Mike Sowden
@mikeachim.bsky.social
Writer (on science, travel & curiosity), Yorkshireman, tedious enthusiast, professional overthinker, Megathreader. Now: Scotland.
Writes Everything Is Amazing: https://everythingisamazing.substack.com/
Writes Everything Is Amazing: https://everythingisamazing.substack.com/
Pinned
Mike Sowden
@mikeachim.bsky.social
· May 12
OK, this is wild.
In September 2023, geophysicists across the world started monitoring a very odd signal coming from the ground under them.
It was picked up in the Arctic. And Antarctica. It was detected everywhere, every 90 seconds, as regular as a metronome, for *nine days*.
What the HELL?
1/
In September 2023, geophysicists across the world started monitoring a very odd signal coming from the ground under them.
It was picked up in the Arctic. And Antarctica. It was detected everywhere, every 90 seconds, as regular as a metronome, for *nine days*.
What the HELL?
1/
"Writers need to be VULNERABLE" they said.
"SHARE YOUR CRINGIEST MOMENTS" they also said.
I'm not sure they meant like this, but here goes.
everythingisamazing.substack.com/p/wet-legs-a...
"SHARE YOUR CRINGIEST MOMENTS" they also said.
I'm not sure they meant like this, but here goes.
everythingisamazing.substack.com/p/wet-legs-a...
Wet Legs At 5AM
One of my worst ideas. (And that's really saying something.)
everythingisamazing.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:07 PM
"Writers need to be VULNERABLE" they said.
"SHARE YOUR CRINGIEST MOMENTS" they also said.
I'm not sure they meant like this, but here goes.
everythingisamazing.substack.com/p/wet-legs-a...
"SHARE YOUR CRINGIEST MOMENTS" they also said.
I'm not sure they meant like this, but here goes.
everythingisamazing.substack.com/p/wet-legs-a...
Please come listen to me narrate one of my Worst Days Ever, in my natural low-budget Game Of Thrones accent. Thank you.
Reading this from @mikeachim.bsky.social has left me with a strange urge to either put the heating on or go back to bed, or both. But don't let that put you off; I heartily recommend reading it, if only so you can count your blessings afterwards.
Wet Legs At 5AM
One of my worst ideas. (And that's really saying something.)
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Please come listen to me narrate one of my Worst Days Ever, in my natural low-budget Game Of Thrones accent. Thank you.
Reposted by Mike Sowden
Boom!
A good deal of my time spent on the beach at Jökulsárlón is trying to capture waves hitting icebergs, without the iceberg moving (and being blurred). Occasionally it all comes together :)
#Iceland
A good deal of my time spent on the beach at Jökulsárlón is trying to capture waves hitting icebergs, without the iceberg moving (and being blurred). Occasionally it all comes together :)
#Iceland
November 8, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Boom!
A good deal of my time spent on the beach at Jökulsárlón is trying to capture waves hitting icebergs, without the iceberg moving (and being blurred). Occasionally it all comes together :)
#Iceland
A good deal of my time spent on the beach at Jökulsárlón is trying to capture waves hitting icebergs, without the iceberg moving (and being blurred). Occasionally it all comes together :)
#Iceland
Reposted by Mike Sowden
Both the dog’s cool confidence and the cat’s bitchiness are hilarious.
November 5, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Both the dog’s cool confidence and the cat’s bitchiness are hilarious.
Reposted by Mike Sowden
I'm sorry, but these images of the left of Kuala Lumpur's Petronas Towers are absolutely identical.
No, really.
What's happening to your brain is called the Leaning Tower Illusion (discovered in 2007), and it's never *not* going to work on you, however many times you look.
As I said: sorry.
No, really.
What's happening to your brain is called the Leaning Tower Illusion (discovered in 2007), and it's never *not* going to work on you, however many times you look.
As I said: sorry.
April 20, 2025 at 7:37 AM
I'm sorry, but these images of the left of Kuala Lumpur's Petronas Towers are absolutely identical.
