Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Kamber Schwarz @theschwarz.bsky.social · 6d

How's your Sunday going? Mine consists of coffee, a job application, and a disapproving cat.

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Kamber Schwarz @theschwarz.bsky.social · 12d

I have that one at least once a month. It's terrifying.

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Kamber Schwarz @theschwarz.bsky.social · 12d

Me at 35 being asked to write a five paragraph essay like I'm in high school again

a black and white cat laying on a carpet being petted by a person

ALT: a black and white cat laying on a carpet being petted by a person

media.tenor.com

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Kamber Schwarz @theschwarz.bsky.social · 21d

I'd been meaning to par down my streaming subscriptions. Disney made it easy to pick the loser.

a cartoon character is falling down with a surprised expression on his face

ALT: a cartoon character is falling down with a surprised expression on his face

media.tenor.com

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Kamber Schwarz @theschwarz.bsky.social · 25d

"We use the updated values." But what are the updated values? Where did you get them from?

a close up of a man 's face with the words tell me written on it

ALT: a close up of a man 's face with the words tell me written on it

media.tenor.com

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Kamber Schwarz @theschwarz.bsky.social · 27d

I feel very called out

Kamber Schwarz @theschwarz.bsky.social · 27d

Should I spend Sunday working on this grant proposal or should I take a nap?

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Kamber Schwarz @theschwarz.bsky.social · Sep 7

I recently got to talk to Space about a new JWST MINDS paper led by Maria Morales-Calderón! 🧪🔭 www.space.com/astronomy/ja...

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Kamber Schwarz @theschwarz.bsky.social · Aug 26

Academics, this is your periodic reminder to maintain a personal webpage with an up to date email address.

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Kamber Schwarz @theschwarz.bsky.social · Aug 18

I recently did an interview on the origins of life that is 100% alien-spaceship free. You can read about it here: open.substack.com/pub/storiesf... 🧪🔭

How the building blocks of life fought to survive in the planet-forming disc 4.5 billion years ago

The basic chemical precursors to life came from space, brought to Earth on asteroids and comets, but how did these precious molecules survive the ferocious environment of the protoplanetary disc?

open.substack.com

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Reposted by Kamber Schwarz

Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie @mpi-astro.bsky.social · Aug 12

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 🔭

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Reposted by Kamber Schwarz

Sierra Grant @sierragrant.bsky.social · Aug 7

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

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Reposted by Kamber Schwarz

Sierra Grant @sierragrant.bsky.social · Aug 5

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

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Reposted by Kamber Schwarz

Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie @mpi-astro.bsky.social · Jul 24

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

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Kamber Schwarz @theschwarz.bsky.social · Jul 25

🥰

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Reposted by Kamber Schwarz

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

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Kamber Schwarz @theschwarz.bsky.social · Jul 24

Antifreeze? In MY planet-forming disk? It's more likely than you might think.

Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie @mpi-astro.bsky.social · Jul 24

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

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Kamber Schwarz @theschwarz.bsky.social · Jul 22

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

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Kamber Schwarz @theschwarz.bsky.social · Jul 14

How to comment on paper drafts:

MurderBotBot @murderbotbot.bsky.social · Jul 13

pretending you were asking for more information was the best way to try to get the humans to realize they were doing something stupid.

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Reposted by Kamber Schwarz

Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 @davidimiller.bsky.social · Jul 10

🧪 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.

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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

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Reposted by Kamber Schwarz

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft @maxplanck.de · Jul 8

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

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Reposted by Kamber Schwarz

Iyad Rahwan | إياد رهوان @iyadrahwan.bsky.social · Jul 7

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

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Kamber Schwarz @theschwarz.bsky.social · Jul 4

😭

Kamber Schwarz @theschwarz.bsky.social · Jul 4

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.

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Reposted by Kamber Schwarz

Ilaria Pascucci @pascucci.bsky.social · Jun 13

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...

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