Mike Sowden
@mikeachim.bsky.social
Writer (on science, travel & curiosity), Yorkshireman, tedious enthusiast, professional overthinker, Megathreader. Now: Scotland.
Writes Everything Is Amazing: https://everythingisamazing.substack.com/
Writes Everything Is Amazing: https://everythingisamazing.substack.com/
I know it's fashionable to wish we lived in another era - but holy wow am I often grateful for being here today, because I'm 54, and lived in that pre-internet world where we were all tiny islands separated by geography and time with almost no ability to say hello.
Now look at us.
Also: hi there.
Now look at us.
Also: hi there.
November 30, 2025 at 2:12 PM
I know it's fashionable to wish we lived in another era - but holy wow am I often grateful for being here today, because I'm 54, and lived in that pre-internet world where we were all tiny islands separated by geography and time with almost no ability to say hello.
Now look at us.
Also: hi there.
Now look at us.
Also: hi there.
Today, like most days, is a good day for recognising how much our attention is worth.
Rich people with vile ethics spend *HUGE* $$$$$ hoovering up our attention with "free" things - because it's a terrific investment for them.
Thwart them by promoting people & things that deserve the help.
Rich people with vile ethics spend *HUGE* $$$$$ hoovering up our attention with "free" things - because it's a terrific investment for them.
Thwart them by promoting people & things that deserve the help.
November 28, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Today, like most days, is a good day for recognising how much our attention is worth.
Rich people with vile ethics spend *HUGE* $$$$$ hoovering up our attention with "free" things - because it's a terrific investment for them.
Thwart them by promoting people & things that deserve the help.
Rich people with vile ethics spend *HUGE* $$$$$ hoovering up our attention with "free" things - because it's a terrific investment for them.
Thwart them by promoting people & things that deserve the help.
The 65,000km length is the entire continuous mountain-chain network that the Mid-Atlantic Ridge connects to, which runs all the way round the world!
November 25, 2025 at 9:20 AM
The 65,000km length is the entire continuous mountain-chain network that the Mid-Atlantic Ridge connects to, which runs all the way round the world!
But if you fancy taking further trips of scientific fancy with me on all sorts of curious subjects, I write a newsletter for this very purpose, which is free to sign up to!
> everythingisamazing.substack.com <
Thanks for coming along. :)
> everythingisamazing.substack.com <
Thanks for coming along. :)
November 24, 2025 at 10:11 PM
But if you fancy taking further trips of scientific fancy with me on all sorts of curious subjects, I write a newsletter for this very purpose, which is free to sign up to!
> everythingisamazing.substack.com <
Thanks for coming along. :)
> everythingisamazing.substack.com <
Thanks for coming along. :)
Bouvet Island!
I know from afar it lacks charm, but get close & it's FAR worse: 93% glacier-locked, closest working toilets are 2,250km away, & hugely uninhabited since forever.
But it's where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge ends, where the Africa, South American & Antarctic plates meet.
Off you pop.
8/
I know from afar it lacks charm, but get close & it's FAR worse: 93% glacier-locked, closest working toilets are 2,250km away, & hugely uninhabited since forever.
But it's where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge ends, where the Africa, South American & Antarctic plates meet.
Off you pop.
8/
November 24, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Bouvet Island!
I know from afar it lacks charm, but get close & it's FAR worse: 93% glacier-locked, closest working toilets are 2,250km away, & hugely uninhabited since forever.
But it's where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge ends, where the Africa, South American & Antarctic plates meet.
Off you pop.
8/
I know from afar it lacks charm, but get close & it's FAR worse: 93% glacier-locked, closest working toilets are 2,250km away, & hugely uninhabited since forever.
But it's where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge ends, where the Africa, South American & Antarctic plates meet.
Off you pop.
8/
Okay! Since I'm not being paid enough for this trip, let's quickly head to the drop-off point that marks the end of this tour.
Hope you brought a really warm jacket? No?
Oh dear.
Well, that's certainly a problem.
7/
Hope you brought a really warm jacket? No?
Oh dear.
Well, that's certainly a problem.
7/
November 24, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Okay! Since I'm not being paid enough for this trip, let's quickly head to the drop-off point that marks the end of this tour.
Hope you brought a really warm jacket? No?
Oh dear.
Well, that's certainly a problem.
7/
Hope you brought a really warm jacket? No?
Oh dear.
Well, that's certainly a problem.
7/
But Lost City (formally the Lost City Hydrothermal Field) is different again.
Instead of being fuelled by volcanic activity, it creates heat from seawater encountering rock from the Earth’s mantle - a chemical reaction that creates gas and energy.
Life found yet another way.
