Alex Weatherall

New sensor uses topological material to detect helium leaks – Physics World Device works by monitoring frequency of sound waves propagating through a kagome material

Helium is a colourless, odourless gas that barely reacts with anything, which makes identifying helium leaks a real challenge. This sensor detects them by monitoring how sound waves propagate through a topological material – no chemical reactions required. 🧪⚛️

physicsworld.com/a/new-sensor...

Took a Bad Turn FoxTrot by Bill Amend | January 25, 2026

foxtrot.com/2026/01/25/t... #ITeachPhysics

Encrypted qubits can be cloned and stored in multiple locations – Physics World “Elegant” result has implications for a quantum internet

Surprising result has implications for quantum multicloud storage and information loss from black holes. 🧪⚛️ ow.ly/Zcvr50Y1LOH

Is he after Antarctica now?

A reminder, penguins reside in the southern hemisphere.
You ain't going to find them in Greenland.

I was thinking yesterday that if you spent the morning saying that Starmer was doing the sensible thing and indeed any criticism of his approach was our fault for being childish "love actually" fans, that surely meant you were committed to the view that Carney was making a big mistake.

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 …

Primary Teachers! If you’re making plans for science week in March and want to do something cross-curricular (science, art, literacy, PHSE), my picturebook “How to Find a Rainbow” would make a great focus for KS1. Happy to share resources / ideas for free if you contact me.

Four more days - then it's back to school for academic year 2026. That summer break went very quickly.

Headline: "Scientists discover emperor penguin colony in Antarctica using satellite images"

Yesterday it was cows using tools, today its penguins using satellite imagery.

a group of south park characters standing in front of lockers with the number 67 on the floor ALT: a group of south park characters standing in front of lockers with the number 67 on the floor

It just makes me smile. And this school year I will be making questions where the answers that have those digits in - just for the giggles.

I endorse this message.

OpenAI Reportedly Planning to Make ChatGPT "Prioritize" Advertisers in Conversation OpenAI employees working on ChatGPT report plans to unleash sponsored advertisements above organic results.

what a shocking turn of events
who could’ve seen this coming

Happy New Year!!

Isn't it a wonder.

Fewer meat.

From math basics to problem solving: What two new studies teach us about the math wars Learn how explicit instruction vs constructivist methods in math education can shape student success and problem-solving skills.

From math basics to problem solving: What two new studies teach us about the math wars theeconomyofmeaning.com/2025/09/04/f...

Currently the Quadrantids meteor shower is active. Peak 3-4 January 2026. Can be a good one but affected by the Full Moon this time around. 🔭 🧪

You're thinking avocado.

It's actually a virtual representation of a person, mostly used in video games or social media.

Unpopular teacher take: hearing kids shrug 6-7 doesn't annoy me.

Comic. [Banner: Mathematical Society: 2025 Meeting.] PERSON 1 with bun: Any other new developments from the year to cover before we wrap? PERSON 2: Oh, the teens picked a new funny number. PERSON 3 with short hair: Aww, I’m glad to hear they’re still doing that. PERSON 4 with ponytail: I’ll add it to the list. [List: 23 (skidoo!; 42; 69; 420; 1,337; 58,008; [circled]: 67]

Funny Numbers

xkcd.com/3184/

Make more stuff with colleagues you love.

Train for it properly and it's not a silly thing. But if you hurt yourself please don't blame me :)

My knees definitely don't like me dragging my overweight torso round 5 km each week. Not yet 50. Perhaps it's not an age concern, more about body shape, strength and health.

I think all of the tech bros should be first to the Mars colony.

Cartoon: drawing of various whales. Caption: The pilot whale was so successful they went ahead and commissioned all the other whales.

An illustration of the 'commission-based' theory of evolution.

The Pilot Whale

www.worldofmoose.com/products/pil...

Still in a state of shock trying to process the tragic loss of one of the most gifted men in the entertainment industry & his wife when the Embarrassment-in-Chief disgraces common human decency with this repulsive, deranged statement.

#NoWords 🤮

UN report sounds alarm over Māori rights in New Zealand UN committee raised concerns over government policies including scrapping the Māori Health Authority and funding cuts for Indigenous services

It's so bad, we now have an article in the international edition of The Guardian.

“unprecedented in both its length and its language”

@evacorlett.bsky.social doing some of her best work, again.
#nzpol

At the start of the year my year 9s were by far my worst class. On every level.

They were rude, late; they’d scream and shout and not have a clue what was going on.

It couldn’t continue. So I started selecting a few books at the end of each lesson to ‘mark’. 1/n

A riddle in the style of elf on a shelf. The image shows a tiny tan planet placed on a pile of delicate cured meat sitting on a wooden board like cosmic charcuterie

This one is for the foodies 🧑‍🍳

You've heard of elf on a shelf. Now get ready for...

🔭🐡🧪

My @politicshome.bsky.social story from the summer about the AI-generated "I rise to speak" phenomenon in Parliament has made it into @nytimes.com 🇺🇸

(sadly, without credit)