Mark Zec
@markzecwrites.bsky.social
Aspiring writer, mostly SF/F with an emphasis on the environment ("eco-fic" or "cli-fi"), but not exclusively. Husband, dad, former IT/data analyst, cook, baker, musician.
All of my stories (so far): https://shorturl.at/qFErZ
All of my stories (so far): https://shorturl.at/qFErZ
Pinned
Reposted by Mark Zec
BlueSky! Any Sunday chores on your to-do list today that would benefit from an audio accompaniment? Here is me & Jason Goodyer (editor of BBC Science Focus) having a lovely long blether about reality. Suitable for both cooking and cleaning activities. You're welcome 🤗🧪🔭
🔗: pod.link/1296673906/e...
🔗: pod.link/1296673906/e...
September 20, 2026 at 9:01 AM
BlueSky! Any Sunday chores on your to-do list today that would benefit from an audio accompaniment? Here is me & Jason Goodyer (editor of BBC Science Focus) having a lovely long blether about reality. Suitable for both cooking and cleaning activities. You're welcome 🤗🧪🔭
🔗: pod.link/1296673906/e...
🔗: pod.link/1296673906/e...
Reposted by Mark Zec
Baltimore City Public Schools alumni carry a universe-sized impact. 🪐
Decades before contemporary engineers took the reins to operate cutting-edge observatories, City Schools trailblazers were pioneering technologies and shaping NASA's most critical missions.
Decades before contemporary engineers took the reins to operate cutting-edge observatories, City Schools trailblazers were pioneering technologies and shaping NASA's most critical missions.
The Only Limit for City Schools Students Is the Stars: How Baltimore City Public Schools Alumni Are Shaping the Universe
Baltimore City Public Schools alumni carry a universe-sized impact. Decades before contemporary eng...
www.baltimorecityschools.org
September 18, 2026 at 8:34 PM
Baltimore City Public Schools alumni carry a universe-sized impact. 🪐
Decades before contemporary engineers took the reins to operate cutting-edge observatories, City Schools trailblazers were pioneering technologies and shaping NASA's most critical missions.
Decades before contemporary engineers took the reins to operate cutting-edge observatories, City Schools trailblazers were pioneering technologies and shaping NASA's most critical missions.
Reposted by Mark Zec
#Aurora season comes around the fall and spring equinox each year and we're in it now. This pattern in nature — auroras increasing twice a year — is due to the way the magnetic fields of the sun and the Earth combine with sun-Earth geometry. #northernlights Read more at: buff.ly/b5uq1El
📸 JD Smith.
📸 JD Smith.
September 18, 2026 at 2:33 PM
#Aurora season comes around the fall and spring equinox each year and we're in it now. This pattern in nature — auroras increasing twice a year — is due to the way the magnetic fields of the sun and the Earth combine with sun-Earth geometry. #northernlights Read more at: buff.ly/b5uq1El
📸 JD Smith.
📸 JD Smith.
Reposted by Mark Zec
The jewel of the solar system ... 🪐 Nancy Ricigliano in Long Island, New York, captured this lovely view of #Saturn last Saturday. Thank you, Nancy! #astronomy 📸
buff.ly/bdGiZKt
See more great photos, and submit yours, at EarthSky Community Photos:
buff.ly/sBYxM1t
buff.ly/bdGiZKt
See more great photos, and submit yours, at EarthSky Community Photos:
buff.ly/sBYxM1t
September 17, 2026 at 10:01 PM
The jewel of the solar system ... 🪐 Nancy Ricigliano in Long Island, New York, captured this lovely view of #Saturn last Saturday. Thank you, Nancy! #astronomy 📸
buff.ly/bdGiZKt
See more great photos, and submit yours, at EarthSky Community Photos:
buff.ly/sBYxM1t
buff.ly/bdGiZKt
See more great photos, and submit yours, at EarthSky Community Photos:
buff.ly/sBYxM1t
Reposted by Mark Zec
Nature is healing: A poacher hunting rhinos was ambushed by a herd of elephants and trampled to death.
Poacher sneaking up on rhinos ambushed and trampled to death by elephants
metro.co.uk
September 17, 2026 at 10:20 AM
Nature is healing: A poacher hunting rhinos was ambushed by a herd of elephants and trampled to death.
