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Chris Baraniuk

@chrisbaraniuk.com

29K followers 1.6K following 4.6K posts

Freelance science and technology journalist. 11+ years experience. Irish/Polish. I write for the BBC, Wired, the BMJ, The Guardian, and others! Newsletter: thereengineer.pro Portfolio: chrisbaraniuk.com HQ: Belfast, Northern Ireland

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Chris Baraniuk @chrisbaraniuk.com · Nov 14

🚨I have a big announcement, everyone!!🚨

Today, I'm launching my newsletter: The Reengineer.

It’s about the surprising ways in which climate change is impacting technology, buildings and infrastructure – and how we can make those things more efficient, to slash emissions.

www.thereengineer.pro

The Reengineer | Chris Baraniuk | Substack

A newsletter about how climate change affects technology and infrastructure – and what we can do about it. Click to read The Reengineer, by Chris Baraniuk, a Substack publication. Launched 13 minutes ...

www.thereengineer.pro

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Chris Baraniuk @chrisbaraniuk.com · 1h

Very much a thing in Ireland to use the swede for that! I remember my granda doing it.

Chris Baraniuk @chrisbaraniuk.com · 1h

A swede from the garden! Decent size on this one. We've eaten half already - rest will go with dinner on Friday night.

A photo of a freshly harvested large swede held by gloved hands over some raised beds in a garden.

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Reposted by Chris Baraniuk

Matinee Mode @matineemode.bsky.social · 4h

Take a few minutes to appreciate Drew Struzan creating the original artwork for THE PHANTOM MENACE. Truly a master at work.

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Chris Baraniuk @chrisbaraniuk.com · 4h

Feeling this

Zoe's feather boa @zoesfeatherboa.bsky.social · 1d

Tuesday

Chris Baraniuk @chrisbaraniuk.com · 4h

youtu.be/1Pr8xnNi7OM?...

'It's bigger than that Chris, it's large'

YouTube video by Cockwaddle

youtu.be

Reposted by Chris Baraniuk

Gregory Morgan 🇺🇸🇳🇿 @drgregorymorgan.bsky.social · 10h

Rare white whale sighted in New Zealand:
www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3608...

Rare white humpback whale spotted off coast of Kaikōura

Could it be the world-famous Migaloo who hasn’t been spotted in five years?

www.stuff.co.nz

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Reposted by Chris Baraniuk

Chris Baraniuk @chrisbaraniuk.com · 2d

A roar of engines overhead. Awake again. “The planes never used to be so loud round here,” a troubled sleeper may reflect in the year 2050. Aircraft noise may eventually afflict thousands more people who live near airports – because of climate change.

www.thereengineer.pro/p/noisier-ta...

Noisier take-offs, engine wear – planes are flying straight into climate change

Emissions-spewing aircraft are far from immune to global warming

www.thereengineer.pro

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Chris Baraniuk @chrisbaraniuk.com · 6h

Yes very - just 12% renewables generation on the GB grid right now.

Reposted by Chris Baraniuk

paris martineau @paris.nyc · 7h

my latest investigation for @consumerreports.org is based on months of reporting and 60+ lab tests of leading protein supplements

we found that most protein powders and shakes have more lead in one serving than our experts say is safe to have in a day (🧵)

www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein...

Protein Powders and Shakes Contain High Levels of Lead - Consumer Reports

CR tests of 23 popular protein powders and shakes found that most contain high levels of lead.

www.consumerreports.org

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Chris Baraniuk @chrisbaraniuk.com · 7h

Interesting!

Dr Tamitha Skov @tamithaskov.bsky.social · 7h

Space Weather has picks up in a big way! Region 4246 launches 4 solar storms towards Earth. Region 4248 and 4250 are entering the same hot longitudes and are becoming more active. Expect big flares, HF radio blackouts and & storm launches to continue! Strong Earth-impacts peak October 15-17.

Reposted by Chris Baraniuk

Jason Scott @textfiles.com · 7h

The fact that he was so generous with his time, and talked to me like I was a bigwig, was truly inspiring. He spoke at a Comic-Con and I made sure to meet him and shake his hand, and he was similarly friendly and outgoing. This guy was a gem.

