Mark McGiddy's Avatar

Mark McGiddy

@mmcgiddy

Finance lawyer with a background in maths and theoretical physics. Also runs and cycles. Australian / British

440
Followers
714
Following
9
Posts
04.08.2024
Joined
Posts Following

Latest posts by Mark McGiddy @mmcgiddy

Not sure that's entirely correct. Musk and his crowd seem to adhere to a really naive Randian view that if you just remove most of government then the economy will automatically be better.

05.03.2025 08:49 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
This image features the Crab Nebula (M1), the remnant of SN 1054, a supernova first observed on c. 4 July 1054. 
This sharp, telescopic view combines broadband color data with narrowband data that tracks emission from ionized sulfur, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms to explore the tangled filaments within the still expanding cloud. The background of the image is black, dotted with numerous stars.

This image features the Crab Nebula (M1), the remnant of SN 1054, a supernova first observed on c. 4 July 1054. This sharp, telescopic view combines broadband color data with narrowband data that tracks emission from ionized sulfur, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms to explore the tangled filaments within the still expanding cloud. The background of the image is black, dotted with numerous stars.

This magnificent image of the Crab Nebula (M1), by Michael Sherick, arranges broadband color data and narrowband data that trails emission from ionized sulfur, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms.

Reference➑️ apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap21122...

The Crab Nebula is the first astronomical object identified

πŸ”­ πŸ§ͺ 🧡

03.03.2025 15:18 πŸ‘ 48 πŸ” 9 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
"Puppets on a Kremlin String?" - Marsh Family adaptation of Coldplay's "Viva la Vida" on Trump/Vance
"Puppets on a Kremlin String?" - Marsh Family adaptation of Coldplay's "Viva la Vida" on Trump/Vance YouTube video by Marsh Family

The brilliant musical satire of
@marshfamilysongs.bsky.social
on the recent lamentable performance of Putin’s puppets in the Whitehouse, playground bullies Trump and Vance.
@addyspectreai.bsky.social @rachey.bsky.social @ghosted077.bsky.social
youtu.be/pvT3aQjLxdE

02.03.2025 16:36 πŸ‘ 199 πŸ” 97 πŸ’¬ 5 πŸ“Œ 9

🧡
The Bubble Nebula (NGC 7635) is a fascinating celestial object spectacularly captured by Hubble.
This image was released in 2016 to celebrate HST's 26th year in space.

Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble Heritage Team

➑️ esahubble.org/news/heic1608/

Located in the constellation Cassiopeia,

πŸ”­ πŸ§ͺ #MilkyWay

01.03.2025 16:50 πŸ‘ 68 πŸ” 17 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0

The curious thing about billionaires defying the rule of law and the orders of the court, is that their wealth depends entirely on enforceable legal rights: contract, property, and so on.

Those saying court orders have no value need to be careful what they wish for.

10.02.2025 23:03 πŸ‘ 1557 πŸ” 497 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 0

The ECHR has long been the only thing standing between us and anyone with a majority in the Commons.

09.02.2025 19:21 πŸ‘ 10 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
In chaotic Washington blitz, Elon Musk’s ultimate goal becomes clear Shrink government, control data and β€” according to one official closely watching the billionaire’s DOGE β€” replace β€œthe human workforce with machines.”

"The DOGE campaign has generated chaos on a near-hourly basis across the nation’s capital. But it appears carefully choreographed in service of a broader agenda"

www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

09.02.2025 03:10 πŸ‘ 1305 πŸ” 445 πŸ’¬ 75 πŸ“Œ 21

Also, weβ€˜re not 100% sure whether or not black holes destroy information.

08.02.2025 20:26 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
A large galaxy is at center, and a significantly smaller galaxy is to its left. The large galaxy, nicknamed the Bullseye, is mostly face-on, but the top appears slightly tilted away. It has several rings. Its circular core is bright white at the very center, but light yellow overall. Going outward, there are gaps between the rings. The core is surrounded by two slightly lighter yellow rings, which also appear to be overlapping. The next ring is slightly more transparent and yellow. The two or three rings that are farther out are bluer, sometimes with blue clumps. The widest ring is also blue, but also the most transparent. At 9 o’clock is a small dwarf galaxy. It is about the same size as the yellow core of the Bullseye. The dwarf galaxy is blue, with many dots. It looks like the edge of the Bullseye might touch the dwarf galaxy. Both galaxies are set on the black background of space, which is dotted with a range of galaxies in different shapes, colors, and sizes.

