John F. Allen
@profjohnallen.bsky.social
#Cells | #Energy | #Evolution | #Photosynthesis | #Chloroplasts | #Mitochondria | #Science | Honorary Professor, #UCL
Reposted by John F. Allen
All the coverage of Reeves ‘lying’ debagged in a single sentence.
I’m quite enjoying the 180 turn on a six pence from “you’ve wrecked the economy and created a black hole” to “there was no black hole and this is even worse”.
November 30, 2025 at 9:57 AM
All the coverage of Reeves ‘lying’ debagged in a single sentence.
Reposted by John F. Allen
#BBCWATO still obsessed with the non-scandal of the budget. The uncertainty was whipped up by journalists, badgering Reeves for answers while knowing that she couldn't answer in advance. She said that more tax would be needed and she did it. I have never felt more critical of journalists.
December 1, 2025 at 1:26 PM
#BBCWATO still obsessed with the non-scandal of the budget. The uncertainty was whipped up by journalists, badgering Reeves for answers while knowing that she couldn't answer in advance. She said that more tax would be needed and she did it. I have never felt more critical of journalists.
Reposted by John F. Allen
My latest.
When the six Democrats said military officers ”can refuse illegal orders”, they were correct—indeed they went no further than that the Department of Defense’s own guidance, writes @davidallengreen.bsky.social.
When is an order an ‘unlawful command’?
And why has Trump reacted so furiously to six members of Congress correctly stating the law?
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
My latest.
Reposted by John F. Allen
It's such a bizarre framing. Labour MPs think taking 450k kids out of poverty is putting the country first! That's why they wanted it to happen! It's not because they personally benefit.
Headline on The World at One just now:
"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".
Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".
Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
November 27, 2025 at 1:16 PM
It's such a bizarre framing. Labour MPs think taking 450k kids out of poverty is putting the country first! That's why they wanted it to happen! It's not because they personally benefit.
Reposted by John F. Allen
Reposted by John F. Allen
After Lucy Letby was convicted in August 2023 of murdering seven babies, a number of experts contacted Eye columnist MD because they “believe the science and statistics presented at the trial were incomplete and flawed and that the case against Letby was not proven beyond reasonable doubt”.
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November 27, 2025 at 2:58 PM
After Lucy Letby was convicted in August 2023 of murdering seven babies, a number of experts contacted Eye columnist MD because they “believe the science and statistics presented at the trial were incomplete and flawed and that the case against Letby was not proven beyond reasonable doubt”.
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Reposted by John F. Allen
NEW
When is an order an ‘unlawful command’?
And why has Trump reacted so furiously to six members of Congress correctly stating the law?
By me, at @prospectmagazine.co.uk
(In which I go and look at the actual law and guidance in US and also UK.)
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...
When is an order an ‘unlawful command’?
And why has Trump reacted so furiously to six members of Congress correctly stating the law?
By me, at @prospectmagazine.co.uk
(In which I go and look at the actual law and guidance in US and also UK.)
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...
November 27, 2025 at 3:19 PM
NEW
When is an order an ‘unlawful command’?
And why has Trump reacted so furiously to six members of Congress correctly stating the law?
By me, at @prospectmagazine.co.uk
(In which I go and look at the actual law and guidance in US and also UK.)
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...
When is an order an ‘unlawful command’?
And why has Trump reacted so furiously to six members of Congress correctly stating the law?
By me, at @prospectmagazine.co.uk
(In which I go and look at the actual law and guidance in US and also UK.)
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...
Reposted by John F. Allen
“Also for legal reasons, we’re not able to tell you what that line is.”
From a media law perspective: BS.
There is no "legal" reason for not publishing that line.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
From a media law perspective: BS.
There is no "legal" reason for not publishing that line.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
BBC tells staff they cannot quote Trump line removed from Reith Lecture
Journalists not allowed to repeat Rutger Bregman’s corruption claims against US president in coverage of edit
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:32 PM
“Also for legal reasons, we’re not able to tell you what that line is.”
From a media law perspective: BS.
There is no "legal" reason for not publishing that line.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
From a media law perspective: BS.
There is no "legal" reason for not publishing that line.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
Reposted by John F. Allen
Kasparov nails it: Western failure to confront russia is the biggest security risk we face.
Ukraine is buying us time, and we’re wasting it.
Ukraine is buying us time, and we’re wasting it.
November 27, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Kasparov nails it: Western failure to confront russia is the biggest security risk we face.
Ukraine is buying us time, and we’re wasting it.
Ukraine is buying us time, and we’re wasting it.
Reposted by John F. Allen
AT the LIS Bibliometrics meeting, we were treated to a sales talk from Clarivate who are sponsoring the meeting, I asked "WoS indexes many journals that are designed to sell "alternative medicine" aka quackery", But the Q wasn't answered -I was reprimanded for "inappropriate" comment! #LISbib25
November 26, 2025 at 12:37 PM
AT the LIS Bibliometrics meeting, we were treated to a sales talk from Clarivate who are sponsoring the meeting, I asked "WoS indexes many journals that are designed to sell "alternative medicine" aka quackery", But the Q wasn't answered -I was reprimanded for "inappropriate" comment! #LISbib25
Reposted by John F. Allen
Juries are not perfect.
Many of the worst miscarriages of justice have followed jury trials.
But the merit of juries is not so much the power they have, but the power they prevent others from having.
They mean a judge cannot just nod-along with prosecution evidence and give a guilty verdict.
Many of the worst miscarriages of justice have followed jury trials.
But the merit of juries is not so much the power they have, but the power they prevent others from having.
They mean a judge cannot just nod-along with prosecution evidence and give a guilty verdict.
November 25, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Juries are not perfect.
Many of the worst miscarriages of justice have followed jury trials.
But the merit of juries is not so much the power they have, but the power they prevent others from having.
They mean a judge cannot just nod-along with prosecution evidence and give a guilty verdict.
Many of the worst miscarriages of justice have followed jury trials.
But the merit of juries is not so much the power they have, but the power they prevent others from having.
They mean a judge cannot just nod-along with prosecution evidence and give a guilty verdict.
Reposted by John F. Allen
best possible publicity for Reith Lectures!
NEWS --> BBC confirms to me that they did edit a line out of historian @rutgerbregman.com's speech. It called Trump "the most openly corrupt president in US history."
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
Trump’s Fury at BBC Gets Unnerving Results with Pro-MAGA Edit Stunner
First, British Broadcasting Corporation execs resigned after Trump complained about a segment. Now the BBC edited out a line from a historian that was critical of Trump. Where does this end?
newrepublic.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:52 PM
best possible publicity for Reith Lectures!
Reposted by John F. Allen
What a week: now writing both in defence of juries and against the military following unlawful orders.
Depressing that both points are contested, but you have to take law and policy topics as you find them.
Depressing that both points are contested, but you have to take law and policy topics as you find them.
November 25, 2025 at 7:06 PM
What a week: now writing both in defence of juries and against the military following unlawful orders.
Depressing that both points are contested, but you have to take law and policy topics as you find them.
Depressing that both points are contested, but you have to take law and policy topics as you find them.
Reposted by John F. Allen
Had Trump been US president in 1940, he would have sided with Hitler.
Think about that.
This is how dangerous he is.
To all of us.
Think about that.
This is how dangerous he is.
To all of us.
November 24, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Had Trump been US president in 1940, he would have sided with Hitler.
Think about that.
This is how dangerous he is.
To all of us.
Think about that.
This is how dangerous he is.
To all of us.
Reposted by John F. Allen
🇺🇦 Zelensky: The crux of the entire diplomatic situation is that it was Russia, and only Russia, that started this war, and it is Russia, and only Russia, that has been refusing to end it throughout the full-scale invasion.
November 23, 2025 at 6:06 PM
🇺🇦 Zelensky: The crux of the entire diplomatic situation is that it was Russia, and only Russia, that started this war, and it is Russia, and only Russia, that has been refusing to end it throughout the full-scale invasion.
Reposted by John F. Allen
do you have any idea how much you have to piss somebody off to make them change their gauge
#Finland will begin to #Russia - proof its rail network, integrate with EU train infrastructure.
The Finnish government has announced the conversion of its rail network from Russian gauge (1,524 mm) to European standard (1,435 mm).
www.trenvista.net/en/news/flas...
