Guy Watkins
@guywatkins.bsky.social
Studying MPhys Astrophysics with Space Science at The Open University. Aspiring astrobiologist/planetary scientist. FRAS. BSc (Hons) Computing, CertHE Natural Sciences. http://guywatkins.space
Pinned
Guy Watkins
@guywatkins.bsky.social
· Oct 25
Guy's fundraiser for The Brain Tumour Charity
Help Guy Watkins raise money to support The Brain Tumour Charity
www.justgiving.com
In solidarity with a friend who started a 9-month course of chemotherapy for brain cancer yesterday (24/10/2025), I'm going sober for the same period. Only 273 days to go! (Ends: Friday 24/07/2026).
I'm hoping to raise £1000 for @braintumourcharity.bsky.social
www.justgiving.com/page/guy-wat...
I'm hoping to raise £1000 for @braintumourcharity.bsky.social
www.justgiving.com/page/guy-wat...
Reposted by Guy Watkins
So happy to announce our new preprint, “A geothermal amoeba sets a new upper temperature limit for eukaryotes.” We cultured a novel amoeba from Lassen Volcanic NP (CA, USA) that divides at 63°C (145°F) 🔥 - a new record for euk growth!
#protistsonsky 🧵
#protistsonsky 🧵
November 25, 2025 at 8:41 PM
So happy to announce our new preprint, “A geothermal amoeba sets a new upper temperature limit for eukaryotes.” We cultured a novel amoeba from Lassen Volcanic NP (CA, USA) that divides at 63°C (145°F) 🔥 - a new record for euk growth!
#protistsonsky 🧵
#protistsonsky 🧵
Reposted by Guy Watkins
It’s widely known (and, I think, pretty uncontroversial) that learning requires effort — specifically, if you don’t have to work at getting the knowledge, it won’t stick.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
November 21, 2025 at 12:49 PM
It’s widely known (and, I think, pretty uncontroversial) that learning requires effort — specifically, if you don’t have to work at getting the knowledge, it won’t stick.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
I like the joy of resurrecting "obsolete" hardware (Dell XPS 13 9333) to have a continued purpose, by using Linux (Ubuntu) instead of now EOL Windows 10.
November 23, 2025 at 5:15 PM
I like the joy of resurrecting "obsolete" hardware (Dell XPS 13 9333) to have a continued purpose, by using Linux (Ubuntu) instead of now EOL Windows 10.
Reposted by Guy Watkins
🧵Why I'm loving cluster photometry. Point a telescope, measure brightness in B and V filters, and suddenly thousands of stars tell a single story: temperature, evolution stage, and where the cluster sits in space. Short, sharp, and addictive. 1/6 🧪🔭
November 23, 2025 at 2:32 PM
🧵Why I'm loving cluster photometry. Point a telescope, measure brightness in B and V filters, and suddenly thousands of stars tell a single story: temperature, evolution stage, and where the cluster sits in space. Short, sharp, and addictive. 1/6 🧪🔭
This is why the tardigrades will reign supreme, and why the Fermi paradox exists - because we are doomed to destroy ourselves through greed, denial & idiocy. We will never learn.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
COP30: UN climate talks fail to secure new fossil fuel promises
Nearly 200 countries attended COP30, which aimed to commit the world to take more action on climate change.
www.bbc.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:55 PM
This is why the tardigrades will reign supreme, and why the Fermi paradox exists - because we are doomed to destroy ourselves through greed, denial & idiocy. We will never learn.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
A map of European space companies.
www.pampam.city/aerospace-xI...
www.pampam.city/aerospace-xI...
November 22, 2025 at 7:05 AM
A map of European space companies.
www.pampam.city/aerospace-xI...
www.pampam.city/aerospace-xI...
Unfortunately, observations had to be cancelled, due to cloud & predicted snow-showers - PIRATE & COAST protect themselves automatically by closing the domes when dodgy weather occurs. Disappointing due to it being a one-time only deal - we'll use archived data instead! @osobservatories.bsky.social
This time tomorrow we'll be having some fun!
