NZ electricity reached 99.9% renewable on 25 October, I believe that is a record. And that's despite a tenth of geothermal capacity appearing to be out of action (maintenance?) since the start of October. Source: em6

Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin ✨ figured out what stars are made of ✨ when she was just 25. 🔭🧪 Her PhD thesis basically established the Harvard astro department — at a time when Harvard didn't officially allow woman students. I wrote this little profile to mark the 100th anniversary of her thesis:

Trade unions vow to oppose Supreme Court trans ruling 'It's trans people they are kicking around; one delegate told the TUC conference One representative of Unison accused Bridget Phillipson, the equalities minister, of overseeing a “segregation” of trans people in society. 👉🏻 archive.ph/NKVHi

Thanks to @slavkobogdanov.bsky.social for pointing me to this really cool 🔭 history paper! arxiv.org/abs/2509.04127

One of the awesome bits of supernova science I always love is when someone finds a new ancient record of a supernovae! In this case new Arabic records for SN1181 and SN1006 from poems! arxiv.org/abs/2509.04127

This is Delta. He just had his first bath. And you just had your last day of peace. 12/10 (IG: camphusky)

People Watching: Ice skating at Ice Sports Southland, Gore, on a wintry Saturday afternoon

From Chloe Klare: Interested in the definitive, absolutely objective ranking of the best differential equations in astronomy and astrophysics?? Read on!! 🔭✨☄️ astrobites.org/2025/08/18/t...

Nearly 18 months ago I attended a workshop: "The Chronology of the Very Early Universe According to JWST: The First Billion Years" remotely. It was a really well organized meeting and despite being in a different time zone is was possible to Zoom in and contribute to the discussions.

So now I can talk about arxiv.org/abs/2507.13409 - First science results with the @vrubinobs.bsky.social LSSTCam!

Got back to NZ from the UK in under 29 hours (door-to-door)... that's a new record! The only problem is the plane has landed at night and I've never had to deal with 12 hour jetlag when you have to go straight to sleep. Normally I arrive in the morning and just stay up. Oh well this'll be fun!

In response to the ever-increasing number of submissions to the Open Journal of Astrophysics, I'd like to invite more astrophysicistsonto our Editorial Board. We're looking for volunteers with expertise in any area of astrophysics! Please contact me or @ojastro.bsky.social astro.theoj.org

This time last year I was interviewed by the American Institute of Physics to be included in their oral histories. It's recently been posted, the delay being due to me having pericarditis preventing me from getting around to read through the transcript (it was about 30,000 words...)...

Yesterday I gave my "Pride in Physics" lecture at the University of Oxford's Department of Physics. This was my personal story of my academic career and how my journey in understanding myself and transitioning is intertwined with it.

. @astro-jje.bsky.social is a great speaker! youtu.be/t65sdhHIR4c?...

Today we had our annual Pride Lecture in Oxford Physics (@oxfordphysics.bsky.social). The lecture was given by Prof Jan Eldridge (@astro-jje.bsky.social) and it was phenomenal! It was wonderful to learn how she has exploded binaries in both astrophysics and gender 🔭 🏳️‍⚧️

🆕The EHRC has rolled back its previous insistence that UK single-sex service providers "must" provide single-sex options. It's significant for employers and hospitality - but doesn't change its guidance's implication: Segregation for Trans+ people Here's what they've said 🧵

🚨 Paper day!!! 🚨 Excited to announce that this project I’ve been working on these last few years has been published! Read more at : arxiv.org/abs/2506.13004 More info in the 🧵

We use BPASS to predict frequencies of ejected OB and OBe stars and binaries. We also predict companion frequencies and model distributions of primary & secondary masses & some orbital parameters. (Shoutout to @astro-jje.bsky.social !!)

From Kaz Gary: For Pride Month, Astrobites is interviewing one transgender astronomer every week. This week we interviewed Joy Bhattacharya, a PhD candidate at the Ohio State University! 🔭✨☄️ astrobites.org/2025/06/13/j...

On Wednesday 18th June, I'll be hosting @astro-jje.bsky.social in @oxfordphysics.bsky.social, where she will be giving the annual Pride Lecture. If you'd like to attend, please sign up through the following link or scan the QR code in the attached flyer: www.physics.ox.ac.uk/events/pride...

I'd forgotten just how good The Hobbit movie trilogy is.

A controversial opinion: the live action Thunderbirds movie was actually a good film.

