Mike Levin
@drmichaellevin.bsky.social
I'm a scientist at Tufts University; my lab studies anatomical and behavioral decision-making at multiple scales of biological, artificial, and hybrid systems. www.drmichaellevin.org
Pinned
Mike Levin
@drmichaellevin.bsky.social
· Nov 19
Forms of life, forms of mind | Dr. Michael Levin
Thoughts on the science and philosophy of embodied minds, and the lives that can be.
thoughtforms.life
Wordpress blog thoughtforms.life. Unlike drmichaellevin.org, here I post speculative ideas, personal thoughts on what our research means, nature photography, essays, interviews, etc. Register to be notified of books' progress, events, and news, access downloadable content, etc.
Hmm I'm unsure of the distinction you are drawing. We cannot detect (are blind to) X-rays for example, and have built up theories of far-off objects in space based on detectors. Is this basically an argument against Naive Realism or something else?
December 26, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Hmm I'm unsure of the distinction you are drawing. We cannot detect (are blind to) X-rays for example, and have built up theories of far-off objects in space based on detectors. Is this basically an argument against Naive Realism or something else?
December 21, 2025 at 1:15 AM
A new, long paper on evolution - natural induction - split into 2:
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsfs/article...
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsfs/article...
@RichardWatson90 and Tim Lewens
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsfs/article...
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsfs/article...
@RichardWatson90 and Tim Lewens
Evolution by natural induction
Abstract. It is conventionally assumed that all evolutionary adaptation is produced, and could only possibly be produced, by natural selection. Natural ind
royalsocietypublishing.org
December 19, 2025 at 11:49 PM
A new, long paper on evolution - natural induction - split into 2:
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsfs/article...
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsfs/article...
@RichardWatson90 and Tim Lewens
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsfs/article...
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsfs/article...
@RichardWatson90 and Tim Lewens
December 18, 2025 at 3:25 PM
December 11, 2025 at 6:37 PM
December 11, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Final version is out: @LPiolopez
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
"Atavistic Genetic Expression Dissociation (AGED) DuringAging: Meta-Phylostratigraphic Evidence of Cellular andTissue-Level Phylogenetic Dissociation"
🧪
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
"Atavistic Genetic Expression Dissociation (AGED) DuringAging: Meta-Phylostratigraphic Evidence of Cellular andTissue-Level Phylogenetic Dissociation"
🧪
Atavistic Genetic Expression Dissociation (AGED) During Aging: Meta‐Phylostratigraphic Evidence of Cellular and Tissue‐Level Phylogenetic Dissociation
Aging represents an atavistic over-representation of differential expression in the most ancient genes and under-representation in the evolutionary youngest genes for two multi-tissue aging databases...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 10, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Final version is out: @LPiolopez
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
"Atavistic Genetic Expression Dissociation (AGED) DuringAging: Meta-Phylostratigraphic Evidence of Cellular andTissue-Level Phylogenetic Dissociation"
🧪
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
"Atavistic Genetic Expression Dissociation (AGED) DuringAging: Meta-Phylostratigraphic Evidence of Cellular andTissue-Level Phylogenetic Dissociation"
🧪
Final version is out:
authors.elsevier.com/c/1mEoa5bD-s...
"Neural cellular automata: Applications to biology and beyond classical AI"
@bhartl.bsky.social
Léo Pio-Lopez
authors.elsevier.com/c/1mEoa5bD-s...
"Neural cellular automata: Applications to biology and beyond classical AI"
@bhartl.bsky.social
Léo Pio-Lopez
authors.elsevier.com
December 9, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Final version is out:
authors.elsevier.com/c/1mEoa5bD-s...
"Neural cellular automata: Applications to biology and beyond classical AI"
@bhartl.bsky.social
Léo Pio-Lopez
authors.elsevier.com/c/1mEoa5bD-s...
"Neural cellular automata: Applications to biology and beyond classical AI"
@bhartl.bsky.social
Léo Pio-Lopez
December 7, 2025 at 5:32 PM
New preprint - Thomas Pollak (substack.com/@drtompollak), Anjali Bhat, Matt Butler, @rokberlot.bsky.social, Mark J Edwards
osf.io/preprints/ps...
