Dr. Ryan French
@ryanjfrench.bsky.social
British Solar Astrophysicist at the Laboratory of Atmospheric & Space Physics ☀️ Author of ‘Space Hazards’ and 'The Sun: Beginner’s Guide to Our Local Star' - (views my own)
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Dr. Ryan French
@ryanjfrench.bsky.social
· Dec 12
I feel it’s time I formally introduce myself on this app! I'm a Sun scientist researching solar flares - and value the importance of communicating the facts (and combating the fiction) of that science to the world.
My first book, ‘The Sun: beginners guide to our local star’, published last year ☀️
My first book, ‘The Sun: beginners guide to our local star’, published last year ☀️
After 3 full days without any notable #SolarFlare activity, the Sun just popped off a moderate M6-class flare! The catch? The event originated from tiny active region AR 14300, and not the behemoth cluster of sunspots we expect to be producing major activity!
December 4, 2025 at 3:05 AM
After 3 full days without any notable #SolarFlare activity, the Sun just popped off a moderate M6-class flare! The catch? The event originated from tiny active region AR 14300, and not the behemoth cluster of sunspots we expect to be producing major activity!
Gracefully carving through the solar corona, a mini eruption of filament plasma erupted from the Sun earlier today! Beautiful.
December 4, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Gracefully carving through the solar corona, a mini eruption of filament plasma erupted from the Sun earlier today! Beautiful.
Thank you Astrobites and @astroneal.bsky.social for reviewing my new book, ‘Space Hazards’! The title releases in the USA next week, and already available elsewhere (from wherever you buy your books!)
From Niloofar Sharei @astroneal.bsky.social : French’s new book separates real cosmic dangers from exaggerated ones, offering a grounded guide to the threats above our planet. ⚛️🔭☄🧪
astrobites.org/2025/12/01/b...
astrobites.org/2025/12/01/b...
Book Review: Space Hazards: Asteroids, Solar Flares and Cosmic Threats
French’s new book seperates real cosmic dangers from exaggerated ones, offering a grounded guide to the threats above our planet.
astrobites.org
December 3, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Thank you Astrobites and @astroneal.bsky.social for reviewing my new book, ‘Space Hazards’! The title releases in the USA next week, and already available elsewhere (from wherever you buy your books!)
Reposted by Dr. Ryan French
Really enjoyed reading your book @ryanjfrench.bsky.social and it was a pleasure to write about it. Thanks for writing such a clear and engaging read☄️🔭
From Niloofar Sharei @astroneal.bsky.social : French’s new book separates real cosmic dangers from exaggerated ones, offering a grounded guide to the threats above our planet. ⚛️🔭☄🧪
astrobites.org/2025/12/01/b...
astrobites.org/2025/12/01/b...
Book Review: Space Hazards: Asteroids, Solar Flares and Cosmic Threats
French’s new book seperates real cosmic dangers from exaggerated ones, offering a grounded guide to the threats above our planet.
astrobites.org
December 2, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Really enjoyed reading your book @ryanjfrench.bsky.social and it was a pleasure to write about it. Thanks for writing such a clear and engaging read☄️🔭
The entirety of November 2025 on the Sun! Despite strong solar flares and severe geomagnetic storms, last month saw a low sunspot count – with the second lowest monthly total since November 2022 (with half of the sunspots present in July/August 2024).
December 2, 2025 at 11:53 PM
The entirety of November 2025 on the Sun! Despite strong solar flares and severe geomagnetic storms, last month saw a low sunspot count – with the second lowest monthly total since November 2022 (with half of the sunspots present in July/August 2024).
A closer look at the coronal mass ejection produced by last night’s major solar flare. Some models are predicting that the eruption may have a minor Earth-directed component! #spaceweather
December 2, 2025 at 2:10 AM
A closer look at the coronal mass ejection produced by last night’s major solar flare. Some models are predicting that the eruption may have a minor Earth-directed component! #spaceweather
Physics in action: a truly mesmerising #SolarFlare on the Sun last night, from the same region that produced strong flares and triggered widespread aurora back in mid-November. The flare gives a hypnotic example of how plasma and magnetic fields interact in the Sun’s atmosphere.
