Ben de Bivort
@debivort.bsky.social
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]
Harvard Organismic and Evolutionary Biology & Center for Brain Science
https://debivortlab.org
fediverse: @[email protected]
Pinned
New paper: Reflecting on the multiple biases and predispositions observed in young animals with no previous experience, we modelled a new idea on the strategic role of biases to guide adaptive choice and reduce errors: royalsocietypublishing.org/rspb/article... In collab with @debivort.bsky.social
Please check out our proposed hypothesis about how naive animals might integrate multiple noisy signals to produce adaptive responses pre-learning.
This was the result of a very enjoyable intellectual collaboration led by @elisabettaversace.bsky.social
This was the result of a very enjoyable intellectual collaboration led by @elisabettaversace.bsky.social
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
These spiders hold the first pair of legs up and forward, creating the impression of a six-legged insect with elbowed ant antennae. Remarkably, the coxa of the front leg in this specimen is white, while the rest of the leg is black. This enhances the appearance of an antenna attached to the head.
February 18, 2026 at 6:27 PM
These spiders hold the first pair of legs up and forward, creating the impression of a six-legged insect with elbowed ant antennae. Remarkably, the coxa of the front leg in this specimen is white, while the rest of the leg is black. This enhances the appearance of an antenna attached to the head.
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
I regularly see people wondering how it's possible that there are so many musicians and writers and film makers and artists from a tiny nation like Iceland.
And the answer is really simple: State funding for art education and artists. I literally get a salary from the government to write books.
And the answer is really simple: State funding for art education and artists. I literally get a salary from the government to write books.
I’m constantly astounded at the sheer level of artistic production coming out of Iceland. Novels, movies, music. Amazing.
February 18, 2026 at 2:23 PM
I regularly see people wondering how it's possible that there are so many musicians and writers and film makers and artists from a tiny nation like Iceland.
And the answer is really simple: State funding for art education and artists. I literally get a salary from the government to write books.
And the answer is really simple: State funding for art education and artists. I literally get a salary from the government to write books.
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
Can randomness drive the evolution of microbiomes? In this paper, a new eco-evolutionary framework shows that environmental fluctuations can trigger host-level selection. Stochastic assembly isn’t noise: it’s the key.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... @andreatabi.bsky.social @vmaull.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... @andreatabi.bsky.social @vmaull.bsky.social
February 18, 2026 at 2:21 PM
Can randomness drive the evolution of microbiomes? In this paper, a new eco-evolutionary framework shows that environmental fluctuations can trigger host-level selection. Stochastic assembly isn’t noise: it’s the key.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... @andreatabi.bsky.social @vmaull.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... @andreatabi.bsky.social @vmaull.bsky.social
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
Scientists: if you have pursued/secured philanthropic funding in the wake of federal research funding cuts, I want to talk to you.
Reposts appreciated!
Reposts appreciated!
February 17, 2026 at 10:50 PM
Scientists: if you have pursued/secured philanthropic funding in the wake of federal research funding cuts, I want to talk to you.
Reposts appreciated!
Reposts appreciated!
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
Anyone please aware of people here who might be experts on industrial trawling vessels? Looking for help with terminology and ship types, thanks!
February 17, 2026 at 6:12 PM
Anyone please aware of people here who might be experts on industrial trawling vessels? Looking for help with terminology and ship types, thanks!
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
Stoked about the new Replication Studies section in Behavioral Ecology? Me too!
Jeremy Fox over at Dynamic Ecology interviewed me about our recent commentary on this topic and I'd love to hear the community's thoughts!
dynamicecology.wordpress.com/2026/02/17/t...
Jeremy Fox over at Dynamic Ecology interviewed me about our recent commentary on this topic and I'd love to hear the community's thoughts!
dynamicecology.wordpress.com/2026/02/17/t...
The value of close replications and how to get more of them: interview with Kate Laskowski
Welcome to our latest interview with the author of a recent interesting paper. Today’s interview was conducted by email with behavioral ecologist Kate Laskowski, first author ofLaskowski et a…
dynamicecology.wordpress.com
February 17, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Stoked about the new Replication Studies section in Behavioral Ecology? Me too!
