#Wisdom is back! The world’s oldest known living banded bird, Mōlī (Laysan albatross) queen, has returned to Kuailhelani (Midway Atoll). #Birds

Nancy Grace Roman telescope is out of the thermal vacuum chamber and getting ready to launch in 2026

55 years ago today, the Oregon State Highway Division had a whale of a problem on its hands. How it solved it is the stuff of legends. In other words: Happy Exploding Whale Day!

Here's my full conversation with Congressman @morelle.house.gov My last meeting of the day. I was exhausted, Anjelika was exhausted but we did it ALL for YOU! The Congressman cares a great deal about his constituents & EVERY American & wants to stop the BIG UGLY BILL! www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_-9...

Whoa! Rubin Observatory ... you first light overachievers!!! 😍🔭

For secret reasons, I’m making a list of types of exoplanet. What should I add? My list starts: hot jupiters hot neptunes lava worlds Earth-like places comet-like planets planets around young stars planets around old stars planets around pulsars (eh?) 🔭 🛰️

Kip Thorne's final message in his AEI anniversary lecture.

#StandUpforScience @standupforscience.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/06/03/c... (gift article)

Today's sun image, dedicated to the memory of Mr. Eclipse, Fred Espenak. RIP. #astrophotography

How bad will it be? Catastrophic. Proposed cuts to #NSF, #NIH, and #NASA will set the US R&D landscape back 25 yrs+, cause economic and job loss now, and undermine innovations to come. But, this is the WH's *proposed* budget. Speak up now before it is too late. (inflation adjusted $-s below)

Thinking about devastating cuts to NSF: US gov-funded science has been the engine upon which most of the tech wealth was generated. But the oligarchs (currently hoarding much of that $) think it’s their own brilliance & not the accident of standing close to the scientific engine that made them rich.

Here’s a video of Bernie Sanders 21 years ago explaining how the Republicans win even though no one likes their policies. How Republicans split and divide and win. #MomSky #Voices4Victory

I think a lot about what Carl Sagan said in one of his final interviews.

Election results in Australia and Canada show that many places emphatically reject the politics of fear, bigotry, and division that have infected the US. You do not have to accept governments that operate on destruction and chaos. Another world is possible!

The Human Genome Project cost taxpayers $3 Billion. Two decades on, it has generated a staggering return on investment of $1 Trillion, with benefits in medicine, agriculture, energy, the environment, & more. If you want to boost the economy, funding science is one of the best things you could do.

Spiral galaxy Messier 101 is about 21 million light years away, located in the constellation Ursa Major. It has about one trillion stars (1 with 12 zeros), and is almost 3 times the width of the Milky Way. This image was taken with a Nikon mirrorless camera and telephoto lens. #astrophotography

Foreign Attaché: One of our scientist friends had a grandmother who received this medal from the Nazi state. Non-Jewish mothers received it for birthing 4 or more children. If you think the US administration won’t target certain demographics with incentives, look to history. The vibes will match.

@mariashriver.bsky.social www.science.org/content/arti...

Check out the little asteroid Donaldjohanson. It's about 9 km across and looks like two little blobs connected by a interesting looking little neck. And soooo many craters. Fun stuff. science.nasa.gov/image-articl...

Breaking: “I DID NOT HAVE SIGNAL RELATIONS WITH THAT WOMAN [wife]” -SecDef

“Most of us will be lost to history, but we will, nonetheless, move the story forward, even if just a little bit. And once in a great while, someone will light a lantern—or even 2—that will shine forth for democratic principles that are under siege, & set the world ablaze”- @hcrichardson.bsky.social

I just submitted a budget request for NASA to my Maryland senators following Brett's simple step-by-step instructions. Great weekend project and it won't take long!

The data produced by this group has been an essential resource for so much great science. We use their data and websites to interpret our JWST spectra of protostars. It is exactly the kind of foundational investments the US should be making to advance science. www.change.org/p/oppose-the...

Sarah’s rules of looking for life with only chemical signatures: 1) the smaller the molecule(s) the more likely they can also be produced by abiotic processes 2) one molecule, if it can be produced by any abiotic process, will never be enough to definitively claim detection of life

Pull up, Dorks! Ready to join like-minded SUFS’ers in our Summer Campaign? This action info session is for you! This week’s national virtual gathering is Wednesday 7:30pm ET – sign up here for a Zoom link & see you there: bit.ly/SUFSActionIn... #StandUpForScience #SummerCampaign #SummerSendoff

Very sad news from Fred Espenak. www.facebook.com/fred.espenak He announced that his Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis has progressed significantly and he will enter hospice tomorrow. Please see the full message at his Facebook page. #astronomy #astrophotography #eclipse

Ternie Sanders and Albatrossia-Cortez today: Ternie: “We flew nonstop to be here today, and let us tell you: our wings are tired, but our souls are on fire! They say the system is frozen. That nothing will change. But I’m here to tell you: THE ICE IS CRACKING, AND A MOVEMENT IS HATCHING! 1/3

Take Action NOW to defend academic freedom and higher education. Say no to politics in our research. Sign our Open Letter below in support of institutions that are speaking out, and calling for others to join. ⬇️ sciforgood.org/support-academic-freedom/ #scienceforgood #defendresearch

🧪🔭☄️ All hands on deck - here are ways to help: astrobites.org/2025/04/15/h... ✨

I'll say it again: in a country where due process is individually denied and then broadly eroded and eventually eliminated, being a citizen will not protect you from the terror of this administration.

