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
· Dec 17
I'm doing the Gower 50km Ultra for The Brain Tumour Charity! This links to my ongoing original campaign for the same charity to stay sober for 9 months. This time I am looking to raise a minimum of £500.
Details of this new challenge with links is here: www.justgiving.com/page/guy-wat...
Details of this new challenge with links is here: www.justgiving.com/page/guy-wat...
Reposted by Guy Watkins
‘Save the best for last 😋’, a little rocky planet discovered by our #ESACheops might think – born later than its gaseous sibling-planets, it might flip our understanding of how planets form upside down.
Our full story 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
🔭🧪
#exoplanets
#milkyway
#planetsci
Our full story 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
🔭🧪
#exoplanets
#milkyway
#planetsci
February 12, 2026 at 7:10 PM
‘Save the best for last 😋’, a little rocky planet discovered by our #ESACheops might think – born later than its gaseous sibling-planets, it might flip our understanding of how planets form upside down.
Our full story 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
🔭🧪
#exoplanets
#milkyway
#planetsci
Our full story 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
🔭🧪
#exoplanets
#milkyway
#planetsci
Reposted by Guy Watkins
Hemos tardado muy poco en olvidar que nos han dejado tirados con muchos proyectos... Un socio con el que acuerdas proyectos y luego los suspende unilateralmente no es fiable. Y si en pocos meses los abrazamos de nuevo... Volverá a dejarnos tirados. Colaboración si, humillación no. 🫤
February 12, 2026 at 2:32 PM
Hemos tardado muy poco en olvidar que nos han dejado tirados con muchos proyectos... Un socio con el que acuerdas proyectos y luego los suspende unilateralmente no es fiable. Y si en pocos meses los abrazamos de nuevo... Volverá a dejarnos tirados. Colaboración si, humillación no. 🫤
The "Man" Who Sold the World.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Analysis: Trump takes victory lap after biggest climate rollback yet
The move marks the culmination of a decade-long push by the president to tear up climate policies he argues stifle industry.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 13, 2026 at 4:54 AM
The "Man" Who Sold the World.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Guy Watkins
Soon, we may be able to deflect asteroids on collision courses with Earth. In this podcast, aerospace engineer Rahil Makadia explains how deflected asteroids could return to Earth. 🧪⚛️ ow.ly/YbqO50YenRc
Asteroid deflection: why we need to get it right the first time – Physics World
Aerospace engineer Rahil Makadia on the danger of asteroid “keyholes”
ow.ly
February 12, 2026 at 3:19 PM
Soon, we may be able to deflect asteroids on collision courses with Earth. In this podcast, aerospace engineer Rahil Makadia explains how deflected asteroids could return to Earth. 🧪⚛️ ow.ly/YbqO50YenRc
Reposted by Guy Watkins
🚨 New Publication Alert🚨
The Philosophical Transactions A issue “Planetary protection for sustainable space exploration” available online now!
👉 buff.ly/lQvjfyo
The Philosophical Transactions A issue “Planetary protection for sustainable space exploration” available online now!
👉 buff.ly/lQvjfyo
February 12, 2026 at 12:52 PM
🚨 New Publication Alert🚨
The Philosophical Transactions A issue “Planetary protection for sustainable space exploration” available online now!
👉 buff.ly/lQvjfyo
The Philosophical Transactions A issue “Planetary protection for sustainable space exploration” available online now!
👉 buff.ly/lQvjfyo
OMG, Trump - ironically through the EPA - has now reversed protections on things like greenhouse gas emissions, thus helping to further assist global warming and kill us all, faster.
February 12, 2026 at 6:50 PM
OMG, Trump - ironically through the EPA - has now reversed protections on things like greenhouse gas emissions, thus helping to further assist global warming and kill us all, faster.
Reposted by Guy Watkins
Astronomers: highly recommend this thoughtful opinion piece by @hogg.bsky.social on how to think about our field in light of the development of large language models. whether you agree with him or not it’s vital to discuss the principles behind our science. 🔭 arxiv.org/abs/2602.10181
Why do we do astrophysics?
At time of writing, large language models (LLMs) are beginning to obtain the ability to design, execute, write up, and referee scientific projects on the data-science side of astrophysics. What implic...
arxiv.org
February 12, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Astronomers: highly recommend this thoughtful opinion piece by @hogg.bsky.social on how to think about our field in light of the development of large language models. whether you agree with him or not it’s vital to discuss the principles behind our science. 🔭 arxiv.org/abs/2602.10181
Reposted by Guy Watkins
I have many concerns, especially in regards to LLMs and gen-AI tendency to hallucinate perfectly valid-looking but non-existing data. But a small voice in the back of my head is also going "data-science is NOT why I became an astronomer" and which would welcome a greater focus on observing.
