David K Smith

Rather jealous - not only do sabbaticals no longer exist in most UK instititions (my last short 3-month sabbatical was 12 years ago), even those that do typically require you to achieve a long list of pre-agreed research deliverables and account for time spent.

Chilli Sin Carne
In today's home cooking lesson, the 13yo made a vegan chilli sin carne, with fruity ancho chilli flakes. The recipe is really simple, only takes 30 minutes, and is great.
Lessons: chopping onions, blending spices, cooking vegan food.
Recipe: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1739...

Molecular‐Scale Tuning of Low‐Molecular‐Weight Gelators Controls Supramolecular Assembly and Directs Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Growth Chemistry in charge of biology! Simple low-molecular-weight gelators, with minor modifications in molecular structure, self-assemble differently and can also co-assemble when simultaneously triggered...

Now officially published!
Our latest paper @angewandtechemie.bsky.social puts chemistry in charge of biology! Simple gelators, with minor modifications in molecular structure, direct the growth of stem cells in different ways.
@chemistryatyork.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Zero!

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics category of #Attitude101 list 2026

David K Smith 'Author and Professor of Chemistry, University of York' #Attitude101

I never really got to celebrate my inclusion in Attitude magazine's list of 101 most influential LGBT+ people, as I was recovering from cancer surgery and couldn't attend the glitzy reception. Still, it's nice to open the magazine and see myself! #Attitude101
@chemistryatyork.bsky.social @york.ac.uk

Banana Egg Custard
The latest in a long line of puddings that are both ridiculously easy, yet cause the 13yo to say 'that was totally amazing'!
Ironically, Birds Custard was invented almost 200 years ago because Alfred Bird's wife was allergic to eggs - so putting an egg back seems like sacrilege!

I think these were black-tailed godwits (from this very blurry side-shot of the same flock)

A very grey morning at Wheldrake Ings, made photography difficult, but I was pleased with this long-distance shot taken right across the floodplain.
#WheldrakeIngs #YorkBirding
@ldvnnr.bsky.social @yorkbirding.bsky.social

That looks great!

Some easy Middle Eastern inspiration for dinner - in solidarity with all those being bombed.
Lamb & Pistachio Patties
Tomato Salad with Pomegranate Molasses Dressing
Cacik (Yoghurt/Cucumber/Dill/Garlic)
Serve with flatbreads.
#HomeCooking #SoulFood #PersianFood #ChemistsWhoCook

In Knaresborough, many of the houses along the river have a unique black & white 'chess-board' design dating back to the 1800s. We admired this house, which was repainted just last year with a very cool naturalistic mural approach with a 3D effect.
#Knaresborough

Entrance to Mother Shiptons Cave

Statue of Mother Shipton in the cave

Petrifying Cascade

Wishing well

Mother Shipton's Cave
The UK's oldest continuously operating tourist attraction - dating back to 1630.
The petrifying cascade turns objects to stone in 3 months, dip your hand in the wishing well for luck, and visit the cave where the famed 16th Century prophetess (and 'witch') was born.

Our destination? Knaresborough. Some describe it as the 'Tuscany of Yorkshire'. Obviously they are certifiably insane, but it's a nice day trip!

Today's mini-adventure is taking us off on a short 30-minute train journey on a single track branch line out of York.

Saffron & Prawn Risotto
Easy but elegant cooking for a relaxed friday evening with a glass of crisp white wine.
Recipe: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1739967038

#FoodSky #BookSky #SoulFood #Risotto #HomeCooking

He's male.

Best cat buddy ever.

Surface Tension and Surfactants. What’s Really Going On? For effective cleaning we add surfactants (in soaps and detergents) to lower the surface tension of water. Using a new theory, a York chemist can explain this effect more effectively, developing new i...

Was excited to teach surfactant chemistry to our 2nd year students today, as a landmark theoretical understanding of how they *really* work has just been published by my talented colleague, Seishi Shimizu.
#ResearchLedTeaching
@chemistryatyork.bsky.social @york.ac.uk
www.york.ac.uk/chemistry/ab...

One of the joys of special school is that all such nonsense disappears to focus on what actually matters.

a cartoon character stitch is reading a book with a mermaid on it ALT: a cartoon character stitch is reading a book with a mermaid on it

My annual reminder that on World Book Day, schools should either get kids to dress up in comfy clothes and just *read* or encourage the older kids to read stories to the younger ones. The performative dressing up competitive crap has to stop.

After work/school bowling trip with the 13yo.

Awww, thats genuinely lovely to hear!

Thank you!

Thank you so much!

The world might be difficult, but Bluesky can be a place of hope and optimism - something I tried to capture in my latest cookbook, which includes reflections on finding joy.
It won the Gourmand World Cookbook 'Food & Mental Health' Award.
@bsky.app
www.amazon.co.uk/Bluesky-Reci...
#FoodSky #BookSky

Pork / Ginger / Mushrooms / Kimchi.
With a sauce based on soy/mirin/rice vinegar, the 13yo prepared this in today's home cooking lesson.
Skills - chopping, stir-frying, using rice cooker, learning that delicious food can be made in under 10 minutes!
Recipe: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B09H...

RAF Clifton
80 years ago, this was a thriving WWII airbase, now there's a stub of a runway next to the northern edge of York's ring road - most of the rest is underneath a large 1980s shopping/industrial complex. Today, me and the 13yo went there exploring and metal detecting.

Black pudding, Avocado, Porato Cake
Breakfast small plate for the 13yo.

Chicken Katsu Curry
Demolished by the 13yo - it's always been one of his favourites.
Recipe: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1739...

#FoodSky #BookSky #HomeCooking #SimpleRecipes #SoulFood #KatsuCurry

We went to the brand new exhibition of Japanese Woodblock prints at #YorkArtGallery, featuring one of the original prints of Hokusai's 'Great Wave of Kanagawa'. I thought it was outstanding, and me and the 13yo both enjoyed making our own four-layer stamped 'Great Wave' at the end.