J. Brian Balta
@drjbbalta.bsky.social
Planetary Scientist and Petrologist, dog parent.
Reposted by J. Brian Balta
The Trump regime got rid of 10,109 PhDs in science and related fields, representing 14% of the total number of PhD scientists in the federal workforce.
U.S. government has lost more than 10,000 STEM Ph.D.s since Trump took office
A Science analysis reveals how many were fired, retired, or quit across 14 agencies
www.science.org
January 27, 2026 at 1:32 AM
The Trump regime got rid of 10,109 PhDs in science and related fields, representing 14% of the total number of PhD scientists in the federal workforce.
Reposted by J. Brian Balta
60 seconds of bomb and lapilli sized tephra pelting my room. Instead of capturing video of the fountains, I spent my time driving around and disconnecting the water catchment systems of friends who couldn’t get home before they closed the only road into our town. #Kilauea
January 25, 2026 at 1:07 AM
60 seconds of bomb and lapilli sized tephra pelting my room. Instead of capturing video of the fountains, I spent my time driving around and disconnecting the water catchment systems of friends who couldn’t get home before they closed the only road into our town. #Kilauea
Reposted by J. Brian Balta
Protostar detected spewing olivine & pyroxene crystals during 'bursts'👇⚒️🧪
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Accretion bursts crystallize silicates in a planet-forming disk - Nature
The detection of forsterite and enstatite emissions in EC 53 during accretion bursts marks one of the first pieces of direct evidence of in situ silicate crystallization in young stars.
www.nature.com
January 23, 2026 at 2:20 AM
Protostar detected spewing olivine & pyroxene crystals during 'bursts'👇⚒️🧪
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by J. Brian Balta
One heck of a warm nose...
0z NAM 12km forecast sounding for what the atmosphere will look like over the Brazos Valley Saturday night.
Warm, moist air ~2,500' - 10,000' allows rain to fall.
At/sub-32°, shallow Arctic air at the ground allows it to freeze on contact
#bcstx
0z NAM 12km forecast sounding for what the atmosphere will look like over the Brazos Valley Saturday night.
Warm, moist air ~2,500' - 10,000' allows rain to fall.
At/sub-32°, shallow Arctic air at the ground allows it to freeze on contact
#bcstx
January 22, 2026 at 3:18 AM
One heck of a warm nose...
0z NAM 12km forecast sounding for what the atmosphere will look like over the Brazos Valley Saturday night.
Warm, moist air ~2,500' - 10,000' allows rain to fall.
At/sub-32°, shallow Arctic air at the ground allows it to freeze on contact
#bcstx
0z NAM 12km forecast sounding for what the atmosphere will look like over the Brazos Valley Saturday night.
Warm, moist air ~2,500' - 10,000' allows rain to fall.
At/sub-32°, shallow Arctic air at the ground allows it to freeze on contact
#bcstx
January 20, 2026 at 5:48 AM
In late November 2001, we went to campus early to catch the IU Purdue football game. It was miserable, it rained, the dorms were closed so we slept on the ground in a friends townhouse. Indiana won, denying Purdue a big ten championship chance, and it was totally worth the trip.
#iufb
#iufb
January 20, 2026 at 5:05 AM
In late November 2001, we went to campus early to catch the IU Purdue football game. It was miserable, it rained, the dorms were closed so we slept on the ground in a friends townhouse. Indiana won, denying Purdue a big ten championship chance, and it was totally worth the trip.
#iufb
#iufb
Reposted by J. Brian Balta
Really cool summary of a recent paper in Geology (gift link 🎁): www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/s...
If the Volcanic Eruption Doesn’t Scare You, the Mudflow Should
www.nytimes.com
January 19, 2026 at 2:11 PM
Really cool summary of a recent paper in Geology (gift link 🎁): www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/s...
Reposted by J. Brian Balta
Rare Earths In Greenland
Rare Earths In Greenland - Lawyers, Guns & Money
I wrote a short thread on Bluesky a week or so ago about mineral deposits, since they seem to loom so large in Donald Trump’s thinking. The Times (London) has an article that responds to many of my checkpoints from that thread, so I’ll put them side by side here. My checkpoints in italics. Having […]
www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com
January 18, 2026 at 10:37 PM
Rare Earths In Greenland
Reposted by J. Brian Balta
🌟OPEN ACCESS🌟 In a new #TSR paper, scientists explore the origin of the Meadow Bank scarp in Illinois. Namely, is it related to reactivated faults, or is it only the result of glacial outburst flood erosion? ⚒️
pubs.geoscienceworld.org/ssa/tsr/arti...
pubs.geoscienceworld.org/ssa/tsr/arti...
