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alomshaha.bsky.social
Alom Shaha
@alomshaha.bsky.social
7.2K followers 1.3K following 5.9K posts
Dad. Science Teacher. Author of books including “Why Don’t Things Fall Up?”, "Mr Shaha's Recipes for Wonder" and “How to Find a Rainbow”. Lots of free stuff and more about me at alomshaha.com
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alomshaha.bsky.social
Alom Shaha @alomshaha.bsky.social · Oct 12
I’ve spent 25+ years teaching and “ communicating” science. As well as being a schoolteacher, I’ve worked with scientists and science institutions to help them explain their work to the public. This book is the culmination of all that work. Out in paperback Nov. 7th www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1529...
A sky blue book with a big upside down apple with white text on it saying “ALOM SHAHA WHY DON'T THINGS FALL UP?” 'A joyful exploration ... proving that science is for everyone' ROMA AGRAWAL A brilliant book' CHARLIE HIGSON Seven fundamental science questions explored and explained Book is on green background which has text saying: 'A great idea, beautifully executed.' - Brian Clegg, science writer 'It's one of the friendliest science books I've read. I'm sure many other people will agree. I have learnt (and remembered) so much, and so easily. It's the mango ice cream of science books.' - Hilary Mckay, Costa Prize winning novelist 'Shaha's many years of experience as a science teacher shine through every page. Not only is he such a natural 'explainer', but he has that rare gift of putting readers at ease without ever talking down to them. If you ever felt that science was not for you or too complicated to grasp then here is the teacher you'll wish you had at school' - Jim Al-Khalili, scientist, broadcaster, author Patient, clear, never patronizing, and constantly warm and humane, Why Don't Things Fall Up? presents the key concepts of science with infectious energy and enthusiasm. If you never got on with science, you've nothing to fear here, and everything to gain.' - Philip Ball, science writer and broadcaster "A gentle and reassuring journey through school science, perfect for polishing up both long-forgotten knowledge and confidence, and helping everyone to make science a part of their world. "- Helen Czerski, scientist, broadcaster, author 'Brings together science and storytelling in a joyful guide to life's big answers. With warmth, humour and humanity, Alom Shaha takes complex concepts and distils them into simple language...it's a vital corrective for anyone who has ever struggled with science.' - Kia Abdullah, author
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hagenilda.bsky.social
Jo (unfunded hobbyist) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @hagenilda.bsky.social · 5m
Oh it’s world mental health day again

Stop telling us to ‘talk’. It’s not a simple solution to anything.

Lots of therapy is actually inadequate or inappropriate for the issue at hand

hagenilda.wordpress.com/2019/08/03/i...
It’s good to talk…
CW: mental illness, psychiatric abuse, the normals not getting it, OCD fears around child harm, BPD/EUPD Bob Hoskins in BT’s famous ‘It’s Good To Talk’ ad campaign, 1990 One…
hagenilda.wordpress.com
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wildhuntbooks.bsky.social
Wild Hunt Books @wildhuntbooks.bsky.social · 10m
*Submission reminder*

We're open to unagented subs from 6-12 Oct. For this submission period we are looking for novellas only (35K-50K). We're specifically looking for novellas that play w horror, mystery, weird & the unusual.

More info below🐐
www.wildhuntbooks.co.uk/blog/pop-up-...
Pop up submission window — wild hunt books
Wild Hunt Books are open to unagented submissions  from 6-12 October 2025. For this submission period we are looking for novellas only (35K-50K words with a grace of 1000 words, over/under)...
www.wildhuntbooks.co.uk
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Reposted by Alom Shaha
alomshaha.bsky.social
Alom Shaha @alomshaha.bsky.social · 59m
I wrote one for my girls: alomshaha.com/portfolio/ho...
How To Find a Rainbow
“This charming story can be read on two levels – that of two sisters in search of a physical rainbow and that of emerging from a gloomy emotional episode and beginning to find joy again.  It …
alomshaha.com
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alomshaha.bsky.social
Alom Shaha @alomshaha.bsky.social · 36m
I’d really love to know how many PoC writers get the one book deal and no more. And whether that number is different for white authors.
mariannedoherty.bsky.social
Marianne Doherty @mariannedoherty.bsky.social · 2h
With the IBC Excluded Voices report making for sober reading this week, let’s use #KidsBooksFriday to celebrate brilliant books from global majority writers.
#KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit

www.inclusivebooksforchildren.org/excluded-voi...
Book cover for Spirit Warriors by Ashley Thorpe Book cover for Nush and the Stolen Emerald by Jasbinder Bilan Book cover for Nate Yu’s Blast from the Past by Maisie Chan Book cover for Birdie by J. P. Rose
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mariannedoherty.bsky.social
Marianne Doherty @mariannedoherty.bsky.social · 2h
With the IBC Excluded Voices report making for sober reading this week, let’s use #KidsBooksFriday to celebrate brilliant books from global majority writers.
#KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit

