bobreflected
@bobreflected.bsky.social
Emeritus Professor of Materials Physics.
Public understanding of science. Astrophotography (more aspiration than success 😉); Creative Writing; occasional blogger: https://bobreflected.blogspot.com.
Husband, father, grandfather, believer.
Public understanding of science. Astrophotography (more aspiration than success 😉); Creative Writing; occasional blogger: https://bobreflected.blogspot.com.
Husband, father, grandfather, believer.
Reposted by bobreflected
Have you e-signed @sciencecentres.bsky.social's letter to the UKGov? Today is your last chance before it goes to Downing St! Join 1000s of us in calling for fairer funding for the UK's science centres currently excluded from UKGov infrastructure funding.🧪🔭
✍️ www.sciencecentres.org.uk/openletter20...
✍️ www.sciencecentres.org.uk/openletter20...
The fantastic UK network of science and discovery centres needs your help to survive and thrive! Sign this letter urging the UKGov to stop excluding science from the financial support that is available for other museums, art galleries & theatres 🙏🧪🔭👩🔬🎢
👉✉️: www.sciencecentres.org.uk/openletter20...
👉✉️: www.sciencecentres.org.uk/openletter20...
November 23, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Have you e-signed @sciencecentres.bsky.social's letter to the UKGov? Today is your last chance before it goes to Downing St! Join 1000s of us in calling for fairer funding for the UK's science centres currently excluded from UKGov infrastructure funding.🧪🔭
✍️ www.sciencecentres.org.uk/openletter20...
✍️ www.sciencecentres.org.uk/openletter20...
Reposted by bobreflected
call me a luddite, but a tool that generates "reports" full of made-up content is not "efficient" no matter how much faster or cheaper it is than having humans write... a real report
A major healthcare policy paper commissioned by @govnl.bsky.social government from Deloitte at a cost of $1.6 million, cites research papers that don’t exist, making it the second major government policy paper called into question in as many months. #nlpoli #AI
theindependent.ca/news/lji/maj...
theindependent.ca/news/lji/maj...
Major N.L. healthcare report contains errors likely generated by A.I. – The Independent
$1.6 million Health Human Resources Plan from Deloitte cites research papers that don’t exist, making it the second major government policy paper called into question in as many months
theindependent.ca
November 23, 2025 at 3:56 AM
call me a luddite, but a tool that generates "reports" full of made-up content is not "efficient" no matter how much faster or cheaper it is than having humans write... a real report
I love this, just love it 🙂
November 23, 2025 at 10:07 AM
I love this, just love it 🙂
Reposted by bobreflected
Reposted by bobreflected
"Getting a robot to use the treadmill for you at the gym doesn't make you any fitter"
You don't say?
You don't say?
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
November 21, 2025 at 12:51 PM
"Getting a robot to use the treadmill for you at the gym doesn't make you any fitter"
You don't say?
You don't say?
Reposted by bobreflected
Researchers turned to a citizen science project to better understand how light pollution affects singing time in birds. https://www.snexplores.org/article/birds-singing-longer-light-pollution?utm_source=hootsuite&utm_medium=bluesky&utm_campaign=snesnsocial
Birds are singing longer, thanks to light pollution
In light-polluted areas, birds spend an average of 50 minutes more per day singing. It’s unclear how that extra time might hurt or help the birds.
www.snexplores.org
November 19, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Researchers turned to a citizen science project to better understand how light pollution affects singing time in birds. https://www.snexplores.org/article/birds-singing-longer-light-pollution?utm_source=hootsuite&utm_medium=bluesky&utm_campaign=snesnsocial
Reposted by bobreflected
Has anyone read my beautiful (credit to my lovely publisher), calming, life-affirming book? Do you think it would make a nice Christmas gift? Can you help me let people know about it? Here it is: geni.us/ThePlaceImin 🎁
November 18, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Has anyone read my beautiful (credit to my lovely publisher), calming, life-affirming book? Do you think it would make a nice Christmas gift? Can you help me let people know about it? Here it is: geni.us/ThePlaceImin 🎁
Reposted by bobreflected
"The BBC isn’t perfect – but it’s ours. If we don’t defend it now, we may lose a cornerstone of British democracy."