No, really.
What's happening to your brain is called the Leaning Tower Illusion (discovered in 2007), and it's never *not* going to work on you, however many times you look.
As I said: sorry.
No, really.
What's happening to your brain is called the Leaning Tower Illusion (discovered in 2007), and it's never *not* going to work on you, however many times you look.
As I said: sorry.
Reposted by Mike Sowden
The truly maddening thing is that, unlike when I was a young man in science and the materials and engineering just weren’t there yet, the future is *right there.* The problem is *solved*. What’s holding us back is not just greed, but this bizarre nostalgia, an obsession with petro- masculinity.
Australia has so much electricity from solar power that it is going to start offering free electricity to everyone for at least three hours during the day as the wholesale price of power goes negative
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
Australia has so much solar that it's offering everyone free electricity
Australia's extensive solar power penetration makes so much energy that the government wants to offer free electricity at peak hours.
electrek.co
November 6, 2025 at 2:08 PM
The truly maddening thing is that, unlike when I was a young man in science and the materials and engineering just weren’t there yet, the future is *right there.* The problem is *solved*. What’s holding us back is not just greed, but this bizarre nostalgia, an obsession with petro- masculinity.
Reposted by Mike Sowden
Here's another one of these to absolutely mess with you. You're so very welcome.
April 20, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Here's another one of these to absolutely mess with you. You're so very welcome.
“Hope is not a lottery ticket you can sit on the sofa and clutch, feeling lucky. It is an axe you break down doors with in an emergency." - Rebecca Solnit.
There was certainly a lot of splintered wood flying around last night.
Well done, America. This feels like sanity returning. Keep it up.
There was certainly a lot of splintered wood flying around last night.
Well done, America. This feels like sanity returning. Keep it up.
November 5, 2025 at 2:15 PM
“Hope is not a lottery ticket you can sit on the sofa and clutch, feeling lucky. It is an axe you break down doors with in an emergency." - Rebecca Solnit.
There was certainly a lot of splintered wood flying around last night.
Well done, America. This feels like sanity returning. Keep it up.
There was certainly a lot of splintered wood flying around last night.
Well done, America. This feels like sanity returning. Keep it up.
Reposted by Mike Sowden
Every single county in Virginia shifted Blue.
November 5, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Every single county in Virginia shifted Blue.
Reposted by Mike Sowden
Just to pre-empt the pundits, I absolutely believe you could run a Mamdani in middle America and win
November 5, 2025 at 2:41 AM
Just to pre-empt the pundits, I absolutely believe you could run a Mamdani in middle America and win
Reposted by Mike Sowden
I always learn something amazing from @mikeachim.bsky.social
As someone who loves geology, I had no idea about the existence of this waterfall.
Fascinating thread 👍🏻
As someone who loves geology, I had no idea about the existence of this waterfall.
Fascinating thread 👍🏻
This is Angel Falls in Venezuela, with its 807-metre sheer plunge - the tallest waterfall on our planet.
Except - it isn't. There's one that's bigger. MUCH bigger. And when I learned about it this week, my mind was fully blown.
OK. Buckle up! (Especially if you don't have a head for heights.)
1/
Except - it isn't. There's one that's bigger. MUCH bigger. And when I learned about it this week, my mind was fully blown.
OK. Buckle up! (Especially if you don't have a head for heights.)
1/
November 3, 2025 at 5:46 PM
I always learn something amazing from @mikeachim.bsky.social
As someone who loves geology, I had no idea about the existence of this waterfall.
Fascinating thread 👍🏻
As someone who loves geology, I had no idea about the existence of this waterfall.
Fascinating thread 👍🏻
Reposted by Mike Sowden
This is Angel Falls in Venezuela, with its 807-metre sheer plunge - the tallest waterfall on our planet.
Except - it isn't. There's one that's bigger. MUCH bigger. And when I learned about it this week, my mind was fully blown.
