John F. Allen
@profjohnallen.bsky.social
#Cells | #Energy | #Evolution | #Photosynthesis | #Chloroplasts | #Mitochondria | #Science | Honorary Professor, #UCL
Reposted by John F. Allen
A timeline of Earth’s average temperature since the last ice age. Spoiler alert: It’s definitely getting warmer. And it’s happening increasingly, scarily fast. xkcd.com/1732/
Earth Temperature Timeline
xkcd.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:58 PM
A timeline of Earth’s average temperature since the last ice age. Spoiler alert: It’s definitely getting warmer. And it’s happening increasingly, scarily fast. xkcd.com/1732/
Reposted by John F. Allen
Look at this!
Another triumph for xkcd
Another triumph for xkcd
A timeline of Earth’s average temperature since the last ice age. Spoiler alert: It’s definitely getting warmer. And it’s happening increasingly, scarily fast. xkcd.com/1732/
Earth Temperature Timeline
xkcd.com
December 5, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Look at this!
Another triumph for xkcd
Another triumph for xkcd
Reposted by John F. Allen
But still doesn’t beat the fact that Cleopatra is closer to us in time than she was to the building of the Great Pyramid.
😱 "For example, the release of The Beatles’ first UK number one, Love Me Do, is closer to the reign of Queen Victoria than it is to the present day." @jackkessler.bsky.social
Time catches up with us all
When your memories become someone else’s history
www.linestotake.com
December 5, 2025 at 5:26 PM
But still doesn’t beat the fact that Cleopatra is closer to us in time than she was to the building of the Great Pyramid.
Reposted by John F. Allen
🚨🚨 God #America, this is grim and a very stark wake-up call to European political ledaders on the (non) future of the "transatlantic alliance":
December 5, 2025 at 6:56 AM
🚨🚨 God #America, this is grim and a very stark wake-up call to European political ledaders on the (non) future of the "transatlantic alliance":
Reposted by John F. Allen
It's a mark of our moral disintegration that there's even a discussion about Ukraine giving up land. To even countenance it is to reward colonialism.
December 4, 2025 at 6:23 PM
It's a mark of our moral disintegration that there's even a discussion about Ukraine giving up land. To even countenance it is to reward colonialism.
Reposted by John F. Allen
President of Ukraine:
The Russians started the war, and there are no alternatives to this wording. The whole world is a witness. They came with aggression to destroy us.
We stopped them. Europe helped, America helped.
The Russians started the war, and there are no alternatives to this wording. The whole world is a witness. They came with aggression to destroy us.
We stopped them. Europe helped, America helped.
December 2, 2025 at 5:30 PM
President of Ukraine:
The Russians started the war, and there are no alternatives to this wording. The whole world is a witness. They came with aggression to destroy us.
We stopped them. Europe helped, America helped.
The Russians started the war, and there are no alternatives to this wording. The whole world is a witness. They came with aggression to destroy us.
We stopped them. Europe helped, America helped.
Reposted by John F. Allen
Good time to repost this, after he’s been caught out lying about Reeves, too.
Who the f%*k is Chris Mason? Just watched his dreadful interview with Starmer. Who the hell does this weaselly third rate journalist think he is, presuming to grotesquely insult and trivialize the British PM? Starmer may have some challenges, but he shd not have to put up with this uninformed crap!
December 2, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Good time to repost this, after he’s been caught out lying about Reeves, too.
Reposted by John F. Allen
What a wonderful story - and a beautiful illustration of the power of the arts.
Great writing expands our imagination. It helps us to see the world in new ways.
And that has consequences that can never be measured by "average starting salaries" or "contribution to GDP".
Great writing expands our imagination. It helps us to see the world in new ways.
And that has consequences that can never be measured by "average starting salaries" or "contribution to GDP".
December 2, 2025 at 9:35 AM
What a wonderful story - and a beautiful illustration of the power of the arts.
Great writing expands our imagination. It helps us to see the world in new ways.
And that has consequences that can never be measured by "average starting salaries" or "contribution to GDP".
Great writing expands our imagination. It helps us to see the world in new ways.
And that has consequences that can never be measured by "average starting salaries" or "contribution to GDP".
Reposted by John F. Allen
December 2, 2025 at 8:48 AM
I would have agreed, too, but found in my last job that honesty is a sacking offence. So please add senior management to the list
I used to say that I'm happy to be in academia because it was one of the few jobs in which it was still possible to be honest.
That isn't as true as it used to be. Thanks to degree mills like this, paper mills and thanks above all to #AI which is the cheats' best friend.
