Christopher Berry
@cplberry.bsky.social
Gravitational-wave astrophysicist. University of Glasgow Senior Lecturer. Science, education, LEGO & cake. May contain traces of nuts
🐘 https://mastodon.online/@cplberry
🐦 https://twitter.com/cplberry
📚 https://cplberry.com
🐘 https://mastodon.online/@cplberry
🐦 https://twitter.com/cplberry
📚 https://cplberry.com
Reposted by Christopher Berry
Sharing another fab starter pack - for astrophysics. 🌌😀
Finally starting to put together a starter pack of awesome people working in black holes and relativistic astrophysics, gravitational-wave science, and related areas of gravitation. Suggestions for additions welcome!
go.bsky.app/7AYfSd1
[🧪🔭⚛️]
go.bsky.app/7AYfSd1
[🧪🔭⚛️]
November 24, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Sharing another fab starter pack - for astrophysics. 🌌😀
A tariff on one of the UK's principal exports. Universities are one of the largest employers in the UK. Their impact can be difficult to notice as they are spread across the country instead of concentrated, but this means they support many local economies.
A 6% levy on international student fees was proposed in the Immigration White Paper. The impact is about £600 million, though very unevenly spread across institutions.
i: Reeves to unveil £600m raid on foreign student
university fees #TomorrowsPapersToday
university fees #TomorrowsPapersToday
November 24, 2025 at 8:59 AM
A tariff on one of the UK's principal exports. Universities are one of the largest employers in the UK. Their impact can be difficult to notice as they are spread across the country instead of concentrated, but this means they support many local economies.
I think these articles are great examples of science journalism—not all science is clear cut. Sometimes results are inconclusive. The mystery can dive us on to collect more data to figure things out. Much of being a scientist is not making breakthroughs, but wondering why that odd thing happened? 🧪🔭
A couple of really nice stories about the intriguing subsolar mass candidate #S251112cm
www.science.org/content/arti... by Adrian Cho
www.iflscience.com/candidate-gr... by @drcarpineti.bsky.social
A groundbreaking discovery, or just a false alarm? Time (and more analysis) may tell
🔭🧪☄️⚛️
www.science.org/content/arti... by Adrian Cho
www.iflscience.com/candidate-gr... by @drcarpineti.bsky.social
A groundbreaking discovery, or just a false alarm? Time (and more analysis) may tell
🔭🧪☄️⚛️
Curious gravitational wave may be hint at primordial black holes—or just noise
Astronomers approach unusual observation with caution and excitement
www.science.org
November 23, 2025 at 7:52 PM
I think these articles are great examples of science journalism—not all science is clear cut. Sometimes results are inconclusive. The mystery can dive us on to collect more data to figure things out. Much of being a scientist is not making breakthroughs, but wondering why that odd thing happened? 🧪🔭
Reposted by Christopher Berry
How can a PhD blend science with art, and dessert with creativity? 🤔
I tried it by making a “night-sky cake“— colored with phycocyanin, the same vivid blue pigment 💙 found in the algae I study. My supervisor recognized the source of the color immediately — he’s incredibly sharp!
I tried it by making a “night-sky cake“— colored with phycocyanin, the same vivid blue pigment 💙 found in the algae I study. My supervisor recognized the source of the color immediately — he’s incredibly sharp!
November 21, 2025 at 2:30 PM
How can a PhD blend science with art, and dessert with creativity? 🤔
I tried it by making a “night-sky cake“— colored with phycocyanin, the same vivid blue pigment 💙 found in the algae I study. My supervisor recognized the source of the color immediately — he’s incredibly sharp!
I tried it by making a “night-sky cake“— colored with phycocyanin, the same vivid blue pigment 💙 found in the algae I study. My supervisor recognized the source of the color immediately — he’s incredibly sharp!
Reposted by Christopher Berry
Great to see Dr Christopher Berry (@cplberry.bsky.social) of @uofgphysastro.bsky.social and @uofgravity.bsky.social quoted in this @science.org piece on the intriguing possibility of a new detection of gravitational waves from primordial black holes.
