Kit Yates
@kityates.bsky.social
Author.
Prof of Math Bio and Public Engagement.
Member of Independent Sage since October 2020.
@Kit_Yates_Maths on twitter
Books -
Math(s) of Life and Death
How to Expect the Unexpected
Get them here: https://tinyurl.com/37rx2yuv
He/Him
Prof of Math Bio and Public Engagement.
Member of Independent Sage since October 2020.
@Kit_Yates_Maths on twitter
Books -
Math(s) of Life and Death
How to Expect the Unexpected
Get them here: https://tinyurl.com/37rx2yuv
He/Him
Reposted by Kit Yates
The importance of excessive mortality assumptions...
Left hand plot: 2017-19 average used as baseline. Conclusion: Sweden is 'best' with negative excess mortality.
Right hand plot: 2017-19 linear trend extrapolated as baseline. Conclusion: Sweden is 'worst' with huge positive excess mortality.
Left hand plot: 2017-19 average used as baseline. Conclusion: Sweden is 'best' with negative excess mortality.
Right hand plot: 2017-19 linear trend extrapolated as baseline. Conclusion: Sweden is 'worst' with huge positive excess mortality.
November 16, 2025 at 12:51 PM
The importance of excessive mortality assumptions...
Left hand plot: 2017-19 average used as baseline. Conclusion: Sweden is 'best' with negative excess mortality.
Right hand plot: 2017-19 linear trend extrapolated as baseline. Conclusion: Sweden is 'worst' with huge positive excess mortality.
Left hand plot: 2017-19 average used as baseline. Conclusion: Sweden is 'best' with negative excess mortality.
Right hand plot: 2017-19 linear trend extrapolated as baseline. Conclusion: Sweden is 'worst' with huge positive excess mortality.
Reposted by Kit Yates
Something that finally got me to smile today
Why shouldn't you trust someone you see drawing on graph paper?
They're definitely plotting something.
They're definitely plotting something.
November 16, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Something that finally got me to smile today
Reposted by Kit Yates
Lots of people telling me they love Dad jokes, but jokes about graph paper are where they draw the line.
Why shouldn't you trust someone you see drawing on graph paper?
They're definitely plotting something.
They're definitely plotting something.
November 15, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Lots of people telling me they love Dad jokes, but jokes about graph paper are where they draw the line.
Lots of people telling me they love Dad jokes, but jokes about graph paper are where they draw the line.
Why shouldn't you trust someone you see drawing on graph paper?
They're definitely plotting something.
They're definitely plotting something.
November 15, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Lots of people telling me they love Dad jokes, but jokes about graph paper are where they draw the line.
Reposted by Kit Yates
Buckle up - because this now amounts to a direct and deliberate attack on our country and its cultural sovereignty. Which side our politicians take - Trump's or the BBC's - over the coming days and weeks will speak volumes about their patriotism.
Trump says he will sue BBC for at least $1bn over Panorama edit
The US president confirmed he intends to sue the broadcaster for at least $1bn over the Panorama edit of a 2021 speech.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Buckle up - because this now amounts to a direct and deliberate attack on our country and its cultural sovereignty. Which side our politicians take - Trump's or the BBC's - over the coming days and weeks will speak volumes about their patriotism.
Why shouldn't you trust someone you see drawing on graph paper?
They're definitely plotting something.
They're definitely plotting something.
November 15, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Why shouldn't you trust someone you see drawing on graph paper?
They're definitely plotting something.
They're definitely plotting something.
Reposted by Kit Yates
![4-panel vertical comic. (1) 100 Years Ago [two people standing next to bicycle with small car nearby] PERSON 1: It’s too dangerous riding a bike with these cars around. I should get a car, too. (2) 50 Years Ago [two people between smaller car and bigger car] PERSON 2 with short hair: Small cars are less safe in collisions with larger vehicles, so I should get a bigger one. (3) Today [two people between big car and even bigger car] PERSON 1: Everyone has huge SUVs now. If I don’t get the biggest one, I’m putting my family at risk. (4) Soon [two people next to large armored car with spiked clubs attached] PERSON 2: If I don’t install more whirling spike clubs, I’ll be destroyed by all the other drivers who...](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreiby6can6k76yzfmv2czxs4pu2l7zie7bqbrpswi7h3ifmiadkuqvu@jpeg)
Reposted by Kit Yates
The remarkable story we discussed this morning. (No paywall but do consider subscribing.) www.thenewworld.co.uk/james-ball-e...
