Brandon Barker
@astrobarker.bsky.social
computational astrophysicist, developer, appalachian starboy, miso’s owner
Reposted by Brandon Barker
my basic “should I use generative AI” rules:
* the 3 D’s of automation are Dirty, Dull, & Dangerous, and Dull is the only one applicable—so stick to that
* dont use it for any task where doing it yourself would improve your skill at that task
* “hard to guess, easy to check” format + ALWAYS CHECK
* the 3 D’s of automation are Dirty, Dull, & Dangerous, and Dull is the only one applicable—so stick to that
* dont use it for any task where doing it yourself would improve your skill at that task
* “hard to guess, easy to check” format + ALWAYS CHECK
February 15, 2026 at 2:40 AM
my basic “should I use generative AI” rules:
* the 3 D’s of automation are Dirty, Dull, & Dangerous, and Dull is the only one applicable—so stick to that
* dont use it for any task where doing it yourself would improve your skill at that task
* “hard to guess, easy to check” format + ALWAYS CHECK
* the 3 D’s of automation are Dirty, Dull, & Dangerous, and Dull is the only one applicable—so stick to that
* dont use it for any task where doing it yourself would improve your skill at that task
* “hard to guess, easy to check” format + ALWAYS CHECK
Reposted by Brandon Barker
This piece is about CS conferences, but it speaks to a larger trend. What are we, as individual researchers and scholarly communities, doing to prevent epistemic poison? What can we do to preserve and maintain the quality of our knowledge in this era of bullshit and slop?
⚗️ 🧪 #SciComm #Ethics
⚗️ 🧪 #SciComm #Ethics
A review of the proceedings from four major computer-science conferences showed that none from 2021, and all from 2025, had fake citations.
arxiv.org/abs/2602.058...
#AI #LLMs #Hallucinations #Misconduct #ScholComm
arxiv.org/abs/2602.058...
#AI #LLMs #Hallucinations #Misconduct #ScholComm
The Case of the Mysterious Citations
Mysterious citations are routinely appearing in peer-reviewed publications throughout the scientific community. In this paper, we developed an automated pipeline and examine the proceedings of four ma...
arxiv.org
February 15, 2026 at 11:49 AM
Reposted by Brandon Barker
It’s infuriating and dispiriting how cozy scientists and science communicators were with Epstein. Not just creeps like Krauss and Horner, but former SciAm editor-in-chief Mariette DiChristina corresponding with Epstein in 2014-2015. “He’s done so much for science, I think that deserves some fun!”
BU COM dean corresponded extensively with Jeffrey Epstein in 2014 and 2015, files show
Mariette DiChristina, dean of Boston University’s College of Communication, corresponded extensively with Jeffrey Epstein in 2014 and 2015. The two set up a one-on-one meeting, had “phone dates” and D...
dailyfreepress.com
February 5, 2026 at 3:33 PM
It’s infuriating and dispiriting how cozy scientists and science communicators were with Epstein. Not just creeps like Krauss and Horner, but former SciAm editor-in-chief Mariette DiChristina corresponding with Epstein in 2014-2015. “He’s done so much for science, I think that deserves some fun!”
The academy continues to impress
Yale prof David Gelernter defends his letter urging Epstein to hire "v small goodlooking blonde" student by saying that he was "keep[ing] the potential boss's habits in mind."
This creep shouldn't be allowed anywhere near students.
yaledailynews.com/articles/gel...
This creep shouldn't be allowed anywhere near students.
yaledailynews.com/articles/gel...
