Steve Most
@sbmost.bsky.social
Psychology everywhere! • Friendly neighborhood psychology professor • Empowerment through education • Researching attention, memory, & emotion at UNSW Sydney • A little piece of NJ Down Under • Teaching through excitement about other people's dreams
Pinned
Steve Most
@sbmost.bsky.social
· Feb 17
Teaching and the vanishing art of connection | Steven Most | TEDxUNSW Salon
YouTube video by TEDx Talks
youtu.be
I recently gave a talk arguing -- through the lens of cognitive psychology -- for the irreplaceableness of human connection in teaching & learning.
Bluesky's connected me to a community studying and thinking deeply about education. Do elements of this talk add meaningfully to the conversation?
Bluesky's connected me to a community studying and thinking deeply about education. Do elements of this talk add meaningfully to the conversation?
The world seems even larger when family is on the other side of the globe. But every now and then, something makes the distance feel smaller — like when a class assignment led my niece to ask me for a letter of life advice.
Heck, I even got to build on my childhood love of the computer game #Zork.
Heck, I even got to build on my childhood love of the computer game #Zork.
www.mostbecoming.com
November 15, 2025 at 7:32 AM
The world seems even larger when family is on the other side of the globe. But every now and then, something makes the distance feel smaller — like when a class assignment led my niece to ask me for a letter of life advice.
Heck, I even got to build on my childhood love of the computer game #Zork.
Heck, I even got to build on my childhood love of the computer game #Zork.
I like to start and end my lectures with music to set the energy level — often selections that students aren't like to have heard. This week's was an oldie but a goodie, and I can't get it out of my head. Enjoy!
New Order - True Faith (1987) (Official Music Video) [HD REMASTERED]
YouTube video by New Order
www.youtube.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:13 PM
I like to start and end my lectures with music to set the energy level — often selections that students aren't like to have heard. This week's was an oldie but a goodie, and I can't get it out of my head. Enjoy!
Edible fractals!
oh wow that’s crazy
oreos with bits of
of oreos. in them
Real Bits of Oreos
oreos with bits of
of oreos. in them
Real Bits of Oreos
November 13, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Edible fractals!
Reposted by Steve Most
Lots of folks captioning aurora photos like "for a few minutes we didn't think about politics"
guess I'm built different, every time I'm out trying to see night sky stuff I frequently think about how much light pollution is entirely preventable with just a tiny bit of regulation
guess I'm built different, every time I'm out trying to see night sky stuff I frequently think about how much light pollution is entirely preventable with just a tiny bit of regulation
November 13, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Lots of folks captioning aurora photos like "for a few minutes we didn't think about politics"
guess I'm built different, every time I'm out trying to see night sky stuff I frequently think about how much light pollution is entirely preventable with just a tiny bit of regulation
guess I'm built different, every time I'm out trying to see night sky stuff I frequently think about how much light pollution is entirely preventable with just a tiny bit of regulation
Reposted by Steve Most
We used a brain "pinging" again and found that distractor suppression is reactive rather than proactive, meaning attention is first drawn to the distractor before being suppressed.
Neural mechanisms of learned suppression uncovered by probing the hidden attentional priority map
Learned suppression of distractor locations in visual search emerges through reactive mechanisms that involve initial spatial selection prior to suppression.
doi.org
February 27, 2025 at 8:00 AM
We used a brain "pinging" again and found that distractor suppression is reactive rather than proactive, meaning attention is first drawn to the distractor before being suppressed.
Anyone need a concrete demo of the cocktail party problem? Conan O'Brien can help.
Jon Dore & Rory Scovel Were Double-Booked | CONAN on TBS
YouTube video by Team Coco
www.youtube.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Anyone need a concrete demo of the cocktail party problem? Conan O'Brien can help.
The kids are alright
Rosalind Franklin vs. Watson & Crick - Science History Rap Battle
YouTube video by Science With Tom
www.youtube.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:16 AM
The kids are alright
Reposted by Steve Most
On the event of James Watson's death, I highly recommend this 2023 commentary from @matthewcobb.bsky.social and Nathaniel Comfort with crucial new insights into the discovery of the double helix. (And also check out Cobb's brand new biography of Francis Crick) www.nature.com/articles/d41...
What Rosalind Franklin truly contributed to the discovery of DNA’s structure
Franklin was no victim in how the DNA double helix was solved. An overlooked letter and an unpublished news article, both written in 1953, reveal that she was an equal player.
www.nature.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:25 PM
On the event of James Watson's death, I highly recommend this 2023 commentary from @matthewcobb.bsky.social and Nathaniel Comfort with crucial new insights into the discovery of the double helix. (And also check out Cobb's brand new biography of Francis Crick) www.nature.com/articles/d41...
