Daniel Williams

Scotland, I am sorry that I somehow *under*estimated you.

🎞️CinemARC: Interstellar
📅 Thursday 9 April⏰ 17:30
Christopher Nolan's smash-hit Interstellar introduced by Dr Daniel Williams, who'll be talking time, black holes, and the scientific accuracy of the movie. A chance to ask all your burning questions!

CAREERS

Calling the #scicomm community, and anyone looking for a new career in bonny Scotland. New job alert for an Education & Learning Officer at the fantastic #Kirkcudbright Dark Space Planetarium. Application deadline: 27th March. 🔭🎢

www.darkspaceplanetarium.org/explore/care...

I gave an involuntary cheer when gravitational waves got a shout-out from @astroroyalscot.bsky.social. Apologies to confused and surprised bystanders on the canal towpath.

We're very lucky to have @astroroyalscot.bsky.social, @jonbutterworth.bsky.social, and Simon Williams advocating for the field.

Parliamentlive.tv Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

I switched from my usual True Crime fix for this morning's run to yesterday's parliamentary testimony on the science funding situation in the UK.
🧵

parliamentlive.tv/event/index/...

The thing I really want AI to be able to do is those annoying things where you have to click all the traffic lights and pedestrian crossings. I feel like identifying those is something I am a bit overqualified for.

In which I predict Scotland might win the Six Nations this year.

(But they probably won't)

I've stoked-up the old crystal ball once more to look at how it handled week 3 of the Six Nations 🏉, predict week 4, and also who will win at the end of week 5.

The answers may surprise you*.

*If you've been living under a rock.

daniel-williams.co.uk/2026/03/04/s...

An invitation from the IoP to self nominate for election as president.

Once again, stop tempting addicts.

I feel they've had a rough few centuries.

I don't know when this trend started, but it definitely wasn't A Thing when I became an astronomer.

BREAKING: The UCI Cyclocross World Cup is coming to Britain for the first time since 2014.

Glasgow will host a round of the competition that could see Pidcock, Van der Poel, Brand and Pieterse trading blows in Kelvingrove Park.

Read more: road.cc/news/cycling...

A google AI overview result which cites daniel-williams.co.uk several times. It is a description of the number of hills in Glasgow.

Daniel, what is it you're known for?

Top academics warn UK physics cuts threaten effort to boost economy More than 50 heads of departments tell science minister that changes risk undermining crucial tech growth fields

"Planned cuts to physics and astronomy funding threaten to undermine a core UK government strategy to harness innovation to boost economic growth, leading researchers have warned ministers."

Thanks @financialtimes.com for covering this really important story

🗞️: www.ft.com/content/a235...

Sadly I am still awaiting a reply...

There's something quite exciting about Scotland sending our astronomer royal down to put the southern one right.
(England's one is also, in what feels like a conflict of interest on some level, the head of the STFC...)

The starship enterprise except its also Guinan and the saucer section is one of her iconic plate hats

Dune (David Lynch, 1984)

Well, Interstellar... But I'm not sure that bit is the film's strongest section.

Yes, it's in my Amazon basket 😂

I am currently consuming any TV or film depicting black holes (bad or not so bad representations). Suggestions very welcome. Possibly for a talk. Possibly a blog series.

Yes, a Tennant-era Doctor Who clip has also made it into this talk-that-nobody-actually-asked-for.

I remember watching an episode where Sulu was gardening with alien plants and what he was growing were very clearly marigolds. The kind you use for washing the dishes.

This is a real throwback to 2013 and procrastinating during my undergraduate degree.

It is actually a gap in my knowledge. I tried to watch it once.

But I believe it has one of the first ever depictions of a black hole in TV, and I refuse to pay for Paramount plus.

A severe put-down from Claude AI reading a blog post I'm writing...
'"interesting" is the word you reach for when you haven't yet found the actual interesting thing to say.'

In other news AI is unethical garbage.

(I am giving a talk about a certain film containing a black hole, and the tangents are tangenting).

Not mine sadly

A photograph of the star Trek original series DVD box set

This is, I swear, for research purposes.

4 March 2026 - Science, Innovation and Technology Committee - Oral evidence session - Committees - UK Parliament 09:00 - The Wilson Room, Portcullis House

"Following reports that the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is facing significant cost pressures, the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee will hold a one-off evidence session exploring scientific research funding."

committees.parliament.uk/event/26683/...