Katy Huff
@katyhuff.bsky.social
Into bikes, nuclear energy, vegetables, coffee, scientific computing, & public radio. Currently a professor at UIUC NPRE . Former NE-1. (she/her)
Reposted by Katy Huff
Imagine you time travel back to 1847 and you find the left response to industrialization is a) machines will never be as good as human weavers or b) we need to copyright loom patterns or c) it’s a speculative bubble.
You’d say “Y’all. Not helping. What you need is obviously a labor movement.”
You’d say “Y’all. Not helping. What you need is obviously a labor movement.”
November 1, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Imagine you time travel back to 1847 and you find the left response to industrialization is a) machines will never be as good as human weavers or b) we need to copyright loom patterns or c) it’s a speculative bubble.
You’d say “Y’all. Not helping. What you need is obviously a labor movement.”
You’d say “Y’all. Not helping. What you need is obviously a labor movement.”
Bye bye Manhattan!
I had a great few days at the @sloanfoundation.bsky.social discussing the complexities of education in an age of AI with some of today's most thoughtful leaders in STEM education.
While we enjoyed the view from Rockefeller Center, we also saw a lot of work ahead of educators.
I had a great few days at the @sloanfoundation.bsky.social discussing the complexities of education in an age of AI with some of today's most thoughtful leaders in STEM education.
While we enjoyed the view from Rockefeller Center, we also saw a lot of work ahead of educators.
October 17, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Bye bye Manhattan!
I had a great few days at the @sloanfoundation.bsky.social discussing the complexities of education in an age of AI with some of today's most thoughtful leaders in STEM education.
While we enjoyed the view from Rockefeller Center, we also saw a lot of work ahead of educators.
I had a great few days at the @sloanfoundation.bsky.social discussing the complexities of education in an age of AI with some of today's most thoughtful leaders in STEM education.
While we enjoyed the view from Rockefeller Center, we also saw a lot of work ahead of educators.
Reposted by Katy Huff
It’s unacceptable that federal employees are going without pay, health care costs are skyrocketing & families are seeing SNAP benefits threatened while House Republicans stay on vacation. Until they work with Democrats to reopen the government, I’m donating my pay to the Northern Illinois Food Bank.
Foster to Donate Paycheck to Northern Illinois Food Bank During Shutdown
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) announced that he will once again donate his Congressional pay earned during the government shutdown to the Northern Illinois Food Bank.
foster.house.gov
October 17, 2025 at 5:45 PM
It’s unacceptable that federal employees are going without pay, health care costs are skyrocketing & families are seeing SNAP benefits threatened while House Republicans stay on vacation. Until they work with Democrats to reopen the government, I’m donating my pay to the Northern Illinois Food Bank.
"... satire helps preserve the language of critique itself."
Phenomenal piece.
Phenomenal piece.
In my latest piece, I write about satire's power to clarify our vision and deflate authoritarian rhetoric.
Satirical humor is one of the remaining glimmers of hope we have left in the fight against authoritarian rhetoric, says @luke-rage.bsky.social.
October 13, 2025 at 4:41 PM
"... satire helps preserve the language of critique itself."
Phenomenal piece.
Phenomenal piece.
Reposted by Katy Huff
It’s Friday night.
I’ve done enough this week.
You’ve done enough this week.
I’ve done enough this week.
You’ve done enough this week.
September 27, 2025 at 1:03 AM
It’s Friday night.
I’ve done enough this week.
You’ve done enough this week.
I’ve done enough this week.
You’ve done enough this week.
Reposted by Katy Huff
🚨 Breaking News | Judge Rules Harvard Funding Freeze Illegal
A federal judge said the Trump administration violated the institution's First Amendment rights when it froze billions of dollars in research grants. https://bit.ly/42bh3oH
#EDUSky #AcademicSky #HigherEd
A federal judge said the Trump administration violated the institution's First Amendment rights when it froze billions of dollars in research grants. https://bit.ly/42bh3oH
#EDUSky #AcademicSky #HigherEd
September 3, 2025 at 10:48 PM
🚨 Breaking News | Judge Rules Harvard Funding Freeze Illegal
A federal judge said the Trump administration violated the institution's First Amendment rights when it froze billions of dollars in research grants. https://bit.ly/42bh3oH
#EDUSky #AcademicSky #HigherEd
A federal judge said the Trump administration violated the institution's First Amendment rights when it froze billions of dollars in research grants. https://bit.ly/42bh3oH
#EDUSky #AcademicSky #HigherEd
Reposted by Katy Huff
An Aug. 29 policy statement from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the federal agency, will from now on bar nonpartisan groups such as the League of Women Voters from offering voter registration services at the end of naturalization ceremonies. /1
www.uscis.gov
September 2, 2025 at 9:15 PM
An Aug. 29 policy statement from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the federal agency, will from now on bar nonpartisan groups such as the League of Women Voters from offering voter registration services at the end of naturalization ceremonies. /1
Reposted by Katy Huff
BREAKING: We secured a court order requiring the State Dept to preserve & account for Signal messages of senior national security officials, including Sec. Marco Rubio.
