Ben Floyd
@benfloyd.bsky.social
Astrophysicist
Studies supermassive black holes in galaxy clusters at high redshift.
Studies supermassive black holes in galaxy clusters at high redshift.
It's taken a lot for me to be in the right headspace about what happened yesterday.
I found out about the state-sanctioned murder of Alex Pretti while I was on a train back from a conference and it was all I could do to not just break down in the middle of a full train.
I found out about the state-sanctioned murder of Alex Pretti while I was on a train back from a conference and it was all I could do to not just break down in the middle of a full train.
January 25, 2026 at 5:54 PM
It's taken a lot for me to be in the right headspace about what happened yesterday.
I found out about the state-sanctioned murder of Alex Pretti while I was on a train back from a conference and it was all I could do to not just break down in the middle of a full train.
I found out about the state-sanctioned murder of Alex Pretti while I was on a train back from a conference and it was all I could do to not just break down in the middle of a full train.
Reposted by Ben Floyd
And because we've still not managed to land on an easily recognizable sign when we stick together, I'm going to suggest this marine signal flag.
It's the letter "U", but it also means "Standing into danger".
Flown by ships anchored at or moving in dangerous places.
Sounds right.
It's the letter "U", but it also means "Standing into danger".
Flown by ships anchored at or moving in dangerous places.
Sounds right.
January 17, 2026 at 12:24 AM
And because we've still not managed to land on an easily recognizable sign when we stick together, I'm going to suggest this marine signal flag.
It's the letter "U", but it also means "Standing into danger".
Flown by ships anchored at or moving in dangerous places.
Sounds right.
It's the letter "U", but it also means "Standing into danger".
Flown by ships anchored at or moving in dangerous places.
Sounds right.
The images coming out of my home country are haunting. It breaks my heart and makes me incredibly angry to see this authoritarian attempt to take over society. And that again, Minneapolis has become a battleground in this slow, "cold" civil war that's been brewing in America for decades.
Photo by Pierre Lavie. Yes this is me. And I threw my Leica. It landed on the bass plate with hardly a scratch. Another Photographer grabbed it along with my phone and I was able to track him later. I was held face down tear gas deployed right in front of me and pepper sprayed directly into the eye.
January 17, 2026 at 4:27 PM
The images coming out of my home country are haunting. It breaks my heart and makes me incredibly angry to see this authoritarian attempt to take over society. And that again, Minneapolis has become a battleground in this slow, "cold" civil war that's been brewing in America for decades.
Just when you think she's done, she gets pulled back in!
@lizcookkc.bsky.social: always the finest words for your enjoyment!
@lizcookkc.bsky.social: always the finest words for your enjoyment!
I spent $900 at 1587 Prime so you don’t have to.
Two nights playing with fire at Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce's steakhouse: defector.com/two-nights-p...
December 16, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Just when you think she's done, she gets pulled back in!
@lizcookkc.bsky.social: always the finest words for your enjoyment!
@lizcookkc.bsky.social: always the finest words for your enjoyment!
Reposted by Ben Floyd
Conventional wisdom says motherhood should wait for tenure as before you land a permanent post, #academia is just not that family friendly🙁
@carersinstemm.bsky.social are calling for change and to celebrate their new report, a Saturday🧵on parenting & academia! 1/9 👩🔬🧪🔭⚛️
ℹ️: carersinstemm.co.uk
@carersinstemm.bsky.social are calling for change and to celebrate their new report, a Saturday🧵on parenting & academia! 1/9 👩🔬🧪🔭⚛️
ℹ️: carersinstemm.co.uk
October 4, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Conventional wisdom says motherhood should wait for tenure as before you land a permanent post, #academia is just not that family friendly🙁
@carersinstemm.bsky.social are calling for change and to celebrate their new report, a Saturday🧵on parenting & academia! 1/9 👩🔬🧪🔭⚛️
ℹ️: carersinstemm.co.uk
@carersinstemm.bsky.social are calling for change and to celebrate their new report, a Saturday🧵on parenting & academia! 1/9 👩🔬🧪🔭⚛️
ℹ️: carersinstemm.co.uk
If you can't recognize how dystopian this headline is, I don't think I can help you.
Two children were killed, and 18 children between the ages 6 and 15 were injured by a shooter. Middle schoolers acted heroically to protect others, a parent said.
Middle schoolers are lauded for protecting younger kids during church shooting
Two children were killed, and 18 children between the ages 6 and 15 were injured by a shooter. Middle schoolers acted heroically to protect others, a parent said.
n.pr
August 29, 2025 at 9:21 AM
If you can't recognize how dystopian this headline is, I don't think I can help you.
Reposted by Ben Floyd
A State Department employee shared with PBS News an image from inside the department. The image includes a piece of paper taped to a mirror with the words, "Colleagues, if you remain: RESIST FASCISM. Remember the oath you vowed to uphold."
