iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 13/08/2026

Whilst lying on the pavement waiting for an ambulance earlier this week, I counted at least 35 people who walked past me (there may well have been more). 3 stopped to ask if I needed help. Is 8.5% representative of the proportion of people who help? I'm genuinely curious. 🤔

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Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 05/08/2026

First thing this morning, I noticed a strange transparent liquid on the path outside. It's as if this substance had fallen from the sky. Has anyone else in the UK observed this?

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Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 02/08/2026

To every PhD student, researcher, cardiologist, electrophysiologist, engineer, developer and everyone else that has ever worked on arrhythmia/sudden cardiac arrest therapies and ICD development: I, along with many others, owe you my life. Thank you. 🙏❤️‍🩹 #Cardiomyopathy #ARVC

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Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 02/08/2026

In this past week, several people have asked what keeps me going in face of adversity. It's very simple: I woke up today. I've been close to dying three times in as many years. The latest was just over a week ago. I am immensely thankful for every single day that comes.

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Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 29/07/2026

Update note: They are turning up the speed of my ICD pacemaker. The faster version of Matthew will consume biscuits at 1.5x the rate of standard speed Matthew. Upgrade to the Pro plan by sending chocolate-coated biscuits.

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Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 16/07/2026

Today's choice of t-shirt has wholeheartedly been endorsed by @marinemumbles.bsky.social. I knew she'd understand. #BIGEvent26

Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 15/07/2026

Day 1 at #BIGEvent26 included a wander around a building I worked in regularly during the first 7-8 years of its opening. I had a bit of catching up to do @stemlearning.bsky.social National STEM Centre and met some former colleagues. Then I got distracted by the Lego. Very distracted.

LEGO Technic-style elephant model on a bookshelf. The elephant is built from grey struts, gears and panels, with its trunk lowered and legs standing on round supports.

Large LEGO model of a green space capsule with a cutaway doorway showing the detailed cream and grey interior, donated by the UK Space Agency.

Small LEGO train set on an oval track, with a yellow engine, red-and-white wagon and colourful track pieces on carpet. A small level crossing is in the centre of the track, complete with red and white barriers.

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Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 14/07/2026

York Minster is quite something without anyone in it. Even though I've experienced this before, I still wanted to allow myself a few minutes to pause and just take it in. Magical.

A view of the nave of York Minster, looking towards the West Window from the chancel crossing. The rear of the high alter is in the foreground.

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Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 14/07/2026

Helloooo down there. I may have got slightly side-tracked en route to #BIGEvent26.

A view from the south-west tower of York Minster, looking down onto trees and buildings on the street below. Evening sun is creating long shadows on the road and pavements.

Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 30/06/2026

Sci-comm: I've finally helped my parents understand how to get best from a heat pump, thanks to jugs of water and a leaky container. They understand the "trickle mindset" as opposed to the surge mindset.

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Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 28/03/2026

Congratulations and thank you to the organisers of today's #CardiomyopathyUK patient conference. I cannot emphasise how uplifting it is to hear about latest research and to speak to other patients. Great to see @thehearthive.bsky.social there too.

A slide from the Digital Health session, outling how patient arrhythmias could be better managed using a range of interlinked technologies and patient data.

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Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 28/09/2025

I have just missed my face and poured water all down myself whilst trying to take a tablet. People put me in charge of explosives, you know.

Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 08/09/2025

🔥 What a weekend at the Festival of Fireworks, Catton Hall! Thousands gathered under the night sky for a spectacle of colour, sound and shared awe — and I had the privilege of being host. 🎤 Nights like these remind me why live events matter. 👇 [Thread]

A dark sky filled with spectacular golden brocade (glitter) shell bursts, over the top of 11 pink and gold mines erupting from the ground, with 22 45-degree gold-glitter comet punctuations.

A photo of my announcer's script, showing the start of my 4pm announcement.

The control point, with four individual firing systems (all FireOne in this photo). They are set up on trestle tables, with laptop screens visible and the lids of the hard-plastic cases of the control panels open. Some of the crews can be seen in the background chatting in small groups.

