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Ben de Bivort

@debivort.bsky.social

1.7K followers 650 following 570 posts

Drosophila neurobiologist. We study insect behavior and individuality using the tools of computational neuroethology. Harvard Organismic and Evolutionary Biology & Center for Brain Science https://debivortlab.org fediverse: @[email protected]

debivortlab.org

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Ben de Bivort @debivort.bsky.social · 3d

Our new study modeling selection for (behavioral) variability has been covered in a lovely @genetics-gsa.bsky.social podcast featuring first author Shraddha Lall and @ecoevogal.bsky.social

academic.oup.com/g3journal/ad...

Family-based selection: an efficient method for increasing phenotypic variability

This article introduces a model comparing various selection regimes for increasing phenotypic variability. Individuals with the same genotype, reared in id

academic.oup.com

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Reposted by Ben de Bivort

myrmepropagandist @futurebird.sauropods.win.ap.brid.gy · 1d

A haunting video of the crinoids of the ancient seas and the hat snails that haunted them.

The animation is credited at the end, I'd love to know more about how this was made!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdPTYamnqQA

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Ben de Bivort @debivort.bsky.social · 1d

leeerooyy mmmjenkins

Reposted by Ben de Bivort

NightMar on Hicks Street, Part 4: The Rabbit’s Revenge @histoftech.bsky.social · 1d

The Virginia Senate just told UVA it’s not getting state funding if it accepts the compact since UVA exists to serve Virginia, its residents, & their interests—not be a tool of the federal govt. Scoop from our student newspaper, who’ve been doing vital reporting www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2025...

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Reposted by Ben de Bivort

Alexandra Gallant-Lee @alexandragallant.com · 1d

Frogby is a fan of the Portland frogs

my little frog Frogby in the style/colors of the Portland protest inflatable frog costume, his eyes are red, he has a lighter belly and darker spots on his arms and legs and is smiling

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Reposted by Ben de Bivort

Kara McKinley @karalmckinley.bsky.social · 1d

Lab’s 1st preprint!

Menstruation is understudied due to societal taboos + a biological challenge: mice (a key system for research + drug discovery) don’t menstruate.

@cagricevrim.bsky.social made menstruating mice + used them to discover early events in menstruation.

He is on the job market!

Çağrı Çevrim @cagricevrim.bsky.social · 1d

I’m thrilled to share my postdoc work and the first paper from the McKinley Lab! 🎉
@karalmckinley.bsky.social
We built the first transgenic model of menstruation in mice.
We used it to uncover how the endometrium organizes and sheds during menstruation. 🧪
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🧵

Induction of menstruation in mice reveals the regulation of menstrual shedding

During menstruation, an inner layer of the endometrium is selectively shed, while an outer, progenitor-containing layer is preserved to support repeated regeneration. Progress in understanding this co...

www.biorxiv.org

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Ben de Bivort @debivort.bsky.social · 1d

congratulations!

Reposted by Ben de Bivort

Talia Lerner @talialerner.bsky.social · 1d

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/u...

Go MIT ✊🏼

M.I.T. Rejects a White House Offer for Special Funding Treatment

www.nytimes.com

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Ben de Bivort @debivort.bsky.social · 1d

yes indeed, hope I make the cut :D

Ben de Bivort @debivort.bsky.social · 1d

cool — congratulations! seems like a great fit :)

Reposted by Ben de Bivort

lacey @byelacey.bsky.social · 1d

it's that time of year, it's time to get your flu and covid booster shot unless you're from massachusetts then it's time for your flu and covid borcester shot

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Reposted by Ben de Bivort

Prof Anna Watts @profannawatts.bsky.social · 2d

Lol the Nobels can't even acknowledge women's contribution to discovery. But sure let's acknowledge The Machines.

Headline from an article in Nature this week that states "Prizes must recognize machine contributions to discovery. The future of science will be written by humans and machines together. Awards should reflect that reality."

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Reposted by Ben de Bivort

Elisa Zhang, Ph.D. @elisazhang.bsky.social · 2d

Happy to have started as an @hhmi.org Freeman Hrabowski Scholar! Incredibly grateful for this opportunity and am excited for some very cool new directions! We are *HIRING*, especially postdocs! Please reach out if you’re interested in uterine and pregnancy biology. Please repost!

