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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research

@wicor.bsky.social
90 followers 53 following 60 posts

Mission: Advance our understanding of the origins of life in the Universe through interdisciplinary research and education. wicor.wisc.edu 📸: Night sky above the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), July 2017, Photo Jeff Miller/UW-Madison

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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 19h
Support WiCOR during #FillTheHill! 🦩 The 24 hours of fundraising starts today, Oct 1, at 5PM! Look for WiCOR in the full list of funds at uwflamingos.com or visit the Give page on our website.
Image of Abby Waggoner in a pink jacket and WiCOR T-shirt holding a stuffed flamingo on her head, overlaid on a purple to dark blue gradient background with the text "Support WiCOR during Fill the Hill" at the top, with the WiCOR as its logo.
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
TOMORROW! 🚨🎉
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Join us for the Fall 2026 WiCOR Lecture from Prof. Konstantin Batygin (Caltech) presenting "Planet 9 From Outer Space" on Tues Sept 22 at 7PM! The abstract and full event details are available at: go.wisc.edu/wicor-lecture-fa26. This event is free and open to the public. 🧪🔭 #SolarSystem
Flyer for the WiCOR Lecture in Fall 2026, presented by Konstantin Batygin with a photo of the speaker, a graphic of a the Kuiper belt, and a gradient background from purple to orange, along with the WiCOR and UW-Madison Logos.
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Reposted by Wisconsin Center for Origins Research
UW–Madison @uwmadison.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Found: Mega-Earth! It’s nearly 170 million years old. It’s more than 2.5 times the size of Earth. And it’s the first exoplanet discovered and catalogued by researchers with @wicor.bsky.social.
ls.wisc.edu
Found: Mega-Earth!
Researchers with the Wisconsin Center for Origins Research have discovered their first exoplanet, a 170-million-year-old planet more than 2.5 times larger…
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Congratulations to WiCOR Member Ángel F. Adames Corraliza for receiving the 2027 Clarence Leroy Meisinger Award "for innovative and impactful contributions to the development of moisture mode theory that has advanced fundamental understanding of tropical dynamics" @uwmad-aos.bsky.social
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Read the news about WiCOR's first #exoplanet!! ls.wisc.edu/news/found-m... @uwmadisonls.bsky.social @warfnews.bsky.social @uwmadison.bsky.social 🔭🧪 #astronomy
ls.wisc.edu
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
New paper from WiCOR Members Ritvik Sai Narayan, Melinda Soares-Furtado, and Rich Townsend was featured in The New York Times this week! www.nytimes.com/2026/07/09/s... Read the paper here: iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3... 🔭 🧪
nytimes.com
This Star Just Ate a Planet, and It’s Not Done Yet
A star 1,300 light-years away appears to have just consumed one world and is gearing up for seconds.
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
The second annual WiCOR STAR Bootcamp has come to an end, and we’ve filled our brains with the fundamentals of #astrobiology research! Thank you to all of our fantastic attendees and to the lecturers who shared their expertise! 🧪🔭 @uwmadisonls.bsky.social
Collage of photos of the lectures presenting at the WiCOR STAR 2026 Bootcamp on Day 4 and 5, with the WiCOR logo in the center, and the group photo of attendees and some lecturers at the top
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
New accepted paper from WiCOR members Adam Distler and Juliette Becker! @jcbecker.bsky.social
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
The WiCOR STAR Bootcamp is underway for 2026, and we’ve enjoyed the first 3 days immensely. We’ve learned about #astronomy and #PlanetaryScience from our expert lecturers, we've taken a field trip to the #UWGeologyMuseum, and we’ve started our dive into #chemistry and #biology! #astrobiology 🔭 🧪
Collage of photos of the lectures presenting at the WiCOR STAR 2026 Bootcamp on Day 1 and 2, with the WiCOR logo in the centerCollage of photos of the lectures presenting at the WiCOR STAR 2026 Bootcamp on Day 2 and 3, with the WiCOR logo in the center, and photos of attendees visiting the Geology Museum in the center
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
We're excited to have so many #astrobiology colleagues here in Madison for #AbSciCon26! This photo has many, but not all, of the #WiCOR members attending this year. Come talk to us about our research and visit our booth on level 1!
