Robert Massey
@robertmassey.bsky.social
Dad, Deputy Director RAS and Honorary Visiting Professor Sussex University. All views my own. Makes 'good' trouble.
Reposted by Robert Massey
People were arguing in my mentions today about whether the Earth is "round" when it's technically an irregular oblate spheroid and look "round" doesn't mean "absolutely perfect sphere" it means round. A soccer ball is round, a cantaloupe is round, a fluffy borb in winter is round, just go with it.
November 21, 2025 at 11:23 PM
People were arguing in my mentions today about whether the Earth is "round" when it's technically an irregular oblate spheroid and look "round" doesn't mean "absolutely perfect sphere" it means round. A soccer ball is round, a cantaloupe is round, a fluffy borb in winter is round, just go with it.
Reposted by Robert Massey
Biologic treatment for Crohn's disease makes me a bit more clinically vulnerable. As a result I'm grateful every single day for vaccines. The conspiracists are an absolute menace for public health and trust more generally.
November 20, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Biologic treatment for Crohn's disease makes me a bit more clinically vulnerable. As a result I'm grateful every single day for vaccines. The conspiracists are an absolute menace for public health and trust more generally.
Reposted by Robert Massey
The Covid inquiry’s findings are shocking but unsurprising now, so the main thing it left me thinking is that without a vaccine we wd’ve been utterly screwed. & if you worked round the clock to make a thing that saved millions of lives globally, to see that legacy trashed by anti-vaxxers…
November 20, 2025 at 5:50 PM
The Covid inquiry’s findings are shocking but unsurprising now, so the main thing it left me thinking is that without a vaccine we wd’ve been utterly screwed. & if you worked round the clock to make a thing that saved millions of lives globally, to see that legacy trashed by anti-vaxxers…
Reposted by Robert Massey
If you're here at the Dynamic Earth science centre and planetarium come and say "Hi"! We're here until 7.30pm.
November 19, 2025 at 3:41 PM
If you're here at the Dynamic Earth science centre and planetarium come and say "Hi"! We're here until 7.30pm.
Reposted by Robert Massey
Hello from the 25th annual Science and the Parliament event in Edinburgh! 🪐🔭👋
Our Deputy Executive Director @robertmassey.bsky.social has been joined by Professor Andy Lawrence, from the University of Edinburgh, and Dr Sophie Butcher, of the British Geological Survey.
⤵️
Our Deputy Executive Director @robertmassey.bsky.social has been joined by Professor Andy Lawrence, from the University of Edinburgh, and Dr Sophie Butcher, of the British Geological Survey.
⤵️
November 19, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Hello from the 25th annual Science and the Parliament event in Edinburgh! 🪐🔭👋
Our Deputy Executive Director @robertmassey.bsky.social has been joined by Professor Andy Lawrence, from the University of Edinburgh, and Dr Sophie Butcher, of the British Geological Survey.
⤵️
Our Deputy Executive Director @robertmassey.bsky.social has been joined by Professor Andy Lawrence, from the University of Edinburgh, and Dr Sophie Butcher, of the British Geological Survey.
⤵️
Reposted by Robert Massey
Bonus episode of The Super Massive Podcast - Gone Rogue!
Hosts, @robertmassey.bsky.social, @drbecky.bsky.social, and Izzie Clarke!
Share and Enjoy!
🔭
Also, join the Super Massive Club! No ads!!!
Hosts, @robertmassey.bsky.social, @drbecky.bsky.social, and Izzie Clarke!
Share and Enjoy!
🔭
Also, join the Super Massive Club! No ads!!!
BONUS: Supermassive Gone Rogue
pca.st
November 15, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Bonus episode of The Super Massive Podcast - Gone Rogue!
Hosts, @robertmassey.bsky.social, @drbecky.bsky.social, and Izzie Clarke!
Share and Enjoy!
🔭
Also, join the Super Massive Club! No ads!!!
Hosts, @robertmassey.bsky.social, @drbecky.bsky.social, and Izzie Clarke!
Share and Enjoy!
🔭
Also, join the Super Massive Club! No ads!!!
Reposted by Robert Massey
Do we really want 250,000 mirrored satellites in Low Earth Orbit? Hasn't the Starlink megaconstellation already done enough damage?
🧪 @mjibrown.bsky.social
🧪 @mjibrown.bsky.social
A US startup plans to deliver ‘sunlight on demand’ after dark. Can it work – and would we want it to?
