Phil Plait
@philplait.bsky.social
Bad Astronomer (formerly @BadAstronomer), SciCommer, Dork. Crash Course Astronomy guy. He/him. Newsletter: badastronomy.beehiiv.com
I'm self-employed so my opinions do in fact represent my company's.
I'm self-employed so my opinions do in fact represent my company's.
Pinned
Phil Plait
@philplait.bsky.social
· Oct 10
Pinned post:
Wanna know where all my stuff is? about.me/philplait
My book Under Alien Skies: underalienskies.com
My newsletter (Monday issues are free!): badastronomy.beehiiv.com
My fave post here on BlueSky: bsky.app/profile/phil...
Wanna know where all my stuff is? about.me/philplait
My book Under Alien Skies: underalienskies.com
My newsletter (Monday issues are free!): badastronomy.beehiiv.com
My fave post here on BlueSky: bsky.app/profile/phil...
Reposted by Phil Plait
If the government can take away your voting rights for a felony conviction, and they also decide what constitutes a felony, and they also decide who’s charged with the felony, and they also decide who’s prosecuted for the felony, you don’t have a right to vote.
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger endorsed a constitutional amendment to automatically restore voting rights to people with felony convictions when they leave prison. State lawmakers passed the amendment and it will now appear on the state ballot.
“It’s Time”: Virginia Lawmakers Ask Voters to Repeal Jim Crow-Era Lifetime Ban on Voting
Voters will decide this year whether to end Virginia’s uniquely harsh felony disenfranchisement rules. They
boltsmag.org
February 12, 2026 at 3:10 AM
If the government can take away your voting rights for a felony conviction, and they also decide what constitutes a felony, and they also decide who’s charged with the felony, and they also decide who’s prosecuted for the felony, you don’t have a right to vote.
Years ago it *was* fixable. It still is, if we can get the fascists out of power.
February 12, 2026 at 2:50 AM
Years ago it *was* fixable. It still is, if we can get the fascists out of power.
Man, I hate my tablet keyboard. D
From, not forrm
From, not forrm
February 12, 2026 at 2:48 AM
Man, I hate my tablet keyboard. D
From, not forrm
From, not forrm
Tamino forrm Open Mind has been beating this drum for years, showing a clear acceleration in the warming.
tamino.wordpress.com/2025/05/28/h...
tamino.wordpress.com/2025/05/28/h...
February 12, 2026 at 2:42 AM
Tamino forrm Open Mind has been beating this drum for years, showing a clear acceleration in the warming.
tamino.wordpress.com/2025/05/28/h...
tamino.wordpress.com/2025/05/28/h...
Reposted by Phil Plait
Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science! ⭐️
Loved my research, but was drawn to follow my passion in a way I could combine science, art, and education. It’s a privilege to share my paintings with you! Thanks for sticking around to support this journey 🤗
Loved my research, but was drawn to follow my passion in a way I could combine science, art, and education. It’s a privilege to share my paintings with you! Thanks for sticking around to support this journey 🤗
February 12, 2026 at 2:16 AM
Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science! ⭐️
Loved my research, but was drawn to follow my passion in a way I could combine science, art, and education. It’s a privilege to share my paintings with you! Thanks for sticking around to support this journey 🤗
Loved my research, but was drawn to follow my passion in a way I could combine science, art, and education. It’s a privilege to share my paintings with you! Thanks for sticking around to support this journey 🤗
That's Peabody Energy CEO Jim Grech giving Trump this embarrassingly obvious trophy. I'm surprised he didn't just literally kiss Trump's ass.
More on this cringey display of sycophantry: www.msn.com/en-us/politi...
More on this cringey display of sycophantry: www.msn.com/en-us/politi...
February 12, 2026 at 12:27 AM
That's Peabody Energy CEO Jim Grech giving Trump this embarrassingly obvious trophy. I'm surprised he didn't just literally kiss Trump's ass.
More on this cringey display of sycophantry: www.msn.com/en-us/politi...
More on this cringey display of sycophantry: www.msn.com/en-us/politi...
Given Ronin's character, yeah, it would seem appropriate to mention.
February 12, 2026 at 12:08 AM
Given Ronin's character, yeah, it would seem appropriate to mention.
Less expression even
February 11, 2026 at 11:06 PM
Less expression even
Reposted by Phil Plait
Over on threads someone just use ai;dr and we all need to adopt that right quick
February 11, 2026 at 7:56 PM
Over on threads someone just use ai;dr and we all need to adopt that right quick
Reposted by Phil Plait
i’ve said they don’t understand object permanence but in this case they really are closing their eyes and pretending it makes things go away
Gallup will no longer measure presidential approval after 88 years thehill.com/homenews/med...
February 11, 2026 at 8:00 PM
i’ve said they don’t understand object permanence but in this case they really are closing their eyes and pretending it makes things go away
Well, I'm back from my West Texas party where we had a lot of fun but some balloons escaped and now it's time to check Bluesky but first let me get a big mouthful of water
February 11, 2026 at 9:33 PM
Well, I'm back from my West Texas party where we had a lot of fun but some balloons escaped and now it's time to check Bluesky but first let me get a big mouthful of water
Reposted by Phil Plait
She spent the whole morning performatively screaming at Congressmen, but this image of Bondi saying nothing and refusing to turn around will be the only real takeaway from her testimony today.