Reposted by Mark Zec
In 2013, scientists discovered that #Chariklo – a small asteroid-like body orbiting the sun between Saturn and Uranus – has rings. And now, a new study has revealed that these rings have evolved noticeably over just a few years. Find out more:
buff.ly/PgEGreu
📸L. Maquet/ Observatoire de Paris/ IAA.
buff.ly/PgEGreu
📸L. Maquet/ Observatoire de Paris/ IAA.
September 16, 2026 at 6:00 PM
In 2013, scientists discovered that #Chariklo – a small asteroid-like body orbiting the sun between Saturn and Uranus – has rings. And now, a new study has revealed that these rings have evolved noticeably over just a few years. Find out more:
buff.ly/PgEGreu
📸L. Maquet/ Observatoire de Paris/ IAA.
buff.ly/PgEGreu
📸L. Maquet/ Observatoire de Paris/ IAA.
Reposted by Mark Zec
NEXT WEEK: A free discussion about what authors and narrators need to know about AI and copyright, what should be agreed to contractually, and what the copyright process actually protects.
Register here:
Register here:
Copyright & AI: Best Practices for Authors & Narrators
How are authors and audiobook narrators navigating the AI landscape—and how might they collaborate better with each other? The Authors Guild and the National Association of Voice Actors invite you to ...
authorsguild.org
September 16, 2026 at 8:02 PM
NEXT WEEK: A free discussion about what authors and narrators need to know about AI and copyright, what should be agreed to contractually, and what the copyright process actually protects.
Register here:
Register here:
Reposted by Mark Zec
The entity drifted dreamlessly through space, as it had for aeons. It woke when it neared a star. Scanned for planets, life, signs of technology.
Having found all, it analyzed and decoded radio emissions, then composed a message to send.
"My hovercraft is full of feels."
It resumed dormancy.
Having found all, it analyzed and decoded radio emissions, then composed a message to send.
"My hovercraft is full of feels."
It resumed dormancy.
September 16, 2026 at 9:24 AM
The entity drifted dreamlessly through space, as it had for aeons. It woke when it neared a star. Scanned for planets, life, signs of technology.
Having found all, it analyzed and decoded radio emissions, then composed a message to send.
"My hovercraft is full of feels."
It resumed dormancy.
Having found all, it analyzed and decoded radio emissions, then composed a message to send.
"My hovercraft is full of feels."
It resumed dormancy.
Reposted by Mark Zec
Big thanks to @redemmas.org in Baltimore for giving us the perfect tote bag for the End Times Fascism book tour. Out today!
@astra.bsky.social
naomiklein.org/end-times-fa...
@astra.bsky.social
naomiklein.org/end-times-fa...
September 15, 2026 at 6:11 PM
Big thanks to @redemmas.org in Baltimore for giving us the perfect tote bag for the End Times Fascism book tour. Out today!
@astra.bsky.social
naomiklein.org/end-times-fa...
@astra.bsky.social
naomiklein.org/end-times-fa...
Reposted by Mark Zec
The NASA Chandra X-ray telescope team has released a gorgeous new gallery of galaxies 🤩 This is one of my favorites: II Zw 096. This is a merging pair of galaxies, shown here in combined visible, infrared, and x-ray light. Check out the full gallery here: science.nasa.gov/missions/cha...
September 14, 2026 at 7:51 PM
The NASA Chandra X-ray telescope team has released a gorgeous new gallery of galaxies 🤩 This is one of my favorites: II Zw 096. This is a merging pair of galaxies, shown here in combined visible, infrared, and x-ray light. Check out the full gallery here: science.nasa.gov/missions/cha...
Reposted by Mark Zec
One of the things about being a writer is that there are points in your career where you have to write, even when your surroundings/situation aren't conducive to it. This on-demand class will give you tips to write through fatigue and other challenges. members.maryrobinettekowal.com/shop/writing...?
September 10, 2026 at 3:04 PM
One of the things about being a writer is that there are points in your career where you have to write, even when your surroundings/situation aren't conducive to it. This on-demand class will give you tips to write through fatigue and other challenges. members.maryrobinettekowal.com/shop/writing...?
Reposted by Mark Zec
"Here," the witch said. She gave her girlfriend a small pearl. "I made it for you."
"What is it?"
"A small blessing. It can make a small change to you. Just think of what you want and swallow it."
"Could it give me wings?"
"That's too big."
Her girlfriend swallowed the pearl, and began to purr.
"What is it?"
"A small blessing. It can make a small change to you. Just think of what you want and swallow it."
"Could it give me wings?"
