Tom Megeath
@megadeath.bsky.social
Astronomer studying the birth of stars, rust belt academic, connoisseur of beer inspired acronyms, closet Dadaist, & child of immigrant.
Reposted by Tom Megeath
White House Withholds Funding for NASA Science Missions Despite Recent Budget Bill gizmodo.com/white-house-...
White House Withholds Funding for NASA Science Missions Despite Recent Budget Bill
NASA has been forced to pause funds for Chandra X-Ray Observatory and other missions until further notice.
gizmodo.com
February 13, 2026 at 5:25 PM
White House Withholds Funding for NASA Science Missions Despite Recent Budget Bill gizmodo.com/white-house-...
Reposted by Tom Megeath
Had a blast speaking to curler and geologist Derek Leung about the geology of curling rocks. 🥌 🧪
Why curling rocks come from just two spots on Earth
The rocks used in the Olympic sport of curling come from one island in Scotland and one quarry in Wales. What makes them so special?
www.scientificamerican.com
February 10, 2026 at 12:50 PM
Had a blast speaking to curler and geologist Derek Leung about the geology of curling rocks. 🥌 🧪
Reposted by Tom Megeath
Mondays are better with an octopus squid 🦑💫
The octopus squid (Octopoteuthis deletron) is unusual among squids. Most squids have eight arms and two long tentacles, making a total of 10 appendages. As young Octopoteuthis mature, their two feeding tentacles are reabsorbed into their bodies.
The octopus squid (Octopoteuthis deletron) is unusual among squids. Most squids have eight arms and two long tentacles, making a total of 10 appendages. As young Octopoteuthis mature, their two feeding tentacles are reabsorbed into their bodies.
February 2, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Mondays are better with an octopus squid 🦑💫
The octopus squid (Octopoteuthis deletron) is unusual among squids. Most squids have eight arms and two long tentacles, making a total of 10 appendages. As young Octopoteuthis mature, their two feeding tentacles are reabsorbed into their bodies.
The octopus squid (Octopoteuthis deletron) is unusual among squids. Most squids have eight arms and two long tentacles, making a total of 10 appendages. As young Octopoteuthis mature, their two feeding tentacles are reabsorbed into their bodies.
Reposted by Tom Megeath
EVs now represent more than 10% of new car sales in 39 countries, including Vietnam at 38% and Indonesia at 15%.
In the U.S., that figure is less than 10%.
The gap signals a competitive problem that goes far beyond climate – it's about who controls the future of automotive jobs. buff.ly/H5ETTBQ
In the U.S., that figure is less than 10%.
The gap signals a competitive problem that goes far beyond climate – it's about who controls the future of automotive jobs. buff.ly/H5ETTBQ
America is falling behind in the global EV race – that’s going to cost the US auto industry
Electric vehicles are a fast-growing share of auto sales in many countries, and Chinese automakers are benefiting as the US industry pulls back.
buff.ly
February 3, 2026 at 12:14 PM
EVs now represent more than 10% of new car sales in 39 countries, including Vietnam at 38% and Indonesia at 15%.
In the U.S., that figure is less than 10%.
The gap signals a competitive problem that goes far beyond climate – it's about who controls the future of automotive jobs. buff.ly/H5ETTBQ
In the U.S., that figure is less than 10%.
The gap signals a competitive problem that goes far beyond climate – it's about who controls the future of automotive jobs. buff.ly/H5ETTBQ
Reposted by Tom Megeath
Enjoy a Medieval Cover of R.E.M.‘s “Losing My Religion” www.openculture.com/2026/01/enjo...
Enjoy a Medieval Cover of R.E.M.‘s “Losing My Religion”
During her lifetime, the medieval abbess Hildegard von Bingen (1098–1179) composed roughly 77 songs and hymns. She remains the earliest known woman composer in Western classical music and one of the m...
www.openculture.com
January 27, 2026 at 1:56 PM
Enjoy a Medieval Cover of R.E.M.‘s “Losing My Religion” www.openculture.com/2026/01/enjo...
Reposted by Tom Megeath
Dragonfly 😍 dragonfly.jhuapl.edu/Gallery/file...
dragonfly.jhuapl.edu
January 27, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Dragonfly 😍 dragonfly.jhuapl.edu/Gallery/file...
Reposted by Tom Megeath
The US government lost more than 10,000 STEM PhDs last year, according to an analysis by Science of newly released OPM data, with 11 departures for every hire. And many OPM calls "voluntary" separations were probably pushed. www.science.org/content/arti...
