Finally, bellringing! Also, the Squidmobile.
13th July 2026
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Hello!
It's an odd video this week on Nebula: in Shropshire, I have a weird conspiracy theory about this bridge. (Which is really an excuse to talk about a good bridge.) And over on YouTube: it's finally time. After more than a hundred messages over the years suggesting the subject, here's the bell ringing video!
Over with the Technical Difficulties, it's the weird rules and regulations episode. I'm amazed that YouTube allowed
adverts to run with this video: I assumed that "Osama bin Laden jokes" would disqualify it entirely. Apparently not! When you upload a video to YouTube, it asks if it's ad-friendly: I said no, but YouTube's systems overruled my rating and said that they're fine with it.
And then, of course, there's this week's Lateral: Davina Bentley, Ólafur Waage and Stuart Laws face questions about flatulent felines, careful cetaceans and gnarly gnats.
What about on the rest of YouTube?
- The British Museum, who I've worked with before, interview the man who (re)makes history: Mike Neilson, whose job is at the Museum to
meticulously create replicas of the museum's objects. Mike is great on camera, and his work is intricate and fascinating. (Thanks Famke for the suggestion!)
- V Birchwood shows what Volga Tatar women wore in the 19th century:
this involved a huge amount of historical research, and a demonstration of a fashion that I'd never heard-of: tooth-blackening.
- I have no idea how I'd missed Puddles Pity Party before now. A pierrot clown with... look, I don't want to spoil any of this! All I'll say is that if you like (or, alternatively, are a parent who's sick of) the song Golden from K-Pop Demon Hunters,
you owe it to yourself to spend four minutes on this cover.
And around the rest of the web:
- Yes, the "door close" buttons in elevators are actually connected. J. B. Crawford corrects an urban myth with just the right amount of detail. (Thanks Stefan for the suggestion!)
- A friend
of mine drove past the "Squidmobile" this week, and sent a picture to a group chat. What's the Squidmobile? Well, when you text the Squidmobile, this Fishtown scientist texts back squid words of wisdom. (The same person runs the excellent Skype a Scientist!)
- The list of new foods for this year's Minnesota State Fair. And these are just the new ones.
And finally, on TikTok: this is how to lead a church band. (Alternate link for desktop.)
All the best,
— Tom
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