Alec MacKinnon
@alecmackinnon.bsky.social
Solar physicist, adult educator, human. Scottish. Retired; hopefully not yet moribund. Prog, jazz and indeed, surprising though it might be to the younger me, folk. Cycling
Pinned
here's a picture I made. Simulated tracks of 25 electrons passing through a gas (like air), each with its unique history of scattering off the gas atoms. Based on ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1991A%26..., work done for #solarflare purposes. The colours are random to make a pretty picture
Reposted by Alec MacKinnon
A video shared on President Trump’s Truth Social account depicts the Obamas as apes.
February 6, 2026 at 6:28 AM
A video shared on President Trump’s Truth Social account depicts the Obamas as apes.
rediscovered an old blog post, sort of uneasily positive about our circumstances in University of Glasgow's adult education unit. "Maybe there will be new opportunities", that sort of thing. How little I understood what was really happening #universities daceblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/futu...
The future
It's foolish to worry about the future. It doesn't exist. But we can definitely think about how we'll deal with the present as it changes ...
daceblog.blogspot.com
February 5, 2026 at 11:50 AM
rediscovered an old blog post, sort of uneasily positive about our circumstances in University of Glasgow's adult education unit. "Maybe there will be new opportunities", that sort of thing. How little I understood what was really happening #universities daceblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/futu...
Reposted by Alec MacKinnon
The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty—the last arms control agreement between the United States and Russia, which limits strategic nuclear weapons—expires this Thursday.
To understand the implications of a world without New START, the Bulletin invited leading experts to share their views.
To understand the implications of a world without New START, the Bulletin invited leading experts to share their views.
The experts comment: New START expires, bringing both risks and opportunities
Experts share their concern about the no-rules, no-inspections period that opens when New START expires on Thursday. They also see an opportunity to adapt arms control to a multipolar world.
thebulletin.org
February 4, 2026 at 7:38 PM
The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty—the last arms control agreement between the United States and Russia, which limits strategic nuclear weapons—expires this Thursday.
To understand the implications of a world without New START, the Bulletin invited leading experts to share their views.
To understand the implications of a world without New START, the Bulletin invited leading experts to share their views.
this is mad, like two THRUSH council members exchanging notes on the destruction of democracies. What does it say about our societies and their structures that they are vulnerable to such cartoon baddies? (not a rhetorical question)
February 3, 2026 at 11:40 AM
this is mad, like two THRUSH council members exchanging notes on the destruction of democracies. What does it say about our societies and their structures that they are vulnerable to such cartoon baddies? (not a rhetorical question)
Reposted by Alec MacKinnon
I've updated my post on the funding crisis heading for British astronomy: docs.google.com/document/d/1.... UKRI made clear that astro and particle physics are being subject to unique cuts due to rising costs elsewhere. This looks like a deliberate decision not to fund fundamental physics. 🔭 🧪
Funding piece
Modern astronomy is full of marvels. In recent years we have rejoiced in the success of the James Webb Space Telescope, and been puzzled by the surprisingly vibrant early Universe it is showing us. We...
docs.google.com
February 2, 2026 at 10:32 AM
I've updated my post on the funding crisis heading for British astronomy: docs.google.com/document/d/1.... UKRI made clear that astro and particle physics are being subject to unique cuts due to rising costs elsewhere. This looks like a deliberate decision not to fund fundamental physics. 🔭 🧪
The function of a corporation is to maximise profits, not to make cars or washing machines, or to provide food or water. If they can do this by harming people or the environment they will, unless the consequences for them are devastating. Why are we so slow to learn this?
You cannot regulate away the damage caused by private ownership.
When profit is prioritised, customers and the environment inevitably lose out — no matter how tight the regulatory grip is meant to be.
#CleanWater #PublicGood
When profit is prioritised, customers and the environment inevitably lose out — no matter how tight the regulatory grip is meant to be.
#CleanWater #PublicGood
February 2, 2026 at 10:41 AM
The function of a corporation is to maximise profits, not to make cars or washing machines, or to provide food or water. If they can do this by harming people or the environment they will, unless the consequences for them are devastating. Why are we so slow to learn this?
Reposted by Alec MacKinnon
And ... I recommend the erect crested penguin live feed from NZ's subantarctic Antipodes Islands.
