Dr Gavin Merrifield
@drgavinm.bsky.social
Science in Churches and Communities. Also fun with spiders, MRI and giant converting robots.
Reposted by Dr Gavin Merrifield
A Valentine’s Day cartoon for @newscientist.com
February 14, 2026 at 2:02 PM
A Valentine’s Day cartoon for @newscientist.com
Reposted by Dr Gavin Merrifield
We all know why Farage is making these wildly misleading and completely inaccurate claims - I know it and in your hearts you know it too - so however you decide to vote in this by- election please don't be taken in by the politics of division offered by Reform
🚨Reform leader Nigel Farage has posted on X
“1 million people living in this country don’t speak any English at all. 4 million people living in this country barely speak passable English”
It’s racked up 2 million views
AND IT’S COMPLETELY UNTRUE
youtu.be/o56Tw8vSEfE?...
“1 million people living in this country don’t speak any English at all. 4 million people living in this country barely speak passable English”
It’s racked up 2 million views
AND IT’S COMPLETELY UNTRUE
youtu.be/o56Tw8vSEfE?...
Farage’s latest video has racked up 2 million views - AND ITS COMPLETELY UNTRUE
YouTube video by Peter Stefanovic
youtu.be
February 14, 2026 at 3:20 PM
We all know why Farage is making these wildly misleading and completely inaccurate claims - I know it and in your hearts you know it too - so however you decide to vote in this by- election please don't be taken in by the politics of division offered by Reform
Reposted by Dr Gavin Merrifield
This is a powerful story for me. Several branches of the Women's Institute are closing across the UK in protest at the new trans-exclusionary ban against trans women. It cuts through the lie by the media and GC groups about speaking on behalf of women. Solidarity.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
‘Carnage of concern and upset’: Women’s Institute groups close after transgender ban
Members warn NFWI decision has opened up toxic culture that deters younger women from joining
www.theguardian.com
February 14, 2026 at 1:06 PM
This is a powerful story for me. Several branches of the Women's Institute are closing across the UK in protest at the new trans-exclusionary ban against trans women. It cuts through the lie by the media and GC groups about speaking on behalf of women. Solidarity.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Reposted by Dr Gavin Merrifield
This doesn’t just put heritage at risk — it puts development and growth at risk too. Local authority planning archaeologists help de-risk development by ensuring unexpected (and therefore expensive) show stopping discoveries don't derail construction at the last minute.
🚨 We have heard that the County Archaeologist for Hampshire is being made redundant, with no plans to replace him. 🚨
If you live in Hampshire please write to your MP and Councillors.
If you live elsewhere treasure and support your County Archaeologists, and stand by to protect them. 🏺
If you live in Hampshire please write to your MP and Councillors.
If you live elsewhere treasure and support your County Archaeologists, and stand by to protect them. 🏺
February 14, 2026 at 9:44 AM
This doesn’t just put heritage at risk — it puts development and growth at risk too. Local authority planning archaeologists help de-risk development by ensuring unexpected (and therefore expensive) show stopping discoveries don't derail construction at the last minute.
Reposted by Dr Gavin Merrifield
Just checking, it's now ok to flee your homeland, because you're afraid for your safety, and seek refuge in another Country?
Glad we've cleared that up. Let's hear no more about immigration and refugees then.
Glad we've cleared that up. Let's hear no more about immigration and refugees then.
February 14, 2026 at 7:55 AM
Just checking, it's now ok to flee your homeland, because you're afraid for your safety, and seek refuge in another Country?
Glad we've cleared that up. Let's hear no more about immigration and refugees then.
Glad we've cleared that up. Let's hear no more about immigration and refugees then.
Reposted by Dr Gavin Merrifield
🔭 Roses are Red
Image Credit & Copyright: Raffaele Calcagno
Text: Keighley Rockcliffe (NASA GSFC, UMBC CSST, CRESST II)
apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap26021...
Image Credit & Copyright: Raffaele Calcagno
Text: Keighley Rockcliffe (NASA GSFC, UMBC CSST, CRESST II)
apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap26021...
February 14, 2026 at 8:10 AM
🔭 Roses are Red
Image Credit & Copyright: Raffaele Calcagno
Text: Keighley Rockcliffe (NASA GSFC, UMBC CSST, CRESST II)
apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap26021...
