Brian Williams
@bjwilli2.bsky.social
Astrophysicist at NASA. XRISM Project Scientist. Associate PI for the AXIS Probe concept. I mostly play golf and hang out with my dogs. Go Noles.
https://asd.gsfc.nasa.gov/Brian.Williams/
https://asd.gsfc.nasa.gov/Brian.Williams/
Reposted by Brian Williams
🆕 XMM-Newton & XRISM observed an extraordinary blast from a supermassive black hole 💥
They spotted a bright X-ray flare erupting from the gigantic black hole lurking within NGC 3783. As it faded away, fast winds emerged, raging at speeds of 60 000 km per second 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl... 🔭 🧪
They spotted a bright X-ray flare erupting from the gigantic black hole lurking within NGC 3783. As it faded away, fast winds emerged, raging at speeds of 60 000 km per second 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl... 🔭 🧪
December 9, 2025 at 8:06 AM
🆕 XMM-Newton & XRISM observed an extraordinary blast from a supermassive black hole 💥
They spotted a bright X-ray flare erupting from the gigantic black hole lurking within NGC 3783. As it faded away, fast winds emerged, raging at speeds of 60 000 km per second 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl... 🔭 🧪
They spotted a bright X-ray flare erupting from the gigantic black hole lurking within NGC 3783. As it faded away, fast winds emerged, raging at speeds of 60 000 km per second 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl... 🔭 🧪
Reposted by Brian Williams
Good on Penn Jillette. Having to come to terms with your entire political identity and philosophy being wrong is not easy and most people could never do it.
December 7, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Good on Penn Jillette. Having to come to terms with your entire political identity and philosophy being wrong is not easy and most people could never do it.
XRISM has made the first ever X-ray detections of chlorine and potassium in the remains of a supernova, showing that these elements critical for the formation of life are indeed spread throughout the cosmos by exploding stars
science.nasa.gov/missions/xri...
science.nasa.gov/missions/xri...
NASA-JAXA XRISM Finds Elemental Bounty in Supernova Remnant - NASA Science
For the first time, scientists have made a clear X-ray detection of chlorine and potassium in the wreckage of a star using data from the Japan-led XRISM
science.nasa.gov
December 4, 2025 at 9:05 PM
XRISM has made the first ever X-ray detections of chlorine and potassium in the remains of a supernova, showing that these elements critical for the formation of life are indeed spread throughout the cosmos by exploding stars
science.nasa.gov/missions/xri...
science.nasa.gov/missions/xri...
Footage from Bradenton, Florida of Starship launch
October 14, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Footage from Bradenton, Florida of Starship launch
AO2 Approved Target List
The X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission
heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov
October 8, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Reposted by Brian Williams
As usual with this issue, Harris is calling for a compromise that already exists. Every sporting body has standards for how long athletes must be on hormones before they can compete as women.
The problem isn’t that we’re ignoring ‘reasonable concerns,’ the problem is that republicans are lying.
The problem isn’t that we’re ignoring ‘reasonable concerns,’ the problem is that republicans are lying.
September 20, 2025 at 8:10 AM
As usual with this issue, Harris is calling for a compromise that already exists. Every sporting body has standards for how long athletes must be on hormones before they can compete as women.
The problem isn’t that we’re ignoring ‘reasonable concerns,’ the problem is that republicans are lying.
The problem isn’t that we’re ignoring ‘reasonable concerns,’ the problem is that republicans are lying.
Reposted by Brian Williams
Cosmic wind of change
#XRISM makes an unexpected discovery: winds from neutron star discs are quite different from those around supermassive black holes.
The discovery could reshape our understanding of the most extreme environments in the Universe 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl... 🔭 🧪
#XRISM makes an unexpected discovery: winds from neutron star discs are quite different from those around supermassive black holes.
The discovery could reshape our understanding of the most extreme environments in the Universe 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl... 🔭 🧪
September 17, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Cosmic wind of change
#XRISM makes an unexpected discovery: winds from neutron star discs are quite different from those around supermassive black holes.
The discovery could reshape our understanding of the most extreme environments in the Universe 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl... 🔭 🧪
#XRISM makes an unexpected discovery: winds from neutron star discs are quite different from those around supermassive black holes.
The discovery could reshape our understanding of the most extreme environments in the Universe 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl... 🔭 🧪
Reposted by Brian Williams
the person behind this unhinged, anti-factual editorial is set to decide coverage at one of the nation’s major news networks
September 12, 2025 at 10:33 PM
the person behind this unhinged, anti-factual editorial is set to decide coverage at one of the nation’s major news networks
New XRISM paper published in Nature reveals that high-speed winds from supermassive black holes are clumpier and more energetic than expected, helping us learn how black holes and galaxies coevolved. Plus the spectrum is amazing 😲😲😲
www.xrism.jaxa.jp/en/topics/sc...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.xrism.jaxa.jp/en/topics/sc...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
May 15, 2025 at 4:00 PM
New XRISM paper published in Nature reveals that high-speed winds from supermassive black holes are clumpier and more energetic than expected, helping us learn how black holes and galaxies coevolved. Plus the spectrum is amazing 😲😲😲
www.xrism.jaxa.jp/en/topics/sc...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.xrism.jaxa.jp/en/topics/sc...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
New life phase entered
April 14, 2025 at 8:13 PM
New life phase entered
The AO for XRISM Cycle 2 is now open; deadline May 15th. This is a *6-month* cycle. Proposals should assume gate valve closed. The team continues to evaluate the feasibility of another operation to open the GV. Proposals for lab astrophysics are also solicited.
nspires.nasaprs.com/external/sol...
nspires.nasaprs.com/external/sol...
NSPIRES - Solicitations Summary
NASA and U.S. Government policies address research and personal misconduct, and provide avenues for reporting potential violations.
nspires.nasaprs.com
February 21, 2025 at 6:08 PM
The AO for XRISM Cycle 2 is now open; deadline May 15th. This is a *6-month* cycle. Proposals should assume gate valve closed. The team continues to evaluate the feasibility of another operation to open the GV. Proposals for lab astrophysics are also solicited.
nspires.nasaprs.com/external/sol...
nspires.nasaprs.com/external/sol...
Reposted by Brian Williams
Correct. If the birthdate field contains corrupt or mismatched data, it defaults to 1875-05-20, which serves as a flag. May 20, 1875, is the day the international standards and metrics treaty was signed. Everything is a conspiracy when you don’t know how anything works.
February 15, 2025 at 5:53 AM
Correct. If the birthdate field contains corrupt or mismatched data, it defaults to 1875-05-20, which serves as a flag. May 20, 1875, is the day the international standards and metrics treaty was signed. Everything is a conspiracy when you don’t know how anything works.
New backdrop delivered just in time for AAS. Stop by the XRISM booth next week, and come to our Special Session Monday morning at 10:00-11:30 to see new results!
January 9, 2025 at 2:45 PM
New backdrop delivered just in time for AAS. Stop by the XRISM booth next week, and come to our Special Session Monday morning at 10:00-11:30 to see new results!
Hello world. I'm on here now.
January 7, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Hello world. I'm on here now.