Defend the BBC before it’s gone – an open letter
The BBC isn’t perfect – but it’s ours. If we don’t defend it now, we may lose a cornerstone of British democracy
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 3:20 PM
"The BBC isn’t perfect – but it’s ours. If we don’t defend it now, we may lose a cornerstone of British democracy."
Reposted by bobreflected
This a big deal: "China’s carbon dioxide emissions have been flat or falling for 18 months"
China's economy has grown by ~5% in the last year, so this comprehensively debunks the idea (again) that emissions are tied to growth. So yes, faster progress needed, but this is how you turn the corner.
China's economy has grown by ~5% in the last year, so this comprehensively debunks the idea (again) that emissions are tied to growth. So yes, faster progress needed, but this is how you turn the corner.
China’s CO2 emissions have been flat or falling for past 18 months, analysis finds
World’s biggest polluter on track to hit peak emissions target early but miss goal for cutting carbon intensity
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:20 AM
This a big deal: "China’s carbon dioxide emissions have been flat or falling for 18 months"
China's economy has grown by ~5% in the last year, so this comprehensively debunks the idea (again) that emissions are tied to growth. So yes, faster progress needed, but this is how you turn the corner.
China's economy has grown by ~5% in the last year, so this comprehensively debunks the idea (again) that emissions are tied to growth. So yes, faster progress needed, but this is how you turn the corner.
Active regions on the Sun this afternoon, as seen from my garden.
We're only just beyond the peak of the solar activity cycle and it shows in the number and size of the active regions - lots of sunspots 🙂
(Taken through a neutral solar filter using my pet robot - a Dwarf3 smart telescope.)
We're only just beyond the peak of the solar activity cycle and it shows in the number and size of the active regions - lots of sunspots 🙂
(Taken through a neutral solar filter using my pet robot - a Dwarf3 smart telescope.)
November 9, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Active regions on the Sun this afternoon, as seen from my garden.
We're only just beyond the peak of the solar activity cycle and it shows in the number and size of the active regions - lots of sunspots 🙂
(Taken through a neutral solar filter using my pet robot - a Dwarf3 smart telescope.)
We're only just beyond the peak of the solar activity cycle and it shows in the number and size of the active regions - lots of sunspots 🙂
(Taken through a neutral solar filter using my pet robot - a Dwarf3 smart telescope.)
Reposted by bobreflected
Giveaway! 🥳🤩🎉🎉 I’ve got a very special gift to give away to 2 people!! Each set contains: a copy of my book, 2 cards with space to add your own noticings on the back and a bookmark! To enter: share this post, reply with what you like about November and tag one person you’d also like to get a set. 😀📚
November 6, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Giveaway! 🥳🤩🎉🎉 I’ve got a very special gift to give away to 2 people!! Each set contains: a copy of my book, 2 cards with space to add your own noticings on the back and a bookmark! To enter: share this post, reply with what you like about November and tag one person you’d also like to get a set. 😀📚
Back in July, before another grey Autumn settled in, it was my privilege and pleasure to give a talk at the South East Kent Astronomical Society: sekas.co.uk.
I promised a follow-on blog post - notable by its absence! In lieu I added a voice-over to the slides: youtu.be/HiaBa32FpxA
#astrophography
I promised a follow-on blog post - notable by its absence! In lieu I added a voice-over to the slides: youtu.be/HiaBa32FpxA
#astrophography
Astrophotography: capturing data & processing images
YouTube video by Bob Newport
youtu.be
November 6, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Back in July, before another grey Autumn settled in, it was my privilege and pleasure to give a talk at the South East Kent Astronomical Society: sekas.co.uk.
I promised a follow-on blog post - notable by its absence! In lieu I added a voice-over to the slides: youtu.be/HiaBa32FpxA
#astrophography
I promised a follow-on blog post - notable by its absence! In lieu I added a voice-over to the slides: youtu.be/HiaBa32FpxA
#astrophography
After nothing since January, two image-centred blog posts within a week (with more waiting in the wings). The first was on binary star systems I've imaged from my garden whereas this second one goes up in scale to star clusters.
#astronomy #astrophography
bobreflected.blogspot.com/2025/11/clus...
#astronomy #astrophography
bobreflected.blogspot.com/2025/11/clus...
