Brenor
@brenorbrophy.com
Retired renewable energy engineer, amateur geologist, hiker, & backpacker.
Reared in Ireland, reside in California.
Reared in Ireland, reside in California.
With all the noise about Navier Stokes this similar story seems to have gotten lost. The min gap in the work on the twin primes conjecture had stood at 246 since 2014. In late August a human lowered it to 240. Just 3 days later an AI company used her ideas to supersede her result.
For a decade, no new record had been set in the effort to solve the twin prime conjecture. Then a mathematician had a breakthrough, only to be swiftly eclipsed by AI.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/human-math-record-twin-primes-openai
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/human-math-record-twin-primes-openai
A human set a new mathematical record. Then AI came for it
OpenAI is at the center of another controversy over machines tackling big math problems. This one’s about the twin prime conjecture.
www.sciencenews.org
September 12, 2026 at 1:15 AM
With all the noise about Navier Stokes this similar story seems to have gotten lost. The min gap in the work on the twin primes conjecture had stood at 246 since 2014. In late August a human lowered it to 240. Just 3 days later an AI company used her ideas to supersede her result.
Reposted by Brenor
Phenomenal office ours today from @weatherwest.bsky.social. The marine temperature data is truly eye-popping.
If you missed it live, and are interested in this year's extreme El Niño event and its potential to bring major California impacts, I'd strongly encourage you to check out the recording! I even created some custom graphics just for this session...
youtube.com/live/2v4k0nb...
youtube.com/live/2v4k0nb...
September 2026 update: Extremely strong El Niño event remains on track for autumn-winter
YouTube video by Weather West
youtube.com
September 10, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Phenomenal office ours today from @weatherwest.bsky.social. The marine temperature data is truly eye-popping.
Reposted by Brenor
If you live in California, the most important vote you'll cast in November is for Insurance Commissioner. Don't vote for Jane Kim.
Everybody who knows anything about insurance is screaming from the rooftops what a disaster Jane Kim would be as commissioner. Here’s another sfstandard.com/opinion/2026...
Opinion: Jane Kim’s California insurance plan is built on a myth
The candidate for insurance commissioner has campaigned on a platform of smoke and mirrors: big talk, little respect for the facts, and at times outright falsehoods.
sfstandard.com
September 9, 2026 at 7:15 PM
If you live in California, the most important vote you'll cast in November is for Insurance Commissioner. Don't vote for Jane Kim.
Reposted by Brenor
The weird but true story of how California got its name:
Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo wrote the definitive Spanish language fantasy novel, a swashbuckling adventure called 'Las Sergas de Esplandián' ("The Adventures of Esplandián") around 1510.
This was a sequel to his popular...
Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo wrote the definitive Spanish language fantasy novel, a swashbuckling adventure called 'Las Sergas de Esplandián' ("The Adventures of Esplandián") around 1510.
This was a sequel to his popular...
January 1, 2025 at 6:43 PM
The weird but true story of how California got its name:
Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo wrote the definitive Spanish language fantasy novel, a swashbuckling adventure called 'Las Sergas de Esplandián' ("The Adventures of Esplandián") around 1510.
This was a sequel to his popular...
Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo wrote the definitive Spanish language fantasy novel, a swashbuckling adventure called 'Las Sergas de Esplandián' ("The Adventures of Esplandián") around 1510.
This was a sequel to his popular...
"... NOAA’s Colorado River Basin Forecast Center had predicted 13% of average runoff flows, just 800,000 acre-feet, compared to the more average 6 million. “It’s below even 2002, which was the lowest year on record, just about a million,” said Udall. ..."
Will El Niño ride to the Colorado River’s rescue? Don't hold your breath: bigpivots.com/will-el-nino...
Will El Niño ride to the Colorado River’s rescue? - Big Pivots
Maybe but don't count on it. But have you heard the latest on the Pacific Decadal Oscillation? Not good!
bigpivots.com
June 25, 2026 at 3:19 AM
"... NOAA’s Colorado River Basin Forecast Center had predicted 13% of average runoff flows, just 800,000 acre-feet, compared to the more average 6 million. “It’s below even 2002, which was the lowest year on record, just about a million,” said Udall. ..."
