@helenczerski
Physics, bubbles, oceans, hot chocolate and curiosity. Professor at UCL, writer, broadcaster. Author of Storm in a Teacup and Blue Machine https://linktr.ee/helenczerski Co-host of BBC Radio 4's Rare Earth
I thought about taking a photo of them & looking at ID, but was in a hurry so I didn't. I'm well aware that I'm the dunce here. I think that most people are well-intentioned, but I should have taken far more care. Crime reported, access restored. So... it happens. Don't let it happen to you! [2/2]
Sharing a lesson I just learned... I have a Santander cycle membership in London, so I can hire bikes with a key. Someone who appeared to be very distressed was waiting at the station I returned a bike to, and duped me into hiring a bike for them. Of course they didn't return it. [1/n]
Well, look at that. My BBC documentary on the science of sound from years ago has just popped up on the BBC Earth Science channel. If you fancy some cool sound science in your day, here you go:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zp_u...
And you can follow them here too: @ucl-cccse.bsky.social
Climate change and sustainability is part of the context for every school subject, and the brilliant UCL Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Education is continually creating new resources for teachers. Do share their fabulous new website with any teachers you know:
climateeducation.org.uk
We know that AI tools "hallucinate" (they make stuff up, let's not sugar coat it), and that they are not good at being right. The idea of them being used for planning military operations might be the most frightening thing I've heard in a long time.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Tom Heap, a life-sized model seal with a teacake on its nose, and Helen Czerski
Rare Earth is back on air & today's programme was all about the OCEAN 🌊. What does the future of ocean exploration look like, and why does it matter? And we met a seal (name: "Seal-ia", see pic) modelling the latest in both ocean science & teacakes. Listen online here:
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
cc @adamrutherford.bsky.social @markmiodownik.bsky.social @drkevinfong.bsky.social @jonbutterworth.bsky.social
Cosmic UCL poster with Jon Butterworth, Mark Miodownik, Maggie Aderin, Helen Czerski, Kevin Fong, Adam Rutherford
London ppl... University College London is 200 this year & so we have a fabulous evening of science & creativity for you on May 6th. All the UCL-based usual suspects will be there (in the SAME event!), & more to be announced. Join us & bring your friends!
www.bloomsburytheatre.com/event/2026/0...
Poster for the Cosmic Shambles Forest of Science and Culture at Latitude, with the headliners: Robin Ince, Helen Czerski, Helen Sharman, Chris Jackson, Josie Long, Natalie Haynes, Reece Shearsmith, Robert Llewyllen and Roma Agrawal.
The @cosmicshambles.com Forest of Science and Culture will be BACK at the Latitude festival this year, and we have a fabulous line-up already.🎉🎉🎉 It'll be bigger and even more exciting than last year. If you fancy immersion in some really interesting ideas, plus comedy & music, this is for you
We had a great discussion this lunchtime on the impact of the current US situation on ocean science. Here's the link we shared with some resources for those who want to keep up to date or get involved in taking action: #OSM26 🌊 Do share!
cc @davidho.bsky.social @gmacgilchrist.bsky.social
Sounds great - do get in touch nearer the time 🙂
Helen Czerski and AGU president Brandon Jones, showing the OSM26 tartan.
Here with AGU President Brandon Jones just after he told me about the official Ocean Sciences Meeting tartan. It’s apparently got the date of the Challenger expedition woven into it. 🌊🌊 Impressed! #OSM26
www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tartanDetail...
Poster for Ocean Science in a time of Political Uncertainty
If you’re at #OSM26 in Glasgow, I’m hosting this really important discussion this lunchtime, with fantastic panelists. We’ll discuss how current politics is impacting ocean science, what comes next, how to ensure a healthy future for science & scientists, and sources of hope. 🌊🌊🌊🌊. Do come along.
If you’re at #OSM26 in Glasgow, I’ve just signed lots of copies of Blue Machine that are now on sale in the shop at @glasgowscience.bsky.social 🌊🌊 Share the ocean love!
Caledonian Sleeper train
Yay sleeper trains! Glasgow, here I come.
And if you need some ocean science in your Saturday, do come along to the Glasgow Science Centre to this lunchtime event plus a day of ocean exhibits: www.glasgowsciencecentre.org/whats-on/how...
Title slide "The Ground We Stand On"
My 4th Gresham Lecture starts at 6pm today (free to stream for everyone), and the topic is "The Ground We Stand On". I'll be talking about how the ground is about more than geology & why it matters.
Of course, there's *rock* music playing as people come in.
Link here:
youtube.com/live/YDEAxWT...
On a audio-only call and there was a bit of a kerfuffle in the background. Explanation: his cat has worked out that the most effective way to get his attention is to press the chair lever that makes the seat sink towards the floor, which is my new favourite mental image. Is this a common cat trick?
I mostly want people to be open about their business model. If there isn’t much money, and it’s for a good cause, being honest=great and a tiny bit of money at least recognises that work has been done. But when they slide and hide when questioned, something definitely doesn’t smell right.
YES
Just been asked to moderate panels at a big event with a high ticket price. But "sorry, they cannot offer a fee" to the moderators who make it possible. I didn't say no because of the money for me, but because of the exploitative business model (similar to academic publishing). This needs to stop.
Until the 2010s, new tech seemed to be about enabling humans: ideas to celebrate. Now, with AI, synthetic biology etc, many techno-optimists are describing a dehumanised future that makes most of us pawns in someone else’s game. I think the first option is still there, but we have to make it so.
Glasgow! We have an ocean extravaganza for you next Saturday (Feb 21st) with a hands-on exhibition of all sorts of ocean science & robots, plus a lunchtime combo of talk+interactive session+short ocean films. Do join us! And do please spread the word 🌊
www.glasgowsciencecentre.org/whats-on/how...
We know that: 40% of the global shipping fleet is just moving fossil fuel around. With locally sourced renewable energy, you get rid of all of that. There might be new things to be moved, but not continually - just once to get them where they need to go, not a continual supply.
Picture of a green cargo ship with the headline "China starts sea trials for largest electric powered containership"
You can't prove received wisdom wrong if you don't try... and you've got to give China credit for not being afraid to try. A step on the way to serious reduction of shipping emissions by 2050? Or an expensive experiment with niche coastal uses? Time will tell!
maritime-executive.com/article/chin...
For those ocean scientists who are coming to Glasgow for OS2026 in a couple of weeks, I'm hosting this debate with *really* great panelists on the Monday, on a really important topic. Please spread the word - I can guarantee insight, ideas and at least some hope. Do join us! 🌊🌊🌊
He had stopped in the middle of the road, in front of a barrier which temporarily made the road a dead end. I thought he was working out how to turn around, although it later turned out that it was a taxi stopping to drop people off at the nearby hotel. There was no option except undertaking.
And that is why you should always actually turn around and *look*. Mirrors alone aren't enough for something as potentially dangerous as opening a door.
"Dooring" is a hazard that cyclists face all the time, normally when passing parked cars.
The "Dutch reach" is a way of opening a car door that forces you to look behind - you reach with your non-door hand, turning your shoulders. You should *never* open a car door without checking behind you.
Illustration of the Dutch Reach. You should reach across with your non-door-side hand to open a car door, because it forces you to look behind you.
Last night, I got properly "doored" for the first time. A car in the road to my right paused, and the rear left passenger threw open his door without looking, right into my path. I ended up on the floor, badly winded but ok.
If you don't know what the "Dutch reach" is, NOW is the time to learn.