Read here: www.science.org/content/arti...
Read here: www.science.org/content/arti...
Curious gravitational wave may be hint at primordial black holes—or just noise
Astronomers approach unusual observation with caution and excitement
www.science.org
November 21, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Great to see Dr Christopher Berry (@cplberry.bsky.social) of @uofgphysastro.bsky.social and @uofgravity.bsky.social quoted in this @science.org piece on the intriguing possibility of a new detection of gravitational waves from primordial black holes.
Read here: www.science.org/content/arti...
Read here: www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Christopher Berry
Academics! I have experienced a huge drop in student questions both online (I keep a discussion forum) and offline for my class. Attendance is good (maybe even great I’d say). Am I an anomaly? My suspicion is that student are asking LLM questions. Thoughts ?
November 21, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Academics! I have experienced a huge drop in student questions both online (I keep a discussion forum) and offline for my class. Attendance is good (maybe even great I’d say). Am I an anomaly? My suspicion is that student are asking LLM questions. Thoughts ?
Reposted by Christopher Berry
Just want to emphasize here that this is an image of an INTERSTELLAR COMET taken by a camera orbiting MARS. Space is so cool!
NASA's pix of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS are now up science.nasa.gov/solar-system...
This is the HiRISE/MRO image ⬇️
This is the HiRISE/MRO image ⬇️
November 19, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Just want to emphasize here that this is an image of an INTERSTELLAR COMET taken by a camera orbiting MARS. Space is so cool!
Reposted by Christopher Berry
A new mini-documentary by our colleagues at @uofgravity.bsky.social celebrating the 10th anniversary of our first detection and the progress in #GravitationalWave astronomy
youtu.be/SqhFtkQ4f2c
#GW10Years 🔭🧪⚛️🎢
youtu.be/SqhFtkQ4f2c
#GW10Years 🔭🧪⚛️🎢
University of Glasgow celebrates 10th anniversary of first gravitational wave detection
YouTube video by University of Glasgow
youtu.be
September 13, 2025 at 1:18 PM
A new mini-documentary by our colleagues at @uofgravity.bsky.social celebrating the 10th anniversary of our first detection and the progress in #GravitationalWave astronomy
youtu.be/SqhFtkQ4f2c
#GW10Years 🔭🧪⚛️🎢
youtu.be/SqhFtkQ4f2c
#GW10Years 🔭🧪⚛️🎢
Reposted by Christopher Berry
saturation with Tolkien spinoffs has somehow not prepared our culture for the arrival of dark lords bearing a gift that everyone becomes convinced they can wield to accomplish great things but just makes them dependent and start whispering about preciouses if you suggest just throwing it away
November 19, 2025 at 11:16 AM
saturation with Tolkien spinoffs has somehow not prepared our culture for the arrival of dark lords bearing a gift that everyone becomes convinced they can wield to accomplish great things but just makes them dependent and start whispering about preciouses if you suggest just throwing it away
Reposted by Christopher Berry
Remember that lovely aurora last week?
Well...um...this is what Euclid saw... 😱
🧵
Well...um...this is what Euclid saw... 😱
🧵
November 19, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Remember that lovely aurora last week?
Well...um...this is what Euclid saw... 😱
🧵
Well...um...this is what Euclid saw... 😱
🧵
Reposted by Christopher Berry
Our Rapid Response Teams celebrate the end of our fourth observing run. Well done everyone!
www.ligo.caltech.edu/news/ligo202...
O4 was a success thanks to lots of hard work from across the world.
🔭⚛️🧪
www.ligo.caltech.edu/news/ligo202...
O4 was a success thanks to lots of hard work from across the world.
🔭⚛️🧪
November 19, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Our Rapid Response Teams celebrate the end of our fourth observing run. Well done everyone!
www.ligo.caltech.edu/news/ligo202...
O4 was a success thanks to lots of hard work from across the world.
🔭⚛️🧪
www.ligo.caltech.edu/news/ligo202...