6/
Instead of being fuelled by volcanic activity, it creates heat from seawater encountering rock from the Earth’s mantle - a chemical reaction that creates gas and energy.
Life found yet another way.
6/
November 24, 2025 at 9:53 PM
But Lost City (formally the Lost City Hydrothermal Field) is different again.
Instead of being fuelled by volcanic activity, it creates heat from seawater encountering rock from the Earth’s mantle - a chemical reaction that creates gas and energy.
Life found yet another way.
6/
Instead of being fuelled by volcanic activity, it creates heat from seawater encountering rock from the Earth’s mantle - a chemical reaction that creates gas and energy.
Life found yet another way.
6/
Finding life around hydrothermal vents - that's life NOT requiring sunlight - is one of the greatest scientific discoveries of the last 50 years.
It also suggests a way for life to thrive on Jupiter's Europa, believed to have an ocean 100+ km deep (!).
That's an adventure for a future age.
5/
It also suggests a way for life to thrive on Jupiter's Europa, believed to have an ocean 100+ km deep (!).
That's an adventure for a future age.
5/
November 24, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Finding life around hydrothermal vents - that's life NOT requiring sunlight - is one of the greatest scientific discoveries of the last 50 years.
It also suggests a way for life to thrive on Jupiter's Europa, believed to have an ocean 100+ km deep (!).
That's an adventure for a future age.
5/
It also suggests a way for life to thrive on Jupiter's Europa, believed to have an ocean 100+ km deep (!).
That's an adventure for a future age.
5/
I'm certainly not helping in the least here, but this looks like the work of a movie-loving time traveller whose time machine broke down & trapped them in the past & they wanted something to remind them of their beloved DVD player they were missing just *so* much.
What? Yes, yes. I'll stop now.
What? Yes, yes. I'll stop now.
November 24, 2025 at 1:55 PM
I'm certainly not helping in the least here, but this looks like the work of a movie-loving time traveller whose time machine broke down & trapped them in the past & they wanted something to remind them of their beloved DVD player they were missing just *so* much.
What? Yes, yes. I'll stop now.
What? Yes, yes. I'll stop now.
I haven't done a poll, because I'll never forget seeing the results of this one. (Poor Jamie.)
November 23, 2025 at 5:43 PM
I haven't done a poll, because I'll never forget seeing the results of this one. (Poor Jamie.)
The Atlantis Massif is around 16km across, and climbs 4.2km, to within 700 metres of the sea surface.
I know these are just numbers, so - it's about the size of Mount Rainier (Washington State).
To help you imagine this, here's a pic of Mount Rainier.
Now imagine that underwater.
9/
I know these are just numbers, so - it's about the size of Mount Rainier (Washington State).
To help you imagine this, here's a pic of Mount Rainier.
Now imagine that underwater.
9/
November 22, 2025 at 8:30 PM
The Atlantis Massif is around 16km across, and climbs 4.2km, to within 700 metres of the sea surface.
I know these are just numbers, so - it's about the size of Mount Rainier (Washington State).
To help you imagine this, here's a pic of Mount Rainier.
Now imagine that underwater.
9/
I know these are just numbers, so - it's about the size of Mount Rainier (Washington State).
To help you imagine this, here's a pic of Mount Rainier.
Now imagine that underwater.
9/
Now we've made it all the way down here, to the Atlantis Transform Fault, where the rift valley of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge jinks sideways for 70km before continuing south - over 5km deep.
And on its corner, an absolute monster of a sea mount - with something very strange on the side of it...
8/
And on its corner, an absolute monster of a sea mount - with something very strange on the side of it...
8/
November 22, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Now we've made it all the way down here, to the Atlantis Transform Fault, where the rift valley of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge jinks sideways for 70km before continuing south - over 5km deep.
And on its corner, an absolute monster of a sea mount - with something very strange on the side of it...
8/
And on its corner, an absolute monster of a sea mount - with something very strange on the side of it...
8/
The Navy was interested because of its subs.
Despite this popular infographic, it's not quite true that today only 5% of the oceans are mapped. It's just that they're mainly mapped to resolutions over 5km. (What could 5km hide?!)
And this is over half a century after Tharp & Heezen's efforts!
6/
Despite this popular infographic, it's not quite true that today only 5% of the oceans are mapped. It's just that they're mainly mapped to resolutions over 5km. (What could 5km hide?!)
And this is over half a century after Tharp & Heezen's efforts!
6/
November 22, 2025 at 8:13 PM
The Navy was interested because of its subs.
Despite this popular infographic, it's not quite true that today only 5% of the oceans are mapped. It's just that they're mainly mapped to resolutions over 5km. (What could 5km hide?!)
