Prof Anna Watts
@profannawatts.bsky.social
Professor of Astrophysics @ Univ. of Amsterdam. Neutron stars, pulsars, dense matter, X-ray astronomy. Mom, Migrant. "Particles in stars blah blah". Does science with NICER on the International Space Station and schemes for EVEN BIGGER SPACE TELESCOPES.
I do love my city - where despite having the largest bicycle park in the world we actually need EVEN MORE. #greencityproblems #utrecht
www.duic.nl/algemeen/alg...
www.duic.nl/algemeen/alg...
Grootste fietsenstalling ter wereld niet groot genoeg voor Utrecht: gemeente werkt aan uitbreiding
De fietsenstalling onder het Stationsplein in Utrecht mag dan wel de grootste ter wereld zijn, steeds vaker staat de stalling tot de nok toe gevuld.
www.duic.nl
October 3, 2026 at 1:30 PM
I do love my city - where despite having the largest bicycle park in the world we actually need EVEN MORE. #greencityproblems #utrecht
www.duic.nl/algemeen/alg...
www.duic.nl/algemeen/alg...
Reposted by Prof Anna Watts
Dutch royal house earned nearly half a billion from slavery www.dutchnews.nl?p=273439
Dutch royal house earned nearly half a billion from slavery - DutchNews.nl
The Dutch royal family, the House of Orange-Nassau, earned an estimated €576 million from slavery, mostly in the former Dutch East Indies, according to a new investigation into the monarchy. The…
www.dutchnews.nl
October 2, 2026 at 11:18 AM
Dutch royal house earned nearly half a billion from slavery www.dutchnews.nl?p=273439
Reposted by Prof Anna Watts
arXiv has updated our policy on rate limiting for all submitters.
This update was made to fairly distribute moderator time & support the arXiv community of staff, volunteers, readers & authors.
Please read our announcement to learn more: https://blog.arxiv.org/2026/10/01/updated-rate-limit-policy/
This update was made to fairly distribute moderator time & support the arXiv community of staff, volunteers, readers & authors.
Please read our announcement to learn more: https://blog.arxiv.org/2026/10/01/updated-rate-limit-policy/
October 1, 2026 at 7:03 PM
arXiv has updated our policy on rate limiting for all submitters.
This update was made to fairly distribute moderator time & support the arXiv community of staff, volunteers, readers & authors.
Please read our announcement to learn more: https://blog.arxiv.org/2026/10/01/updated-rate-limit-policy/
This update was made to fairly distribute moderator time & support the arXiv community of staff, volunteers, readers & authors.
Please read our announcement to learn more: https://blog.arxiv.org/2026/10/01/updated-rate-limit-policy/
Been doing neutrinos with my Astrophysics class, this is a very cool new result!
physics.aps.org/articles/v19...
physics.aps.org/articles/v19...
Gallium Anomaly May Finally Be Explained
A decades-old neutrino mystery might be solved not by undiscovered physics but by improved calculations.
physics.aps.org
October 1, 2026 at 9:29 AM
Been doing neutrinos with my Astrophysics class, this is a very cool new result!
physics.aps.org/articles/v19...
physics.aps.org/articles/v19...
Reposted by Prof Anna Watts
Yes every woman has been harassed, many assaulted. But every woman has also experienced invisible loss from moments she avoided harassment. She felt a space becoming unsafe, so she left, while men stayed on. And in leaving, she lost: opportunities, experiences, learning, promotions, even simply fun.
October 1, 2026 at 3:10 AM
Yes every woman has been harassed, many assaulted. But every woman has also experienced invisible loss from moments she avoided harassment. She felt a space becoming unsafe, so she left, while men stayed on. And in leaving, she lost: opportunities, experiences, learning, promotions, even simply fun.
Reposted by Prof Anna Watts
Cool to see work in the world that builds on and is in conversation with work I did with my former PhD student Dr. Nathan Rutherford (now at @fqxi.org) and @profannawatts.bsky.social! 🔭
Bayesian Constraints on Bosonic Dark Matter in Neutron Stars within a Covariant Density-Functional Equation-of-State Ensemble
We investigate neutron stars admixed with repulsively self-interacting bosonic dark matter (DM) using current multi-messenger observations. The dark component is modeled as a complex scalar field coup...
arxiv.org
September 30, 2026 at 3:26 PM
Cool to see work in the world that builds on and is in conversation with work I did with my former PhD student Dr. Nathan Rutherford (now at @fqxi.org) and @profannawatts.bsky.social! 🔭
NewAthena papers could be submitted any time between September 1 and 30.
Want to guess whether we've got ours submitted yet?
Want to guess whether we've got ours submitted yet?
September 30, 2026 at 12:52 PM
NewAthena papers could be submitted any time between September 1 and 30.
Want to guess whether we've got ours submitted yet?
