Chris Houghton
@binarybirthday.bsky.social
Interested in nerds. Enjoying reading about data, demographics, policy. Visualisation fan. Passionate about good communication and Tottenham Hotspur. Talks with his hands.
He/him
He/him
Reposted by Chris Houghton
My last word on the matter
November 11, 2025 at 2:27 PM
My last word on the matter
Reposted by Chris Houghton
after a conversation with a friend last week, I just wrote a thing to try to help parents of kids who are confused about what career to even imagine in the world of AI:
naomialderman.substack.com/p/preparing-...
naomialderman.substack.com/p/preparing-...
preparing for the working world in the age of AI
or: seven things to tell your kids when they ask what they should study now, or what the point of studying is
naomialderman.substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 10:20 PM
after a conversation with a friend last week, I just wrote a thing to try to help parents of kids who are confused about what career to even imagine in the world of AI:
naomialderman.substack.com/p/preparing-...
naomialderman.substack.com/p/preparing-...
Reposted by Chris Houghton
(if anyone would like to maybe start some sort of campaigning or pressure group of and on behalf of immigrants with ILR and settled status in Britain then I would be interested in helping, or indeed trying to get it off the ground myself, email in bio, etc)
October 22, 2025 at 9:55 AM
(if anyone would like to maybe start some sort of campaigning or pressure group of and on behalf of immigrants with ILR and settled status in Britain then I would be interested in helping, or indeed trying to get it off the ground myself, email in bio, etc)
Reposted by Chris Houghton
October 18, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Reposted by Chris Houghton
We were sick of speculation. So thanks to the 1,100 people who shared their data with us, we were able to show how TikTok keeps users hooked on the app. Over just 5 months, users appeared to use the app more compulsively.
Stay tuned for more stories off of this incredible dataset!
Stay tuned for more stories off of this incredible dataset!
October 7, 2025 at 11:14 AM
We were sick of speculation. So thanks to the 1,100 people who shared their data with us, we were able to show how TikTok keeps users hooked on the app. Over just 5 months, users appeared to use the app more compulsively.
Stay tuned for more stories off of this incredible dataset!
Stay tuned for more stories off of this incredible dataset!
Great article on why what we think about political opponents is often not close to accurate.
Everyone should read this excellent & publicly accessible (locked behind neither a paywall nor jargon) discussion of some crucial scholarly data on political polarisation by a Kiwi psych prof.
Exaggerating the other sides’ views leads to avoiding them, which widens the gap. It’s toxic for politics.
Exaggerating the other sides’ views leads to avoiding them, which widens the gap. It’s toxic for politics.
September 15, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Great article on why what we think about political opponents is often not close to accurate.
Great thread on why journalism needs more scientific and data literacy
"Sweeteners can harm cognitive health equivalent to 1.6 years of ageing, study finds"
Or does it? Let's take a look at this "study"...
www.theguardian.com/food/2025/se...
Or does it? Let's take a look at this "study"...
www.theguardian.com/food/2025/se...
Sweeteners can harm cognitive health equivalent to 1.6 years of ageing, study finds
Researchers say low- and no-calorie sweeteners appear to affect thinking and memory in middle age
www.theguardian.com
September 6, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Great thread on why journalism needs more scientific and data literacy
Reposted by Chris Houghton
I considered writing a long carefully constructed argument laying out the harms and limitations of AI, but instead I wrote about being a hater. Only humans can be haters.
I Am An AI Hater
I am an AI hater. This is considered rude, but I do not care, because I am a hater.
anthonymoser.github.io
August 27, 2025 at 5:04 PM
I considered writing a long carefully constructed argument laying out the harms and limitations of AI, but instead I wrote about being a hater. Only humans can be haters.
Reposted by Chris Houghton
I go. I try. And I will keep trying, even though it feels like a losing battle. Because I remember the whole point of the far-right astroturfing of social media is to make it feel like a losing battle, to make us give up.
Anyway, a few snippets on small boat crossings and immigration.
Anyway, a few snippets on small boat crossings and immigration.
August 26, 2025 at 8:01 AM
I go. I try. And I will keep trying, even though it feels like a losing battle. Because I remember the whole point of the far-right astroturfing of social media is to make it feel like a losing battle, to make us give up.
Anyway, a few snippets on small boat crossings and immigration.
Anyway, a few snippets on small boat crossings and immigration.
Reposted by Chris Houghton
New post just out:
"Britain isn't broken"
We have our problems but the doomerism is getting out of hand.
I look at the real picture on crime, migration, social cohesion and the economy - rather than the dsyoptian fantasies of the radical right.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/b...
"Britain isn't broken"
We have our problems but the doomerism is getting out of hand.
I look at the real picture on crime, migration, social cohesion and the economy - rather than the dsyoptian fantasies of the radical right.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/b...
Britain isn't broken
We have our problems but the doomerism is getting out of hand
open.substack.com
July 27, 2025 at 8:07 AM
New post just out:
"Britain isn't broken"
We have our problems but the doomerism is getting out of hand.
