As a Brit can I apologise for what has become of the BBC

If we needed any further proof of how far the BBC has been subverted by the corruption of the far Right, this is it…

Michael E. Mann@michaelemann.bsky.social · 6d ago

I was not informed by the BBC that they would have a right wing political figure or lobbyist on after me to rebut what I said. The individual in question went on to spout lies about China, etc. to distract attention from the Trump administration's assault on climate action. This is unacceptable.

As a demonstration of the truism that stupidity and delusion are - in the end - self-limiting, you can’t do much better than this. (Via Dan Satterfield on FB). We’ve got the data to do this for the UK, correlated to Brexit-voting areas, so watch this space… #covid #red-state #blue-state

Full moon swim, with extra added Perseids and Flaggpunsch, albeit minus one moon (we have hills and it was hiding). Courtesy of BLOBS - our little wild swimming group…

Read the full story: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2611/ 🔭 🧪 2/2

Astronomers find strongest evidence yet that Betelgeuse has a companion - “The conclusion of a century-long quest”

At long last, astronomers have firm evidence that Betelgeuse, one of the most famous stars in the night sky, is not alone. Using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO's VLT), a team led by French researcher Miguel Montargès obtained the clearest image ever of what likely is Betelgeuse B, the star orbiting Betelgeuse. “This is the conclusion of a century-long quest,” says Montargès.

eso.org

May I present a superb example of evolved design? The humble Scottish porridge spurtle: evolved over centuries to be exactly the right 'Goldilocks' diameter for yer morning bowl: a spoon is too broad and takes most of the porridge with it, and a narrower stick doesn't stir properly.

We have an upgraded security system for the new bike… #caturday #catsofbluesky #duCATi

All the best to the residents of Nethy Bridge but, damn, why is this sort of thing still taking disaster agencies by surprise and unprepared? (Side note: neither the UK nor any of is constituent countries actually HAS a disaster agency. In the age of climate crisis, that is utterly insane)

The National@scotnational.bsky.social · 2w ago

BREAKING: Police Scotland have declared a major incident as the Cairngorms wildfire is becoming more 'unpredictable' All residents of Nethy Bridge are being evacuated as the fire spreads towards the village

I needed a small number of high tensile bolts. I could have ordered them from Amazon (next day) or from China(4 days). I chose to order from a UK manufacturer, and did so: two weeks later there was no sign of them, and no update. Cancelled.

Joiner is in the house today - lots of banging & crashing, so Oakley has retreated to his Fortress of Solitude… #cats #catsofbluesky

Thank you, Spain. For persistently playing football in the face of blatant thuggery and corruption. Right result.

Just touching 30° here in the Highlands, and the cats are voting with their arses - even Kirjava, who is normally quite happy to lie in full sunshine until her brain bakes… #catsofbluesky

Explaining to a v nice Italian plumber (who’s just appreciated our garage full of Ducatis) how our hot water system works. He demurs, citing his 32 years experience of renewables. “Bet you £100” he says. I prove it. He is profusely apologetic. I decline to collect. Scotland does things differently:

Very much a Moon Safari sort of a morning…

I can only imagine that the driver of this 44 bus from Edinburgh to Currie is attempting a recreation of Indiana Jones’ mine car ride. At least no one is shooting at us. Yet.

And, according to IPSOS today, he’s 12 points ahead in the polls…

Dr Seán DOOLAN 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🇮🇪@sdinpraxis.bsky.social · 3w ago

A timely reminder of Binface's climate action platform, after three UK heatwaves this year, and 2,700 associated deaths in May and June.

This. As with FIFA, the IOC is so fundamentally and irredeemably corrupt that the only route to recovery has to be to tear it down and start again. It now needs a full boycott from all nations which aren’t snivelling sycophants of autocracies.

UNITED24 Media@united24media.com · 4w ago

⚡️European officials are demanding the EU halt funding for the International Olympic Committee after it reinstated the Russian Olympic Committee. united24media.com/world/russia...

