Kathryn Hulick
@kathrynhulick.substack.com
Science journalist and author of THE UFO FILES (Quarto, 2025). I talk about AI, fascinating research, and walks in the woods. Anything that makes me say “wow!” She/her
Pinned
That feeling when an idea you had at age 8 becomes a real book...
Happy book birthday to The UFO Files!
kathrynhulick.substack.com
Today’s the day! The UFO Files is out in the world. It’s a kids graphic novel with aliens, mystery, and unknown language, and more, all based on realistic science and technology. kathrynhulick.substack.com/p/that-feeli...
So... recently I got to speak on a panel at MIT! The conversation centered on storytelling, ethics, and humanity in AI development. Here are the main points I made: kathrynhulick.substack.com/p/i-spoke-ab...
I spoke about AI at an MIT conference
Here's one of the key points I made about young people and AI: The real world and real human voices matter. All AI should be in service to what real people care about learning, expressing, and experie...
kathrynhulick.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:18 AM
So... recently I got to speak on a panel at MIT! The conversation centered on storytelling, ethics, and humanity in AI development. Here are the main points I made: kathrynhulick.substack.com/p/i-spoke-ab...
This is a cool computer science story about a new method to find the shortest path between two points. “This thing might as well have been discovered 50 years ago, but it wasn’t” - Mikkel Thorup 🧪
www.quantamagazine.org/new-method-i...
www.quantamagazine.org/new-method-i...
New Method Is the Fastest Way To Find the Best Routes | Quanta Magazine
A canonical problem in computer science is to find the shortest route to every point in a network. A new approach beats the classic algorithm taught in textbooks.
www.quantamagazine.org
October 15, 2025 at 9:57 PM
This is a cool computer science story about a new method to find the shortest path between two points. “This thing might as well have been discovered 50 years ago, but it wasn’t” - Mikkel Thorup 🧪
www.quantamagazine.org/new-method-i...
www.quantamagazine.org/new-method-i...
Reposted by Kathryn Hulick
Appreciate Quanta for shining a light on our joint work with Simon Gsell, Sham Tlili (@shamtlili.bsky.social), and Matthias Merkel (@merkellab.bsky.social).
Biophysicists are realizing that there is an undervalued element at play in early development: Aside from genes, mechanical forces also steer the growth of embryos. @annademming.bsky.social reports: www.quantamagazine.org/genes-have-h...
Genes Have Harnessed Physics to Help Grow Living Things | Quanta Magazine
The same pulling force that causes “tears” in a glass of wine also shapes embryos. It’s another example of how genes exploit mechanical forces for growth and development.
www.quantamagazine.org
October 11, 2025 at 7:04 AM
Appreciate Quanta for shining a light on our joint work with Simon Gsell, Sham Tlili (@shamtlili.bsky.social), and Matthias Merkel (@merkellab.bsky.social).
Reposted by Kathryn Hulick
15 years in the making, we confirmed that mitochondria - the powerhouse of the cell - have an unusual localization in patients who experience psychosis (including schizophrenia and bipolar disorders). You’ll never guess what kind of patient cells we used to make this discovery… 🧵
October 10, 2025 at 4:47 PM
15 years in the making, we confirmed that mitochondria - the powerhouse of the cell - have an unusual localization in patients who experience psychosis (including schizophrenia and bipolar disorders). You’ll never guess what kind of patient cells we used to make this discovery… 🧵
Welcome, fall! 🍁🍃
October 3, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Welcome, fall! 🍁🍃
My latest story in Science News. 🧪 “Even when [side effects] can be rare, when they happen to you, it means all the world,” says public health researcher John Ayers.
A new AI tool could link people experiencing harmful side effects of unregulated products to public health workers who can provide help.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/ai-health-side-effects-social-media
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/ai-health-side-effects-social-media
An AI tool scans social media posts to identify harmful side effects from cannabis use
A new AI tool discovers harmful side effects of cannabis products from Reddit posts. Public health workers could use this info to help keep people safe.
www.sciencenews.org
September 30, 2025 at 7:49 PM
My latest story in Science News. 🧪 “Even when [side effects] can be rare, when they happen to you, it means all the world,” says public health researcher John Ayers.
This is starting in 15 minutes! Listen to me and several other experts tell stories about inventions.
