Katie Mack
@astrokatie.com
Cosmologist, pilot, author, connoisseur of cosmic catastrophes. TEDFellow, CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar. Domain verified through my personal astrokatie.com website. She/her. Dr.
Personal account; not speaking for employer or anyone else.
Personal account; not speaking for employer or anyone else.
Pinned
Katie Mack
@astrokatie.com
· Nov 30
The End of Everything — KATIE MACK, ASTROPHYSICIST
Information about "The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking)" by Katie Mack
www.astrokatie.com
This holiday season, why not give the gift of ultimate cosmic destruction?? 💥🌌
www.astrokatie.com/book
Kirkus Reviews calls it “a delightfully unsettling narrative”! @leebillings.bsky.social raves about my “infectious enthusiasm for communicating the finer points of cosmological doom”!
www.astrokatie.com/book
Kirkus Reviews calls it “a delightfully unsettling narrative”! @leebillings.bsky.social raves about my “infectious enthusiasm for communicating the finer points of cosmological doom”!
Reposted by Katie Mack
Great piece by astronomer and SETI leader Jason Wright on the endless, exhausting claims about 3I/Atlas by Avi Loeb.
"zero planetary scientists give Avi’s claims any credence... because he’s demonstrably wrong"
sites.psu.edu/astrowright/...
"zero planetary scientists give Avi’s claims any credence... because he’s demonstrably wrong"
sites.psu.edu/astrowright/...
Loeb’s 3I/ATLAS “Anomalies” Explained
Avi Loeb continues to claim that 3I/ATLAS has many anomalous behaviors that lead to the conclusion that it “might” be an alien spacecraft. He carefully hedges the probability that it is a spacecraft ...
sites.psu.edu
November 10, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Great piece by astronomer and SETI leader Jason Wright on the endless, exhausting claims about 3I/Atlas by Avi Loeb.
"zero planetary scientists give Avi’s claims any credence... because he’s demonstrably wrong"
sites.psu.edu/astrowright/...
"zero planetary scientists give Avi’s claims any credence... because he’s demonstrably wrong"
sites.psu.edu/astrowright/...
Humans: capable of building entire skyscrapers but still afraid to put the scary number on one of the floors
November 10, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Humans: capable of building entire skyscrapers but still afraid to put the scary number on one of the floors
Reposted by Katie Mack
Regardless of fox’s actual rabies status.
This is your reminder vaccinate for rabies. Always. Even if indoor only.
The ONLY way to test for rabies is euthanize the animal and remove brain tissue. There is no live test for rabies and your state/local health department will not play
This is your reminder vaccinate for rabies. Always. Even if indoor only.
The ONLY way to test for rabies is euthanize the animal and remove brain tissue. There is no live test for rabies and your state/local health department will not play
Apparently missing out on some exciting rabid fox neighborhood drama
Got this photo via two different group chats
Got this photo via two different group chats
November 9, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Regardless of fox’s actual rabies status.
This is your reminder vaccinate for rabies. Always. Even if indoor only.
The ONLY way to test for rabies is euthanize the animal and remove brain tissue. There is no live test for rabies and your state/local health department will not play
This is your reminder vaccinate for rabies. Always. Even if indoor only.
The ONLY way to test for rabies is euthanize the animal and remove brain tissue. There is no live test for rabies and your state/local health department will not play
Reposted by Katie Mack
THINGS ARE PRETTY GOOD HERE 🇨🇦
PeaceLoveCanada.ca
PeaceLoveCanada.ca
November 7, 2025 at 9:12 PM
THINGS ARE PRETTY GOOD HERE 🇨🇦
PeaceLoveCanada.ca
PeaceLoveCanada.ca
Reposted by Katie Mack
got to hang out with my friend @astrokatie.com today! i do declare her to be an honorary ATLien. there was much sharing of city lore
November 8, 2025 at 10:56 PM
got to hang out with my friend @astrokatie.com today! i do declare her to be an honorary ATLien. there was much sharing of city lore
Sometimes when people ask me why I’m wearing a mask I say I’m traveling or have some important thing soon and can’t afford to get sick and miss it and that’s pretty much always true but I think it would be nice if it were more normalized to just say “I don’t want to get sick” and leave it at that
November 8, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Sometimes when people ask me why I’m wearing a mask I say I’m traveling or have some important thing soon and can’t afford to get sick and miss it and that’s pretty much always true but I think it would be nice if it were more normalized to just say “I don’t want to get sick” and leave it at that
Reposted by Katie Mack
It’s really important that #Vancouver’s Downtown Business Association, who were originally against bike-lanes, are now among their most vigourous supporters, because of ACTUAL EVIDENCE that they’re better for downtown business than any street parking they replaced.
