Katey Alatalo, Ph.D.
@kateyalatalo.com
Astronomer ✨ Dreamer ✨ Crime Scene Investigator for Galaxies ✨Views are my own
The sky calls to us, if we do not destroy ourselves we will one day venture to the stars. - Carl Sagan
The sky calls to us, if we do not destroy ourselves we will one day venture to the stars. - Carl Sagan
Pinned
Katey Alatalo, Ph.D.
@kateyalatalo.com
· Aug 14
katey's website
Dr. Katherine Alatalo's professional astronomy website
kateyalatalo.com
Who knew that revamping a professional website would be a LOT of work? But either way, I am super proud of it. Want to learn what I do or read bites of some of the papers I've worked on? Go take a look!
kateyalatalo.com
Come for the astronomy
Stay for the astronomy
kateyalatalo.com
Come for the astronomy
Stay for the astronomy
When I applied to grad school, it was the same year that Larry Summers was claiming women were biologically less capable of being scientists than men.
Per CNN, Elizabeth Warren is calling on Harvard to cut ties with Larry Summers after Jeffrey Epstein's emails released last week by House Dems featured Summers making sexist comments + asking for Epstein’s romantic advice.
November 17, 2025 at 5:59 PM
When I applied to grad school, it was the same year that Larry Summers was claiming women were biologically less capable of being scientists than men.
Reposted by Katey Alatalo, Ph.D.
I still remember my anthropology professor’s favorite joke from college:
“What did Watson and Crick discover?”
“Rosalind Franklin’s notes.”
“What did Watson and Crick discover?”
“Rosalind Franklin’s notes.”
Hey folks, as news of Watson's demise spreads, please don't set aside his weighty legacy of misogyny and racism. He was truly among the worst of us. www.vox.com/2019/1/15/18...
DNA scientist James Watson has a remarkably long history of sexist, racist public comments
“People say it would be terrible if we made all girls pretty,” he said in 2003. “I think it would be great.”
www.vox.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:28 PM
I still remember my anthropology professor’s favorite joke from college:
“What did Watson and Crick discover?”
“Rosalind Franklin’s notes.”
“What did Watson and Crick discover?”
“Rosalind Franklin’s notes.”
Reposted by Katey Alatalo, Ph.D.
The depth of the shame of a country this wealthy and abundant allowing its people to go hungry is impossible to measure. The fact that a handful of people could fix this by paying their fair share of taxes while still remaining obscenely wealthy makes it even worse.
October 28, 2025 at 4:09 PM
The depth of the shame of a country this wealthy and abundant allowing its people to go hungry is impossible to measure. The fact that a handful of people could fix this by paying their fair share of taxes while still remaining obscenely wealthy makes it even worse.
Wrote another blog post! Hoping that maybe some of the insights I've gained from getting better at understanding my brain will help others. In this case, thinking about our brains like they were computers.
#neurodivergence #adhd
kateyalatalo.com/blog/your-br...
#neurodivergence #adhd
kateyalatalo.com/blog/your-br...
Your Brain, the Computer
During my senior year in high school, I was at a crossroads, trying to decide if I wanted to go into a career in psychology, or keep going at the physics and astronomy that I loved so much. Obviously ...
kateyalatalo.com
October 2, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Wrote another blog post! Hoping that maybe some of the insights I've gained from getting better at understanding my brain will help others. In this case, thinking about our brains like they were computers.
#neurodivergence #adhd
kateyalatalo.com/blog/your-br...
#neurodivergence #adhd
kateyalatalo.com/blog/your-br...
Southwest, thank you for letting me know that the gate has changed yet again for my late night flight tonight, but at the moment, I'm not sure it's pressing information.
September 26, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Southwest, thank you for letting me know that the gate has changed yet again for my late night flight tonight, but at the moment, I'm not sure it's pressing information.
I know that this is a little silly, but it GRINDS MY GEARS that the lies being spouted are not just lies, but ignoring that neurodivergence makes the world a richer place to exist.
September 23, 2025 at 10:02 PM
I know that this is a little silly, but it GRINDS MY GEARS that the lies being spouted are not just lies, but ignoring that neurodivergence makes the world a richer place to exist.
I made a friendly wager with some friends in March about the trajectory of #genAI. And I have to say, I'm beginning to feel pretty confident that I'm going to be getting that box of cookies 😎
I just can't stop watching it
I love how they blame "Wi-Fi"
and I like how they're pouring untold billions into "superintelligence," and their big bold idea of showing off progress is having it read a recipe in order
which it can't do
I love how they blame "Wi-Fi"
and I like how they're pouring untold billions into "superintelligence," and their big bold idea of showing off progress is having it read a recipe in order
which it can't do
September 19, 2025 at 7:56 PM
I made a friendly wager with some friends in March about the trajectory of #genAI. And I have to say, I'm beginning to feel pretty confident that I'm going to be getting that box of cookies 😎
Reposted by Katey Alatalo, Ph.D.
