Helen Czerski
@helenczerski.bsky.social
Physics, bubbles, oceans, hot chocolate and curiosity. Professor at UCL, writer, broadcaster. Author of Storm in a Teacup and Blue Machine https://linktr.ee/helenczerski Co-host of BBC Radio 4's Rare Earth
Oh, I love this. A new species of sea anemone was discovered recently that parks itself on top of a hermit crab shell like a hat. It seems to feed partly off the crab's faeces, but it also excretes a hard shell that extends the crab's home. In return, it's carried around the seafloor like a king.
November 10, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Oh, I love this. A new species of sea anemone was discovered recently that parks itself on top of a hermit crab shell like a hat. It seems to feed partly off the crab's faeces, but it also excretes a hard shell that extends the crab's home. In return, it's carried around the seafloor like a king.
Exciting times at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, home of the Meridian Line! It's 350 years old & needs a bit of a refurb, caring for the wonderful buildings & making them more accessible, easier to navigate & even more exciting. 2 yr project starts now! More here:
www.rmg.co.uk/royal-observ...
www.rmg.co.uk/royal-observ...
November 8, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Exciting times at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, home of the Meridian Line! It's 350 years old & needs a bit of a refurb, caring for the wonderful buildings & making them more accessible, easier to navigate & even more exciting. 2 yr project starts now! More here:
www.rmg.co.uk/royal-observ...
www.rmg.co.uk/royal-observ...
Rare Earth will be back on air soon & in preparation for a programme on Darwin, Wallace & evolution, I found this ace example of evolutionary adaptation. The plant C. argenteum makes seeds that look & smell like dung, so dung beetles roll them away, bury them, then lose interest. Free seed planting!
November 5, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Rare Earth will be back on air soon & in preparation for a programme on Darwin, Wallace & evolution, I found this ace example of evolutionary adaptation. The plant C. argenteum makes seeds that look & smell like dung, so dung beetles roll them away, bury them, then lose interest. Free seed planting!
Loved the Oscar Wilde quote read out at the start of Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction ceremony this evening:
“If you cannot write well, you cannot think well; if you cannot think well, others will do your thinking for you.”
Yay books!
(book in pic was in my goody bag, not the winner)
“If you cannot write well, you cannot think well; if you cannot think well, others will do your thinking for you.”
Yay books!
(book in pic was in my goody bag, not the winner)
November 4, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Loved the Oscar Wilde quote read out at the start of Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction ceremony this evening:
“If you cannot write well, you cannot think well; if you cannot think well, others will do your thinking for you.”
Yay books!
(book in pic was in my goody bag, not the winner)
“If you cannot write well, you cannot think well; if you cannot think well, others will do your thinking for you.”
Yay books!
(book in pic was in my goody bag, not the winner)
If you're anywhere near Stratford and you have things lying around that are broken and in need of repair, do bring them along to this Repair Cafe (booking an appointment is best but not essential), and get them fixed. It's great for the environment and your wallet... win-win!
We have people booked to bring broken food processors, favourite jumpers with damaged zips, and ailing plants. Don't miss this opportunity to repair your stuff with the help of 40 technicians and makers. Repair Café | Sustainable UCL - share.google/2qFlWYPHRPLs...
Repair Café
Bring your broken or damaged possessions to our UCL Repair Café event at UCL East Marshgate on Friday, 7th November.
share.google
November 4, 2025 at 10:56 AM
If you're anywhere near Stratford and you have things lying around that are broken and in need of repair, do bring them along to this Repair Cafe (booking an appointment is best but not essential), and get them fixed. It's great for the environment and your wallet... win-win!
Wow. I did not know that Alfred Russell Wallace (co-discoverer of evolution by natural selection) wrote a book in 1904 about the biological potential for life on other planets, and I've just found this extraordinary paragraph setting out the insanity of atmospheric pollution [1/3]. In 1904!
