Dr. Eric J. Fielding, PhD
@ericjfielding.bsky.social
Geophysicist at lab in Pasadena, California. Statements and opinions posted by me are my own and not those of my employer. he/him.
Also at https://mastodon.social/@EricFielding
Research:
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6648-8067
Also at https://mastodon.social/@EricFielding
Research:
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6648-8067
Reposted by Dr. Eric J. Fielding, PhD
Congratulations to Cal Poly and Cal Poly Pomona students for taking the top award at this year’s Rose Parade!
California is home to some of the greatest colleges and universities in the world, and I applaud these students’ ingenuity and creativity.
California is home to some of the greatest colleges and universities in the world, and I applaud these students’ ingenuity and creativity.
Cal Poly float wins top award in Rose Parade
The float built by students at Cal Poly Universities won top honors in the 137th Rose Parade.
www.latimes.com
January 11, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Congratulations to Cal Poly and Cal Poly Pomona students for taking the top award at this year’s Rose Parade!
California is home to some of the greatest colleges and universities in the world, and I applaud these students’ ingenuity and creativity.
California is home to some of the greatest colleges and universities in the world, and I applaud these students’ ingenuity and creativity.
Reposted by Dr. Eric J. Fielding, PhD
Falcon 9 upper stage second burn complete at T+52:23, about 4 min ahead of the press kit timeline
January 11, 2026 at 2:40 PM
Falcon 9 upper stage second burn complete at T+52:23, about 4 min ahead of the press kit timeline
Reposted by Dr. Eric J. Fielding, PhD
Pandora was selected as a part of NASA's inaugural class of Pioneers missions. This is a $20M cost cap program meant to do new and exciting science for a fraction of the price of a flagship mission. See the initial press release from selection here!
science.nasa.gov/astrophysics...
science.nasa.gov/astrophysics...
Astrophysics Pioneers - NASA Science
The Pioneers Program is a new program started in 2020 which is intended to do compelling astrophysics science at a lower cost using smaller hardware than
science.nasa.gov
January 10, 2026 at 8:51 PM
Pandora was selected as a part of NASA's inaugural class of Pioneers missions. This is a $20M cost cap program meant to do new and exciting science for a fraction of the price of a flagship mission. See the initial press release from selection here!
science.nasa.gov/astrophysics...
science.nasa.gov/astrophysics...
Obstruction of justice is the new mode of the FBI and Department of Justice
January 8, 2026 at 9:37 PM
Obstruction of justice is the new mode of the FBI and Department of Justice
Reposted by Dr. Eric J. Fielding, PhD
Yay! Dr. Tanya Atwater finally getting public credit for her (very big) role in the plate tectonics revolution.
The discovery that the continents are in continuous motion is fairly recent—dating back only to the late 1960s — and one woman was responsible for decoding what it meant for California and much of the West Coast.
buff.ly/2vAwspH
buff.ly/2vAwspH
Drifters and the introduction of plate tectonics - High Country News
How the San Andreas fault and Tanya Atwater’s theory changed geology.
www.hcn.org
January 5, 2026 at 7:56 PM
Yay! Dr. Tanya Atwater finally getting public credit for her (very big) role in the plate tectonics revolution.
Reposted by Dr. Eric J. Fielding, PhD
When spacecraft fail, what happens? Mars Guy explores the Maven mission's unexpected rotation and potential fiery end.
Episode 248 / 4th January, 2026
Episode 248 / 4th January, 2026
When spacecraft fail
YouTube video by Mars Guy
www.youtube.com
January 5, 2026 at 4:10 PM
When spacecraft fail, what happens? Mars Guy explores the Maven mission's unexpected rotation and potential fiery end.
Episode 248 / 4th January, 2026
Episode 248 / 4th January, 2026
Calendar year is not the best interval to look at precipitation in California. Not sure about other states. The water year WY we use is October to September. WY 2025 was far below average in SoCal, but WY 2026 is far above average so far. Calendar 2025 is near average.
January 1, 2026 at 6:25 PM
Calendar year is not the best interval to look at precipitation in California. Not sure about other states. The water year WY we use is October to September. WY 2025 was far below average in SoCal, but WY 2026 is far above average so far. Calendar 2025 is near average.
Reposted by Dr. Eric J. Fielding, PhD
WTF. Holdings from the library at the Goddard Space Flight Center, which includes unique documents from the early 20th century to the Soviet space race, will be warehoused or THROWN OUT.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/c...
NASA’s Largest Library Is Closing Amid Staff and Lab Cuts
www.nytimes.com
January 1, 2026 at 4:46 PM
WTF. Holdings from the library at the Goddard Space Flight Center, which includes unique documents from the early 20th century to the Soviet space race, will be warehoused or THROWN OUT.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/c...
Reposted by Dr. Eric J. Fielding, PhD
Stunning footage from earlier today, when the new Kilauea eruption covered the USGS Webcam 3, which is situated in the Halemaʻumaʻu crater near the southern rim of the much larger Kilauea caldera.
This *isn't* what the people of Pompeii saw.
But it's not very far off.
