Kurtis Williams
@astrokurtis.bsky.social
astronomer, baritone, ally, dinosaur nut, educator at East Texas A&M University, snarky, he/him, all views my own
Reposted by Kurtis Williams
I've summarized the truth about Loeb's 10 "anomalies" about 3I/ATLAS in one post.
Thanks to @deschscoveries.bsky.social @michael-w-busch.bsky.social @cometary.org and @marshall-eubanks.bsky.social for contributing their expertise!
Thanks to @deschscoveries.bsky.social @michael-w-busch.bsky.social @cometary.org and @marshall-eubanks.bsky.social for contributing their expertise!
Loeb’s 3I/ATLAS “Anomalies” Explained
Avi Loeb continues to claim that 3I/ATLAS has many anomalous behaviors that lead to the conclusion that it “might” be an alien spacecraft. He carefully hedges the probability that it is a spacecraft ...
sites.psu.edu
November 10, 2025 at 12:22 AM
I've summarized the truth about Loeb's 10 "anomalies" about 3I/ATLAS in one post.
Thanks to @deschscoveries.bsky.social @michael-w-busch.bsky.social @cometary.org and @marshall-eubanks.bsky.social for contributing their expertise!
Thanks to @deschscoveries.bsky.social @michael-w-busch.bsky.social @cometary.org and @marshall-eubanks.bsky.social for contributing their expertise!
Reposted by Kurtis Williams
The world has lost its most powerful advocate for nature and hope. Yet many remain who will continue her legacy and I know she will continue to inspire generations more.
October 1, 2025 at 6:01 PM
The world has lost its most powerful advocate for nature and hope. Yet many remain who will continue her legacy and I know she will continue to inspire generations more.
Reposted by Kurtis Williams
Avi is still writing new and clearly incorrect things about 3I/ATLAS.
No reason to think that 3I/ATLAS is large or self-luminous
Avi Loeb continues to post incorrect reasoning about 3I/ATLAS in support of his hype that it could be an alien spacecraft. In a recent analysis he takes a look at the Hubble Space Telescope profile of...
sites.psu.edu
August 21, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Avi is still writing new and clearly incorrect things about 3I/ATLAS.
A hearty congratulations and job well done to my colleague Dr. Billy Quarles, a member of the team that has found potential evidence of a planet orbiting Alpha Centauri A!
www.etamu.edu/news/east-te...
www.etamu.edu/news/east-te...
East Texas A&M Professor Contributes to Major Discovery of Planet Candidate in Nearby Star System
A newly accepted scientific paper involving ETAMU's Dr. Billy Quarles, an assistant professor of physics and astronomy, details the possible discovery of a planet orbiting Alpha Centauri A.
www.etamu.edu
August 7, 2025 at 8:55 PM
A hearty congratulations and job well done to my colleague Dr. Billy Quarles, a member of the team that has found potential evidence of a planet orbiting Alpha Centauri A!
www.etamu.edu/news/east-te...
www.etamu.edu/news/east-te...
My 2025 Proof Quarters arrived today, with Vera Rubin appropriately centered!
June 27, 2025 at 12:15 AM
My 2025 Proof Quarters arrived today, with Vera Rubin appropriately centered!
Reposted by Kurtis Williams
"Fascism can come from anywhere, of course. Spain and Italy have produced their own versions over the years. Some of the stuff coming out of California rivals the classic vintages. However, only one region holds this unique appellation."
www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/its...
www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/its...
It’s Only the Fourth Reich If It Comes from the Reich Region of Germany, Otherwise It’s Just Sparkling Fascism
Don’t be embarrassed, it’s a common mistake. You look around and think, Yep, this is it. Paramilitary deportations, apocalyptic foreign policy, and...
www.mcsweeneys.net
June 12, 2025 at 7:09 PM
"Fascism can come from anywhere, of course. Spain and Italy have produced their own versions over the years. Some of the stuff coming out of California rivals the classic vintages. However, only one region holds this unique appellation."
www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/its...
www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/its...