That isn't as true as it used to be. Thanks to degree mills like this, paper mills and thanks above all to #AI which is the cheats' best friend.
Does anybody know if anybody has completed a DBA in a year, online at a cost of $199?
The image is a Facebook advert, but the URL to their (DBA( web site is buff.ly/jEzf8h6 (archived at buff.ly/PNDlLJq (on 10 JUl 2025))
The image is a Facebook advert, but the URL to their (DBA( web site is buff.ly/jEzf8h6 (archived at buff.ly/PNDlLJq (on 10 JUl 2025))
December 1, 2025 at 4:43 PM
I would have agreed, too, but found in my last job that honesty is a sacking offence. So please add senior management to the list
Reposted by John F. Allen
"We followed everything we were supposed to do"
Legitimate green card applicants with US spouses are being
arrested by armed, masked men at scheduled immigration interviews, taken away from their children, sent to prison
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Legitimate green card applicants with US spouses are being
arrested by armed, masked men at scheduled immigration interviews, taken away from their children, sent to prison
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Green Card Interviews End in Handcuffs for Spouses of U.S. Citizens
www.nytimes.com
November 27, 2025 at 11:55 AM
"We followed everything we were supposed to do"
Legitimate green card applicants with US spouses are being
arrested by armed, masked men at scheduled immigration interviews, taken away from their children, sent to prison
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Legitimate green card applicants with US spouses are being
arrested by armed, masked men at scheduled immigration interviews, taken away from their children, sent to prison
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Reposted by John F. Allen
All the coverage of Reeves ‘lying’ debagged in a single sentence.
I’m quite enjoying the 180 turn on a six pence from “you’ve wrecked the economy and created a black hole” to “there was no black hole and this is even worse”.
November 30, 2025 at 9:57 AM
All the coverage of Reeves ‘lying’ debagged in a single sentence.
Reposted by John F. Allen
#BBCWATO still obsessed with the non-scandal of the budget. The uncertainty was whipped up by journalists, badgering Reeves for answers while knowing that she couldn't answer in advance. She said that more tax would be needed and she did it. I have never felt more critical of journalists.
December 1, 2025 at 1:26 PM
#BBCWATO still obsessed with the non-scandal of the budget. The uncertainty was whipped up by journalists, badgering Reeves for answers while knowing that she couldn't answer in advance. She said that more tax would be needed and she did it. I have never felt more critical of journalists.
Reposted by John F. Allen
My latest.
When the six Democrats said military officers ”can refuse illegal orders”, they were correct—indeed they went no further than that the Department of Defense’s own guidance, writes @davidallengreen.bsky.social.
When is an order an ‘unlawful command’?
And why has Trump reacted so furiously to six members of Congress correctly stating the law?
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
My latest.
Reposted by John F. Allen
It's such a bizarre framing. Labour MPs think taking 450k kids out of poverty is putting the country first! That's why they wanted it to happen! It's not because they personally benefit.
Headline on The World at One just now:
"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".
Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".
Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
November 27, 2025 at 1:16 PM
It's such a bizarre framing. Labour MPs think taking 450k kids out of poverty is putting the country first! That's why they wanted it to happen! It's not because they personally benefit.
Reposted by John F. Allen
Reposted by John F. Allen
After Lucy Letby was convicted in August 2023 of murdering seven babies, a number of experts contacted Eye columnist MD because they “believe the science and statistics presented at the trial were incomplete and flawed and that the case against Letby was not proven beyond reasonable doubt”.
🧵1/3
🧵1/3
November 27, 2025 at 2:58 PM
After Lucy Letby was convicted in August 2023 of murdering seven babies, a number of experts contacted Eye columnist MD because they “believe the science and statistics presented at the trial were incomplete and flawed and that the case against Letby was not proven beyond reasonable doubt”.
🧵1/3
🧵1/3
Reposted by John F. Allen
NEW
When is an order an ‘unlawful command’?
And why has Trump reacted so furiously to six members of Congress correctly stating the law?
By me, at @prospectmagazine.co.uk
(In which I go and look at the actual law and guidance in US and also UK.)
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...
When is an order an ‘unlawful command’?
And why has Trump reacted so furiously to six members of Congress correctly stating the law?
By me, at @prospectmagazine.co.uk
(In which I go and look at the actual law and guidance in US and also UK.)
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...
November 27, 2025 at 3:19 PM
NEW
When is an order an ‘unlawful command’?
