Tod Lauer
@todlauer.bsky.social
Extragalactic observer (black holes, galaxies, galaxy clusters, stellar pops) that also dabbles in planetary astronomy. Really, basically a pixel pusher.
Reposted by Tod Lauer
1/ The US Government has quietly removed a memorial to Black soldiers who died in World War II from the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg. The move follows a complaint from the right-wing Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission. ⬇️
November 9, 2025 at 9:23 AM
1/ The US Government has quietly removed a memorial to Black soldiers who died in World War II from the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg. The move follows a complaint from the right-wing Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission. ⬇️
No idea if any of this is true, but as a friend of mine once said, "Never let the truth get in the way of a good story."
Holy crap! This is the Burger King in my neighborhood!
link via @violetblue.bsky.social
www.cracked.com/article_2801...
link via @violetblue.bsky.social
www.cracked.com/article_2801...
The Story Of The Rogue Burger King In Pittsburgh
Every city has its own fast food urban legend, here's Pittsburgh's.
www.cracked.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:52 PM
No idea if any of this is true, but as a friend of mine once said, "Never let the truth get in the way of a good story."
Too good!
"We know they are coming, a slavering horde of deans. Creeping, shambling, oozing like slime mold up the hill towards the faculty’s last stronghold, the run-down, isolated building the deans forgot, until they had 'administrated' everything else."
Dean of the Dead
The wind howls outside the arts building, drowning out the sound of the approaching deans. We don’t know exactly where they are. The Porcupine and ...
buff.ly
November 1, 2025 at 3:21 AM
Too good!
I just love this surrealistic illustration of the cosmic optical background that Guy Bilout did a few years ago for a NYT article. Light comes from the dark Universe.
October 27, 2025 at 5:09 AM
I just love this surrealistic illustration of the cosmic optical background that Guy Bilout did a few years ago for a NYT article. Light comes from the dark Universe.
A little essay about DESI on the occasion of visiting the KPNO 4m, where the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument is measuring an extremely precise history of the expansion of the Universe.
noirlab.edu/public/blog/...
noirlab.edu/public/blog/...
Blog: DESI and the History of the Universe How the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument makes astrophysicists cartographers of the cosmos
DESI and the History of the Universe
noirlab.edu
October 22, 2025 at 6:59 PM
A little essay about DESI on the occasion of visiting the KPNO 4m, where the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument is measuring an extremely precise history of the expansion of the Universe.
noirlab.edu/public/blog/...
noirlab.edu/public/blog/...
On days like this I miss Santa Cruz.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/s...
Sea Otters Are Stealing Surfboards in California. Again.
www.nytimes.com
October 20, 2025 at 1:12 AM
On days like this I miss Santa Cruz.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/s...
Reposted by Tod Lauer
I didn't get a picture of the best sign I saw today, but I remember what it said:
Somewhere in America
A little Hispanic girl
Is hiding in an attic
And keeping a diary.
#NoKings
Somewhere in America
A little Hispanic girl
Is hiding in an attic
And keeping a diary.
#NoKings
October 19, 2025 at 12:11 AM
I didn't get a picture of the best sign I saw today, but I remember what it said:
Somewhere in America
A little Hispanic girl
Is hiding in an attic
And keeping a diary.
#NoKings
Somewhere in America
A little Hispanic girl
Is hiding in an attic
And keeping a diary.
#NoKings
Chicago!
Happening Now: Thousands out for a “No Kings” protest in Chicago
October 18, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Chicago!
Tucson on River road.
October 18, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Tucson on River road.
Thanked a friend for data analysis,
"By the way, I wanted to say I think you've done a wonderful job. I appreciate the way you've handled this thing."
Who knew to reply,
"Well, the way I look at it it's my job to do this thing the way you want it done and I’m only too happy to be able to oblige."
"By the way, I wanted to say I think you've done a wonderful job. I appreciate the way you've handled this thing."
Who knew to reply,
"Well, the way I look at it it's my job to do this thing the way you want it done and I’m only too happy to be able to oblige."
October 17, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Thanked a friend for data analysis,
"By the way, I wanted to say I think you've done a wonderful job. I appreciate the way you've handled this thing."
Who knew to reply,
"Well, the way I look at it it's my job to do this thing the way you want it done and I’m only too happy to be able to oblige."
"By the way, I wanted to say I think you've done a wonderful job. I appreciate the way you've handled this thing."
Who knew to reply,
"Well, the way I look at it it's my job to do this thing the way you want it done and I’m only too happy to be able to oblige."
100% true.
![Vertical comic structured like flow chart. (1) Einstein had an insight that overturned physics, thus proving his value. (2) I hope *I* have value. I’ll try to have an insight that overturns physics, to check. (3) [Time Passes] (4) Oh no! My insight didn’t overturn physics! But I don’t think I’m worthless… [arrows to two different options] (5a) Healthy Path: Maybe this was not a well-thought-out test of my value. (5b) Path of Ruin: The establishment must be *suppressing* my insight!](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreihhxykbw72fblbjeupqscutarbdowk73mhsdkqrtzjwrpzqzamjem@jpeg)
October 16, 2025 at 8:14 PM
100% true.