O4 was a success thanks to lots of hard work from across the world.
🔭⚛️🧪
Reposted by Christopher Berry
The government is unable to give any statistical basis or evidence base for this "destination of choice" claim, beyond making the (different) claim that claims are going up in the UK and failing in the UK [while being higher in Germany, France, Spain and Italy]
November 19, 2025 at 7:06 AM
The government is unable to give any statistical basis or evidence base for this "destination of choice" claim, beyond making the (different) claim that claims are going up in the UK and failing in the UK [while being higher in Germany, France, Spain and Italy]
Reposted by Christopher Berry
Our fourth LIGO @egovirgo.bsky.social KAGRA observing run has now drawn to a close. We will be busy analysing data for a while to come—watch out for more discovery announcements.
We will be back next year observing.docs.ligo.org/plan/
We will be back next year observing.docs.ligo.org/plan/
IGWN | Observing Plans
observing.docs.ligo.org
November 18, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Our fourth LIGO @egovirgo.bsky.social KAGRA observing run has now drawn to a close. We will be busy analysing data for a while to come—watch out for more discovery announcements.
We will be back next year observing.docs.ligo.org/plan/
We will be back next year observing.docs.ligo.org/plan/
Reposted by Christopher Berry
I have been WAITING for a journalist to write this story.
I specialize in manuscripts produced in England between 1300 and 1500. If this had occurred in the midst of writing my dissertation or first book, it would have exploded my career.
I specialize in manuscripts produced in England between 1300 and 1500. If this had occurred in the midst of writing my dissertation or first book, it would have exploded my career.
I’ve written a piece on the curious lack of media and political interest in the issues faced by our national @britishlibrary.bsky.social. This is strange given we live in a world where ideas, knowledge and research are a long-term source of innovation and insight
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
The British library is in crisis: why does nobody care?
The widespread indifference to the British Library's crippling cyberattack demonstrates a perilous failure to value the knowledge infrastructure vital for national prosperity
www.cityam.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:48 PM
I have been WAITING for a journalist to write this story.
I specialize in manuscripts produced in England between 1300 and 1500. If this had occurred in the midst of writing my dissertation or first book, it would have exploded my career.
I specialize in manuscripts produced in England between 1300 and 1500. If this had occurred in the midst of writing my dissertation or first book, it would have exploded my career.
The final #GravitationalWave candidate of O4? #S251117dq
If real, the source is probably a binary black hole (chirp mass ~22–44 solar masses)
False alarm rate 1 in 5.4×10^6 yr
GraceDB gracedb.ligo.org/superevents/...
GCN gcn.nasa.gov/circulars/42...
Rating 🦉🥐🏔️
[🧪🔭⚛️]
If real, the source is probably a binary black hole (chirp mass ~22–44 solar masses)
False alarm rate 1 in 5.4×10^6 yr
GraceDB gracedb.ligo.org/superevents/...
GCN gcn.nasa.gov/circulars/42...
Rating 🦉🥐🏔️
[🧪🔭⚛️]
November 18, 2025 at 1:11 PM
The final #GravitationalWave candidate of O4? #S251117dq
If real, the source is probably a binary black hole (chirp mass ~22–44 solar masses)
False alarm rate 1 in 5.4×10^6 yr
GraceDB gracedb.ligo.org/superevents/...
GCN gcn.nasa.gov/circulars/42...
Rating 🦉🥐🏔️
[🧪🔭⚛️]
If real, the source is probably a binary black hole (chirp mass ~22–44 solar masses)
False alarm rate 1 in 5.4×10^6 yr
GraceDB gracedb.ligo.org/superevents/...
GCN gcn.nasa.gov/circulars/42...
Rating 🦉🥐🏔️
[🧪🔭⚛️]
Reposted by Christopher Berry
Well, here's some very exciting news!
I've been wanting to share this for a few months, but had to wait for the pre-print to drop.
A NEW GLITCH ON A MILLISECOND PULSAR HAS BEEN OBSERVED!
These events are extremely rare - only two others since MSPs discovered.