Image Credit & Copyright: Raffaele Calcagno
Text: Keighley Rockcliffe (NASA GSFC, UMBC CSST, CRESST II)
apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap26021...
Reposted by Dr Gavin Merrifield
Sure sure let’s order the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) to end all pandemic preparedness and biodefense work.
WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?
WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?
Exclusive: Key US infectious-diseases centre to drop pandemic preparation
Staff members have been instructed to scrub this topic and ‘biodefense’ from the agency’s website.
www.nature.com
February 13, 2026 at 11:16 PM
Sure sure let’s order the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) to end all pandemic preparedness and biodefense work.
WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?
WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?
Reposted by Dr Gavin Merrifield
Great interview with @lithub.com.web.brid.gy about the modern day book burning of Goddard Library.
Link in thread to send a note to congress to stop it.
lithub.com/the-trump-ad...
Link in thread to send a note to congress to stop it.
lithub.com/the-trump-ad...
The Trump administration is illegally gutting NASA’s largest research library.
Founded in 1959, the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland is home to NASA’s largest research library. For decades, scientists, engineers, students, and a curious public have lea…
lithub.com
February 13, 2026 at 11:36 PM
Great interview with @lithub.com.web.brid.gy about the modern day book burning of Goddard Library.
Link in thread to send a note to congress to stop it.
lithub.com/the-trump-ad...
Link in thread to send a note to congress to stop it.
lithub.com/the-trump-ad...
Reposted by Dr Gavin Merrifield
Workers at the Social Security Administration have been told to share information about in-person appointments with agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The order to share information, which was recently communicated verbally to workers...
TAT: [Nationalism | Weakening Civil Rights]
TAT: [Nationalism | Weakening Civil Rights]
Social Security Workers Are Being Told to Hand Over Appointment Details to ICE
The recent request goes against decades of precedent and puts noncitizens at further risk of immigration enforcement actions.
www.wired.com
February 13, 2026 at 11:21 PM
Workers at the Social Security Administration have been told to share information about in-person appointments with agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The order to share information, which was recently communicated verbally to workers...
TAT: [Nationalism | Weakening Civil Rights]
TAT: [Nationalism | Weakening Civil Rights]
Reposted by Dr Gavin Merrifield
Another call for papers some of you may enjoy.
Call for Papers: Religion, X-Men, and Krakoa
Call for Papers: Edited Volume on Religion and the X-Men’s Krakoan Age Editors: Gregory Jones and Daniel Ambord Beginning with Jonathan Hickman’s House of X/Powers of X limited series, the Krakoan …
popularcultureandtheology.com
February 1, 2026 at 3:13 AM
Another call for papers some of you may enjoy.
And she laughs.
No shame.
No shame.
BONDI: You didn't ask Merrick Garland anything about Epstein
BALINT: Weak sauce
BONDI: And with this antisemitic culture right now, she voted against a resolution--
BALINT: You want to go there! Really? Talking about antisemitism to a woman who lost her grandfather in the Holocaust! *storms off*
BALINT: Weak sauce
BONDI: And with this antisemitic culture right now, she voted against a resolution--
BALINT: You want to go there! Really? Talking about antisemitism to a woman who lost her grandfather in the Holocaust! *storms off*
February 13, 2026 at 12:29 PM
And she laughs.
No shame.
No shame.
Reposted by Dr Gavin Merrifield
Kinda rich for a Republican to scream about "smirking" witnesses after the shit Bondi pulled yesterday.
Ron Johnson to Keith Ellison: "Two people are dead because you encouraged them to put themselves into harm's way! And now you are exploiting those two martyrs. You ought to feel damn guilty about it. Yeah, sit there and smirk. Smirk. It's sick! It's despicable. You disgust me."
February 12, 2026 at 3:48 PM
Kinda rich for a Republican to scream about "smirking" witnesses after the shit Bondi pulled yesterday.
Just wait until Farage discovers the roadsigns in Wales.
February 13, 2026 at 12:22 PM
Just wait until Farage discovers the roadsigns in Wales.
