Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 04/09/2026I may even go this evening with my dog... as he is 12 today! 000
Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 04/09/2026+1 for the doghouse... one of my local pubs and very decent... 100
Reposted by Phil BensonCarole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 03/09/2026Stop whatever you’re doing & watch this now! Reform’s magic money tree has been bust wide open. Huge kudos to undercover reporters Verbatim via @channel4news.bsky.social youtu.be/aXut3s90rUI?... hugeyoutu.beUndercover: Exposing Reform's secret donations plotYouTube video by Channel 4 News 802530932
Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 02/09/2026I've never known a (UK) government which is is "good at" science/technology... it seems woefully ill equipped for the type of discussion. 020
Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 28/08/2026Productive and fantastic visit to NEMO on St Vincent comes to a close! Hopefully we'll be back very soon! 000
Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 28/08/2026Here it is from St Vincent too (Seestar S30pro). Scattered clouds but okay. 030
Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 28/08/2026Lunar eclipse underway! taken from St Vincent. Seestar S30pro. #astrophotography 020
Reposted by Phil BensonSouth-East London for Europe (Selfe) @selfe.bsky.social · 23/08/2026‘Brexit lies are exposed, the debate is settled… we must rejoin the EU’ – @sadiqkhanlondon.bsky.social This is searing stuff from Sadiq Khan, and his arguments for the UK to rejoin the EU are as clear and comprehensive as it gets. #RejoinEU #MayorOfLondon www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/sad...thelondoneconomic.com'Brexit lies are exposed, the debate is settled... we must rejoin the EU' - Sadiq KhanThis is searing stuff from Sadiq Khan, and his arguments for the UK to rejoin the EU are as clear and comprehensive as it gets. 14318
Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 23/08/2026The "Veil" Nebula: a supernova remnant in the constellation Cygnus. 2h30m exposure taken from central Essex. 010
Reposted by Phil BensonAndrew Hesselden @andrewhesselden.bsky.social · 23/08/2026Mutual Freedom of Movement is supported by 84% of Brits yorkshirebylines.co.uk/news/brexit/...yorkshirebylines.co.uk‘Mutual free movement’ for UK and EU citizens supported by 84% of Brits, in stunning new pollOmnisis poll suggests opposition to free movement was based on lack of awareness and the UK government failing to enforce the rules 281
Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 23/08/2026Ha! never had the pleasure(?) of punch cards. Mind you, learning FORTRAN77 on the dumb terminals of Leicester unis Physics & Astronomy department was still quite the challenge for someone who had never programmed anything before! ('93) 120
Reposted by Phil BensonKate Littler @palaeoclimate.bsky.social · 18/08/2026To hell with LLMs. It is fundamentally breaking the uni staff - student relationship, based on mutual trust & respect. Students, I want to be your instructor, your mentor, & a friendly presence. I don’t want to be locked in a perpetual arms-race where you try to cheat and I try to catch you 😞 415732
Reposted by Phil BensonThe Guardian @theguardian.com · 17/08/2026My generation had no voice on Brexit – but Burnham gives the young fresh hope on Europe | Ceira Sergeanttheguardian.comMy generation had no voice on Brexit – but Burnham gives the young fresh hope on Europe | Ceira SergeantBrexit didn’t create all the problems young people now face, but renewing close ties with Europe will give us so many opportunities, says student and activist Ceira Sergeant 197720
Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 14/08/2026Someone's playing with the toys I see! Guess this is the outcome of the cobra meeting.... 010
Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 13/08/2026I'm just waiting for the "Boo to the clouds" T-Shirts to go on sale.. 😎 120
Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 12/08/2026Here we go... all set for the eclipse from central london... 000
Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 10/08/2026Two galaxies: M91 (left) and M88 (right), part of the Virgo Cluster. Total exposure just 1h17m (8 Apr 2026); 540mm/F6 SM90 telescope, Atik Ex460 CCD camera, LRGB filters; Bortle 4/5 skies. Processed using the new free software tool “AstroWizard” from Lucomatico. 030
