Carnegie Science

Sara Seager—a pioneer in the search for evidence of life on other planets who spent four years as a Staff Scientist at Carnegie Earth and Planets Laboratory—is a recipient of The Kavli Prize in Astrophysics. She shares the award with Harvard University’s David Charbonneau. They were selected for their groundbreaking work on the discovery and characterization of exoplanets and their atmospheres.

Former Carnegie Science exoplanetary scientist Sara Seager wins Kavli Prize in Astrophysics Former Carnegie Science exoplanet researcher Sara Seager shares the 2024 Kavli Prize in Astrophysics.

David Julius shows the molecular structure of heat receptors for capsaicin from 🌶 and irritation receptors from wasabi. He is a 2020 Kavli Prize Laureate in Neuroscience for his work on pain sensation.

I've always been fascinated by molecules Julius tells Sesno, during our program with the at the tonight. He explains that investigating how molecules from the natural world affect sensors in our bodies is a combination of anthropology, chemistry & physiology.

Kavli Prize Laureate David Julius explains what pain is in conversation with Emmy-winning journalist during our program at the with tonight. It's a protective function, Julius says, which pays a vital role in our survival.

I'm a basic scientist, Julius adds, which means my objective is to understand how things work. I do curiosity based science. But until you understand how things work, you can't identify new solutions. Studying the pain circuit could lead to safer, non-addictive treatments.

The longstanding legacy of U.S. leadership in "big glass" is threatened as the National Science Foundation considers whether to fund two giant telescope projects say our Carnegie Science president and the president of Caltech in the Los Angeles Times.

"What’s at stake is falling behind in astronomy and cosmology, potentially for half a century, and surrendering the scientific and technological agenda to Europe and China."

THEY MAKE THE CASE HERE: https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2024-04-25/telescope-hawaii-chile-national-science-foundation-astronomy

Carnegie Science Promoting scientific discovery & supporting exceptional individuals in an atmosphere of independence.

🌟Happy ! It's time to shine a spotlight on the people who keep the wheels of science turning smoothly. Join us in saying a big THANK YOU to the administrative professionals behind every discovery at Carnegie Science.

Carnegie Earth and Planets Laboratory Carnegie Plant Biology Carnegie Embryology Las Campanas Observatory Carnegie Astronomy Carnegie Global Ecology

This 🌎Carnegie Science is building on our decades-long leadership in climate and energy—as well developmental biology and Earth systems research—to launch the Climate and Resilience Hub, which will meet the urgency of the moment with a cross-disciplinary approach that incorporates the expertise of dozens of Carnegie Science principal investigators, ranging from ecology to atmospheric science to volcanology.

“Much as we are at an ‘all-hands-on-deck’ moment in terms of the urgency of the climate crisis, we also recognize that we need ‘all-disciplines-on-deck’ if we are to identify and seek creative solutions,” said Founding Director Anna Michalak.

LEARN MORE: https://carnegiescience.edu/carnegie-science-launches-new-climate-and-resilience-hub

🛰️Carnegie Science astronomers continue to showcase their creativity and propensity for bold research ideas using JWST. Three Carnegie-led teams were selected for the space telescope’s third cycle of time allocations, adding to the 10 initiatives headed up by Carnegie-affiliated researchers in the first two rounds. 🌌🪐

LEARN MORE: https://carnegiescience.edu/carnegie-science-astronomers-lead-three-new-jwst-initiatives

In December 1904, while riding a mule up the San Gabriel Mountains overlooking Pasadena, George Ellery Hale received a telephone call at a way station called Martin’s Camp. Trembling in anticipation Hale learned that Carnegie Science would fund his proposed observatory on Mount Wilson, an investment that reshaped the history of astronomy.

From the revelation that the universe exists beyond our own galaxy and is expanding ever outward to the discovery of dark energy, Carnegie Science astronomers have transformed humanity’s understanding of the cosmos—and it all started with Hale’s vision.

⛰️🔭☀️🌟LEARN MORE: https://carnegiescience.edu/founders-passion-set-stage-120-years-breakthroughs

Get to know Carnegie Science's "jewel in the Southern hemisphere," Las Campanas Observatory.

Resident Astronomer Nidia Morrell says Las Campanas is the ideal place for anyone interested in observing the heavens. "Las Campanas is my home, I feel more at home there than anywhere else. I love the telescopes with all their instruments, the silence, the wildlife, everything.”

💎🌎🌟🌌LEARN MORE: https://carnegiescience.edu/carnegie-sciences-jewel-southern-hemisphere-las-campanas-observatory

✨ In celebration of the new brand, we've developed some high-resolution backgrounds that capture the boundless spirit of Carnegie Science.

Download your favorite and bring the wonder of scientific discovery to your desktop!

Explore here 👇
https://carnegiescience.widencollective.com/portals/jbaglr7w/CarnegieScienceWallpaperPortal

🌟 Big News Alert! 🌟

We're thrilled to announce the unveiling of Carnegie Science's new brand identity!

🚀 After months of anticipation, we're excited to share our refreshed look with all of you. Our new brand reflects our commitment to pushing the boundaries of scientific exploration and innovation.

From bold inquiry to transformative discoveries, our brand embodies our core values and vision for the future of science. We're dedicated to empowering scientists, fostering collaboration, and sharing knowledge to drive meaningful change in the world.

Join us in celebrating this exciting milestone, and stay tuned for more updates on our journey ahead! Together, let's continue to make groundbreaking contributions to science and shape a brighter future for all.

Learn more👉 https://carnegiescience.edu/bold-boundless-wondrous-carnegie-science-launches-new-visual-identity

Carnegie Science Promoting scientific discovery & supporting exceptional individuals in an atmosphere of independence.

We’re just 30 days away from the once-in-a-lifetime Great North American Eclipse on April 8!

Here are a few details ahead of next month’s big event:

🎟️ The Perot Museum’s April 8 event is sold out and there will be no day-of tickets available on site. For guests who have tickets, be on the lookout for your know-before-you-go event details via email on March 20.

🚚 Our TECH Truck will be at Klyde Warren Park on April 8 facilitating eclipse-themed activities, and providing eclipse glasses, while supplies last.

🕶️ Eclipse glasses are currently available for purchase in the Museum gift shop, while supplies last.

✏️ Educators and parents: Visit our website to access our free educator guide featuring specially curated activities, the science behind eclipses, and tips for eye safety.

📽️ Visit our website for insight from Carnegie Institution for Science astronomers!

Decades after chairing the committee that first proposed JWST, Carnegie astronomer Alan Dressler is using the space telescope's Near InfraRed Camera to take extremely deep images of about 900 galaxies from the first billion years of the universe’s lifetime.

“The oldest stars in the universe were probably too faint for JWST, but we're seeing the birth of the second generation in ways that surprise us,” Dressler said.

JWST is Alan Dressler’s dream come true Decades after chairing the committee that first proposed JWST, Carnegie astronomer Alan Dressler is using the space telescope's Near InfraRed Camera to take extremely deep images of about 900 galaxies from the first billion years of the universe’s lifetime.

Explore the ⚡electric⚡ world of planetary science with Anne Pommier and her colleagues at the Carnegie Earth and Planets Laboratory.

From simulating extreme conditions to unlocking the secrets of seismic-electric interactions, Pommier's innovative suite of high-pressure instrumentation promises to revolutionize our understanding of Earth and other celestial bodies.

In recent studies, Pommier and her colleagues explored the role of sulfur in planetary processes, shedding light on the mysteries of Mercury's early magma ocean and Earth's mantle differentiation. Their findings, published in journals like Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta and American Mineralogist, are revolutionizing our understanding of planetary evolution.

But she's not stopping there. With plans to incorporate X-ray imaging into her research, Pommier is poised to unveil even more secrets hidden beneath the surface. Her innovative approach will not only enhance our grasp of subduction zones and geohazards but also provide critical insights into the potential habitability of other planets.

“This setup will be unique in its capability to measure multiple different physical properties of samples right here in our research building,” Pommier said. “The scope of this project is unprecedented."

Read more👇
https://carnegiescience.edu/anne-pommier-brings-new-spark-carnegies-long-standing-legacy-researching-planetary-interiors

🏆 We are thrilled to introduce you to the recipients of the 2023 Service to Science Award—Timothy D. Mock and Lynne Hugendubler. These remarkable individuals have been instrumental in shaping the future of science at Carnegie.

“Congratulations to Tim and Lynne, whose exemplary dedication to supporting Carnegie Science’s research pursuits demonstrates that our commitment to excellence extends across every job cohort and throughout our community,” said President Eric D. Isaacs.

The Service to Science Award was relaunched in 2023 to celebrate individuals who drive scientific progress behind the scenes at Carnegie Science. Join us in congratulating this year's recipients, whose exceptional contributions inspire us all!

Read more👇
https://carnegiescience.edu/lab-manager-and-technician-selected-annual-service-science-award

Carnegie Earth and Planets Laboratory Carnegie Embryology

Need to steer the convo at the Thanksgiving table? Talk about science! Did you know that earlier this year astronomers including Alycia Weinberger found new evidence of a planetary construction site around the young star TW Hydrae?

“Young stars like TW Hydrae are surrounded by rotating disks of gas and dust from which planets are born,” explained Weinberger, a staff scientist and Associate Division Director of Carnegie’s Earth and Planets Laboratory, who has been studying this system for many years. “Astronomers have thrown all our techniques and telescopes at TW Hydrae, because it’s so close to Earth and so tantalizing for what it can teach us about planet formation. Our new observations show that it never fails to surprise us.”

