Thomas Cheney
@thomascheney.bsky.social
Academic, (outer) Space Governance at Northumbria University. Legal geography and environmental humanities of space governance (space resources, planetary protection, astrobiology, settlement etc). Working on project 'Life the Ultimate Frontier'. He/him.
Pinned
Thomas Cheney
@thomascheney.bsky.social
· Jan 24
Now that I've signed the contract and its properly official, very excited to announce that I'm writing a book for Bloomsbury Academic titled: Space, the Final Resource Frontier? The Governance of Planetary and Extraplanetary Natural Resources which should be published sometime in 2028 (ish)
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
This is going to be great. And you can register for free and join online. Link and details below.
Join us for More-than-Human Sensory Worlds, the first in our hybrid 'More-than-Human/ities' seminar series, a new collaboration between UoB's CEH & EUC at York University, Toronto.
Come explore the shared sensory worlds of human and nonhuman animals! 🦅🐇🌃
Wed 19th Nov
17:45–19:00
Online & in-person
Come explore the shared sensory worlds of human and nonhuman animals! 🦅🐇🌃
Wed 19th Nov
17:45–19:00
Online & in-person
November 10, 2025 at 9:59 PM
This is going to be great. And you can register for free and join online. Link and details below.
This is the sort of stuff I love finding in the archives - those dastardly French are trying to usurp the UK's place as the 3rd place country in the space race!
November 10, 2025 at 9:45 PM
This is the sort of stuff I love finding in the archives - those dastardly French are trying to usurp the UK's place as the 3rd place country in the space race!
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
Haha. That passage stuck out for me too!
While going through the proofs for "The British General Election of 2024" (out very soon!) I came across this - Paul Johnson of the IFS's verdict on Labour's manifesto last year. Labour's current attempts to claim the need to break their tax pledges was impossible to forsee don't stack up
November 10, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Haha. That passage stuck out for me too!
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
My annual post about how the Morning Star reported the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989
hatfulofhistory.com/2014/11/07/h...
hatfulofhistory.com/2014/11/07/h...
November 9, 2025 at 9:02 AM
My annual post about how the Morning Star reported the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989
hatfulofhistory.com/2014/11/07/h...
hatfulofhistory.com/2014/11/07/h...
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
Around 10,000 university workers being made redundant this year. Labour policies are definitely cutting through in higher education …
November 8, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Around 10,000 university workers being made redundant this year. Labour policies are definitely cutting through in higher education …
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
As a Safety manager in the NHS, Labour is most likely making me redundant, and I could lose my house. Making NHS patients less safe in the process.
How are Labour policies changing your life?
How are Labour policies changing your life?
Why aren't Labour's life-changing policies connecting with voters - and what can the party do? It's down to messaging, how it's told, and the messengers...
Why don’t Labour’s workers’ and renters’ rights reforms cut through to voters – and how should they? – LabourList
When millions of workers and renters don’t know you’re doing more to improve their rights than any government in half a century, something is going…
labourlist.org
November 8, 2025 at 1:33 PM
As a Safety manager in the NHS, Labour is most likely making me redundant, and I could lose my house. Making NHS patients less safe in the process.
How are Labour policies changing your life?
How are Labour policies changing your life?
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
We're disappointed to see Ben Barres's powerful book "The Autobiography of a Transgender Scientist" among the ~400 titles removed from the Naval Academy Library. Needless to say, we're proud to have published his book and will keep it — and his memory — alive.
The Coming Out of a Transgender Scientist
"I know that I am making the right decision because whenever I think about changing my gender role, I am flooded with feelings of relief."
thereader.mitpress.mit.edu
April 8, 2025 at 8:24 PM
We're disappointed to see Ben Barres's powerful book "The Autobiography of a Transgender Scientist" among the ~400 titles removed from the Naval Academy Library. Needless to say, we're proud to have published his book and will keep it — and his memory — alive.
interesting paper, and highlights the value of archives for the history of science (keep your notes folks)
If I see one more stupid Rosalind Franklin take I'm going to lose my mind. Thank god for @matthewcobb.bsky.social and @nccomfort.bsky.social. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
What Rosalind Franklin truly contributed to the discovery of DNA’s structure
Franklin was no victim in how the DNA double helix was solved. An overlooked letter and an unpublished news article, both written in 1953, reveal that she was an equal player.
www.nature.com
November 8, 2025 at 12:10 PM
interesting paper, and highlights the value of archives for the history of science (keep your notes folks)
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
“Nobody thought a Labour government would have to raise taxes by more than £70bn,” claims one insider in this excellent piece. Shows the problem of the climate of fear in meetings created by some of Starmer’s aides, in that plenty of Labour insiders, did, in fact, think this!
