Michael Battalio
@battalio.com
Research Scientist at Yale studying planetary climates
Pinned
Michael Battalio
@battalio.com
· Nov 11
Intro thread: I’m a #climate and #planetary scientist. I try to find atmospheric processes common across planets. I interpret each planet as an instance on a continuum of possible climates. Without exception, I’ve found that cool stuff that happens on one has parallels to help interpret the others.
Reposted by Michael Battalio
Here’s an annotated version of our comet image.
We also want to thank our downlink and uplink teams who spent a huge amount of time working on this. Our camera was not designed to image interstellar objects 19 million miles away, but their hard work and planning paid off.
We also want to thank our downlink and uplink teams who spent a huge amount of time working on this. Our camera was not designed to image interstellar objects 19 million miles away, but their hard work and planning paid off.
November 19, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Here’s an annotated version of our comet image.
We also want to thank our downlink and uplink teams who spent a huge amount of time working on this. Our camera was not designed to image interstellar objects 19 million miles away, but their hard work and planning paid off.
We also want to thank our downlink and uplink teams who spent a huge amount of time working on this. Our camera was not designed to image interstellar objects 19 million miles away, but their hard work and planning paid off.
Reposted by Michael Battalio
November 19, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Reposted by Michael Battalio
3I/ATLAS has only done comety things for 140 days. I predict it’ll look like a comet on day 141. For 140 days this grifter has manufactured doubt. He’ll do the same tomorrow. He’s never going to stop. He’s the Terminator, if the Terminator’s job was misconstruing ice and rocks in space to be aliens.
November 17, 2025 at 4:55 PM
3I/ATLAS has only done comety things for 140 days. I predict it’ll look like a comet on day 141. For 140 days this grifter has manufactured doubt. He’ll do the same tomorrow. He’s never going to stop. He’s the Terminator, if the Terminator’s job was misconstruing ice and rocks in space to be aliens.
Reposted by Michael Battalio
Iridescent clouds over Gale Crater (enhanced color) - From Simeon Schmauß (stim3on.bsky.social) - https://flic.kr/p/2qJvryP
November 15, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Iridescent clouds over Gale Crater (enhanced color) - From Simeon Schmauß (stim3on.bsky.social) - https://flic.kr/p/2qJvryP
Reposted by Michael Battalio
Texas A&M professors have to get clearance from a dean if they want to talk about this game on Monday
November 15, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Texas A&M professors have to get clearance from a dean if they want to talk about this game on Monday
Reposted by Michael Battalio
Part of this week’s newsletter was inspired by the post below. Was there a way to show the distance between normal Americans and the super wealthy?
1/8
www.howtoreadthisch.art/putting-the-...
1/8
www.howtoreadthisch.art/putting-the-...
November 15, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Part of this week’s newsletter was inspired by the post below. Was there a way to show the distance between normal Americans and the super wealthy?
1/8
www.howtoreadthisch.art/putting-the-...
1/8
www.howtoreadthisch.art/putting-the-...
Reposted by Michael Battalio
Now on @sciam.bsky.social: NASA’s presumptive next leader, Jared Isaacman, wants to outsource more of the space agency’s interplanetary science. The newly launched ESCAPADE mission to Mars offers a sanity check for those plans.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-...
Can NASA Outsource Its Space Science? This Mars-Bound Mission May Show the Way
NASA’s presumptive next leader wants to outsource more of the space agency’s interplanetary science. The newly launched ESCAPADE mission to Mars offers a sanity check for those plans
www.scientificamerican.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Now on @sciam.bsky.social: NASA’s presumptive next leader, Jared Isaacman, wants to outsource more of the space agency’s interplanetary science. The newly launched ESCAPADE mission to Mars offers a sanity check for those plans.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-...