January 16, 2026 at 10:01 PM
🌟OPEN ACCESS🌟 In a new #TSR paper, scientists explore the origin of the Meadow Bank scarp in Illinois. Namely, is it related to reactivated faults, or is it only the result of glacial outburst flood erosion? ⚒️
pubs.geoscienceworld.org/ssa/tsr/arti...
pubs.geoscienceworld.org/ssa/tsr/arti...
Reposted by J. Brian Balta
The heat energy we added to the ocean LAST YEAR is the equivalent of:
- Detonating ten hydrogen bombs every minute
- operating over a hundred large power plants continuously for all of written human history
- Five times all the electricity human beings have ever used
- Detonating ten hydrogen bombs every minute
- operating over a hundred large power plants continuously for all of written human history
- Five times all the electricity human beings have ever used
Ocean heat content increased by 23 billion trillion joules, which was around 39 times greater than global primary energy use this year. This is the largest rise in OHC since 2017; overall OHC has increased by over 500 zettajoules since the 1940s.
January 14, 2026 at 9:05 PM
The heat energy we added to the ocean LAST YEAR is the equivalent of:
- Detonating ten hydrogen bombs every minute
- operating over a hundred large power plants continuously for all of written human history
- Five times all the electricity human beings have ever used
- Detonating ten hydrogen bombs every minute
- operating over a hundred large power plants continuously for all of written human history
- Five times all the electricity human beings have ever used
Grew up near Salt Creek. ‘Twas not salty.
College near the Jordan River. Was not a river.
Now Clear Creek. Very not clear.
College near the Jordan River. Was not a river.
Now Clear Creek. Very not clear.
My favorite Twitter prompt was "RT this with your home river," so reskeet this with your home river.
Mine is the Patuxent.
Mine is the Patuxent.
January 13, 2026 at 3:35 AM
Grew up near Salt Creek. ‘Twas not salty.
College near the Jordan River. Was not a river.
Now Clear Creek. Very not clear.
College near the Jordan River. Was not a river.
Now Clear Creek. Very not clear.
Reposted by J. Brian Balta
A Sudden Decline in US Planetary Meetings in 2025
#PlanetSci 🧪
#PlanetSci 🧪
A Sudden Decline in US Planetary Meetings in 2025 - The Planetary Research Blog
blog.planetary-research.org
January 11, 2026 at 6:35 AM
A Sudden Decline in US Planetary Meetings in 2025
#PlanetSci 🧪
#PlanetSci 🧪
Reposted by J. Brian Balta
169 years ago this week (Jan 9, 1857), the M7.9 Fort Tejon earthquake ruptured over 350 km (220 miles) of the San Andreas Fault.
Although named for Fort Tejon, historical reports suggest the rupture may have begun near Parkfield, where possible foreshocks were observed. buff.ly/cVPiaRZ
Although named for Fort Tejon, historical reports suggest the rupture may have begun near Parkfield, where possible foreshocks were observed. buff.ly/cVPiaRZ
January 9, 2026 at 7:02 PM
169 years ago this week (Jan 9, 1857), the M7.9 Fort Tejon earthquake ruptured over 350 km (220 miles) of the San Andreas Fault.
Although named for Fort Tejon, historical reports suggest the rupture may have begun near Parkfield, where possible foreshocks were observed. buff.ly/cVPiaRZ
Although named for Fort Tejon, historical reports suggest the rupture may have begun near Parkfield, where possible foreshocks were observed. buff.ly/cVPiaRZ
Reposted by J. Brian Balta
a study spanning multiple continents involving 50+ co-authors has found that the oceans added a record amount of heat in 2025—the energy equivalent of 12 atomic bombs going off in the ocean, one of the authors told me
it's the eighth year in a row that the oceans have broken heat records like this
it's the eighth year in a row that the oceans have broken heat records like this
The Oceans Just Keep Getting Hotter
For the eighth year in a row, the world’s oceans absorbed a record-breaking amount of heat in 2025. It was equivalent to the energy it would take to boil 2 billion Olympic swimming pools.
www.wired.com
January 9, 2026 at 2:36 PM
a study spanning multiple continents involving 50+ co-authors has found that the oceans added a record amount of heat in 2025—the energy equivalent of 12 atomic bombs going off in the ocean, one of the authors told me
it's the eighth year in a row that the oceans have broken heat records like this
it's the eighth year in a row that the oceans have broken heat records like this
Reposted by J. Brian Balta
if you want a long read that involves udders, a hot air balloon, and some extremely dubious data on egg prices, the story I’ve been working on for the last few months where I tried to single-handedly take on every government function myself is now online! www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
I Tried to Be the Government. It Did Not Go Well.
