Ben Balas
@bjbalas.bsky.social
Vision Scientist, Dad, Would-be artist & dreadful chess player. Check out my new #visionscience textbook here: https://www.routledge.com/Practical-Vision-Science-Learning-Through-Experimentation/Balas/p/book/9781032691121 All opinions my own.
Pinned
Ben Balas
@bjbalas.bsky.social
· Nov 4
Practical Vision Science: Learning Through Experimentation
This workbook provides a collection of experiments and observations that use physical materials (rather than digital displays or resources) to reveal fundamental properties of the human visual system....
www.routledge.com
Hey there #visionscience and #psychscisky friends! I wanted to take a moment to (finally) do a proper promo 🧵 about my new textbook: Practical Vision Science, which is now available from Routledge books. <1/n> www.routledge.com/Practical-Vi...
Reposted by Ben Balas
The Power Fantasy is simply one of the best explorations of moral philosophy (aka normative ethics) in comics. Check out my ethics primer and introduction to the series:
comicphilosophy.com/index.php/20...
Kudos to @kierongillen.bsky.social and @casparw.bsky.social for this outstanding series!
comicphilosophy.com/index.php/20...
Kudos to @kierongillen.bsky.social and @casparw.bsky.social for this outstanding series!
November 25, 2025 at 3:31 PM
The Power Fantasy is simply one of the best explorations of moral philosophy (aka normative ethics) in comics. Check out my ethics primer and introduction to the series:
comicphilosophy.com/index.php/20...
Kudos to @kierongillen.bsky.social and @casparw.bsky.social for this outstanding series!
comicphilosophy.com/index.php/20...
Kudos to @kierongillen.bsky.social and @casparw.bsky.social for this outstanding series!
I still miss MIT BCS a ton - share widely and help them find their next faculty member!
Applications due December 1st!
Come work with us!
Come work with us!
Two weeks left to apply! MIT's Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences is seeking a tenure-track Assistant Professor, working with nonhuman animals in some way. Application deadline is Dec. 1. Full posting: academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30586
November 24, 2025 at 9:45 PM
I still miss MIT BCS a ton - share widely and help them find their next faculty member!
Reposted by Ben Balas
Happy to see the Northwest Labor Press running Sam Wallman’s @samwallman.bsky.social History of the Boycott comic! Here’s an earlier version that ran in The Nib. thenib.com/boycott-hist...
November 23, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Happy to see the Northwest Labor Press running Sam Wallman’s @samwallman.bsky.social History of the Boycott comic! Here’s an earlier version that ran in The Nib. thenib.com/boycott-hist...
New post by the kiddo at So Desensitized! This time she's writing about STRANGER THINGS in anticipation of the new season. If you love #horror, #popculture, and great writing about movies and television go sign up for her newsletter! buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
a red sign that says stranger things 3 on a black background
ALT: a red sign that says stranger things 3 on a black background
media.tenor.com
November 22, 2025 at 11:27 PM
New post by the kiddo at So Desensitized! This time she's writing about STRANGER THINGS in anticipation of the new season. If you love #horror, #popculture, and great writing about movies and television go sign up for her newsletter! buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
I had my first @skypeascientist.bsky.social visit of the year yesterday and it was great fun. I was matched up with 3 1st-2nd grade classrooms who all joined in via Zoom to hear about #visionscience and the brain. Beforehand, I got a bunch of Qs from them that were really excellent. <1/n> 🧵
three images of a human brain are displayed on a monitor
ALT: three images of a human brain are displayed on a monitor
media.tenor.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:37 PM
I had my first @skypeascientist.bsky.social visit of the year yesterday and it was great fun. I was matched up with 3 1st-2nd grade classrooms who all joined in via Zoom to hear about #visionscience and the brain. Beforehand, I got a bunch of Qs from them that were really excellent. <1/n> 🧵
When I talk to students about public speaking or teaching, I always bring this up: Just tell people when you don't know something! It's remarkably powerful b/c it signals to your audience that you know the boundaries of your expertise and they can trust what you DO talk about.
completely outside of politics, this is so charming
November 22, 2025 at 5:18 PM
When I talk to students about public speaking or teaching, I always bring this up: Just tell people when you don't know something! It's remarkably powerful b/c it signals to your audience that you know the boundaries of your expertise and they can trust what you DO talk about.
Man, I hadn't thought about this as a consequence of LLM use. The first "theory of everything" I ever received was in grad school and I suspect it was probably because I was early in the alphabet at MIT. That one didn't strike me as reflecting any particularly disordered thinking... <1/n> 🧵
I am by no means a prominent public intellectual, but my inbox is increasingly filled with messages from people who have been convinced by sycophantic chatbots that they have discovered revolutionary theories that entirely upend our scientific understanding of the universe.
