Britt Lundgren
@brittlundgren.bsky.social
Quasar gazer | data miner | science / education policy wonk | Associate Prof. of Physics & Astronomy at a public liberal arts college | Illinoisan
Pinned
My article on the likely influence of the experiments of polymath Thomas Young on the early abstract art of Hilma af Klint is now published & open access at Leonardo / MIT Press 🎉 direct.mit.edu/leon/article...
"They were careless people..They smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.” -F. Scott Fitzgerald
BREAKING: The U.S. won’t govern Venezuela, but will press changes through an oil blockade, Rubio says, after Trump claims of running the country.
Venezuela live updates: Uncertainty and legal questions remain after US captures Maduro
The Trump administration’s capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and claims that it will “run” the country are raising stark new questions about the legality of the U.S. actions and its future operations in the South American nation.
bit.ly
January 4, 2026 at 11:27 PM
"They were careless people..They smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.” -F. Scott Fitzgerald
Reposted by Britt Lundgren
Another scientist of unknown birthday: my #linocut of Chinese Han Dynasty #polymath & statesman Zhang Heng (78-139) who invented a seismoscope (simplified seismometer which does not make a record of earth motions) to detect distant earthquakes & indicate their direction 2000 years ago! 🐡🧪⚒️#histsci
January 4, 2026 at 1:14 PM
Reposted by Britt Lundgren
Instead of whatever this is, we should have a government getting lots of new homes and apartments built, lots of clean energy built, lots of high speed rail and transit and bike lanes built, human rights for everyone, economic & healthcare opportunities for all, & innovation that leads the world.
January 4, 2026 at 2:12 AM
Instead of whatever this is, we should have a government getting lots of new homes and apartments built, lots of clean energy built, lots of high speed rail and transit and bike lanes built, human rights for everyone, economic & healthcare opportunities for all, & innovation that leads the world.
I still have this protest sign I made in college.. but not because I thought I would actually need to use it again, more than two decades later.
January 3, 2026 at 10:30 PM
I still have this protest sign I made in college.. but not because I thought I would actually need to use it again, more than two decades later.
Reposted by Britt Lundgren
so they are trying to make this look somehow legal. good luck with that, but I cannot stress enough that if your initial “wtf” reaction gets short-circuited by this, that’s bad.
The US Attorney General confirms Maduro is being charged with "conspiracy to possess machine guns" - something Republicans usually call a constitutional right.
January 3, 2026 at 2:41 PM
so they are trying to make this look somehow legal. good luck with that, but I cannot stress enough that if your initial “wtf” reaction gets short-circuited by this, that’s bad.
Reposted by Britt Lundgren
Trump "could have tried to persuade Congress or the public to give him permission to use force. He didn’t bother. He chose war despite polls that found a large majority of Americans opposed it." From Conor Friedersdorf
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
Trump’s Risky War in Venezuela
The president has violated the Constitution and is showing contempt for the will of the public.
www.theatlantic.com
January 3, 2026 at 1:43 PM
Trump "could have tried to persuade Congress or the public to give him permission to use force. He didn’t bother. He chose war despite polls that found a large majority of Americans opposed it." From Conor Friedersdorf
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
Reposted by Britt Lundgren
Marco Rubio is reportedly saying Maduro will stand trial in US courts.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
January 3, 2026 at 10:52 AM
Marco Rubio is reportedly saying Maduro will stand trial in US courts.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
Reposted by Britt Lundgren
I feel like I haven’t even been properly lied to about the purposes of this war
January 3, 2026 at 9:13 AM
I feel like I haven’t even been properly lied to about the purposes of this war
It's worse than that.. this act (which seems dumb enough to become law in certain states) would require public universities to PUBLISH standardized test scores for every faculty member **and applicant**! civicsalliance.org/faculty-meri...
January 2, 2026 at 5:19 PM
It's worse than that.. this act (which seems dumb enough to become law in certain states) would require public universities to PUBLISH standardized test scores for every faculty member **and applicant**! civicsalliance.org/faculty-meri...
My cat agrees www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
Wild London review – honestly, telly does not get any better than this
Mischievous and glorious, David Attenborough brings his lifelong sense of wonder to the city’s wildlife, from foxes to peregrine falcons, in this exquisite and endlessly moving special
www.theguardian.com
January 2, 2026 at 3:50 PM
My cat agrees www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
ICYMI: London's fireworks display was a master class in how to unapologetically celebrate diversity, drawing a stark contrast with white nationalist messaging of national decline. www.youtube.com/live/FuzyX3q...
