Mathew Owens
@mathewjowens.bsky.social
Space physicist doing a poor impersonation of a meteorologist at the University of Reading.
https://mathewjowens.github.io/
https://mathewjowens.github.io/
Oh, it's going to be a cold run to work this morning.
November 18, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Oh, it's going to be a cold run to work this morning.
Reposted by Mathew Owens
It's a useful reminder that sometimes tech can make a task more efficient for one side (applying for jobs), and more efficient for the other side (writing job adverts), and yet make the system as a whole completely inefficient.
November 14, 2025 at 10:14 AM
It's a useful reminder that sometimes tech can make a task more efficient for one side (applying for jobs), and more efficient for the other side (writing job adverts), and yet make the system as a whole completely inefficient.
Most forecast centres (including us!) got that first CME arrival bang on. The big differences are for the subsequent CMEs.
SPWC predict >1400 km/s at Earth. HUXt around 850-950 km/s. It must be different assessments of the CME initial speeds; the models themselves aren't that different.
SPWC predict >1400 km/s at Earth. HUXt around 850-950 km/s. It must be different assessments of the CME initial speeds; the models themselves aren't that different.
November 12, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Most forecast centres (including us!) got that first CME arrival bang on. The big differences are for the subsequent CMEs.
SPWC predict >1400 km/s at Earth. HUXt around 850-950 km/s. It must be different assessments of the CME initial speeds; the models themselves aren't that different.
SPWC predict >1400 km/s at Earth. HUXt around 850-950 km/s. It must be different assessments of the CME initial speeds; the models themselves aren't that different.
Reposted by Mathew Owens
Here’s our one-two-three punch! 🥊 🥊🥊 According to the latest run of the HUXt model the third CME is expected to impact on 13th November at around 13 UT. This is going to be a tiring couple of days 😅 #SpaceWeather #StephsStormWatch
November 11, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Here’s our one-two-three punch! 🥊 🥊🥊 According to the latest run of the HUXt model the third CME is expected to impact on 13th November at around 13 UT. This is going to be a tiring couple of days 😅 #SpaceWeather #StephsStormWatch
All aboard the CME train.
November 11, 2025 at 7:39 PM
All aboard the CME train.
Stopped on my run home across @uniofreading.bsky.social campus to chat to this little fella. First hedgehog I've seen for at least a decade. What a beauty.
November 11, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Stopped on my run home across @uniofreading.bsky.social campus to chat to this little fella. First hedgehog I've seen for at least a decade. What a beauty.
Reposted by Mathew Owens
Have you heard? There are TWO CMEs directed right at Earth that could cause geomagnetic storming starting tomorrow.
Here is an animation of some of these blasts coming from the Sun (center) to Earth (black dot). This comes from the HUXt model.
#heliophysics
Here is an animation of some of these blasts coming from the Sun (center) to Earth (black dot). This comes from the HUXt model.
#heliophysics
November 10, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Have you heard? There are TWO CMEs directed right at Earth that could cause geomagnetic storming starting tomorrow.
Here is an animation of some of these blasts coming from the Sun (center) to Earth (black dot). This comes from the HUXt model.
#heliophysics
Here is an animation of some of these blasts coming from the Sun (center) to Earth (black dot). This comes from the HUXt model.
#heliophysics
Reposted by Mathew Owens
📊 Latest HUXt forecast shows 2 CMEs from AR4274 arriving on 12 Nov at ~4 & 15UT respectively. AR4274 is delivering a one-two punch!⚡️🥊 G2+ storm conditions increasingly likely. Aurora prospects strong for northern UK despite poor weather forecast.
#SpaceWeather #StephsStormWatch
#SpaceWeather #StephsStormWatch
November 10, 2025 at 4:40 PM
📊 Latest HUXt forecast shows 2 CMEs from AR4274 arriving on 12 Nov at ~4 & 15UT respectively. AR4274 is delivering a one-two punch!⚡️🥊 G2+ storm conditions increasingly likely. Aurora prospects strong for northern UK despite poor weather forecast.
#SpaceWeather #StephsStormWatch
#SpaceWeather #StephsStormWatch
Reposted by Mathew Owens
The HUXt model forecasts a direct hit but at a slightly later time of 12th Nov ~3:30 UT. Weather forecast still looks bad... 🫣
November 10, 2025 at 9:19 AM
The HUXt model forecasts a direct hit but at a slightly later time of 12th Nov ~3:30 UT. Weather forecast still looks bad... 🫣
Reposted by Mathew Owens
![Cartoon by Stephen Collins for The Guardian. Script as follows:
[scene is Winston Churchill in a bbc studio, giving his 'finest hour' speech]
1
CHURCHILL:
The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us.
