Our future ability to do science and education relies on knowing how to question ourselves and each other. The more we work with a "confirmation agent," the less able we are to push back on our own thoughts. That's a bad thing. #academicsky #ai phys.org/news/2026-05...

I never thought I'd have to argue that honesty may actually be a skill.

The bit about math homework being repetitive bothers me a lot. Is free throw practice repetitive? Musical scales? Dark Souls boss fights? The repetition is where the idea is solidified. Some things require practice. Students must do that themselves. www.npr.org/2026/04/28/n...

A focus on laboratory skills and techniques is more valuable than getting a particular result. Good results, like "good" grades often, can come without understanding, but if students understand processes they will get quality results.

For my fall "physics for poets" class we shall start with a specific question. How can we know a pendulum swings with a repeatable, nearly regular time if we don't already have a clock more precise than the pendulum would give?🧵

The part where he seems excited because AI was functioning like a grad student is disturbing. This means the human student does not get to practice the skills needed for research. What good is increasing the pace if we sacrifice future expertise? #AcademicSky phys.org/news/2026-04...

There's a lot to be scared about right now. Fear is not something to shy away from, though. Feeling afraid is the first step to showing bravery.

71% of PhD students surveyed use AI and 65% worry it erodes thinking, writing, & research skills. Non-zero overlap. I'd bet many believe it isn't their skills getting weakened. Education and research cannot bow to efficiency. That push destroyed the foundation of academia.

I agree with the premise here. The issue is accommodations offices are compliance (lawsuit prevention) not service focused. Absent changing that, nothing else will change.

Short circuiting the learning process is the whole point of #AI. Users offload the "simple" or "mundane" thinking that nurtures growth. Students borrow its "understanding" and think that understanding is thiers. Use at the risk of stupidity. #academicsky phys.org/news/2026-02...

Who else checks the cited sources actually argue what the authors say they argue when doing a peer review? 2nd round reviewing and 3 of the first 5 sources are not relevant to the paper and do not make the point the authors claim. How did this get past round 1? #academicsky

It's a cool thing, but the article is misleading. Newton's 3rd law isn't violated. It is so frustrating b/c students will ask some teacher about it and they may not have a good response. The paper does a better job, but still talks like N3L breaks. phys.org/news/2026-02...

There ought to be a rule against announcements playing over Sunshine of Your Love.

US academics - It is completely legal for any of us to tell our students that the Constitution explicitly grants states control over elections. You can start class with a public service announcement. When we say these truths, it empowers our students to say them.

The lawsuit in MN seeking to remove ICE for 10A violations is moving forward. The judge's lack of prelim. injunction is b/c the likelihood of success is not "sufficiently in favor" of MN. Not that it lacks merit, nor that it is lost. Rather there is a possibility it isn't the right ruling. 1/2

When we come through this fascism, be aware of those singing the modern version of this song youtu.be/dmhgcC5dYkE

#AcademicSky All of us faculty in the US have an obligation to remind our students that what is happening is wrong. Every American should be fighting for change whenever and wherever we can. It is not only our right by the 1st A, it is our duty by the Preamble. We, the People. That's all of us.

So, the way the Trump government deals with bribery now is to accept bribes. It's turtles all the way down.

I was complimented yesterday. Based on my taco order of 1 lengua, 1 cueritos, and 1 chorizo and egg the person taking orders assumed I must be Latino. "Only a Latino would order that," is what they said to my coworker. They were delicious. Food is the best cultural "in."

This disgusts me. Requiring the use of generative AI is horrible. I know students who are morally, nigh on religiously, opposed. Please stop calling kowtowing to bullshit capitalism "education."

Starting the cinnamon rolls for breakfast tomorrow before lunch today is one of life's great joys.

"Without a brain or nervous system, the researchers figured out..." Ambiguous sentence structures are my favorite. The research is pretty cool. phys.org/news/2025-12...

I'm reminded of the scene in The Whole Nine Yards where Micheal Clarke Duncan says "Now ain't this some shit?" Kind of shocked it isn't in gif format.