Swimming with mammals (assorted). It's good for Zambesi's back, but he remains to be convinced… #highlandlife #swimming #openwaterswimming #scotland

<sarcasm>Because of course, the best way to prepare the UK and the world for adaptation to, and adoption of, new technologies and the long-predicted reality of climate change and ecosystem collapse is to cut investment in R&D and innovation… 🤦</sarcasm>

Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans@astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 4w ago

If this leaked info is to be trusted, we'll soon be adding #SaveJodrellBank to #SaveUKAstronomy🔭. I fear this is UKRI "rolling the pitch" to prepare us for the official announcement of unpleasant news😔 There is still a little glimmer hope though: A DSIT spokesperson said: "This is speculation".

So, I’m 50,000 words in and, much to my surprise, the principal antagonist has just turned into the in-world version of Luthen Rael, albeit a non-human one. I’m going to need a considerably larger baddy. #writing #fictionwriters

I have OCS: Oscillating Cat Syndrome. Oakley’s favoured sleeping position is limpet-clamped to my side. In this weather, we both get too hot, so he retreats to the foot of the bed until he cools down. Then returns. With all the subtlety of Thor’s Hammer. Rinse & repeat, all night… #caturday

For those advocating aircon: it’s part of the problem, by increasing energy demand and - in urban environments - increasing the heat island effect to the detriment of those without it. All an aircon system does is to move heat from where you don’t want it to where someone else doesn’t want it

“Why on earth did you move 500 miles north?”. Is a question we’re being asked much less often now. 23°C and idyllic…

Climate adaptation at its best

womensartbluesky.bsky.social@womensartbluesky.bsky.social · last mo.

Crocheted canopy for shade in public space, created by 40 local women of Cartaya, Spain #WomensArt

Dear USA: stop being afraid: the most ‘extreme’ of these candidates would slot in nicely as Scandi Social Democrats. The ‘centrist’ Democrats are Euro-right and, if ever a country needed a dose of Social(ist) Democracy, it’s the US. It’s been drinking its own Foundation Myth Kool-Aid for too long.

The Washington Post@washingtonpost.com · last mo.

Democratic socialist candidates swept key primary races in New York Tuesday, accelerating their rise within the Democratic Party while more traditional center-left candidates and moderates backed by corporate interests prevailed in other contests.

This. Very much this. I watched 30 seconds of the BBC 6 O’Clock news yesterday - their lead off was, “Gosh, isn’t it hot, and aren’t we all having a jolly time!” That was enough. #climate #heatwave #media #BBC

Leo Hickman@leohickman.carbonbrief.org · last mo.

++BREAKING++ Leading climate scientists in the UK have written to senior editors in broadcast media - and OFCOM and IPSO: "To express our concern about recent media coverage of extreme weather, climate change and net-zero and to urge you…to inform public audiences of the scientific links"

Science fights back, in the best way it can: with verifiable facts.

Katharine Hayhoe@katharinehayhoe.com · last mo.

Climate.us is officially live! After NOAA ended Climate.gov’s day-to-day operations in 2025, former team members built Climate.us to carry that work forward. Their explanations and graphics have always stood out to me as clear, accessible, and transparent. I’m really looking forward to this reboot.

This is exactly what we’ve been banging our heads against for decades.

Jonathan Cook@jonathan-cook.bsky.social · last mo.

When scientists say climate change means average temperatures will rise by 2 or 3 degrees, they don't mean that what was once a 20C summer's day becomes 22C. Weather will yo-yo ever more wildly: one week will bring cold and storms, the next a blistering drought. That's the harsh future.

It doesn’t get clearer than this: top is a projected forecast for 2050, broadcast by French TV in 2014. Bottom is yesterday’s actual forecast for the day. Repeat after me: “The worse things get, the faster things get worse”. And El Niño hasn’t kicked in yet. #climate #heatwave

We have a new entry in the climate dictionary under “irony”

Grantham Research Institute at LSE@granthamlse.bsky.social · last mo.

We regret that our event on Extreme Heat: Improving governance and strengthening action around the world has been cancelled due to the red extreme heat warning issued by the UK Met Office. Our apologies to everyone who was planning to attend the event.