WickedCoolSteve
@wickedcoolsteve.bsky.social
I think science, math, and computers are cool! What else is there to say but be kind and love each other.
The fascists can't have our country that easily. We will defeat them here at home and then we will fix their damage 🇺🇸
Trans Rights Are Human Rights!
The fascists can't have our country that easily. We will defeat them here at home and then we will fix their damage 🇺🇸
Trans Rights Are Human Rights!
Pinned
Lots of ICE in Massachusetts these days.
Saving, sharing, and spreading this information will help keep good people safe from masked kidnappings.
Especially if you're not at risk yourself, use your voice and privilege to spread this knowledge. It will save lives.
Saving, sharing, and spreading this information will help keep good people safe from masked kidnappings.
Especially if you're not at risk yourself, use your voice and privilege to spread this knowledge. It will save lives.
Reposted by WickedCoolSteve
Physicists will spend $10 billion on a particle accelerator to understand why there is an "unnatural" hierarchy between the Planck scale and the weak scale, then insist that philosophy has no role and we should shut up and calculate.
Today in #PhilosophyOfCosmology we talked about fine-tuning and naturalness, and introduced inflation and eternal inflation.
So many juicy philosophical questions that physicists don't take as seriously as they should! What does it mean for parameters/initial conditions to be "unnatural," anyway?
So many juicy philosophical questions that physicists don't take as seriously as they should! What does it mean for parameters/initial conditions to be "unnatural," anyway?
September 2, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Physicists will spend $10 billion on a particle accelerator to understand why there is an "unnatural" hierarchy between the Planck scale and the weak scale, then insist that philosophy has no role and we should shut up and calculate.
Reposted by WickedCoolSteve
Mindscape 327 | Cass Sunstein on Liberalism. He defines "liberalism" broadly, including folks from Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher to Martin Luther King and Franklin Roosevelt. #MindscapePodcast
www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2025...
www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2025...
September 1, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Mindscape 327 | Cass Sunstein on Liberalism. He defines "liberalism" broadly, including folks from Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher to Martin Luther King and Franklin Roosevelt. #MindscapePodcast
www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2025...
www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2025...
Reposted by WickedCoolSteve
Nice advance in origin-of-life research: scientists get RNA and amino acids to spontaneously attach to each other (RNA aminoacylation).
Also, @404media.co is doing good work!
www.404media.co/scientists-m...
Also, @404media.co is doing good work!
www.404media.co/scientists-m...
Scientists Make Breakthrough in Solving the Mystery of Life’s Origin
For years, researchers have puzzled over how two ingredients for life first linked up on early Earth. Now, they’ve found the “missing link,” and demonstrated this reaction in the lab.
www.404media.co
August 28, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Nice advance in origin-of-life research: scientists get RNA and amino acids to spontaneously attach to each other (RNA aminoacylation).
Also, @404media.co is doing good work!
www.404media.co/scientists-m...
Also, @404media.co is doing good work!
www.404media.co/scientists-m...
Reposted by WickedCoolSteve
New black holes! Well, they're new to you. #physics ⚛️ 🧪
Results from the first part of our fourth LIGO @egovirgo.bsky.social KAGRA observing run are out today!
We're pleased to share the largest catalog of gravitational-wave observations with more discoveries of black holes and neutron stars
📰 arxiv.org/abs/2508.18082
🔭🧪⚛️☄️ #GWTC4
We're pleased to share the largest catalog of gravitational-wave observations with more discoveries of black holes and neutron stars
📰 arxiv.org/abs/2508.18082
🔭🧪⚛️☄️ #GWTC4
August 26, 2025 at 3:21 PM
New black holes! Well, they're new to you. #physics ⚛️ 🧪
Reposted by WickedCoolSteve
In an IEEE conference last week, NASA engineers explained how they fixed the Juno spacecraft’s failing JunoCam imager in late 2023 by heating and slow-cooling (annealing) its electronics.
👏
www.nasa.gov/missions/jun...
More at fosstodon.org/@AkaSci/1148...
#PlanetSci
👏
www.nasa.gov/missions/jun...
More at fosstodon.org/@AkaSci/1148...
