Sharmila Kuthunur

There’s Probably No Life on K2-18b After All, Three Studies Conclude In April, astronomers said they had detected a possible signature of life on the exoplanet K2-18b. Now, three independent analyses discount the evidence.

Here's my follow-up story on K2-18b, the distant planet where scientists claimed to see a possible sign of life last month. In three preprints, other researcher argue that the signal is noise. nyti.ms/4jaqQRv

New Studies Dismiss Signs of Life on Distant Planet

In April, astronomers said they had detected a possible signature of life on the planet K2-18b, which is over 120 light-years from Earth. Now, three independent analyses discount the evidence.

✨FREELANCE SCIENCE JOURNALISTS✨

Hi! I’m the Trending News Editor at Live Science & we’re looking to expand our pool of trending freelance science writers

These stories need a 24h turnaround and cover all areas of science, from medicine to climate change, archaeology and zoology

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The @science.org journalists have an update on the recent claim to have found DMS in the atmosphere of #exoplanet K2-18b - explaining some of the community backlash 🔭🧪

www.science.org/content/arti...

‘Orwellian’: planetary scientists outraged over deletion of research records Researchers say that a NASA-funded institute is over-interpreting Trump’s anti-DEI order.

Planetary scientists have been really, really mad about DEI-related conference abstracts being taken down from LPI meeting sites. I wrote about it: www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Claim of alien life on distant world meets swift scientific pushback “The simplest explanation is just that it’s kind of a boring planet like Neptune or Uranus”

New independent analyses are casting serious doubt on the claimed hints of alien life on exoplanet K2-18b.

“The simplest explanation is just that it’s kind of a boring planet like Neptune or Uranus,” says @distantworlds.space

My first story for @science.org: www.science.org/content/arti...

Aw thanks so much, Freda! Appreciate you sharing it 😊

Astronomers Fight Ads in Space Astronomers are racing to protect the dark skies as private companies seek to place large advertisements in Earth orbit

‘Space Advertising’ Could Outshine the Stars—Unless It’s Banned First

Astronomers are racing to protect the dark skies as private companies seek to place large advertisements in Earth orbit

www.scientificamerican.com/article/spac...

Hi space people, I'm looking for experts to comment on the upcoming Isar Aerospace launch, and what it means for European rocketry.

If that's you, or you know someone, do get in touch. jdaoca[at]gmail[dot]com

Thanks!

Particle physicists, need a little help with an article I'm writing:

Why don't neutrinos easily fit into the Standard Model if they have mass? What is the issue there?

Hello space people, I'm looking for experts to comment on the NASA cuts from a US/European perspective, and what this will mean for science moving forwards.

If that's you, do let me know. jdaoca[at]gmail[dot]com

Thanks

Hi all, I'm looking for experts on supersonic travel, and what recent interest in the field means, to comment for a feature in WIRED.

If that's you, or you know someone, do let me know. jdaoca[at]gmail[dot]com

Thanks!

I'm at reporter at the Atlantic looking to speak to any NWS meteorologist, past or present, about what it takes to get forecasts to the public. DMs are open, and I'm zoeschlanger.99 on Signal.

Handwritten notes on a metal table at the National Science Foundation, 2/18/25. The messages include "You deserve better! Thank you!"; "Thank you colleagues! This RIF is WRONG. These orders are immoral & illegal"; and "Your service will forever be remembered and deeply valued - ENG directorate".

This morning, the US National Science Foundation fired 168 employees, approximately 10% of its workforce, for no cause other than they were the agency's most recent hires. 🧪

Co-workers are leaving supportive messages before they have to clear out of the building at 5 p.m. Sent to me by a source ⬇️

Changes in NASA's workforce, by year, since 1959. Today will mark the largest involuntary reduction in staffing since the end of Apollo. The difference is that, right now, NASA is trying to spin up a Moon program instead of end one.

Scientists alarmed as Rubin Observatory changes biography of astronomer Vera Rubin amid Trump's push to end DEI efforts "The idea that they can somehow obliterate these sources is dead wrong — scientists in general and astronomers in particular are not going to take these threats lying down."

Got quoted as one of the alarmed scientists in this piece by @skuthunur.bsky.social on the editing of Vera Rubin's biography

🧪🎢🔭

www.space.com/the-universe...

Hello space people, I am looking for experts on life support systems for space stations for a feature I am working on.

If that's you, or you know somebody, do get in touch. jdaoca[at]gmail[dot]com

Thanks!

OK, since the cat's out of the bag (and we're official) I'm happy to report we were granted time to use JWST to look at #2024YR4 and measure its size in about a month. :) 🔭🛰️

The physicist trying to build humanity's lunar future with moon dirt When it comes to sending humans back to the moon, knowing how to work with the regolith that coats the ground will be make-or-break. Phil Metzger is studying how to mitigate its dangers and use it as…

For New Scientist, I interviewed the absolutely wonderful Dr. Philip Metzger about lunar regolith, the importance of moon dirt for settlement on the moon, and how he became the truly iconic scientist he is today:

Donate to Fund Jonathan's Space Report Library Transition, organized by Jonathan McDowell For 35 years I've been sharing information about space exploration w… Jonathan McDowell needs your support for Fund Jonathan's Space Report Library Transition

Well, big news. I am planning to move the Space Library to a new home. And I need some help - in 35 years I've never asked for funding, donations or subscriptions for my Space Report, to keep it independent, but now I need to raise some additional funds.
www.gofundme.com/f/fund-jonat...

JPL is one of NASA's major science and climate centers—home to the Mars rovers and 1000s of people. Firefighters held back the flames at JPL’s gates, but many of our coworkers lost their homes. Here’s a thread of their public GoFundMes if you can share & support however possible:

NASA JPL chief Laurie Leshin says that over 150 staffers at the research center have lost their homes in the LA fires; the lab has set up a relief fund to help them out, which you can support here: caltech.imodules.com/controls/ema...

NASA to Host Media Call Highlighting Mars Sample Return Update - NASA NASA will host a media teleconference at 1 p.m. EST, Tuesday, Jan. 7, to provide an update on the status of the agency’s Mars Sample Return Program.

NASA will hold a media telecon on Tuesday, Jan 7, at 1:00 pm ET, to provide an update on the Mars Sample Return program. Audio will stream on NASA Live. www.nasa.gov/news-release...

Share your expertise with Your First Byline I'm looking for some working journalists who can answer a quick email to help me put together some guides for aspiring and early-career reporters on those tried-and-true stories we all end up doing at...

Are you a working journalist? Want to help aspiring journalists learn to write the bread-and-butter stories that they'll be assigned at their first job? I'm looking for some quick expert advice. Thanks! forms.gle/KhaTuj7mCghQ...

I'm looking for a solar physicist not directly involved with the Parker Solar Probe mission to talk about its upcoming closest flyby of the Sun for an article I'm working on.

If that's you, or you know someone, do get in touch! jdaoca[at]gmail[dot]com

Thanks ☀️

Reminder: I’ve created a space-news focused feed that seeks to maximize signal amid the noise. If you know someone who belongs on this list, reply below or message me. Thank you!

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