Paul McMillan
@mcmillan-astro.bsky.social
Astrophysicist working on Milky Way dynamics and Gaia data. University of Leicester. Views expressed are my own.
Website: https://paulmcmillan-astro.github.io/
Website: https://paulmcmillan-astro.github.io/
"97% of people surveyed found they were regularly or sometimes distracted by oncoming vehicles and 96% thought most or some headlights were too bright"
Finding 96% of people agreeing on anything must be very rare. It seems like an easy win to regulate these (meaing I doubt that it will happen!)
Finding 96% of people agreeing on anything must be very rare. It seems like an easy win to regulate these (meaing I doubt that it will happen!)
Nearly all drivers say vehicles' lights are too bright in study
The study, commissioned by the Department for Transport, was completed by Berkshire's TRL.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 10:41 AM
"97% of people surveyed found they were regularly or sometimes distracted by oncoming vehicles and 96% thought most or some headlights were too bright"
Finding 96% of people agreeing on anything must be very rare. It seems like an easy win to regulate these (meaing I doubt that it will happen!)
Finding 96% of people agreeing on anything must be very rare. It seems like an easy win to regulate these (meaing I doubt that it will happen!)
The way that university adminstration can pretend that letting an agressor or predator near undergrads is more safe than having them around their colleagues blows my mind.
In my past experience, the Prof was not allowed back into the department building, but was given new teaching duties...
In my past experience, the Prof was not allowed back into the department building, but was given new teaching duties...
Going to go out on a limb here and suggest that maybe Larry Summers should not be *allowed* to fulfil his teaching obligations?
If Harvard gives a stuff about their students, at least.
If Harvard gives a stuff about their students, at least.
November 18, 2025 at 3:34 PM
The way that university adminstration can pretend that letting an agressor or predator near undergrads is more safe than having them around their colleagues blows my mind.
In my past experience, the Prof was not allowed back into the department building, but was given new teaching duties...
In my past experience, the Prof was not allowed back into the department building, but was given new teaching duties...
Good news for our colleagues in Nottingham!
A reminder that industrial action can work, and universty management can negotiate with a union that represents their staff.
A reminder that industrial action can work, and universty management can negotiate with a union that represents their staff.
In response to our industrial action, the university proposed a resolution that removed the threat of compulsory redundancies for the next year and introduced a negotiation process over course closures. And at our branch meeting, we accepted this offer.
November 17, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Good news for our colleagues in Nottingham!
A reminder that industrial action can work, and universty management can negotiate with a union that represents their staff.
A reminder that industrial action can work, and universty management can negotiate with a union that represents their staff.
Reposted by Paul McMillan
Please come and march alongside us tomorrow in the national demonstration called by @ucu.org.uk.
We will be on the pickets 9-10.30, and assemble for the demonstration in De Montfort Square at 11.
All welcome!
We will be on the pickets 9-10.30, and assemble for the demonstration in De Montfort Square at 11.
All welcome!
November 11, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Please come and march alongside us tomorrow in the national demonstration called by @ucu.org.uk.
We will be on the pickets 9-10.30, and assemble for the demonstration in De Montfort Square at 11.
All welcome!
We will be on the pickets 9-10.30, and assemble for the demonstration in De Montfort Square at 11.
All welcome!
Reposted by Paul McMillan
🔭🧪🎢 The University of Leicester is advertising PhD places in Physics & Astronomy starting 2026!
They span Astrophysics, Planetary Science, Space Instrumentation and Earth Observation.
All of them are advertised on FindAPhD 🔭🧪🎢
www.findaphd.com/phds/departm...
They span Astrophysics, Planetary Science, Space Instrumentation and Earth Observation.
All of them are advertised on FindAPhD 🔭🧪🎢
www.findaphd.com/phds/departm...
November 7, 2025 at 6:30 PM
🔭🧪🎢 The University of Leicester is advertising PhD places in Physics & Astronomy starting 2026!
They span Astrophysics, Planetary Science, Space Instrumentation and Earth Observation.
All of them are advertised on FindAPhD 🔭🧪🎢
www.findaphd.com/phds/departm...
They span Astrophysics, Planetary Science, Space Instrumentation and Earth Observation.
All of them are advertised on FindAPhD 🔭🧪🎢
www.findaphd.com/phds/departm...
Reposted by Paul McMillan
English article version: www.uu.se/en/departmen...
Award for collaboration and outreach to Linn Boldt-Christmas
- Uppsala University
www.uu.se
October 31, 2025 at 5:46 PM
English article version: www.uu.se/en/departmen...
