bobreflected
@bobreflected.bsky.social
Emeritus Professor of Materials Physics.
Public understanding of science. Astrophotography (more aspiration than success 😉); Creative Writing; occasional blogger: https://bobreflected.blogspot.com.
Husband, father, grandfather, believer.
Public understanding of science. Astrophotography (more aspiration than success 😉); Creative Writing; occasional blogger: https://bobreflected.blogspot.com.
Husband, father, grandfather, believer.
Reposted by bobreflected
This a big deal: "China’s carbon dioxide emissions have been flat or falling for 18 months"
China's economy has grown by ~5% in the last year, so this comprehensively debunks the idea (again) that emissions are tied to growth. So yes, faster progress needed, but this is how you turn the corner.
China's economy has grown by ~5% in the last year, so this comprehensively debunks the idea (again) that emissions are tied to growth. So yes, faster progress needed, but this is how you turn the corner.
China’s CO2 emissions have been flat or falling for past 18 months, analysis finds
World’s biggest polluter on track to hit peak emissions target early but miss goal for cutting carbon intensity
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:20 AM
This a big deal: "China’s carbon dioxide emissions have been flat or falling for 18 months"
China's economy has grown by ~5% in the last year, so this comprehensively debunks the idea (again) that emissions are tied to growth. So yes, faster progress needed, but this is how you turn the corner.
China's economy has grown by ~5% in the last year, so this comprehensively debunks the idea (again) that emissions are tied to growth. So yes, faster progress needed, but this is how you turn the corner.
Active regions on the Sun this afternoon, as seen from my garden.
We're only just beyond the peak of the solar activity cycle and it shows in the number and size of the active regions - lots of sunspots 🙂
(Taken through a neutral solar filter using my pet robot - a Dwarf3 smart telescope.)
We're only just beyond the peak of the solar activity cycle and it shows in the number and size of the active regions - lots of sunspots 🙂
(Taken through a neutral solar filter using my pet robot - a Dwarf3 smart telescope.)
November 9, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Active regions on the Sun this afternoon, as seen from my garden.
We're only just beyond the peak of the solar activity cycle and it shows in the number and size of the active regions - lots of sunspots 🙂
(Taken through a neutral solar filter using my pet robot - a Dwarf3 smart telescope.)
We're only just beyond the peak of the solar activity cycle and it shows in the number and size of the active regions - lots of sunspots 🙂
(Taken through a neutral solar filter using my pet robot - a Dwarf3 smart telescope.)
Reposted by bobreflected
Giveaway! 🥳🤩🎉🎉 I’ve got a very special gift to give away to 2 people!! Each set contains: a copy of my book, 2 cards with space to add your own noticings on the back and a bookmark! To enter: share this post, reply with what you like about November and tag one person you’d also like to get a set. 😀📚
November 6, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Giveaway! 🥳🤩🎉🎉 I’ve got a very special gift to give away to 2 people!! Each set contains: a copy of my book, 2 cards with space to add your own noticings on the back and a bookmark! To enter: share this post, reply with what you like about November and tag one person you’d also like to get a set. 😀📚
Back in July, before another grey Autumn settled in, it was my privilege and pleasure to give a talk at the South East Kent Astronomical Society: sekas.co.uk.
I promised a follow-on blog post - notable by its absence! In lieu I added a voice-over to the slides: youtu.be/HiaBa32FpxA
#astrophography
I promised a follow-on blog post - notable by its absence! In lieu I added a voice-over to the slides: youtu.be/HiaBa32FpxA
#astrophography
Astrophotography: capturing data & processing images
YouTube video by Bob Newport
youtu.be
November 6, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Back in July, before another grey Autumn settled in, it was my privilege and pleasure to give a talk at the South East Kent Astronomical Society: sekas.co.uk.
I promised a follow-on blog post - notable by its absence! In lieu I added a voice-over to the slides: youtu.be/HiaBa32FpxA
#astrophography
I promised a follow-on blog post - notable by its absence! In lieu I added a voice-over to the slides: youtu.be/HiaBa32FpxA
#astrophography
After nothing since January, two image-centred blog posts within a week (with more waiting in the wings). The first was on binary star systems I've imaged from my garden whereas this second one goes up in scale to star clusters.
#astronomy #astrophography
bobreflected.blogspot.com/2025/11/clus...
#astronomy #astrophography
bobreflected.blogspot.com/2025/11/clus...
November 5, 2025 at 4:01 PM
After nothing since January, two image-centred blog posts within a week (with more waiting in the wings). The first was on binary star systems I've imaged from my garden whereas this second one goes up in scale to star clusters.