#PlanetSci
July 22, 2025 at 12:45 AM
In an IEEE conference last week, NASA engineers explained how they fixed the Juno spacecraft’s failing JunoCam imager in late 2023 by heating and slow-cooling (annealing) its electronics.
👏
www.nasa.gov/missions/jun...
More at fosstodon.org/@AkaSci/1148...
#PlanetSci
👏
www.nasa.gov/missions/jun...
More at fosstodon.org/@AkaSci/1148...
#PlanetSci
Reposted by WickedCoolSteve
Very sad to hear. ⚛️
Mary Gaillard's calculations correctly predicted the mass of the charm quark and contributed to the discovery of the Higgs boson as she triumphed over sexism in the field of physics. R.I.P. #physics
Pioneering theoretical physicist Mary K. Gaillard has died at 86 - Berkeley News
Gaillard's calculations correctly predicted the mass of the charm quark and contributed to the discovery of the Higgs boson as she triumphed over sexism in the field of physics.
news.berkeley.edu
July 15, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Very sad to hear. ⚛️
Reposted by WickedCoolSteve
After a boring night shift yesterday, we are back to recording collision data at the LHC. We are still in this year's commissioning phase were we are not yet at full intensity with about 800 bunches circulating in both directions. So what does that mean? A short #SciComm thread 🧵🧪⚛️
May 16, 2025 at 11:06 PM
After a boring night shift yesterday, we are back to recording collision data at the LHC. We are still in this year's commissioning phase were we are not yet at full intensity with about 800 bunches circulating in both directions. So what does that mean? A short #SciComm thread 🧵🧪⚛️
Reposted by WickedCoolSteve
If you want to irritate armchair physicists on Reddit, just tell them that length contraction isn't a visible effect. Are Bluesky physicists more open-minded? ⚛️🔭🧪
Explanation: You don't see an object's length (dist. between its endpoints at a fixed time). You see photons that arrive simultaneously.
Explanation: You don't see an object's length (dist. between its endpoints at a fixed time). You see photons that arrive simultaneously.
The invisibility of length contraction – Physics World
Objects travelling at relativistic speeds will shorten as a consequence of Einstein's special relativity. But what, asks David Appell, if you try to look at such an object?
physicsworld.com
May 13, 2025 at 3:26 PM
If you want to irritate armchair physicists on Reddit, just tell them that length contraction isn't a visible effect. Are Bluesky physicists more open-minded? ⚛️🔭🧪
Explanation: You don't see an object's length (dist. between its endpoints at a fixed time). You see photons that arrive simultaneously.
Explanation: You don't see an object's length (dist. between its endpoints at a fixed time). You see photons that arrive simultaneously.
Lots of ICE in Massachusetts these days.
Saving, sharing, and spreading this information will help keep good people safe from masked kidnappings.
Especially if you're not at risk yourself, use your voice and privilege to spread this knowledge. It will save lives.
Saving, sharing, and spreading this information will help keep good people safe from masked kidnappings.
Especially if you're not at risk yourself, use your voice and privilege to spread this knowledge. It will save lives.
May 15, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Lots of ICE in Massachusetts these days.
Saving, sharing, and spreading this information will help keep good people safe from masked kidnappings.
Especially if you're not at risk yourself, use your voice and privilege to spread this knowledge. It will save lives.
Saving, sharing, and spreading this information will help keep good people safe from masked kidnappings.
Especially if you're not at risk yourself, use your voice and privilege to spread this knowledge. It will save lives.
Reposted by WickedCoolSteve
ICE is running rampant in Massachusetts. Stay alert and support our neighbors.
May 15, 2025 at 6:54 PM
ICE is running rampant in Massachusetts. Stay alert and support our neighbors.
Check it out I found an ant tending to its aphid farm!
Ant friend is in the front keeping the farm clean and tidy and the aphid cow buddies are the black clustered at the base of the branch in the back.
#entomology #ants #insects #inverts
Ant friend is in the front keeping the farm clean and tidy and the aphid cow buddies are the black clustered at the base of the branch in the back.
#entomology #ants #insects #inverts
May 15, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Check it out I found an ant tending to its aphid farm!
