Simon Higgins
@simonhiggins60.bsky.social
Emeritus Chemistry Prof., University of Liverpool. Still dabbling in molecular electronics. The rest of the time, I'm usually riding a bike, cooking (and eating) or reading. Volunteer at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital.
We had to have a massive clear-out of elderly chemicals at Liverpool Uni, not long before I retired, but I am surprised this is also an issue in US schools: pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Hazardous Chemicals Pile Up in K–12 Science Laboratories
As US teachers discover more and more legacy chemicals in schools, funding for cleanup is hard to find. Educators, nonprofits, and local governments are stepping in to help.
pubs.acs.org
December 29, 2025 at 2:17 PM
We had to have a massive clear-out of elderly chemicals at Liverpool Uni, not long before I retired, but I am surprised this is also an issue in US schools: pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Just turned the residual bird carcass into stock, but... Mrs H has just made herself a sandwich using leftover stuffing (and an avocado).
December 29, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Just turned the residual bird carcass into stock, but... Mrs H has just made herself a sandwich using leftover stuffing (and an avocado).
Merry Christmas to all fellow followers of the Rule of St. Delia of Norwich. Bread sauce done! What’s next?
December 25, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Merry Christmas to all fellow followers of the Rule of St. Delia of Norwich. Bread sauce done! What’s next?
One of Mrs H’s Xmas presents from colleagues. Someone has the right idea about my wife!
December 24, 2025 at 5:25 PM
One of Mrs H’s Xmas presents from colleagues. Someone has the right idea about my wife!
Schoolboy error with the catering tonight; started chilli con carne, discovered at the appropriate point that there were no tinned tomatoes left. Always check your ingredients before you start, folks. Luckily, found a tube of puree.
December 21, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Schoolboy error with the catering tonight; started chilli con carne, discovered at the appropriate point that there were no tinned tomatoes left. Always check your ingredients before you start, folks. Luckily, found a tube of puree.
Just caught up with the new Ineos Grenadiers kit. It'll stand out alright- for all the wrong reasons; it's absolutely hideous. I mean, white shorts... really? www.cyclingnews.com/pro-cycling/...
Designed to 'stand out' – Ineos Grenadiers opt for white shorts and bright orange 2026 racing kit
British team cause a stir with new racing colours
www.cyclingnews.com
December 17, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Just caught up with the new Ineos Grenadiers kit. It'll stand out alright- for all the wrong reasons; it's absolutely hideous. I mean, white shorts... really? www.cyclingnews.com/pro-cycling/...
Another unusual referee request (from a Chinese publisher), this time for a paper on a new type of sensor for atrial fibrillation. Someone's search engine has gone a bit screwy.
December 15, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Another unusual referee request (from a Chinese publisher), this time for a paper on a new type of sensor for atrial fibrillation. Someone's search engine has gone a bit screwy.
I’m off for a walk in the rain.
December 14, 2025 at 2:23 PM
I’m off for a walk in the rain.
This Sunday has been a barrel of laughs so far; Mrs H and son both have what appears to be norovirus. In son’s case, exacerbated by a well deserved hangover.
December 14, 2025 at 2:21 PM
This Sunday has been a barrel of laughs so far; Mrs H and son both have what appears to be norovirus. In son’s case, exacerbated by a well deserved hangover.
No Avanti West Coast Euston- Glasgow trains going N of Preston tonight, for some unexplained reason, yet no mention of disruption on Network Rail site.
December 7, 2025 at 10:50 PM
No Avanti West Coast Euston- Glasgow trains going N of Preston tonight, for some unexplained reason, yet no mention of disruption on Network Rail site.
University (sic) of Oklahoma's management decide it's more important to pander to religious nutters (who set up this controversy) than to defend academic standards, so they throw their academic employee under the bus. Disgraceful, but in Trump's US, unsurprising. www.comicsands.com/university-o...
University Of Oklahoma Places Professor On Leave After Student Cries 'Religious Discrimination' For Bad Grade On Essay
Getting the grade you earned is religious persecution now?
www.comicsands.com
December 3, 2025 at 8:28 AM
University (sic) of Oklahoma's management decide it's more important to pander to religious nutters (who set up this controversy) than to defend academic standards, so they throw their academic employee under the bus. Disgraceful, but in Trump's US, unsurprising. www.comicsands.com/university-o...
So- Gullis has defected to Reform. That’ll bring some much needed intellectual heft to the party, I’m sure.
December 1, 2025 at 7:04 PM
So- Gullis has defected to Reform. That’ll bring some much needed intellectual heft to the party, I’m sure.
Been instructed to get the Xmas decorations out of the attic. My complaint that it’s not even December yet hasn’t been accepted.
November 30, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Been instructed to get the Xmas decorations out of the attic. My complaint that it’s not even December yet hasn’t been accepted.
Have gone slightly mad (encouraged by Mrs H) and made significant investments in mid priced claret and other delights at D Byrne and Co. (Clitheroe). Always a pleasure to browse their extensive stock and talk to the phenomenally well informed staff.
