Alex Weatherall
@aweatherall.bsky.social
Physics Teacher (England and now Aotearoa New Zealand #NZEd #UKEd)
Technical-co-founder @teachertapp.bsky.com
Software dev for 12 years and teacher for 12.
Love music, the sky, and my new antipodean home.
Also on mastodon and no longer on twitter.
Technical-co-founder @teachertapp.bsky.com
Software dev for 12 years and teacher for 12.
Love music, the sky, and my new antipodean home.
Also on mastodon and no longer on twitter.
It's rude to show AI output to people by Alex Martsinovich via
@schiff.nz
distantprovince.by/posts/its-ru...
@schiff.nz
distantprovince.by/posts/its-ru...
It's rude to show AI output to people | Alex Martsinovich
Feeding slop is an act of war
distantprovince.by
November 15, 2025 at 6:09 AM
It's rude to show AI output to people by Alex Martsinovich via
@schiff.nz
distantprovince.by/posts/its-ru...
@schiff.nz
distantprovince.by/posts/its-ru...
Reposted by Alex Weatherall
"I did not have the good fortune of living with parents who loved reading or in a household filled with books, but I did have an excellent local library...now that I am an author, it is once again librarians who are helping me to flourish in the absence of other support" (scroll down to read my bit)
The GLL Literary Foundation One Year On – Books For Keeps
booksforkeeps.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 11:22 AM
"I did not have the good fortune of living with parents who loved reading or in a household filled with books, but I did have an excellent local library...now that I am an author, it is once again librarians who are helping me to flourish in the absence of other support" (scroll down to read my bit)
Reposted by Alex Weatherall
a “Space Force”, if you will
November 13, 2025 at 2:27 PM
a “Space Force”, if you will
Imagine a government proudly releasing a draft science curriculum with no Electricity topic in either year 9 or 10, but still including the following in the required equipment for those years: batteries, wires, bulbs, switches, diodes, resistors, motors, solar cells.
(Reminds me of England 2014)
(Reminds me of England 2014)
November 14, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Imagine a government proudly releasing a draft science curriculum with no Electricity topic in either year 9 or 10, but still including the following in the required equipment for those years: batteries, wires, bulbs, switches, diodes, resistors, motors, solar cells.
(Reminds me of England 2014)
(Reminds me of England 2014)
A master of double negatives:
The president is trying to make the shutdown "as un-painless as possible".
The president is trying to make the shutdown "as un-painless as possible".
November 2, 2025 at 5:04 AM
A master of double negatives:
The president is trying to make the shutdown "as un-painless as possible".
The president is trying to make the shutdown "as un-painless as possible".
Reposted by Alex Weatherall
This isn't just about race or patriotism, it's about some of the worst people in our communities being given an excuse to act out their violent fantasies to give themselves some sense of meaning and purpose in their shitty, empty little lives.
Tensions over divisive flag displays have erupted into violence in Norfolk, as police face criticism for inaction | Owen Sennitt, Local Democracy Reporter
Police drop inquiry after man assaulted removing flags
Tensions over divisive flag displays have erupted into violence in Norfolk, as police face criticism for inaction
eastangliabylines.co.uk
October 30, 2025 at 8:44 AM
This isn't just about race or patriotism, it's about some of the worst people in our communities being given an excuse to act out their violent fantasies to give themselves some sense of meaning and purpose in their shitty, empty little lives.
Reposted by Alex Weatherall
After the dreichness of yesterday, today’s drive was in pretty much perfect conditions. Slightly longer route from Wanaka to Timaru as several of the higher more direct routes were still blocked by snow. Arrived in time to meet up with @aweatherall.bsky.social for dinner.
October 28, 2025 at 3:49 AM
After the dreichness of yesterday, today’s drive was in pretty much perfect conditions. Slightly longer route from Wanaka to Timaru as several of the higher more direct routes were still blocked by snow. Arrived in time to meet up with @aweatherall.bsky.social for dinner.
Reposted by Alex Weatherall
This is a talk from ResearchEd National in 2023 - an intro to the world of home education, what we do know, and what - in my view - would be interesting to find out. If you are like me and prefer to read (and skim if need be!), here you go: learnwhatyoulive.substack.com/p/home-educa...