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 1:28 AM
The US government lost more than 10,000 STEM PhDs last year, according to an analysis by Science of newly released OPM data, with 11 departures for every hire. And many OPM calls "voluntary" separations were probably pushed. www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Tom Megeath
If you need some extra distraction from *gestures broadly at everything,* Kilauea is here to help. The next eruptive episode, episode 41, looks to be kicking off right now! Fountains are starting to grow in height.
USGS LIVE stream here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXKu...
USGS LIVE stream here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXKu...
January 24, 2026 at 9:20 PM
If you need some extra distraction from *gestures broadly at everything,* Kilauea is here to help. The next eruptive episode, episode 41, looks to be kicking off right now! Fountains are starting to grow in height.
USGS LIVE stream here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXKu...
USGS LIVE stream here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXKu...
Reposted by Tom Megeath
The Nesin Mathematics Village in western Turkey was dreamed up by award-winning mathematician Ali Nesin to engage his students
These images explore a 'utopic' village built for teaching maths
The Nesin Mathematics Village in western Turkey was dreamed up by award-winning mathematician Ali Nesin to engage his students
www.newscientist.com
January 24, 2026 at 3:25 PM
The Nesin Mathematics Village in western Turkey was dreamed up by award-winning mathematician Ali Nesin to engage his students
Reposted by Tom Megeath
OTD five yrs ago, thanks to the dedication and hard work of @nuclearban.bsky.social, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons entered into force, making the development, testing, production, possession, stockpiling, and use—or threatened use—of nuclear weapons anywhere in the world illegal.
January 22, 2026 at 1:39 PM
OTD five yrs ago, thanks to the dedication and hard work of @nuclearban.bsky.social, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons entered into force, making the development, testing, production, possession, stockpiling, and use—or threatened use—of nuclear weapons anywhere in the world illegal.
Reposted by Tom Megeath
Our paper on the mysterious Devonian organism Prototaxites has now finally been published! See the paper here (www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...) and our explainer thread below!
Prototaxites reconstruction by Matt Humpage
Prototaxites reconstruction by Matt Humpage
January 21, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Our paper on the mysterious Devonian organism Prototaxites has now finally been published! See the paper here (www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...) and our explainer thread below!
Prototaxites reconstruction by Matt Humpage
Prototaxites reconstruction by Matt Humpage
On the 25th anniversary of the Wikipedia, I wanted to express my gratitude to the writers of the Hydrogen Spectral Series page (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroge...). Great resource for me and the students I work with, and a great example of a useful and concise wikipedia page.
Hydrogen spectral series - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
January 15, 2026 at 8:51 PM
On the 25th anniversary of the Wikipedia, I wanted to express my gratitude to the writers of the Hydrogen Spectral Series page (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroge...). Great resource for me and the students I work with, and a great example of a useful and concise wikipedia page.
Reposted by Tom Megeath
I tried to create a small video showing the orbit of the #AlphaCentauri binary star, the closest star system to our sun (without Proxima).
Here is #Spitzer IRAC 4.5 Microns (infrared) with quite a gap between 2006 and 2016. The orbit between the two stars has i=79° (seeing the orbit on its side).
Here is #Spitzer IRAC 4.5 Microns (infrared) with quite a gap between 2006 and 2016. The orbit between the two stars has i=79° (seeing the orbit on its side).
January 15, 2026 at 11:07 AM
I tried to create a small video showing the orbit of the #AlphaCentauri binary star, the closest star system to our sun (without Proxima).
Here is #Spitzer IRAC 4.5 Microns (infrared) with quite a gap between 2006 and 2016. The orbit between the two stars has i=79° (seeing the orbit on its side).
Here is #Spitzer IRAC 4.5 Microns (infrared) with quite a gap between 2006 and 2016. The orbit between the two stars has i=79° (seeing the orbit on its side).
Reposted by Tom Megeath
People will get sicker. More people will have heart attacks and lung disease and other health challenges because of pollution. People’s lives will get worse, and shorter. People you know. Maybe me. Maybe you.
Breaking News: The EPA will stop considering lives saved when setting pollution limits and instead calculate only the cost to businesses.
E.P.A. to Stop Considering Lives Saved by Limiting Air Pollution
In a reversal, the agency plans to calculate only the cost to industry when setting pollution limits, and not the monetary value of saving human lives, documents show.
nyti.ms
January 12, 2026 at 7:10 PM
People will get sicker. More people will have heart attacks and lung disease and other health challenges because of pollution. People’s lives will get worse, and shorter. People you know. Maybe me. Maybe you.
Reposted by Tom Megeath
Born on this day, January 9, 1944:
Jimmy Page, legendary Led Zeppelin guitarist, here showing off his antique cargo trike.
