John Williams
@johnhuww.bsky.social
wine, gardens, churches and Wales will feature. Professionally interested in health and life sciences, mental health, academic clinical careers and science policy in general. I cross boundaries. @wi_john
Kudos to @gwr.com : I had to abandon a rail trip from Oxford to Cardiff on Monday because of disruption. a) Simple system for getting refunded - got full value of ticket when I thought I might be eligible for only half. b) Station staff/guards unfailingly helpful in v trying conditions.
An excellent piece.. “University research runs on the expertise of technicians, research software engineers, data stewards and core‑facility specialists. Treat them as strategic partners and your group’s quality, speed and compliance will improve” www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/what-...
What established academics can learn from technical staff
University research runs on the expertise of technicians, research software engineers, data stewards and core‑facility specialists. Treat them as strategic partners and your group’s quality, speed and...
timeshighereducation.com
“A trust is struggling. The neighbouring trust has a successful CE… … put the two together, share the board, invent a group name and assume good management will travel. Err... no, put a turkey and an eagle together and you'll end up with a dodo.” myemail.constantcontact.com/Rationing-.h...
myemail.constantcontact.com
Say goodbye to skid marks .. “When you start eating healthy, you don’t need toilet paper,” .. “Animals in the wild have no residual stool on their anus.” He described a proper bowel movement..: odorless, wipe-free, over in three to seven seconds & “nearly orgasmic.” www.nytimes.com/2026/08/04/m...
The Most Powerful Men in America Are Eating Only Steak and Sauerkraut. Could I?
I ate like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for a week. The results were fascinating.
nytimes.com
“A new genomic analysis of the mosquito, called Anopheles stephensi, using specimens collected from 10 countries, showed that those found in Africa had genetic resistance to all of the chemicals currently used in spraying campaigns and other mosquito-control efforts” www.nytimes.com/2026/08/04/u...
An Invasive Mosquito Is Spreading With Alarming Speed, Threatening Africa’s Cities
The malaria-carrying mosquito is resistant to all insecticides. Scientists are scrambling to find ways to blunt the risk.
nytimes.com
“The NHS has had a commitment to being a paperless institution for many years, so the fact that you’ve still got 200 sites completely reliant on paper is disappointing and frustrating.” www.thetimes.com/article/0ec4...
‘Digital’ NHS spends £240m a year on storing paper medical records
More than 200 healthcare sites are entirely reliant on paper records but do not have space to store them, a think tank has discovered
thetimes.com
“There were legitimate questions about academic practice that he refused to answer — journalists must be free to ask anyone difficult questions, even star professors.” www.thetimes.com/article/77e2...
Jason Arday: Police investigated journalist who questioned professor
Met officers spent four months looking into claim of harassment after inquiries were made to the academic who is caught up in a plagiarism scandal
thetimes.com
UK’s ability to make medicines & missiles hit by decline of chemicals industry “The UK’s advanced chemical industry is in rapid decline with potentially serious implications for the country’s ability to make missiles, medicines & other strategically critical products” www.ft.com/content/8cd8...
UK’s ability to make medicines and missiles hit by decline of chemicals industry
Rate of UK chemical company closures doubled between 2020 and 2025, study finds
ft.com
What if older people refuse help outside the family? | “Many fear losing their independence if they agree to care workers looking after them. Any social care review must take this on board” A relief to see this issue discussed. Reflects my own experience. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
What if older people refuse help outside the family? This is the taboo that could wreck care reform | Emily Kenway
Many fear losing their independence if they agree to care workers looking after them. Any social care review must take this on board, says Emily Kenway, a social policy doctoral researcher
theguardian.com
London based writer has clearly never attempted the journey from Bangor to Cardiff! “the people of Dundee and Bangor feel just as distant from Holyrood and the Senedd as they do from Westminster”. That seems like a stretch,” www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Guardian view on Burnham and the devolved nations: a test for the new politics in Westminster | Editorial
Editorial: The prime minister has unveiled his plans for English devolution. The picture in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is much less clear
theguardian.com
Teimlo'r grym… Star Wars dubbed into Welsh for first time for S4C broadcast www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Star Wars dubbed into Welsh for first time for S4C broadcast
Rhys Ifans, Matthew Rhys, Aimee-Ffion Edwards and Mark Lewis Jones among actors voicing characters from 1977 blockbuster
theguardian.com
I hate to be cynical but a number of these reviews have been commissioned in the past only for the Senedd to ignore their recommendations ! Let’s hope Plaid do better. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Review aims to make Welsh research ‘globally competitive’ - Research Professional News
Welsh review of higher education will aim for “structural reform” within current spending constraints
researchprofessionalnews.com
“In April, Mr. Mamdani punctuated a video celebrating the pied-à-terre tax with a finger tap on the screen. A recent video by Mr. Burnham on cutting electric bills starts with the same gesture.” www.nytimes.com/2026/08/04/w...
Andy Burnham’s First Weeks as UK Prime Minister: TikToks, Podcasts and Promises
Andy Burnham’s social media push appears to be resonating with some voters. But he faces big decisions about how to pay for his promises.
nytimes.com
Do natural GLP-1s work? “in one trial, she points out, participants reported increased digestive symptoms, including nausea, constipation or diarrhoea, “which could be part of the explanation for reduced food intakes”. Clearly the answer for FT HTSI readers is yes 😂 www.ft.com/content/509c...
Do natural GLP-1s work?