Home Education: What do we know? (2023 edition)
My talk from ResearchEd 2023, posted for posterity before it's completely outdated.
learnwhatyoulive.substack.com
October 26, 2025 at 4:12 PM
This is a talk from ResearchEd National in 2023 - an intro to the world of home education, what we do know, and what - in my view - would be interesting to find out. If you are like me and prefer to read (and skim if need be!), here you go: learnwhatyoulive.substack.com/p/home-educa...
I wonder what is the primary cause of Lord Dampnut's military operations off the shores of Venezuela.
Perhaps he's worried about the authoritarian rule...
poor freedom of the press...
civil liberties...
corruption...
Or is it that it has the world's largest oil reserves?
Perhaps he's worried about the authoritarian rule...
poor freedom of the press...
civil liberties...
corruption...
Or is it that it has the world's largest oil reserves?
![From Wikipedia: Venezuela is officially a federal presidential
republic, but has experienced democratic
backsliding under the Chåvez and Maduro
administrations, shifting into an authoritarian
state.[3] It ranks poorly on international
measurements of freedom of the press, civil
[30]
liberties, and control of corruption.
Venezuela is a developing country, has the world's largest
known oil reserves, and has been one of the world's
leading exporters of oil.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:z4lz32yzh3norc7lx3obdfxw/bafkreiam3gpla45jvnskhmznzgxnmsaxs5fk62iybjj66fu27nntiv2jb4@jpeg)
October 26, 2025 at 11:16 PM
I wonder what is the primary cause of Lord Dampnut's military operations off the shores of Venezuela.
Perhaps he's worried about the authoritarian rule...
poor freedom of the press...
civil liberties...
corruption...
Or is it that it has the world's largest oil reserves?
Perhaps he's worried about the authoritarian rule...
poor freedom of the press...
civil liberties...
corruption...
Or is it that it has the world's largest oil reserves?
Reposted by Alex Weatherall
NEW: Has gender balance in A-Level physics improved?
This summer, 24% of those entering A-Level physics exams were female. Physics still has the second lowest percentage of female entrants of all A-Levels. - but that's the highest percentage for at least the last twenty years.
vist.ly/4bft7
This summer, 24% of those entering A-Level physics exams were female. Physics still has the second lowest percentage of female entrants of all A-Levels. - but that's the highest percentage for at least the last twenty years.
vist.ly/4bft7
Has gender balance in A-Level physics improved? - FFT Education Datalab
We look at whether A-Level physics is becoming more popular with female students.
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk
October 23, 2025 at 9:14 AM
NEW: Has gender balance in A-Level physics improved?
This summer, 24% of those entering A-Level physics exams were female. Physics still has the second lowest percentage of female entrants of all A-Levels. - but that's the highest percentage for at least the last twenty years.
vist.ly/4bft7
This summer, 24% of those entering A-Level physics exams were female. Physics still has the second lowest percentage of female entrants of all A-Levels. - but that's the highest percentage for at least the last twenty years.
vist.ly/4bft7
Reposted by Alex Weatherall
Yes the CO2 rise 2023-2024 was faster than we predicted at Mauna Loa and was a record rise there - now the WMO confirm the global mean rise was also a record
Also the rate of CO2 rise is now above the IPCC scenarios that limit global warming to 1.5C
www.carbonbrief.org/met-office-a...
Also the rate of CO2 rise is now above the IPCC scenarios that limit global warming to 1.5C
www.carbonbrief.org/met-office-a...
October 18, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Yes the CO2 rise 2023-2024 was faster than we predicted at Mauna Loa and was a record rise there - now the WMO confirm the global mean rise was also a record
Also the rate of CO2 rise is now above the IPCC scenarios that limit global warming to 1.5C
www.carbonbrief.org/met-office-a...
Also the rate of CO2 rise is now above the IPCC scenarios that limit global warming to 1.5C
www.carbonbrief.org/met-office-a...
Reposted by Alex Weatherall
This graph says it all: instead of starting to go down, the *annual increase* of atmospheric CO2 is setting new records. We're making climate change worse at a record rate.
