rob pike
@robpike.io
Long career as a dilettante at Bell Labs Research and Google, mostly building weird stuff no one uses, but occasionally getting it right, such as with UTF-8 and Go.
Pinned
rob pike
@robpike.io
· Jan 19
In 1922 Alfred Stieglitz made a series of photographs of cloudy skies, calling them Equivalents because they matched an emotion or mood he was feeling.
This is my Equivalent for today.
This is my Equivalent for today.
Reposted by rob pike
"cooled by the vacuum of space" - huh, neat. hey does anyone know how thermoses work
This would have been a good point for someone to have asked, is that really how things work? Or is vacuum in fact an excellent insulator? www.ft.com/content/a5cf...
February 10, 2026 at 8:14 PM
"cooled by the vacuum of space" - huh, neat. hey does anyone know how thermoses work
Reposted by rob pike
Reposted by rob pike
I talked with the BBC World Service this morning about why AI data centers are a silly idea promoted by deeply unserious people. They're not going to happen, no matter what ignorant fascists like Elon Musk say. You can hear me starting at 39:15 here: www.bbc.com/audio/play/w...
BBC Audio | Newshour | Britain’s former PM calls for ethical reforms in public life
Former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown appointed Peter Mandelson as a cabinet minister
www.bbc.com
February 7, 2026 at 10:21 PM
I talked with the BBC World Service this morning about why AI data centers are a silly idea promoted by deeply unserious people. They're not going to happen, no matter what ignorant fascists like Elon Musk say. You can hear me starting at 39:15 here: www.bbc.com/audio/play/w...
Reposted by rob pike
"For years, a cottage industry of political observers has contorted itself to obscure and occlude the obvious. That regardless of what others see in him, Trump’s entire political career...cannot be understood outside the context of his bitter, deep-seated racism." (gift link)
Opinion | This Is Just Who Trump Is
www.nytimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 4:49 PM
"For years, a cottage industry of political observers has contorted itself to obscure and occlude the obvious. That regardless of what others see in him, Trump’s entire political career...cannot be understood outside the context of his bitter, deep-seated racism." (gift link)
Reposted by rob pike
No, DeepMind has not solved the protein folding problem.
#Alphafold predictions are valuable hypotheses and accelerate but do not replace experimental structure determination.
#Alphafold predictions are valuable hypotheses and accelerate but do not replace experimental structure determination.
Human chemists spent their entire careers trying to solve the protein folding problem.
DeepMind's AlphaFold solved it in a couple of years, creating an enormously valuable data set for other scientists to use.
The scientists who made it their life's work to solve protein folding? Moving on.
DeepMind's AlphaFold solved it in a couple of years, creating an enormously valuable data set for other scientists to use.
The scientists who made it their life's work to solve protein folding? Moving on.
February 5, 2026 at 8:49 AM
No, DeepMind has not solved the protein folding problem.
#Alphafold predictions are valuable hypotheses and accelerate but do not replace experimental structure determination.
#Alphafold predictions are valuable hypotheses and accelerate but do not replace experimental structure determination.
Reposted by rob pike
If Jeff Bezos could afford to spend $75 million on the Melania movie & $500 million for a yacht to sail off to his $55 million wedding to give his wife a $5 million ring, please don't tell me he needed to fire one-third of the Washington Post staff.
Democracy dies in oligarchy.
Democracy dies in oligarchy.
February 5, 2026 at 12:16 AM
If Jeff Bezos could afford to spend $75 million on the Melania movie & $500 million for a yacht to sail off to his $55 million wedding to give his wife a $5 million ring, please don't tell me he needed to fire one-third of the Washington Post staff.
Democracy dies in oligarchy.
Democracy dies in oligarchy.
Reposted by rob pike
work in progress
February 2, 2026 at 10:13 PM
work in progress
Reposted by rob pike
Want to fight fasc!sm?
Gtf off Facebook and Insta.
Gtf off Facebook and Insta.
The company reported quarterly revenue that exceeded Wall Street’s expectations.
Mark Zuckerberg Passes Jeff Bezos For No. 4 Richest As Meta Stock Soars On Earnings Beat
The company reported quarterly revenue that exceeded Wall Street’s expectations.
www.forbes.com
January 31, 2026 at 1:49 AM
Want to fight fasc!sm?
