Or it has been n days since we discovered something really awesome about slime molds that makes you rethink everything you knew about what cells do?

I am on hold with the IRS and the representative has “picked up” so I’m out of the queue but isn’t responding. Lost 30 minutes in line. After three hours waiting last night to find out I was routed to the wrong department. Government efficiency.

PSA for others who are also immunosuppressed and interested in trying mNexSpike: flagging you are immunosuppressed and getting a confirmation saying you’re scheduled for mNexSpike is insufficient to guarantee that’s what’s in the syringe. Check and ask for what you want!

Anyone know where I can buy this hex key set?

Welch: Everybody's missing the point here. The point is, he's doing this on purpose. He's priming the public to get accustomed to having the military in the streets

For the slime mold enthusiasts!

My research area is hiring! Very excited for new colleagues.

When the PI hasn't worked in at the bench in years but needs to do something in the lab for a photoshoot

In 25 years, every business school in the country will be doing case studies about how a long defunct company known as “Google” once had an unbeatable lock on online information retrieval and then started doing shit like this.

Very excited to be co-organizing this meeting next February. Fellow collective behavior enthusiasts, this one is for you!

IT: We recommend you talk to your PI Me: I am the PI 🌲

This is again a reminder that college isn’t supposed to just teach you a job but is supposed to teach you how to think, because that job you’re training for might not exist when you graduate

Ah, that moment when you have that conversation that gives you the ideas that make the conference trip worth the week away from the lab…

Excited to work at Janelia, with mentorship from me or another theory and computation group leader? This is a great program for theorists ready to be semi-independent and tackle their own questions!

Heartbreaking. One always needs a good laugh, especially in dark times. And as a chemist by training, The Elements has a special place in my heart. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/27/a...

Global emissions from heating are about 4x those from cooling. Air conditioning is an important and lifesaving adaptation to climate change. Decarbonize the grid.

Like the scene in Real Genius where you see all the students left tape recorders to record the lecture and then see the professor left a tape recorded lecture but even dumber

Universities, whatever their faults, are one of America's most successful products. A massive exporter, they generate innovation and middle class jobs in places where people like Marc Andreessen never visit. www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...

An antidote against the current fantasies of #VirtualCells from Jeremy Gunawardena: www.nature.com/articles/nbt... It is indeed true that what a cell is becomes of little importance in the enterprise, though I would argue that this is out of ignorance. A cell is more than the product of GRNs

Looking forward to seeing fellow Northern VA folk at the Leesburg “No Kings Day” rally tomorrow. It’s important to show up and be counted to make it clear we won’t stand for this behavior. www.loudounnow.com/news/no-king...

"Trumpism may be ascendant, but it is not invincible. What it fears most is solidarity that bridges class, race, and background–solidarity that declares that America is not Donald Trump’s to disfigure or define." We agree. Join the #SummerFightForScience - This fight needs us all. zurl.co/noQrh

Are you a student or postdoc working on theory for biological problems? Just over two weeks left to apply for our fall workshop here at @hhmijanelia.bsky.social. It’s free and we cover travel expenses! www.janelia.org/you-janelia/...

This. The goal of this regime is domestic terrorism, and elected officials acting like the timescale of the judicial system is reasonable is part of the problem. They aren’t spending weeks in prison or facing losing their jobs now.

I am declaring today the nadir of the year. It’s going to be better from here on out, even if only by sheer force of will.

“Maybe if people see [images from my research], they will understand why I want to get back to work.” www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/o...

Lux Capital & @wolfejosh.bsky.social are launching the Lux Science Helpline - a $100M commitment to support American scientists whose research is threatened by funding cuts, bureaucratic hurdles, and career roadblocks - that expands our Lux Labs program. www.luxcapital.com/news/our-hel...

The National Science Foundation marks its 75th anniversary this week. Rather than celebrate, it's time to save it. www.savensf.com/nsf-at-75-to...

Good morning! Happy new day!

So: In 2017, Congress made this happen: NIH: Proposed 22% cut --> 9% increase NSF: Proposed 11% cut --> 4% increase NOAA: Proposed 16% cut --> 4% increase Obviously, 2025 is not 2017. A lot is diff now. But still: 💰 Congress, not WH, sets budgets. 📞 Public support & calls to Congress matter.

The Spencer Foundation is offering rapid response bridge funding for those who lost NSF research grants. www.spencer.org/grant_types/...

Mortified at the truth behind @theonion.com’s take on current events? Upset at your funding being cancelled? _____________________________ Don’t just post on Bluesky. Keep getting out there.

Good morning, scienceland!

Any other theremin enthusiasts on here? I’m having a tuning problem I can’t quite figure out and would love to chat with someone more experienced in theremin troubleshooting.

This piece is evergreen: www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/a-u...

@holdenthorp.bsky.social makes one of the best cases I’ve seen for exploring if you’re autistic as a high-performing adult. I’ve never forgotten when I asked a senior faculty member how I could do better and they told me I needed to stop making faces in faculty meeting. (1/3)

Gritty?

Small joy of the day: my best friend texted from Singapore while I was up with insomnia to check on what tea to buy for me. Sometimes there’s nothing like an “I’m thinking of you” text to brighten the moment.

This symposium was absolutely amazing. It was an honor to attend and I’m thrilled to be an organizer for next year. What a fantastic opportunity to build connections across the sciences. So few venues exist for these types of dialogues.

Konstanz has amazing science going on and this summer school is a great opportunity to experience the field from many different perspectives. Had a great time speaking last year and highly recommend to anyone in training interested in collective behavior.

With national events moving fast and in a threatening direction, we’re beyond the range of experience of any living person. A primer for scientists (and everyone) on why it’s not just politics - and seven ways to act, locally: samwang.substack.com/p/an-action-...

Students and postdocs: interested in theoretical biophysics? Apply for @hhmijanelia.bsky.social’s second Junior Scientist Workshop on Theoretical Biophysics! Applications due in June for a work week of fantastic scientific interactions this October: www.janelia.org/you-janelia/...

Said goodbye to @hhmijanelia.bsky.social at golden hour last night. Excited for a week in Germany and for my first visit to @embl.org in Heidelberg!

IMPORTANT ACTION in response to the illegal firings of scientists and public health workers at HHS, NIH, CDC, and other federal agencies by the Trump administration. Rally at HHS this Wed, Feb 19 at 12 pm. Show your support! RSVP here: docs.google.com/forms/u/0/d/... @nihfellowsunited.bsky.social

“In 2024 Dictionary.com chose ‘demure’ as the word of the year... Let’s hope that the 2025 word of the year isn’t ‘submissive.’” slate.com/life/2025/02...

Because a stranger told me today when I needed to hear it: never settle for second best. Ever. Be yourself. Always.

I’m headed to Heidelberg for the first time in February and would like to tack on some sort of side trip. Favorites in the area for 2-3 days that are nice that time of year? Plan A is riding four funicular railways in Heidelberg, Baden-Baden, Stuttgart, and Wiesbaden but open to other ideas!

Happy New Year, @hhmijanelia.bsky.social!

Sun setting on a great year of science at @hhmijanelia.bsky.social

Check out the website of the HHMI Janelia Open Science Software Initiative (OSSI) ossi.janelia.org You can find an overview of the projects we support with links to the code & documentation. We are also always looking for people to contribute to these projects! @hhmi.bsky.social

Startled in my office by a large and creepy campus resident this afternoon.