Dr. Jillian Scudder
@jillianscudder.com
Astrophysicist, author (40 Ways to Know A Star, Milky Way Smells of Rum & Raspberries), artist, sewist, science communicator. English/Français/子供の日本語。Associate Professor. hEDS ♿️. She/her. 🏳️🌈. Opinions all mine.
https://www.jillianscudder.com/books
https://www.jillianscudder.com/books
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Dr. Jillian Scudder
@jillianscudder.com
· Mar 19
Hello folks in spite of The Everything™️, my next book is out in one week!! 7 days!
If you would like to have a small heavily illustrated book tell you about the stars illuminating our understanding of the cosmos, this is your book!
To preorder (US): bookshop.org/p/books/fort...
🧪🔭📚 #booksky
If you would like to have a small heavily illustrated book tell you about the stars illuminating our understanding of the cosmos, this is your book!
To preorder (US): bookshop.org/p/books/fort...
🧪🔭📚 #booksky
Oh you know the weather forecast is bad when the pharmacy texts you a reminder to come get your meds “to avoid disruptions in your medication schedule”. 🌨️
January 24, 2026 at 12:06 AM
Oh you know the weather forecast is bad when the pharmacy texts you a reminder to come get your meds “to avoid disruptions in your medication schedule”. 🌨️
The giant 8ft not-plants in the Devonian period of Earth are apparently not fungus either! A fun thread. 🧪
Our paper on the mysterious Devonian organism Prototaxites has now finally been published! See the paper here (www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...) and our explainer thread below!
Prototaxites reconstruction by Matt Humpage
Prototaxites reconstruction by Matt Humpage
January 21, 2026 at 11:47 PM
The giant 8ft not-plants in the Devonian period of Earth are apparently not fungus either! A fun thread. 🧪
Someone once stopped by my table at a book fair and very sadly said they wished they could buy my book but they were out of cash. The way they *lit up* when I told them they could check if their local library had it (and they could request it, if not).
Libraries are great.
Libraries are great.
Someone said to me, "I'm sorry but I got your book from a library." Nobody should ever apologise for that. You read my book! That's brilliant! I grew up hanging out in libraries and the idea of a world without them fills me with dread. Without libraries, authors, like readers, will only suffer.
January 20, 2026 at 2:04 PM
Someone once stopped by my table at a book fair and very sadly said they wished they could buy my book but they were out of cash. The way they *lit up* when I told them they could check if their local library had it (and they could request it, if not).
Libraries are great.
Libraries are great.
Went outside in a severe cold weather advisory to check for the aurora and did not see the aurora but did see Orion looking stunning to the south 📷: iPhone w/quick edits for contrast. 🔭
January 20, 2026 at 4:26 AM
Went outside in a severe cold weather advisory to check for the aurora and did not see the aurora but did see Orion looking stunning to the south 📷: iPhone w/quick edits for contrast. 🔭
Squinting at cleardarksky for the cloud cover forecast says mayyyyyybe around midnight we’ll have clear skies here to check for aurora.
However there is also this situation. (Celsius). If I turn off all my lights can I watch from inside?
However there is also this situation. (Celsius). If I turn off all my lights can I watch from inside?
January 19, 2026 at 11:21 PM
Squinting at cleardarksky for the cloud cover forecast says mayyyyyybe around midnight we’ll have clear skies here to check for aurora.
However there is also this situation. (Celsius). If I turn off all my lights can I watch from inside?
However there is also this situation. (Celsius). If I turn off all my lights can I watch from inside?
Reposted by Dr. Jillian Scudder
If you’ve got clear skies tonight keep an eye on the sky north and up once it’s dark. Looks like we might have a very aurora evening.
January 19, 2026 at 10:15 PM
If you’ve got clear skies tonight keep an eye on the sky north and up once it’s dark. Looks like we might have a very aurora evening.
I’m going to go ahead and declare that moving house might be the most hEDS-unfriendly activity.
