Alex Ji
@alexji.bsky.social
Near-field Cosmologist and Assistant Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at University of Chicago. he/him
Reposted by Alex Ji
After a year of protests from astronomers, authorities have abandoned plans for a giant, light-polluting renewable-energy facility in Chile’s Atacama Desert
Astronomers have won the latest battle over dark skies, but the global conflict continues
After a year of protests from astronomers, authorities have abandoned plans for a giant, light-polluting renewable-energy facility in Chile’s Atacama Desert
www.scientificamerican.com
February 2, 2026 at 4:23 PM
After a year of protests from astronomers, authorities have abandoned plans for a giant, light-polluting renewable-energy facility in Chile’s Atacama Desert
First* stars**
*many generations after Pop III
**star clusters
*many generations after Pop III
**star clusters
JWST could finally spot the very first stars in the universe www.scientificamerican.com/article/jwst...
Are we about to see the first stars ever born?
The James Webb Space Telescope should soon be able to spot the first generation of stars in space
www.scientificamerican.com
January 20, 2026 at 1:41 PM
First* stars**
*many generations after Pop III
**star clusters
*many generations after Pop III
**star clusters
Gotta find those PISNe
January 8, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Gotta find those PISNe
Good lord it has only been a week of 2026
January 8, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Good lord it has only been a week of 2026
Reposted by Alex Ji
After the killing of Ms Good, Greg Bovino of the CPB led a raid on a Minneapolis HS. An official there said: They don’t care. They’re just animals,” I’ve never seen people behave like this.”
All MPLS schools now closed for the week.
www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
All MPLS schools now closed for the week.
www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
Minneapolis schools cancel classes after Border Patrol clash disrupts dismissal at Roosevelt
Minneapolis schools closed for the week citing safety concerns after an encounter involving armed Border Patrol agents near Roosevelt High School.
www.mprnews.org
January 8, 2026 at 12:55 PM
After the killing of Ms Good, Greg Bovino of the CPB led a raid on a Minneapolis HS. An official there said: They don’t care. They’re just animals,” I’ve never seen people behave like this.”
All MPLS schools now closed for the week.
www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
All MPLS schools now closed for the week.
www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
Rocks are not a given!!
NASA Discovers Distant Planet With Conditions That Could Sustain Rocks https://theonion.com/nasa-discovers-distant-planet-with-conditions-that-could-sustain-rocks/
January 7, 2026 at 4:57 AM
Rocks are not a given!!
Slack really does not need to wish me happy new year especially once in every workspace good lord
January 5, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Slack really does not need to wish me happy new year especially once in every workspace good lord
Reposted by Alex Ji
NSF now planning to let POs largely decide what gets funded, and to send PIs reviews that are only 3-5 sentences long. They don't have to use outside reviewers (except maybe 1) and don't have to convene panels. (1/5)
NSF pares down grant-review process, reducing influence of outside scientists
Memo cites overburdened staff, but some say move also aims to elevate White House priorities
www.science.org
December 15, 2025 at 11:45 PM
NSF now planning to let POs largely decide what gets funded, and to send PIs reviews that are only 3-5 sentences long. They don't have to use outside reviewers (except maybe 1) and don't have to convene panels. (1/5)
Reposted by Alex Ji
Remember that lovely aurora last week?
Well...um...this is what Euclid saw... 😱
🧵
Well...um...this is what Euclid saw... 😱
🧵
November 19, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Remember that lovely aurora last week?
Well...um...this is what Euclid saw... 😱
🧵
Well...um...this is what Euclid saw... 😱
🧵
Reposted by Alex Ji
Have you ever wanted @astropy.org tutorials on:
– spectroscopic data reduction from a raw FITS image,
– computing galactic orbits from Gaia measurements,
– cross-matching astronomical catalogs?
Check out the redesigned learn.astropy.org! Announcement from @numfocus.bsky.social below. 🧪🔭 #astrocode
– spectroscopic data reduction from a raw FITS image,
– computing galactic orbits from Gaia measurements,
– cross-matching astronomical catalogs?
Check out the redesigned learn.astropy.org! Announcement from @numfocus.bsky.social below. 🧪🔭 #astrocode
Explore the Redesigned Learn.Astropy.org
A New Way to Learn Astronomy with Python
numfocus.medium.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Have you ever wanted @astropy.org tutorials on:
– spectroscopic data reduction from a raw FITS image,
– computing galactic orbits from Gaia measurements,
– cross-matching astronomical catalogs?
Check out the redesigned learn.astropy.org! Announcement from @numfocus.bsky.social below. 🧪🔭 #astrocode
– spectroscopic data reduction from a raw FITS image,
– computing galactic orbits from Gaia measurements,
– cross-matching astronomical catalogs?
Check out the redesigned learn.astropy.org! Announcement from @numfocus.bsky.social below. 🧪🔭 #astrocode
🫠🫠🫠
The demand to use #NASAWebb shows no signs of slowing! For its fifth year, researchers around the world submitted a record-breaking 2,900+ proposals.
