Richard Underwood
@richard-underwood.com
Manchester, England, author of popular science series, ‘A Brief History of Life’ and ‘A Brief History of Consciousness’, and author of Ann Perkins Detective Agency crime novels.
That'll teach me to take more time when reading a notice outside a pub!
August 22, 2025 at 2:02 PM
That'll teach me to take more time when reading a notice outside a pub!
58 years, and they said it wouldn’t last. It’s been like a rollercoaster, sometime thrilling, sometimes frightening, sometimes funny, sometimes tragic. That’s real life.
Garrison church, Royal Air Force. Tobruk and El Adem, Libya, North Africa. 25 March 1967.
Garrison church, Royal Air Force. Tobruk and El Adem, Libya, North Africa. 25 March 1967.
March 25, 2025 at 7:46 AM
58 years, and they said it wouldn’t last. It’s been like a rollercoaster, sometime thrilling, sometimes frightening, sometimes funny, sometimes tragic. That’s real life.
Garrison church, Royal Air Force. Tobruk and El Adem, Libya, North Africa. 25 March 1967.
Garrison church, Royal Air Force. Tobruk and El Adem, Libya, North Africa. 25 March 1967.
Is it me?
Several army regiments form a brigade which, as the name implies, has a Brigadier in charge. The British government seeks to save money, but at the same time the Army has 140 brigadiers but only 32 brigades.
Several army regiments form a brigade which, as the name implies, has a Brigadier in charge. The British government seeks to save money, but at the same time the Army has 140 brigadiers but only 32 brigades.
March 17, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Is it me?
Several army regiments form a brigade which, as the name implies, has a Brigadier in charge. The British government seeks to save money, but at the same time the Army has 140 brigadiers but only 32 brigades.
Several army regiments form a brigade which, as the name implies, has a Brigadier in charge. The British government seeks to save money, but at the same time the Army has 140 brigadiers but only 32 brigades.
Nothing to add. The image speaks for itself.
February 25, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Nothing to add. The image speaks for itself.
Children of the family wither and die when the family breadwinner stops supporting them.
February 18, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Children of the family wither and die when the family breadwinner stops supporting them.
Is it me? Every time I see a sign like this when everyone is complaining about the price of fuel, I ask myself “why don’t they just turn the temperature down”. Got to be more cost effective than putting up a sign.
February 8, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Is it me? Every time I see a sign like this when everyone is complaining about the price of fuel, I ask myself “why don’t they just turn the temperature down”. Got to be more cost effective than putting up a sign.
Cars have improved but not drivers. If it takes 1 second to put your foot on the brake at 70MPH you travel over 100 feet before starting to brake. If distracted by a car radio, or turning to look at passenger you may take 2 seconds and 200 feet. Even at 30MPH, in two seconds you travel 88 feet.
January 31, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Cars have improved but not drivers. If it takes 1 second to put your foot on the brake at 70MPH you travel over 100 feet before starting to brake. If distracted by a car radio, or turning to look at passenger you may take 2 seconds and 200 feet. Even at 30MPH, in two seconds you travel 88 feet.
Martin Lewis does not do ads. Read his forehead on his official BlueSky profile. He NEVER advertises. If you see him doing an ad, it is not him because HE DOES NOT DO ADDS. Got it?
January 15, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Martin Lewis does not do ads. Read his forehead on his official BlueSky profile. He NEVER advertises. If you see him doing an ad, it is not him because HE DOES NOT DO ADDS. Got it?
There is a reason my fuel bill for 2024 was £100 less than my bill for 2023, and why the bill averaged less than £2 a day. One thick quilt cover converted to a double thickness house-coat made it too warm if the heating thermostat was set above 15C. Toasty, whatever the weather outside.
January 13, 2025 at 12:30 PM
There is a reason my fuel bill for 2024 was £100 less than my bill for 2023, and why the bill averaged less than £2 a day. One thick quilt cover converted to a double thickness house-coat made it too warm if the heating thermostat was set above 15C. Toasty, whatever the weather outside.
