Ben Wildeboer
@willyb.bsky.social
I teach science and I like it.
9th grade Physics and AP Physics 1.
@WillyB in the bird app.
#modphys #iteachphysics
9th grade Physics and AP Physics 1.
@WillyB in the bird app.
#modphys #iteachphysics
Reposted by Ben Wildeboer
Sobering reminder of why good #scicomm is important and "what's the harm" in promoting wild ideas?
🧪🎢🔭
🧪🎢🔭
Some have argued to me strongly that even if Loeb is wrong, he’s getting people interested in 3I/ATLAS and that’s a good thing for science.
But Loeb isn't just wrong, he's recklessly following an old playbook that got 39 people killed in 1997.
sites.psu.edu/astrowright/...
But Loeb isn't just wrong, he's recklessly following an old playbook that got 39 people killed in 1997.
sites.psu.edu/astrowright/...
Loeb’s Behavior is Reckless
I’ve largely ignored Loeb for the past few weeks. When he started in on his 3I/ATLAS thing, there were plenty of mainstream media outlets willing to give his claims a wide and credulous platform, and ...
sites.psu.edu
December 9, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Sobering reminder of why good #scicomm is important and "what's the harm" in promoting wild ideas?
🧪🎢🔭
🧪🎢🔭
Dude could use a few more women in his life...or maybe he should just start listening to them?
Jimmy Fallon: "And do you use ChatGPT when raising your baby?"
Sam Altman: "I cannot imagine figuring out how to raise a newborn without ChatGPT."
Sam Altman: "I cannot imagine figuring out how to raise a newborn without ChatGPT."
December 10, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Dude could use a few more women in his life...or maybe he should just start listening to them?
Reposted by Ben Wildeboer
That is patently false: not only do immigrants score better than native-born Americans in tests, the mere presence of immigrants improve test scores for all students, when factoring in white flight
sesp.northwestern.edu/news-events/...
sesp.northwestern.edu/news-events/...
December 9, 2025 at 9:21 PM
That is patently false: not only do immigrants score better than native-born Americans in tests, the mere presence of immigrants improve test scores for all students, when factoring in white flight
sesp.northwestern.edu/news-events/...
sesp.northwestern.edu/news-events/...
Look, I'm all for physical fitness, but I'm not quite sure how the ability to do a pull up became the only requirement for a cabinet position...
The Trump administration said it wants airlines and airports to offer travelers healthier food options, exercise equipment and family-friendly features like playspaces and nursing facilities.
December 9, 2025 at 3:55 AM
Look, I'm all for physical fitness, but I'm not quite sure how the ability to do a pull up became the only requirement for a cabinet position...
Reposted by Ben Wildeboer
A timeline of Earth’s average temperature since the last ice age. Spoiler alert: It’s definitely getting warmer. And it’s happening increasingly, scarily fast. xkcd.com/1732/
Earth Temperature Timeline
xkcd.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:58 PM
A timeline of Earth’s average temperature since the last ice age. Spoiler alert: It’s definitely getting warmer. And it’s happening increasingly, scarily fast. xkcd.com/1732/
without downloading any new pics, describe your vibe for today using an image from your gallery.
December 5, 2025 at 1:11 AM
without downloading any new pics, describe your vibe for today using an image from your gallery.
Teachers know the best way to kill an annoying meme is for the olds to embrace it and thus make it deeply uncool.
December 4, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Teachers know the best way to kill an annoying meme is for the olds to embrace it and thus make it deeply uncool.
Had a student describe this motion as, "stays negative but constantly goes slowly faster."
I see their misconception but that's quite a mix of descriptors. Sometimes I find reminding students to write less formally helps fix this type of overly complex wording.
I see their misconception but that's quite a mix of descriptors. Sometimes I find reminding students to write less formally helps fix this type of overly complex wording.
December 4, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Had a student describe this motion as, "stays negative but constantly goes slowly faster."
I see their misconception but that's quite a mix of descriptors. Sometimes I find reminding students to write less formally helps fix this type of overly complex wording.
I see their misconception but that's quite a mix of descriptors. Sometimes I find reminding students to write less formally helps fix this type of overly complex wording.
Pretty sure Grayslake, IL is the best small town in America? 😁
November 29, 2025 at 5:13 AM
Pretty sure Grayslake, IL is the best small town in America? 😁
Our neighborhood holds a very laid back Turkey Trot. My 6 yr old was *supposed* to do the shorter 1.6 mile loop but instead insisted on the 5K. He's never run more than a mile but insisted we stay on the longer loop. 😂
(My daughter ran ahead and beat us by probably 10 minutes)
(My daughter ran ahead and beat us by probably 10 minutes)
November 27, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Our neighborhood holds a very laid back Turkey Trot. My 6 yr old was *supposed* to do the shorter 1.6 mile loop but instead insisted on the 5K. He's never run more than a mile but insisted we stay on the longer loop. 😂
(My daughter ran ahead and beat us by probably 10 minutes)
(My daughter ran ahead and beat us by probably 10 minutes)
Wednesday is Pie Day! 🥧🥧🥧🥧
Several years ago my pie loving wife decided we should make and eat pies on Wednesday, when we're not stuffed full of Thanksgiving dinner and can fully enjoy the pies. It's a tasty tradition!