Ant friend is in the front keeping the farm clean and tidy and the aphid cow buddies are the black clustered at the base of the branch in the back.
#entomology #ants #insects #inverts
Ant friend is in the front keeping the farm clean and tidy and the aphid cow buddies are the black clustered at the base of the branch in the back.
#entomology #ants #insects #inverts
Reposted by WickedCoolSteve
Reposted by WickedCoolSteve
We're seeing increased ICE presence in Massachusetts. ICE is kidnapping people off the streets, harassing bystanders, & terrorizing communities. The LUCE hotline has been doing amazing work to keep people alert and to document what's happening. Bookmark www.lucemass.org.
What else can you do?
What else can you do?
LUCE Immigrant Justice Network of MA
www.lucemass.org
May 14, 2025 at 3:05 PM
We're seeing increased ICE presence in Massachusetts. ICE is kidnapping people off the streets, harassing bystanders, & terrorizing communities. The LUCE hotline has been doing amazing work to keep people alert and to document what's happening. Bookmark www.lucemass.org.
What else can you do?
What else can you do?
Reposted by WickedCoolSteve
Reposted by WickedCoolSteve
We’d love to find more #QEC experts here on BlueSky and have created this starter pack to help connect the error correction community.
It’s just a start – if you’re working QEC, please follow this account and message us. We’ll happily add you to the pack!
go.bsky.app/RiZfVco 🧪
🧵[2/2]
It’s just a start – if you’re working QEC, please follow this account and message us. We’ll happily add you to the pack!
go.bsky.app/RiZfVco 🧪
🧵[2/2]
Riverlane's Quantum Error Correction Pack
Join the conversation
go.bsky.app
May 9, 2025 at 10:41 AM
We’d love to find more #QEC experts here on BlueSky and have created this starter pack to help connect the error correction community.
It’s just a start – if you’re working QEC, please follow this account and message us. We’ll happily add you to the pack!
go.bsky.app/RiZfVco 🧪
🧵[2/2]
It’s just a start – if you’re working QEC, please follow this account and message us. We’ll happily add you to the pack!
go.bsky.app/RiZfVco 🧪
🧵[2/2]
I noticed that the wild strawberries in my yard are starting to flower! Strawberry flowers are tiny but when you look close there's so much pretty detail.
The local bunnies are feasting like kings! 🐇♥️🍓
#nature #springwatch #wildstrawberries #foragingfinds
The local bunnies are feasting like kings! 🐇♥️🍓
#nature #springwatch #wildstrawberries #foragingfinds
May 14, 2025 at 2:34 AM
I noticed that the wild strawberries in my yard are starting to flower! Strawberry flowers are tiny but when you look close there's so much pretty detail.
The local bunnies are feasting like kings! 🐇♥️🍓
#nature #springwatch #wildstrawberries #foragingfinds
The local bunnies are feasting like kings! 🐇♥️🍓
#nature #springwatch #wildstrawberries #foragingfinds
Reposted by WickedCoolSteve
NASA engineers are troubleshooting an issue with the solar electric Hall-effect thrusters on the Psyche spacecraft, which have shut down due to a drop in pressure in the line that feeds xenon gas to the thrusters. A backup fuel line is avail if needed.
More @ fosstodon.org/@AkaSci/1144...
#PlanetSci
More @ fosstodon.org/@AkaSci/1144...
#PlanetSci
May 3, 2025 at 12:42 AM
NASA engineers are troubleshooting an issue with the solar electric Hall-effect thrusters on the Psyche spacecraft, which have shut down due to a drop in pressure in the line that feeds xenon gas to the thrusters. A backup fuel line is avail if needed.
More @ fosstodon.org/@AkaSci/1144...
#PlanetSci
More @ fosstodon.org/@AkaSci/1144...
#PlanetSci
Reposted by WickedCoolSteve
Another cool Martian cloud spotted by CNSA Tianwen 1...
and yes, Mars does have clouds!
Full size & info: flic.kr/p/2r2HXah
Image Processing: Andrea Luck
Raw data: CNSA/CLEP/PEC/MoRIC
Mars, Protonilus Mensae - March 1, 2022
#planetsci 🧪
and yes, Mars does have clouds!
