Brian Clegg
@brianclegg.bsky.social
Science author and communicator - editor of the www.popularscience.co.uk review site.
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Brian Clegg
@brianclegg.bsky.social
· Nov 18
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As I'm newish here, I write science books (my latest is Brainjacking www.brianclegg.net/brainjacking... on the science of informing, influencing and manipulating through story) and all my online writing is available as a free weekly email - sign up here: authory.com/BrianClegg/s...
Review (Crime): Murder on the Levels - David Hodges *** - more a thriller than a murder mystery. The police come out very badly (in a book by an ex-Detective Superintendent) but an interesting twist and a tensely horrible ending brianclegg.blogspot.com/2026/02/murd... #bookreview #thriller
Murder on the Levels - David Hodges ***
The real mystery here is why the main character, Detective Constable Kate Hamblin, hasn’t already left the police force. She has a toxic rel...
brianclegg.blogspot.com
February 16, 2026 at 9:41 AM
Review (Crime): Murder on the Levels - David Hodges *** - more a thriller than a murder mystery. The police come out very badly (in a book by an ex-Detective Superintendent) but an interesting twist and a tensely horrible ending brianclegg.blogspot.com/2026/02/murd... #bookreview #thriller
Reposted by Brian Clegg
Let me just make a few little adjustments to that title…
“How a scientist with a PhD in Geology and 25 years of experience is helping lead California’s earthquake work”
Way to devalue my experience.
“How a scientist with a PhD in Geology and 25 years of experience is helping lead California’s earthquake work”
Way to devalue my experience.
Wendy Bohon has built a TikTok following as an earthquake geologist. She helps lead earthquake work for the California Geological Survey.
How a TikToker and former actress is helping lead California’s earthquake work
Wendy Bohon has built a TikTok following as an earthquake geologist. She helps lead earthquake work for the California Geological Survey.
bit.ly
February 15, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Let me just make a few little adjustments to that title…
“How a scientist with a PhD in Geology and 25 years of experience is helping lead California’s earthquake work”
Way to devalue my experience.
“How a scientist with a PhD in Geology and 25 years of experience is helping lead California’s earthquake work”
Way to devalue my experience.
There are at least three things wrong here...
I have a bit of a rant faced with a TV drama in which this photo of an alleged London terminus in 1957 just didn't ring true: brianclegg.blogspot.com/2026/02/peri... - why can't film and TV makers put as much effort into trains as they do clothes and cars? #TVanachronism #historicalinaccuracy
Period TV makers: please give a little more thought to trains
Every now and then I see something anachronistic in a period drama on TV and I can't stop nerd mode from firing up. It's quite often about t...
brianclegg.blogspot.com
February 15, 2026 at 9:17 AM
There are at least three things wrong here...
In reacting to a complaint that people misuse the term 'paradox' I discover that the 'misused' definitions are by far the oldest, so arguably perfectly acceptable: brianclegg.blogspot.com/2026/02/what... #logic #paradoxes
What is a paradox? It's paradoxical (revisited)
REVISIT SERIES An updated post from February 2016 Is the definition of a paradox paradoxical? Before we get into a philosophical spiral, thi...
brianclegg.blogspot.com
February 14, 2026 at 2:29 PM
In reacting to a complaint that people misuse the term 'paradox' I discover that the 'misused' definitions are by far the oldest, so arguably perfectly acceptable: brianclegg.blogspot.com/2026/02/what... #logic #paradoxes
SF as pure vehicle for ideas - remarkable reading:
Review (SF): There is No Antimemetics Division: qntm ***** - Some of the most original ideas in SF in the work of the Antimemetics Division facing the impossible task of dealing with concepts and entities that we can't remember popsciencebooks.blogspot.com/2026/02/ther... #bookreview #sciencefiction
There is no Antimimetics Division (SF) - qntm *****
Without doubt one of the most original science fiction books I've ever read. With a mix of narrative and reports (featuring occasional redac...