Gtf off Facebook and Insta.
Gtf off Facebook and Insta.
Remember: LLMs and bots and AI-generated things should always be called ‘it’. Regardless of the style or tone of voice, there is only an ‘it’ there. Don’t humanize it.
January 31, 2026 at 3:49 AM
Remember: LLMs and bots and AI-generated things should always be called ‘it’. Regardless of the style or tone of voice, there is only an ‘it’ there. Don’t humanize it.
Almost up there with my all-time favorite, which I witness myself: A ROM burner that started up and printed:
RELF TEST PASSED
RELF TEST PASSED
It's Friday. The weekend is upon us. Whatever you do, wherever you go, please remember to:
January 30, 2026 at 8:40 PM
Almost up there with my all-time favorite, which I witness myself: A ROM burner that started up and printed:
RELF TEST PASSED
RELF TEST PASSED
Reposted by rob pike
@cassidyjames.com and I will be at #FOSDEM and will be demoing* Osprey in our talk Sunday morning: fosdem.org/2026/schedul...
*Let's be honest, should we really test the wifi and live demo overlords first thing Sunday morning? Probably not. Probably pre-recorded.
*Let's be honest, should we really test the wifi and live demo overlords first thing Sunday morning? Probably not. Probably pre-recorded.
January 29, 2026 at 3:34 PM
@cassidyjames.com and I will be at #FOSDEM and will be demoing* Osprey in our talk Sunday morning: fosdem.org/2026/schedul...
*Let's be honest, should we really test the wifi and live demo overlords first thing Sunday morning? Probably not. Probably pre-recorded.
*Let's be honest, should we really test the wifi and live demo overlords first thing Sunday morning? Probably not. Probably pre-recorded.
Reposted by rob pike
I’m ok. I’m a survivor so this small agitator isn’t going to intimidate me from doing my work.
I don’t let bullies win.
Grateful to my incredible constituents who rallied behind me. Minnesota strong.
I don’t let bullies win.
Grateful to my incredible constituents who rallied behind me. Minnesota strong.
January 28, 2026 at 2:26 AM
I’m ok. I’m a survivor so this small agitator isn’t going to intimidate me from doing my work.
I don’t let bullies win.
Grateful to my incredible constituents who rallied behind me. Minnesota strong.
I don’t let bullies win.
Grateful to my incredible constituents who rallied behind me. Minnesota strong.
Reposted by rob pike
The power of persistence and community unity! What a great win for #Astronomy
American company (AES Andes) was planning on building an industrial facility in the Atacama desert. This would've produced light pollution affecting the pristine skies where some big telescopes are.
Well .... no more!
🔭
American company (AES Andes) was planning on building an industrial facility in the Atacama desert. This would've produced light pollution affecting the pristine skies where some big telescopes are.
Well .... no more!
🔭
Paranal: Night Sky Secured – A Triumph for the Astronomers’ Protest
The planned industrial facility near ESO Paranal has been halted, ensuring the protection of the unique night sky for astronomical research.
www.mpe.mpg.de
January 27, 2026 at 9:02 PM
The power of persistence and community unity! What a great win for #Astronomy
American company (AES Andes) was planning on building an industrial facility in the Atacama desert. This would've produced light pollution affecting the pristine skies where some big telescopes are.
Well .... no more!
🔭
American company (AES Andes) was planning on building an industrial facility in the Atacama desert. This would've produced light pollution affecting the pristine skies where some big telescopes are.
Well .... no more!
🔭
Reposted by rob pike
Our community shouted “Seattle!” from the treetops and we listened. Join us in the Emerald City for summer vibes, waterfront charm, and unforgettable #golang connections!
🎟️ A limited quantity of Early Gopher tickets are on sale now through February 20th (or until sold out) at www.gophercon.com
🎟️ A limited quantity of Early Gopher tickets are on sale now through February 20th (or until sold out) at www.gophercon.com
January 26, 2026 at 10:21 PM
Our community shouted “Seattle!” from the treetops and we listened. Join us in the Emerald City for summer vibes, waterfront charm, and unforgettable #golang connections!