Happy #bicyclebirthday, Jimmy!
Jimmy Page, legendary Led Zeppelin guitarist, here showing off his antique cargo trike.
Happy #bicyclebirthday, Jimmy!
January 9, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Born on this day, January 9, 1944:
Jimmy Page, legendary Led Zeppelin guitarist, here showing off his antique cargo trike.
Happy #bicyclebirthday, Jimmy!
Jimmy Page, legendary Led Zeppelin guitarist, here showing off his antique cargo trike.
Happy #bicyclebirthday, Jimmy!
Reposted by Tom Megeath
Even the UW Madison Libraries (which are great!) can't keep up with the ever-proliferating Springer Nature journals. Sorry, not going to pay $39.95 per article.
January 8, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Even the UW Madison Libraries (which are great!) can't keep up with the ever-proliferating Springer Nature journals. Sorry, not going to pay $39.95 per article.
Reposted by Tom Megeath
Watch tonight on PBS (9 PM eastern, 8 PM central) and PBS Passport:
January 6, 2026 at 4:17 PM
Watch tonight on PBS (9 PM eastern, 8 PM central) and PBS Passport:
Reposted by Tom Megeath
Since posting this 2025 year-long keogram, there have been quite a few questions asking how it was created and what is visible. In this thread I'll try to explain how it all works.
January 6, 2026 at 1:19 PM
Since posting this 2025 year-long keogram, there have been quite a few questions asking how it was created and what is visible. In this thread I'll try to explain how it all works.
Reposted by Tom Megeath
This is one of my favourite space pictures.
Crescent Earth, photographed by the crew of Apollo 15.
Crescent Earth, photographed by the crew of Apollo 15.
January 5, 2026 at 11:17 PM
This is one of my favourite space pictures.
Crescent Earth, photographed by the crew of Apollo 15.
Crescent Earth, photographed by the crew of Apollo 15.
Reposted by Tom Megeath
Very good news for NASA Science in the compromise 2026 funding bill released by Congress today:
January 5, 2026 at 6:05 PM
Very good news for NASA Science in the compromise 2026 funding bill released by Congress today:
Reposted by Tom Megeath
#PPOD: Team members working with NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover created this “postcard” by commanding the rover to take images at two times of day on Nov. 18, 2025, spanning the 4,722nd and 4,723rd Martian days, or sols, of the mission. 🧪 🔭
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
January 5, 2026 at 4:00 PM
#PPOD: Team members working with NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover created this “postcard” by commanding the rover to take images at two times of day on Nov. 18, 2025, spanning the 4,722nd and 4,723rd Martian days, or sols, of the mission. 🧪 🔭
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Reposted by Tom Megeath
NASA's SPHEREx has completed its first multispectral map of the infrared sky.
It sees the sky in 102 infrared "colors," which lets it do things like this: One image highlights mature stars; the other focuses on carbon soot & gas clouds where new stars form. 🧪🔭
www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/pia26...
It sees the sky in 102 infrared "colors," which lets it do things like this: One image highlights mature stars; the other focuses on carbon soot & gas clouds where new stars form. 🧪🔭
www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/pia26...
January 2, 2026 at 11:59 PM
NASA's SPHEREx has completed its first multispectral map of the infrared sky.
It sees the sky in 102 infrared "colors," which lets it do things like this: One image highlights mature stars; the other focuses on carbon soot & gas clouds where new stars form. 🧪🔭
www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/pia26...
It sees the sky in 102 infrared "colors," which lets it do things like this: One image highlights mature stars; the other focuses on carbon soot & gas clouds where new stars form. 🧪🔭
www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/pia26...
Reposted by Tom Megeath
The twelfth installment in the @nytimes.com Lost Science series is up: an entomologist who helped protect people from malaria. Story by @alexaroblesgil.bsky.social Gift link: nyti.ms/4pBdYbk
She Studied Mosquitoes to Prevent Malaria
www.nytimes.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:44 PM
The twelfth installment in the @nytimes.com Lost Science series is up: an entomologist who helped protect people from malaria. Story by @alexaroblesgil.bsky.social Gift link: nyti.ms/4pBdYbk
Reposted by Tom Megeath
The @nytimes.com Lost Science series continues. Here's my Q&A with a scientist who was studying how wildfire smoke threatens human health when the EPA decided that her research was no longer a funding priority. Gift link: nyti.ms/4jhpw14
December 27, 2025 at 5:11 PM
The @nytimes.com Lost Science series continues. Here's my Q&A with a scientist who was studying how wildfire smoke threatens human health when the EPA decided that her research was no longer a funding priority. Gift link: nyti.ms/4jhpw14