John Trant
@trantteam.bsky.social
Assoc Prof UWindsor, Faculty of Science Research Chair; married to @shufflersunite.bsky.social
he/him/you bastard
Probably writing a grant. Big Ottawa Senators Fan.
www.trantteam.ca AND www.binarystarchem.ca.
Total scientific saturation at an epochal pace
he/him/you bastard
Probably writing a grant. Big Ottawa Senators Fan.
www.trantteam.ca AND www.binarystarchem.ca.
Total scientific saturation at an epochal pace
For anyone looking at the positives:
The ends never justify the means.
Because then the means can be used for any ends.
The ends never justify the means.
Because then the means can be used for any ends.
January 3, 2026 at 1:17 PM
For anyone looking at the positives:
The ends never justify the means.
Because then the means can be used for any ends.
The ends never justify the means.
Because then the means can be used for any ends.
Hey @reuters.com let me fix this for you. A company published child porn. And no one will be held criminally responsible. Although they totally are. People did this. The programmers, the managers, the executives. People. Named People. Not a program. Programs do what you tell them to do.
Grok says safeguard lapses led to images of 'minors in minimal clothing' on X reut.rs/498SoUk
Grok says safeguard lapses led to images of 'minors in minimal clothing' on X
Elon Musk's xAI artificial intelligence chatbot Grok said on Friday lapses in safeguards had resulted in "images depicting minors in minimal clothing" on social media platform X and that improvements were being made to prevent this.
reut.rs
January 3, 2026 at 12:47 AM
Hey @reuters.com let me fix this for you. A company published child porn. And no one will be held criminally responsible. Although they totally are. People did this. The programmers, the managers, the executives. People. Named People. Not a program. Programs do what you tell them to do.
We Millenials will claim this beigification. Its a demonstration of our middle-aged power. Boomers pulling up the ladder by eliminating the postwar social safety system sucked all the colour out of our lives. So we had no choice.
We need a new bath mat so my husband sent me this pic from the store. My opinion is wow they’ve really started sucking the color out of everything 😕
January 3, 2026 at 12:42 AM
We Millenials will claim this beigification. Its a demonstration of our middle-aged power. Boomers pulling up the ladder by eliminating the postwar social safety system sucked all the colour out of our lives. So we had no choice.
Reposted by John Trant
Did you tell people I got the cork out of a Crémant de Bourgogne silently last night??? Because I did!!
December 31, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Did you tell people I got the cork out of a Crémant de Bourgogne silently last night??? Because I did!!
Reposted by John Trant
An aromatic amine and a carbonyl walk into a bar.
The amine yells out, "hey, let's get Schiff based!"
The amine yells out, "hey, let's get Schiff based!"
December 31, 2025 at 10:48 AM
An aromatic amine and a carbonyl walk into a bar.
The amine yells out, "hey, let's get Schiff based!"
The amine yells out, "hey, let's get Schiff based!"
No. Perchlorates and no magnetosphere. Conversation over. Space stations would be cheaper and safer. But Earth is even better!
For decades the idea of terraforming Mars has merely been a fascination for an academic fringe and science-fiction enthusiasts. That is now changing
How to export life to Mars
A new science—applied astrobiology—is taking shape
econ.st
December 31, 2025 at 12:42 AM
No. Perchlorates and no magnetosphere. Conversation over. Space stations would be cheaper and safer. But Earth is even better!
Goldfinger: Enzyme engineering with Au (IV).
make a Bond movie academic
The Spy Who Loved Me: Birthright Citizenship and the Law of Alien Enemies
The Spy Who Loved Me: Birthright Citizenship and the Law of Alien Enemies
make a Bond movie academic
Spectre: {Insert bacronym here}
Spectre: {Insert bacronym here}
December 26, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Goldfinger: Enzyme engineering with Au (IV).
Perimeter man never gets interviewed because he keeps the journalists to the outside. Volume man just gives them too much content so they tune him out and lose track of anything useful he said.
This is why we still only see quotes from area-man.
This is why we still only see quotes from area-man.
The existence of Area Man implies the existence of Perimeter Man & Volume Man but those guys have their shit together I guess
December 23, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Perimeter man never gets interviewed because he keeps the journalists to the outside. Volume man just gives them too much content so they tune him out and lose track of anything useful he said.
This is why we still only see quotes from area-man.
This is why we still only see quotes from area-man.
Reposted by John Trant
This is exactly why people claiming "it came up with a new set of experiments/ideas/concepts" are carrying water for the weasels trying to put genAI on everything. This is how we get science defunded. This is how your colleagues lose their jobs 🧪
Suppose you ask #AI for improvements to your writing.
