Following Wednesday’s successful one-day stoppage, there were meetings of union members yesterday (Friday) to set up roster’s and make other preparations for similar industrial action on Wednesday 21st October. On Friday evening, however, a message was sent round indicating that next week’s strike action had been suspended on the grounds that a process had been agreed to construct a process for formal pay talks. That announcement made it onto the news last night.
It is of course a good thing that the Government that has decided to move, but it is important to realize that this is not a victory. Nothing has been agreed, and the mandate achieved via balloting is still in place, so the industrial action is suspended rather than cancelled. Unions that were previously working to rule will continue to do so.
Given the antics of the Government over the last few weeks, there isn’t much trust or goodwill going around so they will have to work to restore what they have damaged. There’s more than a suspicion that the Government might just be trying to kick this issue into the long grass (again). Let’s hope that’s not the case, and the negotiators can quickly come up with a deal that is acceptable to union members. If they can’t, we’ll go back to industrial action. One thing the strikes definitely did achieve was to encourage more employees to join a union and build common cause with those who were already members.
We should have been at this point more than six months ago, and I doubt the reason it didn’t was simply sloth (although there’s a lot of that about in Government circles these days). It’s more likely that the Minister for Public Expenditure was posing as a strong man to further his own political ambitions. The Taoiseach himself intervened to set up the process now in place. I don’t know what persuaded him to get involved. The strikes on Wednesday were solid, for one thing, but I suspect of greater importance was the high-level of public support for the strikers. Jack Chambers seemed to be trying to deploy the usual divide-and-conquer approach favoured by his ilk by setting the public against the strikers, but that didn’t work, and without a Plan B he was floundering.
It is uncertain what will happen in the longer term, but next Wednesday’s lectures will go ahead.
It’s Saturday again, so it’s time for another update of activity at the Open Journal of Astrophysics. Since the last update we have published a further eight papers, bringing the number in Volume 9 (2026) to 245 and the total so far published by OJAp up to 693. There was no arXiv update on Monday 12th October owing to a US holiday, and I was on strike on Wednesday 14th October, so there were no papers published on either 13th or 14th October.
I continue to include the posts made on our Mastodon account (on Fediscience); these announcements also contain a clickable form of the DOI for each paper. Our Mastodon account has regular updates and other announcements from OJAp too, including posts from the OJAp blog.
New Publication at the Open Journal of Astrophysics: "Search for Gamma-ray emission from Abell 119 galaxy cluster using INTEGRAL/ISGRI, COMPTEL, and DAMPE data" by Siddhant Manna & Shantanu Desai (IIT Hyderabad Kandi, India)
New Publication at the Open Journal of Astrophysics: "Fast Astronomical Transients in Archival Photographic Plates: Using optical aberrations as a tool for discerning real images, from plate artifacts" by Ivo Busko (Independent Researcher)
New Publication at the Open Journal of Astrophysics "Differentiable Optics with dLux II: Optical Design Maximising Fisher Information" by Louis Desdoigts (Leiden Obs., NL), Benjamin Pope (Macquarie U., AU), Michael Gully-Santiago (U. Texas Austin, USA) & Peter Tuthill (U. Sydney, AU)
The fourth new article of the week, also published on Thursday 15th October, in the folder Astrophysics of Galaxies is “The Lumina Project: Intergalactic Clumping and Recombination Sinks” by Ali Sadain (U. Texas Dallas, USA) and 12 others based in the USA, S. Korea and Germany. The study uses simulations to examine the uneven recombination rates during the Epoch of Reionization, finding a universal clumping evolution and discrepancies in recombination rates due to photoheating.
The overlay is here:
The official version of the paper can be found on arXiv here and the Fediverse announcement here:
New Publication at the Open Journal of Astrophysics: "The Lumina Project: Intergalactic Clumping and Recombination Sinks" by Ali Sadain (U. Texas Dallas, USA) and 12 others based in the USA, S. Korea and Germany.
Paper Number Five for the week is “Blast.jl: Differentiable Non-Limber Power Spectra for Joint Clustering, Shear, and CMB lensing Analyses” by Sofia Chiarenza (U. Waterloo, Canada) and 6 others based in Canada, Italy, France and USA. This study, which is in the folder Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics, presents an enhanced version of Blast.jl, a toolkit for computing non-Limber angular power spectra, incorporating various cosmological effects. Despite increased complexity, it maintains efficiency and supports gradient-based inference. It was also published on Thursday 15th October.