And why has Trump reacted so furiously to six members of Congress correctly stating the law?
By me, at @prospectmagazine.co.uk
(In which I go and look at the actual law and guidance in US and also UK.)
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...
When is an order an ‘unlawful command’?
And why has Trump reacted so furiously to six members of Congress correctly stating the law?
By me, at @prospectmagazine.co.uk
(In which I go and look at the actual law and guidance in US and also UK.)
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...
Reposted by John F. Allen
“Also for legal reasons, we’re not able to tell you what that line is.”
From a media law perspective: BS.
There is no "legal" reason for not publishing that line.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
From a media law perspective: BS.
There is no "legal" reason for not publishing that line.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
BBC tells staff they cannot quote Trump line removed from Reith Lecture
Journalists not allowed to repeat Rutger Bregman’s corruption claims against US president in coverage of edit
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:32 PM
“Also for legal reasons, we’re not able to tell you what that line is.”
From a media law perspective: BS.
There is no "legal" reason for not publishing that line.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
From a media law perspective: BS.
There is no "legal" reason for not publishing that line.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
Reposted by John F. Allen
Kasparov nails it: Western failure to confront russia is the biggest security risk we face.
Ukraine is buying us time, and we’re wasting it.
Ukraine is buying us time, and we’re wasting it.
November 27, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Kasparov nails it: Western failure to confront russia is the biggest security risk we face.
Ukraine is buying us time, and we’re wasting it.
Ukraine is buying us time, and we’re wasting it.
Reposted by John F. Allen
AT the LIS Bibliometrics meeting, we were treated to a sales talk from Clarivate who are sponsoring the meeting, I asked "WoS indexes many journals that are designed to sell "alternative medicine" aka quackery", But the Q wasn't answered -I was reprimanded for "inappropriate" comment! #LISbib25
November 26, 2025 at 12:37 PM
AT the LIS Bibliometrics meeting, we were treated to a sales talk from Clarivate who are sponsoring the meeting, I asked "WoS indexes many journals that are designed to sell "alternative medicine" aka quackery", But the Q wasn't answered -I was reprimanded for "inappropriate" comment! #LISbib25
Reposted by John F. Allen
Juries are not perfect.
Many of the worst miscarriages of justice have followed jury trials.
But the merit of juries is not so much the power they have, but the power they prevent others from having.
They mean a judge cannot just nod-along with prosecution evidence and give a guilty verdict.
Many of the worst miscarriages of justice have followed jury trials.
But the merit of juries is not so much the power they have, but the power they prevent others from having.
They mean a judge cannot just nod-along with prosecution evidence and give a guilty verdict.
November 25, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Juries are not perfect.
Many of the worst miscarriages of justice have followed jury trials.
But the merit of juries is not so much the power they have, but the power they prevent others from having.
They mean a judge cannot just nod-along with prosecution evidence and give a guilty verdict.
Many of the worst miscarriages of justice have followed jury trials.
But the merit of juries is not so much the power they have, but the power they prevent others from having.
They mean a judge cannot just nod-along with prosecution evidence and give a guilty verdict.
Reposted by John F. Allen
best possible publicity for Reith Lectures!
NEWS --> BBC confirms to me that they did edit a line out of historian @rutgerbregman.com's speech. It called Trump "the most openly corrupt president in US history."
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
Trump’s Fury at BBC Gets Unnerving Results with Pro-MAGA Edit Stunner
First, British Broadcasting Corporation execs resigned after Trump complained about a segment. Now the BBC edited out a line from a historian that was critical of Trump. Where does this end?
newrepublic.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:52 PM
best possible publicity for Reith Lectures!
Reposted by John F. Allen
What a week: now writing both in defence of juries and against the military following unlawful orders.
Depressing that both points are contested, but you have to take law and policy topics as you find them.
Depressing that both points are contested, but you have to take law and policy topics as you find them.
November 25, 2025 at 7:06 PM
What a week: now writing both in defence of juries and against the military following unlawful orders.
Depressing that both points are contested, but you have to take law and policy topics as you find them.
Depressing that both points are contested, but you have to take law and policy topics as you find them.
Reposted by John F. Allen
Had Trump been US president in 1940, he would have sided with Hitler.
Think about that.
This is how dangerous he is.
To all of us.
Think about that.
This is how dangerous he is.
To all of us.
November 24, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Had Trump been US president in 1940, he would have sided with Hitler.
Think about that.
This is how dangerous he is.
To all of us.
Think about that.
This is how dangerous he is.
To all of us.