Paul Boldrin
@paulboldrin.bsky.social
Everything that can be electrified will be electrified. Electrochemist at Ironic Metals Ltd - developing low carbon iron production. Post about science, climate, London, cycling, kids, Spurs and politics.
Pinned
Ironic
www.ironicmetals.com
Got a new job! Finally escaped from the ivory towers to work in a startup on low carbon metals production - specifically low temperature alkaline electrolysis of oxides. So I've escaped from hydrogen as well! Still based at Imperial for the time being - they can't get rid of me that easily.
Finally a Labour MP saying the obvious. The current situation with X is completely untenable and the sooner the government does something about it the better.
There is, to my mind, no justification for the continued use by the UK Government of X as a platform for official comms. There hasn't been for some time, in fact, but if the latest developments around AI-generated image abuse and CSAM don't change the policy I really don't know what will.
NEW: People are using Elon Musk's chatbot, Grok, to alter images to depict real women being sexually abused, humiliated, hurt, and even killed.
futurism.com/future-socie...
futurism.com/future-socie...
January 2, 2026 at 9:21 PM
Finally a Labour MP saying the obvious. The current situation with X is completely untenable and the sooner the government does something about it the better.
Reposted by Paul Boldrin
Will Labour's political economy work?
New Substack exploring the upside and downside scenarios of the Government's current economic course.
Can it go right?
anthonypainter.substack.com/p/will-labou...
New Substack exploring the upside and downside scenarios of the Government's current economic course.
Can it go right?
anthonypainter.substack.com/p/will-labou...
Will Labour's political economy work?
What could go wrong and what could go right with the Government's economic strategy? Its fundamental economic statecraft and its risks and opportunities are becoming clearer.
anthonypainter.substack.com
January 2, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Will Labour's political economy work?
New Substack exploring the upside and downside scenarios of the Government's current economic course.
Can it go right?
anthonypainter.substack.com/p/will-labou...
New Substack exploring the upside and downside scenarios of the Government's current economic course.
Can it go right?
anthonypainter.substack.com/p/will-labou...
This seems risky as a corporate response: "When contacted by Reuters for comment by email, xAI replied with the message "Legacy Media Lies"."
Grok says safeguard lapses led to images of 'minors in minimal clothing' on X reut.rs/498SoUk
Grok says safeguard lapses led to images of 'minors in minimal clothing' on X
Elon Musk's xAI artificial intelligence chatbot Grok said on Friday lapses in safeguards had resulted in "images depicting minors in minimal clothing" on social media platform X and that improvements were being made to prevent this.
reut.rs
January 2, 2026 at 3:11 PM
This seems risky as a corporate response: "When contacted by Reuters for comment by email, xAI replied with the message "Legacy Media Lies"."
At the NYE fireworks for the 1st time in years, good to see they've elevated them above "life-threatening", not managed to reach "fun" yet. Someone should tell the organisers that there are businesses who will provide food and drink or even god forbid entertainment in exchange for money.
December 31, 2025 at 10:47 PM
At the NYE fireworks for the 1st time in years, good to see they've elevated them above "life-threatening", not managed to reach "fun" yet. Someone should tell the organisers that there are businesses who will provide food and drink or even god forbid entertainment in exchange for money.
Then: Spent waaaay too long playing Eve Online before realising that playing a game that is basically like having a 2nd job is a bad idea.
Now: Jedi Academy - unbeatable lightsaber combat and force moves for epic fights all done so that you don't end up slashing at your own feet in confusion.
Now: Jedi Academy - unbeatable lightsaber combat and force moves for epic fights all done so that you don't end up slashing at your own feet in confusion.
Quote this with your favourite game NOW that was released in 2003, and what your favourite was THEN (if you had one)
Localisations*/early access count, remasters/ports don't. Remakes depend.
Two-way ties count.
*('03 was the NA release of Wind Waker)
Refresher list: backloggd.com/games/lib/po...
Localisations*/early access count, remasters/ports don't. Remakes depend.
Two-way ties count.
*('03 was the NA release of Wind Waker)
Refresher list: backloggd.com/games/lib/po...
December 30, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Then: Spent waaaay too long playing Eve Online before realising that playing a game that is basically like having a 2nd job is a bad idea.
Now: Jedi Academy - unbeatable lightsaber combat and force moves for epic fights all done so that you don't end up slashing at your own feet in confusion.
Now: Jedi Academy - unbeatable lightsaber combat and force moves for epic fights all done so that you don't end up slashing at your own feet in confusion.