Reposted by Michael Battalio
Mars - Dust Storm on the Olympus Mons - ESA Mars Express - From Andrea Luck (andrealuck.bsky.social) - https://flic.kr/p/2q2shzf
November 14, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Mars - Dust Storm on the Olympus Mons - ESA Mars Express - From Andrea Luck (andrealuck.bsky.social) - https://flic.kr/p/2q2shzf
Reposted by Michael Battalio
NASA's just-launched ESCAPADE mission is trying out a novel trajectory to Mars, one that's slower but allows much more flexible launch dates. The flight path also provides a bonus science session at the L2 equilibrium point near Earth. 🧪🔭
skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-ne...
skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-ne...
November 14, 2025 at 4:46 PM
NASA's just-launched ESCAPADE mission is trying out a novel trajectory to Mars, one that's slower but allows much more flexible launch dates. The flight path also provides a bonus science session at the L2 equilibrium point near Earth. 🧪🔭
skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-ne...
skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-ne...
Reposted by Michael Battalio
The meteorology program at Jackson State University was the first (and for many years only) undergrad meteorology program at a HBCU. They are celebrating 50 years as a program this week, and I talk about the program and being lucky enough to play a role in it. tinyurl.com/fhudehzt
Increasing flash flood concerns for southern California, while central US basks in record warmth
Also: Celebrating 50 years of meteorology at Jackson State University
tinyurl.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:43 PM
The meteorology program at Jackson State University was the first (and for many years only) undergrad meteorology program at a HBCU. They are celebrating 50 years as a program this week, and I talk about the program and being lucky enough to play a role in it. tinyurl.com/fhudehzt
Reposted by Michael Battalio
Data update! Our NASA Planetary Science historical budget dataset now includes all values for the FY 2026 request and final FY 2024 expenditures. Includes annual funding for every NASA planetary mission, helpful programmatic breakdowns, more:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
November 14, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Data update! Our NASA Planetary Science historical budget dataset now includes all values for the FY 2026 request and final FY 2024 expenditures. Includes annual funding for every NASA planetary mission, helpful programmatic breakdowns, more:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Reposted by Michael Battalio
This! Here's a slide pulled from my class lecture notes this semester. Comets have two clear tails - one from dust and one from ions. They point in different directions because one feels the solar wind while the other feels radiation pressure.
November 14, 2025 at 4:03 PM
This! Here's a slide pulled from my class lecture notes this semester. Comets have two clear tails - one from dust and one from ions. They point in different directions because one feels the solar wind while the other feels radiation pressure.
Reposted by Michael Battalio
Avi Loeb's calculations about 3I/ATLAS are 100% wrong because he has never understood that dust in the tail(s) responds to solar radiation pressure. Solar wind shapes the ion tail. But the radiation pressure is about 1000 times larger than the solar wind ram pressure, for particles that feel it.
November 13, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Avi Loeb's calculations about 3I/ATLAS are 100% wrong because he has never understood that dust in the tail(s) responds to solar radiation pressure. Solar wind shapes the ion tail. But the radiation pressure is about 1000 times larger than the solar wind ram pressure, for particles that feel it.
Reposted by Michael Battalio
I need EVERY “if we just tell people about science, it will fix this mess” person to read and internalize this.
If you want ppl to give af about science, try fighting for basic access, democracy, and freedom first…otherwise you’re completely missing the point and misreading the moment.
If you want ppl to give af about science, try fighting for basic access, democracy, and freedom first…otherwise you’re completely missing the point and misreading the moment.
November 14, 2025 at 1:12 PM
I need EVERY “if we just tell people about science, it will fix this mess” person to read and internalize this.
If you want ppl to give af about science, try fighting for basic access, democracy, and freedom first…otherwise you’re completely missing the point and misreading the moment.
If you want ppl to give af about science, try fighting for basic access, democracy, and freedom first…otherwise you’re completely missing the point and misreading the moment.
Reposted by Michael Battalio
Now freed from purgatory following the end of the shutdown: I got to write about Curiosity celebrating seven Mars years of exploring Gale Crater, highlighting the occasionally overlooked accomplishments of our environmental science team.
science.nasa.gov/blog/curiosi...
science.nasa.gov/blog/curiosi...