Great show from @5teviem.bsky.social at the firebug this evening. Not just laughs alone, also horse lamps.
October 29, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Great show from @5teviem.bsky.social at the firebug this evening. Not just laughs alone, also horse lamps.
Martin Luther. Simon Alinder. Some other people too, no doubt.
There's a great history of nailing theses to things and Simon did that yesterday ahead of his thesis defense next month. I watched on zoom, and it turns out quite hard to get a good screenshot!
There's a great history of nailing theses to things and Simon did that yesterday ahead of his thesis defense next month. I watched on zoom, and it turns out quite hard to get a good screenshot!
October 29, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Martin Luther. Simon Alinder. Some other people too, no doubt.
There's a great history of nailing theses to things and Simon did that yesterday ahead of his thesis defense next month. I watched on zoom, and it turns out quite hard to get a good screenshot!
There's a great history of nailing theses to things and Simon did that yesterday ahead of his thesis defense next month. I watched on zoom, and it turns out quite hard to get a good screenshot!
The University of Leicester's marketing department know that it's the staff who are the lifeblood of the university. Leaving staff under threat of firing for months on end, with no negotiation with our representatives, is awful management
October 3, 2025 at 10:30 AM
The University of Leicester's marketing department know that it's the staff who are the lifeblood of the university. Leaving staff under threat of firing for months on end, with no negotiation with our representatives, is awful management
I'm not usually a much of a protestor, but I will try to defend the University of Leicester, and my colleagues, from the bad decisions made by our management. The proposed cuts unneeded, unfair and backed by cherry picked metrics. I support the @leicesterucu.bsky.social strike action.
September 30, 2025 at 7:43 AM
I'm not usually a much of a protestor, but I will try to defend the University of Leicester, and my colleagues, from the bad decisions made by our management. The proposed cuts unneeded, unfair and backed by cherry picked metrics. I support the @leicesterucu.bsky.social strike action.
I'm very sad that the university's leadership has brought us to this point. I will be joining my colleagues in striking to protect the future strength of the University of Leicester
Leicester UCU will be on strike from Monday 29 September until Friday 17 October.
September 26, 2025 at 1:01 PM
I'm very sad that the university's leadership has brought us to this point. I will be joining my colleagues in striking to protect the future strength of the University of Leicester
Today's entry in "Astronomers should't get to name things". Hubble's constant being constant in direction rather than time has always made it a bad name.
Astronomers! This year’s A level physics exams included the following question which seems dodgy to me. Anyone got a sensible answer?
September 16, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Today's entry in "Astronomers should't get to name things". Hubble's constant being constant in direction rather than time has always made it a bad name.
Reposted by Paul McMillan
Astronomers! This year’s A level physics exams included the following question which seems dodgy to me. Anyone got a sensible answer?
September 16, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Astronomers! This year’s A level physics exams included the following question which seems dodgy to me. Anyone got a sensible answer?
Personal opinion: Squirrels are cuter than other rodents because of the bouncy way they run, not because of the tail
September 12, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Personal opinion: Squirrels are cuter than other rodents because of the bouncy way they run, not because of the tail
🔭🧪🎢 I'll be at the Leicester open day this Saturday. Maybe you can find out why my student feedback included being called an "S-tier" lecturer, which I had to look up, but is apparently positive! 🔭🧪🎢 le.ac.uk/open-days
September 9, 2025 at 10:49 AM
🔭🧪🎢 I'll be at the Leicester open day this Saturday. Maybe you can find out why my student feedback included being called an "S-tier" lecturer, which I had to look up, but is apparently positive! 🔭🧪🎢 le.ac.uk/open-days
🔭 On a related note: When students reach out to their former supervisors it can mean a lot to us. I'm going to write to my former Masters project supervisor and thank her. 🔭
🔭 One of the greatest pleasures of my job is when someone I helped and enthused at the start of their astrophysics studies finds success.
Congratulations ot Aayush Desai on publishing his first paper! arxiv.org/abs/2509.03216 🔭
"Magnetic Atmospheres and Circumstellar Interaction in
J1901+1458"
Congratulations ot Aayush Desai on publishing his first paper! arxiv.org/abs/2509.03216 🔭
"Magnetic Atmospheres and Circumstellar Interaction in
J1901+1458"
September 4, 2025 at 9:38 AM
🔭 On a related note: When students reach out to their former supervisors it can mean a lot to us. I'm going to write to my former Masters project supervisor and thank her. 🔭
🔭 One of the greatest pleasures of my job is when someone I helped and enthused at the start of their astrophysics studies finds success.
Congratulations ot Aayush Desai on publishing his first paper! arxiv.org/abs/2509.03216 🔭
"Magnetic Atmospheres and Circumstellar Interaction in
J1901+1458"
Congratulations ot Aayush Desai on publishing his first paper! arxiv.org/abs/2509.03216 🔭
"Magnetic Atmospheres and Circumstellar Interaction in
J1901+1458"
September 4, 2025 at 8:47 AM
🔭 One of the greatest pleasures of my job is when someone I helped and enthused at the start of their astrophysics studies finds success.
Congratulations ot Aayush Desai on publishing his first paper! arxiv.org/abs/2509.03216 🔭
"Magnetic Atmospheres and Circumstellar Interaction in
J1901+1458"
Congratulations ot Aayush Desai on publishing his first paper! arxiv.org/abs/2509.03216 🔭
"Magnetic Atmospheres and Circumstellar Interaction in
J1901+1458"
🔭🧪🎢 Reposting for the feeds 🎢🧪🔭
If you know/are an interested sixth-form student, our open day is a great way of seeing what you could be doing with us. I'll be there telling you about our work on the Milky Way!
le.ac.uk/open-days
If you know/are an interested sixth-form student, our open day is a great way of seeing what you could be doing with us. I'll be there telling you about our work on the Milky Way!
le.ac.uk/open-days
Just over 2 weeks until our next public open day!
On 13th September, come and see what studying physics at the University of Leicester can be like. You'll also witness some of the highlights of our internationally renowned space research.
Book your place here: le.ac.uk/open-days
On 13th September, come and see what studying physics at the University of Leicester can be like. You'll also witness some of the highlights of our internationally renowned space research.
Book your place here: le.ac.uk/open-days
August 28, 2025 at 12:32 PM
🔭🧪🎢 Reposting for the feeds 🎢🧪🔭
If you know/are an interested sixth-form student, our open day is a great way of seeing what you could be doing with us. I'll be there telling you about our work on the Milky Way!
le.ac.uk/open-days
If you know/are an interested sixth-form student, our open day is a great way of seeing what you could be doing with us. I'll be there telling you about our work on the Milky Way!
le.ac.uk/open-days
🔭 Exciting results from my colleagues 🔭
An extragalactic explosion was a massive star exploding, with a jet that was trapped in a 'cocoon' by the outer layers of the star or the dense matter surrounding it. Our researchers helped explain this using data from the Einstein Probe and ground telescopes. le.ac.uk/news/2025/ju...
Leicester researchers shed new light on extragalactic event | News | University of Leicester
le.ac.uk
July 10, 2025 at 4:34 PM
🔭 Exciting results from my colleagues 🔭
Reposted by Paul McMillan
Our Prof @leighfletcher.bsky.social is giving a plenary talk at the National Astronomy Meeting presenting JWST observations of the solar system's gas giants! #NAM2025
July 9, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Our Prof @leighfletcher.bsky.social is giving a plenary talk at the National Astronomy Meeting presenting JWST observations of the solar system's gas giants! #NAM2025
A sighting of Leicester's @spacecentre.bsky.social Thor Able rocket during a really interesting (and last minute replacement!) talk by Dr Bleddyn Bowen on the politics of space at the UK's National Astronomy Meeting #NAM2025
July 7, 2025 at 11:31 AM
A sighting of Leicester's @spacecentre.bsky.social Thor Able rocket during a really interesting (and last minute replacement!) talk by Dr Bleddyn Bowen on the politics of space at the UK's National Astronomy Meeting #NAM2025
Interesting start to #NAM2025 at a session dedicated to Galactic dynamics, and how "Basis function expansions" are useful tools for this. Speakers keep abbreviating this as BFE, pronounced "Beefy", which is a touch distracting
July 7, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Interesting start to #NAM2025 at a session dedicated to Galactic dynamics, and how "Basis function expansions" are useful tools for this. Speakers keep abbreviating this as BFE, pronounced "Beefy", which is a touch distracting
Some student feedback on my lecturing described it as "S-tier", which I assumed meant it was very bad. It turns out to be the opposite, but I remain a bit baffled. The S does not stand for the word I would expect.
July 2, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Some student feedback on my lecturing described it as "S-tier", which I assumed meant it was very bad. It turns out to be the opposite, but I remain a bit baffled. The S does not stand for the word I would expect.