Tim O'Brien

The STFC Funding Crisis – Guest Post by George Efstathiou The following guest post by George Efstathiou is a response to the current STFC funding crisis I blogged about here, and specifically to a letter by the Executive Chair of STFC, Professor Michele D…

And incase you missed it, here is George Efstathiou (recently retired STFC Science Board member) going on the record about why it's come to this...

telescoper.blog/2026/02/06/t...

STFC funding crisis ….. again! When I first came to work in the UK, Astronomy research was mostly funded through the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC). In 2007, PPARC was merged with the Council for the Cen…

I wrote something .... andthentheresphysics.wordpress.com/2026/02/08/s...

An image of Earth at night, taken from a satellite. Text reads: 'Lovell Lecture - Building a sustainable space future; with Dr Ciara McGrath, Thursday 19 March, 19.30-21.00.'

🛰️ Though largely invisible to the naked eye, over 12,000 operational satellites currently circle Earth, delivering countless essential services. Yet with launches accelerating at an unexpected rate, we face the question – how can we ensure a sustainable space future?

🎟️ https://ow.ly/7JHs50Y9V3O

UK government proposes 30% budget cut to astronomy and physics research: 'It's pretty disastrous' "You can't have a cut of that scale and not expect to see a massive impact."

More on catastrophic cuts to UK astronomy & particle physics. Costs of facilities & international subscriptions go up so grants line and individual projects are cut. If the Government is serious about backing science & technology, they need to fix this. www.space.com/astronomy/uk...

Basically as we know : STFC is also funding a bunch of facilities (many which are not even STFC remit!) and those costs have gone up (a lot). So to balance the books, they have to cut (sorry I mean reduce costs) grants to scientists.

Black and white copy of the original Luna 9 Moon image.

Black and white photograph of members of the press looking at the intercepted Luna 9 Moon photos, at a press conference at Jodrell Bank.

🌙 On this day in Jodrell’s history...

In 1966, the first close-up photographs of the lunar surface - taken by the Soviet #Luna9 spacecraft - were received at Jodrell Bank, with help from an early type of facsimile machine (a picture receiver) borrowed from the Daily Express newspaper.

📸: JBO / UoM

UKRI shelves physics infrastructure projects worth £280m - Research Professional News Exclusive: Major international collaborations with Cern and US Department of Energy in jeopardy

BREAKING: UKRI shelves physics infrastructure projects worth £280m

Major international collaborations with Cern and US Department of Energy in jeopardy, as agency pulls back funds

Scoop by @francesjones.bsky.social

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

These cuts to blue sky research in the UK remind me of the words of Sir J.J. Thomson, who is the discoverer of the electron, that can be found in "A Random Walk in Science" an Anthology compiled by R L Weber. Thomson's words come from a speech: 🧵 🔭 🧪

Grim news for particle physics, astronomy & nuclear physics research in UK. 30% cut overall with projects asked to consider options ranging to a 60% cut. These areas are a huge success for the UK internationally and a great inspiration to the next generation of scientists and engineers.

Proposed budget cuts a catastrophe for UK astronomy The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) is gravely concerned at the drastic cuts to support for UK astronomy outlined by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (...

The Royal Astronomical Society is gravely concerned at the drastic cuts to support for UK astronomy outlined by the Science and Technology Facilities Council.

Read our statement 👉 ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...

Sadly, cloudy here. If its clear for you, worth a look for #aurora aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk

Another article which fails to mention that men are the abusers.

Erasmus scheme to return for UK students, BBC understands The UK ended its participation in the scheme in 2020 after agreeing a Brexit deal with the EU.

Some good news www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Black and white photograph of two people setting up military equipment out of a military trailer, next to the botany huts. Photo credit: The University of Manchester / The Lovell Family.

On the 14th December, we celebrate Jodrell Bank’s 80th anniversary by sharing our final #JodrellAt80 heritage photo – taking us back to where it all began.

This black and white photo is one of the first ever taken at Jodrell, back when the site was still the @manchester.ac.uk botany station. [🧵1/4]

So sorry to hear this Robin. I applaud your principled stand. I can only imagine how much this has hurt you. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication making this joyful experience. I am proud to be part of its huge family of listeners and contributors.

This is the saddest day of my professional life. Today is not only the final recording of the latest series of The Infinite Monkey Cage, it is my last ever Monkey Cage. I never thought that I would have to leave the show. I always imagined going on until | dropped dead under the studio lights due to a brain aneurysm caused by my final attempt to understand notions of quantum gravity or the shock of being told about fly maggot infestations in the sacks of macaque monkeys. I resigned in September, after sixteen years of dedication to the show, A show that I named and helped develop over all those years. Unfortunately, my opinions outside the BBC have been considered problematic for sometime, whether it has been voicing support for the trans community, criticism of Donald Trump, numerous other outlandish opinions, including once gently criticising Stephen Fry. These things were considered to conflict with being a freelance BBC science presenter

In a recent meeting where BBC Studio executives again voiced problems with me, I realised my choices. Obedience and being quieter to remain making Monkey Cage, or 'Resign and have the freedom to speak out against what I believe are injustices'. • I chose the latter. It broke my heart. I love this show and I love the audience, and it is because of the audience in particular, that this decision was so difficult to make. I kept thinking about all the extremist voices promoting hate and division. They are being given so many platforms, while voices that represent kindness, open mindedness, empathy seem to be scarcer and scarcer. I felt I couldn't pamper myself with the luxury of silence. One of my many privileges is that I am able to resign and I can speak out even if it is to the detriment of my career.