#Thanksgiving
Several years ago my pie loving wife decided we should make and eat pies on Wednesday, when we're not stuffed full of Thanksgiving dinner and can fully enjoy the pies. It's a tasty tradition!
#Thanksgiving
November 27, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Wednesday is Pie Day! 🥧🥧🥧🥧
Several years ago my pie loving wife decided we should make and eat pies on Wednesday, when we're not stuffed full of Thanksgiving dinner and can fully enjoy the pies. It's a tasty tradition!
#Thanksgiving
Several years ago my pie loving wife decided we should make and eat pies on Wednesday, when we're not stuffed full of Thanksgiving dinner and can fully enjoy the pies. It's a tasty tradition!
#Thanksgiving
Q: "Hey, did you make that video?"
A:"Yes."
Q: "It made the president very mad."
A: "That's not a question."
Q: "I think we've gotten everything we need here..."
A:"Yes."
Q: "It made the president very mad."
A: "That's not a question."
Q: "I think we've gotten everything we need here..."
BREAKING: The FBI requests interviews with Democratic lawmakers over video urging troops to refuse illegal orders.
FBI seeks interviews with Democratic lawmakers who urged US troops to defy illegal orders
Democratic lawmakers who appeared in a social media video urging U.S. troops to defy “illegal orders” say the FBI has contacted them to begin scheduling interviews.
bit.ly
November 26, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Q: "Hey, did you make that video?"
A:"Yes."
Q: "It made the president very mad."
A: "That's not a question."
Q: "I think we've gotten everything we need here..."
A:"Yes."
Q: "It made the president very mad."
A: "That's not a question."
Q: "I think we've gotten everything we need here..."
Reposted by Ben Wildeboer
i’m not crying you’re crying
xkcd: Fifteen Years
xkcd: Fifteen Years
Fifteen Years
xkcd.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:58 AM
i’m not crying you’re crying
xkcd: Fifteen Years
xkcd: Fifteen Years
Reposted by Ben Wildeboer
![Comic: Typical Geologic core sample. [Cylindrical core sample with labels for difference sections from top to bottom] Topsoil, till, granite bedrock, bottomsoil, roof of subway car, floor of subway car, more granite, municipal water main [gouge in core sample], slightly different granite, piece of screaming spelunker’s forearm, cool crystals with no resale value, mangled fragments of drillbit from previous attempt, some boring intrusive rock that’s basically granite but has a name like “diorite” or “Andalite” that you always have to look up, netherrack, Balrog wing. [break between next chunk of core sample] Granite, topsoil, cement, floorboards, carpet, possessions of a confused and angry homeowner in the other hemisphere.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreicffnydtpbb2x24cfbblv2qtcwbr37zyw44vtqx47ocj2a26b2j2u@jpeg)
November 25, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Reposted by Ben Wildeboer
I like how he calls out the work of people like Audrey Watters and Corey Doctorow here. And reminds us that enshittification is a thing these companies do. Buyer beware, indeed.
The interview here is interesting. I'm saddened by some of what parents and teachers express in the intro as it echoes arguments of inevitability and pressure to be on "cutting edge."
Teachers and parents weigh benefits and risks of artificial intelligence in schools
Artificial intelligence is rapidly being integrated into many facets of life, including in America’s classrooms. As more school districts integrate AI into learning, we hear from parents and teachers ...
www.pbs.org
November 23, 2025 at 1:17 PM
I like how he calls out the work of people like Audrey Watters and Corey Doctorow here. And reminds us that enshittification is a thing these companies do. Buyer beware, indeed.
Reposted by Ben Wildeboer
One of the easiest things we can do to help wildlife in cities is plant native plants. We’re going to make this as easy as possible for Philly people this winter/spring by giving them the seeds they need to start.
I need YOUR help prepping those seeds on Dec 17.
Join us! luma.com/o3sladpu
I need YOUR help prepping those seeds on Dec 17.
Join us! luma.com/o3sladpu
November 23, 2025 at 2:38 PM
One of the easiest things we can do to help wildlife in cities is plant native plants. We’re going to make this as easy as possible for Philly people this winter/spring by giving them the seeds they need to start.
I need YOUR help prepping those seeds on Dec 17.
Join us! luma.com/o3sladpu
I need YOUR help prepping those seeds on Dec 17.
Join us! luma.com/o3sladpu
Reposted by Ben Wildeboer
Quick, quicker, less quick. Amandine Aftalion describes the trajectory of a 100m runner in this clip from her Oxford Mathematics Public Lecture.
Watch the full lecture here: youtu.be/UeGXwvXqUNA
Watch the full lecture here: youtu.be/UeGXwvXqUNA
October 22, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Quick, quicker, less quick. Amandine Aftalion describes the trajectory of a 100m runner in this clip from her Oxford Mathematics Public Lecture.
Watch the full lecture here: youtu.be/UeGXwvXqUNA
Watch the full lecture here: youtu.be/UeGXwvXqUNA
It's believed we've lost the true name for bear in Germanic languages - "bear" roughly means "brown one," a euphemism used instead of the true name because it was believed that saying their true name would summon the bear.
