Arete Roper
@areteroper.bsky.social
Dutch, love ( my 5) cats, English, books, science and crochet.
Pinned
Arete Roper
@areteroper.bsky.social
· Nov 21
"Wisdom is better than wit, and in the long run certainly has the laugh on her side"
Jane Austen
Jane Austen
Reposted by Arete Roper
Reposted by Arete Roper
Stay on this stunning island for free... if you're willing to count puffins. 🧪 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Volunteers wanted to to live on Skomer Island and count puffins
Successful applicants will spend several months helping conservation efforts on Skomer Island, off the Pembrokeshire coast.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 29, 2026 at 1:10 PM
Stay on this stunning island for free... if you're willing to count puffins. 🧪 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Arete Roper
This thread is humorous but just so predictably depressing. Govt pouring money into #AI "support" that is not only full of corporate presence, but also virtually pointless for users AND those who have to encounter what users then produce.
And all of it could be delivered by humans, helping humans.
And all of it could be delivered by humans, helping humans.
The course concludes by... prompting* me to sign up for a ChatGPT account. I hope Accenture got paid by ChatGPT, and the govt. got paid by Accenture, and... nobody's paying me are they? No.
*see what I did there? I got ChatGPT to write that**.
** nope.
*see what I did there? I got ChatGPT to write that**.
** nope.
January 29, 2026 at 10:28 AM
This thread is humorous but just so predictably depressing. Govt pouring money into #AI "support" that is not only full of corporate presence, but also virtually pointless for users AND those who have to encounter what users then produce.
And all of it could be delivered by humans, helping humans.
And all of it could be delivered by humans, helping humans.
Reposted by Arete Roper
Grim news for particle physics, astronomy & nuclear physics research in UK. 30% cut overall with projects asked to consider options ranging to a 60% cut. These areas are a huge success for the UK internationally and a great inspiration to the next generation of scientists and engineers.
The Royal Astronomical Society is gravely concerned at the drastic cuts to support for UK astronomy outlined by the Science and Technology Facilities Council.
Read our statement 👉 ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...
Read our statement 👉 ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...
Proposed budget cuts a catastrophe for UK astronomy
The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) is gravely concerned at the drastic cuts to support for UK astronomy outlined by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (...
ras.ac.uk
January 29, 2026 at 8:48 AM
Grim news for particle physics, astronomy & nuclear physics research in UK. 30% cut overall with projects asked to consider options ranging to a 60% cut. These areas are a huge success for the UK internationally and a great inspiration to the next generation of scientists and engineers.
Reposted by Arete Roper
They want the right to break into your home, disappear your neighbor, take your children, beat you, execute you in the street, and then tell you—while the sound is still ringing in your ears and the image hasn’t faded from behind your eyes—that what you saw is not what you have seen.
January 29, 2026 at 8:14 AM
They want the right to break into your home, disappear your neighbor, take your children, beat you, execute you in the street, and then tell you—while the sound is still ringing in your ears and the image hasn’t faded from behind your eyes—that what you saw is not what you have seen.
Reposted by Arete Roper
open.substack.com/pub/jojofrom...
Republicans want to decide what books you can read, what history your kids can learn, which medicines you’re allowed to take, what surgeries you can have, what gender you’re permitted to be, what sports you can play, which bathroom you can use,
Republicans want to decide what books you can read, what history your kids can learn, which medicines you’re allowed to take, what surgeries you can have, what gender you’re permitted to be, what sports you can play, which bathroom you can use,
They Are Coming for Your Freedoms
State Violence, Manufactured Lies, and the Dangerous Comfort of “Not Yet”
open.substack.com
January 29, 2026 at 8:14 AM
open.substack.com/pub/jojofrom...
