Chris Baraniuk
@chrisbaraniuk.com
Freelance science and technology journalist. 11+ years experience. Irish/Polish. I write for the BBC, Wired, the BMJ, The Guardian, and others!
Newsletter: thereengineer.pro
Portfolio: chrisbaraniuk.com
HQ: Belfast, Northern Ireland
Newsletter: thereengineer.pro
Portfolio: chrisbaraniuk.com
HQ: Belfast, Northern Ireland
Pinned
🥳 Hey everyone! It was a year ago today that I launched my newsletter The Reengineer - and it's been such fun! 🥳
thereengineer.pro
I'm getting closer to 1,000 subscribers and some have been kind enough to go for a paid subscription. THANK YOU!
🧵 Here are some highlights from the last 12 months...
thereengineer.pro
I'm getting closer to 1,000 subscribers and some have been kind enough to go for a paid subscription. THANK YOU!
🧵 Here are some highlights from the last 12 months...
Reposted by Chris Baraniuk
This is truly distressing. www.bbc.com/news/live/cl...
Asia extreme weather: Ninety dead in Indonesia floods as cyclone displaces thousands in Sri Lanka
Extreme weather across several parts of Asia has impacted millions of people in recent days.
www.bbc.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:01 AM
This is truly distressing. www.bbc.com/news/live/cl...
Paid subscribers help make The Reengineer possible. If you like stories about unusual heat pump installations, people using gadgets to detect floods, or clever passive cooling techniques, consider signing up 👍
For Black Friday, get 25% off an annual subscription! 🙌
www.thereengineer.pro/705fa4e7
For Black Friday, get 25% off an annual subscription! 🙌
www.thereengineer.pro/705fa4e7
Subscribe to The Reengineer
A newsletter about the people and technologies helping us to tackle, and survive, climate change. Click to read The Reengineer, by Chris Baraniuk, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.
www.thereengineer.pro
November 28, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Paid subscribers help make The Reengineer possible. If you like stories about unusual heat pump installations, people using gadgets to detect floods, or clever passive cooling techniques, consider signing up 👍
For Black Friday, get 25% off an annual subscription! 🙌
www.thereengineer.pro/705fa4e7
For Black Friday, get 25% off an annual subscription! 🙌
www.thereengineer.pro/705fa4e7
“These seeds endure for generations, unlike hybrids that last only one season. They are drought-resistant, nutrient-rich, naturally pest-tolerant and climate-resilient — qualities essential for mountain agriculture in the climate crisis.”
www.thereengineer.pro/p/seed-keepe...
www.thereengineer.pro/p/seed-keepe...
Seed keepers of the Himalaya: The Reengineer Monitor #51
Forest city, biggest sand battery - and more!
www.thereengineer.pro
November 28, 2025 at 8:39 AM
“These seeds endure for generations, unlike hybrids that last only one season. They are drought-resistant, nutrient-rich, naturally pest-tolerant and climate-resilient — qualities essential for mountain agriculture in the climate crisis.”
www.thereengineer.pro/p/seed-keepe...
www.thereengineer.pro/p/seed-keepe...
Some background here to the famous (and chilling) Protect and Survive films I'd not seen before.
(Still wondering who came up with that GUT-WRENCHING synth effect as the title words animate into a circle)
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/l0057pgc
(Still wondering who came up with that GUT-WRENCHING synth effect as the title words animate into a circle)
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/l0057pgc
50 Years Since Government's 'Protect and Survive' Campaign
In 1980 the government commissioned a series of public information films aimed at helping us to survive what was then considered by many an inevitable nuclear war.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 28, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Some background here to the famous (and chilling) Protect and Survive films I'd not seen before.
(Still wondering who came up with that GUT-WRENCHING synth effect as the title words animate into a circle)
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/l0057pgc
(Still wondering who came up with that GUT-WRENCHING synth effect as the title words animate into a circle)
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/l0057pgc
I remember when Cleve Hill was just a twinkle in a planning officer's eye.
UK adds 1.9 GW of solar in 12 months – pv magazine International share.google/SXoR2Q8kcNvo...