These are always the interviews I like doing. Answering a random question and trying to explain our current understanding in a simple way. Especially when the interviewer can suddenly change tack in the middle! www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro...

This is really rather good!

The time you're trying to write a research funding proposal and really struggling. I could ask Co-pilot to write it but I need it to be a good proposal.

Today was a day. This photo shows me after reading out over 400 graduate names from the Faculty of Science at the University of Auckland for the first time. I was part of the team reading out about 1400 graduates! Congratulations to all, these events great to celebrate their success.

So the Department of Physics at the University of Auckland is looking to hire a lecturer/senior lecturer in one of the following areas: - Physics education research, - Quantum optics and quantum information, - Biophotonics and/or medical physics, - Astrophysics and/or space technology. 1/2...

OK, this is wild. In September 2023, geophysicists across the world started monitoring a very odd signal coming from the ground under them. It was picked up in the Arctic. And Antarctica. It was detected everywhere, every 90 seconds, as regular as a metronome, for *nine days*. What the HELL? 1/

Trans and being told by your employer you can no longer use the toilets at work (especially if not out to all your colleagues)? A cis woman who has been challenged when using the toilet? Otherwise affected by the SC judgment? Please share & fill out this form: goodlawproject.org/about/trans-...

Just out! Our peer-reviewed critique of the Cass Review has been published by BMC Medical Research Methodology. Please read and share. We show that the Cass Review is fatally flawed and should not be the basis for policy or practice in transgender healthcare. link.springer.com/article/10.1...

As a team that includes trans and non-binary people we know any criticism we make of Cass will be seen as ideological This is why we grounded our work in a methodical critique, using established tools Whilst our identities still matter, this is about the poor and biased application of methodology

The queer library of Alexandria went up in flames on May 6th, 1933. This is a photo of it. This photo, now published in history textbooks the world over, is almost never attributed its history. That history is burned today, by omission, as it was burned then by kerosene. Trans history.

Oh! one last thing, friends! If you would like to read this essay in non-thread form, I posted it here as well! open.substack.com/pub/collecti...

That time when you realise your upcoming trip to the UK might be the last for some time....

Attention South Island-based experts looking for media training! There are still a handful of spots in our 5-6 June Chch workshop (including at least one fees-free space). We've extended the deadline to apply, and applications this week are likely to be accepted. smc.nz/science-media-savvy/#apply

This petition to stop NZ First's stupid sex definitions bill has been open for nearly a week and has 1.2k signatures The hate group's petition that spawned this bill took four months to get 2.2k signatures Let's show just how little hate there is petitions.parliament.nz/cc70b2c2-cfd...

This, 100% this. Think of how many trans people didn't even KNOW being trans was a thing until late in life! Even without the knowledge of transness we do not cease to be trans, we simply live with no name for that part of us society wants to crush.

Always love having to go back to a 1972 paper to work out what is going on in a computer programme.

"...on Monday, Harvard proceeded to rename its Office for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging to 'Community and Campus Life' and announced it would not fund affinity group celebrations during Commencement — decisions closely aligned with the White House’s long-standing crusade against DEI"

🧵 A Thread of UK University Statements on the Supreme Court Ruling and EHRC Guidance Against Trans Inclusion This thread catalouges statements by UK Universities in relation to the Supreme Courts transphobic ruling and the EHRC guidance for trans segregation. I'll try update it daily. 1/?

For Pride month this year, Astrobites is looking to highlight transgender astronomers and we want YOU! We are planning to interview four astronomers about their experience being transgender in science, how they've dealt with barriers throughout their career . . . (1/4)

Just had my post-swimming second breakfast.

🆕️🚨 To comply with last week's Supreme Court ruling the EHRC has said UK public single-sex spaces should segregate Trans+ people, and create new mixed-space bathrooms and changing facilities for them to use www.wearequeeraf.com/interim-ehrc...

I wrestled with this headline for @wearequeeraf.com writing this late last night - but the word 'ban' just didn't cut it. What else can you call this other than segregation? What next, a separate Trans+ section on the bus?

In other news, to take my mind off things today I cleaned out the gutters.

In the UK, there is still no law that stops trans people from using the toilets that match their gender. That includes after the UK Supreme Court ruling on 16 April 2025, which the usual suspects are already trying to twist into a bathroom ban. 👉🏻 tacc.org.uk/2025/04/23/t...

PhD Timeline xkcd.com/3081

So when I now go to the UK later this year this reads as if I am basically unable to use any public bathroom. Do I just keep it in until my bladder explodes like Tycho Brahe's did?