November 5, 2025 at 4:01 PM
After nothing since January, two image-centred blog posts within a week (with more waiting in the wings). The first was on binary star systems I've imaged from my garden whereas this second one goes up in scale to star clusters.
#astronomy #astrophography
bobreflected.blogspot.com/2025/11/clus...
#astronomy #astrophography
bobreflected.blogspot.com/2025/11/clus...
Reposted by bobreflected
I don’t like to ask but - how DO you get followers in this place? If it helps, here’s a pic I took of Mercury crossing the Sun!
I post space things and am the creator of skycalpro - a personalised calendar of stargazing events.
#FollowersWanted
#Astronomy
I post space things and am the creator of skycalpro - a personalised calendar of stargazing events.
#FollowersWanted
#Astronomy
November 1, 2025 at 4:54 PM
I don’t like to ask but - how DO you get followers in this place? If it helps, here’s a pic I took of Mercury crossing the Sun!
I post space things and am the creator of skycalpro - a personalised calendar of stargazing events.
#FollowersWanted
#Astronomy
I post space things and am the creator of skycalpro - a personalised calendar of stargazing events.
#FollowersWanted
#Astronomy
There is a writer's aphorism: 'I write in order to know what I think'; I buy into the sense of that.
After and absence of several months, here is the first in a planned short series of blog posts in which I try to catch up with my hobby of astrophotography😉
bobreflected.blogspot.com/2025/11/bina...
After and absence of several months, here is the first in a planned short series of blog posts in which I try to catch up with my hobby of astrophotography😉
bobreflected.blogspot.com/2025/11/bina...
November 1, 2025 at 12:19 PM
There is a writer's aphorism: 'I write in order to know what I think'; I buy into the sense of that.
After and absence of several months, here is the first in a planned short series of blog posts in which I try to catch up with my hobby of astrophotography😉
bobreflected.blogspot.com/2025/11/bina...
After and absence of several months, here is the first in a planned short series of blog posts in which I try to catch up with my hobby of astrophotography😉
bobreflected.blogspot.com/2025/11/bina...
Reposted by bobreflected
I created skycalpro.com to help you find out what is happening in the night sky over your home tonight. It’s free - check it out :)
SkyCalPro - Calculate your own Sky Calendar
Rocket Launches-Planets-Satellites-Meteor Showers-Sun and Moon...and more!
skycalpro.com
November 1, 2025 at 12:09 PM
I created skycalpro.com to help you find out what is happening in the night sky over your home tonight. It’s free - check it out :)
Reposted by bobreflected
Great. More space junk (and space junk-generating events) - aviationweek.com/space/satell...
Apex Unveils Plans To Demo Space-Based Interceptors In 2026 | Aviation Week Network
Satellite bus manufacturer Apex is funding and organizing a space-based interceptor technology demonstration within the next year.
aviationweek.com
October 27, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Great. More space junk (and space junk-generating events) - aviationweek.com/space/satell...
The Sun and its spots as of yesterday morning.
(Not the best image in the world, but I have an open #astronomy observing evening coming up and wanted to see whether my decade-old tablet would run my Dwarf3 'robot'. Evidently it does 🙂. It'll be good to have a larger screen to show around.)
(Not the best image in the world, but I have an open #astronomy observing evening coming up and wanted to see whether my decade-old tablet would run my Dwarf3 'robot'. Evidently it does 🙂. It'll be good to have a larger screen to show around.)
October 27, 2025 at 9:18 AM
The Sun and its spots as of yesterday morning.
(Not the best image in the world, but I have an open #astronomy observing evening coming up and wanted to see whether my decade-old tablet would run my Dwarf3 'robot'. Evidently it does 🙂. It'll be good to have a larger screen to show around.)
(Not the best image in the world, but I have an open #astronomy observing evening coming up and wanted to see whether my decade-old tablet would run my Dwarf3 'robot'. Evidently it does 🙂. It'll be good to have a larger screen to show around.)
I sat in my primary school classroom - heated, back then, by a coal-burning cast-iron stove - and copied from the chalk board:
"The Russians have put a satellite into space. Aren't they clever."
Much has changed in the intervening years, except human nature.
"The Russians have put a satellite into space. Aren't they clever."
Much has changed in the intervening years, except human nature.
