Brian D. Wade
@astrobrian.bsky.social
Father, husband, and scientist. Interested in astrobiology, evolution, microbes, and all things space exploration. he/him/his
Reposted by Brian D. Wade
Today is the LAST DAY to register for the MSGC Fall Conference on 10/31!
Our annual Fall Conference is an opportunity to make connections in the MI space community, and where MSGC awardees can present the results of their research & the impact of their efforts. www.mispacegrant.org/2026-fall-co...
Our annual Fall Conference is an opportunity to make connections in the MI space community, and where MSGC awardees can present the results of their research & the impact of their efforts. www.mispacegrant.org/2026-fall-co...
September 25, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Today is the LAST DAY to register for the MSGC Fall Conference on 10/31!
Our annual Fall Conference is an opportunity to make connections in the MI space community, and where MSGC awardees can present the results of their research & the impact of their efforts. www.mispacegrant.org/2026-fall-co...
Our annual Fall Conference is an opportunity to make connections in the MI space community, and where MSGC awardees can present the results of their research & the impact of their efforts. www.mispacegrant.org/2026-fall-co...
Reposted by Brian D. Wade
The @stsci.edu posted this JWST image from 2023 earlier today—and I had to do the same.
This is only a portion (about 50 lightyears across) of the Milky Way's centre. In this view, there's an estimated half-million stars.
In our night sky, at a dark site, humans can see ~2,000 stars unaided.
This is only a portion (about 50 lightyears across) of the Milky Way's centre. In this view, there's an estimated half-million stars.
In our night sky, at a dark site, humans can see ~2,000 stars unaided.
September 25, 2026 at 3:52 PM
The @stsci.edu posted this JWST image from 2023 earlier today—and I had to do the same.
This is only a portion (about 50 lightyears across) of the Milky Way's centre. In this view, there's an estimated half-million stars.
In our night sky, at a dark site, humans can see ~2,000 stars unaided.
This is only a portion (about 50 lightyears across) of the Milky Way's centre. In this view, there's an estimated half-million stars.
In our night sky, at a dark site, humans can see ~2,000 stars unaided.
Reposted by Brian D. Wade
Carl Sagan 🧵
"The Fermi paradox essentially says that if there's extraterrestrial high technology intelligence anywhere they should have been here because if they travel at the speed of light, the galaxy is 100,000 light-years across, it takes you 100,000 years to cross the galaxy.
"The Fermi paradox essentially says that if there's extraterrestrial high technology intelligence anywhere they should have been here because if they travel at the speed of light, the galaxy is 100,000 light-years across, it takes you 100,000 years to cross the galaxy.
September 24, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Carl Sagan 🧵
"The Fermi paradox essentially says that if there's extraterrestrial high technology intelligence anywhere they should have been here because if they travel at the speed of light, the galaxy is 100,000 light-years across, it takes you 100,000 years to cross the galaxy.
"The Fermi paradox essentially says that if there's extraterrestrial high technology intelligence anywhere they should have been here because if they travel at the speed of light, the galaxy is 100,000 light-years across, it takes you 100,000 years to cross the galaxy.
Reposted by Brian D. Wade
This is a SMALL version of the largest JWST image released so far—of IC 348, a star-forming region about 1,000 lightyears away.
Open up the image and marvel in the incredible beauty even in our galactic neighbourhood.
This is what it looks like when stars are born.
Open up the image and marvel in the incredible beauty even in our galactic neighbourhood.
This is what it looks like when stars are born.
September 24, 2026 at 3:54 PM
This is a SMALL version of the largest JWST image released so far—of IC 348, a star-forming region about 1,000 lightyears away.
Open up the image and marvel in the incredible beauty even in our galactic neighbourhood.
This is what it looks like when stars are born.
Open up the image and marvel in the incredible beauty even in our galactic neighbourhood.
This is what it looks like when stars are born.
Reposted by Brian D. Wade
JAXA's Hayabusa2 flew within 400 meters (1,300 feet) of asteroid Torifune on July 5 and confirmed it's a contact binary, two lobes stuck together. Tune in to Planetary Radio to hear what it means for planetary defense. www.planetary.org/planetary-ra...
