Author | Lightnews

Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 3h

CJ and Josh aged well. #TheDiplomat

Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 14h

Dear Committee. I recommend X as a fine chap. By the way, I see that you hired Y to your faculty - a very peculiar choice. Did you see Y’s latest paper - totally lost the plot. Well, I really think you should hire X. Your Colleague. P.S. Hope to see you at AAS for a real knees up.

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Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 14h

It’s problematic that, as we come to letter writing season, I’m reading “Dear Committee Members” and tempted to write a livelier style of reference letter.

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Reposted by Jonathan Pritchard

Royal Astronomical Society @royalastrosoc.bsky.social · 1d

Do you know an outstanding woman astronomer based in Germany? We want to hear about them! 🔭👩🔬

Together with the @germanastrosoc.bsky.social we're now welcoming nominations for the prestigious Caroline Herschel Medal.🏅

Don't delay, get those nominations in via: ras.ac.uk/awards-and-g...

Graphic promoting the Caroline Herschel Medal 2026.

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Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 1d

National defences against malicious drone activity is shaping up to be a big issue. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/w...

As Suspicious Drones Plague Germany, Officials Are Unsure How to Respond

www.nytimes.com

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Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 2d

+1 for holding on to my iPhone 13 mini and wishing they still made one hand sized phones.

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Reposted by Jonathan Pritchard

Eugene Lim @tukohbin.bsky.social · 3d

I will be chatting about quantum mechanics and the multiverse in the Science Gallery London this Friday, in conjunction with their brilliant Quantum Unentangled exhibition!

london.sciencegallery.com/sgl-events/f...

Friday Late: Quantum After Dark — Science Gallery London

Come and experience quantum after dark at Science Gallery London’s Friday Late co-programmed with MOTH a quantum technology company.

london.sciencegallery.com

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Reposted by Jonathan Pritchard

Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 3d

🔊Announcing a new Physics/Astro PhD scholarship scheme in Edinburgh, for students from a Black heritage, inc mixed Black background. Please help me spread the word. The scholarship covers all tuition fees, living costs & research travel. #blackinSTEM 🔭👩‍🔬⚛️

ℹ️: www.ph.ed.ac.uk/studying/pos...

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Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 4d

“Protest is when I say I don’t like this, resistance is when I put an end to what I don’t like”

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Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 6d

It’s a tough year for knowing what to tell students that ask about PhDs in the US. So much funding instability…

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Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 6d

Repeat later in the year for “Wellness Week”…

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Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 8d

Very struck by German museum staff telling a Chinese tourist that China is the future and Germany is the past. More politicians need to articulate the dream of a European future.

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Reposted by Jonathan Pritchard

Chris Lintott @chrislintott.bsky.social · 9d

Cosmologists! We have a faculty job going here in Oxford - happy to answer questions. Brief version is that this remains a great & collaborative place to do science and the students are superb. 🔭 www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOP628/a...

Associate Professor of Cosmology at University of Oxford

Recruiting now: Associate Professor of Cosmology on jobs.ac.uk. Click for details and explore more academic job opportunities on the top job board

www.jobs.ac.uk

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Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 9d

Between fires and layoffs, it’s been a dark few years for JPL.

Reuters @reuters.com · 10d

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to lay off about 550 workers reut.rs/4302N2L

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to lay off about 550 workers

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said on Monday it will cut nearly 550 jobs as part of a restructuring, not related to the current U.S. government shutdown.

reut.rs

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Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 11d

“Chatfishing”. It’s fascinating how people are playing with ChatGPT. Bizarre, but fascinating.
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

‘I realised I’d been ChatGPT-ed into bed’: how ‘Chatfishing’ made finding love on dating apps even weirder

Where once people were duped by soft-focus photos and borrowed chat-up lines, now they have to watch out for computer-generated charm. But it’s one thing to use a witty phrase – another thing entirely...

www.theguardian.com

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Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 12d

Keep Portland weird.

The Oregonian @oregonian.com · 13d

Things are happening at Portland's ICE facility tonight.

Read more of our protest coverage here: www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/1...

Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 12d

Malala seems a very brave young woman. Still quietly working at making the world better, even when the spotlight has moved on.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

‘To the men who ran the world, I was just a photo op’: Malala Yousafzai on growing up, getting cynical – and how getting high nearly broke her

The global icon of women’s education is ready to tell the full story of her turbulent recent life, from arguing with her parents to being ghosted by the statesmen who were once desperate to be seen wi...

www.theguardian.com

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Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 13d

That would be some impressive ego stroking!

Reposted by Jonathan Pritchard

Reuters @reuters.com · 13d

'When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist,' the Norwegian Nobel Committee said as it announced Maria Corina Machado as the winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize

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Reposted by Jonathan Pritchard

Mike Boylan-Kolchin @mbkplus.bsky.social · 14d

UT Austin is hiring faculty in cosmology (Physics department), astronomy, and scientific machine learning (Oden Institute; 2 positions). Feel free to contact me for more details! 🧪🔭☄️

apply.interfolio.com/175261
aas.org/jobregister/...
apply.interfolio.com/174445
apply.interfolio.com/174449

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Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 14d

It’s amazing, and pretty terrifying, how much the war in Ukraine has changed the nature of war. Drones everywhere.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/u...

The Army’s Race to Catch Up in a World of Deadly Drones

www.nytimes.com

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Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 14d

I keep seeing some variation of
(1) Idea!
(2) ChatGPT!
(3) Fame & Glory!
It’s depressing how easily GenAI produces plausible looking output with no underlying logic.

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Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 15d

Yellow barrette or fingerless gloves. Fingerless gloves is a fantastic photo. Feels playful and creative.

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Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 15d

Many of my colleagues at Imperial are on strike over pay. Astonishingly part of the issue seems to be College management using incorrect salary comparisons to persuade themselves their offer was massively more generous than the reality.
ucu.imperial.ac.uk/archives/1132

Imperial College Management… get your numbers right!

Imperial college management have consistently justified imposing a below inflation pay award by citing benchmarks. Last week, prompted by JTU questions, senior management admitted they had massively e...

ucu.imperial.ac.uk

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Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 16d

Two years of the most appalling destruction and death in Gaza. Far beyond anything proportionate to the initial violence on this day in 2023. A dark time for both nations that needs to be ended.

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