The types of requests show astronomers are ready to answer even bolder scientific questions: https://bit.ly/4nYC0LS 🔭 🧪
The types of requests show astronomers are ready to answer even bolder scientific questions: https://bit.ly/4nYC0LS 🔭 🧪
November 13, 2025 at 2:02 AM
🫠🫠🫠
Reposted by Alex Ji
Two very interesting papers about dark energy on the arXiv today, both very relevant to the ongoing interest in possibly evolving DE as suggested by the DESI results 🔭🧪
Here's the first and potentially more explosive one: arxiv.org/abs/2511.07517
Here's the first and potentially more explosive one: arxiv.org/abs/2511.07517
The Dark Energy Survey Supernova Program: A Reanalysis Of Cosmology Results And Evidence For Evolving Dark Energy With An Updated Type Ia Supernova Calibration
We present improved cosmological constraints from a re-analysis of the Dark Energy Survey (DES) 5-year sample of Type Ia supernovae (DES-SN5YR). This re-analysis includes an improved photometric cross...
arxiv.org
November 12, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Two very interesting papers about dark energy on the arXiv today, both very relevant to the ongoing interest in possibly evolving DE as suggested by the DESI results 🔭🧪
Here's the first and potentially more explosive one: arxiv.org/abs/2511.07517
Here's the first and potentially more explosive one: arxiv.org/abs/2511.07517
Reposted by Alex Ji
Kyle Kingsbury is not a journalist. He is not an op-ed writer.
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
November 9, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Kyle Kingsbury is not a journalist. He is not an op-ed writer.
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
THE RETURN OF GOOGLE READER PLEASE
Anyone interested in gleaning true information from the internet is going to have to cultivate a trusted collection of sources rather than relying on search or social media. Dare we hope for a renaissance of the RSS reader?
Googled the title of our new paper out today and the FIRST HIT was an AI sludge article that was completely incorrect
A: no we didn't analyse phosphorus isotope ratios in rocks
B: NOBODY analyses these
C: because phosphorus only has ONE stable isotope
Dead internet here we go
A: no we didn't analyse phosphorus isotope ratios in rocks
B: NOBODY analyses these
C: because phosphorus only has ONE stable isotope
Dead internet here we go
October 17, 2025 at 8:51 PM
THE RETURN OF GOOGLE READER PLEASE
Reposted by Alex Ji
30 people disappeared in this shaded area today.
October 17, 2025 at 12:28 AM
30 people disappeared in this shaded area today.
Reposted by Alex Ji
More coverage of OSU’s new restrictions on conference attendance:
“These conferences are open forums for us to present our work, network and collaborate. Telling us that they’re going to regulate whether or not we can participate feels very stifling, prohibitive,” said @ohdearz.bsky.social
“These conferences are open forums for us to present our work, network and collaborate. Telling us that they’re going to regulate whether or not we can participate feels very stifling, prohibitive,” said @ohdearz.bsky.social
Under Anti-DEI Pressure, Ohio State Limits Conference Funds
The Education Department recently criticized Ohio State University’s involvement with a nonprofit that encourages people from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue doctorates. Now, OSU is rethinking ...
www.insidehighered.com
October 15, 2025 at 12:51 PM
More coverage of OSU’s new restrictions on conference attendance:
“These conferences are open forums for us to present our work, network and collaborate. Telling us that they’re going to regulate whether or not we can participate feels very stifling, prohibitive,” said @ohdearz.bsky.social
“These conferences are open forums for us to present our work, network and collaborate. Telling us that they’re going to regulate whether or not we can participate feels very stifling, prohibitive,” said @ohdearz.bsky.social
Reposted by Alex Ji
If any of you fine folks are planetarians in (or want to be in) mid-Michigan, the Abrams Planetarium is hiring a full-time-staff position for the first time in 11 years!! Come work with the astro, scicomm, and informal ed folks at MSU!! 🔭 🧪 (reskeets welcome) careers.msu.edu/jobs/educati...
Educational Program Coordinator II - East Lansing, Michigan, United States
Position Summary
The program coordinator will maintain the planetarium, present live shows, and create new planetarium visualizations. In addition, this position will assist customers, assist in educa...
careers.msu.edu
September 29, 2025 at 4:21 PM
If any of you fine folks are planetarians in (or want to be in) mid-Michigan, the Abrams Planetarium is hiring a full-time-staff position for the first time in 11 years!! Come work with the astro, scicomm, and informal ed folks at MSU!! 🔭 🧪 (reskeets welcome) careers.msu.edu/jobs/educati...
Reposted by Alex Ji
Are you someone who is interested in astronomy graduate school? This is a list of many/most departments and their expectations for admissions this year. Please feel free to spread it far and wide. If you are doing admissions and you'd like to update your entry, reach out as per the form!
