Shanil Virani
@shanilv.ca
🏆 Award-winning astronomer, passionate science educator, & creator of 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 — a podcast sharing the wonders of #science with everyone.
📷 Co-author of 𝙳𝚊𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜, a photobook on #lightpollution.
🎓 @uwaterloo.ca & @yale.edu alum 🇨🇦➡️🇺🇸
📷 Co-author of 𝙳𝚊𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜, a photobook on #lightpollution.
🎓 @uwaterloo.ca & @yale.edu alum 🇨🇦➡️🇺🇸
Pinned
Shanil Virani
@shanilv.ca
· Jul 20
“Wanderers Still”: On the Moon, Memory, and the Future We Choose
Reflections on the 56th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing
tiny.cc
Happy #MoonDay?
It’s been 56 years since humanity first walked on the #Moon.
Are we still #explorers?
My new essay reflects on #Apollo, what we’ve forgotten, and what’s still possible.🔭🧪
🛰️ tiny.cc/MoonDay 🔗
📣 What are your thoughts?
#MoonDay #HumanFutures #Exploration #STEM #TheFutureWeChoose
It’s been 56 years since humanity first walked on the #Moon.
Are we still #explorers?
My new essay reflects on #Apollo, what we’ve forgotten, and what’s still possible.🔭🧪
🛰️ tiny.cc/MoonDay 🔗
📣 What are your thoughts?
#MoonDay #HumanFutures #Exploration #STEM #TheFutureWeChoose
Reposted by Shanil Virani
This is the second account - the first being in Chicago - of DHS agents mass detaining people and then *sorting them by race*.
More than 400 people, including hundreds of citizens, were “sorted” at gun point into racial and ethnic groups by 200 ICE agents who fired flash-bang grenades into cars with people inside, pointed guns at children & demanded their zip tied parents not comfort them. apple.news/Ausdx6kWtT0e...
Idaho families sue over immigration raid that swept up hundreds, including U.S. citizens — NBC News
About 400 people, including children and U.S. citizens, were detained for four hours while they were denied food and water in the raid, according to the lawsuit.
apple.news
February 12, 2026 at 2:26 AM
This is the second account - the first being in Chicago - of DHS agents mass detaining people and then *sorting them by race*.
Reposted by Shanil Virani
February 11, 2026 at 4:53 AM
Reposted by Shanil Virani
People talking about terrible teachers and gender bias in STEM fields & I can remember when the anatomy teacher tried to keep a girl from going on a field trip to Chico State to view a cadaver. Her mom raised absolute hell & now that girl has a Ph.d in molecular biology and leads R&D.
February 11, 2026 at 4:24 PM
People talking about terrible teachers and gender bias in STEM fields & I can remember when the anatomy teacher tried to keep a girl from going on a field trip to Chico State to view a cadaver. Her mom raised absolute hell & now that girl has a Ph.d in molecular biology and leads R&D.
Reposted by Shanil Virani
“He’s my first born,” Susan Pretti said. “He’s the one that made me a mother. There was no reason he should have died that day.”
“No,” her husband said.
I urge you to read this today.
“No,” her husband said.
I urge you to read this today.
www.nytimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:45 PM
“He’s my first born,” Susan Pretti said. “He’s the one that made me a mother. There was no reason he should have died that day.”
“No,” her husband said.
I urge you to read this today.
“No,” her husband said.
I urge you to read this today.
Reposted by Shanil Virani
Reposted by Shanil Virani
February 11, 2026 at 7:38 PM
Reposted by Shanil Virani
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 5:15 PM
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
Reposted by Shanil Virani
Sure, child sex trafficking is bad.
But did you know the Dow is doing well?
But did you know the Dow is doing well?
February 11, 2026 at 11:14 PM
Sure, child sex trafficking is bad.
But did you know the Dow is doing well?
But did you know the Dow is doing well?
Reposted by Shanil Virani
NEW: A page from Bondi's burn book. This is a list of the searches by Rep Jayapal of the unredacted Epstein files. That means the DOJ grabbed her search terms from the computers they set up for members of congress to view the Epstein files to use as ammunition. The photo is from Reuters.
