How clear is your night sky? Do this simple test to find out

Hello, friends!

I deactivated my Xitter* account last week – which feels so good – and am loving the warm nerdy vibes of Bluesky. It’s like 2013 again.

*It pleases me no end that this is pronounced with the Mayan X (HT to Philip Plait of the Bad Astronomy newsletter).

Anyway… let’s go!

🍿 online talks and events 🐧

All times are GMT.

Monday 25 November

200 years of dinosaur research: what we know and what we don’t know, hybrid event by the Lapworth Museum of Geology, 17.30, free: Palaeontologist Dr Stephan Lautenschlager discusses how research has changed our perception of dinosaurs since the first one – Megalosaurus – was formally named 200 years ago.

Tuesday 26 November

Protecting marine ecosystems, hybrid event by the Royal Geographical Society, 19.00, £6: A panel of geographers and scientists note the problems that threaten the health and sustainability of our oceans, including overfishing, pollution and climate change, and discuss innovative and practical solutions to preserve marine ecosystems.

Wednesday 27 November

The return of the Siamese crocodile, online event by the Linnean Society, 13.30, free: Conservation biologist Pablo Sinovas tells the story of how using a variety of strategies, including captive breeding and environmental DNA sampling, as well as indigenous knowledge, have turned the tables on extinction for the Siamese crocodile, one of the world’s most threatened reptiles.

Winter wildlife in the trees, online event by the Museum of Zoology, 19.00, free: The museum team invites us to join them as they explore the winter wildlife in trees around the city as well as in the University of Cambridge’s collections. Arrive with questions.

How does our immune system protect us?, hybrid lecture by Gresham College, 18.00, free: Professor Robin May explores the immune system, which rivals the brain in its complexity, looking at how billions of cells can coordinate their activity with precision, what happens when things go wrong, and how to take care of your own.

Thursday 28 November

Towards a liveable planet: land, energy and food system transitions, hybrid event by Oxford Martin School, 12.00, free: Professor Paul Behrens talks about his work in land use, food and energy systems, and climate change. He’ll discuss themes including how much mining we’d need to do for the energy transition, and how much land we can spare as diets change.

The energy mix required for a carbon-free future, online event by the Institute of Physics, 17.00, free: A panel of physicists from the Institute of Physics and German Physical Society consider how fusion could play a role in our renewable energy future. Book by tomorrow (Tuesday 26) to save your place.

The art of geology: a practical guide, hybrid event by the Geological Society, 18.00, free: Planetary scientist Dr Matt Genge discusses the immense value in hand-made geological sketches and their place in modern Earth science, even as satellite imagery and Lidar provide new ways to record geology.

✨ in a sky near you… 🔭

How good is your sky? Riding high in the southern sky at about 7pm, behold the autumn constellation Pegasus, the winged horse.

Count the stars you can see within the Great Square of Pegasus – which make up the ‘torso’ of the horse*, about a fist wide at arm’s length – to gauge the quality of your night sky. According to BBC Sky at Night Magazine, “not including the corners, a count of 0-2 is poor, 3-7 average, 8-11 good and 12 or more excellent”.

*A pre-emptive “um, actually”: One of the stars marking out the Great Square is actually part of Pegasus’ neighbouring constellation Andromeda.

🐦 closer to Earth 👀

There’s a starling waiting in the sky: Starlings start arriving in the UK from mainland Europe in the autumn, and while they are glorious to behold en masse as a murmuration, they’re also a treat to see on the ground – dazzling birds with dark, glossy plumage that shines blue and green. Spot these sociable birds in parks and gardens looking for food on the ground.

💫 we need answers

Last week I asked:

The answer is… the Slinky.

The story goes that in 1943, engineer Richard James accidentally knocked one of the springs he was working on off a shelf, and watching it ’walk’ across the floor of his home lab before coming to a standstill, saw its toy potential.

After trying different types of metal to find the right tension, and inventing a machine that could coil 80 feet of steel wire in 10 seconds, James started selling the Slinky in 1945. More than 300 million Slinkys have now been sold worldwide.

🤔 until next week…

How did a machine designed to get people drunk become an engine for mass communication?

This one’s a bit abstract, so find me on Bluesky for daily clues. The answer, as ever, comes next week. See you then! x