2
CHURCHILL:
Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war.
3
CHURCHILL:
If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free
and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sun-
BBC PRESENTER:
Thank you prime minister
4
BBC PRESENTER:
Mr hitler, your response?
5
HITLER [in the studio]:
Vell zis is hysterical woke nonsense as usual from mr Churchill
6
HITLER:
What we are proposing -
CHURCHILL:
Hang on
7
HITLER:
Let me finish - what we are proposing eez a simple power-sharing arrangement -
8
CHURCHILL:
What's he doing here
BBC PRESENTER:
It's important we hear both sides of the debate
9
CHURCHILL:
This isn't a debate
You don't debate fascists
10
HITLER:
Oh here we go with ze Godwins law!
11
HITLER:
Why must you people always compare ze things you don't like to 'fascists, Nazis, Hitler'...
CHURCHILL:
Because you are a fascist Nazi Hit-
12
HITLER [standing up, saluting]:
RAUSS!
BBC PRESENTER:
*Please* Mr Churchill let him speak
[ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreibw4ldc3fhslbvxgy2oqrof2oys5kpgh7zu6a5f3usmx3lf4547qm@jpeg)
My 13yo son just managed to perfectly lampoon my AV obsession:
"They should restart the fireworks. The sound and picture are out of sync."
"They should restart the fireworks. The sound and picture are out of sync."
November 7, 2025 at 7:45 PM
My 13yo son just managed to perfectly lampoon my AV obsession:
"They should restart the fireworks. The sound and picture are out of sync."
"They should restart the fireworks. The sound and picture are out of sync."
All fairly low hit confidence though. We might get a log-jam of six CMEs, we might get nothing.
The HUXt model shows just how busy it has been in terms of solar activity - lots of random features and arrivals expected over the next few days. It'll be important to keep an eye on things (aka keeping my eyes glued to a screen 🤣)
November 6, 2025 at 2:07 PM
All fairly low hit confidence though. We might get a log-jam of six CMEs, we might get nothing.
"We'd like to invite you to a breakfast meeting."
No. Arrange work meetings in work hours.
No. Arrange work meetings in work hours.
November 4, 2025 at 5:00 PM
"We'd like to invite you to a breakfast meeting."
No. Arrange work meetings in work hours.
No. Arrange work meetings in work hours.
"Model contains same biases as its training data" shocker.
When ChatGPT was asked to rate 40,000 résumés, it ranked the older male candidates as better quality than the younger female applicants.
Age and gender distortion in online media and large language models - Nature
Stereotypes of age-related gender bias are socially distorted, as evidenced by the age gap in the representations of women and men across various media and algorithms, despite no systematic age differ...
www.nature.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:10 AM
"Model contains same biases as its training data" shocker.
The HUXt ensemble: Because at least now you know how much we don't know.
The HUXt model currently shows the filament CME arriving ahead of NOAA SWPC predictions - at ~18 UT on Nov 1. Note the -13.2/+27.4 hr uncertainty, yikes! The plot also shows speed ramping down with another CIR/HSS beginning around 11/7.
go.theauroraguy.com/huxtmodel
go.theauroraguy.com/huxtmodel
November 1, 2025 at 8:55 AM
The HUXt ensemble: Because at least now you know how much we don't know.
Reposted by Mathew Owens
The voting system is pretty good, the recommended candidate list looks reasonable, and giving the chair your proxy votes against the ‘Restore Trust’ (🤢)-backed insurance motion, which is frankly unhinged.
Takes seconds. Please vote.
Takes seconds. Please vote.
If you're a member of the National Trust remember to vote for council members by midnight tonight.
Use the Quick Vote option.
Entryist pressure group Reform Trust is trying to seize control. Stop them
Voting is quick and easy if your membership card is at hand
secure.cesvotes.com/V3-3-0/nt25/...
Use the Quick Vote option.
Entryist pressure group Reform Trust is trying to seize control. Stop them
Voting is quick and easy if your membership card is at hand
secure.cesvotes.com/V3-3-0/nt25/...
Log In
Welcome to the National Trust 2025 voting website, hosted by independent voting service provider Civica Election Services.
secure.cesvotes.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:33 PM
The voting system is pretty good, the recommended candidate list looks reasonable, and giving the chair your proxy votes against the ‘Restore Trust’ (🤢)-backed insurance motion, which is frankly unhinged.
