Jennifer L. Hoffman ✨😷
@astroprofhoff.bsky.social
Astronomer, professor, birder, singer, cat communer (she/her)
University of Denver, @chamberlin-obs.bsky.social
Past Grand Canyon Astronomer in Residence
University of Denver, @chamberlin-obs.bsky.social
Past Grand Canyon Astronomer in Residence
Reposted by Jennifer L. Hoffman ✨😷
I hope everyone involved ends up in cages at the Hague
"Before Stonehenge was raised, before Egypts first pyramid broke ground,before the Nazca people drew their famous lines across the Peruvian desert,someone in what is now southern Arizona shaped a 272-foot fish into the earth On April 23,2026,"a border-wall contractor drove heavy equipment across it"
Trump's Border Wall Construction Destroys 6,500-Year-Old Arizona Geoglyph – Older Than Stonehenge
Arizona's 6,500-year-old Las Playas Intaglio, the oldest dated geoglyph in the Americas, was irreparably damaged by border wall construction in April 2026.
www.gadgetreview.com
October 4, 2026 at 7:32 PM
I hope everyone involved ends up in cages at the Hague
Reposted by Jennifer L. Hoffman ✨😷
Democrats defend "science," but what they really should be defending is "wissenschaft." No major social problems - from global warming to AI - can be solved without non-commercial research across multiple fields, including the social sciences and humanities. Really wish the party understood this.
September 30, 2026 at 1:04 AM
Democrats defend "science," but what they really should be defending is "wissenschaft." No major social problems - from global warming to AI - can be solved without non-commercial research across multiple fields, including the social sciences and humanities. Really wish the party understood this.
Reposted by Jennifer L. Hoffman ✨😷
This news is important because all the fucks out there actively attempting to wreck the world want you to think that the work is hopeless and just mitigating the worst case scenario.
It's not. Fucking keep going.
It's not. Fucking keep going.
We now have rigorous pooled data showing that even without active restoration efforts, cleared rainforest can rebound to 75% of their former species composition and 90% of species diversity within just thirty years. #goodnews
Rainforest biodiversity rebounds within a single generation | The Optimist Daily
A major Ecuador study finds cleared rainforests can recover 90 percent of their species diversity in just 30 years, as long as humans leave the land alone.
www.optimistdaily.com
September 24, 2026 at 9:07 PM
This news is important because all the fucks out there actively attempting to wreck the world want you to think that the work is hopeless and just mitigating the worst case scenario.
It's not. Fucking keep going.
It's not. Fucking keep going.
Reposted by Jennifer L. Hoffman ✨😷
As of today, the CDC has changed (reverted) their Covid guidance to make the vaccine recommended for all people over 18. In addition to being a smart public health move, this recommendation also means insurance must cover it.
Read more here: www.cdc.gov/covid/hcp/va...
Listen to a breakdown here:
Read more here: www.cdc.gov/covid/hcp/va...
Listen to a breakdown here:
September 25, 2026 at 11:23 PM
As of today, the CDC has changed (reverted) their Covid guidance to make the vaccine recommended for all people over 18. In addition to being a smart public health move, this recommendation also means insurance must cover it.
Read more here: www.cdc.gov/covid/hcp/va...
Listen to a breakdown here:
Read more here: www.cdc.gov/covid/hcp/va...
Listen to a breakdown here:
Reposted by Jennifer L. Hoffman ✨😷
I hate it so much.
This can happen to you too. A year ago, almost everyone doubted this would happen. I had faculty at other schools telling me I was hysterical. (Irony!)
Watch for the installation of right wing figureheads without an academic background. Watch for assaults on faculty governance.
This can happen to you too. A year ago, almost everyone doubted this would happen. I had faculty at other schools telling me I was hysterical. (Irony!)
Watch for the installation of right wing figureheads without an academic background. Watch for assaults on faculty governance.
September 24, 2026 at 8:29 PM
I hate it so much.
This can happen to you too. A year ago, almost everyone doubted this would happen. I had faculty at other schools telling me I was hysterical. (Irony!)
Watch for the installation of right wing figureheads without an academic background. Watch for assaults on faculty governance.
This can happen to you too. A year ago, almost everyone doubted this would happen. I had faculty at other schools telling me I was hysterical. (Irony!)
Watch for the installation of right wing figureheads without an academic background. Watch for assaults on faculty governance.
Reposted by Jennifer L. Hoffman ✨😷
Reading proofs from book & remembering what I wrote in 2015:
"I am very concerned about the future of AI. Not because of the risk of rogue machines taking over. But because of the homogeneous, one-dimensional group of men who are currently involved in advancing the technology.”
"I am very concerned about the future of AI. Not because of the risk of rogue machines taking over. But because of the homogeneous, one-dimensional group of men who are currently involved in advancing the technology.”
September 16, 2026 at 5:56 PM
Reading proofs from book & remembering what I wrote in 2015:
"I am very concerned about the future of AI. Not because of the risk of rogue machines taking over. But because of the homogeneous, one-dimensional group of men who are currently involved in advancing the technology.”