WiCOR members taking a group photo with the WiCOR Booth at AbSciCon26
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Welcome to Madison, #AbSciCon26 attendees! Stop by our booth on level 1 to learn more about the Wisconsin Center for Origins Research and our member departments! #abscicon #astrobiology #madisonwi #WiCOR
Photo of the WiCOR booth at AbSciCon2026, with an inflatable Bucky Badger in front
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Don't miss the WiCOR Lecture TONIGHT at 7PM!🚨🚨🚨 We hope to see you there! Link for more info below👇
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
This Wednesday, April 22, join WiCOR as we learn about "The Search for Living Worlds Beyond the Solar System" from Dr. Victoria Meadows!! More info: go.wisc.edu/wicor-lectur... 🧪🔭 #astrobiology #exoplanets @uwmadisonls.bsky.social @uwsciencealliance.bsky.social @uwbadgertalks.bsky.social
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Thanks to all of our amazing donors we met our $4,000 match challenge, and exceeded our goal of $8,000 raised during our first Day of the Badger! 🦡 We are so thankful for your generous support of WiCOR! Final results: dayofthebadger.org/wicor On, WiCOR! On, Wisconsin! 📸Melinda Soares-Furtado
Photo of WiCOR Director Prof. Susanna Widicus Weaver and WiCOR Admin Vanessa Orr in a red and white UW-Madison themed frame wearing WiCOR Tshirts.  The red banner at the bottom reads "Celebrate the UW" with the Day of the Badger logo.
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Peter the Pony and Barbie the Cat hope you think of WiCOR this Day of the Badger! We are just over half way to our goal of $8,000 dollars raised for WiCOR during Day of the Badger. Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate and support WiCOR and UW-Madison! dayofthebadger.org/wicor
Photo of Peter the Pony wearing a Day of the Badger bow tie with a graphic of a thought bubble with the WiCOR logo.  The Day of the Badger Logo is in the upper left, and the banner at the bottom says "On, Wisconsin!"Photo of Barbie the cat wearing a Day of the Badger bow tie with a graphic of a thought bubble with the WiCOR logo.  The white banner at the bottom says "Day of the Badger" in red.
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Star, Lily, and Murphy are thinking of WiCOR this Day of the Badger, and hope you are too! There is still time to donate and help us reach our goal of $8,000 raised, and thanks to the dollar-for-dollar match up to $4,000 we’ll get there twice as fast! Donate now: dayofthebadger.org/wicor
Photo of Star the Cat wearing a Day of the Badger bow tie with a graphic of a thought bubble with the WiCOR logo.  The Day of the Badger Logo is in the upper left, and the banner at the bottom says "On, Wisconsin!"Photo of Lily the golden retriever wearing a Day of the Badger bow tie with a graphic of a thought bubble with the WiCOR logo.  The white banner at the bottom says "Day of the Badger" in red.Photo of Murphy the golden retriever wearing a Day of the Badger bow tie with a graphic of a thought bubble with the WiCOR logo.  The white banner at the bottom says "Day of the Badger" in red.
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
WiCOR is participating in Day of the Badger!🦡 We’re aiming to meet our goal of $8,000 dollars raised by the end of the event at 5 PM tomorrow. A group of donors will MATCH dollar-for-dollar up to $4,000, which means your impact is doubled! Donate today! dayofthebadger.org/wicor
Image of WiCOR members in a fun photo with stuffed animals of Bucky, Planets and a space shuttle, and some WiCOR squish stars. The red banner below has the Day of the Badger logo with the text "Celebrate the UW".
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
Want to learn about "How to Build a Habitable Planet"? 🌎🪐 Join us this Friday at WiCOR's Science Expeditions presentation! 🧪 Details below 👇 @uwsciencealliance.bsky.social @uwmadisonls.bsky.social
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
The Search for Living Worlds Beyond the Solar System 🔭 Don't miss the next WiCOR Lecture from Dr. Victoria Meadows (SETI Institute)! 📆 Wed. April 22 at 7:00 PM 📍The Marquee at Union South 🔗go.wisc.edu/wicor-lecture-sp2026 🧪 #Astrobiology #exoplanets #biosignatures #spectroscopy
Flyer for the WiCOR Lecture in Spring 2026, presented by Victoria Meadows with a photo of the speaker, a graphic of a magnifying glass looking at a planet, and a gradient background from dark blue to bright purple, along with the WiCOR and UW-Madison Logos.
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
New paper from #WiCORMembers and collaborators is available on arXiv! arxiv.org/abs/2603.24682
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
WiCOR is participating in Science Expeditions! Join us Friday, April 10 at 7pm, for “How to Build a Habitable Planet” and learn more about: 🪐planet formation 🌎geology 🌊oceans ⛅atmospheres 🔭finding exoplanets 🧬origins of life 🔗 go.wisc.edu/wicor-specta... @uwsciencealliance.bsky.social 🧪
Flyer for "How to Build a Habitable Planet" at Science Expeditions, April 10 @ 7pm in Rm 1111, Genetics-Biotech Building, featuring photos of the WiCOR presenters, the WiCOR logo, and the 2026 Science Expeditions Banner.
