The hottest Astronomy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Science Topics

The Gregorian Calendar Edition

Why is this interesting? • 844 implied HN points • 12 Mar 26
💾 History Astronomy
  1. The Julian calendar added slightly too many leap days, so by the 1500s the spring equinox had drifted about ten days from its appointed date and this disrupted the dating of Easter.
  2. Reformers fixed the problem by skipping ten calendar days and changing leap-year rules: keep a leap every 4 years, but omit leap days in century years unless the year is divisible by 400.
  3. Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar in 1582 (Thursday, Oct 4 was followed by Friday, Oct 15), and its rules make the calendar accurate to roughly one day every 3,000 years.

Anything Will Lase If You Hit It Hard Enough

Maximum Effort, Minimum Reward • 894 implied HN points • 14 Mar 26
🔬 Science Astronomy
  1. A true laser needs three things: a gain medium for stimulated emission, a pump that creates a population inversion, and a cavity that gives feedback so one wavelength is amplified. Stimulated emission makes identical photons so the light can cascade into a coherent beam.
  2. Almost anything with suitable electronic states and some feedback can be made to lase if you pump it hard enough — people have made lasers from dyed jell‑O, peacock feathers, biological tissue, edible microlasers, and even parts of planetary atmospheres.
  3. Practical and fundamental limits stop some things from lasing: losses that grow with pump power and the rapidly shrinking upper‑state lifetime at high frequencies mean materials like silicon and very high‑energy ranges (UV, X‑ray, gamma) are effectively impossible to lase with realistic pumps.

Where We're Going, We Still Need Idiots

Everything Is Amazing • 1751 implied HN points • 24 Dec 25
🔬 Science Astronomy
  1. Choosing curious optimism over cynicism makes exploring science and the world more joyful, even if it sometimes leads to mistakes. Sharing those mistakes helps others learn and keeps conversation constructive.
  2. Small creative acts and practical inventions can make a real difference in everyday life, from brightening public spaces to helping people sleep safely. Simple solutions like knitted decorations and solar-powered bedding show care and cleverness matter.
  3. New discoveries keep rewriting what we thought we knew, from evidence of much earlier fire-making to an oddly shaped exoplanet with a strange atmosphere. The universe is weirder and more fascinating than our old models expect.

Trò chơi của Diophantus

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 2037 implied HN points • 27 Jun 24
🔬 Science Astronomy
  1. The game of Diophantus, an ancient Greek mathematician, has had a lasting impact on cryptography and internet security, with the basis of elliptic curve cryptography originating from his mathematical puzzles.
  2. Diophantus's famous book 'Arithmetica' went missing for centuries but resurfaced to contribute to the advancements in mathematics, leading to significant discoveries like Fermat's Last Theorem.
  3. The study of elliptic curves, inspired by concepts like Kepler's study of ellipses, has become a central focus in mathematics, intersecting various branches like number theory, algebra, and geometry, and even impacting modern technology such as Bitcoin security.

January Supporters Update: A Book, A Podcast, An Anniversary Request

Everything Is Amazing • 651 implied HN points • 08 Jan 26
🔬 Science Astronomy
  1. Vera C. Rubin Observatory images highlight the mind-bending scale of the universe, from nearby stars to galaxies tens of millions of light-years away, showing how tiny any single patch of sky really is.
  2. The newsletter is reaching a five-year milestone and will shake things up with a new season and upcoming changes.
  3. Bigger projects are underway, including a book inspired by field experiences, and this update is aimed at paid supporters.
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Desperately Seeking Solar Storms

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 379 implied HN points • 16 May 24
🔬 Science Astronomy
  1. The excitement of viewing natural events like the Aurora Borealis brings people together, showing a shared interest in nature. It's nice to see so many others wanting to connect with the beauty around them.
  2. Sometimes you might not see what you expect, like missing the Northern Lights, but there's still beauty in simply being outside and enjoying the night sky.
  3. Experiences in nature, like camping or watching the stars, can create lasting memories and inspire a continued appreciation for the universe.

The Moon Then Mars

Opaque Hourglass • 339 implied HN points • 21 Apr 24
🔬 Science Astronomy
  1. The moon is like a broken-down car in Earth's front yard, we can't fix it but can't let it go.
  2. Mars is seen as a broken car for sale nearby, an upgrade but still an unnecessary purchase.
  3. There's a primal appeal in getting a good deal on something, even if we don't really need it.