Turning this around should be our top priority, and it's not.
From: www.carbonbrief.org/met-office-a...
Turning this around should be our top priority, and it's not.
From: www.carbonbrief.org/met-office-a...
October 18, 2025 at 7:33 PM
This graph says it all: instead of starting to go down, the *annual increase* of atmospheric CO2 is setting new records. We're making climate change worse at a record rate.
Turning this around should be our top priority, and it's not.
From: www.carbonbrief.org/met-office-a...
Turning this around should be our top priority, and it's not.
From: www.carbonbrief.org/met-office-a...
Reposted by Alex Weatherall
A multinational edu-publisher I worked for contacted me to say that, moving forward, they’ll be using AI to make new books etc. They offered me work checking the output but we parted ways because of our different views on AI, shall we say.
October 17, 2025 at 8:03 AM
A multinational edu-publisher I worked for contacted me to say that, moving forward, they’ll be using AI to make new books etc. They offered me work checking the output but we parted ways because of our different views on AI, shall we say.
Reposted by Alex Weatherall
Had interesting conversation with a very bright, able trainee teacher who has quickly identified that the overwhelming majority of teaching “resources” out there are shit. Which bodes really well for the future when new resources will be made by AI stealing from them.
October 17, 2025 at 6:49 AM
Had interesting conversation with a very bright, able trainee teacher who has quickly identified that the overwhelming majority of teaching “resources” out there are shit. Which bodes really well for the future when new resources will be made by AI stealing from them.
Reposted by Alex Weatherall
Reposted by Alex Weatherall
How to Play 'Fantastic Gymnastics!' - Hasbro Gaming
YouTube video by Hasbro
youtu.be
October 17, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Reposted by Alex Weatherall
![Vertical comic structured like flow chart. (1) Einstein had an insight that overturned physics, thus proving his value. (2) I hope *I* have value. I’ll try to have an insight that overturns physics, to check. (3) [Time Passes] (4) Oh no! My insight didn’t overturn physics! But I don’t think I’m worthless… [arrows to two different options] (5a) Healthy Path: Maybe this was not a well-thought-out test of my value. (5b) Path of Ruin: The establishment must be *suppressing* my insight!](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreihhxykbw72fblbjeupqscutarbdowk73mhsdkqrtzjwrpzqzamjem@jpeg)
October 16, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Reposted by Alex Weatherall
wikipedia's data shows that AI is siphoning traffic away from the site, which is a danger to its sustainability. ironically Wikipedia is more important than ever to users who want reliable information instead of slop, and to AI companies that need it for training data www.404media.co/wikipedia-sa...
Wikipedia Says AI Is Causing a Dangerous Decline in Human Visitors
“With fewer visits to Wikipedia, fewer volunteers may grow and enrich the content, and fewer individual donors may support this work.”
www.404media.co
October 17, 2025 at 1:15 AM
wikipedia's data shows that AI is siphoning traffic away from the site, which is a danger to its sustainability. ironically Wikipedia is more important than ever to users who want reliable information instead of slop, and to AI companies that need it for training data www.404media.co/wikipedia-sa...
Reposted by Alex Weatherall
It just hit me how much time has passed, and how much has happened, there may be younger generations that don't know about him.
I don't want him to be forgotten.
Share his story and keep fighting for a fair Internet ❤️
I don't want him to be forgotten.
Share his story and keep fighting for a fair Internet ❤️
Today is the birthday of one of my heroes, Aaron Swartz (1986 2013).
It is thanks to him that we have Reddit and Creative Commons as we know them.
He fought for freedom of information and the internet.
He was a victim of corporate greed and a corrupt system: JSTOR & the US.
A brief 🧵 [TW: Suicide]
It is thanks to him that we have Reddit and Creative Commons as we know them.
He fought for freedom of information and the internet.
He was a victim of corporate greed and a corrupt system: JSTOR & the US.
A brief 🧵 [TW: Suicide]
October 17, 2025 at 2:46 AM
It just hit me how much time has passed, and how much has happened, there may be younger generations that don't know about him.
