Kamber Schwarz
@theschwarz.bsky.social
Astrophysicist, postdoc, cat mom, she/her kamberschwarz.com
Pinned
Kamber Schwarz
@theschwarz.bsky.social
· Jul 24
New research suggests that the building blocks of life may not be formed locally, but could be widespread throughout the universe. Complex organic molecules are inherited and developed in protoplanetary discs, paving the way for life's origins. 🌍✨ #SpaceScience #OrganicMolecules 🔭
The evolution of life may have its origins in outer space
Astronomers find complex organic molecules – precursors to sugars and amino acids – in a planet-forming disc.
www.mpia.de
Antifreeze? In MY planet-forming disk? It's more likely than you might think.
When IBCK does a book I've actually read
November 20, 2025 at 4:36 PM
When IBCK does a book I've actually read
Hot damn! Too much adoration allowing scientists to go off the rails would explain more than just Watson.
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Hot damn! Too much adoration allowing scientists to go off the rails would explain more than just Watson.
Science teaches how to build an AI chatbot. The humanities teach you why pretending it's 'intelligent' is a bad idea.
November 7, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Science teaches how to build an AI chatbot. The humanities teach you why pretending it's 'intelligent' is a bad idea.
Reposted by Kamber Schwarz
You've seen the news about issues at Goddard closing facilities and the culture of fear and intimidation. AGU has generated an email and a call script to contact your representatives. Please take a few minutes over your coffee this morning to send it. And thank you. agu.quorum.us/campaign/146...
Save NASA Goddard & JPL before it's too late
Firing huge swaths of workforce and now closing facilities--stop the dismantling of space science now
agu.quorum.us
November 7, 2025 at 12:52 PM
You've seen the news about issues at Goddard closing facilities and the culture of fear and intimidation. AGU has generated an email and a call script to contact your representatives. Please take a few minutes over your coffee this morning to send it. And thank you. agu.quorum.us/campaign/146...
Reposted by Kamber Schwarz
As feds seal off labs from staff at NASA Goddard in prep for hasty evac+demolition, union reports: “Closure activities are proceeding during the government shutdown, which may be illegal under the Antideficiency Act and further endangers property.” 🔭🧪
www.gesta-goddard.org/blog/gestas-...
www.gesta-goddard.org/blog/gestas-...
GESTA’s Summary of Goddard Building Closures Status
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is the largest group of scientists, technicians and engineers in the US who develop Earth and space science flight missions. Below is GESTA's understanding of the...
www.gesta-goddard.org
November 6, 2025 at 2:48 AM
As feds seal off labs from staff at NASA Goddard in prep for hasty evac+demolition, union reports: “Closure activities are proceeding during the government shutdown, which may be illegal under the Antideficiency Act and further endangers property.” 🔭🧪
www.gesta-goddard.org/blog/gestas-...
www.gesta-goddard.org/blog/gestas-...
Reposted by Kamber Schwarz
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 11:21 AM
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.
Help! My cat doesn't understand that daylight savings means dinner is not in fact late.
October 28, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Help! My cat doesn't understand that daylight savings means dinner is not in fact late.
Reposted by Kamber Schwarz
🔊Announcing a new Physics/Astro PhD scholarship scheme in Edinburgh, for students from a Black heritage, inc mixed Black background. Please help me spread the word. The scholarship covers all tuition fees, living costs & research travel. #blackinSTEM 🔭👩🔬⚛️
ℹ️: www.ph.ed.ac.uk/studying/pos...
ℹ️: www.ph.ed.ac.uk/studying/pos...
October 20, 2025 at 3:52 PM
🔊Announcing a new Physics/Astro PhD scholarship scheme in Edinburgh, for students from a Black heritage, inc mixed Black background. Please help me spread the word. The scholarship covers all tuition fees, living costs & research travel. #blackinSTEM 🔭👩🔬⚛️
ℹ️: www.ph.ed.ac.uk/studying/pos...
ℹ️: www.ph.ed.ac.uk/studying/pos...
Binge watching The Pitt on a red-eye the night before the JWST deadline was maybe not the best decision.
October 15, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Binge watching The Pitt on a red-eye the night before the JWST deadline was maybe not the best decision.