Lift everything you own to put it in boxes? ✅
Lift it all again on the other end? ✅
Too much cleaning? ✅
Sense of urgency? ✅
An alternative exists but is a luxury service and costs 💰💰💰? ✅
Lift everything you own to put it in boxes? ✅
Lift it all again on the other end? ✅
Too much cleaning? ✅
Sense of urgency? ✅
An alternative exists but is a luxury service and costs 💰💰💰? ✅
January 18, 2026 at 11:06 PM
I’m going to go ahead and declare that moving house might be the most hEDS-unfriendly activity.
Lift everything you own to put it in boxes? ✅
Lift it all again on the other end? ✅
Too much cleaning? ✅
Sense of urgency? ✅
An alternative exists but is a luxury service and costs 💰💰💰? ✅
Lift everything you own to put it in boxes? ✅
Lift it all again on the other end? ✅
Too much cleaning? ✅
Sense of urgency? ✅
An alternative exists but is a luxury service and costs 💰💰💰? ✅
Wrote a bad introduction to my next science paper today. It’ll get fixed! But some text is better than none text even if only 2% survives into the final draft. 🧪🔭
January 14, 2026 at 8:56 PM
Wrote a bad introduction to my next science paper today. It’ll get fixed! But some text is better than none text even if only 2% survives into the final draft. 🧪🔭
Six skeins complete. 55in. 🧶
January 14, 2026 at 12:54 AM
Six skeins complete. 55in. 🧶
Genuinely love to see folks enjoying my books!!
I just finished reading this. It’s great! I especially liked the information on galaxies, because I had been struggling with that. Highly recommended!
January 11, 2026 at 10:06 PM
Genuinely love to see folks enjoying my books!!
Reposted by Dr. Jillian Scudder
FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS GOOD IN THE UNIVERSE
PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
OpenAI launches ChatGPT Health, encouraging users to connect their medical records
But it’s ‘not intended for diagnosis or treatment.’
www.theverge.com
January 8, 2026 at 8:55 PM
FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS GOOD IN THE UNIVERSE
PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
My poor Teacup cat is now at rest. In the end, it seemed she had some kind of cancer, and she was in pain. I am devastated, but it was the only path that remained.
Since I adopted her, she went from scared of *everything* to sleeping deeply on my lap. What an honor to have the tiny cat trust.
Since I adopted her, she went from scared of *everything* to sleeping deeply on my lap. What an honor to have the tiny cat trust.
January 7, 2026 at 2:53 PM
My poor Teacup cat is now at rest. In the end, it seemed she had some kind of cancer, and she was in pain. I am devastated, but it was the only path that remained.
Since I adopted her, she went from scared of *everything* to sleeping deeply on my lap. What an honor to have the tiny cat trust.
Since I adopted her, she went from scared of *everything* to sleeping deeply on my lap. What an honor to have the tiny cat trust.
Inbox down below 70. Four letters of recommendation submitted, six computers updated to a newer OS, two public talks scheduled for later this year, and one conference abstract written & submitted.
Going home to see if I can convince Teacup cat to eat lunch.
Going home to see if I can convince Teacup cat to eat lunch.
January 5, 2026 at 7:42 PM
Inbox down below 70. Four letters of recommendation submitted, six computers updated to a newer OS, two public talks scheduled for later this year, and one conference abstract written & submitted.
Going home to see if I can convince Teacup cat to eat lunch.
Going home to see if I can convince Teacup cat to eat lunch.
Starting the year off medically strong with a NINE vial blood draw before breakfast.
(Yes. I did make bloodletting jokes to the phlebotomist)
(Yes. I did make bloodletting jokes to the phlebotomist)
January 5, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Starting the year off medically strong with a NINE vial blood draw before breakfast.
(Yes. I did make bloodletting jokes to the phlebotomist)
(Yes. I did make bloodletting jokes to the phlebotomist)
The good news today is that The Belly made a reappearance.
January 4, 2026 at 12:04 AM
The good news today is that The Belly made a reappearance.
I am packing my home up in preparation for a move, and often I hit this moment of “why do I have so much STUFF”, but this time I am handling all my things with more fondness. I think I’ve managed to surround myself with things that spark joy.
