Stu Nathan, science word-wrangler for hire
@stunathan.bsky.social
Storytelling science and technology. Enemy of jargon and wilful obscurity. Often doesn't follow back - nothing personal, just keeping my feed manageable.
Pinned
Words to live by, from Primo Levi, who knew what he was talking about.
As I remember it, chaos theory had been part of the "mainstream" (ie known to non-mathematicians) for a fairly short period when Arcadia premiered. This is a brilliant argument for the value of the arts, and also for STEM (hate the term, but it works here) literacy among the arts community.
Alt text version. Thanks for sharing Harry.
December 2, 2025 at 12:05 PM
As I remember it, chaos theory had been part of the "mainstream" (ie known to non-mathematicians) for a fairly short period when Arcadia premiered. This is a brilliant argument for the value of the arts, and also for STEM (hate the term, but it works here) literacy among the arts community.
Reposted by Stu Nathan, science word-wrangler for hire
Three years ago today, OpenAI launched ChatGPT. My latest newsletter, on what we can learn from @realgdt.bsky.social's FRANKENSTEIN, could not be more timely.
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🧪💙📚 🗃 #histsci #histmed #academicsky #politics
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🧪💙📚 🗃 #histsci #histmed #academicsky #politics
November 30, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Three years ago today, OpenAI launched ChatGPT. My latest newsletter, on what we can learn from @realgdt.bsky.social's FRANKENSTEIN, could not be more timely.
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🧪💙📚 🗃 #histsci #histmed #academicsky #politics
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🧪💙📚 🗃 #histsci #histmed #academicsky #politics
But not as entertaining and with fewer sympathetic characters.
This government really is a lot like the West Wing, in that the politics seem to change week to week in service of a good line.
December 2, 2025 at 11:51 AM
But not as entertaining and with fewer sympathetic characters.
Reposted by Stu Nathan, science word-wrangler for hire
Obviously this is impossible because Alan Moore looks like he's genetically a wizard, it's simply impossible to imagine what he would look like as a schoolboy oh there he is.
Spot Alan Moore in his 6th form Northampton Grammar School photo, taken two days before he was expelled
December 2, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Obviously this is impossible because Alan Moore looks like he's genetically a wizard, it's simply impossible to imagine what he would look like as a schoolboy oh there he is.
This is a bit Edge of Darkness.
A fungus called Cladosporium sphaerospermum thrives at Chernobyl:
“Some scientists think its dark pigment—melanin—may allow it to harness ionizing radiation through a process similar to the way plants harness light for photosynthesis. This proposed mechanism is even referred to as radiosynthesis.”
“Some scientists think its dark pigment—melanin—may allow it to harness ionizing radiation through a process similar to the way plants harness light for photosynthesis. This proposed mechanism is even referred to as radiosynthesis.”
Chernobyl Fungus Appears to Have Evolved an Incredible Ability
The Chernobyl exclusion zone may be off-limits to humans, but ever since the Unit Four reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded nearly 40 years ago, other forms of life have not only move...
www.sciencealert.com
December 1, 2025 at 11:07 PM
This is a bit Edge of Darkness.
This would be good. Johnson was, of course, lying.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
UK aims to secure agreement to rejoin Erasmus student exchange scheme
Britain quit EU programme after Brexit, when Boris Johnson claimed it did not offer good value for money
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:14 PM
This would be good. Johnson was, of course, lying.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Any South London peeps able to help Jay? @davebushe.net?
The news that Zipcar is folding at the end of the year is deeply dismaying. The car club availability was at the heart of our decision to abandon car ownership around five years ago. Do share your reccs for other car club services (covering south London).
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Zipcar, world’s biggest car-sharing company, to close UK operation
Move by firm, owned by US group Avis Budget, will remove access to shared fleet across London at end of year
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Any South London peeps able to help Jay? @davebushe.net?
Reposted by Stu Nathan, science word-wrangler for hire
If you're a fan of Ann Leckie and/or Arkady Martine (and why wouldn't you be), and/or discussions of empire and imperialism in science fiction, let me point you towards this conversation between the two on that very topic:
www.speculativeinsight.com/extras/leckie-and-martine
www.speculativeinsight.com/extras/leckie-and-martine
December 1, 2025 at 7:33 PM
If you're a fan of Ann Leckie and/or Arkady Martine (and why wouldn't you be), and/or discussions of empire and imperialism in science fiction, let me point you towards this conversation between the two on that very topic:
www.speculativeinsight.com/extras/leckie-and-martine
www.speculativeinsight.com/extras/leckie-and-martine
Reposted by Stu Nathan, science word-wrangler for hire
The Roundworld year for 2026 shall be known as [FX Drum Roll] : The Year of the Curious Squid. Artwork by Discworld artist Paul Kidby.
December 1, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Reposted by Stu Nathan, science word-wrangler for hire
If you need to get presents for teenagers this holiday season can I recommend these graphic novels that I am buying for my teen: BROOMS, HELLO SUNSHINE, and S.I.R.
November 29, 2025 at 5:05 PM
If you need to get presents for teenagers this holiday season can I recommend these graphic novels that I am buying for my teen: BROOMS, HELLO SUNSHINE, and S.I.R.
This is performance art.
Zarah Sultana boycotts first day of Your Party conference over 'witch hunt' expulsions
Zarah Sultana boycotts first day of Your Party conference over 'witch hunt' expulsions
Zarah Sultana has boycotted day one of the Your Party Conference over the expulsion of members of left-wing groups.
news.sky.com
November 29, 2025 at 2:49 PM
This is performance art.