#SpacetoberChallenge Day 25: Historic Mission
Sputnik 1 was the first artificial Earth satellite. It was launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957 and sent a radio signal to Earth for three weeks before its batteries died and it fell back into the atmosphere on January 4, 1958. #Spacetober
Sputnik 1 was the first artificial Earth satellite. It was launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957 and sent a radio signal to Earth for three weeks before its batteries died and it fell back into the atmosphere on January 4, 1958. #Spacetober
October 25, 2025 at 9:02 PM
I sat in my primary school classroom - heated, back then, by a coal-burning cast-iron stove - and copied from the chalk board:
"The Russians have put a satellite into space. Aren't they clever."
Much has changed in the intervening years, except human nature.
"The Russians have put a satellite into space. Aren't they clever."
Much has changed in the intervening years, except human nature.
Please, please let it spread southward.
Dark skies on the rise
Momentum for dark skies friendly communities builds as more residents flick the switch in North Yorkshire
By Louisa Merrick-White
@yorkshirebylines.co.uk
Momentum for dark skies friendly communities builds as more residents flick the switch in North Yorkshire
By Louisa Merrick-White
@yorkshirebylines.co.uk
Dark skies on the rise
Momentum for dark skies friendly communities builds as more residents flick the switch in North Yorkshire
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
October 24, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Please, please let it spread southward.
I couldn't stop myself having yet another bash at processing my M31 Andromeda data from last year. This really is a tricky target, but I'm learning a lot ... I hope.
October 23, 2025 at 6:21 PM
I couldn't stop myself having yet another bash at processing my M31 Andromeda data from last year. This really is a tricky target, but I'm learning a lot ... I hope.
Reposted by bobreflected
Showed folks #comet #C/2025A6Lemmon through my 80x20 binos tonight (iphone eyepiece pic added) but some seemed more excited to see a string of satellites passing overhead. I do fear for our skies -a canvas for drive-thru entertainment and a “fast food” spectacle seems to be its future 😩 #astronomy 🔭
October 21, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Showed folks #comet #C/2025A6Lemmon through my 80x20 binos tonight (iphone eyepiece pic added) but some seemed more excited to see a string of satellites passing overhead. I do fear for our skies -a canvas for drive-thru entertainment and a “fast food” spectacle seems to be its future 😩 #astronomy 🔭
Lovely post, on one of my favourite open star clusters - associated with many names (so, LotR obvs. 😉).
(I wrote about the cluster a while back: bobreflected.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-...)
(I wrote about the cluster a while back: bobreflected.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-...)
October 21, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Lovely post, on one of my favourite open star clusters - associated with many names (so, LotR obvs. 😉).
(I wrote about the cluster a while back: bobreflected.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-...)
(I wrote about the cluster a while back: bobreflected.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-...)
My grandsons who, like many of their friends, rely on their smartphones to listen to music, asked to hear something on my 1970s analogue setup.
I was happy to oblige.
However, my wife thought a fuller demonstration of the system would be good.
They'd never felt music through the floor before ... 😉
I was happy to oblige.
However, my wife thought a fuller demonstration of the system would be good.
They'd never felt music through the floor before ... 😉
October 19, 2025 at 1:22 PM
My grandsons who, like many of their friends, rely on their smartphones to listen to music, asked to hear something on my 1970s analogue setup.
I was happy to oblige.
However, my wife thought a fuller demonstration of the system would be good.
They'd never felt music through the floor before ... 😉
I was happy to oblige.
However, my wife thought a fuller demonstration of the system would be good.
They'd never felt music through the floor before ... 😉
I've finally got my head back in gear enough to look at some unprocessed data from a clear night way back in August.
This is a second attempt at the Bubble Nebula (NGC7635) but my first use of 'star-removal' software to avoid the dull-glowing hydrogen from being swamped.
This is a second attempt at the Bubble Nebula (NGC7635) but my first use of 'star-removal' software to avoid the dull-glowing hydrogen from being swamped.
October 14, 2025 at 6:15 PM
I've finally got my head back in gear enough to look at some unprocessed data from a clear night way back in August.
This is a second attempt at the Bubble Nebula (NGC7635) but my first use of 'star-removal' software to avoid the dull-glowing hydrogen from being swamped.
This is a second attempt at the Bubble Nebula (NGC7635) but my first use of 'star-removal' software to avoid the dull-glowing hydrogen from being swamped.