Richard Easther
@rjme.bsky.social
Father, husband, scientist, Kiwi diaspora returnee, prof @aucklanduni.bsky.social - opinions mine. He/Him
Science: https://cosmology.auckland.ac.nz
Blog: https://excursionset.com
Newsletter: https://buttondown.com/excursionset
Science: https://cosmology.auckland.ac.nz
Blog: https://excursionset.com
Newsletter: https://buttondown.com/excursionset
Reposted by Richard Easther
February 14, 2026 at 7:58 AM
Paper day: Stone Skipping Black Holes in Ultralight Dark Matter Solitons with Luna Zagorac @cosmolooney.bsky.social Frank Wang and Alan Zhang 🔭🧪
This is a lovely piece of work and some subtle physics relating to a fascinating model of dark matter arxiv.org/abs/2602.11512
This is a lovely piece of work and some subtle physics relating to a fascinating model of dark matter arxiv.org/abs/2602.11512
Stone Skipping Black Holes in Ultralight Dark Matter Solitons
The orbit of a black hole moving within an ultralight dark matter (ULDM) soliton is naively expected to decay due to dynamical friction. However, single black holes can undergo ``stone skipping'', wit...
arxiv.org
February 13, 2026 at 4:46 AM
Paper day: Stone Skipping Black Holes in Ultralight Dark Matter Solitons with Luna Zagorac @cosmolooney.bsky.social Frank Wang and Alan Zhang 🔭🧪
This is a lovely piece of work and some subtle physics relating to a fascinating model of dark matter arxiv.org/abs/2602.11512
This is a lovely piece of work and some subtle physics relating to a fascinating model of dark matter arxiv.org/abs/2602.11512
Reposted by Richard Easther
A physics professor -- namely me -- on the new launch cap. The biggest question is whether we trust the New Zealand Space Agency to do their job when no-one can see...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Government increases New Zealand space launch limit to 1000
But a physics professor says he does not trust the New Zealand Space Agency to make good decisions about a likely host of new space launches.
www.rnz.co.nz
February 12, 2026 at 4:36 AM
A physics professor -- namely me -- on the new launch cap. The biggest question is whether we trust the New Zealand Space Agency to do their job when no-one can see...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Reposted by Richard Easther
Seed was a good play, bet it’s a great read too!
Just been to the launch of my sister's book Seed. Proud as a cat with two tails.
February 12, 2026 at 6:39 AM
Seed was a good play, bet it’s a great read too!
Just been to the launch of my sister's book Seed. Proud as a cat with two tails.
February 12, 2026 at 6:18 AM
Just been to the launch of my sister's book Seed. Proud as a cat with two tails.
A physics professor -- namely me -- on the new launch cap. The biggest question is whether we trust the New Zealand Space Agency to do their job when no-one can see...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Government increases New Zealand space launch limit to 1000
But a physics professor says he does not trust the New Zealand Space Agency to make good decisions about a likely host of new space launches.
www.rnz.co.nz
February 12, 2026 at 4:36 AM
A physics professor -- namely me -- on the new launch cap. The biggest question is whether we trust the New Zealand Space Agency to do their job when no-one can see...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Just realised that FOZZIE and FONZIE differ by a single letter. Did it when I nearly fat-fingered my way to losing my GIF-game, but pulled it back before disaster struck.
a man in a leather jacket is standing in front of a pinball machine with a sign that says ' i win '
ALT: a man in a leather jacket is standing in front of a pinball machine with a sign that says ' i win '
media.tenor.com
February 12, 2026 at 2:04 AM
Just realised that FOZZIE and FONZIE differ by a single letter. Did it when I nearly fat-fingered my way to losing my GIF-game, but pulled it back before disaster struck.
Just asked for a conflict of interest statement. Was tempted to reply
"Nae king! Nae quin! Nae laird! Nae master! We willna' be fooled again!” but settled for "None".
Sigh. Grown-upping is hard sometimes.
"Nae king! Nae quin! Nae laird! Nae master! We willna' be fooled again!” but settled for "None".
Sigh. Grown-upping is hard sometimes.
February 12, 2026 at 1:19 AM
Just asked for a conflict of interest statement. Was tempted to reply
"Nae king! Nae quin! Nae laird! Nae master! We willna' be fooled again!” but settled for "None".
