Happy (fourth) anniversary to the James Webb Space Telescope! Some thoughts on a transformative year:
time.com/7342406/jame...

Looking for a last-minute stocking stuffer? Don't take my advice. Take Billy Collins's! www.instagram.com/reel/DDholTl...

In honor of the late Tom Stoppard, I re-posted a Last Word on Nothing essay of mine about art, science, and his masterpiece Arcadia. I met him once and told him I teach the play in creative writing classes. I hope his seeming delight was the real thing. lastwordonnothing.com/2025/12/05/b...

A great piece below about science and art. And a great anecdote in the comments by @annfinkbeiner.bsky.social. Both ring pretty true to me.

What would Cyber Monday be without a discount on the Kindle version of my latest book? Yeah, fine, it'd be just like any other Cyber Monday. But my point is "Pillars of Creation," about the Webb Space Telescope, is $3.99 for only a few more hours! www.amazon.com/Pillars-Crea...

What would Cyber Monday be without a discount on the Kindle version of my latest book? Yeah, fine, it'd be just like any other Cyber Monday. But my point is "Pillars of Creation," about the Webb Space Telescope, is $3.99 for only a few more hours! www.amazon.com/Pillars-Crea...

A.I., fyi:

ME: "what is the rockies magic number 2025"

GOOGLE:
"The Rockies' magic number for the 2025 season is currently 20, according to MLB.com. This means that the Rockies have 20 wins and losses remaining in the season to clinch the division title."

Brilliant. One-third of the homepage equivalent of A1 above-the-fold real estate is about boiling an egg, cuddling a loved one, and keeping up with the Kardashians.

Huge thanks to @drbriankeating.bsky.social for a great, really insightful deep dive on the James Webb Space Telescope and my book Pillars of Creation. @jwstobserver.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpxN...

Deal of the day! The Kindle edition of Pillars of Creation is on sale for *one day only* at $3.99.

www.amazon.com/Pillars-Crea...

Oh come ON now. This new JWST image is just ASTOUNDING.

I feel like I’m falling looking into it, and that I would fall forever, and that I would enjoy it.

NASA, ESA, CSA, K. McQuinn (STScI), J. DePasquale (STScI)

My "Pillars of Creation" just made the Next Big Idea Club's list of the Top Science Books 2024. Rankings are entirely falsifiable, so please regard #3 (!) as God's honest truth. @littlebrown.bsky.social @jwstobserver.bsky.social @nasawebb.extwitter.link

nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/top...

Thank you! And thanks for your insightful review: bobonbooks.com/2024/12/25/r...

This week, Ann has a very special New to You guest — the celebrated, prolific poet Billy Collins! If you think he’s here to recommend a book of poetry, think again. Billy’s reading taste contains multitudes, and all you science buffs out there will love what his latest favorite title is.

Go, librarians!

Thank you! Still new to Bluesky and didn't see this kind note until now. Very much appreciate these kind words.

Richard Panek, BFF of LWON, wrote a book about the Webb, the JWST, the thing that let us see those pillars of creation. That's a pretty damn big subject, how did he know what to leave out? why include what he did? As you'd expect, Richard has answers. www.lastwordonnothing.com/2024/11/08/c...