John Gizis
@johngizis.bsky.social
Astronomer, University of Delaware
Speaking for myself.
Speaking for myself.
It’s curious that my wife’s campus had a major IT outage due to hardware failure, and within days the same thing happened at mine. Well, as they say, twice is coincidence, three times is enemy action.
December 10, 2025 at 12:21 AM
It’s curious that my wife’s campus had a major IT outage due to hardware failure, and within days the same thing happened at mine. Well, as they say, twice is coincidence, three times is enemy action.
Reposted by John Gizis
I'm happy to report that "Scenario 2" won't be necessary, as NASA has just communicated to us that SciX funding will continue in 2026 (albeit at a reduced level). Therefore, we will not be forcing astronomers to leave ADS, but rather develop a plan that allows a longer transition.
December 9, 2025 at 5:20 PM
I'm happy to report that "Scenario 2" won't be necessary, as NASA has just communicated to us that SciX funding will continue in 2026 (albeit at a reduced level). Therefore, we will not be forcing astronomers to leave ADS, but rather develop a plan that allows a longer transition.
Reposted by John Gizis
Well this is worrying. NASA has maintained funding for ADS but not SciX (a broader database). In response, management is planning to *close* ADS in Feb 2026, forcing all users to switch to SciX. ☄️🔭
Funding info: ads.harvard.edu/adsug/2025/0...
Transition plan: ads.harvard.edu/adsug/2025/0...
Funding info: ads.harvard.edu/adsug/2025/0...
Transition plan: ads.harvard.edu/adsug/2025/0...
December 9, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Well this is worrying. NASA has maintained funding for ADS but not SciX (a broader database). In response, management is planning to *close* ADS in Feb 2026, forcing all users to switch to SciX. ☄️🔭
Funding info: ads.harvard.edu/adsug/2025/0...
Transition plan: ads.harvard.edu/adsug/2025/0...
Funding info: ads.harvard.edu/adsug/2025/0...
Transition plan: ads.harvard.edu/adsug/2025/0...
Reposted by John Gizis
Wilhoit’s Law for universities: “There must be athletics programs that budgets protect but do not bind alongside academic programs that budgets bind but do not protect.”
“The [CU athletics has] a $27M deficit… needing $11.9M in university support”
www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/202...
“The [CU athletics has] a $27M deficit… needing $11.9M in university support”
www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/202...
CU projects record deficit driven by player costs, Sanders’ salary
The Univ. of Colorado athletic department is projecting that it will run a $27M deficit during the current FY ending in June 2026, in addition to needing $11.9M in institutional support from the unive...
www.sportsbusinessjournal.com
December 8, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Wilhoit’s Law for universities: “There must be athletics programs that budgets protect but do not bind alongside academic programs that budgets bind but do not protect.”
“The [CU athletics has] a $27M deficit… needing $11.9M in university support”
www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/202...
“The [CU athletics has] a $27M deficit… needing $11.9M in university support”
www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/202...
Reposted by John Gizis
it intensely angers me every time I open a book PDF in Acrobat and the software reminds me that I’m reading a Long Document and gee, wouldn’t I prefer a summary instead
I am not a first grade child who requires the easy-reader version of big kid books, demon machine
I am not a first grade child who requires the easy-reader version of big kid books, demon machine
Tech bros shocked that normal human beings enjoy thinking
December 8, 2025 at 11:13 PM
it intensely angers me every time I open a book PDF in Acrobat and the software reminds me that I’m reading a Long Document and gee, wouldn’t I prefer a summary instead
I am not a first grade child who requires the easy-reader version of big kid books, demon machine
I am not a first grade child who requires the easy-reader version of big kid books, demon machine
Reposted by John Gizis
In the era of LLMs, what does learning look like? What happens when are overconfident in our understanding due to AI sycophancy? Is it even useful to use LLMs for education without outsourcing our thinking?
New blog post: jwuphysics.github.io/blog/2025/12...
New blog post: jwuphysics.github.io/blog/2025/12...
Learning with LLMs
AI is here, and its impacts on education cannot be overstated. Let’s put aside the issues of cheating; I assume that you want to learn, perhaps with the assistance of LLMs if they are actually helpful...
jwuphysics.github.io
December 5, 2025 at 11:09 PM
In the era of LLMs, what does learning look like? What happens when are overconfident in our understanding due to AI sycophancy? Is it even useful to use LLMs for education without outsourcing our thinking?
New blog post: jwuphysics.github.io/blog/2025/12...
New blog post: jwuphysics.github.io/blog/2025/12...
Reposted by John Gizis
NASA has completed the construction of #NASARoman! Last month, technicians joined the inner and outer portions of the observatory in Maryland.
