Leila Belkora PhD, astrophysics
@leilabelkora.bsky.social
Science writer. Roots in US (NE/CO), Morocco, Switzerland. She/her. Current project: poet Robert Frost as amateur astronomer, to come from Clemson @cupress.bsky.social
Agent Henry Thayer at Brandt & Hochman.
Agent Henry Thayer at Brandt & Hochman.
Reposting this, as I believe the discount code is good through this month. 🧪🔭
The book is not a textbook, but some undergraduate astronomy instructors have put it on their recommended reading lists.
The book is not a textbook, but some undergraduate astronomy instructors have put it on their recommended reading lists.
If you’re in the market for a book on the history of astronomy, praised by Cornell prof Martha Haynes as “A terrific blend of the science and the history,” good news! 🧪🔭
I have a 20% discount code for you, valid now through Jan 2026: 25SMA4.
I have a 20% discount code for you, valid now through Jan 2026: 25SMA4.
January 4, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Reposting this, as I believe the discount code is good through this month. 🧪🔭
The book is not a textbook, but some undergraduate astronomy instructors have put it on their recommended reading lists.
The book is not a textbook, but some undergraduate astronomy instructors have put it on their recommended reading lists.
Reposted by Leila Belkora PhD, astrophysics
Happy Perihelion Day! Today Earth reaches the closest point to the Sun in its orbit. Here are two images I took of the Sun last year showing that the Sun does indeed look a bit bigger in January when we are closest to the Sun than it does in July when we are farthest. 🔭
January 3, 2026 at 4:47 PM
Happy Perihelion Day! Today Earth reaches the closest point to the Sun in its orbit. Here are two images I took of the Sun last year showing that the Sun does indeed look a bit bigger in January when we are closest to the Sun than it does in July when we are farthest. 🔭
Happy New Year!
Bonne Année!
I hope 2026 brings you good health, good fortune, and a year of good books, art, and music too.
Bonne Année!
I hope 2026 brings you good health, good fortune, and a year of good books, art, and music too.
January 1, 2026 at 4:53 AM
Happy New Year!
Bonne Année!
I hope 2026 brings you good health, good fortune, and a year of good books, art, and music too.
Bonne Année!
I hope 2026 brings you good health, good fortune, and a year of good books, art, and music too.
Family trip to Laguna Beach today. It was overcast, but the fog was low, so we had a good view of Catalina Island. Saw an exhibit of Swiss-born artist Conrad Buff.
December 30, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Family trip to Laguna Beach today. It was overcast, but the fog was low, so we had a good view of Catalina Island. Saw an exhibit of Swiss-born artist Conrad Buff.
Reposted by Leila Belkora PhD, astrophysics
The interstellar #comet #3I/ATLAS is currently visible in the constellation Leo. I took this image on 14 December through my C8 with an ASI294mc Pro. 3I was brighter than I expected at the time, and numerous galaxies are also visible in the background.
#astrophotography @kat-astro-bot.bsky.social
#astrophotography @kat-astro-bot.bsky.social
December 28, 2025 at 9:48 PM
The interstellar #comet #3I/ATLAS is currently visible in the constellation Leo. I took this image on 14 December through my C8 with an ASI294mc Pro. 3I was brighter than I expected at the time, and numerous galaxies are also visible in the background.
#astrophotography @kat-astro-bot.bsky.social
#astrophotography @kat-astro-bot.bsky.social
Ever since our daughter arrived from Albuquerque we’ve been having biscochitos with our biscochito-flavored coffee. New Mexicans will understand.
December 28, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Ever since our daughter arrived from Albuquerque we’ve been having biscochitos with our biscochito-flavored coffee. New Mexicans will understand.
My favorite suggested title in this thread is the one for rubber bands.
And yes, there are books on carbon dioxide, salt, dust, tuberculosis…
And yes, there are books on carbon dioxide, salt, dust, tuberculosis…
Just looked it up and there are books about both the history of dust and the history of sand (both of which sound fascinating IMO) and now I'm wondering what specific-item history books have NOT been written yet (but should be)
A Social History of Drinking Vessels? How Capybaras Changed the World?
A Social History of Drinking Vessels? How Capybaras Changed the World?
December 27, 2025 at 9:04 PM
My favorite suggested title in this thread is the one for rubber bands.
And yes, there are books on carbon dioxide, salt, dust, tuberculosis…
And yes, there are books on carbon dioxide, salt, dust, tuberculosis…
I really enjoyed “Frieze Frame” by @aestallings.bsky.social. A multifaceted account of “the Marbles” of the Parthenon and other sites, told through short, lively chapters on different aspects of their history and nature.
