Cynthia Froning @astra2.bsky.social · 8hI’d contribute here but I’m not sure how much the average reader is interested in Building Scientific Apparatus and looking up the spec sheets of photodiodes online… 010
Reposted by Cynthia FroningLASP @laspatcu.bsky.social · 14hSPRITE's taking flight! 🚀 🌌 On October 1, this LASP-led mission is scheduled to launch and begin its journey to investigate some of astronomy’s biggest questions about the early universe. Learn more about SPRITE and how to watch the launch: lasp.colorado.edu/2026/09/29/s...lasp.colorado.eduSPRITE mission set to launch, opening a new window on the ultraviolet universeNASA’s SPRITE (Supernova Remnants and Proxies for ReIonization Testbed Experiment) mission, scheduled to launch in October 2026, will collect unprecedented observations in the far-ultraviolet… 031
Reposted by Cynthia FroningBruce Macintosh @bmacastro.bsky.social · 12hThis graph represents probably more than a hundred thousand hours of work by our community. Every year when I look at it I think our current proposal model is broken. 68519
Reposted by Cynthia FroningChris Hayes @chrislhayes.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Pretty clear to me there’s a very good case against this man for mass murder, and I’m saying that in as measured a fashion as I can. He’s order the killing of 234 people under no plausible war or legal justification. I am skeptical he will ever face legal accountability for til his but he should. 522100552199
Cynthia Froning @astra2.bsky.social · 24/09/2026The NYT has an article today on how Mary Peltola treated her congressional staff. I'm old enough to remember the many times this story has run before with a different (woman's) name in the headline. Presumably, men in power behaving like assholes behavior is considered normal, therefor unnewsworthy. 050
Reposted by Cynthia FroningRadley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · 23/09/2026They also made him sleep on the floor of a holding cell. With the bullet in his back. And no pain medication. They also failed to provide medical care after they shot him. People need to go to prison for this. 381820678
Reposted by Cynthia Froningae @aelkus.bsky.social · 18/09/2026the invention of safe, reliable, and mass producible birth control is one of the most momentous advances in human history for equalizing society 217922
Cynthia Froning @astra2.bsky.social · 18/09/2026We purchased our 1954 house from the original owners, who designed it so that there were no steps in the home because the wife's brother was in a wheelchair from childhood polio. How quickly we forget. 041
Reposted by Cynthia FroningAsawin Suebsaeng @swin24.bsky.social · 14/09/2026I need younger generations to understand how weird it is that trump is such a unique terrible fuck up that it’s actually correct to blame the president for a demonstrably shittier economy and costs 525528951
Reposted by Cynthia FroningProPublica @propublica.org · 09/09/2026NEW: Our analysis found that from 2020 to 2025, the rate of deaths involving ectopic pregnancies nearly doubled compared with the previous six-year period. The uptick was steeper in states with abortion bans.propublica.orgEctopic Pregnancy Deaths Have Nearly Doubled. It’s Worse in States With Abortion Bans.With prompt and appropriate medical care, experts say, people shouldn’t die from an ectopic pregnancy. Women in Texas and Oklahoma have sued over delays in care, which, coupled with our new analysis, ... 34776174457
Reposted by Cynthia FroningKevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 03/09/2026Are we sure he actually owns the watch and didn't just grab someone else's from a security checkpoint? 2162959
Reposted by Cynthia FroningCZEdwards @czedwards.bsky.social · 01/09/2026The “with measles” is infuriating. Neonate spleens don’t burst spontaneously. The most likely cause of spleen damage in a neonate is… wait for it… measles. Just like the most likely cause of death in a child with measles is the pneumonia that occurs when the measles overwhelms their immune system. 18323
Reposted by Cynthia FroningRob Haug @robhaug.bsky.social · 20/08/2026We also know that AI is only helpful if you have the discipline specific skills and knowledge to understand when, how, and why the AI is giving you incorrect results. Therefore the most important thing we can do to prepare students to work with AI is double down on the fundamentals. 527541
