Helen Czerski

Physics, bubbles, oceans, hot chocolate and curiosity. Author of Storm in a Teacup: http://helenczerski.net/books-writing/ and Blue Machine (out June 1st, 2023)

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npub1rg28pf4af4v5erpja8csp9luaxp7wmtgshz2vdjy3gkwfhcljvwsxrlw2k

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helenczerski_at_fediscience.org@mostr.pub

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nprofile1qqsp59rs56756k2v3sewnugqjl7wnql8d45gt39xxezg5t8ymu0ex8gpz4mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumt0wd68ytnsw43qdj2w3w

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Last Notes

2024-08-09 15:00:11

Today's Rare Earth was the last of this second series, but we will be BACK in October with plenty more exploration of climate and environment topics. All the episodes so far will remain on BBC Sounds (full list here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001vbt0/episodes/player ). Do enjoy the obligatory cheesy end-of-series ta-ta pic.
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/932/658/276/298/370/original/43638a3f9916bb1d.jpeg

2024-08-09 08:48:33

Today on Rare Earth (noon on BBC R4 + podcast after): seabirds - how are they doing and how can we help them do better? Also, top advice on how to stop gulls nicking your chips.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0020ph9
For live seabird footage while you listen, here's a Kittiwake Cam:
https://www.durhamwt.com/kittiwake-cam
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/931/196/935/085/441/original/bee21d00be277985.png

2024-08-07 18:32:42

Last week on Rare Earth we were looking at how to floodproof a city, including a report from New Orleans when I was there earlier in the year. This is me talking to the engineers helping people protect their homes with porous grounds, the brilliant Mastodonte.
Catch up here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0021jhp
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/922/169/302/272/284/original/7afa36c120a972c8.jpeg

2024-08-07 18:32:22

2024-08-07 18:32:06

2024-08-01 16:54:55

Ooh, this is exciting! The Royal Research Ship James Cook will be coming to Cardiff on October 18th-20th, in partnership with Techniquest. There will be visits to the ship, alongside lots of activities on land. More here:
https://www.ukri.org/news/announcing-explore-our-planet-public-event/
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/887/810/975/082/463/original/ee620cb28b6fc979.png

2024-07-29 13:32:33

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@npub10d0…axky I love this :)

2024-07-29 09:58:30

In all the press about people not wanting more pylons, there's been almost nothing about the pylon designs. National Grid introduced "T-pylons" a year ago which look very different https://tinyurl.com/4u3zt8fx But surely something like these concept designs would be a huge hit. https://tinyurl.com/2pj9w9u4
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/869/186/546/848/002/original/79a00bc983823d51.png

2024-07-26 09:36:57

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After a few years of funding science because they think it's good for business, they'll find the world is more complex than they hoped. The good ones will adjust to the complexity or find other work. The bad ones will turn nasty. This is just throwing squashed tomatoes: https://metals.co/tmc-statement-on-claims-of-dark-oxygen-production/
2/2

2024-07-26 09:36:51

While it's very funny to watch The Metals Company whine about the deep ocean oxygen discovery they helped fund, I worry that this only the start. Climate tech startups want science to support their business case, but many are going to discover that science is about reality, not their bottom line
1/2

2024-07-24 15:44:36

We've all heard about the problems with our streams, rivers and lakes here in the UK, and I often get asked what we can do personally to help.
Here's something that sounds promising: a big citizen science project to measure local water quality that we can all join in with: https://earthwatch.org.uk/greatukwaterblitz/
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/842/235/986/062/771/original/8c7e9268a2c9dc4f.png

2024-07-24 15:14:22

For anyone who needs some relaxing distraction this afternoon, here is a large bubble in a viscous fluid bumping into a smaller one, and forcing it to distort before it engulfs it (taken at the Catalyst science centre in Widnes). I played with this for AGES... so much fun!
#bubbles #science
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/842/111/686/976/887/original/5af2e4ddd61ad6c1.mp4