Reposted by Stu Nathan, science word-wrangler for hire
NEW
What do you do with unlawful orders?
The critical - and topical - issue of when the military and security services can refuse to do what they are told
By me
emptycity.substack.com/p/what-do-yo...
What do you do with unlawful orders?
The critical - and topical - issue of when the military and security services can refuse to do what they are told
By me
emptycity.substack.com/p/what-do-yo...
What do you do with unlawful orders?
The critical - and topical - issue of when the military and security services can refuse to do what they are told
emptycity.substack.com
November 29, 2025 at 9:26 AM
NEW
What do you do with unlawful orders?
The critical - and topical - issue of when the military and security services can refuse to do what they are told
By me
emptycity.substack.com/p/what-do-yo...
What do you do with unlawful orders?
The critical - and topical - issue of when the military and security services can refuse to do what they are told
By me
emptycity.substack.com/p/what-do-yo...
Reposted by Stu Nathan, science word-wrangler for hire
Jim is the best. Read about Jim. 🐈
There’s an easier-to-read version of this, without the typos, here: www.tom-cox.com/jim/
November 28, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Jim is the best. Read about Jim. 🐈
Reposted by Stu Nathan, science word-wrangler for hire
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 24, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
Was it @mscaitlinmoran.bsky.social who came up with the phrase "I heard he bummed a puffin"?
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
London zoo boss quits amid claims of ‘unacceptable workplace behaviour’
Exclusive: Matthew Gould, close friend of George Osborne and former envoy, resigns before investigation concludes
www.theguardian.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Was it @mscaitlinmoran.bsky.social who came up with the phrase "I heard he bummed a puffin"?
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Stu Nathan, science word-wrangler for hire
SLOPOLOGISTS
We should always post the names of slopologists so the rest of us know who to shun.
November 28, 2025 at 6:02 PM
SLOPOLOGISTS
I'm not an expert, but I'd think that moving the M25 to make space to build a third runway for Heathrow makes the project more complex, probably more expensive and less likely to happen.
November 25, 2025 at 1:40 PM
I'm not an expert, but I'd think that moving the M25 to make space to build a third runway for Heathrow makes the project more complex, probably more expensive and less likely to happen.
Reposted by Stu Nathan, science word-wrangler for hire
Last week Trump said: "We'll sue [BBC] for anywhere between $1bn and $5bn, probably sometime next week."
That renewed threat was led a good deal of news media.
No news report yet that any suit has been filed.
That renewed threat was led a good deal of news media.
No news report yet that any suit has been filed.
November 21, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Last week Trump said: "We'll sue [BBC] for anywhere between $1bn and $5bn, probably sometime next week."
That renewed threat was led a good deal of news media.
No news report yet that any suit has been filed.
That renewed threat was led a good deal of news media.
No news report yet that any suit has been filed.
I disagree completely with Sullivan about decency being rooted in Christianity, unsurprisingly. That's a deeply chauvinistic viewpoint. You can't argue in favour of Orwell then say it's a Christian viewpoint. George would chuck his typewriter at you if he heard you.
Powerful from Andrew Sullivan on the indecency of Donald Trump open.substack.com/pub/andrewsu...
The Question Of Decency
Orwell, Trump, and the dangers of a profoundly indecent man in the presidency.
open.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:21 PM
I disagree completely with Sullivan about decency being rooted in Christianity, unsurprisingly. That's a deeply chauvinistic viewpoint. You can't argue in favour of Orwell then say it's a Christian viewpoint. George would chuck his typewriter at you if he heard you.
Obviously, Jonathan is correct. Equally obviously, a government obsessed with tacking closer to the Russia-appeasing idiots of Reform won't do this.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Rachel Reeves is studiously ignoring the cause of Britain’s woes: the Brexit-shaped hole in its roof | Jonathan Freedland
The autumn budget will mop up some damage, but the true source of the economic crisis is clear. The government should now fix it – tragically, it won’t, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Obviously, Jonathan is correct. Equally obviously, a government obsessed with tacking closer to the Russia-appeasing idiots of Reform won't do this.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Stu Nathan, science word-wrangler for hire
Reposted by Stu Nathan, science word-wrangler for hire
This investigation shows how much of a non-issue trans women in toilets is, yet the EHRC, government and the media are absolutely obsessed with the supposed problem. If only they put that much money and effort into tackling actual sexual assaults.
November 21, 2025 at 5:28 PM
This investigation shows how much of a non-issue trans women in toilets is, yet the EHRC, government and the media are absolutely obsessed with the supposed problem. If only they put that much money and effort into tackling actual sexual assaults.
Truly weird story, for several reasons.
It’s the exclusive everyone wanted, the story that will win next year’s Pulitzer…
I can reveal London’s giant AI generated Christmas artwork, the subject of much online mockery, is being torn down - and I honestly *genuinely* think you’ll never guess why. www.londoncentric.media/p/ai-artwork...
I can reveal London’s giant AI generated Christmas artwork, the subject of much online mockery, is being torn down - and I honestly *genuinely* think you’ll never guess why. www.londoncentric.media/p/ai-artwork...
London's giant AI artwork to be torn down
The bizarre story of why a much-talked-about creation is being torn down. Plus: Docklands Light Railway extension, giant laser stalks the night sky, and more tales of Android phone theft rejection.
www.londoncentric.media
November 20, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Truly weird story, for several reasons.