Reposted by Cynthia FroningSarah Kendrew @sarahkendrew.bsky.social · 17/08/2026Astronomers! STScI just advertised vacancies for ESA/AURA Astronomer positions. These are 50/50 mission support/research positions, funded by ESA via an AURA contract (so you don't need to be an ESA member state citizen). Full details here: recruiting2.ultipro.com/SPA1004AURA/...recruiting2.ultipro.com 11915
Reposted by Cynthia Froning🎃 scarecrowcialism 👻 @swolecialism.bsky.social · 14/08/2026delighted to have everyone re-learning the "ken paxton stole a pen" story, which is such a perfect example of who that shifty motherfucker is 526436
Cynthia Froning @astra2.bsky.social · 13/08/2026Be cautious about reports of life/biosignature detection on planets other than Earth. Any initial signs are likely to be low signal to noise and/or subject to other interpretations. 030
Reposted by Cynthia FroningDoc Sarah Lonsdale @sarahjlonsdale.bsky.social · 13/08/2026Happy Left-handers' Day to everyone who, like me, suffered the indignity of having to write upside down or endure endlessly smudged writing 2252422349
Cynthia Froning @astra2.bsky.social · 11/08/2026Yesterday I was in the zone. It was awesome. Today, I'm taking a page from my husband and "working" by downloading a large dataset. 000
Cynthia Froning @astra2.bsky.social · 05/08/2026I'm a UT Austin grad, so it breaks my heart to see the state throwing out the academic freedom that has made our universities (yes, even TAMU) great institutions. 020
Cynthia Froning @astra2.bsky.social · 04/08/2026I sat behind John Cornyn once on a flight to D.C. (I always joke that he was the one who gave me covid.) At the end of the flight, a woman came up to hand him a note thanking him for his work. Our leaders live in this bubble of constant glazing and kills normal human barometers. 100
Cynthia Froning @astra2.bsky.social · 03/08/2026There is a lot of bad news in the world right now, but I am enjoying seeing Gianni Infantino get his ass handed to him. 150
Reposted by Cynthia Froningalix e. harrow @alixeharrow.bsky.social · 30/07/2026bought candy at the pool for a 13yo and she tried to give me cash. i was like nahh it's nbd, and she goes "girl i have seen your car." 13yo girls remain undefeated. you think you're talking to a child but you're actually talking to whatever gods used to send to punish mortals for their hubris 445871958
Cynthia Froning @astra2.bsky.social · 30/07/2026Thanks to @rhubarble.com for saving these from the dustbin. I guess we’re in the era of the cloud all around. 130
Cynthia Froning @astra2.bsky.social · 30/07/2026I helped manage UT Austin's covid response in 2020. One thing that immediately became clear is how hard health messaging is: too much nuance and people tune out; too little, and you risk getting called a liar when best practice shifts. 000
Reposted by Cynthia Froningastronomie.nl @astronomienl.bsky.social · 24/07/2026In memoriam Ralph Wijers, astrofysicus (1964-2026) www.astronomie.nl/nieuws/in-me... English: In memoriam Ralph Wijers, astrophysicist (1964–2026) www.astronomie.nl/nieuws/en/in... 🔭astronomie.nlIn memoriam Ralph Wijers, astrofysicus (1964-2026) 0157
Cynthia Froning @astra2.bsky.social · 15/07/2026A lot of this relied on the unpaid labor of women, so a recovery is not just a matter of going back. 040
Reposted by Cynthia FroningGerry Doyle @mgerrydoyle.bsky.social · 13/07/2026I am struggling a little to see how this improves lethality or whatever www.stripes.com/branches/nav...stripes.comNavy will remove sailors with medical shaving conditions after 1 year of failed treatmentThe Navy will no longer issue permanent shaving waivers to sailors who suffer from skin conditions caused by shaving. 87832131
Reposted by Cynthia FroningGenXJamerican🇯🇲🇺🇸 @genxjamerican.com · 09/07/2026A story of elite impunityapple.newsNASA chief flew private military jets over D.C. for July 4th despite FAA disapproval — CBS NewsNASA Administrator Jared Isaacman flew private military jets over D.C. in a flyover Saturday — with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche as a passenger — despite safety objections from the FAA. 810440
Reposted by Cynthia FroningL. C. Mayorga @mayorgalc.bsky.social · 29/06/2026Aaron Bello-Arufe is updating us on the ELT building process. Almost 70% complete, featuring 798 mirror segments to make up a 39m mirror First light in Dec 2030 #exoplanets6 #exo6 161