November 21, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Man, I hadn't thought about this as a consequence of LLM use. The first "theory of everything" I ever received was in grad school and I suspect it was probably because I was early in the alphabet at MIT. That one didn't strike me as reflecting any particularly disordered thinking... <1/n> 🧵
This article about Fargo's new "Slick City" indoor slide park is a real journey. #notforme #iwanttolive
Slick City slide park prompts safety warnings from Fargo parents
Parents expressed concern with the park’s most thrilling attraction - a steep slide called the “Mega Launch.”
www.valleynewslive.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:20 AM
This article about Fargo's new "Slick City" indoor slide park is a real journey. #notforme #iwanttolive
Classic movie night at the Fargo Theatre! Tonight's feature was THE GODFATHER, which I'd never seen on the big screen before. Definitely one of those movies that has so much in it I always end up noticing something new.
a man in a suit and tie sits at a table in front of a sign that says ' a '
ALT: a man in a suit and tie sits at a table in front of a sign that says ' a '
media.tenor.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:14 AM
Classic movie night at the Fargo Theatre! Tonight's feature was THE GODFATHER, which I'd never seen on the big screen before. Definitely one of those movies that has so much in it I always end up noticing something new.
The thing about having a kid who's really into film is when she tells you not to eat the cookie she is setting down there's a good chance she goes full Eastern Promises on you about it out of nowhere. #proudDad
a man in a suit and tie is standing in front of a store with a green sign
ALT: a man in a suit and tie is standing in front of a store with a green sign
media.tenor.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:50 AM
The thing about having a kid who's really into film is when she tells you not to eat the cookie she is setting down there's a good chance she goes full Eastern Promises on you about it out of nowhere. #proudDad
Reposted by Ben Balas
Making THE INVISIBLE MAN… VISIBLE! 😜
November 13, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Making THE INVISIBLE MAN… VISIBLE! 😜
A random post sent me down this interesting rabbit-hole about the intensely weird makeup that was used in the early days of television. I feel like this would make a really cool #visionscience project for a lab class! cosmeticsandskin.com/aba/max-and-...
November 14, 2025 at 7:43 PM
A random post sent me down this interesting rabbit-hole about the intensely weird makeup that was used in the early days of television. I feel like this would make a really cool #visionscience project for a lab class! cosmeticsandskin.com/aba/max-and-...
Beautiful #aurora tonight in Fargo. The colors were absolutely gorgeous and it filled more than half the sky at some points. Photos courtesy of the kiddo.
November 12, 2025 at 3:23 AM
Beautiful #aurora tonight in Fargo. The colors were absolutely gorgeous and it filled more than half the sky at some points. Photos courtesy of the kiddo.
Like, I definitely do not need something that will just sit on a shelf. Then again, something I can pick up off the shelf, say "Engage," and then run across the room with might be something I do need.
I really hope this means at some point we will get Lego Star Trek videogames 🖖
November 11, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Like, I definitely do not need something that will just sit on a shelf. Then again, something I can pick up off the shelf, say "Engage," and then run across the room with might be something I do need.
Catching up on some of the older movies in advance of watching PREDATOR: BADLANDS and I may need to write a mini #visionscience essay about the scene in PREDATOR 2 where they try to catch our man by taking advantage of his visual system but totally get a lot of things wrong.
a person in a blue suit is standing in the rain with a gun
ALT: a person in a blue suit is standing in the rain with a gun
media.tenor.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Catching up on some of the older movies in advance of watching PREDATOR: BADLANDS and I may need to write a mini #visionscience essay about the scene in PREDATOR 2 where they try to catch our man by taking advantage of his visual system but totally get a lot of things wrong.
I was talking with our Communications Manager at NDSU about my lab's recent work on #pareidolia (paper announcements soon!) & he sent me this delightful cartoon from the Worthington Daily Globe (8/20/1973). His father was the editor & worked w/ the cartoonist on the idea. #visionscience #sciart
November 5, 2025 at 3:41 PM
I was talking with our Communications Manager at NDSU about my lab's recent work on #pareidolia (paper announcements soon!) & he sent me this delightful cartoon from the Worthington Daily Globe (8/20/1973). His father was the editor & worked w/ the cartoonist on the idea. #visionscience #sciart
Excellent chimeric face image showing off a left visual field bias for face processing - this image will tend to look more like John Travolta to observers, but the next one (see following post in this thread)... <1/2>
Respond with the same actor as a hero and villain.
November 4, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Excellent chimeric face image showing off a left visual field bias for face processing - this image will tend to look more like John Travolta to observers, but the next one (see following post in this thread)... <1/2>
Lots of stuff that bugs me in this article, but this really stood out: "At Milnor Public Schools, Fitzgerald said his approach is basic, that students can use AI for idea generation, not for class work."