2024-07-24 09:18:36

There are LOTS of very important reasons for restoring coastal ecosystems (eg storm protection, food security & biodiversity), but it's looking more and more likely that carbon storage is NOT one of them. We must still do that work, but let's be honest about the reasons.
https://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/coastal-carbon-removal-methods-oversold-study/
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/840/718/110/556/210/original/6352057e4d0bae04.png

2024-07-23 21:48:39

Nine Lessons and Carols for Curious People is BACK. Our wonderful Cosmic Shambles showcase of science, music, comedy and ideas will be at Kings Place on the 13th, 14th and 15th of December. Shows almost always sell out, so get your tickets now!
https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/comedy/nine-lessons-and-carols-for-curious-people-13-dec/
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/838/005/169/087/561/original/d5cb2817afff7083.png

2024-07-21 17:55:00

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It's because there's loads of indirect light being bounced around the atmosphere that can land on a solar panel, especially when a cloud edge goes past. In some places in the tropics, this is relatively common.
I find this more than a bit mind-boggling.
More here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0038092X19304530
3/3
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/825/761/780/256/196/original/c3ef58715aac44c3.jpeg

2024-07-21 17:54:53

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With the Sun directly overhead, the solar energy arriving at the top of the atmopsphere per square metre is ~1367 Watts, so 1367 W/m^2. But in some places, the actual measured value can be 1845 W/m^2, or sometimes even more.
2/3

2024-07-21 17:54:47

I learned a weird thing recently. It's possible for a solar panel to briefly (for tens of seconds or minutes) receive MORE solar energy than is arriving at the top of the atmosphere. It's called over-irradiance, and it matters because it can mess up solar panels (which aren't designed for it)
1/3

2024-07-21 17:29:42

My very energetic physics teacher from secondary school (Melissa Lord) is working on many ace physics teaching schemes, and we've just had a great afternoon looking round the Catalyst science centre in Widnes. It's built on top of some amazing industrial history. Do visit!
https://www.catalyst.org.uk/
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/825/662/308/151/594/original/504248fc05f5bea6.png

2024-07-21 16:00:13

I just met someone practising for the "technical skills Olympics", WorldSkills. It's a huge international competition, where people compete at technical skills & it helps develop best practice. We really need more technical experts (and to value them) so hooray for this! https://www.worldskillsuk.org/
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/825/310/457/101/519/original/6027b595c1ec5991.png

2024-07-21 08:25:34

This week's very lively Rare Earth was about wildfire - is there more, why does it matter, and what can we do about it?
You can look at the NASA fire map here (zoom in - the dot size is misleading)
https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/map/
Listen to the programme (or download podcast) here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002142v
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/823/522/639/515/131/original/05e55e017c89a63e.png

2024-07-20 21:32:09

Backstage at the Festival of Engineering showcase at UCL last night: the astronaut Dan Tani, Kevin Fong, me & Mark Miodownik. It was such a varied show: fire tornadoes, incredibly detailed images from inside the human body, comedy, lasers & more. Produced by the excellent @thecosmicshamblesnetwork
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/820/953/302/316/798/original/cd2d1efc40cde78b.png

2024-07-18 07:00:35

The shortlist for the Astronomy Photographer of the Year awards was announced a couple of weeks ago, but I'm only just catching up. I love this photo of aurora over the Arctic Henge.
You can see all the shortlisted photos here: https://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/astronomy-photographer-year/galleries/2024-shortlist
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/806/201/565/995/918/original/2997e7c5ab75dd23.png

2024-07-17 21:06:05

Rare Earth is really on the ball, apparently: just 5 days after our episode on the future of meat, the UK has just approved the first lab-grown meat for pets.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jul/17/uk-first-european-country-to-approve-cultivated-meat-starting-with-pet-food
But is this whole lab meat thing worth it? Listen to Rare Earth to find out: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0020y71
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/803/863/912/366/104/original/2727c990a7a3261f.png

2024-07-13 14:41:52

Here's a clip from my book talk at How The Light Gets In last year, about how the ocean "should" be dead (at least if you take a very simple view) and why it isn't. The story includes both turnips and pigs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdUX7cBxtm4
(plenty more like this in Blue Machine: https://tinyurl.com/4f78xpke )