"I am very concerned about the future of AI. Not because of the risk of rogue machines taking over. But because of the homogeneous, one-dimensional group of men who are currently involved in advancing the technology.”
Reposted by Jennifer L. Hoffman ✨😷
Folks! Today is National Voter Registration Day.
You do not have to decorate. Or wear a costume. Or send cards. (All are welcome, though.)
All you need to do is check your voter registration: midterms.voteamerica.org/vote/verify/
If you're not registered, do it: midterms.voteamerica.org/vote/
You do not have to decorate. Or wear a costume. Or send cards. (All are welcome, though.)
All you need to do is check your voter registration: midterms.voteamerica.org/vote/verify/
If you're not registered, do it: midterms.voteamerica.org/vote/
September 15, 2026 at 4:36 PM
Folks! Today is National Voter Registration Day.
You do not have to decorate. Or wear a costume. Or send cards. (All are welcome, though.)
All you need to do is check your voter registration: midterms.voteamerica.org/vote/verify/
If you're not registered, do it: midterms.voteamerica.org/vote/
You do not have to decorate. Or wear a costume. Or send cards. (All are welcome, though.)
All you need to do is check your voter registration: midterms.voteamerica.org/vote/verify/
If you're not registered, do it: midterms.voteamerica.org/vote/
Reposted by Jennifer L. Hoffman ✨😷
"...NSF was the largest federal funder of the physical sciences in higher education for all but one fiscal year since 2003." This is a huge blow to university-based physics & astronomy research. 🧪 ⚛️ 🎢
The shrinking NSF support for the physical sciences
The agency has awarded fewer grants in the physical sciences this year than most years in its history.
physicstoday.aip.org
September 16, 2026 at 2:45 AM
"...NSF was the largest federal funder of the physical sciences in higher education for all but one fiscal year since 2003." This is a huge blow to university-based physics & astronomy research. 🧪 ⚛️ 🎢
Pretty much the class I’m teaching right now. Shout out to the physics building roof 😆🤩
September 15, 2026 at 3:14 PM
Pretty much the class I’m teaching right now. Shout out to the physics building roof 😆🤩
Reposted by Jennifer L. Hoffman ✨😷
This is great news! Emily is terrific, and you should use this as an excuse to read her book, "The Last Stargazers".
The American Astronomical Society today announced that Dr. Emily Levesque (University of Washington) has been confirmed as the next Editor in Chief of the AAS journals. 🔭https://aas.org/press/emily-levesque-named-editor-chief-aas-journals
@publishing.aas.org
@publishing.aas.org
September 14, 2026 at 5:17 PM
This is great news! Emily is terrific, and you should use this as an excuse to read her book, "The Last Stargazers".
Reposted by Jennifer L. Hoffman ✨😷
A group of 25 Fields Medalists, including myself, have made a joint declaration on Math and AI: mathandai.org . We welcome additional signatories. See also this article in the Economist announcing the declaration: www.economist.com/science-and-...
Declaration — Math and AI
Read the declaration and add your name.
mathandai.org
September 11, 2026 at 5:40 PM
A group of 25 Fields Medalists, including myself, have made a joint declaration on Math and AI: mathandai.org . We welcome additional signatories. See also this article in the Economist announcing the declaration: www.economist.com/science-and-...
I'm super excited (dare I say "over the moon"?) about this event! #Denver #astronomy lovers, join us for a lunar extravaganza on 9/19!
Free family Moon night in Denver!
Join Denver Astronomical Society for International Observe the Moon Night on Sat., Sept. 19, 5–10 p.m. at historic Chamberlin Observatory and Observatory Park.
Telescopes, Moon activities, demos, and more.
denverastro.org/ObserveTheMoon
Join Denver Astronomical Society for International Observe the Moon Night on Sat., Sept. 19, 5–10 p.m. at historic Chamberlin Observatory and Observatory Park.
Telescopes, Moon activities, demos, and more.
denverastro.org/ObserveTheMoon
September 10, 2026 at 4:36 PM
I'm super excited (dare I say "over the moon"?) about this event! #Denver #astronomy lovers, join us for a lunar extravaganza on 9/19!
Reposted by Jennifer L. Hoffman ✨😷
If AI kills us in 10 years it will be because we spent $1 trillion on building gas fired data centres during a tipping point for the climate crisis. We should be spending at that level on the climate crisis, rather than trying to make trillionaires.
September 9, 2026 at 4:10 AM
If AI kills us in 10 years it will be because we spent $1 trillion on building gas fired data centres during a tipping point for the climate crisis. We should be spending at that level on the climate crisis, rather than trying to make trillionaires.
Glares in astronomer 😡
Obviously they would do this. www.pcmag.com/news/fcc-sat...
FCC: Satellite Constellations Don't Need Environmental Reviews
The FCC wants to eliminate 'red tape' and unleash more infrastructure, even though the constellations are creating concerns about light pollution and atmospheric effects.
www.pcmag.com
September 9, 2026 at 5:00 AM
Glares in astronomer 😡
Reposted by Jennifer L. Hoffman ✨😷
Adams County is short 200 election workers; help wanted by week’s end.
