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Alom Shaha

@alomshaha.bsky.social

7.2K followers 1.3K following 6K posts

Dad. Science Teacher. Author of books including “Why Don’t Things Fall Up?”, "Mr Shaha's Recipes for Wonder" and “How to Find a Rainbow”. Lots of free stuff and more about me at alomshaha.com

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Alom Shaha @alomshaha.bsky.social · Oct 12

I’ve spent 25+ years teaching and “ communicating” science. As well as being a schoolteacher, I’ve worked with scientists and science institutions to help them explain their work to the public. This book is the culmination of all that work. Out in paperback Nov. 7th www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1529...

A sky blue book with a big upside down apple with white text on it saying “ALOM SHAHA
WHY DON'T THINGS
FALL UP?”
'A joyful exploration ... proving that science is for everyone'
ROMA AGRAWAL
A brilliant book'
CHARLIE HIGSON
Seven fundamental science questions explored and explained

Book is on green background which has text saying:
'A great idea, beautifully executed.' - Brian Clegg, science writer
'It's one of the friendliest science books I've read. I'm sure many other people will agree. I have learnt (and remembered) so much, and so easily. It's the mango ice cream of science books.' - Hilary Mckay, Costa Prize winning novelist
'Shaha's many years of experience as a science teacher shine through every page. Not only is he such a natural 'explainer', but he has that rare gift of putting readers at ease without ever talking down to them. If you ever felt that science was not for you or too complicated to grasp then here is the teacher you'll wish you had at school' - Jim Al-Khalili, scientist, broadcaster, author
Patient, clear, never patronizing, and constantly warm and humane, Why Don't Things Fall Up? presents the key concepts of science with infectious energy and enthusiasm. If you never got on with science, you've nothing to fear here, and everything to gain.' - Philip Ball, science writer and broadcaster
"A gentle and reassuring journey through school science, perfect for polishing up both long-forgotten knowledge and confidence, and helping everyone to make science a part of their world. "- Helen Czerski, scientist, broadcaster, author
'Brings together science and storytelling in a joyful guide to life's big answers.
With warmth, humour and humanity, Alom Shaha takes complex concepts and distils them into simple language...it's a vital corrective for anyone who has ever struggled with science.' - Kia Abdullah, author

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Alom Shaha @alomshaha.bsky.social · 25m

Of course!

Alom Shaha @alomshaha.bsky.social · 25m

Yes, I think a lot of people I met when I wrote my first book where people who wanted to applaud me for my atheism but couldn’t get the heads around the fact that my experiences as a Brown person were really quite different to their

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Alom Shaha @alomshaha.bsky.social · 41m

I wrote about realising CS Lewis was probably a bit racist in my first book. One white reader said “oh no, you’re wrong about that”. I don’t think I am.

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Philip Ralph @philralph.bsky.social · 22h

When I say ‘the crisis in TV isn’t a blip, it’s a paradigm shift’, this 👇👇👇 is why. The ground is shifting fast under our feet and ‘more of what worked before’ isn’t going to cut it. TV needs to see this as an opportunity for innovation, risk, experimentation and the new before it’s too late…

Michael Savage @michaelsavage.bsky.social · 23h

Last month, something unusual happened in TV - none of the main channels got a million viewers at 9pm. The bigger problem was it happened a 2nd & 3rd time soon after.

Another unwelcome landmark for linear TV & our shrinking shared TV experience.

Does it matter?

www.theguardian.com/media/2025/o...

‘It was a binding experience’: TV producers mourn decline of hot 9pm slot

UK broadcasters used to rely on big audiences at 9pm, but as viewing habits change, figures are falling below the 1m mark

www.theguardian.com

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Alom Shaha @alomshaha.bsky.social · 45m

Read “The Borrowers” for the first time a year or so ago. Enjoyed the books but there was one instance of blatant racism that shook me out of the world and made me a bit sad.

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Gili Bar-Hillel @gilibug.bsky.social · 58m

because the natives keep licking the glue off the stamps since it’s sugar-based. Animals in general are portrayed as more intelligent than the African darkies.

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Gili Bar-Hillel @gilibug.bsky.social · 59m

I don’t have copies handy, but from memory: a large part of the first book deals with a tribal king in Africa who is obsessed with becoming white and holds Dolittle hostage until he can bleach him. In a later book, Dolittle establishes a post office in an African country, but there’s a problem >

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Gili Bar-Hillel @gilibug.bsky.social · 1h

But oh, how could artists who loved animals be racist and fascist regarding other humans? She bemoaned, whilst copyediting a new translation of “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats”, including the poems that didn’t make it into the musical…

Now the Peke, although people may say what they please
Is no British Dog, but a Heathen Chinese.
And so all the Pekes, when they heard the uproar, Some came to the window, some came to the door, There were surely a dozen, more likely a score.
And together they started to grumble and wheeze In their huffery-snuffery Heathen Chinese.
But a terrible din is what Pollicles like, For your Pollicle Dog is a dour Yorkshire tyke, And his braw Scottish cousins are snappers and biters, And every dog-jack of them notable fighters;
And so they stepped out, with their pipers in order, Playing When the Blue Bonnets Came Over the Border.
Then the Pugs and the Poms held no longer aloof, But some from the balcony, some from the roof, Joined in To the din With a
Bark bark bark bark
Bark bark BARK BARK
Until you can hear them all over the Park.