Likely-historic photo by NBC News of all the Epstein victims asked to raise their hands if they've not yet been asked to meet with the DOJ as Bondi testifies in foreground
February 11, 2026 at 6:31 PM
She spent the whole morning performatively screaming at Congressmen, but this image of Bondi saying nothing and refusing to turn around will be the only real takeaway from her testimony today.
it's not really a matter of understanding the science. It's a matter of lying.
bsky.app/profile/phil...
bsky.app/profile/phil...
This is among the most egregious lies about all this. First, the fossil fuel industry gets HUGE subsidies from the government (Burgum whines about supporting renewable energy), but the CO2 stuff is such a mind-boggingly braindead claim it amazes me anyone buys it. Like flat-Earth level bullshit.
drowning is impossible. your body is 2/3 water
February 11, 2026 at 4:45 PM
it's not really a matter of understanding the science. It's a matter of lying.
bsky.app/profile/phil...
bsky.app/profile/phil...
I hadn't heard that one. But yes, we don't want bad arguments even when they support our fight.
February 11, 2026 at 3:46 PM
I hadn't heard that one. But yes, we don't want bad arguments even when they support our fight.
This is among the most egregious lies about all this. First, the fossil fuel industry gets HUGE subsidies from the government (Burgum whines about supporting renewable energy), but the CO2 stuff is such a mind-boggingly braindead claim it amazes me anyone buys it. Like flat-Earth level bullshit.
drowning is impossible. your body is 2/3 water
Burgum: "CO2 was never a pollutant. When we breathe, we emit CO2. Plants need CO2 to survive and grow. They thrive with more CO2. So the whole endangerment thing opens up an opportunity for the revival of clean, beautiful, American coal."
February 11, 2026 at 3:41 PM
This is among the most egregious lies about all this. First, the fossil fuel industry gets HUGE subsidies from the government (Burgum whines about supporting renewable energy), but the CO2 stuff is such a mind-boggingly braindead claim it amazes me anyone buys it. Like flat-Earth level bullshit.
Some of that. Most of it is ejected into the galaxy to form the clouds. Some could impact other stars and planets, but the amount would be tiny. I think the clouds are too diffuse to collpase into solid bodies around the star though. Maybe a ring or shell of material around it instead.
February 11, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Some of that. Most of it is ejected into the galaxy to form the clouds. Some could impact other stars and planets, but the amount would be tiny. I think the clouds are too diffuse to collpase into solid bodies around the star though. Maybe a ring or shell of material around it instead.
Trump mandates all schoolchildren eat at least 16 ounces of coal every day
Trump to direct Pentagon to buy coal to revive industry, Bloomberg News says reut.rs/46vkQiO
Trump to direct Pentagon to buy coal to revive industry, Bloomberg News says
U.S. President Donald Trump is set to direct the Pentagon to use government funding and Pentagon contracts to sustain U.S. coal-fired power plants, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing a White House official.
reut.rs
February 11, 2026 at 1:27 PM
Trump mandates all schoolchildren eat at least 16 ounces of coal every day
Reposted by Phil Plait
I drew a face on a paper plate. Who could even begin to understand how it perceives the world or what it dreams of?
Researchers working with the A.I. system Claude have come to understand that the model’s selfhood, like our own, is a matter of both neurons and narratives. newyorkermag.visitlink.me/kEX1vV
February 11, 2026 at 4:39 AM
I drew a face on a paper plate. Who could even begin to understand how it perceives the world or what it dreams of?
Reposted by Phil Plait
3/ Are you a woman interested in career opportunities at ESO?
Join the Virtual Career Fair for Women in STEM 2026. The event offers the opportunity to connect with representatives from ESO and other leading organisations.
🗓️ 19 March
ℹ️ www.impactpool.org/vcf/events/3...
🔭 🧪
Join the Virtual Career Fair for Women in STEM 2026. The event offers the opportunity to connect with representatives from ESO and other leading organisations.
🗓️ 19 March
ℹ️ www.impactpool.org/vcf/events/3...
🔭 🧪
February 11, 2026 at 10:47 AM
3/ Are you a woman interested in career opportunities at ESO?
Join the Virtual Career Fair for Women in STEM 2026. The event offers the opportunity to connect with representatives from ESO and other leading organisations.
🗓️ 19 March
ℹ️ www.impactpool.org/vcf/events/3...
🔭 🧪
Join the Virtual Career Fair for Women in STEM 2026. The event offers the opportunity to connect with representatives from ESO and other leading organisations.
🗓️ 19 March
ℹ️ www.impactpool.org/vcf/events/3...
🔭 🧪
Wow, that's amazing!
February 11, 2026 at 4:16 AM
Wow, that's amazing!
You just want any excuse to post that pic.:)
February 11, 2026 at 4:14 AM
You just want any excuse to post that pic.:)
Oh, of course. I wasn't thinking about the fact that all the lensed objects were at roughly the same distance. I wonder if, with sufficient observations, there'd a bump at the Einstein radius for the LMC and SMC. M31, too.
February 11, 2026 at 3:15 AM
Oh, of course. I wasn't thinking about the fact that all the lensed objects were at roughly the same distance. I wonder if, with sufficient observations, there'd a bump at the Einstein radius for the LMC and SMC. M31, too.