Michael Wong
@miquai.bsky.social
Planetary scientist by day 🪐 podcaster by night 🎙 photographer at all times 📷 philosopher in my dreams 💭 https://miquai.myportfolio.com/
A Raman-spectroscopy-based machine-learning framework can assess whether the mineral apatite was formed by life. The technique could be used by Raman-equipped rovers on Mars or other planets to search for signs of ancient life. In PNAS Nexus: https://ow.ly/vjRc50ZsqVF
Bay Area friends! I'll be on a panel about "Extraterrestrial Life" at the @exploratorium.bsky.social in SF on Thursday, August 20, 7–8 pm! Hope to see you there!
Open Question: Extraterrestrial Life | Exploratorium Museum Event
Is there life in outer space?
exploratorium.edu
#AGU26 abstracts are due this Wednesday! If you're working on problems related to the emergence of life or astrobiology, please consider submitting to our session!
Cute cactus alert! The Paradine plains cactus is also resilient, having survived a wildfire in the Grand Canyon North Rim last year. Now, researchers are studying whether this cactus can beat the slow squeeze of the drought after the scare of the fire. 📝 and 📸 by me for @azcentral.com:
A tiny cactus holds clues to forest recovery after Arizona wildfire
A new study will monitor surviving Paradine plains cactus north of the Grand Canyon for three years to measure the full impacts of the fires.
azcentral.com
Guys, I figured out the origin of life! It happened in this can of soda ✨🦠✨
There's so much science to talk about in the latest #StarTrekSNW episode! I feel like I want to call up a paleontologist, an orbital dynamicist, a Mars geologist... Luckily @mafnoor.bsky.social is ahead of the curve with his latest BioTrekkie video about the genetics in that episode! Check it out!
Mohamed Noor@mafnoor.bsky.social · last wk.Can recessive traits become more apparent from external forces? See more from a connection to a new #StarTrekSNW episode! youtu.be/wCZo4jqYr-s
New podcast episode! ⛱️🎙🖖 @carnegiescience.bsky.social EPIIC interns Abigail Alling and Amelia Lee chat about their Star Trek–watching adventures this summer!
Episode 203: An EPIIC Summer, Part 1
Guests: Abigail Alling & Amelia Lee How do you introduce Star Trek to a new fan? How is Star Trek continuing to inspire young scientists? How are Carnegie Science interns exploring strange new world
soundcloud.com
With so many wildfires raging on—Southwest, Canada—I wrote a post about how beavers can help prevent wildfires. Click if you want a dose of critter cuteness, too! @azcentral.com @emilyfairfax.bsky.social
How Arizona's beavers could be a secret weapon in fire prevention
Scientists say beavers keep wetlands wet, leaving them less less prone to burn.
azcentral.com
“Every corner of the Earth is habitable, boasts the lichen-hugging stone. To make a life (or make a home?), one need only get creative.“
One of my favorite stories so far: After the end of the federal tax credits, what's up with rooftop solar? Turns out, the industry is still finding ways to keep on, and it has market forces on its side: rising energy prices. @azcentral.com @solarunitedneighbors.org @autumntjohnson.bsky.social
How solar energy co-ops can cut costs for Arizona homeowners
After federal tax credits for renewable projects expired, joining a solar co-op is one way to save on residential solar.
azcentral.com
The words and attitudes we take into space are as important as the materials we launch off Earth 🚀 #Goldschmidt2026
New machine-learning biosignatures paper from our group! Postdoc Yanzhang Li trained a random forest model on a corpus of Raman spectra to distinguish biogenic from abiogenic grains of the mineral apatite!
Mineral biosignature identification from Raman spectroscopy using machine learning
Abstract. Biosignature detection remains a key challenge in astrobiology, yet robust mineral biosignatures remain limited. Raman spectroscopy is increasing
academic.oup.com
The only thing more inexplicable than the origin of life is why we give awards to individuals when achievements are never accomplished alone. So this one’s for the mentors who’ve guided me, the colleagues who’ve propelled me, and the students who’ve inspired me.
A scientist can pretend that his work isn't himself, it's merely the impersonal truth. An artist can't hide behind the truth. He can't hide anywhere.
New podcast episode! 👽🎙🖖 Em Dobberfuhl shares how Project Hail Mary inspired them to pursue astrobiology and spend a summer in our lab at @carnegiescience.bsky.social!
Episode 202: Project Hail Mary
Guest: Em Dobberfuhl Mike's former Carnegie Science intern Em Dobberfuhl beams aboard to share how Project Hail Mary inspired them to pursue astrobiology. "Are we alone in the universe? Five times
soundcloud.com
Last week, a friend and I planned to visit Sedona but were foiled by the #PocketFire. A week later, it grew 100 fold to ~10,000s of acres. Much of the Southwest is burning, and there's an glaring driver: climate change. Until humans get our act together, this still needs to be said. @azcentral.com
How climate change is driving Arizona's Pocket Fire and other blazes
Climate change brings warmer temperatures and drier weather — conditions favorable for a rapid spread of wildfires.
azcentral.com
It's not just science that will suffer from a million new satellites in Earth orbit.
The Moral Case Against Artificial Constellations
Three potential satellite projects may change our night sky forever. Beyond the environmental and scientific problems, the proposals are an ethical nightmare.
sequencermag.com
ESO@eso.org · last mo.🚨 Beyond the limit 🚨 New ESO study finds that current proposals to launch 1.7+ million satellites into orbit would have devastating consequences for astronomy. The most extreme proposals come from SpaceX & Reflect Orbital 🔭 🧪 ☄️ #DarkSkies #SatelliteConstellations 1/4
Please check out our chat with our friend and scientist extraordinaire Mike Wong on his wonderful podcast!
Michael Wong@miquai.bsky.social · last mo.New podcast episode! 💭🎙🖖 The folks from @diceinmind.bsky.social interview me about the origins, development, and implications of my paper "How to Chart a Moral Future for Space Exploration."
New podcast episode! 💭🎙🖖 The folks from @diceinmind.bsky.social interview me about the origins, development, and implications of my paper "How to Chart a Moral Future for Space Exploration."
Episode 201: Morals in Spaaace!
Mike speaks with Jason Kaufman and Bradley Browne on the Dice in Mind podcast about his paper "How to Chart a Moral Future for Space Exploration" (featured on Episode 200 of Strange New Worlds). How d
soundcloud.com
Nothing remains the same from one moment to the next, you can’t step into the same river twice. Life – evolution – the whole universe of space/time, matter/energy – existence itself – is essentially change.
Working on topics related to the origin, evolution, and detection of life on Earth and beyond? Going to the @agu.org meeting this December? Consider submitting an abstract to our session "The Emergence of Life as a Planetary Process"!
This is much-needed utopian thinking from @miquai.bsky.social & his colleagues. At first I assumed it would be something like the Artemis Accords or the Outer Space Treaty - but no, it’s deeper than that &, in its way, at least as important!
Michael Wong@miquai.bsky.social · 2mo agoOn the 200th episode of Strange New Worlds, I read "How to Chart a Moral Future for Space Exploration," an article in @nature.com written by @chelseaharamia.bsky.social, Emilie Lafleche, Julia DeMarines, and yours truly.
