Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 04/10/2026The excitement builds in my tale of a plot to bring down the vice chancellor… fictionalaether.substack.com/p/the-vice-c...fictionalaether.substack.comThe Vice Chancellor. Part 3.(3/5) Off to meet the noble guardian of a defenceless community of timid intellectuals. 000
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 20/09/2026After a slacker summer, my stack of subs returns with our Hero-Professor* developing unexpected affection for “the most insufferable academic in existence”… *A term we should see more of. fictionalaether.substack.com/p/the-vice-c...fictionalaether.substack.comThe Vice Chancellor. Part 1.(1/5) The most insufferable academic in existence. 000
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 23/08/2026The wonderful John Clarke documentary isn’t available to stream in the UK, but last week i had a VPN revelation, and it prompted me to publish a slightly updated version of a 2017 appreciation of the great man. fictionalaether.substack.com/p/laughter-a...fictionalaether.substack.comLaughter, amidst mortalityOn the genius of John Clarke 001
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 22/08/2026Laughter, amidst mortality: on the genius of John Clarke. fictionalaether.substack.com/p/laughter-a...fictionalaether.substack.comLaughter, amidst mortalityOn the genius of John Clarke 000
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 05/07/2026I have no idea why people claim that academics are elitist. open.substack.com/pub/fictiona...open.substack.comAdventures in empathyA renowned professor accepts advice from lesser minds. 000
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 29/06/2026At the same time, I’m sure you value his service! 020
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 27/06/2026Latest story, in which we begin to glimpse the grim world of the postdoc… open.substack.com/pub/fictiona...open.substack.comBeware of Pity for PostdocsNot everyone is brave enough to chronicle the worst mistake of their life. 110
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 03/05/2026My prediction that AI is going to fuel a renaissance in consciousness research. Pity that I am among the worst forecasters in the world. open.substack.com/pub/fictiona...open.substack.comThe ghost under seigeA rare hopeful take on the rise of AI, and the problem of consciousness, and the nature of scientific discovery 011
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 21/04/2026Our beloved professor imteracts with an ordinary person. open.substack.com/pub/fictiona...open.substack.comThe butcherAn unpleasant encounter with an ordinary person. 021
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 04/04/2026Also fascinating how brazenly some physicists will lie to influence the official history of their field, but that’s another story… 010
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 04/04/2026I was recently at a historians-meet-physicists conference, and the questions the historians were most interested in seemed totally irrelevant and beside the point to the physicists. Seemed like a huge missed opportunity. 110
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 21/03/2026You’ll tell me that the ending of this story is completely unrealistic. open.substack.com/pub/fictiona...open.substack.comThe DossierThe heartwarming tale of my attempt to destroy my academic nemesis, Dr. Jamie Bumbles. 000
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 08/03/2026Never underestimate the professional benefits of having a good nemesis. open.substack.com/pub/fictiona...open.substack.comThe nemesisOne of the absolute most important keys to success, which most people are too chicken to include in their self-help books, is, of course: have a nemesis. 000
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 21/02/2026When a scientific field goes rotten — really rotten! open.substack.com/pub/fictiona...open.substack.comThe saviours of scienceDesperate times call for extreme measures 120
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 07/02/2026The title says it all, really. open.substack.com/pub/fictiona...open.substack.comJet-lagged and drinking coffee in MelbourneThe title is entirely descriptive and there is no twist 020
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 27/01/2026Could it be that my stories have reached a new level of emotional maturity and thematic sophistication? No, not really… open.substack.com/pub/fictiona...open.substack.comTouch and goA dirty story of a dirty man, plus two more Beatles references. 000
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 24/12/2025The best thing about switching off email over Christmas is opening it again in January and doing a great big delete all. 010
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 13/12/2025Everyone I’ve shown this asks, “How did you know what my office was like!?” open.substack.com/pub/fictiona...open.substack.comThree terrifying London episodes(2/3) In which I disgrace myself before the worst professor I have ever met 010
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 07/12/2025Oh boy! I may have to schedule a return trip to NZ just to see it! 010
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 06/12/2025Latest thrilling — and in some ways terrifying — instalment of The Fictional Aether. That’s right, we’re going to London! open.substack.com/pub/fictiona...open.substack.comThree disturbing London episodes(1/3) The approach to the twelfth floor. 010