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Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 20/06/2025

The absolute winner of the day: Seeing lab-grown human heart cells beating together in a dish...absolutely mind-blowing! I saw the very cells that drive every heartbeat, all contracting in unison. 🫀 Even with my science background, this felt magical and deeply moving. #CureHeart #research

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Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 20/06/2025

Earlier this week, I was fortunate to be part of a #Cardiomyopathy UK visit to #CureHeart Labs @ox.ac.uk . We went behind the scenes to see cutting-edge work on inherited heart conditions. Lots of uplifting conversations between researchers and patients giving real hope for progress.👇

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Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 16/04/2025

I've been having a break from social media lately to preserve my mental wellbeing, but today I really need to say this: However you identify; M, F, MTF, FTM, non-binary, gender-fluid or neutral, YOU ARE VALID. 🏳️‍⚧️ #Trans friends enrich my world. I can't imagine it without you. xx

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Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 29/03/2025

This morning's partial #SolarEclipse, evidenced by my solar panels. 😎 Cool, eh?

A power-time output chart, showing a reduction in output between 10am and midday.

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Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 26/03/2025

For the first time ever, I'm actually able to attend an @equitybwm.bsky.social meeting. We've had some amazing speakers today and now we are onto serious union business. Very glad to be part of this. Together we are Stronger.

Headed meeting papers on a table in the foreground, showing the union name "EQUITY". The content is not visible (cropped out). In the background are union members out of focus.

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Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 18/03/2025

Bring extra sparkle to your festival with a science and maths infused fire and art mashup. Drop me a line if you are interested. I adapt the size and scale of the shows for each venue. #STEAM #STEM #artistry #pyrotechnics #PyroArtistry #safety #SciComm

Matthew is on stage in a large Victorian City Hall venue, with a high arched ceiling and theatrical lighting overhead. In the foreground is the audience who are watching the show. A six-metre high wall of pyrotechnic gold and silver sparks is erupting at the front of the stage with dramatic effect.

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Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 17/03/2025

A stonking finish to British Science Week at the weekend, with headline shows at #ColliderFest. I left a little decorative post-show souvenir at City Hall. 😄 #Hull #BSW25

A theatre lighting truss with colourful paper streamers hanging from it.

Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 12/03/2025

Lovely to join the friendly @benendenbells.bsky.social ringers this evening, although it did require a lot of knots in my rope. Me and my high heels... 😆 #bellringing

A vertically hanging bellrope with three figure of eight knots in it. A blurred ringer is sitting in the background.

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Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 12/03/2025

Mid #BSW25 school shows. I was very tempted to shave my head, paint myself blue and hit the table with fluorescent sticks.

A very blue, darkly-lit stage containing a table and some black wooden boxes. The photo is so blue that it is almost not worth posting.

Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 09/03/2025

VIDEO: Bit of chat in the press this weekend about peal ringing. But what actually *is* peal ringing? vimeo.com/1063590192/d... #bellringing #VoiceOver

Picture of Chilcompton church and tower on a sunny summer day. The tower is Norman style with castlellations around the top.

Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 08/03/2025

Tosh downtime this afternoon is taking me back to my degree year abroad, when I first discovered Moroccan cuisine.

A plate of ground spices, arranged individually in small piles, including chilli flakes, coriander, cumin, turmeric, cayenne pepper, paprika and cinnamon.

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Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 07/03/2025

I suddenly have an urge to fire something in celebration, however my shows aren't until next week. MUST RESIST. #ScienceWeek

Matthew's left hand holding a pyrotechnic device and positioning it on a mounting frame. The device is made from cardboard, is cylindrical and painted black on the exterior.

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Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 07/03/2025

Happy Science Week to you. Happy Science Week to you. Happy Science Week dear Britain. Happy Science Week to you. British #ScienceWeek officially starts today. 🥳 #BSW #BSW2025

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Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 28/02/2025

18 months on, and this still feels surreal, even for a clued-up #scicomm pro! A clinic in another part of the country can access the implant INSIDE my body to check that I am safe. 🤯 Flippin' marvellous! 🫀😀 #ACM #AVC #ARVC #cardiomyopathy

Screenshot of a mobile device showing an ICD monitoring app. The message on the screen says: "Checking your heart device... This may take several minutes. Keep the app open and your mobile device nearby."

Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 27/02/2025

This time of year = Site visits and consultancy. Bit soggy under foot, but lovely sunny spells are a bonus. 🙂

A grassy park, with a line of trees on the horizon - deliberately framed to be ambiguous.

Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 21/02/2025

It's actually a great comfort knowing that it is there, keeping an eye on me. It's saved my life once already. 🫀👌😃 #heart #cardiomyopathy #ARVC #AVC

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Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 21/02/2025

I have a little drummer tapping away under my ribs at a perfect 50 bpm. 🥁 Typical investigative physicist... I keep tweaking my posture to see which positions allow me to feel it. I should probably get out more. #cardiomyopathy #AVC #ARVC

Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 18/02/2025

Site visit today = Site boots dilemma. Clean footwear makes a good first impression. Dirty boots look like I've actually done site work before. I think I'll just dust off the sheep poo and leave the mud in situ.