US Astronomy Graduate Admissions, AY 2025-2026
docs.google.com
October 10, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Are you someone who is interested in astronomy graduate school? This is a list of many/most departments and their expectations for admissions this year. Please feel free to spread it far and wide. If you are doing admissions and you'd like to update your entry, reach out as per the form!
Reposted by Alex Ji
MIT refuses to accept White House terms for funding, other schools still mulling reut.rs/471tkNZ
MIT refuses to accept White House terms for funding, other schools still mulling
Massachusetts Institute of Technology President Sally Kornbluth on Friday said she "cannot support" a memo that the White House sent to nine elite U.S. universities last week detailing policies they should follow to get preferential consideration for federal funding.
reut.rs
October 10, 2025 at 9:35 PM
MIT refuses to accept White House terms for funding, other schools still mulling reut.rs/471tkNZ
Reposted by Alex Ji
I booked a photo session tonight bc I have very few pictures of my family together, but while I’m smiling & holding my children, I know I will hear this mother’s screams.
I don’t want my tax dollars supporting ICE agents dragging parents away from car line. And most moms in the US agree with me.
I don’t want my tax dollars supporting ICE agents dragging parents away from car line. And most moms in the US agree with me.
October 9, 2025 at 7:37 PM
I booked a photo session tonight bc I have very few pictures of my family together, but while I’m smiling & holding my children, I know I will hear this mother’s screams.
I don’t want my tax dollars supporting ICE agents dragging parents away from car line. And most moms in the US agree with me.
I don’t want my tax dollars supporting ICE agents dragging parents away from car line. And most moms in the US agree with me.
I’ve been asked to advise undergrads on how to get into grad school and this is all I can think about musgrave.substack.com/p/dont-do-a-...
Don't Do a Ph.D. Now
At least in the United States
musgrave.substack.com
October 10, 2025 at 1:02 AM
I’ve been asked to advise undergrads on how to get into grad school and this is all I can think about musgrave.substack.com/p/dont-do-a-...
Reposted by Alex Ji
Armed, masked thugs are kidnapping our neighbors and terrorizing our communities
This was in front of an elementary school in the West Loop in Chicago today. Sharing because everyone needs to see what is happening here daily
Originally posted by @erynfreepress on IG. Her story is in the alt text
This was in front of an elementary school in the West Loop in Chicago today. Sharing because everyone needs to see what is happening here daily
Originally posted by @erynfreepress on IG. Her story is in the alt text
October 9, 2025 at 6:40 AM
Armed, masked thugs are kidnapping our neighbors and terrorizing our communities
This was in front of an elementary school in the West Loop in Chicago today. Sharing because everyone needs to see what is happening here daily
Originally posted by @erynfreepress on IG. Her story is in the alt text
This was in front of an elementary school in the West Loop in Chicago today. Sharing because everyone needs to see what is happening here daily
Originally posted by @erynfreepress on IG. Her story is in the alt text
I’m no expert, but we did go from coding in binary -> assembly -> FORTRAN/C -> Java/C++ -> Python/R. At each step we traded raw efficiency(/energy cost) for user convenience. It does take different thinking and teaching/learning for each step. LLM coding seems like it will be the next step..
Y'all. I just got ChatGPT to do everything in R for this manuscript. I mean EVERYTHING. And it's all legit and reproducible. I'm shook.
How are we mentoring our trainees in statistics now? Who needs to learn coding in R line by line, and who doesn't?
scienceforeveryone.science/statistics-i...
How are we mentoring our trainees in statistics now? Who needs to learn coding in R line by line, and who doesn't?
scienceforeveryone.science/statistics-i...
Statistics in the era of AI
How do we mentor, teach, and do stats when AI can do so much of the work?
scienceforeveryone.science
October 9, 2025 at 4:19 AM
I’m no expert, but we did go from coding in binary -> assembly -> FORTRAN/C -> Java/C++ -> Python/R. At each step we traded raw efficiency(/energy cost) for user convenience. It does take different thinking and teaching/learning for each step. LLM coding seems like it will be the next step..
Reposted by Alex Ji
I feel like this photo of masked, armed men pepper spraying a pastor protecting his community is going to be a defining picture of this moment in America for a long, long time.
October 7, 2025 at 11:29 PM
I feel like this photo of masked, armed men pepper spraying a pastor protecting his community is going to be a defining picture of this moment in America for a long, long time.
Reposted by Alex Ji
We must now start calling this what it is: Trump’s Invasion. It started with federal agents, it will soon include deploying federalized members of the Illinois National Guard against our wishes, and it will now involve sending in another state’s military troops.
October 6, 2025 at 1:44 AM
We must now start calling this what it is: Trump’s Invasion. It started with federal agents, it will soon include deploying federalized members of the Illinois National Guard against our wishes, and it will now involve sending in another state’s military troops.