Chris Lintott
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chrislintott.bsky.social
Chris Lintott
@chrislintott.bsky.social
15K followers 1.3K following 2.2K posts
Astronomer, writer and zookeeper. Oxford, Gresham and the Zooniverse. The human half of the Dog Stars podcast. New book: 'Our Accidental Universe' (UK/rest of world) and 'Accidental Astronomy (US) now out.
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chrislintott.bsky.social
Chris Lintott @chrislintott.bsky.social · Jul 24
As a present for my 25th anniversary on #SkyatNight, the team made a montage for me, complete with dodgy hair, odd shirt choices and all the rest... Enjoy! 🔭 🛰️ 🧪
chrislintott.bsky.social
As Emily says, we need to probe Uranus to find out what’s inside.

(& Neptune too)
elakdawalla.bsky.social Emily Lakdawalla, Uranus Expert @elakdawalla.bsky.social · 1d
They were wrong about what’s inside Uranus

(Jokes aside, there have been a bajillion modeling papers about the internal structure of Uranus and Neptune and none of them will be provably right or wrong until we get a damn orbiter to one of them)
February 11, 2026 at 7:03 AM
chrislintott.bsky.social
Congratulations to the authors of the paper I just accepted for @publishing.aas.org. First submitted on the 30th June 2021. 🔭
February 10, 2026 at 11:03 AM
chrislintott.bsky.social
We’re bringing our mix of comedy and science to Oxford’s best basement next Thursday, the 19th. Tickets available here: wegottickets.com/f/15055/

Do come, it’ll be a blast.
Huh, That's Funny
A night where comedy and science collide. Join a collection of comedians, scientists and the just plain curious in Jericho's most comfortable basement for a night that will make you laugh...and then ...
wegottickets.com
February 9, 2026 at 5:41 PM
Reposted by Chris Lintott
ninaneedsspace.bsky.social
The money does not go into space. The money does not go into space.
The money does not go into space.

Sure, the money helps us in exploring and understanding the universe, but the money actually goes to people, to local economies, to universities, it provides jobs, and gets young people into STEM.
chrislintott.bsky.social Chris Lintott @chrislintott.bsky.social · 6d
Listeners to Radio 4’s Inside Science today get an essay from me in defence of astronomy as pure research. Please listen in and let me know what you think.

Show starts 4.30pm GMT here: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
BBC Radio 4 - BBC Inside Science
A weekly programme looking at the science that's changing our world.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 8, 2026 at 11:37 AM
Reposted by Chris Lintott
tomgauld.bsky.social
My cartoon for this week’s @newscientist.com
Panel 1: Some social scientists (five stick figure portraits of scientists) Economist Archaeologist Geographer Psychologist Anthropologist Panel 2: Some antisocial scientists (five stick figures scuttling out of the panel) Introverted Astronomer Solitary Mathematician Reclusive Biologist Misanthropic Chemist Withdrawn Physicist
February 8, 2026 at 11:29 AM
Reposted by Chris Lintott
megschwamb.bsky.social
Poignant words by @chrislintott.bsky.social (starting at 7:33 min) about why UK funding of astronomy is an investment that has been returning more that the UK spends & why these huge funding cuts to physics & astronomy with STFC (Science and Technology Facilities Council) will be devastating 🔭🧪
chrislintott.bsky.social Chris Lintott @chrislintott.bsky.social · 6d
Listeners to Radio 4’s Inside Science today get an essay from me in defence of astronomy as pure research. Please listen in and let me know what you think.

Show starts 4.30pm GMT here: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
BBC Radio 4 - BBC Inside Science
A weekly programme looking at the science that's changing our world.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 8, 2026 at 11:26 AM
Reposted by Chris Lintott
astroroyalscot.bsky.social
If you've got pre-teens in your lives, check out the Feb #Alien edition of Aquila, with #comic artist Edward Ross & me. We visit #K2-18b, aka "The Planet of the Plankton", to see how #JWST detects chemicals on distant planets, & show that sensational science reporting isn't always to be believed.🔭🧪
A cartoon image of a man with a newspaper which has the headline "Planet of the Plankton" He's saying "But the newspapers said...." She's saying "Don't believe everything you read" A cartoon "Here's the actual science" It shows starlight passing through K2-18b's atmosphere, and reaching JWST, the world's biggest telescope which sees that the light has some parts missing. The missing parts allow scientists to work out what chemicals might be present on K2-18b The man is looking despondent "Well this throws my holiday plans completely out of whack" The woman says "You might wait until we have more evidence - there's always Bognor Regis Larry"
February 8, 2026 at 10:07 AM
Reposted by Chris Lintott
stephenserjeant.bsky.social
Reposting to the astronomy and science feeds 🔭🧪