www.inclusivebooksforchildren.org/excluded-voi...
Book cover for Spirit Warriors by Ashley Thorpe Book cover for Nush and the Stolen Emerald by Jasbinder Bilan Book cover for Nate Yu’s Blast from the Past by Maisie Chan Book cover for Birdie by J. P. Rose
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Reposted by Alom Shaha
louiestowell.bsky.social
Louie Stowell @louiestowell.bsky.social · 1h
One of the things about this study is that a lot of baby and toddler books are written in house, by editors. So the study reveals the whiteness of editorial in kidlit even if not explicitly. But, big picture, this trend is unacceptable. I remember so many promises www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...
‘Catastrophic decline’ in Black representation in children’s books
A report by charity Inclusive Books for Children found that of the 2,721 books surveyed, only 51 featured a Black main character, down by 21.5% since 2023
www.theguardian.com
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alomshaha.bsky.social
Alom Shaha @alomshaha.bsky.social · 59m
I wrote one for my girls: alomshaha.com/portfolio/ho...
How To Find a Rainbow
“This charming story can be read on two levels – that of two sisters in search of a physical rainbow and that of emerging from a gloomy emotional episode and beginning to find joy again.  It …
alomshaha.com
1 3 5
Reposted by Alom Shaha
alomshaha.bsky.social
Alom Shaha @alomshaha.bsky.social · 2h
What’s depressing to me is that lots of us predicted this was going to happen YEARS ago but none of the education publishers / institutions acted on it and instead left it to random people to produce and profit from educational content with no quality control. (Some of it is very good nowadays)
alomshaha.bsky.social
Alom Shaha @alomshaha.bsky.social · 2h
On train listening to obviously smart teenage boys discussing homework on “how is conflict presented in Romeo and Juliet” and one boy says to another “I’ll send you two good videos on this” and I am not sure teachers are fully aware of how young people revise etc these days.
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alomshaha.bsky.social
Alom Shaha @alomshaha.bsky.social · 2h
What’s depressing to me is that lots of us predicted this was going to happen YEARS ago but none of the education publishers / institutions acted on it and instead left it to random people to produce and profit from educational content with no quality control. (Some of it is very good nowadays)
alomshaha.bsky.social
Alom Shaha @alomshaha.bsky.social · 2h
On train listening to obviously smart teenage boys discussing homework on “how is conflict presented in Romeo and Juliet” and one boy says to another “I’ll send you two good videos on this” and I am not sure teachers are fully aware of how young people revise etc these days.
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alomshaha.bsky.social
Alom Shaha @alomshaha.bsky.social · 2h
On train listening to obviously smart teenage boys discussing homework on “how is conflict presented in Romeo and Juliet” and one boy says to another “I’ll send you two good videos on this” and I am not sure teachers are fully aware of how young people revise etc these days.
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statsepi.bsky.social
Darren Dahly @statsepi.bsky.social · 3h
To be clear, they aren't interested in the treat the poors well Jesus. They only care about the obey daddy or burn in hell Jesus, and the please forgive me Jesus that will get them into heaven despite a lifetime on earth being rich spoiled shit bags.
propublica.org
ProPublica @propublica.org · 6h
The Education Department has hired at least 9 people from the America First Policy Institute, co-founded by Secretary Linda McMahon.

