Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Rob Jackson

@robajackson.bsky.social

9.4K followers 8.8K following 420 posts

Emeritus Reader in Computational Solid State Chemistry @ Keele University (UK). Chair, RSC North Staffs Local Section. CAMRA Potteries Pubs Officer/Webmaster. UK Labour. Trombone player. #Ingress and #PokemonGo. robajackson.com, boomnet.wordpress.com.

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Rob Jackson @robajackson.bsky.social · Nov 15

Thanks to everyone who has followed me here. I think this place promises to be great, perhaps a bit like Twitter in the early days.

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Rob Jackson @robajackson.bsky.social · 2h

This is concerning. Cranfield's Forensics Institute is world leading. It just shows what a mess the UK's HE sector is in.

Rob Jackson @robajackson.bsky.social · 3h

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Cranfield University to close forensics department

One student studying forensic investigation says it is no longer the course she signed up for.

www.bbc.co.uk

Rob Jackson @robajackson.bsky.social · 9h

Sounds good to me 🙂

Rob Jackson @robajackson.bsky.social · 18h

Good news if it happens.

share.google/FiYFkuZbsJ40...

Pubs to stay open until early hours in push for UK growth

Exclusive: Plans for England and Wales would help the ailing hospitality sector but have attracted criticism from health experts

share.google

Reposted by Rob Jackson

Derek Lowe @dereklowe.bsky.social · 22h

This year's Nobel - commentary and background, with a few more bonus MOF pictures of my own:

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry: Metal-Organic Frameworks

www.science.org

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Rob Jackson @robajackson.bsky.social · 1d

Enjoying a pint of J W Lees Boddington cask. It's just like the original, and I am transported back 30+ years. @rogerprotz.bsky.social have you tried it yet?

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Rob Jackson @robajackson.bsky.social · 1d

www.bbc.com/news/article...

Chemistry Nobel awarded to three scientists for their work on metal organic frameworks

The winners of the prestigious science prize was announced by the Nobel committee in Sweden.

www.bbc.com

Rob Jackson @robajackson.bsky.social · 1d

Great work, well deserved.

Rob Jackson @robajackson.bsky.social · 2d

BBC News - Physics Nobel awarded to three scientists for work on quantum computing
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Physics Nobel: Three win prize for paving way for very powerful computers

The announcement was made by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm.

www.bbc.com

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Rob Jackson @robajackson.bsky.social · 4d

Me too.

Stay European #RejoinEU 🇪🇺 #FBPE @stayeuropean.bsky.social · 10d

"I’m going to be honest. I’m going to say I want to rejoin. I hope, in my lifetime, I see this country rejoining the European Union."
- Andy Burnham

www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

Andy Burnham calls for UK to rejoin EU within his lifetime and rejects claim he is fiscally irresponsible – UK politics live

Mayor of Greater Manchester says he would have to be ‘wrenched’ out of city and says he wants UK to rejoin EU

www.theguardian.com

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Rob Jackson @robajackson.bsky.social · 6d

Scary to say the least.

Andrew Couts @couts.bsky.social · 6d

NEW: ICE is planning to hire a team of nearly 30 people to surveil social media 24/7, build dossiers on people, and flag them for arrest and deportation. @dell.bsky.social has the scoop: www.wired.com/story/ice-so...

ICE Wants to Build Out a 24/7 Social Media Surveillance Team

Documents show ICE plans to hire dozens of contractors to scan X, Facebook, TikTok, and other platforms to target people for deportation.

www.wired.com

Rob Jackson @robajackson.bsky.social · 6d

Enjoy if you are going!

Real Ale Finder App @realalefinder.com · 6d

Going to Ayrshire Real Ale festival this weekend? The beers list is on our handy mobile friendly page 😁🍻 We're also working on the bar at various times, come and say hello!

bit.ly/troonbeerfest

@TroonBeerFest @GlasgowCAMRA @CAMRA_Edinburgh @realaleforthval #beerfestival

Rob Jackson @robajackson.bsky.social · 6d

www.bbc.com/news/article...

Keeping Up Appearances star Patricia Routledge dies at 96

She also starred in Alan Bennett's TV monologues and played BBC One's crime-busting Hetty Wainthropp.

www.bbc.com

Rob Jackson @robajackson.bsky.social · 6d

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c0...