EXCLUSIVE: Michael Prescott himself doctored Trump quote in his anti-BBC report
A report alleging Panorama broadcast misleading Trump quotes contains misleading quotes itself
www.thenewworld.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 12:48 PM
The remarkable story we discussed this morning. (No paywall but do consider subscribing.) www.thenewworld.co.uk/james-ball-e...
Everyone seems incredulous when you tell them the national animal of Scotland is a unicorn.
But no-one even bats an eyelid when you tell them the national animal of Wales is a dragon.
But no-one even bats an eyelid when you tell them the national animal of Wales is a dragon.
November 14, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Everyone seems incredulous when you tell them the national animal of Scotland is a unicorn.
But no-one even bats an eyelid when you tell them the national animal of Wales is a dragon.
But no-one even bats an eyelid when you tell them the national animal of Wales is a dragon.
Super excited to be heading down to @mathsworld.com for its official launch in London tonight.
This is a project that’s been 15 years in the making.
Get yourself a ticket:
This is a project that’s been 15 years in the making.
Get yourself a ticket:
Maths World UKHome - Maths World UK
MATHSWORLDUK aims to establish in the UK the first National Mathematics Discovery Centre
www.mathsworlduk.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Super excited to be heading down to @mathsworld.com for its official launch in London tonight.
This is a project that’s been 15 years in the making.
Get yourself a ticket:
This is a project that’s been 15 years in the making.
Get yourself a ticket:
Did you know
111111111 × 111111111 = 12345678987654321?
1/2
111111111 × 111111111 = 12345678987654321?
1/2
November 13, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Did you know
111111111 × 111111111 = 12345678987654321?
1/2
111111111 × 111111111 = 12345678987654321?
1/2
Simon Jenkins, yet again, talking absolute nonsense.
"A teacher tells me that, with calculators, all the maths 99% of school leavers need can be taught to them in a day."
But you wouldn't know them. They teach at a different school.
1/2
"A teacher tells me that, with calculators, all the maths 99% of school leavers need can be taught to them in a day."
But you wouldn't know them. They teach at a different school.
1/2
November 12, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Simon Jenkins, yet again, talking absolute nonsense.
"A teacher tells me that, with calculators, all the maths 99% of school leavers need can be taught to them in a day."
But you wouldn't know them. They teach at a different school.
1/2
"A teacher tells me that, with calculators, all the maths 99% of school leavers need can be taught to them in a day."
But you wouldn't know them. They teach at a different school.
1/2
So judgy.
Especially from such a filthy sign.
Especially from such a filthy sign.
November 7, 2025 at 3:41 PM
So judgy.
Especially from such a filthy sign.
Especially from such a filthy sign.
Reposted by Kit Yates
Wondering why no one likes your posts anymore, even among your friends? It's because @jay.bsky.team and team have decided to hide a huge amount of content from all of our feeds by default.
Here's how to turn it off.
First go to the hamburger menu in the upper left corner
Here's how to turn it off.
First go to the hamburger menu in the upper left corner
November 6, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Wondering why no one likes your posts anymore, even among your friends? It's because @jay.bsky.team and team have decided to hide a huge amount of content from all of our feeds by default.
Here's how to turn it off.
First go to the hamburger menu in the upper left corner
Here's how to turn it off.
First go to the hamburger menu in the upper left corner
Reposted by Kit Yates
Register by 17 November: GW4 ECR Mathematical Biology
Workshop at the University of Bath - Registration Form – Fill in form
forms.office.com/e/EDNzGsjVP2
@ruthbowness.bsky.social
@kityates.bsky.social
@3113n.bsky.social
@kylewedgwood.bsky.social
Workshop at the University of Bath - Registration Form – Fill in form
forms.office.com/e/EDNzGsjVP2
@ruthbowness.bsky.social
@kityates.bsky.social
@3113n.bsky.social
@kylewedgwood.bsky.social
Microsoft Forms
forms.office.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Register by 17 November: GW4 ECR Mathematical Biology
Workshop at the University of Bath - Registration Form – Fill in form
forms.office.com/e/EDNzGsjVP2
@ruthbowness.bsky.social
@kityates.bsky.social
@3113n.bsky.social
@kylewedgwood.bsky.social
Workshop at the University of Bath - Registration Form – Fill in form
forms.office.com/e/EDNzGsjVP2
@ruthbowness.bsky.social
@kityates.bsky.social
@3113n.bsky.social
@kylewedgwood.bsky.social
Reposted by Kit Yates
The early flu season in England continues to build, while the latest Covid wave continues to recede.
