Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 1d

I got rid of my old email a few years ago and started a new one. Was a bit painful at first (sharing with friends, contacts, colleagues) but ultimately worked very well...!

1

Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 3d

This is from a few days ago SE UK. If the skies clear I'll try again! (weather hasn't been great alas!)

2 4 20

Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 4d

Good luck! Listening now in fact...

1

Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 6d

Good piece. We stopped going out, frequently that is the odd weekly/fortnightly treat notwithstanding, some years back. Its the lack of value that gets me. I don't mind paying ££ but it has to be better than what I can make at home (say). And often it isn't. Right. Time for the Bialetti ...

1 4

Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 6d

The physics of sinking boats (thanks Kenny. Sigh), porn in public and the "drag queen theory" of interviewing... quite the journey in today's @quietriotpod.bsky.social! oh, and some politics as well 😂

Quiet Riot @quietriotpod.bsky.social · 7d

🌹Keir as Crystal: Time to Call Things by Their Names 🐸

Labour Conference
Starmer Speech
Farage Tantrum
BBC Bias
Reform Russian Bribes
Moldova Election
Ukraine Pushback
Wokey Dokey
All this AND @annettedittert.bsky.social!

🍊 open.spotify.com/episode/3out...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

Keir as Crystal - Time to Call Things by Their Names

Podcast Episode · Quiet Riot · 02/10/2025 · 1h 11m

podcasts.apple.com

5 11

Reposted by Phil Benson

Prof. Eliot Jacobson @climatecasino.net · 7d

Another must watch from Sabine:

youtu.be/5UsKzOkOn-c?...

“Termination Shock” Could Explain Recent Global Warming, Some Climate Scientists Think

YouTube video by Sabine Hossenfelder

youtu.be

2 16 47

Reposted by Phil Benson

Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 26d

Podyssey Season 2 @alexpodyssey.bsky.social is now very close to reality - threshold is being able to pay production costs and expert contributors for 10 episodes (season will be 20 episodes, but will pick up numbers/support as it goes).

Please, become a monthly supporter.

www.ko-fi.com/podyssey

8 32 87

Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 8d

one for @quietriotpod.bsky.social ?

2

Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 8d

I wish those colours were easier to differentiate... all i see is the same blue/green... or is it me?

Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 8d

Comet C/2025 Lemmon. Not the best shot... moving target and all that. Still, not a bad effort... #astrophotography

3

Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 10d

Was there a reply from Keir? Or was this Just Another Speach from LK?

1

Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 10d

This is similar to my view. After all I have a passport and a drivers license. Both are IDs attached to a database. As for the data thats already 'out there' too. And finding a bill 'from the last 6 months' is just stupid particularly in a digital age. Agree with Kenny though the comms was crap..!

4

Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 11d

The Eagle Nebula, featuring the "pillars of creation". Taken last week from Malaga using an 80mm telescope, around 3.5 hours total exposure time. #astrophotography

3

Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 11d

The M33 galaxy in the constellation Triangulum. Taken last week from outside Malaga, Spain. 3.5 hours total exposure time.

1

Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 13d

Thanks for running it, really nice to hear the three of you "unplugged" as it were! I was half listening, half cooking dinner so I'll have to ask my question next time ;-)

2

Reposted by Phil Benson

Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · 13d

OBAMA: It's fair to say that 80% of the world's problems involve old men hanging on who are afraid of death and insignificance, and they won't let go. They build pyramids, and they put their names on everything. They get very anxious about it.

840 8.1K 28K

Reposted by Phil Benson

Dr Fabian Wadsworth @fabianwadsworth.bsky.social · 14d

New paper! The last of Eloïse Bretagne's PhD papers is out! Here we generalize our models for permeability to magma mush at any melt fraction. Take a look if you want to model percolative flow of melt through a magma mush and if you want to account for crystal shape.
OA: dx.doi.org/10.1029/2025...

3 6

Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 19d

Nice to see my former colleague Daniel talk about this important issue. But I fear the damage is already done.

www.theguardian.com/education/20...

Quarter of UK university physics departments at risk of closing, survey finds

Four out of five making staff cuts as physicists say findings are ‘great concern’ for UK’s leadership in important areas

www.theguardian.com

1

Reposted by Phil Benson

Florian Aigner @florianaigner.at · 24d

Verrückter Fakt des Tages: #vfdt
Uranus stinkt. Natürlich hat kein Mensch jemals die Uranus-Atmosphäre gerochen, aber Messungen zeigen, dass sich dort Schwefelwasserstoff befindet, der auch verdorbenen Eiern ihren charakteristischen Geruch gibt.

28 36 460

Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 25d

When Iraq invaded Kuwait the response was practically instant. Granted the scenario (Oil+US) was different but given this threat is on our doorstep, why the procrastination? Has Europe lost it's nerve?

1

Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 25d

Good conversation, cheers Kenny, Authur. What I'd really like to know is, at what point will the UK, Germany, France, Italy (et al.) actually start to move/position armour to counter this threat? Plus aircraft squadrons? A no fly zone ought to have been established years ago, surely?

1 1

Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 25d

Reminds me of the "salami slicing" scene in the sitcom"Yes Prime Minister" - can't recall the episode.

1 2

Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 25d

At least you managed to get the bonus @quietriotpod.bsky.social pod out though eih? Small victories and all that? 😀

1 2

Reposted by Phil Benson

Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 25d

Calling all students: You could have access to a free FT subscription without even knowing it. Check here: www.ft.com/schoolsarefree

2 21 36

Reposted by Phil Benson

Jay Rayner @jayrayner1.bsky.social · 27d

Last week for @ftweekend.com and @financialtimes.com I took you on a tour of three classic bars. This week: three classic restaurants, namely Rules, Quo Vadis and Bentleys. You want edgy? You’ve come to the wrong place. And to access my FT reviews head to the LinkTree in bio.

4 10 77