Safe bike-lanes mean business.
Safe bike-lanes mean business.
November 8, 2025 at 3:51 AM
It’s really important that #Vancouver’s Downtown Business Association, who were originally against bike-lanes, are now among their most vigourous supporters, because of ACTUAL EVIDENCE that they’re better for downtown business than any street parking they replaced.
Safe bike-lanes mean business.
Safe bike-lanes mean business.
Reposted by Katie Mack
When people celebrate the individual genius of folks in science, they should also
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
November 7, 2025 at 11:43 PM
When people celebrate the individual genius of folks in science, they should also
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
Reposted by Katie Mack
virtue signalling is good actually
Performative decency is actually *so* important for this reason.
It tricks the 10% of ghouls into thinking that there are only 1% of ghouls.
And it makes the 30% of people that don't care one way or another follow the mostly decent crowd
It tricks the 10% of ghouls into thinking that there are only 1% of ghouls.
And it makes the 30% of people that don't care one way or another follow the mostly decent crowd
November 7, 2025 at 7:59 PM
virtue signalling is good actually
Reposted by Katie Mack
I would put more money on continuing to harvest infinite energy from the sun over assuming that forcing everyone to use The Machine The Lies To You is the steady basis of an entire economy
A fun question. In 5 years time, what looks better? The US’s enormous bet & capex on AI? Or China’s equally enormous bet and capex on renewables?
China has made cheap, clean energy available in huge quantities. The world should take the win econ.st/4oqFszB
Photo: Eyevine
Photo: Eyevine
November 7, 2025 at 11:55 AM
I would put more money on continuing to harvest infinite energy from the sun over assuming that forcing everyone to use The Machine The Lies To You is the steady basis of an entire economy
One of the things that kills me about all this is that it’s just, like, maybe ten guys.
November 7, 2025 at 12:05 PM
One of the things that kills me about all this is that it’s just, like, maybe ten guys.
Reposted by Katie Mack
Reminder: It benefits nobody in a way to list sex assigned at birth on passports, there is no requirement to include it, this is just about punishing trans etc. Americans.
BREAKING: The Supreme Court will allow the Trump administration to enforce its anti-trans and anti-nonbinary passport policy during litigation.
The unsigned, four-paragraph order effectively reverses two lower-court decisions. The Democratic appointees dissent.
More to come: www.lawdork.com
The unsigned, four-paragraph order effectively reverses two lower-court decisions. The Democratic appointees dissent.
More to come: www.lawdork.com
![SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
No. 25A319
DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES, ET AL. v. ASHTON ORR, ET AL.
ON APPLICATION FOR STAY
[November 6, 2025]
This case concerns an Executive Branch policy requiring
all new passports to display an individual’s biological sex at
birth. The United States District Court for the District of
Massachusetts preliminarily enjoined the Government
from enforcing the policy, and the First Circuit declined to
stay the injunction pending appeal. The Government then
filed this stay application. Applying our familiar stay fac-
tors at this preliminary stage, we grant the application.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:36eqtmzysqf7wsslczw4uxcd/bafkreievxyvqikl7wmrg5jkqhsrta5l5xfq272x7caunvxka7vtuzp7hoa@jpeg)
November 6, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Reminder: It benefits nobody in a way to list sex assigned at birth on passports, there is no requirement to include it, this is just about punishing trans etc. Americans.
If you're going to make a post praising an incredible news photo, it's a real bad look when you don't include the photographer credit in the post.