Latest UKHSA hospital admission data up to 27 Oct.
Latest UKHSA hospital admission data up to 27 Oct.
November 6, 2025 at 7:28 PM
The early flu season in England continues to build, while the latest Covid wave continues to recede.
Latest UKHSA hospital admission data up to 27 Oct.
Latest UKHSA hospital admission data up to 27 Oct.
Reposted by Kit Yates
Great thread for #TeamCompSci
I know @advanced-ict.info will be on this like a shot, with a coded solution :)
I know @advanced-ict.info will be on this like a shot, with a coded solution :)
It took just 8 minutes for thieves to steal the Napoleonic-era crown jewels from the Louvre. There weren't enough cameras and the ones there were there were facing the wrong way.
Could a 50-year-old maths problem have foiled the heist?
🧵
www.bbc.com/news/art...
1/9
Could a 50-year-old maths problem have foiled the heist?
🧵
www.bbc.com/news/art...
1/9
Where are the Louvre jewels now and can France get them back?
Experts warn that whilst the criminals may yet be caught, the gemstones they stole may never be recovered.
www.bbc.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Great thread for #TeamCompSci
I know @advanced-ict.info will be on this like a shot, with a coded solution :)
I know @advanced-ict.info will be on this like a shot, with a coded solution :)
Reposted by Kit Yates
"...only minor differences between individuals who believe in misinformation & those who endorse conspiracy theories.
Both belief types are fueled by a general conspiracy mentality, the view that truth is political, & alternative media use."
misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu/article/not-...
Both belief types are fueled by a general conspiracy mentality, the view that truth is political, & alternative media use."
misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu/article/not-...
Not so different after all? Antecedents of believing in misinformation and conspiracy theories on COVID-19 | HKS Misinformation Review
Misinformation and conspiracy theories are often grouped together, but do people believe in them for the same reasons? This study examines how these conceptually distinct forms of deceptive content ar...
misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu
November 3, 2025 at 12:22 PM
"...only minor differences between individuals who believe in misinformation & those who endorse conspiracy theories.
Both belief types are fueled by a general conspiracy mentality, the view that truth is political, & alternative media use."
misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu/article/not-...
Both belief types are fueled by a general conspiracy mentality, the view that truth is political, & alternative media use."
misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu/article/not-...
Reposted by Kit Yates
Nigel Farage is wrong about the European Convention on Human Rights.
He thinks we should leave the ECHR to reduce migration.
But not only do just a tiny number of immigration cases rely on human rights, leaving the ECHR would be an unmitigated disaster ⬇️
https://goodlaw.social/ngjm
He thinks we should leave the ECHR to reduce migration.
But not only do just a tiny number of immigration cases rely on human rights, leaving the ECHR would be an unmitigated disaster ⬇️
https://goodlaw.social/ngjm
Nigel Farage is wrong about the European Convention on Human Rights | Good Law Project
The Reform leader is unveiling legislation to leave the ECHR. His arguments are wrong – and that move would be a disaster.
goodlaw.social
November 2, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Nigel Farage is wrong about the European Convention on Human Rights.
He thinks we should leave the ECHR to reduce migration.
But not only do just a tiny number of immigration cases rely on human rights, leaving the ECHR would be an unmitigated disaster ⬇️
https://goodlaw.social/ngjm
He thinks we should leave the ECHR to reduce migration.
But not only do just a tiny number of immigration cases rely on human rights, leaving the ECHR would be an unmitigated disaster ⬇️
https://goodlaw.social/ngjm
Reposted by Kit Yates
So Nigel Farage, who spent a huge chunk of his speech today attacking plans to raise even the slightest of taxes on the wealthy, thinks one of the biggest problems facing the UK is that young people on the minimum wage are being paid too much
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/03/n...
