Dr. Sierra Ferguson
@saturnsierra.bsky.social
Planetary Scientist/ Runner/ Baker/ Climber (she/her)
Reposted by Dr. Sierra Ferguson
It could be one more weird anomaly in this unending cycle of what the fuck.
November 12, 2025 at 11:00 PM
It could be one more weird anomaly in this unending cycle of what the fuck.
A student emailed me asking about a paper of mine and thanked me for putting the detailed methodology in there that I did. I'm so glad I added those details to the paper! I added the information that was missing in the literature when I started the project and I'm so glad it's now helping others <3
November 12, 2025 at 6:56 PM
A student emailed me asking about a paper of mine and thanked me for putting the detailed methodology in there that I did. I'm so glad I added those details to the paper! I added the information that was missing in the literature when I started the project and I'm so glad it's now helping others <3
Colorado aurora!!
November 12, 2025 at 5:19 AM
Colorado aurora!!
Reposted by Dr. Sierra Ferguson
how did i go so long not knowing we were literally teaching people to read wrong. i knew something wasn't right but jesus christ www.apmreports.org/episode/2019...
How a flawed idea is teaching millions of kids to be poor readers
For decades, schools have taught children the strategies of struggling readers, using a theory about reading that cognitive scientists have repeatedly debunked. And many teachers and parents don't kno...
www.apmreports.org
November 11, 2025 at 6:18 PM
how did i go so long not knowing we were literally teaching people to read wrong. i knew something wasn't right but jesus christ www.apmreports.org/episode/2019...
Reposted by Dr. Sierra Ferguson
Rosalind Franklin died at 37 of ovarian cancer attributed to radiation exposure from the methods she & her assistant used to photograph a cross-section of the DNA double helix.
Meanwhile, Watson won a Nobel off that work & survived to the ripe old age of 97 by simply: stealing those notes!
Meanwhile, Watson won a Nobel off that work & survived to the ripe old age of 97 by simply: stealing those notes!
Hey folks, as news of Watson's demise spreads, please don't set aside his weighty legacy of misogyny and racism. He was truly among the worst of us. www.vox.com/2019/1/15/18...
DNA scientist James Watson has a remarkably long history of sexist, racist public comments
“People say it would be terrible if we made all girls pretty,” he said in 2003. “I think it would be great.”
www.vox.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Rosalind Franklin died at 37 of ovarian cancer attributed to radiation exposure from the methods she & her assistant used to photograph a cross-section of the DNA double helix.
Meanwhile, Watson won a Nobel off that work & survived to the ripe old age of 97 by simply: stealing those notes!
Meanwhile, Watson won a Nobel off that work & survived to the ripe old age of 97 by simply: stealing those notes!
Reposted by Dr. Sierra Ferguson
Hey, astronomers. Can you imagine astronomy research without ADS?!?!? No? So, have you filled out the ADS survey yet?
Help archives help you!
(Help archives keep funding!)
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Help archives help you!
(Help archives keep funding!)
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Astrophysics Data System (ADS) User Feedback Survey
Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on the Astrophysics Data System (ADS) digital library. Your insights will help us improve the platform and better serve the scientific community. All ...
docs.google.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Hey, astronomers. Can you imagine astronomy research without ADS?!?!? No? So, have you filled out the ADS survey yet?
Help archives help you!
(Help archives keep funding!)
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Help archives help you!
(Help archives keep funding!)
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Reposted by Dr. Sierra Ferguson
Hey planetary scientists! I don’t know about y’all, but ADS makes my life so much easier.
Hey, astronomers. Can you imagine astronomy research without ADS?!?!? No? So, have you filled out the ADS survey yet?
Help archives help you!
(Help archives keep funding!)
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Help archives help you!
(Help archives keep funding!)
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Astrophysics Data System (ADS) User Feedback Survey
Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on the Astrophysics Data System (ADS) digital library. Your insights will help us improve the platform and better serve the scientific community. All ...
docs.google.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Hey planetary scientists! I don’t know about y’all, but ADS makes my life so much easier.
Reposted by Dr. Sierra Ferguson
Amazon is helping fund a $300 million build of a ballroom for the White House.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
October 30, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Amazon is helping fund a $300 million build of a ballroom for the White House.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
Reposted by Dr. Sierra Ferguson
NEW WRITING:
It's aimed at students, with some specific examples for astro/physics folks, but I think other people may find it useful too. 🔭⚛️🧪
"Knowledge is worth your time because of how it shapes your mind. And the authoritarians may take many things from us, but they cannot take our minds."
It's aimed at students, with some specific examples for astro/physics folks, but I think other people may find it useful too. 🔭⚛️🧪
"Knowledge is worth your time because of how it shapes your mind. And the authoritarians may take many things from us, but they cannot take our minds."
