Katy Huff
@katyhuff.bsky.social
Into bikes, nuclear energy, vegetables, coffee, scientific computing, & public radio. Currently a professor at UIUC NPRE . Former NE-1. (she/her)
Pinned
Loosening Radiation Rules Won’t Help Us Get Nuclear Power Any Faster
Relaxing radiation safety standards could place women and children at higher risks of health issues
www.scientificamerican.com
Happy Friday, folks! I authored a piece that appeared in Scientific American this afternoon. Some folks will see the title of this piece and worry I have turned against nuclear energy. I assure you I have not.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/weak...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/weak...
Reposted by Katy Huff
Happening soon! Register to watch online (or attend in person) at 0900 this morning. carnegieendowment.org/events/2026/...
Bluff or Death? How to Assess Nuclear “Threats”
In turbulent times, the less precise our nuclear discourse, the more fear nuclear manipulators can elicit.
carnegieendowment.org
February 10, 2026 at 1:20 PM
Happening soon! Register to watch online (or attend in person) at 0900 this morning. carnegieendowment.org/events/2026/...
And even if they're drug traffickers, it's not a capital offense.
And even capital offenses deserve due process.
And even capital offenses deserve due process.
There’s no war.
The US wasn’t attacked, and isn’t under imminent threat.
Congress didn’t authorize it.
Treaties don’t allow it.
Drugs aren’t armaments.
Drug traffickers aren’t terrorists.
Even with all that, we don’t know these were all drug traffickers.
And even if they were, they’re low level.
The US wasn’t attacked, and isn’t under imminent threat.
Congress didn’t authorize it.
Treaties don’t allow it.
Drugs aren’t armaments.
Drug traffickers aren’t terrorists.
Even with all that, we don’t know these were all drug traffickers.
And even if they were, they’re low level.
We are murdering people and it is basically just background noise at this point. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/u...
February 10, 2026 at 12:58 PM
And even if they're drug traffickers, it's not a capital offense.
And even capital offenses deserve due process.
And even capital offenses deserve due process.
This nice clear summary from John Fabian at @americannuclear.bsky.social on the last few years of shifting nuclear energy policy in Illinois is going straight into next week's reading list for my undergrad nuclear power economics and fuel cycle class! www.ans.org/news/2026-02...
From uncertainty to vitality: The future of nuclear energy in Illinois
www.ans.org
February 7, 2026 at 2:42 PM
This nice clear summary from John Fabian at @americannuclear.bsky.social on the last few years of shifting nuclear energy policy in Illinois is going straight into next week's reading list for my undergrad nuclear power economics and fuel cycle class! www.ans.org/news/2026-02...
Reposted by Katy Huff
It's Friday night.
I did enough this week.
You did enough this week.
I did enough this week.
You did enough this week.
February 7, 2026 at 12:15 AM
It's Friday night.
I did enough this week.
You did enough this week.
I did enough this week.
You did enough this week.
Reposted by Katy Huff
If Congress doesn’t act, the last nuclear arms control treaty between the U.S. and Russia will expire. It would pointlessly wipe out decades of diplomacy, and could spark another arms race that makes the world less safe. This piece is worth the read.
Opinion | Let the Arms Race Begin
www.nytimes.com
February 2, 2026 at 2:01 PM
If Congress doesn’t act, the last nuclear arms control treaty between the U.S. and Russia will expire. It would pointlessly wipe out decades of diplomacy, and could spark another arms race that makes the world less safe. This piece is worth the read.
My favorite burrito truck guy gave me a free horchata today. The juxtaposition against the state of the world was just too much.
I nearly wept right there in the burrito line.
I nearly wept right there in the burrito line.
February 2, 2026 at 7:33 PM
My favorite burrito truck guy gave me a free horchata today. The juxtaposition against the state of the world was just too much.
I nearly wept right there in the burrito line.
I nearly wept right there in the burrito line.
