iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Christine Pulliam

Space Telescope Science Institute @stsci.edu · 17h

#NASAWebb has provided a crash course on planet-shattering collisions, providing clues to the amount of energy in their collisions. (1/6) 🧵 🔭 🧪

Artist’s concept of a star and its debris disk against the black background of space. The star is in the background, right of center, and depicted as a small, luminous sphere. The debris disk is a large blue ring that encircles the star. The debris disk is angled toward the viewer, so that the portion nearest to the viewer extends beyond the bottom frame of the illustration. Many dark, rocky fragments are scattered throughout the debris disk. In the foreground, toward the left, is a small planetary embryo colliding into the left side of a larger spherical object. The impact site glows bright yellow and orange and has a mottled appearance, as though chunks of both colliding bodies are breaking up and being destroyed. Orange-yellow streams of vapor extend outward from the collision area. Behind the debris disk and its star are many small stars in the background. A label in the bottom right corner reads “Artist’s Concept.”

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Reposted by Christine Pulliam

⭐ ᗰᗩᖇᛕ ᗩ. ǤᗩᖇᒪIᑕᛕ ⭐ @markgarlick.com · 01/10/2026

Artwork commissioned by Rod Pyle, Editor-in-Chief of Ad Astra, the magazine of the National Space Society. It shows a bunch of tourists on Mars. Thank you, Rod. @isaac-arthur.bsky.social #blender #sciart #scifi

Martian landscape with mesas in the distance. A train is on the left, alongside a rudimentary platform. Passengers are coming off the train. Others are on the Martian soil, looking around and taking photos. A truck waits to take them to a viewpoint overlooking Valles Marineris.

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Reposted by Christine Pulliam

Space Telescope Science Institute @stsci.edu · 21/09/2026

It’s not everyday (but more often than most might think) that a NASA astronaut walks through our doors. The most recent: Baltimore-native Reid Wiseman, commander of NASA’s Artemis II mission! Last week, he stopped by to hear about NASA's flagship astrophysics missions. Credit: NASA/STScI

A person in a blue jacket is shaking hands with another person behind a row of computer stations in a NASA flight control room. Several monitors and control equipment are visible. NASA logos are displayed on the wall. Another individual is standing nearby holding a document.

A group of people are standing outside a large glass window, observing a mission control room with multiple screens displaying data and images. One person is pointing towards the room. The workspace is busy and well-lit, indicating activity.

Two individuals are in conversation inside the Mission Operations Control Center. One wears a blue jacket, with NASA logos visible on the back. They are standing near a model of the James Webb Space Telescope. Large windows reveal an outdoor view.

Group of people smiling, with one person taking a selfie in the foreground. A person in a NASA jacket stands prominently. Background includes a screen showing a countdown and bright windows.

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Reposted by Christine Pulliam

Dr. Jessie Christiansen @aussiastronomer.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

It’s Friday night. I’ve done enough this week. You’ve done enough this week. ❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙💜

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Christine Pulliam @christinepulliam.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

What was it like to witness the launch of the #NASARoman Space Telescope? I got to share my thoughts in this STScI newsletter article: www.stsci.edu/contents/new...

stsci.edu

Sunday Morning Reflections: Launching the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

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Christine Pulliam @christinepulliam.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

The only vaccine that has ever knocked me for a loop was round two of the initial Covid shot. Totally worth it.

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Christine Pulliam @christinepulliam.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Watching this, I learned about a body that operates differently than mine, so I am sharing as requested. I think many people could use a little more education in this area.

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Christine Pulliam @christinepulliam.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

If you need an uplifting thought today, I just saw two hummingbirds “dancing” with each other. ❤️

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Christine Pulliam @christinepulliam.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

This epic thread is well worth your time!

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Christine Pulliam @christinepulliam.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Wishing those of us in the US a restful Labor Day weekend.

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Christine Pulliam @christinepulliam.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

I had never heard of nor read this essay before, but it is something.

