iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

J. Brian Balta @drjbbalta.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

When you synthesize monazite with specific cations in a lab, you can make quite the rainbow. Here are La, Nd, Gd, and Yb monazites (technically xenotime for Yb, almost the same structure but different enough that it has its own name). Nd was always my favorite. #mincup26 #mincup #monazite

A sequence of synthetic monazites, each crystal made in a lab from flux growth methods. In order, La, Nd, Gd, and Yb monazites (last is technically xenotime).

Two crystals of Nd monazite, tip of tweezers for scale.

Multiple crystals of La-monazite, tweezers for scale.

23110

J. Brian Balta @drjbbalta.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

10:23 pm in Houston, eclipse on iPhone. Some clouds rolled in just after this. I have an earth and space science intro class this year and said I’d give a few points for a photo of the August 27 eclipse. One student submitted a photo last weekend.

Partial lunar eclipse view with a wispy bit of cirrus clouds coming in

140

J. Brian Balta @drjbbalta.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

I am trying to figure out whether I like the waning banking moon or the fact that Earth has apparently received a Sith title.

An AI slop version of lunar phases shared in a TikTok video. Earth is given the alternate name Darth, many of the lunar phases are mislabeled.

000

J. Brian Balta @drjbbalta.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Post a perfect album from the 90s that isn't nirvana, soundgarden, pearl jam, or alice in chains.

Ben Folds Five, Whatever and Ever Amen. Someone had to post it. You never rest fighting the battle of who could care less.

000

J. Brian Balta @drjbbalta.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

It’s fleet week here, so jets have been overhead the last couple days, but I saw this one and um, is that a U-2???

Super long winged, 2 engine jet overhead.

140

J. Brian Balta @drjbbalta.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

“Montana will be up soon, but you may want to hold your breath it’s a long way down”

Picard shows Lily Sloan the view out and Enterprise porthole, including the southwest pacific. From Star Trek first contact.

000

J. Brian Balta @drjbbalta.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

What? Not only do we have the CRBG, but didn't someone publish a proposed successful seismic image of a deep plume? One moment. Found it, there's a significant low velocity anomaly under there. While those could be multiple things...this model seems oddly placed? www.nature.com/articles/s41...

252

J. Brian Balta @drjbbalta.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

“Who needs science were trillionaires let’s buy dune buggies.”

110

J. Brian Balta @drjbbalta.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Every time I search for the word “Portland”, the search fails. It either doesn’t load or the last post that shows up is 4 hours old. I was trying to find more about this and I can’t.

Screenshot of a Bluesky search for Portland. The last post from 4 hours ago says “what hotties do I know in Portland”.

000

J. Brian Balta @drjbbalta.bsky.social · 07/12/2025

I'll be honest, as an Indiana alum, I have no idea what I just watched. My reaction is simply confusion. Anyway...time to star making a float out of...Roses... #IUFB

The Rose Bowl behind a set of flowers. Indiana will be playing here on January 1.

090

J. Brian Balta @drjbbalta.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

Ah found it! Couldn’t find the photo earlier, here’s one of the zombies on my train to GSA in Minneapolis.

A zombie holding a piece of delicious brain. This zombie accompanied me on the train to the 2011 meeting of the geological society of America.

040

J. Brian Balta @drjbbalta.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

I choose to indicate that this post sequence involves 6 hours of Michael doing the reading.

Michael posts that he cannot find a reference for a case where a leftist group could not be infiltrated because it required too much reading. 6 hours later Michael posts the reference as he has now done the reading.

020

J. Brian Balta @drjbbalta.bsky.social · 17/08/2025

At one point while teaching field camp, we drove past another camp cutting fruit with a sword. Because of that I can confirm Dr. Tuttle is correct. ⚒️⛏️

A geology student with a sword cuts a watermelon flying through the air. Burma road, Twin Bridges, Montana.

050

J. Brian Balta @drjbbalta.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

I believe that solar eclipses are the real drama.

Solar eclipse drives down solar panel output symmetrically.

051

J. Brian Balta @drjbbalta.bsky.social · 13/07/2025

This part is more than underreported it makes a lot of what has been reported false. This draws a direct line between staff cuts and decreased forecast quality.

Text box reading “Other insiders have said the budget cuts may have played a role in forecasting errors.
Murphy, who took voluntary retirement at the end of April as part of DOGE-led workforce reductions, pointed out that five of the eleven balloons that the NWS typically sends up around Texas and adjacent states each morning to collect weather data are currently grounded due to DOGE-created staffing shortages. The additional data from those balloons could've helped with the forecasting, he said.”

020

J. Brian Balta @drjbbalta.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

Ok everyone, am I reading this right? From NASA Roses 2025 - Solar System Science section, it looks like the Scientific Technical Management section is now limited to a 5 page proposal? nspires.nasaprs.com/external/sol... Thank goodness I didn't write the full thing yet.

111

J. Brian Balta @drjbbalta.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

Barclay’s protomorphosis syndrome.

Star Trek character Reginald Barclay partially turned into a spider by the release of a synthetic T cell which began “de-evolving” the Next Generation crew. The consequences were named after Lt. Barclay by Dr Crusher.

010

J. Brian Balta @drjbbalta.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

Since we are talking about the Heard and McDonald Islands, they’re also part of the Kerguelen Plateau, remnant of a large igneous province. Presumably a mantle plume head, the tail of this plume formed the Ninety East ridge, also seen here. #geology

Bathymetry of the Southeast Indian Ridge. The Heard and McDonald Islands are part of
The Kerguelen Plateau, a Large Igneous Province on the ocean floor. Across the ridge, you see a hotspot track running nearly north, the Ninety East Ridge. Australia and Antarctica surround this area. Image from https://joidesresolution.org/the-ninety-east-ridge/

0144

J. Brian Balta @drjbbalta.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

It looks like this. www.mlb.com/news/white-s...

White Sox lose 121st game in 2024 season setting modern MLb record. Article screenshot from MLB.com

000

J. Brian Balta @drjbbalta.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

Because that was when Ethan Katz had a plan for developing pitchers.

A can of Spider Tack, Ethan Katz’s only solution to pitchers improving their control.

010

J. Brian Balta @drjbbalta.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

Here’s a map I found of the GPS Measured uplift/subsidence in this area from a couple years ago, not my favorite journal company but it works as a reference here I hope. www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13...

Map across Washington State coast showing GPS measured uplift and subsidence rates. Some zones uplifted due to the fault at rates above that of sea level rise, some areas show little movement and sea level rise can win.

140

J. Brian Balta @drjbbalta.bsky.social · 28/10/2024

Sunset behind the Tetons, Jackson Wy.

Teton mountain range and Grand Teton National Park, sunset behind the mountains with light rays breaking through valleys: cloudy day.

040

J. Brian Balta @drjbbalta.bsky.social · 13/10/2024

Things seemed at least a little close with Minister Jaro

Minister Jaro of Vajor hugging Vedek Winn as he tries to gain her support for his coup.

120

J. Brian Balta @drjbbalta.bsky.social · 25/12/2023

Here’s a Lava Fall on the edge of the Grand Canyon. That would have been the one to see. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lava_Fa...

Lava Falls, a lava flow that spilled over the edge of the Grand Canyon.

000