George Musser
@georgemusser.com
contributing editor, Scientific American, Nautilus; contributing writer, Quanta; author, Putting Ourselves Back in the Equation, Spooky Action at a Distance, Complete Idiot’s Guide to String Theory; planetary scientist, local historian, bassist, salsero
The question of whether LLMs are conscious is now settled. @erikhoel.blogsky.venki.dev’s approach is agnostic about which theory of consciousness is right. Empirically, LLMs are equivalent to a lookup table, which is manifestly not conscious. But a future A.I. system that learns on the fly might be.
Proving (literally) that ChatGPT isn't conscious
There is nothing it is like to be a Large Language Model
open.substack.com
January 15, 2026 at 4:10 PM
The question of whether LLMs are conscious is now settled. @erikhoel.blogsky.venki.dev’s approach is agnostic about which theory of consciousness is right. Empirically, LLMs are equivalent to a lookup table, which is manifestly not conscious. But a future A.I. system that learns on the fly might be.
Reposted by George Musser
There's a health issue affecting an astronaut aboard the ISS. www.space.com/space-explorati...
NASA considering bringing astronauts home early from International Space Station due to medical issue
"Safely conducting our missions is our highest priority, and we are actively evaluating all options, including the possibility of an earlier end to Crew-11's mission."
www.space.com
January 8, 2026 at 9:38 AM
There's a health issue affecting an astronaut aboard the ISS. www.space.com/space-explorati...
Reposted by George Musser
🧪 EXCLUSIVE 🧪 from @science.org: Scientists have swabbed a 500-year-old drawing attributed to Leonardo da Vinci—and may have found a piece of his DNA. www.science.org/content/arti...
Yes, really. A quick thread:
Yes, really. A quick thread:
Exclusive: Have scientists found Leonardo da Vinci’s DNA?
Inside the decadeslong quest to reveal the genes of a genius—and revolutionize art authentication
www.science.org
January 7, 2026 at 4:40 PM
🧪 EXCLUSIVE 🧪 from @science.org: Scientists have swabbed a 500-year-old drawing attributed to Leonardo da Vinci—and may have found a piece of his DNA. www.science.org/content/arti...
Yes, really. A quick thread:
Yes, really. A quick thread:
Reposted by George Musser
The battle to save NCAR has faded from the headlines, but it is not over.
www.eenews.net/articles/tak...
Call your Congressional reps and ask them to add language explicitly protecting NCAR to the spending package:
5calls.org/issue/ncar-n...
www.eenews.net/articles/tak...
Call your Congressional reps and ask them to add language explicitly protecting NCAR to the spending package:
5calls.org/issue/ncar-n...
Takeaways from Congress’ latest spending package
Lawmakers are moving to cut funding but rejecting severe reductions sought by the White House to energy and environment programs.
www.eenews.net
January 9, 2026 at 1:59 PM
The battle to save NCAR has faded from the headlines, but it is not over.
www.eenews.net/articles/tak...
Call your Congressional reps and ask them to add language explicitly protecting NCAR to the spending package:
5calls.org/issue/ncar-n...
www.eenews.net/articles/tak...
Call your Congressional reps and ask them to add language explicitly protecting NCAR to the spending package:
5calls.org/issue/ncar-n...
Reposted by George Musser
In quantum physics, even nothingness can be infinite. @georgemusser.com explains:
www.quantamagazine.org/in-quantum-m...
www.quantamagazine.org/in-quantum-m...
In Quantum Mechanics, Nothingness Is the Potential To Be Anything | Quanta Magazine
Try as they might, scientists can’t truly rid a space or an object of its energy. But what “zero-point energy” really means is up for interpretation.
www.quantamagazine.org
January 5, 2026 at 3:34 PM
In quantum physics, even nothingness can be infinite. @georgemusser.com explains:
www.quantamagazine.org/in-quantum-m...
www.quantamagazine.org/in-quantum-m...
Reposted by George Musser
Ex-Meta chief AI scientist Yann LeCun has Lunch with the FT and in one of those instances so rare that you know he didn't sign an NDA, says exactly why as.ft.com/r/e503690d-8...
January 2, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Ex-Meta chief AI scientist Yann LeCun has Lunch with the FT and in one of those instances so rare that you know he didn't sign an NDA, says exactly why as.ft.com/r/e503690d-8...