"Have you tried switching it off and on again Mechanisms and therapeutic prospects of resetting homeostatic set points in medicine and neuropsychiatry"
osf.io/preprints/ps...
"Have you tried switching it off and on again Mechanisms and therapeutic prospects of resetting homeostatic set points in medicine and neuropsychiatry"
OSF
osf.io
December 5, 2025 at 1:21 AM
New preprint - Thomas Pollak (substack.com/@drtompollak), Anjali Bhat, Matt Butler, @rokberlot.bsky.social, Mark J Edwards
osf.io/preprints/ps...
"Have you tried switching it off and on again Mechanisms and therapeutic prospects of resetting homeostatic set points in medicine and neuropsychiatry"
osf.io/preprints/ps...
"Have you tried switching it off and on again Mechanisms and therapeutic prospects of resetting homeostatic set points in medicine and neuropsychiatry"
at the same time *being clear about the direction of interventions we need to develop*, I'm perfectly willing to get on board. I'm not stuck with the terminology, I just want people to have the option to relieve suffering and live to whatever potential they can envision.
November 21, 2025 at 6:59 PM
at the same time *being clear about the direction of interventions we need to develop*, I'm perfectly willing to get on board. I'm not stuck with the terminology, I just want people to have the option to relieve suffering and live to whatever potential they can envision.
One other thing. While I'm never going to buy the idea that all outcomes are equal, I have no commitment to the specific terminology and I don't think there should be any pejorative associated with the labels. So if you've got some kind of vocabulary that you think will be helpful to people while
November 21, 2025 at 6:59 PM
One other thing. While I'm never going to buy the idea that all outcomes are equal, I have no commitment to the specific terminology and I don't think there should be any pejorative associated with the labels. So if you've got some kind of vocabulary that you think will be helpful to people while
will be told that "it's just variety, don't label it as a disease", and suffering goes unchecked. If I had more time on my hands, I'd run your alternative past the people who email us and see how it lands. I can guess though.
November 21, 2025 at 6:42 PM
will be told that "it's just variety, don't label it as a disease", and suffering goes unchecked. If I had more time on my hands, I'd run your alternative past the people who email us and see how it lands. I can guess though.
in whatever configuration, to be treated with the utmost compassion and care. Once we pretend outcomes don't matter, then "diseases" disappear as a target of research, and people who need solutions for cancer, limb loss, degenerative conditions, and all kinds of horrific situations
November 21, 2025 at 6:42 PM
in whatever configuration, to be treated with the utmost compassion and care. Once we pretend outcomes don't matter, then "diseases" disappear as a target of research, and people who need solutions for cancer, limb loss, degenerative conditions, and all kinds of horrific situations
Bottom line. The vocabulary matters when it comes time to decide whether to do research, and if so, in what direction. Patients want a choice about outcomes. Whatever vocabulary helps us communicate about what direction we're trying to push things, that's what we need. And of course I want everyone,
November 21, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Bottom line. The vocabulary matters when it comes time to decide whether to do research, and if so, in what direction. Patients want a choice about outcomes. Whatever vocabulary helps us communicate about what direction we're trying to push things, that's what we need. And of course I want everyone,
Or, perhaps the American Heart Association agrees with you. Nope:
www.heart.org/en/health-to...
www.heart.org/en/health-to...
Congenital Heart Defects
What is a congenital heart defect? Learn the types of congenital heart defects in adults and children, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects.
www.heart.org
November 21, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Or, perhaps the American Heart Association agrees with you. Nope:
www.heart.org/en/health-to...
www.heart.org/en/health-to...
And finally. It's not just scientists who "push back" on this idea that all outcomes are the same. Here's March of Dimes, the major foundation supporting fetal and maternal health: www.marchofdimes.org/find-support... ; are you boycotting their work?