That Time New York Fell For A Space-Goat

Everything Is Amazing • 705 implied HN points • 06 Jul 25
🔬 Science Astronomy
  1. Sometimes, people see strange things in everyday life, like a figure on the clouds, and it sparks curiosity and imagination.
  2. Our solar system recently welcomed a fast-moving space object that's not from our solar system, reminding us of the mysteries beyond our planet.
  3. There was a funny moment in history when many people in New York believed there were goats living on the Moon, showing how easily people can be convinced by wild stories.

The Emperor’s New Universe

The Egg And The Rock • 687 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🔬 Science Astronomy
  1. Using Dark Matter to solve cosmological problems has become a dangerous addiction
  2. Dark Matter and Dark Energy now make up the majority of the universe's mass-energy
  3. Ordinary matter, like stars and planets, is becoming a small percentage in the universe

An Intuitive Guide to Black Holes

Photon-Lines Substack • 556 implied HN points • 06 Jul 25
🔬 Science Astronomy
  1. A black hole is an area in space where the gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape. Imagine needing to throw a ball so hard that it never comes back; that's what escaping a black hole is like.
  2. To escape Earth's gravity, you need to reach a speed of about 11 kilometers per second. That's much slower than the speed of light, but black holes need escape velocities even greater than that!
  3. Black holes form from the collapse of massive stars after they've used up their fuel. When the star runs out of energy and can no longer hold itself up, it collapses into a point called a singularity, creating a black hole.

The unlit space between the stars

lifeboat • 530 implied HN points • 20 Dec 23
🔬 Science Astronomy
  1. Darkness can reveal different kinds of understanding and truths that are often hidden in the light.
  2. The universe is much wilder and darker than we once thought, with most matter invisible and elusive like dark matter.
  3. Dark matter, although invisible, plays a crucial role in creating stars and light, showing that the source of substance and energy is found in the unlit spaces between things.

Telescopes: Discoveries, Places to Visit, Key Facts

Space Ambition • 359 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🔬 Science Astronomy
  1. Telescopes help us discover amazing things in space, like black holes and new planets. They've changed our understanding of the universe since Galileo's time.
  2. There are many types of telescopes, both in space and on Earth. Each one has its own strengths, like observing different wavelengths of light to see invisible objects.
  3. People are really getting into astronomy, and funding for telescopes is growing. It's easier than ever to rent telescopes or visit observatories to explore the night sky.

Modular curve stitching

A Piece of the Pi: mathematics explained • 66 implied HN points • 10 Dec 25
🔬 Science Astronomy
  1. Connecting each point k to a·k (mod m) on an m-point circle produces lacy modular stitch patterns that, as m grows, converge to smooth cycloid curves; for positive a these limit curves are epicycloids with a−1 petals.
  2. The same curves arise from a continuous 'dancing planets' model where two bodies orbit an origin an integer number of times and a tether between them is sampled; reversing a planet's direction turns epicycloids into hypocycloids.
  3. Sampling can cause aliasing so different orbital parameters can produce identical sampled patterns when the sample size m equals |αδ−βγ|, which explains why seemingly different stitch parameters sometimes look the same.

STRAWBERRY MOON 2023

The Lunar Dispatch • 609 implied HN points • 05 Jun 23
🔬 Science Astronomy
  1. The Strawberry Moon reached peak fullness recently, even though it was 98% full the next night.
  2. NASA has been trying to grow strawberries in space to provide astronauts with fresh produce and prevent psychological issues.
  3. NASA continues to support innovative projects to cultivate berries in orbit.

Last-minute gravitational wave predictions, June 28th 2023, hot damn

The Egg And The Rock • 589 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
🔬 Science Astronomy
  1. Tomorrow there will be an announcement about predictions on gravitational waves from the International Pulsar Timing Array.
  2. Gravitational waves are ripples in spacetime caused by accelerating masses; they're detected by length changes.
  3. The International Pulsar Timing Array uses pulsars and telescopes to hunt for supermassive black hole mergers, with the potential for groundbreaking discoveries.