This is an important step to force accountability for an admin that’s shown alarming disregard for transparency required by law.
This is an important step to force accountability for an admin that’s shown alarming disregard for transparency required by law.
September 2, 2025 at 11:28 PM
BREAKING: We secured a court order requiring the State Dept to preserve & account for Signal messages of senior national security officials, including Sec. Marco Rubio.
This is an important step to force accountability for an admin that’s shown alarming disregard for transparency required by law.
This is an important step to force accountability for an admin that’s shown alarming disregard for transparency required by law.
Reposted by Katy Huff
In a @science.org editorial, @katyhuff.bsky.social discusses NASA's plan to install a nuclear reactor on the Moon. Is it feasible, what are the legal and practical issues, and what's the purpose?
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#planetsci 🚀🛰️
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#planetsci 🚀🛰️
Taking nuclear energy to the Moon
Earlier this month, Sean Duffy, the acting head of the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), announced an acceleration of the agency’s Fission Surface Power program, with the ambiti...
www.science.org
August 29, 2025 at 3:26 PM
In a @science.org editorial, @katyhuff.bsky.social discusses NASA's plan to install a nuclear reactor on the Moon. Is it feasible, what are the legal and practical issues, and what's the purpose?
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#planetsci 🚀🛰️
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#planetsci 🚀🛰️
Reposted by Katy Huff
I didn’t think it was news that writing about your research more accessibly makes you think about it in different ways and therefore makes you a better researcher. But if you needed to hear that again: 🔭👩🔬🧪
Some scientists haven't yet internalized the "why" behind science writing for the public - not just as a service, but for themselves. (I didn't always get it). In this piece for @natrevneuro.nature.com, I draw on the neuroscience of curiosity & decision making to unpack its value.
rdcu.be/eCGr7
rdcu.be/eCGr7
The unexpected value of communicating science to the public
Nature Reviews Neuroscience - As a group, our scientific community has a responsibility to unpack the ‘what’ and ‘why’ behind our work for the public, not least because much...
rdcu.be
August 27, 2025 at 11:44 AM
I didn’t think it was news that writing about your research more accessibly makes you think about it in different ways and therefore makes you a better researcher. But if you needed to hear that again: 🔭👩🔬🧪
Reposted by Katy Huff
Happy first day of classes!
August 25, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Happy first day of classes!
Reposted by Katy Huff
Tonight is the peak of the Perseid meteor shower. Best seen after midnight. Good weather luck everyone. 🔭 🧪
August 12, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Tonight is the peak of the Perseid meteor shower. Best seen after midnight. Good weather luck everyone. 🔭 🧪
Reposted by Katy Huff
You know how sometimes you read that a celebrity has died and it’s a surprise because you actually thought they had died long ago?
help.aol.com/articles/dia...
help.aol.com/articles/dia...
Dial-up Internet to be discontinued
Learn about why dial up internet has been discontinued.
help.aol.com
August 10, 2025 at 11:25 AM
You know how sometimes you read that a celebrity has died and it’s a surprise because you actually thought they had died long ago?
help.aol.com/articles/dia...
help.aol.com/articles/dia...
Reposted by Katy Huff
"PhD-level experts in your back pocket" is a completely nonsensical description of AI but a pretty good description of social media if you follow the right people
August 9, 2025 at 11:07 PM
"PhD-level experts in your back pocket" is a completely nonsensical description of AI but a pretty good description of social media if you follow the right people
Reposted by Katy Huff
Something that I have been thinking about with attribution of "PhD level intelligence" or "PhD level expertise" to a machine is that it reflects an increasing trend among these AI bros and their sycophants to want the products of highly skilled training without actually doing any of the work.
August 9, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Something that I have been thinking about with attribution of "PhD level intelligence" or "PhD level expertise" to a machine is that it reflects an increasing trend among these AI bros and their sycophants to want the products of highly skilled training without actually doing any of the work.
I've had a lot of questions about fission surface power this week.
The delightful Ken Chang @kchang.bsky.social summed it up well in this piece: www.nytimes.com/2025/08/06/s... .
On moon reactors, I'm bullish. On setting unrealistic timelines in a race to moon reactors, not so much. [1/2]
The delightful Ken Chang @kchang.bsky.social summed it up well in this piece: www.nytimes.com/2025/08/06/s... .
On moon reactors, I'm bullish. On setting unrealistic timelines in a race to moon reactors, not so much. [1/2]
August 7, 2025 at 1:54 PM
I've had a lot of questions about fission surface power this week.
The delightful Ken Chang @kchang.bsky.social summed it up well in this piece: www.nytimes.com/2025/08/06/s... .
On moon reactors, I'm bullish. On setting unrealistic timelines in a race to moon reactors, not so much. [1/2]
The delightful Ken Chang @kchang.bsky.social summed it up well in this piece: www.nytimes.com/2025/08/06/s... .
On moon reactors, I'm bullish. On setting unrealistic timelines in a race to moon reactors, not so much. [1/2]
80 years ago today, the United States used fission for a deadly purpose for the first, but not the last, time.
I'll think today on the lives lost, and also on how humanity's "miraculous inventiveness" can be used for peace and prosperity.
