Jacob Aron
@jjaron.bsky.social
News editor at New Scientist. I read a lot of books, and recommend the best ones to you
Pinned
Jacob Aron
@jjaron.bsky.social
· Nov 15
I used to share book recommendations on the other place but got out of the habit this year as engagement massively dropped off. Thinking about putting together my top 10 list for this year though, so as a test, like this, and for each like I'll recommend something great I read in the past 5 years
Reposted by Jacob Aron
My leader on banning social media, and more broadly the place of science in policymaking www.newscientist.com/article/mg26...
It would be a mistake to rush into an under-16 social media ban
Many countries are debating whether to follow Australia and ban social media for younger teenagers. But with more robust evidence on its harms coming, we shouldn't be too hasty
www.newscientist.com
February 2, 2026 at 11:26 AM
My leader on banning social media, and more broadly the place of science in policymaking www.newscientist.com/article/mg26...
Reposted by Jacob Aron
A "sentient sun"... But the physics of putting data centres in space is extremely challenging, to say the least www.newscientist.com/article/2509...
February 2, 2026 at 10:17 PM
A "sentient sun"... But the physics of putting data centres in space is extremely challenging, to say the least www.newscientist.com/article/2509...
Reposted by Jacob Aron
Wondering why? Read our piece from last week. Personally, I don't think this is going to end well... www.newscientist.com/article/2513...
February 2, 2026 at 9:52 PM
Wondering why? Read our piece from last week. Personally, I don't think this is going to end well... www.newscientist.com/article/2513...
The next Starship launch is due in March, which will have been a six month gap since the previous launch. This is not a cadence that will get you much of anything into orbit, not least because the rocket remains experimental
February 2, 2026 at 10:35 PM
The next Starship launch is due in March, which will have been a six month gap since the previous launch. This is not a cadence that will get you much of anything into orbit, not least because the rocket remains experimental
Worth remembering that SpaceX is currently committed to landing on the moon next year, using a mission architecture that has never been attempted. Is it also going to build data centres in space at the same time? Or will it let one or both of these goals slide?
By my estimation, SpaceX must perform ~20 flawless Starship launches in order to practice for and execute Artemis III, and to date it has only achieved 6, all with much more forgiving mission profiles. SpaceX is good at iteration, but this is hard. And only one component of Artemis III!
February 2, 2026 at 10:33 PM
Worth remembering that SpaceX is currently committed to landing on the moon next year, using a mission architecture that has never been attempted. Is it also going to build data centres in space at the same time? Or will it let one or both of these goals slide?
A "sentient sun"... But the physics of putting data centres in space is extremely challenging, to say the least www.newscientist.com/article/2509...
February 2, 2026 at 10:17 PM
A "sentient sun"... But the physics of putting data centres in space is extremely challenging, to say the least www.newscientist.com/article/2509...
Wondering why? Read our piece from last week. Personally, I don't think this is going to end well... www.newscientist.com/article/2513...
February 2, 2026 at 9:52 PM
Wondering why? Read our piece from last week. Personally, I don't think this is going to end well... www.newscientist.com/article/2513...
Reposted by Jacob Aron
Should you be feeding your kids melatonin gummies to get them to sleep? www.newscientist.com/article/2511...
Melatonin gummies as sleep aids for children: What are the risks?
To eliminate bedtime struggles, a growing number of parents have turned to melatonin gummies, but these hormone supplements are largely unregulated. Columnist Alice Klein digs into the evidence on the...
www.newscientist.com
February 2, 2026 at 11:30 AM
Should you be feeding your kids melatonin gummies to get them to sleep? www.newscientist.com/article/2511...
Should you be feeding your kids melatonin gummies to get them to sleep? www.newscientist.com/article/2511...
Melatonin gummies as sleep aids for children: What are the risks?
To eliminate bedtime struggles, a growing number of parents have turned to melatonin gummies, but these hormone supplements are largely unregulated. Columnist Alice Klein digs into the evidence on the...
www.newscientist.com
February 2, 2026 at 11:30 AM
Should you be feeding your kids melatonin gummies to get them to sleep? www.newscientist.com/article/2511...
My leader on banning social media, and more broadly the place of science in policymaking www.newscientist.com/article/mg26...
It would be a mistake to rush into an under-16 social media ban
Many countries are debating whether to follow Australia and ban social media for younger teenagers. But with more robust evidence on its harms coming, we shouldn't be too hasty
www.newscientist.com
February 2, 2026 at 11:26 AM
My leader on banning social media, and more broadly the place of science in policymaking www.newscientist.com/article/mg26...
Reposted by Jacob Aron
Reposted by Jacob Aron
'measles outbreak at the child prison' seems entirely avoidable, it's really the kind of thing that only happens if you do several unthinkably evil things on purpose all at once
Horrifying. ICE confirms measles outbreak at Dilley family detention center. www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-dil...
ICE halts "all movement" at Texas detention facility due to measles infections
The measles cases at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center were detected Friday, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement to CBS News.
www.cbsnews.com
February 2, 2026 at 4:31 AM
'measles outbreak at the child prison' seems entirely avoidable, it's really the kind of thing that only happens if you do several unthinkably evil things on purpose all at once
Millennials, have you ever deep fried at home? All the safety videos we watched at school have me thinking that if I were ever to attempt such a thing, my entire house will catch fire. How do I get over this fear?