And this is over half a century after Tharp & Heezen's efforts!
6/
Despite this popular infographic, it's not quite true that today only 5% of the oceans are mapped. It's just that they're mainly mapped to resolutions over 5km. (What could 5km hide?!)
And this is over half a century after Tharp & Heezen's efforts!
6/
This famous map is our route (vertical height exaggerated): about 16,000km in total, connecting to an underwater mountain range that zigzags round our entire planet.
It's called the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. But "ridge" sounds a bit tame.
These are MOUNTAINS.
Also? A Lost City!
We'll get to that.
4/
It's called the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. But "ridge" sounds a bit tame.
These are MOUNTAINS.
Also? A Lost City!
We'll get to that.
4/
November 22, 2025 at 8:03 PM
This famous map is our route (vertical height exaggerated): about 16,000km in total, connecting to an underwater mountain range that zigzags round our entire planet.
It's called the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. But "ridge" sounds a bit tame.
These are MOUNTAINS.
Also? A Lost City!
We'll get to that.
4/
It's called the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. But "ridge" sounds a bit tame.
These are MOUNTAINS.
Also? A Lost City!
We'll get to that.
4/
If we went southeast into the sea, it gets deep really quickly - around 2,000 metres, same as the Black Sea.
But we're following the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, so southwest it is.
Sorry about the view. It was lovely at first - but down here, past 1,000 metres?
Nada.
3/
But we're following the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, so southwest it is.
Sorry about the view. It was lovely at first - but down here, past 1,000 metres?
Nada.
3/
November 22, 2025 at 7:57 PM
If we went southeast into the sea, it gets deep really quickly - around 2,000 metres, same as the Black Sea.
But we're following the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, so southwest it is.
Sorry about the view. It was lovely at first - but down here, past 1,000 metres?
Nada.
3/
But we're following the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, so southwest it is.
Sorry about the view. It was lovely at first - but down here, past 1,000 metres?
Nada.
3/
We start in Iceland. (Courtesy of flickr.com/photos/sacke...)
Alas - it's only really here can you walk along it: the Þingvellir National Park, where, geologically speaking, North America & Europe are slowly drifting apart.
Enjoy the sunshine!
There's none where we're going next
2/
Alas - it's only really here can you walk along it: the Þingvellir National Park, where, geologically speaking, North America & Europe are slowly drifting apart.
Enjoy the sunshine!
There's none where we're going next
2/
November 22, 2025 at 7:49 PM
We start in Iceland. (Courtesy of flickr.com/photos/sacke...)
Alas - it's only really here can you walk along it: the Þingvellir National Park, where, geologically speaking, North America & Europe are slowly drifting apart.
Enjoy the sunshine!
There's none where we're going next
2/
Alas - it's only really here can you walk along it: the Þingvellir National Park, where, geologically speaking, North America & Europe are slowly drifting apart.
Enjoy the sunshine!
There's none where we're going next
2/
If today's a slow one, how about a stroll along our planet's longest mountain chain?
No, not Himalaya. And not the Andes either.
This one's...65,000km long.
(That's nearly a fifth of the way to the Moon!)
How about a 2-day journey (first part today, second tomorrow) along some of it?
1/
No, not Himalaya. And not the Andes either.
This one's...65,000km long.
(That's nearly a fifth of the way to the Moon!)
How about a 2-day journey (first part today, second tomorrow) along some of it?
1/
November 22, 2025 at 7:43 PM
If today's a slow one, how about a stroll along our planet's longest mountain chain?
No, not Himalaya. And not the Andes either.
This one's...65,000km long.
(That's nearly a fifth of the way to the Moon!)
How about a 2-day journey (first part today, second tomorrow) along some of it?
1/
No, not Himalaya. And not the Andes either.
This one's...65,000km long.
(That's nearly a fifth of the way to the Moon!)
How about a 2-day journey (first part today, second tomorrow) along some of it?
1/
I posted this regrettably weak pun elsewhere, and some people clearly didn't get it, so I had to add this photo to help them. I'm proud of all of you who got it on here and didn't feel they needed to leave a comment. Bluesky crowd is the best crowd. At least for weak puns.
November 22, 2025 at 5:40 PM
I posted this regrettably weak pun elsewhere, and some people clearly didn't get it, so I had to add this photo to help them. I'm proud of all of you who got it on here and didn't feel they needed to leave a comment. Bluesky crowd is the best crowd. At least for weak puns.
As someone both Extremely Online and writing on the internet for a living, I generally don't like talking about my beliefs.
But I just found this in something I wrote a while back, and I still stand by it.
Hope that settles things at last. Especially regarding point 7.