November 6, 2025 at 6:58 PM
If you're going to make a post praising an incredible news photo, it's a real bad look when you don't include the photographer credit in the post.
A couple weeks ago a friend was telling me about someone she knew who had been on maternity leave, and said she had taken "the full year." I said, "A whole year? Wow, what kind of fancy job does she have that gives her a YEAR of leave?" and my friend looked surprised & said, "... welcome to Canada?"
November 6, 2025 at 5:25 PM
A couple weeks ago a friend was telling me about someone she knew who had been on maternity leave, and said she had taken "the full year." I said, "A whole year? Wow, what kind of fancy job does she have that gives her a YEAR of leave?" and my friend looked surprised & said, "... welcome to Canada?"
Reposted by Katie Mack
Trump just continually shooting our country in the face. This unwarranted (and likely illegal) destruction of Goddard is madness. It jeopardizes the next several decades of space exploration.
Reposting to correct an error: trump admin is quietly gutting 13 buildings and about 100 laboratories at Goddard campus that has been instrumental to Hubble and James Webb telescope missions. Staff say they’ve be locked and told to move equipment. Anything left behind will be thrown away.
NASA may be quietly gutting an iconic campus with what it calls strategic closures, workers fear
(CNN) — Alarm is growing among federal workers at NASA’s iconic Goddard Space Flight Center’s main campus in Greenbelt, Maryland — the nerve center for groundbreaking missions like the Hubble
www.wkow.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Trump just continually shooting our country in the face. This unwarranted (and likely illegal) destruction of Goddard is madness. It jeopardizes the next several decades of space exploration.
Perimeter Institute is doing a series profiling their researchers; here's mine! Featuring airplanes, of course. You can check out some of the other profiles here: perimeterinstitute.ca/outreach/we-...
"Humans are curious... We're doing this work because humans want to know, because we are a fundamentally curious species and we have to explore."
Watch Mack's Explorer Profile to learn more about her aviation and physics journey: www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXvy...
Watch Mack's Explorer Profile to learn more about her aviation and physics journey: www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXvy...
Katie Mack: Exploring gravity in mind and body
YouTube video by Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics
www.youtube.com
November 4, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Perimeter Institute is doing a series profiling their researchers; here's mine! Featuring airplanes, of course. You can check out some of the other profiles here: perimeterinstitute.ca/outreach/we-...
I didn't realize it was possible but those weird impersonal marketing spam e-mails have somehow gotten even more depressing now that they're being written by LLMs. At least before it was an actual human pretending to be interested in my work!
November 4, 2025 at 4:34 PM
I didn't realize it was possible but those weird impersonal marketing spam e-mails have somehow gotten even more depressing now that they're being written by LLMs. At least before it was an actual human pretending to be interested in my work!
Reposted by Katie Mack
Today is World Vegan Day! If you are concerned about climate change, reducing meat and dairy in your diet is one of the most powerful individual actions you can take.
"The effect of our modern meat production on the environment is truly terrifying." Jane Goodall news.janegoodall.org/2017/04/28/w...
"The effect of our modern meat production on the environment is truly terrifying." Jane Goodall news.janegoodall.org/2017/04/28/w...
Why I Went Plant-Based (And Why We Should All Eat Less Meat)
Dr. Goodall went plant-based after confronting what that meat represents: pain. Since, she learned more reasons why the work to #eatmeatless is important.
news.janegoodall.org
November 1, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Today is World Vegan Day! If you are concerned about climate change, reducing meat and dairy in your diet is one of the most powerful individual actions you can take.
"The effect of our modern meat production on the environment is truly terrifying." Jane Goodall news.janegoodall.org/2017/04/28/w...
"The effect of our modern meat production on the environment is truly terrifying." Jane Goodall news.janegoodall.org/2017/04/28/w...
Reposted by Katie Mack
Are you a grad student interested in writing for Astrobites, or do you know one? We're recruiting! Apply by November 26 :)
astrobites.org/2025/10/31/a...
astrobites.org/2025/10/31/a...
Apply to Write for Astrobites 2025!
