Karl Byrne
@kjcbyrne.bsky.social
Science Communicator, Public Engagement person, Geeky McNerderson, sweary and woke. Swoke?
If you want a science talk or show about your favourite Sci-Fi, get in touch - I'm your carbon based life form! He/Him
If you want a science talk or show about your favourite Sci-Fi, get in touch - I'm your carbon based life form! He/Him
Pinned
Karl Byrne
@kjcbyrne.bsky.social
· Nov 21
Viruses are small. Like, really really tiny.
If a cold virus was actually as large as my perfect replica in the image below (accurate in every detail, except for the eyes. And the fur. And the colour) the equivalent person would be about 9000km tall, with nostrils about 50km wide.
If a cold virus was actually as large as my perfect replica in the image below (accurate in every detail, except for the eyes. And the fur. And the colour) the equivalent person would be about 9000km tall, with nostrils about 50km wide.
Reposted by Karl Byrne
New data shows just £1.5 million was given to councils in England in the past year to tackle air pollution – down from a high of £225 million in 2021 @bylinetimes.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/21/t...
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/21/t...
The Government Has Cut Air Pollution Funds to Councils by 99% as Illegal Levels of Pollution Shorten Lives
New data shows just £1.5 million was given to councils in England in the past year to tackle air pollution - down from a high of £225 million in 2021
bylinetimes.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:02 PM
New data shows just £1.5 million was given to councils in England in the past year to tackle air pollution – down from a high of £225 million in 2021 @bylinetimes.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/21/t...
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/21/t...
Reposted by Karl Byrne
BREAKING: Reform UK's former Welsh leader and close Nigel Farage associate, Nathan Gill, sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison for repeatedly taking bribes to spread pro-Russian propaganda
November 21, 2025 at 12:52 PM
BREAKING: Reform UK's former Welsh leader and close Nigel Farage associate, Nathan Gill, sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison for repeatedly taking bribes to spread pro-Russian propaganda
Wow. Who could EVER have predicted that Brexit would damage the UK? What a total surprise.
Brexit has caused almost twice as much damage to the UK economy than estimated by official forecasts, according to new paper from a group of experts including a senior Bank of England economist
Brexit Hit to UK Economy Double Official Estimate, Study Finds
Brexit has caused almost twice as much damage to the UK economy than estimated by official forecasts, according to new paper from a group of experts including a senior Bank of England economist.
bloom.bg
November 21, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Wow. Who could EVER have predicted that Brexit would damage the UK? What a total surprise.
Reposted by Karl Byrne
I've had a missile blow up next to my airplane, been shot at dozens of times by anti-aircraft fire, and launched into orbit — all for my country. I never thought I'd see a President call for my execution.
Trump doesn’t understand the Constitution, and we're all less safe for it.
Trump doesn’t understand the Constitution, and we're all less safe for it.
November 20, 2025 at 8:40 PM
I've had a missile blow up next to my airplane, been shot at dozens of times by anti-aircraft fire, and launched into orbit — all for my country. I never thought I'd see a President call for my execution.
Trump doesn’t understand the Constitution, and we're all less safe for it.
Trump doesn’t understand the Constitution, and we're all less safe for it.
Reposted by Karl Byrne
This is a dark and dangerous path.
The government has said it won’t be rushed, and I sincerely hope this means that Ministers will reject any EHRC guidance that further harms trans people.
Parliament should instead make clear in legislation that “single-sex spaces” are to be trans-inclusive.
The government has said it won’t be rushed, and I sincerely hope this means that Ministers will reject any EHRC guidance that further harms trans people.
Parliament should instead make clear in legislation that “single-sex spaces” are to be trans-inclusive.
November 20, 2025 at 7:47 PM
This is a dark and dangerous path.
The government has said it won’t be rushed, and I sincerely hope this means that Ministers will reject any EHRC guidance that further harms trans people.
Parliament should instead make clear in legislation that “single-sex spaces” are to be trans-inclusive.
The government has said it won’t be rushed, and I sincerely hope this means that Ministers will reject any EHRC guidance that further harms trans people.
Parliament should instead make clear in legislation that “single-sex spaces” are to be trans-inclusive.
Reposted by Karl Byrne
We're at the next stag of the authors' lawsuit against Anthropic.
Check the link below to see which of your books they raided and then click through to file a claim.
Four of mine were in there.
Check the link below to see which of your books they raided and then click through to file a claim.
Four of mine were in there.
November 18, 2025 at 7:54 PM
We're at the next stag of the authors' lawsuit against Anthropic.
Check the link below to see which of your books they raided and then click through to file a claim.
Four of mine were in there.
Check the link below to see which of your books they raided and then click through to file a claim.
Four of mine were in there.
Ah, Capitalism... Making everything worse just so rich people can get richer.