Good for you northern hemisphere insomniacs.
tawaki.cam
#PenguinAwarenessDay
Good for you northern hemisphere insomniacs.
tawaki.cam
#PenguinAwarenessDay
TawakiCam Live
Live penguin camera stream. This is a temporary Antipodes Island setup until TawakiCam is relocated to a Fiordland tawaki/Fiordland penguin nest site.
tawaki.cam
January 21, 2026 at 12:22 AM
And ... I recommend the erect crested penguin live feed from NZ's subantarctic Antipodes Islands.
Good for you northern hemisphere insomniacs.
tawaki.cam
#PenguinAwarenessDay
Good for you northern hemisphere insomniacs.
tawaki.cam
#PenguinAwarenessDay
Reposted by Alec MacKinnon
January 31, 2026 at 11:57 AM
Reposted by Alec MacKinnon
a dreich afternoon but it didn't deter these windsurfers on Campbeltown Loch #campbeltown #argyllandbute
January 25, 2026 at 6:29 PM
a dreich afternoon but it didn't deter these windsurfers on Campbeltown Loch #campbeltown #argyllandbute
Reposted by Alec MacKinnon
The Royal Astronomical Society is gravely concerned at the drastic cuts to support for UK astronomy outlined by the Science and Technology Facilities Council.
Read our statement 👉 ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...
Read our statement 👉 ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...
Proposed budget cuts a catastrophe for UK astronomy
The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) is gravely concerned at the drastic cuts to support for UK astronomy outlined by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (...
ras.ac.uk
January 28, 2026 at 9:07 PM
The Royal Astronomical Society is gravely concerned at the drastic cuts to support for UK astronomy outlined by the Science and Technology Facilities Council.
Read our statement 👉 ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...
Read our statement 👉 ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...
$68M? That's, like, their entertainment budget?
Google has agreed to pay $68M to settle a class-action lawsuit that alleged the technology giant's voice assistant had illegally recorded users (even if they didn’t activate it with “Hey Google”) and then shared their private conversations with advertisers.
January 30, 2026 at 1:23 PM
$68M? That's, like, their entertainment budget?
I've been enjoying The Omega Factor. I don't remember watching it but some scenes are familiar. Amazing to learn that @glasgow.ac.uk's Archie Roy, who combined a deep interest in Psychical Research with his inspirational Astronomy career, was an advisor to the programme
Tonight at 9pm in ⚰️ THE CELLAR CLUB #CarolineMunro presents the next episode of THE OMEGA FACTOR (1979) followed by #AlanScarfe and #BeverlyMurray in CATHY'S CURSE (1977). So don't be late for a chilling date with Caroline! #TPTVsubtitles
January 30, 2026 at 11:43 AM
I've been enjoying The Omega Factor. I don't remember watching it but some scenes are familiar. Amazing to learn that @glasgow.ac.uk's Archie Roy, who combined a deep interest in Psychical Research with his inspirational Astronomy career, was an advisor to the programme
Reposted by Alec MacKinnon
The thing which we all said was happening but apparently never was until it did
Google has agreed to pay $68M to settle a class-action lawsuit that alleged the technology giant's voice assistant had illegally recorded users (even if they didn’t activate it with “Hey Google”) and then shared their private conversations with advertisers.
January 27, 2026 at 7:14 AM
The thing which we all said was happening but apparently never was until it did
will need at least a 20 minute session
Government to offer free training to all adults to help them learn to enjoy the smooth smooth taste of Benson and Hedges
January 28, 2026 at 12:26 PM
will need at least a 20 minute session
True adult education should be top priority in a country that wants to see individuals and communities flourish. Here we see a pathetic "training" exercise aimed at feeding corporations rather than nurturing humans
Let’s take the government at their word and twenty minute taster sessions on Microsoft Copilot is the biggest government investment in adult education in seventy years, what does that tell us about this country?
The government’s suggestion that rolling out 20 minute courses on writing “AI“ prompts, sponsored by Google, Microsoft and Amazon, is somehow comparable to the founding of the Open University (the Wilson government‘s, & Jennie Lee’s, proudest achievement), is an insult to our human intelligence.