Man, everything is so bleak, anyone got a fun fact or little bit of trivia they want to share
November 21, 2025 at 5:29 AM
It's believed we've lost the true name for bear in Germanic languages - "bear" roughly means "brown one," a euphemism used instead of the true name because it was believed that saying their true name would summon the bear.
The earliest known named cat is from a damaged relief in an Egyptian tomb from ~1500 BCE.
The cat's name was "Nedjem" or "Nojem," which means "Sweetie." 😻
The cat's name was "Nedjem" or "Nojem," which means "Sweetie." 😻
Man, everything is so bleak, anyone got a fun fact or little bit of trivia they want to share
November 21, 2025 at 5:18 AM
The earliest known named cat is from a damaged relief in an Egyptian tomb from ~1500 BCE.
The cat's name was "Nedjem" or "Nojem," which means "Sweetie." 😻
The cat's name was "Nedjem" or "Nojem," which means "Sweetie." 😻
Tell me you've never flown economy without telling me you've never flown economy.
Trump's Transportation Secretary on how to improve air travel:
"People dress up like they're going to bed when they fly... We want to push people as we come into a really busy travel season, help people out, be in a good mood, dress up"
"People dress up like they're going to bed when they fly... We want to push people as we come into a really busy travel season, help people out, be in a good mood, dress up"
November 21, 2025 at 1:48 AM
Tell me you've never flown economy without telling me you've never flown economy.
Reposted by Ben Wildeboer
Judge Ellis says all these errors, no matter how minor, add up. "[A]t some point, it becomes difficult, if not impossible, to believe almost anything that [DHS] represent[s]."
E.g., a top officer testified protestors had shields with nails in them; there were no nails and mostly it was carboard.
E.g., a top officer testified protestors had shields with nails in them; there were no nails and mostly it was carboard.
November 20, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Judge Ellis says all these errors, no matter how minor, add up. "[A]t some point, it becomes difficult, if not impossible, to believe almost anything that [DHS] represent[s]."
E.g., a top officer testified protestors had shields with nails in them; there were no nails and mostly it was carboard.
E.g., a top officer testified protestors had shields with nails in them; there were no nails and mostly it was carboard.
Reposted by Ben Wildeboer
We’ve been nominated as a finalist in the 2025 Apple App Store Awards! 🎉
We’re being recognised in the Cultural Impact category for our work in building an inclusive book community.
The winners will be announced in the coming weeks.
We’re being recognised in the Cultural Impact category for our work in building an inclusive book community.
The winners will be announced in the coming weeks.
November 20, 2025 at 2:09 AM
We’ve been nominated as a finalist in the 2025 Apple App Store Awards! 🎉
We’re being recognised in the Cultural Impact category for our work in building an inclusive book community.
The winners will be announced in the coming weeks.
We’re being recognised in the Cultural Impact category for our work in building an inclusive book community.
The winners will be announced in the coming weeks.
Stayed up too late but satisfyingly finished a new graph analysis handout as a follow up to our Circular Motion Lab.
I think it'll be good practice for Ss in determining the meaning of the slope & using slope to make measurements experimentally.
#iTeachPhysics
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
I think it'll be good practice for Ss in determining the meaning of the slope & using slope to make measurements experimentally.
#iTeachPhysics
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
November 18, 2025 at 5:27 AM
Stayed up too late but satisfyingly finished a new graph analysis handout as a follow up to our Circular Motion Lab.
I think it'll be good practice for Ss in determining the meaning of the slope & using slope to make measurements experimentally.
#iTeachPhysics
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
I think it'll be good practice for Ss in determining the meaning of the slope & using slope to make measurements experimentally.
#iTeachPhysics
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
What perfect album came out the year you turned 16?
To be fair, I'm not sure 16 yr old me was aware GZA existed, or had even heard of any of the Wu-Tang Clan. (Look, it was very very rural)
To be fair, I'm not sure 16 yr old me was aware GZA existed, or had even heard of any of the Wu-Tang Clan. (Look, it was very very rural)
November 17, 2025 at 4:53 AM
What perfect album came out the year you turned 16?
To be fair, I'm not sure 16 yr old me was aware GZA existed, or had even heard of any of the Wu-Tang Clan. (Look, it was very very rural)
To be fair, I'm not sure 16 yr old me was aware GZA existed, or had even heard of any of the Wu-Tang Clan. (Look, it was very very rural)
Reposted by Ben Wildeboer
What happens when you interview 700 teenagers about how they actually navigate their online and offline worlds? You learn so, so much about the reality of their lived experiences. This report is riveting from start to finish, and whether you live in England or not.
demos.co.uk/wp-content/u...
demos.co.uk/wp-content/u...
demos.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 2:24 PM
What happens when you interview 700 teenagers about how they actually navigate their online and offline worlds? You learn so, so much about the reality of their lived experiences. This report is riveting from start to finish, and whether you live in England or not.
demos.co.uk/wp-content/u...
demos.co.uk/wp-content/u...