iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

I will never understand how WiFi is so bad on UK trains. A decade ago I was able to travel by bus, in the countryside, in Sweden and hold Skype conversations (which included video!), yet here, it is seemingly too complex to do. Baffling.

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

I wonder how many people across South Wales are going to be using asthma inhalers more, suffering with coughs and sneezes, visiting their GPs etc, this week. The smoke from the fires is everywhere across the south east. Deeply unsettling and unpleasant.

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Plaid Cymru over performing and Reform underperforming in Wales. Delightful and reassuring 😮‍💨

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Why are R*form sending me letters about their passion for Wales and their invisible “DeTaiLeD plAnS” for our NHS when the return address is in London? Cant even be bothered to hold a Welsh mailing address. It’s going to be a sad day in a few weeks time when they get many seats in the Senedd.

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

11th section of the #WalesCoastPath done over a couple of hours this weekend. A beautiful stroll between Swansea Marina and Caswell Bay on the Gower Peninsula. Swansea has changed so much for the better over the last couple of decades. I wonder what the future will bring

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Incredible to find ourselves economically hamstrung by the whims of global charlatans and narcissists thousands of miles away when we’ve had decades to transition away from fossil fuels. To still find our domestic energy prices pegged to gas is equally mind blowing. Stop pandering to the right.

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

Apart from the ones we’ve won, and despite us ending up at the bottom of the pile (again), this is one of my favourite Six Nations for a very long time #FRAvENG

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

Unbelievable turnaround in performances over the last month and a half. Suddenly a joy to watch 😍 #WALvITA

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

Was in a black hole after last week’s performance and didn’t see a way out, but this is better. #WALvSCO

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

Being outplayed and battered by France was always on the cards, but what’s more telling about the state of Welsh rugby is that we’re being out-sung by the French in Cardiff 😭 Clear the suits out, sack off the regions and let’s enjoy some club rugby again. #WALvFRA

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Reposted by Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Letters of Note @lettersofnote.com · 12/02/2026

Happy birthday to one of my favourite haters, Charles Darwin

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

Expected a pasting here but the performance is an absolute shambles. Going to take years and years to recover from this level. Feel like regional rugby combined with Gatland’s law has locked out much of the quality that might have emerged naturally over the years. More pastings ahead #ENGvWAL

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

The worst thing about this performance so far is that England haven’t had to do anything, other than field a team. We’re so poor on the basics and with discipline that I can’t see a team inside the top 20 losing to us today.

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

If 👏 we 👏 give 👏 stupid 👏 penalties 👏 away 👏 constantly 👏this 👏 will 👏 be 👏 70+ 👏 #ENGvWAL

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

As the year comes to a close, my only wish for 2026 is that flat pack furniture instruction makers face some sort of inquisition, with the punishment being that they have to assemble their own product following their own instructions.

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

10th section of the #WalesCoastPath done today, between Port Talbot and Swansea. A proper tarmac slog apart from an interesting flooded canal-side stroll between Jersey Marine and Port Tenant. Just over 1/8th of the entire coastal path completed in 2025 (Chepstow to Swansea). Here’s to more in 2026!

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Reposted by Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Dr. Scott Coffin @ecoboffin.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

New paper out! 🎉 Our team published “A Quality-Assured Global Database and Multidimensional Analysis of #Microplastic #Toxicity Studies” in STOTEN. We evaluated 286 microplastic ecotoxicity studies using quality criteria developed to support #California’s regulatory needs under SB 1263.

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

An annoying day on the 9th section of the #Walescoastpath between Porthcawl and Port Talbot this weekend. 22km but a really poorly signposted diversion to an established route meant a near 4 mile detour, major backtracking and far too much time spent alongside busy roads. Not the most pleasant walk.

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

Incredibly heartening to see @plaidcymru.bsky.social win in Caerffili, particularly when so much talk was about our valleys communities swinging significantly to the right. 47% of the vote in a record turnout is a real achievement. Da Iawn 👏

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

Great to see this assessment of evidence on the health effects of nano- and microplastic particles and fibres in the environment published by the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP), and an important comparison with traffic related air pollution 🧪: www.gov.uk/government/p...

gov.uk

COMEAP: Statement on airborne nano- and microplastic particles and fibres

An assessment of evidence on the health effects of nano- and microplastic particles and fibres in the environment.

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

Not sure it’s a great idea to live in a world that ignores due process, particularly when so-called democracies ignore it.

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

Cracking day on the 7th section of the #Walescoastalpath between Llantwit Major and Ogmore. Generally beautiful weather apart from a brutal squall a mile from the end. Incredible scenery, throughout though definitely the bumpiest stretch, with some steep quad burning climbs. On to Porthcawl next!

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 03/08/2025

Proper Welsh weather today between Barry and Llantwit Major on the 6th section of the #Walescoastalpath, today. Absolutely hoofed it down for two hours then so hot that I’m very sunburnt. Lovely scenery when the sun came out and lots of industrial heritage on show too. Up to Ogmore next!

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Reposted by Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Hannah @policyhannah.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

"To coincide with #PlasticFreeJuly, the @bma.org.uk is launching a survey to learn about the NHS’s contribution to reducing plastics through initiatives such as increasing reusable equipment." 👉 www.research.net/r/NZbluesky www.bma.org.uk/news-and-opi...

bma.org.uk

BMA seeks doctors’ views on sustainability efforts

Survey launched to gauge how far NHS is going to meet net zero

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

Genuinely don’t hear enough noise, pardon the pun, about this topic considering its implications on health. It’s visceral, we’re able to feel and experience sound in a way that isn’t so easy with other pollutants. Maybe because we’re exposed to sounds daily we don’t note its value or its harm?