The Finnish government has announced the conversion of its rail network from Russian gauge (1,524 mm) to European standard (1,435 mm).
www.trenvista.net/en/news/flas...
November 23, 2025 at 4:40 PM
do you have any idea how much you have to piss somebody off to make them change their gauge
Reposted by John F. Allen
'On The Origin Of Species', a book that changed the world forever, was published #onthisday, 1859. Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, contained within, didn’t just revolutionise science, it had a profound impact on how we view ourselves and our place in the natural world. What a wonderful man.
November 24, 2025 at 12:22 PM
'On The Origin Of Species', a book that changed the world forever, was published #onthisday, 1859. Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, contained within, didn’t just revolutionise science, it had a profound impact on how we view ourselves and our place in the natural world. What a wonderful man.
Reposted by John F. Allen
on this day in 1859 Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species was first published.
"Therefore I should infer from analogy that probably all the organic beings which have ever lived on this earth have descended from some one primordial form, into which life was first breathed."
"Therefore I should infer from analogy that probably all the organic beings which have ever lived on this earth have descended from some one primordial form, into which life was first breathed."
November 24, 2025 at 1:59 PM
on this day in 1859 Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species was first published.
"Therefore I should infer from analogy that probably all the organic beings which have ever lived on this earth have descended from some one primordial form, into which life was first breathed."
"Therefore I should infer from analogy that probably all the organic beings which have ever lived on this earth have descended from some one primordial form, into which life was first breathed."
Reposted by John F. Allen
Never forget. Never never forget the scumbag buffoon who killed so many people and scarred the lives of so many more.
Let’s never forget rationing ventilators and Zoom funerals. Boris Johnson and his cronies partied while our loved ones lay dying alone. COVID-19 was the worst public health crisis in a century. We should have locked down earlier. To some of us, PPE was not a get-rich-quick commodity.
November 23, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Never forget. Never never forget the scumbag buffoon who killed so many people and scarred the lives of so many more.
Reposted by John F. Allen
Let’s never forget rationing ventilators and Zoom funerals. Boris Johnson and his cronies partied while our loved ones lay dying alone. COVID-19 was the worst public health crisis in a century. We should have locked down earlier. To some of us, PPE was not a get-rich-quick commodity.
November 23, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Let’s never forget rationing ventilators and Zoom funerals. Boris Johnson and his cronies partied while our loved ones lay dying alone. COVID-19 was the worst public health crisis in a century. We should have locked down earlier. To some of us, PPE was not a get-rich-quick commodity.
Reposted by John F. Allen
Analysis of the language used in Trump’s Ukraine “peace plan” shows it was drafted in Russian and translated into English.
I’ll try to dig up a link.
I’ll try to dig up a link.
November 21, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Analysis of the language used in Trump’s Ukraine “peace plan” shows it was drafted in Russian and translated into English.
I’ll try to dig up a link.
I’ll try to dig up a link.
Reposted by John F. Allen
Excellent report. It was obvious to me at the time -we isolated on 12 March, 11 days before it was mandated.
Of course, if lockdown had happened earlier, there would have been fewer deaths, and uneducated politicians would have claimed that the lockdown was unnecessary.
Of course, if lockdown had happened earlier, there would have been fewer deaths, and uneducated politicians would have claimed that the lockdown was unnecessary.
‘Too little, too late’: damning report condemns UK’s Covid response www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
‘Too little, too late’: damning report condemns UK’s Covid response
Report on handling of pandemic contains stinging criticism of ‘toxic and chaotic’ culture inside Boris Johnson’s No 10
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Excellent report. It was obvious to me at the time -we isolated on 12 March, 11 days before it was mandated.
Of course, if lockdown had happened earlier, there would have been fewer deaths, and uneducated politicians would have claimed that the lockdown was unnecessary.
Of course, if lockdown had happened earlier, there would have been fewer deaths, and uneducated politicians would have claimed that the lockdown was unnecessary.
Reposted by John F. Allen
Hypothesis: Lockdown could have been avoided if there’d been an early mask mandate.
November 20, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Hypothesis: Lockdown could have been avoided if there’d been an early mask mandate.
Reposted by John F. Allen
I wonder how extremely busy people ever get any work done.
November 20, 2025 at 7:40 PM
I wonder how extremely busy people ever get any work done.