GPE's conclusion on STFC's savage cuts to astro/particle/nuclear physics research:
This is what I think is going on. I believe that it is the STFC Executive Board that has decided to prioritise the facilities ahead of the PPAN programme. This is their decision and is not forced on them by the new allocation formula. I also believe that the their priorities are a reflection of conflicts of interest in the governance structure of STFC. Decisions at STFC are made by the Executive Board (EB) which is composed mostly of lab/facility directors and senior programme managers. The Council and Science Boards are advisory. The EB is therefore heavily biased in favour of the facilities component of the STFC portfolio. This bias has afflicted STFC since it was first created. I wrote to Michele Dougherty last July concerning the governance structure at STFC. I did not get a reply.
February 6, 2026 at 11:36 AM
chrislintott.bsky.social
Listeners to Radio 4’s Inside Science today get an essay from me in defence of astronomy as pure research. Please listen in and let me know what you think.

Show starts 4.30pm GMT here: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
BBC Radio 4 - BBC Inside Science
A weekly programme looking at the science that's changing our world.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 5, 2026 at 2:07 PM
chrislintott.bsky.social
Good news for authors from the @britishmuseum.bsky.social security guards this morning. Nodding approval at the content of my bag, I was told ‘books are trending’.
February 5, 2026 at 1:38 PM
Reposted by Chris Lintott
stephencollins.bsky.social
Another comic I never bothered posting
This one from 2023. Topical galileo humour apropos of precisely nothing at all
1. [Title Panel]: Is Your 17th Century Astronomer Spending Too Much Time on His Telescope? 2. [Text -only panel] These days, more and more 17th Century Astronomers have access to telescopes. Here are some warning signs that they are on the slippery slope to Godless heliocentrism! 3. STAYING UP LATE WITH THEIR TELESCOPE [GALILEO is looking through his telescope out the window at a starry sky]. GALILEO'S WIFE: Go to bed, Galileo! GALILEO: In a minute... 4. ‘FOMO’ (FEAR OF MISSING OBSERVATIONS) GALILEO'S WIFE: Dinner, Galileo! GALILEO [Looking through telescope]: Just need to check my orbits 5. WITHDRAWING FROM REAL-WORLD ACTIVITIES [Galileo's friend the POPE is now standing next to Galileo, who is still looking through his telescope] THE POPE: Come to church, Galileo! GALILEO: Not now... 6. FALLING OUT WITH FRIENDS GALILEO: [Showing The Pope the book he's working on) I'm just working on my book challenging the Bible's view of the Universe 7. BEING ARRESTED BY THE INQUISITION [GALILEO is being dragged out of the room, hands outstretched to his telescope. He is calling to it]: GALILEO: Telescooope 9. GETTING SENTENCED TO HOUSE ARREST UNTIL DEATH FOR HERESY [GALILEO sitting in front of his telescope, now with bars over the windows] GALILEO: Ah, crap. 10. CONTINUED TELESCOPE USE DESPITE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES [GALILEO in same position but now with long white beard, he is looking through his telescope through a barred jail window at the sky] GALILEO'S WIFE: Go to bed, Galileo! GALILEO: In a minute... [Ends]
February 5, 2026 at 10:07 AM
chrislintott.bsky.social
Going live shortly @greshamcollege.bsky.social with a slightly bonkers talk on exoplanets. Join me online: www.youtube.com/live/MLv9u0r...
Alien Earths: What Makes Us Special? - Chris Lintott
YouTube video by Gresham College
www.youtube.com
February 4, 2026 at 6:49 PM
chrislintott.bsky.social
About to go on the Media Show on Radio 4, talking about how we cover space. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
BBC Radio 4 - The Media Show
This is the programme about a revolution in media.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 4, 2026 at 4:27 PM
chrislintott.bsky.social
Rather like the fact that the department randomly found a photo of my in front of a dinosaur for this. #DinosaursDidntHaveASpaceProgram
oxfordphysics.bsky.social Department of Physics at the University of Oxford @oxfordphysics.bsky.social · 8d
Prof Chris Lintott (@chrislintott.bsky.social) warns: drastic cuts to fundamental research threaten the UK's world-leading status in astronomy and more. Read in full on the @ox.ac.uk https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2026-02-02-expert-comment-cuts-fundamental-research-will-hurt-uk-s-leadership-astronomy
February 3, 2026 at 4:39 PM
chrislintott.bsky.social
Me, on astronomy funding crisis, on the @ox.ac.uk website: www.ox.ac.uk/news/2026-02... 🔭🧪
Expert Comment: Cuts to fundamental research will hurt the UK’s
Chris Lintott, Professor of Astrophysics at Oxford’s Department of Physics, responds to the news that University funding for astronomy and physics research will be cut by almost a third.
www.ox.ac.uk
February 2, 2026 at 12:55 PM
Reposted by Chris Lintott
robertmassey.bsky.social
MPs for Cambridge and Milton Keynes Central represent institutions (Cambridge and OU) with astronomy groups. If you're in those please email Emily Darlington and Daniel Zeichner ASAP.
February 2, 2026 at 12:42 PM
chrislintott.bsky.social
Interesting. The head of UKRI is talking to the Commons Science, Innovation and Tech. Committee tomorrow: hope one of the MPs asks about his dramatic cuts to the astronomy budget.
robertmassey.bsky.social Robert Massey @robertmassey.bsky.social · 9d
Re the disastrous cuts to astronomy confirmed by Ian Chapman's letter, the Commons SIT Committee is questioning him tomorrow. I very much hope this is covered... One for
@chionwurah.bsky.social to consider.
February 2, 2026 at 12:35 PM
chrislintott.bsky.social
I've updated my post on the funding crisis heading for British astronomy: docs.google.com/document/d/1.... UKRI made clear that astro and particle physics are being subject to unique cuts due to rising costs elsewhere. This looks like a deliberate decision not to fund fundamental physics. 🔭 🧪
Funding piece
Modern astronomy is full of marvels. In recent years we have rejoiced in the success of the James Webb Space Telescope, and been puzzled by the surprisingly vibrant early Universe it is showing us. We...
docs.google.com
February 2, 2026 at 10:32 AM
chrislintott.bsky.social
Fun astronomy/archives story - Kate Bond @royalastrosoc.bsky.social has tracked down the only photograph of 19th century astronomer Richard Carrington, who spotted the first recorded solar flare. academic.oup.com/astrogeo/art...
Capturing Carrington
A speculative search in the right place at the right time turned up what is thought to be the only image of the eponymous solar observer.
academic.oup.com
February 2, 2026 at 10:03 AM
chrislintott.bsky.social
This letter more or less confirms that once again the need to fund the ‘fixed’ costs of STFC - essentially the labs - those of us who work in areas funded by the council can go swivel. So stupid and shortsighted.
alanmcn1.bsky.social Alan McNally @alanmcn1.bsky.social · 10d
I am sorry. We all knew the three buckets were coming. We are all prepared for a shift in priority. But this message does nothing for all the UK scientists dependent on project grant funding. It doesn’t actually give any information

