Author | Lightnews

Reposted by Graham Lau

Tyler King @tyleraking.com · 9h

Reposting to correct an error: trump admin is quietly gutting 13 buildings and about 100 laboratories at Goddard campus that has been instrumental to Hubble and James Webb telescope missions. Staff say they’ve be locked and told to move equipment. Anything left behind will be thrown away.

NASA may be quietly gutting an iconic campus with what it calls strategic closures, workers fear

(CNN) — Alarm is growing among federal workers at NASA’s iconic Goddard Space Flight Center’s main campus in Greenbelt, Maryland — the nerve center for groundbreaking missions like the Hubble

www.wkow.com

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Graham Lau @cosmobiologist.bsky.social · 2d

These are the questions I tried to tackle in this piece on The Cosmobiologist.

cosmobiota.substack.com/p/what-is-an...

What is an astronaut?

Does it matter who gets to use the term astronaut at the start of the age of space tourism?

cosmobiota.substack.com

Graham Lau @cosmobiologist.bsky.social · 2d

But we’re nearing the mark of over 1,000 people having traveled to space. And, soon, that number may begin to jump by leaps and bounds. As more and more people travel into space, the question comes up more and more: what is an astronaut? Who gets to use that title? Does it even matter anymore?

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Graham Lau @cosmobiologist.bsky.social · 2d

But during those 25 years, much has changed. We’re still embroiled in warfare and political strife, overcome in the digital age with emotional reactivity, and beset by the destructive process of wealth inequality.

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Graham Lau @cosmobiologist.bsky.social · 2d

Yesterday marked 25 years of continuous human presence in space.

Since 2 November of 2000, there’s always been some number of people living and working in space on the ISS or Tiangong or traveling back and forth from orbit on various spacecraft.

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Graham Lau @cosmobiologist.bsky.social · 4d

We too often think of aliens as being either microbial or animal like, but given the overwhelming breadth and sheer amount of plant life on Earth it makes more sense to wonder if aliens might have more in common with the plant life of our planet.

cosmobiota.substack.com/p/the-alien-...

The Alien World of Plants

Plants on Earth do some wild things and give us reason to wonder what alien plant-like life might be like

cosmobiota.substack.com

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Graham Lau @cosmobiologist.bsky.social · 4d

Music, art, writing, poetry. Create. People share your feelings. They might not feel what you felt in the creation, but when you share yourself through creation it opens a path for someone else to connect with your creation and to feel it. Your voice is our voice, and we all want to speak together.

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Graham Lau @cosmobiologist.bsky.social · 5d

Some random thoughts on 3I/ATLAS, Halloween, and definitions of life for the weekend.

open.substack.com/pub/cosmobio...

3I/ATLAS, Halloween, and the Meaning of “Life”

Time for something a little groovy, baby

open.substack.com

Graham Lau @cosmobiologist.bsky.social · 7d

Definitely been going all-in on Substack and Notes lately. Finally finding some place that feels like it’s better than what Twitter used to be. Hit me up if you’re over there as well!

substack.com/@cosmobiolog...

Graham Lau | Substack

Dr. Graham Lau is an astrobiologist and communicator of science. He serves as the Director of Communications and Marketing for Blue Marble Space and as the Host of the NASA-funded show “Ask an Astrobi...

substack.com

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Graham Lau @cosmobiologist.bsky.social · 7d

Fun reminder that if a malevolent alien force really wanted to invade the Earth, it is highly unlikely that could survive (no matter where you live).

cosmobiota.substack.com/p/friday-mea...

Friday Meanderings: Could You Survive an Alien Invasion?

Is it really even possible to survive if an advanced alien race comes to Earth bent on destruction? Yeah, probably not.

cosmobiota.substack.com

Graham Lau @cosmobiologist.bsky.social · 8d

It’s soon going to be 18 years since my first analog astronaut mission at the Mars Desert Research Station! Here’s a video one of our crew members made back in 2012 using video he recorded during our mission.

vimeo.com/locomomo/liv...

Living on Earth on Mars on Earth

"Living on Earth on Mars on Earth" documents a 2-week crew rotation on Mars. Footage of EVAs and daily life is interwoven with interviews of science fiction…

vimeo.com

Graham Lau @cosmobiologist.bsky.social · 9d

The process of writing on Substack has really shown me how far some of my little notes and ideas I've had over the years can go when I simply start typing and stop worrying about being perfect.

