Alejandro S. Borlaff
@asborlaff.bsky.social
Investigador en @NASA. Astrofísico. Desarrollando telescopios espaciales en @NASAAmes. Galaxies and rocket science. @ESA @unicomplutense @IAC_astrofisica.
Reposted by Alejandro S. Borlaff
here’s a version where the POV is blacked out whenever the driver takes their eyes off the road
August 31, 2025 at 12:07 AM
here’s a version where the POV is blacked out whenever the driver takes their eyes off the road
Reposted by Alejandro S. Borlaff
“The amazing astronomical abilities of this little creature,” Warrant told me, “are uniquely tied to an entire alpine world.”
I wrote in Science about a new study on bogong moths, which have neurons in their brains that seem to recognize the Milky Way and infer due south from its orientation.
I wrote in Science about a new study on bogong moths, which have neurons in their brains that seem to recognize the Milky Way and infer due south from its orientation.
This moth makes its epic migration navigating by starlight
Bogong moths fly 1000 kilometers orienting to stars and the Milky Way, an ability never seen before in invertebrates
www.science.org
June 18, 2025 at 4:14 PM
“The amazing astronomical abilities of this little creature,” Warrant told me, “are uniquely tied to an entire alpine world.”
I wrote in Science about a new study on bogong moths, which have neurons in their brains that seem to recognize the Milky Way and infer due south from its orientation.
I wrote in Science about a new study on bogong moths, which have neurons in their brains that seem to recognize the Milky Way and infer due south from its orientation.
Reposted by Alejandro S. Borlaff
The Space Telescope Science Institute's MAST archive contains 300 million astronomical observations from over 23 different missions.
Here is an animation showing how the archive has built up over time.
Credit: Julie Imig, STScI
Here is an animation showing how the archive has built up over time.
Credit: Julie Imig, STScI
August 1, 2025 at 1:16 AM
The Space Telescope Science Institute's MAST archive contains 300 million astronomical observations from over 23 different missions.
Here is an animation showing how the archive has built up over time.
Credit: Julie Imig, STScI
Here is an animation showing how the archive has built up over time.
Credit: Julie Imig, STScI
This is why current AI is not going to make breakthrough science at any point in the near future. Humans will.
Chatbots — LLMs — do not know facts and are not designed to be able to accurately answer factual questions. They are designed to find and mimic patterns of words, probabilistically. When they’re “right” it’s because correct things are often written down, so those patterns are frequent. That’s all.
June 19, 2025 at 7:45 PM
This is why current AI is not going to make breakthrough science at any point in the near future. Humans will.
@NASA/Hubble is currently getting ready to perform one of our calibration experiments with the Advance Camera for Surveys (STRAYCOR) that will help us to improve the quality of the telescope's images and even make Roman Space Telescope even more sensitive to the darkest regions of the Universe.
June 13, 2025 at 4:01 PM
@NASA/Hubble is currently getting ready to perform one of our calibration experiments with the Advance Camera for Surveys (STRAYCOR) that will help us to improve the quality of the telescope's images and even make Roman Space Telescope even more sensitive to the darkest regions of the Universe.
Reposted by Alejandro S. Borlaff
The NASA planetary science fleet chart if the president’s budget is enacted.
May 30, 2025 at 9:57 PM
The NASA planetary science fleet chart if the president’s budget is enacted.
Reposted by Alejandro S. Borlaff
Here's NASA astrophysics, if I read the president's proposed budget correctly. 🔭
May 30, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Here's NASA astrophysics, if I read the president's proposed budget correctly. 🔭
Reposted by Alejandro S. Borlaff
The Presidents Budget Request for NASA is out. It’s a bloodbath
Canceled are DAVINCI, VERITAS, Juno, OSIRIS-APEX, US participation in ExoMars and EnVision…
Huge cut to R&A. No funding to begin development of the Uranus Orbiter.
If you’ve ever cared about NASA, time to contact congress.
Canceled are DAVINCI, VERITAS, Juno, OSIRIS-APEX, US participation in ExoMars and EnVision…
Huge cut to R&A. No funding to begin development of the Uranus Orbiter.