How's your Sunday going? Mine consists of coffee, a job application, and a disapproving cat.
October 5, 2025 at 11:33 AM
How's your Sunday going? Mine consists of coffee, a job application, and a disapproving cat.
Me at 35 being asked to write a five paragraph essay like I'm in high school again
a black and white cat laying on a carpet being petted by a person
ALT: a black and white cat laying on a carpet being petted by a person
media.tenor.com
September 29, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Me at 35 being asked to write a five paragraph essay like I'm in high school again
I'd been meaning to par down my streaming subscriptions. Disney made it easy to pick the loser.
a cartoon character is falling down with a surprised expression on his face
ALT: a cartoon character is falling down with a surprised expression on his face
media.tenor.com
September 20, 2025 at 4:56 PM
I'd been meaning to par down my streaming subscriptions. Disney made it easy to pick the loser.
"We use the updated values." But what are the updated values? Where did you get them from?
a close up of a man 's face with the words tell me written on it
ALT: a close up of a man 's face with the words tell me written on it
media.tenor.com
September 16, 2025 at 8:25 AM
"We use the updated values." But what are the updated values? Where did you get them from?
Should I spend Sunday working on this grant proposal or should I take a nap?
September 14, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Should I spend Sunday working on this grant proposal or should I take a nap?
I recently got to talk to Space about a new JWST MINDS paper led by Maria Morales-Calderón! 🧪🔭 www.space.com/astronomy/ja...
September 7, 2025 at 9:52 AM
I recently got to talk to Space about a new JWST MINDS paper led by Maria Morales-Calderón! 🧪🔭 www.space.com/astronomy/ja...
Academics, this is your periodic reminder to maintain a personal webpage with an up to date email address.
August 26, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Academics, this is your periodic reminder to maintain a personal webpage with an up to date email address.
I recently did an interview on the origins of life that is 100% alien-spaceship free. You can read about it here: open.substack.com/pub/storiesf... 🧪🔭
How the building blocks of life fought to survive in the planet-forming disc 4.5 billion years ago
The basic chemical precursors to life came from space, brought to Earth on asteroids and comets, but how did these precious molecules survive the ferocious environment of the protoplanetary disc?
open.substack.com
August 18, 2025 at 5:48 PM
I recently did an interview on the origins of life that is 100% alien-spaceship free. You can read about it here: open.substack.com/pub/storiesf... 🧪🔭
Reposted by Kamber Schwarz
1/ Heute, 12.8., ist um 13 Uhr der ehemalige MPIA-Direktor Thomas #Henning live auf Ö1 zu hören. Grundlage ist unsere Nachricht zu präbiotischen Molekülen in der Scheibe ✨ um V883 Ori. Aber es wird generell über den #Ursprung des Lebens gesprochen. #Astronomie #Leben @oeaw.bsky.social 🔭
August 12, 2025 at 9:48 AM
1/ Heute, 12.8., ist um 13 Uhr der ehemalige MPIA-Direktor Thomas #Henning live auf Ö1 zu hören. Grundlage ist unsere Nachricht zu präbiotischen Molekülen in der Scheibe ✨ um V883 Ori. Aber es wird generell über den #Ursprung des Lebens gesprochen. #Astronomie #Leben @oeaw.bsky.social 🔭
Reposted by Kamber Schwarz
Another MINDS JWST paper! We explore the stark transition from H2O-dominated spectra in Sun-like systems to the carbon-rich chemistry seen for low-mass objects. We don't know exactly what is driving this trend, but we explore the possibilities that may be acting in concert.
arxiv.org/pdf/2508.04692
arxiv.org/pdf/2508.04692
August 7, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Another MINDS JWST paper! We explore the stark transition from H2O-dominated spectra in Sun-like systems to the carbon-rich chemistry seen for low-mass objects. We don't know exactly what is driving this trend, but we explore the possibilities that may be acting in concert.
arxiv.org/pdf/2508.04692
arxiv.org/pdf/2508.04692
Reposted by Kamber Schwarz
New MINDS paper from Nicolas Kurtovic, focused on binary systems. Spectra, extended emission, variability, multi-observatory analysis -- there's something for everyone!
