Dr. Catherine
@cgrant.bsky.social
Astronomer, singer, public transit enthusiast. She/her.
Reposted by Dr. Catherine
XRISM has made the first ever X-ray detections of chlorine and potassium in the remains of a supernova, showing that these elements critical for the formation of life are indeed spread throughout the cosmos by exploding stars
science.nasa.gov/missions/xri...
science.nasa.gov/missions/xri...
NASA-JAXA XRISM Finds Elemental Bounty in Supernova Remnant - NASA Science
For the first time, scientists have made a clear X-ray detection of chlorine and potassium in the wreckage of a star using data from the Japan-led XRISM
science.nasa.gov
December 4, 2025 at 9:05 PM
XRISM has made the first ever X-ray detections of chlorine and potassium in the remains of a supernova, showing that these elements critical for the formation of life are indeed spread throughout the cosmos by exploding stars
science.nasa.gov/missions/xri...
science.nasa.gov/missions/xri...
Reposted by Dr. Catherine
November 24, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Reposted by Dr. Catherine
When supernovae explode, they send a fast-moving shock wave into the interstellar medium, changing the local landscape significantly. A recent publication hones in on one supernova remnant to determine how fast it's expanding and where it may have come from. 🧪🔭
Chandra Spies a Supernova Shock Front Speeding Along
When supernovae explode, they send a fast-moving shock wave into the interstellar medium, changing the local landscape significantly. A recent publication hones in on one supernova remnant to determin...
aasnova.org
November 7, 2025 at 5:18 PM
When supernovae explode, they send a fast-moving shock wave into the interstellar medium, changing the local landscape significantly. A recent publication hones in on one supernova remnant to determine how fast it's expanding and where it may have come from. 🧪🔭
Love The Peculiarity Shop! (Except that it’s hard to say whenever people ask where I got my cool earrings)
November 7, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Love The Peculiarity Shop! (Except that it’s hard to say whenever people ask where I got my cool earrings)
Reposted by Dr. Catherine
We are thrilled to announce that our NEW Large Language Model will be released on 11.18.25.
October 1, 2025 at 2:38 PM
We are thrilled to announce that our NEW Large Language Model will be released on 11.18.25.
Reposted by Dr. Catherine
"NASA science endeavors are exercises in long-term national commitment that pays dividends
to the American people... This proposed budget ends nearly all future investments... dozens of... missions on a combined budget that is only 3% of NASA’s annual funding." 🔭 www.planetary.org/press-releas...
to the American people... This proposed budget ends nearly all future investments... dozens of... missions on a combined budget that is only 3% of NASA’s annual funding." 🔭 www.planetary.org/press-releas...
Every living NASA science chief unites in opposition to unprecedented…
The entire past leadership of NASA’s science activities have released a joint statement condemning the proposed 47% cuts proposed to the agency’s science…
www.planetary.org
July 7, 2025 at 8:11 PM
"NASA science endeavors are exercises in long-term national commitment that pays dividends
to the American people... This proposed budget ends nearly all future investments... dozens of... missions on a combined budget that is only 3% of NASA’s annual funding." 🔭 www.planetary.org/press-releas...
to the American people... This proposed budget ends nearly all future investments... dozens of... missions on a combined budget that is only 3% of NASA’s annual funding." 🔭 www.planetary.org/press-releas...
Reposted by Dr. Catherine
American science to soon face its largest brain drain in history
The largest brain drain in history was when thousands of scientists left Nazi Germany; it became known as "Hitler's gift."
America's current assault on science is set to surpass that.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #science
The largest brain drain in history was when thousands of scientists left Nazi Germany; it became known as "Hitler's gift."
America's current assault on science is set to surpass that.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #science
American science to soon face its largest brain drain in history
Over the first half of 2025, the USA has cut science as never before. This disaster for American science is a gift to the rest of the world.
bigthink.com
July 2, 2025 at 4:06 PM
American science to soon face its largest brain drain in history
The largest brain drain in history was when thousands of scientists left Nazi Germany; it became known as "Hitler's gift."
America's current assault on science is set to surpass that.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #science
The largest brain drain in history was when thousands of scientists left Nazi Germany; it became known as "Hitler's gift."
America's current assault on science is set to surpass that.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #science
Reposted by Dr. Catherine
Protest planned to save NASA from Trump cuts! Join us in DC Monday, June 30, from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
June 26, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Protest planned to save NASA from Trump cuts! Join us in DC Monday, June 30, from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
Reposted by Dr. Catherine
There are 2 previous historical cases of countries destroying their science and universities, crippling them for decades: Lysenkoism in the USSR and Nazi Germany. The Trump administration will be the 3rd.