Reposted by Kurtis Williams
In the USA, an independent former British colony, forces loyal to the regime used force to subdue an elected member of the opposition party during an apparatchik's announcement that the regime planned to "liberate" one of the opposition's regional power centers from its elected leaders.
June 12, 2025 at 7:09 PM
In the USA, an independent former British colony, forces loyal to the regime used force to subdue an elected member of the opposition party during an apparatchik's announcement that the regime planned to "liberate" one of the opposition's regional power centers from its elected leaders.
Despondent over the NSF and NASA proposed budgets. Normally Congress would ignore such a outlandish presidential request. But normally I could come up with a snarky comeback and today I can’t.
May 31, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Despondent over the NSF and NASA proposed budgets. Normally Congress would ignore such a outlandish presidential request. But normally I could come up with a snarky comeback and today I can’t.
Dr. Kit Blount was a treasured member of our university community and instrumental in STEM education and teacher preparation during her career at East Texas A&M University. A Martian crater has been named in her memory and honor. #ETAMU #Mars
www.tamuc.edu/news/mars-cr...
www.tamuc.edu/news/mars-cr...
Mars Crater Naming Honors Renowned Planetary Scientist, Former ETAMU Professor Dr. Kit Blount
The honor recognizes Dr. Kit Blount’s legacy as a planetary scientist who helped map the Red Planet, and her lifelong commitment to STEM education.
www.tamuc.edu
May 8, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Dr. Kit Blount was a treasured member of our university community and instrumental in STEM education and teacher preparation during her career at East Texas A&M University. A Martian crater has been named in her memory and honor. #ETAMU #Mars
www.tamuc.edu/news/mars-cr...
www.tamuc.edu/news/mars-cr...
I was very disappointed to find myself today as the lone department head in my college vocally arguing for the right to continue to cover issues of sexuality, race, and gender in science courses. It is important to my faculty, to me, and most importantly to our students not to self-censor.
May 7, 2025 at 10:08 PM
I was very disappointed to find myself today as the lone department head in my college vocally arguing for the right to continue to cover issues of sexuality, race, and gender in science courses. It is important to my faculty, to me, and most importantly to our students not to self-censor.
Yes, I bought it because of the name. Clever capitalism FTW
April 25, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Yes, I bought it because of the name. Clever capitalism FTW
Some words of mine made Science magazine. But I will not be advertising this at my university - I am not sure they’d appreciate me sticking my head up in the e current political climate. www.science.org/content/arti...
International students in the U.S. are reeling amid revoked visas and terminated records
The moves also affect a temporary work program heavily used by STEM graduates
www.science.org
April 23, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Some words of mine made Science magazine. But I will not be advertising this at my university - I am not sure they’d appreciate me sticking my head up in the e current political climate. www.science.org/content/arti...
I have a student whose visa has been pulled. PhD student skilled in optics. If you are aware of a non-US PhD position pls email me directly. 15 day window. Feel free to share.
April 8, 2025 at 12:09 PM
I have a student whose visa has been pulled. PhD student skilled in optics. If you are aware of a non-US PhD position pls email me directly. 15 day window. Feel free to share.
Reposted by Kurtis Williams
here’s a curse word free version of “look it up” as requested by countless teachers and librarians 🥰😘
April 7, 2025 at 8:35 PM
here’s a curse word free version of “look it up” as requested by countless teachers and librarians 🥰😘
Reposted by Kurtis Williams
"Sure, technically, I’m a part-time lecturer and not a professor, but seeing as how no one in my family gets that, a roving gang of far-right street thugs won’t request my full job title and last pay stub before bashing in my skull with a bat."
Not to Brag, But I’m Totally Intellectual Enough to Be Brutally Murdered by Fascists
I don’t mean to sound conceited, but my obvious mental acuity makes me an easy target for some autocratic tyrant’s curb-stomping goon squad. What I...
buff.ly
March 1, 2025 at 7:20 PM
"Sure, technically, I’m a part-time lecturer and not a professor, but seeing as how no one in my family gets that, a roving gang of far-right street thugs won’t request my full job title and last pay stub before bashing in my skull with a bat."