Reposted by Phil BensonPrivate Eye Magazine @privateeyenews.bsky.social · 10/08/2026Number crunching: Compensation Fujitsu has so far paid to victims of the Post Office scandal vs value of contract for police network software awarded to Fujitsu by the Home Office. From the latest Private Eye, out now. 7430246
Reposted by Phil BensonUrsula von der Leyen @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu · 07/08/2026Europe always chooses science and partnership. Japan too. Japan is now officially associated with Horizon Europe. This means Japanese researchers and organisations can take part in the world's largest public research and innovation programme. Let's break new frontiers together. 19599126
Reposted by Phil BensonThe Press Democrat @pressdemo.bsky.social · 05/08/2026The Guatemalan Seismology Institute reported a lava fountain up to 1,000 feet high.pressdemocrat.comGuatemala is on alert and evacuates hundreds of villagers after eruption of the Fuego volcano 042
Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 05/08/2026Interesting article in @thenerve.news today. Is AI a waste of time? Are people pretending to use it to please the boss? I've long suspected it was over hyped maybe Cory Doctorow is on to something here? www.thenerve.news/p/cory-docto...thenerve.newsCory Doctorow: The people who tell you ‘AI is changing everything’ are lyingIt has become impossible to tell managers mesmerised by artificial intelligence that the tools are not, in fact, helpful. So employees just play along with the fiction to keep their jobs, writes our t... 000
Reposted by Phil BensonDan Vergano @danvergano.bsky.social · 04/08/2026FYI Science Policy News: More U.S.-trained physicists are leaving the country, an exodus that adds to fears of a U.S. "brain drain" www.aip.org/fyi/physics-... a near-doubling of non-US citizens left the US after receiving their PhD, around 29%, in 2025 @aip.bsky.socialaip.orgPhysics PhDs Are Leaving the US at a Record-high RateThe exodus of non-US citizens has “certainly” been influenced by science funding and visa policy changes under Trump, a new AIP report says. 510154
Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 04/08/2026This is fantastic! And now, being a freelancer, I definitely don't miss being passed around, that's for sure! 010
Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 03/08/20263 Globular clusters and funeral... nope... wrong movie. Actually an open cluster and very much alive! Messier catalogue objects M2, M11, M12 and the open cluster M35. Taken 1/Jun, 20/Jul, 26/Jun, and 29 March respectively. My aim being to photograph the entire catalogue myself with my own kit... 000
Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 31/07/2026Here's mine from 20th July (2h27m total integration, Seestar S30Pro, processing via PixInsight). From central London. 120
Reposted by Phil BensonProf. Eliot Jacobson @climatecasino.net · 30/07/2026Here's a graph of global surface temperatures since 1940 by their decadal average. Notice any pattern? 41443172
Reposted by Phil BensonThe Guardian @theguardian.com · 28/07/2026World-class Jodrell Bank is under threat and UK risks a physics brain draintheguardian.comWorld-class Jodrell Bank is under threat and UK risks a physics brain drainFunding crisis could lead to an exodus that would be a blow for British science and national growth 86123
Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 27/07/2026So tragic and backwards-thinking. Abandoning a world class facility and something we do *really well* for what, exactly? Closing Jodrell = Huge mistake. 010
Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 26/07/2026#StarsOnSunday 😎 The Dumbell Nebula, The Veil Nebula, and two versions of the Elephant's Trunk nebula - the wide angle version using a SeestarS30Pro smart 'scope that I recently bought and am playing with. All taken from my rooftop in Central London, around 2hours exposure each. 041
Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 24/07/2026No just the regular Odeon... I think.... but with that 70mm film format. Not sure I could tell the difference!!! 000
Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 24/07/2026Good! ...was somehow hoping for a little more dialogue maybe? And jeez the cinema is LOUD! Or maybe I am getting old!! 100
Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 24/07/2026Nolans The Odyssey about to start in the Leicester square Odeon.... Let's see if my @alexpodyssey.bsky.social training is up to the task! 110
Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 22/07/2026Crikey the QR crew are on fire these days: Sunday School, Midnight Mass extra on Mon/Tues, and now another Bonus Economy episode... Someone's angling for extra applause for the Live show? 😬😎 1152
Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 20/07/2026Fantastic long read on the deficiencies of the UK higher education funding system from @johndavidblake.bsky.social. Summary: it's a mess! post18.co.uk/silence-of-t...post18.co.ukSilence of the Loans: How Loan Book Fictions Prevent Higher Education ReformNew thinking, ideas & policy solutions for post-18 education in the UK 001
Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 16/07/2026Fab Episode, and 🏅to @mrkennycampbell.bsky.social for getting the score right... disappointing though it was! 032
Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 12/07/2026This is rather good... www.youtube.com/watch?v=eurc... Need to see the film now!youtube.comFriend of the Show: Tom Holland Meets Tom Holland to Chat All Things The OdysseyYouTube video by The Rest Is History 000
Reposted by Phil BensonNaomi Smith @pimlicat.bsky.social · 09/07/2026D Miliband ended his lecture tonight calling for AV (which is not a proportionate system) & endorses electoral reform. Which is baby steps in the right direction. Attitudes have changed markedly since 2011, just as they have since an even more recent referendum... www.arguably.uk/p/david-mili...arguably.ukDavid Miliband: how to end the democratic depressionWe must take on the concentration of economic and political power in Westminster 11648
Reposted by Phil BensonBremain in Spain @bremaininspain.com · 07/07/2026Labour, Lib Dems, Conservatives, The Greens, Restore, all say they will not play Farage’s game and join his circus. There is however an independent that we can all get behind. Count Binface! #CountBinfaceForClacton 2369
Reposted by Phil BensonRuss Jones @russincheshire.bsky.social · 07/07/2026Nigel Farage vs "the establishment" He went to private school, worked as a stockbroker, has been a professional politician for 31 years, has his own TV show, is a brand ambassador for gold, is mates with POTUS, accepted a secret £5m gift, and owns five houses bought outright with cash What a rebel 24071602112
Reposted by Phil BensonSam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 07/07/2026"Emergency podcasts, sir. Thousands of 'em" 161763250
Reposted by Phil BensonCornish Skipper #FBPE #RejoinEU 🇪🇺🔶🌹💚💙 @cornishskipper.wsocial.eu · 06/07/2026“an almost-universal consensus that Brexit has been a disaster..majority of people now think this…nations have looked on in bafflement at the UK’s decision to shoot itself in the foot – or, as Finland’s president put it amputating your leg for no reason.” www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/us-...thelondoneconomic.comUS media has just summed up 10 years of Brexit in one devastating clipA devastating four-minute segment from CNN in the wake of Keir Starmer's resignation laid bare the idiocy of Brexit ten years on. 15325130
Reposted by Phil BensonAstronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 01/07/2026While UKRI ponders our fate it was deeply disappointing to see the 🏴Royal Observatory MP responding to our concerns with "funding for STFC has not been cut". True, but flat-cash to cover rising UK facility electricity costs and inflation = cuts to physics and astronomy. #AnswerTheQuestion 😡🔭🧪 44016
Reposted by Phil BensonCERN @cern.bsky.social · 29/06/2026So long #LHC and thank you for all the collisions 👋 Today, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world’s most powerful particle accelerator, comes to the end of an extraordinary chapter in its scientific journey. Find out more: home.cern/cern-bids-fa... 16549171
Phil Benson @physicistphil.bsky.social · 27/06/2026Messier M42/43 “three ways” the classic standard Colour (RGB) palette, the “Hubble” palette (RGB=SHO) and the HOO palette. Total exposure 1h28m (1, 15, 21 March 2026); 540mm/F6 SM90 telescope, Atik Ex460 CCD camera, LRGB filters, PixInsight. #astrophotography 030