It's not just budgets but research, institutions, expertise, and training the next generation.
It's not just budgets but research, institutions, expertise, and training the next generation.
May 31, 2025 at 4:43 AM
There are 2 previous historical cases of countries destroying their science and universities, crippling them for decades: Lysenkoism in the USSR and Nazi Germany. The Trump administration will be the 3rd.
It's not just budgets but research, institutions, expertise, and training the next generation.
It's not just budgets but research, institutions, expertise, and training the next generation.
Reposted by Dr. Catherine
This is actively bananas. LIGO is doing (literally) Nobel winning work, and you need both of them -- the second one is not a spare or a nice to have; this is like buying a fire engine, but deciding it doesn't need wheels on the left hand side...
NSF budget would close down one of LIGO's sites. This would be, to put it lightly, a catastrophe for gravitational wave astronomy.
"In FY 2026 NSF will operate only one of the two sites
and will support a reduced level for technology development."
bsky.app/profile/hast...
"In FY 2026 NSF will operate only one of the two sites
and will support a reduced level for technology development."
bsky.app/profile/hast...
May 31, 2025 at 12:22 AM
This is actively bananas. LIGO is doing (literally) Nobel winning work, and you need both of them -- the second one is not a spare or a nice to have; this is like buying a fire engine, but deciding it doesn't need wheels on the left hand side...
Reposted by Dr. Catherine
New AIP report discusses impact of funding cuts in physics & astro depts: “No one can be productive in a climate like this—it is the end of the US scientific and technical dominance in the world—we will not recover from this in a decade...”. ⚛️🔭 physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
May 3, 2025 at 1:59 PM
New AIP report discusses impact of funding cuts in physics & astro depts: “No one can be productive in a climate like this—it is the end of the US scientific and technical dominance in the world—we will not recover from this in a decade...”. ⚛️🔭 physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
This is a good thread. Technology is people, all the way down. People are not neutral.
I keep catching strays from "technology is neutral" people, so let's set things straight.
1) Technology is not neutral, especially the subset of technology called "algorithms"
2) The form-factor that makes a technology into a tool is not neutral
3) How tools are productized is not neutral
[rant]
1) Technology is not neutral, especially the subset of technology called "algorithms"
2) The form-factor that makes a technology into a tool is not neutral
3) How tools are productized is not neutral
[rant]
April 29, 2025 at 2:47 PM
This is a good thread. Technology is people, all the way down. People are not neutral.
Reposted by Dr. Catherine
This. Protect trans kids. Protect trans rights. Gender is a spectrum. Trans women are women. Trans men are men. Non-binary people exist. Inter-sex & DSD people exist. Gender-non-conforming people exist. Transphobia is anti-feminist. Laws are often wrong and unjust. We must fight for a fairer future.
if you are a cis person it costs you nothing to just say today that you see & hear your trans sisters & brothers & others over in the UK today -- and around the world, too, knowing that rulings like today's ripple out in ugly ways.
April 16, 2025 at 12:58 PM
This. Protect trans kids. Protect trans rights. Gender is a spectrum. Trans women are women. Trans men are men. Non-binary people exist. Inter-sex & DSD people exist. Gender-non-conforming people exist. Transphobia is anti-feminist. Laws are often wrong and unjust. We must fight for a fairer future.
Reposted by Dr. Catherine
The Museum of African American History in Boston is losing federal funding. You can help. (Or find something local). I know we can't save everything that gets defunded. This is the one I've supported today.
April 12, 2025 at 2:29 PM
The Museum of African American History in Boston is losing federal funding. You can help. (Or find something local). I know we can't save everything that gets defunded. This is the one I've supported today.
Reposted by Dr. Catherine
I will vote for the first candidate who tells me they're going to make the biggest government possible. Reacher-sized agencies. Braun Strowman-level social benefits. Government so big it starts belching out National Parks and free healthcare. Chungus State.
February 20, 2025 at 9:48 PM
I will vote for the first candidate who tells me they're going to make the biggest government possible. Reacher-sized agencies. Braun Strowman-level social benefits. Government so big it starts belching out National Parks and free healthcare. Chungus State.
I am really intensely looking forward to this, but I'm finding it fascinating how many preconceptions I have in my head about what MurderBot should look like. Skarsgård is not who I would cast, but I have faith that they'll make it work.
I have been so excited since I found out this would be announced today! RIP any ability for me to concentrate: www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2...
