William O. Balmer
@balmer.bsky.social
working class astronomer, science journalist, author. phd candidate at jhu/stsci. proudly union, tru-ue
blogs from astrowill.page, cv at wbalmer.github.io
blogs from astrowill.page, cv at wbalmer.github.io
good article from the banner about our TRU-UE coworker, who hopkins have cowardly declined to advocate for
Visa canceled at the border, a Hopkins grad student has been stuck in Canada for months
Visa canceled at the border, a Hopkins grad student has been stuck in Canada for months
Ehsan Rajabi said the university declined to advocate for him.
buff.ly
December 1, 2025 at 3:34 PM
good article from the banner about our TRU-UE coworker, who hopkins have cowardly declined to advocate for
Reposted by William O. Balmer
Has this been posted yet
December 1, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Has this been posted yet
Reposted by William O. Balmer
"Why is there grade inflation? Why do our courses lack rigor?'
"Also we will immediately throw any graduate student TA or instructor who upsets an influential constituency under the bus, no matter how obviously manufactured their outrage is." 🤷♂️
"Also we will immediately throw any graduate student TA or instructor who upsets an influential constituency under the bus, no matter how obviously manufactured their outrage is." 🤷♂️
OU has put the professor here on administrative leave:
November 30, 2025 at 10:32 PM
"Why is there grade inflation? Why do our courses lack rigor?'
"Also we will immediately throw any graduate student TA or instructor who upsets an influential constituency under the bus, no matter how obviously manufactured their outrage is." 🤷♂️
"Also we will immediately throw any graduate student TA or instructor who upsets an influential constituency under the bus, no matter how obviously manufactured their outrage is." 🤷♂️
the classic sickness after stressful deadlines has impeeded halloween fun this year :(
October 31, 2025 at 5:06 PM
the classic sickness after stressful deadlines has impeeded halloween fun this year :(
the closest r1 physics dept to my hometown is hiring: 😀😀😀
... in cm theory: 🫥🫥🫥
... in cm theory: 🫥🫥🫥
Come join us at a fantastic physics department in the great PNW!
The Oregon State University Department of Physics is looking to hire a tenure-track faculty in theoretical/computational condensed matter physics. Full consideration deadline: November 5th, 2025.
jobs.oregonstate.edu/postings/173...
The Oregon State University Department of Physics is looking to hire a tenure-track faculty in theoretical/computational condensed matter physics. Full consideration deadline: November 5th, 2025.
jobs.oregonstate.edu/postings/173...
Assistant/Associate/Full Professor (Physics)
The Department of Physics at Oregon State University (OSU) is seeking an Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor. This is a full-time (1.00 FTE), 9-month, tenure/tenure-track faculty position.Any hiri...
jobs.oregonstate.edu
October 14, 2025 at 11:56 PM
the closest r1 physics dept to my hometown is hiring: 😀😀😀
... in cm theory: 🫥🫥🫥
... in cm theory: 🫥🫥🫥
my favorite weatherman on channel 0136 @evertnasedkin.bsky.social
October 8, 2025 at 9:06 AM
my favorite weatherman on channel 0136 @evertnasedkin.bsky.social
Reposted by William O. Balmer
““They dragged little Greta [Thunberg] by her hair before our eyes, beat her, and forced her to kiss the Israeli flag. They did everything imaginable to her, as a warning to others,” the Turkish activist ErsinÇelik, a participant in the Sumud flotilla, told Anadolu news agency.”+
Israel accused of detaining Greta Thunberg in infested cell and making her hold flags
Activist tells Swedish officials she has been subjected to harsh treatment, including insufficient food and water
www.theguardian.com
October 4, 2025 at 6:21 PM
““They dragged little Greta [Thunberg] by her hair before our eyes, beat her, and forced her to kiss the Israeli flag. They did everything imaginable to her, as a warning to others,” the Turkish activist ErsinÇelik, a participant in the Sumud flotilla, told Anadolu news agency.”+
Reposted by William O. Balmer
Over 2 million people across Italy have rallied in more than 100 cities for a one-day general strike.
2 million rally in Italy for Gaza as general strike halts key services
Over 2 million people across Italy have rallied in more than 100 cities for a one-day general strike.
bit.ly
October 4, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Over 2 million people across Italy have rallied in more than 100 cities for a one-day general strike.
first fellowship submitted. brain hurts
October 3, 2025 at 7:26 PM
first fellowship submitted. brain hurts
Reposted by William O. Balmer
Let that sink in
"Despite its extreme population density, Gaza was mostly self-sufficient in vegetables and poultry, and met much of the population’s demand for olives, fruit and milk. But last month the UN reported that just 1.5% of its agricultural land now remains both accessible and undamaged."
"Despite its extreme population density, Gaza was mostly self-sufficient in vegetables and poultry, and met much of the population’s demand for olives, fruit and milk. But last month the UN reported that just 1.5% of its agricultural land now remains both accessible and undamaged."
When you consider the *ecocide* alongside the genocide being perpetrated in Gaza, you begin to grasp the totality of the Israeli state’s attempt to eliminate both the Palestinians and their homeland.
My column today.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
My column today.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Israel’s ecocide in Gaza sends this message: even if we stopped dropping bombs, you couldn’t live here | George Monbiot
Consider the annihilation of agricultural land alongside the genocide – and grasp the chilling totality of this attempt to eliminate all life, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
September 27, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Let that sink in
"Despite its extreme population density, Gaza was mostly self-sufficient in vegetables and poultry, and met much of the population’s demand for olives, fruit and milk. But last month the UN reported that just 1.5% of its agricultural land now remains both accessible and undamaged."
"Despite its extreme population density, Gaza was mostly self-sufficient in vegetables and poultry, and met much of the population’s demand for olives, fruit and milk. But last month the UN reported that just 1.5% of its agricultural land now remains both accessible and undamaged."
Reposted by William O. Balmer
🔭 It's paper day! Today I'm sharing the latest in a series of papers looking at the weather on other worlds, in this case bringing you the weather report from a nearby T-dwarf, SIMP-0136. 🪐
🧵 to follow...
🧵 to follow...
September 26, 2025 at 9:05 AM
🔭 It's paper day! Today I'm sharing the latest in a series of papers looking at the weather on other worlds, in this case bringing you the weather report from a nearby T-dwarf, SIMP-0136. 🪐
🧵 to follow...
🧵 to follow...
need to take a break from fellowship drafts because i think im driving myself crazy
August 15, 2025 at 1:32 PM
need to take a break from fellowship drafts because i think im driving myself crazy
surely the others will be different, right guys
The TRAPPIST-1 d exoplanet may be Earth-sized 🌍 but it has no Earth-like atmosphere.
Webb’s #NIRSpec has found no traces of molecules that are common in Earth’s atmosphere.
Read more 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl... 🔭 🧪
Webb’s #NIRSpec has found no traces of molecules that are common in Earth’s atmosphere.
Read more 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl... 🔭 🧪
August 13, 2025 at 3:47 PM
surely the others will be different, right guys
Reposted by William O. Balmer
About half of Americans say they've put off healthcare services due to cost barriers, with Millennials most affected by far, per new study by Madaket Health.
Percent of age groups who've put off getting care:
Millennials: 78%
Gen X: 56%
Baby Boomers: 30%
www.morningstar.com/news/busines...
Percent of age groups who've put off getting care:
Millennials: 78%
Gen X: 56%
Baby Boomers: 30%
www.morningstar.com/news/busines...
New Study from Madaket Health Reveals Nearly Half of Americans Delay Healthcare Due to Cost and In-Network Barriers
www.morningstar.com
August 2, 2025 at 5:52 PM
About half of Americans say they've put off healthcare services due to cost barriers, with Millennials most affected by far, per new study by Madaket Health.
Percent of age groups who've put off getting care:
Millennials: 78%
Gen X: 56%
Baby Boomers: 30%
www.morningstar.com/news/busines...
Percent of age groups who've put off getting care:
Millennials: 78%
Gen X: 56%
Baby Boomers: 30%
www.morningstar.com/news/busines...
the question is not "when will you finally write the 51 eri b GRAVITY paper" the question is "when will the observations work twice in a row"
July 30, 2025 at 6:16 AM
the question is not "when will you finally write the 51 eri b GRAVITY paper" the question is "when will the observations work twice in a row"
Reposted by William O. Balmer
Amazon Union Leader Chris Smalls detained, beaten, and choked in Israel during humanitarian aid trip
#ChrisSmalls was among 21 others when he was singled out, detained, and beaten by Israeli forces on Saturday.
thegrio.com/2025/07/29/a...
#ChrisSmalls was among 21 others when he was singled out, detained, and beaten by Israeli forces on Saturday.
thegrio.com/2025/07/29/a...
Amazon Union Leader Chris Smalls detained, beaten, and choked in Israel during humanitarian aid trip
Chris Smalls was among 21 others when he was singled out, detained, and beaten by Israeli forces on Saturday.
thegrio.com
July 29, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Amazon Union Leader Chris Smalls detained, beaten, and choked in Israel during humanitarian aid trip
#ChrisSmalls was among 21 others when he was singled out, detained, and beaten by Israeli forces on Saturday.
thegrio.com/2025/07/29/a...
#ChrisSmalls was among 21 others when he was singled out, detained, and beaten by Israeli forces on Saturday.
thegrio.com/2025/07/29/a...
Reposted by William O. Balmer
“Brothers, sisters, siblings, we stand here now on the precipice of oblivion… This isn’t just about fighting for better wages and working conditions… This is about who is willing to fight for life itself?” by @maximillianalvarez.bsky.social
What good is a union in Hell?
“Brothers, sisters, siblings, we stand here now on the precipice of oblivion… This isn't just about fighting for better wages and working conditions… This is about who is willing to fight for life its...
therealnews.com
July 25, 2025 at 5:01 PM
“Brothers, sisters, siblings, we stand here now on the precipice of oblivion… This isn’t just about fighting for better wages and working conditions… This is about who is willing to fight for life itself?” by @maximillianalvarez.bsky.social
Reposted by William O. Balmer
The recent news of #JWST imaging of 14 Herculis c prompted me to draw my own depiction of the planet. A superjovian planet with water clouds kept warm by internal heat, it has thin haze due to low radiation, making it white-blue due to methane.
#astronomy #space #art #exoplanet #14Herculis
#astronomy #space #art #exoplanet #14Herculis
June 13, 2025 at 4:22 AM
The recent news of #JWST imaging of 14 Herculis c prompted me to draw my own depiction of the planet. A superjovian planet with water clouds kept warm by internal heat, it has thin haze due to low radiation, making it white-blue due to methane.
#astronomy #space #art #exoplanet #14Herculis
#astronomy #space #art #exoplanet #14Herculis
i told jwst what to do today
July 19, 2025 at 8:51 PM
i told jwst what to do today
my student just tipped me off that my first jwst observations as PI were scheduled! fingers crossed for clear skies (on the other planet, i mean)
July 10, 2025 at 6:36 PM
my student just tipped me off that my first jwst observations as PI were scheduled! fingers crossed for clear skies (on the other planet, i mean)
don't forget the gravity fringes! this was a very fun target to observe. welcome to the fold HD 135344 A b
and, in the paper, finally a happy use case for backtracks.readthedocs.io (we used the code to reject the null hypothesis that this source is a distant background star)
and, in the paper, finally a happy use case for backtracks.readthedocs.io (we used the code to reject the null hypothesis that this source is a distant background star)
July 9, 2025 at 3:33 PM
don't forget the gravity fringes! this was a very fun target to observe. welcome to the fold HD 135344 A b
and, in the paper, finally a happy use case for backtracks.readthedocs.io (we used the code to reject the null hypothesis that this source is a distant background star)
and, in the paper, finally a happy use case for backtracks.readthedocs.io (we used the code to reject the null hypothesis that this source is a distant background star)
have to say, not exactly an exciting year to be applying for postdocs
July 9, 2025 at 12:15 AM
have to say, not exactly an exciting year to be applying for postdocs
let the record state that i called most of the jumbos as background sources day one, and that the fragmentation predicted binary fraction would hold up
July 8, 2025 at 4:39 PM
let the record state that i called most of the jumbos as background sources day one, and that the fragmentation predicted binary fraction would hold up