Faced by a charging lion, I can fight, or run. There is no point in thinking ‘there is a lion approaching, should I fight or go’. Those thoughts take time I may not have. An immediate unconscious fight or flight is preferable to the time consuming conscious thought process. #consciousness
December 19, 2024 at 5:38 PM
Faced by a charging lion, I can fight, or run. There is no point in thinking ‘there is a lion approaching, should I fight or go’. Those thoughts take time I may not have. An immediate unconscious fight or flight is preferable to the time consuming conscious thought process. #consciousness
Panpsychism is described by ‘The Routledge Handbook of Panpsychism’ as the view mentality is a fundamental feature of the world which exists ubiquitously throughout the world. This may be a divine consciousness, cosmic consciousness, cosmic memory, immortal or extended mind, etc. #consciousness
December 11, 2024 at 1:20 PM
Panpsychism is described by ‘The Routledge Handbook of Panpsychism’ as the view mentality is a fundamental feature of the world which exists ubiquitously throughout the world. This may be a divine consciousness, cosmic consciousness, cosmic memory, immortal or extended mind, etc. #consciousness
Cellular Basis of Consciousness Model states sentience and life are coterminous. Original single celled organisms were able to sense and respond to their environment, and all cellular organisms inherit that consciousness, are sentient, and have subjective experiences and feelings. #consciousness
December 7, 2024 at 9:26 AM
Cellular Basis of Consciousness Model states sentience and life are coterminous. Original single celled organisms were able to sense and respond to their environment, and all cellular organisms inherit that consciousness, are sentient, and have subjective experiences and feelings. #consciousness
String theory mathematics of quantum physics requires fundamental particles to be comprised from a loop of vibrating Plank length strings creating a ten or eleven dimension universe. The variable vibration of these ‘strings’ may carry information and be responsible for consciousness. #consciousness
December 6, 2024 at 5:30 PM
String theory mathematics of quantum physics requires fundamental particles to be comprised from a loop of vibrating Plank length strings creating a ten or eleven dimension universe. The variable vibration of these ‘strings’ may carry information and be responsible for consciousness. #consciousness
Conscious Electromagnetic Information (CEMI) Field Theory expands on Pocket’s Theory with synchronised firing of neurons disturbing the electromagnetic field in the brain and integrating information into it. Consciousness arises from the feedback of that information to motor neurons. #consciousness
December 5, 2024 at 12:11 PM
Conscious Electromagnetic Information (CEMI) Field Theory expands on Pocket’s Theory with synchronised firing of neurons disturbing the electromagnetic field in the brain and integrating information into it. Consciousness arises from the feedback of that information to motor neurons. #consciousness
Susan Pocket’s Electromagnetic Field Theory states consciousness is identical with the shapes and patterns of the electromagnetic field, and our own individual consciousness is identical with those same shapes and patterns being created within our brain’s electromagnetic field. #consciousness
December 5, 2024 at 12:05 PM
Susan Pocket’s Electromagnetic Field Theory states consciousness is identical with the shapes and patterns of the electromagnetic field, and our own individual consciousness is identical with those same shapes and patterns being created within our brain’s electromagnetic field. #consciousness
Orchestrated Objective Reduction Theory (Orch-OR). Fundamental particles repeatedly reduce from a superposition of states to a single state to create moments of time. Brain microtubules orchestrate those objective reductions to create moments of consciousness from sensory input. #consciousness
December 3, 2024 at 5:26 PM
Orchestrated Objective Reduction Theory (Orch-OR). Fundamental particles repeatedly reduce from a superposition of states to a single state to create moments of time. Brain microtubules orchestrate those objective reductions to create moments of consciousness from sensory input. #consciousness
Illusionist Theories assume conscious thought is an illusion and our inner voice is the same as our physical voice, but without signals being sent to our mouth and tongue muscles. It is an illusion such thoughts are conscious and there is no such thing as conscious thought. #consciousness
December 2, 2024 at 5:24 PM
Illusionist Theories assume conscious thought is an illusion and our inner voice is the same as our physical voice, but without signals being sent to our mouth and tongue muscles. It is an illusion such thoughts are conscious and there is no such thing as conscious thought. #consciousness