popsciencebooks.blogspot.com
February 12, 2026 at 3:54 PM
SF as pure vehicle for ideas - remarkable reading:
Review: Reaching for the Extreme: Ian Stewart **** - The UK's best raconteur of mathematics takes on some of the extremes of the mathematical world, and in doing so gives us some real insights into what makes mathematicians tick. popsciencebooks.blogspot.com/2026/02/reac... #bookreview #popularmaths
Reaching for the Extreme - Ian Stewart ****
Ian Stewart is arguably the UK's best raconteur of mathematics - here he takes on some of the extremes of the mathematical world, and in doi...
popsciencebooks.blogspot.com
February 12, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Review: Reaching for the Extreme: Ian Stewart **** - The UK's best raconteur of mathematics takes on some of the extremes of the mathematical world, and in doing so gives us some real insights into what makes mathematicians tick. popsciencebooks.blogspot.com/2026/02/reac... #bookreview #popularmaths
I have a bit of a rant faced with a TV drama in which this photo of an alleged London terminus in 1957 just didn't ring true: brianclegg.blogspot.com/2026/02/peri... - why can't film and TV makers put as much effort into trains as they do clothes and cars? #TVanachronism #historicalinaccuracy
Period TV makers: please give a little more thought to trains
Every now and then I see something anachronistic in a period drama on TV and I can't stop nerd mode from firing up. It's quite often about t...
brianclegg.blogspot.com
February 10, 2026 at 9:29 AM
I have a bit of a rant faced with a TV drama in which this photo of an alleged London terminus in 1957 just didn't ring true: brianclegg.blogspot.com/2026/02/peri... - why can't film and TV makers put as much effort into trains as they do clothes and cars? #TVanachronism #historicalinaccuracy
Review (SF): There is No Antimemetics Division: qntm ***** - Some of the most original ideas in SF in the work of the Antimemetics Division facing the impossible task of dealing with concepts and entities that we can't remember popsciencebooks.blogspot.com/2026/02/ther... #bookreview #sciencefiction
There is no Antimimetics Division (SF) - qntm *****
Without doubt one of the most original science fiction books I've ever read. With a mix of narrative and reports (featuring occasional redac...
popsciencebooks.blogspot.com
February 9, 2026 at 9:52 AM
Review (SF): There is No Antimemetics Division: qntm ***** - Some of the most original ideas in SF in the work of the Antimemetics Division facing the impossible task of dealing with concepts and entities that we can't remember popsciencebooks.blogspot.com/2026/02/ther... #bookreview #sciencefiction
A photo taken many years ago when I looked out of the bedroom window and saw something decidedly unexpected:
February 8, 2026 at 3:23 PM
A photo taken many years ago when I looked out of the bedroom window and saw something decidedly unexpected:
Got that miserable drizzly Saturday feeling...
February 7, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Got that miserable drizzly Saturday feeling...
The other day I said 'Ask the oracle,' meaning a search engine or AI (not the kind pictured). It struck me that Oracle bagging the name early was a bit of a shame... which leads onto my own experience of having a three letter URL: brianclegg.blogspot.com/2026/02/bein... #naming #earlyadoption
Being an early name adopter has mixed benefits
Someone asked for a piece of information the other day. I didn't have a clue and responded 'Consult the oracle' meaning look it up online. I...
brianclegg.blogspot.com
February 7, 2026 at 12:33 PM
The other day I said 'Ask the oracle,' meaning a search engine or AI (not the kind pictured). It struck me that Oracle bagging the name early was a bit of a shame... which leads onto my own experience of having a three letter URL: brianclegg.blogspot.com/2026/02/bein... #naming #earlyadoption
If you think changing your personal behaviour is enough to deal with any of climate change, obesity, pension planning, US health care, inequality, plastic waste, privacy, addiction to prescription drugs, gun violence and road deaths... you need to read this book.
Review: It's On You: Nick Chater and George Loewenstein ***** - Impressively uncovers a key social science failing in attributing the solution to major problems from climate change to medical bills to individuals rather than system change. popsciencebooks.blogspot.com/2026/02/its-... #bookreview
It's On You - Nick Chater and George Loewenstein *****
Going on the cover you might think this was a political polemic - and admittedly there's an element of that - but the reason it's so good is...
popsciencebooks.blogspot.com
February 5, 2026 at 11:14 AM
If you think changing your personal behaviour is enough to deal with any of climate change, obesity, pension planning, US health care, inequality, plastic waste, privacy, addiction to prescription drugs, gun violence and road deaths... you need to read this book.