February 12, 2026 at 10:56 AM
I have many concerns, especially in regards to LLMs and gen-AI tendency to hallucinate perfectly valid-looking but non-existing data. But a small voice in the back of my head is also going "data-science is NOT why I became an astronomer" and which would welcome a greater focus on observing.
This is a real shame: Scottish rocket firm Orbex set to appoint administrators.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Scottish rocket firm Orbex set to appoint administrators
Orbex, which employs about 160 people, said it has been unsuccessful in finding funds, a merger or a buyer.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 11, 2026 at 10:47 PM
This is a real shame: Scottish rocket firm Orbex set to appoint administrators.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Guy Watkins
At this point I'm wondering why I even built an Observatory? 😭🔭🧪
February 11, 2026 at 7:11 AM
At this point I'm wondering why I even built an Observatory? 😭🔭🧪
Reposted by Guy Watkins
Reposted by Guy Watkins
How do you track space debris as it makes its fiery descent through the Earth’s atmosphere? Geophysicists have come up with an intriguing new answer: use a network of earthquake sensors to follow the shock waves the debris creates. 🧪⚛️🔭 physicsworld.com/a/earthquake...
Earthquake-sensing network detects space debris as it falls to Earth – Physics World
Proof-of-principle experiment resolved the shock waves produced by the Shenzhou-15 module when it re-entered the atmosphere
physicsworld.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:31 PM
How do you track space debris as it makes its fiery descent through the Earth’s atmosphere? Geophysicists have come up with an intriguing new answer: use a network of earthquake sensors to follow the shock waves the debris creates. 🧪⚛️🔭 physicsworld.com/a/earthquake...
"Anniversary" is a great - if unsubtle - allegory of the Western Populist, Trumpian neo-fascist Project 2025. It's all the more scary because its dystopia is already happening in the US and Europe.
www.netflix.com/gb/title/826...
www.netflix.com/gb/title/826...
Watch Anniversary | Netflix
After meeting their son's aloof, ambitious new girlfriend, a couple watches their family fall apart as her extreme political project sweeps the nation.
www.netflix.com
February 10, 2026 at 9:08 PM
"Anniversary" is a great - if unsubtle - allegory of the Western Populist, Trumpian neo-fascist Project 2025. It's all the more scary because its dystopia is already happening in the US and Europe.
www.netflix.com/gb/title/826...
www.netflix.com/gb/title/826...
Reposted by Guy Watkins
![Comic. [Person with ponytail pointing to diagram on wall as she talks to two other people, one with short hair.] PERSON 1: The high carbon content of the skeleton indicates that the individual lived less than 12.6 billion years ago, after the first round of stellar nucleosynthesis. [caption] Cosmologist carbon dating](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreiaaaa2fduedn5fusan4xvikaehxgps2yxdlv7vb3j7ep323zta2u4@jpeg)
February 10, 2026 at 7:43 PM
Reposted by Guy Watkins
As part of #NationalApprenticeWeek we want to celebrate Weronika, who started with AstrobiologyOU as a Microbiology Laboratory Apprentice in 2022. Since then she has gained the confidence and skills needed to become a Research Technician.
February 10, 2026 at 3:31 PM
As part of #NationalApprenticeWeek we want to celebrate Weronika, who started with AstrobiologyOU as a Microbiology Laboratory Apprentice in 2022. Since then she has gained the confidence and skills needed to become a Research Technician.
As a FRAS, I will contact my MP to seek their support in persuading HMG to change course on a 30% cut to astronomy & space science resource grants, & up to 60% cuts for project teams. Did I pick the wrong choice of career-change? 🙁 @royalastrosoc.bsky.social 🔭⚛️🧪
ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...
ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...
Proposed budget cuts a catastrophe for UK astronomy
The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) is gravely concerned at the drastic cuts to support for UK astronomy outlined by the Science and Technology Facilities
Council (...
ras.ac.uk
February 10, 2026 at 2:24 PM
As a FRAS, I will contact my MP to seek their support in persuading HMG to change course on a 30% cut to astronomy & space science resource grants, & up to 60% cuts for project teams. Did I pick the wrong choice of career-change? 🙁 @royalastrosoc.bsky.social 🔭⚛️🧪
ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...
ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...
Reposted by Guy Watkins
Aerobic metabolism might have evolved before the Great Oxidation Event.
#AncientEarth #scienceSky
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#AncientEarth #scienceSky
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Molecular clock evidence for an Archean diversification of heme-copper oxygen reductase enzymes
Age estimates for the emergence of oxygenic photosynthesis derived from molecular clock analyses reach back to the Archean, substantially predating ge…
www.sciencedirect.com
February 7, 2026 at 6:22 PM
Aerobic metabolism might have evolved before the Great Oxidation Event.
