Interesting Links for 20-05-2025

[andrewducker]

1. News on the search for the solar system's ninth planet

(tags:space solarsystem viaJamesNicoll )

2. AI Chatbots Are Becoming Even Worse At Summarizing Data (5 times worse results than human-written summaries)

(tags:ai writing epicfail )

3. Several conferences relocate north of the border as Canadians refuse to travel to the U.S.

(tags:usa canada academia conferences )

4. UK, France, Canada speak out on Israel's actions in Gaza. (Not actually doing anything about it, mind you)

(tags:UK France Israel Canada gaza )

5. What's the state of using AI for science?

(tags:ai research physics )

6. It's Breathtaking How Fast AI Is Screwing Up the Education System

(tags:ai Education school doom )

7. Sex worker 'terrified' by plans for new Scottish prostitution law

(tags:sexwork scotland OhForFucksSake )

Comments

[kerk_hiraeth]

They found it in 1930.

kerk

[andrewducker]

Not a planet, according to current definitions of "planet".

For a history of the 20-or-so objects in the solar system which have been defined as planets at one time or another, this is fascinating: https://starkeycomics.com/2023/07/16/the-history-of-planets-in-our-solar-system/

[calimac]

Pluto is not, and never was, the 'ninth planet' that was being looked for prior to 1930. When it was found, it was mistaken for that planet, but it was soon realized not to be anything like they were looking for. It was called a planet because they didn't know what else to do with it, having not yet discovered any other bodies in its class.

The search for the 'ninth planet' continues, regardless of Pluto, whose existence is irrelevant to the question at hand. For a while they were calling it the search for the tenth planet.

[kerk_hiraeth]

There are those who know that Pluto & Charon are our tiny twin; twinned planets.

And there are those that are wrong.

They just re-defined me as not existing; made me illegal, twice over.

They are just as wrong.

Can't remember ever seeing the quote attributed, but it goes something like this...

"It is a supreme irony that while many planets have Moons, the Moon itself is not itself a Moon, but a planet twinned with a much bigger sibling."

I exist, and Pluto is a planet.

kerk (Queer, Trans and Non-binary)

[andrewducker]

I really don't see what the legality of trans people and the IAU definition of a planet have to do with each other.

Science changes. We take on new information. We adjust our definitions to fit the universe better. That's led both to better support and understanding of trans people, and to a better understanding of the different kinds of objects in space. Linking the two together doesn't make any sense to me at all.

[bens_dad]

It is a supreme irony that while many planets have Moons, the Moon itself is not itself a Moon, but a planet twinned with a much bigger sibling.

I like this.

[juan_gandhi]

As to the education, I think it's not screwing it up, but reshaking and reshaping it. Copy-pasting meaningless texts was manually automated for centuries. Solving or discussing problems with a fresh mind was always hard both for students and for teachers. (That's how about 70% of my students hated me: they had to learn, they had homeworks, and had to read books.)

In any case, there are always enough Chinese students to come and solve problems. Cheating or not.

[bens_dad]

There are always enough Chinese students to come and solve problems.

Not "always"; the Chinese population is aging.

[juan_gandhi]

Not forever. But so far they are doing ok.

[conuly]

The PRC is currently quite worried about their birthrate. Them and every other developed nation, not one of which really wants to increase immigration.

[calimac]

I'm not traveling to the US, either, though I live there. That is to say, I'm not leaving the country for fear of what will happen when I come back.

On two of my last three visits to Canada, I was quizzed by Canadian customs as to what I was doing there. When I was attending a conference, I was expected to produce documentation, which I didn't have, having done everything by e-mail. They were surprised that I didn't have those e-mails on my phone, but I don't do e-mail by phone. When I went as a tourist, I was expected to rattle off from the top of my head some tourist attractions I'd be visiting. The third time, however, the customs queries were by kiosk, and it didn't try to grill me.

[andrewducker]

It all seems so unnecesarily combative to me!

[conuly]

And pointless. Like, what if you say "I'm just popping over the border to get some poutine, can you recommend a place?", can they really keep you out on suspicion?

[andrewducker]

Exactly. And why would you want to stop someone popping over for Poutine?

[conuly]

To save it all for yourself, I guess?

[channelpenguin]

6. Of course. Inevitable Endpoint Already Reached!

[teaotter]

6. I don't think AI would've destroyed our education system if we hadn't spent decades devaluing education.

If the entire point of going to school is getting a credential line on your resume, why do the work?

Learning is a niche hobby for those who enjoy it now, not a path to a better life or something to be proud of on its own.

[andrewducker]

Yeah. I don't think that the UK has had any kind of coherent idea what education is *for* in a very long time. Particularly non-vocational education.