November 29, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Have gone slightly mad (encouraged by Mrs H) and made significant investments in mid priced claret and other delights at D Byrne and Co. (Clitheroe). Always a pleasure to browse their extensive stock and talk to the phenomenally well informed staff.
Hopefully, off to find some more of this at Byrne’s of Clitheroe. Or an equivalent.
November 29, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Hopefully, off to find some more of this at Byrne’s of Clitheroe. Or an equivalent.
Have had an attack of gout for the last few days, a likely side effect of one of my heart meds. It’s practically crippled me for walking and I’ve not dared to try and ride. Hoping it’ll recede soon.
November 27, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Have had an attack of gout for the last few days, a likely side effect of one of my heart meds. It’s practically crippled me for walking and I’ve not dared to try and ride. Hoping it’ll recede soon.
From the tone of this paper, I'm not the only person fed up with people ignoring previous work in the literature, although in this case, it also sounds as if the work being criticised is also poorly-performed: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Correspondence on “Confinement of Polyiodides by Dual‐Functional Tetrazine Cathodes in Zn–I2 Batteries”
Recently, Chi, Huang, Qu et al. reported a new cathode for Zn–I2 batteries based on the 2I3−@BMT anion complex. In this correspondence, we highlight the lack of proper authorship attribution for the ...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:39 AM
From the tone of this paper, I'm not the only person fed up with people ignoring previous work in the literature, although in this case, it also sounds as if the work being criticised is also poorly-performed: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Mrs H's cousin's lad Ben, who was running for Scotland in the Senior race.
November 23, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Mrs H's cousin's lad Ben, who was running for Scotland in the Senior race.
And this was the park at dusk after the racing. Lovely evening.
November 23, 2025 at 3:40 PM
And this was the park at dusk after the racing. Lovely evening.
First two U23 runners in yesterday’s Liverpool Cross Challenge race, approaching the end of the first of two laps in Sefton Park. After a dreich morning it was a decent afternoon.
November 23, 2025 at 3:37 PM
First two U23 runners in yesterday’s Liverpool Cross Challenge race, approaching the end of the first of two laps in Sefton Park. After a dreich morning it was a decent afternoon.
Too cold for this thin-blooded old git today, so did the Col de la Madone on Zwift's climbing portal. 5th of the 11 people who had done it today; I'll take that, given my current state. www.strava.com/activities/1...
Zwift - Climb Portal: Col de la Madone at 100% Elevation in Watopia | Strava
View Simon Higgins's virtualride on November 19, 2025 | Strava
www.strava.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Too cold for this thin-blooded old git today, so did the Col de la Madone on Zwift's climbing portal. 5th of the 11 people who had done it today; I'll take that, given my current state. www.strava.com/activities/1...
Had a super little 50 km ride today; sun was shining, the light was beautiful, but it was damn cold in that NE wind. www.strava.com/activities/1...
Should have worn more clothes! | Strava
NE wind- freezing. | Strava
www.strava.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Had a super little 50 km ride today; sun was shining, the light was beautiful, but it was damn cold in that NE wind. www.strava.com/activities/1...
Fed up with Farage? Me too. I’ve signed the Never Nigel Pledge. Add your name today, and help show that division and hate have no place in our communities.
secure.hopenothate.org.uk/page/170649/... @hopenothate.org.uk
secure.hopenothate.org.uk/page/170649/... @hopenothate.org.uk
Take the Pledge: “I’ll never vote for Nigel Farage”
Join thousands across Britain taking the Never Nigel Pledge. Say no to hate and division and help stop Reform UK from tearing apart our communities. Let's show there is strength in standing together f...
secure.hopenothate.org.uk
November 17, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Fed up with Farage? Me too. I’ve signed the Never Nigel Pledge. Add your name today, and help show that division and hate have no place in our communities.
secure.hopenothate.org.uk/page/170649/... @hopenothate.org.uk
secure.hopenothate.org.uk/page/170649/... @hopenothate.org.uk
It seems LNW’s Euston-based services are still entirely the old and more comfy class 350’s, whereas the Liverpool-Birmingham trains are now entirely austere and harsh new class 730’s. It’s unusual to find new stock on Northern services. Why, in this case, I wonder?
First ride on one of London Northwestern’s Class 730s from Birmingham New Street to Liverpool. Ride quality is rough on any jointed track, seats are a bit harsh. Unit broke down at Winsford w faulty door interlock. So all in all, not a great experience!
November 15, 2025 at 4:06 PM
It seems LNW’s Euston-based services are still entirely the old and more comfy class 350’s, whereas the Liverpool-Birmingham trains are now entirely austere and harsh new class 730’s. It’s unusual to find new stock on Northern services. Why, in this case, I wonder?
The only thing to do when the weather is this horrible is bake; Scottish batch loaves from J Morton’s bread book.
November 15, 2025 at 3:46 PM
The only thing to do when the weather is this horrible is bake; Scottish batch loaves from J Morton’s bread book.