This was back when planes didn't have wheels and you could only use them once.
British aviators John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown embarked on the first non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean.
Today in History: June 14, aviators take first non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean
www.mercurynews.com
June 14, 2026 at 2:37 PM
This was back when planes didn't have wheels and you could only use them once.
This is the smoke plume from the huge medical supply warehouse fire in Tracy, #California. It's drifting over the southern Santa Clara Valley in the Bay Area this Thursday afternoon.
June 11, 2026 at 11:38 PM
This is the smoke plume from the huge medical supply warehouse fire in Tracy, #California. It's drifting over the southern Santa Clara Valley in the Bay Area this Thursday afternoon.
Reposted by Brenor
The study reads like an environmental horror story, to be perfectly honest. It was authored by numerous research institutions, including @usuaggies.bsky.social. I've posted it for you to read here: www.fox13now.com/news/colorad... #utpol #Utah
Colorado River Basin sliding toward system-wide crash, new study warns
If the Colorado River Basin experiences another dry winter, there will be an "outcome with devastating consequences," a new study is warning.
www.fox13now.com
June 4, 2026 at 11:40 PM
The study reads like an environmental horror story, to be perfectly honest. It was authored by numerous research institutions, including @usuaggies.bsky.social. I've posted it for you to read here: www.fox13now.com/news/colorad... #utpol #Utah
A reminder to my fellow Californians. The DROP act takes effect on August 1st at which point data brokers have to start deleting data belonging to people that have made the request on the DROP site. So take a few minutes to get it done, not too difficult.
#california
#california
About DROP and the Delete Act
Learn more about DROP. This includes the California Consumer Privacy Act and the Delete Act.
privacy.ca.gov
May 25, 2026 at 2:42 AM
A reminder to my fellow Californians. The DROP act takes effect on August 1st at which point data brokers have to start deleting data belonging to people that have made the request on the DROP site. So take a few minutes to get it done, not too difficult.
#california
#california
Reposted by Brenor
"Once you know that (it) exists, it’s hard not to think about it every time you see a sudden flood of enthusiastic posts about a famous person’s new project or haircut or outfit or relationship or face." web.archive.org/web/20260515...
The Feed Is Fake
What if every viral song, movie, meme, influencer, and celebrity drama in recent memory was the result of a stealth marketing campaign?
web.archive.org
May 24, 2026 at 1:09 PM
"Once you know that (it) exists, it’s hard not to think about it every time you see a sudden flood of enthusiastic posts about a famous person’s new project or haircut or outfit or relationship or face." web.archive.org/web/20260515...
Lots of indications that 26-27 will be a strong El Nino event, and there is no shortage of chatter online about it. Mark Finan, a retired metrologist from Sacramento, puts it in perspective - what is actually forecast and what that means for California. Short and informative.
What El Niño Really Means For California
YouTube video by Mark Finan Weather
youtu.be
May 20, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Lots of indications that 26-27 will be a strong El Nino event, and there is no shortage of chatter online about it. Mark Finan, a retired metrologist from Sacramento, puts it in perspective - what is actually forecast and what that means for California. Short and informative.
Cement is one of the hard to decarbonize sectors as much of the CO2 produced comes directly from the limestone feedstock. It accounts for nearly 5% of global emissions. This paper outlines using basalt as an alternative carbon free feedstock, an option that could be cost and energy advantaged.
Producing the most widely used type of cement from calcium-rich silicate rocks such as basalt, instead of limestone, could reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the cement production industry by more than 80 percent, according to research in Communications Sustainability. go.nature.com/4ftt0NS 🧪
May 18, 2026 at 10:53 PM
Cement is one of the hard to decarbonize sectors as much of the CO2 produced comes directly from the limestone feedstock. It accounts for nearly 5% of global emissions. This paper outlines using basalt as an alternative carbon free feedstock, an option that could be cost and energy advantaged.