I look at the real picture on crime, migration, social cohesion and the economy - rather than the dsyoptian fantasies of the radical right.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/b...
"Britain isn't broken"
We have our problems but the doomerism is getting out of hand.
I look at the real picture on crime, migration, social cohesion and the economy - rather than the dsyoptian fantasies of the radical right.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/b...
Reposted by Chris Houghton
The UK did have one standout product that was considered globally valuable- universities- and unilaterally decided to stop providing the product because it was more important to be xenophobic than successful
The UK’s economic problems are quite deep-rooted. The best summary I can offer is “we don’t make enough valuable, productive stuff and sell it to the world any more”.
Things like planning and energy no doubt play a role in that - but I don’t think they’re enough to fix it on their own
Things like planning and energy no doubt play a role in that - but I don’t think they’re enough to fix it on their own
July 22, 2025 at 7:01 AM
The UK did have one standout product that was considered globally valuable- universities- and unilaterally decided to stop providing the product because it was more important to be xenophobic than successful
Reposted by Chris Houghton
A UK wealth tax sounds simple: "tax the super‑rich, fund public services"
But it's not.
Our 16,000 word deep‑dive shows revenues are fragile, it puts growth, investment and jobs at risk, and there's no revenue before 2029.
Here’s the evidence:
But it's not.
Our 16,000 word deep‑dive shows revenues are fragile, it puts growth, investment and jobs at risk, and there's no revenue before 2029.
Here’s the evidence:
July 22, 2025 at 8:15 AM
A UK wealth tax sounds simple: "tax the super‑rich, fund public services"
But it's not.
Our 16,000 word deep‑dive shows revenues are fragile, it puts growth, investment and jobs at risk, and there's no revenue before 2029.
Here’s the evidence:
But it's not.
Our 16,000 word deep‑dive shows revenues are fragile, it puts growth, investment and jobs at risk, and there's no revenue before 2029.
Here’s the evidence:
Reposted by Chris Houghton
Just listen to how Stephen Colbert answered this question off the cuff.
July 18, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Just listen to how Stephen Colbert answered this question off the cuff.
Reposted by Chris Houghton
Okay so the neat thing here is that with the way ChatGPT’s memory works, it probably really is ideal for creating psychotic breaks because it lets you ideate anything in a reproducible manner.
July 18, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Okay so the neat thing here is that with the way ChatGPT’s memory works, it probably really is ideal for creating psychotic breaks because it lets you ideate anything in a reproducible manner.
Reposted by Chris Houghton
'She rejected the view that humanities and social sciences were less useful...than some other subjects, such as maths and science, describing them as “absolutely essential . . . both to living a full and prosperous life but also to addressing many of the challenges we face”.'
Universities in England at risk of long-term decline, says British Academy
Outgoing president Dame Julia Black calls on ministers to overhaul their ‘confused’ approach to higher education
www.ft.com
July 15, 2025 at 6:46 AM
'She rejected the view that humanities and social sciences were less useful...than some other subjects, such as maths and science, describing them as “absolutely essential . . . both to living a full and prosperous life but also to addressing many of the challenges we face”.'
Reposted by Chris Houghton
With apologies to @iandunt.bsky.social, the title doesn't quite do his nicely-balanced piece justice, even if it does represent the level of sweariness pretty accurately! FWIW, I thought this was one of the best 'One Year On' pieces I read over the last couple of days (and I've read a lot of them).
Happy birthday, you've fucked it: Seven unrelated thoughts about Labour's first year in power
iandunt.substack.com/p/seven-unre...
iandunt.substack.com/p/seven-unre...
Seven unrelated thoughts about Labour's first year in power
A torrid week in Westminster made it a uniquely inopportune time to celebrate an anniversary. What the hell is going on?
iandunt.substack.com
July 5, 2025 at 7:03 AM
With apologies to @iandunt.bsky.social, the title doesn't quite do his nicely-balanced piece justice, even if it does represent the level of sweariness pretty accurately! FWIW, I thought this was one of the best 'One Year On' pieces I read over the last couple of days (and I've read a lot of them).
Reposted by Chris Houghton
@hetanshah.bsky.social writes a much needed, welcome argument
The role & strength of UK SHAPE subjects can be underestimated. 2013-22, UK is second globally to the USA for
- greatest volume of SHAPE business co-authored publications
- for total patent citation size of its SHAPE after the US.
The role & strength of UK SHAPE subjects can be underestimated. 2013-22, UK is second globally to the USA for
- greatest volume of SHAPE business co-authored publications
- for total patent citation size of its SHAPE after the US.
Don't forget the arts when it comes to R&D spending
The UK's creative economy is worth more than our life sciences, aerospace and automotive industries combined
www.cityam.com
June 3, 2025 at 10:00 PM
@hetanshah.bsky.social writes a much needed, welcome argument
The role & strength of UK SHAPE subjects can be underestimated. 2013-22, UK is second globally to the USA for
- greatest volume of SHAPE business co-authored publications
- for total patent citation size of its SHAPE after the US.