Republicans want to decide what books you can read, what history your kids can learn, which medicines you’re allowed to take, what surgeries you can have, what gender you’re permitted to be, what sports you can play, which bathroom you can use,
Republicans want to decide what books you can read, what history your kids can learn, which medicines you’re allowed to take, what surgeries you can have, what gender you’re permitted to be, what sports you can play, which bathroom you can use,
Reposted by Arete Roper
'Fruit Trees.' Albert Fiks experimented with different styles and then combined them in his own way in his work. With his abstract style, he chose the path of his friend Piet Mondrian. This work from his Cubist period, was made in 1932.
January 29, 2026 at 8:48 AM
'Fruit Trees.' Albert Fiks experimented with different styles and then combined them in his own way in his work. With his abstract style, he chose the path of his friend Piet Mondrian. This work from his Cubist period, was made in 1932.
Reposted by Arete Roper
An excellent night @bournemouthuni.bsky.social with Dave Parham launching the new @archaeopress.bsky.social book:
The Swash Channel Wreck: An Archaeological Investigation of a 17th-Century Armed Dutch Merchantman
@buresearch.bsky.social @buarchanth.bsky.social #Marine #Archaeology
The Swash Channel Wreck: An Archaeological Investigation of a 17th-Century Armed Dutch Merchantman
@buresearch.bsky.social @buarchanth.bsky.social #Marine #Archaeology
January 29, 2026 at 12:00 AM
An excellent night @bournemouthuni.bsky.social with Dave Parham launching the new @archaeopress.bsky.social book:
The Swash Channel Wreck: An Archaeological Investigation of a 17th-Century Armed Dutch Merchantman
@buresearch.bsky.social @buarchanth.bsky.social #Marine #Archaeology
The Swash Channel Wreck: An Archaeological Investigation of a 17th-Century Armed Dutch Merchantman
@buresearch.bsky.social @buarchanth.bsky.social #Marine #Archaeology
Reposted by Arete Roper
What we all need to see is a red squirrel in a power pose.
You're welcome.
You're welcome.
January 29, 2026 at 8:21 AM
What we all need to see is a red squirrel in a power pose.
You're welcome.
You're welcome.
Reposted by Arete Roper
Neolithic entrance and passageway at Skara Brae on Orkney. Occupied from around 3100 to 2500 BC, the prehistoric settlement is one of the best preserved in the British Isles. 📸 My own. #AdoorableThursday #SkaraBrae #Archaeology #Orkney
January 29, 2026 at 7:28 AM
Neolithic entrance and passageway at Skara Brae on Orkney. Occupied from around 3100 to 2500 BC, the prehistoric settlement is one of the best preserved in the British Isles. 📸 My own. #AdoorableThursday #SkaraBrae #Archaeology #Orkney
Reposted by Arete Roper
i can confirm the chats I’m in which include renowned security specialists - people who actually advise on how to protect your comms from authoritarian dictators for a living - also think this outburst of paranoia about Signal is really weird and unwarranted
every Signal chat of laypeople is losing their minds over the wildest opsec advice imaginable and every Signal chat of security professionals is like “dude wtf”
The vast majority of problems can be avoided by not being foolish, being aware of your surroundings, and using common sense
The vast majority of problems can be avoided by not being foolish, being aware of your surroundings, and using common sense
January 29, 2026 at 5:15 AM
i can confirm the chats I’m in which include renowned security specialists - people who actually advise on how to protect your comms from authoritarian dictators for a living - also think this outburst of paranoia about Signal is really weird and unwarranted
Reposted by Arete Roper
For a weekly seminar class, I'm looking for pairings of psych popularization with scholarly take-downs of the underlying research. I want students to see examples of how shoddy research gets hyped.
January 29, 2026 at 5:49 AM
For a weekly seminar class, I'm looking for pairings of psych popularization with scholarly take-downs of the underlying research. I want students to see examples of how shoddy research gets hyped.
Reposted by Arete Roper
The Deportation Data Project has some interesting information about how people are being arrested by immigration police and what is happening.
First thing worth pointing out, the increased number of immigration arrests are from massive "street arrests" and more transfers from other agencies.