Maryland congressmen vow to block proposed NASA science budget cuts Members of Maryland’s congressional delegation expressed confidence that Congress will ultimately reject sharp cuts in NASA science programs proposed by the White House, citing competition with China as one factor.

A reminder that the techMAGAts are not your grandfather's fascists. They are a (relatively) new breed of malevolence: www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...

From our Treasury: “We’re moving from the hard currency of pebbles to the 21st century of currency known as “Cryo-currency”. We will be releasing a Gov supported memechunk of ice, which may become valuable, or may melt tomorrow. It’s really an exciting gamble that’s sure to pay off for a few of us.”

The American Astronomical Society is gravely concerned by the deep cuts to NASA science funding reported to be in the draft President’s Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2026. Read more here: aas.org/press/aas-st... and take action now: aas.org/urge-nasa-su...

This month, Dallas-based biotech company #Colossal announced the birth of 3 pups bearing the DNA signatures of dire wolves, an iconic predator last seen over 10,000 years ago. But they're not really dire wolves. So what are they? Read more and watch a video: buff.ly/0N67MPJ 📸 Colossal Biosciences.

ADMIN REVEAL: Our tireless Gov Social media manager (also our sec of finance), has had quite the week. Pingu the chinstrap penguin has learned alt text, created a commerce merch store, and has become worryingly sage on the topic of guano’s chemical and economic value. Thank you Pingu

Defence Ministry Update: Border surveillance has not detected any abnormal activity. We stand rock-hop-ready to rock, set to defend ourselves against all threats both foreign and domestic (elephant seals mainly)

The Leo triplet: Messier 65 (top right), Messier 66 (bottom right), and NGC 3628 (left), at 35, 31, and 35 million light years away, respectively. 10 hours total exposure, over 4 nights, from a Bortle 7 site. Nikon Z6II, Nikkor 400 mm with 1.4x teleconverter. #Astrophotography

WORLD-FIRST: Ground-breaking research published today in the Ornithologist Journal has, for the first time, translated common UK bird vocalisations into equivalent phrases in the human language. The results tell us a lot! Extracts below... 🧵

Squirrel! (Also pretty much describes my attention span.)

Geriatric Penguins Get a ‘Retirement Home’ at New England Aquarium - The New York Times

A vulture arrived on Martha Midgette’s porch before dawn, then collapsed and died. Before she could figure out how to dispose of the dead bird Midgette saw an unexpected sight. www.thebaltimorebanner.com/community/cl...

Shutting down Mauna Loa CO₂ observations while atmospheric CO₂ keeps skyrocketing is like turning off a fire alarm because you don’t like the noise www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/c...

I believe in strong institutions and pragmatic strategy. Purity politics are destructive to progress. But our party leadership has become so anemic that we've been left with no choice but to call for Mr. Schumer's removal. Join our call for him to step down: www.change.org/p/boycott-co...

Democracy…A really sad day in this country. One of many! I knew when I took this picture, it would represent something significant. Here we are..

HEY DORKS! I did some math. WE can be the difference. Erica Chenoweth’s work suggests that when 3.5% of a public are mobilized in one non-violent action, the movement is almost always successful. How does this apply right now? Follow me 1/x www.hks.harvard.edu/centers/carr...

Well done, @keating.house.gov A true ally doesn’t just watch—they stand up. I’ve accidentally misgendered someone at my daughter’s school before. It happens. The moment I realized, I apologized and made sure not to do it again. Rep Keith Self did this on purpose. He meant to be hurtful.

Vera Rubin has been selected to be featured on the back of a quarter. She is the first astronomer to be honored this way. Read about her research on the Andromeda galaxy and how it led to the discovery of dark matter in this article written by Rubin herself. doi.org/10.1063/1.24... 🔭 #WomenInStem

Looking for something to call your Rep about today? #NASA is closing their Office of the Chief Scientist, their Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy, and their DEIA office, and laying everyone off. A travesty for science & American leadership in space. nasawatch.com/ask-the-admi...

Our work is far from done—science is still under attack. We’ve got ideas, but we want to hear from you. What’s worrying you most? What should we do next? How can we grow this movement together? Fill out this quick form to share your thoughts & stay connected: forms.gle/7EEQMZUveXN9...