The #LLM was trained on, but doesn’t mention, Smith’s work.
You adopt the suggestions containing Smith’s ideas.
You don’t even realize YOU’VE PLAGIARIZED because you’ve never read or heard of Smith.
The #LLM was trained on, but doesn’t mention, Smith’s work.
You adopt the suggestions containing Smith’s ideas.
You don’t even realize YOU’VE PLAGIARIZED because you’ve never read or heard of Smith.
LLM use in scholarly writing poses a provenance problem
Nature Machine Intelligence - LLM use in scholarly writing poses a provenance problem
doi.org
December 23, 2025 at 2:55 PM
This is exactly why people claiming "it came up with a new set of experiments/ideas/concepts" are carrying water for the weasels trying to put genAI on everything. This is how we get science defunded. This is how your colleagues lose their jobs 🧪
What makes a jigsaw puzzle hard is not the number of pieces, their shape, or even the image. Its having a 4 year old saying "cereal!!" And throwing all of them in a pile. Constantly. For hours. This is X-Treme puzzling.
December 21, 2025 at 9:09 PM
What makes a jigsaw puzzle hard is not the number of pieces, their shape, or even the image. Its having a 4 year old saying "cereal!!" And throwing all of them in a pile. Constantly. For hours. This is X-Treme puzzling.
Reposted by John Trant
Multidisciplinary training, over time, produces the highest impact people
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Recent discoveries on the acquisition of the highest levels of human performance
Scientists have long debated the origins of exceptional human achievements. This literature review summarizes recent evidence from multiple domains on the acquisition of world-class performance. We re...
www.science.org
December 20, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Multidisciplinary training, over time, produces the highest impact people
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Getting back in touch with my roots.
My roots:
My roots:
December 20, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Getting back in touch with my roots.
My roots:
My roots:
Heavyweight is undeniably great. Ive been listening to Jonathan Goldstein for...25+ years in various incarnations? He podcasted through broadcast before podcasting or internet audio was a thing. Elite storyteller, well worth anyone's time. His humour is painfully Canadian and awesome.
Here are ten of the best podcasts released this year, chosen by us
The best podcasts of 2025
They cover fake wars, true crimes and chatbot romances
econ.st
December 20, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Heavyweight is undeniably great. Ive been listening to Jonathan Goldstein for...25+ years in various incarnations? He podcasted through broadcast before podcasting or internet audio was a thing. Elite storyteller, well worth anyone's time. His humour is painfully Canadian and awesome.
The baby has stated that she wants to be a Christmasologist when she grows up. Sounds good. For the past month + it's been a chameleontologist, so a slight change in field. But I embrace interdisciplinarity as the true goal of Science. So...were there chameleon-like lizards at the manger?
December 20, 2025 at 1:30 PM
The baby has stated that she wants to be a Christmasologist when she grows up. Sounds good. For the past month + it's been a chameleontologist, so a slight change in field. But I embrace interdisciplinarity as the true goal of Science. So...were there chameleon-like lizards at the manger?
Today is the most special day of the year, and the true centre of the Holiday Season. Happy Birthday @shufflersunite.bsky.social!!!
I love you Dana.
I love you Dana.
December 20, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Today is the most special day of the year, and the true centre of the Holiday Season. Happy Birthday @shufflersunite.bsky.social!!!
I love you Dana.
I love you Dana.
Reposted by John Trant
This report in Nature on the costs of competing for & administering scientific grants is shocking: "In other words, European taxpayers will have spent more on the funding process than on the funding itself, and the scientific ecosystem has been drained." www.nature.com/articles/d41... 🧪
Point of no returns: researchers are crossing a threshold in the fight for funding
With so little money to go round, the costs of competing for grants can exceed what the grants are worth. When that happens, nobody wins.
www.nature.com
December 19, 2025 at 6:46 PM
This report in Nature on the costs of competing for & administering scientific grants is shocking: "In other words, European taxpayers will have spent more on the funding process than on the funding itself, and the scientific ecosystem has been drained." www.nature.com/articles/d41... 🧪
Two statements from recent observations.
1. ChatGPT can't pass my exam.
2. Students using ChatGPT for many things can ALSO no longer pass exams when they can't use ChatGPT because they can no longer put together logical thought patterns as they have outsourced it so much.
1. ChatGPT can't pass my exam.
2. Students using ChatGPT for many things can ALSO no longer pass exams when they can't use ChatGPT because they can no longer put together logical thought patterns as they have outsourced it so much.
December 19, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Two statements from recent observations.
1. ChatGPT can't pass my exam.
2. Students using ChatGPT for many things can ALSO no longer pass exams when they can't use ChatGPT because they can no longer put together logical thought patterns as they have outsourced it so much.
