David Whittle

@DaveWhittle
441 Followers
215 Following
20.2K Posts
Retired after 48 years in science education, as a teacher and then an LA adviser. Still interested in lots of stuff. Not grumpy yet!
David Whittle9h ago
Trump is contemplating the sheer folly of boots on the ground in Iran. How did it come to this?
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/mar/29/trump-boots-ground-iran-war-middle-east?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
Trump is contemplating the sheer folly of boots on the ground in Iran. How did it come to this?

After the anguish of Iraq and Afghanistan, it’s almost unthinkable the US would again send troops to the Middle East – but its president is desperate and narcissistic, says foreign affairs commentator Simon Tisdall

The Guardian
David Whittle9h ago
The UK’s free-to-access museums are the envy of the world. Charging for entry would be a big mistake
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/mar/29/uk-museum-free-entry-economy-visitors?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
The UK’s free-to-access museums are the envy of the world. Charging for entry would be a big mistake

There are better ways to raise money than jeopardising a model that draws visitors to Britain and has huge benefits for the wider economy, asks Tate interim director Karin Hindsbo

The Guardian
David Whittle16h ago
Ultralightweight sonar plus AI lets tiny drones navigate like bats
https://theconversation.com/ultralightweight-sonar-plus-ai-lets-tiny-drones-navigate-like-bats-279287
Ultralightweight sonar plus AI lets tiny drones navigate like bats

Inspired by bats, a new ultra-low-power sensing system enables tiny drones to navigate through darkness, smoke and dust, where cameras and other light-based sensors fail.

The Conversation
David Whittle16h ago
Mosquitoes carrying malaria are evolving more quickly than insecticides can kill them – researchers pinpoint how
https://theconversation.com/mosquitoes-carrying-malaria-are-evolving-more-quickly-than-insecticides-can-kill-them-researchers-pinpoint-how-275391
Mosquitoes carrying malaria are evolving more quickly than insecticides can kill them – researchers pinpoint how

Once-lethal insecticides now require concerningly high concentrations to effectively kill mosquitoes. Some mosquitoes are already immune to all classes of insecticides used to control malaria.

The Conversation
David Whittle16h ago
Third No Kings protest draws millions from across US to push back on Trump administration
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/28/no-kings-protests-trump?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
Third No Kings protest draws 8 million worldwide to push back on Trump administration

Anti-authoritarian rallies, in all 50 states plus more than a dozen countries, were the largest number of protests in a single day in US history

The Guardian
David Whittle16h ago
Badenoch criticised for ‘peddling dangerous fantasy’ about North Sea oil drilling
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/mar/28/badenoch-criticised-for-peddling-dangerous-fantasy-about-north-sea-oil-drilling?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
Badenoch criticised for ‘peddling dangerous fantasy’ about North Sea oil drilling

Conservative leader expected to call for government to lift suspension on licences in drive to reduce energy prices

The Guardian
David Whittle16h ago
Thousands march against far right in London in biggest ever multicultural protest
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/mar/28/london-far-right-march-biggest-ever-multicultural-protest?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
Thousands march against far right in London in biggest ever multicultural protest

More than 100 charities, campaign groups and trade unions marched in London in a show of unity against far right politics

The Guardian
David Whittle16h ago
On the launchpad | The Planetary Society
https://www.planetary.org/the-downlink/on-the-launchpad
On the launchpad

NASA launches a new plan, Artemis II returns to the launchpad, and a new rocket gets a launch with a view.

The Planetary Society
David Whittle16h ago
3 charts that show how Artemis compares to… | The Planetary Society
https://www.planetary.org/articles/three-charts-that-show-how-nasas-artemis-compares-to-apollo
3 charts that show how Artemis compares to Apollo

How do funding, workforce, and robotic lunar exploration compare between NASA's two lunar exploration programs?

The Planetary Society
David Whittle16h ago
Trump is waging war based on instinct and it isn't working - BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y969pnxgvo
Trump is waging war based on instinct and it isn't working

One month into the conflict in Iran, Trump's gut-instinct approach is not proving effective.

BBC News