Dr_Aust_PhD
@draustphd.bsky.social
Grumpy old lab scientist (retd.), Uni teacher & centrist dad. Irked by trendy nonsense, own waistline, hair 📉 etc. NOT a medic - other ½ of NHS doctor. Long-ago 70s punk rock fan/ guitarist. 2 kids & now no dog (RIP). Personal views.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
Ich bin hierher geflogen, weil bei X unverholen Faschisten übernommen haben.
Hier aber gibt es viele, die nichts machen, als andere bürgerlich – demokratische Parteien immer wieder zu beschimpfen.
Wenn die CDU so böse wäre, wie Sie sie hier beschreiben, wäre die AfD längst mit an der Macht.
Hier aber gibt es viele, die nichts machen, als andere bürgerlich – demokratische Parteien immer wieder zu beschimpfen.
Wenn die CDU so böse wäre, wie Sie sie hier beschreiben, wäre die AfD längst mit an der Macht.
Wisst ihr noch: "Habeck der schlimmste Wirtschaftsminister seit ever!!!!1!!11!!" hat die rechte Journaille gegeifert.
Schade, dass die L̶o̶b̶b̶y̶g̶r̶u̶p̶p̶e̶ Partei CDU außer Zukunft abbauen, Fossilenergie fördern und Liebeserklärungen an Faschisten nichts hinbekommt.
Schade, dass die L̶o̶b̶b̶y̶g̶r̶u̶p̶p̶e̶ Partei CDU außer Zukunft abbauen, Fossilenergie fördern und Liebeserklärungen an Faschisten nichts hinbekommt.
„Bisher konzentriert sich der CDU-Teil der Bundesregierung darauf, Arbeitnehmende zu beleidigen und Wahlgeschenke zu verteilen, anstatt sich um die realen Probleme der Unternehmen und ihrer Beschäftigten zu kümmern“
January 28, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Ich bin hierher geflogen, weil bei X unverholen Faschisten übernommen haben.
Hier aber gibt es viele, die nichts machen, als andere bürgerlich – demokratische Parteien immer wieder zu beschimpfen.
Wenn die CDU so böse wäre, wie Sie sie hier beschreiben, wäre die AfD längst mit an der Macht.
Hier aber gibt es viele, die nichts machen, als andere bürgerlich – demokratische Parteien immer wieder zu beschimpfen.
Wenn die CDU so böse wäre, wie Sie sie hier beschreiben, wäre die AfD längst mit an der Macht.
Given approval rates for grants are already through the floor, the sounds like grim news for UK University scientists. Thread.🧵
The reforms to UKRI under Ian Chapman are only just starting, but there are already worries about what they mean for the bread and butter, applicant-led funding calls at research councils
While UKRI insists comparisons with previous years are impossible, figures from December suggest...
While UKRI insists comparisons with previous years are impossible, figures from December suggest...
January 28, 2026 at 11:16 AM
Given approval rates for grants are already through the floor, the sounds like grim news for UK University scientists. Thread.🧵
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
The sobriquet "tech bro" implies some kind of great technological skill when they appear to have none. Elon Musk was famously appalling at software development for example. They are generally mentored rich kids who got lucky in the dotcom boom.
January 28, 2026 at 11:09 AM
The sobriquet "tech bro" implies some kind of great technological skill when they appear to have none. Elon Musk was famously appalling at software development for example. They are generally mentored rich kids who got lucky in the dotcom boom.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
Exactly, because a community is something which is consciously founded and maintained.
The whole idea of “community“ being somehow an automatic emanation of place of birth//DNA/skin colour/religion (or whatever) is nothing other than ethno-fascism lite. Hello there
The whole idea of “community“ being somehow an automatic emanation of place of birth//DNA/skin colour/religion (or whatever) is nothing other than ethno-fascism lite. Hello there
I've written about this before (cba finding the piece, sorry) but also my argument is genuinely that anywheres are, if anything, more community-minded because we're pretty used to landing somewhere and trying to make connections as quickly as possible, as opposed to just having one set of roots!
Always been the major flaw in this theory. "Anywheres" might be more "cosmpolitan" but they still have a community orienation. I live in a very "anywhere-y" place but there's plenty of school fetes and local book groups.
January 28, 2026 at 10:07 AM
Exactly, because a community is something which is consciously founded and maintained.