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Graham Lau @cosmobiologist.bsky.social · 9d

The shutdown means we can’t have an episode of Ask an Astrobiologist this month, but we can still celebrate the 24 year history of the show thus far!

cosmobiota.substack.com/p/stay-curio...

Stay Curious: The Story of Ask an Astrobiologist

24 years of endeavors to connect people with expertise in astrobiology through NASA

cosmobiota.substack.com

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Graham Lau @cosmobiologist.bsky.social · 12d

But even among alien worlds themselves, what kinds of libraries might they have?

What kinds of stories and ideas would other civilizations choose to preserve?

And what does it say about us given what we choose to preserve in our libraries?

Graham Lau @cosmobiologist.bsky.social · 12d

Alien worlds may be like books in a universal library, each holding their own languages and ideas and stories of biological and technological development.

Some worlds may spread and become multi-planetary, making for a series of “books” about their worlds.

cosmobiota.substack.com/p/the-librar...

The Library of Alien Dreams

Libraries hold our collective knowledge and imaginings, but also serve as a good analogy in the search for alien life and our understanding of the cosmos

cosmobiota.substack.com

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Graham Lau @cosmobiologist.bsky.social · 14d

Many thanks to all who've subscribed to my weekly newsletter (and occasional "Friday Meanderings"). It's been so much fun to share these ideas and get them all down in writing after years and years of building up notes and writing so much.

cosmobiota.substack.com

The Cosmobiologist | Graham Lau | Substack

Meditations on life, the universe, and (mostly) everything. Click to read The Cosmobiologist, by Graham Lau, a Substack publication.

cosmobiota.substack.com

Graham Lau @cosmobiologist.bsky.social · 20d

One more day to submit abstracts for the IAU symposium on Advancing the Search for Technosignatures.

The meeting will take place 206 March of 2026. Submit your abstracts now!

iaus404.bmsis.org

IAUS 404: Advancing the Search for Technosignatures

Abstract deadline: 17 October 2025

iaus404.bmsis.org

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Graham Lau @cosmobiologist.bsky.social · 21d

"In my experience, each failure contains the seeds of your next success—if you are willing to learn from it."

- Paul Allen

Graham Lau @cosmobiologist.bsky.social · 23d

Should we continue sending humans into space? What will our future look like if we develop settlements on the Moon, Mars, and elsewhere? What are the ethical realities of space exploration?

cosmobiota.substack.com/p/the-ethics...

The Ethics of Space Settlement

Navigating Questions and Concerns in Humanity's Expansion Beyond Earth

cosmobiota.substack.com

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Graham Lau @cosmobiologist.bsky.social · 25d

Our article, led by Anamaria Berea, on the connections between studies in space settlement and astrobiology is now out in the journal Space Policy.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

www.sciencedirect.com

Graham Lau @cosmobiologist.bsky.social · 27d

I like to sing the antithesis to TLC when using my face scrub, because when it comes to cleaning off the ol’ flesh wrapper for my skull I actually do want some scrubs.

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Graham Lau @cosmobiologist.bsky.social · Oct 6

Our future could be one of self-destruction or sustainable growth. It could be one of isolation or exploring and settling elsewhere.

We have choices to make collectively, but we lose our power when we allow systems of wealth inequality to control our civilization.

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Graham Lau @cosmobiologist.bsky.social · Oct 6

Trying something new this week at The Cosmobiologist. A little smattering from my writing notes over the last few months.

open.substack.com/pub/cosmobio...

Cosmobiota: Being Something That Wonders

A Variety Show of The Cosmobiologist

open.substack.com

Graham Lau @cosmobiologist.bsky.social · Oct 6

Michael flew three shuttle missions and an ISS mission with NASA and has led two Axiom missions to the ISS as well. He’ll be talking with students and families at the museum today as well!

airforcemuseum.co.nz/events/meet-...

Meet a Real Astronaut | Michael López-Alegría Live

Ever wanted to meet a real astronaut? Michael López-Alegría, a veteran of six space missions, is giving a talk for students and teachers. Don't miss this unique opportunity to learn about his record-h...

airforcemuseum.co.nz

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Graham Lau @cosmobiologist.bsky.social · Oct 6

Off to the New Zealand Air Force Museum where Hari Mogoșanu will interview 6-time space mission veteran, Michael López-Alegría.

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