Dr Mike Ward
@schroedinger99.bsky.social
Retired data-modeller with background in genetics & philosophy of science. grandfather, sceptic, deracinated cosmopolitan, citizen of nowhere, & angry old man.
Pinned
Dr Mike Ward
@schroedinger99.bsky.social
· Oct 24
The Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics 1
A tree on the Greek island of Kos
michaelaward1.substack.com
michaelaward1.substack.com/p/the-inheri...
Part one of a (probably) six part series. (Three parts written thus far.)
Part one of a (probably) six part series. (Three parts written thus far.)
This looks very promising!
Chemists discovered a powerful hidden antibiotic that’s 100 times stronger than existing ones and effective against deadly superbugs.
The study has been published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. YES, it is PEER-REVIEWED.
• pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
🧪🧵⬇️
The study has been published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. YES, it is PEER-REVIEWED.
• pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
🧪🧵⬇️
November 16, 2025 at 8:34 PM
This looks very promising!
#bbclaurak Couldn't at least one person point out that the ECHR is not the thing that is preventing us from deporting asylum seekers.
November 16, 2025 at 9:47 AM
#bbclaurak Couldn't at least one person point out that the ECHR is not the thing that is preventing us from deporting asylum seekers.
Reposted by Dr Mike Ward
The only way this 20 year thing works is if it actually deters. If it doesn’t, it just stores up more and more problems, more and more costs - lawyers, bureaucrats etc - in an ever-accumulating mass.
And there’s no real reason to believe it will deter. Deterrence generally is overrated.
And there’s no real reason to believe it will deter. Deterrence generally is overrated.
November 16, 2025 at 8:45 AM
The only way this 20 year thing works is if it actually deters. If it doesn’t, it just stores up more and more problems, more and more costs - lawyers, bureaucrats etc - in an ever-accumulating mass.
And there’s no real reason to believe it will deter. Deterrence generally is overrated.
And there’s no real reason to believe it will deter. Deterrence generally is overrated.
Reposted by Dr Mike Ward
The golden age of diversity and democracy in Oz.
November 16, 2025 at 7:04 AM
The golden age of diversity and democracy in Oz.
You (or at least I) learn something new (and interesting) every day:
This week's newly unpaywalled post: What on earth is a “stink pipe”, when it's at home?
When a lamppost isn’t a lamppost
What on earth is a “stink pipe”, when it's at home?
jonn.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 12:15 PM
You (or at least I) learn something new (and interesting) every day:
Reposted by Dr Mike Ward
And has been pointed out, fundamentally, this is about scapegoating vulnerable people who made rational decisions to flee, and you or I would have done the same, but somehow they are "bad people" because they aren't currently British.
(Hell, some used to be British)
(Hell, some used to be British)
November 15, 2025 at 12:02 PM
And has been pointed out, fundamentally, this is about scapegoating vulnerable people who made rational decisions to flee, and you or I would have done the same, but somehow they are "bad people" because they aren't currently British.
(Hell, some used to be British)
(Hell, some used to be British)
🧪
November 13, 2025 at 9:32 PM
🧪
Reposted by Dr Mike Ward
Reposted by Dr Mike Ward
Liverpool, 1970s, photo by Don McCullin.
November 13, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Liverpool, 1970s, photo by Don McCullin.
Reposted by Dr Mike Ward
🧪 #scicomm This is an incredible finding. “We think it applies to 100% of lupus cases”
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
Epstein-Barr virus appears to be trigger of lupus disease, say scientists
Connection of near-ubiquitous EBV to autoimmune disease affecting about 1 in 1,000 people may spur hunt for vaccine
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:48 PM
🧪 #scicomm This is an incredible finding. “We think it applies to 100% of lupus cases”
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
1) Time was that you could simply turn up at our local hospital phlebotomy department (with a note from your GP) and wait in line till they took your blood. The patients had to wait for the next available nurse, but they never had to wait long.
A few moons ago, they replaced this excellent system
A few moons ago, they replaced this excellent system
November 12, 2025 at 1:13 PM
1) Time was that you could simply turn up at our local hospital phlebotomy department (with a note from your GP) and wait in line till they took your blood. The patients had to wait for the next available nurse, but they never had to wait long.