Reposted by Dr Gavin Merrifield
You know, like when he claimed he wanted to remove freedom of movement from EU citizens, when what he actually wanted was to remove it from UK Subjects...
February 13, 2026 at 9:59 AM
You know, like when he claimed he wanted to remove freedom of movement from EU citizens, when what he actually wanted was to remove it from UK Subjects...
Reposted by Dr Gavin Merrifield
I'm not sure that there is any evidence that he thinks that. We know that he _says_ that, but it could be that this is just it will make normal people more likely to vote for them than if they were honest about being extremist right-wing...
February 13, 2026 at 9:57 AM
I'm not sure that there is any evidence that he thinks that. We know that he _says_ that, but it could be that this is just it will make normal people more likely to vote for them than if they were honest about being extremist right-wing...
Reposted by Dr Gavin Merrifield
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. One guy. This guy could be responsible for as much suffering and loss of innocent life as Musk, through sheer ideological apathy. He does not care and he is very serious about it.
People with this attitude should never be placed in positions of power.
People with this attitude should never be placed in positions of power.
In terms of what cures are being lost:
- Epstein-Barr virus is perhaps the major trigger for multiple sclerosis
- herpes simplex virus causes cold sores, genital herpes, infections in babies, deadly meningitis
- shingles virus causes an intensely painful disease
- Epstein-Barr virus is perhaps the major trigger for multiple sclerosis
- herpes simplex virus causes cold sores, genital herpes, infections in babies, deadly meningitis
- shingles virus causes an intensely painful disease
February 13, 2026 at 9:36 AM
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. One guy. This guy could be responsible for as much suffering and loss of innocent life as Musk, through sheer ideological apathy. He does not care and he is very serious about it.
People with this attitude should never be placed in positions of power.
People with this attitude should never be placed in positions of power.
It's slightly less delusional that he thinks Reform is an actual replacement for the Tory party and not just a morph of it compared to that he thinks Reform is "centre-right" rather than far right.
More attempts to normalise their racism and cultural baiting.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
More attempts to normalise their racism and cultural baiting.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reform is replacing 'old fuddy duddy' Tories, says Farage
Farage said it was
www.bbc.co.uk
February 13, 2026 at 9:37 AM
It's slightly less delusional that he thinks Reform is an actual replacement for the Tory party and not just a morph of it compared to that he thinks Reform is "centre-right" rather than far right.
More attempts to normalise their racism and cultural baiting.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
More attempts to normalise their racism and cultural baiting.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Fundamentally deficient in love and honesty to try to 'both sides' the hurt done here. Even if you are opposed you should at least acknowledge getting your own way (again) is not the same as being told you are theologically relegated.
God's love is greater thankfully.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
God's love is greater thankfully.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Church of England abandons proposals for same-sex blessing ceremonies
General Synod did vote to continue to look at the issue, but bishops say there are
www.bbc.co.uk
February 12, 2026 at 11:37 PM
Fundamentally deficient in love and honesty to try to 'both sides' the hurt done here. Even if you are opposed you should at least acknowledge getting your own way (again) is not the same as being told you are theologically relegated.
God's love is greater thankfully.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
God's love is greater thankfully.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Dr Gavin Merrifield
There we have it, US media. He has revoked the ruling. He has not revoked the scientific finding that led to the ruling. Those are not the sort of thing one can revoke. This is not hard. If you're keen not to be actively complicit, use words properly.
February 12, 2026 at 10:52 PM
There we have it, US media. He has revoked the ruling. He has not revoked the scientific finding that led to the ruling. Those are not the sort of thing one can revoke. This is not hard. If you're keen not to be actively complicit, use words properly.
Reposted by Dr Gavin Merrifield
Why are all the US media using words like "revoke" and repeal"? They mean nothing in this context. Why not "refuse to accept", "deny", or "lie about"?
The Trump administration on Thursday will revoke a scientific finding that long has been the central basis for U.S. action to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change, the White House announced. https://to.pbs.org/4610Jci
WATCH LIVE: Trump, Zeldin to announce end of scientific basis for U.S. action on climate change
The Trump administration on Thursday will revoke a scientific finding that long has been the central basis for U.S. action to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change, the White Hous...
to.pbs.org
February 12, 2026 at 10:31 PM
Why are all the US media using words like "revoke" and repeal"? They mean nothing in this context. Why not "refuse to accept", "deny", or "lie about"?