Hayabusa2 flies by asteroid Torifune
NASA Chief Scientist for Small Body Exploration at Johnson Space Center, Paul Abell, takes us inside Hayabusa2's flyby of asteroid Torifune and the…
www.planetary.org
September 24, 2026 at 3:58 PM
JAXA's Hayabusa2 flew within 400 meters (1,300 feet) of asteroid Torifune on July 5 and confirmed it's a contact binary, two lobes stuck together. Tune in to Planetary Radio to hear what it means for planetary defense. www.planetary.org/planetary-ra...
Reposted by Brian D. Wade
Cloudy with a chance of dust ☁️
This cloud-strewn image shows RCW 36, an emission nebula within a larger complex, the Vela Molecular Ridge.
RCW 36 is one of the closest sites to our Solar System where certain objects are forming. Read more: https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw1949a/
🔭
This cloud-strewn image shows RCW 36, an emission nebula within a larger complex, the Vela Molecular Ridge.
RCW 36 is one of the closest sites to our Solar System where certain objects are forming. Read more: https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw1949a/
🔭
September 24, 2026 at 12:02 PM
Cloudy with a chance of dust ☁️
This cloud-strewn image shows RCW 36, an emission nebula within a larger complex, the Vela Molecular Ridge.
RCW 36 is one of the closest sites to our Solar System where certain objects are forming. Read more: https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw1949a/
🔭
This cloud-strewn image shows RCW 36, an emission nebula within a larger complex, the Vela Molecular Ridge.
RCW 36 is one of the closest sites to our Solar System where certain objects are forming. Read more: https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw1949a/
🔭
Not set in stone: teachers are defying mandates to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms
#SeparationOfChurchAndState #educationSky #eduSky
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
#SeparationOfChurchAndState #educationSky #eduSky
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Not set in stone: teachers are defying mandates to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms
Some educators are pushing back in class and in court against the display of the religious code in public schools
www.theguardian.com
September 24, 2026 at 12:36 AM
Not set in stone: teachers are defying mandates to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms
#SeparationOfChurchAndState #educationSky #eduSky
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
#SeparationOfChurchAndState #educationSky #eduSky
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Lake- and groundwater-associated alteration of the olivine-rich Margin unit in Jezero crater, Mars
#Mars #astrobiology
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
#Mars #astrobiology
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
Lake- and groundwater-associated alteration of the olivine-rich Margin unit in Jezero crater, Mars - Communications Earth & Environment
Textural, mineralogical, and chemical analyses of the Jezero crater Margin unit from Perseverance’s SuperCam identify multiple episodes of aqueous alteration driven by early carbon-rich fluids, paleol...
www.nature.com
September 24, 2026 at 12:31 AM
Lake- and groundwater-associated alteration of the olivine-rich Margin unit in Jezero crater, Mars
#Mars #astrobiology
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
#Mars #astrobiology
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
Reposted by Brian D. Wade
This is the Dragonfly spacecraft, ultimately destined for Titan, photographed in July during early construction at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.
The mission PI, Zibi Turtle, shared this image at the OPAG meeting today.
Credit: NASA/JHU APL/Zibi Turtle
The mission PI, Zibi Turtle, shared this image at the OPAG meeting today.
Credit: NASA/JHU APL/Zibi Turtle
September 23, 2026 at 5:38 PM
This is the Dragonfly spacecraft, ultimately destined for Titan, photographed in July during early construction at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.
The mission PI, Zibi Turtle, shared this image at the OPAG meeting today.
Credit: NASA/JHU APL/Zibi Turtle
The mission PI, Zibi Turtle, shared this image at the OPAG meeting today.
Credit: NASA/JHU APL/Zibi Turtle
Reposted by Brian D. Wade
Another stunner from JWST—this time part of a *much* larger scene I'll post later.
This portion is made up of stars and protostars in a cluster about 1,000 lightyears from Earth.
The bright, multi-point features are nearby stars.
The smaller features in the background are other galaxies.
