Leon Black
@drleonblack.bsky.social
Professor of Infrastructure Materials at the University of Leeds.
Posting about materials, resilience, circular economy, green stuff, and whatever else I stumble on that I find interesting.
No DMs, unless they're size 12 cherry reds.
Posting about materials, resilience, circular economy, green stuff, and whatever else I stumble on that I find interesting.
No DMs, unless they're size 12 cherry reds.
Pinned
Leon Black
@drleonblack.bsky.social
· Nov 15
It's that odd time, a few weeks after setting up a new social media account, when I ponder whether to post political rants, stupid jokes or thoughts around decarbonisation of infrastructure.
Lisa Stansfield
Who's the most famous alum of your high school?
I'll go first: David Draiman of Disturbed
I'll go first: David Draiman of Disturbed
guys i just found out i went to the same high school as howard lutnick. please respect my privacy at this time.
February 12, 2026 at 7:33 AM
Lisa Stansfield
Reposted by Leon Black
Over on threads someone just use ai;dr and we all need to adopt that right quick
February 11, 2026 at 7:56 PM
Over on threads someone just use ai;dr and we all need to adopt that right quick
Reposted by Leon Black
been watching the olympics and i think i found a solution to the male loneliness crisis
February 11, 2026 at 10:48 PM
been watching the olympics and i think i found a solution to the male loneliness crisis
Reposted by Leon Black
Are liberal values a luxury the West cannot afford? Europeans & US allies hear that now in Washington & from Asian, MidEast govts. But here’s the trap: when democracies turn illiberal they don’t become efficient technocracies, they become Russia or Hungary. My column
economist.com/internationa...
economist.com/internationa...
Are liberal values a luxury the West cannot afford?
Yes, China has impressive high-speed trains. That is no reason for the West to adopt iron-fisted rule
economist.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:05 AM
Are liberal values a luxury the West cannot afford? Europeans & US allies hear that now in Washington & from Asian, MidEast govts. But here’s the trap: when democracies turn illiberal they don’t become efficient technocracies, they become Russia or Hungary. My column
economist.com/internationa...
economist.com/internationa...
One of my favourite things about Bluesky is that I've not (yet) had anyone tagging me thinking that I'm the Leon Black mentioned in the Epstein files.
February 10, 2026 at 2:59 PM
One of my favourite things about Bluesky is that I've not (yet) had anyone tagging me thinking that I'm the Leon Black mentioned in the Epstein files.
Reposted by Leon Black
This is pretty menacing.
Sarah Pochin wrote to Bangor's university student run debating society requesting that she attend to "answer questions from students."
When they said "no" Reform rolled all it's tanks onto the lawns and said they'll cut funding to the entire university if they win.
Sarah Pochin wrote to Bangor's university student run debating society requesting that she attend to "answer questions from students."
When they said "no" Reform rolled all it's tanks onto the lawns and said they'll cut funding to the entire university if they win.
February 10, 2026 at 8:53 AM
This is pretty menacing.
Sarah Pochin wrote to Bangor's university student run debating society requesting that she attend to "answer questions from students."
When they said "no" Reform rolled all it's tanks onto the lawns and said they'll cut funding to the entire university if they win.
Sarah Pochin wrote to Bangor's university student run debating society requesting that she attend to "answer questions from students."
When they said "no" Reform rolled all it's tanks onto the lawns and said they'll cut funding to the entire university if they win.
Reposted by Leon Black
"I know thee not, old man"
bit of culture for your Tuesday morning
bit of culture for your Tuesday morning
February 10, 2026 at 9:22 AM
"I know thee not, old man"
bit of culture for your Tuesday morning
bit of culture for your Tuesday morning
Reposted by Leon Black
![Comic. [2x2 chart. Top left quadrant: seem like dinosaurs x are dinosaurs. Silhouettes of dinosaurs stegosaurus, triceratops, tyrannosaurus, velociraptor, and long-neck dinosaur. Top right quadrant: seem like dinosaurs x are not dinosaurs. Silhouettes of mosasaur, quetzalcoatlus, dimetrodon, plesiosaur, and pteranodon. Bottom left quadrant: don’t seem like dinosaurs x are dinosaurs. Silhouettes of penguin, egret, ostrich, pigeon, falcon. Bottom right: don’t seem like dinosaurs x are not dinosaurs. Silhouettes of squirrel, stapler, plant, person, and bicycle.]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreihcxd5wcrrf5nxz3g4riglsrccbucmdns6kxrtmtj6gjgwqibp3fi@jpeg)
February 9, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Post a banger that isn't in English.
youtu.be/wNgXFvYQHFE?...
youtu.be/wNgXFvYQHFE?...
February 9, 2026 at 8:46 PM
Post a banger that isn't in English.
youtu.be/wNgXFvYQHFE?...
youtu.be/wNgXFvYQHFE?...
Reposted by Leon Black
I see we're back to "Johnson resigned because of a party" and not because he employed a known sex pest, lied about what he knew, and more than half his cabinet resigned as a result.
February 9, 2026 at 1:27 PM
I see we're back to "Johnson resigned because of a party" and not because he employed a known sex pest, lied about what he knew, and more than half his cabinet resigned as a result.
Reposted by Leon Black
This diagram is in Polish, but fairly easy to understand.
The upper section is U.S. assistance for Ukraine during the Biden and Trump admin
The lower is russian drone and missile attacks during the same time frame
Tell me more about how Trump's negotiations are working.
