iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

I've found a little time on my current expedition to finish up a little bit of science writing. This bit was inspired by a friend, who asked me to write a new talk for her poets... wp.me/p19G0g-Zn

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The Audacity of Humans

by Shane L. Larson For many of my friends, I’m the only scientist they know. As a result, conversations often turn toward the complex issues facing our civilization, hoping I can explain issues cle…

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

In Bend for the Cascade Astronomy Festival. Tonight, I'm giving my talk "Feeling Small in a Big Cosmos." If you can't be here, I did a shorter version of it for TEDx GVSU many years ago -- my favorite TEDx I did. 🙂 youtu.be/anNHksQRVVY?...

youtu.be

Feeling Small in a Big Cosmos | Shane Larson | TEDxGVSU

YouTube video by TEDx Talks

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

If you've seen my Moon talk, you know my favorite factoid is: if you saw APOLLO 13 in IMAX (30 yrs ago) the Saturn V launch is approximately LIFE SIZE. I'm giving my Moon talk tomorrow at Carlton Observatory in McMinnville... on an IMAX screen. You know what is going to happen, don't you???? 😀🚀

Title slide showing the rising full moon on a black slide, with some tree silohuettes in front of it. Title: THE ONCE AND FUTURE MOON, by Shane L Larson of Clarkson University. Talk at Carlton Observatory-Evergreen Aviation Musuem in McMinnville, OR at 7pm on 8 Oct 2026.

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Hello PNW! I'm here! I'll be talking at Carlton Observatory at Evergreen tomorrow (Thursday), in Bend on Friday and in Couer d'Alene next Thursday. With some work in the middle..😀

Foot on the famous Portland airport carpet -- green carpet with red/blue/yellow arc design pattern.

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Do you know about the "Bridging the Vector Calculus Gap" project at Oregon State by Corinne Manogue and Tevian Dray? It is about physics and math and the interface where we teach students. You might like it -- lots of their activities and labs and book are online here: bridge.math.oregonstate.edu

bridge.math.oregonstate.edu

Bridging the Vector Calculus Gap

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Happy Gravitational Wave Detection Day, the anniversary of #GW150914! 2 black holes, the largest "stellar mass black holes" we had ever detected at that time (36 and 29 solar masses), merged 1.3 billion lyr away! My blog from the announcement in February: writescience.wordpress.com/2016/02/11/t...

writescience.wordpress.com

The Harmonies of Spacetime — GW150914

by Shane L. Larson I have a good friend, Tyson, whom I don’t get to see nearly often enough. We are both privileged to be among the first generation of scientists who will know the Universe by obse…

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

And Roman is deployed, separated from the rocket! A day of setup operations, then a 3 month cruise before observations start!

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Less than 10 minutes to the Nancy Grace Roman Telescope launch!

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Almost showtime! Here with the inimitable Jane Beachy to give a talk fir the Sustainable Futures program at the Poetry Foundation!

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Off today to give a brand new public talk for the new Sustainable Futures program of the Poetry Foundation.

Title slide for talk. Title reads: "The Audacity of Humans: Musing on Hope for the Future of Our Species" by Shane L. Larson of Clarkson University.

Background image is Voyager 1 image of Jupiter's Great Red Spot, in the upper right of the image with a smaller white oval storm below it in the lower right. The top half of the image is swirling white and rust colored clouds, and the bottom half of the image is swirling white and grey and blue clouds.

For the Sustainable Futures program of the Poetry Foundation, 24 Aug 2026.

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

In Cincinnati for the Astronomical League convention. Talk tomorrow night on the Harvard Computers (you know -- a chance to opine on why Henrietta Swan Leavitt was the most important astronomer ever...) 🙂

Title slide: "The Women of the Harvard Computers and the Birth of Modern Astronomy" by Shane L. Larson of Clarkson University. Image is black and white image of the women of the Harvard Computers sitting in their analysis room around a table covered in books. There is a chalkboard in the background, a celestial globe, and a light table used to look at astronomical photographic plates. Most of the women are wearing long dresses. Several are standing, several are sitting in chairs, and one is sitting on the floor in the center.

