Lisa Grossman

ooh this is relevant to my interests

Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin ✨ figured out what stars are made of ✨ when she was just 25. 🔭🧪

Her PhD thesis basically established the Harvard astro department — at a time when Harvard didn't officially allow woman students.

I wrote this little profile to mark the 100th anniversary of her thesis:

Duffy says today's announcement is consistent with "the president's vision and mission of continuing science to support human exploration beyond Earth."

Fact check: this administration has proposed canceling Mars sample return.

To sum up: we have

🪨 A cool rock from #Mars that may or may not hold evidence of ancient life

🛰️ An internal fight over whether NASA should spend its money on science or human exploration, and on what planet

🤔 A totally uncertain future for this amazing rock

🧪

There are many layers going on in this NASA press conference. Notably, the head of science Nicky Fox just gave a hard sell for NASA science missions, in the presence of the acting administrator who has not said a lot about science to-date.

omg I want one

Is that a Percy stuffy?? 😍

Check out some of the weird rocks that have turned up on Mars Some of the unusual rocks carry stories about water on Mars. One has hints of long-gone microbes. All tell of a dynamic, complex planet.

If you like cool Mars rocks (and why do you follow me if you don't?) you're in luck there are a lot of them! 🔭🧪
www.sciencenews.org/article/weir...

A Mars rock analysis tool proved its mettle on a chance find from Arizona On Mars, the Perseverance rover found a spotted rock that could bear signs of ancient life. On Earth, a researcher used a lookalike for a dry run.

Earlier this week @meprillaman.bsky.social had a really fun story about a cool rock on Earth that can help scientists learn how to study the cool Mars rock - if they ever get their hands on it. The Mars Sample Return mission is on Trump admin's chopping block. 🔭🧪
www.sciencenews.org/article/mars...

NASA's Perseverance finds its first possible hint of ancient Mars life The NASA Mars rover examined a rock containing organic compounds and “leopard spots” that, on Earth, are associated with microbial life.

There's a NASA presser happening now in which acting admin Duffy said "This very well could be the clearest sign of life that we’ve ever found on Mars." That doesn't mean it is a sign of life. We covered this cool rock in 2024, paper in Nature is out today: 🧪🔭
www.sciencenews.org/article/nasa...

NASA’s Perseverance Rover Scientists Find Intriguing Mars Rock The six-wheeled geologist found a fascinating rock that has some indications it may have hosted microbial life billions of years ago, but further research is needed.

This story began with a JPL press release in July 2024, soon after the #Mars rock was discovered. www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-p...

Today is the publication of the peer-reviewed paper describing what's in it. That @nature.com paper is here www.nature.com/articles/s41...

🧪

NASA hasn't found life on Mars yet – but signs are promising A rock found last year on the surface of Mars offered tantalising evidence that life once existed on the Red Planet. Now scientists have found yet more evidence that could point to the existence of an...

An important part of this story (which I am not expecting the NASA live stream to mention) is that the sample return mission that could potentially answer the question of life on Mars is being threatened by budget cuts from the Trump administration www.newscientist.com/article/2495...

Read to the end to see why the observatory is like a dragon 🐉

The Vera Rubin Observatory is ready to revolutionize astronomy Sporting the world’s largest digital camera, the new telescope is poised to help solve some of the universe’s biggest mysteries.

I looked forward to seeing @vrubinobs.bsky.social's telescope in action for years. But when I arrived in Chile for a visit this spring, the structure was lying motionless, aimed at the horizon. Here's how the crew solved a mystery and got the camera back up 🔭🧪
www.sciencenews.org/article/vera...

Watch rappelling robots dive into a lava tube — for science Test-run shows how a team of three autonomous robots could search for extraterrestrial environments suitable for sheltering humans.

THESE ROBOTS ARE SO CUTE I LOVE THEM 🧪🔭🤖
thanks @castelvecchi.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...

You've heard of glam rock, you've heard of dad rock, now it's time for...

I always love a weird Mars rock

Oh boy can't wait to read this

Oh come on you can't post something like that without a link to what you're reading

Actual lol, thank you for that

Calls to restart nuclear weapons tests stir dismay and debate among scientists Many scientists say “subcritical” experiments and computer simulations make nuclear weapons testing unnecessary.

The first nuclear explosion, called the Trinity test, was set off 80 years ago today in New Mexico. Since then, more than 2,000 nuclear explosions have rattled the globe, and a renewed interested has stirred dismay among scientists.

Assigned Media Assigned Media is your independent trans news source.

Assigned Media is doing cool, exciting, innovating journalism. We're a group of trans journalists and we're dedicated to serving our community.

Our most recent project is short video. Follow us on TikTok:

www.tiktok.com/@assignedmedia

or YouTube:

www.youtube.com/@AssignedMedia

Adding to my list posthaste!

Ahahaha these are both so good!

This Revolutionary New Telescope Will Observe the Whole Sky Every Three Days The game-changing Vera Rubin Observatory will collect more astronomical data in its first year than all other telescopes combined

"Astronomers eager to use the Rubin Observatory frequently talk about the value of just looking at the universe. Basic research is a public good...that can provide new insight into our history while improving our shared future." @rboyle31.bsky.social 🔭🧪
www.scientificamerican.com/article/bloc...

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: NASA Budget Briefing. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Join The Planetary Society's Space Policy & Advocacy team for a community briefing on the FY 2026 President's Budget Request for NASA. Participants will be able to submit questions during the briefin...

The Planetary Society will provide a NASA budget briefing on Thursday, June 12, at 12pm ET! We'll answer the top-rated scientific community questions, share everything we know, and give you our expert perspective on what's going on. Register for free here: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Why These Trans Teens and Their Families Risked Everything to Get Gender-Affirming Care It’s as simple as love.

When I heard the mom of a trans girl say the night her daughter came out to her was the first time she'd ever seen her child happy, I knew it was a story I needed to share.

These are the stories the public isn't hearing. An honor to get to report on 3 family's journeys for @teenvogue.com.

🧪Source request: Are you a father in academia trying your best to be an equal partner in parenting? Do you want to tell me about why you think that is important? If so, please reach out! I'll only be able to speak to 1 source (it's a short piece), but tell me about your situation & it could be you!

So my family is relocating to Minnesota this summer. Luckily, I can keep my amazing job at @sciencenews.bsky.social - I've been a remote worker here for 8 years. My colleagues who happen to live in DC should have the same freedom to move cities if they need or want to. It bugs me that they don't.

Thank you!