"Inventions almost always inspire curiosity since they – by their nature – have never existed before." I'm excited to be on this upcoming panel discussing invention and innovation, hosted by @ecornellonline.bsky.social September 30, 1pm ET, free to attend 🧪
ecornell.cornell.edu/keynotes/ove...
ecornell.cornell.edu/keynotes/ove...
Keynote: Inventions | eCornell
Be Informed. Be Inspired. Experience the Best of Cornell, Live and On Demand.
ecornell.cornell.edu
September 30, 2025 at 4:46 PM
This is starting in 15 minutes! Listen to me and several other experts tell stories about inventions.
Scientists are using AI to understand animal communication. Fact or fiction?
It's actually true! A new activity I wrote to go along with my new book The UFO Files helps students use critical thinking to check facts:
www.patriciamnewman.com/litlinks-tru...
@patricianewman.bsky.social
It's actually true! A new activity I wrote to go along with my new book The UFO Files helps students use critical thinking to check facts:
www.patriciamnewman.com/litlinks-tru...
@patricianewman.bsky.social
LitLinks: True story or science fiction? How to find the truth! - Patricia Newman
An alien spacecraft has arrived on Earth, carrying intelligent beings. Is this a true story or science fiction?
www.patriciamnewman.com
September 25, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Scientists are using AI to understand animal communication. Fact or fiction?
It's actually true! A new activity I wrote to go along with my new book The UFO Files helps students use critical thinking to check facts:
www.patriciamnewman.com/litlinks-tru...
@patricianewman.bsky.social
It's actually true! A new activity I wrote to go along with my new book The UFO Files helps students use critical thinking to check facts:
www.patriciamnewman.com/litlinks-tru...
@patricianewman.bsky.social
Reposted by Kathryn Hulick
I get that the news cycle is packed right now, but I just heard from a colleague at the Smithsonian that this is fully a GIANT SQUID BEING EATEN BY A SPERM WHALE and it’s possibly the first ever confirmed video according to a friend at NOAA
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
September 24, 2025 at 8:30 PM
I get that the news cycle is packed right now, but I just heard from a colleague at the Smithsonian that this is fully a GIANT SQUID BEING EATEN BY A SPERM WHALE and it’s possibly the first ever confirmed video according to a friend at NOAA
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
My latest story for Science News covers a really interesting experimental computer chip. It reuses energy that typical chips waste as heat:
www.sciencenews.org/article/comp...
If this scales up, it could help make AI cheaper and more efficient. 🧪
@sciencenews.bsky.social
www.sciencenews.org/article/comp...
If this scales up, it could help make AI cheaper and more efficient. 🧪
@sciencenews.bsky.social
This experimental computer chip reuses energy
A first-of-its-kind test shows that reusing energy within a computer chip can work, thanks to two techy tricks.
www.sciencenews.org
September 23, 2025 at 7:03 PM
My latest story for Science News covers a really interesting experimental computer chip. It reuses energy that typical chips waste as heat:
www.sciencenews.org/article/comp...
If this scales up, it could help make AI cheaper and more efficient. 🧪
@sciencenews.bsky.social
www.sciencenews.org/article/comp...
If this scales up, it could help make AI cheaper and more efficient. 🧪
@sciencenews.bsky.social
I did a lot of colored pencil drawing this summer. Here are some of my favorites 🍃 open.substack.com/pub/kathrynh...
September 18, 2025 at 12:51 AM
I did a lot of colored pencil drawing this summer. Here are some of my favorites 🍃 open.substack.com/pub/kathrynh...
Reposted by Kathryn Hulick
Thank you @sierramagazine.bsky.social and @kathrynhulick.substack.com for highlighting our work!🐋Read the quote from Daniela Rus (@csail.mit.edu), PI on CETI Machine Learning and Robotics Team and more in the piece “Could AI Help Humanity Understand Whales?” here: bit.ly/45tksRL 📸: Arun Madisetti
September 16, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Thank you @sierramagazine.bsky.social and @kathrynhulick.substack.com for highlighting our work!🐋Read the quote from Daniela Rus (@csail.mit.edu), PI on CETI Machine Learning and Robotics Team and more in the piece “Could AI Help Humanity Understand Whales?” here: bit.ly/45tksRL 📸: Arun Madisetti
"Inventions almost always inspire curiosity since they – by their nature – have never existed before." I'm excited to be on this upcoming panel discussing invention and innovation, hosted by @ecornellonline.bsky.social September 30, 1pm ET, free to attend 🧪
ecornell.cornell.edu/keynotes/ove...
ecornell.cornell.edu/keynotes/ove...