UK adds 1.9 GW of solar in 12 months – pv magazine International share.google/SXoR2Q8kcNvo...
UK adds 1.9 GW of solar in 12 months
Latest government figures record 20.7 GW deployed PV capacity at the end of October 2025, up 10.4% in a 12-month period. Surge in contracts for difference (CfD) supported connections recorded in 2025 ...
share.google
November 28, 2025 at 7:54 AM
I remember when Cleve Hill was just a twinkle in a planning officer's eye.
UK adds 1.9 GW of solar in 12 months – pv magazine International share.google/SXoR2Q8kcNvo...
UK adds 1.9 GW of solar in 12 months – pv magazine International share.google/SXoR2Q8kcNvo...
News reports about the first installation of Thermify’s HeatHub technology in Essex generated lots of questions from web users, so The Reengineer contacted the company to find out more.
www.thereengineer.pro/p/sheds-and-...
www.thereengineer.pro/p/sheds-and-...
Sheds and garages to become mini data centres in low-cost heating drive
A UK firm says distributed computing can tackle fuel poverty
www.thereengineer.pro
November 27, 2025 at 10:51 PM
News reports about the first installation of Thermify’s HeatHub technology in Essex generated lots of questions from web users, so The Reengineer contacted the company to find out more.
www.thereengineer.pro/p/sheds-and-...
www.thereengineer.pro/p/sheds-and-...
With China putting 26MW turbines into operation, rival companies are no doubt feeling pressure to compete on size.
I know from talking to wind industry folks that not everyone is happy about this race!
But, as a spectator, it sure is interesting.
share.google/QszpNUmyufEu...
I know from talking to wind industry folks that not everyone is happy about this race!
But, as a spectator, it sure is interesting.
share.google/QszpNUmyufEu...
Siemens Gamesa plans to commercialise 21MW wind turbine, says exec
Siemens Gamesa confirms intention to commercialise its 21.5MW prototype turbine following months of speculation
share.google
November 27, 2025 at 7:39 PM
With China putting 26MW turbines into operation, rival companies are no doubt feeling pressure to compete on size.
I know from talking to wind industry folks that not everyone is happy about this race!
But, as a spectator, it sure is interesting.
share.google/QszpNUmyufEu...
I know from talking to wind industry folks that not everyone is happy about this race!
But, as a spectator, it sure is interesting.
share.google/QszpNUmyufEu...
Reposted by Chris Baraniuk
Glorified phone doodle (ie I drew it while I was on the phone)
November 27, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Glorified phone doodle (ie I drew it while I was on the phone)
Readers of The Reengineer will know all about this!
A strategic solar energy boom is afoot in Eastern Europe share.google/lUn5HrBmIrM3...
A strategic solar energy boom is afoot in Eastern Europe share.google/lUn5HrBmIrM3...
November 27, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Readers of The Reengineer will know all about this!
A strategic solar energy boom is afoot in Eastern Europe share.google/lUn5HrBmIrM3...
A strategic solar energy boom is afoot in Eastern Europe share.google/lUn5HrBmIrM3...
Reposted by Chris Baraniuk
NEW: I wrote about Thermify's HeatHub technology, which acts as a mini data centre. Installed in sheds or outhouses, it gets hot enough to heat people's homes!
www.thereengineer.pro/p/sheds-and-...
www.thereengineer.pro/p/sheds-and-...
Sheds and garages to become mini data centres in low-cost heating drive
A UK firm says distributed computing can tackle fuel poverty
www.thereengineer.pro
November 27, 2025 at 9:02 AM
NEW: I wrote about Thermify's HeatHub technology, which acts as a mini data centre. Installed in sheds or outhouses, it gets hot enough to heat people's homes!
www.thereengineer.pro/p/sheds-and-...
www.thereengineer.pro/p/sheds-and-...
Reposted by Chris Baraniuk
Fascinating.
Chris really always has the most interesting articles. Recommended.
Chris really always has the most interesting articles. Recommended.
NEW: I wrote about Thermify's HeatHub technology, which acts as a mini data centre. Installed in sheds or outhouses, it gets hot enough to heat people's homes!
www.thereengineer.pro/p/sheds-and-...
www.thereengineer.pro/p/sheds-and-...