The upper section is U.S. assistance for Ukraine during the Biden and Trump admin
The lower is russian drone and missile attacks during the same time frame
Tell me more about how Trump's negotiations are working.
February 9, 2026 at 4:06 PM
This diagram is in Polish, but fairly easy to understand.
The upper section is U.S. assistance for Ukraine during the Biden and Trump admin
The lower is russian drone and missile attacks during the same time frame
Tell me more about how Trump's negotiations are working.
The upper section is U.S. assistance for Ukraine during the Biden and Trump admin
The lower is russian drone and missile attacks during the same time frame
Tell me more about how Trump's negotiations are working.
Reposted by Leon Black
BREAKING: “in my 24th year of my quest to settle the planet Mars, I have just been informed of a basic fact of celestial mechanics.”
February 9, 2026 at 10:31 AM
BREAKING: “in my 24th year of my quest to settle the planet Mars, I have just been informed of a basic fact of celestial mechanics.”
Reposted by Leon Black
Reposted by Leon Black
In a touching tribute to his mentor, Morgan McSweeney has resigned in disgrace.
February 8, 2026 at 2:46 PM
In a touching tribute to his mentor, Morgan McSweeney has resigned in disgrace.
Reposted by Leon Black
Keir Starmer's Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney has resigned:
"The decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong... I advised the Prime Minister to make that appointment and I take full responsibility for that advice."
"The decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong... I advised the Prime Minister to make that appointment and I take full responsibility for that advice."
February 8, 2026 at 2:25 PM
Keir Starmer's Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney has resigned:
"The decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong... I advised the Prime Minister to make that appointment and I take full responsibility for that advice."
"The decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong... I advised the Prime Minister to make that appointment and I take full responsibility for that advice."
Reposted by Leon Black
The Home Office now describes asylum seekers as "illegal immigrants [living in hotels]" with no reference to the reason that these people are in government-funded accommodation is that this government has taken & will process the asylum claim from them in 98-99% of cases of unauthorised entry.
February 8, 2026 at 12:50 PM
The Home Office now describes asylum seekers as "illegal immigrants [living in hotels]" with no reference to the reason that these people are in government-funded accommodation is that this government has taken & will process the asylum claim from them in 98-99% of cases of unauthorised entry.
Reposted by Leon Black
Hate-filled fake videos about London are everywhere. We've obtained a recording of a TikToker confessing to secretly filming Londoners in their homes for clicks.
He says it's not political. He just wants to make money from far-right anger.
Read what he says: www.londoncentric.media/p/london-tik...
He says it's not political. He just wants to make money from far-right anger.
Read what he says: www.londoncentric.media/p/london-tik...
February 8, 2026 at 7:44 AM
Hate-filled fake videos about London are everywhere. We've obtained a recording of a TikToker confessing to secretly filming Londoners in their homes for clicks.
He says it's not political. He just wants to make money from far-right anger.
Read what he says: www.londoncentric.media/p/london-tik...
He says it's not political. He just wants to make money from far-right anger.
Read what he says: www.londoncentric.media/p/london-tik...
Reposted by Leon Black
The aristos think we’re all worthless
February 7, 2026 at 5:07 PM
The aristos think we’re all worthless
Reposted by Leon Black
A lot of our political discourse would be easier if we didn't extend good faith to people who would never extend it back.
February 7, 2026 at 3:36 PM
A lot of our political discourse would be easier if we didn't extend good faith to people who would never extend it back.
Reposted by Leon Black
🇲🇩🇺🇦 Moldovan President Sandu said that she is against her nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize, because there are more worthy candidates - Ukrainian prisoners of war.
Sandu emphasized that it is Ukrainians who are truly sacrificing themselves for the sake of peace and security in Ukraine and the EU.
Sandu emphasized that it is Ukrainians who are truly sacrificing themselves for the sake of peace and security in Ukraine and the EU.
February 6, 2026 at 7:59 PM
🇲🇩🇺🇦 Moldovan President Sandu said that she is against her nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize, because there are more worthy candidates - Ukrainian prisoners of war.
Sandu emphasized that it is Ukrainians who are truly sacrificing themselves for the sake of peace and security in Ukraine and the EU.
Sandu emphasized that it is Ukrainians who are truly sacrificing themselves for the sake of peace and security in Ukraine and the EU.
Reposted by Leon Black
The BBC are increasing the tv license by approximately 11o a week
Daily Express: ‘DEATH WISH’ TV LICENCE FEE HIKE
‘HURTS’ US ALL #TomorrowsPapersToday
‘HURTS’ US ALL #TomorrowsPapersToday
February 6, 2026 at 10:09 PM
The BBC are increasing the tv license by approximately 11o a week
Reposted by Leon Black
Ian is also right: this is the absolute WORST SCANDAL to rock a British government since.... well... since.... ummm.... since the last Conservative government under Boris Johnson.
bsky.app/profile/iand...
bsky.app/profile/iand...
February 6, 2026 at 3:39 PM
Ian is also right: this is the absolute WORST SCANDAL to rock a British government since.... well... since.... ummm.... since the last Conservative government under Boris Johnson.
bsky.app/profile/iand...
bsky.app/profile/iand...
Reposted by Leon Black
The ground floor of this building can only be described as lavishly fenestrated.
February 6, 2026 at 3:20 PM
The ground floor of this building can only be described as lavishly fenestrated.