Full size & info: flic.kr/p/2r2HXah
Image Processing: Andrea Luck
Raw data: CNSA/CLEP/PEC/MoRIC
Mars, Protonilus Mensae - March 1, 2022
#planetsci 🧪
May 4, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Another cool Martian cloud spotted by CNSA Tianwen 1...
and yes, Mars does have clouds!
Full size & info: flic.kr/p/2r2HXah
Image Processing: Andrea Luck
Raw data: CNSA/CLEP/PEC/MoRIC
Mars, Protonilus Mensae - March 1, 2022
#planetsci 🧪
and yes, Mars does have clouds!
Full size & info: flic.kr/p/2r2HXah
Image Processing: Andrea Luck
Raw data: CNSA/CLEP/PEC/MoRIC
Mars, Protonilus Mensae - March 1, 2022
#planetsci 🧪
Reposted by WickedCoolSteve
"Perhaps prison would have persisted this way forever. Perhaps our granite hearts and iron wills would have never crumbled. Perhaps the prison mentality, that we be cold and heartless, would have endured.
Perhaps. But then there were kittens."
Perhaps. But then there were kittens."
When Kittens Came to My Prison, I Had Not Petted One in 15 Years
I had not touched a cat in 15 years when an orange kitten wandered over to sit with me in the grass.
prisonjournalismproject.org
April 4, 2025 at 12:53 AM
"Perhaps prison would have persisted this way forever. Perhaps our granite hearts and iron wills would have never crumbled. Perhaps the prison mentality, that we be cold and heartless, would have endured.
Perhaps. But then there were kittens."
Perhaps. But then there were kittens."
Lots of ICE in Massachusetts these days. Share and stay safe fellow Massholes.
Check out the LUCE Immigrant Justice Network for resources www.lucemass.org
Check out the LUCE Immigrant Justice Network for resources www.lucemass.org
April 19, 2025 at 4:20 AM
Lots of ICE in Massachusetts these days. Share and stay safe fellow Massholes.
Check out the LUCE Immigrant Justice Network for resources www.lucemass.org
Check out the LUCE Immigrant Justice Network for resources www.lucemass.org
Reposted by WickedCoolSteve
For 50+ years, #Landsat 🛰️ has captured the changing face of Earth, creating an #EarthObservation record that continues to provide countless #SocietalBenefits. How has Landsat benefited your community?
#gischat #eochat
ow.ly/oPQ050VBGwx
#gischat #eochat
ow.ly/oPQ050VBGwx
April 19, 2025 at 3:33 AM
For 50+ years, #Landsat 🛰️ has captured the changing face of Earth, creating an #EarthObservation record that continues to provide countless #SocietalBenefits. How has Landsat benefited your community?
#gischat #eochat
ow.ly/oPQ050VBGwx
#gischat #eochat
ow.ly/oPQ050VBGwx
Reposted by WickedCoolSteve
Light signatures can help astronomers deduce the atmospheric gases of planets circling stars many light years away. Determining the nature of these alien skies is one of the goals of the James Webb Space Telescope. 🧵1/5
April 17, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Light signatures can help astronomers deduce the atmospheric gases of planets circling stars many light years away. Determining the nature of these alien skies is one of the goals of the James Webb Space Telescope. 🧵1/5
Reposted by WickedCoolSteve
Sea slug of support for anyone who needs. A nudi in fairytale forest. #Marinelife #inverts 🦑🐙🧪
April 18, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Sea slug of support for anyone who needs. A nudi in fairytale forest. #Marinelife #inverts 🦑🐙🧪
Reposted by WickedCoolSteve
Your aperiodic reminder that Mercury has a weirdly HUGE core for reasons we do not yet understand.
It's less a planet and more a molten ball bearing wrapped in a thin blanket of rock.
It's less a planet and more a molten ball bearing wrapped in a thin blanket of rock.
April 17, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Your aperiodic reminder that Mercury has a weirdly HUGE core for reasons we do not yet understand.
It's less a planet and more a molten ball bearing wrapped in a thin blanket of rock.
It's less a planet and more a molten ball bearing wrapped in a thin blanket of rock.