Want to guess whether we've got ours submitted yet?
The dark side of college reunions - the sleazy ex.
TW - Sexual harassment
TW - Sexual harassment
September 28, 2026 at 5:36 PM
The dark side of college reunions - the sleazy ex.
TW - Sexual harassment
TW - Sexual harassment
Do not mess with the door.
September 27, 2026 at 3:07 PM
Do not mess with the door.
Genuinely picked the worst weekend imaginable for a trip. I have so much to do that I couldn't do it even if I pulled a full caffeine powered no sleep weekend-o-work.
HOW AM I STILL GETTING INTO THESE DEADLINE CRISES AT MY AGE?
HOW AM I STILL GETTING INTO THESE DEADLINE CRISES AT MY AGE?
September 25, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Genuinely picked the worst weekend imaginable for a trip. I have so much to do that I couldn't do it even if I pulled a full caffeine powered no sleep weekend-o-work.
HOW AM I STILL GETTING INTO THESE DEADLINE CRISES AT MY AGE?
HOW AM I STILL GETTING INTO THESE DEADLINE CRISES AT MY AGE?
The Els Koffemann postdoctoral fellowship, offered by my colleagues at our Institute of Physics, is accepting applications.
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/fellowsh...
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/fellowsh...
University of Amsterdam, Institute of Physics, Diversity and Inclusion Council
Job #AJO32465, Els Koffeman Postdoctoral Fellowship in Physics at the University of Amsterdam, Institute of Physics, Diversity and Inclusion Council, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland...
academicjobsonline.org
September 25, 2026 at 1:31 PM
The Els Koffemann postdoctoral fellowship, offered by my colleagues at our Institute of Physics, is accepting applications.
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/fellowsh...
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/fellowsh...
Managed to get Rocky from Project Hail Mary into my lecture on the triple alpha reaction. #MissionAccomplished
Rocky Project Hail Mary Rocky Phm
Alt: Rocky Project Hail Mary, Rocky dancing
static.klipy.com
September 21, 2026 at 11:26 AM
Managed to get Rocky from Project Hail Mary into my lecture on the triple alpha reaction. #MissionAccomplished
Reposted by Prof Anna Watts
I'm finally so excited to share this!
My second PhD paper, and what I've spent the last year working on ...
We've discovered not one, BUT TWO, profile change events on the closest and brightest millisecond pulsar (MSP) to Earth!
www.spaceaustralia.com/feature/disc...
Let's jump ito a 🧵👇
🔭📡
My second PhD paper, and what I've spent the last year working on ...
We've discovered not one, BUT TWO, profile change events on the closest and brightest millisecond pulsar (MSP) to Earth!
www.spaceaustralia.com/feature/disc...
Let's jump ito a 🧵👇
🔭📡
Are millisecond Pulsars, nature's cosmic clocks, as stable as we once thought?
A new study by @rami.spaceaustralia.com has reported the discovery of two consecutive profile change events on PSR J0437-4715.
www.spaceaustralia.com/feature/disc...
📸 NASA SVS
#SpaceAustralia #RadioAstronomy 🔭🧪📡
A new study by @rami.spaceaustralia.com has reported the discovery of two consecutive profile change events on PSR J0437-4715.
www.spaceaustralia.com/feature/disc...
📸 NASA SVS
#SpaceAustralia #RadioAstronomy 🔭🧪📡
September 17, 2026 at 11:34 PM
I'm finally so excited to share this!
My second PhD paper, and what I've spent the last year working on ...
We've discovered not one, BUT TWO, profile change events on the closest and brightest millisecond pulsar (MSP) to Earth!
www.spaceaustralia.com/feature/disc...
Let's jump ito a 🧵👇
🔭📡
My second PhD paper, and what I've spent the last year working on ...
We've discovered not one, BUT TWO, profile change events on the closest and brightest millisecond pulsar (MSP) to Earth!
www.spaceaustralia.com/feature/disc...
Let's jump ito a 🧵👇
🔭📡
"Activists"
Jeez Louise, but this is way, way beyond activism.
Jeez Louise, but this is way, way beyond activism.
Boerenactivisten mogelijk verantwoordelijk voor sabotage op het spoor
Boerenactivisten mogelijk verantwoordelijk voor sabotage op het spoor
Bronnen melden aan de NOS dat boerenactivisten en hun sympathisanten betrokken lijken te zijn bij de verstoringen op het spoor. Die waren er op 35 plekken in het land.
nos.nl
September 15, 2026 at 8:29 PM
"Activists"
Jeez Louise, but this is way, way beyond activism.
Jeez Louise, but this is way, way beyond activism.
Read @chanda.blacksky.app 's summary of our new paper! I would never in a zillion years have imagined writing a paper with dark energy in the title (although mind you I said that about dark matter too 👀). But great collaborators can haul you in all kinds of fun and unexpected directions!
