Zen Faulkes

@doctorzen.net

2.5K followers 320 following 3.6K posts

Home page: http://DoctorZen.net. Biologist. Author of Better Posters book and blog. Collector of academic hoaxes and academic slop graphics.

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Environmental science 49%

Geography 13%

Posts Replies Media Videos

Zen Faulkes @doctorzen.net · 7h

Trading cards.

a cat laying on a table playing a game of magic the gathering with cards on it

Alt: A cat laying on a table playing a game of Magic: The Gathering.

media.tenor.com

Reposted by Zen Faulkes

Pat Brosseau @droog811.bsky.social · 1d

I bought a page of original Nexus art by Steve to help him and his wife out. It's sad to me that an artist of his caliber has fallen on hard times and it seems to be happening a lot more often with great artists. Support the arts and artists that you enjoy. tripwiremagazine.co.uk/headlines/ve...

Veteran US Comic Artist Steve Rude Needs Your Help

Help The Dude Out Over on his Facebook page, US comic artist Steve Rude (Nexus) announced that he needs our financial help (photo©Greg Preston. All Rights Reserved)… Friends, Another birthday. Another...

tripwiremagazine.co.uk

Zen Faulkes @doctorzen.net · 1d

Many have rightly pointed out that people are pressured not to mask 😷 , despite how much they reduce risk of respiratory illness.

But I still see people masking almost every time I’m in the local big box store. That never used to happen before 2020.

Zen Faulkes @doctorzen.net · 1d

You can make positive comments about a paper on PubPeer.

Reposted by Zen Faulkes

Sensory Ecology Lab @sensoryecology.bsky.social · 2d

“‘This is the highest reported reflectivity of any land-based biological organism, including beetle exoskeleton, bird feathers, and the famously intense blue of Morpho butterfly scales.’”

#scicomm
#sensoryecology

www.sciencealert.com/this-stunnin...
🧪

This Stunning 'Blue Marble' Fruit Isn't Actually Blue – It's a Wild Optical Illusion

The fruit of Africa's marble berry (Pollia condensata) is a true living gemstone, sporting a stunning metallic blue sheen that never fades.

www.sciencealert.com

Zen Faulkes @doctorzen.net · 2d

Not news but relevant to today:

www.bbc.com/news/world-u...

Why this congressman is using Superman comic for swearing-in

When Robert Garcia is sworn in to Congress, he will have a vintage Superman comic with him.

www.bbc.com

Zen Faulkes @doctorzen.net · 2d

We’re having a good day with our bitey puppy too

Teddy, a Golden retriever, with his head hanging off the couch.

Reposted by Mark D. White, Jonathan M. Gilligan, Felicity Callard , and 6 more Mark D. White, Jonathan M. Gilligan, Felicity Callard, McKenzie Wark, Caroline T. Schroeder, Zen Faulkes, Thomas Masterson, Joanna L. Grossman, Nathan P. Kalmoe

Trans News Network @transnews.network · 2d

In this in-depth interview Billie Jean Sweeney — a former editor at The New York Times — details how the paper shifted towards openly promoting anti-trans hatred, why this was directed from the very top, how some staff pushed back and the immense damage done by the NYT legitimizing bigotry.

'A directive from above': Former NYT editor lays out how the paper pushes anti-trans bigotry

In this in-depth interview, former New York Times editor Billie Jean Sweeney details how the paper shifted towards openly promoting anti-trans hatred, how some staff tried to stop it, how it's directe...

transnews.network

Zen Faulkes @doctorzen.net · 2d

This is another research assessment problem in disguise.

Because research assessment overemphasizes publication in a small number of “prestige” venues, journals do not have to compete on services to authors, like timely review.

Nature @nature.com · 2d

Chia-Hsuan Hsu waited 18 months before chasing an editor for a decision on a paper

go.nature.com/4j47KhM

Dear editors, your publication delays are damaging our careers

Chia-Hsuan Hsu waited 18 months before chasing an editor for a decision on a paper. The answer surprised him.

go.nature.com

Zen Faulkes @doctorzen.net · 2d

Thanks for that addition!

Zen Faulkes @doctorzen.net · 2d

Interesting analysis — but keep in mind that while this tool only returns papers in Google Scholar’s database, Google Scholar’s database is far from pristine and includes lots of noise.

Ran Blekhman @blekhman.bsky.social · 2d

I'm usually skeptical about AI research tools. But Google's new tool for literature search is fantastic - because it does less, not more. New post:

substack.com/home/post/p-...