Satellites beaming sunlight down to Earth sound like science fiction – and they have astronomers very worried.
theconversation.com
October 10, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Do we really want 250,000 mirrored satellites in Low Earth Orbit? Hasn't the Starlink megaconstellation already done enough damage?
🧪 @mjibrown.bsky.social
🧪 @mjibrown.bsky.social
Reposted by Robert Massey
The Super Massive Podcast helps us prepare for the big storm!
Izzie Clarke, @drbecky.bsky.social, and @robertmassey.bsky.social host!
🔭
Izzie Clarke, @drbecky.bsky.social, and @robertmassey.bsky.social host!
🔭
Don't Panic…but a solar storm could be a disaster
pca.st
September 24, 2025 at 11:57 PM
The Super Massive Podcast helps us prepare for the big storm!
Izzie Clarke, @drbecky.bsky.social, and @robertmassey.bsky.social host!
🔭
Izzie Clarke, @drbecky.bsky.social, and @robertmassey.bsky.social host!
🔭
Reposted by Robert Massey
A wonderful and thought provoking talk by @robertmassey.bsky.social this evening to @bathastronomers.org.uk and visitors from the public.
So kind of Dr Robert Massey to travel to us from London. It is the kind hearts of people like Robert that keep astronomical societies fun and vibrant communites.
So kind of Dr Robert Massey to travel to us from London. It is the kind hearts of people like Robert that keep astronomical societies fun and vibrant communites.
September 24, 2025 at 10:06 PM
A wonderful and thought provoking talk by @robertmassey.bsky.social this evening to @bathastronomers.org.uk and visitors from the public.
So kind of Dr Robert Massey to travel to us from London. It is the kind hearts of people like Robert that keep astronomical societies fun and vibrant communites.
So kind of Dr Robert Massey to travel to us from London. It is the kind hearts of people like Robert that keep astronomical societies fun and vibrant communites.
Reposted by Robert Massey
Amid all the stuff about ‘dangerous London’ and ‘broken Britain’, new figures show the homicide rate in London is at a 10-year low. Killings dropped by 26% over the last year, from 78 to 58. No one under 25 was murdered during the school summer holidays.
September 3, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Amid all the stuff about ‘dangerous London’ and ‘broken Britain’, new figures show the homicide rate in London is at a 10-year low. Killings dropped by 26% over the last year, from 78 to 58. No one under 25 was murdered during the school summer holidays.
Reposted by Robert Massey
Murder rates aren’t just dropping steeply in Britain — they’re even dropping in the US (though of course they’re far higher there). The 2024 homicide rate in the US decreased by about 15%, one of the largest drops in American history — and mostly in the largest cities.
September 7, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Murder rates aren’t just dropping steeply in Britain — they’re even dropping in the US (though of course they’re far higher there). The 2024 homicide rate in the US decreased by about 15%, one of the largest drops in American history — and mostly in the largest cities.
Reposted by Robert Massey
Bonus Episode of The Super Massive Podcast!
Help support the podcast by joining The Super Massive Club! Ad free and it helps the @royalastrosoc.bsky.social!
@robertmassey.bsky.social, Izzie Clarke, and @drbecky.bsky.social host!
🔭🛰️🪐
Help support the podcast by joining The Super Massive Club! Ad free and it helps the @royalastrosoc.bsky.social!
@robertmassey.bsky.social, Izzie Clarke, and @drbecky.bsky.social host!
🔭🛰️🪐
BONUS - Are we Living in a Black Hole?
pca.st
September 10, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Bonus Episode of The Super Massive Podcast!
Help support the podcast by joining The Super Massive Club! Ad free and it helps the @royalastrosoc.bsky.social!
@robertmassey.bsky.social, Izzie Clarke, and @drbecky.bsky.social host!
🔭🛰️🪐
Help support the podcast by joining The Super Massive Club! Ad free and it helps the @royalastrosoc.bsky.social!
@robertmassey.bsky.social, Izzie Clarke, and @drbecky.bsky.social host!
🔭🛰️🪐
Reposted by Robert Massey
Shouldn't the response to this be that Ukraine & its allies view any Russian troops in Ukraine as legitimate targets, since they're there in violation of the UN Charter and a variety of bilateral Ukraine-Russia agreements?
