Mikhail Kats
@mickeykats.bsky.social
Optics/photonics researcher, applied physicist, and faculty at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Personal account + opinions
Was @mickeykats on Twitter
Was @mickeykats on Twitter
I feel like the people most likely to move to bluesky are in a narrow age range, where there was a lot of idealism about the internet when we were young
February 16, 2026 at 4:50 AM
I feel like the people most likely to move to bluesky are in a narrow age range, where there was a lot of idealism about the internet when we were young
Not with that attitude
February 15, 2026 at 11:11 PM
Not with that attitude
Oh I see it now
Tempted to get an off-label one in a few years when I'm in my 40s
Tempted to get an off-label one in a few years when I'm in my 40s
February 15, 2026 at 11:05 PM
Oh I see it now
Tempted to get an off-label one in a few years when I'm in my 40s
Tempted to get an off-label one in a few years when I'm in my 40s
Given this explanation, I'm wondering if the guidance is going to eventually shift to have it earlier than 50s, and maybe with a booster later?
February 15, 2026 at 10:42 PM
Given this explanation, I'm wondering if the guidance is going to eventually shift to have it earlier than 50s, and maybe with a booster later?
Just realized I posted without finishing my thought. The reason they're able to do spectroscopy on such samples that are scattering and lossy is that they're using ATR
February 15, 2026 at 3:43 AM
Just realized I posted without finishing my thought. The reason they're able to do spectroscopy on such samples that are scattering and lossy is that they're using ATR
Hard to imagine anything could be done from your end.. seems like the PI there would need to apply for some REU supplement or something, and of course that happens slowly, especially now ...
February 13, 2026 at 6:31 PM
Hard to imagine anything could be done from your end.. seems like the PI there would need to apply for some REU supplement or something, and of course that happens slowly, especially now ...
I haven't gotten a quote or anything, but it's an FTIR and an ATR attachment, plus I assume some special software to analyze the relevant components
Maybe 30-50K?
Maybe 30-50K?
February 13, 2026 at 6:30 PM
I haven't gotten a quote or anything, but it's an FTIR and an ATR attachment, plus I assume some special software to analyze the relevant components
Maybe 30-50K?
Maybe 30-50K?
Trying to clarify:
An undergrad at your institution asking for funding to do a research project at a different institution, with a PI at that different institution?
Over the summer, or during the academic semester while still taking classes?
An undergrad at your institution asking for funding to do a research project at a different institution, with a PI at that different institution?
Over the summer, or during the academic semester while still taking classes?
February 11, 2026 at 4:43 PM
Trying to clarify:
An undergrad at your institution asking for funding to do a research project at a different institution, with a PI at that different institution?
Over the summer, or during the academic semester while still taking classes?
An undergrad at your institution asking for funding to do a research project at a different institution, with a PI at that different institution?
Over the summer, or during the academic semester while still taking classes?
It's a little besides the point but it surprises me how science funding seems to be in trouble basically everywhere (maybe not China?) at the same time
Shouldn't country try to zig while everyone else is zagging, and recruit a generation of top talent?
Shouldn't country try to zig while everyone else is zagging, and recruit a generation of top talent?
February 11, 2026 at 7:01 AM
It's a little besides the point but it surprises me how science funding seems to be in trouble basically everywhere (maybe not China?) at the same time
Shouldn't country try to zig while everyone else is zagging, and recruit a generation of top talent?
Shouldn't country try to zig while everyone else is zagging, and recruit a generation of top talent?
Oh this is wonderful news! Congratulations to my undergraduate academic advisor from circa 20 years ago =)
February 11, 2026 at 6:47 AM
Oh this is wonderful news! Congratulations to my undergraduate academic advisor from circa 20 years ago =)
Probably, but still I imagine that reviewer suggestions is how these places build up databases of willing reviewers
And it's how I make sure that junior folks around me get experience...
And it's how I make sure that junior folks around me get experience...
February 10, 2026 at 7:58 PM
Probably, but still I imagine that reviewer suggestions is how these places build up databases of willing reviewers
And it's how I make sure that junior folks around me get experience...
And it's how I make sure that junior folks around me get experience...
My favorite* dropdown is days of the week or months of a year, presented in alphabetical order
*not
*not
February 10, 2026 at 5:58 PM
My favorite* dropdown is days of the week or months of a year, presented in alphabetical order
*not
*not
Is Bluesky hopping for molecular & cell biologists, and cognitive neuroscience researchers?
February 10, 2026 at 5:40 AM
Is Bluesky hopping for molecular & cell biologists, and cognitive neuroscience researchers?
FYI this updated seems to have introduced a bug where my notifications are not properly clearing (at least on desktop/chrome)
February 10, 2026 at 1:35 AM
FYI this updated seems to have introduced a bug where my notifications are not properly clearing (at least on desktop/chrome)
I had the same experience. Went out of my way to send them an email a couple of times because I thought I did something wrong or it was a bug
February 9, 2026 at 6:40 PM
I had the same experience. Went out of my way to send them an email a couple of times because I thought I did something wrong or it was a bug