Reposted by George Musser
A reminder of the stunning rate of scientific progress: it’s only been 101 years that we’ve known the Universe is larger than the Milky Way. Now we know that it’s at least *1 million* times larger in linear size than the Milky Way (and probably 50 or more times larger than that, even).
Edwin Hubble announced OTD in 1925 that Andromeda and other spiral nebulae were in fact separate galaxies outside the Milky Way, in a paper read to an AAS meeting by H.N. Russell. The Universe was far larger than what many astronomers had imagined; more than just our little island of stars. 🧪 🔭
January 2, 2026 at 2:13 AM
A reminder of the stunning rate of scientific progress: it’s only been 101 years that we’ve known the Universe is larger than the Milky Way. Now we know that it’s at least *1 million* times larger in linear size than the Milky Way (and probably 50 or more times larger than that, even).
Reposted by George Musser
I learned "Mr Tambourine Man" because I want to use it in class next semester as my example of a I-IV-V song and, like all Dylan songs, it is much more musically interesting than you would think.
December 28, 2025 at 3:45 PM
I learned "Mr Tambourine Man" because I want to use it in class next semester as my example of a I-IV-V song and, like all Dylan songs, it is much more musically interesting than you would think.
"The silence from NJ’s loudest lawmakers was deafening last week after the Port Authority announced it would jack the PATH train fare from $3 to a whopping $4.... [A year ago] @govmurphy.bsky.social, @mikiesherrill.bsky.social... led a charge to try to kill the [Manhattan congestion] tolls."
NJ leaders who hated on congestion pricing notably silent on PATH fare hikes
The PATH fare is set to rise from $3 to $4 over the next four years.
gothamist.com
December 25, 2025 at 3:41 AM
"The silence from NJ’s loudest lawmakers was deafening last week after the Port Authority announced it would jack the PATH train fare from $3 to a whopping $4.... [A year ago] @govmurphy.bsky.social, @mikiesherrill.bsky.social... led a charge to try to kill the [Manhattan congestion] tolls."
Reposted by George Musser
Oliver Sacks was a hero of mine. I couldn't let @rachelaviv.bsky.social’s brilliant piece pass without comment. My latest, on why Sacks's fictions are so much worse than those of your garden-variety journalist fabulist.
. open.substack.com/pub/mariakon...
. open.substack.com/pub/mariakon...
The man who mistook his imagination for the truth
The disappointing reality of one of my (ex-)heroes, Oliver Sacks
open.substack.com
December 17, 2025 at 6:21 AM
Oliver Sacks was a hero of mine. I couldn't let @rachelaviv.bsky.social’s brilliant piece pass without comment. My latest, on why Sacks's fictions are so much worse than those of your garden-variety journalist fabulist.
. open.substack.com/pub/mariakon...
. open.substack.com/pub/mariakon...
Reposted by George Musser
If you are in the US and you would like to send a message to your elected representative about the proposed dissolution of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, @agu.org makes it easy with a template here: agu.quorum.us/campaign/151... #AGU25
Save NCAR from being dismantled today!
The Trump Administration has vowed to dissolve the center that provides critical extreme weather and climate data for our nation.
agu.quorum.us
December 18, 2025 at 8:01 PM
If you are in the US and you would like to send a message to your elected representative about the proposed dissolution of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, @agu.org makes it easy with a template here: agu.quorum.us/campaign/151... #AGU25
Reposted by George Musser
It is hard to overstate how critical @ncar-ucar.bsky.social is to climate science in the US and around the world. It's the beating heart of our field. Generations of scientists have trained there, and almost everyone I know relies on deep collaborations with NCAR scientists. It's end is unthinkable.
Exclusive: The Trump administration is moving to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, according to a senior White House official, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
Trump moves to dismantle major US climate research center in Colorado
The Trump administration is breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
bit.ly
December 17, 2025 at 2:50 AM
It is hard to overstate how critical @ncar-ucar.bsky.social is to climate science in the US and around the world. It's the beating heart of our field. Generations of scientists have trained there, and almost everyone I know relies on deep collaborations with NCAR scientists. It's end is unthinkable.
