Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Michael Peel

@mikepeeljourno.bsky.social

7.7K followers 420 following 230 posts

@FinancialTimes.com science editor. Ex-Nigeria, UAE, Thailand, Belgium & Japan. Latest book: What Everyone Knows About Britain* (*Except the British) - https://linktr.ee/whateveryoneknowsaboutbritain. Author of The Fabulists and A Swamp Full of Dollars.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Michael Peel @mikepeeljourno.bsky.social · 4h

NEW: Chemistry Nobel Prize awarded for advances tackling carbon and ‘forever chemicals’

Three scientists win award for molecular structures compared to Hermione Granger's charmed handbag in Harry Potter

Register here to read some FT articles free:

www.ft.com/register

www.ft.com/content/1608...

Chemistry Nobel Prize awarded for advances tackling carbon and ‘forever chemicals’

Three scientists win award for molecular constructions known as metal-organic frameworks

Michael Peel @mikepeeljourno.bsky.social · 1d

You can register for free - no payment required.

Michael Peel @mikepeeljourno.bsky.social · 1d

NEW: Nobel Physics Prize awarded for quantum work powering next-gen computers

Three US-based scientists honoured for showing how strange submicroscopic effects can be harnessed in electronic devices

Register here to read some FT articles free:

www.ft.com/register

www.ft.com/content/007c...

Nobel Physics Prize awarded for quantum work powering next-gen computers

Three US-based scientists honoured for showing how strange submicroscopic effects can be harnessed in electronic devices

Michael Peel @mikepeeljourno.bsky.social · 2d

NEW: Nobel Prize in medicine awarded for immune system breakthroughs

Three scientists honoured for research on what prevents immune cells from attacking the body

Register here to read some @financialtimes.com articles free:

www.ft.com/register

www.ft.com/content/b442...

Nobel Prize in medicine awarded for immune system breakthroughs

Three scientists honoured for research on what prevents immune cells from attacking the body

Reposted by Michael Peel

FT Edit @ftedit.ft.com · 7d

Astronomers may have found a new class of cosmic object that could change our understanding of how stars, galaxies and black holes are formed.

An #FTEdit 🧵on everything you need to know 👇

Michael Peel @mikepeeljourno.bsky.social · 15d

This is such an important point about the political impact of the gap between perceptions of the UK and reality.

“Trick Mirror”, the first chapter of my book What Everyone Know About Britain* (*Except the British), is about this.

linktr.ee/whateveryone...

Michael Peel @mikepeeljourno.bsky.social · 20d

The race against time to defeat mosquito-borne diseases

Researchers are trying to tackle the threat before nature’s ‘flying needles’ become more prevalent and resistant to prevention

www.ft.com/content/816c...

The race against time to defeat mosquito-borne diseases

Researchers are trying to tackle the threat before nature’s ‘flying needles’ become more prevalent and resistant to prevention

Michael Peel @mikepeeljourno.bsky.social · 20d

Huge thanks to @mja-uk.bsky.social for last night's awards for my brilliant columnist colleague @anjahuja.bsky.social and the @financialtimes.com project on the race against time to defeat mosquito-borne diseases. Congratulations to @ian-bott.bsky.social, @sdbernard.bsky.social and Charlie Bibby!

Michael Peel @mikepeeljourno.bsky.social · 24d

Another spin for extra-terrestrial news of the week: is there life on Mars, and if so is it some God-awful small affair?

Michael Peel @mikepeeljourno.bsky.social · 28d

NEW: Hunt for life on Mars finds potential signs of biological processes

Mudstones with iron-containing compounds suggest possibility of a habitat for micro-organisms

Register here to read some FT articles free:

www.ft.com/register

www.ft.com/content/135e...

Hunt for life on Mars finds potential signs of biological processes

Mudstones with iron-containing compounds suggest possibility of a habitat for micro-organisms

Michael Peel @mikepeeljourno.bsky.social · 24d

Exactly! And the hummingbirds and the bowhead whales...

Mike Murphy @mjamurphy.bsky.social · 24d

Come for the immortal jellyfish, stay for the naked mole rats.

Michael Peel @mikepeeljourno.bsky.social · 25d

From immortal jellyfish to elephants: scientists probe secrets of long-lived animals

A tour of biological wonders to fire the imagination

With superb visuals from @ian-bott.bsky.social and BobHaslett

Register here to read some FT articles free:

www.ft.com/register

: www.ft.com/content/72fe...

Michael Peel @mikepeeljourno.bsky.social · 24d

It may partly be a reactivation of poisonous tropes from the cultural everyday of my generation’s formative years (I’m 51).

In my book, I look at the dark power of nostalgia rooted in casual racism, sexism and bullying, from the TV series Monkey to the Beano’s pages.

linktr.ee/whateveryone...

Michael Peel @mikepeeljourno.bsky.social · 25d

From immortal jellyfish to elephants: scientists probe secrets of long-lived animals

A tour of biological wonders to fire the imagination

With superb visuals from @ian-bott.bsky.social and BobHaslett

Register here to read some FT articles free:

www.ft.com/register

: www.ft.com/content/72fe...

