Tiffany
@tiffzny.bsky.social
observatory keeper (@smubgo.bksy.social)
astro/phys/math educator
dog owner
haligonian
jonas brothers fan
posts + opinions are my own fault
https://tiffzny.space/links
astro/phys/math educator
dog owner
haligonian
jonas brothers fan
posts + opinions are my own fault
https://tiffzny.space/links
Pinned
Reposted by Tiffany
As I have said to students nowadays, the most important thing one learns in school is how to learn, and using LLMs completely defeats that objective. The process matters.
You don't use a fork lift the gym. The immediate result—weights up in the air—is not always the key reason to do something.
You don't use a fork lift the gym. The immediate result—weights up in the air—is not always the key reason to do something.
It’s widely known (and, I think, pretty uncontroversial) that learning requires effort — specifically, if you don’t have to work at getting the knowledge, it won’t stick.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
November 21, 2025 at 7:59 PM
As I have said to students nowadays, the most important thing one learns in school is how to learn, and using LLMs completely defeats that objective. The process matters.
You don't use a fork lift the gym. The immediate result—weights up in the air—is not always the key reason to do something.
You don't use a fork lift the gym. The immediate result—weights up in the air—is not always the key reason to do something.
Reposted by Tiffany
It’s widely known (and, I think, pretty uncontroversial) that learning requires effort — specifically, if you don’t have to work at getting the knowledge, it won’t stick.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
November 21, 2025 at 12:49 PM
It’s widely known (and, I think, pretty uncontroversial) that learning requires effort — specifically, if you don’t have to work at getting the knowledge, it won’t stick.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
yeah I might have a million other things to do but maybe I’ll spend the evening making a 2026 F1 calendar to print because I can’t find one on Etsy that I like
November 17, 2025 at 1:51 AM
yeah I might have a million other things to do but maybe I’ll spend the evening making a 2026 F1 calendar to print because I can’t find one on Etsy that I like
pop culture thoughts this week:
one "oh no I didn't want to feel that" to Kelsea Ballerini's "I Sit In Parks"
a "this is exactly what it should be and what I wanted to feel (positive)" to A Very Jonas Christmas Movie
and finally an extremely frustrated facepalm for the series All Her Fault
one "oh no I didn't want to feel that" to Kelsea Ballerini's "I Sit In Parks"
a "this is exactly what it should be and what I wanted to feel (positive)" to A Very Jonas Christmas Movie
and finally an extremely frustrated facepalm for the series All Her Fault
November 16, 2025 at 11:17 PM
pop culture thoughts this week:
one "oh no I didn't want to feel that" to Kelsea Ballerini's "I Sit In Parks"
a "this is exactly what it should be and what I wanted to feel (positive)" to A Very Jonas Christmas Movie
and finally an extremely frustrated facepalm for the series All Her Fault
one "oh no I didn't want to feel that" to Kelsea Ballerini's "I Sit In Parks"
a "this is exactly what it should be and what I wanted to feel (positive)" to A Very Jonas Christmas Movie
and finally an extremely frustrated facepalm for the series All Her Fault
Wow! The Burke-Gaffney Observatory all-sky camera @smuhalifax.bsky.social captured the brief surge in aurora last night when the sky lit up RED by-eye. The camera is black & white, but we can see the band of aurora start in the north (bottom) and work its way southward, before the clouds took over 🤯
November 12, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Wow! The Burke-Gaffney Observatory all-sky camera @smuhalifax.bsky.social captured the brief surge in aurora last night when the sky lit up RED by-eye. The camera is black & white, but we can see the band of aurora start in the north (bottom) and work its way southward, before the clouds took over 🤯
if you're wondering if you totally missed out last night, know that there's a possibility of another night of decent aurora chances *tonight* (night of Nov 12) if you can find clear skies
November 12, 2025 at 1:46 PM
if you're wondering if you totally missed out last night, know that there's a possibility of another night of decent aurora chances *tonight* (night of Nov 12) if you can find clear skies
Reposted by Tiffany
Perhaps one of the best things about aurora photos is everyone has a different view of it, and so all the images are unique and, to me, that makes them all amazing.
