Ellen Stofan
@ellenstofan.bsky.social
Under Secretary for Science and Research at Smithsonian, former Chief Scientist of NASA, my posts are my own.
Join us online for Revolutions in Science
www.nasonline.org/event/revolu...
www.nasonline.org/event/revolu...
Revolutions in Science: Discovery, Imagination, and the Future – NAS
Revolutions in Science: Discovery, Imagination, and the Future As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, the National Academy of Sciences will convene scientific leaders, innovators, and emerg...
www.nasonline.org
June 25, 2026 at 2:38 PM
Join us online for Revolutions in Science
www.nasonline.org/event/revolu...
www.nasonline.org/event/revolu...
Great article featuring our folks at SAO/CfA
Researchers see enormous power in new tools—but also the potential end of astrophysics as a human endeavor. https://scim.ag/4o7XrvB
Amid a flood of AI advances, astrophysicists are questioning the soul of their field
Researchers see enormous power in new tools—but also the potential end of astrophysics as a human endeavor
scim.ag
June 5, 2026 at 8:38 PM
Great article featuring our folks at SAO/CfA
Such a great conversation with @christophermichel.com !
I photographed planetary scientist @ellenstofan.bsky.social at the @nasonline.org Former NASA Chief Scientist. First woman to lead the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. A career spent studying worlds beyond our own and helping us understand our place among them. explorers.com/ellen-stofan/
May 19, 2026 at 2:24 PM
Such a great conversation with @christophermichel.com !
Reposted by Ellen Stofan
🔭 Planetary astronomer Dr. Heidi Hammel (b. #OTD in 1960) is a leading expert on the ice giants: Uranus & Neptune.
+ Interdisciplinary scientist, James Webb Space Telescope
+ Recipient, Carl Sagan Medal
+ Executive VP, Association of Universities for Research in #Astronomy, 2010-
#WomenInSTEM
+ Interdisciplinary scientist, James Webb Space Telescope
+ Recipient, Carl Sagan Medal
+ Executive VP, Association of Universities for Research in #Astronomy, 2010-
#WomenInSTEM
March 14, 2026 at 11:07 PM
🔭 Planetary astronomer Dr. Heidi Hammel (b. #OTD in 1960) is a leading expert on the ice giants: Uranus & Neptune.
+ Interdisciplinary scientist, James Webb Space Telescope
+ Recipient, Carl Sagan Medal
+ Executive VP, Association of Universities for Research in #Astronomy, 2010-
#WomenInSTEM
+ Interdisciplinary scientist, James Webb Space Telescope
+ Recipient, Carl Sagan Medal
+ Executive VP, Association of Universities for Research in #Astronomy, 2010-
#WomenInSTEM
Reposted by Ellen Stofan
🧪🔭
Hey, astronomers. Can you imagine astronomy research without ADS?!?!? No? So, have you filled out the ADS survey yet?
Help archives help you!
(Help archives keep funding!)
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Help archives help you!
(Help archives keep funding!)
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Astrophysics Data System (ADS) User Feedback Survey
Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on the Astrophysics Data System (ADS) digital library. Your insights will help us improve the platform and better serve the scientific community. All ...
docs.google.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:39 PM
🧪🔭
Reposted by Ellen Stofan
Predicting the way forward for the Global Biodiversity Framework | PNAS www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
PNAS
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...
www.pnas.org
October 14, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Predicting the way forward for the Global Biodiversity Framework | PNAS www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Ad astra Jim Lovell- a truly heroic gentleman.
August 8, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Ad astra Jim Lovell- a truly heroic gentleman.
Wonderful meeting yesterday and look forward to future collaboration!
The U.S. is our most important scientific partner — built on trust, shared values, and decades of collaboration. I’m grateful to meet @ellenstofan.bsky.social from the #SmithsonianInstitution to strengthen this transatlantic bond and explore future opportunities, including in ecosystem research.
April 8, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Wonderful meeting yesterday and look forward to future collaboration!
My dad in 1964 in National Geographic
March 23, 2025 at 9:01 PM
My dad in 1964 in National Geographic
Reposted by Ellen Stofan
My biggest story I worked on last year is up, on the Dragonfly mission to Titan! Featuring @planetdr.bsky.social , @spacewhalerider.com , and (the awesomely named but not on bsky) Zibi Turtle. This is an amazing mission and one I hope to see come to fruition with some surprising science. 🧪🔭🪐
Scientists are preparing to launch a drone to Saturn’s largest moon.
Story by @bowlerhatscience.org
eos.org/features/a-d...
Story by @bowlerhatscience.org
eos.org/features/a-d...