The politics of breaking manifesto promises
The history of politicians who go back on their words has lessons for Rachel Reeves as she mulls raising taxes
www.ft.com
November 8, 2025 at 10:32 AM
“Nobody thought a Labour government would have to raise taxes by more than £70bn,” claims one insider in this excellent piece. Shows the problem of the climate of fear in meetings created by some of Starmer’s aides, in that plenty of Labour insiders, did, in fact, think this!
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
The best thing you can do to help your favorite author is to pre-order 150,000 copies of their next book.
November 6, 2025 at 3:01 AM
The best thing you can do to help your favorite author is to pre-order 150,000 copies of their next book.
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
I made a “how do you do, fellow kids?” joke to someone in their mid 20s who, it turns out, was too young to have heard of that meme.
So “how do you do, fellow kids?” is now an example of “how do you do, fellow kids?”
So “how do you do, fellow kids?” is now an example of “how do you do, fellow kids?”
November 7, 2025 at 5:28 PM
I made a “how do you do, fellow kids?” joke to someone in their mid 20s who, it turns out, was too young to have heard of that meme.
So “how do you do, fellow kids?” is now an example of “how do you do, fellow kids?”
So “how do you do, fellow kids?” is now an example of “how do you do, fellow kids?”
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
We’ve edited a thing! Writing Game Histories is an accessible entry point to historical game studies, coming from Bloomsbury in 2026. Our contributors are a brilliant bunch of people who have worked with us through the HGN over the last few years. Check it out ⬇️⬇️
A project that started with a DiGRA23 workshop is finally, nearly out in the world! Coming May 2026 from Bloomsbury’s Writing History series, Writing Games Histories is a collection of essays on historical game studies methods&approaches. Find the ToC here:
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/writing-g...
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/writing-g...
Writing Game Histories
This book offers an accessible introduction to the dynamic intersection between history and games, and the flourishing discipline of Historical Game Studies. Fr…
www.bloomsbury.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:45 AM
We’ve edited a thing! Writing Game Histories is an accessible entry point to historical game studies, coming from Bloomsbury in 2026. Our contributors are a brilliant bunch of people who have worked with us through the HGN over the last few years. Check it out ⬇️⬇️
oh the irony that as Northumbria announces its going to try ti push us onto USS because TPS costs too much USS costs are going to go up (salary sacrifice pensions will incur NI above £2k pa) @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social on.ft.com/482NXev
Reeves plans £2bn Budget raid on UK retirement savings
Move would reduce tax benefits from salary sacrifice pension schemes as chancellor aims to fill fiscal hole
on.ft.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:12 AM
oh the irony that as Northumbria announces its going to try ti push us onto USS because TPS costs too much USS costs are going to go up (salary sacrifice pensions will incur NI above £2k pa) @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social on.ft.com/482NXev
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
Fully funded PhD position in Law and the Nonhuman to work with me at @lawresearch-ncluk.bsky.social
www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate...
While this doesn't cover international fees, candidates can apply for separate funding to make up the difference. See: www.ncl.ac.uk/mediav8/post...
www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate...
While this doesn't cover international fees, candidates can apply for separate funding to make up the difference. See: www.ncl.ac.uk/mediav8/post...
Search for Postgraduate Scholarships and Other Funding
Search scholarships and funding for postgraduate study at Newcastle University. Find financial support tailored to your course and eligibility.
www.ncl.ac.uk
November 7, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Fully funded PhD position in Law and the Nonhuman to work with me at @lawresearch-ncluk.bsky.social
www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate...
While this doesn't cover international fees, candidates can apply for separate funding to make up the difference. See: www.ncl.ac.uk/mediav8/post...
www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate...
While this doesn't cover international fees, candidates can apply for separate funding to make up the difference. See: www.ncl.ac.uk/mediav8/post...
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
Solidarity with Leicester colleagues.
Human Geography at Leicester is facing closure. Staff contracts are to end in June 2026; students are to be relocated to other universities, or taught out by a maximum of two (!) teaching-only staff. Other departments and subjects are facing closure, too. Please join the demo!
November 7, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Solidarity with Leicester colleagues.
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
Put more accurately - it is pension cuts or pay cuts. That's the 'choice'.
Northumbria University attempts to move employees to cheaper pension scheme to bring down sky-high contribution rates
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/northumbria-freeze-staff-pay-if-they-refuse-switch-pensions
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/northumbria-freeze-staff-pay-if-they-refuse-switch-pensions
November 7, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Put more accurately - it is pension cuts or pay cuts. That's the 'choice'.