Keynote: Inventions | eCornell
Be Informed. Be Inspired. Experience the Best of Cornell, Live and On Demand.
ecornell.cornell.edu
September 10, 2025 at 5:51 PM
"Inventions almost always inspire curiosity since they – by their nature – have never existed before." I'm excited to be on this upcoming panel discussing invention and innovation, hosted by @ecornellonline.bsky.social September 30, 1pm ET, free to attend 🧪
ecornell.cornell.edu/keynotes/ove...
ecornell.cornell.edu/keynotes/ove...
It wasn’t even on my bucket list… but just checked off “triathlon in the pouring rain” 🌧️ 😅
September 7, 2025 at 3:39 PM
It wasn’t even on my bucket list… but just checked off “triathlon in the pouring rain” 🌧️ 😅
I’m here at Word on the Street until noon for an author talk and book signing! For my new book The UFO Files. Hope to see you. @quartokids.bsky.social www.quarto.com/books/978071...
September 6, 2025 at 2:27 PM
I’m here at Word on the Street until noon for an author talk and book signing! For my new book The UFO Files. Hope to see you. @quartokids.bsky.social www.quarto.com/books/978071...
Do you wish we had holograms or helper robots in our daily lives? What might future tech be like? Here’s my latest story for kids and teens, out this week in @snexplores.bsky.social 🧪 www.snexplores.org/article/futu...
Get a sneak peek at the tech you may use in the future
Holograms, 3-D printed clothing, personal robots — these technologies and more might one day transform your daily life.
www.snexplores.org
September 5, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Do you wish we had holograms or helper robots in our daily lives? What might future tech be like? Here’s my latest story for kids and teens, out this week in @snexplores.bsky.social 🧪 www.snexplores.org/article/futu...
Will we ever have robots doing our laundry or hologram conversations? Will we design and 3D print clothes and shoes at home? Read my new feature for @snexplores.bsky.social about tech that could change our daily lives: www.snexplores.org/article/futu...
Get a sneak peek at the tech you may use in the future
Holograms, 3-D printed clothing, personal robots — these technologies and more might one day transform your daily life.
www.snexplores.org
September 5, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Will we ever have robots doing our laundry or hologram conversations? Will we design and 3D print clothes and shoes at home? Read my new feature for @snexplores.bsky.social about tech that could change our daily lives: www.snexplores.org/article/futu...
Ooh I just found out about #InverteFest - perfect time to share this oddly mutated lady crab we found earlier this summer! Folks on iNaturalist were very excited about it: www.inaturalist.org/observations... 🦀
August 26, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Ooh I just found out about #InverteFest - perfect time to share this oddly mutated lady crab we found earlier this summer! Folks on iNaturalist were very excited about it: www.inaturalist.org/observations... 🦀
When tech reads your thoughts, hopefully it won't read out ALL of them! Researchers had subjects imagine the password "Chitty chitty bang bang” to activate a mental speech decoder. 🧪https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/08/an-inner-speech-decoder-reveals-some-mental-privacy-issues/
An inner-speech decoder reveals some mental privacy issues
Words you’ll never speak still cause activity in the brain’s speech centers.
arstechnica.com
August 26, 2025 at 2:58 PM
When tech reads your thoughts, hopefully it won't read out ALL of them! Researchers had subjects imagine the password "Chitty chitty bang bang” to activate a mental speech decoder. 🧪https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/08/an-inner-speech-decoder-reveals-some-mental-privacy-issues/
Reposted by Kathryn Hulick
Wow, my upcoming book From Bam to Burp! was included in this list of recommended titles in yesterday's
@washingtonpost.com book section! Thank you, librarians!
tinyurl.com/yc53ahvf
@charlesbridge.bsky.social @steamteambooks.bsky.social #edusky #kidlit
@washingtonpost.com book section! Thank you, librarians!
tinyurl.com/yc53ahvf
@charlesbridge.bsky.social @steamteambooks.bsky.social #edusky #kidlit
August 25, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Wow, my upcoming book From Bam to Burp! was included in this list of recommended titles in yesterday's
@washingtonpost.com book section! Thank you, librarians!
tinyurl.com/yc53ahvf
@charlesbridge.bsky.social @steamteambooks.bsky.social #edusky #kidlit
@washingtonpost.com book section! Thank you, librarians!
tinyurl.com/yc53ahvf
@charlesbridge.bsky.social @steamteambooks.bsky.social #edusky #kidlit
What's your favorite alien story?