But I just found this in something I wrote a while back, and I still stand by it.
Hope that settles things at last. Especially regarding point 7.
November 22, 2025 at 11:25 AM
As someone both Extremely Online and writing on the internet for a living, I generally don't like talking about my beliefs.
But I just found this in something I wrote a while back, and I still stand by it.
Hope that settles things at last. Especially regarding point 7.
But I just found this in something I wrote a while back, and I still stand by it.
Hope that settles things at last. Especially regarding point 7.
I feel like this deserves adding to the list of Stories Of Things That Were Actually Other Things.
And yes, it's absolutely real: www.lepoint.fr/astronomie/l...
The scientist quoted as saying: “I also think that if I hadn’t said it was a James Webb photo, it wouldn’t have been so successful.” 😂
And yes, it's absolutely real: www.lepoint.fr/astronomie/l...
The scientist quoted as saying: “I also think that if I hadn’t said it was a James Webb photo, it wouldn’t have been so successful.” 😂
November 22, 2025 at 10:45 AM
I feel like this deserves adding to the list of Stories Of Things That Were Actually Other Things.
And yes, it's absolutely real: www.lepoint.fr/astronomie/l...
The scientist quoted as saying: “I also think that if I hadn’t said it was a James Webb photo, it wouldn’t have been so successful.” 😂
And yes, it's absolutely real: www.lepoint.fr/astronomie/l...
The scientist quoted as saying: “I also think that if I hadn’t said it was a James Webb photo, it wouldn’t have been so successful.” 😂
Happy Pluribus Day, everyone! Hope it goes *great*.
November 21, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Happy Pluribus Day, everyone! Hope it goes *great*.
I first read about this event in Professor @lewisdartnell.bsky.social's "Origins", which you really should go read immediately, followed by his most recent and equally terrific "Being Human".
(I could write a hundred of these threads & not get close to the wow-power of reading these books.)
(I could write a hundred of these threads & not get close to the wow-power of reading these books.)
November 21, 2025 at 3:46 PM
I first read about this event in Professor @lewisdartnell.bsky.social's "Origins", which you really should go read immediately, followed by his most recent and equally terrific "Being Human".
(I could write a hundred of these threads & not get close to the wow-power of reading these books.)
(I could write a hundred of these threads & not get close to the wow-power of reading these books.)
So that’s what you might have seen, standing at Dover back then: a bridge of land running all the way to France, suddenly crumbling & torn away in front of your eyes to form a colossal chain of roaring waterfalls on a scale dwarfing anything visible today.
As we say round these parts: BLIMEY.
10/
As we say round these parts: BLIMEY.
10/
November 21, 2025 at 3:35 PM
So that’s what you might have seen, standing at Dover back then: a bridge of land running all the way to France, suddenly crumbling & torn away in front of your eyes to form a colossal chain of roaring waterfalls on a scale dwarfing anything visible today.
As we say round these parts: BLIMEY.
10/
As we say round these parts: BLIMEY.
10/
What happened seems to be this: a truly vast lake of meltwater, trapped between ice sheets, butting up against the England-France land bridge and fed by the Thames and Rhine...
And at some point, the pressure was too much.
BANG!
(Or, whatever noise an event *this* massive would make.)
6/
And at some point, the pressure was too much.
BANG!
(Or, whatever noise an event *this* massive would make.)
6/
November 21, 2025 at 3:17 PM
What happened seems to be this: a truly vast lake of meltwater, trapped between ice sheets, butting up against the England-France land bridge and fed by the Thames and Rhine...
And at some point, the pressure was too much.
BANG!
(Or, whatever noise an event *this* massive would make.)
6/
And at some point, the pressure was too much.
BANG!
(Or, whatever noise an event *this* massive would make.)
6/
This tallied with the results of another survey from 2007, against from Imperial College.
But what on earth could power such a massive flood?
With the Mediterranean, it was the full force of the Atlantic roaring in through the ruptured Gibraltar Strait.
So what the hell happened *here*?
5/
But what on earth could power such a massive flood?
With the Mediterranean, it was the full force of the Atlantic roaring in through the ruptured Gibraltar Strait.
So what the hell happened *here*?
5/
November 21, 2025 at 3:06 PM
This tallied with the results of another survey from 2007, against from Imperial College.
But what on earth could power such a massive flood?
With the Mediterranean, it was the full force of the Atlantic roaring in through the ruptured Gibraltar Strait.
So what the hell happened *here*?
5/
But what on earth could power such a massive flood?
With the Mediterranean, it was the full force of the Atlantic roaring in through the ruptured Gibraltar Strait.
So what the hell happened *here*?
5/