#astronomy #astrophography
bobreflected.blogspot.com/2025/11/clus...
#astronomy #astrophography
bobreflected.blogspot.com/2025/11/clus...
Reposted by bobreflected
I don’t like to ask but - how DO you get followers in this place? If it helps, here’s a pic I took of Mercury crossing the Sun!
I post space things and am the creator of skycalpro - a personalised calendar of stargazing events.
#FollowersWanted
#Astronomy
I post space things and am the creator of skycalpro - a personalised calendar of stargazing events.
#FollowersWanted
#Astronomy
November 1, 2025 at 4:54 PM
I don’t like to ask but - how DO you get followers in this place? If it helps, here’s a pic I took of Mercury crossing the Sun!
I post space things and am the creator of skycalpro - a personalised calendar of stargazing events.
#FollowersWanted
#Astronomy
I post space things and am the creator of skycalpro - a personalised calendar of stargazing events.
#FollowersWanted
#Astronomy
There is a writer's aphorism: 'I write in order to know what I think'; I buy into the sense of that.
After and absence of several months, here is the first in a planned short series of blog posts in which I try to catch up with my hobby of astrophotography😉
bobreflected.blogspot.com/2025/11/bina...
After and absence of several months, here is the first in a planned short series of blog posts in which I try to catch up with my hobby of astrophotography😉
bobreflected.blogspot.com/2025/11/bina...
November 1, 2025 at 12:19 PM
There is a writer's aphorism: 'I write in order to know what I think'; I buy into the sense of that.
After and absence of several months, here is the first in a planned short series of blog posts in which I try to catch up with my hobby of astrophotography😉
bobreflected.blogspot.com/2025/11/bina...
After and absence of several months, here is the first in a planned short series of blog posts in which I try to catch up with my hobby of astrophotography😉
bobreflected.blogspot.com/2025/11/bina...
Reposted by bobreflected
I created skycalpro.com to help you find out what is happening in the night sky over your home tonight. It’s free - check it out :)
SkyCalPro - Calculate your own Sky Calendar
Rocket Launches-Planets-Satellites-Meteor Showers-Sun and Moon...and more!
skycalpro.com
November 1, 2025 at 12:09 PM
I created skycalpro.com to help you find out what is happening in the night sky over your home tonight. It’s free - check it out :)
Reposted by bobreflected
Great. More space junk (and space junk-generating events) - aviationweek.com/space/satell...
Apex Unveils Plans To Demo Space-Based Interceptors In 2026 | Aviation Week Network
Satellite bus manufacturer Apex is funding and organizing a space-based interceptor technology demonstration within the next year.
aviationweek.com
October 27, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Great. More space junk (and space junk-generating events) - aviationweek.com/space/satell...
The Sun and its spots as of yesterday morning.
(Not the best image in the world, but I have an open #astronomy observing evening coming up and wanted to see whether my decade-old tablet would run my Dwarf3 'robot'. Evidently it does 🙂. It'll be good to have a larger screen to show around.)
(Not the best image in the world, but I have an open #astronomy observing evening coming up and wanted to see whether my decade-old tablet would run my Dwarf3 'robot'. Evidently it does 🙂. It'll be good to have a larger screen to show around.)
October 27, 2025 at 9:18 AM
The Sun and its spots as of yesterday morning.
(Not the best image in the world, but I have an open #astronomy observing evening coming up and wanted to see whether my decade-old tablet would run my Dwarf3 'robot'. Evidently it does 🙂. It'll be good to have a larger screen to show around.)
(Not the best image in the world, but I have an open #astronomy observing evening coming up and wanted to see whether my decade-old tablet would run my Dwarf3 'robot'. Evidently it does 🙂. It'll be good to have a larger screen to show around.)
I sat in my primary school classroom - heated, back then, by a coal-burning cast-iron stove - and copied from the chalk board:
"The Russians have put a satellite into space. Aren't they clever."
Much has changed in the intervening years, except human nature.
"The Russians have put a satellite into space. Aren't they clever."
Much has changed in the intervening years, except human nature.
#SpacetoberChallenge Day 25: Historic Mission
Sputnik 1 was the first artificial Earth satellite. It was launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957 and sent a radio signal to Earth for three weeks before its batteries died and it fell back into the atmosphere on January 4, 1958. #Spacetober
Sputnik 1 was the first artificial Earth satellite. It was launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957 and sent a radio signal to Earth for three weeks before its batteries died and it fell back into the atmosphere on January 4, 1958. #Spacetober
October 25, 2025 at 9:02 PM
I sat in my primary school classroom - heated, back then, by a coal-burning cast-iron stove - and copied from the chalk board:
"The Russians have put a satellite into space. Aren't they clever."
