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John Brown @johnbrown1325.bsky.social · 3h

From this article

Nobel prize in chemistry awarded to scientists for work on ‘Hermione’s handbag’

Trio honoured for developing revolutionary materials for applications ranging from gas storage to drug delivery

www.theguardian.com

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.bsky.social · 3h

The background of one of this year’s Nobel prize winners is amazing

Yaghi became fascinated with chemistry at the age of 10 after sneaking into the school library, which was usually locked, and plucking a book at random from the shelves.
He was brought up with his siblings in a single room in Amman, Jordan, with no running water or electricity. At his father's insistence he went to study in the US.

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.bsky.social · 17h

😭

John Brown @johnbrown1325.bsky.social · 17h

Having to explain to my American colleagues that Czechia and Chechnya are different places…

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.bsky.social · 18h

My chocolate consumption has massively increased based on just reading this article

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.bsky.social · 1d

Of course!

a man in a suit and tie is smiling .

ALT: a man in a suit and tie is smiling .

media.tenor.com

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.bsky.social · 1d

Good news for chocolate lovers everywhere

acemaxx analytics @acemaxx.bsky.social · 1d

#cocoa prices have tumbled to a 20-month low, bringing to an end a dramatic 2y rally that had driven the market to record highs and squeezed #chocolate #manufacturers worldwide, chart @financialtimes.com www.ft.com/content/b6ce...

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.bsky.social · 1d

Fun fact: my brother was at school with Mark and came home one announcing he had a new friend called Marco, who we all assumed was Italian

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.bsky.social · 2d

I think it’s been a good year for apples

John Brown @johnbrown1325.bsky.social · 2d

They look good! Did they come over the wall or did you plant them?

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.bsky.social · 3d

Once again I’m growing hops in my garden. An artisanal brewery is sure to follow

Close up of some hop flowers growing against a brick wall. The wall is painted white. There is some ivy in the corner of the frame

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.bsky.social · 3d

If I’m lucky they will last a couple of months, but I will cook and freeze a load of them and use them in pies, apple sauce, etc

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.bsky.social · 3d

I can’t reach all the apples on my trees this year, and they are delicious 🌱

A cardboard box filled with apples, a mixture of green and red

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Reposted by John Brown

Isabelle Marie @isabellemarie.bsky.social · 4d

Multi-generational vulture nests hold 700 years of human artifacts.
www.popsci.com/environment/...

Multi-generational vulture nests hold 700 years of human artifacts

Crossbow bolts, sandals, slingshots, and more.

www.popsci.com

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.bsky.social · 4d

That’s a Jay!

John Brown @johnbrown1325.bsky.social · 4d

At a concert today the orchestra played this, and two young girls at the back of the church just couldn’t resist and started dancing extravagantly around the pillars

Sinfonia in B-flat major HWV 339: Allegro

YouTube video by Jed Wentz - Topic

youtu.be

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.bsky.social · 4d

What a pleasure to sing tenor for a change: it means I actually get to sing the third of the chord, which basses very rarely do. And singing Messiah with baroque trumpets and drums also a lovely experience

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.bsky.social · 4d

Plenty of beavers in Belgium, but two seen in Brussels!

BX1 @bx1.be · 5d

Ce n’était plus arrivé depuis le XIXᵉ siècle

Un deuxième castor aperçu à Bruxelles: comment expliquer ce retour historique? “C’est vraiment une très bonne nouvelle”

bx1.be

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.bsky.social · 5d

That whole Belgica story is amazing and like you say the characters involved are wild. There’s a good book about it: The Madhouse at the End of the Earth

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.bsky.social · 6d

In my local supermarket today

A selection of chocolate advent calendars and other Christmas treats

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Reposted by John Brown

Jan Rosenow @janrosenow.bsky.social · 7d

Belgium just flipped the switch on what’s billed as mainland Europe’s largest battery storage project — a big win for grid reliability and renewables.

ENGIE + Sungrow Europe have commissioned 100 MW/400 MWh at Vilvoorde (first phase of 200 MW/800 MWh due end-2025).

www.ess-news.com/2025/10/01/l...

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.bsky.social · 7d

Listening back to the recording I’m confident that the Yellowhammer and Robin were really just Meadow Pipits. Much more likely to be in a small flock

John Brown @johnbrown1325.bsky.social · 7d

Some interesting birds picked up by Merlin on my lunchtime walk, although I don’t believe the robin, as the birds identified were in a flock

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.bsky.social · 10d

If you see this post a bridge

Near the col de Grosse Pierre, in the Vosges mountains in France

A rickety wooden footbridge with many pieces missing and moss growing in the handrails. It’s over a small, fast flowing stream

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.bsky.social · 10d

I didn’t know this story about Albert Ier before. The Roi Soldat.

This Day In WWI @thisdayinwwi.bsky.social · Feb 20

New-York Tribune #OTD Sep 28 1919
"Before they annihilate my army, they shall have to step over my dead body" - Belgian King

Washington Herald Sep 22 1914 reports that Belgian King shoots own driver after he tried to drive King over the frontlines to Imperial German Army bsky.app/profile/this...

King of the Belgians slays chauffeur who tried to deliver him to Germans
Paris, Sept 21. The Progress du Nord today relates a remark able story of the King of the Belgians shooting his chauffeur when the latter traitorously attempted to drive him into the German lines. The King was with his troops south of Antwerp. He ordered his chauffeur to drive ahead, and then, after awhile, the King noticed that the driver had changed his direction.

His majesty warned him and when the chauffeur took no notice ordered him to halt. This having no effect, the King, convinced of the chauffeur’s treachery, drew his revolver and shot him dead. He himself stopped the car and drove back to the Belgians’ lines. In the man’s clothing papers were found showing he had received a German offer of $250,000 for the King’s capture.
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045433/1914-09-22/ed-1/seq-1/
The Washington Herald Sep 22 1914

New-York Tribune September 28, 1919
https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn83030214/1919-09-28/ed-1/?sp=1

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