Probably not the most surprising thing that Tesla has cancelled the contract to supply Cybertruck batteries. Possibly more significant is that these batteries were supposed to be used for all future Teslas and this indicates that that ambition has failed.
Tesla’s 4680 battery supply chain collapses as partner writes down deal by 99%
A major link in Tesla’s 4680 battery supply chain has just snapped. South Korean battery material supplier L&F Co. announced...
electrek.co
December 30, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Probably not the most surprising thing that Tesla has cancelled the contract to supply Cybertruck batteries. Possibly more significant is that these batteries were supposed to be used for all future Teslas and this indicates that that ambition has failed.
Almost time for the climate change victory lap if we can stop the monsters tearing everything down.
With estimated battery system costs of $60/kWh by 2035, electrification of all energy plus use of WWS+storage reduces 2050 annual all-sector energy costs to the world by ~60%
web.stanford.edu/group/efmh/j...
web.stanford.edu/group/efmh/j...
BNEF: Lithium-ion battery pack prices fall to $108/kWh, stationary storage becomes lowest price segment - Energy Storage
According to BNEF, battery pack prices for stationary storage fell to $70/kWh in 2025, a 45% decrease from 2024. This represents the steepest decline among all lithium-ion battery use cases and and ma...
www.ess-news.com
December 29, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Almost time for the climate change victory lap if we can stop the monsters tearing everything down.
132 GW! The "Why should the UK decarbonise when India and China aren't?" argument has been comprehensively demolished over the last few years.
India passes 132.8 GW of installed solar capacity #energysky -- via pv magazine global:
India passes 132.8 GW of installed solar capacity
India’s installed solar capacity reached 132.85 GW at the end of November 2025, led by utility-scale projects in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra, according to the central government.
www.pv-magazine.com
December 28, 2025 at 2:15 PM
132 GW! The "Why should the UK decarbonise when India and China aren't?" argument has been comprehensively demolished over the last few years.
Some of these cafés I'll be uh less sad than others to see a change of ownership but the choice to make them "Australian themed" just seems bizarre given their locations.
Four beloved London park cafes are being taken over by new ownership – here’s why that’s controversial
One has been run by the same family for 40 years.
www.timeout.com
December 27, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Some of these cafés I'll be uh less sad than others to see a change of ownership but the choice to make them "Australian themed" just seems bizarre given their locations.
This is half of mine. I suspect the other half - Physical Sciences - ended up with my brother who is a lecturer in physics.
December 27, 2025 at 12:12 PM
This is half of mine. I suspect the other half - Physical Sciences - ended up with my brother who is a lecturer in physics.
Watched almost 5 hours of Afcon today and not seen a single non-penalty goal. A festival of football.
December 26, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Watched almost 5 hours of Afcon today and not seen a single non-penalty goal. A festival of football.
Bad luck kid, we can see whether this robot actually works in about March.
December 26, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Bad luck kid, we can see whether this robot actually works in about March.
"Our driver missed you" no he bloody didn't, be honest. Say "we're sorry we didn't get round to delivering your parcel today, you're top of the list tomorrow"
December 23, 2025 at 11:04 PM
"Our driver missed you" no he bloody didn't, be honest. Say "we're sorry we didn't get round to delivering your parcel today, you're top of the list tomorrow"
Useful advice for cooking children over the Christmas period.
I don’t know how to identify a bad parent anymore. But sweeties, you’re doing great!
December 21, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Useful advice for cooking children over the Christmas period.
I guess many of us on here realised that sacking Ange was going to be a bad idea, but I don't know how many realised how epicly bad a decision it was going to be. Just an absolutely trash decision in every respect. Kind of fitting it was one of Levy's last contributions to the club.
December 20, 2025 at 8:25 PM
I guess many of us on here realised that sacking Ange was going to be a bad idea, but I don't know how many realised how epicly bad a decision it was going to be. Just an absolutely trash decision in every respect. Kind of fitting it was one of Levy's last contributions to the club.
Got the chance to watch the rest of the Spurs game and am honestly considering whether I can be bothered.
December 20, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Got the chance to watch the rest of the Spurs game and am honestly considering whether I can be bothered.
This is a good article on different types of AI. Although I'd quibble that generative AI is not useful, and also the cat analogy is not helpful and borderline incorrect.
A good explainer on the differences between generative AI and predictive AI.
I've been aware of this distinction, but thankful now I have a proper term for it. (Predictive AI is the useful stuff)
www.technologyreview.com/2025/12/15/1...