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Ben de Bivort @debivort.bsky.social · 2d

cc @giorgio.gilest.ro

Reposted by Ben de Bivort

Juno Rylee Schultz @junoryleejournalism.com · 3d

David Simon, creator of ‘The Wire’, being interviewed by Ari Shapiro (NPR)

SHAPIRO: OK, so you've spent your career creating television without Al, and I could imagine today you thinking, boy, I wish I had had that tool to solve those thorny problems...
SIMON: What?
SHAPIRO: ...Or saying...
SIMON: You imagine that?
SHAPIRO: ...Boy, if that had existed, it would have screwed me over.
SIMON: I don't think Al can remotely challenge what writers do at a fundamentally creative level.
SHAPIRO: But if you're trying to transition from scene five to scene six, and you're stuck with that transition, you could imagine plugging that portion of the script into an Al and say, give me 10 ideas for how to transition this.
SIMON: I'd rather put a gun in my mouth.

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Reposted by Ben de Bivort

Genetics Society of America @genetics-gsa.bsky.social · 3d

A 🆕 episode of Genetics in Your World is now available! ECS Multimedia Subcommittee co-chair @ecoevogal.bsky.social interviewed Dr. Shraddha Lall of Harvard University on her research covering selection for phenotypic variability in Drosophila.

Listen now: buff.ly/M9uafT5 🎙️

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Reposted by Ben de Bivort

BWJones @bwjones.bsky.social · 2d

You. Do. Not. Try. To. Prove. Your. Hypothesis.

That is completely backwards.

The proper way to do science is to form a hypothesis, and then do everything you can to try and tear that hypothesis apart.

Any other way is scientifically unsound at the least, and malpractice or outright lies at worst

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 2d

RFK Jr on Tylenol and autism: "It is not proof. We're doing the studies to make the proof."

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Reposted by Ben de Bivort

Amy Maxmen, PhD @amymaxmen.bsky.social · 2d

When I was reporting in Sudan several years ago, a driver warned me not to tell government officials when I was leaving because the airport is where they stop and detain writers.

So, yeah, this is a very bad sign. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

US anti-fascism expert blocked from flying to Spain at airport

Rutgers University professor who published book on antifa was informed at boarding gate that his trip was cancelled

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Ben de Bivort

Tim Mosca (he/him) @drosophilosophy.bsky.social · 2d

At the CSHL meeting, @sarahcertel.bsky.social gives a wonderful memorial about the recently passed Ed Kravitz. A beautiful remembrance for a man who contributed so much to our fly community and to the CSHL mission.

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Reposted by Ben de Bivort

Lucia Prieto Godino @neuroluci.bsky.social · 3d

We are recruiting PhD students! If you are interested in evolutionary neuroscience, consider applying: www.crick.ac.uk/careers-stud...

Prieto Godino Lab | Cellular and molecular bases of neural circuit and behavioural evolution

www.crick.ac.uk

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Ben de Bivort @debivort.bsky.social · 3d

Podcast is here! shows.acast.com/632def7c8ad8...

Variation Reconsidered: Selection Schemes for Phenotypic Variability Beyond Trait Means — A Conversation with Dr. Shraddha Lall | Genetics in Your World

shows.acast.com

Ben de Bivort @debivort.bsky.social · 3d

thank you!! 🙏

Reposted by Ben de Bivort

Ben de Bivort @debivort.bsky.social · 3d

Family-based selection: an efficient method for increasing phenotypic variability

This article introduces a model comparing various selection regimes for increasing phenotypic variability. Individuals with the same genotype, reared in id

academic.oup.com

5 14 33

Ben de Bivort @debivort.bsky.social · 3d

Check it out for a lovely conversation about artificial selection for variability as a phenotype, computational models of evolution and navigating an early scientific career of research and science communication.

Ben de Bivort @debivort.bsky.social · 3d

Family-based selection: an efficient method for increasing phenotypic variability

This article introduces a model comparing various selection regimes for increasing phenotypic variability. Individuals with the same genotype, reared in id

academic.oup.com

5 14 33

Ben de Bivort @debivort.bsky.social · 4d

I think I want to try this now. Did you rule out using silver puffy paint to mimic the solder?

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