mastodon 4.8.0-nightly.2026-10-06Science writer covering nano to astro via bio, but mostly bio these days (Latest book: Intertwined - from insects to icebergs, JHUP 2024). Known for cycling around Oxford with a cello on my back and/or half a dozen other instruments in my baskets. Rescuing and restoring unloved violins. Writing musical family history memoir and digging up old photos and postcards. Mostly tooting in English, but might also use French, German, Spanish, Galician if and when required.
#Oxford #music ppl: come along and #PlayForFun with #Cowley #orchestra #tomorrow! No auditions, no performances, no commitment required. https://cowleyorchestra.weebly.com/dates.html All #OrchestralInstruments welcome. #violin #viola #cello #DoubleBass #flute #clarinet #oboe #bassoon #trumpet #cornet #horn #trombone #tuba why not try #conducting taking turns with others? Also, feel free to suggest a piece from our vast #MusicLibrary (>350 sets). #JoinIn #PlaySomeMusic #ClassicalMusic #Baroque thru to #FilmMusic
second upload of #OxfordFolkFestival photos now on #flickr, featuring the #ChelmsfordLadies Morris side. I do love their colours. https://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelgrr/55204681639/in/dateposted-public/ #oxford #folk #morrisDance
note that he doesn't mention which civilisation will perish tonight. Anyhow, we had a good run ...
phew
#Oxford #FolkFestival now in full swing - there will be a Euro session this afternoon at the Wig&Pen in George Street - exciting as this is not a space where we normally get to play. Also, Oxford Blue tonight from 19h and Royal Blenheim from 22h. #folk #folksession
new #Introduction for the bsky bridge : I’m a #BioChemist turned #ScienceWriter, write a feature for every issue of #CurrentBiology, 2/month, mostly about #ecology #evolution #environment also #human, #cultural things seen thru #biology prism. Plus #ScienceBooks, most recently: #Intertwined: From insects to icebergs Also writing a #musical #FamilyHistory #memoir around #biography of our old #cello. #PirateLuthier fixing unloved #violins #NoCars #cycling, #trains, #liveable #cities #townmouse
mine's perfect, thanks for asking https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/ng-interactive/2026/apr/03/how-rotten-is-your-brain-quiz #brainrot #quiz #technology #enshittification
Just after tomorrow's #HodgkinLecture there will be
#Oxford Café Scientifique, on Tuesday 10th March 2026 at 7pm
This month's Café is about "The Thirsty Earth", with Dr Solomon Gebrechorkos from Oxford's Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, a researcher in Climatic Change Attribution. He will be discussing how Atmospheric Evaporative Demand is exacerbating #droughts around the world.
