Will Wardley
@williamwardley.bsky.social
Photonics researcher, particularly nanofab and optical measurement system design, for visible, UV and THz metamaterials, biomimetic nanostructures and strong coupling in photonics.
I also like lots of sports and get annoyed by politicians...
I also like lots of sports and get annoyed by politicians...
Hi @maxrushden.bsky.social doing great work with Barry & the crew out there.
Before their big match 3, any chance you might pronounce Cape Verde right? Cabo aside, the name is Green Cape in Portuguese, so Verde here almost rhymes with aired or cared. Verd-ay is spanish, Verd-ee an Italian composer!
Before their big match 3, any chance you might pronounce Cape Verde right? Cabo aside, the name is Green Cape in Portuguese, so Verde here almost rhymes with aired or cared. Verd-ay is spanish, Verd-ee an Italian composer!
June 25, 2026 at 10:23 PM
Hi @maxrushden.bsky.social doing great work with Barry & the crew out there.
Before their big match 3, any chance you might pronounce Cape Verde right? Cabo aside, the name is Green Cape in Portuguese, so Verde here almost rhymes with aired or cared. Verd-ay is spanish, Verd-ee an Italian composer!
Before their big match 3, any chance you might pronounce Cape Verde right? Cabo aside, the name is Green Cape in Portuguese, so Verde here almost rhymes with aired or cared. Verd-ay is spanish, Verd-ee an Italian composer!
Reposted by Will Wardley
A statement from Exeter UCU branch @ucu.org.uk - please share far and wide.
June 23, 2026 at 2:42 PM
A statement from Exeter UCU branch @ucu.org.uk - please share far and wide.
Reposted by Will Wardley
There's so much amazing information in this figure - Sun, Moon, clouds - these keograms make for some excellent #dataviz
Happy new year! My all sky camera imaged the sky every 15 seconds and this picture shows what happened in the sky in 2025. It shows the length of the night and day with the hourglass shape, the monthly lunar cycle with the diagonal bands, the elevation of the Sun at local noon, and lots of clouds.
January 6, 2026 at 9:34 AM
There's so much amazing information in this figure - Sun, Moon, clouds - these keograms make for some excellent #dataviz
Reposted by Will Wardley
If you're on mobile, I suggest using the mobile site. Just an "m." in front of the URL, "https://m.xkcd.com/". It's a lot easier than the press and hold thing.
December 29, 2025 at 11:41 PM
If you're on mobile, I suggest using the mobile site. Just an "m." in front of the URL, "https://m.xkcd.com/". It's a lot easier than the press and hold thing.
Reposted by Will Wardley
USPS quietly changed its postmark rules — mail is no longer dated when you drop it off. The “official” date is when it hits automated sorting — sometimes days later
Which could have major implications for mail in voting — it’s a clever way to disenfranchise voters that’s going largely overlooked
Which could have major implications for mail in voting — it’s a clever way to disenfranchise voters that’s going largely overlooked
December 29, 2025 at 7:14 PM
USPS quietly changed its postmark rules — mail is no longer dated when you drop it off. The “official” date is when it hits automated sorting — sometimes days later
Which could have major implications for mail in voting — it’s a clever way to disenfranchise voters that’s going largely overlooked
Which could have major implications for mail in voting — it’s a clever way to disenfranchise voters that’s going largely overlooked
Reposted by Will Wardley
I don't really post anymore, but I would like to carry on writing books at some point in the future.
Hate to be annoying, but any chance you could retweet so old twitter followers can find me if they want to? Going to delete my twitter, or at least abandon it on lock and let it die a slow death.
Hate to be annoying, but any chance you could retweet so old twitter followers can find me if they want to? Going to delete my twitter, or at least abandon it on lock and let it die a slow death.
December 11, 2025 at 5:31 PM
I don't really post anymore, but I would like to carry on writing books at some point in the future.
Hate to be annoying, but any chance you could retweet so old twitter followers can find me if they want to? Going to delete my twitter, or at least abandon it on lock and let it die a slow death.
Hate to be annoying, but any chance you could retweet so old twitter followers can find me if they want to? Going to delete my twitter, or at least abandon it on lock and let it die a slow death.
Reposted by Will Wardley
BRAND NEW 🍏 How Do You Like Them Apples? 🍎
From the Garden of Hesperides to the Garden of Eden, from the Atalanta and the Trojan War to The Beatles and the iPhone, apples are laden with often conflicting symbolism.
🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/70jw...
🎧 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
From the Garden of Hesperides to the Garden of Eden, from the Atalanta and the Trojan War to The Beatles and the iPhone, apples are laden with often conflicting symbolism.
🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/70jw...
🎧 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
BONUS - How Do You Like Them Golden Apples?
open.spotify.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:33 AM
BRAND NEW 🍏 How Do You Like Them Apples? 🍎
From the Garden of Hesperides to the Garden of Eden, from the Atalanta and the Trojan War to The Beatles and the iPhone, apples are laden with often conflicting symbolism.
🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/70jw...
🎧 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
From the Garden of Hesperides to the Garden of Eden, from the Atalanta and the Trojan War to The Beatles and the iPhone, apples are laden with often conflicting symbolism.
🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/70jw...
🎧 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
Reposted by Will Wardley
♥️🍎♥️
BRAND NEW 🍏 How Do You Like Them Apples? 🍎
From the Garden of Hesperides to the Garden of Eden, from the Atalanta and the Trojan War to The Beatles and the iPhone, apples are laden with often conflicting symbolism.
🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/70jw...
🎧 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
From the Garden of Hesperides to the Garden of Eden, from the Atalanta and the Trojan War to The Beatles and the iPhone, apples are laden with often conflicting symbolism.
🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/70jw...
🎧 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
BONUS - How Do You Like Them Golden Apples?
open.spotify.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:36 PM
♥️🍎♥️
Reposted by Will Wardley
![Cartoon by Stephen Collins for The Guardian. Script as follows:
[scene is Winston Churchill in a bbc studio, giving his 'finest hour' speech]
1
CHURCHILL:
The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us.
2
CHURCHILL:
Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war.
3
CHURCHILL:
If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free
and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sun-
BBC PRESENTER:
Thank you prime minister
4
BBC PRESENTER:
Mr hitler, your response?
5
HITLER [in the studio]:
Vell zis is hysterical woke nonsense as usual from mr Churchill
6
HITLER:
What we are proposing -
CHURCHILL:
Hang on
7
HITLER:
Let me finish - what we are proposing eez a simple power-sharing arrangement -
8
CHURCHILL:
What's he doing here
BBC PRESENTER:
It's important we hear both sides of the debate
9
CHURCHILL:
This isn't a debate
You don't debate fascists
10
HITLER:
Oh here we go with ze Godwins law!
11
HITLER:
Why must you people always compare ze things you don't like to 'fascists, Nazis, Hitler'...
CHURCHILL:
Because you are a fascist Nazi Hit-
12
HITLER [standing up, saluting]:
RAUSS!
BBC PRESENTER:
*Please* Mr Churchill let him speak
[ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreibw4ldc3fhslbvxgy2oqrof2oys5kpgh7zu6a5f3usmx3lf4547qm)
Science! Our new paper is out, exploring phase singularities and hyperbolic dispersions in J-aggregating dyes with negative permittivity spectral regions.
These organic systems offer ease of fabrication and room-temperature access to exciting optical physics. 🧪
journals.aps.org/prl/abstract...
These organic systems offer ease of fabrication and room-temperature access to exciting optical physics. 🧪
journals.aps.org/prl/abstract...
Generating Phase Singularities Using Surface Exciton Polaritons in an Organic Natural Hyperbolic Material
Surface polaritons (SPs) are electromagnetic waves bound to a surface through their interaction with charge carriers in the surface material. Hyperbolic SPs can be supported by optically anisotropic m...
journals.aps.org
October 6, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Science! Our new paper is out, exploring phase singularities and hyperbolic dispersions in J-aggregating dyes with negative permittivity spectral regions.
These organic systems offer ease of fabrication and room-temperature access to exciting optical physics. 🧪
journals.aps.org/prl/abstract...
These organic systems offer ease of fabrication and room-temperature access to exciting optical physics. 🧪
journals.aps.org/prl/abstract...
Reposted by Will Wardley
Really think normie rage is an underrated factor in 21st century politics
People are pissed that they’re told to pander
People are pissed that they’re told to pander
September 13, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Really think normie rage is an underrated factor in 21st century politics
People are pissed that they’re told to pander
People are pissed that they’re told to pander
Reposted by Will Wardley
Ahead of the expected proscription of Palestine Action - the first time a protest group has been legally redefined as terrorist - I went through the Hansard of the 2000 Act they're being banned under. Turns out MPs were assured the law wouldn't be applied this way. Thread 🧵🔽
July 5, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Ahead of the expected proscription of Palestine Action - the first time a protest group has been legally redefined as terrorist - I went through the Hansard of the 2000 Act they're being banned under. Turns out MPs were assured the law wouldn't be applied this way. Thread 🧵🔽
Reposted by Will Wardley
The call is now officially open, with a deadline at the end of July! ⏳
If you are interested in applying, don’t hesitate to contact me. 🔬🦠
If you are interested in applying, don’t hesitate to contact me. 🔬🦠
🦠🔬 PhD positions available 🔬🦠
If you’re curious about light–matter interactions and collective behaviour in living systems, check out the attachment for more details.
📝 The official call will be published soon, but informal expressions of interest are already welcome!
If you’re curious about light–matter interactions and collective behaviour in living systems, check out the attachment for more details.
📝 The official call will be published soon, but informal expressions of interest are already welcome!