The overlay is here:
The officially-accepted version of the paper can be found on arXiv here and the Fediverse announcement here:
New Publication at the Open Journal of Astrophysics: "Blast.jl: Differentiable Non-Limber Power Spectra for Joint Clustering, Shear, and CMB lensing Analyses" by Sofia Chiarenza (U. Waterloo, Canada) and 6 others based in Canada, Italy, France and USA.
Sixth one up is “EMU detection of mysterious multiple component radio-continuum emission from nearby spiral Seyfert I type galaxy ‘Sand-timer’ (NGC 7213)” by Miroslav Filipović (Western Sydney U., Australia) and an international cast of 26 others. The observations presented in this paper reveal peculiar emissions and previously undetected features in the ‘Sand-timer’ galaxy NGC 7213, possibly due to black hole activity or a tidal disruption event.
The overlay is here:
The officially-accepted version of this paper is on arXiv here and the Mastodon announcement on the fediverse here:
New Publication at the Open Journal of Astrophysics: "Blast.jl: Differentiable Non-Limber Power Spectra for Joint Clustering, Shear, and CMB lensing Analyses" by Sofia Chiarenza (U. Waterloo, Canada) and 6 others based in Canada, Italy, France and USA.
The seventh paper of the week is “pynucastro 3: A community library for nuclear astrophysics” by Zhi Chen (Stony Brook U., USA) and 10 others, all based in the USA. This was published on Friday 16th October, i.e. yesterday, in the folder Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics. This article announces the latest release of pynucastro, a python library for nuclear astrophysics, includes new rate approximations, a stellar equation of state, StarLib support, and network exploration tools.
The overlay is here:
The officially accepted version is on arXiv here and the Mastodon announcement here:
New Publication at the Open Journal of Astrophysics: "pynucastro 3: A community library for nuclear astrophysics" by Zhi Chen (Stony Brook U., USA) and 10 others, all based in the USA.
The eighth, and last, of the new papers for this week is “A Deep Look at the Ultra-Faint Milky Way Satellite Virgo III with Rubin Observatory Data Preview 2” by Aashay Pai (U. Chicago, USA) and 12 others based in the USA. This study uses data from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory to analyze the ultra-faint Milky Way satellite, Virgo III, confirming Virgo III’s properties as an ultra-faint dwarf galaxy.
The overlay is here:
The final version of this paper is on the arXiv here and the Mastodon announcement here:
New Publication at the Open Journal of Astrophysics: "A Deep Look at the Ultra-Faint Milky Way Satellite Virgo III with Rubin Observatory Data Preview 2" by Aashay Pai (U. Chicago, USA) and 12 others based in the USA.
That concludes this week’s update. I anticipate that we’ll pass the 250 mark for 2026 next week, which means we’re well on target to publish over 300 papers and reach the 750 mark by the end of the year. I’ll do another update next weekend.
Today, October 16th, is Hamilton day! It was on this day 183 years ago, in 1843, that William Rowan Hamilton first wrote down the fundamental result of quaternions. Apparently he was walking from his residence at Dunsink Observatory into Dublin when he had a sudden flash of inspiration, and wrote the result down on the spot, now marked by a plaque:
Picture Credit: Brian Dolan
This event is commemorated by an annual Hamilton Walk. Broombridge railway station (Droichead Broome), near the bridge (Broom Bridge), where Hamilton had his Eureka moment, is not far from Maynooth University the main commuter line from Maynooth into Dublin. This is ironic because Quaternion algebra does not commute. (Geddit?)
You may be interested that quaternions form the core mathematical framework used in the Euclid satellite’s telemetry system to represent and control its attitude (pointing direction and orientation). I also make extensive use of quaternions in preparing my tax return.
Although it is quite easy to reach Broombridge from Maynooth, I have never managed to attend the walk nor any of the other celebratory events because I’ve either been away or teaching. Perhaps one of these years, after I’ve retired, I’ll be able join the walk or attend one of the various ectures.
P.S. Maynooth University is also home to the Hamilton Institute which promotes and facilitates research links between mathematics and other fields.