The whole idea of “community“ being somehow an automatic emanation of place of birth//DNA/skin colour/religion (or whatever) is nothing other than ethno-fascism lite. Hello there
The whole idea of “community“ being somehow an automatic emanation of place of birth//DNA/skin colour/religion (or whatever) is nothing other than ethno-fascism lite. Hello there
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
Because Reform is going to regenerate the high streets? The Greens? The Libs? The Tories?
Amazon and the internet killed the high streets. How are they coming back?
#Labour
Amazon and the internet killed the high streets. How are they coming back?
#Labour
January 28, 2026 at 10:08 AM
Because Reform is going to regenerate the high streets? The Greens? The Libs? The Tories?
Amazon and the internet killed the high streets. How are they coming back?
#Labour
Amazon and the internet killed the high streets. How are they coming back?
#Labour
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
Pretty sure he’s trying to hide the scar he got trying to steal a medallion off a woman in a bar fire in Nepal in the 1930s.
January 28, 2026 at 7:35 AM
Pretty sure he’s trying to hide the scar he got trying to steal a medallion off a woman in a bar fire in Nepal in the 1930s.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
No room for your car? Just leave it on the road, on the pavement, on a verge - anywhere really.
No room for your bike? Here are 13 clever, space-saving storage ideas for indoors and out
No room for your bike? Here are 13 clever, space-saving storage ideas for indoors and out
From hallway hooks to garden fortresses, here’s where to keep your bike so it’s safe, dry and out of the way
www.theguardian.com
September 26, 2025 at 1:51 PM
No room for your car? Just leave it on the road, on the pavement, on a verge - anywhere really.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
Nuremberg Principle IV reminder.
"The fact that a person acted pursuant to order of his Government or of a superior does not relieve him from responsibility under international law, provided a moral choice was in fact possible to him."
"The fact that a person acted pursuant to order of his Government or of a superior does not relieve him from responsibility under international law, provided a moral choice was in fact possible to him."
NEW: Kristi Noem Says ‘Everything I’ve Done’ Has Been Directed by Trump and Stephen Miller per Axios. Noem goes full "I was just following orders." This also sounds like she is throwing Trump and Miller under the bus. www.mediaite.com/media/news/n...
Kristi Noem Blames Her Actions on Trump and Stephen Miller
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is chalking up her actions in office to the direction of President Donald Trump and Stephen Miller.
www.mediaite.com
January 28, 2026 at 8:09 AM
Nuremberg Principle IV reminder.
"The fact that a person acted pursuant to order of his Government or of a superior does not relieve him from responsibility under international law, provided a moral choice was in fact possible to him."
"The fact that a person acted pursuant to order of his Government or of a superior does not relieve him from responsibility under international law, provided a moral choice was in fact possible to him."
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
SPOILER ALERT: "Hamstrung by human rights laws" means "not allowed to murder you for no reason".
#ToryPartyToilet
#ToryPartyToilet
Suella Braverman, "There is a very strong case to increase the powers of any immigration enforcement officers that we deploy"
"At the moment they're hamstrung by human rights laws, by health and safety laws, by all sorts of needless and obstructive bureaucracy"
"At the moment they're hamstrung by human rights laws, by health and safety laws, by all sorts of needless and obstructive bureaucracy"
January 28, 2026 at 10:25 AM
SPOILER ALERT: "Hamstrung by human rights laws" means "not allowed to murder you for no reason".
#ToryPartyToilet
#ToryPartyToilet
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
Here's an article I wrote that @nature.com turned down, on Crick and his half-century relationship with Nature. It condenses all the material relating to Nature that appeared in my Crick biography (apart from the double helix, which you can find here: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Francis Crick and Nature
A relationship that lasted nearly 50 years and which saw the publication of some key papers in the history of science, and some complete nonsense.
matthewcobb2.substack.com
January 28, 2026 at 10:47 AM
Here's an article I wrote that @nature.com turned down, on Crick and his half-century relationship with Nature. It condenses all the material relating to Nature that appeared in my Crick biography (apart from the double helix, which you can find here: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Ugh. They're not even proper nerds/geeks. Nerds & geeks get the school experience of being picked on & bullied, leaving them w a sense of injustice, & of solidarity w the picked-on.
The techbros are the small fraction whose response was 'when I get rich & powerful enough, I'LL get to be the bully'
The techbros are the small fraction whose response was 'when I get rich & powerful enough, I'LL get to be the bully'
What a noxious lot of creeps.