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

It is Reunion weekend at @clarksonuniv.bsky.social ! If the skies stay clear, Michelle and I will host a star party for the alumni tonight!

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Reposted by Shane Larson

Dr. Jessie Christiansen @aussiastronomer.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Hey, this is fun (I missed it on #EarthDay but it’s still fun today 😅). Use this NASA outreach tool to spell your name with LandSat images of our beautiful Earth! science.nasa.gov/mission/land...

The name JESSIE spelled out in six images is different features on the surface of the Earth, including rivers, ice caps, and ocean currents.

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Happy Earth Day! There has never been a time when Earth is under more threat by brazen exploitation & wanton ignorance about the impact we have on the world, the only place we know that life exists, and the only home we've ever known. (Photo: The Blue Marble, by Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison Schmitt)

The Blue Marble, taken by Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison Schmitt en route to the Moon at the end of 1972. Blue Earth showing almost all of Africa and the Indian Ocean, and much of Antarctica. Clouds swirl over it all. One of the most important gifts of the space age is the opportunity to view our world as a single place, without boundaries and borders, interconnected and growing and dying together. Protect it and all it represents.

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

I'm giving a public lecture Friday night (7pm Central, 17 April) for the Lake County Astronomical Society. If you'd like to join us, we'll be talking about how we gain knowledge about the distant universe -- see you there! Streaming link on YouTube is: www.youtube.com/@lakecountya...

Title slide showing a luminous grid across a background of distant galaxies in the Universe. Title: "A Game of Mysteries: Astronomy and the Unveiling of Nature's Secret Workings" by Shane L. Larson of Clarkson University. Link to blog: writescience.wordpress.com Virtual presentation, 7pm Central, for the Lake County Astronomical Society on 17 April 2026.

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Tomorrow at Clarkson Science Cafe I'll be talking about gravitational waves, & the LISA observatory in space! Come see THE CUBE... it's the size and weight of the gold-platinum mirror at the heart of LISA! 7:15pm at the Potsdam Civic Center. @lisacommunity.bsky.social www.clarkson.edu/science-cafe

Hand holding a 4-cm tungsten cube, which is the same size and weight as the real gold-platinum cube that is the mirror inside LISA.

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

Hello North Country! Wednesday I'll give the Clarkson Science Cafe at the Potsdam Civic Center, talking about Gravitational Waves -- the observatories to detect them, and the things we are going to learn about the Universe as a result. 7:15pm, Potsdam Civic Center! www.clarkson.edu/science-cafe

Title slide for "From Black Holes to Dead Stars: probing the cosmic graveyard with gravitational waves" by Shane Larson of Clarkson University. Clarkson Science Cafe, at the Potsdam Civic Center in Potsdam, NY, at 7:15pm on 8 April 2026. Background image of merging black holes in front of a turquoise nebula studded with stars and a faint grid of warped spacetime.

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Before Ron Hellings passed away, he handed his calculus-based physics textbook off to me to finish up. It's been a long road, but I went into the exhibit hall here at the @apsphysics.bsky.social Global Summit and the book is out! @mitpress.bsky.social surprised me!

University Physics on display table with other books. Cover is golden with black and white Charlie Chaplin image on it.

Me holding copy of University Physics in front of MIT Press booth.

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

I'mq giving a virtual talk Saturday afternoon (2:30pm PST / 5:30pm EST) for San Francisco Mensa, called "Wormholes, Spacewarps, and Tunnels to Otherwheres." The talk is open for anyone! Register and get the link here: space-talk.link/FEB

Title slide says "Wormholes, Spacewarps, and Tunnels to Otherwheres" overlaid on a illuminated round tunnel with colorful stars, nebulae, and galaxies wrapped around it. Speaker is Shane L. Larson from Clarkson University, for San Francisco Mensa, in a virtual event at 2:30pm PST / 5:30pm EST, on 21 Feb 2026.