Love astronomy, astrophysics, and science communication? Come join the Astrobites team! Applications due November 26th.
astrobites.org
October 31, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Are you a grad student interested in writing for Astrobites, or do you know one? We're recruiting! Apply by November 26 :)
astrobites.org/2025/10/31/a...
astrobites.org/2025/10/31/a...
Reposted by Katie Mack
My perhaps controversial assessment is that when you share the propaganda of your enemies to call it out or to mock it… you’re still spreading their propaganda and maybe doing exactly what they hope you’ll do.
November 1, 2025 at 11:52 AM
My perhaps controversial assessment is that when you share the propaganda of your enemies to call it out or to mock it… you’re still spreading their propaganda and maybe doing exactly what they hope you’ll do.
Reposted by Katie Mack
Live in the Northern Hemisphere and want to see a comet older then the Solar System? Nice overview of upcoming pre-dawn visibility for interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS with small amateur telescopes 🔭🧪
All Eyes on Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS will soon exit the Sun's glare to enter the morning sky. Get ready for the observing opportunity of a lifetime.
skyandtelescope.org
November 1, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Live in the Northern Hemisphere and want to see a comet older then the Solar System? Nice overview of upcoming pre-dawn visibility for interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS with small amateur telescopes 🔭🧪
I am certainly no seasoned strategist but I am a little skeptical of the political wisdom behind building a giant golden ballroom and sharing a dozen photos of a renovated marble bathroom at the very moment that millions of people are losing access to healthcare and food.
October 31, 2025 at 6:07 PM
I am certainly no seasoned strategist but I am a little skeptical of the political wisdom behind building a giant golden ballroom and sharing a dozen photos of a renovated marble bathroom at the very moment that millions of people are losing access to healthcare and food.
For the record, my answers are:
Probably, in some form, somewhere in the cosmos, since it’d be weird if Earth were THAT special. They probably haven’t visited though.
Yes, we can see it pretty directly! (More on this in next.)
There are surely some limits to our knowledge but we do know a lot.
Probably, in some form, somewhere in the cosmos, since it’d be weird if Earth were THAT special. They probably haven’t visited though.
Yes, we can see it pretty directly! (More on this in next.)
There are surely some limits to our knowledge but we do know a lot.
yes darth but it is not the #1 question. the top three questions are:
are aliens real
did the big bang really happen
isn’t that stuff all just unknowable
are aliens real
did the big bang really happen
isn’t that stuff all just unknowable
October 31, 2025 at 2:16 PM
For the record, my answers are:
Probably, in some form, somewhere in the cosmos, since it’d be weird if Earth were THAT special. They probably haven’t visited though.
Yes, we can see it pretty directly! (More on this in next.)
There are surely some limits to our knowledge but we do know a lot.
Probably, in some form, somewhere in the cosmos, since it’d be weird if Earth were THAT special. They probably haven’t visited though.
Yes, we can see it pretty directly! (More on this in next.)
There are surely some limits to our knowledge but we do know a lot.
Reposted by Katie Mack
What's your preferred end of the universe scenario? Take your pick from this segment featuring the last book of our series on science and death -- this week on the @science.org podcast w/ Angela Saini & @astrokatie.com
www.science.org/content/podc...
www.science.org/content/podc...
October 30, 2025 at 6:23 PM
What's your preferred end of the universe scenario? Take your pick from this segment featuring the last book of our series on science and death -- this week on the @science.org podcast w/ Angela Saini & @astrokatie.com
www.science.org/content/podc...
www.science.org/content/podc...
Reposted by Katie Mack
The FBI director is flying his girlfriend around on private government planes while FBI agents go without paychecks and families prepare to go hungry as SNAP benefits are being suspended
Patel's girlfriend performed at Penn State last weekend. A government jet arrived at State College Regional Airport, according to its FAA registration, with an address listing the FBI HQ. The plane then flew to Nashville, where his girlfriend lives.
All on the taxpayer’s dime.
trib.al/TBvPo7A
All on the taxpayer’s dime.
trib.al/TBvPo7A
October 30, 2025 at 10:50 AM
The FBI director is flying his girlfriend around on private government planes while FBI agents go without paychecks and families prepare to go hungry as SNAP benefits are being suspended