Sheds and garages to become mini data centres in low-cost heating drive
A UK firm says distributed computing can tackle fuel poverty
www.thereengineer.pro
November 27, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Fascinating.
Chris really always has the most interesting articles. Recommended.
Chris really always has the most interesting articles. Recommended.
Reposted by Chris Baraniuk
Re-routing of ships around the Cape of Good Hope led to a natural experiment.
By "comparing NO₂ [unaffected by the sulfur-reducing regulations], with cloud droplet number, which is sensitive to sulfur, [they] found a 67% reduction in ships' cloud-altering abilities" after the new IMO regulations.
By "comparing NO₂ [unaffected by the sulfur-reducing regulations], with cloud droplet number, which is sensitive to sulfur, [they] found a 67% reduction in ships' cloud-altering abilities" after the new IMO regulations.
When trade routes shift, so do clouds: Researchers uncover ripple effects of new global shipping regulations
When militia attacks disrupted shipping lanes in the Red Sea, few imagined the ripple effects would reach the clouds over the South Atlantic. But for Florida State University atmospheric scientist Mic...
phys.org
November 22, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Re-routing of ships around the Cape of Good Hope led to a natural experiment.
By "comparing NO₂ [unaffected by the sulfur-reducing regulations], with cloud droplet number, which is sensitive to sulfur, [they] found a 67% reduction in ships' cloud-altering abilities" after the new IMO regulations.
By "comparing NO₂ [unaffected by the sulfur-reducing regulations], with cloud droplet number, which is sensitive to sulfur, [they] found a 67% reduction in ships' cloud-altering abilities" after the new IMO regulations.
NEW: I wrote about Thermify's HeatHub technology, which acts as a mini data centre. Installed in sheds or outhouses, it gets hot enough to heat people's homes!
www.thereengineer.pro/p/sheds-and-...
www.thereengineer.pro/p/sheds-and-...
Sheds and garages to become mini data centres in low-cost heating drive
A UK firm says distributed computing can tackle fuel poverty
www.thereengineer.pro
November 27, 2025 at 9:02 AM
NEW: I wrote about Thermify's HeatHub technology, which acts as a mini data centre. Installed in sheds or outhouses, it gets hot enough to heat people's homes!
www.thereengineer.pro/p/sheds-and-...
www.thereengineer.pro/p/sheds-and-...
"Lets-a go! Oh, OH-a NO! not-a like-a that!!!!!"
letter art, electronic gaming monthly, magazine (2001) archive.org/details/elec...
November 26, 2025 at 11:04 PM
"Lets-a go! Oh, OH-a NO! not-a like-a that!!!!!"
Reposted by Chris Baraniuk
"Homer, that crazy lady who lives
in our trash pile attacked me again."
"That's not the way she tells it."
in our trash pile attacked me again."
"That's not the way she tells it."
November 26, 2025 at 7:02 PM
"Homer, that crazy lady who lives
in our trash pile attacked me again."
"That's not the way she tells it."
in our trash pile attacked me again."
"That's not the way she tells it."
"where we're going, we don't need consultations"
Bad news for anyone thinking of responding to the consultation on the new electric vehicle duty.
The consultation opens today, and closes last March.
The consultation opens today, and closes last March.
November 26, 2025 at 7:02 PM
"where we're going, we don't need consultations"
Would love to read a big long feature about that sub, all its gnarly flaws, and the people who keep it going.
Poland has chosen Sweden as the supplier of new submarines for its navy.
It intends to buy three A26 submarines from Saab, which will replace the Polish navy's only current submarine, a 40-year-old Soviet-era vessel that is in need of constant repair.
It intends to buy three A26 submarines from Saab, which will replace the Polish navy's only current submarine, a 40-year-old Soviet-era vessel that is in need of constant repair.
Poland picks Sweden to supply submarines for its navy
notesfrompoland.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Would love to read a big long feature about that sub, all its gnarly flaws, and the people who keep it going.
Tomorrow's story is SCHEDULED! It's a bit of a deep dive on something that's been generating headlines lately.
