This is what an authoritarian regime would do. Hidden deep in Trump’s 1,100-page bill that passed the House today is a provision that would block federal courts from enforcing contempt charges against government officials who violate court orders.
Science.
Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/h...
NSF officials announced they are essentially abandoning the use of “rotators”— scientists on leave from academic positions who help the agency choose the best research to fund. NSF also plans to reduce the number of administrators classified as senior executive service employees. scim.ag/3EKnxmc
Crosswalks across Silicon Valley were hacked this weekend. Pressing the button now triggers a message impersonating Elon Musk—mocking him in the process. Videos have been circulating online all weekend. 😂
We expect to open our first two instrument doors on Monday. That's a big deal both scientifically, and for the engineers who poured an incredible amount of effort into making sure it goes well. Wish us luck! 🛰️☀️🚀
When I grow up, I want to be an old woman
This is the president's proposed NASA budget. 🤬🤯😵
"Among the proposals were: A two-thirds cut to astrophysics... a greater than two-thirds cut to Heliophysics... a greater than 50 percent cut to Earth science... and a 30 percent cut to Planetary science..."
What it looks like walking out the front door at night in Alaska…
The universe is a Swiftie. arxiv.org/pdf/2503.227...
PUNCH Nugget #4 - our friend @chrisoutofspace.bsky.social prepared a nice time-variable map showing all the different missions that will be flying through our field of view over the next couple of years. Nice to see a few of the probes Humanity is operating in deep space right now. ☀️🛰️🔭
Video of a student in my town who wrote a political op-ed being grabbed off the street by government agents bsky.app/profile/pale...
PUNCH mission logo
We just launched a mission account for PUNCH: @punch-mission.bsky.social. That account will be a good source for mission updates and science "nuggets" as they happen. Click through and follow it if you like. 🧪🛰️☀️🔭
punch.space.swri.edu
It is a fine morning here in Denver though I am still groggy from taking the 5am flight from California. NYT has a great article on SPHEREx and PUNCH. Thanks, Katrina Miller! ☀️🔭🛰️🚀😎
Just witnessed the launch of #PUNCH and #SPHEREx, the rocket emerging from behind the LA skyline and over the ocean here in Orange County 🚀🛰️🛰️ A super cool view, good luck to the two missions! (and congrats @drzowie.bsky.social ☺️)
youtu.be/5WYNdBAQxBA
Go PUNCH!!!
t-56 minutes. SPHEREx/PUNCH launch is starting to get real. Weather at Lompoc, CA looks beautiful. NASA broadcast starts right about now -- tune in to plus.nasa.gov if you want to follow!
☀️🛰️🔭🚀
Update: If you look at a wx app you'll see a large depression W of CA, moving slowly E. The cloud wall is coming over VSFB right now. It is thick enough to trigger concern over "rocket-induced lightning". We're still counting for now, but the wx outlook for tonight is not good for a launch. 🔭☀️🛰️🚀
It should go without saying ... all RBF items have been removed and documented! 🛰️
My first research experience was because of a summer NSF REU. I learned to code (in FORTRAN 77!) as part of the KTeV high energy physics collaboration. It launched my passion for science & my entire career. Devastating to see this valuable program gutted.
www.science.org/content/arti...