THOR - How?

Remote View • 294 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🔬 Science Astronomy
  1. The post discusses THOR and its workings
  2. The post includes a link to learn more about Bob Greenyer
  3. A livestream is scheduled for January 21, 2024 at 22:30 CET

2.4 The Copernican Revolution & the “Horror Vacui”

Fields & Energy • 239 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
💾 History Astronomy
  1. Nicolaus Copernicus suggested that the Earth orbits the sun, which was a big change from the earlier belief that everything revolves around the Earth. This idea helped set the stage for modern astronomy.
  2. Competing theories like heliocentrism and geocentrism can both be useful in explaining observations. Sometimes even incorrect models are used because they make calculations easier.
  3. Galileo and other scientists built on Copernicus' ideas, leading to a deeper understanding of motion, gravity, and the nature of vacuums. This helped shift thinking from old beliefs to observations and experiments.

Understanding Gravitational-Wave Observatories: A Pillar of Modern Fundamental Science

Space Ambition • 99 implied HN points • 19 Apr 24
🔬 Science Astronomy
  1. Gravitational-wave observatories like LIGO help us understand the universe better. They can detect tiny ripples in spacetime caused by huge cosmic events like black hole mergers.
  2. Investing in fundamental science is cost-effective and leads to unexpected technological benefits. For example, the innovations developed for LIGO can also help in industries like manufacturing and quantum computing.
  3. Fundamental science projects prepare us for future challenges, much like a university education does. They provide a foundation that helps scientists and engineers create new technologies and solutions down the line.

2.6 Isaac Newton

Fields & Energy • 199 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🔬 Science Astronomy
  1. Isaac Newton built his laws of motion and gravitation on the earlier work of scientists like Galileo and Kepler. This helped him connect how things move on Earth with how planets move in space.
  2. Newton discovered that gravity acts in a certain way: the force gets weaker as you move further away from an object. He showed this through thinking about how an apple falls and how the moon orbits the Earth.
  3. To explain the gravitational pull of larger bodies, Newton used advanced math concepts, making his ideas more accurate. He proved that the gravity of a round object is the same as if all its mass was concentrated in one point at its center.

Five... Things about the 1715 Solar Eclipse in London

Londonist: Time Machine • 99 implied HN points • 14 Apr 24
💾 History Astronomy
  1. The 1715 solar eclipse in London, known as Halley's Eclipse, marked a significant astronomical event during the Enlightenment period.
  2. Edmond Halley's accurate prediction of the eclipse's timing and path highlighted the importance of science over superstition in the 18th century.
  3. The 1715 solar eclipse coincided with a time of political uncertainty and doubt about the monarchy, emphasizing the intersection of science, superstition, and politics.

What awe feels like

Cozy Philosophy • 99 implied HN points • 09 Apr 24
🔬 Science Astronomy
  1. Experiencing a total solar eclipse is a mindblowing and awe-inspiring event, worth witnessing at least once in a lifetime.
  2. Total solar eclipses are rare events that occur about every 400 years in a specific location but can be seen more frequently if you're willing to travel.
  3. The experience of a total eclipse is surreal and powerful, temporarily shifting focus from earthly concerns to the vastness and mystery of the universe.

Orbital stations: the past and the future

Space Ambition • 639 implied HN points • 24 Nov 22
🔬 Science Astronomy
  1. The International Space Station (ISS) has been in operation for around 25 years, but it will eventually become too costly to maintain. New space stations will be needed in the future.
  2. China has successfully built its own orbital station, Tiangong-3, which is currently inhabited. This adds to the growing presence of international space stations.
  3. Private companies are starting to develop their own space stations. NASA is supporting this trend with partnerships and funding, aiming to make space research more accessible.

Current Status and Purpose of Exoplanet Exploration

Space Ambition • 119 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🔬 Science Astronomy
  1. Over 5,500 exoplanets have been discovered, and some even have known atmospheric compositions. This exploration is about more than science; it's about understanding our universe.
  2. Different methods are used to find exoplanets, including the transit method and radial velocity method. Each has its own strengths and helps us learn more about these distant worlds.
  3. The research into exoplanets can inspire people and improve technology, benefiting various industries. It also boosts public interest in science, making people more aware of issues like climate change.

