.

Is Lolita the only case where the song is better than the book?

Latest post! open.substack.com/pub/fictiona...

Finally, a new post! (And it’s not *just* about the lack of posts…) “It’s been so quiet here lately that you might be wondering whether this ‘Stack continues to exist. Do not fear! The Fictional Aether exists just as certainly as the real aether does not.” open.substack.com/pub/fictiona...

A cautionary tale of duplicity and wickedness disguised as a piece of advice. Or, let’s face it: just a piece of advice. “How to get your name on a paper”: open.substack.com/pub/fictiona...

A cautionary tale of duplicity and wickedness disguised as a piece of advice. Or, let’s face it: just a piece of advice. “How to get your name on a paper”: open.substack.com/pub/fictiona...

This happened to me recently. I was also making simple syrup (essential for cocktails), but then my daughter called me upstairs to help with some homework, and I completely forgot about it. When I came downstairs later there was an amazing amount of smoke...

Really looking forward to this book. It's a while since I've been this excited by an upcoming release. It feels good.

Part 3 is here and, yes, it does include a character whose friends, I've just realised, probably call Iggy Poop. I should add my disclaimer from the post-script to Part 2: fictionalaether.substack.com/p/the-resear...

On the fascinating potential trend of defence work to become cool. I used to joke to idealistic PhD students that of course there are lots of amazing and fulfilling careers outside academia — so long as they don’t work for the military. I’m not sure I’d say that any more.

I'm sure my science journalist followers will all appreciate this... fictionalaether.substack.com/p/the-resear...

Some good old fashioned satirical fun to lighten your weekend! fictionalaether.substack.com/p/the-resear...

I should make clear that of course I am not referring to any scientific collaboration that I might be part of. Perish the thought. fictionalaether.substack.com/p/the-acclai...

I was of course thinking of the last sentence while reading the first two.

And now the conclusion, a full Hollywood rousing climax. Sort of. "There was much murmuring and disquiet amongst the audience. There was no loud dissent — academics are meek and cowardly." fictionalaether.substack.com/p/the-acclai...

Very sad news. I saw her speak in Paris in 2006. At one point she knocked all of her transparencies onto the floor. I was convinced that she did it on purpose, just so she could stand back and watch all the senior (male) professors scrabbling on the floor to pick them up. A treasured memory.

"When you're a coward disguised as a bully, it's useful to employ an evil shit disguised as a thug." fictionalaether.substack.com/p/the-acclai...

I wrote a little follow-up, but it’s only for paid subscribers, because I don’t want anyone to read it.

I just heard it pronounced “Beige factor”. I think thats a more appropriate name.

A new story has dropped. Get yourself among the ripples. fictionalaether.substack.com/p/a-life-in-...

Sathya really is just as thoughtful as he looks.

Some statistics* on Bluesky vs X engagement: this got 0 likes on X and 1 on Bluesky. * Poisson statistics.

Finally, a new story on my Substack! (I keep forgetting that, unlike on X, I won't get penalised for using the name of an alternative platform...) fictionalaether.substack.com/p/self-exami...

“When a philosopher says they don’t understand another philosopher, what they really mean is that they don’t agree.” Words to live by. fictionalaether.substack.com/p/a-year-in-...

I've tried to stay away from all of the screaming about Elon Musk, but it's hard to come up with a way to re-thread this story to produce an admirable character. A thoroughly entertaining episode from @iandunt.bsky.social and @dorianlynskey.bsky.social.

The question is: have I drunk enough to enjoy the Doctor Who Christmas Special?

I love Christmas playlists. It’s one of the few occasions when you can surreptitiously change to The Eagles, and the music is suddenly 10x better.

“When a philosopher says they don’t understand another philosopher, what they really mean is that they don’t agree.” Words to live by. fictionalaether.substack.com/p/a-year-in-...

Interviewer: Can you explain this gap in your resume? Me: That was between when I worked at Old Navy and H&M

Yesterday's year-end round-up, in case you missed it. fictionalaether.substack.com/p/a-year-in-...