"A recent survey found that nearly 80% of early-career physicists were considering leaving the UK after the funding crisis. The loss of even a fraction of that would be a blow for UK science and also national growth. The task now is to persuade them to stay." www.theguardian.com/science/2026...

World-class Jodrell Bank is under threat and UK risks a physics brain drain

Funding crisis could lead to an exodus that would be a blow for British science and national growth

theguardian.com

Inspired to get out and commune with nature today. RIP #BillOddie thanks for all the joy, despite the demons.

If you have been watching today's news coverage of STFC's cuts to astronomy projects, I invite you to step into my time machine and review this 2008 BBC report. Sounds familiar, right?

Prof Jim Wild@jim-wild.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Given recent UKRI and STFC announcements, looking back at this 2008-vintage BBC Newsnight report about the crisis arising from the formation of STFC, it’s hard not to (a) feel a sense of Déjà vu and (b) that lasting lessons were not learned. youtu.be/Ot60dIdI1Ds?...

Preparing to head home from NAM 2026 in Birmingham. Conversations reflected the challenges facing our community, but the sense of optimism remains. The science was outstanding and the passion and talent of students and early career researchers were impossible to miss. Tired but re-energised!

Our new @solarstormwatch citizen science project launched today! Can you spare time to help us identify times when the skies in the Arctic are clear? You will see beautiful #aurora and will help us to improve our #spaceweather research. www.zooniverse.org/projects/lep...

Clear Skies - Kiruna | Zooniverse - People-powered research

Can you tell us when the skies are clear? You may even see an aurora!

zooniverse.org

What was the "Carrington Event" and who was the astronomer it was named-after? Catch me talking to @chrislintott.bsky.social on this month's episode of the BBC's The Sky at Night: 10pm, Monday 8 June on BBC Four. #spaceweather #heliophysics #astronomy

Royal Astronomical Society@royalastrosoc.bsky.social · 2mo ago

We're delighted to say that the RAS will be featured in the next episode of the BBC's The Sky at Night. 🪐🔭 Our new President Professor @jim-wild.bsky.social was interviewed for 'Space Weather: The Perfect Storm', which will air on BBC Four and BBC iPlayer at 10pm on Monday 8 June. ☀️☄️

Congratulations to the wonderful @sarahrosewatson.bsky.social who today successfully defended her PhD to become #DrWatson! Sarah has been studying how #solarwind affects #comets so her friends even baked a suitably cosmic cake to celebrate.

THIS!

Chris Lintott @chrislintott.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Go out! Look up! Enjoy the Moon! Watch how it changes from night to night (I've had a great view of the first quarter Moon from the garden the last couple of nights). Do not worry about 'special' events like a mini blue strawberry latte hedgehog Moon. Just go and look whenever you like! 🔭

Yes the #cumulous clouds were beautiful this evening, but it was the sun that was the... er, star. #timelapse

A livestream of a volcano in the Philippines captured a meteor crashing to Earth today. What are the odds? Mayon Volcano, Location: Albay, Luzon, Philippines

Time lapse of the sunset over Oxfordshire last night.So much going on! #sundog to the right at the start,planes leaving con-trails, then #Venus, #Jupiter & the #Moon set in sequence, the orbital plane of the planets compressed into a line viewed from Earth, like peas on a plate viewed from the side!

Heading to London to give my lecture at the @royalastrosoc.bsky.social. Was disappointed that the train at Platform 5 was not mine!

Royal Astronomical Society@royalastrosoc.bsky.social · 3mo ago

What would happen if another solar superstorm hit Earth? ☀️☄️ Join us for next Tuesday's Public Talk by new President of the RAS Professor Jim Wild. Here he explains just what to expect from his talk 'Solar superstorms - Are we ready for another Carrington Event?' Scan the QR code for 🎟️ & ℹ️

Mars - Clouds over Terra Cimmeria - ESA Mars Express HRSC Full size 5k image: flic.kr/p/2sdpsHP 🔭🧪 Credit: ESA/DLR/FUBerlin/AndreaLuck CC BY 2025-07-24 South is up HR211_0000 ND3+GR3+BL3

Spent the morning fanboying with some Carrington-related artefacts at the @royalastrosoc.bsky.social. Amazing to get the chance to view these sketches which are - if you are a #spaceweather aficionado - the G.O.A.T. ☀️ 🔭

Looking for a PhD position in solar system science? Consider coming to work with me, @interplanetary.bsky.social and @mathewjowens.bsky.social! We have a project on Solar Wind - Magnetosphere Coupling at the Giant Planets. www.findaphd.com/phds/project... #heliophysics#aurora#spaceweather

Solar Wind – Magnetosphere Coupling At The Giant Planets at University of Reading on FindAPhD.com

PhD Project - Solar Wind – Magnetosphere Coupling At The Giant Planets at University of Reading, listed on FindAPhD.com

findaphd.com

Just to reassure you that the world is still turning. A timelapse of the Moon and Venus setting over Oxfordshire in the UK this evening.

If you're in London on the 19th May, go and see Jim, he's a fantastic speaker.

Prof Jim Wild@jim-wild.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Excited to be giving a public lecture at the Royal Astronomical Society in London on Tuesday 19 May: "Solar superstorms - Are we ready for another Carrington Event?" ☀️

Amateur astronomers with telescopes equipped with video cameras are requested to look for impact flashes on the Moon tonight, to coordinate with #ArtemisII observations. Details here: www.geodes.umd.edu/impactflash

Do we all have our ape costumes ready for when the Artemis crew return?

I've been following the #ArtemisII mission with amazement but my 4yo self remains unimpressed by the lack of valves and duct-tape.

Cracking solar halo this morning over #RutherfordAppletonLaboratory in Oxfordshire, UK.

It's been raining over the UK for what seems like forever but back when it was just cold, I captured a few photons from my back garden. They'd taken 2.5 million years to get there so I figured a few more weeks before I shared them wouldn't hurt. #Andromeda

Thanks so much to @mostly-books.bsky.social for hosting my daughter for work experience today. She had a blast! And getting her to write reviews to display with her favourite books? Genius.

The news in haiku: G4 storm rages, Above 8 oktas of cloud, Space Weather FOMO!

The fascists are organising a carol concert in London to "draw attention to unchecked immigration and the fading of our cultural heritage". What would Woody do? Write an anti-fascist Xmas carol and sing it at the counter demo. www.youtube.com/watch?v=liRd...

BILLY BRAGG - PUT CHRIST BACK INTO CHRISTMAS

YouTube video by Billy Bragg

youtube.com

Love it 🙌

AR 4274 is rotating back into Earth's firing line for the 3rd time! 🌍☀️ It's been busy throwing out eruptions while on the farside, along with other ARs keeping things lively. The recent M-class flare and latest data suggests it may still be quite complex 👀 #SpaceWeather

Interested in the solar wind? Interested in lightning? Interested in the solar wind AND lightning? Then this could be the PhD for you! Come and work with us at the University of Reading. blogs.reading.ac.uk/crocus-dla/c...

🚨Here we go‼️🚨 Looks like the third eruption could be just arriving at L1 🌞💨🛰️🌍 #SpaceWeather #Aurora #NorthernLights

Undead Guitars' Blazing Zombies rise from the ashes of Red Guitars. Happy Halloween! youtu.be/JkqYeJ28XlU

Blazing Zombies (Official Video)

YouTube video by Undead Guitars (formerly Red Guitars)

youtu.be