Jeremy Fox over at Dynamic Ecology interviewed me about our recent commentary on this topic and I'd love to hear the community's thoughts!
dynamicecology.wordpress.com/2026/02/17/t...
Jeremy Fox over at Dynamic Ecology interviewed me about our recent commentary on this topic and I'd love to hear the community's thoughts!
dynamicecology.wordpress.com/2026/02/17/t...
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
Using our bee-tracking drone, we discovered that honey bees 🐝 have highly precise and individual routes. Now published at @currentbiology.bsky.social : doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...
Have you ever wondered what you would find if you could keep your eyes on a bee for more than a few meters? Us, too!
preprint (with videos!) + thread 🧵
Precise, individualized foraging flights in honey #bees 🐝 revealed by multicopter drone-based tracking
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
1/9
preprint (with videos!) + thread 🧵
Precise, individualized foraging flights in honey #bees 🐝 revealed by multicopter drone-based tracking
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
1/9
February 16, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Using our bee-tracking drone, we discovered that honey bees 🐝 have highly precise and individual routes. Now published at @currentbiology.bsky.social : doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
Cyphophthalmi meeting...
January 12, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Cyphophthalmi meeting...
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
Graphite powder attempt 1 a cyphophthalmid arachnid, which is actually a type of harvestman.
February 15, 2026 at 12:45 PM
Graphite powder attempt 1 a cyphophthalmid arachnid, which is actually a type of harvestman.
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
There's also programs like 'Stop Passing the Harasser' where candidates can waive confidentiality and allow prospective employers to request info from prior/current employers on harassment/misconduct investigations. U Wisc and UC-Davis both do this, not sure how widespread it is yet
February 15, 2026 at 4:40 PM
There's also programs like 'Stop Passing the Harasser' where candidates can waive confidentiality and allow prospective employers to request info from prior/current employers on harassment/misconduct investigations. U Wisc and UC-Davis both do this, not sure how widespread it is yet
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
rubio’s invocation of “western civilization” — defined here as racial and religious chauvinism, if not outright supremacy — is a rejection of the more egalitarian and universalistic notions that came out of america’s two revolutions.
February 15, 2026 at 1:17 AM
rubio’s invocation of “western civilization” — defined here as racial and religious chauvinism, if not outright supremacy — is a rejection of the more egalitarian and universalistic notions that came out of america’s two revolutions.
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
Governor Healey has expressly supported this contract.
She is also positioning herself as an ICE opponent—see below.
But meanwhile her administration is fighting the disclosure of information of data about its contract with ICE. bsky.app/profile/mass...
She is also positioning herself as an ICE opponent—see below.
But meanwhile her administration is fighting the disclosure of information of data about its contract with ICE. bsky.app/profile/mass...
Shooting people in the street. Ripping parents from children. Americans stopped, detained and killed.
Now, ICE wants to build a new 400-bed facility in New Hampshire?
Governor Ayotte should be doing everything in her power to block this. Enough is enough.
Now, ICE wants to build a new 400-bed facility in New Hampshire?
Governor Ayotte should be doing everything in her power to block this. Enough is enough.
Newly released documents detail ICE plans for warehouse facility in Merrimack, N.H. - The Boston Globe
The acting ICE director said federal officials previously told Governor Ayotte about the economic impacts of controversial facility. Ayotte said the director’s comments were “simply not true.”
www.bostonglobe.com
February 15, 2026 at 12:39 AM
Governor Healey has expressly supported this contract.
She is also positioning herself as an ICE opponent—see below.
But meanwhile her administration is fighting the disclosure of information of data about its contract with ICE. bsky.app/profile/mass...
She is also positioning herself as an ICE opponent—see below.
But meanwhile her administration is fighting the disclosure of information of data about its contract with ICE. bsky.app/profile/mass...
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
Massachusetts has spent months delaying & denying @boltsmag.org’s public records requests on how many people it has transferred ICE during Trump as part of its formal contract with ICE.
A supervisor of records ruled last week that the state’s denials are improper; we hope to get records soon.
A supervisor of records ruled last week that the state’s denials are improper; we hope to get records soon.
Inside ICE’s Only Contract with a Blue State - Bolts
As part of a 287(g) contract between state officials and ICE, Massachusetts continues to release prisoners into deportation—even as state lawmakers look to ban other forms of ICE collaboration.
boltsmag.org
February 14, 2026 at 11:56 PM
Massachusetts has spent months delaying & denying @boltsmag.org’s public records requests on how many people it has transferred ICE during Trump as part of its formal contract with ICE.
A supervisor of records ruled last week that the state’s denials are improper; we hope to get records soon.
A supervisor of records ruled last week that the state’s denials are improper; we hope to get records soon.
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
My students brought me a baby goat to pet for Valentine's Day!! Best lab ever ❤️🩷🐐🩷❤️
February 14, 2026 at 12:51 PM
My students brought me a baby goat to pet for Valentine's Day!! Best lab ever ❤️🩷🐐🩷❤️
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
I keep saying that one of these years Massachusetts should try electing a Democrat as governor instead
At the same time that Healey is saying that we have enough money to give large corporations tax cuts for investments they make in Texas, she wants to bring back asset tests for welfare programs.
commonwealthbeacon.org/government/s...
commonwealthbeacon.org/government/s...
‘It just requires people to be destitute’: Healey draws criticism over push to tighten eligibility for safety-net program
Five years after lawmakers scrapped the asset limit attached to the Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children program, Gov. Maura Healey wants to bring it back at a higher threshold — a mov...
commonwealthbeacon.org
February 13, 2026 at 4:32 PM
I keep saying that one of these years Massachusetts should try electing a Democrat as governor instead
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
Happy Friday from Goosey and his fresh haircut! He’s a dapper lil gentleman now. Don’t let the grey hairs fool you. He is still a roly poly babydog.
February 13, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Happy Friday from Goosey and his fresh haircut! He’s a dapper lil gentleman now. Don’t let the grey hairs fool you. He is still a roly poly babydog.
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
LLMs can use similes and make allusions; they can be vivid and concrete, &c.
But they cannot spend 100 pages making you think Wickham is the charming love interest while inserting deniable clues that will—only in retrospect!—reveal you should have known he’s a cad.
They’re not trained to mislead.+
But they cannot spend 100 pages making you think Wickham is the charming love interest while inserting deniable clues that will—only in retrospect!—reveal you should have known he’s a cad.
They’re not trained to mislead.+
February 13, 2026 at 12:02 PM
LLMs can use similes and make allusions; they can be vivid and concrete, &c.
But they cannot spend 100 pages making you think Wickham is the charming love interest while inserting deniable clues that will—only in retrospect!—reveal you should have known he’s a cad.
They’re not trained to mislead.+
But they cannot spend 100 pages making you think Wickham is the charming love interest while inserting deniable clues that will—only in retrospect!—reveal you should have known he’s a cad.
They’re not trained to mislead.+
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
We all know about the Claude spiritual bliss attractor state. But what happens when you let Grok talk to itself for a long time? Answer:
February 13, 2026 at 4:14 AM
We all know about the Claude spiritual bliss attractor state. But what happens when you let Grok talk to itself for a long time? Answer:
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
⚠️ DEADLINE EXTENDED! ⚠️
Applications are still open for the CAJAL Course on Quantitative Approaches to Behavior and Virtual Reality (7 June – 26 June 2026)! 🧠
📅 Deadline to apply: March 3rd 2026 (NEW DATE)
📍 Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
🔗 Apply now: buff.ly/YG7FXZj
#cajal
Applications are still open for the CAJAL Course on Quantitative Approaches to Behavior and Virtual Reality (7 June – 26 June 2026)! 🧠
📅 Deadline to apply: March 3rd 2026 (NEW DATE)
📍 Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
🔗 Apply now: buff.ly/YG7FXZj
#cajal
February 13, 2026 at 12:30 PM
⚠️ DEADLINE EXTENDED! ⚠️
Applications are still open for the CAJAL Course on Quantitative Approaches to Behavior and Virtual Reality (7 June – 26 June 2026)! 🧠
📅 Deadline to apply: March 3rd 2026 (NEW DATE)
📍 Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
🔗 Apply now: buff.ly/YG7FXZj
#cajal
Applications are still open for the CAJAL Course on Quantitative Approaches to Behavior and Virtual Reality (7 June – 26 June 2026)! 🧠
📅 Deadline to apply: March 3rd 2026 (NEW DATE)
📍 Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
🔗 Apply now: buff.ly/YG7FXZj
#cajal
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
Anthropic head of AI safety quits, warning of "world in peril" & announces plan to study creative writing, as my college charges ahead in deal with Anthropic, which trained its tech on at least 25 books taken without permission from our Creative Writing faculty. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Anthropic AI safety researcher quits with 'world in peril' warning
It comes in the same week an OpenAI researcher resigned amid concerns about its decision to start testing ChatGPT ads.
