Nadia Drake @nadiadrake.bsky.social · 28/07/2026I hope we’re all inspired to think a little bit differently about our conceptions of alien life and what we need to convince us that it's there — even if in the end, we reach the same conclusions we started with. It’s worth the effort. (end) 110
Nadia Drake @nadiadrake.bsky.social · 28/07/2026So, the journey between the germ of an idea and this published story was twisty and fun, and I hope you enjoy it. I’m grateful for each and every conversation I had while reporting this story, and especially to @leebillings.bsky.social and @sciam.bsky.social for going on this adventure with me. 130
Nadia Drake @nadiadrake.bsky.social · 28/07/2026Typically, we lean into “extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence” as the standard of proof…but what we’re now saying is that at some point, enough “ordinary” evidence could amount to something extraordinary. That is, if you think life on Mars is even an extraordinary claim at all! 110
Nadia Drake @nadiadrake.bsky.social · 28/07/2026The problem is essentially this: When it comes to ancient Mars, many astrobiologists think we’ll need to rely on multiple independent observations to point to life. But then we’re also saying that each of those observations on its own is not conclusive. 110
Nadia Drake @nadiadrake.bsky.social · 28/07/2026I had hoped there might be a way to craft a statistical framework — something Bayesian — to help us understand when or if “life” might be an answer for the body of observations we’re making on Mars. Something that would help us quantitatively define that boundary. 110
Nadia Drake @nadiadrake.bsky.social · 28/07/2026Reporting the story was an adventure, full of deeply insightful conversations and unexpected disappointments, and along the way, I took a dive into the Viking biology experiments and even spoke with the mission’s director. 110
Nadia Drake @nadiadrake.bsky.social · 28/07/2026A few months ago, I got a bit obsessed with a question about life on Mars: When—or if—“life” becomes the most parsimonious explanation for a handful of potential biosignatures, how will we know? Would we even admit it? This story grew from that question. www.scientificamerican.com/article/has-...scientificamerican.comHas NASA already found life on Mars?In searches for past and present Martian life, some scientists say we’ve been too cautious to see what’s right in front of us 3224
Nadia Drake @nadiadrake.bsky.social · 06/12/2025You know which one I’m waiting for TITAAAAAAAAAAN!! 050
Nadia Drake @nadiadrake.bsky.social · 30/09/2025And yours ❤️🩹 We really were lucky to share a planet with them. 040
Reposted by Nadia DrakeLee Billings @leebillings.bsky.social · 30/09/2025Now on @sciam.bsky.social: NASA’s next-gen Habitable Worlds Observatory may be our best chance to find alien life. But can a nation busy ripping itself apart unite to launch a mission to solve life’s cosmic mysteries? By @nadiadrake.bsky.social (and me). www.scientificamerican.com/article/are-...scientificamerican.comNASA’s First-Ever Alien-Hunting Space Telescope Could Enlighten Our New Dark AgeThe Habitable Worlds Observatory is poised to tell us whether Earthlike planets are common—if it can get off the ground 27834
Nadia Drake @nadiadrake.bsky.social · 10/09/2025Alex I just heard that we are "sending mankind throughout the universe" so really that's just a tiny hop 150
Nadia Drake @nadiadrake.bsky.social · 02/09/2025Missing my dad extra hard today — it's been three orbits since he left. 4680
Nadia Drake @nadiadrake.bsky.social · 14/07/2025Lots to look at in this subcommittee markup, but: Whose yacht did those orcas attack?? 🤦♀️ appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-su...appropriations.house.gov 031
Nadia Drake @nadiadrake.bsky.social · 05/06/2025"You’re punching a generation-size hole, maybe a multigenerational hole, in the scientific and technical workforce. You don’t just Cryovac these people and pull them out when the money comes back. People are going to move on.” www.scientificamerican.com/article/prop...scientificamerican.comThis Budget Plan Would Devastate U.S. Space ScienceScientists are rallying to reverse ruinous proposed cuts to both NASA and the National Science Foundation 7423148
Nadia Drake @nadiadrake.bsky.social · 30/05/2025That’s a cool shot! Safe flight and see you soon 🌌 000