"That's too big."
Her girlfriend swallowed the pearl, and began to purr.
September 9, 2026 at 4:31 PM
"Here," the witch said. She gave her girlfriend a small pearl. "I made it for you."
"What is it?"
"A small blessing. It can make a small change to you. Just think of what you want and swallow it."
"Could it give me wings?"
"That's too big."
Her girlfriend swallowed the pearl, and began to purr.
"What is it?"
"A small blessing. It can make a small change to you. Just think of what you want and swallow it."
"Could it give me wings?"
"That's too big."
Her girlfriend swallowed the pearl, and began to purr.
Reposted by Mark Zec
A blast of sun-stuff hit Earth yesterday, the 2nd of a predicted 4. Forecasters expect more today and tomorrow, maybe bringing minor or even somewhat stronger moderate geomagnetic storms. Keep your eyes open for auroras!
Read the details here at EarthSky's #sun news: buff.ly/RnO9oyT
📸 NOAA.
Read the details here at EarthSky's #sun news: buff.ly/RnO9oyT
📸 NOAA.
September 9, 2026 at 2:00 PM
A blast of sun-stuff hit Earth yesterday, the 2nd of a predicted 4. Forecasters expect more today and tomorrow, maybe bringing minor or even somewhat stronger moderate geomagnetic storms. Keep your eyes open for auroras!
Read the details here at EarthSky's #sun news: buff.ly/RnO9oyT
📸 NOAA.
Read the details here at EarthSky's #sun news: buff.ly/RnO9oyT
📸 NOAA.
Reposted by Mark Zec
Good evening Life Scientific listeners. Just to let you know that the new series starts tomorrow morning. My guest is Ginger Kerrick, NASA’s first non-astronaut CAPCOM and its first Hispanic female Flight Director.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
September 7, 2026 at 8:17 PM
Good evening Life Scientific listeners. Just to let you know that the new series starts tomorrow morning. My guest is Ginger Kerrick, NASA’s first non-astronaut CAPCOM and its first Hispanic female Flight Director.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Reposted by Mark Zec
M31 — the Andromeda Galaxy. There are over a trillion stars there.
Photo taken with a SeeStar s30 pro smart telescope. 30 minutes total exposure, 10 second frames.
Stillwater, Minnesota.
Photo taken with a SeeStar s30 pro smart telescope. 30 minutes total exposure, 10 second frames.
Stillwater, Minnesota.
September 5, 2026 at 3:30 AM
M31 — the Andromeda Galaxy. There are over a trillion stars there.
Photo taken with a SeeStar s30 pro smart telescope. 30 minutes total exposure, 10 second frames.
Stillwater, Minnesota.
Photo taken with a SeeStar s30 pro smart telescope. 30 minutes total exposure, 10 second frames.
Stillwater, Minnesota.
Reposted by Mark Zec
This website follows Roman on its journey to L2 😀🚀 (I think the best view is to go to "View Options" and select "System") eyes.nasa.gov/apps/solar-s...
Eyes on the Solar System - NASA/JPL
Explore the 3D world of the Solar System. Learn about past and future missions.
eyes.nasa.gov
September 3, 2026 at 6:44 PM
This website follows Roman on its journey to L2 😀🚀 (I think the best view is to go to "View Options" and select "System") eyes.nasa.gov/apps/solar-s...
Reposted by Mark Zec
Do the #planets revolve around the sun? Well ... sort of. Our solar system moves around a common center of mass, the barycenter. And right now, it isn't even inside the sun! It'll move into the sun again starting in early 2027.
Find out the reason it moves, here: buff.ly/P8V5NTk
📸 NASA.
Find out the reason it moves, here: buff.ly/P8V5NTk
📸 NASA.
August 30, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Do the #planets revolve around the sun? Well ... sort of. Our solar system moves around a common center of mass, the barycenter. And right now, it isn't even inside the sun! It'll move into the sun again starting in early 2027.
Find out the reason it moves, here: buff.ly/P8V5NTk
📸 NASA.
Find out the reason it moves, here: buff.ly/P8V5NTk
📸 NASA.
Reposted by Mark Zec
Roman’s wide field and coronograph will complement JWST and Hubble. But JWST still rules with unparalleled sensitivity & spectra, and Hubble is still utterly crucial for science that requires blue & UV wavelengths (including detection of Neptune’s highly variable Great Dark Spots).