In 7 days and 3 hours from now, I will be part of a team from the OU SXPS288 course starting to operate the PIRATE telescope in Tenerife! (weather permitting, of course...) We have our selected globular and open clusters and reference stars agreed, along with contingency targets. 🔭🌋🇮🇨
November 21, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Unfortunately, observations had to be cancelled, due to cloud & predicted snow-showers - PIRATE & COAST protect themselves automatically by closing the domes when dodgy weather occurs. Disappointing due to it being a one-time only deal - we'll use archived data instead! @osobservatories.bsky.social
This time tomorrow we'll be having some fun!
In 7 days and 3 hours from now, I will be part of a team from the OU SXPS288 course starting to operate the PIRATE telescope in Tenerife! (weather permitting, of course...) We have our selected globular and open clusters and reference stars agreed, along with contingency targets. 🔭🌋🇮🇨
I'll soon be starting the astronomy project as part of SXPS288 - remotely operating the PIRATE optical telescope on Izaña Ridge near mount Teide in Tenerife (video stills are copyright of The Open University) @osobservatories.bsky.social
@openuniversity.bsky.social telescope.org/about-telesc... 🔭
@openuniversity.bsky.social telescope.org/about-telesc... 🔭
November 20, 2025 at 9:36 PM
This time tomorrow we'll be having some fun!
Reposted by Guy Watkins
Yesterday's view of Erebus volcano in Antarctica.
Image taken by Sentinel-2.
Image taken by Sentinel-2.
November 18, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Yesterday's view of Erebus volcano in Antarctica.
Image taken by Sentinel-2.
Image taken by Sentinel-2.
Reposted by Guy Watkins
Brush your teeth after eating these or else you'll get calculus.
November 16, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Brush your teeth after eating these or else you'll get calculus.
Reposted by Guy Watkins
Have you ever wanted to post a summary of a paper you published, post an announcement for the entire #PlanetaryScience community, or write a blog? If so, you probably realized that there are few good solutions for our community.
The Planetary Research Blog aims to fill this void.
The Planetary Research Blog aims to fill this void.
November 17, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Have you ever wanted to post a summary of a paper you published, post an announcement for the entire #PlanetaryScience community, or write a blog? If so, you probably realized that there are few good solutions for our community.
The Planetary Research Blog aims to fill this void.
The Planetary Research Blog aims to fill this void.
No, they're really not.
Astronomers are grappling with a wild idea: Harvard’s Avi Loeb suggests that 3I/ATLAS might have “thrusters” strong jets pointing toward the Sun (its unusual “anti-tail”) possibly hinting at a technological, not just cometary, object.
Credit: David Jewitt / Jane Luu
Credit: David Jewitt / Jane Luu
November 15, 2025 at 9:33 PM
No, they're really not.
Reposted by Guy Watkins
1/3
📸 Seguimos compartiendo nuevas imágenes del cometa C/2025 A6 (Lemmon).
Esta vez, les mostramos la obtenida el 11 de noviembre desde el #ObservatoriodelTeide.
Cámara full-frame + 85 mm f1.4. 140 tomas de 4 s a ISO 3200, sin seguimiento.
D. López y A. Rosenberg / IAC
#c2025a6 #CometaLemmon
📸 Seguimos compartiendo nuevas imágenes del cometa C/2025 A6 (Lemmon).
Esta vez, les mostramos la obtenida el 11 de noviembre desde el #ObservatoriodelTeide.
Cámara full-frame + 85 mm f1.4. 140 tomas de 4 s a ISO 3200, sin seguimiento.
D. López y A. Rosenberg / IAC
#c2025a6 #CometaLemmon
November 14, 2025 at 5:40 PM
1/3
📸 Seguimos compartiendo nuevas imágenes del cometa C/2025 A6 (Lemmon).
Esta vez, les mostramos la obtenida el 11 de noviembre desde el #ObservatoriodelTeide.
Cámara full-frame + 85 mm f1.4. 140 tomas de 4 s a ISO 3200, sin seguimiento.
D. López y A. Rosenberg / IAC
#c2025a6 #CometaLemmon
📸 Seguimos compartiendo nuevas imágenes del cometa C/2025 A6 (Lemmon).
Esta vez, les mostramos la obtenida el 11 de noviembre desde el #ObservatoriodelTeide.
Cámara full-frame + 85 mm f1.4. 140 tomas de 4 s a ISO 3200, sin seguimiento.