‘President Vladimir Putin said Russia would view any foreign troops in Ukraine as legitimate targets for its forces, setting a Kremlin red line.’ www.wsj.com/world/russia...
Putin Says Russia Will Strike Any Western Troops in Ukraine
The Russian leader’s comments came a day after European and U.S. officials met in Paris to discuss security guarantees for Kyiv.
www.wsj.com
September 6, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Shouldn't the response to this be that Ukraine & its allies view any Russian troops in Ukraine as legitimate targets, since they're there in violation of the UN Charter and a variety of bilateral Ukraine-Russia agreements?
Reposted by Robert Massey
The UK couldn't take Reform's Trumpism. It doesn't print the world's currency; it doesn't have a vast internal market; it can't just ignore the bond markets; it doesn't have loads of really strong sub-national government. It would just break up like a satellite hitting the atmosphere.
September 6, 2025 at 6:45 PM
The UK couldn't take Reform's Trumpism. It doesn't print the world's currency; it doesn't have a vast internal market; it can't just ignore the bond markets; it doesn't have loads of really strong sub-national government. It would just break up like a satellite hitting the atmosphere.
Reposted by Robert Massey
In large part it's the fault of the Conservative Party just kind of... falling apart and giving up that we've got this massive threat burgeoning right in front of us. But if you asked me (I know you didn't) I'd recommend leaving the blame games at home and focus on stopping the UK doing the same.
September 6, 2025 at 6:39 PM
In large part it's the fault of the Conservative Party just kind of... falling apart and giving up that we've got this massive threat burgeoning right in front of us. But if you asked me (I know you didn't) I'd recommend leaving the blame games at home and focus on stopping the UK doing the same.
Reposted by Robert Massey
This is what I mean. I'd vote for almost anyone to stop this lot. Doesn't matter what your political stripe, I'd recommend you do too. They are a clear danger to basic state functions. Just ask RFK Jr.
The Reform party conference has been told that Covid vaccines are the probable cause of cancer for the King and the Princess of Wales
The party chose to platform Dr Aseem Malhotra, a prominent ally of RFK Jr in their dangerous maverick campaigns against vaccines
www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...
The party chose to platform Dr Aseem Malhotra, a prominent ally of RFK Jr in their dangerous maverick campaigns against vaccines
www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...
September 6, 2025 at 6:35 PM
This is what I mean. I'd vote for almost anyone to stop this lot. Doesn't matter what your political stripe, I'd recommend you do too. They are a clear danger to basic state functions. Just ask RFK Jr.
Reposted by Robert Massey
I've got no doubt that Reform UK are a threat to state security - to internal cohesion, intel co-operation with the EU27, to continued use of Faslane and to the Coalition of the Willing. And yet here we are.
September 6, 2025 at 6:29 PM
I've got no doubt that Reform UK are a threat to state security - to internal cohesion, intel co-operation with the EU27, to continued use of Faslane and to the Coalition of the Willing. And yet here we are.
Reposted by Robert Massey
So many people are soooo complacent about liberal freedoms they take for granted. Just like they were complacent about Trump and Putin. Don't be those people.
September 6, 2025 at 6:26 PM
So many people are soooo complacent about liberal freedoms they take for granted. Just like they were complacent about Trump and Putin. Don't be those people.
Reposted by Robert Massey
The interesting thing is that far more of the UK population remain tethered in reality. RefUK would have won, what, only 30% and a bit of the vote. And after this lot got going on science, vaccines, Ukraine, the BBC, the EHRC, the Reset and everything else they'd be in single figures within months.
It's clear from today's Reform UK Conference that if they gained an overall majority the UK would in some ways be even worse off than the US under Trump 2.0. Utterly unhinged Call of Cthulu-style stuff. Wouldn't take much for the country to become an autocratic semi-democracy either.
September 6, 2025 at 6:19 PM
The interesting thing is that far more of the UK population remain tethered in reality. RefUK would have won, what, only 30% and a bit of the vote. And after this lot got going on science, vaccines, Ukraine, the BBC, the EHRC, the Reset and everything else they'd be in single figures within months.
Reposted by Robert Massey
It's clear from today's Reform UK Conference that if they gained an overall majority the UK would in some ways be even worse off than the US under Trump 2.0. Utterly unhinged Call of Cthulu-style stuff. Wouldn't take much for the country to become an autocratic semi-democracy either.