This *isn't* what the people of Pompeii saw.
But it's not very far off.
December 7, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Stunning footage from earlier today, when the new Kilauea eruption covered the USGS Webcam 3, which is situated in the Halemaʻumaʻu crater near the southern rim of the much larger Kilauea caldera.
This *isn't* what the people of Pompeii saw.
But it's not very far off.
This *isn't* what the people of Pompeii saw.
But it's not very far off.
Reposted by Dr. Eric J. Fielding, PhD
*This* is what the people of Pompeii, and Herculaneum, and many other hapless souls saw—this is what a pyroclastic density current looks coming RIGHT at you.
Filmed from a CCTV camera during the Mount Semeru eruption on Java, Indonesia on 4 December 2022.
Video credit: PT United Tractors Tbk
Filmed from a CCTV camera during the Mount Semeru eruption on Java, Indonesia on 4 December 2022.
Video credit: PT United Tractors Tbk
December 7, 2025 at 3:24 AM
*This* is what the people of Pompeii, and Herculaneum, and many other hapless souls saw—this is what a pyroclastic density current looks coming RIGHT at you.
Filmed from a CCTV camera during the Mount Semeru eruption on Java, Indonesia on 4 December 2022.
Video credit: PT United Tractors Tbk
Filmed from a CCTV camera during the Mount Semeru eruption on Java, Indonesia on 4 December 2022.
Video credit: PT United Tractors Tbk
Several NASA projects are testing new ways to explore Mars. Death Valley sand dunes were used to test automatic navigation of drones over featurelesss areas of sand. www.nasa.gov/solar-system...
NASA Tests Drones in Death Valley, Preps for Martian Sands and Skies - NASA
Next-generation drone flight software is just one of 25 technologies for the Red Planet that the space agency funded for development this year.
www.nasa.gov
December 3, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Several NASA projects are testing new ways to explore Mars. Death Valley sand dunes were used to test automatic navigation of drones over featurelesss areas of sand. www.nasa.gov/solar-system...
NISAR systematic data processing includes Level 2 geocoded data products that are Analysis Ready Data. The geocoded unwrapped interferograms (GUNW) are HDF5/NETCDF files that can be loaded directly into ArcGIS or QGIS and other analysis programs. Polarimetric data geocoded as GCOV HDF5 products
November 29, 2025 at 6:05 PM
NISAR systematic data processing includes Level 2 geocoded data products that are Analysis Ready Data. The geocoded unwrapped interferograms (GUNW) are HDF5/NETCDF files that can be loaded directly into ArcGIS or QGIS and other analysis programs. Polarimetric data geocoded as GCOV HDF5 products
NISAR data will be available from NASA EarthData systems, including the Alaska Satellite Facility (ASF).
November 22, 2025 at 5:45 PM
NISAR data will be available from NASA EarthData systems, including the Alaska Satellite Facility (ASF).
Yes, lapse in funding for the US government slowed the commissioning, but most work at JPL was funded in advance and continued.
Full science acquisitions started at beginning of November, but calibration and other commissioning activities are still underway so data release delayed until January
Full science acquisitions started at beginning of November, but calibration and other commissioning activities are still underway so data release delayed until January
November 22, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Yes, lapse in funding for the US government slowed the commissioning, but most work at JPL was funded in advance and continued.
Full science acquisitions started at beginning of November, but calibration and other commissioning activities are still underway so data release delayed until January
Full science acquisitions started at beginning of November, but calibration and other commissioning activities are still underway so data release delayed until January
Reposted by Dr. Eric J. Fielding, PhD
HiRISE Image of Exocomet 3I/ATLAS!
On 2 October 2025, MRO turned away from Mars to image 3I/ATLAS, only the third interstellar object ever observed passing through our solar system!
https://www.uahirise.org/releases/3i-atlas/
On 2 October 2025, MRO turned away from Mars to image 3I/ATLAS, only the third interstellar object ever observed passing through our solar system!
https://www.uahirise.org/releases/3i-atlas/
November 19, 2025 at 9:01 PM
HiRISE Image of Exocomet 3I/ATLAS!
On 2 October 2025, MRO turned away from Mars to image 3I/ATLAS, only the third interstellar object ever observed passing through our solar system!
https://www.uahirise.org/releases/3i-atlas/
On 2 October 2025, MRO turned away from Mars to image 3I/ATLAS, only the third interstellar object ever observed passing through our solar system!
https://www.uahirise.org/releases/3i-atlas/
Interesting! Some of the arrows have different positions and directions in the old and new images.
November 17, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Interesting! Some of the arrows have different positions and directions in the old and new images.
The difference is now everyone has a tool for summarizing large volumes of text documents, the Large Language Models of ChatGPT and many others.
November 13, 2025 at 3:18 PM
The difference is now everyone has a tool for summarizing large volumes of text documents, the Large Language Models of ChatGPT and many others.
Reposted by Dr. Eric J. Fielding, PhD
“Space Waste” – New Reports Underscore Impacts from Satellite, Rocket Body Reentries as an “Uncontrolled experiment”
www.leonarddavid.com/space-waste-...
www.leonarddavid.com/space-waste-...