From the last review of our JWST prop
Strengths
The path to science is clearly laid out, and the analysis techniques used are state-of-the-art
Weaknesses:
A more detailed justification would strengthen the need for JWST observations, as well as a more specific description of the path to science
Strengths
The path to science is clearly laid out, and the analysis techniques used are state-of-the-art
Weaknesses:
A more detailed justification would strengthen the need for JWST observations, as well as a more specific description of the path to science
October 16, 2025 at 8:10 PM
From the last review of our JWST prop
Strengths
The path to science is clearly laid out, and the analysis techniques used are state-of-the-art
Weaknesses:
A more detailed justification would strengthen the need for JWST observations, as well as a more specific description of the path to science
Strengths
The path to science is clearly laid out, and the analysis techniques used are state-of-the-art
Weaknesses:
A more detailed justification would strengthen the need for JWST observations, as well as a more specific description of the path to science
Reposted by Tod Lauer
Procrastination takes may forms. Tonight as a service to the astronomical community I offer help with your JWST proposal titles.
#JWST 🧪🔭✨
#JWST 🧪🔭✨
October 15, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Procrastination takes may forms. Tonight as a service to the astronomical community I offer help with your JWST proposal titles.
#JWST 🧪🔭✨
#JWST 🧪🔭✨
The effort put into understanding 3I/Atlas has been spectacular, imaginative, professional and well-organized. Planetary scientists don't need Avi Loeb put in charge of an international directorate to tell them how to do their jobs.
October 6, 2025 at 6:49 PM
The effort put into understanding 3I/Atlas has been spectacular, imaginative, professional and well-organized. Planetary scientists don't need Avi Loeb put in charge of an international directorate to tell them how to do their jobs.
This is an incredibly brilliant idea. We need to set up a UN body in charge of all work and resources for the study of interstellar objects. After all, planetary science is too important to trust to the planetary scientists. But who would direct it?
arxiv.org/pdf/2510.01405
arxiv.org/pdf/2510.01405
October 6, 2025 at 6:30 PM
This is an incredibly brilliant idea. We need to set up a UN body in charge of all work and resources for the study of interstellar objects. After all, planetary science is too important to trust to the planetary scientists. But who would direct it?
arxiv.org/pdf/2510.01405
arxiv.org/pdf/2510.01405
Nothing to see here:
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/03/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/03/b...
Treasury Plans to Mint $1 Commemorative Trump Coin
www.nytimes.com
October 4, 2025 at 2:48 AM
Nothing to see here:
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/03/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/03/b...
Spectacular image of a rich cluster of galaxies lensing the galaxies and other goodies beyond it. This is from the HST Vast Exploration for Nascent, Unexplored Sources (VENUS) program.
#Galaxy cluster ACO S 1121 (SPTJ2325-41) with #JWST NIRCam.
Filters: F277W, F356W, F444W
program: www.stsci.edu/jwst-program...
Filters: F277W, F356W, F444W
program: www.stsci.edu/jwst-program...
October 3, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Spectacular image of a rich cluster of galaxies lensing the galaxies and other goodies beyond it. This is from the HST Vast Exploration for Nascent, Unexplored Sources (VENUS) program.
A remarkable polemic by Raskin - read it in full at the link included. It's a direct plea to Roberts.
This rules - @raskin.house.gov straight up called out Roberts to his face.
democrats-judiciary.house.gov/media-center...
democrats-judiciary.house.gov/media-center...
September 28, 2025 at 4:07 AM
A remarkable polemic by Raskin - read it in full at the link included. It's a direct plea to Roberts.
So... reading some papers by an author and his former advisor that were huge on reference consolidation. They cite their own summary works, rather than the primary sources of observations/results (including mine). Don't really understand what the journals' policies are on this.
September 25, 2025 at 4:38 PM
So... reading some papers by an author and his former advisor that were huge on reference consolidation. They cite their own summary works, rather than the primary sources of observations/results (including mine). Don't really understand what the journals' policies are on this.
So wonderfully childish...
The White House has placed a photo of an auto-pen signature instead of a portrait of former President Biden on the “Presidential Walk of Fame”
September 24, 2025 at 9:18 PM
So wonderfully childish...
Reposted by Tod Lauer
Finding good information is hard.
A study done on 2.5M pregnant women who took Tylenol during pregnancy showed no adverse fetal effects.
However, pregnant women with untreated fevers had increased fetal risk of:
Neural tube,
Heart,
And abdominal wall,
Defects.
Plus cleft palate and more!
A study done on 2.5M pregnant women who took Tylenol during pregnancy showed no adverse fetal effects.
However, pregnant women with untreated fevers had increased fetal risk of:
Neural tube,
Heart,
And abdominal wall,
Defects.
Plus cleft palate and more!
September 23, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Finding good information is hard.
A study done on 2.5M pregnant women who took Tylenol during pregnancy showed no adverse fetal effects.
However, pregnant women with untreated fevers had increased fetal risk of:
Neural tube,
Heart,
And abdominal wall,
Defects.
Plus cleft palate and more!
A study done on 2.5M pregnant women who took Tylenol during pregnancy showed no adverse fetal effects.
However, pregnant women with untreated fevers had increased fetal risk of:
Neural tube,
Heart,
And abdominal wall,
Defects.
Plus cleft palate and more!
I look forward to Bobby Jr. and Trump's resolution of the Hubble constant tension.
September 23, 2025 at 2:11 AM
I look forward to Bobby Jr. and Trump's resolution of the Hubble constant tension.
I just love posting this image now and then. I know it was taken at the dedication of one of the Bush's libraries, and that no one ever figured out what they were reacting to.
September 20, 2025 at 1:16 AM
I just love posting this image now and then. I know it was taken at the dedication of one of the Bush's libraries, and that no one ever figured out what they were reacting to.