Happy New Year Live! 🎆 London Fireworks 2026 🔴 BBC
YouTube video by BBC
www.youtube.com
January 1, 2026 at 2:47 PM
ICYMI: London's fireworks display was a master class in how to unapologetically celebrate diversity, drawing a stark contrast with white nationalist messaging of national decline. www.youtube.com/live/FuzyX3q...
Reposted by Britt Lundgren
Welcome to the Public Domain, ANIMAL CRACKERS (1930) 🎭
😂 Nothing to do with soup. The Marx Brothers return in this 1930 adaptation of their stage musical. Laughs abound in the public domain.
Learn more ➡️ blog.archive.org/public-domai...
#PublicDomainDay #CopyrightFree
😂 Nothing to do with soup. The Marx Brothers return in this 1930 adaptation of their stage musical. Laughs abound in the public domain.
Learn more ➡️ blog.archive.org/public-domai...
#PublicDomainDay #CopyrightFree
January 1, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Welcome to the Public Domain, ANIMAL CRACKERS (1930) 🎭
😂 Nothing to do with soup. The Marx Brothers return in this 1930 adaptation of their stage musical. Laughs abound in the public domain.
Learn more ➡️ blog.archive.org/public-domai...
#PublicDomainDay #CopyrightFree
😂 Nothing to do with soup. The Marx Brothers return in this 1930 adaptation of their stage musical. Laughs abound in the public domain.
Learn more ➡️ blog.archive.org/public-domai...
#PublicDomainDay #CopyrightFree
Reposted by Britt Lundgren
The National Science Foundation starts 2026 with a new management structure that affects every scientist with--or applying for--NSF funding. Here's what you need to know. www.science.org/content/arti...
The National Science Foundation just had a big reorganization. Here are five things to know
Divisions and rotators disappear as more career staff become supervisors
www.science.org
December 29, 2025 at 2:54 PM
The National Science Foundation starts 2026 with a new management structure that affects every scientist with--or applying for--NSF funding. Here's what you need to know. www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Britt Lundgren
I just learned that this incredibly flawed story was put on the front page of the newspaper, and that certainly seems like an editorial choice
New, from me: The NYT reporter who specializes in profiles of beleaguered right-wingers on campus went to New College...and found out that things were going ok!
So let me explain some pretty massive errors of omission: 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-nyt-re...
So let me explain some pretty massive errors of omission: 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-nyt-re...
The NYT Recruiting Brochure for New College
A failing Ron DeSantis higher ed experiment gets a boost
donmoynihan.substack.com
December 29, 2025 at 3:21 PM
I just learned that this incredibly flawed story was put on the front page of the newspaper, and that certainly seems like an editorial choice
AAS' Congressional Visits Day is a fantastic opportunity to get started advocating for science. For me, it cemented an interest that would lead me to a AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship and further service in federal science policy. I highly recommend applying! 🔭 aas.org/applications...
Applications Now Open for Congressional Visits Day 2026 | American Astronomical Society
Advocating for science comes down to effective communication. The main steps here are determining your message, developing a communication strategy, and identifying your member of Congress.
aas.org
December 29, 2025 at 3:31 PM
AAS' Congressional Visits Day is a fantastic opportunity to get started advocating for science. For me, it cemented an interest that would lead me to a AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship and further service in federal science policy. I highly recommend applying! 🔭 aas.org/applications...
For the 2nd time this year, MTP has platformed Robbins -- an influencer whose tag line is "Let Them". Just what America needs to "meet the moment"... which, for the record, is a dismantling of our constitutional democracy. But just let them! Don't let extrajudicial kidnappings ruin your brunch!
Former Today Show host Hoda Kotb, bestselling author Mel Robbins, chef Marcus Samuelsson and “Wicked” director Jon M. Chu join Kristen Welker for a “Meet the Moment” special of Meet the Press.
