Tom Whipple
@whippletom.bsky.social
Science at The Times
My book, about the radio war: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1787634132?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_NPXKFD6KQ3B2P603N1ZN
My book, about the radio war: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1787634132?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_NPXKFD6KQ3B2P603N1ZN
Reposted by Tom Whipple
ah the regular reminder that my work password is going to expire and I really wish my employer would read the NCSC guidance on passwords www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/p...
January 20, 2026 at 9:47 AM
ah the regular reminder that my work password is going to expire and I really wish my employer would read the NCSC guidance on passwords www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/p...
Reposted by Tom Whipple
I honestly think the sensible thing now would be to give in and give the Nobel Peace Prize to Trump. In the minds of anyone even halfway rational for him now to accept it would only make him look even more absurd. The ceremony could be almost satirically over the top.
January 19, 2026 at 9:02 AM
I honestly think the sensible thing now would be to give in and give the Nobel Peace Prize to Trump. In the minds of anyone even halfway rational for him now to accept it would only make him look even more absurd. The ceremony could be almost satirically over the top.
Reposted by Tom Whipple
Have him brought onto stage in a long boat pulled by dozens of people in Viking costume. Massed choruses chanting his name.
January 19, 2026 at 9:06 AM
Have him brought onto stage in a long boat pulled by dozens of people in Viking costume. Massed choruses chanting his name.
Given that, it seems, the financially sensible thing would be to not take out the student loan if you can, would there be a better financial product you could take? If I got into the business of offering equity loans against a house for parents to pay fees - would that end up being a better bet?
This is clearly depressing and radicalising in a way a tax wouldn't have been.
January 15, 2026 at 10:41 AM
Given that, it seems, the financially sensible thing would be to not take out the student loan if you can, would there be a better financial product you could take? If I got into the business of offering equity loans against a house for parents to pay fees - would that end up being a better bet?
Reposted by Tom Whipple
🔬🧬 The 37 Biggest (and Bizarrest) Science Stories of 2025 💥🌌
The news often showcases humanity at its worst
But the joy of reporting on science is that it often shows humanity at its best: defeating disease, solving mysteries and expanding knowledge:
www.thetimes.com/uk/science/a...
The news often showcases humanity at its worst
But the joy of reporting on science is that it often shows humanity at its best: defeating disease, solving mysteries and expanding knowledge:
www.thetimes.com/uk/science/a...
The happiest scientific breakthroughs of 2025
From woolly mice to nuclear fusion, these are the biggest and weirdest discoveries of the year, as covered by The Times
www.thetimes.com
December 30, 2025 at 4:18 PM
🔬🧬 The 37 Biggest (and Bizarrest) Science Stories of 2025 💥🌌
The news often showcases humanity at its worst
But the joy of reporting on science is that it often shows humanity at its best: defeating disease, solving mysteries and expanding knowledge:
www.thetimes.com/uk/science/a...
The news often showcases humanity at its worst
But the joy of reporting on science is that it often shows humanity at its best: defeating disease, solving mysteries and expanding knowledge:
www.thetimes.com/uk/science/a...
Was in hotel with famous singer. Singer arrived at breakfast in trilby. She sat - at 8am - facing out, trying to catch people's eyes. She was desperate, 20 years into a career, to be affirmed and acknowledged. Even over a breakfast buffet. She was an exhausting presence.
We all ignored her.
We all ignored her.
Please quote this with the time you didn’t interact with someone famous - eg one time I was in Cardiff the same weekend as Willem Dafoe (but I didn’t see him or even know he was there until he appeared on the telly later)
Please quote this with your major interactions with massive celebrities. eg “I was married to the pope for fifteen years”
December 30, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Was in hotel with famous singer. Singer arrived at breakfast in trilby. She sat - at 8am - facing out, trying to catch people's eyes. She was desperate, 20 years into a career, to be affirmed and acknowledged. Even over a breakfast buffet. She was an exhausting presence.
We all ignored her.
We all ignored her.
Reposted by Tom Whipple
Having had a day to think through everything about El-Fattah, here's where I stand. Yes, it's possible to believe all of these things at once! In fact, it really shouldn't be that hard.
December 29, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Having had a day to think through everything about El-Fattah, here's where I stand. Yes, it's possible to believe all of these things at once! In fact, it really shouldn't be that hard.
Reposted by Tom Whipple
There should be literally no circumstances, ever, where citizenship is can be revoked. If you literally sign up to fight for an opposing army in a war, then we should prosecute you for treason not revoke citizenship
December 29, 2025 at 10:40 AM
There should be literally no circumstances, ever, where citizenship is can be revoked. If you literally sign up to fight for an opposing army in a war, then we should prosecute you for treason not revoke citizenship
Reposted by Tom Whipple
Steve’s favourite bit of the story was a quote his brother had come up with: “I saw one man having sex with three women on the washing machine. At about 2am I went into one of the bedrooms and saw two boys having sex.” When asked if he took part, he replied: “We all got involved.”
December 5, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Steve’s favourite bit of the story was a quote his brother had come up with: “I saw one man having sex with three women on the washing machine. At about 2am I went into one of the bedrooms and saw two boys having sex.” When asked if he took part, he replied: “We all got involved.”