I don't want him to be forgotten.
Share his story and keep fighting for a fair Internet ❤️
I don't want him to be forgotten.
Share his story and keep fighting for a fair Internet ❤️
Reposted by Alex Weatherall
Breaking News!
Code Yikes!
September averaged 1.47°C above the 1850-1900 IPCC pre-industrial baseline, snapping a three-month "cool" streak.
Will this heat continue? The Climate 8-ball is consulting the I Ching.
Code Yikes!
September averaged 1.47°C above the 1850-1900 IPCC pre-industrial baseline, snapping a three-month "cool" streak.
Will this heat continue? The Climate 8-ball is consulting the I Ching.
October 2, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Breaking News!
Code Yikes!
September averaged 1.47°C above the 1850-1900 IPCC pre-industrial baseline, snapping a three-month "cool" streak.
Will this heat continue? The Climate 8-ball is consulting the I Ching.
Code Yikes!
September averaged 1.47°C above the 1850-1900 IPCC pre-industrial baseline, snapping a three-month "cool" streak.
Will this heat continue? The Climate 8-ball is consulting the I Ching.
Reposted by Alex Weatherall
From her lifetime of pioneering work with chimpanzees to her
tireless advocacy for the environment...
Jane Goodall was a one-of-a-kind treasure to the world!
I was lucky enough to be able to thank her personally when our paths crossed not long ago.
Thanks again, Ms. Goodall. You will be missed. ♥️
tireless advocacy for the environment...
Jane Goodall was a one-of-a-kind treasure to the world!
I was lucky enough to be able to thank her personally when our paths crossed not long ago.
Thanks again, Ms. Goodall. You will be missed. ♥️
October 2, 2025 at 6:43 PM
From her lifetime of pioneering work with chimpanzees to her
tireless advocacy for the environment...
Jane Goodall was a one-of-a-kind treasure to the world!
I was lucky enough to be able to thank her personally when our paths crossed not long ago.
Thanks again, Ms. Goodall. You will be missed. ♥️
tireless advocacy for the environment...
Jane Goodall was a one-of-a-kind treasure to the world!
I was lucky enough to be able to thank her personally when our paths crossed not long ago.
Thanks again, Ms. Goodall. You will be missed. ♥️
Reposted by Alex Weatherall
My favourite Jane Goodall quotes....so many, so to the point, so wise. How different the world would be if enough people listened to her.
October 2, 2025 at 2:36 AM
My favourite Jane Goodall quotes....so many, so to the point, so wise. How different the world would be if enough people listened to her.
Reposted by Alex Weatherall
Sad news - a truly pioneering life.
RIP Jane Goodall
#WomeninScience #WomensHistory
www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...
RIP Jane Goodall
#WomeninScience #WomensHistory
www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...
Jane Goodall, conservationist and chimpanzee champion, dies at 91
Through her groundbreaking work with chimps in Africa, Goodall helped people understand that animals are sentient and intelligent.
www.nationalgeographic.com
October 2, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Sad news - a truly pioneering life.
RIP Jane Goodall
#WomeninScience #WomensHistory
www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...
RIP Jane Goodall
#WomeninScience #WomensHistory
www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...
Reposted by Alex Weatherall
We are thrilled to announce that our NEW Large Language Model will be released on 11.18.25.
October 1, 2025 at 2:38 PM
We are thrilled to announce that our NEW Large Language Model will be released on 11.18.25.
Reposted by Alex Weatherall
My statement on Ai from the mini-comic as syllabus i made for new class I'm teaching that starts tomorrow! It robs you of your decisions & struggles - and the joy of being surprised. We won’t to be robbed of our learning - this is essential. This & the full mini at post:
bsky.app/profile/nsou...
bsky.app/profile/nsou...
August 24, 2025 at 7:26 PM
My statement on Ai from the mini-comic as syllabus i made for new class I'm teaching that starts tomorrow! It robs you of your decisions & struggles - and the joy of being surprised. We won’t to be robbed of our learning - this is essential. This & the full mini at post:
bsky.app/profile/nsou...
bsky.app/profile/nsou...