Reposted by George Musser
AGU has a Congressional email and call script up on NCAR:
Save NCAR from being dismantled today!
The Trump Administration has vowed to dissolve the center that provides critical extreme weather and climate data for our nation.
agu.quorum.us
December 17, 2025 at 7:33 PM
AGU has a Congressional email and call script up on NCAR:
Reposted by George Musser
💡 Mathematics is the research field that most likely could be automated. So, what will be left for humans to do?
Check out the analysis of the panel discussions on the topic at #HLF25 by George Musser:
👉 scilogs.spektrum.de/hlf/when-ai-...
Check out the analysis of the panel discussions on the topic at #HLF25 by George Musser:
👉 scilogs.spektrum.de/hlf/when-ai-...
When AI Can Do It All, What Will Be Left for Human Mathematicians and Scientists?
“I really want to see the proof of the Riemann hypothesis, whether it’s given to me by God or by an oracle or by the mind of Terence Tao.” Read more
scilogs.spektrum.de
December 17, 2025 at 1:21 PM
💡 Mathematics is the research field that most likely could be automated. So, what will be left for humans to do?
Check out the analysis of the panel discussions on the topic at #HLF25 by George Musser:
👉 scilogs.spektrum.de/hlf/when-ai-...
Check out the analysis of the panel discussions on the topic at #HLF25 by George Musser:
👉 scilogs.spektrum.de/hlf/when-ai-...
OK to lie on a job application to pass AI screening? @maxread.info says yes. "You owe the recruiters to whom you’re submitting your job application as much care and respect as they are showing you. Which is to say, if they’re using automatic sorting systems for sweeping eliminations, not very much."
My Boss Got Way Too Drunk at the Christmas Party
www.nytimes.com
December 15, 2025 at 6:30 PM
OK to lie on a job application to pass AI screening? @maxread.info says yes. "You owe the recruiters to whom you’re submitting your job application as much care and respect as they are showing you. Which is to say, if they’re using automatic sorting systems for sweeping eliminations, not very much."
"While elites of both parties have polarized ideologically... this process has been more precipitous for Republicans." Interesting analysis by @anastasiabzv.bsky.social and colleagues in @pnas.org. www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
December 13, 2025 at 7:14 PM
"While elites of both parties have polarized ideologically... this process has been more precipitous for Republicans." Interesting analysis by @anastasiabzv.bsky.social and colleagues in @pnas.org. www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by George Musser
We've collected rocks on Mars that might contain evidence of life. But now they might be stuck there.
My latest feature for @sciam.bsky.social delves into the beleaguered Mars Sample Return mission, and the quest to bring samples home. Can we pull it off?
www.scientificamerican.com/article/nasa...
My latest feature for @sciam.bsky.social delves into the beleaguered Mars Sample Return mission, and the quest to bring samples home. Can we pull it off?
www.scientificamerican.com/article/nasa...
NASA Found Something on Mars. Now We Might Just Leave It There
NASA spent years and billions of dollars collecting Martian samples to bring home. Now they might be stranded
www.scientificamerican.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:10 AM
We've collected rocks on Mars that might contain evidence of life. But now they might be stuck there.
My latest feature for @sciam.bsky.social delves into the beleaguered Mars Sample Return mission, and the quest to bring samples home. Can we pull it off?
www.scientificamerican.com/article/nasa...
My latest feature for @sciam.bsky.social delves into the beleaguered Mars Sample Return mission, and the quest to bring samples home. Can we pull it off?
www.scientificamerican.com/article/nasa...
Reposted by George Musser
KitKat was doomed largely bc of a series of Waymo business and engineering decisions:
- 5th gen robot sensor field of view decisions made years ago
- routinely deploying sw w inadequate situational awareness
- making Randa's Market a pickup location
- 5th gen robot sensor field of view decisions made years ago
- routinely deploying sw w inadequate situational awareness
- making Randa's Market a pickup location
December 5, 2025 at 2:31 PM
KitKat was doomed largely bc of a series of Waymo business and engineering decisions:
- 5th gen robot sensor field of view decisions made years ago
- routinely deploying sw w inadequate situational awareness
- making Randa's Market a pickup location
- 5th gen robot sensor field of view decisions made years ago
- routinely deploying sw w inadequate situational awareness
- making Randa's Market a pickup location
"Everything that isn’t a ghost is usually woven." LLMs’ style is hilarious but sobering: They make the curious word choices they do because that’s what most people rate as good writing. (PSA: When you see me using “delve,” “—”, and descriptive triplets, it’s really me!)