Reposted by Tom Whipple
Really lovely to be back on BBC Inside Science again today talking about record breaking and climate change (as well as moss surviving in space) with @whippletom.bsky.social and @carolinesteel.bsky.social
Listen here:
Listen here:
BBC Radio 4 - BBC Inside Science, What’s in the wording of the COP 30 negotiations?
As COP 30 draws to close in Brazil, we speak to a former negotiator.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Really lovely to be back on BBC Inside Science again today talking about record breaking and climate change (as well as moss surviving in space) with @whippletom.bsky.social and @carolinesteel.bsky.social
Listen here:
Listen here:
I've cleared a space in my shed, and found a hedgehog. I presume its hibernating, but it doesn't have much of a nest. What should I do?
November 7, 2025 at 7:38 PM
I've cleared a space in my shed, and found a hedgehog. I presume its hibernating, but it doesn't have much of a nest. What should I do?
Reposted by Tom Whipple
He’s back. Important to remind everyone about his original misdemeanours - good for the Mail for running such an in depth piece
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
The return of Andrew Wakefield - the anti-vax 'supervillain'
To many of those gathered at this elegant stately home in Wiltshire, just one word describes the man they have come to see.
www.dailymail.co.uk
October 24, 2025 at 6:33 AM
He’s back. Important to remind everyone about his original misdemeanours - good for the Mail for running such an in depth piece
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Tom Whipple
BREAKING:
CofE bishops won't give their green light for 'standalone' blessing services for gay couples, or for gay priests to have civil same-sex marriages, @thetimes.com understands
Will say both would need formal rewrite of church law
Trial of blessing ceremonies can't go ahead
CofE bishops won't give their green light for 'standalone' blessing services for gay couples, or for gay priests to have civil same-sex marriages, @thetimes.com understands
Will say both would need formal rewrite of church law
Trial of blessing ceremonies can't go ahead
October 15, 2025 at 3:32 PM
BREAKING:
CofE bishops won't give their green light for 'standalone' blessing services for gay couples, or for gay priests to have civil same-sex marriages, @thetimes.com understands
Will say both would need formal rewrite of church law
Trial of blessing ceremonies can't go ahead
CofE bishops won't give their green light for 'standalone' blessing services for gay couples, or for gay priests to have civil same-sex marriages, @thetimes.com understands
Will say both would need formal rewrite of church law
Trial of blessing ceremonies can't go ahead
Reposted by Tom Whipple
🚨 Imposter alert 🚨
Studies into everything from cancer and HIV being plagued by "fraudulent" participants
Includes people pretending to have the diseases
It's undermining the reliability of trials and potentially harming patients
Stark warning here:
www.thetimes.com/uk/science/a...
Studies into everything from cancer and HIV being plagued by "fraudulent" participants
Includes people pretending to have the diseases
It's undermining the reliability of trials and potentially harming patients
Stark warning here:
www.thetimes.com/uk/science/a...
Is this response real? Imposters are putting health studies at risk
Automated bots and people lying about their conditions risk skewing the results of medical research, Oxford academics have warned
www.thetimes.com
October 16, 2025 at 11:44 AM
🚨 Imposter alert 🚨
Studies into everything from cancer and HIV being plagued by "fraudulent" participants
Includes people pretending to have the diseases
It's undermining the reliability of trials and potentially harming patients
Stark warning here:
www.thetimes.com/uk/science/a...
Studies into everything from cancer and HIV being plagued by "fraudulent" participants
Includes people pretending to have the diseases
It's undermining the reliability of trials and potentially harming patients
Stark warning here:
www.thetimes.com/uk/science/a...
Reposted by Tom Whipple
98%! Only 2 in every 100 installations don’t need corrective action. Read it and weep
98% of homes with external wall insulation installed under the government’s ECO scheme require work to correct major issues that will cause problems such as damp and mould - our new @nao.org.uk report www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... (full report www.nao.org.uk/reports/ener...)
Thousands of homes with botched eco insulation 'must be fixed'
Insulation programmes costing billions of pounds have led to widespread problems with damp and mould.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 14, 2025 at 6:41 AM
98%! Only 2 in every 100 installations don’t need corrective action. Read it and weep
Reposted by Tom Whipple
“There are so many things in Britain that have deteriorated. But nothing like what’s happened to my own country. And that’s not just Trump. When I go back to Iowa and just see what’s been lost... it would be hard for me to be positive" | 🗣️ Bill Bryson
Bill Bryson: Things are bad in Britain. But America is worse
The American author and honorary Brit on the state of the world, updating his bestseller A Short History of Nearly Everything, and why it’s his last interview
www.thetimes.com
October 11, 2025 at 9:03 AM
“There are so many things in Britain that have deteriorated. But nothing like what’s happened to my own country. And that’s not just Trump. When I go back to Iowa and just see what’s been lost... it would be hard for me to be positive" | 🗣️ Bill Bryson
Sumo is coming to the Royal Albert Hall, and they've had to reinforce the backstage toilets to prepare
www.thetimes.com/article/2133...
www.thetimes.com/article/2133...
