Jason Wright

A Grand Yuletide Theory: The Muppet Christmas Carol is the Best Adaptation of A Christmas Carol Only one movie has ever managed to recreate that uniquely Dickens magic, achieving it not so much through adaptation as through transmutation.

Just saw a Muppets Christmas Carol again and I am once again reminded that it is, in fact, probably the best and most faithful adaptation of the novel ever.

Caine’s decision to play the role completely straight was absolutely perfect and brilliant.

www.brightwalldarkroom.com/2019/12/20/a...

If we build a Dyson sphere, this paper explores the outer limits of how much computation it could possibly do, and how we might find such things around other stars.

Since the waste heat associated with computers and space seems to be all the rage on social media these days, I’ll point out this paper I wrote on the theoretical maximum number of computations you can do given that it’s hard to cool things in space:

iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3...

Christmas Wrapping came on and I told the kids it was a pun because there’s rapping in it and they didn’t believe me! Straight up thought I was dad trolling them.

So I put on Blondie’s Rapture and Sugarhill and the Gang’s Rappers Delight. Told them when I was their age that was rap AND WE LIKED IT.

Since the waste heat associated with computers and space seems to be all the rage on social media these days, I’ll point out this paper I wrote on the theoretical maximum number of computations. You can do giving that it’s hard to cool things in space:

iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3...

I have been putting off switching to SciX because I’m turning into a grumpy old man that hates changing his routine (and I use ADS many times a day so it’s quite a routine!) but if it’s by the same software team that has improved ADS steadily since the new UI rollout, I am optimistic about it.

I agree that, all other things being equal, UI should be information dense and snappy. I also appreciate minimalist design.

That said, I was very grumpy about the switch to the new UI for ADS but now I love it. I don’t mind features. I don’t use as long as they keep a focus on making it snappy.

New results from the International Gemini Observatory 🔭 on interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, in which it continues to do fun cometary things! The new spectrum confirms 3I/ATLAS is actively emitting CN, C3, and C2 gases, plus a visible dust fan. www.astronomerstelegram.org?read=17503

Lio by Mark Tatulli for December 8, 2025 | GoComics Read Lio—a comic strip by creator Mark Tatulli—for today, December 8, 2025, and check out other great comics, too!

Harvard Astronomer Burned in the Funny Pages

www.gocomics.com/lio/2025/12/08

I'm happy to report that "Scenario 2" won't be necessary, as NASA has just communicated to us that SciX funding will continue in 2026 (albeit at a reduced level). Therefore, we will not be forcing astronomers to leave ADS, but rather develop a plan that allows a longer transition.

I adore this interview.

I've always been fond of Penn Jillette but his staunch libertarianism was always a sour note for me. This interview is quite the antidote: he comes across as deeply curious, intelligent, humble, and, most of all, humane.

Reckless, self-centered, and dangerous. Astrophysicists owe it to everyone to understand the implications of our words and actions on the world, and Avi Loeb is not holding up our end of the deal.

The "getting people interested in science" argument drives me nuts. Bad science getting more attention is bad, actually! We DON'T want to encourage habits of "you can't make me believe something I don't want to"!

The 2nd PRIMA GO Science Book is out! So excited to see so many great use cases for an All-Sky Survey.

The best FIR map in some ways is still from IRAS—we're overdue for an orders-of-mag. leap in FIR imaging sensitivity and resolution across the entire sky!

ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2025arXi... 🔭🧪

SwRI researchers use PUNCH to track interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS | Southwest Research Institute SwRI-led spacecraft provides vital data while 3I/ATLAS is too close to the Sun for others to observe

Here's a little more info on the @swri.org team that tracked 3I/ATLAS using @punch-mission.bsky.social data! ☀️🔭🧪🛰️🚀

PUNCH observations of comet 3I/ATLAS: where #planetaryscience meets #heliophysics.

I am lucky to work in the same building as most of the PUNCH team, so I get early peaks at the great science. They are doing amazing work with that mission, and some of it will benefit planetary science. Very cool!

Alien of the gaps: How 3I/ATLAS was turned into a spaceship online When we reach the frontier of current knowledge, we’re tempted to insert a higher power into the space where answers aren’t yet satisfying for all.

Really interesting analysis here on how claims get amplified by our current media environment (and a rebuttal of sorts to those who argue that Avi Loeb's alien spacecraft hype is good because any science engagement is good engagement):

www.cip.uw.edu/2025/12/03/3...

Obviously it is important for parents to have these conversations with their kids. And also, kids benefit tremendously from having an environment of peers and trusted adults in a safe space away from their parents to ask questions and learn about this stuff from trained professionals.

You don’t need to be a member of the fellowship to sign up.

They also have adult classes if you or someone you know did not get an appropriate education in this dimension.

It’s not just birds and bees. It’s relationships, consent, gingerbread person, all of It age-appropriate and inclusive.

PSA for parents of kids between 10–18:

Your local UU church has an amazing age-appropriate sex ed sequence that is almost certainly light years ahead of whatever your school system is offering.

You will not regret signing your kids up. It is called Our Whole Lives.

All of those are things comets naturally do! None of those are things spaceships are thought to do. It’s a comet by every understood definition.

Among astronomers, only Loeb disagrees.

What could you see in the next month that you haven’t seen in the past two or three that would convince you it’s a comet?

If you think hard-to-explain evidence that hints at artifice is mounting, then yes, you are strongly swayed by Loeb. I’m not aware of any actual planetary scientist familiar with comet physics that thinks this.

In my experience planetary scientists are very open minded about this!

Those things are all good. His irresponsibility in communication and refusal to even bother learning expert consensus before offhandedly dismissing it outweighs that, in my opinion.

Loeb’s Behavior is Reckless I’ve largely ignored Loeb for the past few weeks. When he started in on his 3I/ATLAS thing, there were plenty of mainstream media outlets willing to give his claims a wide and credulous platform, and ...

Some have argued to me strongly that even if Loeb is wrong, he’s getting people interested in 3I/ATLAS and that’s a good thing for science.

But Loeb isn't just wrong, he's recklessly following an old playbook that got 39 people killed in 1997.

sites.psu.edu/astrowright/...

Been a good week for post-perihelion 3I/ATLAS observations. Big glass trying to sneak in a decent length of observation before the Moon gets in the way. Heroic work by instrument teams trying to get the instruments functioning again after coolant leaks: bravo.

I'm not sure where planetary scientists chattering about 3I/ATLAS would be more prevalent than here on BlueSky.

The latest images are neat! I haven't digested them much but plenty of planetary scientists on here have been discussing them.

I appreciate that I took this in a different direction than Chanda was going with her message, but that's my origin story to understanding that she's 100% right and you should take her advice if it applies to you!