Luckily, Sinclair has a helpful database of all their stations, so you can see if they're operating in your area and respond accordingly.
sbgi.net/tv-stations/
sbgi.net/tv-stations/
September 18, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Luckily, Sinclair has a helpful database of all their stations, so you can see if they're operating in your area and respond accordingly.
sbgi.net/tv-stations/
sbgi.net/tv-stations/
Reposted by Katey Alatalo, Ph.D.
Really tough time to be an adult who actually did all the assigned high school reading.
September 18, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Really tough time to be an adult who actually did all the assigned high school reading.
Like the radio telescopes I used to observe at, brains also have varying degrees of limits. But some brains those limits are not wired very well. You can read more of my thoughts on it on my blog! #radioastronomy #adhd #blog
kateyalatalo.com/blog/limits/
kateyalatalo.com/blog/limits/
Limits
A software limit that tells a person “oh, you’re getting near a danger zone friend. Maybe you want to eat something, or take a break.”, a hardware limit that says “you’re getting actively sleepy from ...
kateyalatalo.com
September 16, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Like the radio telescopes I used to observe at, brains also have varying degrees of limits. But some brains those limits are not wired very well. You can read more of my thoughts on it on my blog! #radioastronomy #adhd #blog
kateyalatalo.com/blog/limits/
kateyalatalo.com/blog/limits/
Reposted by Katey Alatalo, Ph.D.
Research shows that when people with different perspectives share ideas, it activates more creative neural pathways, fueling innovation across science, technology, and beyond.
Tag your go-to brainstorm buddy!💡
#Brainstorm #STEM
Tag your go-to brainstorm buddy!💡
#Brainstorm #STEM
September 10, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Research shows that when people with different perspectives share ideas, it activates more creative neural pathways, fueling innovation across science, technology, and beyond.
Tag your go-to brainstorm buddy!💡
#Brainstorm #STEM
Tag your go-to brainstorm buddy!💡
#Brainstorm #STEM
Watching this video and immediately going @aussiastronomer.bsky.social did you get to show Josh Johnson around because he's doing ASTROPHYSICS and I love it! #joshjohnson #jpl
youtu.be/Q0pMHmzH52Y
youtu.be/Q0pMHmzH52Y
The 10-Minute Mission: Katy Perry and the AstroNOTS
YouTube video by Josh Johnson
youtu.be
September 7, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Watching this video and immediately going @aussiastronomer.bsky.social did you get to show Josh Johnson around because he's doing ASTROPHYSICS and I love it! #joshjohnson #jpl
youtu.be/Q0pMHmzH52Y
youtu.be/Q0pMHmzH52Y
A little blog I wrote about why we need dark skies
kateyalatalo.com/blog/why-we-...
#astrosky #darkskies #astronomy
kateyalatalo.com/blog/why-we-...
#astrosky #darkskies #astronomy
Why we need dark skies
For anyone who has never lived outside of the city wouldn’t be able to understand the breathtaking wonder that the night skies can bring us.
kateyalatalo.com
August 31, 2025 at 7:32 PM
A little blog I wrote about why we need dark skies
kateyalatalo.com/blog/why-we-...
#astrosky #darkskies #astronomy
kateyalatalo.com/blog/why-we-...
#astrosky #darkskies #astronomy
It was my middle school social studies teacher. He dressed up as different cultures and concepts he was teaching us about.
I still remember Mr. Sypniewski all these years later and how cool I thought he was. Thanks for being part of the 15%, Mr. Syp!
I still remember Mr. Sypniewski all these years later and how cool I thought he was. Thanks for being part of the 15%, Mr. Syp!
Concerned that we are losing the necessary ratio. 15% of teachers/faculty should be irretrievably strange eccentrics. Every learning experience should have some element where in later life you can reflect with former classmates about how bizarre at least one (1) class per year was.
August 31, 2025 at 4:55 PM
It was my middle school social studies teacher. He dressed up as different cultures and concepts he was teaching us about.
I still remember Mr. Sypniewski all these years later and how cool I thought he was. Thanks for being part of the 15%, Mr. Syp!
I still remember Mr. Sypniewski all these years later and how cool I thought he was. Thanks for being part of the 15%, Mr. Syp!
You ever get those little reminders that things you're now used to being 'second nature' from your job are actually pretty useful and valuable?
Because that happened today! Running reviews is a skillset that's now in my quiver and makes me so pleased to apply it!
#jobtalk
Because that happened today! Running reviews is a skillset that's now in my quiver and makes me so pleased to apply it!