First thing worth pointing out, the increased number of immigration arrests are from massive "street arrests" and more transfers from other agencies.
January 29, 2026 at 2:28 AM
The Deportation Data Project has some interesting information about how people are being arrested by immigration police and what is happening.
First thing worth pointing out, the increased number of immigration arrests are from massive "street arrests" and more transfers from other agencies.
First thing worth pointing out, the increased number of immigration arrests are from massive "street arrests" and more transfers from other agencies.
Reposted by Arete Roper
It’s really difficult & disorienting but the feds hit LA extremely hard today. There were kidnappings all over & reported cluster raids in Chinatown, East LA, Ktown. This list shows to 1130 AM but they haven’t stopped all day
Just because the media attention stopped doesn’t mean the abductions have
Just because the media attention stopped doesn’t mean the abductions have
January 28, 2026 at 11:00 PM
It’s really difficult & disorienting but the feds hit LA extremely hard today. There were kidnappings all over & reported cluster raids in Chinatown, East LA, Ktown. This list shows to 1130 AM but they haven’t stopped all day
Just because the media attention stopped doesn’t mean the abductions have
Just because the media attention stopped doesn’t mean the abductions have
Reposted by Arete Roper
This is amazing and not Al:
youtu.be/ovzoNbUkg6k?...
youtu.be/ovzoNbUkg6k?...
This Is 40,000 Years of London’s History—Made Entirely of Paper | National Geographic
YouTube video by National Geographic
youtu.be
January 28, 2026 at 11:33 PM
This is amazing and not Al:
youtu.be/ovzoNbUkg6k?...
youtu.be/ovzoNbUkg6k?...
Reposted by Arete Roper
Moving and heartbreaking piece from @marisakabas.bsky.social www.thehandbasket.co/p/crackdown-...
Crackdown
Writing through history and heartbreak.
www.thehandbasket.co
January 28, 2026 at 11:09 PM
Moving and heartbreaking piece from @marisakabas.bsky.social www.thehandbasket.co/p/crackdown-...
Reposted by Arete Roper
New planet just dropped and it
1) is almost exactly Earth-sized
2) has a year that's almost exactly 1 Earth year.
3) orbits a star that is not a 💢temperamental little shit M-dwarf 💢but is instead a 🧡 good orange boi 🧡
Me for @science.org based on results presented at #RockyWorlds4: 🔭🧪
1) is almost exactly Earth-sized
2) has a year that's almost exactly 1 Earth year.
3) orbits a star that is not a 💢temperamental little shit M-dwarf 💢but is instead a 🧡 good orange boi 🧡
Me for @science.org based on results presented at #RockyWorlds4: 🔭🧪
Earth-size planet spotted with yearlong orbit
Long-overlooked Kepler signal discovered by citizen scientists reveals promising world worth a closer look
www.science.org
January 28, 2026 at 9:42 PM
New planet just dropped and it
1) is almost exactly Earth-sized
2) has a year that's almost exactly 1 Earth year.
3) orbits a star that is not a 💢temperamental little shit M-dwarf 💢but is instead a 🧡 good orange boi 🧡
Me for @science.org based on results presented at #RockyWorlds4: 🔭🧪
1) is almost exactly Earth-sized
2) has a year that's almost exactly 1 Earth year.
3) orbits a star that is not a 💢temperamental little shit M-dwarf 💢but is instead a 🧡 good orange boi 🧡
Me for @science.org based on results presented at #RockyWorlds4: 🔭🧪
Reposted by Arete Roper
Katherine Bennell-Pegg is a superstar. Here she is in conversation with Julia Gillard.
overcast.fm/+AAygdFxbcW8
overcast.fm/+AAygdFxbcW8
Katherine Bennell-Pegg on making history as Australia’s first astronaut, the intense training and why space travel is worth the risks — A Podcast of One's Own with Julia Gillard
When Katherine Bennell-Pegg was in high school, she was asked to write down three career options to pursue. She wrote down one - astronaut.Last year, she not only fulfilled that ambition but she made ...
