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Matthew Vannette

@matthewvannette.bsky.social
90 followers 26 following 348 posts

Physics Professor Experimental Condensed Matter Ask about the hippo. svsu.edu/~mvannett

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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
So, the White House AI slop machine is saying it only answers certain types of questions. It seems to me a motivated person might try to test the guardrails. Wasn't "prompt engineer" supposed to be a growth field?
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Dear Canvas Devs, I will ALWAYS want to immediately name a newly created folder. Please don't force me to click into that text box. Thank you. #academicsky
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Abdul El-Sayed @abdulelsayed.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Don't fall into this Republican trap.
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Creative AI for Education @creativeai4edu.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
⏭️ 🧪Full AI use permitted with APA AI use citations.🧪 💫 💫With AI use required for some assignments.💫💫 #EduSky #HigherEd #AcademicSky #History
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
I've lost any patience I had with the AI in Education pushers. "Rethink assessment" is bullshit. "Change how you engage" is too. How about people value learning and honestly knowing the limits of their understanding? Why not do the hard work of thinking? #academicsky
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
I think he's done this before.
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
An interesting and frustrating read. I was given some training and practice writing review responses. Is that not common? I think a statement like "after reading Rev 2's suggested papers, we see little relation to this work" is worth it. But I'm a white guy at the end of the ladder - privilege. 😕
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Pruit Igoe @pruitigoe.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
I'm more of a Burkean Conservative than anything, which makes me left of center in today's political climes but this is appealing and honestly what the Democratic party should be aspiring to. Texas GOP doing recruitiment for the left.
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
I am excited that I get to participate in an America 250 event at a local museum. I will portray Lincoln and give the Gettysburg Address. 6 others will give portions of famous speeches, beginning with a full reading of The Declaration of Independence, ending with Harvey Milk's Hope Speech.
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Gordon Hodson @gordonhodsonphd.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
#AcademicSky Say it again with me: the incentive structure for publishing needs reform.
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
This map is an example of poor data presentation. The +25 approval dark red pairs with a -61 dark blue. The scale is so horribly non-linear as to be useless. I'm not even talking about the miserable interpretation of the numbers. The display is just awful. www.newsweek.com/map-donald-t...
newsweek.com
Map shows Trump’s approval rating in every state on his birthday
State-by-state polling shows how the president's ratings stand as he turns 80, and how they have shifted since his term began.
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
One of my favorite Giles lines is "She's a hero, you see. She's not like us." www.cracked.com/article_4988...
cracked.com
In Memory Of Anthony Head, The Watcher Who Made Buffy Feel Safe
As Giles, he was the adult who actually showed up
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Physghoul 👻 🎃 @physgal.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
"Offloading the struggle to a chatbot does not “free students up for higher-order work.” It deprives them of building the strength to do any substantial cognitive work at all." They can't do higher-order work if they haven't learned the basics. This requires some amount of struggle. #AcademicSky
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
I liked this article, but I hate the calculator comparison. More people struggle with basic arithmetic b/c we offload this skill. AI supplants thinking itself. Do the thinking first, then ask AI for its take? No. Do more thinking. #AI time.com/article/2026...
time.com
Is AI Making Our Brains Weaker?
Relying on AI to lighten our cognitive load may potentially undercut our own capabilities.
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
What, and I cannot stress this enough, the fuck?
Trump tweet from May 12, 2026 claiming Joe Biden was a Russian agent. Also claims Joe Biden was actually Barack Obama wearing a mask. Also states COVID-19 was spread by China and Russia via 5G and in Wayfair furniture.
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Unfortunate reality. The statement that people haven't "abandoned" expertise, they just shop around rings hollow. That IS abandoning expertise, isn't it? Choosing to inflate credentials b/c you agree with the author puts your opinion above their education. phys.org/news/2026-05...
phys.org
When politics enter the picture, credentials take a back seat
Most Americans know what a real expert's credentials look like: relevant degree, years of experience, and respect from peers. The problem, according to a study recently published in Scientific Reports...
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
I disagree with it being titled "The Real Problem..." and not "An Underappreciated Problem..." but the premise is solid. I won't use some of the suggestions as my AI opposition comes from morality, not fear of being replaced. A good read for #acadmicsky www.insidehighered.com/opinion/care...
insidehighered.com
The Real Problem With AI in STEM Education (opinion)
The issue isn’t that our students are using it. It’s that they aren’t equipped to evaluate its outputs.
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Nicole BOO-liucci 🎃 @noisyastronomer.com · 15/05/2026
Heck yeah, arXiv. (version with alt text) 🧪 #AcademicSky
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Our future ability to do science and education relies on knowing how to question ourselves and each other. The more we work with a "confirmation agent," the less able we are to push back on our own thoughts. That's a bad thing. #academicsky #ai phys.org/news/2026-05...
phys.org
What happens when scientists trust AI more than colleagues?
Artificial intelligence has crossed a threshold in the modern workplace. It is being used for everything from helping employees manage schedules to supporting financial forecasts. A similar shift is n...
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
I never thought I'd have to argue that honesty may actually be a skill.
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
The bit about math homework being repetitive bothers me a lot. Is free throw practice repetitive? Musical scales? Dark Souls boss fights? The repetition is where the idea is solidified. Some things require practice. Students must do that themselves. www.npr.org/2026/04/28/n...
npr.org
Should schools get rid of homework? Some educators are saying yes
Some experts worry that less homework could be a problem for math achievement, at a time when test scores nationwide are already at a dismal low.
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
A focus on laboratory skills and techniques is more valuable than getting a particular result. Good results, like "good" grades often, can come without understanding, but if students understand processes they will get quality results.
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
For my fall "physics for poets" class we shall start with a specific question. How can we know a pendulum swings with a repeatable, nearly regular time if we don't already have a clock more precise than the pendulum would give?🧵
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
The part where he seems excited because AI was functioning like a grad student is disturbing. This means the human student does not get to practice the skills needed for research. What good is increasing the pace if we sacrifice future expertise? #AcademicSky phys.org/news/2026-04...
phys.org
AI trained like a Rubik's Cube solver simplifies particle physics equations
For years, Rutgers physicist David Shih solved Rubik's Cubes with his children, twisting the colorful squares until the scrambled puzzle returned to order. He didn't expect the toy to connect to his research, but recently he realized the logic behind the puzzle was exactly what he needed to solve a problem involving particle physics.
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
There's a lot to be scared about right now. Fear is not something to shy away from, though. Feeling afraid is the first step to showing bravery.
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 21/03/2026
71% of PhD students surveyed use AI and 65% worry it erodes thinking, writing, & research skills. Non-zero overlap. I'd bet many believe it isn't their skills getting weakened. Education and research cannot bow to efficiency. That push destroyed the foundation of academia.
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
I agree with the premise here. The issue is accommodations offices are compliance (lawsuit prevention) not service focused. Absent changing that, nothing else will change.
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
Short circuiting the learning process is the whole point of #AI. Users offload the "simple" or "mundane" thinking that nurtures growth. Students borrow its "understanding" and think that understanding is thiers. Use at the risk of stupidity. #academicsky phys.org/news/2026-02...
phys.org
The greatest risk of AI in higher education isn't cheating—it's the erosion of learning itself
Public debate about artificial intelligence in higher education has largely orbited a familiar worry: cheating. Will students use chatbots to write essays? Can instructors tell? Should universities ba...
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
Who else checks the cited sources actually argue what the authors say they argue when doing a peer review? 2nd round reviewing and 3 of the first 5 sources are not relevant to the paper and do not make the point the authors claim. How did this get past round 1? #academicsky
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
It's a cool thing, but the article is misleading. Newton's 3rd law isn't violated. It is so frustrating b/c students will ask some teacher about it and they may not have a good response. The paper does a better job, but still talks like N3L breaks. phys.org/news/2026-02...
phys.org
Scientists discover 'levitating' time crystals that you can hold in your hand
Time crystals, a collection of particles that "tick"—or move back and forth in repeating cycles—were first theorized and then discovered about a decade ago. While scientists have yet to create commerc...
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
There ought to be a rule against announcements playing over Sunshine of Your Love.
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
US academics - It is completely legal for any of us to tell our students that the Constitution explicitly grants states control over elections. You can start class with a public service announcement. When we say these truths, it empowers our students to say them.
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 01/02/2026
The lawsuit in MN seeking to remove ICE for 10A violations is moving forward. The judge's lack of prelim. injunction is b/c the likelihood of success is not "sufficiently in favor" of MN. Not that it lacks merit, nor that it is lost. Rather there is a possibility it isn't the right ruling. 1/2
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 01/02/2026
When we come through this fascism, be aware of those singing the modern version of this song youtu.be/dmhgcC5dYkE
youtu.be
I Was Not A Nazi Polka
YouTube video by The Mitchell Trio - Topic
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
#AcademicSky All of us faculty in the US have an obligation to remind our students that what is happening is wrong. Every American should be fighting for change whenever and wherever we can. It is not only our right by the 1st A, it is our duty by the Preamble. We, the People. That's all of us.
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
So, the way the Trump government deals with bribery now is to accept bribes. It's turtles all the way down.
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
I was complimented yesterday. Based on my taco order of 1 lengua, 1 cueritos, and 1 chorizo and egg the person taking orders assumed I must be Latino. "Only a Latino would order that," is what they said to my coworker. They were delicious. Food is the best cultural "in."
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
This disgusts me. Requiring the use of generative AI is horrible. I know students who are morally, nigh on religiously, opposed. Please stop calling kowtowing to bullshit capitalism "education."
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 24/12/2025
Starting the cinnamon rolls for breakfast tomorrow before lunch today is one of life's great joys.
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 22/12/2025
"Without a brain or nervous system, the researchers figured out..." Ambiguous sentence structures are my favorite. The research is pretty cool. phys.org/news/2025-12...
phys.org
How a simple animal folds itself with origami-like precision
Studying one of the simplest animals, Stanford's Prakash Lab uncovered how it folds itself into complex shapes—revealing new insights into a fundamental cellular feature and the origins of tissue fold...
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 21/12/2025
I'm reminded of the scene in The Whole Nine Yards where Micheal Clarke Duncan says "Now ain't this some shit?" Kind of shocked it isn't in gif format.
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
So, the searchable files are not fully indexed. Searching "the" returned 102 results. Searching "massage" returned 0. Plural had hits with "Epstein" right there. Searching his name gives 0 matches.
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
They teach us about us. That's the case to make.
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
If you enjoyed Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, I recommend The Uncanny Counter on Netflix. Korean action series. First season was very good. Episodes pack a lot into each hour. They sell noodles and fight evil spirits.
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
Read the article. Near the end we get “If we can reduce cohort sizes..." Agreed! But, this further stratifies education, strongly favoring money. Instead of democratizing education, AI is pushing us more to education only for the wealthy. #academicsky www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
insidehighered.com
You Can’t AI-Proof the Classroom, Experts Say. Get Creative Instead.
Artificial intelligence is here to stay. Faculty members explain how to keep students engaged in their own learning and prevent them from relying on AI.
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
So, instead of "Stop that shit!" it should be "Why are you doing that shit!?" Asking for myself.
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
Harrumph!
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 07/12/2025
Whenever someone questions the continued existence of institutionalized racism, point them to this story. National parks fee-free calendar drops MLK Day, Juneteenth and adds Trump's birthday www.npr.org/2025/12/06/g...
npr.org
National parks fee-free calendar drops MLK Day, Juneteenth and adds Trump's birthday
The Trump administration, which has railed against what it describes as "woke" policies, removed MLK Day and Juneteenth from next year's list of fare-exempt days for visitors at dozens of national par...
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 06/12/2025
Goat biryani for a birthday dinner is the best.
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Matthew Vannette @matthewvannette.bsky.social · 06/12/2025
At The Castle Museum of Saginaw County History, and they have the best academic chair ever. The Eskwin Chair.
Eskwin chair from 1920's with attachments for various activities.
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