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/03/n...
Nigel Farage Says Minimum Wage Should Be Cut for Young People
The Reform leader said cutting the minimum wage for young people would boost business, as he attacked plans to raise taxes on the wealthy
bylinetimes.com
November 3, 2025 at 12:44 PM
So Nigel Farage, who spent a huge chunk of his speech today attacking plans to raise even the slightest of taxes on the wealthy, thinks one of the biggest problems facing the UK is that young people on the minimum wage are being paid too much
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/03/n...
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/03/n...
Reposted by Kit Yates
Our new paper:
Science for Pandemic Preparedness: A precautionary framework
dx.doi.org/10.1111/jep....
Science for Pandemic Preparedness: A precautionary framework
dx.doi.org/10.1111/jep....
Science for Pandemic Preparedness: A Precautionary Framework
In the early weeks of the pandemic year 2020, health agencies were slow to warn of the potential for a global health emergency while scientists waited for ‘sufficient’ evidence of human-to-human tran...
dx.doi.org
November 2, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Our new paper:
Science for Pandemic Preparedness: A precautionary framework
dx.doi.org/10.1111/jep....
Science for Pandemic Preparedness: A precautionary framework
dx.doi.org/10.1111/jep....
As a dad who loves maths and Christmas (and bad jokes) I could not love this more.
November 2, 2025 at 8:00 AM
As a dad who loves maths and Christmas (and bad jokes) I could not love this more.
Reposted by Kit Yates
My security consultancy top tip -
Whenever a manager/client/ consultant says to you words to the effect of:
"It's a calculated risk"
You say back "Great - can I see the math?"
Kit here has the math - great thread
Whenever a manager/client/ consultant says to you words to the effect of:
"It's a calculated risk"
You say back "Great - can I see the math?"
Kit here has the math - great thread
It took just 8 minutes for thieves to steal the Napoleonic-era crown jewels from the Louvre. There weren't enough cameras and the ones there were there were facing the wrong way.
Could a 50-year-old maths problem have foiled the heist?
🧵
www.bbc.com/news/art...
1/9
Could a 50-year-old maths problem have foiled the heist?
🧵
www.bbc.com/news/art...
1/9
Where are the Louvre jewels now and can France get them back?
Experts warn that whilst the criminals may yet be caught, the gemstones they stole may never be recovered.
www.bbc.com
November 1, 2025 at 8:26 PM
My security consultancy top tip -
Whenever a manager/client/ consultant says to you words to the effect of:
"It's a calculated risk"
You say back "Great - can I see the math?"
Kit here has the math - great thread
Whenever a manager/client/ consultant says to you words to the effect of:
"It's a calculated risk"
You say back "Great - can I see the math?"
Kit here has the math - great thread
Reposted by Kit Yates
This is class.
It took just 8 minutes for thieves to steal the Napoleonic-era crown jewels from the Louvre. There weren't enough cameras and the ones there were there were facing the wrong way.
Could a 50-year-old maths problem have foiled the heist?
🧵
www.bbc.com/news/art...
1/9
Could a 50-year-old maths problem have foiled the heist?
🧵
www.bbc.com/news/art...
1/9
Where are the Louvre jewels now and can France get them back?
Experts warn that whilst the criminals may yet be caught, the gemstones they stole may never be recovered.
www.bbc.com
November 1, 2025 at 2:11 PM
This is class.
Reposted by Kit Yates
Never underestimate the maths! 😄
It took just 8 minutes for thieves to steal the Napoleonic-era crown jewels from the Louvre. There weren't enough cameras and the ones there were there were facing the wrong way.
Could a 50-year-old maths problem have foiled the heist?
🧵
www.bbc.com/news/art...
1/9
Could a 50-year-old maths problem have foiled the heist?
🧵
www.bbc.com/news/art...
1/9
Where are the Louvre jewels now and can France get them back?
Experts warn that whilst the criminals may yet be caught, the gemstones they stole may never be recovered.
www.bbc.com
November 1, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Never underestimate the maths! 😄