Author | Lightnews

Weronika Wojtak, PhD @wwojtak.bsky.social · 5d

(2/2) It made me think about how this might connect to the way some people spiral into negativity when interacting with chatbots. The idea that “at least they can express their negative emotions” doesn’t really hold up if that expression only deepens the negativity.
www.goodreads.com/book/show/53...

Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How…

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • An award-winning psychologist rev…

www.goodreads.com

Weronika Wojtak, PhD @wwojtak.bsky.social · 5d

(1/2) I’m reading Chatter by Ethan Kross at the moment, and it’s fascinating. One point that really stood out to me is how several studies show that repeatedly sharing negative emotions can actually make people feel worse, not better, which goes against what we often assume.

Weronika Wojtak, PhD @wwojtak.bsky.social · 5d

Just saw a video about “jailbreaking” the kindle. One of the big selling points was that you can run “ask chatgpt” directly on the kindle while reading. Like… why on earth would I want that? 😂
#reading #kindle #ai

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Weronika Wojtak, PhD @wwojtak.bsky.social · 8d

We like to think that understanding comes when things start to make sense.
But what if that feeling is the trap?

yesterdayilearned.substack.com/p/the-illusi...

#learning #ai #DunningKrugerEffect

The Illusion of Understanding

Why AI explanations can feel satisfying even when they are wrong

yesterdayilearned.substack.com

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Weronika Wojtak, PhD @wwojtak.bsky.social · 28d

A few months ago I got into knitting, so obviously I came across the Sophie Scarf and watched a tutorial, and now my YouTube homepage is full of videos debating whether the Sophie Scarf is cool or not. Like… since when do I need a committee to tell me if I’m allowed to like a scarf design😂 #knitting

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Weronika Wojtak, PhD @wwojtak.bsky.social · Sep 28

Robots are no longer just tools. They are moving into our spaces, learning to communicate, and becoming teammates we can trust. 🤖✨

Check out my high-level overview of human–robot interaction:

medium.com/@w.wojtak/wh...

#robotics #robots #ai #hri

When Robots Join the Team

A high-level overview of human–robot interaction and how robots are becoming collaborative partners

medium.com

Weronika Wojtak, PhD @wwojtak.bsky.social · Sep 15

This is another post about why I do not like some of the advice I see online 😂 and why personal accountability has always worked better for me.

#work #phd #productivity #goals

yesterdayilearned.substack.com/p/public-dec...

Public Declarations Don’t Motivate Me

Why I need personal accountability instead of broadcasting my goals

yesterdayilearned.substack.com

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Weronika Wojtak, PhD @wwojtak.bsky.social · Sep 14

We once typed em dashes easily in Word, then memorized LaTeX commands to produce them, and now we avoid them because they look AI-like 😂 #AI

Weronika Wojtak, PhD @wwojtak.bsky.social · Sep 5

I recently read Bloodchild and Other Stories. Butler is one of my favorite sci-fi writers, and this collection shows why. Bloodchild is a standout, Butler packs more into a paragraph than most do in a chapter. Highly recommend it.

#reading #books #book #scifi

www.goodreads.com/book/show/60...

Bloodchild and Other Stories

A perfect introduction for new readers and a must-have …

www.goodreads.com

Weronika Wojtak, PhD @wwojtak.bsky.social · Sep 4

AI can polish our texts and speed up routine writing but in science the responsibility for words remains ours. The key is to use AI as a partner to learn and improve, not as a shortcut.

#AcademicWriting #ScienceWriting #AIWriting #ScienceCommunication

yesterdayilearned.substack.com/p/scientific...

Scientific Writing in the Age of AI

How AI can sharpen our words without dulling our minds

yesterdayilearned.substack.com

Weronika Wojtak, PhD @wwojtak.bsky.social · Aug 27

Back from the holidays, I’ve been thinking about how much space work should take in our lives. Here are some thoughts on why a job can just be "good enough".

#WorkLifeBalance #GoodEnoughJob #LifeBeyondWork #Work

yesterdayilearned.substack.com/p/its-okay-t...

It’s Okay to Not Love Your Job

A look at work, ambition, and why it’s fine if your job isn’t your passion

yesterdayilearned.substack.com

Weronika Wojtak, PhD @wwojtak.bsky.social · Jul 31

😂

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Weronika Wojtak, PhD @wwojtak.bsky.social · Jul 29

#mildrant Is it just me, or is the phrase “in the trenches” everywhere these days? Using it to describe demanding work feels… a bit inappropriate, to put it mildly.

Weronika Wojtak, PhD @wwojtak.bsky.social · Jul 27

AI might help you find papers faster, but it won’t teach you how to think—my latest post on why literature reviews shouldn’t be outsourced.

#academia #AIethics #literaturereview #PhDlife #researchskills #ChatGPT #academicwriting

yesterdayilearned.substack.com/p/why-im-mos...

