4yo, getting a reasonable 2/4 right while singing How It's Done from Kpop Demon Hunters: ~~"Meals. Nails. Blade. Mosquitoes."~~

A box of gas (blue) + dark matter (green), now with a smoother distribution at the start. (gravity + pressure + viscosity, 16k particles, periodic 2d)

I love this simulation of the early universe, part of our new CMB project. This is early on - (~300,000 years after the Big Bang). The universe is so hot, plasma is everywhere. Photons can't travel far, bouncing off electric charges.

Some more 'gas' particles - this time two clumps in orbit. Pretty dangerous tides, if you ask me. (16k particles, gravity + pressure + viscosity)

*building a time machine to place my hand firmly on these photons and electric charges as I say "no" to prevent everything after from happening before it's too late*

I love this simulation of the early universe, part of our new CMB project. This is early on - (~300,000 years after the Big Bang). The universe is so hot, plasma is everywhere. Photons can't travel far, bouncing off electric charges.

Some more 'gas' particles - this time two clumps in orbit. Pretty dangerous tides, if you ask me. (16k particles, gravity + pressure + viscosity)

Oops, the gas simulation made a Saturn, I guess? (8k particles, all feeling gravity + pressure + viscosity)

Oops, the gas simulation made a Saturn, I guess? (8k particles, all feeling gravity + pressure + viscosity)

Related physics puzzle - can you figure out this SPOOKY force law? Bonus point: If this force law were to dress up for Halloween, what costume would it wear?

"If we lose hope, we're doomed." We must continue Dr. Jane Goodall's mission and all fight for the future of the planet.

Related physics puzzle - can you figure out this SPOOKY force law? Bonus point: If this force law were to dress up for Halloween, what costume would it wear?

Tis a season. Why does the ghost behave the way the ghost does? An eternal, and in this case, very specific, question. (Single central pumpkin-y mass, gravity with a 1/r^2 force law.)

Explore the mysteries of quantum mechanics with our Quantum Measurement sim! Prepare & measure superposition states, dive into photon polarization, and experiment with Stern-Gerlach setups. phet.colorado.edu/en/simulatio... #physics #chatphysics #STEM

Ooh, this time a spherical cloud of gas, initially spinning slowly. No periodic boundary conditions now, just let it collapse. ...whoa. (Gravity + Pressure + Viscosity, 16k particles.)

To understand the CMB map... you need to know a bit about Blackbody Spectrum. So we've included a fully interactive spectrum. Slide the temperature to your heart's content! testtubegames.com/cmbjourney.h...

Simulating a disk of gas. (Gravity + Pressure + Viscosity, 16k particles)

To understand the CMB map... you need to know a bit about Blackbody Spectrum. So we've included a fully interactive spectrum. Slide the temperature to your heart's content! testtubegames.com/cmbjourney.h...

This question got me interested... So, here's the same sim in 3d, a true box of 'gas'. (Gravity + Pressure + Viscosity, 16k particles. Rotating slowly to help make the structures visible.)

Now, instead of 50/50 -- here's a cloud that's 80% dark matter, 20% normal matter. A bit closer to our universe (which sits around 85%). (I turn the dark matter halos invisible occasionally so you can see the gas structures.)

A mix of both Dark Matter (green) and Gas (blue). What do you notice? (16k particles, gravity, gas feels pressure + viscosity also, 3D with view slowly rotating to showcase structures.)

We’re live!! My brand-new course, “Whimsical Animations”, is now available. 🥳🎉 whimsy.joshwcomeau.com I’m so excited to share all of my animation tools and techniques with y’all. 😄

Now, instead of 50/50 -- here's a cloud that's 80% dark matter, 20% normal matter. A bit closer to our universe (which sits around 85%). (I turn the dark matter halos invisible occasionally so you can see the gas structures.)

A mix of both Dark Matter (green) and Gas (blue). What do you notice? (16k particles, gravity, gas feels pressure + viscosity also, 3D with view slowly rotating to showcase structures.)

Ooh, this time a spherical cloud of gas, initially spinning slowly. No periodic boundary conditions now, just let it collapse. ...whoa. (Gravity + Pressure + Viscosity, 16k particles.)

This question got me interested... So, here's the same sim in 3d, a true box of 'gas'. (Gravity + Pressure + Viscosity, 16k particles. Rotating slowly to help make the structures visible.)