Dec. 28 — Hoda Kotb, Mel Robbins, Marcus Samuelsson and Jon M. Chu
Former Today Show host Hoda Kotb, bestselling author Mel Robbins, chef Marcus Samuelsson and “Wicked” director Jon M. Chu join Kristen Welker for a “Meet the Moment” special of Meet the Press.
nbcnews.to
December 29, 2025 at 12:36 PM
For the 2nd time this year, MTP has platformed Robbins -- an influencer whose tag line is "Let Them". Just what America needs to "meet the moment"... which, for the record, is a dismantling of our constitutional democracy. But just let them! Don't let extrajudicial kidnappings ruin your brunch!
Reposted by Britt Lundgren
Fascinating! as.ft.com/r/5442aac6-1...
How diamonds are powering a new quantum revolution
[FREE TO READ] By inserting tiny imperfections into the stones, scientists open up possibilities in computing, encryption and sensors
as.ft.com
December 29, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Fascinating! as.ft.com/r/5442aac6-1...
DeSantis' appointees took over New College, a public liberal arts college of <900 students, and promptly decided they needed nearly half a billion dollars to run it. 🤡🤡🤡
New College is a DeSantis pet project, a Potemkin Campus that must be made real at any cost. While the NY Times notes it is the most expensive in the state, it does not tell readers what an extraordinary outlier it is. Freedom isn’t free, and a right-wing campus makeover is very expensive it seems.
December 29, 2025 at 12:26 AM
DeSantis' appointees took over New College, a public liberal arts college of <900 students, and promptly decided they needed nearly half a billion dollars to run it. 🤡🤡🤡
As conceded later in the piece, this is bad advice. fortune.com/2025/12/27/m...
Malcolm Gladwell tells young people if they want a STEM degree, 'don’t go to Harvard.' You may end up at the bottom of your class and drop out | Fortune
It’s better to be a big fish in a little pond, Gladwell argues in his book David and Goliath.
fortune.com
December 28, 2025 at 11:04 PM
As conceded later in the piece, this is bad advice. fortune.com/2025/12/27/m...
At the food court in CLT airport and Baby Got Back just played very loud and in full over the speakers. Lol
December 27, 2025 at 10:11 PM
At the food court in CLT airport and Baby Got Back just played very loud and in full over the speakers. Lol
"Technology firms... are not invested in our students or the learning process, only in harvesting the attention of an entire generation of users, who will be addicted to their product for the rest of their adult lives." www.publicbooks.org/four-frictio...
Four Frictions: or, How to Resist AI in Education - Public Books
We are calling for resistance to the AI industry’s ongoing capture of higher education.
www.publicbooks.org
December 26, 2025 at 9:45 AM
"Technology firms... are not invested in our students or the learning process, only in harvesting the attention of an entire generation of users, who will be addicted to their product for the rest of their adult lives." www.publicbooks.org/four-frictio...
Reposted by Britt Lundgren
It is EXHAUSTING not only being made responsible for coming up with new kinds of assignments for our students; it's also tedious reading op-eds that suggest the core problem is a crisis in teaching. But, as Chris and I lay out here, this isn't a crisis in teaching; it's an attack on learning.
"We envision a resistance that is...a repudiation of the efficiencies that automated algorithmic education falsely promises: a resistance comprising the collective force of small acts of friction."
"How to Resist AI in Education" by me & @cnygren.bsky.social
www.publicbooks.org/four-frictio...
"How to Resist AI in Education" by me & @cnygren.bsky.social
www.publicbooks.org/four-frictio...
Four Frictions: or, How to Resist AI in Education - Public Books
We are calling for resistance to the AI industry’s ongoing capture of higher education.
www.publicbooks.org
December 24, 2025 at 7:39 PM
It is EXHAUSTING not only being made responsible for coming up with new kinds of assignments for our students; it's also tedious reading op-eds that suggest the core problem is a crisis in teaching. But, as Chris and I lay out here, this isn't a crisis in teaching; it's an attack on learning.
Reposted by Britt Lundgren
No one says to legit business owners, "hey I see there's an underground market selling toxic knock-offs of your product: how will you incorporate the toxic product AND protect your customers against its harms?" But apparently it's fine to make this suggestion to educators with respect to AI.
December 24, 2025 at 7:56 PM
No one says to legit business owners, "hey I see there's an underground market selling toxic knock-offs of your product: how will you incorporate the toxic product AND protect your customers against its harms?" But apparently it's fine to make this suggestion to educators with respect to AI.
Reposted by Britt Lundgren