2024-07-12 09:53:39

Meat has a huge carbon footprint & requires loads of water, land and energy. Can modern science change that? In today's Rare Earth (noon on BBC R4, podcast too), we'll investigate.
I'm a lifelong vegetarian, so was I at all convinced by these technologies? Listen to find out
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0020y71
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/772/908/209/350/035/original/22b8e623326d5202.png

2024-07-11 17:57:28

It’s exciting to be here at the Royal Institution, at the launch of Mark Miodownik’s new book It’s a Gas. It looks as though it’s going to be an explosive talk…
https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/312206/its-a-gas-by-miodownik-mark/9780241376386
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/769/144/422/996/333/original/4ac816874087dd04.png

2024-07-11 13:10:48

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AND the Dept of Mechanical Engineering REPAIR SHOP will be at the Festival, to fix basic electrical items (eg toasters, hairdryers, kettles) and general mechanical repairs: stuff with broken parts. Bring along anything that needs a bit of mechanical TLC.
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/768/021/070/361/494/original/79d0f1d69dc721ea.png

2024-07-11 13:07:08

Next week, University College London will be holding its Festival of Engineering and everyone is invited. There's an industry day (Thursday), lots of talks and an exhibition for the public (Friday & Saturday) and it's all free. Do join us & pls register online beforehand.
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/engineering/festival-engineering/book-now
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/768/006/744/422/438/original/912eb95ad1a25385.png

2024-07-11 10:03:16

Some lovely news to share this morning: Blue Machine has been longlisted for the Wainwright Prize for writing on conservation, alongside 11 other books (and there really are some fabulous books on this list).
https://wainwrightprize.com/longlist/
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/767/283/769/377/657/original/76b9725b9fa6c168.png

2024-07-08 21:10:11

Prepping for the next Rare Earth (on cultivated meat), & remembered the Mock Turtle in Alice in Wonderland so looked up Mock Turtle Soup. And now I wish I hadn't:
"Mock turtle soup is an English soup that was created in the mid-18th century as an imitation of green turtle soup. It often uses brains and organ meats such as calf's head to duplicate the texture and flavour of the original's turtle meat after the green turtles used to make the original dish were hunted nearly to extinction. "
Ugh

2024-07-04 16:10:16

There's no Rare Earth on BBC R4 tomorrow because of the election coverage (don't forget to vote today!), but you can still catch up with last week's programme where we ask the question: "is it ever justified to leave an offshore oil rig in place to protect the nature around it?". It's a fascinating debate :)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0020jdp
#podcasts #RareEarth
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/729/088/674/681/747/original/f674d9b54ddd6e07.png

2024-06-25 21:20:59

Ooh, this looks exciting if you're in or near Bergen in Norway any time soon: their National Aquarium has just opened an immersive ocean exhibit, where you can sit and be surrounded by real ocean video and sound. If you go, do report back!
https://youtu.be/JBzb0UiFL6g?feature=shared
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/679/351/689/441/427/original/2151a26925900114.png

2024-06-22 21:50:17

In Blue Machine, I wrote about a weird type of marine worm, Ramisyllis multicaudata, which has one head, lives inside a sponge, and branches as it grows so that by the time it reaches the outside of the sponge it has hundreds (sometimes >1000) anuses.
"Normal" is relative
https://www.sci.news/biology/ramisyllis-kingghidorahi-10483.html
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/662/479/972/897/775/original/bebeb2b3f9b874c2.jpeg

2024-06-22 21:14:41

If the climate, nature and the environment is your priority, or high up on your list, who should get your vote in the General Election? On Friday's Rare Earth, we went through the manifestos to see what's in there (and what isn't). Listen now on BBC Sounds to catch up:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00208p5
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/662/339/946/770/751/original/711fb8f0c4d57524.png