Knowledge is Worth Your Time
Folks who hang out on Bluesky/Twitter may have caught bits and pieces of the discussions amongst academics about what to do about today's university students...
chanda.bearblog.dev
October 22, 2025 at 6:11 PM
NEW WRITING:
It's aimed at students, with some specific examples for astro/physics folks, but I think other people may find it useful too. 🔭⚛️🧪
"Knowledge is worth your time because of how it shapes your mind. And the authoritarians may take many things from us, but they cannot take our minds."
It's aimed at students, with some specific examples for astro/physics folks, but I think other people may find it useful too. 🔭⚛️🧪
"Knowledge is worth your time because of how it shapes your mind. And the authoritarians may take many things from us, but they cannot take our minds."
Reposted by Dr. Sierra Ferguson
ladies, this is how gullible Silicon Valley tech bros think you are
“Prompt parties,” gatherings of women over cheese and wine to chat about how ChatGPT can help them, are emerging as the next-generation of Tupperware party in San Francisco.
Wine, Cheese and ChatGPT: Ladies’ Night in San Francisco
www.nytimes.com
October 20, 2025 at 9:23 PM
ladies, this is how gullible Silicon Valley tech bros think you are
Reposted by Dr. Sierra Ferguson
my latest investigation for @consumerreports.org is based on months of reporting and 60+ lab tests of leading protein supplements
we found that most protein powders and shakes have more lead in one serving than our experts say is safe to have in a day (🧵)
www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein...
we found that most protein powders and shakes have more lead in one serving than our experts say is safe to have in a day (🧵)
www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein...
Protein Powders and Shakes Contain High Levels of Lead - Consumer Reports
CR tests of 23 popular protein powders and shakes found that most contain high levels of lead.
www.consumerreports.org
October 14, 2025 at 4:37 PM
my latest investigation for @consumerreports.org is based on months of reporting and 60+ lab tests of leading protein supplements
we found that most protein powders and shakes have more lead in one serving than our experts say is safe to have in a day (🧵)
www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein...
we found that most protein powders and shakes have more lead in one serving than our experts say is safe to have in a day (🧵)
www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein...
Reposted by Dr. Sierra Ferguson
Your periodic reminder that you have the right to find out why your health insurer denied your claim.
We built a tool to help you do it: projects.propublica.org/claimfile/
We built a tool to help you do it: projects.propublica.org/claimfile/
Find Out Why Health Insurance Denied Your Claim
You likely have the right to access records that explain why your insurer denied your claim or prior authorization request. Use ProPublica’s free tool to generate a letter requesting your claim file f...
projects.propublica.org
October 8, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Your periodic reminder that you have the right to find out why your health insurer denied your claim.
We built a tool to help you do it: projects.propublica.org/claimfile/
We built a tool to help you do it: projects.propublica.org/claimfile/
Reposted by Dr. Sierra Ferguson
🧪The NSF has made changes to the GRFP solicitation and eligibility TODAY that may change your eligibility! PLEASE read through the solicitation if you were planning to apply and speak to your mentors about the merits of applying: www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
www.nsf.gov
September 26, 2025 at 6:55 PM
🧪The NSF has made changes to the GRFP solicitation and eligibility TODAY that may change your eligibility! PLEASE read through the solicitation if you were planning to apply and speak to your mentors about the merits of applying: www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
Reposted by Dr. Sierra Ferguson
Don’t resubcribe to Disney just yet folks. PBS still needs help! NPR still needs help!
BREAKING: Cascade PBS, which operates the website Crosscut, is laying off 19 people, reportedly including its entire news staff. In an email to staff, CEO Rob Dunlop blamed federal cuts, saying the nonprofit is "winding down our longform, written journalism."
September 22, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Don’t resubcribe to Disney just yet folks. PBS still needs help! NPR still needs help!
Love is real and it’s stored in two spacecraft observing the same moons 🩵. #EPSCDPS
“The dream of synergistic Europa, Ganymede, and Jupiter System Science may yet come true” - big dreams from the Europa Clipper and ESA JUICE teams at #EPSCDPS
September 8, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Love is real and it’s stored in two spacecraft observing the same moons 🩵. #EPSCDPS
Reposted by Dr. Sierra Ferguson
I'm scared I will draw the Wrath of the Fanboys, but... this week on my newsletter I wrote about why I think the "Golden Age of Science Fiction" writers have so little appeal to a huge swathe of today's SF/F writers & readers.
undercover-in-the-apocalypse.ghost.io/this-is-why-...
undercover-in-the-apocalypse.ghost.io/this-is-why-...
this is why we don't read the Golden Age anymore.
There are so many histories of the future.
Spinning through timespace, studying this apocalypse, a key part of my undercover mission is studying stories about the future. When and where and how were ...
undercover-in-the-apocalypse.ghost.io
September 3, 2025 at 3:03 PM
I'm scared I will draw the Wrath of the Fanboys, but... this week on my newsletter I wrote about why I think the "Golden Age of Science Fiction" writers have so little appeal to a huge swathe of today's SF/F writers & readers.
undercover-in-the-apocalypse.ghost.io/this-is-why-...
undercover-in-the-apocalypse.ghost.io/this-is-why-...