After final testing, Roman will move to the launch site at the Kennedy Space Center for launch preparations in summer 2026: https://go.nasa.gov/48EqnE8 🔭 🧪
After final testing, Roman will move to the launch site at the Kennedy Space Center for launch preparations in summer 2026: https://go.nasa.gov/48EqnE8 🔭 🧪
December 4, 2025 at 6:14 PM
NASA has completed the construction of #NASARoman! Last month, technicians joined the inner and outer portions of the observatory in Maryland.
After final testing, Roman will move to the launch site at the Kennedy Space Center for launch preparations in summer 2026: https://go.nasa.gov/48EqnE8 🔭 🧪
After final testing, Roman will move to the launch site at the Kennedy Space Center for launch preparations in summer 2026: https://go.nasa.gov/48EqnE8 🔭 🧪
Reposted by John Gizis
This letter is a clear attempt to get Trump angry enough to intervene, and is thus a pretty clear signal to the entertainment community of what kind of company Paramount plans to run. I know people dread a Netflix acquisition of Warner Bros.; this would be worse. deadline.com/2025/12/para...
Paramount Calls WBD Sale Process “Tilted And Unfair” In Letter To CEO David Zaslav
Paramount is calling foul on Warner Bros. Discovery sale process, accusing the company of running an unfair process that it thinks favors Netflix.
deadline.com
December 4, 2025 at 4:13 PM
This letter is a clear attempt to get Trump angry enough to intervene, and is thus a pretty clear signal to the entertainment community of what kind of company Paramount plans to run. I know people dread a Netflix acquisition of Warner Bros.; this would be worse. deadline.com/2025/12/para...
Reposted by John Gizis
Jared Isaacman's 2nd nomination hrg before the Senate Commerce Committee should start shortly. Here's his opening statement: www.commerce.senate.gov/services/fil...
He's one of two nominees this morning. The other is for a Dept of Commerce position.
Watch at: www.commerce.senate.gov/2025/11/chai...
He's one of two nominees this morning. The other is for a Dept of Commerce position.
Watch at: www.commerce.senate.gov/2025/11/chai...
December 3, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Jared Isaacman's 2nd nomination hrg before the Senate Commerce Committee should start shortly. Here's his opening statement: www.commerce.senate.gov/services/fil...
He's one of two nominees this morning. The other is for a Dept of Commerce position.
Watch at: www.commerce.senate.gov/2025/11/chai...
He's one of two nominees this morning. The other is for a Dept of Commerce position.
Watch at: www.commerce.senate.gov/2025/11/chai...
Enjoying 1491 but a bit put off that his description of the battle of Marathon seems completely wrong.
November 30, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Enjoying 1491 but a bit put off that his description of the battle of Marathon seems completely wrong.
Reposted by John Gizis
Years ago Adam Showman described to me his long term plan to better understand brown dwarf variability by adding more cloud physics to his GCM. Thankful today to be part of team led by his former student Xianyu Tan growing and expanding the vision with this new paper. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Large-amplitude variability driven by giant dust storms on a planetary-mass companion
Global-scale storms composed of silicates and metals explain the extreme weather and variability of the super-Jupiter VHS 1256B.
www.science.org
November 27, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Years ago Adam Showman described to me his long term plan to better understand brown dwarf variability by adding more cloud physics to his GCM. Thankful today to be part of team led by his former student Xianyu Tan growing and expanding the vision with this new paper. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Europe passed the US in ground-based astronomy long ago and now we’ll see the same in space.
🔭 The new @esa.int budget secured today is a big deal imho. +30% compared to the current budget with largest chunk going to space transportation ie 🚀. Science/astro is also getting a big bump, which DG Aschbacher called ”the backbone of the ESA programme”. Some funding optimism to close off 2025! 💫🥹
22.1 billion euros subscribed.
A record.
A first.
And a clear message that Europe is serious about space and that @esa.int is the agency it trusts to deliver.
A historic Ministerial. A united Europe. A stronger ESA.
www.esa.int/About_Us/Cor...
A record.
A first.
And a clear message that Europe is serious about space and that @esa.int is the agency it trusts to deliver.
A historic Ministerial. A united Europe. A stronger ESA.
www.esa.int/About_Us/Cor...
November 27, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Europe passed the US in ground-based astronomy long ago and now we’ll see the same in space.
Reposted by John Gizis
This is an incredible image of comet 3I/ATLAS, taken by Satoru Murata ICQ Comet Observations group on 16 November 2025 from western New Mexico.
Structure within the major dust tail from the comet is clearly visible, together with two smaller jets trailing the nucleus and maybe even an anti-tail.
