iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Andy Extance @andyextance.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

After my partner died of cancer, the fact I write about new treatments for it in my work has been complicated. Inspired by this, I am launching an Instagram account called The Widowers Guide to the Science of Cancer today - you can see the first post here: www.instagram.com/p/Dd-__vcALl... 🧪

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Andy Extance @andyextance.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

For the sake of impartiality, those reporting on the Jim Ratcliffe/Ineos decision to close UK chemical plants, please also mention that they decided to close the Grangemouth refinery just as refining profit margins went through the roof

Headline saying "Refining margins soar while Europe’s fuel capacity shrinks"

Headline saying "Sir Jim Ratcliffe suspends production at key UK plants blaming high gas prices"

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Andy Extance @andyextance.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I'm referring to the @reutersinstitute.bsky.social digital news report for my "Trust, Truth and Tiktok" session at the British Science Festival tomorrow. In doing so I've noticed something weird: the BBC is more highly trusted in Ireland and Australia than it is in the UK! Why could that be? 🤔

59% of people trust the BBC in the UK, compared to 67% in Ireland and 64% in Australia.

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Andy Extance @andyextance.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

It will be great to speak about trust and science journalism at the University of Southampton, where I did my chemistry degree, next Thursday at 7pm, with Deborah Cohen. Come and watch! Book seats at: britishscienceassociation-tickets.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/... 🧪 FYI @absw.bsky.social

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Andy Extance @andyextance.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Great day running Friday's @absw.bsky.social student event on interviewing scientists, with @stellarplanet.bsky.social among the amazing interviewees. Top advice from the @physicsworld.bsky.social team and super-smart attendees. Plus my head hurt from smiling at the fun and games after!

ABSW student member Ushika Kidd prepares interview questions, sat on the floor with her notebook and computer

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Andy Extance @andyextance.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

It was encouraging to drum in the counterprotest to the far right march in #Taunton today. It was clear that many of the other protesters knew the kind of people marching from daily life, neighbours and workmates. They obviously wanted better. Good to see Gideon Amos, the local MP, there too.

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Andy Extance @andyextance.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

My latest @chemistryworld.com story brings together AI, robots, chemistry and climate change - with a cautiously positive conclusion. Watch the reel below then check it out at www.chemistryworld.com/features/ai-... Thanks @variniabernales.bsky.social @fjduarte.bsky.social and everyone else! 🧪

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Andy Extance @andyextance.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Great to be in #Plymouth with the Devon Drummers for #PlymouthPride26. I love to see all the different flavours of people there.

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Andy Extance @andyextance.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

In the UK this paper title evokes the opposite meaning to that intended

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Andy Extance @andyextance.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

#Climate criminals in your refrigerator: The police are chasing criminals selling shady chemicals – and those chemicals might be in your kitchen. I talk to Environment Investigation Agency, which is chasing them, in my new Chemical and Engineering News story. You can read it at bit.ly/hfccrime

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Andy Extance @andyextance.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

In my latest @chemistryworld.com World piece, I report on how science and global politics intertwine in the rivalry over the chemicals used as the cathode in the electric vehicle batteries. You can read more at bit.ly/Carcat. 🧪 1/3

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Andy Extance @andyextance.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

As someone whose late partner was under 50 when she died of cancer, and a science writer, for me the i has the best coverage I've seen on the new paper looking at the factors behind the rise in cancer in young people. 🧪inews.co.uk/news/health/cancer-rates-under-50s-rising-no-one-sure-why-4382878

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Andy Extance @andyextance.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

In my latest @chemistryworld.com piece, I report that the low-emissions hydrogen industry either committed to final investment decisions or started building around a million tonnes per year of production capacity in 2025, but cancelled over 4.9 million tonnes’ worth. Read more at bit.ly/Hbubble 🧪

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Andy Extance @andyextance.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

A not-so-small joy this week was getting a couple of my favourite pairs of trousers repaired by Quick Stitch in #Exeter - lovely to keep them going, and it would have been much more expensive to replace them

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Andy Extance @andyextance.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

If you’re worried about microplastics, you may have found some of the recent coverage confusing. I attempt to explain from a level of how science works broadly in this video, and about the details of the methods involved in my Chemistry World piece at bit.ly/microspat 🧪

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Andy Extance @andyextance.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

When we hear about the chemical industry we’re used to thinking about large, dirty oil processing facilities. But can Scotland make chemicals from…. whisky? Read more in my @chemistryworld.com World story at bit.ly/whischem 🧪

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Andy Extance @andyextance.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

January saw a couple of amazing events in London with @absw.bsky.social The launch of the World Conference of Science Journalists at the Royal Society was amazing, as was the ABSW 'missed the deadline' Christmas party the following week. I had such a great time I barely remembered to take photos!

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Andy Extance @andyextance.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Really pleased to see defossilisation being covered by Nature and raising the need for more investment in this area. www.nature.com/articles/d41... 🧪

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Andy Extance @andyextance.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

The $20 billion Dangote Refinery is undoubtedly hugely important to the economy of Nigeria and Africa – but truck fires in the local community are emblematic of many unseen costs and issues. Read the story by me and Olasunkanmi Arowolo in @cenmag.bsky.social at bit.ly/DanRef

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Andy Extance @andyextance.bsky.social · 04/01/2026

I have been reading the amazing 12 Days of Christmas poems compiled by Carol Ann Duffy for @candlestickpress.bsky.social and today's is eerily appropriate....

In California during the Gulf War by Denise Levertov

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Andy Extance @andyextance.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

Did you know that the gases in one tiny blue asthma inhaler can cause as much global heating as 30kg of CO2? You can read all about it in my @chemistryworld.com story at bit.ly/greeninhaler

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Andy Extance @andyextance.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

This amazing-looking solar farm uses an exciting new technology now being manufactured in China. You can read about it in my new Chemical and Engineering News story at bit.ly/ChinaPerovskite It's good to share some positive news for a change! 🧪

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Andy Extance @andyextance.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

Here's an idea that I had never heard about before from Google's Mevan Babakar at #abswss25 'Blind cynicism', a general loss of trust partly the aim of disinformation, including the people around us, one of the many risks

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Andy Extance @andyextance.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

Enjoying hearing from Jon Roozenbeek at #abswss25 about the tobacco 'disinformation playbook' shared pseudonymously by a 'Mr Butss' with three elements: - Sow doubt - Counter attack - Don't lie (too much) Sound familiar?

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Andy Extance @andyextance.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

Second takeaway: I was surprised to hear that chemistry calculations (DFT to those in the know) use 20% of all supercomputer time in the US. So AI alternatives could reduce energy usage.

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Andy Extance @andyextance.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

First takeaway: it was interesting to me that one of my interviewees admitted that useability was a secondary consideration, the highest one was the ability to publish a new paper

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