Chris Lintott
@chrislintott.bsky.social
Astronomer, writer and zookeeper. Oxford, Gresham and the Zooniverse. The human half of the Dog Stars podcast. New book: 'Our Accidental Universe' (UK/rest of world) and 'Accidental Astronomy (US) now out.
Pinned
Chris Lintott
@chrislintott.bsky.social
Β· Jul 24
As a present for my 25th anniversary on #SkyatNight, the team made a montage for me, complete with dodgy hair, odd shirt choices and all the rest... Enjoy! π π°οΈ π§ͺ
*most theorists
February 12, 2026 at 6:06 PM
*most theorists
I think it would be a shame to declare that astrophysics can only be done within the professional field. What about retired colleagues or those who have moved on? Citizen scientists? Amateur observers? Experts from other fields? One could validate people, but that doesn't work well for arXiv.
February 12, 2026 at 3:28 PM
I think it would be a shame to declare that astrophysics can only be done within the professional field. What about retired colleagues or those who have moved on? Citizen scientists? Amateur observers? Experts from other fields? One could validate people, but that doesn't work well for arXiv.
Reposted by Chris Lintott
If you are a physics teacher in the uk, or know one, please consider signing this open letter on the impact of cuts to the funding for astronomy research:
ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...
ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...
Open letter on astronomy cuts from UK physics teachers
drupal-media[data-view-mode=half_page_width] { display: inline-block; width: 50%; } The Royal Astronomical Society is encouraging physics teachers in the UK to sign ...
ras.ac.uk
February 12, 2026 at 3:08 PM
If you are a physics teacher in the uk, or know one, please consider signing this open letter on the impact of cuts to the funding for astronomy research:
ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...
ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...
From what I can tell, most of them think that they have the capacity to make a contribution (with LLMs). I thought Hogg's distinction about 'wanting the result' and 'wanting to do astrophysics' very useful in thinking about this.
February 12, 2026 at 3:08 PM
From what I can tell, most of them think that they have the capacity to make a contribution (with LLMs). I thought Hogg's distinction about 'wanting the result' and 'wanting to do astrophysics' very useful in thinking about this.
There are a large number of people outside the professional academic system who want to write papers with LLMs. (Perhaps a separate problem, but still part of it, and it shows it's not all about advancement within the field)
February 12, 2026 at 3:00 PM
There are a large number of people outside the professional academic system who want to write papers with LLMs. (Perhaps a separate problem, but still part of it, and it shows it's not all about advancement within the field)
Ah, but how? One obvious answer (which gets at what Hogg has to say about trust) is that it goes back to being a closed shop, reversing progress in open science.
February 12, 2026 at 2:47 PM
Ah, but how? One obvious answer (which gets at what Hogg has to say about trust) is that it goes back to being a closed shop, reversing progress in open science.
I'm worried we're very close to this.
February 12, 2026 at 2:35 PM
I'm worried we're very close to this.
I'm reminded of the old saw about wanting AI to take care of the admin and the washing up, while we do the science and art, but getting the opposite. I want ML tools for better review, but instead we're spending human effort on reviewing ML output.
February 12, 2026 at 2:04 PM
I'm reminded of the old saw about wanting AI to take care of the admin and the washing up, while we do the science and art, but getting the opposite. I want ML tools for better review, but instead we're spending human effort on reviewing ML output.
Astronomers: highly recommend this thoughtful opinion piece by @hogg.bsky.social on how to think about our field in light of the development of large language models. whether you agree with him or not itβs vital to discuss the principles behind our science. π arxiv.org/abs/2602.10181
Why do we do astrophysics?
At time of writing, large language models (LLMs) are beginning to obtain the ability to design, execute, write up, and referee scientific projects on the data-science side of astrophysics. What implic...
arxiv.org
February 12, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Astronomers: highly recommend this thoughtful opinion piece by @hogg.bsky.social on how to think about our field in light of the development of large language models. whether you agree with him or not itβs vital to discuss the principles behind our science. π arxiv.org/abs/2602.10181
Reposted by Chris Lintott
UK undergrads - UK Space Agency Internships Programme is running this summer. Is paid too (Β£5k for 8 weeks).
web-eur.cvent.com/event/2a6caf...
web-eur.cvent.com/event/2a6caf...
Skills for Space: UK Space Agency Internships Programme.
web-eur.cvent.com
February 12, 2026 at 11:48 AM
UK undergrads - UK Space Agency Internships Programme is running this summer. Is paid too (Β£5k for 8 weeks).
web-eur.cvent.com/event/2a6caf...
web-eur.cvent.com/event/2a6caf...
And then apologised to his compatriot who had one the gold medal for the distraction.
February 11, 2026 at 12:49 PM
And then apologised to his compatriot who had one the gold medal for the distraction.
Just a note to say this post just proved genuinely useful, and may have prevented my annual winter sadness about my bike lock.
February 11, 2026 at 11:37 AM
Just a note to say this post just proved genuinely useful, and may have prevented my annual winter sadness about my bike lock.
Where's that? Lovely stuff.
February 11, 2026 at 10:48 AM
Where's that? Lovely stuff.
As Emily says, we need to probe Uranus to find out whatβs inside.
