Kamber Schwarz
@theschwarz.bsky.social
140 followers 82 following 75 posts
Astrophysicist, postdoc, cat mom, she/her kamberschwarz.com
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theschwarz.bsky.social
Antifreeze? In MY planet-forming disk? It's more likely than you might think.
mpi-astro.bsky.social
New research suggests that the building blocks of life may not be formed locally, but could be widespread throughout the universe. Complex organic molecules are inherited and developed in protoplanetary discs, paving the way for life's origins. 🌍✨ #SpaceScience #OrganicMolecules 🔭
The evolution of life may have its origins in outer space
Astronomers find complex organic molecules – precursors to sugars and amino acids – in a planet-forming disc.
www.mpia.de
theschwarz.bsky.social
How's your Sunday going? Mine consists of coffee, a job application, and a disapproving cat.
theschwarz.bsky.social
I have that one at least once a month. It's terrifying.
theschwarz.bsky.social
I feel very called out
theschwarz.bsky.social
Should I spend Sunday working on this grant proposal or should I take a nap?
theschwarz.bsky.social
I recently got to talk to Space about a new JWST MINDS paper led by Maria Morales-Calderón! 🧪🔭 www.space.com/astronomy/ja...
theschwarz.bsky.social
Academics, this is your periodic reminder to maintain a personal webpage with an up to date email address.
Reposted by Kamber Schwarz
mpi-astro.bsky.social
1/ Heute, 12.8., ist um 13 Uhr der ehemalige MPIA-Direktor Thomas #Henning live auf Ö1 zu hören. Grundlage ist unsere Nachricht zu präbiotischen Molekülen in der Scheibe ✨ um V883 Ori. Aber es wird generell über den #Ursprung des Lebens gesprochen. #Astronomie #Leben @oeaw.bsky.social 🔭
Reposted by Kamber Schwarz
sierragrant.bsky.social
Another MINDS JWST paper! We explore the stark transition from H2O-dominated spectra in Sun-like systems to the carbon-rich chemistry seen for low-mass objects. We don't know exactly what is driving this trend, but we explore the possibilities that may be acting in concert.
arxiv.org/pdf/2508.04692
Reposted by Kamber Schwarz
sierragrant.bsky.social
New MINDS paper from Nicolas Kurtovic, focused on binary systems. Spectra, extended emission, variability, multi-observatory analysis -- there's something for everyone!
arxiv.org/pdf/2508.02576
Reposted by Kamber Schwarz
mpi-astro.bsky.social
New research suggests that the building blocks of life may not be formed locally, but could be widespread throughout the universe. Complex organic molecules are inherited and developed in protoplanetary discs, paving the way for life's origins. 🌍✨ #SpaceScience #OrganicMolecules 🔭
The evolution of life may have its origins in outer space
Astronomers find complex organic molecules – precursors to sugars and amino acids – in a planet-forming disc.
www.mpia.de
Reposted by Kamber Schwarz
eso.org
ESO @eso.org · Jul 24
ALMA found evidence for complex organic compounds, such as sugars & amino acids, in a protoplanetary disc.

Thus, discs may inherit these complex molecules from interstellar clouds.

More in this press release by @mpi-astro.bsky.social : https://www.mpia.de/news/science/2025-05-v881-ori

🔭 🧪
The evolution of life may have its origins in outer space
Astronomers find complex organic molecules – precursors to sugars and amino acids – in a planet-forming disc.
www.mpia.de
theschwarz.bsky.social
Antifreeze? In MY planet-forming disk? It's more likely than you might think.
mpi-astro.bsky.social
New research suggests that the building blocks of life may not be formed locally, but could be widespread throughout the universe. Complex organic molecules are inherited and developed in protoplanetary discs, paving the way for life's origins. 🌍✨ #SpaceScience #OrganicMolecules 🔭
The evolution of life may have its origins in outer space
Astronomers find complex organic molecules – precursors to sugars and amino acids – in a planet-forming disc.
www.mpia.de
theschwarz.bsky.social
My student Abubakar Fadul's most recent paper is now on arXiv! He found evidence of ethylene glycol (aka antifreeze) and glycolonitrile in a protoplanetary disk. If confirmed, these will be the most complex organics seen in a disk! 🔭🧪☄️ arxiv.org/abs/2507.14905
A deep Search for Ethylene Glycol and Glycolonitrile in the V883 Ori Protoplanetary Disk
Ethylene glycol ($\mathrm{(CH_2OH)_2}$, hereafter EG) and Glycolonitrile ($\mathrm{HOCH_2CN}$, hereafter GN) are considered molecular precursors of nucleic acids. EG is a sugar alcohol and the reduced...
arxiv.org
theschwarz.bsky.social
How to comment on paper drafts:
murderbotbot.bsky.social
pretending you were asking for more information was the best way to try to get the humans to realize they were doing something stupid.
Reposted by Kamber Schwarz
davidimiller.bsky.social
🧪 BREAKING (good news): Senate subcommittee says NO! to Trump's proposed slashes to NASA & NSF funding.

Today, the subcommittee said to keep NASA + NSF funding at $33.9 billion, the same as in FY24.

See 7:15 below. Full Senate appropriations committee meets tomorrow about it.

🧵 1/3
Subcommittee Markup of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act | United States Senate Committee on Appropriations
United States Senate Committee on Appropriations
www.appropriations.senate.gov
Reposted by Kamber Schwarz
maxplanck.de
Closer science ties across the Atlantic: the Max Planck Society has just launched its new #Transatlantic Program to boost collaboration with top U.S. institutions & open up more chances for researchers at every level - from #PhDs & #postdocs to directors!🌍🔬 www.mpg.de/25034916/max...
Max Planck Transatlantic Program
With its new Transatlantic Program, the Max Planck Society aims to strengthen collaboration and partnerships between its Institutes and leading U.S. institutions. At the same time, it seeks to counter...
www.mpg.de
Reposted by Kamber Schwarz
iyadrahwan.bsky.social
It is with great pleasure that I share MAXMINDS 2.0, a new Max Planck program to support scholars in danger of displacement by war or natural disasters, and who have limited access to resources and institutional support.

If you know affected scholars, please share.

www.maxminds.mpg.de
MAXMINDS 2.0 Homepage
MAXMINDS 2.0
www.maxminds.mpg.de
theschwarz.bsky.social
Celebrating Independence Day by doing the most American thing I can think of: working during vacation because I don't have job security and am terrified of unemployment.
Reposted by Kamber Schwarz
pascucci.bsky.social
Twelve ALMA/AGE-PRO papers just out! Exploring how gas and dust evolve in disks 🌟🌀 — Congrats to all authors! 🎉
NRAO press release: public.nrao.edu/news/alma-pl...