Mike Malaska

@mike_malaska@deepspace.social
1.2K Followers
288 Following
1.8K Posts

Planetary scientist, organic chemist, astrobiologist, field scientist. Works at JPL. Champion of Titan exploration. Fascinated by life in Deep Ice. Studies the mysterious labyrinths and dissolution geology (karst) on Titan. Opinions expressed are my own. He/Him.

#PlanetaryScience
#astrobiology
#chemistry
#geomorphology
#geology
#karst
#cryosphere
#OceanWorlds
#DeepIce
#PlanetaryCaves

Mike Malaska1d ago
Sarah Taber1d ago

Hello Americans on Mastodon, I know we don't feel like there's much to celebrate this July 4th. It's been a rough several years.

So I want to talk about how we're making history right now.

Mike Malaska3d ago
South Dakota Dep. Propaganda3d ago
Mike Malaska4d ago
Nick Stevens Graphics4d ago

https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/07/trump-administration-moves-to-tighten-the-noose-around-nasa-science-missions/

Trump administration moves to tighten the noose around NASA science missions

"We would be turning off some fabulous missions that are doing extremely well."

White House works to ground NASA science missions before Congress can act

“We would be turning off some fabulous missions that are doing extremely well.”…

Ars Technica
Mike Malaska6d ago
For #SlimeMoldSunday, (I just made that up) here is an excellent example of Dog Vomit Slime Mold.
Mike Malaska6d ago
HansJun 29

On two adjacent rocks I found this Hidden Goldspeck (Candelaria aurella) lichen.
It's interesting how this lichen only spreads out on one of the rocks in straight lines.
It is probably a matter of different layers of rock, of which I unfortunately understand nothing.
Does anyone know anything about this?

#lichen #lichensubscribe #naturephotography #rocks #closeup

Mike MalaskaJun 25
NPR (bot)Jun 25
When you lose your job, it can be tough to know what to do next. Career coach Octavia Goredema shares a practical checklist of next moves, from reviewing exit paperwork to securing health care. #news #NPR https://www.npr.org/2025/06/25/nx-s1-5366671/layoffs-job-loss-unemployment-finance-money-tips
Mike MalaskaJun 24
Show threadSellaTheChemistJun 24
We're just past the 200th anniversary of Michael Faraday announcing his discovery of bicarburet of hydrogen (that Mitscherlich would call "benzine" and Liebig would rename "benzol") a molecule that would <ahem> resonate intellectually and industrially. for 200 years and counting.
A single phrase in his description caught my eye. He says that "a stoppered bottle… was brought home". It a phrase that speaks volumes. He was a lab rat, pure and simple. #ClassicKit https://www.chemistryworld.com/opinion/faradays-laboratory-manual-and-the-isolation-of-benzene/4021734.article
Faraday’s laboratory manual and the isolation of benzene

Instruction on how to be as much at home in the lab as was the man himself

Chemistry World
Mike MalaskaJun 23
Daniel MacPhee 🔬🧬🧫🇨🇦Jun 15
“advances in molecular science have helped researchers understand key mechanisms underpinning the carnivorous lifestyle: how a flytrap snaps so fast…how it morphs into an insect-juicing “stomach” and then into an “intestine””.
🧪 #Scicomm #Plants
@KnowableMag is a great resource.
https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/living-world/2022/how-plants-turned-predator
How plants turned predator

Carnivorous plants fascinate as much now as when their gruesome diet was first discovered. Molecular biology is helping botanists trace the origins of their predatory ways.

Knowable Magazine | Annual Reviews
Mike MalaskaJun 22
Corey S PowellJun 22

Interstellar clouds are brewing rich organic chemistry. Astronomers just detected a complex molecule called cyanocoronene (C₂₄H₁₁CN) floating between the stars in Taurus.

We don't know if life is common in the universe. But prebiotic chemistry sure is.

https://public.nrao.edu/news/cosmic-chemistry-breakthrough-largest-aromatic-molecule-found-in-deep-space/ #science #space #technology

Mike MalaskaJun 22
Show threadIOTA European SectionJun 21

The observation campaign for the stellar occultation by (389) Leopoldina was very successful. We have at least 12 positive observations and 5 negative. The best occultation observation of this minor planet to date.

Reports are still coming in.
C. Weber has provided a first, preliminary shadow profile with 10 positive chords reported to SODIS.

https://sodis.iota-es.de/

#astronomy #occultation #space #asteroid #citizenscience

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Show threadIOTA European SectionJun 21

The observation campaign for the stellar occultation by (389) Leopoldina was very successful. We have at least 12 positive observations and 5 negative. The best occultation observation of this minor planet to date.

Reports are still coming in.
C. Weber has provided a first, preliminary shadow profile with 10 positive chords reported to SODIS.

https://sodis.iota-es.de/

#astronomy #occultation #space #asteroid #citizenscience

Show threadIOTA European Section5d ago

Update to the shadow profile of asteroid (893) Leopoldina measured during the stellar occultation on 2025 June 18 across Europe.

The profile from 13 positive chords is compared to the DAMIT 3D-model no. 5829.

https://sodis.iota-es.de/

#astronomy #space #occultation #asteroid #astronomy #citizenscience