December 27, 2025 at 6:46 AM
I really enjoyed “Frieze Frame” by @aestallings.bsky.social. A multifaceted account of “the Marbles” of the Parthenon and other sites, told through short, lively chapters on different aspects of their history and nature.
We’re opening presents today, since our daughter was traveling from New Mexico yesterday.
My mother-in-law cross-stitched many of our tree ornaments.
My mother-in-law cross-stitched many of our tree ornaments.
December 26, 2025 at 5:16 PM
We’re opening presents today, since our daughter was traveling from New Mexico yesterday.
My mother-in-law cross-stitched many of our tree ornaments.
My mother-in-law cross-stitched many of our tree ornaments.
Reposted by Leila Belkora PhD, astrophysics
This year's gingerbread is the Vera Rubin Observatory! @vrubinobs.bsky.social
December 25, 2025 at 1:34 PM
This year's gingerbread is the Vera Rubin Observatory! @vrubinobs.bsky.social
My favorite t-shirt, the planets as Christmas tree ornaments. (I think it was from the Planetary Society.)
Merry Christmas to those who celebrate, and happy and peaceful end-of-year to all.
And thank you to essential workers on the job today.
Merry Christmas to those who celebrate, and happy and peaceful end-of-year to all.
And thank you to essential workers on the job today.
December 25, 2025 at 6:05 PM
My favorite t-shirt, the planets as Christmas tree ornaments. (I think it was from the Planetary Society.)
Merry Christmas to those who celebrate, and happy and peaceful end-of-year to all.
And thank you to essential workers on the job today.
Merry Christmas to those who celebrate, and happy and peaceful end-of-year to all.
And thank you to essential workers on the job today.
The UN proclaimed 2025 the Int’l Year of Quantum Science and Technology.
I was too busy to celebrate, except that just now I read this from @ryandahn.com.
A succinct history of a pivotal period, arguing against the portrayal of Heisenberg as a lone genius. 🧪
physicstoday.aip.org/features/dem...
I was too busy to celebrate, except that just now I read this from @ryandahn.com.
A succinct history of a pivotal period, arguing against the portrayal of Heisenberg as a lone genius. 🧪
physicstoday.aip.org/features/dem...
Demythologizing quantum history
Celebrating the 100th anniversary of quantum mechanics in 2025 without providing appropriate context risks reinforcing a long legacy of hagiography and hero worship.
physicstoday.aip.org
December 24, 2025 at 4:48 AM
The UN proclaimed 2025 the Int’l Year of Quantum Science and Technology.
I was too busy to celebrate, except that just now I read this from @ryandahn.com.
A succinct history of a pivotal period, arguing against the portrayal of Heisenberg as a lone genius. 🧪
physicstoday.aip.org/features/dem...
I was too busy to celebrate, except that just now I read this from @ryandahn.com.
A succinct history of a pivotal period, arguing against the portrayal of Heisenberg as a lone genius. 🧪
physicstoday.aip.org/features/dem...
I’m catching up on old issues of Physics Today (as one does during the holidays, right?) and came across this gem from the great Dr. Jennifer Sieben @tardiseeker.bsky.social. Leave it to physicists to figure out how to cook eggs perfectly—if rather cumbersomely. 🧪
December 23, 2025 at 8:58 PM
I’m catching up on old issues of Physics Today (as one does during the holidays, right?) and came across this gem from the great Dr. Jennifer Sieben @tardiseeker.bsky.social. Leave it to physicists to figure out how to cook eggs perfectly—if rather cumbersomely. 🧪
By a fluke of funding, I’ll be attending my first AHA in a few weeks. Event specific advice welcome!
Friends, let me know if you’ll be there! And if you’d like to perhaps get a coffee and learn more about SHI fellowships, collections, scholarly programs, and academic partnerships :)
Friends, let me know if you’ll be there! And if you’d like to perhaps get a coffee and learn more about SHI fellowships, collections, scholarly programs, and academic partnerships :)
December 23, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Reposted by Leila Belkora PhD, astrophysics
The Radioactive Reindeer Problem
daily.jstor.org/the-radioact...
daily.jstor.org/the-radioact...
The Radioactive Reindeer Problem - JSTOR Daily
Cold War nuclear testing left troubling levels of Cesium-137 in caribou, prompting years of research into Arctic fallout and its risks to human health.
daily.jstor.org
December 23, 2025 at 8:41 PM
The Radioactive Reindeer Problem
daily.jstor.org/the-radioact...
daily.jstor.org/the-radioact...