Perhaps a film is called for. whatisnuclear.com/museum/
I'll think today on the lives lost, and also on how humanity's "miraculous inventiveness" can be used for peace and prosperity.
Perhaps a film is called for. whatisnuclear.com/museum/
Digital Nuclear Reactor History Museum
Our collection of digitized nuclear reactor historical items
whatisnuclear.com
August 6, 2025 at 12:21 PM
80 years ago today, the United States used fission for a deadly purpose for the first, but not the last, time.
I'll think today on the lives lost, and also on how humanity's "miraculous inventiveness" can be used for peace and prosperity.
Perhaps a film is called for. whatisnuclear.com/museum/
I'll think today on the lives lost, and also on how humanity's "miraculous inventiveness" can be used for peace and prosperity.
Perhaps a film is called for. whatisnuclear.com/museum/
I recently had a delightful conversation with Jason Mitchell on the podcast "A Sustainable Future" www.man.com/maninstitute.... The episode is now live across all these platforms!
Man Institute - bit.ly/3GZqUqt
Apple Podcast - apple.co/43bosmJ
Spotify - spoti.fi/2Pp0AKa
SoundCloud - bit.ly/3J1VKzq
Man Institute - bit.ly/3GZqUqt
Apple Podcast - apple.co/43bosmJ
Spotify - spoti.fi/2Pp0AKa
SoundCloud - bit.ly/3J1VKzq
August 5, 2025 at 3:20 PM
I recently had a delightful conversation with Jason Mitchell on the podcast "A Sustainable Future" www.man.com/maninstitute.... The episode is now live across all these platforms!
Man Institute - bit.ly/3GZqUqt
Apple Podcast - apple.co/43bosmJ
Spotify - spoti.fi/2Pp0AKa
SoundCloud - bit.ly/3J1VKzq
Man Institute - bit.ly/3GZqUqt
Apple Podcast - apple.co/43bosmJ
Spotify - spoti.fi/2Pp0AKa
SoundCloud - bit.ly/3J1VKzq
Reposted by Katy Huff
Reposted by Katy Huff
Honestly if they pitched VR goggles as “this product will tell you the name of people you’ve already met” they would’ve sold a billion of them
July 11, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Honestly if they pitched VR goggles as “this product will tell you the name of people you’ve already met” they would’ve sold a billion of them
I am SO excited to be at #scipy2025 ! I've only been in the building for 30 minutes but have already received multiple doses of what I have been looking forward to: nostalgia, optimism, old friends, new friends, and various humble opinions on text editors!
katyhuff.github.io/2025-07-09-s...
katyhuff.github.io/2025-07-09-s...
What We Maintain, We Defend
katyhuff.github.io
July 9, 2025 at 3:56 PM
I am SO excited to be at #scipy2025 ! I've only been in the building for 30 minutes but have already received multiple doses of what I have been looking forward to: nostalgia, optimism, old friends, new friends, and various humble opinions on text editors!
katyhuff.github.io/2025-07-09-s...
katyhuff.github.io/2025-07-09-s...
If, like me, you've been disassociating from your dread all day and must now find the energy to productively respond, it might be time for a snack and a walk outside.
July 1, 2025 at 6:38 PM
If, like me, you've been disassociating from your dread all day and must now find the energy to productively respond, it might be time for a snack and a walk outside.
Reposted by Katy Huff
This is extremely true of the energy sections too. A paperwork and regulatory mess for businesses.
Any assertion about this Administration's "deregulation" agenda that does not include this new impenetrable web of requirements is missing a key aspect of the story.
Any assertion about this Administration's "deregulation" agenda that does not include this new impenetrable web of requirements is missing a key aspect of the story.
July 1, 2025 at 6:33 PM
This is extremely true of the energy sections too. A paperwork and regulatory mess for businesses.
Any assertion about this Administration's "deregulation" agenda that does not include this new impenetrable web of requirements is missing a key aspect of the story.
Any assertion about this Administration's "deregulation" agenda that does not include this new impenetrable web of requirements is missing a key aspect of the story.
Reposted by Katy Huff
Immigrants built America—and many of our greatest scientific discoveries were made possible because of them.
June 18, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Immigrants built America—and many of our greatest scientific discoveries were made possible because of them.
Reposted by Katy Huff
Good thread. Read up from here.
I agree - there's no indication there's a diplomatic plan. Trump has been thin on this all along, relying on a golfing buddy who knows nothing about Iran or nuclear issues.
I agree - there's no indication there's a diplomatic plan. Trump has been thin on this all along, relying on a golfing buddy who knows nothing about Iran or nuclear issues.
But again. What is the diplomatic plan? I was absolutely wrong that Trump wouldn't strike. I still don't think there's a diplomatic plan. 9/9
June 22, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Good thread. Read up from here.
I agree - there's no indication there's a diplomatic plan. Trump has been thin on this all along, relying on a golfing buddy who knows nothing about Iran or nuclear issues.
I agree - there's no indication there's a diplomatic plan. Trump has been thin on this all along, relying on a golfing buddy who knows nothing about Iran or nuclear issues.