December 1, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Physics in action: a truly mesmerising #SolarFlare on the Sun last night, from the same region that produced strong flares and triggered widespread aurora back in mid-November. The flare gives a hypnotic example of how plasma and magnetic fields interact in the Sun’s atmosphere.
The recent X-class solar flare is from the newly-visible region in the north east of the Sun, and not the larger region visible in to south east. Expect more large flares in the coming days!
December 1, 2025 at 2:59 AM
The recent X-class solar flare is from the newly-visible region in the north east of the Sun, and not the larger region visible in to south east. Expect more large flares in the coming days!
An X-class #SolarFlare is current ongoing on the Sun, triggering a strong radio blackout here at Earth. #spaceweather
December 1, 2025 at 2:46 AM
An X-class #SolarFlare is current ongoing on the Sun, triggering a strong radio blackout here at Earth. #spaceweather
A busy active region on the Sun is currently rotating into Earth's view, producing two moderate solar flares as it arrives over the solar horizon. (This region was previously visible two weeks ago, where it produced a number of strong flares!) #spaceweather
November 29, 2025 at 1:41 AM
A busy active region on the Sun is currently rotating into Earth's view, producing two moderate solar flares as it arrives over the solar horizon. (This region was previously visible two weeks ago, where it produced a number of strong flares!) #spaceweather
A big day for space weather, with the BBC reporting that a Mexico-to-USA flight in October experienced a 'sudden drop in altitude', likely caused by *solar energetic particles* from the Sun. Here is an explanation and some thoughts as a solar astrophysicist (a thread): 1/8
November 28, 2025 at 9:44 PM
A big day for space weather, with the BBC reporting that a Mexico-to-USA flight in October experienced a 'sudden drop in altitude', likely caused by *solar energetic particles* from the Sun. Here is an explanation and some thoughts as a solar astrophysicist (a thread): 1/8
A pair of beautiful eruptions of filament plasma from the Sun’s north and south poles, happening near simultaneously. This movie, captured by GOES/SUVI, spans eight hours! #astronomy
November 20, 2025 at 4:52 AM
A pair of beautiful eruptions of filament plasma from the Sun’s north and south poles, happening near simultaneously. This movie, captured by GOES/SUVI, spans eight hours! #astronomy
As a scientist, this is always a great email to start off the week! New solar flare research coming soon. 💥☀️
November 17, 2025 at 5:59 PM
As a scientist, this is always a great email to start off the week! New solar flare research coming soon. 💥☀️
Yesterday I worked with the University of Colorado Boulder's media team to film a reel for the Associated Press about the science of the northern lights.
I edited some clips into a short video for my own YouTube channel, so check it out if you're interested!
Full video: youtu.be/pNuX7o63ELg?...
I edited some clips into a short video for my own YouTube channel, so check it out if you're interested!
Full video: youtu.be/pNuX7o63ELg?...
November 14, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Yesterday I worked with the University of Colorado Boulder's media team to film a reel for the Associated Press about the science of the northern lights.
I edited some clips into a short video for my own YouTube channel, so check it out if you're interested!
Full video: youtu.be/pNuX7o63ELg?...
I edited some clips into a short video for my own YouTube channel, so check it out if you're interested!
Full video: youtu.be/pNuX7o63ELg?...
With all the strong geomagnetic activity ongoing tonight, have you ever wondered how strong these events need to be to cause some damage? Has this happened in the past? I’d be silly not to use tonight’s hype to promote my new book, ‘Space Hazards’, which explores these questions!
November 12, 2025 at 6:34 AM
With all the strong geomagnetic activity ongoing tonight, have you ever wondered how strong these events need to be to cause some damage? Has this happened in the past? I’d be silly not to use tonight’s hype to promote my new book, ‘Space Hazards’, which explores these questions!