A while ago I was listening to a radio broadcast of a recording from last year’s Wexford Festival Opera. The Opera in question was Handel’s Deidamia. In fact you can see a video of the whole performance here. Like most baroque operas, the plot of Deidamia is rather complex but it is drawn directly from familiar Greek legend, and features Achilles and Ulysses. The former spends much of the opera dressed in women’s clothing because his father Peleus doesn’t want him dragged off to fight in the Trojan War and has hidden him on the island of Skyros among the daughters of his friend Lycomedes. Eventually Ulysses lands on Skyros to try to persuade Achilles to lead his army, but the disguise is so good that he fails to identify him. He does however develop a bit of a crush on the hot young girl Pyrrha, who is actually Achilles in drag…
I won’t give any more spoilers because the Opera Deidamia is not really the point of this post, which is that the part of Pyrrha is written for a soprano. It’s not unusual in Handel’s operas for a male part to be sung by a woman – as indeed this part was when it was first performed in London in January 1741 or a castrato. The practice of castrating boys to prevent their voices breaking has long been discontinued, thankfully, so I assumed that the voice I had been listening to was that of a female singer. Then, in the interval, I learnt that this part was actually sung by a man, Bruno de Sá. Here he is in a short clip from that production.
Bruno de Sá is a sopranist, a man whose modal voice is in the soprano register, i.e. he sings that high without using falsetto. I’ve seen and heard quite a few operas in my time but I didn’t realise that there was such a thing as a sopranist. You live and learn!
I did a bit of searching on the interwebs and found the following clip which shows another sopranist, Samuel Mariño, having fun in a duet with an oboist at a concert in Versailles:
Samuel Mariño is from Venezuela. He is gay and was bullied at school when he was young for that, and for the fact that his voice didn’t break when he reached adolescence. He sought medical advice to see if he could have surgery to lower his voice, but the doctor instead suggested he embark on a career as an opera singer. And that’s what he did. Don’t be fooled by the fun he is having in that clip; he’s not some sort of novely act, he’s a very serious vocal artist.
I find his story very inspiring because of his determination to follow his own path and I love the above clip because it is so joyful. It warms this old gay’s heart to see someone daring to be different and making such a success of it.
To me, fair friend, you never can be old, For as you were when first your eye I ey'd, Such seems your beauty still. Three winters cold, Have from the forests shook three summers' pride, Three beauteous springs to yellow autumn turn'd, In process of the seasons have I seen, Three April perfumes in three hot Junes burn'd, Since first I saw you fresh, which yet are green. Ah! yet doth beauty like a dial-hand, Steal from his figure, and no pace perceiv'd; So your sweet hue, which methinks still doth stand, Hath motion, and mine eye may be deceiv'd: For fear of which, hear this thou age unbred: Ere you were born was beauty's summer dead.
I was a little apprehensive when I made my way early this morning to Maynooth University Campus because I wasn’t sure how strong the turnout would be on the picket line for today’s one-day strike. I needn’t have worried, actually, because the attendance was very good at all the locations where pickets were stationed and everyone was in good spirits.
It was a bit breezy, which made for some difficulties with flags and placards, but it was a very enjoyable day all round, with a real sense of camaraderie among the pickets as well as a very positive reaction from the general public. I lost count of the number of vehicles whose drivers honked their support as they passed the picket line! I was happy too that the whole day passed off without any significant incidents.
Here are a few random pictures I took, including a rare selfie.
Pickets and MeSouth Campus GateSouth CampusTSI BuildingKilcock Road EntranceAbacus
I’ll leave it to you, dear reader, to figure out why the abacus was there!
I’d like to thank all the members of IFUT, SIPTU and Unite who turned out today and an extra thank-you goes to the members of Maynooth Students’ Union who brought us hot drinks and snacks.
As well as showing solidarity with the other public sector workers striking today, this was a very good day for building connections among people working at Maynooth. I think these will prove very important in the future, including next Wednesday when, unless the Government changes its position, we will have another 24-hour stoppage.
All in all, it was a very good day. I am, however, not to put too fine a point on it, somewhat knackered. I think an early night beckons.
The hymn chosen for today’s service is No. 296 from Hymns Ancient and ModernFor all the saints who from their labours rest. This is usually song on All Saints Day (November 1st) but is topical because of today’s public sector strike. The illustration shows an impressive picket line!
Tuesdays are my busiest teaching days this Semester, but today I’ve also been preparing for tomorrow’s strike. This has largely revolved around figuring out arrangements for the picket lines. It seems that we have good numbers for tomorrow’s action, with crews assigned to all the main entrances to Maynooth Uninversity campus. I’m involved as a member of the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) but there will also be pickets from other campus trade unions, Unite and SIPTU.
As it happens I have been nominated IFUT “picket captain” for the historic entrance to the South Campus. I’m on duty there from 8am, so I’ll have an early start tomorrow morning getting things set up. After that shift I’ll be taking a short break and then returning to campus for another stint (not as Captain) at another entrance in the afternoon. It’s a responsibility of union members to undertake picketing duty.
The role of picket captain is to
Brief members about what to do and maintain discipline
Keep everyone calm, visible, organized and safe
Coordinate rosters and sign in attendance
Act as a point of contact with Head Office
Record incidents or concerns
Ensure the picket remains lawful and proportionate.
I attended a briefing last week about some of the legal constraints, but we’re not anticipating any incidents or trouble. None will come from us anyway. I see the main job as being to make sure all the pickets are kept in good spirits, and to make sure we are as visible as possible within the provisions of the law. We will have plenty of flags and placards, and the intention is to keep people moving around the area of the entrance – a moving picket line attracts more attention than a static one.
Although this picket is focussed on Maynooth University, the dispute is not directly with our employer but, in conjuction with all the unions representing over 300,000 public sector workers, with the Government. This means that staff at schools and hospitals will also be among those striking tomorrow, as will civil servants and others. I expect tomorrow’s action to be very solid. The Minister responsible, Jack Chambers, has taken to the media with a campaign of misrepresentation. Every dishonest word he has uttered has stiffened the resolve of union members to see this dispute through to a proper pay deal to replace the one that expired in June. The Government knows very well that it could end this industrial action very quickly if it wanted to. Instead all we’re getting is posturing.
P.S. Fortunately, the weather forecast for tomorrow is not bad: mild and with no rain, although it may be a bit windy.
As we prepare for Wednesday’s one-day strike, I am reminded that academics at Nottingham University are participating in industrial action for the whole term. The “strategy” the “leadership” there is pursuing targets particle physics, theoretical physics and astronomy for job cuts. Why this is the case I have no idea. I don’t think the “leadership” at Nottingham knows either, as the plan was not written by them by a disreputable company called PA Consulting.
For the full story, see this blog post by Philip Moriarty:
And if you thought that is bad, then watch this short video by Phil Moriarty exposing the lack of accountability at Nottingham University:
This complete abdication of responsibility makes me wonder (a) where they find these people and (b) why they pay them so much if they can’t think for themselves? It’s terrible that Nottingham University is suffering from this level of maladministration, but the really shocking thing is that it is not an isolated phenomenon, but typical of university management, and not only in the UK…
I’ve been remiss in not passing on significant news that involves former colleagues at Cardiff University and Sussex University, so I thought I would remedy that lapse today. A few weeks ago it was announced that NASA has selected a far-infrared space telescope called PRIMA as the first in a new series of missions to be launched around 2033. The mission now enters a Phase B study.
In a nutshell, PRIMA (PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics) is a far-infrared observatory based around a 1.8-m diameter telescope, cryogenically-cooled (to 4.5 K). It includes both a sensitive wideband spectrometer FIRESS, and a multi-band spectrophotometric imager /polarimeter PRIMAger. PRIMA’s sensitivity unlocks the potential of the far-IR waveband to advance astrophysics across a broad range of topics spanning from galaxy and dust evolution in the early universe to the formation of planets and planetary atmospheres. FIRESS offers full-band instantaneous coverage from 24 to 235 μm in two modes. The low-res mode offers R~100 with long slits, while the high-resolution mode offers R up to 4,400 × (112 μm / λ) in smaller fields. PRIMAger offers rapid R=8 hyperspectral imaging with continuous coverage from 25 to 84 μm, and imaging polarimetry in 4 bands from 90 to 235 μm.
Although a NASA mission, several UK institutions are involved in PRIMA: Cardiff University, Imperial College London, the University of Sussex, and RAL Space. Cardiff University’s involvement is primarily (geddit?) in instrument development (see here) and former colleague at Sussex, Seb Oliver, will lead the UK’s overall contribution.
I wish everyone involved all the best for the planning, development and future operation of this mission. I will of course be long retired before it is launched!
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