Much has changed in the intervening years, except human nature.
"The Russians have put a satellite into space. Aren't they clever."
Much has changed in the intervening years, except human nature.
Please, please let it spread southward.
Dark skies on the rise
Momentum for dark skies friendly communities builds as more residents flick the switch in North Yorkshire
By Louisa Merrick-White
@yorkshirebylines.co.uk
Momentum for dark skies friendly communities builds as more residents flick the switch in North Yorkshire
By Louisa Merrick-White
@yorkshirebylines.co.uk
Dark skies on the rise
Momentum for dark skies friendly communities builds as more residents flick the switch in North Yorkshire
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
October 24, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Please, please let it spread southward.
I couldn't stop myself having yet another bash at processing my M31 Andromeda data from last year. This really is a tricky target, but I'm learning a lot ... I hope.
October 23, 2025 at 6:21 PM
I couldn't stop myself having yet another bash at processing my M31 Andromeda data from last year. This really is a tricky target, but I'm learning a lot ... I hope.
Reposted by bobreflected
Showed folks #comet #C/2025A6Lemmon through my 80x20 binos tonight (iphone eyepiece pic added) but some seemed more excited to see a string of satellites passing overhead. I do fear for our skies -a canvas for drive-thru entertainment and a “fast food” spectacle seems to be its future 😩 #astronomy 🔭
October 21, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Showed folks #comet #C/2025A6Lemmon through my 80x20 binos tonight (iphone eyepiece pic added) but some seemed more excited to see a string of satellites passing overhead. I do fear for our skies -a canvas for drive-thru entertainment and a “fast food” spectacle seems to be its future 😩 #astronomy 🔭
Lovely post, on one of my favourite open star clusters - associated with many names (so, LotR obvs. 😉).
(I wrote about the cluster a while back: bobreflected.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-...)
(I wrote about the cluster a while back: bobreflected.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-...)
October 21, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Lovely post, on one of my favourite open star clusters - associated with many names (so, LotR obvs. 😉).
(I wrote about the cluster a while back: bobreflected.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-...)
(I wrote about the cluster a while back: bobreflected.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-...)
My grandsons who, like many of their friends, rely on their smartphones to listen to music, asked to hear something on my 1970s analogue setup.
I was happy to oblige.
However, my wife thought a fuller demonstration of the system would be good.
They'd never felt music through the floor before ... 😉
I was happy to oblige.
However, my wife thought a fuller demonstration of the system would be good.
They'd never felt music through the floor before ... 😉
October 19, 2025 at 1:22 PM
My grandsons who, like many of their friends, rely on their smartphones to listen to music, asked to hear something on my 1970s analogue setup.
I was happy to oblige.
However, my wife thought a fuller demonstration of the system would be good.
They'd never felt music through the floor before ... 😉
I was happy to oblige.
However, my wife thought a fuller demonstration of the system would be good.
They'd never felt music through the floor before ... 😉
I've finally got my head back in gear enough to look at some unprocessed data from a clear night way back in August.
This is a second attempt at the Bubble Nebula (NGC7635) but my first use of 'star-removal' software to avoid the dull-glowing hydrogen from being swamped.
This is a second attempt at the Bubble Nebula (NGC7635) but my first use of 'star-removal' software to avoid the dull-glowing hydrogen from being swamped.
October 14, 2025 at 6:15 PM
I've finally got my head back in gear enough to look at some unprocessed data from a clear night way back in August.
This is a second attempt at the Bubble Nebula (NGC7635) but my first use of 'star-removal' software to avoid the dull-glowing hydrogen from being swamped.
This is a second attempt at the Bubble Nebula (NGC7635) but my first use of 'star-removal' software to avoid the dull-glowing hydrogen from being swamped.
Reposted by bobreflected
while I acknowledge that LLMs do have some uses for stuff like “producing code with knowledgeable human supervision,” this perfectly reflects how I feel about using it for my own creative work
David Simon, creator of ‘The Wire’, being interviewed by Ari Shapiro (NPR)
October 9, 2025 at 9:24 PM
while I acknowledge that LLMs do have some uses for stuff like “producing code with knowledgeable human supervision,” this perfectly reflects how I feel about using it for my own creative work
Reposted by bobreflected
Accurate.
October 9, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Accurate.