It also feels like aurora sort of flattens the otherwise steep astrophotography curve.
It also feels like aurora sort of flattens the otherwise steep astrophotography curve.
November 12, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Perhaps one of the best things about aurora photos is everyone has a different view of it, and so all the images are unique and, to me, that makes them all amazing.
It also feels like aurora sort of flattens the otherwise steep astrophotography curve.
It also feels like aurora sort of flattens the otherwise steep astrophotography curve.
IT'S VISIBLE FROM MY FRONT PORCH IN DARTMOUTH RIGHT NOW!!!!!!
clouds are starting to slowly break up around Halifax and I may have found the will to live again. will go out aurora chasing soon 🙏
November 12, 2025 at 2:39 AM
IT'S VISIBLE FROM MY FRONT PORCH IN DARTMOUTH RIGHT NOW!!!!!!
Reposted by Tiffany
November 12, 2025 at 2:25 AM
clouds are starting to slowly break up around Halifax and I may have found the will to live again. will go out aurora chasing soon 🙏
November 12, 2025 at 2:19 AM
clouds are starting to slowly break up around Halifax and I may have found the will to live again. will go out aurora chasing soon 🙏
Reposted by Tiffany
Here is the current view from Imperial, CA looing north! This is literally mere miles from the U.S./Mexico border. ALL U.S. STATES (possibly excluding Hawaii) CAN SEE AURORA RIGHT NOW if clear!
theauroraguy.com/pages/webcams
theauroraguy.com/pages/webcams
November 12, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Here is the current view from Imperial, CA looing north! This is literally mere miles from the U.S./Mexico border. ALL U.S. STATES (possibly excluding Hawaii) CAN SEE AURORA RIGHT NOW if clear!
theauroraguy.com/pages/webcams
theauroraguy.com/pages/webcams
My family in IL saw aurora towards the north horizon on their phone cameras in the middle of the city just now (and we're fully clouded over in Halifax...)
If you have clear dark skies tonight.... Check for aurora in the sky!!!!
If you have clear dark skies tonight.... Check for aurora in the sky!!!!
November 12, 2025 at 1:38 AM
My family in IL saw aurora towards the north horizon on their phone cameras in the middle of the city just now (and we're fully clouded over in Halifax...)
If you have clear dark skies tonight.... Check for aurora in the sky!!!!
If you have clear dark skies tonight.... Check for aurora in the sky!!!!
heads-up potential for aurora over the next couple of nights, maybe
SWPC has only ever issued a handful of G4 watches, and we have now for Nov 12 due to three incoming CMEs. Storming may begin on Nov 11 with the impact of the first CME with two more close behind it.
If the forecast verifies, much of the U.S. may see the aurora Tue/Wed nights.
If the forecast verifies, much of the U.S. may see the aurora Tue/Wed nights.
November 11, 2025 at 10:27 PM
heads-up potential for aurora over the next couple of nights, maybe
These annual lectures in astronomy at SMU are always so interesting. They're for everyone, which means you do not need to be an "expert" by any means to enjoy and understand them! Tickets are free on Eventbrite - come join! Anyone interested in astronomy or space stuff will enjoy it. #Halisky ✨
We’re excited to announce that Dr. Laurie Rousseau-Nepton, University of Toronto, will present the 11th annual Dan MacLennan Memorial Lecture in Astronomy at Saint Mary's! Free tickets available now! www.eventbrite.ca/e/dan-maclen...