February 11, 2026 at 11:36 PM
NEW: A page from Bondi's burn book. This is a list of the searches by Rep Jayapal of the unredacted Epstein files. That means the DOJ grabbed her search terms from the computers they set up for members of congress to view the Epstein files to use as ammunition. The photo is from Reuters.
Reposted by Shanil Virani
#Women&GirlsinScienceDay Academic & particle physicist Anne Kernan was a huge advocate for women in science, on one occasion funding a trip to CERN for an undergrad she had never met, meeting her at the airport and paying for her accommodation until funding came through. www.dib.ie/biography/ke...
February 11, 2026 at 8:48 AM
#Women&GirlsinScienceDay Academic & particle physicist Anne Kernan was a huge advocate for women in science, on one occasion funding a trip to CERN for an undergrad she had never met, meeting her at the airport and paying for her accommodation until funding came through. www.dib.ie/biography/ke...
Reposted by Shanil Virani
Impeach, arrest, and prosecute them all. Anything less is being complicit.
February 11, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Impeach, arrest, and prosecute them all. Anything less is being complicit.
Reposted by Shanil Virani
I think I’d rather be waterboarded than have to listen to Pam Bondi in another hearing. Her voice is still ringing in my ears. It’s like nails on a chalkboard. I think it could seriously cause psychological harm if you are overexposed to it.
February 12, 2026 at 12:16 AM
I think I’d rather be waterboarded than have to listen to Pam Bondi in another hearing. Her voice is still ringing in my ears. It’s like nails on a chalkboard. I think it could seriously cause psychological harm if you are overexposed to it.
Reposted by Shanil Virani
I honestly can’t remember any prior AG being this overtly disrespectful in a Congressional hearing.
They really think they’re never going to be in the minority.
Maybe I memory holed it, but personal attacks on members of Congress during testimony just seems so out of bounds.
They really think they’re never going to be in the minority.
Maybe I memory holed it, but personal attacks on members of Congress during testimony just seems so out of bounds.
February 11, 2026 at 6:16 PM
I honestly can’t remember any prior AG being this overtly disrespectful in a Congressional hearing.
They really think they’re never going to be in the minority.
Maybe I memory holed it, but personal attacks on members of Congress during testimony just seems so out of bounds.
They really think they’re never going to be in the minority.
Maybe I memory holed it, but personal attacks on members of Congress during testimony just seems so out of bounds.
Reposted by Shanil Virani
Frost on seeing the "unredacted" Epstein files: A few takeaways. Number one, there's a lot of documents that are still redacted. When I asked the DOJ about it, they said they received it that way, which means that Kash FBI kept them redacted when they gave it to the DOJ, which is interesting...
February 12, 2026 at 1:48 AM
Frost on seeing the "unredacted" Epstein files: A few takeaways. Number one, there's a lot of documents that are still redacted. When I asked the DOJ about it, they said they received it that way, which means that Kash FBI kept them redacted when they gave it to the DOJ, which is interesting...
Across centuries, while women have carried the flame of discovery, the history of #science is filled with #women whose light was dimmed or ignored. Today the women of the @astrosociety.org are charting a more inclusive future where the stars belong to us all. Their light helps us all see farther. 🔭🧪
Today we celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science! The women of ASP are focused on building inclusive futures for women and girls by bringing astronomy and space education to all.💫🪐🌠
#womeninSTEM #girlsinSTEM #STEMEducation #womensrights #astronomy
#womeninSTEM #girlsinSTEM #STEMEducation #womensrights #astronomy
February 11, 2026 at 7:27 PM
Across centuries, while women have carried the flame of discovery, the history of #science is filled with #women whose light was dimmed or ignored. Today the women of the @astrosociety.org are charting a more inclusive future where the stars belong to us all. Their light helps us all see farther. 🔭🧪
From its first pages in 1889 to today, @paspjournal.bsky.social has been a quiet engine of discovery. Proof that our longing to understand the cosmos never goes out of style.
Happy 137th birthday!
Happy 137th birthday!
Happy 137th Birthday to the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP)! Volume 1, Issue 1 of the @paspjournal.bsky.social , published on February 7, 1889, includes the minutes of that inaugural meeting of the 40 original members of the ASP. iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
February 11, 2026 at 1:37 AM
From its first pages in 1889 to today, @paspjournal.bsky.social has been a quiet engine of discovery. Proof that our longing to understand the cosmos never goes out of style.