Reposted by Mark HannamHarry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 02/12/2025Great culture can save lives. Literally. Amazing letter in today’s @thetimes.com about Tom Stoppard 144117824045
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 22/11/2025open.substack.com/pub/fictiona...open.substack.comA Greek island tragedy averted(At least for the hero of this story) 031
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 22/11/2025I just listened to the podcast and thought, “There can’t possibly be two TV science advisors with the same name!” I hope all is well with you, even if you’re not playing with centrifuges! 010
Reposted by Mark HannamJeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 08/11/2025Bluetorial-Jim Watson I met Jim Watson a few times but did not know him well. However, I was greatly influenced by his book “The Double Helix”. He was a complicated human being with some very, very bad features, but some good contributions. What follows is my personal perspective. 1/41media.tenor.coma cartoon says hey everybody an old man 's talking while bart simpson looks onALT: a cartoon says hey everybody an old man 's talking while bart simpson looks on 619275
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 02/11/2025My latest, on reasons to read The Power Broker, and some things that might help you do it. open.substack.com/pub/fictiona...open.substack.comHow to read a great bookRobert Caro's Power Broker, and some guides to powering through it. 010
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 10/10/2025I would expect that’s the one book I stubbornly would NOT have read… 010
Reposted by Mark HannamMargaret Harris @drmlharris.bsky.social · 06/10/2025Ahead of tomorrow’s #NobelPrize announcement, I went on a deep dive in search of the most obscure physics Nobel Prizes in history. That means it's time for a thread on...🧵 PHYSICS NOBEL PRIZES YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF – PART 1 (1/n) 29433
Reposted by Mark HannamMark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 04/10/2025In which I valiantly defend my artistic freedom and, of course, freedom of speech. open.substack.com/pub/fictiona...open.substack.comAn encounter with my brilliant and terrifying Head of DepartmentThis is definitely a piece of fiction 011
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 04/10/2025In which I valiantly defend my artistic freedom and, of course, freedom of speech. open.substack.com/pub/fictiona...open.substack.comAn encounter with my brilliant and terrifying Head of DepartmentThis is definitely a piece of fiction 011
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 16/09/2025Obviously it’s extreme-mass-ratio inspiral. The words connected by the hyphens are the adjective for “inspiral”. Shocking that anyone would say otherwise. 010
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 14/09/2025Already several comments on this line. All I can say is, “Wow, you made it all the way* through the piece!” open.substack.com/pub/fictiona...open.substack.comMy dream postdocIt's all true and not a single bit is made up. 110
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 14/09/2025How Good Will Hunting helped me to find my dream postdoc… open.substack.com/pub/fictiona...open.substack.comMy dream postdocIt's all true and not a single bit is made up. 010
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 29/08/2025I recently re-read the DFW piece. I remember thinking it was great, but this time around he came across as a bit disturbed. Probably he shouldn’t have gone a cruise alone… 100
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 01/08/2025Poor performance. We really need to up our game. 010
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 18/07/2025Me on the radio, taking massive black holes crashing into each other. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...bbc.co.ukBBC World Service - Science In Action, Biggest black hole merger observedTwo black holes have collided and combined in the largest merger yet observed. 140
Reposted by Mark HannamLIGO Scientific Collaboration @ligo.org · 14/07/2025Our collaboration member Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social shares his insights on working on our latest discover, the particularly tricky gravitational-wave signal #GW231123 fictionalaether.substack.com/p/gw231123-a...fictionalaether.substack.comGW231123: an unearthly signalA report on some actual science 0103
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 14/07/2025My summary of the latest @ligo.org observation paper. Massive black holes! open.substack.com/pub/fictiona...open.substack.comGW231123: an unearthly signalA report on some actual science 152
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 12/07/2025Here we go: the first of three trials of the scientific paper writer! fictionalaether.substack.com/p/a-collisio...fictionalaether.substack.comA collision of co-authorsThree trials of a scientific paper writer: the first trial 010
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 05/07/2025In honour of the second night of Oasis in Cardiff, I’m at home listening to Blur. 000
Mark Hannam @markdhannam.bsky.social · 05/07/2025Latest piece: “The 2025 vacation life hack” Including a (fashionably ambivalent) cameo appearance from Bluesky. open.substack.com/pub/fictiona...open.substack.comThe 2025 vacation life hackOr: how to write an article that mentions Donald Trump yet remains frothy and whimsical. (Hopefully.) 000