Curiosity Blog, Sols 4682-4688: Seven Mars Years - NASA Science
Written by Diana Hayes, Graduate Student at York University, Toronto
science.nasa.gov
November 14, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Now freed from purgatory following the end of the shutdown: I got to write about Curiosity celebrating seven Mars years of exploring Gale Crater, highlighting the occasionally overlooked accomplishments of our environmental science team.
science.nasa.gov/blog/curiosi...
science.nasa.gov/blog/curiosi...
Reposted by Michael Battalio
In the past few days, we've experiencing the beauty of Earth's magnetic field (hello #aurora). But, what about Mars?
Check out NASA's #ESCAPADE mission- launching *NOW* to study Mars magnetosphere!
3... 2... 1... LAUNCH! 🧪🚀 #PlanetarySci
Check out NASA's #ESCAPADE mission- launching *NOW* to study Mars magnetosphere!
3... 2... 1... LAUNCH! 🧪🚀 #PlanetarySci
ESCAPADE - NASA Science
ESCAPADE will use two identical spacecraft to investigate how the solar wind interacts with Mars’ magnetic environment.
science.nasa.gov
November 13, 2025 at 8:55 PM
In the past few days, we've experiencing the beauty of Earth's magnetic field (hello #aurora). But, what about Mars?
Check out NASA's #ESCAPADE mission- launching *NOW* to study Mars magnetosphere!
3... 2... 1... LAUNCH! 🧪🚀 #PlanetarySci
Check out NASA's #ESCAPADE mission- launching *NOW* to study Mars magnetosphere!
3... 2... 1... LAUNCH! 🧪🚀 #PlanetarySci
Reposted by Michael Battalio
100%. It's one thing that becomes crystal clear in every masters of universe email dumps. there is no access to better information. rumors, wild ideas from people popular in their social circles, absurdities. to be all powerful, even for evil, you need access to good information. they mostly don't.
Ironically you can see this very dynamic in the Epstein emails themselves, where the power elite all email each other absurd rumors and semi-literate political scuttlebutt and theorizing. The boys’ club exposed in those messages is the same one that controls the brains of the top Times editors.
November 13, 2025 at 5:56 PM
100%. It's one thing that becomes crystal clear in every masters of universe email dumps. there is no access to better information. rumors, wild ideas from people popular in their social circles, absurdities. to be all powerful, even for evil, you need access to good information. they mostly don't.
Reposted by Michael Battalio
"The fallacies behind the cult of Loeb"
New entry in my blog. Other articles have covered the scientific aspects; this one reflects on the social phenomenon. I argue it’s driven by a series of fallacies
tinieblasyestrellas.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-...
New entry in my blog. Other articles have covered the scientific aspects; this one reflects on the social phenomenon. I argue it’s driven by a series of fallacies
tinieblasyestrellas.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-...
The fallacies behind the cult of Loeb
How media hype and misunderstanding fuel pseudoscientific fascination Introduction The word “cult” is used here in the sense given by...
tinieblasyestrellas.blogspot.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:09 AM
"The fallacies behind the cult of Loeb"
New entry in my blog. Other articles have covered the scientific aspects; this one reflects on the social phenomenon. I argue it’s driven by a series of fallacies
tinieblasyestrellas.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-...
New entry in my blog. Other articles have covered the scientific aspects; this one reflects on the social phenomenon. I argue it’s driven by a series of fallacies
tinieblasyestrellas.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-...
Reposted by Michael Battalio
University of Nebraska announced yesterday a final budget plan which if approved by regents would result in elimination of its earth and atmospheric sciences program. I worry that this is a sign of a trend that could damage the academic meteorology sector of the US. More: tinyurl.com/53b5f5j7
University of Nebraska pushes forward with plan to eliminate atmospheric sciences program
Record cold gives way to warmth and signs of an increasingly stormy pattern for western and central US
tinyurl.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:18 PM
University of Nebraska announced yesterday a final budget plan which if approved by regents would result in elimination of its earth and atmospheric sciences program. I worry that this is a sign of a trend that could damage the academic meteorology sector of the US. More: tinyurl.com/53b5f5j7
Just because I have a *.edu email, I, like everyone, occasionally get spam email that is from some random individual trying to convince me of their latest insane theory. I usually delete, but one today addressed me as, "Your Excellency Professor". I skimmed it. It was still crazy.
