I was recently asked to comment on superspreading for a BBC article. Little did I know, my quote would become the title! www.bbc.com/future/artic...

To study influenza infections, we inoculated human participants with aerosolized virus: coarse particles generated by a flow-focusing monodisperse aerosol generator and fine particles generated by a medical nebulizer. academic.oup.com/jid/article-...

Today, we're sharing an open letter from our Chief Executive, Professor Sir Ian Chapman, outlining changes to UKRI investment approach, and addressing concerns about research funding and the financial position of STFC. Read his letter here: www.ukri.org/news/open-le...

There are a lot of horrible things happening in the world. I can't offer answers, or even cat pics. But I have been having a go at taking some cave pics while away at new year. First time for a while. Hopefully you will like them.

Happy International Day of Education from the School of Education here at the University of Leeds This years theme is “AI and education: Preserving human agency in a world of automation”, Read our reflections here: bit.ly/4qo28RT and bit.ly/49asnEu #DayofEducation #EducationMatters

PhD position (Manchester, UK) Modelling reactive response in outbreaks of respiratory infections in vulnerable settings with Lorenzo Pellis, Ian Hall, Thomas House at University of Manchester More details: http://iddjobs.org/jobs/2462

Happy weekend from a cat sat on top of a door. Like you do…

And my group at the Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases is also hiring: We are looking for a postdoc for our work on mucosal immunity and respiratory viruses! jobs.unige.ch/www/wd_porta...

Professor position in Global Health at the University of Geneva, Institute of Global Health! This is really an exciting opportunity with lots of possibilities for collaborations, e.g. with our Centre, in the field of infectious diseases, international Geneva, WHO... jobs.unige.ch/www/wd_porta...

I wonder how many millions in productivity is lost each year because cross country trains are too cramped to work on and the 4G signal is terrible? I love visiting colleagues at Birmingham uni, but I loathe the trains.

Ten years ago today David Bowie died. And ever since the world has gone to rats. Causation, correlation or coincidence?

We just published our “Insights from lack of transmission in a controlled transmission trial with naturally infected donors” in the journal PLOS Pathogens. I've summarized it in a Substack post. "How not to catch the flu?" profairborne.substack.com/p/how-not-to... #Influenza #AirborneInfection

How likely is ‘likely’? Does ‘likely’ have a higher probability than ‘probable’? I put together a quick quiz so you can see how you interpret probability phrases, then see how you compare with others: probability.kucharski.io

Mental health is shaped by social and structural factors—yet too often, mental health policies fail to address them.

Happy new year. Here’s to a healthy, happy and peaceful 2026.

Pop up pirate is out. It must be New Year’s Eve #FamilyRituals

So proud of so the people at MathsWorldUK who’ve been working so hard to give the UK its first City of Maths. Enjoy it Leeds!

And on Sunday morning had the passive-aggressive cancellation email as I didn’t respond in time. I’m sure these systems could be programmed to recognise weekends and major public holidays and adjust the reminders accordingly.

I spoke with @carlzimmer.com about our terminated grant on wildfire smoke and homes:

Snake Pass Snow, painting by Sue Scott. Infamous stretch of the A57 between Manchester and Sheffield.

I know it’s hard to get paper reviewers but sending the invite on Christmas Day and the reminder on 27th isn’t going to help the cause #decline

A Winter Walk - by one of my favourite artists and printmakers, Hester Cox @hestercoxprint.bsky.social More of Hester's stunning artwork, here: www.hestercox.com #art #printmaking #fox #winter

Catherine Hyde, contemporary UK artist, photographer, writer and award-winning illustrator #WomensArt #Solstice #December21st #ArtAdvent

Stained glass and driftwood sculpture by UK artist Louise V Durham #WomensArt #Solstice

If you are still looking for a last minute stocking filler for those researchers and students in your life, today is the last day where you can pick up the kindle version of It Shouldn't Happen to a PhD Student for only 99p #lessthanacupofcoffee #phd #phdchat www.amazon.co.uk/Shouldnt-Hap...

Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar Window 20 ‘Winter Sunrise’ Artist: SR Badmin

This is a great tool for estimating the impacts of air cleaners in nat vent UK schools. Unlike most air cleaner selection tools which just size on clean air delivery rate CHEPA also considers the energy aspects depending on local climate.