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Reposted by Chris Baraniuk

Jason Scott @textfiles.com · 7h

I'll tell this story again - during GET LAMP, before I hired @lukasketner.bsky.social I spoke to Drew Struzan about doing the art. This was 2009, he could have told me to take a leap, and instead, he was surpremely helpful, and even offered to do something for $10k. For my little documentary!

Charlie Ashby @charlie-ashby.co.uk · 8h

RIP Drew Struzan - a man whose talent and imagination etched onto so many minds throughout the last 40+ years.

His art & posters are some of the first visuals I think of when I think about cinema - an invitation to watch these stories and worlds.

A massive loss 💔

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Chris Baraniuk @chrisbaraniuk.com · 9h

Well, it's better than a story that doesn't go anywhere.

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Chris Baraniuk @chrisbaraniuk.com · 9h

I never said that :) I also haven't read your original story on this - I just saw quite a few other reports that struggled to make the detail of the situation clear.

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Chris Baraniuk @chrisbaraniuk.com · 10h

😱

James Kelleher @jameskelleher.pilcrow.ie · 10h

Next time somebody asks me what Bluesky is like, I'll send them this

Chris Baraniuk @chrisbaraniuk.com · 12h

"Williamson [...] admits closures should have been prepared for earlier."

He said: "I regret that and wish we had very much done it differently."

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1...

Many mistakes were made in planning for school closures, Williamson tells Covid inquiry - live updates

Watch as the former education secretary gives evidence at the inquiry, which is focusing on the impact of the pandemic on children and young people.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Chris Baraniuk @chrisbaraniuk.com · 14h

There's a lot of fear around cavity wall insulation - as if it always causes problems. It doesn't. Though badly installed CWI definitely can. If you ensure the cavities are free of debris, the wall ties are sound, the external wall is not full of holes, etc. etc., then it can be fine.

Chris Baraniuk @chrisbaraniuk.com · 15h

Yeah it looks like the all-encompassing version couldn't get a rubber stamp but the seven projects can now submit individual applications.

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Chris Baraniuk @chrisbaraniuk.com · 15h

Does anyone have a clear understanding of WHAT is going on with this story? Some reports say it's cancelled, this one contradicts them... What a mess.

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Chris Baraniuk @chrisbaraniuk.com · 15h

“The BLM did not cancel the project,” the email reads. “During routine discussions prior to the lapse in appropriations, the proponents and BLM agreed to change their approach for the Esmeralda 7 Solar Project in Nevada.”

cleantechnica.com/2025/10/12/w...

Wait, The Esmaralda 7 Solar Power Projects Are Not Dead, Yet

Rumors of the death of the Esmeralda 7 solar power and energy storage projects in Nevada have been greatly exaggerated, for the time being...

cleantechnica.com

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Chris Baraniuk @chrisbaraniuk.com · 15h

"98% of homes that had external wall insulation installed under the schemes set up by the previous government have problems that will lead to damp and mould if left unaddressed"
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Tens of thousands of homes insulated under government schemes need repairs

Insulation programmes costing billions of pounds have led to widespread problems with damp and mould.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Chris Baraniuk @chrisbaraniuk.com · 16h

And it's just over a year since I wrote this.

www.bbc.com/news/article...

How pen and paper comes to the rescue in an IT crisis

Firms are advised to practise operating with pens and paper in case of a computer meltdown.

www.bbc.com

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Chris Baraniuk @chrisbaraniuk.com · 16h

Oh!
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Have plans on paper in case of cyber-attack, firms told

Prepare to switch to off-line systems in the event of a cyber-attack, firms are being advised.

www.bbc.com

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Chris Baraniuk @chrisbaraniuk.com · 1d

LOVE

Fishbourne Roman Palace @romanpalace.bsky.social · 1d

#MosaicMonday 's work is done.

Nothing will ever beat the Charley Harper mosaic in Cincinnati. 😚

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Chris Baraniuk @chrisbaraniuk.com · 1d

I think people still talk about it a lot - but in a different way. We often ask friends, "What are you watching??" hoping there's MAYBE some crossover.

We're only able to pop out from our silos to compare notes.

There was a better way. We lost it.