Caleb Scharf
@calebscharf.bsky.social
Thinker, writer, sometimes both at the same time. Senior Scientist for Astrobiology at NASA Ames. Personal account, anything expressed here is my fault alone.
A topic that has come up in interviews and presentations for my new book The Giant Leap is reconceptualizing the notion of habitability for a planetary system (like ours) where life disperses from its point of origin. I use this graphic to help discuss: [1/n]
November 9, 2025 at 9:22 PM
A topic that has come up in interviews and presentations for my new book The Giant Leap is reconceptualizing the notion of habitability for a planetary system (like ours) where life disperses from its point of origin. I use this graphic to help discuss: [1/n]
Ah yes, back to the horrors of NYC 🤣
November 8, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Ah yes, back to the horrors of NYC 🤣
The solar system represents scales of space, causal connection, and resources that life on Earth has not encountered before. What will this do to us and to all life as our efforts to explore and experiment in space expand? This is a major theme of The Giant Leap.
November 4, 2025 at 3:06 PM
The solar system represents scales of space, causal connection, and resources that life on Earth has not encountered before. What will this do to us and to all life as our efforts to explore and experiment in space expand? This is a major theme of The Giant Leap.
The solar system represents scales of space, causal connection, and resources that life on Earth has not encountered before. What will this do to us and to all life as our efforts to explore and experiment in space expand? This is a major theme of The Giant Leap.
November 4, 2025 at 3:03 PM
The solar system represents scales of space, causal connection, and resources that life on Earth has not encountered before. What will this do to us and to all life as our efforts to explore and experiment in space expand? This is a major theme of The Giant Leap.
Potentially contentious idea: space exploration is less about ignoring Earthly problems and more about giving ourselves a chance to do better...
October 30, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Potentially contentious idea: space exploration is less about ignoring Earthly problems and more about giving ourselves a chance to do better...
Major events in the history of life are often about new possibilities for evolution. In The Giant Leap I contend that the emergence of space exploration is just one such event.
October 27, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Major events in the history of life are often about new possibilities for evolution. In The Giant Leap I contend that the emergence of space exploration is just one such event.
Publication day!! 🎉🚀
October 21, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Publication day!! 🎉🚀
Tomorrow is pub day for The Giant Leap. It's been a long journey and I'm thrilled that you all get to see the results! This is the most careful, thoughtful take on space exploration that I could give you, and why it matters.
October 20, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Tomorrow is pub day for The Giant Leap. It's been a long journey and I'm thrilled that you all get to see the results! This is the most careful, thoughtful take on space exploration that I could give you, and why it matters.
Almost to this day 78 years ago the first images of Earth were taken from space (65 miles above White Sands in New Mexico) - part of a remarkable history of space exploration I explore in The Giant Leap (Basic/Hachette) coming Oct 21st!
October 16, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Almost to this day 78 years ago the first images of Earth were taken from space (65 miles above White Sands in New Mexico) - part of a remarkable history of space exploration I explore in The Giant Leap (Basic/Hachette) coming Oct 21st!
Solar storms in 1972 triggered the explosion of US magnetic naval mines near North Vietnam. In The Giant Leap I examine the greater implications of the Sun's outbursts for space exploration amazon.com/Giant-Leap-S...
October 7, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Solar storms in 1972 triggered the explosion of US magnetic naval mines near North Vietnam. In The Giant Leap I examine the greater implications of the Sun's outbursts for space exploration amazon.com/Giant-Leap-S...
What if there's a different way to handle Mars exploration than all the options usually discussed? I dig deep into this in The Giant Leap, available Oct 21st amazon.com/Giant-Leap-S...
October 7, 2025 at 3:20 PM
What if there's a different way to handle Mars exploration than all the options usually discussed? I dig deep into this in The Giant Leap, available Oct 21st amazon.com/Giant-Leap-S...
Countdown to launch...
October 5, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Countdown to launch...
Among many tales in The Giant Leap is the often forgotten story of the Apollo 15 and 16 subsatellites left in orbit when the astronauts departed lunar space - and what these revealed about the Moon (Apollo 15 crew poses with subsat here) amazon.com/Giant-Leap-S...
October 1, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Among many tales in The Giant Leap is the often forgotten story of the Apollo 15 and 16 subsatellites left in orbit when the astronauts departed lunar space - and what these revealed about the Moon (Apollo 15 crew poses with subsat here) amazon.com/Giant-Leap-S...
