iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Alec MacKinnon @alecmackinnon.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

It's bad beyond the USA too. We in the UK seem quite close to giving power to Trump disciples when all the reasons this is a TERRIBLE idea should be plain for all to see

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Oblique Strategies @obliquestrategies.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Do something boring

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Alec MacKinnon @alecmackinnon.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

They'll repudiate ideas like this until they're in power. "I know nothing about Project 2025. I disagree with some of the things they're saying and some of the things they’re saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal" - Donald Trump, July 2024.

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Alec MacKinnon @alecmackinnon.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

A beautiful, equinoctial morning in Linn Park, Glasgow this morning, Sun heading south, leaves beginning to fall. This poem, attached by @calligraphyoutside.bsky.social to a fence beside the path from the Snuff Mill Bridge, seemed to have sprung from the cusp between summer and autumn

Late summer morning light filtering through trees, still green and leafy but with lots of brown leaves now on the bank underneath them, to the right, and on the path at left

Poem by Emily Dickinson, 'As Imperceptibly as Grief', in beautiful handwriting on a laminated card, attached to a fence in a shady spot in Linn Park. At the top of the card we're told the Instagram and Blue sky accounts of @calligraphyoutside.bsky.social

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Charlotte Lydia Riley @lottelydia.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

literally thousands of jobs in higher education were cut *last year alone* and there's been almost no media coverage and no government action

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Christian Möstl @chrisoutofspace.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Amazing new reconstruction of sunspot number for the last ~1000 years by Saha et al. 2026: link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Sunspot number since the year 971, showing several long minima and the recent, more regular solar cycles

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Alec MacKinnon @alecmackinnon.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Help Parton save its church, final resting place of the great Physicist James Clerk Maxwell. Maybe the tale of my one and only visit will be encouraging (thread) www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding... #physics

justgiving.com

Help raise £70000 to Save Parton Kirk – JustGiving Crowdfunding

Iʼm raising money to Save Parton Kirk. Support this JustGiving Crowdfunding Page.

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Alec MacKinnon @alecmackinnon.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

A thread visiting James Clerk Maxwell's last resting place #jamesclerkmaxwell

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Institute of Physics @iop.org · 21/09/2026

What can a rainbow teach us about physics? In his 2025 IOP Isaac Newton Lecture, Sir Michael Berry HonFInstP explores centuries of discoveries, from Newton & Young to Airy, revealing unexpected connections between physics, mathematics & scientific thinking. Watch now: www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5yi...

youtube.com

Isaac Newton Lecture 2025: Professor Sir Michael Berry HonFInstP

YouTube video by Institute of Physics

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Alec MacKinnon @alecmackinnon.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

here's the cover of Don Melrose's book, Instabilities in Space and Laboratory Plasmas - a standard text for any of us studying the Sun's atmosphere or other astrophysical plasmas. The picture is of the Orion Nebula, north at the bottom strangely (is that because he's Australian? ha ha)

cover of 'Instablities in Space and Laboratory Plasmas', title in large font at the top, author's name (D B Melrose) at the bottom, black and white picture of the Orion Nebula in between

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RAS Library and Archives @astrolibrarian.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

An interesting space weather detective story drawing on historical records at @royalastrosoc.bsky.social @exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social and BT Group!

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Paul Halpern @phalpern.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Albert Einstein's connections to Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿: Einstein was inspired by work of Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell. Relativity has deep links with Maxwell's electromagnetism. In 1933, University of Glasgow awarded him an honorary degree and he spoke about general relativity. #physics #science

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Paul Halpern @phalpern.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Statue of brilliant Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell on George Street in Edinburgh. It features his beloved Irish terrier Toby, with whom he used to discuss scientific ideas. Toby seems to have been a loyal friend and good listener 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧 edinburghnews.scotsman.com/whats-on/art... #Maxwell

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Alec MacKinnon @alecmackinnon.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

A thread visiting James Clerk Maxwell's last resting place #jamesclerkmaxwell

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Alec MacKinnon @alecmackinnon.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

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Colette Delawalla, PhD @cdelawalla.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

OH FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. Help us get this dumbass fired HERE: secure.actblue.com/donate/scien... youtu.be/PIwWsHy9RfE?...

youtu.be

Bessent: “Robert Oppenheimer was not a physicist...”

