Planetary Astrophysicist at the University of California, Riverside. I like Venus. A lot. Exoplanets are also kinda cool.
Joined July 2018
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A note on training AI to speak with "your voice". It is not. Your voice is your voice. Don't let your creative spark die from neglect.
Are you applying to grad school? Are you interested in planetary science, ice giants, and icy moons? Apply to come work with myself and Fabian Klenner at Riverside! Details are in the attached picture.
Details regarding the application process can be found here: epsci.ucr.edu/grad_programs#…
Something I've learned: If you're talking to an NPC and the DM asks "Do you really say that?", you should probably laugh, throw up your hands, and say "Of course not! I was just joking!". 🤣
This makes me sad. I had my first sabbatical earlier this year and brought many projects to fruition, and completed others over the summer. Writing is my passion. Seeing my papers lost in the sea of AI generated work is somewhat disheartening though.
arXiv has updated our policy on rate limiting for all submitters.
This update was made to fairly distribute moderator time & support the arXiv community of staff, volunteers, readers & authors.
Please read our announcement to learn more: blog.arxiv.org/2026/10/01/up…
ALT arXiv logo in white over a whiteboard with math symbols.
Love this new paper regarding albedos of lava worlds. Turns out hot terrestrial planets are shiny, which is the opposite of what we've generally seen for hot giant planets. Go TESS! Go PLATO! arxiv.org/abs/2609.26874
Stephen Kane retweeted
Our latest seminar video @NASAAmes on scientific AI/ML is out! An amazing talk by Dr Eric Wolf on his adoption of agentic workflows for exoplanetary climate modeling research. Parts technical, parts philosophical, and parts personal. An essential resource...
youtube.com/watch?v=YRYt8z8j…
If you are asked to review a paper/proposal, and you intend to use AI to conduct the review, please do not accept the request. Peer review is a fundamental component of the scientific process. Using AI to conduct this not only insults the authors, but your own expertise.
Stephen Kane retweeted
Venus likely never had a moon and even if it did, it would have soon been torn asunder by the planet’s own gravity, says prominent planetary astrophysicist.
universetoday.com/articles/v… – at Lake Forest Park, WA
Although I understand the Gregorian calendar system perfectly well, the fact that it's already September is a complete goddamn mystery to me!
When I speak about the NASA DAVINCI mission benefiting exoplanets, I'm often asked "Sure, but ... how?". Here is (part of) the answer, quantifying how atmospheric profile uncertainties translate into uncertainties in modeled spectra. arxiv.org/abs/2609.00147
Stephen Kane retweeted
Your advocacy works! Congress just passed a bill that delays a rule that would've fundamentally changed how science is done in the United States.
This effort was pushed by OMB and would have radically changed how the U.S. funds science. It would've directed political appointees — not scientists — to only approve scientific research in line with the President’s political views.
It was set to kick in on October 1. This bill pushes that back to December 11. The rule isn't dead, just delayed. So we have more work to do.
Learn more and save this page for updates: planetary.org/save-nasa-scie…
Stephen Kane retweeted
Roman's second instrument is the coronagraph, which will allow direct imaging of exoplanets at angular distances of 0.15 to 1.5 arcseconds from their host star; the glare of the host star's light will be blocked by the coronagraph.
Stephen Kane retweeted
Shades on and batteries charging! 😎 🔋
Roman’s Solar Array Sun Shield and Lower Instrument Sun Shade have successfully deployed, powering the observatory and shading its instruments!
go.nasa.gov/4gw2rqc
I'm very excited to share my latest paper about why Venus has no moon. In almost every scenario, a hypothetical Venus moon spirals inward and is destroyed at the Roche limit. Venus' lack of moon may thus be a natural consequence of its slow spin. arxiv.org/abs/2608.25036
Stephen Kane retweeted
New instruments put UCR at cutting edge of search for life beyond Earth insideucr.ucr.edu/stories/20…
#UCRscience #extraterrestrial #geochemistry #astrobiology #icymoons #ucr #ucriverside