If you’ve ever cared about NASA, time to contact congress.
May 30, 2025 at 8:30 PM
The Presidents Budget Request for NASA is out. It’s a bloodbath
Canceled are DAVINCI, VERITAS, Juno, OSIRIS-APEX, US participation in ExoMars and EnVision…
Huge cut to R&A. No funding to begin development of the Uranus Orbiter.
If you’ve ever cared about NASA, time to contact congress.
Canceled are DAVINCI, VERITAS, Juno, OSIRIS-APEX, US participation in ExoMars and EnVision…
Huge cut to R&A. No funding to begin development of the Uranus Orbiter.
If you’ve ever cared about NASA, time to contact congress.
Reposted by Alejandro S. Borlaff
Planned reentry of the CRS-32 Dragon cargo ship at about 0545 UTC May 25. The large white area is where the jettisoned
trunk will burn up; the small area just off San Diego is where the capsule will splash down. Orange line is approx trajectory assuming several orbit lowering burns to match target
trunk will burn up; the small area just off San Diego is where the capsule will splash down. Orange line is approx trajectory assuming several orbit lowering burns to match target
May 24, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Planned reentry of the CRS-32 Dragon cargo ship at about 0545 UTC May 25. The large white area is where the jettisoned
trunk will burn up; the small area just off San Diego is where the capsule will splash down. Orange line is approx trajectory assuming several orbit lowering burns to match target
trunk will burn up; the small area just off San Diego is where the capsule will splash down. Orange line is approx trajectory assuming several orbit lowering burns to match target
Reposted by Alejandro S. Borlaff
NEW: Saturn’s moon Titan has weather similar to Earth’s, but driven by methane evaporation and condensation. Astronomers have found evidence for clouds bubbling up over Titan’s northern hemisphere for the first time, using #NASAWebb and Keck observatory: webbtelescope.pub/3GofvQ1 🔭 🧪
May 14, 2025 at 12:02 PM
NEW: Saturn’s moon Titan has weather similar to Earth’s, but driven by methane evaporation and condensation. Astronomers have found evidence for clouds bubbling up over Titan’s northern hemisphere for the first time, using #NASAWebb and Keck observatory: webbtelescope.pub/3GofvQ1 🔭 🧪
Reposted by Alejandro S. Borlaff
Trump proposes unprecedented budget cuts for US science in next fiscal year
NASA cut by 24%
NIH cut by 40%
EPA cut by 55%
NSF cut by 56%
Analysis from @maxkozlov.bsky.social @dangaristo.bsky.social @alexwitze.bsky.social and @nature.com team
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
NASA cut by 24%
NIH cut by 40%
EPA cut by 55%
NSF cut by 56%
Analysis from @maxkozlov.bsky.social @dangaristo.bsky.social @alexwitze.bsky.social and @nature.com team
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Trump proposes unprecedented budget cuts to US science
Huge reductions, if enacted, could have ‘catastrophic’ effects on US competitiveness and the scientific pipeline, critics say.
www.nature.com
May 2, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Trump proposes unprecedented budget cuts for US science in next fiscal year
NASA cut by 24%
NIH cut by 40%
EPA cut by 55%
NSF cut by 56%
Analysis from @maxkozlov.bsky.social @dangaristo.bsky.social @alexwitze.bsky.social and @nature.com team
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
NASA cut by 24%
NIH cut by 40%
EPA cut by 55%
NSF cut by 56%
Analysis from @maxkozlov.bsky.social @dangaristo.bsky.social @alexwitze.bsky.social and @nature.com team
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
NASA Administrator Janet Petro has announced the following changes in the budget president request:
- End the International Space Station in 2030 to replace it with a private space station.
- End Orion, SLS, and the Artemis program.
- A 47% cut in NASA Science Program.
- End the International Space Station in 2030 to replace it with a private space station.
- End Orion, SLS, and the Artemis program.
- A 47% cut in NASA Science Program.
May 2, 2025 at 6:12 PM
NASA Administrator Janet Petro has announced the following changes in the budget president request:
- End the International Space Station in 2030 to replace it with a private space station.