OK. Buckle up! (Especially if you don't have a head for heights.)
1/
Except - it isn't. There's one that's bigger. MUCH bigger. And when I learned about it this week, my mind was fully blown.
OK. Buckle up! (Especially if you don't have a head for heights.)
1/
November 3, 2025 at 11:07 AM
This is Angel Falls in Venezuela, with its 807-metre sheer plunge - the tallest waterfall on our planet.
Except - it isn't. There's one that's bigger. MUCH bigger. And when I learned about it this week, my mind was fully blown.
OK. Buckle up! (Especially if you don't have a head for heights.)
1/
Except - it isn't. There's one that's bigger. MUCH bigger. And when I learned about it this week, my mind was fully blown.
OK. Buckle up! (Especially if you don't have a head for heights.)
1/
Reposted by Mike Sowden
...and as you can see, it has a combined plunge & downslope that's 11,500 feet, or almost two miles, high.
Here's that Burj Khalifa photo again.
Now please imagine *four* of these, stacked on top of each other, plus an extra few hundred metres on top.
BLIMEY.
7/
Here's that Burj Khalifa photo again.
Now please imagine *four* of these, stacked on top of each other, plus an extra few hundred metres on top.
BLIMEY.
7/
November 3, 2025 at 11:31 AM
...and as you can see, it has a combined plunge & downslope that's 11,500 feet, or almost two miles, high.
Here's that Burj Khalifa photo again.
Now please imagine *four* of these, stacked on top of each other, plus an extra few hundred metres on top.
BLIMEY.
7/
Here's that Burj Khalifa photo again.
Now please imagine *four* of these, stacked on top of each other, plus an extra few hundred metres on top.
BLIMEY.
7/
Reposted by Mike Sowden
I've stood on the rocky outcrop where this spectacular photo can be taken.
This is Angel Falls in Venezuela, with its 807-metre sheer plunge - the tallest waterfall on our planet.
Except - it isn't. There's one that's bigger. MUCH bigger. And when I learned about it this week, my mind was fully blown.
OK. Buckle up! (Especially if you don't have a head for heights.)
1/
Except - it isn't. There's one that's bigger. MUCH bigger. And when I learned about it this week, my mind was fully blown.
OK. Buckle up! (Especially if you don't have a head for heights.)
1/
November 3, 2025 at 11:15 AM
I've stood on the rocky outcrop where this spectacular photo can be taken.
This is Angel Falls in Venezuela, with its 807-metre sheer plunge - the tallest waterfall on our planet.
Except - it isn't. There's one that's bigger. MUCH bigger. And when I learned about it this week, my mind was fully blown.
OK. Buckle up! (Especially if you don't have a head for heights.)
1/
Except - it isn't. There's one that's bigger. MUCH bigger. And when I learned about it this week, my mind was fully blown.
OK. Buckle up! (Especially if you don't have a head for heights.)
1/
November 3, 2025 at 11:07 AM
This is Angel Falls in Venezuela, with its 807-metre sheer plunge - the tallest waterfall on our planet.
Except - it isn't. There's one that's bigger. MUCH bigger. And when I learned about it this week, my mind was fully blown.
OK. Buckle up! (Especially if you don't have a head for heights.)
1/
Except - it isn't. There's one that's bigger. MUCH bigger. And when I learned about it this week, my mind was fully blown.
OK. Buckle up! (Especially if you don't have a head for heights.)
1/
“Chatroom contributions are given equal status with serious academic work,” Evans, an expert on the Third Reich, told the Guardian, after being invited to test out Grokipedia. “AI just hoovers up everything.”
'Wikipedia-beater' my magnificent British ass.
'Wikipedia-beater' my magnificent British ass.