A few moons ago, they replaced this excellent system
A few moons ago, they replaced this excellent system
Birthday swag (by @jonnelledge.bsky.social). Let's see how many borders I get through while waiting here at the hospital.
November 11, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Birthday swag (by @jonnelledge.bsky.social). Let's see how many borders I get through while waiting here at the hospital.
Reposted by Dr Mike Ward
The BBC is apologising for its Panorama edit. It shouldn’t. First, the narrative is true: Donald Trump *did* incite the Capitol riot. Second, the apology won’t appease those attacking it. So why not at least stand for something?
Wrote this on it earlier this week:
inews.co.uk/news/world/b...
Wrote this on it earlier this week:
inews.co.uk/news/world/b...
The BBC was right about the Capitol riots. In a sane world, Trump would be in jail
The US President faced impeachment over the violence, and in a world where Republicans had more courage, he would have been found guilty
inews.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 7:05 AM
The BBC is apologising for its Panorama edit. It shouldn’t. First, the narrative is true: Donald Trump *did* incite the Capitol riot. Second, the apology won’t appease those attacking it. So why not at least stand for something?
Wrote this on it earlier this week:
inews.co.uk/news/world/b...
Wrote this on it earlier this week:
inews.co.uk/news/world/b...
Reposted by Dr Mike Ward
Jim Watson's death has predictably triggered a mass of 'wronged heroine Rosalind Franklin', esp on Bsky. This excellent piece by Crick's & Watson's biographers looks back at the actual evidence to give something much more like the story as those who were around in science at the time understood it.
www.nature.com/articles/d41... Another take on it here with more recent research.
What Rosalind Franklin truly contributed to the discovery of DNA’s structure
Franklin was no victim in how the DNA double helix was solved. An overlooked letter and an unpublished news article, both written in 1953, reveal that she was an equal player.
www.nature.com
November 8, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Jim Watson's death has predictably triggered a mass of 'wronged heroine Rosalind Franklin', esp on Bsky. This excellent piece by Crick's & Watson's biographers looks back at the actual evidence to give something much more like the story as those who were around in science at the time understood it.
Reposted by Dr Mike Ward
I met Watson several times, and every time it was replete with sexism and racism, often comically idiotic. We learn nothing new from showcasing his awful bigotry. But there is much still to be understood in the story of biology in the 20th century. This is where my interests lie.
November 8, 2025 at 3:28 PM
I met Watson several times, and every time it was replete with sexism and racism, often comically idiotic. We learn nothing new from showcasing his awful bigotry. But there is much still to be understood in the story of biology in the 20th century. This is where my interests lie.
Reposted by Dr Mike Ward
I hosted a great discussion of it all here too:
November 8, 2025 at 11:03 AM
I hosted a great discussion of it all here too:
FWIW, some notes I did on the whole Franklin, Crick, Watson malarkey a few years ago: corkscrewoflife.blogspot.com/search?q=Fra...
(Lots more on this subject in @matthewcobb.bsky.social's splendid amzn.eu/d/5jE86vN & I'm looking forward to reading his new biography of Crick amzn.eu/d/avEfxfG)
(Lots more on this subject in @matthewcobb.bsky.social's splendid amzn.eu/d/5jE86vN & I'm looking forward to reading his new biography of Crick amzn.eu/d/avEfxfG)
Pulling on the corkscrew of life
corkscrewoflife.blogspot.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:12 AM
FWIW, some notes I did on the whole Franklin, Crick, Watson malarkey a few years ago: corkscrewoflife.blogspot.com/search?q=Fra...
(Lots more on this subject in @matthewcobb.bsky.social's splendid amzn.eu/d/5jE86vN & I'm looking forward to reading his new biography of Crick amzn.eu/d/avEfxfG)
(Lots more on this subject in @matthewcobb.bsky.social's splendid amzn.eu/d/5jE86vN & I'm looking forward to reading his new biography of Crick amzn.eu/d/avEfxfG)
Reposted by Dr Mike Ward
On the event of James Watson's death, I highly recommend this 2023 commentary from @matthewcobb.bsky.social and Nathaniel Comfort with crucial new insights into the discovery of the double helix. (And also check out Cobb's brand new biography of Francis Crick) www.nature.com/articles/d41...