80% of getting “there” is being “here”.
(Apparently, Saturday-morning-Steve writes motivational posters...)
(Apparently, Saturday-morning-Steve writes motivational posters...)
November 7, 2025 at 9:28 PM
80% of getting “there” is being “here”.
(Apparently, Saturday-morning-Steve writes motivational posters...)
(Apparently, Saturday-morning-Steve writes motivational posters...)
If a teacher has made a positive difference in your life, let them know.
It's one of the most moving ways to help them see that flowers have bloomed in their footsteps.
#EduSky
It's one of the most moving ways to help them see that flowers have bloomed in their footsteps.
#EduSky
November 5, 2025 at 5:42 AM
If a teacher has made a positive difference in your life, let them know.
It's one of the most moving ways to help them see that flowers have bloomed in their footsteps.
#EduSky
It's one of the most moving ways to help them see that flowers have bloomed in their footsteps.
#EduSky
UNSW students have burning questions, like why do we yawn? And why is yawning contagious?
It turns out that yawning isn’t boring! It touches on some of the deepest parts of being human.
(My answer, with appreciation for the exciting yawning research of Andrew Gallup and colleagues, cited within!)
It turns out that yawning isn’t boring! It touches on some of the deepest parts of being human.
(My answer, with appreciation for the exciting yawning research of Andrew Gallup and colleagues, cited within!)
Why do people catch our yawns?
A simple, every day act reveals some surprisingly deep truths about connection and communication.
open.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:01 AM
UNSW students have burning questions, like why do we yawn? And why is yawning contagious?
It turns out that yawning isn’t boring! It touches on some of the deepest parts of being human.
(My answer, with appreciation for the exciting yawning research of Andrew Gallup and colleagues, cited within!)
It turns out that yawning isn’t boring! It touches on some of the deepest parts of being human.
(My answer, with appreciation for the exciting yawning research of Andrew Gallup and colleagues, cited within!)
I promised myself that when I next had a successful grant, I'd share a snapshot of my trail of unfunded submissions.
With gratitude to the ARC, looking forward to next several years of collaboration on effort motivation with @minzlicht.bsky.social, Deena Skolnick Weisberg, and Frederik Anseel!
With gratitude to the ARC, looking forward to next several years of collaboration on effort motivation with @minzlicht.bsky.social, Deena Skolnick Weisberg, and Frederik Anseel!
November 2, 2025 at 2:20 AM
I promised myself that when I next had a successful grant, I'd share a snapshot of my trail of unfunded submissions.
With gratitude to the ARC, looking forward to next several years of collaboration on effort motivation with @minzlicht.bsky.social, Deena Skolnick Weisberg, and Frederik Anseel!
With gratitude to the ARC, looking forward to next several years of collaboration on effort motivation with @minzlicht.bsky.social, Deena Skolnick Weisberg, and Frederik Anseel!
Nothing here is moving
October 25, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Nothing here is moving
So proud of my former PhD student and current colleague, Sandersan Onie, who was recognized with the 2025 UNSW Alumni Award for Social Impact and Service last night.
This video does a lovely job showing why he is so deserving of it. His work is a beacon of light!
This video does a lovely job showing why he is so deserving of it. His work is a beacon of light!
Driving global change in suicide prevention: Dr Sandersan Onie
YouTube video by UNSW
youtu.be
October 23, 2025 at 1:51 AM
So proud of my former PhD student and current colleague, Sandersan Onie, who was recognized with the 2025 UNSW Alumni Award for Social Impact and Service last night.
This video does a lovely job showing why he is so deserving of it. His work is a beacon of light!
This video does a lovely job showing why he is so deserving of it. His work is a beacon of light!
"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."
Chatbots may provide information more efficiently than library books (also free), but that's the filling of a pail.
It takes the spark of human connection to light the fire.
Chatbots may provide information more efficiently than library books (also free), but that's the filling of a pail.
It takes the spark of human connection to light the fire.
Wow. Just wow.
"Students pay premium prices for information that AI now delivers instantly and for free. A business student can ask ChatGPT to explain supply chain optimization or generate market analysis in seconds. The traditional lecture-and-test model faces its Blockbuster moment."
"Students pay premium prices for information that AI now delivers instantly and for free. A business student can ask ChatGPT to explain supply chain optimization or generate market analysis in seconds. The traditional lecture-and-test model faces its Blockbuster moment."
