iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Howard Wright

Information is Beautiful @infobeautiful.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

No single revolution made this incredible achievement happen. Just decades of advances in medicine, sanitation, nutrition and public health. via @beautifulnews.bsky.social

A multi-line chart shows life expectancy increasing across countries worldwide from 1960 to 2023. Hundreds of yellow lines represent individual countries, while a thicker multicoloured line highlights the global average, rising from approximately 51 years in 1960 to 72 years in 2023. Despite differences between countries and temporary setbacks, the overwhelming long-term trend is towards longer lives. Source: World Bank.

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Reposted by Howard Wright

Massimo (mirror) @rainmaker1973-m.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

This is a pyrosome. A rare colonial animal made of thousands of tiny organisms linked together in a tube. [📹 Javi Benavides] Original post

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Howard Wright @howard-wright.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

The data shows Hormuz crude oil exports in September were averaging around 9 million barrels per day. In January and February they were around 18 million. So we're about 50% lower than pre war levels.

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Howard Wright @howard-wright.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Data in the article shows pre war average exports from Hormuz around 17-18 million barrels per day, recent figures from September are around 9. So 50% less than it used to be. That's not "largely returning to pre war levels". Even total exports for middle east are about 25% lower.

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Reposted by Howard Wright

Pete Buttigieg @petebuttigieg.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

When Linus asked me how he could make the world a better place, it made me think: What could the world look like if more adults asked that question every day?

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Howard Wright @howard-wright.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

The president of the United States just signed an accord with the name if his country misspelled as "Unites States". This is the level of competence we expect.

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Howard Wright @howard-wright.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

It turns out the person who first called the police at 00:45 was... one of the five masked men who was arrested by the police shortly afterwards?!?

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Reposted by Howard Wright

Tim Harford @timharford.ft.com · 30/09/2026

The sewing machine. The washing machine. The dishwasher. Which technologies truly liberate us from drudgery? as.ft.com/r/e3afdfeb-8...

as.ft.com

Liberated by technology (again)

Does the history of labour-saving inventions teach us anything about a revolution in AI?

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Howard Wright @howard-wright.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

"that war" will very likely last well beyond Trump's term. There won't be any peace agreement with Iran for years. It's on the long and growing list of ugly messes that the next president will have to try and clear up.

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Howard Wright @howard-wright.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

The average price of Brent crude oil under Joe Biden was $82.98. The current average for Trump is $84.50. So crude oil was cheaper under Biden than Trump. Trump lies, what a surprise!

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Howard Wright @howard-wright.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

One significant detail that hasn't yet been clarified: who alerted the police to suspicious behaviour at 00:45? This was 45 minutes before the farmer called them.

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Howard Wright @howard-wright.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

One issue with AI P(doom) guestimates being shared is that the timeframe is often not stated. Next 10 years? 50 years? More significantly, how do these "predictions" compare with P(doom) for climate change? Or hostile states? Or power-hungry presidents? Without comparisons the number is meaningless.

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Howard Wright @howard-wright.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

It's absolutely astonishing that someone could solve a Rubik's cube in under 5 seconds, even more so when it's a six-year-old girl. Mind blowing video clips. But then awkward and unsettling questions about her tough training regime start to form...

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Howard Wright @howard-wright.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

But how do we decide a threshold? The implication is that octopus is above the threshold but pigs, cows, goats are below. Can we justify that distinction objectively?

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Reposted by Howard Wright

Guardian US @us.theguardian.com · 21/09/2026

The “jaw-dropping” El Niño currently heating up the planet has burst through the highest temperature ever recorded for the phenomenon, several months before its expected peak.

A line chart showing temperature anomalies in the Niño 3.4 region of the Pacific Ocean, compared to a 30-year rolling base period since 1982.

A gold line shows temperatures in 1997, a teal line in 2025, and a red line in 2026. The red line surpasses all others reaching 3.07ºC, and at an earlier point (September) than the previous El Niño that reached a comparable range in November 2015.

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Howard Wright @howard-wright.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

I take the ethical/environmental consequences of diet seriously, though I do choose to eat some meat & seafood. My question is: how do we decide if farming of one species or another is acceptable or not? We farm pigs, chickens, cows, goats, fish. Aren't these also intelligent and social creatures?

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Reposted by Howard Wright

Laura Haynes👩‍🔬⚾️🐾💙 @drlaurahaynes.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Good morning 🌞 Is anyone interested?

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Howard Wright @howard-wright.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

No. He's spewing unhelpful nonsense without caring or thinking of the consequences, for a situation he has no understanding of.

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The Onion @theonion.com · 17/08/2026

Crying Newborn Has No Idea How Much Worse It Gets theonion.com/crying-newborn-has-no-…

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Howard Wright @howard-wright.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

"Conclusion: Various adverse health outcomes have been associated with UPF consumption". Like I said, there are lots of associations reported. But we need evidence that specific UPF components actually cause health impacts. We don't have that yet.

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Reposted by Howard Wright

Luca @lucagalletti.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Homer Simpson disappearing into hedge (in Lego) Credit to Jason Allemann & Kristal / @jkbrickworks

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Howard Wright @howard-wright.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

But my point is the original NOVA definitions, and the two criteria in the link, are incredibly subjective. That's why nobody can reliably agree what is/isn't UPF. And as for the effects, we don't know what they are. Lots of associations have been highlighted but nothing that shows causation.