And if you’re all, “why anOTHER space telescope there are so many already,” @popsci.com and I have you covered 🧪🔭
How NASA’s new Nancy Grace Roman space telescope compares with Hubble and Webb
This trio of high-tech observatories will continue to unlock the secrets of the cosmos.
www.popsci.com
August 29, 2026 at 11:35 PM
Roman’s wide field and coronograph will complement JWST and Hubble. But JWST still rules with unparalleled sensitivity & spectra, and Hubble is still utterly crucial for science that requires blue & UV wavelengths (including detection of Neptune’s highly variable Great Dark Spots).
Reposted by Mark Zec
"What are the peasants' demands?" the king asked.
"Fair taxes, stronger rights, fewer privileges for nobles."
"Bollocks! Send knights out to disperse them."
"They have dragons, sire."
"What?"
"The dragons claim a more equal society is more stable and prosperous."
"They hoard countries now?"
"Fair taxes, stronger rights, fewer privileges for nobles."
"Bollocks! Send knights out to disperse them."
"They have dragons, sire."
"What?"
"The dragons claim a more equal society is more stable and prosperous."
"They hoard countries now?"
August 28, 2026 at 10:15 AM
"What are the peasants' demands?" the king asked.
"Fair taxes, stronger rights, fewer privileges for nobles."
"Bollocks! Send knights out to disperse them."
"They have dragons, sire."
"What?"
"The dragons claim a more equal society is more stable and prosperous."
"They hoard countries now?"
"Fair taxes, stronger rights, fewer privileges for nobles."
"Bollocks! Send knights out to disperse them."
"They have dragons, sire."
"What?"
"The dragons claim a more equal society is more stable and prosperous."
"They hoard countries now?"
Reposted by Mark Zec
NASA and SpaceX are targeting #NASARoman’s liftoff for no earlier than 7:26 a.m. EDT Sunday, August 30, from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
🎥 Launch coverage begins at 6:20 a.m. 🔭
🎥 Launch coverage begins at 6:20 a.m. 🔭
NASA Sets Coverage for Roman Space Telescope Launch from Florida - NASA
Coverage plans are ready for NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope prelaunch and launch activities. Roman is NASA's next-generation observatory designed to
www.nasa.gov
August 27, 2026 at 7:03 PM
NASA and SpaceX are targeting #NASARoman’s liftoff for no earlier than 7:26 a.m. EDT Sunday, August 30, from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
🎥 Launch coverage begins at 6:20 a.m. 🔭
🎥 Launch coverage begins at 6:20 a.m. 🔭
Reposted by Mark Zec
Hundreds of authors have reported that their publisher failed to comply with its contractual registration obligation, leaving them ineligible for the Anthropic settlement
Survey Results Detail Publishers’ Failure to Register Authors’ Copyrights
The Authors Guild recently conducted a survey of authors to gather information about a troubling issue that came to light in the wake of the $1.5 billion Anthropic copyright class action settlement. A...
authorsguild.org
August 27, 2026 at 6:25 PM
Hundreds of authors have reported that their publisher failed to comply with its contractual registration obligation, leaving them ineligible for the Anthropic settlement
Reposted by Mark Zec
Genuine inspiration to see someone who garners huge success and uses it for good.
Dolly Parton rose from poverty to stardom. She gave $500 to every student in her hometown who finished high school; she built hospitals & bald eagle preserves; her Imagination Library has gifted 300 million books to children. Roger Ebert met her and came away thinking she was a literal angel. RIP.
August 25, 2026 at 7:59 PM
Genuine inspiration to see someone who garners huge success and uses it for good.
Reposted by Mark Zec
Reposted by Mark Zec
@smokelong.bsky.social Do you know about The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest? It's an annual comp now, open to fiction, CNF, prose poetry, previously published and unpublished, and also translations. We want it all. Deadline Nov 15. 250 words or fewer. www.smokelong.com/the-smokelon...
The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest 2026 - SmokeLong Quarterly
The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest (The Mikey) is now an annual competition celebrating and compensating the best micro fiction and nonfiction online. The grand prize winner of The Mikey is automatical...
www.smokelong.com
August 25, 2026 at 7:28 AM
@smokelong.bsky.social Do you know about The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest? It's an annual comp now, open to fiction, CNF, prose poetry, previously published and unpublished, and also translations. We want it all. Deadline Nov 15. 250 words or fewer. www.smokelong.com/the-smokelon...
Reposted by Mark Zec