Sigh. Grown-upping is hard sometimes.
"Nae king! Nae quin! Nae laird! Nae master! We willna' be fooled again!” but settled for "None".
Sigh. Grown-upping is hard sometimes.
Reposted by Richard Easther
My closing thought: “Any scientist taking $29m in taxpayers’ money and concealing major project problems would find themselves in very deep trouble. But with MBIE we have not seen anything near a serious investigation, just a report that dodges the issues.” 9/9
Methane satellite on auditor-general’s radar
Costly failure prompts questions on transparency and scientific funding priorities.
www.farmersweekly.co.nz
February 11, 2026 at 7:12 AM
My closing thought: “Any scientist taking $29m in taxpayers’ money and concealing major project problems would find themselves in very deep trouble. But with MBIE we have not seen anything near a serious investigation, just a report that dodges the issues.” 9/9
Reposted by Richard Easther
Of course MBIE’s own in-house report on the failure of MethaneSAT didn’t say any of this. And that’s what happens when you mark your own homework. Which is why we need the Auditor General to take a good hard look. 8/N
February 11, 2026 at 7:12 AM
Of course MBIE’s own in-house report on the failure of MethaneSAT didn’t say any of this. And that’s what happens when you mark your own homework. Which is why we need the Auditor General to take a good hard look. 8/N
Reposted by Richard Easther
The science community’s best guess is that MBIE didn’t stand up to MethaneSAT because getting involved had been MBIE’s idea in the first place and walking away would reveal their original failure to do due-diligence before dropping 30 mill on a shiny toy. 7/N
February 11, 2026 at 7:12 AM
The science community’s best guess is that MBIE didn’t stand up to MethaneSAT because getting involved had been MBIE’s idea in the first place and walking away would reveal their original failure to do due-diligence before dropping 30 mill on a shiny toy. 7/N
Reposted by Richard Easther
Thus we continue to get flannel from MBIE that their MoU with MethaneSAT didn't allow them rein in MethaneSAT’s comms people. And yet – the MoU did have a disputes clause AND a commitment to "open and honest communication". So MBIE could and should have "tapped the sign" 6/N
a cartoon of a man in a blue hat driving a vehicle
ALT: a cartoon of a man in a blue hat driving a vehicle
media.tenor.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:12 AM
Thus we continue to get flannel from MBIE that their MoU with MethaneSAT didn't allow them rein in MethaneSAT’s comms people. And yet – the MoU did have a disputes clause AND a commitment to "open and honest communication". So MBIE could and should have "tapped the sign" 6/N
Reposted by Richard Easther
Second: the MethaneSAT organisation does not seem to have been as, um, fully truthful as it might have been. MBIE can't openly concede this now, because MBIE saw those dodgy statements before they were made public. 5/N
February 11, 2026 at 7:12 AM
Second: the MethaneSAT organisation does not seem to have been as, um, fully truthful as it might have been. MBIE can't openly concede this now, because MBIE saw those dodgy statements before they were made public. 5/N
Reposted by Richard Easther
For starters, MethaneSAT was being built by an org. with no track record with space hardware, promising a spacecraft that was simultaneously fast, cheap and good (famously: choose two). Red flags already. 4/N
February 11, 2026 at 7:12 AM
For starters, MethaneSAT was being built by an org. with no track record with space hardware, promising a spacecraft that was simultaneously fast, cheap and good (famously: choose two). Red flags already. 4/N
Reposted by Richard Easther
It wasn’t MBIE’s job to second-guess MethaneSAT on the technicalities. But it was their job to assess the overall proposition. After all it’s our money they’re spending. So what did MBIE miss back in 2019? 3/N
February 11, 2026 at 7:12 AM
It wasn’t MBIE’s job to second-guess MethaneSAT on the technicalities. But it was their job to assess the overall proposition. After all it’s our money they’re spending. So what did MBIE miss back in 2019? 3/N
Reposted by Richard Easther
Once again, MBIE spokespeople are running the line that they couldn't have been expected to spot the technical problems that led to the failure of MethaneSAT. This really grinds my gears – because nobody expected them to do that. 2/N
February 11, 2026 at 7:12 AM
Once again, MBIE spokespeople are running the line that they couldn't have been expected to spot the technical problems that led to the failure of MethaneSAT. This really grinds my gears – because nobody expected them to do that. 2/N
Reposted by Richard Easther
I'm in the Farmers' Weekly (that's a first!) The story: "Auditor-General has confirmed it is considering an investigation into the loss of $30 million of science funds invested in the ill-fated MethaneSAT satellite project." Naturally, I had some thoughts… @methanesat.bsky.social; 1/N
Methane satellite on auditor-general’s radar
Costly failure prompts questions on transparency and scientific funding priorities.