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

I'll be doing a Webinar Tuesday night (17 Feb) for NASA's Night Sky Network, talking about the MILKY WAY and how we know what we know about our home galaxy. It will stream to YouTube live at 9pm Eastern (6pm Pacific). LINK: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlW0...

Advertising slide showing the Milky Way as a diagonal band of stars across a black sky, inset photo of Shane on lower right, and title "A Storm of Stars: Knowing the Milky Way" on the left.

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

On my way to Boise to do some talks about LISA and gravitational waves. Did an interview this week with Idaho Matters on Idaho Public Radio about what we are going to talk about! Give it a listen! www.boisestatepublicradio.org/show/idaho-m...

boisestatepublicradio.org

A sun-sized space telescope could transform how we see the cosmos

A sun-sized space detector called LISA is set to catch ripples from colliding black holes, giving scientists a brand-new way to explore the universe.

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

LISA Pathfinder Reunion in Barcelona for the 10th Anniversary of the launch! I LOVE this picture!

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

Today is the 10th Anniversary of the LISA Pathfinder launch! This set the stage for the road to LISA we are currently on -- a remarkable mission that highlights the enormous talent, perseverance, and imagination of the scientists and engineers in the gravitational wave community!

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Reposted by Shane Larson

ESA Space Science @science.esa.int · 03/12/2025

Happy 10th launch anniversary, LISA Pathfinder! 🥳 For the first time ever, this mission tested in space the technology needed to detect gravitational waves, which paved the way to LISA 🤜 🤛 Planned to launch in 2035, LISA will be first gravitational wave detector in space 👉 esa.int/lisa 🔭

Artist’s impression of LISA Pathfinder in space. The Earth is visible in the background, partly lit.

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Hey New York! I'll be talking tomorrow night for the Syracuse Astronomical Society -- 6:30pm tomorrow night (20 Nov) at Lemoyne College in Syracuse!

Picture of the bright Milky Way over a star party -- sillohuettes of pine trees on a hill in the background, the foreground is a large campsite with telescopes illuminated by redlights. Photo of the Table Mountain Star Party, by Alan Dyer. Title overlaid: "Star Light, Star Bright: Discovering the Secret Lives of Stars" by Shane L. Larson, Clarkson University. Syracuse Astronomical Society, 20 Nov 2025.

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Phil PlAIt @philplait.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

This is still the best (and IMO only truly funny) April Fool's prank ever pulled. It's genius.

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

AWESOME. How have I not know about this before? Thanks, Phil!

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

Wow! Did you write that Bob? I'm adding that to my quote file!

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

There are myriad existential threats to our society right now, the government shutdown non-withstanding. A bit I've been working on to add to your regular calls to your legislators in Congress, and why it matters. wp.me/p19G0g-YS

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Dare Mighty Things

by Shane L. Larson In an age of short video reels, endless scrolling through social media, and fractured multi-tasking attention spans, there is a tendency to reduce our civilization — who we…

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

In recent months, I've lost a dear cousin, watched friends lose parents, lost an old friend from graduate school, and spent a lot of time with beloved friends who are much older than I. So I've been pondering mortality a bit, and so a bit of writing emerges. wp.me/p19G0g-YH

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The Circle of Life

by Shane L. Larson For most of our lives, we live day to day surrounded by family, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances. Whether we share only brief hellos, a quick text message, or long conversa…

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

Quasar time at Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory!

Me and my title slide for "Secrets of the Quasars"

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

Talking soon at Carlton Observatory/Evergreen Aviation Museum -- the IMAX screen is HUGE!

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 05/07/2025

A quick hop from the PNW to Chicago for a long ago arranged talk for Mensa -- Wormholes and Bending Spacetime!

Me in front of my title slide -- Wormholes, Spacewarps, and Tunnels to Otherwheres. Stars and nebulae looking like a long tunnel.

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

On a roadtrip during the image release party today... LOOK AT THESE IMAGES! WOWZERS!!!!