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Reposted by Christine Pulliam

Katie Mack @astrokatie.com · 02/09/2026

There are endless studies showing this and also the financial and societal benefits of universal basic income and or housing-first policies but the U.S. never goes for any of it because it would require allowing the poor to receive benefits that the rich consider “undeserved”

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Reposted by Christine Pulliam

Space Telescope Science Institute @stsci.edu · 02/09/2026

Meet Saturn’s decagon, seen in recent images from Hubble. The new 10-sided atmospheric wave at the planet’s southern pole resembles the famous hexagon at the Saturn’s northern pole, but is also distinct: news.stsci.edu/4g9Gm1U

Side-by-side comparison of two views of the gas giant Saturn, labeled “August 29, 2025” at the top left corner. At left is a straight-on view of Saturn, a globe with pale yellow horizontal bands at the equator and orange and pink at the mid-latitudes. Some bands towards the north and south pole have a light blue hue. There are prominent horizontal rings circling at the equator. At right, labeled “Saturn’s south pole,” the south-polar view of Saturn shows concentric bands in its atmosphere, mostly tan and orange, surrounding a dark central region that has a 10-sided outline. A small, dashed circle at the very center of the pole with an “X” inside denotes missing data.

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Reposted by Christine Pulliam

Space Telescope Science Institute @stsci.edu · 30/08/2026

This morning's launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope from the Kennedy Space Center was amazing! Roman is now on a million-mile journey to Lagrange point 2, where it will soon reveal the universe’s darkest secrets: go.nasa.gov/4qIa69I #NASARoman 🔭 Credit: J. Barrientes/STScI.

A rocket is launching into the sky from a launch pad, emitting bright flames and smoke. Trees are visible in the foreground.

Crowd capturing a SpaceX rocket launch with smartphones, against a sunrise sky.

A rocket launches into a cloudy sky, emitting a bright trail of light and smoke.

A rocket with a fiery trail ascending into a clear blue sky, leaving a thick plume of white smoke underneath.

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Christine Pulliam @christinepulliam.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

This morning I saw a rocket launch! Go Roman Space Telescope!!

Skyline view with flame from rocket engines in the distance

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Reposted by Christine Pulliam

Space Telescope Science Institute @stsci.edu · 28/08/2026

Around Baltimore, staff from the Space Telescope Science Institute are sharing their enthusiasm about the upcoming launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. Let us know if you see one of our staff signs out in the wild! #NASARoman 🔭

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Christine Pulliam @christinepulliam.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

At the beach watching someone build a “sand castle” and it reminds me of the Buddhist Sand Mandala. Reminding us of the ephemeral nature of our very existence is one of the most beautiful parts of Buddhism in my opinion.

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Reposted by Christine Pulliam

Space Telescope Science Institute @stsci.edu · 26/08/2026

Jennifer Lotz, director of the Space Telescope Science Institute, spoke with Maryland Public Television's Jeff Salkin this week about the upcoming launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. #NASARoman 🔭

pbs.org

Direct Connection | Monday, August 24, 2026 | Season 2026 | Episode 31

Exploring deep outer space with a telescope 100 times larger than Hubble.

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Christine Pulliam @christinepulliam.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

You know those extra loud, extra smelly vehicles driven by men trying to hide their feelings of inadequacy? Let’s agree to call them vehicular penis pumps.

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Reposted by Christine Pulliam

Bill Corbett @billcorbett.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

There aren’t many celebrities of this age whose death would be like a punch in the gut, much as l’ve loved them. Dolly Parton feels different. Like some balancing pure Good in this world is being lost. What a heart, what a voice, what a beautiful human. RIP queen. 🩷💜❤️ variety.com/2026/music/n...

variety.com

Dolly Parton, Queen of Country Music, Dies at 80

Dolly Parton, considered by many to be the all-time queen of country music, and star of movies such as '9 to 5,' has died at age 80.

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Christine Pulliam @christinepulliam.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

And also, I am taking a vacation next week.

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Reposted by Christine Pulliam

Space Telescope Science Institute @stsci.edu · 17/08/2026

This illustration depicts a dramatic collision that occurred about 12 billion years ago between our young Milky Way and a dwarf galaxy. Hubble has provided definitive evidence of this long-ago galactic merger: news.stsci.edu/4z7D1YN 🔭

An illustration of two galaxies in the midst of a collision against a dark, star-filled background. The collision takes up the middle third of the illustration. On the right, a larger galaxy is viewed at an angle from 11 o’clock to 4 o’clock, with a white-yellow core surrounded by mottled brown dust lanes and faint bluish spiral arms. To the left, a smaller, bright blue-white galaxy is stretched into a curved, hook-like shape as gravity distorts it. A broad, glowing bridge of pale blue gas and stars extends off the galaxy at the left, while wispy streams extend above and below the larger galaxy at the right. The words “Artist’s Concept” appear in the lower left corner.

