Robert Kitson is in suitably coruscating form in this week's Breakdown: www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/s... I almost feel sorry for the "suitably bearded head of growth" and serial booze marketeer at the Prem.

Did an event at The Grove, Watford, last night and spotted this interesting piece of art. From afar it looks like Mrs Thatcher; look more closely and the red bits are @jeremycorbyn.bsky.social

Everywhere you turn in Bath this you find a Jane Austen cosplayer. I love it. But what are they doing other than dressing up? Are they attending readings? Balls at the Assembly Rooms?

TREK BATH IS THE BEST BIKE SHOP IN THE WORLD. Claire recognised my bike on the way in to work and said “that’s not meant to be there” and TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP!! They called me and refused any sort of finders fee. I do not deserve people like this.

Dutch comedian Arjen Lubach has a nice bit about Disney cancelling Kimmel. www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vRX...

I loved doing this booky Q&A with @booksireland.bsky.social ! My faves and influences, from Patrick DeWitt to Douglas Adams to W.G. Sebald. booksirelandmagazine.com/q-and-a-with... Thanks @ruthmckee.bsky.social

Like most scicommers ‘of a certain age,’ I crossed paths - if not swords - with Kenward on a few occasions. He was a character, and he got stuff done. Both of which I find admirable. The sector owes him more than many today will know.

Paging @paulclarke.com

Charlie Kirk’s death is an appalling event. Precisely because it is so appalling, it is staggering to see senior politicians and media figures commenting at a time when we don’t have firm evidence about motive or the murderer.

Might offer to read it as a Thought For The Day. thecritic.co.uk/oh-m...

Ireland will not take part in 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if participation of Israel goes ahead, RTÉ Director-General says

Okay, it's not a brilliant film but HEADS OF STATE managed to make me laugh out loud with the best HOW DID YOU FIND US montage I've seen in ages.

Listening to Robbie Robertson's eponymous album again. It really is superb. open.spotify.com/album/6Ggpaj...

THERE'S NOT AN ELECTION FOR FOUR YEARS. RUN THE COUNTRY FIRST, then fight the election. This is exhausting. They've all lost their minds because they're scared of a party with FOUR MPs.

This morning I was listening to Matthew Taylor on R5L giving all the reasons why they might not work. It was complex. But the stronger argument is that there aren't any positives for patients.

Spot the difference: top, a normal party conference. bottom, a very abnormal one. Scared of something? cc. @pixel8foto.bsky.social

It’s finally here! Publication day! And not, as my phone keeps autocorrecting it, ‘pub location’ day. 😂 ‘Chaos Theory’ has been nurtured for 4.5 years, and now it’s finally out in the world, going on its own adventures. You can get it as paperback, e-book and audiobook. Linktr.ee/SylviaLeatham

This is the England that I know and love. I have to confess, it made me tear up a little.

Happy Birthday to Alan Ladd, born 112 years ago today

We've made it to Bluesky! Give us a follow for updates from our network of science centres, museums, and outreach organisations across the UK. We'll be posting about events, campaigns, and nationwide projects. Any suggestions for who we should follow? Let us know! 🔽

The new school year is underway and teachers are booking Chats! Apply now to get involved in the Autumn term: imascientist.org.uk/signup/c/

For over 25 years, science and discovery centres have been at the heart of inspiring millions of people to explore, question, and be part of UK science and technology. But they're seriously under threat… 1/3

If the WaPo can describe him correctly, why can't the British media. "a far-right British gadfly"

Sometimes, these things are not complicated. Paying despots to take a bunch of refugees who fled them in the first place is wrong. And the refusal of my government – or much of the media – to say so disgusts me. I'm repeating words from @jonnelledge.bsky.social because they are absolutely dead on.

Fascinating read from @peterfrankopan.bsky.social More on the Kremlin, 2000 and the NATO Door That Briefly Opened open.substack.com/pub/peterfra...