Reposted by Leila Belkora PhD, astrophysics
Went to an actual bookstore and promptly forgot which book I wanted and two staff members patiently prodded my brain until it shook loose. Amazon could never
December 22, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Went to an actual bookstore and promptly forgot which book I wanted and two staff members patiently prodded my brain until it shook loose. Amazon could never
Walked around the San Joaquin marsh and water treatment plant. Met some friendly birders from Wisconsin. Saw a very large flock of cedar waxwings—such handsome birds.
December 22, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Walked around the San Joaquin marsh and water treatment plant. Met some friendly birders from Wisconsin. Saw a very large flock of cedar waxwings—such handsome birds.
Great journalism with real-world implications. And it ends with a simple but accurate quote: “Many people are unaware of the true nature of lead. They don’t understand the danger.” 🧪 gift article
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/w...
Nigeria Closes Factories Linked to U.S. Auto Industry Amid Poisoning Inquiry
www.nytimes.com
December 21, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Great journalism with real-world implications. And it ends with a simple but accurate quote: “Many people are unaware of the true nature of lead. They don’t understand the danger.” 🧪 gift article
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/w...
Reposted by Leila Belkora PhD, astrophysics
Pantone just updated their Color Of The Year
December 20, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Pantone just updated their Color Of The Year
Important thread on hallucinated a.i. academic papers/titles showing up in library searches, giving the impression (to those who don’t check further) that they are real. 🧪
5) AI is cleary messing up academic bibliographic work, and if this turns out right, i.e. that library page's are temporarily showing every hallucinated content that Google (or others) are offering, then we are truly cooked.
December 21, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Important thread on hallucinated a.i. academic papers/titles showing up in library searches, giving the impression (to those who don’t check further) that they are real. 🧪
This is lovely. I’m so glad to know the phrase “fog dog” now—a useful term for a partial break in the fog.
Only 4 days left to go in this year’s Coastal Lexicon Advent Calendar — reflections on a different coastal word each day, gradually building up a ‘coastal lexicon’ as we get nearer to Christmas🎄
🌊You can catch up on Days 1-20 in the post below — many thanks to everyone who has got involved so far!
🌊You can catch up on Days 1-20 in the post below — many thanks to everyone who has got involved so far!
The Coastal Lexicon Advent Calendar
A love letter to language, landscape, place, history and the sea
northseanexus.substack.com
December 21, 2025 at 4:04 PM
This is lovely. I’m so glad to know the phrase “fog dog” now—a useful term for a partial break in the fog.
Reposted by Leila Belkora PhD, astrophysics
This is a bigger deal than most people realize.
There are some… encryption efforts that are dependent upon *precise* corrections to time stamps.
NIST is one of those government agencies that a huge portion of the world is unaware of their dependence upon.
There are some… encryption efforts that are dependent upon *precise* corrections to time stamps.
NIST is one of those government agencies that a huge portion of the world is unaware of their dependence upon.
The atomic ensemble time scale at the NIST Boulder campus has failed.
December 20, 2025 at 11:22 PM
This is a bigger deal than most people realize.
There are some… encryption efforts that are dependent upon *precise* corrections to time stamps.
NIST is one of those government agencies that a huge portion of the world is unaware of their dependence upon.
There are some… encryption efforts that are dependent upon *precise* corrections to time stamps.
NIST is one of those government agencies that a huge portion of the world is unaware of their dependence upon.
Reposted by Leila Belkora PhD, astrophysics
"Anyone who has lived through an English winter can see the point of building Stonehenge to make the Sun come back."
Alison Jolly 1988 CE
Alison Jolly 1988 CE
December 20, 2025 at 11:08 PM
"Anyone who has lived through an English winter can see the point of building Stonehenge to make the Sun come back."
Alison Jolly 1988 CE
Alison Jolly 1988 CE
The rain coming to Southern California will probably batter our neglected garden, so here’s a last look at the roses.
December 20, 2025 at 12:11 AM
The rain coming to Southern California will probably batter our neglected garden, so here’s a last look at the roses.
Reposted by Leila Belkora PhD, astrophysics
It's been a privilege to be a judge for the PEN America / E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award for 2025! Our longlist of ten finalists was announced this week: pen.org/announcing-t... (you have to scroll down a bit; PEN has a multitude of categories!) Big winner to be announced in January!
Announcing the 2026 PEN America Literary Awards Longlists
PEN America is honored to announce the Longlists for the 2026 Literary Awards, which will confer nearly $350,000 to writers and translators.
pen.org
December 19, 2025 at 8:29 PM
It's been a privilege to be a judge for the PEN America / E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award for 2025! Our longlist of ten finalists was announced this week: pen.org/announcing-t... (you have to scroll down a bit; PEN has a multitude of categories!) Big winner to be announced in January!