Takes seconds. Please vote.
Takes seconds. Please vote.
Just remembering my first US halloween. I dressed as a "Pirate of Punzance":
A pumpkin on my belt (squash buckle)
A map on my arse (pirate booty)
A dollar bill on each earlobe (a buck an ear)
Nobody got any of the jokes and just looked at me odd.
A pumpkin on my belt (squash buckle)
A map on my arse (pirate booty)
A dollar bill on each earlobe (a buck an ear)
Nobody got any of the jokes and just looked at me odd.
October 31, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Just remembering my first US halloween. I dressed as a "Pirate of Punzance":
A pumpkin on my belt (squash buckle)
A map on my arse (pirate booty)
A dollar bill on each earlobe (a buck an ear)
Nobody got any of the jokes and just looked at me odd.
A pumpkin on my belt (squash buckle)
A map on my arse (pirate booty)
A dollar bill on each earlobe (a buck an ear)
Nobody got any of the jokes and just looked at me odd.
Reposted by Mathew Owens
We just rolled out v0h of the PUNCH data pipeline. Most of Aug and Sep are now up. By Sunday we should have reprocessed it all. The L2 data include 4-min-cadence images of 3I/Atlas for those who wish to verify it is not an alien spaceship doing maneuvers. 🧪🚀🛰️🔭☀️
punch.space.swri.edu/punch_scienc...
punch.space.swri.edu/punch_scienc...
October 30, 2025 at 10:21 PM
We just rolled out v0h of the PUNCH data pipeline. Most of Aug and Sep are now up. By Sunday we should have reprocessed it all. The L2 data include 4-min-cadence images of 3I/Atlas for those who wish to verify it is not an alien spaceship doing maneuvers. 🧪🚀🛰️🔭☀️
punch.space.swri.edu/punch_scienc...
punch.space.swri.edu/punch_scienc...
I do love a time series. And these are some proper good time series.
Humanity’s history is a continuous battle between us and the microbes. For most of our history, we were on the losing side. It wasn’t even close. We were losing very decisively.
October 30, 2025 at 1:10 PM
I do love a time series. And these are some proper good time series.
Giveaways that you're in an applied physics department.
October 30, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Giveaways that you're in an applied physics department.
Reposted by Mathew Owens
Alrighty, ready to see something really cool? (and maybe a little nauseating)
The evolution of Hurricane Melissa's mesovortices at peak strength.
The evolution of Hurricane Melissa's mesovortices at peak strength.
October 29, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Alrighty, ready to see something really cool? (and maybe a little nauseating)
The evolution of Hurricane Melissa's mesovortices at peak strength.
The evolution of Hurricane Melissa's mesovortices at peak strength.
Reposted by Mathew Owens
Always wanted to show it like this. You can just about see the sine wave which marks the boundary between the hexagon and the rest of the planet, though it's very subtle.
October 22, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Always wanted to show it like this. You can just about see the sine wave which marks the boundary between the hexagon and the rest of the planet, though it's very subtle.
Reposted by Mathew Owens
For folk of a certain vintage (and geekiness), this is weapons-grade nostalgia.
An animated loop basd on the games of the ZX Spectrum 8 bit micro from the 1980s
This was made in photoshop and Blender and just a fun little tribute to my all time favourite home computer
#zxspectrum #retrogaming #pixelart #8bitart
This was made in photoshop and Blender and just a fun little tribute to my all time favourite home computer
#zxspectrum #retrogaming #pixelart #8bitart
October 27, 2025 at 8:09 AM
For folk of a certain vintage (and geekiness), this is weapons-grade nostalgia.
Reposted by Mathew Owens
I continue to hold that the entire premise underlying all of these metrics is extremely flawed, and that what it all comes down to is unimaginative managers who are content to offload scientist performance reviews to publishing companies, resulting in a perverse incentive structure. 🧵
Just what we need in astronomy: a metric that rewards those who never do any work, or whose names begin with “Z”. 🔭🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Google Scholar tool gives extra credit to first and last authors
Researchers welcome the initiative, but say it doesn’t go far enough to capture the nuance of researcher productivity and impact.
www.nature.com
October 26, 2025 at 2:57 PM
I continue to hold that the entire premise underlying all of these metrics is extremely flawed, and that what it all comes down to is unimaginative managers who are content to offload scientist performance reviews to publishing companies, resulting in a perverse incentive structure. 🧵