Jenna Ahart

Meet three scientists who said no to Epstein The warning signs included a web search, a mother’s doubts, and inklings of a “sexist attitude”

Many of the scientists Jeffrey Epstein courted were already well-established and well-funded. So why didn’t they all just say no? Science talked with three who did just that.

Here’s how Epstein approached them, and why they refused to have anything to do with him. ⬇️ https://scim.ag/40qbXnv

Why do curling stones slide across ice the way they do?

After a century of study, physicists have theories — but they’re still not 100% sure.

Stellar lede from @jennaahart.bsky.social

Read the full story in @nature.com:
www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Why do curling stones slide across ice the way they do? After a century of study, physicists have theories — but they’re still not 100% sure.

Watching the Olympic curling finals this weekend? Physicists still aren't 100% sure why the big granite stones 'curl' the way they do.

go.nature.com/4rTOAOw

Why do curling stones slide across ice the way they do? After a century of study, physicists have theories — but they’re still not 100% sure.

New for @nature.com: Some light reading ahead of this weekend's curling finals. (Fact checked by spinning a candle on the floor of my living room)

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

This is dehumanizing and normalizes a future when AI agents can literally boss humans around; with or without our awareness. Its the latter I'm more scared of! @jennaahart.bsky.social has a good piece on it: www.nature.com/articles/d41...

There’s no such thing as a seahawk, actually Many different bird species have been affiliated with the Seattle Seahawks’ mascot, but none is technically a “seahawk”

Many different bird species have been affiliated with the Seattle Seahawks’ mascot, but none is technically a “seahawk”

NASA’s latest telescope is a feat of early-career leadership The Pandora satellite provides career training grounds while observing exoplanets.

The Pandora satellite provides career training grounds while observing exoplanets

go.nature.com/4tfz7dr

NASA’s latest telescope is a feat of early-career leadership The Pandora satellite provides career training grounds while observing exoplanets.

More than half of the Pandora mission’s leading scientists and engineers are early-career researchers This is “really unheard of elsewhere in the NASA mission space”, says one. By @jennaahart.bsky.social @nature.com 🧪 🪐 🔭 www.nature.com/articles/d41...

NASA’s latest telescope is a feat of early-career leadership The Pandora satellite provides career training grounds while observing exoplanets.

New for @nature.com: the early-career researchers behind NASA's newest telescope, Pandora.

“People talk about having a seat at the table. I think that Pandora has taken a step further and helped early-career people be involved in choosing the menu of what we’re eating at the table.”

Astronomers have won the latest battle over dark skies, but the global conflict continues After a year of protests from astronomers, authorities have abandoned plans for a giant, light-polluting renewable-energy facility in Chile’s Atacama Desert

New for @sciam.bsky.social: Behind astronomers' recent victory protecting Chile's skies, and why other battles—including those against satellite megaconstellations—may not be so easily won
www.scientificamerican.com/article/astr...

Are we living in a parallel universe? The strange physics of Stranger Things Nature speaks to theoretical physicists to explore the real theories that inspired the hit series. Warning: contains spoilers.

Still reeling from the finale of #StrangerThings? Dive back into the physics of parallel universes with @jennaahart.bsky.social over at @nature.com:

www.nature.com/articles/d41... 🧪

Thanks Alex!! Of note that a plot twist has changed the premise of this article since I wrote it (which I won’t spoil) but the science still stands!

Satellite swarms set to photobomb more than 95% of some telescopes’ images Planned megaconstellations would contaminate the view of the cosmos of four orbiting telescopes

Planned megaconstellations would contaminate the view of the cosmos of four orbiting telescopes

go.nature.com/3XxRL1u

Satellite swarms set to photobomb more than 95% of some telescopes’ images Planned megaconstellations would contaminate the view of the cosmos of four orbiting telescopes

In the latest from Nature: with half a million satellites set to launch in the next decade, more than 96% of images from some space telescopes could be obscured.

