Ben Burningham
@substellarfella.bsky.social
Astronomer at University of Hertfordshire studying substellar atmospheres
I remember 2004 at Glastonbury when they played and I’d say Edinburgh council is maybe being too polite
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/j...
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/j...
Liam Gallagher criticises Edinburgh council for saying Oasis fans mainly rowdy middle-aged men
Singer says attitude of officials ‘stinks’ after documents show concern about crowds and intoxication
www.theguardian.com
June 15, 2025 at 6:37 PM
I remember 2004 at Glastonbury when they played and I’d say Edinburgh council is maybe being too polite
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/j...
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/j...
Reposted by Ben Burningham
The K2-18b saga deepens with a great new paper out today by @luiswel.bsky.social (arxiv.org/abs/2504.21788).
Turns out hydrocarbons can explain K2-18b's new JWST MIRI spectrum *without* the need to invoke DMS or DMDS as biosignatures.
Read on to find out more! 🧵
#Exoplanet 🔭🪐
Turns out hydrocarbons can explain K2-18b's new JWST MIRI spectrum *without* the need to invoke DMS or DMDS as biosignatures.
Read on to find out more! 🧵
#Exoplanet 🔭🪐
May 1, 2025 at 6:17 PM
The K2-18b saga deepens with a great new paper out today by @luiswel.bsky.social (arxiv.org/abs/2504.21788).
Turns out hydrocarbons can explain K2-18b's new JWST MIRI spectrum *without* the need to invoke DMS or DMDS as biosignatures.
Read on to find out more! 🧵
#Exoplanet 🔭🪐
Turns out hydrocarbons can explain K2-18b's new JWST MIRI spectrum *without* the need to invoke DMS or DMDS as biosignatures.
Read on to find out more! 🧵
#Exoplanet 🔭🪐
Reposted by Ben Burningham
About that new paper on K2-18b, which headlines with "Scientists hail ‘strongest evidence’ so far for life beyond our solar system," evidently prodded by a Cambridge U. press release. arxiv.org/pdf/2504.12267 . It's not actually any kind of evidence for life, and here I'll give my take on the paper.
arxiv.org
April 18, 2025 at 5:17 PM
About that new paper on K2-18b, which headlines with "Scientists hail ‘strongest evidence’ so far for life beyond our solar system," evidently prodded by a Cambridge U. press release. arxiv.org/pdf/2504.12267 . It's not actually any kind of evidence for life, and here I'll give my take on the paper.
Reposted by Ben Burningham
I wrote a research note about the recent publication of the MIRI/LRS spectrum of K2-18b. The authors had claimed the detection of potential signs of life. I find the data to be consistent with a flat line 🔭🧪
Are there Spectral Features in the MIRI/LRS Transmission Spectrum of K2-18b?
https://arxiv.org/pdf/2504.15916
Jake Taylor.
https://arxiv.org/pdf/2504.15916
Jake Taylor.
https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.15916
arXiv abstract link
arxiv.org
April 23, 2025 at 6:49 AM
I wrote a research note about the recent publication of the MIRI/LRS spectrum of K2-18b. The authors had claimed the detection of potential signs of life. I find the data to be consistent with a flat line 🔭🧪
Wow… brutal JWST Cycle 4 results out. So many brilliant proposals couldn’t be awarded time… but amongst the carnage of rejections in my inbox, I see some successes. Congratulations and commiserations to colleagues today #astronomy
March 11, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Wow… brutal JWST Cycle 4 results out. So many brilliant proposals couldn’t be awarded time… but amongst the carnage of rejections in my inbox, I see some successes. Congratulations and commiserations to colleagues today #astronomy
@exoclimes.bsky.social hey have accepted participants been notified ? If so; will you be sending out rejections so unsuccessful applicants can plan their summers ?
March 2, 2025 at 2:41 PM
@exoclimes.bsky.social hey have accepted participants been notified ? If so; will you be sending out rejections so unsuccessful applicants can plan their summers ?
This is bittersweet.. phenomenal mission. Truly game changing. Amazing achievement. But sad it’s going dark. All good things….