#AncientEarth #scienceSky
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#AncientEarth #scienceSky
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
I had no idea about this. I will be ditching my protein powder immediately, and focussing on natural protein sources instead.
Like most things in life, there are no short-cuts, especially when it comes to weight loss & nutrition.
www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein...
Like most things in life, there are no short-cuts, especially when it comes to weight loss & nutrition.
www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein...
Protein Powders and Shakes Contain High Levels of Lead - Consumer Reports
CR tests of 23 popular protein powders and shakes found that most contain high levels of lead.
www.consumerreports.org
February 6, 2026 at 7:35 AM
I had no idea about this. I will be ditching my protein powder immediately, and focussing on natural protein sources instead.
Like most things in life, there are no short-cuts, especially when it comes to weight loss & nutrition.
www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein...
Like most things in life, there are no short-cuts, especially when it comes to weight loss & nutrition.
www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein...
For fuck's sake...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK’s £8bn research fund faces “hard decisions” as it pauses new grants
UKRI boss Ian Chapman said it had been told by the government to
www.bbc.co.uk
February 5, 2026 at 10:38 PM
For fuck's sake...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
If only there was a way to avoid this, like perhaps... rejoining the EU 🇪🇺
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Warning of long airport queues under new EU border control system
Airport organisation says queues could last up to six hours over the summer holidays.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 5, 2026 at 2:57 PM
If only there was a way to avoid this, like perhaps... rejoining the EU 🇪🇺
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Shouldn't *all* research be "curiosity driven"? I mean, the pursuit of truth and knowledge is kinda the point.
February 4, 2026 at 10:30 PM
Shouldn't *all* research be "curiosity driven"? I mean, the pursuit of truth and knowledge is kinda the point.
Reposted by Guy Watkins
🧪🔭⚛️☄️
Physics and astronomy researchers in the United Kingdom have reacted with alarm to news that key government funding for particle physics, nuclear physics, and astronomy will be slashed by 30%. https://scim.ag/46cn06Q
U.K. physics community braces for deep funding cuts
Research council to slash funding for particle physics, nuclear physics, and astronomy by 30%, prompting alarm across the research community
www.science.org
February 2, 2026 at 11:30 PM
🧪🔭⚛️☄️
Reposted by Guy Watkins
BPSC2026 Registration and Abstract Submission is open!
Information on rates, discounted accommodation and abstract format can be found here bpsc2026.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/registration/
Early bird rates are available til 9th May 2026, which is the same day as the abstract deadline!
Information on rates, discounted accommodation and abstract format can be found here bpsc2026.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/registration/
Early bird rates are available til 9th May 2026, which is the same day as the abstract deadline!
Registration – BPSC2026
bpsc2026.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk
February 3, 2026 at 11:58 AM
BPSC2026 Registration and Abstract Submission is open!
Information on rates, discounted accommodation and abstract format can be found here bpsc2026.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/registration/
Early bird rates are available til 9th May 2026, which is the same day as the abstract deadline!
Information on rates, discounted accommodation and abstract format can be found here bpsc2026.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/registration/
Early bird rates are available til 9th May 2026, which is the same day as the abstract deadline!
Reposted by Guy Watkins
A tidally-locked rocky #exoplanet orbiting close to its host star could have tidal waves of lava sweeping around the planet. Simulations show this effect would complicate the search for an atmosphere. 🔭☄️
News report by @elisecutts.bsky.social from the @rockyworlds.bsky.social meeting #RockyWorlds4
News report by @elisecutts.bsky.social from the @rockyworlds.bsky.social meeting #RockyWorlds4
*taps mic* ahem
May I interrupt the nonstop tidal wave of doom with a tidal wave of LAVA?
They're as high as a skyscraper, ooze at the speed of a human sprinter, and are really, really hot.
By me for @science.org, reported from the #RockyWorlds4 conference: 🔭🧪
May I interrupt the nonstop tidal wave of doom with a tidal wave of LAVA?
They're as high as a skyscraper, ooze at the speed of a human sprinter, and are really, really hot.
By me for @science.org, reported from the #RockyWorlds4 conference: 🔭🧪
Tidal waves of lava may slosh around alien worlds
Waves of molten rock could be confounding observations of atmospheres on distant planets
www.science.org
February 2, 2026 at 2:29 PM
A tidally-locked rocky #exoplanet orbiting close to its host star could have tidal waves of lava sweeping around the planet. Simulations show this effect would complicate the search for an atmosphere. 🔭☄️
News report by @elisecutts.bsky.social from the @rockyworlds.bsky.social meeting #RockyWorlds4
News report by @elisecutts.bsky.social from the @rockyworlds.bsky.social meeting #RockyWorlds4