--- title: "Physicist Apologizes for Fooling Public Into Thinking a Picture of Chorizo Was a Star" description: "The magnificent, planetary orb was just a piece of Spanish chorizo, and the physicist has since had to make a public apology for causing any confusion." date: "2022-08-05" modified: "2022-08-05" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/physicist-apologizes-chorizo-star" categories: - "Future Society" tags: - "james webb space telescope" - "social media" - "the digest" --- # Physicist Apologizes for Fooling Public Into Thinking a Picture of Chorizo Was a Star ![The magnificent, planetary orb was just a piece of Spanish chorizo, and the physicist has since had to make a public apology for causing any confusion.]() *\Image: Etienne Klein\* ## How the Sausage is Made Back on July 31, Etienne Klein, a prominent French physicist, [took to Twitter]() to share an alleged photo of Proxima Centauri, one of the Sun's closest neighboring stars. The image "was just taken by the \[James Webb Space Telescope\]," he mused in the post. "This level of detail… A new world is revealed day after day." But there was just one problem: it's not Proxima Centauri. In fact, this magnificent, planetary orb, a swirling masterpiece of dazzling reds and glowing orange, is just a slice of Spanish chorizo. Now, Klein — who meant the post as a harmless prank — has had to make a public apology for causing any confusion. https://twitter.com/EtienneKlein/status/1553765864553472003?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1553765864553472003%7Ctwgr%5Ee148bab7580bd46e355c864c0514da3cdc63bc3e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thelocal.fr%2F20220804%2Ffrench-astronomer-apologies-for-planet-photo-that-was-really-chorizo%2F ## Field Day Klein played off the prank in further tweets. "When it's time for the aperitif, cognitive biases seem to have a field day… beware, then, of them," he [continued in the Twitter thread](), as translated by Google. "According to contemporary cosmology, no object belonging to Spanish charcuterie exists anywhere but on Earth." ## Choriz-no To be fair, Etienne clearly didn't mean to cause any turmoil. But as he is a major figure in the scientific community, a lot of netizens took his playful chorizo hoax at face value — which resulted in enough confusion that the scientist had to fully walk back his claims. "In view of some comments, I feel compelled to clarify that this tweet showing an alleged snapshot of Proxima Centauri was a form of amusement," the physicist [later confessed](). James Webb imagery has [certainly been making its rounds](), with each [new image]() captured by the next-gen telescope [more captivating than the last](). And given the frenzy around each and every fantastic image produced, we can't totally blame folks for ignoring the context clues entirely. Still, Etienne seems to believe there's a lesson to be learned here. "Let us learn to be wary of arguments from authority," he [added](). **More on (real) James Webb stars:** [*James Webb Catches a Glimpse of the Most Distant Star in the Universe*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()