My five-month quest to monitor the weather, track inflation, and inspect milk for harmful microorganisms
www.theatlantic.com
January 8, 2026 at 8:41 PM
if you want a long read that involves udders, a hot air balloon, and some extremely dubious data on egg prices, the story I’ve been working on for the last few months where I tried to single-handedly take on every government function myself is now online! www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
Reposted by J. Brian Balta
I wrote about the cosmic grandeur of American space science and this president’s foolish attempts to sabotage it
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
Inside Donald Trump’s Attack on NASA’s Science Missions
During his first year back in office, the president tried to bring America’s age of discovery to an end.
www.theatlantic.com
January 8, 2026 at 2:56 PM
I wrote about the cosmic grandeur of American space science and this president’s foolish attempts to sabotage it
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
Reposted by J. Brian Balta
Just in - "According to @climatecentral.org, 2025 ranks as the third-highest year (after 2023 and 2024) for billion-dollar weather and climate disasters..."
+ Interactive graphics/data: www.climatecentral.org/climate-serv...
+ Climate Matters article: www.climatecentral.org/climate-matt...
+ Interactive graphics/data: www.climatecentral.org/climate-serv...
+ Climate Matters article: www.climatecentral.org/climate-matt...
January 8, 2026 at 1:59 PM
Just in - "According to @climatecentral.org, 2025 ranks as the third-highest year (after 2023 and 2024) for billion-dollar weather and climate disasters..."
+ Interactive graphics/data: www.climatecentral.org/climate-serv...
+ Climate Matters article: www.climatecentral.org/climate-matt...
+ Interactive graphics/data: www.climatecentral.org/climate-serv...
+ Climate Matters article: www.climatecentral.org/climate-matt...
Reposted by J. Brian Balta
Spectacular footage of pyroclastic flows at Semeru Volcano in Indonesia in November: ⚒️ youtu.be/rybUgYtvVFM?...
Pyroclastic Flow Fills River Bed with Ash - Semeru Volcano Nov 19, 2025
YouTube video by afarTV
youtu.be
January 8, 2026 at 1:17 PM
Spectacular footage of pyroclastic flows at Semeru Volcano in Indonesia in November: ⚒️ youtu.be/rybUgYtvVFM?...
Reposted by J. Brian Balta
I just re-found the National Geographic episode on volcanoes that I used to watch nearly daily when I was like 6 years old!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TQN...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TQN...
National Geographic: Volcano! (1989)
YouTube video by Rando Retro Video
www.youtube.com
January 7, 2026 at 6:56 AM
I just re-found the National Geographic episode on volcanoes that I used to watch nearly daily when I was like 6 years old!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TQN...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TQN...
Reposted by J. Brian Balta
⚒️ In this excellent podcast episode that clearly presses the ‘don’t panic’ button for the threat of an imminent large eruption at Yellowstone, I really loved this clever use of slowing down and speeding up music to describe how seismic tomography works.
January 6, 2026 at 2:22 PM
⚒️ In this excellent podcast episode that clearly presses the ‘don’t panic’ button for the threat of an imminent large eruption at Yellowstone, I really loved this clever use of slowing down and speeding up music to describe how seismic tomography works.
Reposted by J. Brian Balta
I'm starting to get the emails. Reporters: please see my comments below.
It's the most magical time of the year — when estimates of last year's global average temperature anomaly come out. Time to dust off my "last year was hot" auto-response.
January 5, 2026 at 6:20 PM
I'm starting to get the emails. Reporters: please see my comments below.
Reposted by J. Brian Balta
Made a pilgrimage to 2 ghosts of sea level past & future in Florida, from last time global temp was similar to today 120,000 years ago: an outcrop of oolite in Miami from when it was a sandy shoal under the waves, and in Windley Key a fossil coral reef that now ominously sits 20 feet above sea level
January 5, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Made a pilgrimage to 2 ghosts of sea level past & future in Florida, from last time global temp was similar to today 120,000 years ago: an outcrop of oolite in Miami from when it was a sandy shoal under the waves, and in Windley Key a fossil coral reef that now ominously sits 20 feet above sea level
Reposted by J. Brian Balta
The discovery that the continents are in continuous motion is fairly recent—dating back only to the late 1960s — and one woman was responsible for decoding what it meant for California and much of the West Coast.
buff.ly/2vAwspH
buff.ly/2vAwspH
Drifters and the introduction of plate tectonics - High Country News
How the San Andreas fault and Tanya Atwater’s theory changed geology.
www.hcn.org
January 5, 2026 at 5:07 PM
The discovery that the continents are in continuous motion is fairly recent—dating back only to the late 1960s — and one woman was responsible for decoding what it meant for California and much of the West Coast.
buff.ly/2vAwspH
buff.ly/2vAwspH