93 days

Every serious step forward on Venus helps us interpret rocky exoplanets better. “Earth-size” does not automatically mean Earth-like, and Venus is the Solar System reminder that planetary evolution can take a very different turn.

Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin | Astronomer | blue plaques Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin was widely considered the most eminent woman astronomer of the mid-20th century. She is recognised by a plaque at the home where she grew up, 70 Lansdowne Road.

Hooray for Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin who now has her own blue plaque in London. 🔭 www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-p... (Thanks to @helenarney.bsky.social for reminding me)

94 days

Survival of NASA-cleanroom microbial isolates under simulated space and Martian conditions | Applied and Environmental Microbiology This study reveals that conidia of the fungus Aspergillus calidoustus, which was isolated from spacecraft assembly cleanrooms, can survive simulated space-relevant stressors like ultraviolet irradiati...

Survival of NASA-cleanroom microbial isolates under simulated space and Martian conditions
#Mars #PlanetaryProtection #astrobiology #fungi

journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...

95 days

Interstellar Spacecraft Voyager 1 Instrument Shut Down to Assure Continued Mission Operations - Astrobiology On April 17, engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California sent commands to shut down an instrument aboard Voyager 1

Interstellar Spacecraft Voyager 1 Instrument Shut Down to Assure Continued Mission Operations
astrobiology.com/2026/04/inte... #astrobiology #interstellar #Voyager

97 days

ALL FLOATS OF THE RAVE THE PLANET PARADE

Here you’ll find all participating float crews of the Rave The Planet Parade 2026, listed in alphabetical order.

Online Check: www.ravetheplanet.com/en/floats/

Pen-aur-y-chalon Wir.

3I/ATLAS and Avi Loeb YouTube video by Cool Worlds Podcast

Possibly my favorite part of my recent interview with @chrislintott.bsky.social
youtube.com/shorts/tdL65...

I didn't stay away from it this morning.

I must stay away from triple-chocolate granola cereal and white-chocolate milkshake. Delicious, but undoubtedly UPF and calorific AF.

You're right, though. My brother kept his sons away from having tech at home/school for as long as he could, but then his tech-less children became the digital outcasts in their peer group, I think that pressure eventually forced the hands of parents into capitulation. It's pathetic really.

Oh, I didn't realise. In a not dissimilar vein, I cannot see my DMs due to stupid age-mandated restrictions for my location, which are of course trivially circumvented using a VPN.

Why?

98 days

Day 175/273; 98 days to go

It works!

Maybe this should be CETA... I'll get my coat.

Postdoc cuts on hold as under-fire STFC announces extra funding Science and Technology Facilities Council chair Michelle Dougherty confirms ‘top-up’ funding will enable more postdoc recruitment than anticipated

Is this good news? It sounds like good news... Postdoc cuts on hold as under-fire STFC announces extra funding share.google/z724fV1RDXjn... 🔭🧪

T-MINUS 99 days.

Now only 100 days until I can have a beer! This is day 173 of 273, in support of Nick's same period of chemotherapy. We are both looking forward to a brew or 8 in just over three months... 🍻

Thanks @davidkipping.bsky.social @chrislintott.bsky.social for this conversation; very entertaining and interesting.

The HiRISE team notes the passing of two esteemed friends and colleagues: Deputy Principal Investigator emerita Candice Hansen-Koharcheck and Co-Investigator Paul Geissler.

More about Candice: www.psi.edu/staff/profil...

More about Paul: www.legacy.com/us/obituarie...

#32 Chris Lintott - Technosignatures, Citizen Science, Scicomm YouTube video by Cool Worlds Podcast

#CoolWorlds Podcast Episode 32 is now live! @chrislintott.bsky.social on Technosignatures, Citizen Science, Scicomm
youtu.be/qI3DAXM0-do

Artist's impression of Venus Express orbit insertion. Venus fills the background and we cannot see the entire planet. The spacecraft is seen burning its engines.

20 years ago, on 11 April 2006, Venus Express was making history by entering orbit around Venus.

Europe’s first mission to Venus answered many questions, especially concerning the planet’s atmosphere.

Still, many mysteries remained. 1/2 🔭 🧪

Good thing the heat-shield wasn't chocolate.

Good to know they made it back safely.

The Artemis-II spacecraft has major components from the European Space Agency: The European Service Module (ESM) is providing Orion’s propulsion. It also provides the crew’s life-support systems (water and air, temperature), all of which are powered by the module’s four solar wings.