Elon Musk survives as fellow of Royal Society despite anger among scientists
Elon Musk’s fellowship of the Royal Society remains intact after a meeting of the scientific body, the Guardian has learned, but questions remain about whether further action will be taken,Musk, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO who also owns the social media platform X, was elected a fellow of the UK’s national academy of sciences in 2018, apparently in recognition of his work in the space and electric vehicle industries,Calls for the honour to be revoked have grown in recent months, as fellows of the Royal Society and the wider scientific community become increasingly alarmed by Musk’s conduct in relation to the academy’s code,Two eminent scientists have resigned their fellowships in protest against the lack of action by the Royal Society, while more than 3,400 members of the wider scientific community have signed an open letter organised by Stephen Curry, an emeritus professor of structural biology at Imperial College London, expressing similar dismay,Earlier on Monday, the Nobel laureate and AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton – a fellow of the Royal Society – posted on X that he supported Musk’s removal.
“I think Elon Musk should be expelled from the British Royal Society.Not because he peddles conspiracy theories and makes Nazi salutes, but because of the huge damage he is doing to scientific institutions in the US.Now let’s see if he really believes in free speech,” he wrote.Musk responded: “Only craven, insecure fools care about awards and memberships.History is the actual judge, always and forever.
Your comments above are carelessly ignorant, cruel and false.That said, what specific actions require correction? I will make mistakes, but endeavor to fix them.”Concerns include Musk’s incendiary comments – such as calling the British MP Jess Phillips, the minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, a “rape genocide apologist”.“I am at a loss to understand how these actions are consistent with a code of conduct that requires fellows to have ‘due regard for the statement of values developed from time to time by [the Royal] Society’,” Curry wrote in the letter.Scientists have also raised concerns over Musk’s actions within the Trump administration, where he oversees the US “department of government efficiency”.
The cost-cutting operation has threatened the funding of scientific and medical communities, among other areas.The meeting of the fellowship of the Royal Society, which began at 6pm on Monday, was arranged to discuss the principles around public pronouncements and behaviour of fellows.The Royal Society’s code of conduct and disciplinary regulations state: “Fellowship and foreign membership of the society is a privilege predicated on adherence to particular standards of conduct.”Among other points, the document says: “When speaking or publicising statements in a personal capacity, fellows and foreign members must still strive to uphold the reputation of the society and those who work in it, and be mindful that what is said or stated in a personal capacity could still impact the society.”After the meeting, the Royal Society released a statement saying the fellows agreed on the need to stand up for science and for scientists around the world in the face of the growing challenges science faces.
Sign up to First EditionOur morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it mattersafter newsletter promotion“Concern was expressed, in particular, about the fate of colleagues in the US who are reportedly facing the prospect of losing their jobs amid threats of radical cutbacks in research funding,” it said,“Fellows, over 150 of whom attended tonight’s meeting, were united in the need for the society to step up its efforts to advocate for science and scientists at a time when these are under threat as never before and yet at the same time have never been more necessary for humanity at large,“The society agreed to look at potential further actions that might help make the case for science and scientific research and counter the misinformation and ideologically motivated attacks on both science and scientists,”No mention was made of Musk’s fellowship,“Any issues raised in respect of individual fellows are dealt with in strict confidence,” a spokesperson said, adding that all of the fellows are listed on the society’s website.
Musk remains among their number.Curry said questions remained.“It’s still not clear from their statement whether they stand by their code of conduct or whether they feel that they are ever going to enforce it,” he said, adding it is also unclear what action will be taken to advocate for science and scientists.“I think one of the things that this episode really has exposed is that the Royal Society claims to speak for the scientific community, but they’re not very good at speaking to the scientific community.”
Noel Clarke has made ‘wild allegations’ against his abuse accusers, court told
Noel Clarke has made “wild allegations” against women who have accused him of sexual misconduct but has not explained why they would lie about him, the high court heard on the first day of his libel claim against the Guardian.The 49-year-old actor is suing Guardian News and Media (GNM) over seven articles and a podcast published between April 2021 and March 2022 in which more than 20 women accused him of sexual misconduct.In written submissions, Gavin Millar KC, for GNM, said: “[The defendant] will adduce evidence from 16 women who experienced C’s [the claimant’s] misconduct first-hand, some of them on multiple occasions. There is no motive for them to lie and [the claimant] has not suggested any, beyond making wild allegations as to an alleged conspiracy.“These witnesses have remained willing to give their evidence voluntarily despite the fact that, over the course of litigation, [the claimant] has published a number of statements on social media and elsewhere expressly or impliedly denigrating those who have made allegations against him, no doubt in the hope of deterring women from cooperating with [the defendant]
Jimmy Kimmel on Trump’s tariffs: ‘Can you believe we’re shaking down Canada?’
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Sole portrait of England’s ‘nine-day queen’ thought to have been identified by researchers
She was known as the “nine-day queen” and was used as a pawn in the ruthless ambition that defined the Tudor court. But for centuries, historians have struggled to find a single portrait of Lady Jane Grey that was painted during her lifetime.Now, research by English Heritage suggests a mysterious portrait depicts the royal who reigned over England for just over a week in the summer of 1553, and who was executed less than a year later.The charity says there is “compelling evidence” that the royal portrait of Grey was significantly altered after it was made, perhaps to depict the sitter as a Protestant martyr.By using infrared reflectography, English Heritage, working alongside the Courtauld Institute of Art and the dendrochronologist Ian Tyers, discovered that changes had been made to the sitter’s costume, including her sleeves, coif and the addition of a white scarf
Seth Meyers on Trump’s address to Congress: ‘Interminable and excruciating’
Late-night hosts analysed Donald Trump’s chaotic and long address to Congress while also questioning the strength of the response.On Late Night, Seth Meyers called the 99-minute address “interminable and excruciating” while asking how it ended up being so long. “You couldn’t bring in Doge to make any cuts?” he said.He added that Trump’s speech was “so long Adrien Brody played him off” and that the “one exciting moment” was when Al Green protested by shaking his cane and saying he didn’t have a mandate to cut Medicaid.But Meyers found the other attempts to push back mostly ineffective, saying that “this guy changed the game and these are the new rules” so Democrats need to be tougher
‘One slip and I’d be lost in the flood’: shocking report reveals dangers of jobs in the arts
From dancers breaking bones to camera crews forced to take terrible risks, stage and screen jobs can be hugely hazardous, says a scathing new report. We meet workers who feel ‘disposable’ – and the groups pushing for change‘Every time I think about starting a new job,” says Lucy, a documentary maker, “I feel triggered. Because every job I’ve done in the last five years, bar maybe two, I’ve had some kind of absolutely horrendous experience. I now expect to be put in danger at work.”Lucy (not her real name) is by no means an isolated case
Edwyn Collins: ‘Could an Orange Juice reunion ever be on the cards? No!’
The singer-songwriter on breaking up his band, recovering from a stroke, being too old to be a punk, and the chaos of recording with Mark E Smith In these deeply troubled, fractured, febrile times, why did you call the new record Nation Shall Speak Unto Nation? smileywombatIt was Grace’s choice [Grace Maxwell, his wife and musical collaborator]. Up in Helmsdale [in the Scottish Highlands], in my studio, I have an art deco radiogram speaker which has a sort of sunburst thing with that phrase written on it. For £60 on eBay – pristine! It was the BBC World Service motto. When we were casting about for a title for the new record, it seemed like a great expression. Grace said, if you’re going to call it that you have to write a song with that title
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