🔭
🔭
January 13, 2025 at 7:43 AM
This is bittersweet.. phenomenal mission. Truly game changing. Amazing achievement. But sad it’s going dark. All good things….
🔭
🔭
Quick bbc 3CR interview w/ @milesblumsom.bsky.social to start day thanks to my partner for leaving for work late so the 6 yo didn’t interrupt. Now the school run.
our fantastic new physics, astronomy and maths outreach and public engagement manager is also starting today… it’s a good day already!
our fantastic new physics, astronomy and maths outreach and public engagement manager is also starting today… it’s a good day already!
January 13, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Quick bbc 3CR interview w/ @milesblumsom.bsky.social to start day thanks to my partner for leaving for work late so the 6 yo didn’t interrupt. Now the school run.
our fantastic new physics, astronomy and maths outreach and public engagement manager is also starting today… it’s a good day already!
our fantastic new physics, astronomy and maths outreach and public engagement manager is also starting today… it’s a good day already!
Come and check it out next Friday!
Tickets selling fast:
www.eshop.herts.ac.uk/search?cid=459
#hertfordshire 🔭 #astronomy #herts #BedsBucksHerts
Tickets selling fast:
www.eshop.herts.ac.uk/search?cid=459
#hertfordshire 🔭 #astronomy #herts #BedsBucksHerts
It's a planetary parade!
Throughout Jan and Feb, you will be able to see four planets lined up in the sky. With a telescope 🔭, you can also see Neptune and Uranus to make it six planets in a row!
This picture was taken with our Allsky camera just before 6pm (GMT) on Tuesday.
Throughout Jan and Feb, you will be able to see four planets lined up in the sky. With a telescope 🔭, you can also see Neptune and Uranus to make it six planets in a row!
This picture was taken with our Allsky camera just before 6pm (GMT) on Tuesday.
January 10, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Come and check it out next Friday!
Tickets selling fast:
www.eshop.herts.ac.uk/search?cid=459
#hertfordshire 🔭 #astronomy #herts #BedsBucksHerts
Tickets selling fast:
www.eshop.herts.ac.uk/search?cid=459
#hertfordshire 🔭 #astronomy #herts #BedsBucksHerts
Reposted by Ben Burningham
Technicians have successfully integrated NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope’s payload—the telescope, instrument carrier, and two instruments—to the spacecraft that will deliver the observatory to its place in space and enable it to function while there. 🔭 🧪
NASA Joins Telescope, Instruments to Roman Spacecraft - NASA
Technicians have successfully integrated NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope’s payload – the telescope, instrument carrier, and two instruments – to the
www.nasa.gov
January 8, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Technicians have successfully integrated NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope’s payload—the telescope, instrument carrier, and two instruments—to the spacecraft that will deliver the observatory to its place in space and enable it to function while there. 🔭 🧪
Tickets for the next @bayfordburyobs.bsky.social open night selling fast!
We’ve got 4 planets on show in the early evening this month, so don’t miss your chance to see them through our telescopes!
🔭 #hertfordshire #astronomy
We’ve got 4 planets on show in the early evening this month, so don’t miss your chance to see them through our telescopes!
🔭 #hertfordshire #astronomy
Tickets now on sale for 1st @bayfordburyobs.bsky.social open evening of 2025!
17th Jan will be JWST night. Public lectures from Webb Fellow Dr Emma Curtis-Lake, Dr Mike Kuhn, and kids space telescope quiz + more.
Get them here: www.eshop.herts.ac.uk/search?cid=459
#astronomy 🔭 #hertfordshire
17th Jan will be JWST night. Public lectures from Webb Fellow Dr Emma Curtis-Lake, Dr Mike Kuhn, and kids space telescope quiz + more.
Get them here: www.eshop.herts.ac.uk/search?cid=459
#astronomy 🔭 #hertfordshire
Search our events/products and add to your shopping cart
www.eshop.herts.ac.uk
January 7, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Tickets for the next @bayfordburyobs.bsky.social open night selling fast!
We’ve got 4 planets on show in the early evening this month, so don’t miss your chance to see them through our telescopes!
🔭 #hertfordshire #astronomy
We’ve got 4 planets on show in the early evening this month, so don’t miss your chance to see them through our telescopes!