![But the sketch I have here attempted to give of its varied functions shows us that it is really a most complex structure, a wonderful piece of machinery, as[ 259] it were, which in its various component gases, its actions and reactions upon the water and the land, its production of electrical discharges, and its furnishing the elements from which the whole fabric of organic life is composed and perpetually renewed, may be truly considered to be the very source and foundation of life itself. This is seen, not only in the fact of our absolute dependence upon it every minute of our lives, but in the terrible effects produced by even a slight degree of impurity in this vital element. Yet it is among those nations that claim to be the most civilised, those that profess to be guided by a knowledge of the laws of nature, those that most glory in the advance of science, that we find the greatest apathy, the greatest recklessness, in continually rendering impure this all-important necessary of life, to such a degree that the health of the larger portion of their populations is injured and their vitality lowered, by conditions which compel them to breathe more or less foul and impure air for the greater part of their lives. The huge and ever-increasing cities, the vast manufacturing towns belching forth smoke and poisonous gases, with the crowded dwellings, where millions are forced to live under the most terrible insanitary conditions, are the witnesses to this criminal apathy, this incredible recklessness and inhumanity.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2g72wvrmzdfakrjq56d3lddj/bafkreidgfp3g5erh7m3rdhzqvar2th65nqj72arwtpxrzak4yvtepmshba@jpeg)
October 31, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Wow. I did not know that Alfred Russell Wallace (co-discoverer of evolution by natural selection) wrote a book in 1904 about the biological potential for life on other planets, and I've just found this extraordinary paragraph setting out the insanity of atmospheric pollution [1/3]. In 1904!
If you need an injection of positivity, I strongly recommend watching Power Station, if it's on near you (screening list & trailer here: power.film/pages/screen...). It's a beautiful story of a community taking action to make their on electricity supply cleaner, greener and cheaper. Brilliant stuff.
October 31, 2025 at 12:01 PM
If you need an injection of positivity, I strongly recommend watching Power Station, if it's on near you (screening list & trailer here: power.film/pages/screen...). It's a beautiful story of a community taking action to make their on electricity supply cleaner, greener and cheaper. Brilliant stuff.
If you fancy a bit of ocean in your life this Friday, come to the Royal Festival Hall for this FREE talk on the ocean by Liz Bonnin & me, followed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra playing a whole evening of ocean music (that bit isn't free). Tickets & more info here: lpo.org.uk/event/harmon...
October 28, 2025 at 8:29 PM
If you fancy a bit of ocean in your life this Friday, come to the Royal Festival Hall for this FREE talk on the ocean by Liz Bonnin & me, followed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra playing a whole evening of ocean music (that bit isn't free). Tickets & more info here: lpo.org.uk/event/harmon...
Yay for small things that make the world better! Every time I see something like this (swimming goggles today) that used to be sold covered in unnecessary plastic and now has paper/cardboard packaging, it makes me so happy. Manufacturers, I *will* choose this. Keep going! Make a better world real!
October 26, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Yay for small things that make the world better! Every time I see something like this (swimming goggles today) that used to be sold covered in unnecessary plastic and now has paper/cardboard packaging, it makes me so happy. Manufacturers, I *will* choose this. Keep going! Make a better world real!
Today I am very much enjoying the range of sea creatures depicted in the 1539 Carta Marina (the "Marine map and description of the Northern lands"). We know now that the ocean has even more wonderful things in it (that really exist!), but I love the brave attempt at making a then-unknown world real.
October 23, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Today I am very much enjoying the range of sea creatures depicted in the 1539 Carta Marina (the "Marine map and description of the Northern lands"). We know now that the ocean has even more wonderful things in it (that really exist!), but I love the brave attempt at making a then-unknown world real.
Wow, this is disappointing. This meeting was supposed to be a final confirmation of a deal agreed six months ago, and it would have been the first serious step in making the slow-to-change shipping industry cleaner & greener & ready for the future. The delay only hurts everyone in the long run. 🌊
Shipping emissions levy shelved as countries bow to US pressure
Long-planned charge on greenhouse gas emissions postponed as Trump officials accused of intimidation tactics
www.theguardian.com
October 17, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Wow, this is disappointing. This meeting was supposed to be a final confirmation of a deal agreed six months ago, and it would have been the first serious step in making the slow-to-change shipping industry cleaner & greener & ready for the future. The delay only hurts everyone in the long run. 🌊
When are we going to acknowledge that "video podcasts" are just low-budget tv chatshows? It's sad that "audio-only" podcasts seem to be going out of fashion - good ones are qualitatively different to visual media, not an inferior version of it. But it's weird that video podcasts are seen as novel.