From immortal jellyfish to elephants: scientists probe secrets of long-lived animals

Creatures from hummingbirds to whales could give clues for biological tools to extend humans’ lifespans

Michael Peel @mikepeeljourno.bsky.social · 28d

NEW: Hunt for life on Mars finds potential signs of biological processes

Mudstones with iron-containing compounds suggest possibility of a habitat for micro-organisms

Register here to read some FT articles free:

www.ft.com/register

www.ft.com/content/135e...

Hunt for life on Mars finds potential signs of biological processes

Mudstones with iron-containing compounds suggest possibility of a habitat for micro-organisms

Michael Peel @mikepeeljourno.bsky.social · 28d

NEW: Prostate cancers can be detected with shorter, cheaper scans, study shows

Research could boost efforts to manage predicted worldwide surge in the disease

Register here to read some FT articles free:

www.ft.com/register

www.ft.com/content/8166...

Prostate cancers can be detected with shorter, cheaper scans, study shows

Research could boost efforts to manage predicted worldwide surge in the disease

Michael Peel @mikepeeljourno.bsky.social · 28d

NEW: The crystallographer who solved a molecular mystery

A lecture by the pioneering scientist Kathleen Lonsdale has been chosen to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Royal Institution’s discourses

Register here to read some FT articles free:

www.ft.com/register

www.ft.com/content/96d5...

The crystallographer who solved a molecular mystery

A lecture by the pioneering scientist Kathleen Lonsdale has been chosen to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Royal Institution’s discourses

Michael Peel @mikepeeljourno.bsky.social · Sep 8

NEW: Astronomers spotlight distant planet in hunt for extraterrestrial life

Earth-sized planet 40 light years away could have liquid water and an atmosphere rich in gases such as nitrogen

www.ft.com/content/5522...

Register here to read some FT articles free:

www.ft.com/register

Astronomers spotlight distant planet in hunt for extraterrestrial life

Earth-sized planet 40 light years away could have liquid water and an atmosphere rich in gases such as nitrogen

Michael Peel @mikepeeljourno.bsky.social · Sep 7

Absolutely - and that extent of reliance on food imports has been rising.

(from Chapter 5)

linktr.ee/whateveryone...

Michael Peel @mikepeeljourno.bsky.social · Sep 6

The Alan Turing Institute’s fate is a marker to watch of Labour’s efforts to make the UK a leader in artificial intelligence .

Michael Peel @mikepeeljourno.bsky.social · Sep 4

Alan Turing Institute head to quit after internal turmoil

Technology secretary Peter Kyle branded flagship national AI agency a “failing organisation”

www.ft.com/content/d42b...

Alan Turing Institute head to quit after internal turmoil

Technology secretary Peter Kyle branded flagship national AI agency a “failing organisation”

Michael Peel @mikepeeljourno.bsky.social · Sep 6

It’s time to think seriously about the threat to time itself.

Michael Peel @mikepeeljourno.bsky.social · Sep 5

NEW: Inside the battle to protect time

Countries step up research into sophisticated clocks as wars and accidents expose vulnerabilities in crucial timing systems

You can read some FT articles for free if you register here:

www.ft.com/register

www.ft.com/content/7e04...

Inside the battle to protect time

Countries step up research into sophisticated clocks as wars and accidents expose vulnerabilities in crucial timing systems

Michael Peel @mikepeeljourno.bsky.social · Sep 5

Thanks so much, Kate! Hope you are well.

Michael Peel @mikepeeljourno.bsky.social · Sep 5

NEW: Inside the battle to protect time

Countries step up research into sophisticated clocks as wars and accidents expose vulnerabilities in crucial timing systems

You can read some FT articles for free if you register here:

www.ft.com/register

www.ft.com/content/7e04...

Inside the battle to protect time

Countries step up research into sophisticated clocks as wars and accidents expose vulnerabilities in crucial timing systems

Michael Peel @mikepeeljourno.bsky.social · Sep 4

Alan Turing Institute head to quit after internal turmoil

Technology secretary Peter Kyle branded flagship national AI agency a “failing organisation”

www.ft.com/content/d42b...

Alan Turing Institute head to quit after internal turmoil

Technology secretary Peter Kyle branded flagship national AI agency a “failing organisation”

Reposted by Michael Peel

Michael Peel @mikepeeljourno.bsky.social · Sep 3

NEW: AI ‘robot ballet’ promises to choreograph production line gains

System potentially allows machine troupes to work faster and reduce collisions

www.ft.com/content/31d9...

AI ‘robot ballet’ promises to choreograph production line gains

System potentially allows machine troupes to work faster and reduce collisions

Michael Peel @mikepeeljourno.bsky.social · Sep 3

NEW: AI ‘robot ballet’ promises to choreograph production line gains

System potentially allows machine troupes to work faster and reduce collisions

www.ft.com/content/31d9...

AI ‘robot ballet’ promises to choreograph production line gains

System potentially allows machine troupes to work faster and reduce collisions

Michael Peel @mikepeeljourno.bsky.social · Aug 31

And it’s exciting to be a finalist in the @pressgazette.co.uk ‬Future of Media prize for this robots work driven by the visual brilliance of @upyorkshire.ft.com, @inari-ta.bsky.social, @samlearner.bsky.social, ‪@samjoiner.bsky.social et al.

ig.ft.com/ai-robots/

pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/d...

How AI is powering a robotics revolution

Advances in physical AI mean machines are learning skills previously thought impossible