But coming up with YOUR ideas is the good stuff! Don't teach kids to outsource that.
But coming up with YOUR ideas is the good stuff! Don't teach kids to outsource that.
AI allows more time for students, North Dakota educators say
State has provided guidance on artificial intelligence
www.inforum.com
November 4, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Lots of stuff that bugs me in this article, but this really stood out: "At Milnor Public Schools, Fitzgerald said his approach is basic, that students can use AI for idea generation, not for class work."
But coming up with YOUR ideas is the good stuff! Don't teach kids to outsource that.
But coming up with YOUR ideas is the good stuff! Don't teach kids to outsource that.
Neat sale item from Surplus Shed for you #visionscience and #optics folks - their FluxOptic device gives you a lens/mirror with adjustable focal lengths. Looks super-cool for all kinds of demos! www.surplusshed.com/pages/item/F...
FluxOptic™
<p>Finally after years of work, production of our patented FluxOptic™ device is complete. Create it into an adjustable lens or mirror with a wide focal length range<strong> without g...
www.surplusshed.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Neat sale item from Surplus Shed for you #visionscience and #optics folks - their FluxOptic device gives you a lens/mirror with adjustable focal lengths. Looks super-cool for all kinds of demos! www.surplusshed.com/pages/item/F...
One more #Halloween post from the kiddo over at So Desensitized! This time she's wrapping up the scary season posts with a look at HOCUS POCUS. Enjoy! buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
Kids These Days Keep Lighting Black Flame Candles
Hey all! Happy Halloween! Welcome to the final post of the 2025 So Desensitized Spooky Season Spooktacular: Witches! Get ready for some witchy Halloween...
buttondown.com
October 31, 2025 at 9:37 PM
One more #Halloween post from the kiddo over at So Desensitized! This time she's wrapping up the scary season posts with a look at HOCUS POCUS. Enjoy! buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
Opening night of EVIL DEAD:THE MUSICAL was fantastic at Fargo North! Great songs, great laughs, and a whole lot of blood. Here's a photo of me from Parent Preview night having taken a seat in the Splatter Zone, which was absolutely worth the mess.
October 31, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Opening night of EVIL DEAD:THE MUSICAL was fantastic at Fargo North! Great songs, great laughs, and a whole lot of blood. Here's a photo of me from Parent Preview night having taken a seat in the Splatter Zone, which was absolutely worth the mess.
Another #VisionScience demo for your Halloween over at my teaching website. This time, a very basic version of the Gelb Staircase. This one has a reputation for being tricky, but I've found it to be pretty successful.
Vision Demos: Gelb Staircase
Vision Demos: Gelb Staircase Things you will need: Paper in a range of grayscale values, ideally spanning black to white. Lots of art vendors will have these, but it’s useful to have a heavier weigh...
docs.google.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Another #VisionScience demo for your Halloween over at my teaching website. This time, a very basic version of the Gelb Staircase. This one has a reputation for being tricky, but I've found it to be pretty successful.
We've got a live performance of EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL to go to, but if you're not checking out the bloodiest stage show in Fargo tonight, this sounds really great!
I'm having a lot of fun preparing to do my live narration of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow tonight. I haven't been this excited to perform live in a long time.
October 30, 2025 at 9:07 PM
We've got a live performance of EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL to go to, but if you're not checking out the bloodiest stage show in Fargo tonight, this sounds really great!
Another addition to my #VisionScience teaching website: A new hands-on demo for DIY Binocular Rivalry! All you need are anaglyph glasses & matching colored pencils to watch your two eyes fight for your visual awareness. Students really like this one and it's super quick to do. #STEMEducation
Vision Demos: DIY Binocular Rivalry
Vision Demos: DIY Binocular Rivalry Things you will need: A pair of 3D anaglyph glasses - I’ve found that Red/Green are easier to work with but Red/Cyan will also likely be good. Colored pencils or...
docs.google.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Another addition to my #VisionScience teaching website: A new hands-on demo for DIY Binocular Rivalry! All you need are anaglyph glasses & matching colored pencils to watch your two eyes fight for your visual awareness. Students really like this one and it's super quick to do. #STEMEducation
Another new post from the kiddo at So Desensitized! This time she's back to the #horrormovies with a look at PRACTICAL MAGIC. Enjoy! buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
Kids These Days Don't Break Generational Curses Anymore
Hey all! Welcome to the fourth and final week of the 2025 Spooky Season Spooktacular! This week is gonna be some lighthearted witches, with Practical Magic...
buttondown.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Another new post from the kiddo at So Desensitized! This time she's back to the #horrormovies with a look at PRACTICAL MAGIC. Enjoy! buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...