Why I’m (Mostly) Against Using AI for Literature Reviews

And why doing the work still matters in academic research

yesterdayilearned.substack.com

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Weronika Wojtak, PhD @wwojtak.bsky.social · Jul 20

Reading isn’t a race or numbers game. Your pace, your books, your rules. Don’t let apps, goals, or social media pressure you—or others. Reading should be joy, not performance.

#books #reading #bookcommunity

yesterdayilearned.substack.com/p/when-readi...

When Reading Becomes a Game

On Gamification, Reading Slumps, and Why It’s Okay Not to Read

yesterdayilearned.substack.com

Weronika Wojtak, PhD @wwojtak.bsky.social · Jul 16

#PhD / postdoc me: Beamer for perfectly aligned slides, reveal.js for sleek, interactive presentations. Current me: trapped in PowerPoint where nothing works and everything looks just sad 🫠🫠

Weronika Wojtak, PhD @wwojtak.bsky.social · Jul 16

In #academia, we're trained to spot conflicts of interest without even thinking about it. It's a skill that helps us read research critically—but it turns out, it's just as useful on #YouTube, #TikTok, or anywhere online.

yesterdayilearned.substack.com/p/the-skill-...

The Skill That Makes You a Smarter Viewer

Why spotting conflicts of interest can help everyone navigate media more critically.

yesterdayilearned.substack.com

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Weronika Wojtak, PhD @wwojtak.bsky.social · Jul 16

I was recommended another video titled "Use AI to Do Your Literature Review in 10 Minutes" (or sth similar), and I can’t stand it. Doing a proper literature review is such a crucial skill in academia, and it really worries me that people are now relying on AI to do it automatically. #academia #ai

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Weronika Wojtak, PhD @wwojtak.bsky.social · Jul 16

Thought peer review couldn’t get worse? Now authors are hiding “GIVE A POSITIVE REVIEW” prompts in white text to hack AI reviewers. 🤦🏻‍♀️ #academia #ai

arxiv.org/pdf/2507.06185

arxiv.org

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Weronika Wojtak, PhD @wwojtak.bsky.social · Jul 15

This week’s post breaks down why “dopamine detox” isn’t a real thing, what dopamine actually does, and how we can build healthier habits without falling for trendy quick fixes.

#dopamine #dopaminedetox

yesterdayilearned.substack.com/p/why-dopami...

Why “Dopamine Detox” Isn’t a Thing

You can’t flush out a brain chemical—but you can rethink your habits.

yesterdayilearned.substack.com

Weronika Wojtak, PhD @wwojtak.bsky.social · Jul 15

Just wrote my mid-2025 reading roundup :)

69 #books so far this year (thanks, #audiobooks). Made some tier rankings because watching book covers fall into place is oddly satisfying 😂

yesterdayilearned.substack.com/p/2025-midye...

2025 Midyear Reading Recap

The reads that stood out in the first half of the year

yesterdayilearned.substack.com

Weronika Wojtak, PhD @wwojtak.bsky.social · Jul 15

"Am I too old to start a PhD?"

I keep seeing this question, and I think people are asking the wrong thing.

The real question isn't about age, it's about honestly comparing what you'd gain vs. what you'd give up. Because the time will pass anyway.

yesterdayilearned.substack.com/p/am-i-too-o...

Am I too old to start a PhD?

On life choices, age and opportunity costs

yesterdayilearned.substack.com

Weronika Wojtak, PhD @wwojtak.bsky.social · Jul 15

Most AI learns from data. But what if it could learn from the world around it?

In this post, I explore embodied AI—robots that learn through touch, movement, and interaction.

yesterdayilearned.substack.com/p/beyond-cha...

Beyond ChatGPT: AI That Actually Experiences the World

These machines are learning the hard way (just like us)

yesterdayilearned.substack.com

Weronika Wojtak, PhD @wwojtak.bsky.social · Jul 13

#YIL Yesterday I learned that "the number of PhD graduates vastly exceeds the number of job openings at universities and research institutions", shocking 😂

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

How many PhDs does the world need? Doctoral graduates vastly outnumber jobs in academia

PhD programmes need to better prepare students for careers outside universities, researchers warn.

www.nature.com

Weronika Wojtak, PhD @wwojtak.bsky.social · Jul 13

They say “competitive funding,” but don’t mention your stipend won’t cover rent in their pricey university town—or that side gigs are often banned by contract.

I just wrote about 3 financial realities that can catch PhD students off guard.

yesterdayilearned.substack.com/p/what-to-th...

What to Think About Before Starting a PhD – Part 2: Money, Contracts, and Financial Reality

Funding, side jobs, and the hidden costs you need to consider before committing to a PhD program.

yesterdayilearned.substack.com

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