In the Multiple Drafts Model all sensory input and thought, is continually edited and revised to produce multiple drafts at various stages of editing throughout the brain. Probing these produces different narratives that are single versions of part of the consciousness stream #consciousness
December 1, 2024 at 10:45 AM
In the Multiple Drafts Model all sensory input and thought, is continually edited and revised to produce multiple drafts at various stages of editing throughout the brain. Probing these produces different narratives that are single versions of part of the consciousness stream #consciousness
Higher Order Theories (HOT) assume different mental states. Consciousness arises in the highest state. ‘Seeing me’ is a lower order state. ‘Thinking about seeing me’ is a higher order state where you are consciously aware of your inner thoughts and aware you are thinking. #consciousness
November 28, 2024 at 5:14 PM
Higher Order Theories (HOT) assume different mental states. Consciousness arises in the highest state. ‘Seeing me’ is a lower order state. ‘Thinking about seeing me’ is a higher order state where you are consciously aware of your inner thoughts and aware you are thinking. #consciousness
Attended Intermediate Level Representation (AIR) Hypothesis is similar to Intermediate Level Hypothesis in its belief that consciousness arises at the intermediate level of the brain; but consciousness arises only when attention is given to the information in that level. #consciousness
November 26, 2024 at 5:37 PM
Attended Intermediate Level Representation (AIR) Hypothesis is similar to Intermediate Level Hypothesis in its belief that consciousness arises at the intermediate level of the brain; but consciousness arises only when attention is given to the information in that level. #consciousness
Intermediate Level Representation Hypothesis likens the brain to a 3 level computer with raw info in the 1st level, processed and combined with other info in the intermediate level, and recognised as an abstract concept at 3rd level. Consciousness arises at the intermediate level. #consciousness
November 23, 2024 at 2:33 PM
Intermediate Level Representation Hypothesis likens the brain to a 3 level computer with raw info in the 1st level, processed and combined with other info in the intermediate level, and recognised as an abstract concept at 3rd level. Consciousness arises at the intermediate level. #consciousness
Thought I’d have to wait until after Christmas for an Easter egg, but some smart marketing person has renamed them as ‘character eggs’, such as ‘Garry the Gingerbread Man’ and ‘Parker the Penguin’ so we can have them all year round. Brilliant marketing.
November 22, 2024 at 9:48 PM
Thought I’d have to wait until after Christmas for an Easter egg, but some smart marketing person has renamed them as ‘character eggs’, such as ‘Garry the Gingerbread Man’ and ‘Parker the Penguin’ so we can have them all year round. Brilliant marketing.
Integrated Information Theory starts from conscious experience, infers what properties a physical system must have to explain that experience, and uses those properties to decide whether a system has consciousness, how much consciousness it has, and what kind of consciousness it has. #consciousness
November 21, 2024 at 1:25 PM
Integrated Information Theory starts from conscious experience, infers what properties a physical system must have to explain that experience, and uses those properties to decide whether a system has consciousness, how much consciousness it has, and what kind of consciousness it has. #consciousness
Recurrent Processing Theory claims all brain areas have recurrent connections and feedback loops. Consciousness arises from dynamic and continuous interactions between them which allows for continual processing and adjustment of information in the light of changing conditions. #consciousness
November 20, 2024 at 11:36 AM
Recurrent Processing Theory claims all brain areas have recurrent connections and feedback loops. Consciousness arises from dynamic and continuous interactions between them which allows for continual processing and adjustment of information in the light of changing conditions. #consciousness
In Global Neuronal Workspace Theory the brain has local specialised neurons, and a global workspace of neurons joined to one another or to some specialised neurons. When information connected to the workspace is amplified, it focuses our attention and makes us consciously aware of it. #consciousness
November 18, 2024 at 2:10 PM
In Global Neuronal Workspace Theory the brain has local specialised neurons, and a global workspace of neurons joined to one another or to some specialised neurons. When information connected to the workspace is amplified, it focuses our attention and makes us consciously aware of it. #consciousness