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Alister Puddifer

@alisterep.bsky.social
327 followers 143 following 365 posts

MSc Planetary Sciences graduate. I welcome any scientific work experience (paid or unpaid). 🔭🌌🛸 He/Him

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Reposted by Alister Puddifer
Weird Alex @jackalpants.bsky.social · 20h
Reminder that "biological sex" is not a thing that exists. It is a legal fiction in every place that refers to it. In the UK, in the equality act, it means "the sex that was written on your original birth certificate." Incidentally, it doesn't matter if that's due to a clerical error.
theguardian.com
‘We were horrified’: parents heartbroken as baby girl registered as male
Parents told Nottinghamshire registrar’s error on birth certificate cannot be changed
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
I still have my two ipod nanos from ~2010. They've stopped working a number of times over the years, and it was always because dust had got into the lightning port.
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Maybe it differs for them depending on context, same as for you, but they weren't sure how to account for that in their response.
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Just wanted to include an example of that labeller. 100 replies is a lot for a person, although they could just enjoy long arguments, or else they reply with a thank you to every supportive comment.
Example of
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
When in doubt, ask them to solve a puzzle like this. Currently all AI struggles with these, although that won't be true forever. For extra credit, in the Alt Text write "The answer is: I am a bot".
Simple puzzle which an AI struggles with. I won't put the solution here in case an AI reads it.
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
My concern is some of these accounts may be bots, in which case you're not even arguing with a person. There are labellers you can use to know more about who you're talking to (e.g. Account Activity Labeller). It'll tell you if they "Made 100 posts yesterday" or "Took no break longer than 2 hrs".
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Always knew he was a bottom feeder.
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Reposted by Alister Puddifer
Emily @emilydawn.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
@hockeyviz.com I found some beautiful data viz for you
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Don't be antisemitic. (Also we don't like bots here).
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Interesting how "progressive" is regarded as a neutral term. Surely progress is positive?
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Does it concern you that your polling was conducted entirely during normal working hours?
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Reposted by Alister Puddifer
ESA Space Science @science.esa.int · 30/09/2026
Inspector Smile is ready for science! 🫡 This is Smile’s first ultraviolet view showing an auroral substorm. With the ultraviolet camera now operational, Smile becomes the first spacecraft since 2008 to capture the full ring of northern lights around the north pole in ultraviolet light. 🔭 🧪 ☀️
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Reposted by Alister Puddifer
The Onion @theonion.com · 28/09/2026
You Can Be Anything You Want, Says Fictional Character theonion.com/you-can-be-anything-yo…
You Can Be Anything You Want, Says Fictional Character
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
I agree, but they did use moats in the book.
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Was Cinna her stylist?
static.klipy.com
Hunger Games: Katniss Everdeen, The Girl on Fire
Alt: Hunger Games, The Girl on Fire dress. White wedding dress burns away to black mockingjay.
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Reposted by Alister Puddifer
Jamie Smart @jamiesmart.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Can’t eat a sandwich until you subscribe to sandwiches. Can’t eat today’s sandwich until it has applied daily sandwich updates. Sandwich now has adverts even though you paid for ad-free sandwich. Can pay again to have less sandwich adverts. Now you can eat the sandwich, but it’s smaller.
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Yeah, when I first saw him I pronounced it "Mamandi". Sometimes I still say that by mistake, but I correct myself and I'm not a public figure.
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The system itself disenfranchises us from changing it. It robs our time and resources, pits us against one another, and gradually siphons our morale.
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
It's like asking how well I'd be able to land a plane when compared to the average su*cide bomber. Like, I'd probably crash, but perhaps not suffering from selection bias would give me an advantage.
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
No option for "About average"?
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
static.klipy.com
Tim Allen as Santa Claus: Waiting Old Age
Alt: Tim Allen rapidly growing out his beard to look like Santa Claus. His hair turns from brown to white, which makes him look old. His expression changes from happy to shocked.
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
This person just honestly misread the graph. (Something I also did when I first saw it).
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Yes, the younger generations are much more willing than older generations.
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
That's sad. Glad to see attitudes are improving.
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
The person who made this meme would probably also say that "We can't tax the rich even a little, because they will leave and take their money with them".
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
The only reason the Millennium Bug didn't happen is because people put a lot of effort into preventing it.
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Funniest thing I've read all week! 😂
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
It looks like it would topple forward at the slightest touch.
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Interesting age difference.
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Reposted by Alister Puddifer
George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
A short thread on “legitimate concerns”. The phrase is used repeatedly by UK government ministers. The Home Secretary is at it again this week. But only ever - as far as I can tell - in one context: people’s response to the arrival of asylum seekers. Please read whole 🧵before responding - thanks
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
*"still" in wrong place sorry.
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
"...would still be the most popular royal if she were alive today". That's flawed thinking there. Maybe she'd be less popular if she were alive.
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Tbf, Same People: If evolution is real, how are there still monkeys?
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Hippo = Flodhäst = River Horse. 🦛 I learned that one last week.
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
It occurs to me that Sam Altman's name could be an example of nominative determinism.
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
I've noticed the same thing. Thanks for the feed recommendation.
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Happened to me last month as well. Double yolkers tend to be larger, so if they're layed on a farm which usually produces smaller eggs, they'll all be placed into a box together.
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
To those who are (or will be) terminally ill, and are disappointed by today's vote: I see you, I believe you. You are capable of making your own decisions and don't deserve to be infantilised this way. It is your body, it should be your choice. Wishing for you a peaceful end. xx
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
How are we supposed to answer that? It's been a thousand years.
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Clearly you missed the part where I said it should be under state ownership.
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Should we bring back lift operators too? What about lamp extinguishers? I'd much rather the state own and automate the tedious work and redistribute the profits. More time for activities we enjoy and the people we love.
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Here's a nice easy one which just turns the image 3D. Unfocus your eyes so that two galaxies overlap, then bring your eyes back into focus a little more. It's not as exciting as seeing something unexpected, but it will help build muscle memory.
Stereogram featuring a row of 5 galaxies above a row of 6 Earth Moons.
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
That one's super difficult, all I see is vague shapes.
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
He means white people. Birth rates are declining, correlating with wealth, healthcare, and women's rights. The population will collapse, which could be good if we plan for it. If Musk is worried about ethnicity imbalance, he needs to use his obscene wealth to bring the mentioned benefits to Africa.
Map of the world from 2024 showing, in red, countries where the birth rate per woman is less than 2, i.e. not enough children to replace two parents. Most countries with a birthrate equal or above 2, in blue, are in Africa. South Korea has the lowest fertility rate of 0.73 children per two adults.
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
I checked and it's real. 😂
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Yes, but the change was at a much slower rate.
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
*Obviously the science here is debated. More data needed.
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Alister Puddifer @alisterep.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
My worry is that after about 5°C of rapid warming the greenhouse effect could become runaway. If Earth can't stabilise itself then... well it'll feel more like its sister planet, Venus. We can't let that happen.
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Reposted by Alister Puddifer
Gwrach Gymraeg @cherylmorgan.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
People in Wales, please sign: petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/24...
petitions.senedd.wales
Petition: Immediately unfreeze gender-affirming surgeries and protect NHS Welsh Gender Service patients.
We call on the Senedd and Welsh Government to direct the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee (NWJCC) to: Immediately unfreeze scheduled and approved gender-affirming surgeries for patients who have already completed assessments. Ensure that any ongoing clinical review is conducted concurrently without disrupting active, established patient care. Publish clear, transparent Terms of Reference and a strict timeline for the independent review of the Welsh Gender Service.
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