Maya Wei-Haas, Ph.D.

Science writer | Lover of rocks and rxns | Bylines @nytimes @natgeo @NewsfromScience @smithsonianmag + more | Tips: [email protected]

[Maya Wei-Haas, Ph.D. @WeiPoints]

Follow me over to bluer skies and the place named after the thing you sew with. My username is my full name for both.

I'm sad to leave this account, and I may still pop in now and again. But for regular geology fun, I hope you find me on the other platforms!

[Volcaholic 🌋 @volcaholic1]

It’s with a heavy heart that I report at least 51 people have died in Valencia province following total devastation from the worst storm in decades. Authorities fear the toll may rise, as Tuesday alone brought over a year’s worth of rain to parts of the region, with 491mm (19.3 inches) falling in Chiva within just eight hours.

📹 @David_Alfafar

[Dr. Alice-Agnes Gabriel @InSeismoland]

Interested in grad school? My colleagues and I are looking for Geophysics grad students @IGPP @Scripps_Ocean (see for projects: https://t.co/4JY325GQfz).
We host a virtual open house with infos on the Geophysics program this Friday, Nov 1, noon PT, RSVP: https://t.co/43wPXXfGIa

[Maya Wei-Haas, Ph.D. @WeiPoints]

Wohoooo! JPL made contact with Voyager!

[NSFVoyager2 @NSFVoyager2]

Good news: JPL is in contact again with Voyager 1, but on a very slow and faint link. Thanks to the great efforts of the Deep Space Network, which was able to pick up an incredibly weak S-band transmission.

[🍂 @Lovandfear]

A List Of Forgotten Love Languages

[Erika  @ExploreCosmos_]

.@NASA, @NOAA , and the Solar Cycle Prediction Panel have officially declared that the solar maximum has begun.

This marks the peak of the Sun's 11-year activity cycle, characterized by frequent sunspots, solar flares, and coronal mass ejections. The solar maximum brings increased solar activity, which can cause geomagnetic storms affecting Earth’s power grids, communications, and satellites but also leads to beautiful auroras.

Scientists cannot predict the exact timing or strength of solar cycles with precision. The Sun's magnetic poles will eventually switch places, and the activity will decrease, but the exact peak of this cycle may not be known for months or years. Although this cycle is stronger than initial predictions, it remains within normal limits. The most powerful flare of this cycle occurred on October 4, 2024, but wasn't the strongest ever recorded.

👉 https://t.co/pvWyIZpChm

[National Park Service @NatlParkService]

At first, I was a tree, now I’m petrified. Thinking all my wooden rings had turned to stone inside...⁣

Well, that explains the expression.

#NationalFossilDay

[Maya Wei-Haas, Ph.D. @WeiPoints]

TikTok is addictive—something the company specifically designed for. Their analysis says it only takes 260 videos (~35 min) to form a TikTok habit. ALSO compulsive use is tied to the loss of analytical skills, empathy, and a slew of other neg impacts. 😬 https://t.co/ooxeDzbPHk

[Maya Wei-Haas, Ph.D. @WeiPoints]

Thanks so much for sharing! It fills my heart with so much happiness to see kids enjoying my book!💜 🪨

[Christine Hernlund @seismodoc]

@WeiPoints @phaidonpress @ACM_KidsandIllo @BeckySweren @VocesBlog Got the book for my niece’s birthday, and she loves it!

Thanks for indulging kids who are fascinated with rocks 🤩

[Dr. Irene Salinas Remiro @DrSalinasLab]

I feel so defeated by this years Nobel prize science awardees. I love their discoveries, don't get me wrong, but I refuse to believe that no women are deserving of being laureates.

[Maya Wei-Haas, Ph.D. @WeiPoints]

Love this! See your name in the land using Landsat :) https://t.co/ceItcGczG3

[Maya Wei-Haas, Ph.D. @WeiPoints]

Got some gorgeous dancing lights tonight in Iceland. 💚

[Maya Wei-Haas, Ph.D. @WeiPoints]

@SquigglyVolcano Hell yeah!!

[Maya Wei-Haas, Ph.D. @WeiPoints]

@TMGernon Oh interesting, thank you!

[Maya Wei-Haas, Ph.D. @WeiPoints]

Geo twitter! What do you think this is? A #smithsonianjourneys traveler found it on a beech on Iceland’s snæfellsnes peninsula. I initially thought it was basalt that had quartz or something crystallizing in its vesicles. But the circules are rather even — any thoughts???

[Maya Wei-Haas, Ph.D. @WeiPoints]

@TMGernon It’s faint but I think it can be classified as green! Though it’s weird because there seems to be a couple of rings, the outer one is much lighter than the rest of the infill.

[Maya Wei-Haas, Ph.D. @WeiPoints]

@BrandrissMark Yeah, it definitely seemed there was some silica replacement of the original rock going on.

[Maya Wei-Haas, Ph.D. @WeiPoints]

Got crazy lucky whale watching with the @smithsonian travelers in Iceland! Spotted something like 20 humpbacks and 2 minke whales! Also just a gorgeous day for whale watching all around. #smithsonianjourneys #onassignment

[Maya Wei-Haas, Ph.D. @WeiPoints]

@rfobar @smithsonian Right?! I’ve never seen that before !!

[Maya Wei-Haas, Ph.D. @WeiPoints]

This is a lense from a codfish eye. Take a close look — everything you see through it is upside down!

As seen at the Ektafiskur fish processing plant in Iceland, where I’m currently touring as an expert for @smithsonian Journeys!