D. López y A. Rosenberg / IAC
#c2025a6 #CometaLemmon
In 7 days and 3 hours from now, I will be part of a team from the OU SXPS288 course starting to operate the PIRATE telescope in Tenerife! (weather permitting, of course...) We have our selected globular and open clusters and reference stars agreed, along with contingency targets. 🔭🌋🇮🇨
I'll soon be starting the astronomy project as part of SXPS288 - remotely operating the PIRATE optical telescope on Izaña Ridge near mount Teide in Tenerife (video stills are copyright of The Open University) @osobservatories.bsky.social
@openuniversity.bsky.social telescope.org/about-telesc... 🔭
@openuniversity.bsky.social telescope.org/about-telesc... 🔭
November 14, 2025 at 5:05 PM
In 7 days and 3 hours from now, I will be part of a team from the OU SXPS288 course starting to operate the PIRATE telescope in Tenerife! (weather permitting, of course...) We have our selected globular and open clusters and reference stars agreed, along with contingency targets. 🔭🌋🇮🇨
Reposted by Guy Watkins
1/2
☄️ Nueva imagen del #CometaLemmon #C2025A6 sobre el Teide 🌋✨
Captada desde el #ObservatoriodelTeide (Tenerife) el 10 de noviembre.
Se aprecian la #VíaLáctea, el mar de nubes y parte de las Cañadas del Teide y el alto de Guajara.
📸 24 mm f/2, 10 s, ISO 3200
D. López y A. Rosenberg / IAC
☄️ Nueva imagen del #CometaLemmon #C2025A6 sobre el Teide 🌋✨
Captada desde el #ObservatoriodelTeide (Tenerife) el 10 de noviembre.
Se aprecian la #VíaLáctea, el mar de nubes y parte de las Cañadas del Teide y el alto de Guajara.
📸 24 mm f/2, 10 s, ISO 3200
D. López y A. Rosenberg / IAC
November 13, 2025 at 8:34 PM
1/2
☄️ Nueva imagen del #CometaLemmon #C2025A6 sobre el Teide 🌋✨
Captada desde el #ObservatoriodelTeide (Tenerife) el 10 de noviembre.
Se aprecian la #VíaLáctea, el mar de nubes y parte de las Cañadas del Teide y el alto de Guajara.
📸 24 mm f/2, 10 s, ISO 3200
D. López y A. Rosenberg / IAC
☄️ Nueva imagen del #CometaLemmon #C2025A6 sobre el Teide 🌋✨
Captada desde el #ObservatoriodelTeide (Tenerife) el 10 de noviembre.
Se aprecian la #VíaLáctea, el mar de nubes y parte de las Cañadas del Teide y el alto de Guajara.
📸 24 mm f/2, 10 s, ISO 3200
D. López y A. Rosenberg / IAC
The US brain-drain is such a horrendous tragedy.
youtu.be/yLvO070E_dI
youtu.be/yLvO070E_dI
Top researchers consider leaving U.S. amid funding cuts: 'The science world is ending'
YouTube video by PBS NewsHour
youtu.be
November 13, 2025 at 5:42 PM
The US brain-drain is such a horrendous tragedy.
youtu.be/yLvO070E_dI
youtu.be/yLvO070E_dI
Reposted by Guy Watkins
TMT Explores a Promising Path Forward in Spain www.tmt.org/news/708 🔭 ☄️
TMT Explores a Promising Path Forward in Spain
TMT is exploring a promising avenue for a new observatory based in Spain.
www.tmt.org
November 13, 2025 at 3:38 PM
TMT Explores a Promising Path Forward in Spain www.tmt.org/news/708 🔭 ☄️
Reposted by Guy Watkins
ICYMI, VLT observations have revealed the unique shape of a star’s explosion just a day after detection.
It's the first time that astronomers unveil the shape of the explosion at its earliest stage, providing insights into the deaths of massive stars.
https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2520/
🔭 🧪 ☄️
It's the first time that astronomers unveil the shape of the explosion at its earliest stage, providing insights into the deaths of massive stars.
https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2520/
🔭 🧪 ☄️
November 13, 2025 at 10:04 AM
ICYMI, VLT observations have revealed the unique shape of a star’s explosion just a day after detection.