overcast.fm
January 29, 2026 at 1:09 AM
Katherine Bennell-Pegg is a superstar. Here she is in conversation with Julia Gillard.
overcast.fm/+AAygdFxbcW8
overcast.fm/+AAygdFxbcW8
Reposted by Arete Roper
Reposted by Arete Roper
If you feel "hamstrung" by human rights laws and by health and safety laws - you are the person those laws were designed to protect us against. You need to be obstructed by those laws.
Also, she's lying.
Also, she's lying.
Suella Braverman, "There is a very strong case to increase the powers of any immigration enforcement officers that we deploy"
"At the moment they're hamstrung by human rights laws, by health and safety laws, by all sorts of needless and obstructive bureaucracy"
"At the moment they're hamstrung by human rights laws, by health and safety laws, by all sorts of needless and obstructive bureaucracy"
January 27, 2026 at 9:28 PM
If you feel "hamstrung" by human rights laws and by health and safety laws - you are the person those laws were designed to protect us against. You need to be obstructed by those laws.
Also, she's lying.
Also, she's lying.
Reposted by Arete Roper
In summary, from both a personal and professional perspective, to hinder access to HPV vaccine would be to directly cause preventable deaths in both men and women, and to cost the U.S. $8B per year.
And I will fight it with everything in my power, I can promise you that.
And I will fight it with everything in my power, I can promise you that.
January 28, 2026 at 8:03 PM
In summary, from both a personal and professional perspective, to hinder access to HPV vaccine would be to directly cause preventable deaths in both men and women, and to cost the U.S. $8B per year.
And I will fight it with everything in my power, I can promise you that.
And I will fight it with everything in my power, I can promise you that.
Reposted by Arete Roper
Timeline cleanse
January 28, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Timeline cleanse
Reposted by Arete Roper
A picture of record: Jacob Nieweg's painting (1927) shows Charley Toorop working on a portrait of Nieweg and his wife Niene. In first half of the 20thC, Toorop was one of the most prominent and influential modernist painters in The Netherlands.
January 28, 2026 at 7:44 PM
A picture of record: Jacob Nieweg's painting (1927) shows Charley Toorop working on a portrait of Nieweg and his wife Niene. In first half of the 20thC, Toorop was one of the most prominent and influential modernist painters in The Netherlands.
Reposted by Arete Roper
I gave a talk on how AI can entrench (or overcome) intergroup bias at the Psych of Tech conference
You can now watch the full talk here: youtu.be/XtIPjSrXAhM
You can now watch the full talk here: youtu.be/XtIPjSrXAhM
January 28, 2026 at 7:40 PM
I gave a talk on how AI can entrench (or overcome) intergroup bias at the Psych of Tech conference
You can now watch the full talk here: youtu.be/XtIPjSrXAhM
You can now watch the full talk here: youtu.be/XtIPjSrXAhM
Reposted by Arete Roper
Who has shaped how we understand the human mind?
Nominations for the David E. Rumelhart Prize are open through Feb 23, 2026 🗓️
Visit cognitivesciencesociety.org/rumelhart-pr... to learn about past recipients and submit a nomination!
Nominations for the David E. Rumelhart Prize are open through Feb 23, 2026 🗓️
Visit cognitivesciencesociety.org/rumelhart-pr... to learn about past recipients and submit a nomination!
January 28, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Who has shaped how we understand the human mind?
Nominations for the David E. Rumelhart Prize are open through Feb 23, 2026 🗓️
Visit cognitivesciencesociety.org/rumelhart-pr... to learn about past recipients and submit a nomination!
Nominations for the David E. Rumelhart Prize are open through Feb 23, 2026 🗓️
Visit cognitivesciencesociety.org/rumelhart-pr... to learn about past recipients and submit a nomination!