Happy 137th birthday!
Happy 137th birthday!
For 137 years, a small society of sky-lovers has kept a quiet promise: to look up, together.
Across wars, revolutions, & centuries, the stars have remained—waiting for us to remember that we are part of something larger, older, & more beautiful than our divisions.
Happy birthday @astrosociety.org!
Across wars, revolutions, & centuries, the stars have remained—waiting for us to remember that we are part of something larger, older, & more beautiful than our divisions.
Happy birthday @astrosociety.org!
Another orbit around our local star for the Astronomical Society of the Pacific!💫
For 137 years, we've been looking up - together. Sharing the wonder of the universe connects us on a cosmic level. We're proud to have brought you closer to the stars since 1889 - thank you for celebrating with us.🍾🥂
For 137 years, we've been looking up - together. Sharing the wonder of the universe connects us on a cosmic level. We're proud to have brought you closer to the stars since 1889 - thank you for celebrating with us.🍾🥂
February 11, 2026 at 12:18 AM
For 137 years, a small society of sky-lovers has kept a quiet promise: to look up, together.
Across wars, revolutions, & centuries, the stars have remained—waiting for us to remember that we are part of something larger, older, & more beautiful than our divisions.
Happy birthday @astrosociety.org!
Across wars, revolutions, & centuries, the stars have remained—waiting for us to remember that we are part of something larger, older, & more beautiful than our divisions.
Happy birthday @astrosociety.org!
Reposted by Shanil Virani
With the caveat that I am not the world's biggest halftime show connoisseur, I have to say this one is KILLING IT. Culture and history, classical guitar and violin, kiddies and seniors, wedding cake and so much colour! I would pay to see this as a musical, seriously. Calling Lin-Manuel Miranda.
February 9, 2026 at 1:32 AM
With the caveat that I am not the world's biggest halftime show connoisseur, I have to say this one is KILLING IT. Culture and history, classical guitar and violin, kiddies and seniors, wedding cake and so much colour! I would pay to see this as a musical, seriously. Calling Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Reposted by Shanil Virani
Bad Bunny: So uplifting. And the words in English on the billboard: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.” Right on.
February 9, 2026 at 1:35 AM
Bad Bunny: So uplifting. And the words in English on the billboard: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.” Right on.
Reposted by Shanil Virani
February 6, 2026 at 1:37 PM
Reposted by Shanil Virani
Finneas is better at political messaging than 99% of the Democratic consultants in DC.
February 6, 2026 at 8:44 PM
Finneas is better at political messaging than 99% of the Democratic consultants in DC.
Reposted by Shanil Virani
Hillary was right about everything….
February 6, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Hillary was right about everything….
Reposted by Shanil Virani
It's up to WE the People to stop this, the MAGA GOP Congress has given in to Trump. Fire them, ALL of them.
February 6, 2026 at 7:25 PM
It's up to WE the People to stop this, the MAGA GOP Congress has given in to Trump. Fire them, ALL of them.
Reposted by Shanil Virani
Maybe we need to take a different approach: who in this administration is *not* in the Epstein files?
February 6, 2026 at 8:48 PM
Maybe we need to take a different approach: who in this administration is *not* in the Epstein files?
Reposted by Shanil Virani
TEXAS — “Get out of my house!! U.S. and they’re inside my house with no warrant. They broke a window.”
Trump’s ICE goons terrorize a citizen family, including attacking a man when he closes the door as they leave.
Terrorizing families.
www.instagram.com/reel/DUZl6RO...
Trump’s ICE goons terrorize a citizen family, including attacking a man when he closes the door as they leave.
Terrorizing families.
www.instagram.com/reel/DUZl6RO...
February 6, 2026 at 4:03 AM
TEXAS — “Get out of my house!! U.S. and they’re inside my house with no warrant. They broke a window.”
Trump’s ICE goons terrorize a citizen family, including attacking a man when he closes the door as they leave.
Terrorizing families.
www.instagram.com/reel/DUZl6RO...
Trump’s ICE goons terrorize a citizen family, including attacking a man when he closes the door as they leave.
Terrorizing families.
www.instagram.com/reel/DUZl6RO...