Review: It's On You: Nick Chater and George Loewenstein ***** - Impressively uncovers a key social science failing in attributing the solution to major problems from climate change to medical bills to individuals rather than system change. popsciencebooks.blogspot.com/2026/02/its-... #bookreview
It's On You - Nick Chater and George Loewenstein *****
Going on the cover you might think this was a political polemic - and admittedly there's an element of that - but the reason it's so good is...
popsciencebooks.blogspot.com
February 4, 2026 at 10:14 AM
Review: It's On You: Nick Chater and George Loewenstein ***** - Impressively uncovers a key social science failing in attributing the solution to major problems from climate change to medical bills to individuals rather than system change. popsciencebooks.blogspot.com/2026/02/its-... #bookreview
There's a good news and bad news for the quality of scientific reporting in a BBC report that is based on behavioural science: it actually has references! But unfortunately... brianclegg.blogspot.com/2026/02/good... #sciencecommunication #newsmedia #studyquality
Good news and bad news on a BBC report involving a scientific study
In the past I have often criticised the media for referring to scientific studies without referencing them, and for treating weak studies as...
brianclegg.blogspot.com
February 3, 2026 at 8:31 AM
There's a good news and bad news for the quality of scientific reporting in a BBC report that is based on behavioural science: it actually has references! But unfortunately... brianclegg.blogspot.com/2026/02/good... #sciencecommunication #newsmedia #studyquality
Review (crime fantasy): The Gilded Nest - Sarah Painter **** - Revisiting this dependable UK urban fantasy series at book 9. A serial killer's apparent tribute to Jack the Ripper (this time the victims are sleazy men) is not what it seems. brianclegg.blogspot.com/2026/02/the-... #bookreview
The Gilded Nest - Sarah Painter ****
It's been over five years since I first reviewed Sarah Painter's Crow Investigations books, which has turned into a solid UK urban fantasy ...
brianclegg.blogspot.com
February 2, 2026 at 10:36 AM
Review (crime fantasy): The Gilded Nest - Sarah Painter **** - Revisiting this dependable UK urban fantasy series at book 9. A serial killer's apparent tribute to Jack the Ripper (this time the victims are sleazy men) is not what it seems. brianclegg.blogspot.com/2026/02/the-... #bookreview
What better activity for a weekend than reading? Ideally with some nicely structured text:
As reading a book in bed with very long chapters keeps me awake far too long I make a plea for shorter ones (or section breaks): brianclegg.blogspot.com/2026/01/in-p... #books #structure
In praise of shorter chapters
Anyone who has read my book reviews will be aware that I sometimes moan about books being too long. Something I've realised more recently is...
brianclegg.blogspot.com
January 30, 2026 at 3:17 PM
What better activity for a weekend than reading? Ideally with some nicely structured text:
Re-reading a science fiction book from the 70s, I look at how the most interesting of the failed predictions of hover cars, tri-vees and video phones for the imagined 1990s is the one that is technically feasible: brianclegg.blogspot.com/2026/01/revi... #sciencefiction #futurology #futuretech
Revisiting hover cars, tri-vees and video phones
REVISIT SERIES An updated post from January 2016 I've just re-read a science fiction book I quite liked as a teenager. Called Prisoner of Fi...
brianclegg.blogspot.com
January 30, 2026 at 12:37 PM
Re-reading a science fiction book from the 70s, I look at how the most interesting of the failed predictions of hover cars, tri-vees and video phones for the imagined 1990s is the one that is technically feasible: brianclegg.blogspot.com/2026/01/revi... #sciencefiction #futurology #futuretech
Reposted by Brian Clegg
January 28, 2026 at 2:46 PM
Continuing to be impressed with Littlebird:
Review: Littlebird ***** - this Mac AI app provides genuinely useful information from notes, emails and other activities to help your working life. There are privacy concerns, but for me the benefits of using it are impressive: brianclegg.blogspot.com/2026/01/litt... #softwarereview #AI
Littlebird review ***** - friendly advisor or big brother?