Alternatives to weight-loss drugs are gaining traction. But do they make a difference?
ft.com
A reminder that the best mentor’s have the self awareness/humility to recognise this error. “There is a danger, he says, that experienced mentors think they have “seen it all and know all the answers. You don’t. All issues are unique.” giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
The ‘brutally honest’ feedback CEOs cannot get enough of
Mentoring offers executives the chance to hear the truth even if they might not like it
giftarticle.ft.com
An important point - “With so much Government energy focused on the commercial environment, we need assurances from DHSC and NIHR that non-commercial trials will see similar improvements in set-up times, and that the Accelerator works for them too.” news.cancerresearchuk.org/2026/08/04/b...
news.cancerresearchuk.org
saying this not as a dig to Paul but as a general point, but it does worry me that we've ended up in a world where the two options are seemingly "leftist bubble" or "oh hey the nazis are here" - surely we should be able to have a politically heterogenous platform with tight rules on hate speech etc?
Paul Bernal@paulbernal.bsky.social · 2d agoThe new CEO of Bluesky wants to change Bluesky from being a leftist bubble. The thing is, there’s nothing wrong with being a leftist bubble: the idea that everything has to be all-encompassing and suitable for everyone is a trap. 🧵 1/4
Companies linked to top health official and husband received £2bn in public contracts “The extent to which the taxpayer has been funding companies which are linked to the top civil servant in the DHSC is both staggering and completely hidden from view.” www.ft.com/content/ea8c...
Companies linked to top health official and husband received £2bn in public contracts
Samantha Jones or spouse held financial interests in G Square Capital private equity business
ft.com
Time for Andy Burnham to smile on UK science “Britain is far more dependent on universities for its scientific activities than other European countries, which have larger state-funded networks such as Germany’s Max Planck and Fraunhofer centres.” giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Time for Andy Burnham to smile on UK science
Waning support for basic research threatens Britain’s technology ambitions
giftarticle.ft.com
Terrific and rightly angry piece this:
Rory Waterman@rorywaterman.bsky.social · 4d agoSome notes by little me on recent, hugely damaging, shamefully shameless events at Cambridge University. rorywaterman.substack.com/p/notes-on-a-cambridge-debacle If you read only one article about what has happened, try the new piece by Lanre Bakare in the Guardian, linked in my blog post.
Some notes by little me on recent, hugely damaging, shamefully shameless events at Cambridge University. rorywaterman.substack.com/p/notes-on-a-cambridge-debacle If you read only one article about what has happened, try the new piece by Lanre Bakare in the Guardian, linked in my blog post.
Notes on a Cambridge Debacle
I’ve written this very hastily, but there are a few things I’d like to get off my chest and the situation seems to be evolving quickly. Pleze ekscus eny leters getin in the rong plaices etc.
rorywaterman.substack.com
‘Comradely’ Talks and a ‘Deer Leader’ Mascot: Scenes From the D.S.A. Summit “Members of the D.S.A. sort themselves, Hogwarts style, into more than a dozen caucuses. There’s Bread & Roses, Marxist Unity Group, Red Star, Groundwork & Communist Caucus” Magnificent ! www.nytimes.com/2026/08/02/u...
‘Comradely’ Talks and a ‘Deer Leader’ Mascot: Scenes From the D.S.A. Summit
At a national meeting of the Democratic Socialists of America, nervous energy and a sprawling tableau of sometimes-competing interests were on display.
nytimes.com
One in six use AI for health advice, prompting misinformation warning “The Academy of Medical Sciences said that lives are at risk from myths and false information online, particularly around vaccines, treatment options and fertility advice.” www.thetimes.com/article/e731...
One in six use AI for health advice, prompting misinformation warning
The Academy of Medical Sciences says unverified guidance and chatbots are putting lives at risk through myths about vaccine safety and fertility care
thetimes.com
Should You Be Able to Bet on Drug Trials? “Prediction markets on Kalshi and Polymarket now let people wager money on drug approvals. Kalshi also plans to allow bets on clinical trial results.” Astonishing ! www.nytimes.com/2026/07/28/b...
Should You Be Able to Bet on Drug Trials?
Prediction markets on Kalshi and Polymarket now let people wager money on drug approvals. Kalshi also plans to allow bets on clinical trial results.
nytimes.com
What Geriatric Emergency Departments Do Differently “These specialized units can help keep older patients out of the hospital, lower their health care costs and more.” www.nytimes.com/2026/07/25/w...
What Geriatric Emergency Departments Do Differently
These specialized units can help keep older patients out of the hospital, lower their health care costs and more.
nytimes.com
“The real question is how did anyone invest so much money, and then lend so much money, to a . . . kid with no personal experience and no infrastructure?” Your reminder of the institutionalised gullibility of the organisations that trashed economies in 2008. www.ft.com/content/620b...
How Leopold Aschenbrenner, the ‘golden child’ of the AI trade, was laid low
The $20bn hedge fund manager’s wild ride ended with a call to Ken Griffin
ft.com
“The move will put government agencies such as the Arts Council, Sport England, UK Research and Innovation and Homes England on notice that local leaders will now have far more influence over how they spend their cash.” giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Burnham says devolution plan paves the way for a written UK constitution
Prime minister’s sweeping powers for local mayors could lead to ‘new principles’ for running England
giftarticle.ft.com
“I have no problem with providers, whether they’re public sector, not-for-profit or private,” Davey says. “I think there’s a strong case for diversity.” My mother lived in a small, well run, stably staffed, private care home in West Wales. Davey is right. www.thetimes.com/article/cd54...
Ed Davey: How to fix social care without raising taxes
The Lib Dem leader, who’s spent years caring for family, says the private sector should not be cut out
thetimes.com
A behaviour changing wisteria - usually flowers April - blown over, repotted twice ! A prolonged sulk, followed by v hot weather led to this.