Dame Sarah Mullally becomes first woman Archbishop of Canterbury in Church of England's history

Mullally, 63, has served as Bishop of London for more than seven years and is a former nurse.

www.bbc.co.uk

Rob Jackson @robajackson.bsky.social · 7d

share.google/EvBIj0yaEq3p...

Core electron bonding may not always require extreme pressure, study finds

You probably learned in high school chemistry class that core electrons don't participate in chemical bonding.

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Rob Jackson @robajackson.bsky.social · 8d

What a splendid idea.

Roger Protz @rogerprotz.bsky.social · 9d

Further suggestions from @camraofficial.bsky.social members to keep #GBBF alive on a reduced scale. Beautiful Verulamium Park St Albans, close to station/London, heart of the city, CAMRA connections, pub heaven. Under marquees as in Peterborough. Successful venue for Pub in the Park. #BskyBeer

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Rob Jackson @robajackson.bsky.social · 9d

A good article, although there is the usual misunderstanding of the Schrodinger's Cat thought experiment.

share.google/gfD0CrvqpRDR...

Andy Burnham, the Schrödinger’s cat of the Labour party conference | John Crace

Both there and not there, no minister dares mention his name but he’s etched on to everyone’s subconscious

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Rob Jackson @robajackson.bsky.social · 9d

@angel-fhs.bsky.social Welcome to BlueSky!

Rob Jackson @robajackson.bsky.social · 10d

The journal @solids-mdpi.bsky.social offers a travel award for research students and young and early career researchers. Details are in this link: www.mdpi.com/journal/soli.... Deadline is 31 October 2025/

www.mdpi.com

Rob Jackson @robajackson.bsky.social · 11d

share.google/rS72Bi6SfGF8...

Scientists say X (formerly Twitter) has lost its professional edge — and Bluesky is taking its place

After Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter, many scientists report the platform is no longer suitable for professional use. A recent survey indicates that researchers are increasingly turning to Bluesky...

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Rob Jackson @robajackson.bsky.social · 12d

Definitely a must! And l've contributed to it.

Roger Protz @rogerprotz.bsky.social · 12d

Who's got their Good Beer Guide 2026? Alongside best pubs & beers, foreword @mredbyrne.bsky.social intro @corbettcollins.bsky.social feature @katiematherkm.bsky.social & myself. Well done Managing Editor Emma Haines.

Rob Jackson @robajackson.bsky.social · 13d

Here's another plug for the 40th Stoke Beer & Cider Festival, being held next month from 15-18 October. Tickets can be booked online (see poster) or purchased on the door (subject to availabilty). Hoping to see some of you there! @rogerprotz.bsky.social can you make it?

Reposted by Rob Jackson

Roger Protz @rogerprotz.bsky.social · 14d

@mirror.co.uk welcomes the launch of 2026 @camraofficial.bsky.social Good Beer Guide but publishes a shocking list of 36 lost prized pubs featured in last year's Guide

uk-news.bsky.social @uk-news.bsky.social · 14d

Dozens of Britain’s most prized pubs for beer have closed in the past year – see the full list

https://www.europesays.com/uk/449047/

A wave of pub closures has claimed a string of locals that have been lauded for the quality…#uk #news #uknews

Dozens of Britain's most prized pubs for beer have closed in the past year - see the full list - United Kingdom

A wave of pub closures has claimed a string of locals that have been lauded for the quality of their real ale - with industry leaders calling on Labour for

www.europesays.com

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Rob Jackson @robajackson.bsky.social · 17d

Thanks to Mellards Bar for playing this and reminding me of it. Helping get Farage out of my head!
www.shazam.com/track/247422...

There Is a Light That Never Goes Out - The Smiths: Song Lyrics, Music Videos & Concerts

Listen to There Is a Light That Never Goes Out by The Smiths. See lyrics and music videos, find The Smiths tour dates, buy concert tickets, and more!

www.shazam.com

Reposted by Rob Jackson

Amy Siskind @amysiskind.com · 17d

Student visas dropped to a four year low. Trump also cuts spending on research by hundreds of billions on college campuses. This is how you end American exceptionalism.
I gifted this article so you can read it www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

US Student Visa Arrivals Fall to Four-Year Low, Led by Asia Drop

Visitors to the US arriving on student visas hit a four-year low in August, portending a grim trend for the nation’s education sector.

www.bloomberg.com

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