October 17, 2025 at 2:27 PM
When are we going to acknowledge that "video podcasts" are just low-budget tv chatshows? It's sad that "audio-only" podcasts seem to be going out of fashion - good ones are qualitatively different to visual media, not an inferior version of it. But it's weird that video podcasts are seen as novel.
Small afternoon rant: we need to stop talking about the ocean in terms of “secrets” & “mystery”. That tends to be an excuse for not actually looking at its wonderful (known) richness properly. It’s not a void… it’s a fascinating physical part of Planet Earth. We know a lot and we will know more! 🌊
October 16, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Small afternoon rant: we need to stop talking about the ocean in terms of “secrets” & “mystery”. That tends to be an excuse for not actually looking at its wonderful (known) richness properly. It’s not a void… it’s a fascinating physical part of Planet Earth. We know a lot and we will know more! 🌊
As the night sky becomes less visible (pollution, ppl head down in phones etc), will it get harder to interest ppl in astronomy, satellites & space science? I was talking to space industry types last night & they feel public apathy. But is that a surprise when ppl can’t/don’t see the sky?
October 15, 2025 at 8:40 AM
As the night sky becomes less visible (pollution, ppl head down in phones etc), will it get harder to interest ppl in astronomy, satellites & space science? I was talking to space industry types last night & they feel public apathy. But is that a surprise when ppl can’t/don’t see the sky?
Takeaways after fab 2 days hosting at Everything Electric:
- vehicle-to-grid charging might FINALLY be here
- sodium-ion batteries are advancing quickly and could be made in the UK with local materials, reducing reliance on China for lithium.
- People want this. This was our biggest UK show yet🎉
- vehicle-to-grid charging might FINALLY be here
- sodium-ion batteries are advancing quickly and could be made in the UK with local materials, reducing reliance on China for lithium.
- People want this. This was our biggest UK show yet🎉
October 12, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Takeaways after fab 2 days hosting at Everything Electric:
- vehicle-to-grid charging might FINALLY be here
- sodium-ion batteries are advancing quickly and could be made in the UK with local materials, reducing reliance on China for lithium.
- People want this. This was our biggest UK show yet🎉
- vehicle-to-grid charging might FINALLY be here
- sodium-ion batteries are advancing quickly and could be made in the UK with local materials, reducing reliance on China for lithium.
- People want this. This was our biggest UK show yet🎉
It's been a brilliant first day here at Everything Electric in Farnborough... the tech to make your travel/home cleaner & greener is getting better and easier all the time. So much is on show here and available now. More tomorrow - do join us! uk.everythingelectric.show/south
October 11, 2025 at 5:37 PM
It's been a brilliant first day here at Everything Electric in Farnborough... the tech to make your travel/home cleaner & greener is getting better and easier all the time. So much is on show here and available now. More tomorrow - do join us! uk.everythingelectric.show/south
I'm on my way to Everything Electric in Farnborough, to host panels on so many things... home electrification (heat pumps/electric boilers etc), advances in battery tech, bi-directional charging for cars - all the latest ideas/tech for a cleaner, greener world. Lots of EVs there too. Do join us!
Welcome to Everything Electric FARNBOROUGH
Everything Electric FARNBOROUGH offers an electrifying weekend of electric vehicles (EVs) & home energy, family entertainment and more
uk.everythingelectric.show
October 10, 2025 at 8:00 PM
I'm on my way to Everything Electric in Farnborough, to host panels on so many things... home electrification (heat pumps/electric boilers etc), advances in battery tech, bi-directional charging for cars - all the latest ideas/tech for a cleaner, greener world. Lots of EVs there too. Do join us!