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
There is nothing whatsoever radical about those policies, no, but they are also very much not a given "in Europe." Kind of a weird claim from a factual accuracy standpoint.
Europeans recognize Zohran Mamdani’s supposedly radical policies as ‘normal’ -- Critics of New York City’s mayor-elect have said his pledges of free bus service and universal childcare are unrealistic, but in Europe it’s a given www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Europeans recognize Zohran Mamdani’s supposedly radical policies as ‘normal’
Critics of New York City’s mayor-elect have said his pledges of free bus service and universal childcare are unrealistic, but in Europe it’s a given
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:52 AM
There is nothing whatsoever radical about those policies, no, but they are also very much not a given "in Europe." Kind of a weird claim from a factual accuracy standpoint.
cool so not only can Northumbria apparently not afford to provide every member of staff with a desk but now paying for our pensions are too much of a burden! feeling great about my future in UKHE this morning!
November 7, 2025 at 7:12 AM
cool so not only can Northumbria apparently not afford to provide every member of staff with a desk but now paying for our pensions are too much of a burden! feeling great about my future in UKHE this morning!
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
This is huge news in @cameronwilson.bsky.social's @thesizzle.com.au- Microsoft is being forced by the Aus regulator refund all the ultra-dodgy AI plan pushing it was doing for Office 365
Wild that other regions aren't also using regulatory power to punish Microsoft
thesizzle.com.au/p/google-sur...
Wild that other regions aren't also using regulatory power to punish Microsoft
thesizzle.com.au/p/google-sur...
November 6, 2025 at 12:02 PM
This is huge news in @cameronwilson.bsky.social's @thesizzle.com.au- Microsoft is being forced by the Aus regulator refund all the ultra-dodgy AI plan pushing it was doing for Office 365
Wild that other regions aren't also using regulatory power to punish Microsoft
thesizzle.com.au/p/google-sur...
Wild that other regions aren't also using regulatory power to punish Microsoft
thesizzle.com.au/p/google-sur...
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
'The Royal Society...is among those urging the government to go much further with a new baccalaureate-style qualification that allows children to study a broader range of subjects, combining humanities and sciences or vocational and academic subjects as they progress through school.' 1/2
The government has flunked its curriculum review
Keir Starmer promised radical change to an outdated education system that fails our children and our employers. This is not it
observer.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 7:32 AM
'The Royal Society...is among those urging the government to go much further with a new baccalaureate-style qualification that allows children to study a broader range of subjects, combining humanities and sciences or vocational and academic subjects as they progress through school.' 1/2
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
And it comes back to my point from the other day. If Labour want to benefit from bloc-based voting, they do actually have to signal they are in one of the blocs.
November 5, 2025 at 6:21 PM
And it comes back to my point from the other day. If Labour want to benefit from bloc-based voting, they do actually have to signal they are in one of the blocs.
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
The crucial bit of this tactical 'only Labour or Reform can win here' VI poll, though, is that Labour and Reform would be tied.
Not enough Lib Dem or Green voters are (right now) prepared to tactically vote for Labour to offset the number of Tories willing to tactically vote for Reform.
Not enough Lib Dem or Green voters are (right now) prepared to tactically vote for Labour to offset the number of Tories willing to tactically vote for Reform.
November 5, 2025 at 6:21 PM
The crucial bit of this tactical 'only Labour or Reform can win here' VI poll, though, is that Labour and Reform would be tied.
Not enough Lib Dem or Green voters are (right now) prepared to tactically vote for Labour to offset the number of Tories willing to tactically vote for Reform.
Not enough Lib Dem or Green voters are (right now) prepared to tactically vote for Labour to offset the number of Tories willing to tactically vote for Reform.
oh yeah its the 5th of November... #nosurrendernopopery
a group of men riding horses carrying a banner that says god is our strength
ALT: a group of men riding horses carrying a banner that says god is our strength
media.tenor.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:46 PM
oh yeah its the 5th of November... #nosurrendernopopery
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
Heads up, energy historians, Ty Priest's new book on the history of offshore oil is coming this spring
🗃️
lsupress.org/978080718602...
🗃️
lsupress.org/978080718602...
Offshore Oildom
Offshore Oildom tells the riveting story of the United States’ quest to secure the oil riches of the sea. Drawing on a wealth of untapped sources, Tyler Pr...
lsupress.org
November 5, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Heads up, energy historians, Ty Priest's new book on the history of offshore oil is coming this spring
🗃️
lsupress.org/978080718602...
🗃️
lsupress.org/978080718602...
also re RE expansion, Im not sure im all that happy with 'humanism' covering non-belief
November 5, 2025 at 12:30 PM
also re RE expansion, Im not sure im all that happy with 'humanism' covering non-belief