Reposted by bobreflected
We, globally, are using ever-more electricity and renewables are supporting the rise, adding to rather than replacing use of fossil fuels (overall there's barely a decline, and there was an increase in the US and EU)
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Global renewable energy generation surpasses coal for first time
Record solar expansion and steady wind growth driving world’s shift away from fossil fuels in 2025, report finds
www.theguardian.com
October 7, 2025 at 6:43 AM
We, globally, are using ever-more electricity and renewables are supporting the rise, adding to rather than replacing use of fossil fuels (overall there's barely a decline, and there was an increase in the US and EU)
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by bobreflected
In discussion with a computer scientist from the University of Cambridge last night:
Me: "you've described some of the things that AI is good at. How would you describe the category of things it's not good at?
**pause**
Him: "Anything where it has to be right".
Me: "you've described some of the things that AI is good at. How would you describe the category of things it's not good at?
**pause**
Him: "Anything where it has to be right".
September 26, 2025 at 5:14 PM
In discussion with a computer scientist from the University of Cambridge last night:
Me: "you've described some of the things that AI is good at. How would you describe the category of things it's not good at?
**pause**
Him: "Anything where it has to be right".
Me: "you've described some of the things that AI is good at. How would you describe the category of things it's not good at?
**pause**
Him: "Anything where it has to be right".
Reposted by bobreflected
More bad news for skywatchers - via @skyandtelescope.bsky.social -
skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-ne...
skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-ne...
Environmental Exclusions Proposed for U.S. Satellite Industry
In a move that’s concerning astronomers, the FCC has proposed reducing environmental oversight of space-based operations.
skyandtelescope.org
September 26, 2025 at 12:53 AM
More bad news for skywatchers - via @skyandtelescope.bsky.social -
skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-ne...
skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-ne...
Reposted by bobreflected
If you're looking for evidence to convince your undergrads not to rely on AI this semester, this study is pretty damning
"Over 4 months, LLM users consistently underperformed"
One caution though: the paper is not yet peer reviewed.🧪⚛️👩🔬
🗞️: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
📖: arxiv.org/abs/2506.08872
"Over 4 months, LLM users consistently underperformed"
One caution though: the paper is not yet peer reviewed.🧪⚛️👩🔬
🗞️: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
📖: arxiv.org/abs/2506.08872
Does using ChatGPT change your brain activity? Study sparks debate
Scientists warn against reading too much into a small experiment generating a lot of buzz.
www.nature.com
September 25, 2025 at 10:12 AM
If you're looking for evidence to convince your undergrads not to rely on AI this semester, this study is pretty damning
"Over 4 months, LLM users consistently underperformed"
One caution though: the paper is not yet peer reviewed.🧪⚛️👩🔬
🗞️: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
📖: arxiv.org/abs/2506.08872
"Over 4 months, LLM users consistently underperformed"
One caution though: the paper is not yet peer reviewed.🧪⚛️👩🔬
🗞️: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
📖: arxiv.org/abs/2506.08872
Reposted by bobreflected
Reason No. 324 why no-one should think that "AI" (artificial but certainly not intelligent) is an unmitigated Good Thing: it's mathematically inevitable that AI will hallucinate.
We need far more discussion of the risks of all this and less frantic hype. I mean, really, what's the hurry?
We need far more discussion of the risks of all this and less frantic hype. I mean, really, what's the hurry?
OpenAI admits AI hallucinations are mathematically inevitable, not just engineering flaws
In a landmark study, OpenAI researchers reveal that large language models will always produce plausible but false outputs, even with perfect data, due to fundamental statistical and computational limi...
www.computerworld.com
September 24, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Reason No. 324 why no-one should think that "AI" (artificial but certainly not intelligent) is an unmitigated Good Thing: it's mathematically inevitable that AI will hallucinate.
We need far more discussion of the risks of all this and less frantic hype. I mean, really, what's the hurry?
We need far more discussion of the risks of all this and less frantic hype. I mean, really, what's the hurry?
Reposted by bobreflected
Happy 100th anniversary to Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin’s extraordinary thesis!
Happy birthday to astrophysicist Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin (1900-1979), a trailblazer for women in #astronomy who discovered that hydrogen & helium are the most common elements in the universe. 🐡🧪👩🏼🔬🎢🔭
Born England, she won a scholarship to Newnham College at Cambridge in 1919 where she heard 🧵1/n
Born England, she won a scholarship to Newnham College at Cambridge in 1919 where she heard 🧵1/n
September 24, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Happy 100th anniversary to Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin’s extraordinary thesis!