Although the heartwood of a tree technically is dead (the living bits are only the outside layers), that heartwood is what's holding the tree up. I've always thought it was a very strange phrase - heartwood is jolly useful. We make ships & houses & furniture out of it. And it holds trees up.
October 2, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Although the heartwood of a tree technically is dead (the living bits are only the outside layers), that heartwood is what's holding the tree up. I've always thought it was a very strange phrase - heartwood is jolly useful. We make ships & houses & furniture out of it. And it holds trees up.
On Oct 31st, the London Philharmonic Orchestra will be celebrating the ocean, and the ace @lizbonnin.bsky.social and I will be speaking on stage beforehand about all things ocean. Tickets are available here, if you'd like to join us and immerse yourself in our water world: lpo.org.uk/event/harmon...
October 2, 2025 at 10:47 AM
On Oct 31st, the London Philharmonic Orchestra will be celebrating the ocean, and the ace @lizbonnin.bsky.social and I will be speaking on stage beforehand about all things ocean. Tickets are available here, if you'd like to join us and immerse yourself in our water world: lpo.org.uk/event/harmon...
Still active, an inspiration, and doing conservation work right up to the end. Thank you for being a great and wonderful citizen of this planet, Jane Goodall.
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
Jane Goodall, world-renowned primatologist, dies aged 91
Jane Goodall Institute says ‘tireless advocate’ for natural world died in California during US speaking tour
www.theguardian.com
October 1, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Still active, an inspiration, and doing conservation work right up to the end. Thank you for being a great and wonderful citizen of this planet, Jane Goodall.
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
Fluorescent cycling jackets have dyes that absorb invisible ultraviolet (UV) light and re-emit visible light. This UV can pass through clouds & there's lots on a dull day. So the jacket gets a brightness boost. This is also what "optical brighteners" in laundry powder do (see pic). Also scorpions!
October 1, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Fluorescent cycling jackets have dyes that absorb invisible ultraviolet (UV) light and re-emit visible light. This UV can pass through clouds & there's lots on a dull day. So the jacket gets a brightness boost. This is also what "optical brighteners" in laundry powder do (see pic). Also scorpions!
A real treat today to see the original work of John Tyndall, all still kept at the Royal Institution. He demonstrated the greenhouse effect (using this kit) in 1859, during a very active scientific and mountaineering life.
September 30, 2025 at 7:21 PM
A real treat today to see the original work of John Tyndall, all still kept at the Royal Institution. He demonstrated the greenhouse effect (using this kit) in 1859, during a very active scientific and mountaineering life.
The first steam-powered passenger rail trip was on 27th Sept 1825 (200th bday is nuanced - regular passenger steam slightly later). Here's transport carbon footprint today - Eurostar easily cleanest cos fully electrified. I hope the next 200 yrs has even more (electric) trains! With lower prices...
September 27, 2025 at 2:08 PM
The first steam-powered passenger rail trip was on 27th Sept 1825 (200th bday is nuanced - regular passenger steam slightly later). Here's transport carbon footprint today - Eurostar easily cleanest cos fully electrified. I hope the next 200 yrs has even more (electric) trains! With lower prices...
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".
About to start on BBC R4 (and available right afterwards as a podcast): the last episode of this series of Rare Earth, on TRAINS.
It's 200 years since the first passenger train journey, but what is their environmental legacy & what exciting new innovations could shape their future? Find out here:
It's 200 years since the first passenger train journey, but what is their environmental legacy & what exciting new innovations could shape their future? Find out here:
BBC Radio 4 - Rare Earth, Trains on Trial
Is train travel part of a green future, not just our industrial past?
www.bbc.co.uk
September 26, 2025 at 11:03 AM
About to start on BBC R4 (and available right afterwards as a podcast): the last episode of this series of Rare Earth, on TRAINS.
It's 200 years since the first passenger train journey, but what is their environmental legacy & what exciting new innovations could shape their future? Find out here:
It's 200 years since the first passenger train journey, but what is their environmental legacy & what exciting new innovations could shape their future? Find out here: