Jonathan O’Callaghan (@Astro_Jonny) — posts, photos & videos

@Astro_Jonny

Okay hear me out - what if a monster neutrino detected off the coast of Sicily came from a primordial black hole inside a fifth dimension that was formed by cosmic strings?

Class this as just a little bit speculative.

Story by me in Scientific American

scientificamerican.com/article/this-w…

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Jonathan O’Callaghan

@Astro_Jonny

Oct 1

We're running out of rockets, and it might cause problems for years – or even longer.

Story by me in New Scientist

newscientist.com/article/259150…

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Jonathan O’Callaghan

@Astro_Jonny

Sep 29

I'm back in The New York Times, with news that we might have spotted a first magnetic field on an exoplanet!

If so it would be more than 2,000 times stronger than Earth's, and could be a key tool in future hunts for habitability.

Exciting!

nytimes.com/2026/09/29/sci…

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Jonathan O’Callaghan

@Astro_Jonny

Sep 24

My debut article for Popular Mechanics!

It's all about time travel paradoxes, and the actual experiments and research that have investigated them. Come for the closed timelike curves, stay for the retrocausality.

Enjoy 🕙

popularmechanics.com/science/a73835…

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Jonathan O’Callaghan

@Astro_Jonny

Sep 21

I was on NPR Dallas last week chatting about satellites and shiz for nearly an hour. Enjoy!

think.kera.org/2026/09/17/the…

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Jonathan O’Callaghan

@Astro_Jonny

Aug 28

NASA’s newest telescope is about to rewrite how we study the universe.

Story by me in Scientific American

scientificamerican.com/article/nasas-…

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Jonathan O’Callaghan

@Astro_Jonny

Aug 21

One more article then I'll leave you alone.

We've all heard about Reflect Orbital's plans to beam sunlight from space. But a new study shows the beams might be visible up to 80km away, changing the night sky for many.

Story by me in MIT Tech Review

technologyreview.com/2026/08/21/114…

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Jonathan O’Callaghan

@Astro_Jonny

Aug 19

I have not one, but TWO features in the latest issue of Scientific American, including the cover!

First, satellites are being added to the sky faster than ever. But is there a limit, a carrying capacity, to how many can orbit – and is disaster inevitable?

scientificamerican.com/article/how-ma…

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Jonathan O’Callaghan

@Astro_Jonny

Aug 13

I'm back! With an article!

A mission to boost NASA's Swift telescope looked to be doomed, but is now back on track.

Now the race is on to save Swift, currently in "superman mode" to lessen atmospheric drag.

Story by me in New Scientist

newscientist.com/article/258433…

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Jonathan O’Callaghan

@Astro_Jonny

Jul 19

Uh if anyone is at the Aerospace Media Awards tonight in London could they let me know if I win the two awards I’m up for. Thanks!

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Jonathan O’Callaghan

@Astro_Jonny

Jul 9

Can space data centres actually work? Maybe, but here are the barriers in their way.

Story by me in Aerospace America

aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/features/insid…

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Jonathan O’Callaghan

@Astro_Jonny

Jun 13

Here’s what SpaceX’s IPO means for space, AI, and the Moon.

Story by me in Scientific American

scientificamerican.com/article/spacex…

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Jonathan O’Callaghan

@Astro_Jonny

Jun 11

Also by me:

Orbital data centers are coming. What does the future hold, and is there any hope for Earth orbit?

Story by me in @sciencefocus

sciencefocus.com/future-technol…

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Jonathan O’Callaghan

@Astro_Jonny

Jun 4

A primordial black hole? In this economy? You better (maybe) believe it.

Story by me in @SciAm
scientificamerican.com/article/did-we…

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Jonathan O’Callaghan

@Astro_Jonny

May 28

So, turns out active supermassive black holes might be the best planet factories in the universe.

Amazing paper this. Story by me in @newscientist

newscientist.com/article/252809…

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Jonathan O’Callaghan

@Astro_Jonny

May 21

Neptune's weird moon Nereid might be the only survivor of the cataclysmic arrival of Triton 4 billion years ago, which kicked out all the other moons.

Really cool paper this! Story by me in The New York Times. Gift link below, so read at your pleasure.

nytimes.com/2026/05/20/sci…

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Jonathan O’Callaghan

@Astro_Jonny

May 18

Astronomers have waited years for Rubin to come online.

Now a trickle of data has begun to flow down before the floodgates open, with discoveries already being made.

“It almost doesn’t feel real”

Story by me in @QuantaMagazine

quantamagazine.org/rubin-tracks-s…

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Jonathan O’Callaghan

@Astro_Jonny

May 5

Forgot to post this one the other day!

10,000 new candidate planets been found in NASA TESS data, potentially doubling the number of known planets in the universe.

Story by me in @newscientist

newscientist.com/article/252430…

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Jonathan O’Callaghan

@Astro_Jonny

Apr 2

If you've got a hankering for rockets, why not read my latest story for @AeroAmMag, all about Rocket Lab's upcoming Neutron rocket. Fun!

aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/features/rocke…

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Jonathan O’Callaghan

@Astro_Jonny

Mar 25

Poor Newt Gingrich

Edward@EdwardGe · Mar 24

“We should build a moon base”

“Actually, let’s not go back to the Moon. Mars or bust”

“Wait no, let’s do an asteroid”

“Actually, back to the Moon. Except we don’t land and build a space station”

“Maybe we use the space station to stage landers?”

“We should build a moon base”

Open quoted post →

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