The way UK govt funds science is in the midst of a major transition, with creation of a much more direct link between government priorities & UKRI research funding. My attempt to set in context the biggest upheaval in UK science funding policy since the 1980s: softmachines.org?p=3252

Yes, drawing helps me think. It also helps me get through zoom seminars where I disagree with the people giving them. The gently scruffy nature of this pony means I was mildly miffed at some of the points made at today's talk.

How likely is ‘likely’? Does ‘likely’ have a higher probability than ‘probable’? I put together a quick quiz so you can see how you interpret probability phrases, then see how you compare with others: probability.kucharski.io

Santa has come early! New issue out now, full of festive treats for all the family. Biochemical functions and quantum fluctuations! Weyl tiles and ordinal scales! Mass extinctions, artificial neural networks and much more…Find it here: www.journals.uchicago.edu/toc/bjps/cur... #philsci #philsky

Prof. Matthias Eberl @eberllab.bsky.social: "A Microbial Horror Show — Devastating outbreaks of disease that shaped how we fight infections" Public Lecture Thursday 27th November, 7:00 pm UK time @cumedicengage.bsky.social 👉🏼 tinyurl.com/microbial-ho... 🦠🧫🔬🤒🏥

Just saw ChatGPT and its AI LLM ilk called stochastic parrots and it is just the most fabulously satisfying, accurate metaphor. When you are being formal: LLM. When you are saying what you think: SP.

Pleased to see this extending further across the publishing ecosystem. #ResearchIntegrity www.nature.com/articles/d41...

To celebrate this (urp 🤢) exciting new journal series, we made a mini game! Can YOU guess which journals are Discover, MDPI, or both? No cheating! There's even the challenge mode "APC Ladder." Share your high score with the hashtag #ResearchIntegrity pagoba.shinyapps.io/publi_guess/ FUN!! 🤮 6/n

Tech giant creates a green space only to be horrified that they are accidentally creating a valuable ecosystem rather than a token piece of bio-art.

A female Western Gull was recorded riding 150km in a garbage truck from San Francisco to a compost facility in Central CA, probably to forage. TWICE. An innovator, an icon, a genius. This is one of my favorite @waterbirdsociety.bsky.social papers I've ever handled as managing editor #ornithology

Here's our piece on the £86bn R&D budget The govt calls it a “bumper funding package” worth more than £22.5bn a year by 2029–30 In reality it's a real-terms freeze, accounting for inflation, using OBR forecasts But probably as good as the research sector could hope for

Our latest research shows spot-on flea treatments on dogs are released into water when dogs swim even 28 days after treatment - in contrast to the label which suggests dogs can safely swim 48 h after treatment. www.newscientist.com/article/2482...

See also statistics and critical thinking. But mainly because this not only has an excellent point, but because it is a damn good read.

🚨 We're recruiting! The Journal of Medical Microbiology is seeking two Editors for our Molecular and Microbial Epidemiology section. Help shape the future of microbiology research. 📅 Apply by 20 June 2025 🔗 microb.io/News

We have officially moved in. Our Pop-Up Science Shop will be open to the public from 7th July until 3rd August 3025. Find us in the St David's shopping centre in Cardiff near John Lewis, Zara and Apple. Learn about the microbial world in, on and around us. Including the black death.

The nature of status-seeking in society (and by some elements in science especially) normally makes me despair. LLMs enabling that without effort even more so. This blog post suggests a refreshingly subversive take on both.

Mass mortality of Black-legged Kittiwakes, Norway, 2023: more than 15,000 birds dead, population reduction of 50%. genotype EA-2022-BB 👉 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Are you based in the U.S. 🇺🇸 or Canada 🇨🇦 and thinking of doing research in Europe? ERC grants offer up to €4.5 million to support groundbreaking, investigator-driven frontier research in all fields. Watch the dedicated info session for researchers in your region👉 youtu.be/92QYink1Lik #ChooseEurope

Exciting job opportunities! Two postdoc positions are available in the Fodor Lab at @dunnschool.bsky.social to study influenza virus transcription, genome replication, nuclear export and assembly. More info: my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...