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Reposted by Christine Pulliam

Karen Attiah @karenattiah.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

My latest, on how the British/global media hounded Jason Arday to death. “Given the history of white media’s key role in terror against Black people, at what point do we call such actions of journalism outlets digital terror campaigns? “ karenattiah.substack.com/p/jason-arda...

karenattiah.substack.com

Jason Arday's Death and the Age of Digital Racial Terror

What Jason Arday's death by media mob says about the old machinery of anti-Black terror in the algorithmic age.

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Reposted by Christine Pulliam

Dr. Jessie Christiansen @aussiastronomer.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

It’s Friday night. I’ve done enough this week. You’ve done enough this week.

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Christine Pulliam @christinepulliam.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Sayed El Fadil, aka Alexander Siddig, aka Dr. Bashir on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

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Reposted by Christine Pulliam

The Volatile Mermaid @ohnoshetwitnt.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

The only time Republicans get upset about kids getting shot is when it’s with vaccines.

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Reposted by Christine Pulliam

Space Telescope Science Institute @stsci.edu · 10/08/2026

#NASAWebb imaged the Lion Nebula in near- and mid-infrared light just in time for #WorldLionDay. The stellar core, looking like the lion’s “nose,” is responsible for sculpting the nebula’s complex gas and dust structures: news.stsci.edu/4x639kM

$Planetary nebula NGC 2392, the Lion Nebula, against the black background of space. The nebula is at center, circular in shape, and looks like a male lion’s head. In the very center is a small, pinkish-white circle with eight-point diffraction spikes, a white dwarf star. Surrounding the star are light purple-pink cavernous bubbles and shell-like rings. The bubbles and shells collectively form an oval with two small, wide arcs near the top, reminiscent of a lion’s face and its ears. What appears to be extended outward from the lion’s face is a thick ring of purple-blue material. The width of the ring is consistent throughout and resembles a mane. The area closest to the lion’s face looks cloudy, while the edges of the mane look like there are clumps of dust with comet-like tails and strands. In the background are distant galaxies and stars. Some galaxies appear as yellow and orange points of light and others with visible spiral structures. A couple of the stars have diffraction spikes.$

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Reposted by Christine Pulliam

NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory @rubinobservatory.org · 08/08/2026

It's #InternationalCatDay, so we just have to share these Gatos Andinos again 🐈 These two were spotted down the ridge from NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory. 🔭🧪 Because they live in such remote mountain terrain, seeing them up close like this is an incredibly rare treat 🐱 📷: SOAR Day Crew

A small wildcat with dark spots and stripes walks among gray rocks and dry vegetation in a sunlit natural habitat.

A small wildcat sitting among large rocks in a dry, rocky desert landscape with sparse vegetation.

A small wildcat mid-leap over rocky terrain with dry bushes in the background under bright sunlight.

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Christine Pulliam @christinepulliam.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

The images from this story are seared into my brain. But I did not remember that today was that date.

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Christine Pulliam @christinepulliam.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Oh crsp. Among other missions, this is used to talk to JWST.

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Reposted by Christine Pulliam

Bill Corbett @billcorbett.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

This is real and it’s gonna be spectacular. MST3K old-fart reunion in actual movie theaters! Right next to the freakin Minions!!

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Reposted by Christine Pulliam

Randall Munroe @xkcd.com · 24/07/2026

Calibration Nobel xkcd.com/3275/

Comic. [Person 1 with short hair on stage behind podium reading off paper while addressing audience. People are shown sitting in chairs while Person 2 with ponytail and Person 3 waving are walking toward stage.] PERSON 1: This year’s Nobel Prize in “calibrating your equipment carefully and not embarrassing yourself by publishing spurious results” goes to Dr. Adams and Dr. Smith, who did *not* announce the discovery of microbes on Titan. PERSON 3: Thank you, thank you.

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Christine Pulliam @christinepulliam.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

I am not a huge baseball fan, but I appreciate that the Orioles won tonight, particularly after the commentators said it would take a miracle for them to win.