🎉 NEW SCIENCE ALERT 🎉🧪🔭⚛️
Presenting: Hunting for dark energy in neutron stars!!
Yes that’s right I have a *third* paper on the arXiv in a week, this time with my former PhD student Dr. Nathan Rutherford and @profannawatts.bsky.social.
My first paper in 16 years about dark energy! 🧵
Presenting: Hunting for dark energy in neutron stars!!
Yes that’s right I have a *third* paper on the arXiv in a week, this time with my former PhD student Dr. Nathan Rutherford and @profannawatts.bsky.social.
My first paper in 16 years about dark energy! 🧵
NICER neutron stars with dark energy and dark matter: effects on the inferred equation of state
[Abridged] In this work, we compare neutron stars where dark energy or dark matter are present in the core, contrasting them against purely baryonic stars with the same central energy density. From th...
arxiv.org
September 15, 2026 at 2:21 PM
Read @chanda.blacksky.app 's summary of our new paper! I would never in a zillion years have imagined writing a paper with dark energy in the title (although mind you I said that about dark matter too 👀). But great collaborators can haul you in all kinds of fun and unexpected directions!
I almost made a flippant remark about it being Russians or farmers when the news of sabotage across the Dutch rail network broke. But I didn't think the farmers were crazy enough to put the lives of rail travellers at risk.
Now the Farmers Defence Force is hinting that they were involved.
Now the Farmers Defence Force is hinting that they were involved.
Sabotage spoor gaat door, ook hooibalen in brand langs snelwegen, FDF hint op betrokkenheid boeren www.bnnvara.nl/joop/artikel...
Sabotage spoor gaat door, ook hooibalen in brand langs snelwegen, FDF hint op betrokkenheid boeren - Joop - BNNVARA
De sabotageacties op het spoor gaan in de loop van dinsdag nog altijd door.
www.bnnvara.nl
September 15, 2026 at 2:17 PM
I almost made a flippant remark about it being Russians or farmers when the news of sabotage across the Dutch rail network broke. But I didn't think the farmers were crazy enough to put the lives of rail travellers at risk.
Now the Farmers Defence Force is hinting that they were involved.
Now the Farmers Defence Force is hinting that they were involved.
Cool paper from @rami.spaceaustralia.com and collaborators on one of our favourite millisecond pulsars doing some funky stuff in the radio! (it appears to be boring in a good way in the X-ray, thankfully...)
arxiv.org/abs/2609.15263
arxiv.org/abs/2609.15263
Discovery of Two Consecutive Profile Change Events in the Millisecond Pulsar PSR J0437-4715
The closest and brightest millisecond pulsar (MSP), PSR J0437-4715, is a high-priority pulsar for precision timing experiments, including the Parkes Pulsar Timing Array (PPTA) project, where it is use...
arxiv.org
September 15, 2026 at 9:27 AM
Cool paper from @rami.spaceaustralia.com and collaborators on one of our favourite millisecond pulsars doing some funky stuff in the radio! (it appears to be boring in a good way in the X-ray, thankfully...)
arxiv.org/abs/2609.15263
arxiv.org/abs/2609.15263
I had forgotten how utterly weird and wonderful the Rocky Horror Picture Show is. Earworm anyone?
It's just a jump to the left...
It's just a jump to the left...
Rocky Horror: Let's Do The Time Warp Again!
Alt: Rocky Horror: Let's Do The Time Warp Again! A line of people in suits are timewarping in a ballroom.
static.klipy.com
September 14, 2026 at 10:30 PM
I had forgotten how utterly weird and wonderful the Rocky Horror Picture Show is. Earworm anyone?
It's just a jump to the left...
It's just a jump to the left...
Reposted by Prof Anna Watts
On 9/11 reports circulated that in Ede Moroccan-Dutch kids celebrated the attacks. They were false. Strong interview with a teacher and community leader who fought polarization for 25 years and is now exhausted.
September 11, 2026 at 7:48 AM
On 9/11 reports circulated that in Ede Moroccan-Dutch kids celebrated the attacks. They were false. Strong interview with a teacher and community leader who fought polarization for 25 years and is now exhausted.
Reposted by Prof Anna Watts
'Het nieuwe bewijs van OpenAI heeft naar schatting 22,5 miljoen dollar aan rekenkracht gekost. Daarvan had je Andrew Wiles zo’n 225 jaar kunnen inhuren. Of, realistischer, dertig wiskundigen van het kaliber Andrew Wiles voor zeven jaar.'