And we're off again for another year of scintillating, surprising and superb chats. Teachers, get your students involved: imascientist.org.uk/signup/t/ Scientists, Mathematicians, Engineers, get yourself involved: imascientist.org.uk/signup/c/

Just been given the final PDF proof of the @imascientist.org.uk report for the summer term and a summary for the whole of 2024/25. It's great. Published here: about.imascientist.org.uk/2025/summary...

It seems the racists don't like being called racist. Growing up in NI- somewhere dominated by "FLEGS", my view is that it's cheap, tacky, intimidating and motivated- at least in part, by racism. To say the flag is a "symbol of unity and inclusion"is laughable www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Add your name to call for a cap on donations today: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ta...

This is a really exciting role working with me around some really exciting technologies and scientific data. Please feel free to get in touch if you would like more info.

The worst thing about racist Robert Jenrick’s pretence that his racism is justified to protect his daughters from men from ‘ backwards’ countries is that 97% of women who contacted Rape Crisis said they knew the person who raped them. 43% of girls questioned in a national survey

Helsinki goes a full year without a traffic death, largely by upgrading pedestrian and cycling infrastructure and reducing speed limits to 30kmph, via @semafor.com yle.fi/a/74-20174831

I'm looking forward to giving my first Gresham Lecture a month from today. Anyone can register for free to listen online or to watch in person if you're in London.

Want a free book? "The Works" and Amazon are basically giving away "Why Don't Things Fall Up?" for £3 so I thought I might as well actually give some away. It's a brilliant book - don't take my word for it, read the reviews! if you want a copy, let me know!

@fergalkeane.bsky.social explores cultural identity in a way that resonates to this Blackburn-born immigrant to England www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Shepherds’ delight?

Wait, what is this I see before me, an evidenced, considered piece on children's screen use? Maybe we're at the beginning of the end of the Haidt/Smartphone Free Childhood madness. Can we actually have a non sensationalist discourse now? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Really pleased to follow a BBC Breaking News Alert and find myself reading what @peteetchells.bsky.social has to say: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

In case you are feeling too positive this morning, have a read of this.

Deadline for this funded PhD to work with me and @duncanastle.bsky.social is soon! 26 July. The student must be a woman (because it’s based at Newnham College) and eligible for UK home fees.

Looking forward to a nice day trip to London to attend the @big-stem-network.bsky.social event at @ri-science.bsky.social

For 2 years, 2 govts used a secret court to hide the truth: they put 100,000 Afghans at risk of death. They used constitutionally unprecedented methods to prevent reporting. My reflections on two years on this story and why it must ever happen again. goodallandgoodluck.substack.com/p/my-two-yea...

Fez!

Booking a Driving Test in the UK is tricky. Many people are resorting to apps like Testi. It's not great. I've been looking on the DVSA site. This morning at 09:09 I found a cancellation and booked it. At 11:32 Testi notified me of the original booking being available. 2 hours, 20 mins later.

We are in receipt of the WH letter. We can confirm it is legitimate, after comparing the signature to one on a “client list” we have from an island party application in 1998.

Penniless and homeless, Raynor and Moth Winn found fame with their story of their 630-mile walk to salvation. The Salt Path became a global bestseller and was adapted into a major film. But we can reveal it wasn’t the whole truth. @chloehadj.bsky.social Read more:

Lol 😂 😆 🤣 happy Thursday legends

Back in 2020, Georgia tried an I’m a Scientist Chat for the first time. Since then she has connected with approximately 650 students from Aberdeenshire to Devon, right from her desk! And last term, Georgia said it had been a confidence booster and an opportunity for reflection on her career.

Catching up with @opencontracting.bsky.social analysis of data emerging from UK Procurement Act and great to see all the long-laid groundwork (& ongoing legwork of many) on data standards, identifiers and extensible model paying off in useful data and insight www.open-contracting.org/2025/06/23/u...