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Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 17/02/2025

When I am big and grown up, I want to go to conferences and communicate through the medium of purple modelling clay, rainbow lollipop sticks and sparkly pipe cleaners. 🙏😀✨🌈🦄 #SciComm

A side photo of Matthew making a model person out of purple modelling clay during a recent conference. Matthew is working at a table with colourful lollipop sticks, modelling clay, pens and pipe cleaners.

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Reposted by Matthew Tosh

National AIDS Trust @nat.org.uk · 17/02/2025

Routine #HIV testing in emergency departments has led to more than 1000 new diagnoses and it's helping to stop new transmissions in #England. Opt-out testing saves money, removes stigma, and finds people who would otherwise not receive a test. www.bbc.co.uk/news/a...

bbc.co.uk

NHS to expand opt-out HIV and hepatitis testing

The NHS will automatically test patients for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C unless they opt out at 90 hospitals.

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Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 17/02/2025

Back from a much-needed holiday. This is my favourite photo from the week. Any guesses as to where this was taken? 🤔

No peeking here for clues! You are looking at the underside of a civil engineering structure. It features triangulated girders and a cantilever deck running along the left and right sides. The blue sky has a few white clouds visible.

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Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 09/02/2025

Less than 24 hours into the role and new information has come to light: There has never been a risk assessment of this flame-emitting ignition source. This is utterly reckless. I think I have my work cut out.

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Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 09/02/2025

New responsibility: I am now the official Mascot Keeper for the Welsh Colleges Society of Change Ringers. Say hello to Puff. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 #bellringing

A toy Welsh dragon, made from red felt. It is wearing a multi-coloured scarf and some metal pins badges. Sorry, I mean him, not it.

This is going well already, isn't it?

A toy Welsh dragon, made from red felt. He is wearing a multi-coloured scarf and some metal pins badges. The dragon is sitting in the middle of a table, which has been set for a formal dinner. He has a flute of orange juice in front of him as alcohol and sources of ignition do not mix.

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Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 08/02/2025

What the? I've posted a link to a self-directed CPR course and the preview has been blocked by moderators. Hey @support.bsky.team - what is going on? #HeartMonth cc @thebhf.bsky.social

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Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 08/02/2025

Just 15 mins, folks. You could make a huge difference. You never know when you might need to use CPR. It happened to me on a bullet train whilst whizzing through northern Japan - a nearby passenger went into arrest. Thread: #HeartMonth

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Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 08/02/2025

Happy place: 🔔 @bristolcathedral.bsky.social ringing chamber 🔔 I've spent many hours up here over the years and did some stints as Ringing Master many moons ago. Today, I'm here with the Welsh Colleges Society of Change Ringers. #bellringing

The (nearly) white-walled ringing chamber of Bristol Cathedral. Twelve blue rectangular peal performance boards are displayed on the facing wall, with an additional two on the left wall, each featuring a different performance scribed in gold lettering. In the foreground are seven visible ringers out of eight who are ringing on ropes with blue wool sallies.

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Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 07/02/2025

We've moved on to inventing our own #SciComm movie characters. Ours is a skiing hairdresser. The big ears make them a good listener, vital for being an effective engager. #UKSFN

A plasticine character with big googlie eyes. It is on green skis, made from ice lolly sticks, and is holding tinsel scissors.

Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 07/02/2025

I'm at a conference. The current presentation features a photo of the Coventry ring road*. This is way too much excitement for a Friday afternoon. (*Radford Road junction, I think?)

A photo of a junction of the Coventry ring road.

Matthew Tosh @matthewtosh.com · 07/02/2025

Good morning from very familiar surroundings.😃 I'm in Bristol today for the UK Science Festivals Network conference.

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What an amazing gift to be able to offer another human: Saving their life. #HeartMonth 🖤🤎💜💙🩵💚💛🧡❤️🩷

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It is #LGBTplusHM25, but did you know that it is also #HeartMonth? Do you know CPR? It's never too late to learn or refresh your CPR training? Lots of info and advice at @resuscounciluk.bsky.social.

An artistic painted heart, made up from diagonal rainbow strokes in watercolours.

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Mmm. Lovely. Good to go. AFAIK I am not a mutant. Others may disagree. 😄 I don't have orange saliva. The colour is due to the preservative.

A plastic vial containing a mixture of saliva and preservative. It is an orange solution and looks a but like a urine sample, but it's not. I promise!