(& Neptune too)
(& Neptune too)
They were wrong about whatβs inside Uranus
(Jokes aside, there have been a bajillion modeling papers about the internal structure of Uranus and Neptune and none of them will be provably right or wrong until we get a damn orbiter to one of them)
(Jokes aside, there have been a bajillion modeling papers about the internal structure of Uranus and Neptune and none of them will be provably right or wrong until we get a damn orbiter to one of them)
Uranus and Neptune may be more rocky than icy. @physicsworld.bsky.social @iop.org π #planetaryscience
physicsworld.com/a/uranus-and...
physicsworld.com/a/uranus-and...
February 11, 2026 at 7:03 AM
As Emily says, we need to probe Uranus to find out whatβs inside.
(& Neptune too)
(& Neptune too)
Bonus points for twice hitting 'by the end of the year' deadlines on New Years Eve along the way.
February 10, 2026 at 11:05 AM
Bonus points for twice hitting 'by the end of the year' deadlines on New Years Eve along the way.
Congratulations to the authors of the paper I just accepted for @publishing.aas.org. First submitted on the 30th June 2021. π
February 10, 2026 at 11:03 AM
Congratulations to the authors of the paper I just accepted for @publishing.aas.org. First submitted on the 30th June 2021. π
Weβre bringing our mix of comedy and science to Oxfordβs best basement next Thursday, the 19th. Tickets available here: wegottickets.com/f/15055/
Do come, itβll be a blast.
Do come, itβll be a blast.
Huh, That's Funny
A night where comedy and science collide.
Join a collection of comedians, scientists and the just plain curious in Jericho's most comfortable basement for a night that will make you laugh...and then ...
wegottickets.com
February 9, 2026 at 5:41 PM
Weβre bringing our mix of comedy and science to Oxfordβs best basement next Thursday, the 19th. Tickets available here: wegottickets.com/f/15055/
Do come, itβll be a blast.
Do come, itβll be a blast.
Which contains Swindon Town Football Club
February 9, 2026 at 2:15 PM
Which contains Swindon Town Football Club
So this considers both who we follow and who follows us? Interesting stuff.
February 9, 2026 at 7:09 AM
So this considers both who we follow and who follows us? Interesting stuff.
Yes, you need some uk people (& for a bank account possibly a majority)
February 8, 2026 at 1:51 PM
Yes, you need some uk people (& for a bank account possibly a majority)
Setting up a small charity is pretty easy in the UK. I can help if you want?
February 8, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Setting up a small charity is pretty easy in the UK. I can help if you want?
Reposted by Chris Lintott
The money does not go into space. The money does not go into space.
The money does not go into space.
Sure, the money helps us in exploring and understanding the universe, but the money actually goes to people, to local economies, to universities, it provides jobs, and gets young people into STEM.
The money does not go into space.
Sure, the money helps us in exploring and understanding the universe, but the money actually goes to people, to local economies, to universities, it provides jobs, and gets young people into STEM.
Listeners to Radio 4βs Inside Science today get an essay from me in defence of astronomy as pure research. Please listen in and let me know what you think.
Show starts 4.30pm GMT here: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
Show starts 4.30pm GMT here: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
BBC Radio 4 - BBC Inside Science
A weekly programme looking at the science that's changing our world.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 8, 2026 at 11:37 AM
The money does not go into space. The money does not go into space.
The money does not go into space.
Sure, the money helps us in exploring and understanding the universe, but the money actually goes to people, to local economies, to universities, it provides jobs, and gets young people into STEM.
The money does not go into space.
Sure, the money helps us in exploring and understanding the universe, but the money actually goes to people, to local economies, to universities, it provides jobs, and gets young people into STEM.
Reposted by Chris Lintott
My cartoon for this weekβs @newscientist.com
February 8, 2026 at 11:29 AM
My cartoon for this weekβs @newscientist.com
Reposted by Chris Lintott
Poignant words by @chrislintott.bsky.social (starting at 7:33 min) about why UK funding of astronomy is an investment that has been returning more that the UK spends & why these huge funding cuts to physics & astronomy with STFC (Science and Technology Facilities Council) will be devastating ππ§ͺ
Listeners to Radio 4βs Inside Science today get an essay from me in defence of astronomy as pure research. Please listen in and let me know what you think.
Show starts 4.30pm GMT here: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
Show starts 4.30pm GMT here: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
BBC Radio 4 - BBC Inside Science
A weekly programme looking at the science that's changing our world.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 8, 2026 at 11:26 AM
Poignant words by @chrislintott.bsky.social (starting at 7:33 min) about why UK funding of astronomy is an investment that has been returning more that the UK spends & why these huge funding cuts to physics & astronomy with STFC (Science and Technology Facilities Council) will be devastating ππ§ͺ
Reposted by Chris Lintott
If you've got pre-teens in your lives, check out the Feb #Alien edition of Aquila, with #comic artist Edward Ross & me. We visit #K2-18b, aka "The Planet of the Plankton", to see how #JWST detects chemicals on distant planets, & show that sensational science reporting isn't always to be believed.ππ§ͺ
February 8, 2026 at 10:07 AM
If you've got pre-teens in your lives, check out the Feb #Alien edition of Aquila, with #comic artist Edward Ross & me. We visit #K2-18b, aka "The Planet of the Plankton", to see how #JWST detects chemicals on distant planets, & show that sensational science reporting isn't always to be believed.ππ§ͺ