2024-06-20 07:16:23

It was a beautiful 6am cycle to Paddington station this morning. I’m off to Bristol to record this week’s Rare Earth, and we’ll be digging through the election manifestos to see what they’re saying about climate and the environment. You can hear what we find out on BBC R4 tomorrow (Friday) at noon.
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/647/718/505/568/251/original/b8bb730fa5abb978.png

2024-06-18 08:33:10

Last night I had the huge privilege of interviewing the great Sylvia Earle about the ocean. She said this, which really stuck with me:
"If Jane Goodall had been limited to studying chimps by hauling individuals out from high above the forest and inspecting what came up, she would have learned almost nothing"
But that's mostly how we study ocean life.
#ocean #chimps

2024-06-17 21:08:13

Mastodon hivemind... I'd appreciate some technical help. I've got a wordpress website and I used to be able to embed my Mastodon feed on it. This hasn't worked for about two months now. I asked for help here and got nothing, but I'm clearly not the only one with this problem:
https://github.com/fenwick67/mastofeed/issues/67
Does anyone have any recommendations for ways to embed a Mastodon feed on a Wordpress site that work now? Help much appreciated!
#embed #Mastodon #Wordpress

2024-06-14 17:31:11

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...video explanations, recorded talks, following social media accounts, Discord/Slack, e-mails, websites...
Please pass the query on and let me know what you find out. Be creative! Let's find some great new ways to collaborate on long-term topics that matter to all of us. [2/2]

2024-06-14 17:30:58

🎺 🎺 UK MARINE SCIENCE COMMUNITY 🎺🎺
(those are trumpets)
I have a question for you. If there was a big national ocean science/research discussion to have, how would you like to find out about it and engage with it? What would work for you?
Let me know what you think about these ideas and do suggest others: podcasts (to get across the underlying big topics in interview/discussion), live events (either lots of short ones locally, or one bigger one for a whole day)... [1/2]

2024-06-13 15:55:27

This is very important and needs to be understood by everyone:
"Nonconsensual condom removal is classified as rape under English and Welsh law."
Rape. Not something to laugh off, or to ask forgiveness for with a cutsy smile. Rape. It matters.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/jun/13/london-man-jailed-stealthing-removing-condom-without-consent

2024-06-13 15:46:26

Hello hivemind. What's the Durham Institute of Research, Development, and Invention? I can't quite work it out - what actually are they and what are the motivations behind it?

2024-06-12 22:02:52

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Oh, and here's the trailer for the Horizon where we launched the public vote: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01zh7xz

2024-06-12 21:57:13

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The challenge I presented was zero-carbon flight (and I got to fly in an electric plane/glider - both). It wasn't the top of the public's list, but it's still a massive issue today. Maybe someone out there has a big prize for that too...

2024-06-09 20:36:56

So, does that mean insurance premiums will come down in those areas? And would that change the opposition to the limit?
“Vehicle damage claims in Wales fall 20% since speed limit cut to 20mph, says insurer”
https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/jun/09/vehicle-damage-claims-wales-fall-20mph-speed-limit?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/588/580/174/287/193/original/6a35846d45487a67.png

2024-06-09 18:39:29

Here's something interesting for anyone concerned about the water quality in their local streams/rivers:
Earthwatch are running a FreshWaterWatch scheme, where (if you join for a bit of £), you get water quality measurement kits and can submit results to a national map. More info here:
https://www.freshwaterwatch.org/pages/individuals
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/588/113/927/538/041/original/fb170b75e22febcf.png

2024-06-09 09:07:36

This is incredibly sad news.
"Michael Mosley: body of TV presenter believed to have been found on Greek island, authorities say"
https://www.theguardian.com/media/article/2024/jun/09/body-of-man-believed-to-be-tv-doctor-michael-mosley-found-on-greek-island-authorities-say
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/585/870/839/398/530/original/a512847bdad18984.png

2024-06-08 20:16:03

It was lovely to see so many people joining in the World Ocean Day celebration at Royal Museums Greenwich today (in/outside the National Maritime Museum). And I LOVED this huge turtle, made out of waste material.
#WorldOceanDay #ocean
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/582/835/350/248/811/original/0507ac322c1cd2b1.png

2024-06-07 19:15:01

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@npub1ftc…ruk4 That cat has you well trained.