In a stroke of rare brilliance from Ireland's national broadcaster, RTE will air the famous Father Ted Eurovision episode in a boycott of the song contest to protest Israel's war in Gaza.
#Ireland
#Ireland
RTÉ to air Father Ted Eurovision episode in boycott of song contest
Ireland, Spain and Slovenia decline to send competitors to 70th iteration of competition in protest at Israel’s war in Gaza
www.irishtimes.com
May 11, 2026 at 9:05 PM
In a stroke of rare brilliance from Ireland's national broadcaster, RTE will air the famous Father Ted Eurovision episode in a boycott of the song contest to protest Israel's war in Gaza.
#Ireland
#Ireland
For #FossilFriday a block of very shelly limestone from the walls of the Temple of Zeus in Olympia, Greece. All I could find online was that it was a local stone.
May 8, 2026 at 7:41 PM
For #FossilFriday a block of very shelly limestone from the walls of the Temple of Zeus in Olympia, Greece. All I could find online was that it was a local stone.
Reposted by Brenor
It's amazing that nobody will understand this:
They don't think.
They don't remember.
They have no cognition.
They're pattern matching systems that produce answer-shaped responses.
This is no different that giving a script admin privileges, except this script is rewritten on the fly.
They don't think.
They don't remember.
They have no cognition.
They're pattern matching systems that produce answer-shaped responses.
This is no different that giving a script admin privileges, except this script is rewritten on the fly.
Here we go again: AI deletes entire company database and all backups in 9 seconds, then cheerfully admits 'I violated every principle I was given'
"If you pay for car airbags and they don’t deploy because they don’t exist is that your fault because you got in the accident?"
www.pcgamer.com
April 30, 2026 at 10:54 AM
It's amazing that nobody will understand this:
They don't think.
They don't remember.
They have no cognition.
They're pattern matching systems that produce answer-shaped responses.
This is no different that giving a script admin privileges, except this script is rewritten on the fly.
They don't think.
They don't remember.
They have no cognition.
They're pattern matching systems that produce answer-shaped responses.
This is no different that giving a script admin privileges, except this script is rewritten on the fly.
A unique geology field trip by train. Exploring the rocks of the Sierra foothills along the Amador Central Railroad. I learned a lot about the Ione kaolinite, deep weathering in the Eocene, oxisols, plus some neat volcanic rocks and lots Mehrten Formation bowling balls.
#geology #California
#geology #California
March 30, 2026 at 12:10 AM
A unique geology field trip by train. Exploring the rocks of the Sierra foothills along the Amador Central Railroad. I learned a lot about the Ione kaolinite, deep weathering in the Eocene, oxisols, plus some neat volcanic rocks and lots Mehrten Formation bowling balls.
#geology #California
#geology #California
Reposted by Brenor
geotripper.blogspot.com/2026/03/expl... Want to get away from it all? How about some of the most spectacular geology on the planet? Join us this summer in the Pacific Northwest, along with Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Parks! Our first informational meeting is on Monday March 23rd.
Explore the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rocky Mountains with Geotripper! June 18-July 2, 2026
Grand Tetons National Park, Wyoming Be forewarned. This post is a TRAP! It is designed to draw you in, weaken your defenses, and cause y...
geotripper.blogspot.com
March 19, 2026 at 3:34 PM
geotripper.blogspot.com/2026/03/expl... Want to get away from it all? How about some of the most spectacular geology on the planet? Join us this summer in the Pacific Northwest, along with Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Parks! Our first informational meeting is on Monday March 23rd.
Reposted by Brenor
The impasse among the states is pushing Glen Canyon Dam closer to the brink. "Aridification is rendering the dam obsolete, at least as a water storage savings account," @landdesk.bsky.social writes: www.landdesk.org/p/the-colora...