Sunset at McDonald Observatory during a dust storm. It looks and feels a bit like Mars, though here it is a tad warmer and a little more oxygen is in the air. I think I’ll wait a while before opening the domes.
March 3, 2025 at 1:12 AM
Sunset at McDonald Observatory during a dust storm. It looks and feels a bit like Mars, though here it is a tad warmer and a little more oxygen is in the air. I think I’ll wait a while before opening the domes.
I couldn’t find my target. At first it was clouds, but the e sky has cleared. So I went to a bright star to check pointing. And I found the pointing was fine, the sky was clear, but we were slightly out of focus…
March 2, 2025 at 4:04 AM
I couldn’t find my target. At first it was clouds, but the e sky has cleared. So I went to a bright star to check pointing. And I found the pointing was fine, the sky was clear, but we were slightly out of focus…
I had a dream last night that I was a soccer ref in a game along with Pete Hegseth. He kept going around giving Nazi salutes but claimed he was pointing at airplanes. Needless to say he missed many obvious fouls. I was no use because I don’t know the rules of soccer.
February 25, 2025 at 2:29 AM
I had a dream last night that I was a soccer ref in a game along with Pete Hegseth. He kept going around giving Nazi salutes but claimed he was pointing at airplanes. Needless to say he missed many obvious fouls. I was no use because I don’t know the rules of soccer.
Movies you’ve watched more than six times, GIFs only
February 21, 2025 at 3:55 AM
Movies you’ve watched more than six times, GIFs only
Reposted by Kurtis Williams
I had a dream last night that a certain South African Nazi was coming for dinner and I had to make Gar Compote. Anyone know if gar is poisonous?
February 18, 2025 at 12:44 PM
I had a dream last night that a certain South African Nazi was coming for dinner and I had to make Gar Compote. Anyone know if gar is poisonous?
Reposted by Kurtis Williams
Worrye not about 'being productive,' for thou art not a product. Thou art a star daunsinge yn a hopeful skye. A signal blinking across centuryes and worldes. Thou art a song performid just once and perfectlye.
February 15, 2025 at 4:48 AM
Worrye not about 'being productive,' for thou art not a product. Thou art a star daunsinge yn a hopeful skye. A signal blinking across centuryes and worldes. Thou art a song performid just once and perfectlye.
Reposted by Kurtis Williams
Paul Atreides doth go to a Frensshe bakerye to picke up breade.
Upon arriving at the Frensshe bakerye, Paul Atreides doth fynde that the Frensshe bakeres have lefte a box for hym.
Paul Atreides asketh: "What ys yn the box?"
And the Frensshe bakeres responde: "Pain."
Upon arriving at the Frensshe bakerye, Paul Atreides doth fynde that the Frensshe bakeres have lefte a box for hym.
Paul Atreides asketh: "What ys yn the box?"
And the Frensshe bakeres responde: "Pain."
February 15, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Paul Atreides doth go to a Frensshe bakerye to picke up breade.
Upon arriving at the Frensshe bakerye, Paul Atreides doth fynde that the Frensshe bakeres have lefte a box for hym.
Paul Atreides asketh: "What ys yn the box?"
And the Frensshe bakeres responde: "Pain."
Upon arriving at the Frensshe bakerye, Paul Atreides doth fynde that the Frensshe bakeres have lefte a box for hym.
Paul Atreides asketh: "What ys yn the box?"
And the Frensshe bakeres responde: "Pain."
Reposted by Kurtis Williams
The Oregon Trail generation speaks
I am going to be so pissed if--after everything--I do, in fact, die of dysentery.
February 13, 2025 at 9:36 PM
The Oregon Trail generation speaks
“But again and again there comes a time in history when the man who dares to say that two and two make four is punished with death. The schoolteacher is well aware of this…. 1/2
February 8, 2025 at 2:48 PM
“But again and again there comes a time in history when the man who dares to say that two and two make four is punished with death. The schoolteacher is well aware of this…. 1/2