Reposted by Dr Gavin Merrifield
FORTUITOUS TIMING: In bid to block Minnesota from obtaining records about immigration enforcement in state, Trump admin lawyers cite Homan announcement this morning that Operation Metro Surge is ending. Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26... Earlier: www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
MNvUSDiscOpp021226
www.documentcloud.org
February 12, 2026 at 11:05 PM
FORTUITOUS TIMING: In bid to block Minnesota from obtaining records about immigration enforcement in state, Trump admin lawyers cite Homan announcement this morning that Operation Metro Surge is ending. Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26... Earlier: www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
Reposted by Dr Gavin Merrifield
#nightsky #satellites #lightpollution #starlink #astronomy
The FCC site is a big pain the ass, but here are instructions to write and complain about the destruction of the sky due to satellites.
darksky.org/news/two-sat...
The FCC site is a big pain the ass, but here are instructions to write and complain about the destruction of the sky due to satellites.
darksky.org/news/two-sat...
Satellite proposals threaten the night sky
In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the agency responsible for authorizing satellite launches and operations…
darksky.org
February 12, 2026 at 6:20 PM
#nightsky #satellites #lightpollution #starlink #astronomy
The FCC site is a big pain the ass, but here are instructions to write and complain about the destruction of the sky due to satellites.
darksky.org/news/two-sat...
The FCC site is a big pain the ass, but here are instructions to write and complain about the destruction of the sky due to satellites.
darksky.org/news/two-sat...
Ah.
The old "Sorry, but..." routine.
Nope. He was was being openly racist, not just using 'offensive' language. And spreading false information to back it up as well.
Totally worthless apology.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The old "Sorry, but..." routine.
Nope. He was was being openly racist, not just using 'offensive' language. And spreading false information to back it up as well.
Totally worthless apology.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Jim Ratcliffe sorry language 'offended some' after immigration comments
The Manchester United co-owner previously said the UK had been
www.bbc.co.uk
February 12, 2026 at 6:29 PM
Ah.
The old "Sorry, but..." routine.
Nope. He was was being openly racist, not just using 'offensive' language. And spreading false information to back it up as well.
Totally worthless apology.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The old "Sorry, but..." routine.
Nope. He was was being openly racist, not just using 'offensive' language. And spreading false information to back it up as well.
Totally worthless apology.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Dr Gavin Merrifield
Asked if Ratcliffe was right to apologise for his racist statement about Britain having been “colonised” by immigrants, Farage replies,
'It’s probably in the dictionary definition correct, but perhaps people aren't quite ready for it’
No. It’s not, Nigel. It’s just racist. And wrong. Much like you.
'It’s probably in the dictionary definition correct, but perhaps people aren't quite ready for it’
No. It’s not, Nigel. It’s just racist. And wrong. Much like you.
February 12, 2026 at 6:19 PM
Asked if Ratcliffe was right to apologise for his racist statement about Britain having been “colonised” by immigrants, Farage replies,
'It’s probably in the dictionary definition correct, but perhaps people aren't quite ready for it’
No. It’s not, Nigel. It’s just racist. And wrong. Much like you.
'It’s probably in the dictionary definition correct, but perhaps people aren't quite ready for it’
No. It’s not, Nigel. It’s just racist. And wrong. Much like you.
Reposted by Dr Gavin Merrifield
Who would have guessed that telling people not to do illegal things isn't actually illegal.
BREAKING on MS NOW:
A federal judge has ruled Pete Hegseth can't penalize Sen. Mark Kelly over that video telling service members they can refuse illegal orders.
Judge Richard Leon blocked the disciplinary action after finding an effort to cut his retirement benefits was likely unconstitutional.
A federal judge has ruled Pete Hegseth can't penalize Sen. Mark Kelly over that video telling service members they can refuse illegal orders.
Judge Richard Leon blocked the disciplinary action after finding an effort to cut his retirement benefits was likely unconstitutional.
February 12, 2026 at 6:20 PM
Who would have guessed that telling people not to do illegal things isn't actually illegal.