The role & strength of UK SHAPE subjects can be underestimated. 2013-22, UK is second globally to the USA for
- greatest volume of SHAPE business co-authored publications
- for total patent citation size of its SHAPE after the US.
Reposted by Chris Houghton
Shameless plug for this piece, where a joy of our global readership is a bunch of UK readers going 'I don't get it. Why does he hate doggos' and the rest of our readers going 'Honestly why do so few people in that country train their dogs properly?'
I thought I disliked dogs. But it’s their owners I can’t take
Why the prospect of sharing an office with them fills me with dread
www.ft.com
May 8, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Shameless plug for this piece, where a joy of our global readership is a bunch of UK readers going 'I don't get it. Why does he hate doggos' and the rest of our readers going 'Honestly why do so few people in that country train their dogs properly?'
Reposted by Chris Houghton
i propose the neologism:
boredoom
boredoom
April 30, 2025 at 6:47 AM
i propose the neologism:
boredoom
boredoom
Reposted by Chris Houghton
On the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, we thought we'd answer a question that's often asked,
"If they raised the Mary Rose, why not raise the Titanic?"
Allow our scaled diagram to explain...
"If they raised the Mary Rose, why not raise the Titanic?"
Allow our scaled diagram to explain...
April 15, 2025 at 8:21 AM
On the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, we thought we'd answer a question that's often asked,
"If they raised the Mary Rose, why not raise the Titanic?"
Allow our scaled diagram to explain...
"If they raised the Mary Rose, why not raise the Titanic?"
Allow our scaled diagram to explain...
Reposted by Chris Houghton
On this topic, I think a lot of those people attacking higher education over the past decade might wish to consider whether they have, perhaps inadvertently, created an environment in which hostile actors are now trying to create conditions for Harvard similar to those in Hungary or Turkey.
Well worth reading not only Harvard’s robust response but the lengthy list of freewheeling demands the administration has made of them, including what can only be called creating new faculty lines explicitly for MAGA conservatives. No university could ever accept such demands and remain free.
BREAKING: On Friday, the federal government issued new demands of Harvard University. The university's lawyers just responded: back off.
April 14, 2025 at 7:25 PM
On this topic, I think a lot of those people attacking higher education over the past decade might wish to consider whether they have, perhaps inadvertently, created an environment in which hostile actors are now trying to create conditions for Harvard similar to those in Hungary or Turkey.
Reposted by Chris Houghton
Calling all Postgraduate and Early Career Researchers - Join us for IHR@Liverpool on 9 June 2025. A one-day workshop on the subject of Difficult Histories. Travel bursaries available. www.history.ac.uk/events/ihrli...
IHR@Liverpool: Difficult Histories
Please enable JavaScript in your web browser to get the best experience.
www.history.ac.uk
April 14, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Calling all Postgraduate and Early Career Researchers - Join us for IHR@Liverpool on 9 June 2025. A one-day workshop on the subject of Difficult Histories. Travel bursaries available. www.history.ac.uk/events/ihrli...
Reposted by Chris Houghton
The third idea is that we're on the brink of a technological revolution. The tech coming into garment factories won't just boost productivity (which sometimes lead to higher wages), it will deskill and eliminate jobs. Look at how many people are on this Los Angeles automated cutting floor:
April 8, 2025 at 12:14 AM
The third idea is that we're on the brink of a technological revolution. The tech coming into garment factories won't just boost productivity (which sometimes lead to higher wages), it will deskill and eliminate jobs. Look at how many people are on this Los Angeles automated cutting floor:
Reposted by Chris Houghton
I've said it before and I'll say it again: the UK can either raise domestic fees substantially, provide more direct funding to its universities, force closures on some unis to redistribute resources, or lift visa restrictions on foreign students. Or we can have a madcap series of uncoordinated cuts.
"Without a strong university sector, how can the Chancellor grow the economy?" Asks Mohammed Yasin, entirely rhetorically.
The answer of course is she cannot, she will not. This country will *never* grow its way out of anything of universities go.
And they're going right now.
The answer of course is she cannot, she will not. This country will *never* grow its way out of anything of universities go.
And they're going right now.
Universities: Funding and Employment - Hansard - UK Parliament
Hansard record of the item : ' Universities: Funding and Employment' on Wednesday 2 April 2025.
hansard.parliament.uk
April 6, 2025 at 7:44 AM
I've said it before and I'll say it again: the UK can either raise domestic fees substantially, provide more direct funding to its universities, force closures on some unis to redistribute resources, or lift visa restrictions on foreign students. Or we can have a madcap series of uncoordinated cuts.
Reposted by Chris Houghton
This is fantastic www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
‘He nails it on the first take’: how the Beatles helped my autistic son find his voice
After John Harris’s son was diagnosed, conversation always seemed focused on the things he would struggle with. But a shared passion for playing music grew into something James could do – brilliantly
www.theguardian.com
March 15, 2025 at 10:44 AM
This is fantastic www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...