🔭 #hertfordshire #astronomy
Reposted by Ben Burningham
Excited to share our interdisciplinary work on developing new methods to subtract off the glare of the star to reveal fainter exoplanets. We show in simulation that we can build a full optical model of JWST/NIRCam and generate images of the star to subtract off and reveal faint planets (1/3)
January 7, 2025 at 4:33 AM
Excited to share our interdisciplinary work on developing new methods to subtract off the glare of the star to reveal fainter exoplanets. We show in simulation that we can build a full optical model of JWST/NIRCam and generate images of the star to subtract off and reveal faint planets (1/3)
Tickets now on sale for 1st @bayfordburyobs.bsky.social open evening of 2025!
17th Jan will be JWST night. Public lectures from Webb Fellow Dr Emma Curtis-Lake, Dr Mike Kuhn, and kids space telescope quiz + more.
Get them here: www.eshop.herts.ac.uk/search?cid=459
#astronomy 🔭 #hertfordshire
17th Jan will be JWST night. Public lectures from Webb Fellow Dr Emma Curtis-Lake, Dr Mike Kuhn, and kids space telescope quiz + more.
Get them here: www.eshop.herts.ac.uk/search?cid=459
#astronomy 🔭 #hertfordshire
Search our events/products and add to your shopping cart
www.eshop.herts.ac.uk
December 23, 2024 at 12:48 PM
Tickets now on sale for 1st @bayfordburyobs.bsky.social open evening of 2025!
17th Jan will be JWST night. Public lectures from Webb Fellow Dr Emma Curtis-Lake, Dr Mike Kuhn, and kids space telescope quiz + more.
Get them here: www.eshop.herts.ac.uk/search?cid=459
#astronomy 🔭 #hertfordshire
17th Jan will be JWST night. Public lectures from Webb Fellow Dr Emma Curtis-Lake, Dr Mike Kuhn, and kids space telescope quiz + more.
Get them here: www.eshop.herts.ac.uk/search?cid=459
#astronomy 🔭 #hertfordshire
Reposted by Ben Burningham
Many problems in mathematics and physics can be simplified by assuming that any solid body is approximately a sphere, but this approach is likely to lead to a rounding error.
December 19, 2024 at 10:34 AM
Many problems in mathematics and physics can be simplified by assuming that any solid body is approximately a sphere, but this approach is likely to lead to a rounding error.
Reposted by Ben Burningham
We’re looking forward to supporting this!
Great to see the town of Hertford will once again run its Dark Skies Hertford event on 1 Feb 2025. The castle lights will be switched off and there will be stargazing on the grounds as well as festival talks and a screening of "The City Dark". Looking forward! www.hertford.gov.uk/events-listi...
December 19, 2024 at 5:04 PM
We’re looking forward to supporting this!
Reposted by Ben Burningham
He's making a list
He's checking it twice
Of the fuzziness things that clutter the skies
Charles Messier is coming to town
He's checking it twice
Of the fuzziness things that clutter the skies
Charles Messier is coming to town
December 15, 2024 at 12:55 PM
He's making a list
He's checking it twice
Of the fuzziness things that clutter the skies
Charles Messier is coming to town
He's checking it twice
Of the fuzziness things that clutter the skies
Charles Messier is coming to town
6 yr old so asked me how many people it would take to hold up Jupiter if it came close enough to Earth, and was hard instead of gas.
Short time later find myself trying explain Roche limit to him.
He appears to have left the room
Short time later find myself trying explain Roche limit to him.
He appears to have left the room
December 15, 2024 at 7:26 AM
6 yr old so asked me how many people it would take to hold up Jupiter if it came close enough to Earth, and was hard instead of gas.
Short time later find myself trying explain Roche limit to him.
He appears to have left the room
Short time later find myself trying explain Roche limit to him.
He appears to have left the room
Yet again the culture warriors showing their selective free speech. Nice to see the new gov agrees previous outfit were out of order.
Also, if you haven’t listened to Kneecap - do. They’re fantastic
www.theguardian.com/music/2024/n...