🔭🧪📡
I've been wanting to share this for a few months, but had to wait for the pre-print to drop.
A NEW GLITCH ON A MILLISECOND PULSAR HAS BEEN OBSERVED!
These events are extremely rare - only two others since MSPs discovered.
🔭🧪📡
For only the third time ever, a glitch event has been observed on a millisecond #pulsar.
@rami.spaceaustralia.com chats with lead author and PhD candidate Bhavnesh Bhat about the significance of this important, yet rare, event.
www.spaceaustralia.com/news/new-gli...
#SpaceAustralia
📸 NASA SVS
@rami.spaceaustralia.com chats with lead author and PhD candidate Bhavnesh Bhat about the significance of this important, yet rare, event.
www.spaceaustralia.com/news/new-gli...
#SpaceAustralia
📸 NASA SVS
November 17, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Well, here's some very exciting news!
I've been wanting to share this for a few months, but had to wait for the pre-print to drop.
A NEW GLITCH ON A MILLISECOND PULSAR HAS BEEN OBSERVED!
These events are extremely rare - only two others since MSPs discovered.
🔭🧪📡
I've been wanting to share this for a few months, but had to wait for the pre-print to drop.
A NEW GLITCH ON A MILLISECOND PULSAR HAS BEEN OBSERVED!
These events are extremely rare - only two others since MSPs discovered.
🔭🧪📡
Last night's #GravitationalWave candidate #S251116en
If real, the source is probably a binary black hole (chirp mass ~22–44 solar masses)
False alarm rate 1 in 24,000 yr
GraceDB gracedb.ligo.org/superevents/...
GCN gcn.nasa.gov/circulars/42...
Rating 🦆🦆🎀
[🧪🔭⚛️]
If real, the source is probably a binary black hole (chirp mass ~22–44 solar masses)
False alarm rate 1 in 24,000 yr
GraceDB gracedb.ligo.org/superevents/...
GCN gcn.nasa.gov/circulars/42...
Rating 🦆🦆🎀
[🧪🔭⚛️]
November 17, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Last night's #GravitationalWave candidate #S251116en
If real, the source is probably a binary black hole (chirp mass ~22–44 solar masses)
False alarm rate 1 in 24,000 yr
GraceDB gracedb.ligo.org/superevents/...
GCN gcn.nasa.gov/circulars/42...
Rating 🦆🦆🎀
[🧪🔭⚛️]
If real, the source is probably a binary black hole (chirp mass ~22–44 solar masses)
False alarm rate 1 in 24,000 yr
GraceDB gracedb.ligo.org/superevents/...
GCN gcn.nasa.gov/circulars/42...
Rating 🦆🦆🎀
[🧪🔭⚛️]
Reposted by Christopher Berry
💡Need tips for your DiveIn Application Statement?
🎥The Kingfishers – our current doctoral researchers – share practical video guides to help you through the process.
👉Watch the videos: www.divein.org.uk/apply/applic...
📅Applicant Webinar: 26 Nov, 2 PM (UK Time)
👉Register: www.divein.org.uk/apply/
🎥The Kingfishers – our current doctoral researchers – share practical video guides to help you through the process.
👉Watch the videos: www.divein.org.uk/apply/applic...
📅Applicant Webinar: 26 Nov, 2 PM (UK Time)
👉Register: www.divein.org.uk/apply/
November 14, 2025 at 5:06 PM
💡Need tips for your DiveIn Application Statement?
🎥The Kingfishers – our current doctoral researchers – share practical video guides to help you through the process.
👉Watch the videos: www.divein.org.uk/apply/applic...
📅Applicant Webinar: 26 Nov, 2 PM (UK Time)
👉Register: www.divein.org.uk/apply/
🎥The Kingfishers – our current doctoral researchers – share practical video guides to help you through the process.
👉Watch the videos: www.divein.org.uk/apply/applic...