January 2, 2026 at 10:56 PM
I am packing my home up in preparation for a move, and often I hit this moment of “why do I have so much STUFF”, but this time I am handling all my things with more fondness. I think I’ve managed to surround myself with things that spark joy.
This morning my tiny Teacup cat heard my alarm go off and promptly jumped up on the bed to stand on me and beg for attention, so I can say she is back to many of her old tricks. She is (finally) eating almost a normal amount of food. Recovery continues.
She has been cleared to come home!
Death does not get to have her yet.
Death does not get to have her yet.
My tiny Teacup cat has been in cat ICU for two days, after abruptly becoming critically ill. She started to eat again this morning, finally. Her kidneys and pancreas were shutting down, for no obvious reason. She’s not out of the woods yet, but Death will have to fight me (& vets & science) for her.
January 2, 2026 at 6:55 PM
This morning my tiny Teacup cat heard my alarm go off and promptly jumped up on the bed to stand on me and beg for attention, so I can say she is back to many of her old tricks. She is (finally) eating almost a normal amount of food. Recovery continues.
I choose to believe that I am the source of the peril and not the subject.
January 1, 2026 at 10:53 PM
I choose to believe that I am the source of the peril and not the subject.
Reposted by Dr. Jillian Scudder
January 1, 2026 at 2:05 PM
I had different plans for the end of my 2025, but my cat’s kidneys and pancreas abruptly not working for ????? reasons threw pretty much all of them out the window. That’s ok. We are taking things day by day instead.
January 1, 2026 at 12:01 AM
I had different plans for the end of my 2025, but my cat’s kidneys and pancreas abruptly not working for ????? reasons threw pretty much all of them out the window. That’s ok. We are taking things day by day instead.
In end of semester course evaluation, had a student write:
“I hope someday I care about anything as much as Prof. Scudder cares about space.”
“I hope someday I care about anything as much as Prof. Scudder cares about space.”
Forget insults, what’s the most unhinged *compliment* you’ve ever received?
December 30, 2025 at 11:42 PM
In end of semester course evaluation, had a student write:
“I hope someday I care about anything as much as Prof. Scudder cares about space.”
“I hope someday I care about anything as much as Prof. Scudder cares about space.”
She has been cleared to come home!
Death does not get to have her yet.
Death does not get to have her yet.
My tiny Teacup cat has been in cat ICU for two days, after abruptly becoming critically ill. She started to eat again this morning, finally. Her kidneys and pancreas were shutting down, for no obvious reason. She’s not out of the woods yet, but Death will have to fight me (& vets & science) for her.
December 29, 2025 at 9:23 PM
She has been cleared to come home!
Death does not get to have her yet.
Death does not get to have her yet.
My tiny Teacup cat has been in cat ICU for two days, after abruptly becoming critically ill. She started to eat again this morning, finally. Her kidneys and pancreas were shutting down, for no obvious reason. She’s not out of the woods yet, but Death will have to fight me (& vets & science) for her.
December 29, 2025 at 6:48 PM
My tiny Teacup cat has been in cat ICU for two days, after abruptly becoming critically ill. She started to eat again this morning, finally. Her kidneys and pancreas were shutting down, for no obvious reason. She’s not out of the woods yet, but Death will have to fight me (& vets & science) for her.
Me, this morning: okay I’ve had an hour and a half of productive procrastination, I’m going to lock in and do this grading
My cat, 1.5 minutes later: [horking noises from the other room]
My cat, 1.5 minutes later: [horking noises from the other room]
December 23, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Me, this morning: okay I’ve had an hour and a half of productive procrastination, I’m going to lock in and do this grading
My cat, 1.5 minutes later: [horking noises from the other room]
My cat, 1.5 minutes later: [horking noises from the other room]
Grades are in for one of my classes. If I can muster the focus, grades should be submitted tomorrow for the other one. I very much want to be done with the semester.
December 23, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Grades are in for one of my classes. If I can muster the focus, grades should be submitted tomorrow for the other one. I very much want to be done with the semester.