The think tank’s listed goals include ending the separation of church and state and “plant[ing] Jesus in every space.”
These Activists Want to Dismantle Public Schools. Now They Run the Education Department.
Under Trump, the Department of Education has been bringing in activists hostile to public schools. It could mean a new era of private and religious schools boosted by tax dollars — and the end of publ...
www.propublica.org
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sababausa.bsky.social
❀°。Der Siebenschläfer *.ﾟ✿ ⋆ @sababausa.bsky.social · 2h
The history books having to explain cartoon frog = fascist, inflatable frog = anti-fascist…
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louiestowell.bsky.social
Louie Stowell @louiestowell.bsky.social · 18h
People say "if you want to ban guns cos they're dangerous then you should ban cars" to me like that's a gotcha and I won't just agree with them.
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Reposted by Alom Shaha
womensartbluesky.bsky.social
womensartbluesky.bsky.social @womensartbluesky.bsky.social · 3h
Quilt art inspired by vintage photographs of African American people, by contemporary US artist Bisa Butler #WomensArt
US #BlackHistoryMonth
Textile artwork featuring standing two figures facing forwards, a Black man and woman, the man wears a patterned suit in vivid colours and the woman wears a long coat in similar patterns and colours and she wears a large rounded hat, all against a patterned pink background
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womensartbluesky.bsky.social
womensartbluesky.bsky.social @womensartbluesky.bsky.social · 3h
Louise V Durham, stained glass and driftwood sculpture, Shoreham by Sea, UK #WomensArt
Photo of a vertical driftwood sculpture inlaid with rainbow coloured stained glass, the sculpture is sited on a wet looking shoreline by the sea under a sky with silver clouds and pale blue light
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jennyhawke.bsky.social
Jenny Hawke @jennyhawke.bsky.social · 14h
Two brilliant author events over the past couple of days. Yesterday with @fionawoodcock.bsky.social who ran a wonderful Storytime & today with Christopher Edge who was amazing with Years 5 & 6!
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Reposted by Alom Shaha
matthewcobb.bsky.social
Matthew Cobb @matthewcobb.bsky.social · 2h
Getting my jab today, but thanks to Wes Streeting, I have to pay for it (£90)… Many other 65-69s and immunocompromised ppl will not be able to afford it.
drjoepajak.bsky.social
@DrJoePajak CSci CChem FRSC @drjoepajak.bsky.social · 17h
Latest England COVID-19 hospital bed occupancy up.
COVID-19 positive tests up.
COVID-19 deaths up.
COVID-19 cases up.
Data source @ukhsa.bsky.social
Why?
Limited vaccine eligibility, waning immunity, lower priority by leaders, mixing in poorly ventilated, cramped spaces. Scant use of face coverings.
Latest England COVID-19 hospital bed occupancy up. COVID-19 deaths up. COVID-19 positive tests up. COVID-19 cases up. Data source @ukhsa.bsky.social Why? Limited vaccine eligibility, waning immunity, lower priority by leaders, mixing in poorly ventilated, cramped spaces. Scant use of face coverings.
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joshuabasseches.bsky.social
Joshua Basseches @joshuabasseches.bsky.social · 18h
Oil and gas companies will often claim to be partners in the clean energy transition, when it is politically expedient to do so, but new research finds their actual contributions are marginal:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Oil and gas industry’s marginal share of global renewable energy
Nature Sustainability - The decarbonization of oil and gas companies may not be as speedy or robust as advertised. This analysis finds that renewable energies make up just a minor fraction of the...
www.nature.com
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dillo.media
dillo (yakubian mamba) @dillo.media · 1d
i will vote for anybody who fixes the headlight brightness situation
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adambienkov.bsky.social
Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 15h
Nigel Farage accuses teachers of "poisoning our kids" on race issues.

Here's a reminder of what teachers and fellow pupils at Farage's own school remember of his own views on that subject.

www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/nigel-fara...
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carnegro.bsky.social
Lucius Fox In The Box @carnegro.bsky.social · 19h
Pope Leo is spitting.

www.npr.org/2025/10/09/n...
Leo questioned a world where the wealth of the elite grows "exponentially" while many "millions of people die of hunger or survive in conditions unfit for human beings." He also criticized "ideologies that defend the absolute autonomy of the marketplace and financial speculation," with false promises "that a free-market economy will automatically solve the problem of poverty." Leo described a "new tyranny," which shuns any kind of oversight and where the economy is structured "in such a way that sacrifices are demanded of the masses in order to serve the needs of the powerful." The poor, he wrote, are only allowed "drops that trickle down." The pope openly challenged "prosperity theology" and called Christians to the practice of giving charity. "It will not solve the problem of world poverty, yet it must still be carried out, with intelligence, diligence and social responsibility," he wrote. Popular movements that challenge "the empire of money," invite people to take on the cause to combat poverty alongside the poor, instead of on their behalf, and "make history," the pope said. It our duty, Leo said, to "make their voices heard, albeit in different ways, in order to point out and denounce such structural issues, even at the cost of appearing foolish or naïve."
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jjaron.bsky.social
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 23h
“The results were surprising, even for me,” says Llavero Pasquina. “I knew they were playing a very little role in the energy transition. I knew it was only for show. It was only for dressing their narrative. But I didn’t expect this low number.”

www.newscientist.com/article/2499...
Top 250 oil and gas firms own just 1.5% of the world's renewable power
Despite public promises by many fossil fuel firms that they are investing in the green transition, it turns out that they have made little contribution to the growth of renewable energy
www.newscientist.com
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alomshaha.bsky.social
Alom Shaha @alomshaha.bsky.social · 1d
Completely agree about the marketing!
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kitbutlermagster.bsky.social
Kit Butler (Author) @kitbutlermagster.bsky.social · 1d
I recently gave an interview for The Rebel Reading Society's Author Spotlight section.
You can read my musings here, should you so desire.
rebelreadingsociety.co.uk/kit-butler
Kit Butler Interview | The Rebel Reading Society
rebelreadingsociety.co.uk
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markmiodownik.bsky.social
Mark Miodownik @markmiodownik.bsky.social · 1d
Stretchy jeans might be recyclable using enzymes. Our work is showing some promise. Led by Silvia Anselmi, Jack Jeffries and Helen Hailes we show that enzymes can biodegrade spandex in lab conditions. Full paper here: share.google/gdpM87tlnZsj...
The discovery of new metagenomic urethanases utilising a novel colorimetric assay for applications in the biodegradation of polyurethanes
The enzymatic molecular recycling of plastics is of increasing interest, where polymers are converted into monomers for reuse or upcycled into value added chemicals. Polyurethanes are an important cla...
share.google
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