Is this how we market books right now? Maybe? Anyway, a reminder that our adorable geology picture book is out now and is "a must-purchase for nonfiction collections", according to a *starred* review by School Library Journal. Link: www.simonandschuster.com/books/I-Rock... #KidLit #EduSky #STEMEd

Box of gas with periodic boundary conditions. (Gravity + Pressure + Viscosity, 30k particles) Modeled with SPH, so picture large regions, not individual molecules.

Simulating a disk of gas. (Gravity + Pressure + Viscosity, 16k particles)

Welp here we are again, fresh out of Archaeologists for Skype a Scientist matches. This fall, we have matched 248 groups with Archaeologists for online Q&As. I have 38 more groups who need a match, but I'm out of Archaeologists! Archaeologists! Please volunteer www.skypeascientist.com/sign-up.html

New project in the wild! A CMB Photon's Journey. Learn what the Cosmic Microwave Background is and how it formed. My favorite bits are the interactive blackbody spectra (ch 2) and the simulation of the early universe (ch 3). In Beta, so feedback welcome! testtubegames.com/cmbjourney.h...

New project in the wild! A CMB Photon's Journey. Learn what the Cosmic Microwave Background is and how it formed. My favorite bits are the interactive blackbody spectra (ch 2) and the simulation of the early universe (ch 3). In Beta, so feedback welcome! testtubegames.com/cmbjourney.h...

Our neighbor already put out a fully carved jack-o-lantern. (Checks notes) It’s mid-September. I aspire to this level of joyfulness.

In which I beg archaeologists to sign up for the fall semester of Skype a Scientist, because we're getting buried in requests for your area of expertise. Sign up here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Looking for a Gravity Simulator to play around with? Well, here's a list of interesting ones I pulled together. thescienceplayground.com?tx_category=...

Fun with paint, rotating reference frames, and centrifugal forces from The Slo-Mo Guys! #iTeachPhysics

Alright, let’s do this - For every like this gets, I’ll check my notifications one (1) time. (Hope I don’t regret it!)

Hey! It's my birthday this week and I'm changing decades! 🥳 Yay 40! What I really want most (other than... many obvious things, ahem) is to be able to keep writing books for kids. ❤️ This would be a wonderful week to support my author career and buy one of my books or request them from your library!

[electron that completely turned its life around] “I did a total 360”

Ah, Muppet. Love that little guy - a feeling that was very much not mutual. (Though I think the parents had a grudging respect for us.)

Been away for a week and not quite back yet, but when I get a chance, I am excited to share how our family vacation turned into a little wildlife rescue adventure with a wild start and a happy ending. More soon. For now, here's a sneak peek... Meet Muppet. ❤️

New work up! → www.olenashmahalo.com #SciArt #illustration #NoAI #infographics #scicomm #science #astrophysics #astronomy #physics 🧪 🔭 ⚛️ ✨

New really long physics post: What is a quantum eraser? 🧪 skullsinthestars.com/2025/07/15/w...

Teachers! Did you know as a science educator, I've created #STEM classroom activities for all of my books on my website? www.katieslivensky.com/resources The activities for THIS WOLF WAS DIFFERENT include fossil modeling and a "how domestication happens" activity! Check 'em out! #KidLit #Edusky

A nice Minute Physics video about the Moon's motion, culminating in this "satellite vs independently orbiting the Sun" moment. Yet another example in the enormous pile of "if you think this scientific classification is truly binary, you're not looking closely enough". youtu.be/KBcxuM-qXec?...

It’s that time again! Time for @skypeascientist.bsky.social’s 7th annual United States of Science Challenge! Each bubble on this map represents classrooms we marched w/scientists this year. $10 donations fill bubbles! The first region to fill in all of their bubbles wins! givebutter.com/USS2025

To celebrate the launch of I, ROCK: A Geology Tale! I've updated the teacher resources on my website. www.katieslivensky.com/resources There are resources for all my books there! STEM activities! Discussion guides! Wanna make a model rock cycle after reading I, ROCK? I've got you covered! #KidLit

It's book day! So proud of @kslivensky.bsky.social! I, ROCK is an adorable origin story grounded in science. - A picture book that's not afraid to entomb the main character for millions of years. - The greatest combination of rock and paper since the invention of scissors. Congratulations, Katie!!

I write to help kids get to know science, and themselves, better. Each book is another chance to help our society gain science literacy... and a kid gain confidence. I, ROCK, illus. by Steph Stilwell, is out today! Our little Rock may not look like much, but they have a BIG story to tell! #KidLit