🎟️ A limited quantity of Early Gopher tickets are on sale now through February 20th (or until sold out) at www.gophercon.com
🎟️ A limited quantity of Early Gopher tickets are on sale now through February 20th (or until sold out) at www.gophercon.com
Reposted by rob pike
A video of Alex Pretti reading out the final salute of an unnamed veteran he cared for until the end of his life in the ICU, posted to Facebook by his son.
January 25, 2026 at 1:18 AM
A video of Alex Pretti reading out the final salute of an unnamed veteran he cared for until the end of his life in the ICU, posted to Facebook by his son.
The author @philipball.bsky.social has always written extremely well about science, but he has reached new heights in sheer beauty of publication with his new book, Alchemy.
Also: it has a fascinating story to tell, one you might incorrectly believe you know.
Also: it has a fascinating story to tell, one you might incorrectly believe you know.
January 24, 2026 at 11:16 PM
The author @philipball.bsky.social has always written extremely well about science, but he has reached new heights in sheer beauty of publication with his new book, Alchemy.
Also: it has a fascinating story to tell, one you might incorrectly believe you know.
Also: it has a fascinating story to tell, one you might incorrectly believe you know.
Reposted by rob pike
Thanks for the helpful auto-complete, Gmail.
January 24, 2026 at 1:38 AM
Thanks for the helpful auto-complete, Gmail.
Reposted by rob pike
Alex from our time working together, while he was in nursing school. Later, he moved to ICU, working as a nurse to support critically ill Veterans. He had such a great attitude. We’d chat between patients about trying to get in a mountain bike ride together. Will never happen now
January 24, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Alex from our time working together, while he was in nursing school. Later, he moved to ICU, working as a nurse to support critically ill Veterans. He had such a great attitude. We’d chat between patients about trying to get in a mountain bike ride together. Will never happen now
Reposted by rob pike
The original Lissajous Figures have been created by light reflected from mirrors mounted on tuning forks:
www.whipplemuseum.cam.ac.uk/explore-whip...
www.whipplemuseum.cam.ac.uk/explore-whip...
January 21, 2026 at 8:53 PM
The original Lissajous Figures have been created by light reflected from mirrors mounted on tuning forks:
www.whipplemuseum.cam.ac.uk/explore-whip...
www.whipplemuseum.cam.ac.uk/explore-whip...
Reposted by rob pike
Do you like seeing the amazing science from JWST and Hubble 🔭? Are you a seasoned leader of Science Communication who wants to see more of this? Space Telescope Science Institute's Office of Public Outreach is seeking a Division Head! Apply here: www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/43...
January 21, 2026 at 6:24 PM
Do you like seeing the amazing science from JWST and Hubble 🔭? Are you a seasoned leader of Science Communication who wants to see more of this? Space Telescope Science Institute's Office of Public Outreach is seeking a Division Head! Apply here: www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/43...
Reposted by rob pike
I thought this was a close-up of lavender until I saw the galaxies.
January 21, 2026 at 12:39 AM
I thought this was a close-up of lavender until I saw the galaxies.
Reposted by rob pike
I am in the market for a PhD student this year. Please don’t use LLM to write your statement of research. Yes it is obvious. I want to know who you are, not how you prompt.
I have some more bad news.
If an admissions committee even suspects you used ChatGPT for your application letter, they'll almost certainly decide not to waste a precious admissions spot on you.
Instead they'll give it to, you know, someone who actually likes to write and knows how to do it.
If an admissions committee even suspects you used ChatGPT for your application letter, they'll almost certainly decide not to waste a precious admissions spot on you.
Instead they'll give it to, you know, someone who actually likes to write and knows how to do it.
I have some bad news. One, if you need to use ChatGPT for your graduate application letter, you are not ready for graduate school.
Two, no, not "everyone is doing it" and those who don't do it aren't "losing out." ChatGPT is not an advantage.
Two, no, not "everyone is doing it" and those who don't do it aren't "losing out." ChatGPT is not an advantage.
January 17, 2026 at 11:40 PM
I am in the market for a PhD student this year. Please don’t use LLM to write your statement of research. Yes it is obvious. I want to know who you are, not how you prompt.
Reposted by rob pike
The only good thing about all this is that it has brought to my attention that the Greenland flag frickin’ rules. #Erfalasorput
January 17, 2026 at 1:00 PM
The only good thing about all this is that it has brought to my attention that the Greenland flag frickin’ rules. #Erfalasorput