Out tomorrow morning...
thereengineer.pro
Out tomorrow morning...
thereengineer.pro
The Reengineer | Chris Baraniuk | Substack
A newsletter about the people and technologies helping us to tackle, and survive, climate change. Click to read The Reengineer, by Chris Baraniuk, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.
thereengineer.pro
November 26, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Tomorrow's story is SCHEDULED! It's a bit of a deep dive on something that's been generating headlines lately.
Out tomorrow morning...
thereengineer.pro
Out tomorrow morning...
thereengineer.pro
Careful not to hit send too early...
OBR identifies SEND spend as one of the key medium term risks for its forecasts and particularly the number of councils who will not be able to balance budgets once the statutory override. Huge battle to come on that in the next year.
November 26, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Careful not to hit send too early...
I've been in the middle of writing something (non-Budget related) and have just seen the OBR stuff. What! Is! Happening!
November 26, 2025 at 12:27 PM
I've been in the middle of writing something (non-Budget related) and have just seen the OBR stuff. What! Is! Happening!
One factor behind this will be the EU-funded subsidies Poland launched for EV purchases in February this year. Up to 40,000 zloty (~€9,500) per vehicle.
(n.b. the graph is a little confusing, x-axis labels aren't spaced logically but it does include 2025 YTD)
(n.b. the graph is a little confusing, x-axis labels aren't spaced logically but it does include 2025 YTD)
🚗 Our European car market monitor is now available.
In October, battery electric vehicles reached an average 20% market share of new registrations across Europe.
🇵🇱 Poland, the fifth-largest European market, saw a notable surge in EV uptake in 2025.
👉 theicct.org/publication/...
In October, battery electric vehicles reached an average 20% market share of new registrations across Europe.
🇵🇱 Poland, the fifth-largest European market, saw a notable surge in EV uptake in 2025.
👉 theicct.org/publication/...
November 26, 2025 at 9:00 AM
One factor behind this will be the EU-funded subsidies Poland launched for EV purchases in February this year. Up to 40,000 zloty (~€9,500) per vehicle.
(n.b. the graph is a little confusing, x-axis labels aren't spaced logically but it does include 2025 YTD)
(n.b. the graph is a little confusing, x-axis labels aren't spaced logically but it does include 2025 YTD)
Ah just realied I linked to the wrong story here! This is the one I meant to link to. There's a photo of three drones with long tethers and on one the panel it's carrying is clearly visible. www.theatlantic.com/photography/...
November 25, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Ah just realied I linked to the wrong story here! This is the one I meant to link to. There's a photo of three drones with long tethers and on one the panel it's carrying is clearly visible. www.theatlantic.com/photography/...
Something I keep seeing pop up on social media sites is drones carrying large solar panels around, for installations.
youtu.be/-_a4-xrALE0?...
youtu.be/-_a4-xrALE0?...
🚁 Watch Our Drone Transport Solar Panels in the Wild! 🌞 #SolarTech #DroneMagic #shorts
YouTube video by VoltCoffer
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Something I keep seeing pop up on social media sites is drones carrying large solar panels around, for installations.
youtu.be/-_a4-xrALE0?...
youtu.be/-_a4-xrALE0?...
lovely to see them collaborating
Zach Bryan, Michael Bublé and Deftones announce summer 2026 shows in Ireland
Zach Bryan, Michael Bublé and Deftones announce summer 2026 shows in Ireland
Zach Bryan, Michael Bublé and Deftones will perform dates in Dublin, Limerick, Cork and Belfast
www.irishtimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:46 AM
lovely to see them collaborating
"Explosives experts and researchers who spoke to The Reengineer say climate change could increase the risk of explosive accidents occurring at some munitions stockpiles."
www.thereengineer.pro/p/boom-time-...
www.thereengineer.pro/p/boom-time-...
Boom time: why climate change could blow up ammo stockpiles
Some are vulnerable to heatwaves and wildfires
www.thereengineer.pro
November 25, 2025 at 9:05 AM
"Explosives experts and researchers who spoke to The Reengineer say climate change could increase the risk of explosive accidents occurring at some munitions stockpiles."
www.thereengineer.pro/p/boom-time-...
www.thereengineer.pro/p/boom-time-...