“We will have fewer discoveries, less interesting images, and in general, less knowledge.”

🔭🧪

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

A blurry white fuzz in the center of a black frame.

NASA's pix of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS are now up science.nasa.gov/solar-system...

This is the HiRISE/MRO image ⬇️

How scientists are pushing back against Trump’s funding ‘deal’ for universities Six institutions have so far rejected the administration’s list of demands over academic freedom concerns.

New: Researchers are broadly rejecting the Trump administration's compact. In faculty votes and student protests, they have mobilized to pressure their universities—to some effect: 6 of the original 9 universities have rejected the compact

With @alexwitze.bsky.social and @jennaahart.bsky.social:

Is this the elusive ultra-long GRB ???

babe wake up, an entirely new type of object just dropped

Mysterious ‘little red dots’ are baffling astronomers. What are they? A consensus is emerging that the dots, sometimes called rubies, are an entirely new type of object in the Universe.

ICYMI: Astronomers are finally solving the mystery of JWST’s little red dots, and they seem to be a hybrid sort of black hole star!! 🔭🧪

“It’s almost a shame that we’re starting to figure them out,” Anna de Graaff told me.

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Mysterious ‘little red dots’ are baffling astronomers. What are they? A consensus is emerging that the dots, sometimes called rubies, are an entirely new type of object in the Universe.

A consensus is emerging that these mysterious little red dots, sometimes called rubies, are an entirely new type of object in the Universe.

go.nature.com/4hjIGm4

First exoplanet story since August—reclaiming my brand

Scientists lose jobs and grants as US government shutdown takes a toll Hundreds of people at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have received layoff notices, and work at many federal laboratories has been suspended.

Not common to see a 7-byline story in the wild, but that's what the situation calls for when the government shuts down and every science agency needs to be checked in on for RIFs, grant terminations, and general dysfunction.

Our update on what the chaos means for science here:

Economics Nobel prize won by researchers who showed how science boosts growth Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion and Pewter Howitt share economics prize for work that underlines the importance of investing in research and development.

Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion and Pewter Howitt share economics prize for work that underlines the importance of investing in research and development.

go.nature.com/4hj9NNV

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to lay off about 550 workers NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said on Monday it will cut nearly 550 jobs as part of a restructuring, not related to the current U.S. government shutdown.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to lay off about 550 workers reut.rs/4302N2L

Hi Caroline! This chart refers only to laureates who moved before winning their prizes! So anyone who stayed in their home country isn’t represented here. That distinction should be noted in the graphic in the full article.

More than 30% of this century’s science Nobel prizewinners immigrated: see their journeys The most common destination for eventual Nobel laureates in physics, chemistry and medicine since 2000 is the United States, Nature has found.

Less than 70% of science Nobel prize winners awarded this century hail from the country in which they were awarded their prize.
“Mobility benefits everyone. Each newcomer brings fresh ideas, new techniques & different ways of looking at old problems”
🧪 #academicSky
www.nature.com/articles/d41...

And in case a flow chart is more your speed:

The US is currently the top destination for future science Nobelists, but its future is murky amid rampant grant cuts and stricter immigration policies. Caroline Wagner told me such restrictions will “will slow the rate of highly novel research, period.”

More than 30% of this century’s science Nobel prizewinners immigrated: see their journeys The most common destination for eventual Nobel laureates in physics, chemistry and medicine since 2000 is the United States, Nature has found.

Who said the science part of Nobel week is over!? In my new analysis for Nature, over 30% of science laureates from this century have immigrated, and two thirds came to the US.

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

More than 30% of this century’s science Nobel prizewinners immigrated: see their journeys The most common destination for eventual Nobel laureates in physics, chemistry and medicine since 2000 is the United States, Nature has found.

Of the 202 Nobelists who have been awarded prizes in physics, chemistry and medicine this century, less than 70% hail from the country in which they were awarded their prize, a Nature analysis shows.

go.nature.com/48UbZJp