February 5, 2026 at 4:07 PM
The academy continues to impress
Here we go again
January 31, 2026 at 3:32 PM
Here we go again
God I missed Detroit
January 25, 2026 at 10:46 PM
God I missed Detroit
Heading to god honoring Michigan … maybe the worst day of the year to fly (had cancellations..) but god I miss it
January 25, 2026 at 8:13 PM
Heading to god honoring Michigan … maybe the worst day of the year to fly (had cancellations..) but god I miss it
Traded code crashes for snowboard crashes
January 12, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Traded code crashes for snowboard crashes
command line app called chat (subtitle “is this real”) that takes a number at the command line and prints yes if real false if complex
January 8, 2026 at 11:01 PM
command line app called chat (subtitle “is this real”) that takes a number at the command line and prints yes if real false if complex
Reposted by Brandon Barker
Hi #aas247 people! Just saw some slides from an education session about astronomy majors across the country that looks super relevant to the new astro program we’re trying to start in Oregon. Anyone know where the full report lives, or can share the full slides? 🔭
January 5, 2026 at 9:37 PM
Hi #aas247 people! Just saw some slides from an education session about astronomy majors across the country that looks super relevant to the new astro program we’re trying to start in Oregon. Anyone know where the full report lives, or can share the full slides? 🔭
Rewrite substantial parts of technically functional (albeit ugly, outgrown its scope) code or implement features necessary to make a production capable product? Easy
January 5, 2026 at 9:08 PM
Rewrite substantial parts of technically functional (albeit ugly, outgrown its scope) code or implement features necessary to make a production capable product? Easy
Christmas Day is finally here, and that means two things: Lord of the Rings (extended) and a day full of hobbit meals
December 25, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Christmas Day is finally here, and that means two things: Lord of the Rings (extended) and a day full of hobbit meals
This year in GitHub: 72 merged PRs for a total of 912 commits — and more to come (and more uncounted on gitlab). Not too bad but pushing for more next year!
December 14, 2025 at 9:59 PM
This year in GitHub: 72 merged PRs for a total of 912 commits — and more to come (and more uncounted on gitlab). Not too bad but pushing for more next year!
How it feels when optimizing code
December 10, 2025 at 10:10 PM
How it feels when optimizing code
Went to Michigan over thanksgiving and got to take a god honoring nap
November 29, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Went to Michigan over thanksgiving and got to take a god honoring nap
im not much of a football fan but i feel strongly that we need the weaker teams regularly playing in the snow
November 29, 2025 at 9:36 PM
im not much of a football fan but i feel strongly that we need the weaker teams regularly playing in the snow
DTW brewery crawl
November 29, 2025 at 4:10 PM
DTW brewery crawl
No it’s actually an elite level code development strategy that i left that unused variable there. The warnings tell me “finish implementing this” every time i compile
November 22, 2025 at 12:48 AM
No it’s actually an elite level code development strategy that i left that unused variable there. The warnings tell me “finish implementing this” every time i compile
Reposted by Brandon Barker
Two weeks into a new program that gives New Mexico children free childcare, officials are opening up about the surge that happened day one & how it’s been moving forward. In just a short time, the state said thousands of children are now enrolled in free childcare, & daycares are lining up to join.
www.krqe.com
November 16, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Two weeks into a new program that gives New Mexico children free childcare, officials are opening up about the surge that happened day one & how it’s been moving forward. In just a short time, the state said thousands of children are now enrolled in free childcare, & daycares are lining up to join.
PBS always serving the public good
November 13, 2025 at 12:38 AM
PBS always serving the public good
Reposted by Brandon Barker
Reposted by Brandon Barker
(Rushing to make another contribution to PBS !!!)
November 13, 2025 at 12:04 AM
(Rushing to make another contribution to PBS !!!)
Reposted by Brandon Barker
What's another song about Boats, Ships or Sailing? 🚢 🎶 ⛵️
On November 10, 1975, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald suddenly sank in Lake Superior during a storm, killing all 29 men aboard and inspiring Canadian folk singer Gordon Lightfoot to write a song about the tragedy, "Wreck 0f The Edmund Fitzgerald." 👇
On November 10, 1975, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald suddenly sank in Lake Superior during a storm, killing all 29 men aboard and inspiring Canadian folk singer Gordon Lightfoot to write a song about the tragedy, "Wreck 0f The Edmund Fitzgerald." 👇
November 10, 2025 at 2:17 PM
What's another song about Boats, Ships or Sailing? 🚢 🎶 ⛵️
On November 10, 1975, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald suddenly sank in Lake Superior during a storm, killing all 29 men aboard and inspiring Canadian folk singer Gordon Lightfoot to write a song about the tragedy, "Wreck 0f The Edmund Fitzgerald." 👇
On November 10, 1975, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald suddenly sank in Lake Superior during a storm, killing all 29 men aboard and inspiring Canadian folk singer Gordon Lightfoot to write a song about the tragedy, "Wreck 0f The Edmund Fitzgerald." 👇