Alan Kelly
@akellyucc.bsky.social
Personal ramblings about the world we live in and life in general, especially science and culture. Frequent puns and dogs. Professor and food scientist at @ucc.bsky.social
He thinks an LLM means a postgraduate degree in Law
November 24, 2025 at 6:49 PM
He thinks an LLM means a postgraduate degree in Law
This tweet of mine started the biggest row I was ever in on Twitter. FWIW I don’t believe paying reviewers will fix it
November 24, 2025 at 6:01 PM
This tweet of mine started the biggest row I was ever in on Twitter. FWIW I don’t believe paying reviewers will fix it
I always get a kick out of the fact that my most cited research paper was not based on funded research, was mainly undertaken by visiting French undergraduate placement students, and was much mocked on Twitter at the time
November 23, 2025 at 8:37 PM
I always get a kick out of the fact that my most cited research paper was not based on funded research, was mainly undertaken by visiting French undergraduate placement students, and was much mocked on Twitter at the time
A scientific study of dad jokes has found that dads who love pets are most likely to find them funny.
As they say, I feel seen.
As they say, I feel seen.
November 23, 2025 at 1:23 PM
A scientific study of dad jokes has found that dads who love pets are most likely to find them funny.
As they say, I feel seen.
As they say, I feel seen.
Then: Leo Sayer
Now: Leo Singer
Now: Leo Singer
November 23, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Then: Leo Sayer
Now: Leo Singer
Now: Leo Singer
30 years ago I was at my first conference ever in Tel Aviv with a collaborator and we found an Irish bar decorated with every Irish cliche but owned and run by British guys who reckoned the marketing was better and most people wouldn’t notice
“Cultural appropriation” wasn’t a term then but…
“Cultural appropriation” wasn’t a term then but…
November 23, 2025 at 9:51 AM
30 years ago I was at my first conference ever in Tel Aviv with a collaborator and we found an Irish bar decorated with every Irish cliche but owned and run by British guys who reckoned the marketing was better and most people wouldn’t notice
“Cultural appropriation” wasn’t a term then but…
“Cultural appropriation” wasn’t a term then but…
Can I be Marjorie Taylor Swift instead?
November 22, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Can I be Marjorie Taylor Swift instead?
Why would you listen to Marjorie Taylor Greene when you can listen to
November 22, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Why would you listen to Marjorie Taylor Greene when you can listen to
Gorgeous sky colours on a freezing morning
November 21, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Gorgeous sky colours on a freezing morning
This is a US senator. The wheels really appear to be coming off the wagon (hopefully)
November 20, 2025 at 9:02 PM
This is a US senator. The wheels really appear to be coming off the wagon (hopefully)
Another normal day in the White House
November 20, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Another normal day in the White House
And it is perfect. Although the gap from 1985 to now is the same as that from then to 1945 when 16-YO me thought dinosaurs ruled the earth and that makes me really sad to think about
November 17, 2025 at 7:02 PM
And it is perfect. Although the gap from 1985 to now is the same as that from then to 1945 when 16-YO me thought dinosaurs ruled the earth and that makes me really sad to think about
I read this article recently and maybe it shouldn’t but the fact that a placebo (i.,e., no treatment but psychological) still had a large effect on back pain (just less than the treatment) jumped out to me
November 16, 2025 at 10:10 PM
I read this article recently and maybe it shouldn’t but the fact that a placebo (i.,e., no treatment but psychological) still had a large effect on back pain (just less than the treatment) jumped out to me
Every mention of Thomas Massie reminds me of this legend about a famous debate in the puritanical English parliament in 1656 about renaming Christmas
November 16, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Every mention of Thomas Massie reminds me of this legend about a famous debate in the puritanical English parliament in 1656 about renaming Christmas
A magnum of Heineken? The first aaah ffs. Peak beer notions. Peak.
November 16, 2025 at 4:42 PM
A magnum of Heineken? The first aaah ffs. Peak beer notions. Peak.
Meanwhile the rebels draw their plans
November 15, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Meanwhile the rebels draw their plans
Ah now - even as a Dub with Corkhome Syndrome after more than 30 years here I take offence at that
November 15, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Ah now - even as a Dub with Corkhome Syndrome after more than 30 years here I take offence at that
An unexpected piece of Dublin history
#speirgoirm
#speirgoirm
November 14, 2025 at 10:01 PM
An unexpected piece of Dublin history
#speirgoirm
#speirgoirm
What most Irish people visualise when they see the warning on the left
November 14, 2025 at 8:50 PM
What most Irish people visualise when they see the warning on the left
I was surprised this footnote joke of mine made into print in an OUP book on food
November 14, 2025 at 5:56 PM
I was surprised this footnote joke of mine made into print in an OUP book on food
Me: maybe a little nap now would be nice
Marty: not a chance
Marty: not a chance
November 13, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Me: maybe a little nap now would be nice
Marty: not a chance
Marty: not a chance
Always thought this book should have been called
Waiting for cocoa
Waiting for cocoa
November 12, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Always thought this book should have been called
Waiting for cocoa
Waiting for cocoa
Reading something about British politics and remembered that my most like-d tweet was just after their last election
November 9, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Reading something about British politics and remembered that my most like-d tweet was just after their last election
This was one of my most popular #speirgoirm style tweets - can’t even remember the news item that prompted it
November 8, 2025 at 8:14 PM
This was one of my most popular #speirgoirm style tweets - can’t even remember the news item that prompted it