O-Day - Wormhole

Remote View • 216 implied HN points • 09 Mar 23
🔬 Science Astronomy
  1. The presentation shared experimental evidence about the operation of the Great Pyramid of Giza.
  2. Macro photography gave a first look at the sample and detailed study of the disruption zone.
  3. Speculation was made about the use of iron as a possible fuel, along with other metals, in a related process.

Astronomy and space exploration are shaping our civilization landscape

Space Ambition • 219 implied HN points • 21 Jul 23
🔬 Science Astronomy
  1. Space exploration has greatly influenced our technology and daily lives. From GPS navigation to weather monitoring, many devices we use today were developed because of our quests in space.
  2. Astronomy helped ancient civilizations in navigation and timekeeping. By studying stars, early navigators found their way, and calendars were created to track important agricultural and religious events.
  3. The study of dark matter and other cosmic phenomena might lead to groundbreaking discoveries in the future. These studies could bring about new technologies and a better understanding of our universe.

Space Debris: Don’t make the same mistake twice

Space Ambition • 539 implied HN points • 07 Oct 22
🔬 Science Astronomy
  1. There is a growing problem of space debris around Earth. With thousands of pieces of debris already up there, the risk of collision is increasing, which can endanger astronauts and future missions.
  2. To combat space debris, innovations like better spacecraft designs and more proactive measures are being proposed. Governments and organizations are working on new regulations to minimize debris creation and improve safety.
  3. A new industry is emerging focused on cleaning up space junk. Companies are developing technologies to capture and remove debris, which is becoming a significant market with potential for high revenues in the coming years.

Links for 2024-01-27

Axis of Ordinary • 78 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
🔬 Science Astronomy
  1. AI advancements are improving without human intervention.
  2. New scientific discoveries challenge current understanding of the universe and human history.
  3. Discussions about progressive politics, Biden administration decisions, and international military relations are ongoing.

Mass Value Report for May 2023

Planetocracy • 137 implied HN points • 31 May 23
🔬 Science Astronomy
  1. SpaceX has won the race to send mass to low Earth orbit, but the race to send mass to the lunar surface continues.
  2. Blue Origin's 'National Team' has been chosen by NASA to build a human landing system for the Artemis program, showing promise for future lunar missions.
  3. Analyzing mass value helps compare space development progress, like evaluating efficiency between Blue Origin's lunar lander and SpaceX's Starship system.

A flicker in the dark

Cosmographia • 139 implied HN points • 03 Mar 23
🔬 Science Astronomy
  1. Time may seem vast when looking back, but in the grand scheme of things, it's just a fleeting moment.
  2. The universe started 13.8 billion years ago as a condensed point of infinite density.
  3. The post is only available for paid subscribers, offering exclusive content.

Action Potentials for July

Neurobiology Notes • 98 implied HN points • 22 Jul 23
🔬 Science Astronomy
  1. Analysis of the Drosophila connectome reveals insights about neurotransmitters and information flow in the fly brain.
  2. Cell type annotations in the Drosophila connectome highlight the complexity and comparisons with previous mapping efforts.
  3. Developing a computational model of the Drosophila connectome provides insights into neural activity dynamics and behavioral predictions.

JUICE: A Journey to the Icy Moons of Jupiter

Europe in Space • 98 implied HN points • 10 Apr 23
🔬 Science Astronomy
  1. JUICE mission to study Jupiter's icy moons is a world-beater showing European excellence in space exploration.
  2. JUICE will be the first spacecraft to perform various feats, like a lunar-Earth gravity assist and orbiting moons of another planet.
  3. JUICE spacecraft has a titanic effort in its creation, involving multiple countries and costing around €1.6 billion.

Weekly Dose of Optimism #131

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 113 implied HN points • 14 Feb 25
🔬 Science Astronomy
  1. A deep-sea telescope called KM3NeT has detected the highest-energy neutrino ever recorded, which could help scientists learn more about extreme cosmic events like black holes.
  2. A new blood test named PAC-MANN can detect pancreatic cancer early and accurately, potentially improving survival rates for patients.
  3. Anduril is taking over a big military project to develop augmented reality headsets for the U.S. Army, which could enhance soldiers' performance on the battlefield.