June 30, 2025 at 8:48 AM
The call is now officially open, with a deadline at the end of July! ⏳
If you are interested in applying, don’t hesitate to contact me. 🔬🦠
If you are interested in applying, don’t hesitate to contact me. 🔬🦠
Reposted by Will Wardley
April 4, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Partial eclipse through a "sophisticated" pinhole camera
March 29, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Partial eclipse through a "sophisticated" pinhole camera
Reposted by Will Wardley
Partial solar #eclipse: never look at the sun, even with sunglasses. Rather take them off and try to align them such that a visible shadow appears.
March 29, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Partial solar #eclipse: never look at the sun, even with sunglasses. Rather take them off and try to align them such that a visible shadow appears.
Reposted by Will Wardley
Please RT. Post-doc opportunity alert! 💥 Come join our team (thelowlab.org) at Imperial, London, working on bacterial secretion systems. The position is funded by the Wellcome Trust.
For more details and to apply please see
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
For more details and to apply please see
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
March 28, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Please RT. Post-doc opportunity alert! 💥 Come join our team (thelowlab.org) at Imperial, London, working on bacterial secretion systems. The position is funded by the Wellcome Trust.
For more details and to apply please see
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
For more details and to apply please see
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
I've just started a new project and need to source a few different graphene and graphene-based materials.
I went to the last site I used a few years ago; Graphene-Supermarket.com, but it's down!
Does anyone 1) know what happened to it, & 2) have a recommendation of a different site? #graphene 🧪 ⚛️
I went to the last site I used a few years ago; Graphene-Supermarket.com, but it's down!
Does anyone 1) know what happened to it, & 2) have a recommendation of a different site? #graphene 🧪 ⚛️
January 14, 2025 at 8:40 PM
I've just started a new project and need to source a few different graphene and graphene-based materials.
I went to the last site I used a few years ago; Graphene-Supermarket.com, but it's down!
Does anyone 1) know what happened to it, & 2) have a recommendation of a different site? #graphene 🧪 ⚛️
I went to the last site I used a few years ago; Graphene-Supermarket.com, but it's down!
Does anyone 1) know what happened to it, & 2) have a recommendation of a different site? #graphene 🧪 ⚛️
Reposted by Will Wardley
ICYMI over the holiday period, here's a thread of articles summarizing some of the most interesting developments in various areas of physics in 2024, compiled by my @physicsworld.bsky.social colleagues and myself. (1/n) 🧵🧪⚛️
January 7, 2025 at 3:29 PM
ICYMI over the holiday period, here's a thread of articles summarizing some of the most interesting developments in various areas of physics in 2024, compiled by my @physicsworld.bsky.social colleagues and myself. (1/n) 🧵🧪⚛️
Reposted by Will Wardley
Some fun physics reading; our 'back to basics' piece on Molecular Strong Coupling in the latest issue of Photoniques, the magazine of the Société Française d'Optiques, came out this week. It's a brief description of this fascinating and rapidly evolving field. 🧪
www.photoniques.com/articles/pho...
www.photoniques.com/articles/pho...
Molecular strong coupling | PhotoniquesMendeley
Photoniques, la revue de la Société Française d’Optique, bimestriel d’information entièrement dédié aux solutions optiques, tant dans leur conception que leur mise en application
www.photoniques.com
November 30, 2024 at 11:55 PM
Some fun physics reading; our 'back to basics' piece on Molecular Strong Coupling in the latest issue of Photoniques, the magazine of the Société Française d'Optiques, came out this week. It's a brief description of this fascinating and rapidly evolving field. 🧪
www.photoniques.com/articles/pho...
www.photoniques.com/articles/pho...
I know people are excited about embedded video on here, but I would really like a proper internal translate function.
One of the few joys of social media is its transnational nature and clicking away to learn what people are saying just breaks the continuity a bit. @bsky.app just a suggestion!
One of the few joys of social media is its transnational nature and clicking away to learn what people are saying just breaks the continuity a bit. @bsky.app just a suggestion!
November 23, 2024 at 9:01 PM
I know people are excited about embedded video on here, but I would really like a proper internal translate function.
One of the few joys of social media is its transnational nature and clicking away to learn what people are saying just breaks the continuity a bit. @bsky.app just a suggestion!
One of the few joys of social media is its transnational nature and clicking away to learn what people are saying just breaks the continuity a bit. @bsky.app just a suggestion!
A fun little picture from the lab today; looking at FIBbed lattices on a @thorlabs.bsky.social USB camera for spectrometer alignment. One of an array I made, mostly line gratings but with one set 2D. Was pretty sure I had orientation right, but easy to get turned around, the reflected spot helped! 🧪
November 21, 2024 at 7:56 PM
A fun little picture from the lab today; looking at FIBbed lattices on a @thorlabs.bsky.social USB camera for spectrometer alignment. One of an array I made, mostly line gratings but with one set 2D. Was pretty sure I had orientation right, but easy to get turned around, the reflected spot helped! 🧪