The "science is the answer" mantra has always been BS, promulagted by government after government. But it is nice to have someone with the experience of @davidedgerton.bsky.social piling in. There is no tap that says "turn on the science and out come the profits". It is all in the "system".

Any other ministerial job would have been easier to defend. But the whiff, however faint, of corruption in that job would make it easier for suspects to point fingers.

Wow. You managed to grapple with Mastodon? What's the latest network of the month?

Except when you begin to calculate the appalling inefficiency of lasers. I once used them to splat things.

Overload from TwiXter refugees?

Here's looking forward to the next issue of Private Eye. Will they have another opportunity to use the Arkell vs Pressdram response?

Integrated constructed wetlands are part of UK plans to reduce phophate releases from water treatment works into rivers. The EA, led by DEFRA, is pushing "natural approaches". Several water companies are putting ICWs on the outlet end to "polish" releases. One ICW will be in our village.

We have friends who deliberately avoid "the news".

What happens if you filter the water from the treatment plant through a wetland before it hits the river? Big reduction in phosphorus to fertilise the algal blooms.

Until the luvvies piled in.

Earl Grey with nothing!

Nice to see it described as a craft.

Hard to think what possessed them. Maybe the Tories thought they could follow the Australian model and use it as a dumping ground for boat people.

Think Discogs.

Excellent idea. Where do we read it? (Can't see an embedded link.) Whenever I hear or read the "think tank" label anywhere in the media I am tempted to ask if it is genuine or one of those self aggrandising "wank tanks", with dubious finances, pushing their dodgy agendas.

Check the #science stream if you can find it.

Not sure if a semi-retired science hack (>50 years in the business 20 on New Scientist magazine), can bring much to the party, but I'll keep my eye on the stream to see if anything comes to mind. When I have worked out how this place works.