I have thought a lot about my heroes, Sinead O Connor, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and so many more. I think of Sinead's words, "the job of an artist is to be themselves at any cost". James Baldwin said prejudice was really just a word for cowardice. Audre Lorde, viewing her life, wrote that her only regrets were her silences. I think of my father as I resign, he brought me up to believe in fairness , justice and kindness. Though my heart is broken, it is also full of fire. I apologise to our incredible listeners for my departure, your love of the show means a great deal. I am so sorry to let you down. I hope that you can understand my reasoning. I have to accept that I am not what the current BBC expects of their freelance presenters.

Despite this I should add that I have always worked far more than my contracted hours to try and ensure the show was always the best it could be, as well as making myself accessible and responsive to the audience wherever and whenever I met them. Every night, we have recorded, I have been filled with determination to make the best show possible. This was not "just a job" I hope that with my departure I can be a better ally to the LGBTQ community, to the neurodivergent community, to activists fighting against those who aim to brutalise society, to those currently in prison on hunger strike, and to all those who fight for a more inclusive world. From many conversations, I know there are many Monkey Cage listeners who support these communities and activists too. The strawberry is dead. Long live the strawberry. B

Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.

Went out with the dogs, beautiful clear night, looked up to see if I could spot a Geminid meteor, and right then a very bright one shot overhead 🤩 #watchtheskies #geminids

A photo of a starry sky captioned: 'Lovell Lecture: BE THE ASTRONOMER, a choose-your-adventure discovery in the sky! with Professor René Breton, Thursday 29 January, 19.30 - 21.00.' René Breton, a brunette man who is smiling and wearing a black checked shirt, is in the bottom right-hand corner.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be an astronomer, this #LovellLecture is for you! ✨

Join Prof. René Breton in our interactive ‘Be The Astronomer’ lecture, where you'll investigate an astronomical transient from the thrill of discovery to follow-up observations: https://ow.ly/a28550XFGor

The photo you've shared Wayne is Radiant Hut.

A snapshot of the community quilt, featuring panels depicting scenes from space, captioned: 'Cosmic Threads Community Quilt Exhibition. Launching 24 January, 2026.'

🧵 To mark 80 years of discovery, we invited the public to join us in a celebratory project – Cosmic Threads – a community quilt inspired by Jodrell Bank’s rich legacy.

Now, we’re delighted to share the results with you in a brand-new exhibition: https://ow.ly/lv6N50XCNyM

These day-night matches are great - no need to get up early to watch England collapse 🫣

The natural state of capitalism is "trickle-up". The only way to counter the "trickle-up" is taxes.

...I suppose 35 is more than 3 🙄

UK energy suppliers’ customer service: a tragedy (and a farce) in three acts Weird tales of meter mix-ups, incomprehensible bills, and to foment the drama, a teenager threatened with a trashed credit rating

Volume training needed: "his meter readings had been recorded in cubic feet rather than cubic metres which means he has potentially been billed more than three times what he should have been." www.theguardian.com/money/2025/d...

'Extraordinary discovery' at Orkney's Ness of Brodgar Neolithic site Archaeologists are to resume digging at the site after 3D radar technology uncovered a mystery find.

Ancient 👽 ? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Plus a newton's cradle

Front cover of the December 2025 issue of Astronomy Now. Main headline is "80 Years of Jodrell Bank" with a pink-tinted picture of the radio telescope.

Inside page of the December 2025 Issue of Astronomy Now showing the start of the article 80 Years of Jodrell Bank. There's a picture of the radio telescope.

Lovely article by Nicky Jenner in the latest issue of Astronomy Now all about 80 years of @jodrellbank.bsky.social.
Other great pieces about the latest interstellar visitor & planets beyond Neptune too.
@proftimob.bsky.social
@teresa-anderson.bsky.social
#JodrellBank

A cake celebrating the 80th anniversary of Jodrell Bank displayed in front of a preview of the 80th anniversary quilt, created by Anne Kelly.

A presentation being delivered by Professor Mike Garrett to an audience on the history of Jodrell Bank.

A presentation being delivered by Professor Mike Garrett to an audience on the history of Jodrell Bank.

It’s been a wonderful afternoon celebrating in the lead up to the Observatory’s 80th anniversary this December, joined by current staff, alumni, researchers, and special friends of Jodrell Bank both old and new! 💫

#JodrellAt80

Abstracts submitted to LPSC 2026 are required to comply with White House (non-legally binding) executive orders forbidding mention of topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

At least USRA/LPI isn't hiding it.

But is this what our community wants? Or deserves? I don't think so.