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Howard Wright @howard-wright.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

The *number* of aircraft, not the amount.

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Howard Wright @howard-wright.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

No. The FSA should continue its careful evidence-driven approach. If new good-quality evidence about UPFs emerges they should review the new data. So far all we have are associations with health effects, no causal links. Which specific UPF ingredients are causing problems? Proof of causation needed.

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Howard Wright @howard-wright.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Until the NOVA UPF definitions are shown to be objective and reliable, we should be *extremely* cautious about targeting UPF. There are published studies showing that professionals in nutrition and medicine fundamentally disagree when trying to identify UPFs. The definitions are vague and subjective

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Howard Wright @howard-wright.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

No. The NOVA UPF definitions only apply to foods. Medicines, alcohol, vitamins and other supplements are not covered by the UPF definitions.

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Howard Wright @howard-wright.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

There are detailed definitions of the NOVA food groups, group 4 being UPF. The problem is that the definitions are too subjective & vague. We know that when professionals categorise foods based on NOVA they rarely agree. So the definitions don't work yet the UPF "concept" remains irresistible.

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Howard Wright @howard-wright.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Ultra processed food is a category, NOVA group 4. Something is either in the category or not, you can't have something that's slightly or very ultra processed. This is one of many flaws in the UPF definitions. A food is UPF if it contains 1mg of one additive or if it contains dozens of additives

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Howard Wright @howard-wright.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Seems bizarre to think that people start using weight loss drugs to save money. People surely make the choice for reasons of health? Maybe very high earners are spending disproportionately high amounts on luxury foods (champagne, truffles) and they reduce this spending after starting the meds?

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Howard Wright @howard-wright.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Let's be clear: Netanyahu is a nasty, violent, bigoted c#nt.

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Howard Wright @howard-wright.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Associations are interesting but we need evidence of causal links between UPF consumption and health effects. This will be difficult. UPF definitions are too vague/subjective (professionals can't agree what is/isn't UPF). And UPFs are so broad the list of possibly harmful ingredients is v. long.

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Howard Wright @howard-wright.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

We should be comparing NOVA group 4 (UPF) with group 3 (processed foods). If you compare UPF with basic foods (fruits, vegetables etc) you will of course see a difference. The creators of the UPF concept claim these foods are very different to group 3. So let's see the evidence to support this.

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Reposted by Howard Wright

Theo Moudakis @theomoudakis.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Please enjoy my cartoon for Tuesday's Toronto Star

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Howard Wright @howard-wright.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

I don't think so. Two of those criteria (nutritional quality and organic status) have nothing whatsoever to do with UPF. And the kinds of additive are critical for determining whether something is UPF or not. I know from experience, people using Yuka often assume low score means UPF. It doesn't!

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Howard Wright @howard-wright.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

But the Yuka app doesn't identify UPF foods; it doesn't tell you the NOVA food groups. The food score it provides may be useful, but it has no connection with UPF.

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Howard Wright @howard-wright.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

There are lots of associations, but nothing showing causation. In addition, the definitions of UPFs are so vague, nobody actually agrees what UPFs are (even professionals in relevant subjects). Until research shows causal links between UPF ingredients and health impacts, this topic is doomed.

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Howard Wright @howard-wright.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

"there is no longer any serious doubt that consuming a diet of UPFs risks a catalogue of life-shortening illnesses from heart disease and stroke to diabetes and cancer". But that's the whole point, there is lots of doubt! There is no evidence that shows consumption of UPFs causes these risks!

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Reposted by Howard Wright

The Onion @theonion.com · 30/07/2026

Pros And Cons Of Arresting Netanyahu theonion.com/pros-and-cons-of-arres…

PRO: Heard The Hague is lovely this time of year
CON: Could tarnish Israel’s otherwise immaculate reputation

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Howard Wright @howard-wright.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

The most important thing is to encourage people to make a change that has an impact. Saying they must switch to plants only diet means most people won't change. Encouraging people to eat less meat & dairy and more plant-based food will actually have a bigger impact, because it's more achievable.

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Reposted by Howard Wright

Our World in Data @ourworldindata.org · 27/07/2026

How have humans reshaped the world’s land over the last 12,000 years? Over thousands of years, humans have gradually transformed the Earth’s surface — clearing land for agriculture (crops and grazing animals) and building settlements.

Stacked area chart of total land area used for cropland, grazing land and built-up areas from year 0 to 2025, where grazing makes up most of the area and both grazing and cropland rise sharply in the modern era with total agricultural land approaching 5 billion hectares. Data source: HYDE (2025). License: CC BY.

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Howard Wright @howard-wright.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

There isn't much chance that Trump will approve extradition proceedings is there?

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Howard Wright @howard-wright.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

This is the study: www.nature.com/articles/s41... Some quotes: "Many foods were not consistently assigned to the same NOVA group" "plain unsweetened dairy products were assigned to all four NOVA groups. This result may be tied to ambiguity in NOVA criteria"

nature.com

Ultra-processed foods: how functional is the NOVA system? - European Journal of Clinical Nutrition

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition - Ultra-processed foods: how functional is the NOVA system?

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Howard Wright @howard-wright.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Exactly this. There is also a published study that asked professionals in relevant fields (nutrition, medicine) if they agreed on how to classify foods. The short answer was no. Lots of disagreement, sometimes by 2 NOVA food categories. The NOVA definitions are much too vague and subjective.

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