Why Does A.I. Write Like … That?
www.nytimes.com
December 3, 2025 at 6:58 PM
"Everything that isn’t a ghost is usually woven." LLMs’ style is hilarious but sobering: They make the curious word choices they do because that’s what most people rate as good writing. (PSA: When you see me using “delve,” “—”, and descriptive triplets, it’s really me!)
Reposted by George Musser
You've probably heard about how the rapidly increasing numbers of satellites are affecting #astronomy. A new paper in @nature.com looks at the possible future for space-based telescopes — and finds 96% of some images could be impacted. 🧪🔭🛰️
By @jennaahart.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
By @jennaahart.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Satellite swarms set to photobomb more than 95% of some telescopes’ images
Planned megaconstellations would contaminate the view of the cosmos of four orbiting telescopes
www.nature.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:16 PM
You've probably heard about how the rapidly increasing numbers of satellites are affecting #astronomy. A new paper in @nature.com looks at the possible future for space-based telescopes — and finds 96% of some images could be impacted. 🧪🔭🛰️
By @jennaahart.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
By @jennaahart.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by George Musser
Scientists: have you been the target of an online harassment campaign, doxxing, or weaponized FOIA requests? I'd like to talk to you about steps you had to take to protect your digital security for an upcoming Nature story. (You can be anonymous if necessary.)
RTs appreciated.
RTs appreciated.
November 26, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Scientists: have you been the target of an online harassment campaign, doxxing, or weaponized FOIA requests? I'd like to talk to you about steps you had to take to protect your digital security for an upcoming Nature story. (You can be anonymous if necessary.)
RTs appreciated.
RTs appreciated.
Reposted by George Musser
"Science is being destroyed across many agencies" say federal researchers.
For my latest @nature.com piece, I spoke to 19 different scientists across EPA, NOAA, NIH, NASA, and USGS to document how science is being dismantled across US federal agencies.
For my latest @nature.com piece, I spoke to 19 different scientists across EPA, NOAA, NIH, NASA, and USGS to document how science is being dismantled across US federal agencies.
Dismantling of US federal agencies will ‘destroy science’
From NASA to the National Institutes of Health, federal agencies conduct research that universities cannot. Agency scientists speak out about the irreplaceable facilities, institutional knowledge and ...
www.nature.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:58 PM
"Science is being destroyed across many agencies" say federal researchers.
For my latest @nature.com piece, I spoke to 19 different scientists across EPA, NOAA, NIH, NASA, and USGS to document how science is being dismantled across US federal agencies.
For my latest @nature.com piece, I spoke to 19 different scientists across EPA, NOAA, NIH, NASA, and USGS to document how science is being dismantled across US federal agencies.
"New York City's Citi Bike system costs more to ride than any other major bike-share system in the United States, Canada or Europe."
Lyft Hoses Citi Bike Riders Compared to Bike-Share in Other Cities: Report - Streetsblog New York City
New York City's Citi Bike system costs more to ride than any other major bike-share system in the United States, Canada or Europe.
nyc.streetsblog.org
November 20, 2025 at 1:58 PM
"New York City's Citi Bike system costs more to ride than any other major bike-share system in the United States, Canada or Europe."
"Witnesses said they saw KitKat sitting under the Waymo, and attempted to stop it from driving off.... 'It just…. ran over him.'" Well, why doesn't Waymo have some kind of emergency switch? Until it does, I refuse to ride in one.
A Robotaxi Killed a Beloved Bodega Cat in San Francisco. People Are Pissed
KitKat, known as the "Mayor of 16th Street," was killed by a Waymo cab last week. Now, some are callings for more regulation of driverless cars.
www.rollingstone.com
November 15, 2025 at 11:14 PM
"Witnesses said they saw KitKat sitting under the Waymo, and attempted to stop it from driving off.... 'It just…. ran over him.'" Well, why doesn't Waymo have some kind of emergency switch? Until it does, I refuse to ride in one.