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 22/06/2025

Very pleasant stroll between Penarth and Ynys y Barri (Barry Island) on Section 5 of #WalesCoastalPath. First bit was beautiful and found a plaque on Marconi’s first wireless transmission. Second half was tarmac into Barri but the front there is lush 😍 Can’t forget the Gavin and Stacey link, either!

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

Will never understand how this is a ladybird, but nature is weird and wonderful 😲

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

@inaturalist.bsky.social Hi! I’ve been using the old app for years and have just installed the new one. I love the language choice option for the app. Could you enable a Welsh language option please? It would be brilliant if so, so I can use it in my first language 🤗

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 18/05/2025

A super warm 20k largely through Cardiff suburbs on section 4 of the #Walescoastalpath from Llanbedr Gwynllŵg to Penarth. Cardiff Bay is stunning, but that was a tarmacced slog, coupled with getting lost around a landfill site 🤦‍♂️ Hoping the next section is less urbanised (and cooler)!

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

Bloke’s genuinely thicker than a submarine door.

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Reposted by Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Lego Lost At Sea @legolostatsea.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Thought we were filming a bird riding a thermal but it turned out to be a dog poo bag.

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

Great to see another output from our airborne microplastic research project, HOMEs, emerge. This time exploring the presence of microfibres in air by room type. I’d love to see if the variations by room translate to an international context! 🧪 www.frontiersin.org/journals/bui...

frontiersin.org

Frontiers | Homes under the microscope: results from a pilot community science approach to measure airborne microfibres in the home

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

What could possibly go wrong with allowing wood burners to be installed in new homes, knowing they release emissions into the rooms they’re in, as well as out of the chimney, particularly when regulations governing air tightness is also expected to be tightened 🤦‍♂️ www.theguardian.com/environment/...

theguardian.com

Wood-burning stoves to be allowed in new homes in England despite concerns

Campaigners condemn decision amid growing evidence of harm to health and climate from heating appliances

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

Another 20k of the Wales Coastal Path travelled, from Nash (Cil-y-Coed) to Peterstone Wentlooge ( Llanbedr Gwynllŵg).From wetlands to Industrial areas and back onto the Gwent Levels. If only the transporter bridge had been open for a crossing. Lush day for a walk though. A stroll to Penarth next.

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

I really wish follow up questions were asked to these veiled remarks. Just ask, what does back to British mean in the context of immigration (Genuinely, what is Britain/being British), instead of thinking it’s a good headline to use. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

theguardian.com

‘We need to get back to British’: concern over immigration in Doncaster before local elections

Residents feel city is in decline and polls suggest Reform could take control of council from Labour next month

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

I find this story both horrifying and hilarious in equal measure. If big cats and rose tattoos are signs of gang affiliation, then half the English fan base planning on heading to the US for the World Cup are going to end up in an El Salvadorian prison 🫣 www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

theguardian.com

Homeland security apparently used British man’s tattoo to identify alleged gang members

‘Average man from Derbyshire’ shocked to find photo of tattoo celebrating child’s birth was used to deport migrants

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

Two completely nailed on goals ruled out by horrific officiating. imagine the impact on the season if Boro score 🫣 #MIDvLEE

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

Watching this Leeds game and wondering what coaching genius decided the best approach was to play long aerial passes to our 5 foot 6 wingers who are being marked by 6 foot 3 defenders #LUTvLEE

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

Watching bindweed rise out of the ground en masse like some zombie army at this time of year, knowing I’m going to spend the next 6 months battling it, is slightly intimidating

media.tenor.com

a cartoon of a man sitting on a park bench

ALT: a cartoon of a man sitting on a park bench

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Reposted by Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Dave Petley @davepetley.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

Initial reports for the #Myanmar #earthquake suggest a shallow, mw=7.7 event. This is going to be extremely serious - almost a direct hit on Mandalay (population of 1.2 million), plus many other villages in the area. The population has high vulnerability. A major international response is vital.

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Reposted by Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

National Centre for Atmospheric Science @ncas-uk.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

Do you have a background in atmospheric, climate, or environmental science? Have you got an interest in scientific education or training? We are looking for a Scientific Training Manager to develop and lead our scientific training. Apply today: ncas.ac.uk/job-opportun...

ncas.ac.uk

Job Opportunity: NCAS Scientific Training Manager - NCAS

We are seeking to appoint a Scientific Training Manager to develop and lead our scientific training.

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

Is this going to be the X-Press Pearl of the North Sea? Those nurdles are going to be everywhere on that coast for a very long time. I wonder what else will be washed up and what environmental impacts will accompany them 🧪 www.theguardian.com/business/202...

theguardian.com

North Sea collision: operation to clear up plastic pellets begins

Thousands of nurdles, which pose a danger to wildlife, have begun to wash up on Norfolk beaches and the surrounding coast

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Dr Ben 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @burfordben.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

Nothing makes me want to travel to the US more than the scenery in classic westerns. Currently watching River of No Return and Idaho looks incredible. Oh to spend several months wandering around the US wilderness. Maybe when normality resumes…

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