1. ChatGPT can't pass my exam.
2. Students using ChatGPT for many things can ALSO no longer pass exams when they can't use ChatGPT because they can no longer put together logical thought patterns as they have outsourced it so much.
(Excusing Buffalo...hi Buffalo), the two teams with the worst goal differential in the Atlantic are 1-2. This makes sense and is certainly sustainable. The year is just...weird.
December 19, 2025 at 3:18 AM
(Excusing Buffalo...hi Buffalo), the two teams with the worst goal differential in the Atlantic are 1-2. This makes sense and is certainly sustainable. The year is just...weird.
As a supervisor, my policy is:
"if you submit AI-assisted paper/patent/thesis drafts to me, I will withdraw supervision immediately."
That works.
"if you submit AI-assisted paper/patent/thesis drafts to me, I will withdraw supervision immediately."
That works.
PSA: your graduate program, even if in the humanities, needs an AI policy. Now.
December 18, 2025 at 9:25 PM
As a supervisor, my policy is:
"if you submit AI-assisted paper/patent/thesis drafts to me, I will withdraw supervision immediately."
That works.
"if you submit AI-assisted paper/patent/thesis drafts to me, I will withdraw supervision immediately."
That works.
AI-assisted answers to questions requiring structures are BAD. Especially when the question asks students to propose things that don't exist.
Like, the alternative is doing the work. But that seems to much to ask.
Like, the alternative is doing the work. But that seems to much to ask.
December 18, 2025 at 8:59 PM
AI-assisted answers to questions requiring structures are BAD. Especially when the question asks students to propose things that don't exist.
Like, the alternative is doing the work. But that seems to much to ask.
Like, the alternative is doing the work. But that seems to much to ask.
Reposted by John Trant
If any journalist wants to talk to a trans man with a PhD in Human Genomics who was trained in labs that studied the evolution of sex, I'm right here
Or just keep platforming Republicans who have a 5th grade understanding of biology so they get more trans people killed, sure 🤷🏻♂️
Or just keep platforming Republicans who have a 5th grade understanding of biology so they get more trans people killed, sure 🤷🏻♂️
December 18, 2025 at 5:27 PM
If any journalist wants to talk to a trans man with a PhD in Human Genomics who was trained in labs that studied the evolution of sex, I'm right here
Or just keep platforming Republicans who have a 5th grade understanding of biology so they get more trans people killed, sure 🤷🏻♂️
Or just keep platforming Republicans who have a 5th grade understanding of biology so they get more trans people killed, sure 🤷🏻♂️
Reposted by John Trant
“Griffith University is delighted to announce that renowned archaeologist and 2019 Father of the Year Dr. Bandit Heeler has been offered a professorial chair.”
www.linkedin.com/posts/griffi...
www.linkedin.com/posts/griffi...
Griffith University is delighted to announce that renowned archaeologist and 2019 Father of the Year Dr. Bandit Heeler has been offered a professorial chair.
Dr Bandit Heeler, a Brisbane-based blue…...
Griffith University is delighted to announce that renowned archaeologist and 2019 Father of the Year Dr. Bandit Heeler has been offered a professorial chair.
Dr Bandit Heeler, a Brisbane-based blue ...
www.linkedin.com
December 18, 2025 at 4:01 AM
“Griffith University is delighted to announce that renowned archaeologist and 2019 Father of the Year Dr. Bandit Heeler has been offered a professorial chair.”
www.linkedin.com/posts/griffi...
www.linkedin.com/posts/griffi...
With 4 emails in about 30 minutes, the Canadian Cancer Research Society REALLY wants me to know my LOI has been approved for a full application. Anyone else also feeling this email love?
December 17, 2025 at 6:01 PM
With 4 emails in about 30 minutes, the Canadian Cancer Research Society REALLY wants me to know my LOI has been approved for a full application. Anyone else also feeling this email love?
Trans rights are human rights. Anyone who denies the humanity of any other human denies the humanity of all. It's not complicated. I'm not a Christian. But that's the central message, replacing it with love, of the Faith. The rest is frippery.
December 13, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Trans rights are human rights. Anyone who denies the humanity of any other human denies the humanity of all. It's not complicated. I'm not a Christian. But that's the central message, replacing it with love, of the Faith. The rest is frippery.
Judging error. If someone makes an X-mas decoration of 50% HF, you just give them first place. Simple self-preservation.
The #BEASTLab won second place in the departmental holiday decoration contest!
December 13, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Judging error. If someone makes an X-mas decoration of 50% HF, you just give them first place. Simple self-preservation.