A large galaxy is at center, and a significantly smaller galaxy is to its left. The large galaxy, nicknamed the Bullseye, is mostly face-on, but the top appears slightly tilted away. It has several rings. Its circular core is bright white at the very center, but light yellow overall. Going outward, there are gaps between the rings. The core is surrounded by two slightly lighter yellow rings, which also appear to be overlapping. The next ring is slightly more transparent and yellow. The two or three rings that are farther out are bluer, sometimes with blue clumps. The widest ring is also blue, but also the most transparent. At 9 o’clock is a small dwarf galaxy. It is about the same size as the yellow core of the Bullseye. The dwarf galaxy is blue, with many dots. It looks like the edge of the Bullseye might touch the dwarf galaxy. Both galaxies are set on the black background of space, which is dotted with a range of galaxies in different shapes, colors, and sizes.

Bullseye! Researchers using Hubble found a massive galaxy rippling with nine star-filled rings after an β€œarrow,” the blue dwarf galaxy to its center-left, plunged through its core 50 million years ago. A thin trail of gas still links the pair: bit.ly/4hcX52n πŸ”­ πŸ§ͺ

04.02.2025 15:04 πŸ‘ 268 πŸ” 67 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 7

It would be yet another tragic, stupid & traitorous mistake for the U.K. to fail to act in complete solidarity with the EU on this but instead do the dirty by trying to stitch something up with Trump. Trump will never be a reliable partner; the U.K. should be & with its European neighbours & allies

03.02.2025 00:58 πŸ‘ 543 πŸ” 151 πŸ’¬ 24 πŸ“Œ 6
Post image
02.02.2025 18:10 πŸ‘ 24806 πŸ” 7347 πŸ’¬ 973 πŸ“Œ 340
Preview
Petition: Tighten the rules on political donations We want the government to: Remove loopholes that allow wealthy foreign individuals to make donations into UK political parties (e.g. by funnelling through UK registered companies). Cap all donations ...

Stop Musk from funding far-right politics in the UK!

I just signed this petition 'Tighten the rules on political donations' - it's nearly at 30,000 signatures - can you add your name too? -

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70...

26.01.2025 18:47 πŸ‘ 412 πŸ” 297 πŸ’¬ 29 πŸ“Œ 41

Why is the government happy to cosy up to China, but won't even look at a better customs deal with our closest neighbours in Europe?

Ministers say they’re looking everywhere for growth but are ignoring what is staring them in the face.

23.01.2025 10:45 πŸ‘ 1505 πŸ” 457 πŸ’¬ 114 πŸ“Œ 35
Cartoon from Ella Baron.

First half shows the word 'FACT' in the Hollywood sign font surrounded by wildfire, invoking the LA wildfires. Second half shows Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk and Donald Trump holding a large green 'Cheque'.

Cartoon from Ella Baron. First half shows the word 'FACT' in the Hollywood sign font surrounded by wildfire, invoking the LA wildfires. Second half shows Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk and Donald Trump holding a large green 'Cheque'.

Powerful stuff from cartoonist Ella Baron in @theguardian.com

13.01.2025 10:25 πŸ‘ 492 πŸ” 163 πŸ’¬ 4 πŸ“Œ 2
Former Tory Brexit Secretary joins call for UK to leave ECHR - hold onto your seats
Former Tory Brexit Secretary joins call for UK to leave ECHR - hold onto your seats YouTube video by Peter Stefanovic

Former Tory Brexit Secretary joins insane call for UK to leave ECHR.

My latest film explains why joining Russia & Belarus as the only European countries outside the ECHR will do nothing to stop small boats & it will undermine all our rights

Please watch & share
youtu.be/RlxcYDYFGJ0?...