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Reposted by Christine Pulliam

Mar Hicks @histoftech.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

This lettuce is literally everywhere and usually it’s in contexts where no one knows/discloses it. Taco Bell is one of the only places doing the right, proactive thing here and misleading headlines are flipping things around making seem like they’re a site of danger instead.

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Christine Pulliam @christinepulliam.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

In political news, the sun shines just a little bit brighter in the U.S. today. Remember kids - try to live your life in such a way that people don't celebrate when you die.

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Reposted by Christine Pulliam

Space Telescope Science Institute @stsci.edu · 12/07/2026

From the deepest infrared image of the distant universe (at the time) to the detailed analysis of the atmosphere of a distant planet, #NASAWebb signaled the start of its science operations four years ago today. Relive the excitement of that first day: go.nasa.gov/4fFYPTU

Vertical image showing a three-panel film roll. The top image in the panel shows glowing cloud with a distorted ring-like shape. The second panel shows a group of galaxies. The third image shows thousands of distant galaxies. The film panel lays on top of an image showing a bright blue background filled with stars, and a brown and orange rugged cloud. The words “James Webb Space Telescope” and “First Images July 12, 2021” appear in blue boxes overlaying the film panel.

Colorful near-infrared light image from a glowing cloud with a distorted ring-like shape, illuminated from within by a bright star.

Colorful near- and mid-infrared light image of a group of galaxies, with hundreds of background galaxies and numerous foreground stars.

Thousands of distant galaxies of different shapes, sizes, colors, and brightness, with a scattering of bright foreground stars.

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Reposted by Christine Pulliam

John Scalzi @scalzi.com · 09/07/2026

If I could have a magic box that would let my cats understand me for only one sentence, that sentence would be, "For fuck's sake, throw up on the bare floor and not on the goddamn carpet"

Sugar the cat, who just went out of her way to move off the bare bathroom floor to throw up on the hallway carpet AND ALSO ON THE STAIRS, JEEZ

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Reposted by Christine Pulliam

Space Telescope Science Institute @stsci.edu · 06/07/2026

NEWS: #NASAWebb gives us a new view of nearby, active galaxy Centaurus A. In infrared, a rich landscape of previously hidden features and stars—all shaped by a past galactic interaction—is revealed: news.stsci.edu/4xRetmd 🔭

A horizontal image of galaxy Centaurus A stretches across a black background filled with thousands of tiny purple, pink, and white points of light. The galaxy is brightest at its center, where a brilliant white and pale pink glow radiates outward. Delicate loops and wispy ribbons of pink and lavender arc above and below the center of the image in the shape of an ‘S’. A band of gray and white dust in the shape of a parallelogram cuts across the middle of the galaxy. Mottled patches and bright knots are scattered throughout the dusty band. The galaxy’s outer edges fade into soft, cloud-like plumes with feathery textures that stretch toward the left and right sides of the image. Against the surrounding darkness, a few bright foreground stars shine, while countless fainter stars create a speckled backdrop.

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Christine Pulliam @christinepulliam.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

I’m so old that music from my generation is being featured in the Macy’s fireworks show. 👩‍🦳

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Christine Pulliam @christinepulliam.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

It sure would be nice to catch up on sleep over the holiday weekend, except that won’t happen because… BOOM BOOM for the next three nights.

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Benjamin Alvarez @benjalvarez1.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Fourth of July D.C. flyover schedule

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Space Telescope Science Institute @stsci.edu · 02/07/2026

NEWS: Like a fireworks display, #NASAWebb’s view of FS Tau is bursting with color: red wisps of molecular hydrogen, orange streaks of soot-like molecules, and areas of blue where light is scattered by dust: news.stsci.edu/4xW7CI5

$FS Tau, a star-forming nebula. Clouds of transparent blue and purple gas and dust extend from the top center to center right. Several yellow and white protostars, some showing Webb’s eight-pronged diffraction pattern are dispersed throughout the clouds. Orange wisps and filaments of gas loosely extend diagonally from one of the protostars at the center, from the top left to the bottom right corners. There are numerous, distant yellow and white galaxies strewn about the black background of space.$

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Benjamin Pope @benjaminpope.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

cutting pure science to prioritize applications is fundamentally like asking farmers not to waste time producing grain, cheese, and tomatoes and focus on making pizzas

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Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

love to my trans friends. fuck SCOTUS.

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