This portion is made up of stars and protostars in a cluster about 1,000 lightyears from Earth.
The bright, multi-point features are nearby stars.
The smaller features in the background are other galaxies.
September 23, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Another stunner from JWST—this time part of a *much* larger scene I'll post later.
This portion is made up of stars and protostars in a cluster about 1,000 lightyears from Earth.
The bright, multi-point features are nearby stars.
The smaller features in the background are other galaxies.
This portion is made up of stars and protostars in a cluster about 1,000 lightyears from Earth.
The bright, multi-point features are nearby stars.
The smaller features in the background are other galaxies.
Reposted by Brian D. Wade
Here's a link to @chrisadami.bsky.social 's book, which I highly recommend:
press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
September 23, 2026 at 1:36 AM
Here's a link to @chrisadami.bsky.social 's book, which I highly recommend:
press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
A Hadean timeline for the emergence of the RNA World
#OriginsOfLife #RNAworld #RNA #scienceSky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#OriginsOfLife #RNAworld #RNA #scienceSky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A Hadean timeline for the emergence of the RNA World - Nature Communications
A 3-D thermal model identifies a ~ 4.33 Ga temporal “sweet spot” for life’s origin, when decreased bombardment enabled mild hydrothermal niches to support RNA World chemistry and stable biomolecu...
www.nature.com
September 22, 2026 at 9:29 PM
A Hadean timeline for the emergence of the RNA World
#OriginsOfLife #RNAworld #RNA #scienceSky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#OriginsOfLife #RNAworld #RNA #scienceSky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Brian D. Wade
Our description of fire amoeba, 𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘦𝘣𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴, is now online at Cell! Thanks @oliverio.bsky.social and amazing team for questioning the limits of eukaryotes! 🔥
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
A geothermal amoeba sets a new upper temperature limit for eukaryotes
The amoeba Incendiamoeba cascadensis demonstrates that eukaryotic life can withstand
temperatures beyond what was thought possible and sheds light on molecular strategies
for survival in extreme heat.
www.cell.com
September 22, 2026 at 6:40 PM
Our description of fire amoeba, 𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘦𝘣𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴, is now online at Cell! Thanks @oliverio.bsky.social and amazing team for questioning the limits of eukaryotes! 🔥
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
A geothermal amoeba sets a new upper temperature limit for eukaryotes
#eukaryotes #microbes #extremophiles #thermophiles #microSky #ecoSky #scienceSky
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
#eukaryotes #microbes #extremophiles #thermophiles #microSky #ecoSky #scienceSky
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
A geothermal amoeba sets a new upper temperature limit for eukaryotes
The amoeba Incendiamoeba cascadensis demonstrates that eukaryotic life can withstand
temperatures beyond what was thought possible and sheds light on molecular strategies
for survival in extreme heat.
www.cell.com
September 22, 2026 at 7:49 PM
A geothermal amoeba sets a new upper temperature limit for eukaryotes
#eukaryotes #microbes #extremophiles #thermophiles #microSky #ecoSky #scienceSky
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
#eukaryotes #microbes #extremophiles #thermophiles #microSky #ecoSky #scienceSky
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
Reposted by Brian D. Wade
"Philosophy of Biology: The power of theory in the life sciences"
elifesciences.org/articles/112...
@zdblount.bsky.social shared this thought-provoking paper with the lab group.
elifesciences.org/articles/112...
@zdblount.bsky.social shared this thought-provoking paper with the lab group.
Philosophy of Biology: The power of theory in the life sciences
Theory can help address cell and molecular biology’s major challenges, particularly those arising from large omics datasets.
elifesciences.org
September 22, 2026 at 5:29 PM
"Philosophy of Biology: The power of theory in the life sciences"
elifesciences.org/articles/112...
@zdblount.bsky.social shared this thought-provoking paper with the lab group.
elifesciences.org/articles/112...
@zdblount.bsky.social shared this thought-provoking paper with the lab group.
Reposted by Brian D. Wade
The Triangulum galaxy up close 👀
Taken with our VLT, this festive-looking image reveals the diversity and complexity of the gas and dust between the stars in our neighbouring galaxy.