Here we go! It’s hatching time!
September 23, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Here we go! It’s hatching time!
My new paper on lightweight deep learning for planetary imaging data is now available in its final published form at the journal Icarus as a freebie for the next 50 days! authors.elsevier.com/a/1lahj_Rp9u...
August 11, 2025 at 3:34 PM
My new paper on lightweight deep learning for planetary imaging data is now available in its final published form at the journal Icarus as a freebie for the next 50 days! authors.elsevier.com/a/1lahj_Rp9u...
I've been exploring 'lightweight' deep learning for image reconstruction in planetary science and astrobiology: "The model is the message" arxiv.org/abs/2507.11400
July 16, 2025 at 12:35 PM
I've been exploring 'lightweight' deep learning for image reconstruction in planetary science and astrobiology: "The model is the message" arxiv.org/abs/2507.11400
In 1971 Mariner 9 became the first spacecraft to orbit another planet when it arrived at Mars. But a global duststorm meant the mission had to wait until early 1972 before it could properly examine the martian surface #TheGiantLeap tinyurl.com/29j6bktf
July 15, 2025 at 3:52 PM
In 1971 Mariner 9 became the first spacecraft to orbit another planet when it arrived at Mars. But a global duststorm meant the mission had to wait until early 1972 before it could properly examine the martian surface #TheGiantLeap tinyurl.com/29j6bktf
In 1918 Emmy Noether published what would come to be known as Noether's Theorem, cementing the universal basis of conservation laws of momentum and energy that are also key for determining how rockets and orbits behave #TheGiantLeap tinyurl.com/29j6bktf
July 15, 2025 at 3:51 PM
In 1918 Emmy Noether published what would come to be known as Noether's Theorem, cementing the universal basis of conservation laws of momentum and energy that are also key for determining how rockets and orbits behave #TheGiantLeap tinyurl.com/29j6bktf
In 1985 Japan became the 3rd nation to launch a deep space probe. The Sakigake probe (and its near-twin Suisei launched months later) were part of the Halley Comet Armada in 1986 #TheGiantLeap tinyurl.com/29j6bktf
July 15, 2025 at 3:51 PM
In 1985 Japan became the 3rd nation to launch a deep space probe. The Sakigake probe (and its near-twin Suisei launched months later) were part of the Halley Comet Armada in 1986 #TheGiantLeap tinyurl.com/29j6bktf
In 1962 the Ranger 3 spacecraft missed the Moon and instead placed a half-meter diameter wooden sphere into orbit around the Sun, where it likely is to this day. #TheGiantLeap tinyurl.com/29j6bktf
July 9, 2025 at 2:53 PM
In 1962 the Ranger 3 spacecraft missed the Moon and instead placed a half-meter diameter wooden sphere into orbit around the Sun, where it likely is to this day. #TheGiantLeap tinyurl.com/29j6bktf
Today in shameless self-promotion: if you're interested in #TheGiantLeap you can pre-order now and get 25% off—July 8–11 only. Use the code PREORDER25 at checkout (print, ebook, or audiobook). Must be a B&N Rewards Member—FREE to join. #BNPreorder @BNBuzz @basicbooks
July 8, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Today in shameless self-promotion: if you're interested in #TheGiantLeap you can pre-order now and get 25% off—July 8–11 only. Use the code PREORDER25 at checkout (print, ebook, or audiobook). Must be a B&N Rewards Member—FREE to join. #BNPreorder @BNBuzz @basicbooks
Updated my banner, because....
June 27, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Updated my banner, because....
One small step closer…and one giant…well, you get the idea. Super excited to have the galley in hand…and for this to hit the shelves Oct 21st
May 6, 2025 at 1:55 AM
One small step closer…and one giant…well, you get the idea. Super excited to have the galley in hand…and for this to hit the shelves Oct 21st
A sneak peek, coming Oct 21st 2025, available for preorder now, the latest labor of love
March 18, 2025 at 4:16 PM
A sneak peek, coming Oct 21st 2025, available for preorder now, the latest labor of love
Got important things to say about using machine learning in astrobiology and exploration? Consider contributing to this specially themed collection of papers:
February 11, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Got important things to say about using machine learning in astrobiology and exploration? Consider contributing to this specially themed collection of papers: