Author: publius

Fools! I will destroy you all!!

ASFO 2026–11–07

FAREWELL to the Swift gamma–ray observing satellite, target of a pioneering but ultimately unsuccessful attempt at grappling and orbit–raising which could have extended its lifespan for a decade or more. I suggest that NASA either had not learned, or more likely, was not able to benefit by, a lesson embodied in Carl Sagan’s Contact. (A short show, from the sea.)

ASFO 2026–10–31

ONCE more from rail–road to whale–road, on a route which gives me an excuse to use the word “exarchate”. I take the opportunity to explain something about an obscure aspect of postal service, and to consider a little further the epistemological problems of what the people trying to sell it call generative artificial intelligence.

ASFO 2026–10–24

REFLECTIONS on the 70th anniversary of Calder Hall, which I should have talked about last week, in an abbreviated show ; along with a remarkable reminder of one of the key benefits of nuclear fuel, its compactness and transportability.

Supplementary Shows

  • 2026–10–27 Nuclear Reactions and Atomic Energy, third part of a four–part lecture series Introduction to Atomic Energy, delivered at the Dallas Makerspace, 2026–10–22 (again split up by the archiver : part 1 • part 2)
  • 2026–10–30 Practical Atomic Power, fourth and final part of Introduction to Atomic Energy, as delivered 2026–10–23 (again split up by the archiver : part 1 • part 2)

ASFO 2026–10–17

ONE half–life of radium ago, the Romans were evacuating Britain ; one half–life of uranium ago, the Earth’s crust had not yet cooled and solidified. One half–life of radon from now, I will be giving the second of four “Introduction to Atomic Energy” lectures at the Dallas Makerspace. Meanwhile, the fuel crisis is hitting hard, somewhere unexpected if you are not familiar with conditions in the USA ; someone has actually proven my point that the recent Harvard studies claiming that nuclear power plants cause cancer would give similar results for universities ; and even the odious Marine LePen can occasionally say something cogent.

Supplementary Shows

  • 2026–10–20 The Atomic and Nuclear Nature of Matter, first part of a four–part lecture series Introduction to Atomic Energy, delivered at the Dallas Makerspace, 2026–10–19 (split into two parts by the archiver : part 1 • part 2)
  • 2026–10–23 Radiation and Radioactivity, second part of Introduction to Atomic Energy, as delivered 2026–10–20 ; also, tob spent about the first ten minutes of his show enthusing about some mail he received from me

ASFO 2026–10–10

MARGARET Hamilton has died, the NS Savannah is in danger of scrapping, and the President of the United States has been haranguing the General Assembly of the United Nations with threats of annihilation. Can we find something good to talk about? Well, there is some progress in getting nuclear power to the Canadian First Nations and remote northern regions. Also, the ugly history of the parking lots at the State Fair of Texas ; I question the existence of religious grounds for refusing vaccinations ; and I find another reason to mention the great Fred Hoyle and his book A Decade of Decision.

ASFO 2026–10–03

As a result of my parents’ ill–timed stargazing trip to the Big Bend country (where the skies are overcast), I am not coming to you from West Fork, Arkansas, site of the Shire Post Mint 25th anniversary celebration — although that might be rained out anyway. Instead I am left to talk about preparations for Nuclear Science Week activities at the Dallas Makerspace, a record album of nuclear–related audio programs I have purchased but not yet received, the decommissioning of an early French nuclear power plant that never functioned particularly well but looks amazing, and an attempt by some so–called news sources to create panic about difficulties encountered in the course of attempts to re–activate the shut–down Palisades nuclear power station in Michigan, which might be bad in a business sense but certainly cannot cause anybody any harm.

ASFO 2026–09–26

GOOD NEWS from Slovakia and India and somewhat heartening news from Italy ; and a consideration of a famous technological “road not taken”, the supersonic airliner. Also, my preparations for Nuclear Science Week activities at the Dallas Makerspace raise the spectre of Schrödinger’s Public Affairs Officer.

ASFO 2026–09–19

FREE PALESTINE with purchase of Jewish Homeland, or, why a recent announcement by Ed Milliband (child of Polish Jewish Communist refugees) may make a significant difference in one of the world’s trouble–spots. I go all the way back to the 10th Century in an attempt to find my point.

ASFO 2026–09–12

TWO DOLLARS and eighty cents may not seem like much, but it has a greater signficance. Also, continuing advances in the price of Diesel fuel lead me to suggest that, while the combination of railway electrification and nuclear electricity is not a blanket solution to the problems of the world at the present day, it at least promises to make things better, being therefore a far better expenditure of money, materials, and effort than blowing people up.