July 11, 2025 at 10:51 PM
A State Department employee shared with PBS News an image from inside the department. The image includes a piece of paper taped to a mirror with the words, "Colleagues, if you remain: RESIST FASCISM. Remember the oath you vowed to uphold."
Reposted by Ben Floyd
Just got warned that the new "Voice Isolation" feature in Teams, if turned on and trained on a male voice, will filter out all the women in the room, while still allowing the men in the room to be heard online.
*clears throat*
IF YOU USE A BIASED TRAINING SET, YOUR TECHNOLOGY WILL BE BIASED.
*clears throat*
IF YOU USE A BIASED TRAINING SET, YOUR TECHNOLOGY WILL BE BIASED.
a woman in a black dress says it - it - the f - it - flam - flames
Alt: a woman in a black dress says "it - it - the f - it - flam - flames on the side of my face", while gesturing at her face.
media.tenor.com
May 1, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Just got warned that the new "Voice Isolation" feature in Teams, if turned on and trained on a male voice, will filter out all the women in the room, while still allowing the men in the room to be heard online.
*clears throat*
IF YOU USE A BIASED TRAINING SET, YOUR TECHNOLOGY WILL BE BIASED.
*clears throat*
IF YOU USE A BIASED TRAINING SET, YOUR TECHNOLOGY WILL BE BIASED.
In honor of Hubble Space Telescope's 35th launch day, I have finally started to put together the LEGO Discovery+ HST set.
Hubble is complete but Discovery has run over schedule.
Hubble is complete but Discovery has run over schedule.
April 28, 2025 at 1:38 PM
In honor of Hubble Space Telescope's 35th launch day, I have finally started to put together the LEGO Discovery+ HST set.
Hubble is complete but Discovery has run over schedule.
Hubble is complete but Discovery has run over schedule.
Reposted by Ben Floyd
Astronomers will keep pointing out to folks that the Roman telescope is *already built* and is being prepped for launch *next year* and I know we live in a stupid timeline but cancelling Roman at this point would be SO STUPID.
Took a little walk over to the giant #nasa Goddard cleanroom yesterday where the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is looking great 😎 It’s assembled and going through testing before its scheduled launch late next year! It will study dark energy, dark matter (ahem @pearljam.com), exoplanets & more!
April 22, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Astronomers will keep pointing out to folks that the Roman telescope is *already built* and is being prepped for launch *next year* and I know we live in a stupid timeline but cancelling Roman at this point would be SO STUPID.
Reposted by Ben Floyd
Agreed but with one change: "No government...should dictate what *universities can teach..."
Public universities are the backbone of the American higher education system. All universities need to stand together private or public in fighting authoritarianism and anti-intellectualism.
Public universities are the backbone of the American higher education system. All universities need to stand together private or public in fighting authoritarianism and anti-intellectualism.
April 15, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Agreed but with one change: "No government...should dictate what *universities can teach..."
Public universities are the backbone of the American higher education system. All universities need to stand together private or public in fighting authoritarianism and anti-intellectualism.
Public universities are the backbone of the American higher education system. All universities need to stand together private or public in fighting authoritarianism and anti-intellectualism.
Reposted by Ben Floyd
HST proposals this year really have a certain last call at the bar feel.
April 10, 2025 at 11:23 PM
HST proposals this year really have a certain last call at the bar feel.
My friend @trayford.bsky.social does amazing work on sonification, where we convert visual data into audio information which allows for better accessibility of astronomy. It also lets us make new insights into the data that might not be as obvious in the visual medium.
Next paper I want to highlight: the paper for STRAUSS by @trayford.bsky.social et al. came out! ☄️ #astrocode
STRAUSS is a tool for sonifying scientific data, meaning you can enhance the presentation & accessibility of your data.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2504.01660
Here's a great example:
STRAUSS is a tool for sonifying scientific data, meaning you can enhance the presentation & accessibility of your data.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2504.01660
Here's a great example:
Hearing black hole winds
YouTube video by Audio Universe
www.youtube.com
April 3, 2025 at 4:33 PM
My friend @trayford.bsky.social does amazing work on sonification, where we convert visual data into audio information which allows for better accessibility of astronomy. It also lets us make new insights into the data that might not be as obvious in the visual medium.
Proud of my fellow Kansas Citians!
March 30, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Proud of my fellow Kansas Citians!
Reposted by Ben Floyd
Reposted by Ben Floyd
Reposted by Ben Floyd
It may not be cool or hip in some circles, but we legitimately do need a massive amount of people to run for office.
Flood the school boards, councils, county seats, state legislatures, Congress, etc.
Big changes at the top happen when the ground shifts at the bottom. And that can start now.
Flood the school boards, councils, county seats, state legislatures, Congress, etc.
Big changes at the top happen when the ground shifts at the bottom. And that can start now.