It's the first time that astronomers unveil the shape of the explosion at its earliest stage, providing insights into the deaths of massive stars.
https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2520/
🔭 🧪 ☄️
It's the first time that astronomers unveil the shape of the explosion at its earliest stage, providing insights into the deaths of massive stars.
https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2520/
🔭 🧪 ☄️
Reposted by Guy Watkins
“Globally, despite extreme heat, floods and devastating wildfires, populist leaders, some sceptical but others in outright denial about the science, are talking up the costs of action rather than the consequences of inaction.”
6 global mayors defying climate denying populists
6 global mayors defying climate denying populists
‘Politicians actually taking action’: six world mayors defying climate-sceptic populist leaders
From Sierra Leone to Milan, cities are crafting their own rules and innovations in the face of rising temperatures
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:52 AM
“Globally, despite extreme heat, floods and devastating wildfires, populist leaders, some sceptical but others in outright denial about the science, are talking up the costs of action rather than the consequences of inaction.”
6 global mayors defying climate denying populists
6 global mayors defying climate denying populists
Nice.
In particular, Scott et al. (1979) proposed that a planetary system around Zeta² Reticuli, a nearby solar-type star, listed in the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) catalogue, might be the source of a mysterious transmission.Could such a system actually exist? #exoplanets 🔭
November 12, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Nice.
Reposted by Guy Watkins
☀️ ESA actively monitoring severe space weather event
On 11 November, an intense solar flare was observed, followed by a coronal mass ejection estimated to arrive at Earth in the late evening today or in the early morning tomorrow.
www.esa.int/Space_Safety...
On 11 November, an intense solar flare was observed, followed by a coronal mass ejection estimated to arrive at Earth in the late evening today or in the early morning tomorrow.
www.esa.int/Space_Safety...
November 12, 2025 at 2:45 PM
☀️ ESA actively monitoring severe space weather event
On 11 November, an intense solar flare was observed, followed by a coronal mass ejection estimated to arrive at Earth in the late evening today or in the early morning tomorrow.
www.esa.int/Space_Safety...
On 11 November, an intense solar flare was observed, followed by a coronal mass ejection estimated to arrive at Earth in the late evening today or in the early morning tomorrow.
www.esa.int/Space_Safety...
Reposted by Guy Watkins
Key antenna in NASA’s Deep Space Network damaged
One of the largest antennas in NASA’s Deep Space Network was damaged in September and may be out of service for an extended period, further straining the system.
One of the largest antennas in NASA’s Deep Space Network was damaged in September and may be out of service for an extended period, further straining the system.
Key antenna in NASA’s Deep Space Network damaged
One of the largest antennas in NASA’s Deep Space Network was damaged in September and may be out of service for an extended period, further straining the system.
spacenews.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Key antenna in NASA’s Deep Space Network damaged
One of the largest antennas in NASA’s Deep Space Network was damaged in September and may be out of service for an extended period, further straining the system.
One of the largest antennas in NASA’s Deep Space Network was damaged in September and may be out of service for an extended period, further straining the system.
Reposted by Guy Watkins
🌊 Why launch another sea-level satellite? To build resilience, we need to know how sea level is changing, and why.
Satellites such as #Copernicus Sentinel-6B, set to launch on 17 November, are helping us uncover what’s driving sea-level change.
www.esa.int/Applications...
Satellites such as #Copernicus Sentinel-6B, set to launch on 17 November, are helping us uncover what’s driving sea-level change.
www.esa.int/Applications...
November 11, 2025 at 10:09 AM
🌊 Why launch another sea-level satellite? To build resilience, we need to know how sea level is changing, and why.
Satellites such as #Copernicus Sentinel-6B, set to launch on 17 November, are helping us uncover what’s driving sea-level change.
www.esa.int/Applications...
Satellites such as #Copernicus Sentinel-6B, set to launch on 17 November, are helping us uncover what’s driving sea-level change.
www.esa.int/Applications...
Reposted by Guy Watkins
Yes, it is.
No thanks.
No thanks.
![Screenshot from a website saying, "[It] Looks like your ad blocker is on."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:5dnnvwti3vi34zgpjv7uyyc3/bafkreifnqpoufdyiiynhju5hox3ogxf6fvztzef2rudow2ijvouriotdtu@jpeg)
November 11, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Yes, it is.
No thanks.
No thanks.