2024-06-07 09:01:07

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@npub1zrz…s46f Two hours, at 1100 UTC. And available as a podcast any time after broadcast.

2024-06-06 13:04:43

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@npub10cq…6nm3 Please don't...

2024-06-06 08:52:09

I love figures like this... it's from Bar-On et al 2018 and it shows the distribution of global biomass.
We animals are so obsessed with the animals, but just LOOK at how important plants are. And we may be dismayed that there's now a larger biomass of livestock than people or wild mammals, but there's a greater mass of worms than all three together.
#data #life
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/568/808/265/541/332/original/1f98be16cf4a5ff9.png

2024-06-04 18:12:50

I had to empty a bookshelf at the weekend and I found the book with my FAVOURITE hardback cover of all time - Will Storr's Selfie. The full title is "Selfie: How We Became So Self-Obsessed and What It's Doing to Us". And the cover is a mirror. Absolute genius.
#books
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/559/699/058/778/762/original/c19c1c6814a523d9.jpg

2024-06-04 13:18:54

This OED data on the usage of "greenwashing" shows a dramatic rise around 2021. But have you heard of "greenhushing": companies keeping quiet about climate action? That's even newer, & the topic of our first episode of a new series of Rare Earth on BBC R4 (Friday at noon) & BBC Sounds. Do listen in.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001zw58
#podcast #RareEarth #climate
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/558/544/351/922/628/original/ad1c3136a8907bcf.png

2024-06-03 14:45:55

We really should just call "natural gas" by its actual name: methane.
It's a fossil fuel, and burning it adds carbon to the atmosphere. The word "natural" is really unhelpful here, and it needs to go.

2024-05-27 21:11:09

What a lovely day at #HayFestival2024 ! Loads of great people to chat to, fun events, and sun at least some of the time. The Rare Earth episode we recorded will be out in a couple of weeks, probably the second episode in the second series.
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/515/102/443/406/601/original/fc9d713bc04700a9.png

2024-05-27 08:06:45

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@npub1ekp…lvl3 It won’t be broadcast live, but I think it will be the second episode of the new series, which starts in a couple of weeks.

2024-05-27 08:04:32

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@npub1raz…r9hq We have had two US shows, but we’re not doing one this year. The US EV manufacturers have a bit of catching up to do!

2024-05-26 21:28:29

Very happy to be on my way to the Hay Festival tomorrow. We'll be recording an episode of BBC R4's Rare Earth at 2:15pm and then I'll be talking about the ocean with Andy Fryers and Helen Scales at 4pm (Monday 27th). Do come along if you're at the festival :)
#HayFestival2024 #books #ocean
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/509/501/804/992/796/original/c67efdde49d82068.png

2024-05-26 21:21:47

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@npub1acp…kjdt Sorry, but no. Unfortunately it's a huge extra effort to film and edit all the sessions, and we don't have the capacity for that. We did try for the first couple of years, but it's not feasible any more.

2024-05-26 18:29:53

Question, on Trainline & splitsave.
I got a ticket from A to C, changing at B, and splitsave made it two separate advance singles, A-B and B-C. I got an e-mail 2h before to say that the A-to-B train had been cancelled and that my ticket was valid on the A-to-C train before or after. I got on the earlier train and made an earlier connection. The ticket inspector on B-C tore a strip off me because B-C ticket "wasn't valid" & I should have waited for the original connection 1h later. Was he right?