Structure within the major dust tail from the comet is clearly visible, together with two smaller jets trailing the nucleus and maybe even an anti-tail.
November 24, 2025 at 11:50 PM
This is an incredible image of comet 3I/ATLAS, taken by Satoru Murata ICQ Comet Observations group on 16 November 2025 from western New Mexico.
Structure within the major dust tail from the comet is clearly visible, together with two smaller jets trailing the nucleus and maybe even an anti-tail.
Structure within the major dust tail from the comet is clearly visible, together with two smaller jets trailing the nucleus and maybe even an anti-tail.
Funny to see Caltech campus reimagined in A Man on the Inside
November 22, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Funny to see Caltech campus reimagined in A Man on the Inside
Reposted by John Gizis
These personal attacks have no place in a gentleman’s game like Ivy League football
November 22, 2025 at 7:50 PM
These personal attacks have no place in a gentleman’s game like Ivy League football
What a story from my congressional district.
SCOOP — A former staffer for Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), Natalie Green, 26, was charged today for falsely reporting she was attacked by 3 men who wrote "TRUMP WHORE" on her stomach bc of her job. It was staged by her + a friend.
Van Drew isn't named in the complaint but I've confirmed w/ his office.
Van Drew isn't named in the complaint but I've confirmed w/ his office.
Employee of a Federal Official Charged with Conspiracy to Falsely Report Violent Attack and Giving False Statements to Law Enforcement
A New Jersey woman was charged with conspiring and falsely reporting to law enforcement that she had been violently assaulted with a firearm due to her employment with a federal official.
www.justice.gov
November 19, 2025 at 11:26 PM
What a story from my congressional district.
Reposted by John Gizis
Here are the #I/ATLAS releases from varied NASA/ESA missions. Having worked with such telescope & spacecraft data for 40 years, my perspective is: no surprises. It's a comet; its differences from Solar System comets are intriguing but every comet is different! science.nasa.gov/solar-system...
November 19, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Here are the #I/ATLAS releases from varied NASA/ESA missions. Having worked with such telescope & spacecraft data for 40 years, my perspective is: no surprises. It's a comet; its differences from Solar System comets are intriguing but every comet is different! science.nasa.gov/solar-system...
The writers bringing in Mark Sanford is a bit too much fan service.
November 18, 2025 at 2:09 AM
The writers bringing in Mark Sanford is a bit too much fan service.
Reposted by John Gizis
lol this actor on Bridgerton thinks that not eating between breakfast and lunch is "intermittent fasting." I've tried that diet too! So far no results but it's only been a few years.
November 17, 2025 at 3:38 PM
lol this actor on Bridgerton thinks that not eating between breakfast and lunch is "intermittent fasting." I've tried that diet too! So far no results but it's only been a few years.
Reposted by John Gizis
Got crushed on today's Wordle
November 13, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Got crushed on today's Wordle
Reposted by John Gizis
Astro PhD applications for Edinburgh are open! Deadlines are:
* 24 Nov: Career Development Scholarship (for students of Black heritage)
* 5 Dec: Bell Burnell Scholarship (for all URM students)
* 5 Jan: all applications
Come to beautiful Scotland! 🏴
Applying is free! 🔭🧪
ifa.roe.ac.uk/phds-jobs-fe...
* 24 Nov: Career Development Scholarship (for students of Black heritage)
* 5 Dec: Bell Burnell Scholarship (for all URM students)
* 5 Jan: all applications
Come to beautiful Scotland! 🏴
Applying is free! 🔭🧪
ifa.roe.ac.uk/phds-jobs-fe...
November 13, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Astro PhD applications for Edinburgh are open! Deadlines are:
* 24 Nov: Career Development Scholarship (for students of Black heritage)
* 5 Dec: Bell Burnell Scholarship (for all URM students)
* 5 Jan: all applications
Come to beautiful Scotland! 🏴
Applying is free! 🔭🧪
ifa.roe.ac.uk/phds-jobs-fe...
* 24 Nov: Career Development Scholarship (for students of Black heritage)
* 5 Dec: Bell Burnell Scholarship (for all URM students)
* 5 Jan: all applications
Come to beautiful Scotland! 🏴
Applying is free! 🔭🧪
ifa.roe.ac.uk/phds-jobs-fe...
Reposted by John Gizis
Thrilled to announce our new Springer Nature paper is now live!
We’ve tuned into a massive stellar storm on the radio! 🌟📡
We’ve tuned into a massive stellar storm on the radio! 🌟📡
November 12, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Thrilled to announce our new Springer Nature paper is now live!
We’ve tuned into a massive stellar storm on the radio! 🌟📡
We’ve tuned into a massive stellar storm on the radio! 🌟📡