#IndivisibleColorado #Colorado #Adamscounty
www.9news.com/article/news...
#IndivisibleColorado #Colorado #Adamscounty
www.9news.com/article/news...
www.9news.com
September 8, 2026 at 2:07 PM
Adams County is short 200 election workers; help wanted by week’s end.
#IndivisibleColorado #Colorado #Adamscounty
www.9news.com/article/news...
#IndivisibleColorado #Colorado #Adamscounty
www.9news.com/article/news...
Reposted by Jennifer L. Hoffman ✨😷
All else aside there is nothing I want or need genAI to do for me. I like reading. I like doing research. I like playing around in spreadsheets. I like interviewing people. I like writing. I like doing these things for myself because I take pleasure in the doing and they make me a better thinker.
September 8, 2026 at 3:26 AM
All else aside there is nothing I want or need genAI to do for me. I like reading. I like doing research. I like playing around in spreadsheets. I like interviewing people. I like writing. I like doing these things for myself because I take pleasure in the doing and they make me a better thinker.
WTF is this "Entrepreneurial Mindset" nonsense and why is my college pushing faculty workshops about it
September 6, 2026 at 6:31 PM
WTF is this "Entrepreneurial Mindset" nonsense and why is my college pushing faculty workshops about it
I'm teaching a first-year seminar, very easy and open to all backgrounds. But I am still introducing students to new ideas and new ways of thinking about the world around them. And it's still true that the main takeaway isn't "content," but rather expanded perspective and the value of curiosity.
Right now I’m prepping a quantum field theory course for spring and yes it’s arguably the hardest class in the physics curriculum and only for specialists. At the end of the day, the pathways the students make in their minds will be what serve them the most, not any specific calculation we do.
September 6, 2026 at 6:05 PM
I'm teaching a first-year seminar, very easy and open to all backgrounds. But I am still introducing students to new ideas and new ways of thinking about the world around them. And it's still true that the main takeaway isn't "content," but rather expanded perspective and the value of curiosity.
Reposted by Jennifer L. Hoffman ✨😷
My pedagogical philosophy begins with the premise that I am helping students become better thinkers than they were before and that doing this effectively will best prepare them for whatever life throws at them, intellectually, economically, and otherwise.
The idea that classrooms are chiefly spaces for product testing, and that it is irresponsible pedagogy not to enforce this, is both cynical and vile, and “fuck off” is a cogent response from any professional educator to any non-teaching salescreep or tech-but-not-subject-matter expert who voices it.
September 6, 2026 at 5:43 PM
My pedagogical philosophy begins with the premise that I am helping students become better thinkers than they were before and that doing this effectively will best prepare them for whatever life throws at them, intellectually, economically, and otherwise.
Reposted by Jennifer L. Hoffman ✨😷
September 5, 2026 at 3:07 PM
Reposted by Jennifer L. Hoffman ✨😷
What angers me the most as a planetary scientist about the world blowing through the 1.5 deg C threshold is that we know how to stop this. The broad strokes physics/processes here are straightforward enough that the runaway greenhouse Earth and snowball Earth was a homework assignment in grad school
September 2, 2026 at 7:08 AM
What angers me the most as a planetary scientist about the world blowing through the 1.5 deg C threshold is that we know how to stop this. The broad strokes physics/processes here are straightforward enough that the runaway greenhouse Earth and snowball Earth was a homework assignment in grad school
Reposted by Jennifer L. Hoffman ✨😷
Call it the Dolly Parton vaccine and watch vaccination rates increase.
lol
*MODERNA GETS FDA OK FOR UPDATED 2026-2027 COVID-19 VACCINES
*MODERNA GETS FDA OK FOR UPDATED 2026-2027 COVID-19 VACCINES
August 28, 2026 at 6:47 PM
Call it the Dolly Parton vaccine and watch vaccination rates increase.
That red glow is sunlight, filtering through the Earth’s atmosphere and getting redirected to hit the Moon’s surface. A lovely visual treat created by the gravitational dance of the three celestial bodies. 😍
August 28, 2026 at 5:03 AM
That red glow is sunlight, filtering through the Earth’s atmosphere and getting redirected to hit the Moon’s surface. A lovely visual treat created by the gravitational dance of the three celestial bodies. 😍
Reposted by Jennifer L. Hoffman ✨😷
Working webcasts of the lunar eclipse: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktP8... and www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zIB... (while www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqDD... is currently clouded out).
LIVE: Partial Lunar Eclipse - August 27–28, 2026
YouTube video by timeanddate
www.youtube.com
August 28, 2026 at 2:53 AM
Working webcasts of the lunar eclipse: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktP8... and www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zIB... (while www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqDD... is currently clouded out).
Downgrade a movie:
The Acquaintanceship of the Ring
The Acquaintanceship of the Ring
Downgrade a Movie
Afternoon at Bernie's
Afternoon at Bernie's
Downgrade a Movie
The Three Pistoliers
The Three Pistoliers
August 28, 2026 at 1:17 AM
Downgrade a movie:
The Acquaintanceship of the Ring
The Acquaintanceship of the Ring