YouTube video by American Bridge 21st Century

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Dr Anna Clark @drannaclark.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

The Beethoven of Mathematics: Leonhard Euler, Swiss polymath, died #OTD 1783 , acknowledged by André Weil as attaining during his lifetime “undisputed leadership in all branches of mathematics, pure & applied”. Pastel portrait by Jakob Handmann, 1753 Kunstmuseum, Basel

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Alec MacKinnon @alecmackinnon.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Universities only function because most staff feel they're involved in something important, that they have a personal investment in. They regularly go over and above their contracted hours to make sure things keep working; not at all the 'dreaming spires' stereotype

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Alec MacKinnon @alecmackinnon.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

22° (ice crystal) halo seen above Auchinleck House, East Ayrshire, yesterday afternoon #22degreehalo #auchinleckhouse #meteorologicaloptics

$Side and front of a large stone stately home, three upper floor windows on the side, stone parapet above. The Sun is hidden behind the corner of the parapet. A bright ring ("halo") centred on the Sun, red on its inner edge, is seen in the sky above the house. Its angular radius of 22 degrees results from the refraction of rays of sunlight in hexagonal ice crystals at stratospheric altitude$

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Secret Scotland @apo11o.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Time to resurrect an oldie This object lives on Girvan's shore area, on one corner of the Mackerston Park play area Been there for a long time Usual question - what is/was it? 😇

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Alec MacKinnon @alecmackinnon.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

I'm not going to read this article. If you immediately have visions of an army of attack emus trained to a glitch soundtrack in a disused military bunker, it can only be disappointing

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Alec MacKinnon @alecmackinnon.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

22° (ice crystal) halo seen above Auchinleck House, East Ayrshire, yesterday afternoon #22degreehalo #auchinleckhouse #meteorologicaloptics

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Alec MacKinnon @alecmackinnon.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

more wisdom from Walter Scott's tale of the Covenanters, Old Mortality. Who will the fanatic Burley help, the decent man of steady principles, or the corrupt schemer, greedy for wealth, strategic in his unreliable allegiances? The latter, of course; his avarice makes him easy to manipulate.

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Alec MacKinnon @alecmackinnon.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

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Alec MacKinnon @alecmackinnon.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

surely most of us will want to revolt against the idea that a couple of dodgy expat mega-rich guys can just buy the outcome of an election?

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Alec MacKinnon @alecmackinnon.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Things I was frightened of as a child: Nuclear war Rats - still hate them! The Friesian cows at the bottom of the byre that didn't like wee boys near them, unlike the docile Ayrshires Yeti, especially in the London Underground The monster at the top of the stairs An uncle's mean collie Adders

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Alec MacKinnon @alecmackinnon.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Here's a health to the jolly hangman He'll hang you the best that he can man of the moment www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO1Y... #jollyhangman

youtube.com

Poor Will And The Jolly Hangman

YouTube video by Richard Thompson - Topic

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Henk Heijmans @henkheijmans.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Skydiving with a handheld camera, 1964 - by Larry Burrows (1926 - 1971), English

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Alec MacKinnon @alecmackinnon.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

“Does it not revolt a mind like yours,” said Morton, “to follow a system which is to be supported by such minute enquiries after obscure individuals?” From Old Mortality, Walter Scott's novel of the Covenanters. Set 300+ years ago but with so many echoes of our present moment

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Alec MacKinnon @alecmackinnon.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

As a boy I was given two books in the Observer series. "Astronomy" led to a career but I also loved the #Geology one. I still remember my disappointment when I put the geological map together with the words in the text and realised there was no chance of finding dinosaur #fossils in #Scotland

Observer's Book of Geology, 1951 edition, covered with brown paper as we did in those days to keep books good. The dust jacket is long gone, if I ever had it

Thrilling line drawing dinosaur depictions in the Observer's Book of Geology, 1951 edition: bipedal dinosaur with small front legs, T Rex like, labelled just "Dinosaur" (top); four-legged, round, featureless dinosaur with long neck and tail labelled "Brontosaurus" (middle); four-legged dinosaur, small head, rows of bony plates along its back and spine, labelled "Stegosaurus" (bottom). All three pictured with contemporary plants around

Geological map of the British Isles, plates VI-VII of the Observer's Book of Geology, 1951 edition.