13.01.2025 15:27 πŸ‘ 1008 πŸ” 369 πŸ’¬ 78 πŸ“Œ 16
Chart showing rapidly rising temperatures with 2024 the worst

Chart showing rapidly rising temperatures with 2024 the worst

2024 daily temperatures compared to past years. A frightening graphic from the BBC. #ClimateEmergency

11.01.2025 12:12 πŸ‘ 4463 πŸ” 1680 πŸ’¬ 164 πŸ“Œ 134

I can't believe that Trump is essentially talking about invading Greenland and everyone is behaving like this is totally fucking normal

07.01.2025 23:10 πŸ‘ 1266 πŸ” 164 πŸ’¬ 97 πŸ“Œ 16
Preview
Volume 78 Issue 1 | Physics Today | AIP Publishing Physics Today the flagship publication of the American Institute of Physics is the most influential and closely followed physics magazine in the world.

[Free to read]

Physics Today
Special Issue: Our Quantum World

pubs.aip.org/physicstoday...

04.01.2025 17:09 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Because 2025 = 45Β² and 45 is a triangle number, we get these lovely sums:

2025 = (1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 + 9)Β²
2025 = 1Β³ + 2Β³ + 3Β³ + 4Β³ + 5Β³ + 6Β³ + 7Β³ + 8Β³ + 9Β³

Pleasingly the next triangle number 55 is 10 more, so get ready for a repeat of this fact in the year 3025.

31.12.2024 13:32 πŸ‘ 835 πŸ” 195 πŸ’¬ 36 πŸ“Œ 35

Not without Ipswich.

30.12.2024 11:51 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

you know who should be inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame? Sisyphus

23.12.2024 01:15 πŸ‘ 17264 πŸ” 2909 πŸ’¬ 468 πŸ“Œ 159
A fluffy-textured nebula with two obvious, neutral-colored rings forming a kind of vertically squished figure-8. The rings appear to be in the outer parts of the nebula. The interior of the nebula is a deep red, and looks more concentrated near the center. There is a faint blue haze also present around the central red area. In the very center of the nebula is a light blue colored star. Various small, faint foreground stars and background galaxies also dot the image.

A fluffy-textured nebula with two obvious, neutral-colored rings forming a kind of vertically squished figure-8. The rings appear to be in the outer parts of the nebula. The interior of the nebula is a deep red, and looks more concentrated near the center. There is a faint blue haze also present around the central red area. In the very center of the nebula is a light blue colored star. Various small, faint foreground stars and background galaxies also dot the image.

A blobby, blue nebula which seems to be made of multiple connected bubbles, kind of like a conglomeration of soap bubbles, but with softly defined, diffuse edges. If you could hold it in your hand, it looks like it would feel like a wispy cotton ball. In the center of the nebula is the brightest star in the image. Fainter, unrelated stars also dot the image randomly.

A blobby, blue nebula which seems to be made of multiple connected bubbles, kind of like a conglomeration of soap bubbles, but with softly defined, diffuse edges. If you could hold it in your hand, it looks like it would feel like a wispy cotton ball. In the center of the nebula is the brightest star in the image. Fainter, unrelated stars also dot the image randomly.

I've finished the two views of NGC 1514 today. From JWST is the spectacular infrared view of the planetary nebula's dusty rings. For comparison, the visible light view from PanSTARRS.

More information/processing notes
JWST flic.kr/p/2qA4GF2
PanSTARRS flic.kr/p/2qA4GrZ

15.12.2024 23:36 πŸ‘ 179 πŸ” 42 πŸ’¬ 12 πŸ“Œ 2
Preview
Project Gutenberg Project Gutenberg is a library of free eBooks.

Does everyone know about Project Gutenberg? E-books for free. The world’s great literature here, with focus on older works for free. Digitized and diligently proofread by thousands of volunteers.

Please share.

29.11.2024 16:57 πŸ‘ 548 πŸ” 316 πŸ’¬ 18 πŸ“Œ 27

It looks a lot like the thing that took over the train in Nightsleeper.

18.10.2024 20:12 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Good to see you in BSky.

18.10.2024 20:04 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

In a shameless attempt to grow my following on here, I'm going to be giving away a GE2024 poster to one lucky winner who retweets this post (and is following) in 24 hours time. Best of luck!

04.09.2024 12:55 πŸ‘ 217 πŸ” 317 πŸ’¬ 23 πŸ“Œ 13

Currently studying cosmology and hoping to study astro-particle physics, so keen to see astronomy and related news.

02.09.2024 13:33 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

yes

02.09.2024 13:31 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0