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Reposted by Wisconsin Center for Origins Research
Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
Still time to register for the WiCOR STAR Bootcamp! 🚨Registration closes Wed. April 1 🔭🧪
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
Congratulations to WiCOR Member Sam Pazicni (Department of Chemistry) for receiving a 2026 Distinguished Teaching Award! 👏
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
Still time to register for the WiCOR STAR Bootcamp! 🚨Registration closes Wed. April 1 🔭🧪
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
WiCOR will be holding the second annual Summer Training in Astrobiology Research (STAR) Bootcamp on June 1-5, 2026 at UW-Madison! Registration is now open and will close April 1st Visit our event webpage to learn more go.wisc.edu/wicorstar2026 #astrobiology #uwmadison 🔭 🧪 #planetsci #chem #bio
Flyer for the WiCOR STAR 2026 Bootcamp, which has a beach scene showing labels of the different topics covered during the bootcamp, and a group photo from 2025 along with a QR Code linking to the event webpage.
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 10/11/2025
🚨 Applications for the WiCOR #postdoctoral fellowship are due this Saturday, Nov 15! 🔭🧪
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Reposted by Wisconsin Center for Origins Research
Juliette Becker @jcbecker.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
Interested in coming to UW-Madison and working with WiCOR on questions related to the origin of life? Apply for this new postdoctoral fellowship opportunity. Applications due November 15th!
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
WiCOR seeks a #postdoctoral fellow to participate in Center #research in any discipline related to our two main research questions: 1. How do habitable planets form? 🪐 2. How does life emerge on habitable planets? 🧬 Full information at: wicor.wisc.edu/postdoc/ Apply by Nov 15 🔭 🧪 #postdoc #hiring
Image with a blue to purple gradient in the background with graphics of a planet, sunset on water, DNA & an Erlenmeyer flask, with text "WiCOR seeks a Postdoctoral Fellow, Apply by Nov 15, Learn more at wicor.wisc.edu/postdoc"
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
Support #WiCOR during this “Flocktober”! 🦩 Look for WiCOR in the full list of funds at uwflamingos.com or visit our Give webpage wicor.wisc.edu/give/ #fillthehill #uwmadison @uwmadisonls.bsky.social
Fill the Hill with WiCOR logo, and an outline of Bascom Hall with flamingos in the foreground. "Don't forget to support WiCOR during this 'Flocktober'!"
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
👏Congratulations to #WiCORMember Ángel F. Adames Corraliza for receiving a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship!
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
New paper from Eva Stafne and Juliette Becker (@jcbecker.bsky.social)! 📢 doi.org/10.48550/arX...
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
📢 We're so excited the #WiCORLecture is only one week away!! Attend in-person with colleagues, friends, and family on Wed. Oct 8 at 7:30 pm! go.wisc.edu/wicor-lectur...
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
Prof. Jim Cleaves will present "Understanding the Chemical Origins of Life" as the fall WiCOR Lecture on Oct 8 @ 7:30 PM! This event is open to the public! Full event details: go.wisc.edu/wicor-lectur... 🧪🔭 #Astrobiology #OriginsOfLife #PrebioticChemistry #chemsky @widofficial.bsky.social
Flyer for Prof Jim Cleaves's WiCOR Lecture on Oct 8 at 7:30 pm, "Understanding the Chemical Origins of Life".  Details in post and more on webpage!
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
#WiCOR research "studying the origins of life on earth and – perhaps – elsewhere in the galaxy" continues! Read the Welcome from Chancellor Mnookin to learn more about campus and the start to the academic year! On, Wisconsin! 👐
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
Check out this fascinating article from #WiCORMember Juliette Becker 📰👀 🔭 🧪 #exoplanets #WhiteDwarfs #astronomy
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
WiCOR is kicking off our first Summer Training in Astrobiology Research (STAR) 2025 Bootcamp! This week will be filled with content about #Astronomy, #AtmosphericScience, #Oceanography, #Geoscience, #Chemistry, #Biology, and #OriginsResearch! wicor.wisc.edu/star-2025-bo... #WiCORstar2025 ⭐ 🧪 🔭
Flyer for the WiCOR Summer Training in Astrobiology Research (STAR) 2025 Bootcamp, Aug 18-22, with a beach scene showing labels of the different topics covered during the bootcamp.