When Knowledge is Free, What are Professors For?
Higher Education Must Stop Competing with AI on Information and Start Teaching What Machines Can’t Do
www.forbes.com
October 16, 2025 at 1:06 PM
"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."
Chatbots may provide information more efficiently than library books (also free), but that's the filling of a pail.
It takes the spark of human connection to light the fire.
Chatbots may provide information more efficiently than library books (also free), but that's the filling of a pail.
It takes the spark of human connection to light the fire.
We are wave functions of possibility,
small in the universe only as bounded infinity is next to unbounded:
endless just the same.
small in the universe only as bounded infinity is next to unbounded:
endless just the same.
October 16, 2025 at 6:28 AM
We are wave functions of possibility,
small in the universe only as bounded infinity is next to unbounded:
endless just the same.
small in the universe only as bounded infinity is next to unbounded:
endless just the same.
You gently massage the data, cheekily omitting that one participant lingering teasingly beneath the exclusion cutoff. Then a final flourish, as you add the covariate you're almost ashamed to justify. You feel — you 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 — it's wrong, and it's exhilarating.
...p = .049.
...p = .049.
You gently run your hand through the rack. You can feel it—pure cotton, rich wool, Irish linen. The plump buttonholes are handsewn; the buttons attached with a firm shank. You flip the price tag over. It's affordable
You buy the jacket and go home, which is only 15 mins away. Your apt is $600/month
You buy the jacket and go home, which is only 15 mins away. Your apt is $600/month
October 16, 2025 at 6:09 AM
You gently massage the data, cheekily omitting that one participant lingering teasingly beneath the exclusion cutoff. Then a final flourish, as you add the covariate you're almost ashamed to justify. You feel — you 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 — it's wrong, and it's exhilarating.
...p = .049.
...p = .049.
Reposted by Steve Most
Facebook data reveal the devastating real-world harms caused by the spread of #misinformation theconversation.com/facebook-dat... by @acarson.bsky.social et al.
Misinformation’s real-world impact: "linked to poor health outcomes, falling public trust, and significant societal harm."
Misinformation’s real-world impact: "linked to poor health outcomes, falling public trust, and significant societal harm."
Facebook data reveal the devastating real-world harms caused by the spread of misinformation
New research reveals misinformation’s real-world impact, including poor health outcomes, falling public trust, and significant societal harm.
theconversation.com
September 24, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Facebook data reveal the devastating real-world harms caused by the spread of #misinformation theconversation.com/facebook-dat... by @acarson.bsky.social et al.
Misinformation’s real-world impact: "linked to poor health outcomes, falling public trust, and significant societal harm."
Misinformation’s real-world impact: "linked to poor health outcomes, falling public trust, and significant societal harm."
Reposted by Steve Most
‘Storytelling is your best weapon for convincing people’ - @willstorr.bsky.social
www.bps.org.uk/psychologist...
Repost for your chance to win a copy of his book, 'The Science of Storytelling'.
www.bps.org.uk/psychologist...
Repost for your chance to win a copy of his book, 'The Science of Storytelling'.
‘Storytelling is your best weapon for convincing people’ | BPS
Our editor Jon Sutton meets Will Storr, author of The Science of Storytelling and more.
www.bps.org.uk
September 24, 2025 at 1:07 PM
‘Storytelling is your best weapon for convincing people’ - @willstorr.bsky.social
www.bps.org.uk/psychologist...
Repost for your chance to win a copy of his book, 'The Science of Storytelling'.
www.bps.org.uk/psychologist...
Repost for your chance to win a copy of his book, 'The Science of Storytelling'.
A number of students follow me on LinkedIn, so I posted this for them. What good is being old-ish if you can’t pretend you have some life wisdom to offer?
September 24, 2025 at 5:04 AM
A number of students follow me on LinkedIn, so I posted this for them. What good is being old-ish if you can’t pretend you have some life wisdom to offer?
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘸: The story of a high-concept, decades-long TV show undone by statistical learning.
The Truman Show: Lady... Flowers... and... There it is, There's that dented Beetle!
YouTube video by Jim Carrey
youtu.be
September 22, 2025 at 10:49 AM
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘸: The story of a high-concept, decades-long TV show undone by statistical learning.
Australian squirrel
September 16, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Australian squirrel
In a slow centrifuge, it’s easier to unite in the middle. By word and deed, some invest in spinning it faster. It seems so obvious.
September 16, 2025 at 1:45 AM
In a slow centrifuge, it’s easier to unite in the middle. By word and deed, some invest in spinning it faster. It seems so obvious.