Reposted by Dr. Sierra Ferguson
Hey, everyone! The world maybe on fire, but Io is... also on Fire! But in a good way! And we have a new paper out in JGR - Planets (OPEN ACCESS) with all the goods about Juno's JunoCam observations of Io (more)
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
JunoCam Observations of Io
JunoCam imaged Io at scales as small as 1 km/pixel
North polar region coverage was improved from previous missions
New mountains and lava flows were identified
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
September 2, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Hey, everyone! The world maybe on fire, but Io is... also on Fire! But in a good way! And we have a new paper out in JGR - Planets (OPEN ACCESS) with all the goods about Juno's JunoCam observations of Io (more)
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
I want to touch it
How does lava sound when it comes to the surface of the Earth? Listen to a lava flow oozing out of its effusive vent high on the southwestern side of #Etna, 28 August 2025. That day no visits by tourists were allowed on the site, which permitted this (relatively) clean recording
August 31, 2025 at 12:22 AM
I want to touch it
Reposted by Dr. Sierra Ferguson
this iconic advertising copywriter named Kathy Hepinstall Parks died over the weekend and I wanted to share something from her website I thought Bluesky would like
August 22, 2025 at 2:20 PM
this iconic advertising copywriter named Kathy Hepinstall Parks died over the weekend and I wanted to share something from her website I thought Bluesky would like
Highly recommend this incredible series! One of my favorite reads of recent years for sure
It's important to call out Indigenous wins when we see them. Congrats to @rebeccaroanhorse.bsky.social who just won the best series Hugo Award for the Between Earth and Sky series. BIPOC scifi is important and has things to say that we can all enjoy and benefit from. #IndigenousFuturisms #NativeSky
August 18, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Highly recommend this incredible series! One of my favorite reads of recent years for sure
Reposted by Dr. Sierra Ferguson
Those of us in STEM must vocally affirm that the humanities are our allies, and no department is expendable. Arguing we can survive by cutting whole disciplines isn’t just inhumane, it’s nonsensical. The humanities tell us why we’re here in the first place, and what to do about it! This isn’t hard!
Oh good. We've reached the "I don't have to be faster than the bear, I only have to be less woke than you" stage of faculty solidarity. archive.is/wGNDr
August 14, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Those of us in STEM must vocally affirm that the humanities are our allies, and no department is expendable. Arguing we can survive by cutting whole disciplines isn’t just inhumane, it’s nonsensical. The humanities tell us why we’re here in the first place, and what to do about it! This isn’t hard!
Reposted by Dr. Sierra Ferguson
BIG BOAT STUCK
See the 180m-long cargo ship stuck in the St. Lawrence River near Montreal
The Federal Yamaska ran aground in the river on Aug. 12 near Verchères, Que. Authorities say the ship had a total engine failure and that the low water levels in the St. Lawrence were not to blame.
ca.news.yahoo.com
August 13, 2025 at 8:31 PM
BIG BOAT STUCK
Reposted by Dr. Sierra Ferguson
Seeing a lot of inevitability on the timeline, a feeling that we are all doomed and following some sort of predetermined tragedy. But can I encourage you instead to spread love and joy in your local community? Can I interest you in doing your part to counteract alienation and despair?
August 8, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Seeing a lot of inevitability on the timeline, a feeling that we are all doomed and following some sort of predetermined tragedy. But can I encourage you instead to spread love and joy in your local community? Can I interest you in doing your part to counteract alienation and despair?
Reposted by Dr. Sierra Ferguson
One thing that doing creative work teaches you is that ideas are worth nothing. Anybody can have an idea. In a writers room you have to come up with a hundred ideas a day, and most of those don’t make the page. It’s the work of making something that gives it value. The patina of humanity.
"AI only offers suggestions based on your prompts. It's still your imagination."
No. Your imagination provides the germ of a story, expands it into sentences, phrases, paragraphs, chapters, culminating in a complete story. Using AI is "I have an idea," then someone else writes a story based on it.
No. Your imagination provides the germ of a story, expands it into sentences, phrases, paragraphs, chapters, culminating in a complete story. Using AI is "I have an idea," then someone else writes a story based on it.
August 4, 2025 at 11:07 PM
One thing that doing creative work teaches you is that ideas are worth nothing. Anybody can have an idea. In a writers room you have to come up with a hundred ideas a day, and most of those don’t make the page. It’s the work of making something that gives it value. The patina of humanity.
Reposted by Dr. Sierra Ferguson
Wake up babe, new Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation OceanGate report just dropped
www.news.uscg.mil
August 5, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Wake up babe, new Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation OceanGate report just dropped