www.farmersweekly.co.nz
February 11, 2026 at 7:12 AM
I'm in the Farmers' Weekly (that's a first!) The story: "Auditor-General has confirmed it is considering an investigation into the loss of $30 million of science funds invested in the ill-fated MethaneSAT satellite project." Naturally, I had some thoughts… @methanesat.bsky.social; 1/N
I'm in the Farmers' Weekly (that's a first!) The story: "Auditor-General has confirmed it is considering an investigation into the loss of $30 million of science funds invested in the ill-fated MethaneSAT satellite project." Naturally, I had some thoughts… @methanesat.bsky.social; 1/N
Methane satellite on auditor-general’s radar
Costly failure prompts questions on transparency and scientific funding priorities.
www.farmersweekly.co.nz
February 11, 2026 at 7:12 AM
I'm in the Farmers' Weekly (that's a first!) The story: "Auditor-General has confirmed it is considering an investigation into the loss of $30 million of science funds invested in the ill-fated MethaneSAT satellite project." Naturally, I had some thoughts… @methanesat.bsky.social; 1/N
Reposted by Richard Easther
Now before you get all worked up about how bad these numbers are, it's important to take a minute and remember that they're also very funny.
Sora 2 apparently cost something like $5 billion to run every year and so far made OpenAI around $1.4 million.
February 11, 2026 at 2:08 AM
Now before you get all worked up about how bad these numbers are, it's important to take a minute and remember that they're also very funny.
Reckon you could use this plot with NCEA 3 stats -- ask your students to tell you what is wrong with the "5% gains".
February 11, 2026 at 1:55 AM
Reckon you could use this plot with NCEA 3 stats -- ask your students to tell you what is wrong with the "5% gains".
Reposted by Richard Easther
So these dipshits won't fund a *pair* of ferry terminals that'd get used several times a day, but will fund an LNG terminal that *might* get used once in a blue moon?
One terminal, for the same price as two, and with zero (0) ferries?
One terminal, for the same price as two, and with zero (0) ferries?
February 10, 2026 at 6:57 AM
So these dipshits won't fund a *pair* of ferry terminals that'd get used several times a day, but will fund an LNG terminal that *might* get used once in a blue moon?
One terminal, for the same price as two, and with zero (0) ferries?
One terminal, for the same price as two, and with zero (0) ferries?
Reposted by Richard Easther
Going to the moon or Mars is not the cheapest way to ensure the survival of humanity, it's the easiest way for a few billionaires to syphon more money away from the rest of us.
The cheapest way to extend humanity's future would be to eliminate billionaires, but good luck with that
The cheapest way to extend humanity's future would be to eliminate billionaires, but good luck with that
February 10, 2026 at 3:44 AM
Going to the moon or Mars is not the cheapest way to ensure the survival of humanity, it's the easiest way for a few billionaires to syphon more money away from the rest of us.
The cheapest way to extend humanity's future would be to eliminate billionaires, but good luck with that
The cheapest way to extend humanity's future would be to eliminate billionaires, but good luck with that
Reposted by Richard Easther
Bit late to it but if you want to know the chain of events that led to us importing gas (and charging electricity users to pay for it!!), I did this deep dive for RNZ last year www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
The fuel of ‘last resort’: How imported gas became New Zealand’s first choice
It's expensive, vulnerable to price shocks and terrible for the planet. So why are we importing gas?
www.rnz.co.nz
February 10, 2026 at 1:09 AM
Bit late to it but if you want to know the chain of events that led to us importing gas (and charging electricity users to pay for it!!), I did this deep dive for RNZ last year www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Reposted by Richard Easther
They'll never make a better one... www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_Ma...
EDS, an HP Company 'Cat Herders'
YouTube video by CBS
www.youtube.com
February 8, 2026 at 7:33 PM
They'll never make a better one... www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_Ma...