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

I've been sitting on this bit of science writing for a couple of weeks now, just overwhelmed by... <waves vaguely at the world> My former PhD student (Lindsay DeMarchi) pushed me out of my infinite loop. wp.me/p19G0g-Yq

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Dangerous Ideas

by Shane L. Larson There are many ideas in the world. Some are awe-inspiring (“Perhaps we are the only planet with life in all the Cosmos.”). Some are frightening (“What if there were still no vacc…

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Reposted by Shane Larson

LISA Community @lisacommunity.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

📢 LISA News! 📢 Today at the #ParisAirShow, ESA and OHB System AG have signed their agreement to build LISA!

Image text reads "LISA's prime industrial partner has been selected"

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

Overlap map of my location, auroral oval, and cloud cover.

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

Holy frap! Glacier catstrophically collapsed yesterday in Switzerland, burying the village of Blatten. Caught on video. Shifting temperatures are melting *permafrost*, which releases rocks and boulders, triggering the glacier collapse. www.npr.org/2025/05/29/g...

npr.org

A Swiss village is buried after a glacier collapses in the Alps

The Birch Glacier above the village of Blatten collapsed and caused a landslide that has buried most of the village. Authorities had evacuated residents earlier this month, but one person is missing.

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Not worried about cuts to the federal science program? It touches every life, every day, in ways we don't think about. Make no mistake -- the decimation of the federal science program impacts a long list from food safety, forecasts, disaster readiness... things that protect Every. Single. Person.

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

We have the "Last Box" from our move to Chicago, so used it as Last Box again! Movers are here, we'll be at Clarkson in New York by the end of the week!

Small box with colored labels. Pink one reads "Bookshelf hardware", orange one reads "The Last Box", and Blue one an itemized list of contents.

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

Great sun halo over Chicago this morning! Bright enough to reflect in the Bean! #lookUp

Top half of solar halo amid scattered clouds, Chicago buildings and trees in the foreground

Half of the Chicago Bean (Cloudgate sculpture) reflecting buildings, clouds, blue skies, then Sun, and a solar halo.

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

Talk at #APSSummit25 is in the bag! In the special workshop by the Precision Measurement Topical Group called "New Methods to Detect Gravitational Waves." I would say @lisacommunity.bsky.social is the most "traditional" method so far -- been hearing about all kinds of cool new things!

Slide for talk entitled "SCIENCE IN THE LISA ERA" by Shane Larson from Clarkson University and Northwestern University. Slide shows a scene in space, with Earth in the background and stylized triangle of laser light representing LISA. Bluesky @sciencejedi, and YouTube link: youtube.com/sciencejedi/ .

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

Happy Women's Day! In my life I have been mentored, trained, and guided by brilliant and talented women, and I am thankful they each took me under their wing. I have too many colleagues and students to list, but I stand to honor all of you. Continue to be who and how you all are. #WomensDay2025

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Union of Concerned Scientists @ucs.org · 03/03/2025

#Project2025 specifically calls for #NOAA to be “dismantled,” “downsized,” and “eliminated,” recommending the privatization of its essential functions. Frank Schwing, Science Network member and retired federal scientist, explains how your community’s safety and prosperity rely on NOAA. #ProtectNOAA

blog.ucsusa.org

What Does NOAA Do for Us, and How Can We Defend It?

The Trump administration has attempted to cut staff at a vital agency that keeps us safe. Here's what we can do about it.

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

Great sun halo over Chicagoland this morning. Take a break briefly from the drama of the world, for yourself, and bask is the solace of the sky. #lookUp

Thin clouds in morning sky, faint blue sky beyond, tree silhouettes in foreground. Yellow Sun at center surrounded by large halo, rainbow sundogs to left and right.

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Shane Larson @sciencejedi.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

This is an excellent and brief explanation of what the F&A costs in grants from federal agencies are used for -- worth the few minutes it takes to watch. youtu.be/yxTDlFvkvio?...

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Facilities and Administrative (F&A) Costs Explainer

YouTube video by Association of American Universities

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