Nadia Drake @nadiadrake.bsky.social · 09/05/2025Meanwhile, check out the midpoint of this re-entry window. (Prediction is current as of 4pm US Eastern, and it will change, but if 2025 wants to be maximally chaotic…it’s on course) #kosmos482 aerospace.org/reentries/6073 080
Nadia Drake @nadiadrake.bsky.social · 24/04/2025“A lot of life’s interesting things are in the bits that don’t fit. The anomalies. The curiosities.” — Jocelyn Bell Burnell #breakthroughdiscuss 0194
Nadia Drake @nadiadrake.bsky.social · 18/04/2025About the leaked NASA budget proposal that kills an almost-ready-to-launch flagship mission: "It sets back a program that is clearly the leading program in the world—in a historic fashion. You take that program and shoot it through the head." www.scientificamerican.com/article/nasa...scientificamerican.comNASA’s Next Major Space Telescope Is Ready to Launch. Trump Wants to Kill It and Other Vital ScienceAmid harsh cuts, the Trump administration has proposed canceling the nearly ready-to-launch Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope 1113370
Nadia Drake @nadiadrake.bsky.social · 17/04/2025The one science story that friends, family, and neighbors are pinging me about right now: • K2-18b I love that people are excited about it! That's great!! But how much damage are we doing to the general appetite for cool, actual science with the type of hyperbole that came from this team? 1170
Nadia Drake @nadiadrake.bsky.social · 17/04/2025Mmmmmmhmmmmmmmmmm. Would also add that there’s room for improvement in multiple areas. These are good conversations to have. 🖖👽 0131
Nadia Drake @nadiadrake.bsky.social · 13/04/2025Extremely yes!! Cannot wait. (But do we have to wait five years? Okay…) 0242
Nadia Drake @nadiadrake.bsky.social · 24/03/2025And yet, carrying unclassified data about Mars gets you detained and ejected. 040
Nadia Drake @nadiadrake.bsky.social · 24/03/2025Re-upping this absolute gem for no reason whatsoever. www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYD3... 2266
Nadia Drake @nadiadrake.bsky.social · 14/03/2025Wow — this shot of a total solar eclipse is truly one of the coolest things I've seen in a long time. Shot from the moon's surface by @firefly-aerospace.bsky.social's Blue Ghost lander, it shows the sun about to emerge from behind the Earth. What a beautiful cosmic perspective! 💍 17011
Nadia Drake @nadiadrake.bsky.social · 13/03/2025Before we know it, California will be called "Champagne" because this is a person who cannot stand being wrong (especially when he's really, really wrong) 020
Nadia Drake @nadiadrake.bsky.social · 31/01/2025She would like a visit and more peanut noodles, please. 010
Nadia Drake @nadiadrake.bsky.social · 16/01/2025"Please stand by. We are awaiting a wayward boat to clear the range." — Blue Origin, accurately telling the story of my launch-reporting life 🚀 1150
Nadia Drake @nadiadrake.bsky.social · 13/01/2025Birdy’s warbles make for a fine, fine addition to the town hall audioscape. 000
Nadia Drake @nadiadrake.bsky.social · 12/01/2025I decided to stop in Florida on the way to #AAS245. This pic sucks but we had a great view of the Cape (and New Glenn!) on the way in. 🚀 2240
Nadia Drake @nadiadrake.bsky.social · 03/01/2025Found the answer 🌊 www.sfgate.com/sports/artic...sfgate.comA Santa Cruz surfer rode potential world-record 108-foot-tall Mavericks waveA Santa Cruz surfer rode a massive California wave last week that was estimated to be 108 feet tall, making it a potential new world record. 1120
Nadia Drake @nadiadrake.bsky.social · 24/12/2024And, with 30-40ft waves expected locally, what the heck is the forecast at Mavericks?? 🫣 www.latimes.com/california/s...latimes.comPart of Santa Cruz pier collapses as coastal city gets pounded by high surfCity officials closed the Santa Cruz Wharf to the public after part of the structure collapsed Monday. 150
Nadia Drake @nadiadrake.bsky.social · 24/12/2024Hooooly moly. If you’ve ever visited Santa Cruz, surely you’ve seen the wharf. Maybe you were even lucky enough to go watch the sea lions from the viewing areas (one of my favorites) that just fell into the sea. www.santacruzsentinel.com/2024/12/23/s...santacruzsentinel.comSanta Cruz Wharf partially collapses; 3 rescued from waterTwo victims were rescued by lifeguards and one self-rescued, officials said. 4194