A Dragonfly for Titan - Eos
A new eight-rotor robotic probe will head to the solar system’s most Earth-like moon. Here’s what its team is doing to prepare.
eos.org
February 14, 2025 at 4:17 PM
My biggest story I worked on last year is up, on the Dragonfly mission to Titan! Featuring @planetdr.bsky.social , @spacewhalerider.com , and (the awesomely named but not on bsky) Zibi Turtle. This is an amazing mission and one I hope to see come to fruition with some surprising science. 🧪🔭🪐
On this #InternationalDayofWomenandGirlsinScience thinking of all the women I know who are crushing it in science every day @planetdr.bsky.social @katharinehayhoe.com @astrokatie.com @deepseadawn.bsky.social @minwadhwa.bsky.social to name just a few!
February 11, 2025 at 8:42 PM
On this #InternationalDayofWomenandGirlsinScience thinking of all the women I know who are crushing it in science every day @planetdr.bsky.social @katharinehayhoe.com @astrokatie.com @deepseadawn.bsky.social @minwadhwa.bsky.social to name just a few!
For folks having trouble with ADS, apologies- we are sorting out technical problems as we increase content and support more users. ui.adsabs.harvard.edu
February 11, 2025 at 4:17 PM
For folks having trouble with ADS, apologies- we are sorting out technical problems as we increase content and support more users. ui.adsabs.harvard.edu
Awful news from DCA tonight
BREAKING: a plane has gone down in the Potomac on approach to Reagan National Airport in Washington DC. Reports that it collided with a helicopter.
January 30, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Awful news from DCA tonight
Reposted by Ellen Stofan
Researchers have detected organic compounds and minerals necessary for life in unprecedented samples collected from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu, adding evidence to the idea that asteroids likely delivered the building blocks of life to our planet early in its history. cnn.it/4hk44qw
January 29, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Researchers have detected organic compounds and minerals necessary for life in unprecedented samples collected from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu, adding evidence to the idea that asteroids likely delivered the building blocks of life to our planet early in its history. cnn.it/4hk44qw
Reposted by Ellen Stofan
Via #NASAGoddard - Fourteen of the twenty amino acids that life on Earth uses to build proteins were discovered within the Bennu samples that were returned by the OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission. This isn't the song of life as Dr. Carl Sagan may have said , but the notes are there. 1/
January 29, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Via #NASAGoddard - Fourteen of the twenty amino acids that life on Earth uses to build proteins were discovered within the Bennu samples that were returned by the OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission. This isn't the song of life as Dr. Carl Sagan may have said , but the notes are there. 1/
Reposted by Ellen Stofan
If you're listening to the NASA briefing on OSIRIS-REx science results, the briefing charts are here:
svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14772
svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14772
NASA Scientific Visualization Studio | Discoveries from Asteroid Bennu: Media Briefing Graphics
OSIRIS-REx MISSION RECAPThis highlight reel recaps the OSIRIS-REx mission, from assembly and launch of the spacecraft in 2016, to arrival at asteroid Bennu in 2018, TAG sample collection in 2020, the ...
svs.gsfc.nasa.gov
January 29, 2025 at 4:14 PM
If you're listening to the NASA briefing on OSIRIS-REx science results, the briefing charts are here:
svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14772
svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14772
Drake Passage, ~9 pm
January 3, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Drake Passage, ~9 pm
Reposted by Ellen Stofan
Kīlauea Volcano, Hawaii (Halemaʻumaʻu crater)
YouTube video by USGS
www.youtube.com
December 23, 2024 at 7:59 PM
So great to have a new partner for the Giant Magellan Telescope! giantmagellan.org/2024/12/13/n...
Northwestern University Joins Giant Magellan Telescope International Consortium
Northwestern’s investment expands the Giant Magellan Telescope international consortium to 15 research institutions from the United States, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Israel, South Korea, and Taiwan.
giantmagellan.org
December 14, 2024 at 5:37 PM
So great to have a new partner for the Giant Magellan Telescope! giantmagellan.org/2024/12/13/n...
What does 100 years of research on a tropical rainforest tell us- available now!
figshare.com/articles/boo...
figshare.com/articles/boo...
The First 100 Years of Research on Barro Colorado: Plant and Ecosystem Science (Volumes 1 and 2)
The Barro Colorado Nature Monument in Panama, which includes Barro Colorado Island and nearby mainland peninsulas, supports the best studied tropical forest in the world. This 98-chapter edited volume...
figshare.com
November 25, 2024 at 9:24 PM
What does 100 years of research on a tropical rainforest tell us- available now!
figshare.com/articles/boo...
figshare.com/articles/boo...
Came to this site at the advice of @katharinehayhoe.com - looking forward to discussions of hopeful climate solutions
November 20, 2024 at 1:56 PM
Came to this site at the advice of @katharinehayhoe.com - looking forward to discussions of hopeful climate solutions
November 16, 2024 at 12:51 AM