📅Applicant Webinar: 26 Nov, 2 PM (UK Time)
👉Register: www.divein.org.uk/apply/
Reposted by Christopher Berry
It's an honour to have been elected as the Spokesperson for the LISA Consortium. I look forward to working with this great community over the next two years. www.ucd.ie/newsandopini... @lisacommunity.bsky.social
Dr Niels Warburton elected as head of LISA Consortium to support space mission
www.ucd.ie
November 13, 2025 at 2:17 PM
It's an honour to have been elected as the Spokesperson for the LISA Consortium. I look forward to working with this great community over the next two years. www.ucd.ie/newsandopini... @lisacommunity.bsky.social
Reposted by Christopher Berry
Plenty of things to give Bluesky a kicking about regarding moderation and 'open' labellers, but the private school labeller now having an 'Epstein Connection' label also shows it can be extremely lmao.
November 13, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Plenty of things to give Bluesky a kicking about regarding moderation and 'open' labellers, but the private school labeller now having an 'Epstein Connection' label also shows it can be extremely lmao.
Reposted by Christopher Berry
Reposted by Christopher Berry
I get really hung up about words. It's the cross I bear for being such a cool dude, I guess 😎
The latest one is 'talented'. Most of the time it could be replaced with 'skilled'.
It wouldn't sound as nice, but it would recognise the work required to become good at anything.
The latest one is 'talented'. Most of the time it could be replaced with 'skilled'.
It wouldn't sound as nice, but it would recognise the work required to become good at anything.
November 13, 2025 at 9:29 AM
I get really hung up about words. It's the cross I bear for being such a cool dude, I guess 😎
The latest one is 'talented'. Most of the time it could be replaced with 'skilled'.
It wouldn't sound as nice, but it would recognise the work required to become good at anything.
The latest one is 'talented'. Most of the time it could be replaced with 'skilled'.
It wouldn't sound as nice, but it would recognise the work required to become good at anything.
Oo! Interesting #GravitationalWave candidate #S251112cm potentially from a *subsolar* mass source
If real, the source is probably has chirp mass ~0.1–0.87 solar masses
False alarm rate 1 in 6.2 yr
GraceDB gracedb.ligo.org/superevents/...
GCN gcn.nasa.gov/circulars/42...
Rating 📏🍬
[🧪🔭⚛️]
If real, the source is probably has chirp mass ~0.1–0.87 solar masses
False alarm rate 1 in 6.2 yr
GraceDB gracedb.ligo.org/superevents/...
GCN gcn.nasa.gov/circulars/42...
Rating 📏🍬
[🧪🔭⚛️]
November 12, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Oo! Interesting #GravitationalWave candidate #S251112cm potentially from a *subsolar* mass source
If real, the source is probably has chirp mass ~0.1–0.87 solar masses
False alarm rate 1 in 6.2 yr
GraceDB gracedb.ligo.org/superevents/...
GCN gcn.nasa.gov/circulars/42...
Rating 📏🍬
[🧪🔭⚛️]
If real, the source is probably has chirp mass ~0.1–0.87 solar masses
False alarm rate 1 in 6.2 yr
GraceDB gracedb.ligo.org/superevents/...
GCN gcn.nasa.gov/circulars/42...
Rating 📏🍬
[🧪🔭⚛️]
Reposted by Christopher Berry
Our next webinar will introduce our latest #GWTC4 release and the associated data (papers arxiv.org/abs/2508.18080 and arxiv.org/abs/2508.18079)
Tomorrow at 15:00 UTC, with the recording on YouTube after
Free registration wisconsin-edu.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
☄️🔭
Tomorrow at 15:00 UTC, with the recording on YouTube after
Free registration wisconsin-edu.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
☄️🔭
November 12, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Our next webinar will introduce our latest #GWTC4 release and the associated data (papers arxiv.org/abs/2508.18080 and arxiv.org/abs/2508.18079)
Tomorrow at 15:00 UTC, with the recording on YouTube after
Free registration wisconsin-edu.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
☄️🔭
Tomorrow at 15:00 UTC, with the recording on YouTube after
Free registration wisconsin-edu.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
☄️🔭
Reposted by Christopher Berry