Birth defects and your baby
Birth defects can cause problems in overall health, how the body develops or how the body works. Babies with birth defects may need special medical care.
www.marchofdimes.org
November 21, 2025 at 6:42 PM
And finally. It's not just scientists who "push back" on this idea that all outcomes are the same. Here's March of Dimes, the major foundation supporting fetal and maternal health: www.marchofdimes.org/find-support... ; are you boycotting their work?
vocabulary for what these treatments are trying to accomplish exactly? If all the outcomes are supposed to be equal, what are we developing interventions to do? Should scientists be developing ways to cause loss of brain as well? Why not? Seems like there's an asymmetry after all...
November 21, 2025 at 6:42 PM
vocabulary for what these treatments are trying to accomplish exactly? If all the outcomes are supposed to be equal, what are we developing interventions to do? Should scientists be developing ways to cause loss of brain as well? Why not? Seems like there's an asymmetry after all...
I suppose I could start forwarding you all the emails I get from desperate people asking my community to "hurry the f*&@ up" finding these treatments. So let's assume the answer is yes - you do support treatments to be available to patients who want them. In that case, what's your preferred
November 21, 2025 at 6:42 PM
I suppose I could start forwarding you all the emails I get from desperate people asking my community to "hurry the f*&@ up" finding these treatments. So let's assume the answer is yes - you do support treatments to be available to patients who want them. In that case, what's your preferred
we not, do research on what causes different outcomes in development, and giving patients the ability to make use of this information for medical treatments that change outcome? If you think "no", then we're done and there's nothing more for me to say; I think that would be morally unconscionable.
November 21, 2025 at 6:42 PM
we not, do research on what causes different outcomes in development, and giving patients the ability to make use of this information for medical treatments that change outcome? If you think "no", then we're done and there's nothing more for me to say; I think that would be morally unconscionable.
I have a very basic question. Are you supportive of the development of medical treatments, to be available to parents or patients themselves, that would allow them to prevent or shift outcomes? For example, from "no brain, death soon" to "yes brain, standard lifespan range". Should we, or should
November 21, 2025 at 6:42 PM
I have a very basic question. Are you supportive of the development of medical treatments, to be available to parents or patients themselves, that would allow them to prevent or shift outcomes? For example, from "no brain, death soon" to "yes brain, standard lifespan range". Should we, or should
The phenotypes we study are often severe - very malformed brain, no behavior, death before maturity. Defects, in any reasonable definition of words. Nevertheless, there are interesting broader issues around departures from a species' default target morphology, which can be speciation etc.
November 20, 2025 at 3:38 PM
The phenotypes we study are often severe - very malformed brain, no behavior, death before maturity. Defects, in any reasonable definition of words. Nevertheless, there are interesting broader issues around departures from a species' default target morphology, which can be speciation etc.
The super prescient H. S. Burr (link.springer.com/article/10.1...) warned clearly even back in the 1930's that it was crucial to pay attention to the field aspect, not only the "particle" aspect of bioelectric interactions, both in and out of the CNS.
Revisiting Burr and Northrop’s “The Electro-Dynamic Theory of Life” (1935) - Biological Theory
Harold Saxton Burr was a biologist working throughout the 1930s–1950s on an important set of problems related to biological organization and the origin of complex living forms. He was a profound think...
link.springer.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:34 AM
The super prescient H. S. Burr (link.springer.com/article/10.1...) warned clearly even back in the 1930's that it was crucial to pay attention to the field aspect, not only the "particle" aspect of bioelectric interactions, both in and out of the CNS.
We're definitely inspired by @earlkmiller.bsky.social 's work in the brain; we cite it in www.cell.com/cell-reports... for example.
Field-mediated bioelectric basis of morphogenetic prepatterning
The endogenous electric field of a simplified bioelectric network model of an embryo
facilitates the autonomous formation of voltage patterns. Transient exogenous electric
fields can leverage this pro...
www.cell.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:34 AM
We're definitely inspired by @earlkmiller.bsky.social 's work in the brain; we cite it in www.cell.com/cell-reports... for example.