November 13, 2025 at 1:09 PM
“Space Waste” – New Reports Underscore Impacts from Satellite, Rocket Body Reentries as an “Uncontrolled experiment”
www.leonarddavid.com/space-waste-...
www.leonarddavid.com/space-waste-...
Reposted by Dr. Eric J. Fielding, PhD
Aurora's back at it Wednesday early evening at Poker Flats northeast of Fairbanks (65ºN). #akwx #Aurora @carrieinfbx.bsky.social @alaskannah.bsky.social @akskierken.bsky.social
November 13, 2025 at 4:54 AM
Aurora's back at it Wednesday early evening at Poker Flats northeast of Fairbanks (65ºN). #akwx #Aurora @carrieinfbx.bsky.social @alaskannah.bsky.social @akskierken.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr. Eric J. Fielding, PhD
Our National Parks are our “crown jewels.” Just one expert was plugging abandoned mines that leak methane and oil into these lands — until this administration let him go.
Their reckless cuts endanger Americans and create a new public health crisis.
Their reckless cuts endanger Americans and create a new public health crisis.
November 12, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Our National Parks are our “crown jewels.” Just one expert was plugging abandoned mines that leak methane and oil into these lands — until this administration let him go.
Their reckless cuts endanger Americans and create a new public health crisis.
Their reckless cuts endanger Americans and create a new public health crisis.
Reposted by Dr. Eric J. Fielding, PhD
FYI @rookisaacman.bsky.social is NOT an account run by Jared Isaacman or anyone associated with him. Yes, I checked.
November 7, 2025 at 9:17 PM
FYI @rookisaacman.bsky.social is NOT an account run by Jared Isaacman or anyone associated with him. Yes, I checked.
Reposted by Dr. Eric J. Fielding, PhD
This is what every single person with any experience in China has been warning about from the start.
Very good WaPo story by Katrina Northrop and Rudy Lu. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1... And good, clear headline!
Very good WaPo story by Katrina Northrop and Rudy Lu. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1... And good, clear headline!
November 7, 2025 at 4:20 AM
This is what every single person with any experience in China has been warning about from the start.
Very good WaPo story by Katrina Northrop and Rudy Lu. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1... And good, clear headline!
Very good WaPo story by Katrina Northrop and Rudy Lu. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1... And good, clear headline!
Reposted by Dr. Eric J. Fielding, PhD
JVL and Sarah Longwell take on the absurd “Sandwich Guy” trial:
"Got the officer up there talking about how he felt the impact through his ballistic vest and there were onions and mustard everywhere. And the jury looked at this and said: get the fuck out of here." www.thebulwark.com/p/jury-acqui...
"Got the officer up there talking about how he felt the impact through his ballistic vest and there were onions and mustard everywhere. And the jury looked at this and said: get the fuck out of here." www.thebulwark.com/p/jury-acqui...
November 7, 2025 at 4:23 AM
JVL and Sarah Longwell take on the absurd “Sandwich Guy” trial:
"Got the officer up there talking about how he felt the impact through his ballistic vest and there were onions and mustard everywhere. And the jury looked at this and said: get the fuck out of here." www.thebulwark.com/p/jury-acqui...
"Got the officer up there talking about how he felt the impact through his ballistic vest and there were onions and mustard everywhere. And the jury looked at this and said: get the fuck out of here." www.thebulwark.com/p/jury-acqui...
Reposted by Dr. Eric J. Fielding, PhD
NEW: Salt water laced with cancer-causing chemicals, a byproduct of oil and gas drilling, keeps shooting out of the ground in Oklahoma.
Experts say it means even more wastewater is spreading underground, poisoning the state’s water supply.
Experts say it means even more wastewater is spreading underground, poisoning the state’s water supply.
Toxic Wastewater From Oil Fields Keeps Pouring Out of the Ground. Oklahoma Regulators Failed to Stop It.
Salt water laced with cancer-causing chemicals, a byproduct of oil and gas drilling, is spewing from old wells. Experts warn of a pollution crisis spreading underground and threatening Oklahoma’s drinking water.
www.propublica.org
October 29, 2025 at 1:00 PM
NEW: Salt water laced with cancer-causing chemicals, a byproduct of oil and gas drilling, keeps shooting out of the ground in Oklahoma.
Experts say it means even more wastewater is spreading underground, poisoning the state’s water supply.
Experts say it means even more wastewater is spreading underground, poisoning the state’s water supply.
Reposted by Dr. Eric J. Fielding, PhD
Hurricane Melissa developed into a major Category 5 hurricane and is poised to make landfall in Jamaica overnight, where catastrophic damage is expected, according to the US National Hurricane Center's forecast. Follow for the latest maps and forecasts reut.rs/3LbNFck
October 27, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Hurricane Melissa developed into a major Category 5 hurricane and is poised to make landfall in Jamaica overnight, where catastrophic damage is expected, according to the US National Hurricane Center's forecast. Follow for the latest maps and forecasts reut.rs/3LbNFck