Thanks to @robertmassey.bsky.social @royalastrosoc.bsky.social @astroroyalscot.bsky.social @gostargazing.bsky.social for the lovely quotes in this piece on how to safely enjoy the eclipse next week!

Several visitors today including this one who was desperate for Jane's sandwich. Quite how it recognised a lunchbox on the ninth floor escapes me, but it's admirable. Other than that I'm going through recovery after an ileo-caecal resectional, removal of a fistular mass and fitting a stoma.

The Royal Astronomical Society is shocked and dismayed to hear that the UK's iconic Jodrell Bank Observatory is at risk of closure amid a slew of catastrophic budget cuts. Read our full statement here: ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...

Great listener questions episode of The Super Massive Podcast! Izzie Clarke, @robertmassey.bsky.social, and @drbecky.bsky.social take on some pretty interesting questions. Here is their YouTube link! youtu.be/1ZIhVaL8lZk?... Join the Super Massive Club for an ad-free experience! 🔭🎢🧪

Q&A: Could dark matter be space vampires? Do black holes create different 'eras' of time?

YouTube video by The Supermassive Podcast

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Brilliant opening for the NAM 2026 community session by @astroroyalscot.bsky.social setting out the cuts and how @royalastrosoc.bsky.social is working to stop them. #saveukastronomy

On an #Avanti train that was supposed to go to Birmingham, but isn't, doesn't have enough staff, is delayed by 50 minutes so far and followed one that was cancelled. The sooner Avanti is nationalised the better.

A bright "Saturn's ring" of satellites will emerge around Earth, outshining stars if satellite companies get to launch a million data centers. #darksky #space @robertmassey.bsky.social @profhughlewis.bsky.social www.space.com/space-explor...

An artificial 'Saturn's ring' of satellites could soon fill the sky, astronomers warn

"It sounds like a bad science fiction movie."

space.com

A strong and competent UK state would sweep in here and grab every PhD student we can find. Alas, no such state exists and we won't bother doing anything, as usual.

Ben Allen@evodynamics.bsky.social · 3w ago

Congrats we just made it impossible to come here for a PhD www.bostonglobe.com/2026/07/16/m...

This looks like a signal that science and research more generally is being taken a lot less seriously. It's not what we need.

Margot Finn@eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 3w ago

'The incoming prime minister has asked officials to draw up plans to abolish the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology as part of a wider Whitehall shake-up.' Although not yet signed off, quite a 'thing' if you're a university researcher or at a university that undertakes research. 1/3

@robertmassey.bsky.social, @drbecky.bsky.social, Izzie Clarke, and Producer Richard with listener questions! And did you know the Super Massive Podcast has a YouTube channel now (youtube.com/@thesupermas...) ?! 🔭🎢🧪

Can Time Travel be sped up? What is the Bootes Void? And G'day to Australians

What is the Bootes Void? Why do we only see one side of the Moon? Can time travel be sped up? And what's the smallest amount of visible space debris? The Supermassive Podcast team answer your…

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🤔 Shock and horror! Credit: Private Eye

Sadly it's hard to argue with this. There just isn't the ownership in government, despite hard evidence coming in from the affected communities. Much less than 1% of the UKRI budget is needed to stop the PPAN cuts, for example.

Glen O'Hara@gsoh31.bsky.social · 4w ago

The UK has now said it will actively harm or damage: *Chemistry *Nursing *High-end physics *Languages *Astronomy *Creative arts *Theatre and performance *Cultural industries *Europe-level science The UK has lost its mind. 🇬🇧

The UK has now said it will actively harm or damage: *Chemistry *Nursing *High-end physics *Languages *Astronomy *Creative arts *Theatre and performance *Cultural industries *Europe-level science The UK has lost its mind. 🇬🇧

Anyone interested in the astronomy (and particle and nuclear physics) funding crisis should watch this. I'm delighted at the work that @chionwurah.bsky.social and the SIT Committee did this morning. She's quite right that it won't assuage the deep concerns of researchers, and no hint it'll be fixed.

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

On display this morning, parliamentary scrutiny at its very best with @chionwurah.bsky.social and her committee questioning Secretary of State Liz Kendall about the STFC funding cuts. Worth watching in full, but here are some of the highlights! 1: Doctoring the minutes!

A quick crowdsourcing exercise. @royalastrosoc.bsky.social is looking for copyright free images we can use for promoting the eclipse on 12 August (a deep partial in the UK) to the press and public. Can anyone help? Diagrams and photos of past events all good. We'll obviously credit contributors.