arxiv.org/pdf/2508.02576
arxiv.org/pdf/2508.02576
August 5, 2025 at 6:49 PM
New MINDS paper from Nicolas Kurtovic, focused on binary systems. Spectra, extended emission, variability, multi-observatory analysis -- there's something for everyone!
arxiv.org/pdf/2508.02576
arxiv.org/pdf/2508.02576
Reposted by Kamber Schwarz
New research suggests that the building blocks of life may not be formed locally, but could be widespread throughout the universe. Complex organic molecules are inherited and developed in protoplanetary discs, paving the way for life's origins. 🌍✨ #SpaceScience #OrganicMolecules 🔭
The evolution of life may have its origins in outer space
Astronomers find complex organic molecules – precursors to sugars and amino acids – in a planet-forming disc.
www.mpia.de
July 24, 2025 at 3:03 PM
New research suggests that the building blocks of life may not be formed locally, but could be widespread throughout the universe. Complex organic molecules are inherited and developed in protoplanetary discs, paving the way for life's origins. 🌍✨ #SpaceScience #OrganicMolecules 🔭
Reposted by Kamber Schwarz
ALMA found evidence for complex organic compounds, such as sugars & amino acids, in a protoplanetary disc.
Thus, discs may inherit these complex molecules from interstellar clouds.
More in this press release by @mpi-astro.bsky.social : https://www.mpia.de/news/science/2025-05-v881-ori
🔭 🧪
Thus, discs may inherit these complex molecules from interstellar clouds.
More in this press release by @mpi-astro.bsky.social : https://www.mpia.de/news/science/2025-05-v881-ori
🔭 🧪
The evolution of life may have its origins in outer space
Astronomers find complex organic molecules – precursors to sugars and amino acids – in a planet-forming disc.
www.mpia.de
July 24, 2025 at 3:31 PM
ALMA found evidence for complex organic compounds, such as sugars & amino acids, in a protoplanetary disc.
Thus, discs may inherit these complex molecules from interstellar clouds.
More in this press release by @mpi-astro.bsky.social : https://www.mpia.de/news/science/2025-05-v881-ori
🔭 🧪
Thus, discs may inherit these complex molecules from interstellar clouds.
More in this press release by @mpi-astro.bsky.social : https://www.mpia.de/news/science/2025-05-v881-ori
🔭 🧪
Antifreeze? In MY planet-forming disk? It's more likely than you might think.
New research suggests that the building blocks of life may not be formed locally, but could be widespread throughout the universe. Complex organic molecules are inherited and developed in protoplanetary discs, paving the way for life's origins. 🌍✨ #SpaceScience #OrganicMolecules 🔭
The evolution of life may have its origins in outer space
Astronomers find complex organic molecules – precursors to sugars and amino acids – in a planet-forming disc.
www.mpia.de
July 24, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Antifreeze? In MY planet-forming disk? It's more likely than you might think.
My student Abubakar Fadul's most recent paper is now on arXiv! He found evidence of ethylene glycol (aka antifreeze) and glycolonitrile in a protoplanetary disk. If confirmed, these will be the most complex organics seen in a disk! 🔭🧪☄️ arxiv.org/abs/2507.14905
A deep Search for Ethylene Glycol and Glycolonitrile in the V883 Ori Protoplanetary Disk
Ethylene glycol ($\mathrm{(CH_2OH)_2}$, hereafter EG) and Glycolonitrile ($\mathrm{HOCH_2CN}$, hereafter GN) are considered molecular precursors of nucleic acids. EG is a sugar alcohol and the reduced...
arxiv.org
July 22, 2025 at 2:07 PM
My student Abubakar Fadul's most recent paper is now on arXiv! He found evidence of ethylene glycol (aka antifreeze) and glycolonitrile in a protoplanetary disk. If confirmed, these will be the most complex organics seen in a disk! 🔭🧪☄️ arxiv.org/abs/2507.14905
How to comment on paper drafts:
pretending you were asking for more information was the best way to try to get the humans to realize they were doing something stupid.
July 14, 2025 at 2:27 PM
How to comment on paper drafts: