Michael Burns-Kaurin
@mburnskaurin.bsky.social
physics professor in Atlanta; pedagogy, curriculum development, infusing computation into physics courses (he/him/his)
In lab a group was using google colaboratory (python online) to plot and fit some data, the plot was wrong. We could not see the problem, so I reluctantly let a student use Gemini. Alas, Gemini found the error (a local vs global variable). My worldview is shaken.
November 18, 2025 at 3:46 PM
In lab a group was using google colaboratory (python online) to plot and fit some data, the plot was wrong. We could not see the problem, so I reluctantly let a student use Gemini. Alas, Gemini found the error (a local vs global variable). My worldview is shaken.
Did not get a picture, but briefly saw a second arc above (not too far above) a 22 degree halo above the sun. Second arc was also curved down. Parry arc?
Found out that my students were not familiar with sun dogs, showed one student them after class, plus a bit of halo.
Found out that my students were not familiar with sun dogs, showed one student them after class, plus a bit of halo.
November 17, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Did not get a picture, but briefly saw a second arc above (not too far above) a 22 degree halo above the sun. Second arc was also curved down. Parry arc?
Found out that my students were not familiar with sun dogs, showed one student them after class, plus a bit of halo.
Found out that my students were not familiar with sun dogs, showed one student them after class, plus a bit of halo.
AAUP rocks. Glad I joined.
"This represents saving higher education, saving public research and the standing up of faculty, staff and students,"
— Veena Dubal, AAUP General Counsel & law professor at the University of California, Irvine.
#DefendHigherEd
— Veena Dubal, AAUP General Counsel & law professor at the University of California, Irvine.
#DefendHigherEd
Judge Orders Trump Not to Threaten University of California’s Funding
www.nytimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 4:20 PM
AAUP rocks. Glad I joined.
I hope the bosses at Columbia, Brown, and Cornell feel sick now and realize that they have betrayed their universities. Resignations seem in order.
One reason why elite schools (Columbia, Brown, Cornell) caving to Trump’s illegal impoundment and extortion is so galling — a betrayal, really — is that they would have won had they fought. By giving up, they guaranteed every other school will have to fight harder.
Judge bars Trump from immediately cutting funding to the University of California | CNN Politics
The Trump administration cannot immediately cut federal funding to the University of California or issue fines against the school system over claims it allows antisemitism or other forms of discrimina...
www.cnn.com
November 15, 2025 at 4:13 PM
I hope the bosses at Columbia, Brown, and Cornell feel sick now and realize that they have betrayed their universities. Resignations seem in order.
#iTeachPhysics
A group asked how many trials they should do, four or five, so I said... (even with the hand movements, good for a laugh).
A group asked how many trials they should do, four or five, so I said... (even with the hand movements, good for a laugh).
November 11, 2025 at 2:04 PM
#iTeachPhysics
A group asked how many trials they should do, four or five, so I said... (even with the hand movements, good for a laugh).
A group asked how many trials they should do, four or five, so I said... (even with the hand movements, good for a laugh).
Temporary intro lab crisis when a rescue hero action figure was missing, adverted when I found another one in squirrelled away in my lab, that I got at a yard sale. Bungee jumping...
#iTeachPhysics (bet chemists never have this problem)
#iTeachPhysics (bet chemists never have this problem)
November 11, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Temporary intro lab crisis when a rescue hero action figure was missing, adverted when I found another one in squirrelled away in my lab, that I got at a yard sale. Bungee jumping...
#iTeachPhysics (bet chemists never have this problem)
#iTeachPhysics (bet chemists never have this problem)
Just a small animation, to help the students visualize a car going around a banked curve for an assignment next week. Code at trinket.io/glowscript/7...
November 6, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Just a small animation, to help the students visualize a car going around a banked curve for an assignment next week. Code at trinket.io/glowscript/7...
Reposted by Michael Burns-Kaurin
It's not just New York. Here in Georgia, in a major upset, two Democrats flipped statewide seats on a simple message: keeping the lights on doesn't have to mean skipping groceries.
Democrats flip two seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission • Georgia Recorder
Democrats have flipped two seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission, which is currently an all-GOP panel. The PSC regulates Georgia utilities.
georgiarecorder.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:34 PM
It's not just New York. Here in Georgia, in a major upset, two Democrats flipped statewide seats on a simple message: keeping the lights on doesn't have to mean skipping groceries.
Georgia Public Service Commission was the only state-wide race on our ballot (delayed by lawsuit). Two of five seats, in a state controlled by Republicans. In both races, the Democrat crushed the incumbent Republican, 62% to 38%. Leaves three Republican seats, but it's a start and a ray of hope.
November 5, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Georgia Public Service Commission was the only state-wide race on our ballot (delayed by lawsuit). Two of five seats, in a state controlled by Republicans. In both races, the Democrat crushed the incumbent Republican, 62% to 38%. Leaves three Republican seats, but it's a start and a ray of hope.
Only race on the ballot today is Public Service Commission, and that only because it was delayed by a lawsuit. Two districts but statewide election (see lawsuit). Kudos to @hankgreen.bsky.social for weighing in on a Georgia fairly obscure election.
November 4, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Only race on the ballot today is Public Service Commission, and that only because it was delayed by a lawsuit. Two districts but statewide election (see lawsuit). Kudos to @hankgreen.bsky.social for weighing in on a Georgia fairly obscure election.
Reposted by Michael Burns-Kaurin
Dear Physicists and Physics fans,
I would like to encourage you to celebrate #WomenInPhysics Day this Friday, November 7th.
Why November 7th? Because it is the birthday of two of the most impactful women physicists of the 1900's: Marie Curie and Lise Meitner. 🎢 ⚛️ 🧪 👩🔬
I would like to encourage you to celebrate #WomenInPhysics Day this Friday, November 7th.
Why November 7th? Because it is the birthday of two of the most impactful women physicists of the 1900's: Marie Curie and Lise Meitner. 🎢 ⚛️ 🧪 👩🔬
November 3, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Dear Physicists and Physics fans,
I would like to encourage you to celebrate #WomenInPhysics Day this Friday, November 7th.
Why November 7th? Because it is the birthday of two of the most impactful women physicists of the 1900's: Marie Curie and Lise Meitner. 🎢 ⚛️ 🧪 👩🔬
I would like to encourage you to celebrate #WomenInPhysics Day this Friday, November 7th.
Why November 7th? Because it is the birthday of two of the most impactful women physicists of the 1900's: Marie Curie and Lise Meitner. 🎢 ⚛️ 🧪 👩🔬
In Thermal Physics, the students said they had trouble visualizing a 3d standing wave--I did show them a 2d wave. We'll see if this helps. Code at www.glowscript.org#/user/burnsk...
#iTeachPhysics
#webvpython
#glowscript
#iTeachPhysics
#webvpython
#glowscript
November 3, 2025 at 4:58 PM
In Thermal Physics, the students said they had trouble visualizing a 3d standing wave--I did show them a 2d wave. We'll see if this helps. Code at www.glowscript.org#/user/burnsk...
#iTeachPhysics
#webvpython
#glowscript
#iTeachPhysics
#webvpython
#glowscript
So apparently the new word for "teacher" is "instructional work-force". Whatever.
October 28, 2025 at 3:42 PM
So apparently the new word for "teacher" is "instructional work-force". Whatever.
Reposted by Michael Burns-Kaurin
TLDR; The PSF has made the decision to put our community and our shared diversity, equity, and inclusion values ahead of seeking $1.5M in new revenue. Please read and share. pyfound.blogspot.com/2025/10/NSF-...
🧵
🧵
The official home of the Python Programming Language
www.python.org
October 27, 2025 at 2:47 PM
TLDR; The PSF has made the decision to put our community and our shared diversity, equity, and inclusion values ahead of seeking $1.5M in new revenue. Please read and share. pyfound.blogspot.com/2025/10/NSF-...
🧵
🧵
This is what happens when political appointees, in charge of an agency that uses science, don't understand basic physics. Good grief, what a waste of resources.
Dear God. We are now just an SNL skit.
EPA Commissioner Lee Zeldin announces his agency is launching a major investigation into the right-wing conspiracies about chemtrails and weather manipulation to get to the bottom of it.
October 23, 2025 at 7:02 PM
This is what happens when political appointees, in charge of an agency that uses science, don't understand basic physics. Good grief, what a waste of resources.
Not a change of course, he simply lied before.
October 22, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Not a change of course, he simply lied before.
(for later calculations of the tension). The rope was only 6 m long, students were clearly shocked I reached about a foot (height went higher than that, angle was about 15 degrees).
October 22, 2025 at 4:40 PM
(for later calculations of the tension). The rope was only 6 m long, students were clearly shocked I reached about a foot (height went higher than that, angle was about 15 degrees).
The rope pull demo went well today. Two students pull hard horizontally on the ends of a rope, I stand in the middle and lift up the rope. For good measure, I stand on a force plate and we measure the height I pull the rope and the length
1/2
1/2
October 22, 2025 at 4:39 PM
The rope pull demo went well today. Two students pull hard horizontally on the ends of a rope, I stand in the middle and lift up the rope. For good measure, I stand on a force plate and we measure the height I pull the rope and the length
1/2
1/2
Reposted by Michael Burns-Kaurin
DARTMOUTH OUT!
We are at 6 rejections. Vanderbilt is the only private left standing "considering" the compact along with UT Austin and the University of Arizona.
We are at 6 rejections. Vanderbilt is the only private left standing "considering" the compact along with UT Austin and the University of Arizona.
Dartmouth is OUT! Thank goodness... a friend at U of A and I have been playing "Who will be the last of the 9 standing?" and it's not gonna be us!
October 18, 2025 at 3:10 PM
DARTMOUTH OUT!
We are at 6 rejections. Vanderbilt is the only private left standing "considering" the compact along with UT Austin and the University of Arizona.
We are at 6 rejections. Vanderbilt is the only private left standing "considering" the compact along with UT Austin and the University of Arizona.
Well-deserved.
AAPT is pleased to announce that Rhett Allain has been selected to receive the 2026 Richtmyer Memorial Lecture Award. The award will be presented during the 2026 AAPT Winter Meeting. Read more at ow.ly/UpA350Xe7e6 #AAPTAwards #AAPTWM26
October 17, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Well-deserved.
Reposted by Michael Burns-Kaurin
Finally we get to vote for PSC. Choose wisely.
Hey Georgia! @hankgreen.bsky.social has a convincing pitch for why you should vote AGAINST THE REPUBLICANS in the upcoming Georgia Public Service Commission special election! Potentially save consumers money, kick out some Rs, feel good! YOUR VOTE WILL COUNT HUGELY! www.youtube.com/watch?app=de...
I Need 1% of Georgia to Watch This Video
YouTube video by Hank Green
www.youtube.com
October 15, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Finally we get to vote for PSC. Choose wisely.
Nice example of angular size.
🧵
What is coming down from the left is the Moon, appearing so large because photographed through a telescopic lens.
The video, made during the 2018 full Milk Moon,
isn't time-lapse: this was really how fast the Moon was setting behind Mount Teide.
➡️ apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap20032...
🔭 🧪 #science
1/
What is coming down from the left is the Moon, appearing so large because photographed through a telescopic lens.
The video, made during the 2018 full Milk Moon,
isn't time-lapse: this was really how fast the Moon was setting behind Mount Teide.
➡️ apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap20032...
🔭 🧪 #science
1/
October 13, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Nice example of angular size.
#iTeachPhysics
Using this in class next week for uniform circular motion.
Using this in class next week for uniform circular motion.
October 10, 2025 at 2:11 PM
#iTeachPhysics
Using this in class next week for uniform circular motion.
Using this in class next week for uniform circular motion.