Glowing a "ghostly" green π’
Astronomers discover the first ever green star π
@kayaburgess.bsky.socialKaya Burgess | ππ‘π ππ’π¦ππ¬
@kayaburgess.bsky.social
Science Correspondent & Religious Affairs Correspondent at The Times of London | Shortlisted for Specialist Journalist of the Year for religion work at the 2024 Press Awards and for Science Journalist of the Year in 2025 and 2026 | My account
@kayaburgess.bsky.social@kayaburgess.bsky.socialWho discovered DNA had a helix structure? π§¬
For decades, there have been claims that Rosalind Franklin failed to realise the significance of the iconic "Photo 51" that she captured of DNA in 1952
New analysis shows she was fully aware what she'd found
www.thetimes.com/uk/science/a...
@kayaburgess.bsky.socialπͺβ¨ A 'phoenix' planet, born from the ashes of a dead star, has been detected
It's the first spotted in orbit around a white dwarf
Our own sun will meet the same end in 5 billion years
Suggests new planets could be born after the Earth meets its demise
www.thetimes.com/uk/science/a...
@kayaburgess.bsky.socialImagine living in a 21st century country with a medieval justice system
Imagine one of the issues facing your nation being "Gosh darn, we just can't execute our citizens efficiently enough"
'Christa Pike still alive after execution by lethal injection fails'
www.thetimes.com/article/b7c7...
@kayaburgess.bsky.socialArchbishop of Canterbury is facing calls from a Pakistani archbishop to apologise over the "deeply humiliating" award and retraction of an honour to a Muslim cleric He said it has put Christians in Pakistan in a difficult situation The idea to nominate the cleric arose under Justin Welby's tenure
@lucienheurtier.bsky.socialReposted by @kayaburgess.bsky.socialExcellent article about the crisis faced by physics research in the UK:
Brian Cox: "I have no idea who mandated this shift or why they think itβs a good idea, but from my perspective itβs a disaster. I urge the new Burnham government to step in..." π§ͺπ
@kayaburgess.bsky.socialExclusive:
JRR Tolkien to be celebrated with ornate memorial in Poet's Corner at Westminster Abbey βοΈβͺ
It will be based on a tree illustration by the ππ°π£π£πͺπ΅ author, fitted to a pillar just feet away from a memorial to his old friend CS Lewis
@kayaburgess.bsky.socialAnd also (it's been an exciting day) honoured to be a finalist in the Sir Arthur Clarke Awards, from the British Interplanetary Society at @BISspace.bsky.social, for reporting about space science
Some very cool scientists nominated in the other categories!
@kayaburgess.bsky.socialHugely chuffed to get a prize in the Semmelweis-Richter Journalism Awards for pharmaceutical reporting
For my report on the threat of 'mirror microbes' and why scientists have warned the UK government that attempts to create them should be shut down:
@kayaburgess.bsky.socialFULL STORY here on @TheTimes.com:
@kayaburgess.bsky.socialLambeth Palace said it has "reconsidered and withdrawn" the award
The cleric's group has said his 2007 comments were not an "endorsement" of Bin Laden, but were intented to show anger over the knighting of Sir Salman Rushdie
Full story on @TheTimes.com very soon
@kayaburgess.bsky.socialBREAKING: The Archbishop of Canterbury has retracted an interfaith award given to a Pakistani cleric after it emerged he bestowed an honorary title on Osama bin Laden in 2007
(post 1/2)
@kayaburgess.bsky.socialReposted by @kayaburgess.bsky.socialNEW:
Raves in the nave? πͺ©βͺ
How about beer-brewing in church? Markets? Plays? Trials?
Amid the row over concerts at St Paul's @thetimes.com uncovers centuries of fascinating detail on the varied (and sometimes raucous) use of sacred spaces
You may be surprised...
www.thetimes.com/uk/religion/...
@kayaburgess.bsky.socialGive it a read:
How rows over "raves in the nave" date back at least as far as the 14th century when churches served both as places of worship and as thriving village halls for all kinds of colourful secular events:
@kayaburgess.bsky.socialI greatly enjoyed spending the day in the British Library last week researching the colourful and fascinating history of secular events hosted in England's churches, including via these fantastic accounts from the 1940s, 1960s and 1990s:
@kayaburgess.bsky.socialNEW:
Raves in the nave? πͺ©βͺ
How about beer-brewing in church? Markets? Plays? Trials?
Amid the row over concerts at St Paul's @thetimes.com uncovers centuries of fascinating detail on the varied (and sometimes raucous) use of sacred spaces
You may be surprised...
www.thetimes.com/uk/religion/...
@kayaburgess.bsky.socialFirst mission to land on a Martian moon. And first to bring samples back to Earth from the Mars system
Meet the Natural History Museum scientist who'll help to solve the age-old riddle around how Phobos and Deimos came to be in orbit around the Red Planet
www.thetimes.com/uk/science/a...
@kayaburgess.bsky.socialFirst detection of dark matter?
British scientists announce tantalising hint of possible breakthrough
It makes up 85% of matter in the universe. It has gravity but does not interact with light or charge
But may now have been spotted interacting with normal matter:
www.thetimes.com/uk/science/a...
@kayaburgess.bsky.socialWhy so serious? Scientists should crack more jokes when communicating their work, study finds π§ͺπ€£
It would boost engagement and trust in their research
Plus, 12 of my favourite science jokes, including submissions from @jimalkhalili.bsky.social and Martin Rees www.thetimes.com/uk/science/a...
thetimes.comScientists βshould crack more jokesβ to win the publicβs trustA study has found that humour can play an important role in getting the public to engage with scientists and see them as a legitimate source of information