#jobtalk
August 29, 2025 at 3:45 PM
You ever get those little reminders that things you're now used to being 'second nature' from your job are actually pretty useful and valuable?
Because that happened today! Running reviews is a skillset that's now in my quiver and makes me so pleased to apply it!
#jobtalk
Because that happened today! Running reviews is a skillset that's now in my quiver and makes me so pleased to apply it!
#jobtalk
I'd been getting tired of "according to CEO of OpenAI, AI is amazing!!!" articles out there, so it's nice to see something written with rigor.
tl;dr For 200 word summaries, LLMs are fine. 500 words? Danger zone. Science literature search? OH GIRL NO.
www.cjr.org/analysis/i-t...
tl;dr For 200 word summaries, LLMs are fine. 500 words? Danger zone. Science literature search? OH GIRL NO.
www.cjr.org/analysis/i-t...
I Tested How Well AI Tools Work for Journalism
Some tools were sufficient for summarizing meetings. For research, the results were a disaster.
www.cjr.org
August 20, 2025 at 9:12 PM
I'd been getting tired of "according to CEO of OpenAI, AI is amazing!!!" articles out there, so it's nice to see something written with rigor.
tl;dr For 200 word summaries, LLMs are fine. 500 words? Danger zone. Science literature search? OH GIRL NO.
www.cjr.org/analysis/i-t...
tl;dr For 200 word summaries, LLMs are fine. 500 words? Danger zone. Science literature search? OH GIRL NO.
www.cjr.org/analysis/i-t...
Reposted by Katey Alatalo, Ph.D.
This administration has thrown literal grenades at the rickety foundations of American academia, and for some reason, neither the national media nor university administrations are actually talking about as the economic, social, political and cultural threat/crisis it is. What a terrible loss.
The University of Chicago will pause admissions for “a small number” of Ph.D. and master’s programs across several schools amid mounting fiscal pressures.
University of Chicago to pause Ph.D. admissions across several schools
The University of Chicago will pause admissions for “a small number” of Ph.D. and master’s programs across several schools amid mounting fiscal pressures.
www.chicagotribune.com
August 14, 2025 at 9:08 PM
This administration has thrown literal grenades at the rickety foundations of American academia, and for some reason, neither the national media nor university administrations are actually talking about as the economic, social, political and cultural threat/crisis it is. What a terrible loss.
Who knew that revamping a professional website would be a LOT of work? But either way, I am super proud of it. Want to learn what I do or read bites of some of the papers I've worked on? Go take a look!
kateyalatalo.com
Come for the astronomy
Stay for the astronomy
kateyalatalo.com
Come for the astronomy
Stay for the astronomy
katey's website
Dr. Katherine Alatalo's professional astronomy website
kateyalatalo.com
August 14, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Who knew that revamping a professional website would be a LOT of work? But either way, I am super proud of it. Want to learn what I do or read bites of some of the papers I've worked on? Go take a look!
kateyalatalo.com
Come for the astronomy
Stay for the astronomy
kateyalatalo.com
Come for the astronomy
Stay for the astronomy
Reposted by Katey Alatalo, Ph.D.
My cartoon for this week's @newscientist.com
July 15, 2025 at 2:22 PM
My cartoon for this week's @newscientist.com
Interviewer: Can you explain this gap in your resume?
Astrophysicist: It's a new form of work called "dark work" that only interacts gravitationally.
Astrophysicist: It's a new form of work called "dark work" that only interacts gravitationally.
Interviewer: can you explain this gap in your resume?
Me, a medievalist: ah, that would be the rodent damage.
Me, a medievalist: ah, that would be the rodent damage.
Interviewer: can you explain this gap in your resume
Me, a translator: The gap is also present in the original
Me, a translator: The gap is also present in the original
May 13, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Interviewer: Can you explain this gap in your resume?
Astrophysicist: It's a new form of work called "dark work" that only interacts gravitationally.
Astrophysicist: It's a new form of work called "dark work" that only interacts gravitationally.
(Writing this on my personal computer, during my barely available spare time.)
For the foreseeable future, I will not be using this account to discuss issues related to the science community, because the place I work depends heavily on federal grants.
#myopinionsaremyown
For the foreseeable future, I will not be using this account to discuss issues related to the science community, because the place I work depends heavily on federal grants.
#myopinionsaremyown
February 4, 2025 at 2:44 PM
(Writing this on my personal computer, during my barely available spare time.)
For the foreseeable future, I will not be using this account to discuss issues related to the science community, because the place I work depends heavily on federal grants.
#myopinionsaremyown
For the foreseeable future, I will not be using this account to discuss issues related to the science community, because the place I work depends heavily on federal grants.
#myopinionsaremyown
January 21, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Those who do not learn from history are bound to repeat it.
January 18, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Those who do not learn from history are bound to repeat it.