Reposted by Katy Huff
One of the best feelings as a writer is seeing your work in print for the first time. This book was a labour of love; I poured many hours of research and reflection into it, and I can’t wait for it to land in bookstores around the world tomorrow. If you read it, let me know what you think! 📚 ⚛️ 🌱
February 2, 2026 at 11:21 AM
One of the best feelings as a writer is seeing your work in print for the first time. This book was a labour of love; I poured many hours of research and reflection into it, and I can’t wait for it to land in bookstores around the world tomorrow. If you read it, let me know what you think! 📚 ⚛️ 🌱
Reposted by Katy Huff
It's Friday night.
I've done enouuuuuuugh this week.
You've done enough this week.
I've done enouuuuuuugh this week.
You've done enough this week.
January 30, 2026 at 11:05 PM
It's Friday night.
I've done enouuuuuuugh this week.
You've done enough this week.
I've done enouuuuuuugh this week.
You've done enough this week.
Reposted by Katy Huff
January 30, 2026 at 9:02 AM
Reposted by Katy Huff
Golly, we haven't had a nuclear agreement with Iran since (checks notes) Trump's last term.
January 28, 2026 at 12:42 PM
Golly, we haven't had a nuclear agreement with Iran since (checks notes) Trump's last term.
Reposted by Katy Huff
EXCLSUVIE: The Trump administration has secretly rewritten nuclear safety rules and shared them with the companies they're meant to regulate, without making the new rules publicly available.
We've obtained a copy of the new rules and here's what we found.
www.npr.org/2026/01/28/n...
We've obtained a copy of the new rules and here's what we found.
www.npr.org/2026/01/28/n...
The Trump administration has secretly rewritten nuclear safety rules
The rewrite was done to speed up the construction of a new generation of nuclear reactors. Critics warn it could compromise safety and public trust.
www.npr.org
January 28, 2026 at 10:23 AM
EXCLSUVIE: The Trump administration has secretly rewritten nuclear safety rules and shared them with the companies they're meant to regulate, without making the new rules publicly available.
We've obtained a copy of the new rules and here's what we found.
www.npr.org/2026/01/28/n...
We've obtained a copy of the new rules and here's what we found.
www.npr.org/2026/01/28/n...
Reposted by Katy Huff
On Holocaust Remembrance Day, we remember the more than 6 million Jews — and millions of others — who were murdered by the brutal Nazi regime.
May their memory be a reminder that we must fight antisemitism, hatred, & bigotry in all their forms.
Never Again.
May their memory be a reminder that we must fight antisemitism, hatred, & bigotry in all their forms.
Never Again.
January 27, 2026 at 10:58 PM
On Holocaust Remembrance Day, we remember the more than 6 million Jews — and millions of others — who were murdered by the brutal Nazi regime.
May their memory be a reminder that we must fight antisemitism, hatred, & bigotry in all their forms.
Never Again.
May their memory be a reminder that we must fight antisemitism, hatred, & bigotry in all their forms.
Never Again.
Thank you for your service. It's certainly worth reviewing allowable risk for radiation workers (e.g. explicit dose limits that don't create ALARA quagmires?)
LNT, the dose-risk model, does not have to be thrown out to accomplish that. It is conservative, but its the most defensible model we have.
LNT, the dose-risk model, does not have to be thrown out to accomplish that. It is conservative, but its the most defensible model we have.
January 26, 2026 at 11:37 PM
Thank you for your service. It's certainly worth reviewing allowable risk for radiation workers (e.g. explicit dose limits that don't create ALARA quagmires?)
LNT, the dose-risk model, does not have to be thrown out to accomplish that. It is conservative, but its the most defensible model we have.
LNT, the dose-risk model, does not have to be thrown out to accomplish that. It is conservative, but its the most defensible model we have.
The article simply recommends more data before dropping LNT or raising dose limits. It says nothing about ALARA, which I think you might be referring to.
While I've not 'stood nuclear watches,' I've donned and doffed many times & am well aware of operational realities at nuclear energy facilities.
While I've not 'stood nuclear watches,' I've donned and doffed many times & am well aware of operational realities at nuclear energy facilities.
January 26, 2026 at 10:28 PM
The article simply recommends more data before dropping LNT or raising dose limits. It says nothing about ALARA, which I think you might be referring to.
While I've not 'stood nuclear watches,' I've donned and doffed many times & am well aware of operational realities at nuclear energy facilities.