November 11, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Just because I have a *.edu email, I, like everyone, occasionally get spam email that is from some random individual trying to convince me of their latest insane theory. I usually delete, but one today addressed me as, "Your Excellency Professor". I skimmed it. It was still crazy.
Changing CT regulations to allow plug-in solar panels (as Utah, yes, Utah, has done to great success) will be a major piece of any hypothetical campaign I run for CT House in 2026. Eversource and UI will fight it with a blinding fury, but the fight is worth it.
@climateconnections.bsky.social
@climateconnections.bsky.social
The solar panels Germans are plugging into their walls » Yale Climate Connections
Plug-in solar technology is making it easier for renters and low-income households to harness the power of the sun – but they aren’t yet allowed in many places in the U.S.
yaleclimateconnections.org
November 11, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Changing CT regulations to allow plug-in solar panels (as Utah, yes, Utah, has done to great success) will be a major piece of any hypothetical campaign I run for CT House in 2026. Eversource and UI will fight it with a blinding fury, but the fight is worth it.
@climateconnections.bsky.social
@climateconnections.bsky.social
Reposted by Michael Battalio
Now that Dems have capitulated, at the very least they should now make every future extension of funding contingent on Trump following the law. Any lawbreaking must be met with: No more votes from us, period.
My exchange with @brianbeutler.bsky.social on that point:
newrepublic.com/article/2029...
My exchange with @brianbeutler.bsky.social on that point:
newrepublic.com/article/2029...
November 11, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Now that Dems have capitulated, at the very least they should now make every future extension of funding contingent on Trump following the law. Any lawbreaking must be met with: No more votes from us, period.
My exchange with @brianbeutler.bsky.social on that point:
newrepublic.com/article/2029...
My exchange with @brianbeutler.bsky.social on that point:
newrepublic.com/article/2029...
Reposted by Michael Battalio
This is literally where I am.
I can understand the ACA decision, but the core goal of this shutdown was to try and assert some manner of "the executive branch will follow the goddamn law"
We didn't get that, at all.
I can understand the ACA decision, but the core goal of this shutdown was to try and assert some manner of "the executive branch will follow the goddamn law"
We didn't get that, at all.
Still upset about no power of the purse language. You truly do hate to see it. The Trump admin undertook the most expansive set of illegal budgetary actions of any president in history, and broadcast as loudly as possible they’d keep doing it, and nothing. Budgetary lawlessness.
November 10, 2025 at 2:01 AM
This is literally where I am.
I can understand the ACA decision, but the core goal of this shutdown was to try and assert some manner of "the executive branch will follow the goddamn law"
We didn't get that, at all.
I can understand the ACA decision, but the core goal of this shutdown was to try and assert some manner of "the executive branch will follow the goddamn law"
We didn't get that, at all.
Reposted by Michael Battalio
The most demoralizing thing is knowing that we want to save democracy--are in fact working much, much harder at it--than Senate Democrats are or ever will. Genuinely the most fucking hopeless group of people on the planet.
November 10, 2025 at 2:18 AM
The most demoralizing thing is knowing that we want to save democracy--are in fact working much, much harder at it--than Senate Democrats are or ever will. Genuinely the most fucking hopeless group of people on the planet.
So you are now going to call for Schumer to step aside as minority leader, yes? Yes? You damned coward. Your election isn't for 5 years, but I will donate to whomever primaries you if you don't call for him to step aside. If he can't keep the party together, he's useless and so is your no vote.
Bullies gain power when their misconduct succeeds in causing righteous people to yield in the face of wrongdoing. That’s why voting for Trump's continuing resolution - without any protection against his health care cuts or his growing illegality - is a mistake.
I voted NO.
I voted NO.
November 10, 2025 at 2:27 AM
So you are now going to call for Schumer to step aside as minority leader, yes? Yes? You damned coward. Your election isn't for 5 years, but I will donate to whomever primaries you if you don't call for him to step aside. If he can't keep the party together, he's useless and so is your no vote.