January 28, 2026 at 12:11 PM
True adult education should be top priority in a country that wants to see individuals and communities flourish. Here we see a pathetic "training" exercise aimed at feeding corporations rather than nurturing humans
January 28, 2026 at 11:47 AM
Reposted by Alec MacKinnon
Arthur Russell and the Flying Hearts Featuring Allen Ginsberg - Ballad of the Lights [US, Avant Pop/Folk, Poetry] (rec. 1977)
https://redd.it/bpv7nt
https://youtu.be/JVwM5pqnT6A
https://redd.it/bpv7nt
https://youtu.be/JVwM5pqnT6A
Arthur Russell and the Flying Hearts Featuring Allen Ginsberg - Ballad of the Lights [US, Avant Pop/Folk, Poetry] (rec. 1977)
youtu.be
January 27, 2026 at 8:08 AM
Arthur Russell and the Flying Hearts Featuring Allen Ginsberg - Ballad of the Lights [US, Avant Pop/Folk, Poetry] (rec. 1977)
https://redd.it/bpv7nt
https://youtu.be/JVwM5pqnT6A
https://redd.it/bpv7nt
https://youtu.be/JVwM5pqnT6A
Reposted by Alec MacKinnon
There's an update to the "Reasonable worst-case scenarios for extreme space weather". No-one's going to sit down and read this with a coffee, but it's hopefully a useful reference!
epubs.stfc.ac.uk/work/64076049
epubs.stfc.ac.uk/work/64076049
ePubs
epubs.stfc.ac.uk
January 26, 2026 at 11:36 AM
There's an update to the "Reasonable worst-case scenarios for extreme space weather". No-one's going to sit down and read this with a coffee, but it's hopefully a useful reference!
epubs.stfc.ac.uk/work/64076049
epubs.stfc.ac.uk/work/64076049
Reposted by Alec MacKinnon
The 19th century Struve Geodetic Arc is, to me, one of the most extraordinary properties on the World Heritage List. It crosses 10 countries and was used to determine the size and shape of the world. 🧪 🏺 #ContemporaryArchaeology
Struve Geodetic Arc
The Struve Arc is a chain of survey triangulations stretching from Hammerfest in Norway to the Black Sea, through 10 countries and over 2,820 km. These are points of a survey, carried out between 1816...
whc.unesco.org
January 26, 2026 at 12:01 AM
The 19th century Struve Geodetic Arc is, to me, one of the most extraordinary properties on the World Heritage List. It crosses 10 countries and was used to determine the size and shape of the world. 🧪 🏺 #ContemporaryArchaeology
a dreich afternoon but it didn't deter these windsurfers on Campbeltown Loch #campbeltown #argyllandbute
January 25, 2026 at 6:29 PM
a dreich afternoon but it didn't deter these windsurfers on Campbeltown Loch #campbeltown #argyllandbute
BBC News needs to prioritise "objectivity" not "impartiality". Why would you "both sides" a story when one side is clearly lying?
The BBC coverage is absolutely terrible.
It leads on "sharply contested narratives"
It has a dramatic skew to the US government
It has posted the video but has failed to report on what it shows: it shows the US govt account is untrue
It leads on "sharply contested narratives"
It has a dramatic skew to the US government
It has posted the video but has failed to report on what it shows: it shows the US govt account is untrue
January 25, 2026 at 10:25 AM
BBC News needs to prioritise "objectivity" not "impartiality". Why would you "both sides" a story when one side is clearly lying?
Reposted by Alec MacKinnon
Please share. Today @heraldscotland.bsky.social published the stark findings from our report to the Scottish Gov CEEAC Committee on BBC Radio Scotland's late-night changes.
- plays of new music fell by 69%
- plays of new Scottish music by independent artists fell by 67%
All data at link in bio
- plays of new music fell by 69%
- plays of new Scottish music by independent artists fell by 67%
All data at link in bio
January 24, 2026 at 7:57 AM
Please share. Today @heraldscotland.bsky.social published the stark findings from our report to the Scottish Gov CEEAC Committee on BBC Radio Scotland's late-night changes.
- plays of new music fell by 69%
- plays of new Scottish music by independent artists fell by 67%
All data at link in bio
- plays of new music fell by 69%
- plays of new Scottish music by independent artists fell by 67%
All data at link in bio
If you see this, post an album cover with a motor vehicle on it
January 24, 2026 at 2:10 PM
If you see this, post an album cover with a motor vehicle on it
Just pronounced "sourdough" as "soredow". Don't give me your soredow bread
January 23, 2026 at 8:36 AM
Just pronounced "sourdough" as "soredow". Don't give me your soredow bread