So, the searchable files are not fully indexed. Searching "the" returned 102 results. Searching "massage" returned 0. Plural had hits with "Epstein" right there. Searching his name gives 0 matches.

They teach us about us. That's the case to make.

If you enjoyed Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, I recommend The Uncanny Counter on Netflix. Korean action series. First season was very good. Episodes pack a lot into each hour. They sell noodles and fight evil spirits.

Read the article. Near the end we get “If we can reduce cohort sizes..." Agreed! But, this further stratifies education, strongly favoring money. Instead of democratizing education, AI is pushing us more to education only for the wealthy. #academicsky www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...

So, instead of "Stop that shit!" it should be "Why are you doing that shit!?" Asking for myself.

Harrumph!

Whenever someone questions the continued existence of institutionalized racism, point them to this story. National parks fee-free calendar drops MLK Day, Juneteenth and adds Trump's birthday www.npr.org/2025/12/06/g...

Goat biryani for a birthday dinner is the best.

At The Castle Museum of Saginaw County History, and they have the best academic chair ever. The Eskwin Chair.

I can hardly see through all the transparency! www.politico.com/news/2025/12...

Pro tip when applying for a faculty position: make sure you include all required documents, and address the ad's expectations. When small, out of the way departments get >130 applicants for 1 spot, you have to know the market is tight. #academicsky

He's not challenging "orthodoxy", he's ignoring data. Stop dancing around his disinformation campaign and call it what it is -- an all out attack on Science and America's place in the scientific world.

One of the things about Trump saying Khashoggi was not very well liked is he's laying groundwork for the US killing of journalists that he doesn't like. Before his dementia got really bad, he often tried to normalize abhorrent behavior so he could do it. It's a default mode of thinking for him.

Colleagues and I were discussing how many physics/physical science majors don't know about integral tables. They want Wolfram alpha or something. One posited the lack of physical textbooks is a cause. What else is lost with rented copies of e-books and online HW subscriptions?

A great victory in the lab at a regional state funded PUI is getting a poorly constructed circuit working at all. It's a step toward a less-poorly constructed circuit working. Then you can get data. The Vannette Lab had a great victory today. #Academicsky #Physics

AP News calling VA Governor for Spanberger. NJ Lt. Gov. looks strong for Sherrill apnews.com

Another failing of AI. Pattern recognition is not thinking or understanding. Ask my introductory physics students. phys.org/news/2025-10...

It seems when we don't get good rest, our brain may force the issue. Sleep is necessary for quality thinking. Don't disregard it #AcademicSky. medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10...

Asked a class today what they feel marks a faculty member who does not value their time. Going over time. Reading from slides. Auto graded homework. Assignments without feedback. Notably absent were difficult assignments, expecting effort, and dense readings. Does #AcademicSky have thoughts?

Another bit of data regarding misplaced "trust" in the LLM AI hype. Only a little bit of poison in the training is enough to corrupt the system, even when it is very large. techxplore.com/news/2025-10...

This is a really neat innovation. Passive thermal regulation for buildings that is more effective at higher temperature. phys.org/news/2025-10...

Trump's higher ed ransom note is here - everyone would have to acquiesce to their unprecedented demands or not be "given priority for grants," plus they can demand "reimbursement" for "violations" www.wsj.com/us-news/educ... A mechanism to enforce fealty. An attack on academic freedom and democracy

The Dept of Energy is apparently trying to prevent the use of the word "green." I propose swapping it for 550. In the spectrum 550 nm light is green.

Fellow faculty, we must speak about the destruction of our rights in our classrooms. All 4 of the 1A rights are being dismantled. On Monday, in my physics lectures, I will begin by showing the text of the 1A and explain what each part means and how it is being destroyed. 1/

The call to federalize DC is a call to bring the one police force that stood against the Jan 6 insurrection under Trump's control. Who will be there to prevent the coup in Jan 2029?

Hopefully someone has archived the climate reports already. If you have a non-US government source, would you post a link? phys.org/news/2025-08...

It doesn't seem like the Robot Drummer is trashing hotel rooms or anything (yet). They also haven't implemented it IRL. techxplore.com/news/2025-08...