Also, if you haven’t listened to Kneecap - do. They’re fantastic
www.theguardian.com/music/2024/n...
Kneecap: UK government acted illegally in withholding funding from Irish rap trio
The Department for Business and Trade said Kemi Badenoch’s decision to rescind funding had been ‘unlawful and procedurally unfair’
www.theguardian.com
November 29, 2024 at 10:36 AM
Yet again the culture warriors showing their selective free speech. Nice to see the new gov agrees previous outfit were out of order.
Also, if you haven’t listened to Kneecap - do. They’re fantastic
www.theguardian.com/music/2024/n...
Also, if you haven’t listened to Kneecap - do. They’re fantastic
www.theguardian.com/music/2024/n...
Worrying times for many
The Cuts in UK Higher Education
Today friend of mine send me a message pointing out that in order to save money the University of Sussex is planning to make about 300 staff redundant; you can see an article about it in the Times…
http://telescoper.blog/2024/11/28/the-cuts-in-uk-higher-education/
Today friend of mine send me a message pointing out that in order to save money the University of Sussex is planning to make about 300 staff redundant; you can see an article about it in the Times…
http://telescoper.blog/2024/11/28/the-cuts-in-uk-higher-education/
November 29, 2024 at 8:48 AM
Worrying times for many
It will also make it tricky for people to know what they are eligible to apply for in the upcoming round.. due early March
STFC Astronomy grants round results (due Oct/Nov) are delayed until late Jan, because they're still awaiting the outcome of the govt spending review. Will cause massive uncertainty and stress for everyone involved. 😢 Will also make it impossible for funded projects to start as planned in spring. 🔭
November 28, 2024 at 7:02 PM
It will also make it tricky for people to know what they are eligible to apply for in the upcoming round.. due early March
Reposted by Ben Burningham
November 25, 2024 at 5:01 PM
Really great work here from Melanie Rowland , @astrocaroline.bsky.social , @blkschlr-bmiles.bsky.social , and the rest of the team. I was very pleased to be involved in this, albeit in a minor way. First time we’ve confirmed the planetary mass of an object in this way! #browndwarfs #exoplanets
Protosolar D-to-H abundance and one part-per-billion PH$_{3}$ in the coldest brown dwarf. (replaced) Melanie J. Rowland et. al. https://arxiv.org/abs/2411.14541
November 26, 2024 at 10:22 AM
Really great work here from Melanie Rowland , @astrocaroline.bsky.social , @blkschlr-bmiles.bsky.social , and the rest of the team. I was very pleased to be involved in this, albeit in a minor way. First time we’ve confirmed the planetary mass of an object in this way! #browndwarfs #exoplanets
This is my dog. I love my dog. But right now he is canis non grata. He is on a run of getting me up every night. Last night 3 times: sometimes for toilet, but mostly because he wants to “investigate”. I think our house goes through phases of being on a badger highway. I need it to stop
November 26, 2024 at 7:35 AM
This is my dog. I love my dog. But right now he is canis non grata. He is on a run of getting me up every night. Last night 3 times: sometimes for toilet, but mostly because he wants to “investigate”. I think our house goes through phases of being on a badger highway. I need it to stop
Reposted by Ben Burningham
Last chance! ⌛ The closing date to apply for our Public Engagement Officer vacancy is TODAY.
Are you passionate about our work and keen to harness that inspiration to teach a world-class programme to a wide range of audiences? We'd love to hear from you.
Apply at: https://buff.ly/3YNao2Z
Are you passionate about our work and keen to harness that inspiration to teach a world-class programme to a wide range of audiences? We'd love to hear from you.
Apply at: https://buff.ly/3YNao2Z
November 25, 2024 at 11:08 AM
Last chance! ⌛ The closing date to apply for our Public Engagement Officer vacancy is TODAY.
Are you passionate about our work and keen to harness that inspiration to teach a world-class programme to a wide range of audiences? We'd love to hear from you.
Apply at: https://buff.ly/3YNao2Z
Are you passionate about our work and keen to harness that inspiration to teach a world-class programme to a wide range of audiences? We'd love to hear from you.
Apply at: https://buff.ly/3YNao2Z