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
January 28, 2026 at 10:57 AM
Ugh. They're not even proper nerds/geeks. Nerds & geeks get the school experience of being picked on & bullied, leaving them w a sense of injustice, & of solidarity w the picked-on.
The techbros are the small fraction whose response was 'when I get rich & powerful enough, I'LL get to be the bully'
The techbros are the small fraction whose response was 'when I get rich & powerful enough, I'LL get to be the bully'
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
I mean, you’d think the *chair* of the judicial committee of “the world’s greatest deliberative body” might have some idea.
Suddenly republicans have forgotten what the constitution says 🤷🏼 🇺🇸
January 28, 2026 at 7:38 AM
I mean, you’d think the *chair* of the judicial committee of “the world’s greatest deliberative body” might have some idea.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
Sheffield merely the latest university to claim that legally withdrawing your labour should actually be postponing your labour, and punishing people further. Here’s how strikes work:
1. You legally stop working for a period of time. You don’t get paid.
2. Win or lose you go back to work.
1. You legally stop working for a period of time. You don’t get paid.
2. Win or lose you go back to work.
Well that’s me locked out. No pay for the foreseeable future, all because I refuse to reschedule lost teaching, for which I have already lost pay as part of the strike. Please donate to support @sheffielducu.bsky.social members like me at www.gofundme.com/f/heubvb-sup...
January 19, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Sheffield merely the latest university to claim that legally withdrawing your labour should actually be postponing your labour, and punishing people further. Here’s how strikes work:
1. You legally stop working for a period of time. You don’t get paid.
2. Win or lose you go back to work.
1. You legally stop working for a period of time. You don’t get paid.
2. Win or lose you go back to work.
Or alternatively, Zacky-poo & The Greens deliver the seat to Reform by splitting the anti-Reform vote.
Which will likely already be leaking one to two thousand votes to Galloway's lot.
Which will likely already be leaking one to two thousand votes to Galloway's lot.
January 28, 2026 at 1:58 AM
Or alternatively, Zacky-poo & The Greens deliver the seat to Reform by splitting the anti-Reform vote.
Which will likely already be leaking one to two thousand votes to Galloway's lot.
Which will likely already be leaking one to two thousand votes to Galloway's lot.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
it is the same playbook everywhere. “vote for us! we will make you great again by punishing the people you hate! do not pay attention to the fact that we’re also shoveling your money into the pockets of the uber wealthy and building a giant boot to step on your face too (preferably forever)”
The UK version of “Project 2025” by the Reform party includes a British ICE, a concentration camp for 24,000 people, mass surveillance and withdrawing from refugee, anti-torture and anti-trafficking conventions.
It’s on their website. That’s how comfortable fascists are in the UK today.
It’s on their website. That’s how comfortable fascists are in the UK today.
January 28, 2026 at 12:23 AM
it is the same playbook everywhere. “vote for us! we will make you great again by punishing the people you hate! do not pay attention to the fact that we’re also shoveling your money into the pockets of the uber wealthy and building a giant boot to step on your face too (preferably forever)”
Interesting thread🧵 examining the (rather dubious) claims that Matt Goodwin 'considers Manchester home'. Given he says he grew up in St Albans, that seems a better bet. I usually find it's the place where people spend their formative high school / teen years that they think of as their 'home town'.
Matthew Goodwin has previously said he was born and raised in St Albans.
Reform say he was "made by Manchester" and his famiıy are from there (grandparents)
He did study at the University of Salford as an undergraduate.
Reform say he was "made by Manchester" and his famiıy are from there (grandparents)
He did study at the University of Salford as an undergraduate.
January 28, 2026 at 1:25 AM
Interesting thread🧵 examining the (rather dubious) claims that Matt Goodwin 'considers Manchester home'. Given he says he grew up in St Albans, that seems a better bet. I usually find it's the place where people spend their formative high school / teen years that they think of as their 'home town'.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
Contrary to a commonly repeated myth, neither a Consulate nor an Embassy is actually foreign soil, nor is entering one illegally an 'invasion.'
It is however a direct violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular/Diplomatic Relations, and a very big deal.
It is however a direct violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular/Diplomatic Relations, and a very big deal.
1/27/2026 - Minneapolis
ICE just attempted an illegal entry into the ECUADORIAN CONSULATE to abduct someone
They did not have a warrant
ICE just attempted an illegal entry into the ECUADORIAN CONSULATE to abduct someone
They did not have a warrant
January 27, 2026 at 11:22 PM
Contrary to a commonly repeated myth, neither a Consulate nor an Embassy is actually foreign soil, nor is entering one illegally an 'invasion.'