Royal Albert Hall braces for sumo’s big British comeback
The Grand Sumo Tournament is returning to the UK for the first time since 1991. Will it finally break the Japanese sport in Britain?
www.thetimes.com
October 10, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Sumo is coming to the Royal Albert Hall, and they've had to reinforce the backstage toilets to prepare
www.thetimes.com/article/2133...
www.thetimes.com/article/2133...
There is a good chance that this will be the most important economic fact in all of our lives.
October 3, 2025 at 9:03 AM
There is a good chance that this will be the most important economic fact in all of our lives.
It's amazing this stuff. Presumably the people who screenshot know that they are wilfully misleading people, but they do it anyway for lovely clout.
The world is indeed complex, and the fact that (probably) statistical confounding can produce spurious correlations is also worthy of attention.
The world is indeed complex, and the fact that (probably) statistical confounding can produce spurious correlations is also worthy of attention.
‘The truth about autism and paracetamol is complex’ is a funny way to spell ‘Trump was talking out of his arse’ from the Times….
September 29, 2025 at 10:02 PM
It's amazing this stuff. Presumably the people who screenshot know that they are wilfully misleading people, but they do it anyway for lovely clout.
The world is indeed complex, and the fact that (probably) statistical confounding can produce spurious correlations is also worthy of attention.
The world is indeed complex, and the fact that (probably) statistical confounding can produce spurious correlations is also worthy of attention.
Reposted by Tom Whipple
"You answer to God, not the commentariat or opinion polls"
"You have to earn credibility"
"If you're going to be wrong, be wrong for the right reasons"
Rowan Williams told me his advice for the next Archbishop of Canterbury, set to be named within days: www.thetimes.com/uk/religion/...
"You have to earn credibility"
"If you're going to be wrong, be wrong for the right reasons"
Rowan Williams told me his advice for the next Archbishop of Canterbury, set to be named within days: www.thetimes.com/uk/religion/...
You answer to God, not opinion polls, next archbishop told
Two former archbishops of Canterbury share advice for the Church of England’s next spiritual leader, days before the chosen candidate is revealed
www.thetimes.com
September 29, 2025 at 12:29 PM
"You answer to God, not the commentariat or opinion polls"
"You have to earn credibility"
"If you're going to be wrong, be wrong for the right reasons"
Rowan Williams told me his advice for the next Archbishop of Canterbury, set to be named within days: www.thetimes.com/uk/religion/...
"You have to earn credibility"
"If you're going to be wrong, be wrong for the right reasons"
Rowan Williams told me his advice for the next Archbishop of Canterbury, set to be named within days: www.thetimes.com/uk/religion/...
The most* annoying thing about social media is the pressure it brings to avoid artistry and delicacy in headlines because someone will then performatively misunderstand them and amplify them out of context.
*probably not the most
*probably not the most
September 29, 2025 at 2:23 PM
The most* annoying thing about social media is the pressure it brings to avoid artistry and delicacy in headlines because someone will then performatively misunderstand them and amplify them out of context.
*probably not the most
*probably not the most
Reposted by Tom Whipple
If you need me I’ll be screaming into a pillow
i recommend stopping what you are doing and watching the single greatest Wealth Mindset thing i have ever seen
September 12, 2025 at 3:57 PM
If you need me I’ll be screaming into a pillow
Join a distinguished club that includes my mum! Listen to my podcast!
I just plucked up the courage to listen to an episode about the leap second and was surprised to find it wasn't shit.
t.co/7qraEmRhFT
I just plucked up the courage to listen to an episode about the leap second and was surprised to find it wasn't shit.
t.co/7qraEmRhFT
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/time-lords-and-the-extra-seconds/id1818358155?i=1000721571031
t.co
September 12, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Join a distinguished club that includes my mum! Listen to my podcast!
I just plucked up the courage to listen to an episode about the leap second and was surprised to find it wasn't shit.
t.co/7qraEmRhFT
I just plucked up the courage to listen to an episode about the leap second and was surprised to find it wasn't shit.
t.co/7qraEmRhFT
Reposted by Tom Whipple
I cannot overstate how damning it is as a comment on a physician or scientist's competence/intentions that they would support RFK Jr as HHS secretary.
RFK claims scientists and doctors across the country as supporting him. Jesus fuck. #FIreRFK
September 4, 2025 at 3:31 PM
I cannot overstate how damning it is as a comment on a physician or scientist's competence/intentions that they would support RFK Jr as HHS secretary.
Reposted by Tom Whipple
My colleague @whippletom.bsky.social and I have been on The Story with @jonesluke.bsky.social talking about Hiroshima, Nagasaki, morality and what it all means 80 years after the atom bomb
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
The bomb that changed the world
Podcast Episode · The Story · 07/08/2025 · 32m
podcasts.apple.com
August 8, 2025 at 8:57 AM
My colleague @whippletom.bsky.social and I have been on The Story with @jonesluke.bsky.social talking about Hiroshima, Nagasaki, morality and what it all means 80 years after the atom bomb
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...