2024-05-26 17:21:36

The amazing Fully Charged Show/Everything Electric team at the end of another fabulous show, this one in Harrogate. So much enthusiasm for a clean energy & transport future, and so many brilliant pieces of a better future already in place. Don’t just watch this space - come and join it.
#EverythingElectric #energy #transport
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/508/540/115/732/974/original/4447867514ae5b51.png

2024-05-24 14:35:44

It's been a busy first day here at Everything Electric NORTH in Harrogate - lots of discussions about heat pumps, micromobility, the accessiblity of an electrified world, EV charging, and LOADS of great ideas that could go in political manifestos (I've been asking everyone). I'll start tomorrow with a fireside chat with Robert.. and I have lots to say 🙂
#EverythingElectric #FullyChargedShow
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/496/552/366/989/544/original/6a751434b67a74b8.png

2024-05-24 09:12:26

The Everything Electric Show NORTH is open at the Yorkshire show ground in Harrogate! We’re here today, tomorrow and Sunday, showing the present and future of clean energy and transport - ideas, discussions, test drives, exhibits & more. Do join us if you’re nearby.
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/495/292/273/067/553/original/d32892d67efb99e5.mp4

2024-05-16 21:34:45

It occurred to me this evening that society’s atttitude to AI is like that thing about believing every story in a newspaper except the one on your area of expertise, which is full of flaws. Society seems to believe uncritically that AI can/will do all these difficult things (drive cars, select job candidates), but whenever we’re actually faced with it, it’s not nearly as convincing (drive cars, select job candidates).

2024-05-15 10:32:09

It's great to see that Re-captcha is getting inventive, although I suspect that the people who grow giant carrots and the owner of the world's smallest adult cow are probably raising an eyebrow:
https://www.giantgardening.com/rec_carrot.php
https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2021/9/rani-shortest-cow-ever-at-just-20-inches-tall-passes-away-677482
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/444/639/540/799/305/original/8a72c125340c760d.png

2024-05-13 12:02:42

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@npub1xur…xc3x You definitely need to get off to stop :) But that's not hard to do after a bit of practice.

2024-05-13 07:57:28

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@npub1xur…xc3x You stop, of course. But mostly you slow down on the way up to it so you’re less likely to need to stop.

2024-05-13 07:56:20

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@npub1ey8…qwk6 Slightly more planning ahead is required. But it’s perfectly doable.

2024-05-12 17:01:22

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@npub1s88…lw9d You get on and off from the back, scooting along until it's stable and then moving up to the saddle. It feels wobbly at first, but it definitely works once you've got the hang of it.

2024-05-12 17:00:13

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@npub1wdy…ymx5 Surprisingly easy, once you get the hang of it. The thing that took most practice was getting on and off.

2024-05-12 13:00:08

Well, that was quite the morning. Very highly recommended! After a couple of hours, it felt pretty natural 🙂, and it was GREAT to have such good visibility of the road.
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/428/237/897/390/389/original/3a4c4b334c99892a.png

2024-05-11 09:41:10

Just finished Rooted by Sarah Langford, and I never thought I’d find a book about farming that reads like a thriller in places. It’s a very human book, but has a lot to say about the way we treat our land and our farmers. Highly recommended, whether you have any interest in food and farming or not.
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/421/795/284/897/417/original/047e1aeb6d48ad95.png

2024-05-11 08:30:21

Very sad to realise this morning that my fish will have to down soon. I made them (all hand-cut and acrylic-painted) in the early part of the first lockdown, and rushed them on to the wall for Sea Shambles - which we did online instead of at the Royal Albert Hall (so weirdly, it still exists):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBQmdbVeoKw
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/421/515/013/508/003/original/5a85af130c86bc10.png

2024-05-11 00:00:25

I was too deeply buried in an amazing book so was late to this party, but if there are even faint aurora in central-ish London they must be fabulous everywhere else. If you’re in the UK and still up, go out and look! (And give your eyes time to adapt to the dark)
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/419/510/779/851/169/original/7bdc0ecaeb21ea19.png

2024-05-08 20:12:04

Saw this while out running this evening. I have very little interest in cars, but I ❤️ the small cute ones. Just imagine how much nicer our cities would be if there were only a few big cars that people could borrow when really needed, far more bikes/walking & cute little Microlinos for the rest.
Roads are shared space to help people move around, not “where the cars go”. Especially in cities.
https://fediscience.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/407/284/829/285/991/original/417c7cc446ae7394.png