Scientific evidence shows, once again, there is no causal link between vaccines and autism. Vaccines cause adults. - @drtedros.who.int

@perhapsitspia.bsky.social @rcrohit7.bsky.social @gwynethdavies.bsky.social @rich-fry.bsky.social @annamavrogianni.bsky.social @douglasbooker.bsky.social Please share. Developed by @henryburridge.bsky.social, @sarahwestsei.bsky.social & team based on work by Henry, @cathnoakes.bsky.social et al.

PLEASE SHARE! Deadline extended until 16th January - please do get in touch if you are interested in working with me, Katy Roelich, @cathnoakes.bsky.social, and Mark Mon-Williams on improving indoor school spaces to support health, well-being, and equity for children and young people.

Great to see this tool out from the SAMHE team to support air cleaner selection in schools. Based on the model we published in Indoor Environment www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

📢 Introducing CHEPA: a free, easy-to-use tool for #schools and local authorities! Calculate how a #HEPAfilter would affect your classroom #AirQuality and energy use. 🍎 ✔️ Easy-to-use ✔️ Evidence-based ✔️ Classroom-specific results Try the #CHEPAcalculator today: www.coschools.org.uk/CHEPAcalcula...

High concentrations of fine particulate matter have been found in homes in Bradford, with families from deprived areas and ethnic minority backgrounds facing the highest levels of exposure. Learn about the INGENIOUS project, and hear from @jacquirickard.bsky.social: ncas.ac.uk/study-reveal...

Custard anyone? #Caturday

We have a new (open access) paper on the opportunities (and challenges) for ground source heat pumps systems using shared ground loops (SGL). doi.org/10.1016/j.rs...

Here is a godawful joke in chart form to ruin your Christmas season 🤪🎄

I hope someone draws this wonderful story about Tom Stoppard's Arcadia and the power of the arts to help us see things differently, to the attention of our Education Secretary. Do read it, it will lift your spirits.

Get the #SAMHE newsletter for updates, resources, inspiring stories and our scientific findings and recommendations on indoor #AirQuality in UK schools! December issue out soon - join the mailing list today! samhe.org.uk/FAQ#contact 🍎 #STEM #EduSky #EduSkyPrimary #HealthyAir #SciTeachUK

It's beginning to look a lot like... Microbial Christmas! 🦠🧫🔬🎄🎅🏻🛷🦌☃️

The prestigious Queen Elizabeth Prize for Higher and Further Education – part of the UK national Honours system – recognises Leeds’ outstanding, 150-years of textile research. We delve into the history and explore the innovation driving the next chapter 👇 https://www.leeds.ac.uk/qep

Places are filling up fast for December's Air Quality in the 21st Century at the Royal Society of Chemistry. It's a science adventure from the work of AQEG to net zero, health gains from air pollution actions, UFP, shipping, inequalities in exposure the ULEZ and more. www.rsc.org/events/detai...

Did you know that wood burning is the most polluting way to heat your home? Save the date for #CleanAirNight! To find out more visit cleanairhub.org.uk

Powerful piece by @drrachelclarke.com on the COVID inquiry. Those who say it’s easy to be wise in hindsight are being utterly disingenuous. Many of us spoke out at the time, and it’s in the public record. @independentsage.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

We’ve had our heat pump for 12 months now estimate that we’re about £280 better off. That surprised me as we moved from oil which is cheap, and I was expecting the heat pump to be marginally more expensive. Just goes to show! Buy a heat pump folks!

A galaxy of discovery awaits! 🪐 Don't miss the 2025 Christmas Lectures, supported by CGI, as space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock takes us on a whistle-stop tour of our universe, searching for evidence of extra-terrestrial life. www.rigb.org/christmas-le...

There’s more flu around earlier this year. I’ve had my flu jab, have you had yours yet? Get yourself booked in as it can make a big difference to you and others around you.

It's Day 1 of #LeedsCityofLanguages! @lcsleeds.bsky.social @ilcs.bsky.social @ucflangs.bsky.social @universityofleeds.bsky.social

Happy #WorldVentil8Day to all life on the planet! Let’s do what we can to THRIVE, not just survive. #CleanTheAir @cathnoakes.bsky.social @onschoolsafety.bsky.social @theresisters.bsky.social @coopspeak.bsky.social

Evidence continues to accumulate linking exposure to air pollution with dementia. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/01/h...

As #WorldVentil8Day 2025 is only 3 days away here’s a little reminder of some ventilation tips I gave last year 👇