February 1, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Millennials, have you ever deep fried at home? All the safety videos we watched at school have me thinking that if I were ever to attempt such a thing, my entire house will catch fire. How do I get over this fear?
Reposted by Jacob Aron
Take me down to the Parallax city where the far moves slow and the near moves quickly
February 1, 2026 at 3:40 PM
Take me down to the Parallax city where the far moves slow and the near moves quickly
Weeks don't begin on Sunday and I'll fight anyone who says otherwise
Is The Tetris Company going to celebrate what should be "Tetris Month"?
In February 2026, the four weeks are lined up perfectly as four lines - which is exactly what a Tetris is!
The last time this happened was in 2015, and the next two times will be in 2037 and 2043.
#Tetris
In February 2026, the four weeks are lined up perfectly as four lines - which is exactly what a Tetris is!
The last time this happened was in 2015, and the next two times will be in 2037 and 2043.
#Tetris
February 1, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Weeks don't begin on Sunday and I'll fight anyone who says otherwise
What are we teaching people in schools that they get it this wrong smh www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
‘It’s ridiculous’: publicans bemused by rise of single-file queues to get served
Bar owners say they struggle to dissuade people from forming a line as behavioural experts point to post-pandemic ‘new norms’
www.theguardian.com
February 1, 2026 at 12:01 PM
What are we teaching people in schools that they get it this wrong smh www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
Reposted by Jacob Aron
"average New Labour minister causes 3 scandals" factoid actualy just statistical error. average minister causes 0 scandals. Scandals Peter, who lives in cave & causes over 10,000 each day, is an outlier adn should not have been counted
January 31, 2026 at 7:29 PM
"average New Labour minister causes 3 scandals" factoid actualy just statistical error. average minister causes 0 scandals. Scandals Peter, who lives in cave & causes over 10,000 each day, is an outlier adn should not have been counted
This is clear cobblers
Cutting out meat is key to helping beat the obesity crisis and meeting Net Zero targets. But research blames sites like TikTok and Instagram for serving up meat recipes to young people, who are increasingly getting tips from social media influencers. Mark Howarth | Mail on Sunday
Social media stopping Scots from reducing the amount of meat they eat
Social media companies are stopping Scots from reducing the amount of meat they eat, scientists claim.
buff.ly
February 1, 2026 at 10:31 AM
This is clear cobblers
Reposted by Jacob Aron
Wowsers look at what happened to posts on Twitter/X about London crime after monetisation of posts was introduced…
economist.com/britain/2026...
economist.com/britain/2026...
January 31, 2026 at 6:07 PM
Wowsers look at what happened to posts on Twitter/X about London crime after monetisation of posts was introduced…
economist.com/britain/2026...
economist.com/britain/2026...
I'll take it
NGL this description of Bsky in Vulture cracked me up
January 31, 2026 at 3:04 PM
I'll take it
Reposted by Jacob Aron
ok wow. in 2020, as a former tech journalist, i had a large twitter account, so i asked elon musk to comment on why he had been photographed with ghislaine maxwell and whether the rumors jeffrey epstein had toured space x were true
January 31, 2026 at 11:21 AM
ok wow. in 2020, as a former tech journalist, i had a large twitter account, so i asked elon musk to comment on why he had been photographed with ghislaine maxwell and whether the rumors jeffrey epstein had toured space x were true
Reposted by Jacob Aron
We currently accept the deaths of children and adults caused by people driving cars all the time. The road death statistics bear that out, as does the hysterical screeching from certain people every time a single road safety measure is suggested.
Reminded that when asked if society would accept a death caused by a robot, Waymo CEO said “I think that society will.”
A Waymo hit a child near an elementary school in Santa Monica
Federal regulators are probing an incident in which a driverless Waymo vehicle struck a child during school drop-off, causing minor injuries.
www.businessinsider.com
January 31, 2026 at 9:41 AM
We currently accept the deaths of children and adults caused by people driving cars all the time. The road death statistics bear that out, as does the hysterical screeching from certain people every time a single road safety measure is suggested.
Reposted by Jacob Aron
Some might say smartphones have caused more harm than good. Here’s why putting a powerful computer into every pocket was a good idea.
Smartphones (yes, really): Best ideas of the century
www.newscientist.com
January 31, 2026 at 9:41 AM
Some might say smartphones have caused more harm than good. Here’s why putting a powerful computer into every pocket was a good idea.
I think they've got quite good at price discrimination, they've clearly got my number as not a banker because my sub has stayed at a discounted rate for a couple of years
January 31, 2026 at 9:34 AM
I think they've got quite good at price discrimination, they've clearly got my number as not a banker because my sub has stayed at a discounted rate for a couple of years
Genuinely, the high cost of a subscription. You are paying for a quality product with high standards
i’m slightly curious as to why FT has stayed normal unlike much of the staff at their peer publications (not just in the UK but also specifically the UK)
January 31, 2026 at 9:16 AM
Genuinely, the high cost of a subscription. You are paying for a quality product with high standards