February 22, 2025 at 8:07 PM
It may not be cool or hip in some circles, but we legitimately do need a massive amount of people to run for office.
Flood the school boards, councils, county seats, state legislatures, Congress, etc.
Big changes at the top happen when the ground shifts at the bottom. And that can start now.
Flood the school boards, councils, county seats, state legislatures, Congress, etc.
Big changes at the top happen when the ground shifts at the bottom. And that can start now.
Reposted by Ben Floyd
I escaped poverty because I am a scientist.
And I am a scientist because of the National Science Foundation.
A 🧵:
And I am a scientist because of the National Science Foundation.
A 🧵:
February 18, 2025 at 8:02 PM
I escaped poverty because I am a scientist.
And I am a scientist because of the National Science Foundation.
A 🧵:
And I am a scientist because of the National Science Foundation.
A 🧵:
"The idea that they can somehow obliterate these sources is dead wrong — scientists in general and astronomers in particular are not going to take these threats lying down"
You cannot and will not make us forget Vera Rubin's legacy. 🔭 🧪
You cannot and will not make us forget Vera Rubin's legacy. 🔭 🧪
Scientists alarmed as Rubin Observatory changes biography of astronomer Vera Rubin amid Trump's push to end DEI efforts
"The idea that they can somehow obliterate these sources is dead wrong — scientists in general and astronomers in particular are not going to take these threats lying down."
www.space.com
February 12, 2025 at 12:04 AM
"The idea that they can somehow obliterate these sources is dead wrong — scientists in general and astronomers in particular are not going to take these threats lying down"
You cannot and will not make us forget Vera Rubin's legacy. 🔭 🧪
You cannot and will not make us forget Vera Rubin's legacy. 🔭 🧪
Reposted by Ben Floyd
And as usual with #ESAEuclid, both the full scene of NGC 6505 and its environment and background are visible in the same image, as well as the Einstein Ring in the center. But you have to zoom in!
Images in our blogpost www.euclid-ec.org/einstein-rin...
and at ESA www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
🔭
Images in our blogpost www.euclid-ec.org/einstein-rin...
and at ESA www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
🔭
February 10, 2025 at 10:07 AM
And as usual with #ESAEuclid, both the full scene of NGC 6505 and its environment and background are visible in the same image, as well as the Einstein Ring in the center. But you have to zoom in!
Images in our blogpost www.euclid-ec.org/einstein-rin...
and at ESA www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
🔭
Images in our blogpost www.euclid-ec.org/einstein-rin...
and at ESA www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
🔭
Reposted by Ben Floyd
Here’s a story with some numbers. The proposed cuts are unfathomable: a 60% reduction to NSF would be the end of American science as we know it.
February 7, 2025 at 5:14 AM
Here’s a story with some numbers. The proposed cuts are unfathomable: a 60% reduction to NSF would be the end of American science as we know it.
Well I'm pretty sure every single scientific paper or grant proposal regardless of topic is going to include a good number of these words.
🚨BREAKING. From a program officer at the National Science Foundation, a list of keywords that can cause a grant to be pulled. I will be sharing screenshots of these keywords along with a decision tree. Please share widely. This is a crisis for academic freedom & science.
February 4, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Well I'm pretty sure every single scientific paper or grant proposal regardless of topic is going to include a good number of these words.
Reposted by Ben Floyd
This is great news! Keep up the fight! A lot of these EOs are illegal, and need to be beaten in court.
Just received this email (received 3:25 pm ET), from the NSF director, informing that DOJ has interpreted the temporary restraining order on the funding freeze as applying to “all NSF award recipients.”
Again, I’ll shout it from the rooftops: lawsuits matter!!!!
Again, I’ll shout it from the rooftops: lawsuits matter!!!!
February 2, 2025 at 9:44 PM
This is great news! Keep up the fight! A lot of these EOs are illegal, and need to be beaten in court.
Reposted by Ben Floyd
Idgaf I’m still fighting for guaranteed healthcare.
Aspiration is the answer. Not just “we’re not the bad guys.”
We need something more meaningful than that. I want a future worth fighting for. They have no vision. We do. Lean into our strengths and knock them out. 👊🏽
Aspiration is the answer. Not just “we’re not the bad guys.”
We need something more meaningful than that. I want a future worth fighting for. They have no vision. We do. Lean into our strengths and knock them out. 👊🏽
January 31, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Idgaf I’m still fighting for guaranteed healthcare.
Aspiration is the answer. Not just “we’re not the bad guys.”
We need something more meaningful than that. I want a future worth fighting for. They have no vision. We do. Lean into our strengths and knock them out. 👊🏽
Aspiration is the answer. Not just “we’re not the bad guys.”
We need something more meaningful than that. I want a future worth fighting for. They have no vision. We do. Lean into our strengths and knock them out. 👊🏽