What do the different colours represent?
Find out: https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw2612a/
🔭 #flashback
Taken with our VLT, this festive-looking image reveals the diversity and complexity of the gas and dust between the stars in our neighbouring galaxy.
What do the different colours represent?
Find out: https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw2612a/
🔭 #flashback
September 22, 2026 at 7:02 AM
The Triangulum galaxy up close 👀
Taken with our VLT, this festive-looking image reveals the diversity and complexity of the gas and dust between the stars in our neighbouring galaxy.
What do the different colours represent?
Find out: https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw2612a/
🔭 #flashback
Taken with our VLT, this festive-looking image reveals the diversity and complexity of the gas and dust between the stars in our neighbouring galaxy.
What do the different colours represent?
Find out: https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw2612a/
🔭 #flashback
Reposted by Brian D. Wade
A humbling reminder from Carl Sagan:
Even if you read 1 book a week for your entire life, you'd only scratch the surface of human knowledge.
Even if you read 1 book a week for your entire life, you'd only scratch the surface of human knowledge.
September 22, 2026 at 7:20 AM
A humbling reminder from Carl Sagan:
Even if you read 1 book a week for your entire life, you'd only scratch the surface of human knowledge.
Even if you read 1 book a week for your entire life, you'd only scratch the surface of human knowledge.
Reposted by Brian D. Wade
This isn't the diseased skin of some alien—this is Mars!
Taken by ESA's Mars Express spacecraft, this colour scene shows a portion of the planet's high southern latitudes where frost, dust, and sunlight combine to produce these pink and purple tones.
Taken by ESA's Mars Express spacecraft, this colour scene shows a portion of the planet's high southern latitudes where frost, dust, and sunlight combine to produce these pink and purple tones.
September 21, 2026 at 2:55 PM
This isn't the diseased skin of some alien—this is Mars!
Taken by ESA's Mars Express spacecraft, this colour scene shows a portion of the planet's high southern latitudes where frost, dust, and sunlight combine to produce these pink and purple tones.
Taken by ESA's Mars Express spacecraft, this colour scene shows a portion of the planet's high southern latitudes where frost, dust, and sunlight combine to produce these pink and purple tones.
Reposted by Brian D. Wade
Reposted by Brian D. Wade
Reposted by Brian D. Wade
On National POW/MIA Recognition Day, we honor the unwavering dedication of our servicemembers who’ve been held as prisoners as war. We honor those who remain unaccounted for and we will continue searching for them. We will never forget their sacrifices and service to our country.
September 18, 2026 at 6:21 PM
On National POW/MIA Recognition Day, we honor the unwavering dedication of our servicemembers who’ve been held as prisoners as war. We honor those who remain unaccounted for and we will continue searching for them. We will never forget their sacrifices and service to our country.
Reposted by Brian D. Wade
We developed Open Science Indicators with @dataseerai.bsky.social to measure open science behaviors and advance best practices. Our dashboard makes OSI data from 180,000+ Open access articles easier to explore, showing possibilities of #OpenScience monitoring.
🔗 buff.ly/8WCqGAU
#OpenScienceWeek
🔗 buff.ly/8WCqGAU
#OpenScienceWeek
Explore Open Science Indicators
Explore open science trends for your organization and compare against data for peer organizations, research field and country using the PLOS Open Science Indicators dashboard.
plos.io
September 18, 2026 at 6:25 PM
We developed Open Science Indicators with @dataseerai.bsky.social to measure open science behaviors and advance best practices. Our dashboard makes OSI data from 180,000+ Open access articles easier to explore, showing possibilities of #OpenScience monitoring.
🔗 buff.ly/8WCqGAU
#OpenScienceWeek
🔗 buff.ly/8WCqGAU
#OpenScienceWeek
These bizarre, much-coveted microbes are revealing the origins of complex life www.nature.com/articles/d41...
These bizarre, much-coveted microbes are revealing the origins of complex life
Researchers are racing to culture a menagerie of exotic organisms and finding lots of surprises along the way.
www.nature.com
September 18, 2026 at 6:08 PM