- End Orion, SLS, and the Artemis program.
- A 47% cut in NASA Science Program.
- End the International Space Station in 2030 to replace it with a private space station.
- End Orion, SLS, and the Artemis program.
- A 47% cut in NASA Science Program.
Reposted by Alejandro S. Borlaff
Happy anniversary, Hubble! 🎂
Celebrate 35 years since this NASA/ESA space telescope was launched into orbit with four anniversary images! They roam from the planet Mars to dramatic images of stellar birth and death to a neighbouring galaxy.
Read more 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
#Hubble35 🔭 🧪
Celebrate 35 years since this NASA/ESA space telescope was launched into orbit with four anniversary images! They roam from the planet Mars to dramatic images of stellar birth and death to a neighbouring galaxy.
Read more 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
#Hubble35 🔭 🧪
April 23, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Happy anniversary, Hubble! 🎂
Celebrate 35 years since this NASA/ESA space telescope was launched into orbit with four anniversary images! They roam from the planet Mars to dramatic images of stellar birth and death to a neighbouring galaxy.
Read more 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
#Hubble35 🔭 🧪
Celebrate 35 years since this NASA/ESA space telescope was launched into orbit with four anniversary images! They roam from the planet Mars to dramatic images of stellar birth and death to a neighbouring galaxy.
Read more 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
#Hubble35 🔭 🧪
A good indicator of a housing crisis is when your wife considers the apartments at City 17 "actually pretty nice."
April 22, 2025 at 10:04 PM
A good indicator of a housing crisis is when your wife considers the apartments at City 17 "actually pretty nice."
Reposted by Alejandro S. Borlaff
On this day in 1942 Moffett Field was recommissioned as a Navy airfield (from temporarily being an Army training base) under Commander Mackey.
April 17, 2025 at 2:41 AM
On this day in 1942 Moffett Field was recommissioned as a Navy airfield (from temporarily being an Army training base) under Commander Mackey.
Reposted by Alejandro S. Borlaff
Extremos climáticos y contrastes. Calor inusual en centroeuropa, frio inusual en la Peninsula Ibérica. Eso es cambio climático. Eso aun no lo entendemos bien. Eso no parece que nos lo acabemos de creer.
#cambioclimatico #fernandovalladares
#cambioclimatico #fernandovalladares
April 15, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Extremos climáticos y contrastes. Calor inusual en centroeuropa, frio inusual en la Peninsula Ibérica. Eso es cambio climático. Eso aun no lo entendemos bien. Eso no parece que nos lo acabemos de creer.
#cambioclimatico #fernandovalladares
#cambioclimatico #fernandovalladares
The White House shares their proposal for NASA's next budget:
- A 50% cut in Science Programs.
- Close Goddard Space Flight Center.
- Ending Roman Space Telescope a year before launch.
If this is applied, this is effectively the end of NASA leadership.
- A 50% cut in Science Programs.
- Close Goddard Space Flight Center.
- Ending Roman Space Telescope a year before launch.
If this is applied, this is effectively the end of NASA leadership.
Trump White House budget proposal eviscerates science funding at NASA
“This would decimate American leadership in space.”…
arstechnica.com
April 11, 2025 at 4:36 PM
The White House shares their proposal for NASA's next budget:
- A 50% cut in Science Programs.
- Close Goddard Space Flight Center.
- Ending Roman Space Telescope a year before launch.
If this is applied, this is effectively the end of NASA leadership.
- A 50% cut in Science Programs.
- Close Goddard Space Flight Center.
- Ending Roman Space Telescope a year before launch.
If this is applied, this is effectively the end of NASA leadership.
Reposted by Alejandro S. Borlaff
Massive (68%) cut to NASA astrophysics proposed in WH budget. If this stands, it's the end of American pre-eminence in space science. arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
Trump White House budget proposal eviscerates science funding at NASA
“This would decimate American leadership in space.”…
arstechnica.com
April 11, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Massive (68%) cut to NASA astrophysics proposed in WH budget. If this stands, it's the end of American pre-eminence in space science. arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
Reposted by Alejandro S. Borlaff
First the rumour was a 20% budget cut. Then, 50%. Now the president's NASA budget is out and it's a 68% cut to astrophysics ($1.5B to $487M).