Image courtesy NASA. ESA, L. Hustak (STScI)

https://carnegiescience.edu/peek-boo-disk-shows-evidence-previously-unseen-baby-planet-forming-around-young-star

Need to steer the convo at the Thanksgiving table? Talk about science! Did you know that Phil Cleves' lab was the first to use CRISPR/Cas9 technology to identify cellular and molecular processes that could help guide coral conservation and rehabilitation efforts?

His team previously revealed a gene that is critical to how a coral responds to heat stress—information that may help predict how corals will handle future bleaching events. And earlier this year they used the genome editing tool to determine that a particular gene is required for young coral colonies to begin building their skeletons, information that could help guide resilience efforts in the face of ocean acidification.



Image courtesy Amanda Tinoco
https://carnegiescience.edu/crisprcas9-reveals-key-gene-involved-evolution-coral-skeleton-formation

Need to steer the convo at the Thanksgiving table? Talk about science! Did you know that the Sloan Digital Sky Survey's new Local Volume Mapper at will enhance our understanding of galaxy formation and evolution by probing the interactions between the stars that make up galaxies and the interstellar gas and dust that is dispersed between them. 

https://carnegiescience.edu/local-volume-mapper-will-enable-new-understanding-galaxy-formation

Need to steer the convo at the Thanksgiving table? Talk about science! Did you know that diamonds contain evidence of the mantle rocks that helped buoy and grow the ancient supercontinent Gondwana from below? Lean about how superdeep diamonds can provide a window through space and time into the supercontinent growth and formation process.

Photo credits: Sarah Milne & Margo Regier
https://carnegiescience.edu/superdeep-diamonds-provide-window-supercontinent-growth

We are so excited to have Nobel Laureate Frances Arnold here to headline the program at our Board of Trustees dinner in Pasadena tonight.

Arnold pioneered the field of directed evolution in enzymes. She has described evolution as the most-powerful biological design process. Her work has tapped into this power in order to synthesize a wide variety of products that improve life on our planet, including pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and sustainable fuels. In short, her work has expanded the chemistry of life.

Researchers used remarkably well-traveled diamonds to understand how the super-sized continental landmass Gondwana was stabilized from below.

Superdeep diamonds provide a window on supercontinent growth Researchers use remarkably well-traveled diamonds to understand how a super-sized continental landmass is stabilized from below.

This is Carnegie astronomer Edwin Hubble's famous VAR! plate. 100 years ago, he made the observations that enabled him to prove the universe exists beyond our own Milky Way galaxy. 🌌 This breakthrough was made possible by the 100-inch telescope at
Mount Wilson Observatory. 🔭LEARN ABOUT THE NIGHT WE DISCOVERED THE UNIVERSE: https://carnegiescience.edu/video-var-plate-100th-anniversary

Carnegie Institution for Science Promoting scientific discovery & supporting exceptional individuals in an atmosphere of independence.

"The most important things we know about the cosmos were discovered in the early 20th century at Mt. Wilson Observatory. It was here, 100 years ago, that Edwin Hubble noted a light in the distance that would lead to one of science’s greatest discoveries."

The battle to save Mt. Wilson Observatory, where we found our place in the universe The most important things we know about the cosmos were discovered in the mountains above Los Angeles. 'You don’t just throw away a historic place,' says one of the volunteers trying to save it.

Every year, we ask our online community for help in selecting our Carnegie Science holiday card. Every contest's submissions come from our own scientists and support staff. The 2023 finalists are: Milky Way over Fossil Falls, Fruit Fly Microbiome Snowflake & Rainbow Moon. 🗳️VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE 🗳️: https://s.surveylegend.com/-NfSJ88FSFbFBc9qeLQi

Carnegie astronomer and Chief Scientist Rebecca Bernstein gave an incredible talk about the science that the next-generation telescope will enable at last night. Once construction at Carnegie’s is complete, the Giant Magellan will enable breakthroughs in our understanding of the physics underpinning our universe and empower the search for life elsewhere. Between the setting, the speaker, and the subject, the evening presented the past, present, and future of Carnegie astronomy all in one exciting package.

The Carnegie Science community kicked off National Hispanic Heritage Month in Pasadena, where the Observatories had a booth at the city's annual Latino Heritage Parade. This year's theme was "Reaching for the Stars" and volunteers brought homemade comets to demonstrate how these balls of snow and dirt create beautiful tails when they get too close to the Sun.

Then, on Tuesday our Broad Branch Road campus on Washington, D.C., celebrated Chilean Independence with an authentic lunch from the El Cumpa food truck. Our Las Campanas Observatory in Chile is fundamental to our ability to probe the mysteries of the cosmos.

Carnegie Science is proud to announce a partnership with the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. Together, the two organizations will engage North Texans with unique eclipse-related educational experiences and presentations in 2023 and 2024, connecting the community to the wonders of nature and science. 🌑🌞
READ ALL ABOUT IT: https://carnegiescience.edu/carnegie-partner-perot-museum-dallas-eclipse-events