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Randall Smith

@rksmith

Astronomer at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian.

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01.07.2023
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Latest posts by Randall Smith @rksmith

We turned away from the light when we invented a way to go online without the computer screaming in warning.

06.03.2026 04:02 πŸ‘ 1439 πŸ” 331 πŸ’¬ 22 πŸ“Œ 8

@rejectednytwords.bsky.social CONTINUO

03.03.2026 01:15 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1

@rejectednytwords.bsky.social INTINCTION

03.03.2026 01:07 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
Cat sitting in the sunshine under a stained glass Tibetan Om.

Cat sitting in the sunshine under a stained glass Tibetan Om.

01.03.2026 21:55 πŸ‘ 19 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

β€œAny fool can work out the mathematics of a rotating black hole! Kerr was just sitting there!”

01.03.2026 14:55 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Interestingly asymmetric - if you can’t do it IRL you still have the average ability. But if you do have the ability or knowledge- extensive historical knowledge or mech e background- you could (& should!) convince the DM that β€œthis argument will work | this bridge will hold”….

01.03.2026 14:50 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Exactly who is the replicant here?

26.02.2026 00:00 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

INTINCTION @rejectednytwords.bsky.social

25.02.2026 02:56 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Laura Lopez: A Multiwavelength View of Feedback and Outflows from Nearby Galaxies
Laura Lopez: A Multiwavelength View of Feedback and Outflows from Nearby Galaxies YouTube video by CfA Colloquium

Check out @ohdearz.bsky.social great talk at the CfA colloquium on feedback and outflows from nearby galaxies at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4Nh.... And thanks for the shout-out for the AtomDB CX model!

24.02.2026 19:29 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Could we get a ruling on MONOTONIC as well?

22.02.2026 22:21 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1

Going to include British involvement in Mir? Prof Peter Willmore of Birmingham had some great stories of the early days. And how Ariel I was lost after Starfish Prime…

20.02.2026 13:38 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

The return of 4AD.

19.02.2026 13:37 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Not I. Required to read it. Never saw the point, though I recall writing an essay on it.

16.02.2026 02:14 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

The challenge of being in charge, however it is defined.

12.02.2026 09:54 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Skills are skills. Perhaps the most useful way to explain this is that people should feel free to use the knowledge they’ve learned in other areas - maybe those they wouldn’t talk about! - in the field they want to be in. They may feel inhibited, or that those areas/topics are not important.

12.02.2026 00:51 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

How do you feel about Hail Mary?

09.02.2026 00:56 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

To be fair, there are few foods not improved by a 5 minute sautΓ©e in bacon grease…

09.02.2026 00:51 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Why brussels sprouts taste better now: How farmers and gene editing make healthier food for families Brussels sprouts taste better today thanks to innovative farming, traditional breeding, and gene editing. Learn how GMOs and science help create healthier, more flavorful food for families.

Sprouts have been modified over the past 30 years - if you remember hating them as a kid but liking them now, it’s probable that they changed, not you. See www.iowafarmbureau.com/Article/Its-...

08.02.2026 23:04 πŸ‘ 43 πŸ” 12 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 1
Preview
Brad S. Karp - Wikipedia

His Wikipedia entry now features this. The modern version of the town crier walking ahead of you forever shouting β€œshame…shame…”. Can $10m/year really match that? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brad_S....

07.02.2026 18:38 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

This describes what we think of as being human. Perhaps it isn't only human?

07.02.2026 13:05 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Absolutely. The world is not kind, and the helpers are not always available. Look to them, yes, but don't expect they are perfect. They, as you, do the best they can.

07.02.2026 13:02 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Agreed - it worked well enough for me. Also: you can eat pho broth during prep! Far more tasty than just broth or jello.

06.02.2026 03:18 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

This is an aspect hard to include, but at the same time critical to the analysis.

05.02.2026 06:17 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Although though the responses are random, it’s a bit like tossing joss sticks. Great to see what comes up.

25.01.2026 11:47 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

CfA is trying to figure out what this means as well. If you’d like, I’m happy to help…

22.01.2026 15:13 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Could you list a link or more information about the internship? It’d be great to expand it.

22.01.2026 14:43 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

A fantastic Murderbot reply. Something I wish I had come up with, despite the fact that it was impossible. The combination of complexity with simplicity…so very Murderbot.

22.01.2026 14:39 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

We had a retirement party for several longtime Center for Astrophysics staff today: notably Bob Wilson (of Penzias-and-Wilson fame), seen here being introduced by John Kovac

21.01.2026 03:15 πŸ‘ 94 πŸ” 12 πŸ’¬ 4 πŸ“Œ 0

Vintage Mode
Smudge

11.01.2026 03:09 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

How are you on Route?

10.01.2026 20:28 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0