It's remarkably consistent which articles Gobbypedia lifts wholesale from Wikipedia and which it alters. It's editorial
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
In Grok we don’t trust: academics assess Elon Musk’s AI-powered encyclopedia
From publishing falsehoods to pushing far-right ideology, Grokipedia gives chatroom comments equal status to research
www.theguardian.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:50 AM
“Chatroom contributions are given equal status with serious academic work,” Evans, an expert on the Third Reich, told the Guardian, after being invited to test out Grokipedia. “AI just hoovers up everything.”
'Wikipedia-beater' my magnificent British ass.
'Wikipedia-beater' my magnificent British ass.
"Unlike cynicism, hopefulness is hard-earned, makes demands upon us, & can often feel like the most indefensible and lonely place on Earth. Hopefulness is not a neutral position - it is adversarial. It is the warrior emotion that can lay waste to cynicism."
- Nick Cave to Stephen Colbert, Aug. 2024.
- Nick Cave to Stephen Colbert, Aug. 2024.
November 2, 2025 at 11:15 PM
"Unlike cynicism, hopefulness is hard-earned, makes demands upon us, & can often feel like the most indefensible and lonely place on Earth. Hopefulness is not a neutral position - it is adversarial. It is the warrior emotion that can lay waste to cynicism."
- Nick Cave to Stephen Colbert, Aug. 2024.
- Nick Cave to Stephen Colbert, Aug. 2024.
You don’t get naturalists like the Very Reverend William Buckland (1784-1856) any more.
At least, I certainly hope not.
(Via everythingisamazing.substack.com/p/the-fun-is...)
At least, I certainly hope not.
(Via everythingisamazing.substack.com/p/the-fun-is...)
November 2, 2025 at 10:34 PM
You don’t get naturalists like the Very Reverend William Buckland (1784-1856) any more.
At least, I certainly hope not.
(Via everythingisamazing.substack.com/p/the-fun-is...)
At least, I certainly hope not.
(Via everythingisamazing.substack.com/p/the-fun-is...)
Reposted by Mike Sowden
Image of the Sun.
Taken at night.
Not looking up at sky but down through 8000 miles of rock to the other side of the Earth.
Not with light but neutrinos.
Taken at night.
Not looking up at sky but down through 8000 miles of rock to the other side of the Earth.
Not with light but neutrinos.
November 1, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Image of the Sun.
Taken at night.
Not looking up at sky but down through 8000 miles of rock to the other side of the Earth.
Not with light but neutrinos.
Taken at night.
Not looking up at sky but down through 8000 miles of rock to the other side of the Earth.
Not with light but neutrinos.
Reposted by Mike Sowden
This guy's video explains what's happening.
October 31, 2025 at 10:51 PM
This guy's video explains what's happening.
Reposted by Mike Sowden
Left: Causes of death in the US in 2023. Heart diseases and cancer are leading the way.
Right: What the New York Times covered in 2023. Homicide and terrorism cover about 60% of all news.
I don't ask for the two bars to totally be the same, but more reality in reporting would be beneficial.
Right: What the New York Times covered in 2023. Homicide and terrorism cover about 60% of all news.
I don't ask for the two bars to totally be the same, but more reality in reporting would be beneficial.
October 31, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Left: Causes of death in the US in 2023. Heart diseases and cancer are leading the way.
Right: What the New York Times covered in 2023. Homicide and terrorism cover about 60% of all news.
I don't ask for the two bars to totally be the same, but more reality in reporting would be beneficial.
Right: What the New York Times covered in 2023. Homicide and terrorism cover about 60% of all news.
I don't ask for the two bars to totally be the same, but more reality in reporting would be beneficial.
Hi everyone, here is my new conspiracy theory.
October 31, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Hi everyone, here is my new conspiracy theory.
Reposted by Mike Sowden
Since Musk is attacking Wikipedia once again:
I love Wikipedia. A little unreliable, very occasionally hilariously inaccurate, but such a rare thing: something on the Internet that's mostly positive, inspiring & mindbogglingly useful. I've donated & will keep doing so.
An appreciation 🧵 .