September 6, 2025 at 6:16 PM
It's clear from today's Reform UK Conference that if they gained an overall majority the UK would in some ways be even worse off than the US under Trump 2.0. Utterly unhinged Call of Cthulu-style stuff. Wouldn't take much for the country to become an autocratic semi-democracy either.
Reposted by Robert Massey
An unpleasant scene in central Oxford. On the left, anti-immigrant shouts of 'send them back' and (I'm pretty sure) 'shoot the f**kers'. On the right, singing of 'stop the hate/ stop the fear' through a tannoy. Crowd on the right about double the size of that on the left.
September 6, 2025 at 12:34 PM
An unpleasant scene in central Oxford. On the left, anti-immigrant shouts of 'send them back' and (I'm pretty sure) 'shoot the f**kers'. On the right, singing of 'stop the hate/ stop the fear' through a tannoy. Crowd on the right about double the size of that on the left.
Reposted by Robert Massey
Another "Live" Q&A from @royalastrosoc.bsky.social's The Super Massive Podcast!
Hosts, @robertmassey.bsky.social and Izzie Clarke along with some amazing guests!
Check it out and join The Super Massive Club!
🔭🎢
Hosts, @robertmassey.bsky.social and Izzie Clarke along with some amazing guests!
Check it out and join The Super Massive Club!
🔭🎢
pca.st
August 27, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Another "Live" Q&A from @royalastrosoc.bsky.social's The Super Massive Podcast!
Hosts, @robertmassey.bsky.social and Izzie Clarke along with some amazing guests!
Check it out and join The Super Massive Club!
🔭🎢
Hosts, @robertmassey.bsky.social and Izzie Clarke along with some amazing guests!
Check it out and join The Super Massive Club!
🔭🎢
Reposted by Robert Massey
Trump is reportedly creating a loyalty scorecard that rates how hard corporations work to support his agenda.
His regime is apparently planning to consult the ratings when considering corporate requests.
This is how things work in a dictatorship.
His regime is apparently planning to consult the ratings when considering corporate requests.
This is how things work in a dictatorship.
August 15, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Trump is reportedly creating a loyalty scorecard that rates how hard corporations work to support his agenda.
His regime is apparently planning to consult the ratings when considering corporate requests.
This is how things work in a dictatorship.
His regime is apparently planning to consult the ratings when considering corporate requests.
This is how things work in a dictatorship.
Reposted by Robert Massey
Ever wondered about the shape of space? 🌌
Join Izzie Clarke & @robertmassey.bsky.social as they tackle listener questions in the latest Supermassive Podcast. ✨
Plus, UK @esa.int astronaut Rosemary Coogan shares her journey from astrophysicist to astronaut! 👩🚀
🎧: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
Join Izzie Clarke & @robertmassey.bsky.social as they tackle listener questions in the latest Supermassive Podcast. ✨
Plus, UK @esa.int astronaut Rosemary Coogan shares her journey from astrophysicist to astronaut! 👩🚀
🎧: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
BONUS - What Shape is Space?
Podcast Episode · The Supermassive Podcast · 08/12/2025 · 19m
podcasts.apple.com
August 15, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Ever wondered about the shape of space? 🌌
Join Izzie Clarke & @robertmassey.bsky.social as they tackle listener questions in the latest Supermassive Podcast. ✨
Plus, UK @esa.int astronaut Rosemary Coogan shares her journey from astrophysicist to astronaut! 👩🚀
🎧: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
Join Izzie Clarke & @robertmassey.bsky.social as they tackle listener questions in the latest Supermassive Podcast. ✨
Plus, UK @esa.int astronaut Rosemary Coogan shares her journey from astrophysicist to astronaut! 👩🚀
🎧: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
Reposted by Robert Massey
Posting this again. Not enough electricity left to build affordable homes in 3 west London boroughs, because all capacity has been used by a data centre.
#affordablehousingUK
www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/repo...
#affordablehousingUK
www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/repo...
Report: Home building to halt in West London, due to data center power demands
All the electricity capacity is already used up, GLA tells developers
www.datacenterdynamics.com
August 14, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Posting this again. Not enough electricity left to build affordable homes in 3 west London boroughs, because all capacity has been used by a data centre.
#affordablehousingUK
www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/repo...
#affordablehousingUK
www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/repo...