I haven't as yet been a significant user of AI. I do employ it to get suggestions for sources or concepts to look at or scientists to contac...
brianclegg.blogspot.com
January 29, 2026 at 1:36 PM
Continuing to be impressed with Littlebird:
Review (history): Mad Tom's Rising - Ian Breckon **** - An engaging exploration of a widely forgotten incident in our history when an eccentric fraudster turned would-be-messiah caused the last battle fought on English soil. brianclegg.blogspot.com/2026/01/mad-... #bookreview #englishhistory
Mad Tom's Rising - Ian Breckon ****
Although most of the non-fiction I read is science-based, sometimes another subject catches my eye, often obscure but interesting bits of hi...
brianclegg.blogspot.com
January 29, 2026 at 9:58 AM
Review (history): Mad Tom's Rising - Ian Breckon **** - An engaging exploration of a widely forgotten incident in our history when an eccentric fraudster turned would-be-messiah caused the last battle fought on English soil. brianclegg.blogspot.com/2026/01/mad-... #bookreview #englishhistory
Fascinating that despite the shiny happy reputation of Bluesky when compared with X, for the first time ever I've had a to block someone (for telling me to F off) and it was on here...
January 27, 2026 at 12:29 PM
Fascinating that despite the shiny happy reputation of Bluesky when compared with X, for the first time ever I've had a to block someone (for telling me to F off) and it was on here...
Review: Merlin's Tour of the Universe - Neil deGrasse Tyson *** - A collection of short Q&As from a magazine on mostly astronomical topics. Not an end-to-end read, but okay as a lightweight dip-in book, mostly avoiding errors. popsciencebooks.blogspot.com/2026/01/merl... #bookreview #popularscience
Merlin's Tour of the Universe - Neil deGrasse Tyson ***
This book is something of a reboot. It was Neil deGrasse Tyson's first title, dating back to 1997, but was reissued 'fully revised and updat...
popsciencebooks.blogspot.com
January 27, 2026 at 10:28 AM
Review: Merlin's Tour of the Universe - Neil deGrasse Tyson *** - A collection of short Q&As from a magazine on mostly astronomical topics. Not an end-to-end read, but okay as a lightweight dip-in book, mostly avoiding errors. popsciencebooks.blogspot.com/2026/01/merl... #bookreview #popularscience
As reading a book in bed with very long chapters keeps me awake far too long I make a plea for shorter ones (or section breaks): brianclegg.blogspot.com/2026/01/in-p... #books #structure
In praise of shorter chapters
Anyone who has read my book reviews will be aware that I sometimes moan about books being too long. Something I've realised more recently is...
brianclegg.blogspot.com
January 26, 2026 at 12:22 PM
As reading a book in bed with very long chapters keeps me awake far too long I make a plea for shorter ones (or section breaks): brianclegg.blogspot.com/2026/01/in-p... #books #structure
There are fewer households who can't get fast enough broadband than can't get a TV signal:
I take on @beebwatch.bsky.social (Roger Bolton), of the excellent BeebWatch podcast and his argument that we can't switch the BBC to subscription because the internet does not have universal access in the UK: brianclegg.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-...
The streaming future of the BBC
I enjoy listening to former BBC executive Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch podcast , but there's one point he has made many times when discussing t...
brianclegg.blogspot.com
January 25, 2026 at 1:50 PM
There are fewer households who can't get fast enough broadband than can't get a TV signal:
Fancy a dip into the science of time machines? My Ten Short Lessons in Time Travel is currently on special offer (signed copies) of £3+p&p - 2/3 off - I need the shelf space! www.brianclegg.net/timetravel.h...
January 24, 2026 at 12:45 PM
Fancy a dip into the science of time machines? My Ten Short Lessons in Time Travel is currently on special offer (signed copies) of £3+p&p - 2/3 off - I need the shelf space! www.brianclegg.net/timetravel.h...