🚨 EXPOSED: Parents are being threatened for recording their own kids’ hockey games. Private equity bought the rinks, banned filming, and now charges up to $50 a month to watch youth sports.
November 18, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Ah, Capitalism... Making everything worse just so rich people can get richer.
Everyday in every way this orange piece of shit shows the world what an evil sociopath he is. There isn't a dictator he won't suck up to. There isn't a murderer he won't befriend, there isn't a pedophile he won't protect.
Trump suggests Khashoggi had it coming: "You're mentioning someone that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about. Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen. But he knew nothing about it. You don't have to embarrass our guest."
November 18, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Everyday in every way this orange piece of shit shows the world what an evil sociopath he is. There isn't a dictator he won't suck up to. There isn't a murderer he won't befriend, there isn't a pedophile he won't protect.
November 17, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Reposted by Karl Byrne
Shabana Mahmood casually saying they're gonna take migrant's jewellery off them has got me thinking about that scene in Schindler's List where the Jewish family wrap family heirlooms in bread and swallow them.
What the fuck are we?
What the fuck are we?
November 17, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Shabana Mahmood casually saying they're gonna take migrant's jewellery off them has got me thinking about that scene in Schindler's List where the Jewish family wrap family heirlooms in bread and swallow them.
What the fuck are we?
What the fuck are we?
Reposted by Karl Byrne
I hope every Labour MP considering whether to support Shabana Mahmood's asylum plans remembers Nigel Farage's assessment that the “Home Secretary sounds like a Reform supporter.”
If they support them they will too.
If they support them they will too.
November 17, 2025 at 7:19 AM
I hope every Labour MP considering whether to support Shabana Mahmood's asylum plans remembers Nigel Farage's assessment that the “Home Secretary sounds like a Reform supporter.”
If they support them they will too.
If they support them they will too.
Reposted by Karl Byrne
CORRECTION: They dissolved *some* of the Washington Post journalist's body in acid.
The *rest* they barbecued on a grill until it was incinerated.
I know because I wrote a chapter on it in Proof of Conspiracy (Macmillan).
Trump thereafter bragged about "saving MBS's ass."
These are all monsters.
The *rest* they barbecued on a grill until it was incinerated.
I know because I wrote a chapter on it in Proof of Conspiracy (Macmillan).
Trump thereafter bragged about "saving MBS's ass."
These are all monsters.
November 15, 2025 at 11:11 PM
CORRECTION: They dissolved *some* of the Washington Post journalist's body in acid.
The *rest* they barbecued on a grill until it was incinerated.
I know because I wrote a chapter on it in Proof of Conspiracy (Macmillan).
Trump thereafter bragged about "saving MBS's ass."
These are all monsters.
The *rest* they barbecued on a grill until it was incinerated.
I know because I wrote a chapter on it in Proof of Conspiracy (Macmillan).
Trump thereafter bragged about "saving MBS's ass."
These are all monsters.
Reposted by Karl Byrne
𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐩, 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞, 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐩𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐥 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐚𝐱.
November 13, 2025 at 5:39 PM
𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐩, 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞, 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐩𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐥 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐚𝐱.
Reposted by Karl Byrne
Discussing impact of US withdrawal from global structures at European Public Health Conference in Helsinki. A reminder that Donald Trump’s policies will likely kill millions of people while our sycophantic leaders grovel at his feet
November 14, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Discussing impact of US withdrawal from global structures at European Public Health Conference in Helsinki. A reminder that Donald Trump’s policies will likely kill millions of people while our sycophantic leaders grovel at his feet
Reposted by Karl Byrne
November 14, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Reposted by Karl Byrne
Reposted by Karl Byrne
Reminder that Starbucks’ CEO made 6,666x more than the company's median employee in 2024.
This was the widest CEO-to-Worker pay gap in the entire S&P 500.
And we're supposed to believe Starbucks can't afford to bargain a fair contract with its unionized workers?
This was the widest CEO-to-Worker pay gap in the entire S&P 500.
And we're supposed to believe Starbucks can't afford to bargain a fair contract with its unionized workers?
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
November 13, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Reminder that Starbucks’ CEO made 6,666x more than the company's median employee in 2024.
This was the widest CEO-to-Worker pay gap in the entire S&P 500.
And we're supposed to believe Starbucks can't afford to bargain a fair contract with its unionized workers?
This was the widest CEO-to-Worker pay gap in the entire S&P 500.
And we're supposed to believe Starbucks can't afford to bargain a fair contract with its unionized workers?
Every time I see Wes Streetings face the phrase "swivel eyed loon" pops into my head unbidden.
He's a nasty little shit who wants to destroy the NHS and delights in attacking trans people. He seems to despise Labour values. And he wants to be in charge.
He's a nasty little shit who wants to destroy the NHS and delights in attacking trans people. He seems to despise Labour values. And he wants to be in charge.