1/
I love Wikipedia. A little unreliable, very occasionally hilariously inaccurate, but such a rare thing: something on the Internet that's mostly positive, inspiring & mindbogglingly useful. I've donated & will keep doing so.
An appreciation 🧵 .
1/
Following Jemima's example, I asked it too, and...
This is impressively definitive! Either you believe Grok and Wikipedia is more reliable - or you don’t believe Grok, which is the editor of Grokipedia, and have to conclude in a whole other way that Wikipedia is more reliable!
Ludicrous.
This is impressively definitive! Either you believe Grok and Wikipedia is more reliable - or you don’t believe Grok, which is the editor of Grokipedia, and have to conclude in a whole other way that Wikipedia is more reliable!
Ludicrous.
October 29, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Since Musk is attacking Wikipedia once again:
I love Wikipedia. A little unreliable, very occasionally hilariously inaccurate, but such a rare thing: something on the Internet that's mostly positive, inspiring & mindbogglingly useful. I've donated & will keep doing so.
An appreciation 🧵 .
1/
I love Wikipedia. A little unreliable, very occasionally hilariously inaccurate, but such a rare thing: something on the Internet that's mostly positive, inspiring & mindbogglingly useful. I've donated & will keep doing so.
An appreciation 🧵 .
1/
Since Musk is attacking Wikipedia once again:
I love Wikipedia. A little unreliable, very occasionally hilariously inaccurate, but such a rare thing: something on the Internet that's mostly positive, inspiring & mindbogglingly useful. I've donated & will keep doing so.
An appreciation 🧵 .
1/
I love Wikipedia. A little unreliable, very occasionally hilariously inaccurate, but such a rare thing: something on the Internet that's mostly positive, inspiring & mindbogglingly useful. I've donated & will keep doing so.
An appreciation 🧵 .
1/
Following Jemima's example, I asked it too, and...
This is impressively definitive! Either you believe Grok and Wikipedia is more reliable - or you don’t believe Grok, which is the editor of Grokipedia, and have to conclude in a whole other way that Wikipedia is more reliable!
Ludicrous.
This is impressively definitive! Either you believe Grok and Wikipedia is more reliable - or you don’t believe Grok, which is the editor of Grokipedia, and have to conclude in a whole other way that Wikipedia is more reliable!
Ludicrous.
October 29, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Since Musk is attacking Wikipedia once again:
I love Wikipedia. A little unreliable, very occasionally hilariously inaccurate, but such a rare thing: something on the Internet that's mostly positive, inspiring & mindbogglingly useful. I've donated & will keep doing so.
An appreciation 🧵 .
1/
I love Wikipedia. A little unreliable, very occasionally hilariously inaccurate, but such a rare thing: something on the Internet that's mostly positive, inspiring & mindbogglingly useful. I've donated & will keep doing so.
An appreciation 🧵 .
1/
I've been thinking about this, ever since I shared it and it went bananas.
The calculation is part-based on improvements in wellbeing. Some folk have rolled their eyes & suggested it's twaddle. Questions should be asked! I'm glad it's being scrutinised.
But - wellbeing *does* matter, right?
1/
The calculation is part-based on improvements in wellbeing. Some folk have rolled their eyes & suggested it's twaddle. Questions should be asked! I'm glad it's being scrutinised.
But - wellbeing *does* matter, right?
1/
Damn. This is amazing. £325 per week, paid monthly, for 3 years - and the result was a profit for the Irish economy:
www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employmen...
www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employmen...
October 29, 2025 at 3:28 PM
I've been thinking about this, ever since I shared it and it went bananas.
The calculation is part-based on improvements in wellbeing. Some folk have rolled their eyes & suggested it's twaddle. Questions should be asked! I'm glad it's being scrutinised.
But - wellbeing *does* matter, right?
1/
The calculation is part-based on improvements in wellbeing. Some folk have rolled their eyes & suggested it's twaddle. Questions should be asked! I'm glad it's being scrutinised.
But - wellbeing *does* matter, right?
1/