Russian bot traffic has dropped to near zero after Ukraine struck multiple Yandex data centers in Russia
No wonder Musk tweeted today - "Zelensky has gone too far."
https://fosstodon.org/@TomsHardware@flipboard.com/117422830580813634
#UsPol
5/n
RE: https://mastodon.scot/@jimfrost/117423209134741312
A few stunning pics of the aurora last night in Scotland by @jimfrost
https://fosstodon.org/@jimfrost@mastodon.scot/117423209382009602
5/n
Did trump inform his buddy in Russia of the ceasefire declaration?
Guess not. His social media posts are primarily meant for MAGA consumption.
https://abcnews.com/International/russia-strikes-power-plant-ukraine-after-trump-announces/story?id=137178264
#UsPol
4/n
Happy Birthday to Turing Laureate Michael Stonebraker! Stonebraker received the #ACMTuringAward in 2014 for fundamental contributions to the concepts and practices underlying modern database systems.
Stonebraker describes his work with Eugene Wong and others at Berkeley to develop the original version of INGRES, one of the earliest and most influential relational database management systems: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0da-1IJH2OQ&t=4s
We’re not just organizing to win the midterms — we’re also getting prepared to protect the results. More than 50,000 Americans have stepped up to defend the midterms against Trump's election sabotage. Become a volunteer and help us double our nationwide numbers before Election Day: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/966594/?utm_source=mastodon
"The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing to expand a controversial loophole to allow some of the world’s most toxic chemicals to be added directly to food without a safety review."
MAHA my foot 🦶
It's grift, profits and bribes all the way down.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/10/fda-toxic-chemicals-food-analysis
#UsPol #Corruption
3/n
U.S. is striking commercial ships from Iranian-ports in the Gulf of Hormuz.
Iran is attacking commercial ships from non-Iranian-ports.
Yemen's Houthis struck the airport in Riyadh with missiles.
Other than that, all is well; Hormuz is open; ships are moving - according to the Gaslighter-in-Chief.
#UsPol
2/n
In other political news -
Trump posts - "Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed."
Zelenskyy: “The announcement about the ceasefire was news to me."
Gaslighting? Market manipulation?
Let's keep working to stop this idiocracy this November. Vote early. GOTV.
#UsPol
1/n
Just two weeks after it was launched, the Copernicus Sentinel-3C satellite has returned some spectacular images and important measurements from two of its key instruments.
Several months of testing and calibration still lie ahead.
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-3/Sentinel-3C_returns_its_first_views_of_Earth
https://www.eumetsat.int/sentinel-3c-first-images
3/n
Two spectacular images from a video of the aurora last night taken from the International Space Station by astronaut Anil Menon.
Note the red colors in the upper atmosphere. See https://fosstodon.org/@AkaSci/112957941322656046 for the explanation why.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DeVE39MlKeZ/
4/n
The early start to the flu season is across most countries in the northern hemisphere.
Last year, a new variant of H3N2, called subclade K, emerged; it had many mutations that made people more vulnerable to it.
This year, the H1N1 mutation that is worrying researchers is G155E, detected in 13 of 17 H1N1 samples in Seattle, which is "less well recognized by pre-existing human antibodies."
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-03150-8
https://www.celinegounder.com/p/mrna-flu-shot-mflusiva-flu-season-2026
2/n
Flu season has started early this year.
The dominant strain so far is (H1N1)pdm09.
Health experts recommend not to wait to get the vaccine.
FYI - This season, the new U.S.-approved mRNA flu vaccine is available to adults 50 and older.
https://www.axios.com/2026/10/09/flu-cases-rise-shot
https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance/2026-week-39.html
https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2026/10/08/are-we-seeing-an-early-flu-season-what-we-know-so-far-about-this-years-strains/
#Influenza #flu
1/n
Why do some auroras produce vivid pink/magenta colors?
You might want to step outside if you’re in Scotland. This is what my phone is recording right now. By eye I am seeing beams of light and weaker colours.
Pics of the aurora in the U.K. posted by the BBC
"The U.S. pressed Israel to strike Iran during discussions between the two countries over the past two weeks, sources told Maariv.
American officials reportedly believed Israel would be interested in striking Iran before its own elections, while a US operation ahead of the midterms could have negative political consequences for Trump.
The US has since backed down from its demand.
Two US officials and one Israeli official denied the report."
😮
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-911224
#UsPol
1/n
A G3 geomagnetic storm is underway over the past few hours and is expected to continue until midnight UTC. Kp level of 7 have been reported.
A coronal mass ejection (CME) from Oct 8 is making a direct hit on Earth
We hope folks in high latitudes get to see some bright auroras.
Trailer of Frank and Percy.
*ing Ian McKellen and Roger Allam.
U.K. premiere on Oct 13.
"When Frank, a kind-hearted widower, and Percy, a witty and flamboyant bachelor, cross paths while walking their beloved dogs on Hampstead Heath, a casual chat about the weather and bad hips slowly gives way to something deeper. As their friendship blossoms into an unexpected romance, they must decide whether to take a chance on love and find the courage to embrace a new beginning."
Is this just whining from a delusional old man? Or is it designed for a purpose to keep his MAGA cult members in line with feelings of victimhood, resentment, anger, hatred, detachment, ...?
#UsPol
1/n
And the 2024 National Medal of Science awards by President Biden on Jan 3, 2025.