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Sexy Samuel Whiskers @woolbotherer.bsky.social · 1h

All his books were in the local librariesbecause we live right where he wrote them, read them all as a kid. Between him, Konrad Lorenz, and my mothers very odd political views its a wonder I didn't grow up a nazi really

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Warren Oates @warrenoates1.bsky.social · 1h

Yesterday the Bus Services (No2) Bill completed its process through Parliament.

It now goes to the King for Royal Assent, when it becomes law.

As well as overturning the ban on public ownership of bus companies, it gives local authorities more power over who runs buses, fares, routes & timetables.

Bus Services (No. 2) Bill [HL] - Parliamentary Bills - UK Parliament

Current version of Bus Services (No. 2) Bill [HL] with latest news, sponsors, and progress through Houses

bills.parliament.uk

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Alom Shaha @alomshaha.bsky.social · 1h

If you don’t know Richard, he’s writing a book about Fascists. He has written some slightly more cheerful stuff which you should read - suspect many of you would like his fiction and non-fiction: richarddsmyth.com/2022/11/18/n...

Alom Shaha @alomshaha.bsky.social · 1h

Fucking hell. Sounds like a charming chap.

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Richard Smyth @rsmythfreelance.bsky.social · 1h

I think we all know about Henry Williamson by now. Countryman, war veteran, patriot, farmer, beloved creator of Tarka the Otter, Hitler devotee, enthusiastic member of the British Union of Fascists.

Title page of Tarka The Otter: His joyful water life and death in the Country of the Two Rivers.

Henry Williamson giving a Nazi salute. I haven't yet been able to fully trace the provenance of this picture.

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Richard Smyth @rsmythfreelance.bsky.social · 1h

Today I am mostly thinking about the popular inter-war literary genre 'animal stories written by fascists'. Join me.

Title page of a collection of animal stories by Henry Williamson: TARKA THE OTTER, SALAR THE SALMON, THE EPIC OF BROCK THE BADGER, CHAKCHEK THE PEREGRINE.

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Mike here, hello @mikecornes.bsky.social · 2h

The @greenparty.org.uk and @zackpolanski.bsky.social are giving me hope in UK politics again.
I don’t think the Spectator has ever given me any hope.

Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 2h

Many on the right will try and belittle and undermine what’s happening.

But here’s the truth. Tens of thousands are joining Greens. Polls are at record highs. People are just starting to feel hope again.

join.greenparty.org.uk

The truth about the green party's booming membership

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Alom Shaha @alomshaha.bsky.social · 1h

Absolutely agree that we have been, and continue to be, failed by our politicians.

Alom Shaha @alomshaha.bsky.social · 2h

Yup

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 3h

But let's call him by his proper title please, Elon Musk, Fellow of the Royal Society.

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Alom Shaha @alomshaha.bsky.social · 2h

We might need to get together and address this at some point, eh?

Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 1d

The 400 richest Americans are now worth a record $6.6 trillion.

The entire bottom 50% of America is worth just $4.2 trillion.

Read that back.

When 400 people control more wealth than half a country’s population, we have a very serious problem.

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Alom Shaha @alomshaha.bsky.social · 2h

Yes, and it saddens and enrages me how the majority of us seem incapable of seeing this and doing something about it.

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Niemöller 2.0 🏃‍♂️ @brentcrude.bsky.social · 2h

So many of our problems boil down to extreme inequality, and in particular how it was turbocharged after the 2008 financial crisis. That is when the die was set IMO

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Alom Shaha @alomshaha.bsky.social · 2h

I gave a talk once to a group of Humanists and a member of the audience went off on one about the Muslims ruining this country. I asked her to give me just one example of her her own life had been affected by Muslims in this country and she couldn’t. She literally couldn’t.

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Lily Einhorn @madewithstring.bsky.social · 2h

This goes to the heart of our social system, our fucked up class system, our education system which doesn’t teach people to analyse, to think, to learn - really learn - and keep learning. Something has to change.

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Lily Einhorn @madewithstring.bsky.social · 2h

This clip actually breaks my heart a little. I’m not really one for meeting bigotry in the middle but how many Garys have been told they’re stupid, told it so many times they believe it and will listen to people like Farage who can then easily tell them what to think?

LBC @lbc.co.uk · 1d

'The majority of immigrants contribute more than they take.'
'You sound a lot smarter than me.'

Caller Gary vows to 'rethink' his support for Reform after @natashadevon.bsky.social explains her 'lack of faith' in Farage.

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Alom Shaha @alomshaha.bsky.social · 2h

We might need to get together and address this at some point, eh?

Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 1d

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