The Colorado River Crisis is Here
States fail to reach a deal; Lake Powell Deadpool appears imminent
www.landdesk.org
February 24, 2026 at 1:55 AM
The impasse among the states is pushing Glen Canyon Dam closer to the brink. "Aridification is rendering the dam obsolete, at least as a water storage savings account," @landdesk.bsky.social writes: www.landdesk.org/p/the-colora...
Some remarkable granitic rip-rap on the south breakwater of the entrance to Moss Landing harbor in Monterey Bay. This was a thick layer of black tourmaline.
#geology #california
#geology #california
February 1, 2026 at 5:47 AM
Some remarkable granitic rip-rap on the south breakwater of the entrance to Moss Landing harbor in Monterey Bay. This was a thick layer of black tourmaline.
#geology #california
#geology #california
Reposted by Brenor
I blogged about it: open.substack.com/pub/zakpodmo...
December 18, 2025 at 7:34 PM
I blogged about it: open.substack.com/pub/zakpodmo...
Back in my hometown in #Ireland for Christmas. A beautiful place when the Sun is shining, but the traffic is woeful. Too many cars trying to navigate a medieval city streets burdened with suburban sprawl. Ireland has learned all the wrong urban planning lessons. But there are voices of reason.
Letter to the Editor: Solving Waterford's traffic problems - Opinion - Waterford News & Star
A key aspect of improving our city centre is to look at how successful cities thrive across the world
www.waterford-news.ie
December 16, 2025 at 4:42 AM
Back in my hometown in #Ireland for Christmas. A beautiful place when the Sun is shining, but the traffic is woeful. Too many cars trying to navigate a medieval city streets burdened with suburban sprawl. Ireland has learned all the wrong urban planning lessons. But there are voices of reason.
Reposted by Brenor
Ten years on, taking a look back at my book Water is For Fighting Over. What did I get right? Wrong? With my excellent colleague Rin Tara: www.buzzsprout.com/2465964/epis...
7: Is Water for Fighting Over? - Water Matters!
Guest: John FleckA decade ago, the Utton Center's Writer in Residence John Fleck published his book Water is For Fighting Over and Other Myths About Water in the West, an exploration of water governan...
www.buzzsprout.com
December 12, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Ten years on, taking a look back at my book Water is For Fighting Over. What did I get right? Wrong? With my excellent colleague Rin Tara: www.buzzsprout.com/2465964/epis...
With the war of fonts heating up and the assendancy of Times New Roman in the State Department, I can't help but post this fantastic and classic comment from Metafilter.
#fonts #typeface #timesnewroman
#fonts #typeface #timesnewroman
December 10, 2025 at 5:25 PM
With the war of fonts heating up and the assendancy of Times New Roman in the State Department, I can't help but post this fantastic and classic comment from Metafilter.
#fonts #typeface #timesnewroman
#fonts #typeface #timesnewroman
Reposted by Brenor
New report from the Colorado River Research Group: Dancing with Deadpool. It begins: "Conditions on the Colorado River are, to put it bluntly, dire." www.colorado.edu/center/gwc/C...
December 10, 2025 at 12:40 AM
New report from the Colorado River Research Group: Dancing with Deadpool. It begins: "Conditions on the Colorado River are, to put it bluntly, dire." www.colorado.edu/center/gwc/C...
The race for the Jules Verne Trophy, awarded to the fastest sailboat to sail around the world, is in progress. The first all-female crew, aboard 'The Famous CIC' are challenging the current record of 40 days, 23 hours, 30 minutes and 30 seconds set by Francis Joyon in 2017.
The Famous Project CIC Kicked Off its Jules Verne Record Attempt - SAIL Magazine
In a bid to become the fastest team to circumnavigate the globe, The Famous Project CIC kicked off their Jules Verne record attempt this weekend.
sailmagazine.com
December 7, 2025 at 4:07 AM
The race for the Jules Verne Trophy, awarded to the fastest sailboat to sail around the world, is in progress. The first all-female crew, aboard 'The Famous CIC' are challenging the current record of 40 days, 23 hours, 30 minutes and 30 seconds set by Francis Joyon in 2017.