This morning I appeared WNPR's "Where We Live" to talk about my kids book The UFO Files and why people find the possibility of alien life so fascinating. Listen to the show:
www.ctpublic.org/show/where-w...
@quartokids.bsky.social
This morning I appeared WNPR's "Where We Live" to talk about my kids book The UFO Files and why people find the possibility of alien life so fascinating. Listen to the show:
www.ctpublic.org/show/where-w...
@quartokids.bsky.social
Looking up: Why we wonder about life beyond Earth
From movies to mysterious lights in the sky, the possibility of life beyond Earth sparks endless curiosity. This hour, we dive into why we love to imagine alien life.
www.ctpublic.org
August 25, 2025 at 6:37 PM
What's your favorite alien story?
This morning I appeared WNPR's "Where We Live" to talk about my kids book The UFO Files and why people find the possibility of alien life so fascinating. Listen to the show:
www.ctpublic.org/show/where-w...
@quartokids.bsky.social
This morning I appeared WNPR's "Where We Live" to talk about my kids book The UFO Files and why people find the possibility of alien life so fascinating. Listen to the show:
www.ctpublic.org/show/where-w...
@quartokids.bsky.social
I'll be on the radio Monday morning! Tune in to WNPR at 9am on 8/25 to hear me talk about the possibility of alien life and my new book The UFO Files: www.ctpublic.org/show/where-w...
Where We Live
Where We Live is a place to hear fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines. We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and cons...
www.ctpublic.org
August 21, 2025 at 5:13 PM
I'll be on the radio Monday morning! Tune in to WNPR at 9am on 8/25 to hear me talk about the possibility of alien life and my new book The UFO Files: www.ctpublic.org/show/where-w...
If you haven't yet heard about zombie insects, get ready to squirm! This is “a pretty gruesome story” says Conrad Labandeira. 🧪 www.snexplores.org/article/fung... @snexplores.bsky.social
Fungi have been ‘zombifying’ insects for 99 million years
Two bits of ancient amber sitting in a lab basement hold evidence of a fungus that's become famous for controlling its victims' minds.
www.snexplores.org
August 20, 2025 at 1:56 PM
If you haven't yet heard about zombie insects, get ready to squirm! This is “a pretty gruesome story” says Conrad Labandeira. 🧪 www.snexplores.org/article/fung... @snexplores.bsky.social
One alien sees black holes. Another smells with its hair. Check out what kids imagined at my book launch for The UFO Files on Sunday! And try the activity yourself - link in my Substack. @anunlikelystory.bsky.social @quartokids.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/kathrynh...
open.substack.com/pub/kathrynh...
Imagine and draw an alien being
Kids tried this activity at my book launch for The UFO Files
open.substack.com
August 12, 2025 at 7:07 PM
One alien sees black holes. Another smells with its hair. Check out what kids imagined at my book launch for The UFO Files on Sunday! And try the activity yourself - link in my Substack. @anunlikelystory.bsky.social @quartokids.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/kathrynh...
open.substack.com/pub/kathrynh...
Important article summing up many of the risks of AI agents. "The world is at a pivotal moment: the foundational architecture of AI agents — and the infrastructure that governs them — is being imagined and built right now." 🧪 www.nature.com/articles/d41...
We need a new ethics for a world of AI agents
The deployment of capable AI agents raises fresh questions about safety, human–machine relationships and social coordination.
www.nature.com
August 12, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Important article summing up many of the risks of AI agents. "The world is at a pivotal moment: the foundational architecture of AI agents — and the infrastructure that governs them — is being imagined and built right now." 🧪 www.nature.com/articles/d41...