[DPG]
https://www.volkskrant.nl/cs-b44c3da4/
[DPG]
https://www.volkskrant.nl/cs-b44c3da4/
DPG Media Privacy Gate
myprivacy.dpgmedia.nl
September 11, 2026 at 8:56 AM
'Het nieuwe bewijs van OpenAI heeft naar schatting 22,5 miljoen dollar aan rekenkracht gekost. Daarvan had je Andrew Wiles zo’n 225 jaar kunnen inhuren. Of, realistischer, dertig wiskundigen van het kaliber Andrew Wiles voor zeven jaar.'
[DPG]
https://www.volkskrant.nl/cs-b44c3da4/
[DPG]
https://www.volkskrant.nl/cs-b44c3da4/
Reposted by Prof Anna Watts
Teaser voor de lezing van @profannawatts.bsky.social volgende week vrijdag. Toegang gratis! Tickets via pretix.eu/API/Lecture9... 🔭
September 10, 2026 at 7:57 AM
Teaser voor de lezing van @profannawatts.bsky.social volgende week vrijdag. Toegang gratis! Tickets via pretix.eu/API/Lecture9... 🔭
Reposted by Prof Anna Watts
On Friday September 18, @profannawatts.bsky.social will be giving a free public lecture! The title is Six Decades of Neutron Stars. More info & abstract at api.uva.nl/nl/content/e...
Where: Science Park 904, Amsterdam
Time: 19:00
Tickets: pretix.eu/API/Lecture9...
Where: Science Park 904, Amsterdam
Time: 19:00
Tickets: pretix.eu/API/Lecture9...
Lecture: Six Decades of Neutron Stars
Fri, Sept. 18, 2026
pretix.eu
September 9, 2026 at 9:14 AM
On Friday September 18, @profannawatts.bsky.social will be giving a free public lecture! The title is Six Decades of Neutron Stars. More info & abstract at api.uva.nl/nl/content/e...
Where: Science Park 904, Amsterdam
Time: 19:00
Tickets: pretix.eu/API/Lecture9...
Where: Science Park 904, Amsterdam
Time: 19:00
Tickets: pretix.eu/API/Lecture9...
Join us! We are advertising not one but TWO new observation-oriented tenure track faculty positions, in the areas of massive stars/compact binaries and exoplanets. Links in thread!
[Genuine footage from our staff meetings, seen below]
[Genuine footage from our staff meetings, seen below]
Avengers Assemble with Thor
Alt: Avengers Assemble - camera pans around the Avengers on a New York (?) street. Thor chairs the staff meeting.
static.klipy.com
September 8, 2026 at 1:22 PM
Join us! We are advertising not one but TWO new observation-oriented tenure track faculty positions, in the areas of massive stars/compact binaries and exoplanets. Links in thread!
[Genuine footage from our staff meetings, seen below]
[Genuine footage from our staff meetings, seen below]
Reposted by Prof Anna Watts
In the latest round of pass the harasser, this Professor slept with students and now is moving into a leadership role at Arizona State University 🧪 #metoo
madison.com/news/local/e...
madison.com/news/local/e...
Records: UW-Madison professor engaged in sex with students, exploited 'power imbalance'
The records were released in response to a request from the Wisconsin State Journal.
madison.com
September 4, 2026 at 2:51 PM
In the latest round of pass the harasser, this Professor slept with students and now is moving into a leadership role at Arizona State University 🧪 #metoo
madison.com/news/local/e...
madison.com/news/local/e...
Reposted by Prof Anna Watts
Celebrating this chonky neutron star by adding it to my "How dense are neutron stars?" notebook.
Find out what volume of this neutron star weighs as much as all of humanity on Earth right now!
shanikagalaudage.github.io/scicomm-outr...
Spoiler: it's tiny!
Find out what volume of this neutron star weighs as much as all of humanity on Earth right now!
shanikagalaudage.github.io/scicomm-outr...
Spoiler: it's tiny!
New NICER pulsar radius from the X-PSI team! For the gloriously chunky 1.9 solar mass pulsar PSR J1614-2230. Led by Lucien Mauviard, a finishing PhD student in Seb Guillot's group in Toulouse. #highenergyastro 🔭🧪
arxiv.org/abs/2609.00172
arxiv.org/abs/2609.00172
A NICER view of PSR J1614$-$2230: a massive and compact millisecond pulsar
Using pulse profile modeling, we obtain the mass-radius measurement of a millisecond pulsar (MSP) with data from the Neutron Star Interior Composition ExploreR, XMM-Newton and the Chandra X-ray Observ...
arxiv.org
September 4, 2026 at 2:29 AM
Celebrating this chonky neutron star by adding it to my "How dense are neutron stars?" notebook.
Find out what volume of this neutron star weighs as much as all of humanity on Earth right now!
shanikagalaudage.github.io/scicomm-outr...
Spoiler: it's tiny!
Find out what volume of this neutron star weighs as much as all of humanity on Earth right now!
shanikagalaudage.github.io/scicomm-outr...
Spoiler: it's tiny!