At today's UKRI board meeting, the fate of UK particle physics and astronomy will likely be decided. Have we done enough to convince the powers-that-be to halt the proposed funding cuts? 🤞 Read Prof. Hiranya Peiris in Nature today eloquently explaining why these cuts are wrong.🧪🔭⚛️ 📖: rdcu.be/friwM

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

Stars of physics are in Westminster right now to call on the Government to halt funding cuts to astronomy and particle physics research. Professor Brian Cox called them "inexplicable", urging the Government to instead "trust, inspire and continue to invest in the next generation of scientists".

RAS Journals and @royalastrosoc.bsky.social are at the EAS. Come and visit our stand! Pictured left to right, Marieta Valdivia Lafort and Pam Rowden.

Neutrinos - Little Neutral Ones... Izzie Clarke and Producer Richard interview Dr Kirsty Duffy and Professor Kumiko Kotera Hosts are @robertmassey.bsky.social, @drbecky.bsky.social, and Izzie. Fascinating episode! 🔭🎢🧪

What the heck are neutrinos?

Is this the toughest subject we’ve ever tackled? Izzie certainly thinks so and it’s even making Dr Becky and Dr Robert's brains hurt. Helping them to make sense of these ‘weird and interesting’…

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I’m more used to banging on about rockets and space than myself, but I am quietly proud to have been shortlisted for two Hazels Space Awards - ceremony this evening. Of course it would incredible to win something, but honestly being shortlisted with some amazing women is an honour in itself.

🔭 Enter the Royal Society Publishing 2026 Photo Competition This annual competition, which includes an #astronomy category, celebrates the role great images play in making science accessible to a wide audience. Deadline: 14 August. royalsociety.org/journals/pub... @royalsocietypublishing.org

Starmer and Gordon Brown, could have used their family and photogenic children to help their image. Both chose not to. Speaks volumes about both men.

Makerfield result is extraordinary: A swing back to governing party in a by-election is exceptional. Winning absolute majority of the vote in a seat with Reform friendly demographics is exceptional. Doing both on an increased turnout when your party is polling under 20% is truly exceptional

Looking forward to teaming up with @astroroyalscot.bsky.social, @chrislintott.bsky.social, @drbecky.bsky.social, @jonbutterworth.bsky.social, Brian Cox and others in Westminster! #STFCCuts #UKRI

Heading to Parliament to meet MPs and enlist their help to stop the cuts that UKRI and STFC will impose upon UK particle physics, astrophysics and nuclear (PPAN) research! We need to help Science Minister Vallance, who is “determined that UKRI must find a way to look after PPAN” #SaveUKAstronomy

Enjoy the bonus episode of Rhe Super Massive Podcast with @robertmassey.bsky.social, Izzie Clarke, and @drbecky.bsky.social! Thank you to the @royalastrosoc.bsky.social 🔭🎢🧪

Why Is There Motion in the Universe?

What happens if two diamond core stars collide? Will the Moon drift away from Earth? Why is there motion in the universe? And why we need a space AND time machine. Izzie, Dr Becky and Robert dive…

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The world’s first trillionaire took away our Ebola response capacity, gave us screwworms, hollowed out our government so he could pay less taxes, and condemned millions of the world’s most vulnerable people to death.

Plague Poems@plaguepoems.bsky.social · 2mo ago

When you see the story about how the world now has its first trillionaire, and when you see the story about how laboratories in Congo have run out of supplies to test for Ebola, it is important to understand that in many ways these are the same story.

" #STFC ... have worked collaboratively with the sector as this process progresses across many community meetings ... involving many thousands of research colleagues. " Dear 1000's of research colleagues: do you feel "involved" in this "collaborative" process? 😡🙅‍♀️🔭⚛️ ℹ️: ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...

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

The RAS is disappointed by the response to its request with the @iop.org for a full impact assessment of the proposed cuts to astronomy, particle physics and nuclear physics. RAS President @jim-wild.bsky.social said the reply from @ukri.org was "astoundingly complacent given what is at stake". ⤵️

Read the response in full 👉️ ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...

We wrote to science minister Lord Vallance, and had a non-reply from UKRI CEO Ian Chapman. Complacent was among the politer words being used in the office yesterday.

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

The RAS is disappointed by the response to its request with the @iop.org for a full impact assessment of the proposed cuts to astronomy, particle physics and nuclear physics. RAS President @jim-wild.bsky.social said the reply from @ukri.org was "astoundingly complacent given what is at stake". ⤵️