I've been aware of this distinction, but thankful now I have a proper term for it. (Predictive AI is the useful stuff)
www.technologyreview.com/2025/12/15/1...
Generative AI hype distracts us from AI’s more important breakthroughs
It's a seductive distraction from the advances in AI that are most likely to improve or even save your life
www.technologyreview.com
December 19, 2025 at 8:27 PM
This is a good article on different types of AI. Although I'd quibble that generative AI is not useful, and also the cat analogy is not helpful and borderline incorrect.
This government is doing *a lot* of things and much of it seems to be going "under the radar", like this, which looks actually interesting. If they can pull it off then laser guns on ships by 2027 would be a hell of an achievement.
Rapid £140 million boost for drone and counter-drone tech from newly-formed UK Defence Innovation
UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) will invest over £140 million in drone and counter-drone technology in its first year of operation
www.gov.uk
December 19, 2025 at 8:06 PM
This government is doing *a lot* of things and much of it seems to be going "under the radar", like this, which looks actually interesting. If they can pull it off then laser guns on ships by 2027 would be a hell of an achievement.
I can hear the cries from Cockfosters and Croydon here in Kensington. This looks really good, all the things Yimbys have been asking for.
NEW: Labour just announced the biggest change in planning policy in 80 years.
My breakdown of the key measures and whether they will succeed.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/labour-are...
My breakdown of the key measures and whether they will succeed.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/labour-are...
Labour are finally taking the housing shortage seriously
Is the new National Planning Policy Framework Labour’s biggest pro-growth move?
www.samdumitriu.com
December 17, 2025 at 3:59 PM
I can hear the cries from Cockfosters and Croydon here in Kensington. This looks really good, all the things Yimbys have been asking for.
This is amazing!
Major update to our map of Anglo-Saxon London... we've now added etymologies for each place name, so you can find out what your bit of London used to be called.... and why londonist.substack.com/p/mapping-an...
Mapping Anglo-Saxon London: A Big Update
A glimpse of London, 1,000 years past.
londonist.substack.com
December 17, 2025 at 11:43 AM
This is amazing!
Getting all the hard questions from the 11 and 12yo tonight:
Why is that stupid idiot on our TV again?
Are his advisers all evil or are some of them doing it for the money?
Why don't they just arrest the people on the drugs boats like they do on that Spanish TV program?
Why is that stupid idiot on our TV again?
Are his advisers all evil or are some of them doing it for the money?
Why don't they just arrest the people on the drugs boats like they do on that Spanish TV program?
December 16, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Getting all the hard questions from the 11 and 12yo tonight:
Why is that stupid idiot on our TV again?
Are his advisers all evil or are some of them doing it for the money?
Why don't they just arrest the people on the drugs boats like they do on that Spanish TV program?
Why is that stupid idiot on our TV again?
Are his advisers all evil or are some of them doing it for the money?
Why don't they just arrest the people on the drugs boats like they do on that Spanish TV program?
Good to hear that Islington Council are looking at banning cars due to obstructive parking, red light jumping, poor driving and noise disturbance to residents oh no wait...
Lime and Forest are on their "last warning" if they don't fix "persistent problems" with rider behaviour and dangerous parking.
Council demands “urgent action” from Lime and Forest hire bike operators to “fix persistent problems”
Islington Council has threatened that e-bike hire companies Lime and Forest are on their “last warning” and face losing permission to operate in the borough unless they deal with the dangerous parking...
road.cc
December 16, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Good to hear that Islington Council are looking at banning cars due to obstructive parking, red light jumping, poor driving and noise disturbance to residents oh no wait...
This is interesting - looks like demand is stepping up for 2nd hand EVs:
Second hand EVs are selling faster than any other type of car in the UK.
"Autotrader said the short resale time underlined EVs increasing integration into the mainstream used market"
@bobbyllew.bsky.social
evfleetworld.co.uk/evs-now-fast...
"Autotrader said the short resale time underlined EVs increasing integration into the mainstream used market"
@bobbyllew.bsky.social
evfleetworld.co.uk/evs-now-fast...
EVs now fastest-selling fuel type on Autotrader
Electric cars are now the fastest-selling fuel type, new data from Autotrader reveals. The average EV took 27 days to sell in November; two days quicker
evfleetworld.co.uk
December 11, 2025 at 1:37 PM
This is interesting - looks like demand is stepping up for 2nd hand EVs:
Great perspective on how unbelievably massive offshore wind turbines are getting!
Transporting a wind turbine blade in an urban environment.
December 11, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Great perspective on how unbelievably massive offshore wind turbines are getting!