Reposted by Cynthia FroningBruce Macintosh @bmacastro.bsky.social · 29/06/2026@ucobservatories.bsky.social is searching for a leader for our outreach and public education programs - looking for a scientist who is passionate about science communication and bringing astronomy to the public. Feel free to reach out with questions or interest! recruit.ucsc.edu/JPF02124recruit.ucsc.eduAcademic Coordinator for Program Development & External EngagementUniversity of California, Santa Cruz is hiring. Apply now! 087
Reposted by Cynthia FroningPaul Byrne @theplanetaryguy.com · 17/06/2026This is what a jet of dust and gas on a comet looks like up close. 519737
Cynthia Froning @astra2.bsky.social · 26/05/2026Arkansas touts its designation as the “most pro-life state in America," but that clearly only applies to fetuses, not women. 010
Cynthia Froning @astra2.bsky.social · 20/05/2026The answer to this depends on how you define AI. In astronomy, for example, we have been using machine learning for many years to search for features in large data sets. We develop and vet our own training sets, though. I think people mean LLMs for AI, but there is a broader set of tools. 100
Reposted by Cynthia Froningjamelle @jamellebouie.net · 19/05/2026recorded this just before news broke that the settlement shields the trump family from IRS audits which is OUTRAGEOUS youtu.be/hraZ4tIuDWA?...youtu.beThe Call is Coming from Inside the House, JD VanceYouTube video by Takes™ by Jamelle Bouie 551339236
Reposted by Cynthia FroningAdam Serwer @adamserwer.bsky.social · 18/05/2026So you CAN get reparations you just have to be a reactionary white person who tries to overthrow the government because black votes shouldn’t count 313198835313
Reposted by Cynthia FroningRadley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · 15/05/2026We've become numb to this stuff, but a president accusing a journalist of treason -- a capital crime -- for reporting on an ongoing war is not normal, and we should never accept it as normal. 26365771934
Reposted by Cynthia FroningLaura Bassett @lebassett.bsky.social · 08/05/2026Red states can cancel elections and redraw the maps to cut out Black representation without any voter input, and no one stops them. Blue state asks the voters if they wanna redistrict, the voters say yes, and the court strikes it down. 916346
Cynthia Froning @astra2.bsky.social · 07/05/2026Glad I finished grading yesterday though they aren’t submitted yet. #canvashack 020
Cynthia Froning @astra2.bsky.social · 28/04/2026Currently in this situation, though I haven't finished yet. I did get many other things done while avoiding the task, though. 041
Reposted by Cynthia FroningJason Wright @astrowright.bsky.social · 21/11/2024I have finally done the thing The important thing I have inexplicably been putting off And which is very late And which has been contributing to my anxiety and insomina for months It took about an hour wasn't very hard at all, almost enjoyable in fact 0202
Reposted by Cynthia FroningJeff Foust @jfoust.bsky.social · 03/04/2026The White House is proposing $18.8 billion for NASA in FY27, a 23% cut to NASA's 2026 enacted funding. Science, ISS, and education major targets of the proposed cuts. www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...whitehouse.gov 1198
Reposted by Cynthia FroningFrankenbert Graveyardko @albertburneko.bsky.social · 02/04/2026learning that astronauts have to use microsoft outlook in space is unspeakably depressing. we have set microsoft outlook free from the bounds of earth. polluting the stars with that janky piece of shit 5549111190
Cynthia Froning @astra2.bsky.social · 02/04/2026I see these men trying to for an easy-mode sense of worth. Instead of working on themselves, they want to just shove others down and then celebrate how exalted they are. 020
Cynthia Froning @astra2.bsky.social · 01/04/2026This is why I don’t use AI. After 20+ years of technical writing , it’s faster to do it myself than to proof AI. Plus, I like to learn new things and you don’t learn if you don’t do the work. 030
Reposted by Cynthia FroningKevin M. Levin @civilwarmemory.bsky.social · 01/04/2026Even if the Supreme Court rules to uphold Birthright Citizenship, and I suspect it will, Trump will still have succeeded in politicizing an issue that has largely gone unquestioned by most Americans. To that extent he will have weakened--perhaps permanently--another pillar of our democracy. 1292960546
Reposted by Cynthia FroningTiffany C. Li @tiffanycli.bsky.social · 01/04/2026When the birthright citizenship decision comes out, people will say it could never have gone any other way, that the law was obvious. But the mere fact that SCOTUS took on the case is evidence enough that we are living in a time of democratic precarity. 18793941551