www.bbc.com
February 13, 2026 at 12:46 AM
Anthropic head of AI safety quits, warning of "world in peril" & announces plan to study creative writing, as my college charges ahead in deal with Anthropic, which trained its tech on at least 25 books taken without permission from our Creative Writing faculty. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
#Teleomorph on the other hand is described as the sexual reproductive stage. Both stages can have their own deceptively complex life cycles. Often involving secret hidden lives under ground, while their surface lovers hijack mobile animals to spread their babies across the land :)
February 12, 2026 at 10:56 PM
#Teleomorph on the other hand is described as the sexual reproductive stage. Both stages can have their own deceptively complex life cycles. Often involving secret hidden lives under ground, while their surface lovers hijack mobile animals to spread their babies across the land :)
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
We know a lot more about #Fungi now that the science of genetics has advanced so much. Often it was discovered that 2 or more different fungi, were infact one species. With the 1 fungi 1 name push, we needed ways to divide. So #Anamorph is generally described as the asexual reproductive stage
February 12, 2026 at 10:47 PM
Behavioral biases drift in individuals.
• Drift happens on many timescales
• Drift rate depends on genetics and neuromodulators
• It might be adaptive for rapidly changing environments
elifesciences.org/reviewed-pre...
• Drift happens on many timescales
• Drift rate depends on genetics and neuromodulators
• It might be adaptive for rapidly changing environments
elifesciences.org/reviewed-pre...
Drift in Individual Behavioral Phenotype as a Strategy for Unpredictable Worlds
elifesciences.org
February 12, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Behavioral biases drift in individuals.
• Drift happens on many timescales
• Drift rate depends on genetics and neuromodulators
• It might be adaptive for rapidly changing environments
elifesciences.org/reviewed-pre...
• Drift happens on many timescales
• Drift rate depends on genetics and neuromodulators
• It might be adaptive for rapidly changing environments
elifesciences.org/reviewed-pre...
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
The University of Essex Language & Linguistics dept was critical to my journey - part of the reason that I am in the field I am in and have the career I have now.
If you can’t help be on the picket line, you can help by donating to the hardship fund (see links in Nina’s post below)
If you can’t help be on the picket line, you can help by donating to the hardship fund (see links in Nina’s post below)
good morning, #linguistics 🐦🐦 pals
the University of Essex wants to cut 50% of our Language & Linguistics department, close our foundation programme & our Southend campus, + cut 400 jobs academic departments and professional services jobs across all depts
join us in the fight against these cuts!
the University of Essex wants to cut 50% of our Language & Linguistics department, close our foundation programme & our Southend campus, + cut 400 jobs academic departments and professional services jobs across all depts
join us in the fight against these cuts!
February 12, 2026 at 12:30 PM
The University of Essex Language & Linguistics dept was critical to my journey - part of the reason that I am in the field I am in and have the career I have now.
If you can’t help be on the picket line, you can help by donating to the hardship fund (see links in Nina’s post below)
If you can’t help be on the picket line, you can help by donating to the hardship fund (see links in Nina’s post below)
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
“…universities are becoming more reliant on wealthy benefactors. But the networks that fund research and programs can also entangle top universities with morally compromised figures… complicity and compromised institutional integrity.”
www.chronicle.com/article/a-mo...
www.chronicle.com/article/a-mo...
‘A Moment of Reckoning’: After Epstein, Higher Ed Faces Hard Questions About Its Proximity to Power
Weeks after the release of a new cache of files about Jeffrey Epstein, the fallout on campuses nationwide is coming into focus.
www.chronicle.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:43 PM
“…universities are becoming more reliant on wealthy benefactors. But the networks that fund research and programs can also entangle top universities with morally compromised figures… complicity and compromised institutional integrity.”
www.chronicle.com/article/a-mo...
www.chronicle.com/article/a-mo...