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
Listen 🎧 to #WiCORMember Hannah Zanowski's interview on The Larry Meiller Show on Wisconsin Public Radio. She shares about her research on the #oceanography of #Earth 🌎and #exoplanets 🪐 -"why stop at one ocean"! 🧪 🔭
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 14/07/2025
We’re days away from sending the first #WiCOR Newsletter! Sign up now to ensure you receive it! explore.wisc.edu/wicorlanding
explore.wisc.edu
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
Webinar recording available featuring #Research about #Plants 🌱 in #Space 🔭 - the first presentation is from Simon Gilroy, a professor at @uwmadison.bsky.social and a #WiCORMember 🧪
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
Exciting article from @uwmadisonls.bsky.social on Hannah Zanowski's #exoplanet #oceanography work with #WiCOR! 🔭 🧪 #astronomy
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
📢 Check out this new paper on #hycean planets from Joseph Livesey, @jcbecker.bsky.social, and Susanna Widicus Weaver! This work was supported by @wicor.bsky.social and the #Research Forward Program at @uwmadison.bsky.social with funding from @warfnews.bsky.social! #exoplanets #Astronomy 🔭 🧪
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Reposted by Wisconsin Center for Origins Research
UW–Madison Science @uwmadscience.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
'Baby' stars are typically surrounded by disks loaded with gas, but it isn't long before that mass starts to drift away. #UWMadison astronomers say that might mean gas giants like Jupiter need to form earlier than rocky planets like ours. news.wisc.edu/measuring-ga...
news.wisc.edu
Measuring gases around young stars, astronomers unlock major clues to planet formation
UW–Madison astronomers and international collaborators have produced the most accurate measurement of the gases swirling around young stars and their changing mass over time. The discovery offers clue
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
Visiting #WisconsinStateParks this summer? Like star gazing? 🌟🌌🪐 Attend a #UniverseInThePark talk to learn from astronomers and gaze through telescopes 🔭 🧪 Find details from @uwbadgertalks.bsky.social at badgertalks.wisc.edu/uitp/ #Astronomy #StarGazing #StateParks
Flyer with the Universe in the Park logo, "“Universe in the Park (UitP) is a popular outreach program of the Department of Astronomy at the University of Wisconsin– Madison in partnership with UW Space Place.”  These presentations are happening at State Parks across Wisconsin this summer.  See below to find locations near you!" and “Learn more at: https://badgertalks.wisc.edu/uitp/”, with the schedule for June and July (available on the website linked).Flyer with the Universe in the Park logo, "“Universe in the Park (UitP) is a popular outreach program of the Department of Astronomy at the University of Wisconsin– Madison in partnership with UW Space Place.”  These presentations are happening at State Parks across Wisconsin this summer.  See below to find locations near you!" and “Learn more at: https://badgertalks.wisc.edu/uitp/”, with the schedule for August (available on the website linked).
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
Congratulations to #WiCORMember Ke Zhang and the entire ALMA AGE-PRO team on this achievement! See the press releases from @thenrao.bsky.social and @uwmadison.bsky.social to learn more! go.wisc.edu/w50l31 🔭 🧪
go.wisc.edu
Measuring gases around young stars, astronomers unlock major clues to planet formation
UW–Madison astronomers and international collaborators have produced the most accurate measurement of the gases swirling around young stars and their changing mass over time. The discovery offers clue
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
Congratulations to the international AGE-PRO team, led by #WiCORMember Ke Zhang, for their 12 papers in the upcoming issue of the Astrophysical Journal! 🎉 Read the press releases to learn more about their groundbreaking work on #ProtoplanetaryDisks! public.nrao.edu/news/alma-pl... 🧪🔭
public.nrao.edu
ALMA Reveals Lives of Planet-Forming Disks - National Radio Astronomy Observatory
An international team of astronomers has unveiled groundbreaking findings about the disks of gas and dust surrounding nearby young...
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
If you missed it live, the recording is now available online! Listen to learn about the challenge of detecting #exoplanets and the interdisciplinary research of #WiCOR Their interview begins at 50min, and the WiCOR portion begins at 1hr23min during the May 14th episode
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
Catch #WICORMember Prof. Thomas Beatty (@tgbeatty.bsky.social) and Jim Lattis on Wisconsin Public Radio's Larry Meiller Show tomorrow, May 14 from 12 - 1 pm. www.wpr.org/shows/larry-...
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
Join #WiCOR TONIGHT, May 1, at 7 pm for the #WiCORLecture from Nobel Laureate Jack W. Szostak! go.wisc.edu/d539v5
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Wisconsin Center for Origins Research @wicor.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
The next #WiCORLecture is in one week! Make plans to join us for this #OriginsOfLife seminar! 🗓️May 1, 7pm, Chem S429 @uwmadisonchem.bsky.social, @uwmadison.bsky.social
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