Even if this gets reversed in four years, we will *never* recover the missions, partners, people who will be gone.
www.washingtonpost.com/science/2025...
Even if this gets reversed in four years, we will *never* recover the missions, partners, people who will be gone.
www.washingtonpost.com/science/2025...
Massive cuts to NASA science proposed in early White House budget plan
The preliminary version of President Donald Trump’s budget proposal to Congress, known as a “passback,” would cut the agency’s science budget funding nearly in half.
www.washingtonpost.com
April 11, 2025 at 2:54 PM
First the rumour was a 20% budget cut. Then, 50%. Now the president's NASA budget is out and it's a 68% cut to astrophysics ($1.5B to $487M).
Even if this gets reversed in four years, we will *never* recover the missions, partners, people who will be gone.
www.washingtonpost.com/science/2025...
Even if this gets reversed in four years, we will *never* recover the missions, partners, people who will be gone.
www.washingtonpost.com/science/2025...
Reposted by Alejandro S. Borlaff
Es una maravilla ver buena parte de la Península Ibérica de color verde vida, y con nieve en las montañas, en esta imagen tomada ayer por #Copernicus #Sentinel3 😍
Cuidemos de todo este agua, que el verano va a ser muy largo y caluroso!
Cuidemos de todo este agua, que el verano va a ser muy largo y caluroso!
March 31, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Es una maravilla ver buena parte de la Península Ibérica de color verde vida, y con nieve en las montañas, en esta imagen tomada ayer por #Copernicus #Sentinel3 😍
Cuidemos de todo este agua, que el verano va a ser muy largo y caluroso!
Cuidemos de todo este agua, que el verano va a ser muy largo y caluroso!
Correction: NASA launched a mission (Crew-10) to allow the return of NASA astronauts whose mission was extended at ISS during a test flight mission as planned since September 2024.
Enough sensationalism.
Enough sensationalism.
Breaking News: SpaceX launched a mission that will allow the return of two NASA astronauts whose time on the International Space Station was unexpectedly extended for months.
SpaceX Launches NASA’s Crew-10 Mission to the I.S.S.
After their flight was scrubbed on Wednesday, the astronauts returned to the launchpad for a successful start of their trip to the International Space Station.
www.nytimes.com
March 14, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Correction: NASA launched a mission (Crew-10) to allow the return of NASA astronauts whose mission was extended at ISS during a test flight mission as planned since September 2024.
Enough sensationalism.
Enough sensationalism.
Reposted by Alejandro S. Borlaff
Remember our discovery of a super-Earth in the habitable zone of a nearby Sun-like star? It appears NASA remembers, and likes it! #exoplanets 🔭 *I knew already they liked it, they told me :P
Discovery Alert: ‘Super-Earth’ Swings from Super-Heated to Super-Chill - NASA Science
The Discovery
science.nasa.gov
March 14, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Remember our discovery of a super-Earth in the habitable zone of a nearby Sun-like star? It appears NASA remembers, and likes it! #exoplanets 🔭 *I knew already they liked it, they told me :P
Reposted by Alejandro S. Borlaff
SPHEREx SEPARATION CONFIRMED!
March 12, 2025 at 3:53 AM
SPHEREx SEPARATION CONFIRMED!
Reposted by Alejandro S. Borlaff
SPHEREx begins its journey
March 12, 2025 at 3:54 AM
SPHEREx begins its journey
Reposted by Alejandro S. Borlaff
ULA rolls the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS) for NASA's SLS rocket past the VAB at the Kennedy Space Center ahead of its stacking as preparations for Artemis II continue.
nsf.live/starbase
nsf.live/starbase
March 9, 2025 at 5:54 PM
ULA rolls the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS) for NASA's SLS rocket past the VAB at the Kennedy Space Center ahead of its stacking as preparations for Artemis II continue.
nsf.live/starbase
nsf.live/starbase