No more calls. We have a winner.

Another one for my collection of "public intellectuals who don't know the proper usage of the phrase 'exception that proves the rule.'"

An infographic titled "How BIG are the BLACK HOLES we find with GRAVITATIONAL WAVES?" by @astronerdika. The graphic displays a range of black hole masses detected via gravitational waves, categorized by their size in solar masses (mass of the Sun) and represented with playful cat-like black hole illustrations. The categories from left to right are: 1. "<5 times the mass of the Sun" - Labeled "smol" - Very small black hole illustration represented by a curled up black cat - Arrow pointing left: "THIS WAY TO NEUTRON STARS" - Example: "Big component of GW230529 (~3.6 times the mass of the Sun)" 2. "~10 times the mass of the Sun" - Labeled "basic" - Slightly larger black hole cat illustration - Caption: "LOTS OF BLACK HOLES" 3. "~35–45 times the mass of the Sun" - Labeled "hefty" - Bigger black hole cat illustration - Continues the idea of a populated range 4. ">60 times the mass of the Sun" - Labeled "chonky" - Large black hole cat illustration - Caption: "FORBIDDEN TERRITORY? (can these even be made from the collapse of star cores?!)" - Example: "Components of GW190521 (~85 + ~66 times the mass of the Sun)" 5. ">100 times the mass of the Sun" - Labeled "oh lawd" - Very large, curled-up black hole cat illustration - Arrow pointing right: "THIS WAY TO INTERMEDIATE MASS BLACK HOLES" - Example: "Components of GW231123 (~137 + ~103 times the mass of the Sun)" Below the categories is a stylized black curve representing the inferred population of black holes detected by LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA. It rises sharply in the "basic" range and falls off toward the "hefty" and "chonky" ranges, with a note reading: "this curve is an artistic representation of the black hole population inferred by LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA." This infographic draws from the “Chonky Cat” meme.

Heard the latest news from the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA collaboration? We detected the collision of the most massive pair of black holes so far: #GW231123 weighing in at ~137 + ~103 times the mass of the Sun!

So to celebrate, here’s a handy chart ✨

Just how chonky are these black holes? 🤔

I've lived here for years, and trust me, once you Journey into Minneapolis, you'll be mighty thor.*

*je ne regrette rien 🧐

😅The first time I saw that series, it broke my brain.

Haven't been the same since.

An infinite number of mathematicians walk into a bar. The first mathematician says: I'll have a beer. The second one orders 1/2 of a beer. The next asks for 1/4 of a beer, the one behind wants 1/8 of a beer....

The bartender says: "I hate these guys," and opens two beers.

Hello, I am a person in a film or television drama. When I wake up in the middle of the night, I turn on the bedside lamp, and I don't shield my eyes, which are not dilated due to sleep.

Not as uncommon as you'd think. Google Maps has been directing a lot of folks to take a shortcut through apiaries.

Read the whole thing! You're welcome.

I loved the Fantastic Four film - the cast, the story, the art direction! Stay for the end credits. Not for any extra scenes, but to see the listing for physics professor and fellow FF fan @asymptotia.bsky.social Clifford Johnson listed as the Science Advisor. Even Reed Richards needs some help!

Remember, every pitch is a ball and a strike until you look.

Yes, but it turns out that this fungus was transported here by Dormammu, ruler of the Dark Dimension. So.. tomato, tomahtoh?

51 Pegasi b Fellowship The 51 Pegasi b Fellowship provides exceptional postdoctoral scientists with the opportunity to conduct theoretical, observational, and experimental research in planetary astronomy.

The Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics is now a new hosting Institution for the 51 Pegasi b fellowships. Come and work with us! www.hsfoundation.org/programs/sci...

While he was only in the opening scene, while sitting at a table surrounded by rock star actors, he OWNED the opening of Reservoir Dogs.

Wouldn't be a problem. DC has a long history of accurately capturing the way that readers in their teens speak and act.

Very rarely are Space Warps not the key to any problem.

University of Minnesota Astrophysics professors get it done!

My simple take: speed is distance/time. If ALL observers, regardless of whether they are in motion relative to each other, all agree on the value of the speed of light, then they must disagree on distances and times.

That last one is the classic ICP conundrum.

Sure, it's hot out. But how's the weather in space?
Find out with tonight's Summer of Astounding Astrophysics talk by Prof. Lindsay Glesener at the Univ. of MN. Tate Hall, Room B50 at 7 PM. All are welcome!

sorry but this sucks. consolidation is ruining space. we used to have lots of places to get sucked into an event horizon beyond comprehension and soon it’s just gonna be one infinitely dense point of matter. count me out

CONvergence 2025: The Physics of Kicking a Football YouTube video by CVG-TV CONvergence Television

And, of course, The Physics of Kicking a Football with @chriswarcraft.bsky.social and @jimkakalios.bsky.social ! #CVG2025 www.youtube.com/live/6LS68go...

We are building a fighting force of extraordinary magnitude, forging our spirits in the tradition of our ancestors. You have our gratitude. #kentuckyfriedmovie

What. no condensed matter? You covered the universe, but left out the good part!😉

Are you sure that's rain?

The US benefited from the Brain Drain from Europe in the 1930's and 40's, and now, apparently we're returning the favor.

He goes on to say: the NSF should suffer a "bureaucratic death penalty." If you shut down University graduate programs - who does he think will train the scientists and engineers he and other Tech Bros need to run their companies?

Honestly - all of them - if they're so rich, why aren't they smart?

Welcome to the 616! (It's always nice to receive experimental confirmation of the Multiverse theory!)

I wouldn't tell anyone if I won the lottery but there would be signs.