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Blue Skies In Utah @papabear333.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

The bread is poisoned and the circus is too expensive.

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Alec MacKinnon @alecmackinnon.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

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Living Reviews | Solar Physics @livingrev-solphys.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Theodosios Chatzistergos. Historical records in solar physics. #LivingRevSolPhys 23, 1 (2026). doi.org/10.1007/s411... #OpenAccess This review surveys the principal long-term historical archives of solar observations and their analyses. @damagedonegr.bsky.social | @mpsgoettingen.bsky.social

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Alec MacKinnon @alecmackinnon.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

for years I've been writing occasional thoughts in a blog. Initially rooted in our (Dept of Adult and Continuing Education) straitened circumstances, it eventually became a place for me to ramble about my heterogeneous interests. Now I've removed most of the posts.

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The Quietus @thequietus.com · 07/09/2026

'A survey of the state-of the-art, featuring a roll-call of scientists, artists and musicians all in some way doing something with sonification of plants...' Jason Singh – ‘Tsubaki’ from Plants Can Dance (2026) - The Strange World of Music Made By and For Plants buff.ly/gEaabW2

Plants Can Dance (2026) album cover. Plant-like shapes in pastel colours arranged closely together.

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Alec MacKinnon @alecmackinnon.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Mince pies??!! FFS, Sainsbury's, it's SEPTEMBER!!!!

Shelves in a supermarket displaying panettone, stollen slices and mince pies, seasonal Xmas treats even although it's only September

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Alec MacKinnon @alecmackinnon.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

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Alec MacKinnon @alecmackinnon.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

"The audience should give to the music". Beautiful to see and hear - although it's always best to be in the room and to share in the moment #freeimprovisedmusic

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Help! Parton Community Council has 60 days to raise £70k to buy Parton Kirk (resting place of James Clerk Maxwell). They plan to turn it into a visitor centre celebrating our great hero! The other buyers could turn it into long-term storage 😬 Even £5 would help 🙏🧪⚛️ www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...

justgiving.com

Help raise £70000 to Save Parton Kirk – JustGiving Crowdfunding

Iʼm raising money to Save Parton Kirk. Support this JustGiving Crowdfunding Page.

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Alec MacKinnon @alecmackinnon.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

"...it is not men of sober and self-seeking minds, who arise in these days of wrath to execute judgment and to accomplish deliverance." From Old Mortality, Walter Scott's novel of the times of the Covenanters, 300+ years ago

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Astronomical Society of Edinburgh @astronomyedinburgh.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

The Cooke telescope on Calton Hill, between tours given by @astronomyedinburgh.bsky.social on the @collective-edin.bsky.social open day.

The Cooke telescope in Edinburgh with the dome partially opened.

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Neil Younger @neilayounger.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

2 September 1583: Considerable excitement in London as the Northern Lights are spotted. A pamphlet, no doubt written very soon after, says that this evening, 'maruailous strange, rare, miraculous, & wonderful permouements ... with constellations of the ayre and watery elements, ... 1/ #earlymodern

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Claire Willett @clairewillett.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

her very existence was an indisputable reminder of how many things framed as inevitabilities were actually just someone’s choice. there actually is enough money for everything. the wealthy could fully fund literacy and public health and the arts and child welfare. they just won’t

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Alec MacKinnon @alecmackinnon.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

gardening assistant this afternoon

a frog sits on paving stones, next a buttercup and other weeds.

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Alec MacKinnon @alecmackinnon.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

No cheating. Share the last photo of the sky from your camera roll.

River heading into the distance from right. Green-painted fence in front of it to prevent us from falling in. Broad pavement at left. Brilliant white clouds above and a big patch of blue sky to left.

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