November 13, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Every time I see Wes Streetings face the phrase "swivel eyed loon" pops into my head unbidden.
He's a nasty little shit who wants to destroy the NHS and delights in attacking trans people. He seems to despise Labour values. And he wants to be in charge.
He's a nasty little shit who wants to destroy the NHS and delights in attacking trans people. He seems to despise Labour values. And he wants to be in charge.
Reposted by Karl Byrne
Reform UK Ltd gets 92% of its funding from climate change deniers and fossil fuel corporate interests, provoking negative reactions.
A new survey reveals negative attitudes to Reform UK Ltd
Reform UK Ltd gets 92% of its funding from climate change deniers and fossil fuel corporate interests, provoking negative reactions
centralbylines.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Reform UK Ltd gets 92% of its funding from climate change deniers and fossil fuel corporate interests, provoking negative reactions.
Reposted by Karl Byrne
"The BBC isn’t perfect – but it’s ours. If we don’t defend it now, we may lose a cornerstone of British democracy"
Defend the BBC before it’s gone – an open letter
The BBC isn’t perfect – but it’s ours. If we don’t defend it now, we may lose a cornerstone of British democracy
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 9:25 PM
"The BBC isn’t perfect – but it’s ours. If we don’t defend it now, we may lose a cornerstone of British democracy"
Reposted by Karl Byrne
"How many trans people have you seen on the BBC in the last 5 years?"
"How many trans kids/families have thanked you for getting the Tavistock closed down?"
"Name me one Olympic medal winning trans athlete"
Simple questions, all with the same answer, yet never asked.
"How many trans kids/families have thanked you for getting the Tavistock closed down?"
"Name me one Olympic medal winning trans athlete"
Simple questions, all with the same answer, yet never asked.
November 11, 2025 at 9:52 AM
"How many trans people have you seen on the BBC in the last 5 years?"
"How many trans kids/families have thanked you for getting the Tavistock closed down?"
"Name me one Olympic medal winning trans athlete"
Simple questions, all with the same answer, yet never asked.
"How many trans kids/families have thanked you for getting the Tavistock closed down?"
"Name me one Olympic medal winning trans athlete"
Simple questions, all with the same answer, yet never asked.
Reposted by Karl Byrne
Good morning to all those people who wasted the last decade saying, "there's no point tackling climate change in the UK, because China."
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
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 7:08 AM
Good morning to all those people who wasted the last decade saying, "there's no point tackling climate change in the UK, because China."
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Reposted by Karl Byrne
*Women receive substantially lower "potential" ratings despite receiving higher performance ratings
*Differences in potential ratings account for half of the gender promotion gap
*Women’s lower potential ratings do not reflect future performance: women subsequently outperform male colleagues
*Differences in potential ratings account for half of the gender promotion gap
*Women’s lower potential ratings do not reflect future performance: women subsequently outperform male colleagues
Forthcoming in the AER: "“Potential” and the Gender Promotion Gap" by Alan Benson, Danielle Li, and Kelly Shue. www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=...
“Potential” and the Gender Promotion Gap
(Forthcoming Article) - We show that subjective assessments of employee “potential” contribute to gender gaps
in promotion and pay. Using data on 29,809 management-track employees from a
large retail ...
www.aeaweb.org
November 10, 2025 at 2:54 PM
*Women receive substantially lower "potential" ratings despite receiving higher performance ratings
*Differences in potential ratings account for half of the gender promotion gap
*Women’s lower potential ratings do not reflect future performance: women subsequently outperform male colleagues
*Differences in potential ratings account for half of the gender promotion gap
*Women’s lower potential ratings do not reflect future performance: women subsequently outperform male colleagues
Reposted by Karl Byrne
If you have a Dem senator and you're seeing this right now, CALL THEM RIGHT NOW and tell them NO. If you don't know anyone who would be affected by this, call them for my friend Lisa. She cannot afford insurance without ACA subsidies and without health insurance I'm terrified she will die.
! A key group of Senate Democrats is leaning toward voting for a deal to end the shutdown, provided final details can be worked out like worker protections (Gift link)
(Deal does NOT include an ACA extension.)
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
(Deal does NOT include an ACA extension.)
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Thune Plans Test Vote on Shutdown, Saying Deal Is Getting Closer
Senate Republican leader John Thune said a deal is “coming together” as he planned a test vote Sunday on a narrow spending package that would end the 40-day government shutdown.
www.bloomberg.com
November 9, 2025 at 11:20 PM
If you have a Dem senator and you're seeing this right now, CALL THEM RIGHT NOW and tell them NO. If you don't know anyone who would be affected by this, call them for my friend Lisa. She cannot afford insurance without ACA subsidies and without health insurance I'm terrified she will die.