While I've not 'stood nuclear watches,' I've donned and doffed many times & am well aware of operational realities at nuclear energy facilities.
Precisely! It shouldn't even need to be said! But here we are, with white house executive orders demanding change with no basis. And so we have to state the obvious.
January 24, 2026 at 12:45 PM
Precisely! It shouldn't even need to be said! But here we are, with white house executive orders demanding change with no basis. And so we have to state the obvious.
Reposted by Katy Huff
A high of -11 and thousands in the streets. So proud of Minnesota. #minnesota #democracy
January 23, 2026 at 11:47 PM
A high of -11 and thousands in the streets. So proud of Minnesota. #minnesota #democracy
Reposted by Katy Huff
FYI Everyone if you want the joke cover sheets as a PDF here they are from The Federation of American Scientists. web.archive.org/web/20051216...
web.archive.org
January 24, 2026 at 3:44 AM
FYI Everyone if you want the joke cover sheets as a PDF here they are from The Federation of American Scientists. web.archive.org/web/20051216...
Reposted by Katy Huff
It's Friday night.
I've done enough this week.
YOU'VE done enough this week.
Stay safe!
I've done enough this week.
YOU'VE done enough this week.
Stay safe!
January 24, 2026 at 12:13 AM
It's Friday night.
I've done enough this week.
YOU'VE done enough this week.
Stay safe!
I've done enough this week.
YOU'VE done enough this week.
Stay safe!
But, the public accepts the radiation risks inherent in medicine, industry and energy because they trust that standards have been set by credible experts relying on evidence who err on the side of caution when protecting human health.
So, I recommend more data.
So, I recommend more data.
January 24, 2026 at 12:38 AM
But, the public accepts the radiation risks inherent in medicine, industry and energy because they trust that standards have been set by credible experts relying on evidence who err on the side of caution when protecting human health.
So, I recommend more data.
So, I recommend more data.
I know that uncertainty is why regulators rely on a cautious approach like the LNT model, and also why some people question its use.
January 24, 2026 at 12:38 AM
I know that uncertainty is why regulators rely on a cautious approach like the LNT model, and also why some people question its use.
I want to see more nuclear energy on the grid soon. I know that LNT is conservative. I agree that at low doses, it becomes difficult to distinguish the health effects of radiation from the other environmental and lifestyle factors that can affect health.
January 24, 2026 at 12:38 AM
I want to see more nuclear energy on the grid soon. I know that LNT is conservative. I agree that at low doses, it becomes difficult to distinguish the health effects of radiation from the other environmental and lifestyle factors that can affect health.
We're exactly one month out from a February 23rd deadline for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to publish draft guidance reconsidering the Linear No-Threshold model. I simply argue that we need more data before NRC can seriously consider dropping LNT.
January 24, 2026 at 12:38 AM
We're exactly one month out from a February 23rd deadline for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to publish draft guidance reconsidering the Linear No-Threshold model. I simply argue that we need more data before NRC can seriously consider dropping LNT.
Happy Friday, folks! I authored a piece that appeared in Scientific American this afternoon. Some folks will see the title of this piece and worry I have turned against nuclear energy. I assure you I have not.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/weak...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/weak...
Loosening Radiation Rules Won’t Help Us Get Nuclear Power Any Faster
Relaxing radiation safety standards could place women and children at higher risks of health issues
www.scientificamerican.com
January 24, 2026 at 12:38 AM
Happy Friday, folks! I authored a piece that appeared in Scientific American this afternoon. Some folks will see the title of this piece and worry I have turned against nuclear energy. I assure you I have not.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/weak...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/weak...
But, what matters is that the public accepts the radiation risks inherent in medicine, industry and energy because they trust that standards have been set by credible experts relying on evidence who err on the side of caution when protecting human health.
So, I recommend more data.
So, I recommend more data.
January 23, 2026 at 10:30 PM
But, what matters is that the public accepts the radiation risks inherent in medicine, industry and energy because they trust that standards have been set by credible experts relying on evidence who err on the side of caution when protecting human health.
So, I recommend more data.
So, I recommend more data.