What Rosalind Franklin truly contributed to the discovery of DNA’s structure
Franklin was no victim in how the DNA double helix was solved. An overlooked letter and an unpublished news article, both written in 1953, reveal that she was an equal player.
www.nature.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:25 PM
On the event of James Watson's death, I highly recommend this 2023 commentary from @matthewcobb.bsky.social and Nathaniel Comfort with crucial new insights into the discovery of the double helix. (And also check out Cobb's brand new biography of Francis Crick) www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Dr Mike Ward
What did Watson and Crick discover in 1953?”
“Rosalind Franklin’s notes!”
Now would be a good time to listen to my interview with the brilliant @matthewcobb.bsky.social about Franklin, Watson, Crick and the discovery of the double helix. geneticsunzipped.com/blog/2023/8/...
“Rosalind Franklin’s notes!”
Now would be a good time to listen to my interview with the brilliant @matthewcobb.bsky.social about Franklin, Watson, Crick and the discovery of the double helix. geneticsunzipped.com/blog/2023/8/...
What really happened between Franklin, Watson and Crick in the discovery of the DNA double helix? — Genetics Unzipped
Kat Arney chats with Professor Matthew Cobb about what really happened between James Watson, Francis Crick and Rosalind Franklin during the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA.
geneticsunzipped.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:53 AM
What did Watson and Crick discover in 1953?”
“Rosalind Franklin’s notes!”
Now would be a good time to listen to my interview with the brilliant @matthewcobb.bsky.social about Franklin, Watson, Crick and the discovery of the double helix. geneticsunzipped.com/blog/2023/8/...
“Rosalind Franklin’s notes!”
Now would be a good time to listen to my interview with the brilliant @matthewcobb.bsky.social about Franklin, Watson, Crick and the discovery of the double helix. geneticsunzipped.com/blog/2023/8/...
Reposted by Dr Mike Ward
This is the BEST book promotional opportunity I’ve ever had: A PAID gig where the organisers guarantee getting the book into the hands of HUNDREDS of children. I keep telling them how grateful I am that they’re doing this for me, and in particular for this, my favourite book. Which you should read!
Doing an hour long show based on “How to Find a Rainbow” in a theatre, followed by series of writing workshops in primary schools in Exeter next week. First time away from my children for more than one night but I’m being paid AND hundreds of pupils get a copy of the book thanks to the organisers.
How To Find a Rainbow
“This charming story can be read on two levels – that of two sisters in search of a physical rainbow and that of emerging from a gloomy emotional episode and beginning to find joy again. It …
alomshaha.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:49 AM
This is the BEST book promotional opportunity I’ve ever had: A PAID gig where the organisers guarantee getting the book into the hands of HUNDREDS of children. I keep telling them how grateful I am that they’re doing this for me, and in particular for this, my favourite book. Which you should read!
Reposted by Dr Mike Ward
The world’s first trillionaire initiated a move that has left more than half a million people dead, most of whom are children.
November 7, 2025 at 7:39 AM
The world’s first trillionaire initiated a move that has left more than half a million people dead, most of whom are children.
Reposted by Dr Mike Ward
Researchers in China claim to have made the first ever room-temperature superconductor by compressing an alloy of lanthanum-scandium and the hydrogen-rich material ammonia borane together at pressures of 250–260 GPa. 🧪⚛️
physicsworld.com/a/ternary-hy...
physicsworld.com/a/ternary-hy...
Ternary hydride shows signs of room-temperature superconductivity at high pressures – Physics World
New alloy is made by doping scandium into the well-known La-H binary system
physicsworld.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Researchers in China claim to have made the first ever room-temperature superconductor by compressing an alloy of lanthanum-scandium and the hydrogen-rich material ammonia borane together at pressures of 250–260 GPa. 🧪⚛️
physicsworld.com/a/ternary-hy...
physicsworld.com/a/ternary-hy...
Just sitting down for..
November 6, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Just sitting down for..
Reposted by Dr Mike Ward
Wonderful
November 6, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Wonderful