Dan MacLennan Memorial Lecture in Astronomy
Solving the Universe: Past, Present and Future
www.eventbrite.ca
November 5, 2025 at 2:40 PM
These annual lectures in astronomy at SMU are always so interesting. They're for everyone, which means you do not need to be an "expert" by any means to enjoy and understand them! Tickets are free on Eventbrite - come join! Anyone interested in astronomy or space stuff will enjoy it. #Halisky ✨
in case anyone is keeping track, tonight is clear but too windy to open the Observatory dome on the roof of the 24 storey building
and I've had a terrible day anyway so I'm not stressing about starting a work project at 9pm tbh
and I've had a terrible day anyway so I'm not stressing about starting a work project at 9pm tbh
ok i've fixed a number of things at the Observatory, i just need some clear skies to test some things out, and, uh, well, ok,
November 5, 2025 at 1:20 AM
in case anyone is keeping track, tonight is clear but too windy to open the Observatory dome on the roof of the 24 storey building
and I've had a terrible day anyway so I'm not stressing about starting a work project at 9pm tbh
and I've had a terrible day anyway so I'm not stressing about starting a work project at 9pm tbh
ok i've fixed a number of things at the Observatory, i just need some clear skies to test some things out, and, uh, well, ok,
November 3, 2025 at 7:40 PM
ok i've fixed a number of things at the Observatory, i just need some clear skies to test some things out, and, uh, well, ok,
Reposted by Tiffany
Did you know the colour of an LED is dependent on the band gap of the doped semiconductor inside?
And that that band gap is temperature dependent?
And!
If you (gently) dunk said LED in liqN2, neat things happen!
#iTeachPhysics
And that that band gap is temperature dependent?
And!
If you (gently) dunk said LED in liqN2, neat things happen!
#iTeachPhysics
November 3, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Did you know the colour of an LED is dependent on the band gap of the doped semiconductor inside?
And that that band gap is temperature dependent?
And!
If you (gently) dunk said LED in liqN2, neat things happen!
#iTeachPhysics
And that that band gap is temperature dependent?
And!
If you (gently) dunk said LED in liqN2, neat things happen!
#iTeachPhysics
and my hot take that daylight time is wayyyy better* than standard time
*your own opinion will depend on your location (east/west) within your time zone and your daily habits
*your own opinion will depend on your location (east/west) within your time zone and your daily habits
your reminder we are currently in *standard time* now with earlier sunrises and sunsets
I have bad news: the time change is this Sunday, Nov 2 ("fall back" 1 hr). Whether you prefer later sunsets or earlier sunrises in the winter, just know that we are *ending* daylight saving time this weekend and *returning to* standard time for the winter. Please phrase your arguments accordingly.
November 3, 2025 at 12:27 AM
and my hot take that daylight time is wayyyy better* than standard time
*your own opinion will depend on your location (east/west) within your time zone and your daily habits
*your own opinion will depend on your location (east/west) within your time zone and your daily habits
your reminder we are currently in *standard time* now with earlier sunrises and sunsets
I have bad news: the time change is this Sunday, Nov 2 ("fall back" 1 hr). Whether you prefer later sunsets or earlier sunrises in the winter, just know that we are *ending* daylight saving time this weekend and *returning to* standard time for the winter. Please phrase your arguments accordingly.
November 3, 2025 at 12:24 AM
your reminder we are currently in *standard time* now with earlier sunrises and sunsets
Reposted by Tiffany
Will Smith hit a homer off Bieber is a sentence I wouldn’t have understand before this playoff run
November 2, 2025 at 4:07 AM
Will Smith hit a homer off Bieber is a sentence I wouldn’t have understand before this playoff run
Reposted by Tiffany
me nine innings ago / me now
November 2, 2025 at 3:42 AM
me nine innings ago / me now
this is the sorta thing I'm used to seeing happen at Wrigley with a ball getting caught in the vines in the outfield but THIS is truly silly
November 1, 2025 at 3:31 AM
this is the sorta thing I'm used to seeing happen at Wrigley with a ball getting caught in the vines in the outfield but THIS is truly silly