www.ukri.org/news/open-le...
Open letter from Ian Chapman to research and innovation community
UKRI Chief Executive outlines changes to UKRI investment approach, addressing concerns about research funding and the financial position of STFC.
www.ukri.org
February 1, 2026 at 7:29 PM
chrislintott.bsky.social
What a brilliant project - turning a school into a museum. Wonderful stuff.

Wonder if they want an astrophysics display?
February 1, 2026 at 7:04 AM
chrislintott.bsky.social
Wrote something about what we're facing in funding for fundamental science - and why it matters: www.ox.ac.uk/news/2026-01... 🔭 🧪 #academicsky #Oxford cc @ox.ac.uk
Expert Comment: Cuts to fundamental research will hurt the UK’s
Chris Lintott, Professor of Astrophysics at Oxford’s Department of Physics, responds to the news that University funding for astronomy and physics research will be cut by almost a third.
www.ox.ac.uk
January 30, 2026 at 3:35 PM
chrislintott.bsky.social
We should party.
January 29, 2026 at 10:41 PM
Reposted by Chris Lintott
proftimob.bsky.social
Grim news for particle physics, astronomy & nuclear physics research in UK. 30% cut overall with projects asked to consider options ranging to a 60% cut. These areas are a huge success for the UK internationally and a great inspiration to the next generation of scientists and engineers.
January 29, 2026 at 8:48 AM
Reposted by Chris Lintott
davecl.bsky.social
I didn’t realise things were this bad - 30% cuts are disastrous. This will kill all prospects of the UK being a science superpower since astro is a gateway to science for many. @teamlabouruk.bsky.social @rushanaraalibgs.bsky.social this needs fixing urgently.
January 29, 2026 at 8:13 AM