Apple’s new sci-fi series “Murderbot” to make global debut May 16, 2025
Today, Apple TV+ unveiled a first look at “Murderbot,” created by Chris and Paul Weitz and starring Alexander Skarsgård
www.apple.com
February 20, 2025 at 8:42 PM
I am really intensely looking forward to this, but I'm finding it fascinating how many preconceptions I have in my head about what MurderBot should look like. Skarsgård is not who I would cast, but I have faith that they'll make it work.
Introduce yourself with:
One book: Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells (any of them)
One film: Oceans 8
One album: They Might Be Giants, John Henry
One show: All Creatures Great and Small
One book: Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells (any of them)
One film: Oceans 8
One album: They Might Be Giants, John Henry
One show: All Creatures Great and Small
Introduce yourself with:
One book: The Hollow Places by T Kingfisher
One film: The Conjuring 2
One Album: Dar Williams' The Honesty Room (or Taylor Swift's folklore)
One show: The West Wing
One book: The Hollow Places by T Kingfisher
One film: The Conjuring 2
One Album: Dar Williams' The Honesty Room (or Taylor Swift's folklore)
One show: The West Wing
Introduce yourself with:
One book: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell
One film: The Mission
One Album: Wide Swing Tremolo -Son Volt
One show: Archer
One book: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell
One film: The Mission
One Album: Wide Swing Tremolo -Son Volt
One show: Archer
January 29, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Introduce yourself with:
One book: Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells (any of them)
One film: Oceans 8
One album: They Might Be Giants, John Henry
One show: All Creatures Great and Small
One book: Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells (any of them)
One film: Oceans 8
One album: They Might Be Giants, John Henry
One show: All Creatures Great and Small
Reposted by Dr. Catherine
this writer woke up and decided to textually Luigi Peter Thiel, and good for them gizmodo.com/i-have-no-id...
January 11, 2025 at 9:22 AM
this writer woke up and decided to textually Luigi Peter Thiel, and good for them gizmodo.com/i-have-no-id...
Reposted by Dr. Catherine
Check out @umanitoba recent article highlighting AXIS and Science Team Member Samar Safi-Harb!
news.umanitoba.ca/um-researche...
news.umanitoba.ca/um-researche...
UM Researchers join NASA’s AXIS Mission to explore deep space
NASA recently announced their selection of the “Probe” (1 billion USD) mission concept to be adopted in the next decade. Two missions (one for infrared light and another for X-ray light) were sele
news.umanitoba.ca
January 8, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Check out @umanitoba recent article highlighting AXIS and Science Team Member Samar Safi-Harb!
news.umanitoba.ca/um-researche...
news.umanitoba.ca/um-researche...
For whatever reason, this feels important for me to remember. May I be like the snail and try to keep moving forward.
😍 have i told you why i like them? Snails can't go backwards. They only know progress, even when it's slow and hard, it's still progress 💕
January 2, 2025 at 7:18 PM
For whatever reason, this feels important for me to remember. May I be like the snail and try to keep moving forward.
Reposted by Dr. Catherine
My gingerbread for this year. Merry Christmas and happy Voyages to all!!
December 25, 2024 at 2:15 PM
My gingerbread for this year. Merry Christmas and happy Voyages to all!!
Reposted by Dr. Catherine
Reposted by Dr. Catherine
Slide by Helen Russell explaining the phase A timeline for @axisprobe.bsky.social, with the helpful examples of NASA tech readiness levels as applied to the design of space unicorns 🦄🔭 by @astrogrant.bsky.social
December 9, 2024 at 7:24 PM
Slide by Helen Russell explaining the phase A timeline for @axisprobe.bsky.social, with the helpful examples of NASA tech readiness levels as applied to the design of space unicorns 🦄🔭 by @astrogrant.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr. Catherine
okay, we're starting with this
Step 1. call your own rep if you haven't already!
Step 2. sign this (cis women only please! cis guys, you can help by boosting)
Step 3. much depends on the success and reach of step 2; lots of options if this blows up
actionnetwork.org/petitions/no...
Step 1. call your own rep if you haven't already!
Step 2. sign this (cis women only please! cis guys, you can help by boosting)
Step 3. much depends on the success and reach of step 2; lots of options if this blows up
actionnetwork.org/petitions/no...
November 21, 2024 at 5:50 AM
okay, we're starting with this
Step 1. call your own rep if you haven't already!
Step 2. sign this (cis women only please! cis guys, you can help by boosting)
Step 3. much depends on the success and reach of step 2; lots of options if this blows up
actionnetwork.org/petitions/no...
Step 1. call your own rep if you haven't already!
Step 2. sign this (cis women only please! cis guys, you can help by boosting)
Step 3. much depends on the success and reach of step 2; lots of options if this blows up
actionnetwork.org/petitions/no...