It is however a direct violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular/Diplomatic Relations, and a very big deal.
It is however a direct violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular/Diplomatic Relations, and a very big deal.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
Exactly what we were saying.
If they lie so brazenly when they know there is evidence that proves the truth AND when they know we know the truth, imagine how they lie when there is no such objective, independent evidence.
If they lie so brazenly when they know there is evidence that proves the truth AND when they know we know the truth, imagine how they lie when there is no such objective, independent evidence.
“Imagine how they lie when there’s no evidence to contradict them.”
Watch this powerful message from Jon Stewart.
Watch this powerful message from Jon Stewart.
January 27, 2026 at 11:33 PM
Exactly what we were saying.
If they lie so brazenly when they know there is evidence that proves the truth AND when they know we know the truth, imagine how they lie when there is no such objective, independent evidence.
If they lie so brazenly when they know there is evidence that proves the truth AND when they know we know the truth, imagine how they lie when there is no such objective, independent evidence.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
MAGAts have sold their souls.
January 27, 2026 at 11:31 PM
MAGAts have sold their souls.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
Palantir has the NHS data.
ICE agents are using an app developed by Palantir that draws on the health records of millions of Americans to find and detain illegal immigrants
www.bmj.com/content/392/...
www.bmj.com/content/392/...
January 27, 2026 at 8:18 PM
Palantir has the NHS data.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
My gosh. Alex Pretti was notifying neighbors that Trump and Vance's agents were chasing a family. A mob of agents then tackled him and broke his rib.
He thought he was going to die.
Then the very next week, he came back out to support his neighbors.
And a mob of agents killed him.
He thought he was going to die.
Then the very next week, he came back out to support his neighbors.
And a mob of agents killed him.
January 27, 2026 at 6:48 PM
My gosh. Alex Pretti was notifying neighbors that Trump and Vance's agents were chasing a family. A mob of agents then tackled him and broke his rib.
He thought he was going to die.
Then the very next week, he came back out to support his neighbors.
And a mob of agents killed him.
He thought he was going to die.
Then the very next week, he came back out to support his neighbors.
And a mob of agents killed him.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
Here's a regular white guy (literally "Chad") not a protester. because, "It seemed pointless, or just a way for people to expiate their sense of guilt." Chad witnessed something shattering. And, that all changed in a moment.
Excellent article!
Excellent article!
January 26, 2026 at 4:33 AM
Here's a regular white guy (literally "Chad") not a protester. because, "It seemed pointless, or just a way for people to expiate their sense of guilt." Chad witnessed something shattering. And, that all changed in a moment.
Excellent article!
Excellent article!
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
One human rights observer in Maine said agents followed her home, blocked off her street, and came to her door to say they know where she lives. Her children are now staying elsewhere, to keep them safe.
Now in Maine: ICE watchers say federal agents are coming to their house to threaten and intimidate them.
www.pressherald.com/2026/01/23/i...
www.pressherald.com/2026/01/23/i...
ICE watchers in Maine say they were threatened by federal agents
Community members have been monitoring the activity of immigration agents in Greater Portland.
www.pressherald.com
January 27, 2026 at 4:14 AM
One human rights observer in Maine said agents followed her home, blocked off her street, and came to her door to say they know where she lives. Her children are now staying elsewhere, to keep them safe.
Summary execution of an unarmed citizen by a paramilitary death squad.
Welcome to Trumpitania.
Welcome to Trumpitania.
A NYT narration of the multiple angles of Pretti’s execution shows that he never posed a threat; that ICE brutally instigated violence and Pretti only sought to defend a prone woman; and that two ICE agents shot him 10 times in total.
Devastating. Horrific.
www.nytimes.com/video/us/100...
Devastating. Horrific.
www.nytimes.com/video/us/100...
Video: New Video Analysis Reveals Flawed and Fatal Decisions in Shooting of Pretti
A frame-by-frame assessment of actions by Alex Pretti and the two officers who fired 10 times shows how lethal force came to be used against a target who didn’t pose a threat.
www.nytimes.com
January 27, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Summary execution of an unarmed citizen by a paramilitary death squad.
Welcome to Trumpitania.
Welcome to Trumpitania.