Google's New AI Tool Can't Do Much. That's Exactly the Point

Finally, an AI research tool that doesn't hallucinate papers

substack.com

Reposted by Trevor A. Branch, Zen Faulkes, Samuele Ramellini

Nature @nature.com · 2d

Chia-Hsuan Hsu waited 18 months before chasing an editor for a decision on a paper

go.nature.com/4j47KhM

Dear editors, your publication delays are damaging our careers

Chia-Hsuan Hsu waited 18 months before chasing an editor for a decision on a paper. The answer surprised him.

go.nature.com

Zen Faulkes @doctorzen.net · 2d

While I am guilty of this, and I know many who will bad mouth Toronto, I never heard anyone say Torontonians were not “real Canadians.”

Reposted by Zen Faulkes

Ran Blekhman @blekhman.bsky.social · 2d

I'm usually skeptical about AI research tools. But Google's new tool for literature search is fantastic - because it does less, not more. New post:

substack.com/home/post/p-...

Google's New AI Tool Can't Do Much. That's Exactly the Point

Finally, an AI research tool that doesn't hallucinate papers

substack.com

Zen Faulkes @doctorzen.net · 2d

Going into 2026 like

Reposted by Zen Faulkes

Maclean’s Magazine @macleans.bsky.social · 2d

Could scholarships be the key to Canada’s brain gain? https://macleans.ca/society/canada-can-be-a-refuge-for-americas-grad-students/

Canada Can Be a Refuge for America’s Grad Students - Macleans.ca

A new scholarship model is scooping up skilled researchers, newly untethered after disastrous funding cuts down south

macleans.ca

Reposted by Zen Faulkes

Zen Faulkes @doctorzen.net · 3d

“So come on, you brilliant humans! We go again — and we win.”

#DoctorWho #NewYearsEve

youtu.be/llhTK_0M4Bc

The Doctor's Time Loop Speech | Eve of the Daleks | Doctor Who

YouTube video by Doctor Who

youtu.be

Zen Faulkes @doctorzen.net · 3d

Watching the classic Doctor Who serial, “The Talons of Weng-Chiang,” just to Greel something.

(Ending the year on my most obscure joke)

Zen Faulkes @doctorzen.net · 3d

Rotating the car tires, just to wheel something

Kevin Gannon (now a Moo Deng fan account) @thetattooedprof.bsky.social · 3d

Painting the walls, just to teal something

Surprised Eel Historian, PhD @greenleejw.bsky.social · 3d

Playing the glocken, just to spiel something

Reposted by Zen Faulkes

Kevin Gannon (now a Moo Deng fan account) @thetattooedprof.bsky.social · 3d

Painting the walls, just to teal something

Surprised Eel Historian, PhD @greenleejw.bsky.social · 3d

Playing the glocken, just to spiel something

David M. Perry @lollardfish.bsky.social · 3d

Talking to @greenleejw.bsky.social just to eel something.

Reposted by Simon Dalby, Philip N. Cohen, Lesley A. Hall , and 6 more Simon Dalby, Philip N. Cohen, Lesley A. Hall, Rebecca Tushnet, Suzanne de Cheveigné, Zen Faulkes, Kate Jackson, Karin Wulf, David Darmofal

Holly Brewer @earlymodjustice.bsky.social · 3d

The destruction of knowledge and history is haphazard & breathtaking.

NASA’s Largest Library Is Closing Amid Staff and Lab Cuts.

NASA’s Largest Library Is Closing Amid Staff and Lab Cuts

www.nytimes.com

Zen Faulkes @doctorzen.net · 3d

Yes. This is why your post intrigues me, because I am very interested in the breadth of skills professionals are expected to take on vs. the practical balance that we can learn to be good at.

Zen Faulkes @doctorzen.net · 3d

Aha! Thank you for clarifying!

Zen Faulkes @doctorzen.net · 3d

Definitely a separate skill. But my experience has been that more researchers do not take graphics seriously than those who have high expectations. Not sure why. 🤔 I'm intrigued.

Reposted by Rosemary A. Joyce, Philip N. Cohen, Martin Paul Eve , and 12 more Rosemary A. Joyce, Philip N. Cohen, Martin Paul Eve, Peter Williams, Aaron Sojourner, Stacy D. VanDeveer, Scott A. Imberman, Bessma Momani, Zen Faulkes, Catherine J. Frieman, Aviel Roshwald, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, David Darmofal, Vincent Raoult, Steven H. Seggie

David Slack @slack2thefuture.bsky.social · 4d

Wanna see real-life miracles? Fund scientific research.

A team of US scientists just cured Alzheimer’s in mice — and there is now hope that the disease can be reversed in humans.
futurism.com/health-medic...