Close reading is for everyone: defector.com/close-readin...

"According to his research, worldwide AI energy demand is now set to surpass demand from bitcoin mining by the end of this year" New paper from Alex DeVries on what proportion of total data centre demand is for machine learning applications

I've just learned that adding "-ai" to your Google search will get rid of those annoying, often inaccurate AI summaries which otherwise appear at the top. The info was gifted to me and now I gift it to you. 😊. Now, if only I could get rid of SEO...

"This consultation seeks views on the approaches government should consider around reform of the #health and #disability benefits system and employment support." Respond by 30th June - online form here forms.office.com/pages/respon.... www.gov.uk/government/c... #Disability #DisabilitySky #NEISVoid

The problem with most machine-based random number generators is that they’re not TRULY random, so if you need genuine randomness it is sometimes necessary to link your code to an external random process like a physical noise source or the current rate of US tariffs on a given country.

This paper👇 is now retracted (with the authors' agreement): thanks again to the authors for putting this on the table, and hoping the "reviewer" feels ashamed... #researchintegrity doi.org/10.1016/j.ij...

Really enjoying meeting like minds at #FAIRS (Fostering Accountability for the Integrity of Science). #ResearchIntegrity

Turns out Le Pen is not mightier than the fraud.

Please enjoy part 1 of a series of blog posts written by myself and @brettfavaro.bsky.social offering our advice on how scientists can effectively speak with jouranlists about our areas of expertise. Part 2 is coming next week. Please read and share! www.southernfriedscience.com/advice-for-t... 🧪

I'm searching audio libraries for clips of the elderly for a new research integrity project but am being distracted & delighted by the contributions of pet-owners that not only recorded their older dogs & cats snoring, but have then shared the unique snorts & grunts of their pets with the world. 😂

The Royal Society does so much good, and then it undermines itself like this. He is not in keeping with the aims of the society. To keep him as a fellow is to de facto condone his actions. Please, RS, reconsider. www.theguardian.com/science/2025...

Scientific organisations need to stand up for the values of science, even more so as attacks on science ramp up

It's a really special feeling when you work on a funding application and then Microsoft's software just swallows it whole, never to be found again, so that instead of submitting it you are flailing about with document systems while the deadline flies past.

Don't just look at the USA's growing inequality and think that the rest of the world is immune. It is happening here in the UK too, just more quietly. So the question is: what are we going to do about it?

Hugely informative thread.

Stealing people's work should not be legalized just because it would be expedient for AI companies. UK residents can sign this letter if they agree. docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

This quote is from 1922 on how the slave trade spread. You can decide if we've learnt anything from history. "...an appalling illustration of the strength which vested interests can acquire, & the extent to which familiarity with the crime can deaden the conscience & blur discrimination between 1/4

This is incredibly frustrating and sad.

Apply! www.mpg.de/en/max-planc...

Short, online course @mcgillghp.bsky.social Summer Institute Introduction to Gender Equality and Global Health May 20-23, 2025 www.mcgill.ca/summerinstit...

Really? I guess the guys couldn't wait to get rid of this. www.space.com/the-universe... #womeninscience #science #histsci #philsci

Now almost 450 signatories to my open letter calling on the @royalsociety.org to stand up for its values & deal with the widespread concerns raised by Elon Musk's Fellowship. Please consider signing & sharing: forms.gle/miDciq35oxyw... List of signatories here: occamstypewriter.org/scurry/2025/...

Oh heck, this is really sad news. Tim was a model for us all, both in his writing and his generosity and spirit. And I do exactly the same as Adam with his Manifesto.

We are hiring a new Journals Publishing Assistant! Come work with us! #jobsinpublishing

🚨 Job alert 🚨 — are you interested in understanding how mobile genetic elements and defence systems shape bacterial genome evolution? 🧬 🧪 🧫 🦠 2x 5-year research positions available in experimental evolution @mermanchester.bsky.social Join us! #microsky www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...