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Just finished M. John Harrison's new novel "The End of Everything". The brilliant writing compels one to read on to find out what's going on (which one never fully does). I guess it's a Singularity novel, in the way "Sunken Land" is a Brexit novel, but, similarly, much more than that.

(1/6) Changes at UKRI, the dissolution of DSIT and move of science to the business department lead to fears that UK science is being pushed in a more applied direction. But the line between science and technology is fuzzier than many think...

Seems to me that one curious feature of the short-lived Department of Science, Innovation & Technology was that its junior ministers - Lord Vallance & Kanishka Narayan - were much more prominent than its last 2 Secretaries of State. Michelle Donelan, though, was prominent for all the wrong reasons

Thanks, @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social, for the mentions! More on my perspective on Burnham's economic plans: "Five glosses on Andy Burnham’s big speech" softmachines.org?p=3324 and "Andy Burnham, Manchesterism, and Reindustrialisation" softmachines.org?p=3305

Some commentary from me on Andy Burnham's big economics speech, focusing on his theory of local economic growth, the role of universities, innovation and skills. With some history of what's behind this policy agenda softmachines.org?p=3324

My commentary on Andy Burnham's economics speech on Monday: includes - his theory of local economic growth, - the challenges behind "Good growth in every postcode" - on reindustrialisation - on reshoring and sovereignty - further and higher education

What’s the difference between living tissue and inanimate matter? There’s a difference, but it's not an occult vital force - it's the ability of the stuff of life to convert free energy & export entropy to build complex structures, move around & process information Physicists call this active matter

What’s the difference between living tissue and inanimate matter? There’s a difference, but it's not an occult vital force - it's the ability of the stuff of life to convert free energy & export entropy to build complex structures, move around & process information Physicists call this active matter

As Andy Burnham returns to Westminster, and is calling for "a new drive of re-industrialisation across the north of England”, what might be behind those words? My piece from a month ago: "Andy Burnham, Manchesterism, and Reindustrialisation" softmachines.org?p=3305

Very timely quantitative look at one dimension of the recent economic success of Manchester - foreign direct investment. FDI in new productive capacity has focused on the high productivity services, ICT & profession, scientific & technical, with less retail than other cities.

For first time in decades, some optimism about future of what's left of Sheffield's steel industry, with big expansions at Sheffield Forgemasters & Special Melted Products. How did Sheffield's specialism in steel arise? Some interesting lessons in a 7 century long history: softmachines.org?p=3308