Some final aurora photos from me tonight, taken during the recent substorm at Coot Lake, Boulder CO. What a night! Let’s wait and see if tomorrow brings the expected round two.
November 12, 2025 at 5:47 AM
Some final aurora photos from me tonight, taken during the recent substorm at Coot Lake, Boulder CO. What a night! Let’s wait and see if tomorrow brings the expected round two.
The northern lights shot with my iPhone (just this second) in Boulder, Colorado. This is a very impressive event!
November 12, 2025 at 4:48 AM
The northern lights shot with my iPhone (just this second) in Boulder, Colorado. This is a very impressive event!
From colleagues – the northern lights are currently out in Boulder Colorado!
November 12, 2025 at 1:33 AM
From colleagues – the northern lights are currently out in Boulder Colorado!
Here is a view of today’s eruption from the Sun, currently en route to Earth. You can see a full ‘halo’ in the data, indicating the plasma is coming our way. You can also see the ‘fuzzy snow’ in the images, caused by particles from the solar flare hitting the camera!
November 11, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Here is a view of today’s eruption from the Sun, currently en route to Earth. You can see a full ‘halo’ in the data, indicating the plasma is coming our way. You can also see the ‘fuzzy snow’ in the images, caused by particles from the solar flare hitting the camera!
The Sun just produced an X5.1 class #SolarFlare. This is the largest flare of 2025 so far, and 6th largest of the past two years. It triggered a strong ‘Radio Blackout’ and moderate ‘Solar Radiation Storm’ at Earth, and released what is most likely an Earth-directed coronal mass ejection!
November 11, 2025 at 2:56 PM
The Sun just produced an X5.1 class #SolarFlare. This is the largest flare of 2025 so far, and 6th largest of the past two years. It triggered a strong ‘Radio Blackout’ and moderate ‘Solar Radiation Storm’ at Earth, and released what is most likely an Earth-directed coronal mass ejection!
The Sun produced another X-class solar flare today, launching a second coronal mass ejection our way! The models are predicting the likelihood of a strong geomagnetic storm (G3 on a scale of 1-5).
November 11, 2025 at 2:16 AM
The Sun produced another X-class solar flare today, launching a second coronal mass ejection our way! The models are predicting the likelihood of a strong geomagnetic storm (G3 on a scale of 1-5).
Not my usual science content – but last weekend I ran my first half marathon! It was tough, but I achieved a decent time I was happy with as a first attempt.
(I’m well aware of how this conforms to the ‘approaching 30’ stereotype!).
(I’m well aware of how this conforms to the ‘approaching 30’ stereotype!).
November 10, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Not my usual science content – but last weekend I ran my first half marathon! It was tough, but I achieved a decent time I was happy with as a first attempt.
(I’m well aware of how this conforms to the ‘approaching 30’ stereotype!).
(I’m well aware of how this conforms to the ‘approaching 30’ stereotype!).
Today the Sun produced an X1.8-class #SolarFlare (the highest category). The event also triggered an Earth-directed coronal mass ejection, although we are still yet-uncertain of the likely strength or timings of the impact at Earth. #spaceweather
November 9, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Today the Sun produced an X1.8-class #SolarFlare (the highest category). The event also triggered an Earth-directed coronal mass ejection, although we are still yet-uncertain of the likely strength or timings of the impact at Earth. #spaceweather
It was great chatting on FOX Weather today about the recent and upcoming aurora! Wishing everyone clear skies ahead of the (hopefully) incoming strong geomagnetic storm.
November 7, 2025 at 2:10 AM
It was great chatting on FOX Weather today about the recent and upcoming aurora! Wishing everyone clear skies ahead of the (hopefully) incoming strong geomagnetic storm.
Some better photos of the aurora from my Denver to Chicago flight last night! These were taken at 40° latitude during a moderate geomagnetic storm.
November 6, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Some better photos of the aurora from my Denver to Chicago flight last night! These were taken at 40° latitude during a moderate geomagnetic storm.