Eric Spana
@ericspana.bsky.social
I teach Biology at Duke University, push fruit flies, and I used to give talks on the science of sci-fi and fantasy at cons. Hunter main in Destiny 2. Insufferable Yinzer.
A question for old-ish fly folk:
Any idea if the webpage for the old DrosDel site that could design deletions still lives somewhere?
The DrosDel url is defunct, and the link I found to DrosDel at Cambridge doesn’t work.
I’d make a new Df or two, if I knew the best way to do it.
Any idea if the webpage for the old DrosDel site that could design deletions still lives somewhere?
The DrosDel url is defunct, and the link I found to DrosDel at Cambridge doesn’t work.
I’d make a new Df or two, if I knew the best way to do it.
December 8, 2025 at 8:30 PM
A question for old-ish fly folk:
Any idea if the webpage for the old DrosDel site that could design deletions still lives somewhere?
The DrosDel url is defunct, and the link I found to DrosDel at Cambridge doesn’t work.
I’d make a new Df or two, if I knew the best way to do it.
Any idea if the webpage for the old DrosDel site that could design deletions still lives somewhere?
The DrosDel url is defunct, and the link I found to DrosDel at Cambridge doesn’t work.
I’d make a new Df or two, if I knew the best way to do it.
Reposted by Eric Spana
Behold: a genuinely useful flowchart #AcademicChatter
December 4, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Behold: a genuinely useful flowchart #AcademicChatter
Reposted by Eric Spana
Aah Wales, never change ❤️
October 25, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Aah Wales, never change ❤️
Yeah Sarah and Mohamed!!
A super cool story!
A super cool story!
Transposable elements drive much of naturally occurring genetic lethality in Drosophila melanogaster https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.16.682755v1
October 19, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Yeah Sarah and Mohamed!!
A super cool story!
A super cool story!
Yeah, I need to be in London in May.
And the Man Don't Give a Fuck!
And the Man Don't Give a Fuck!
October 3, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Yeah, I need to be in London in May.
And the Man Don't Give a Fuck!
And the Man Don't Give a Fuck!
Home sweet home, sort of.
September 29, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Home sweet home, sort of.
OMGOMGOMGOMG
IT’S HAPPENING!!!!
IT’S HAPPENING!!!!
September 29, 2025 at 11:08 AM
OMGOMGOMGOMG
IT’S HAPPENING!!!!
IT’S HAPPENING!!!!
I landed in Wales!
September 29, 2025 at 10:29 AM
I landed in Wales!
Post a movie you LOVE with a terrible Rotten Tomatoes score.
September 17, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Post a movie you LOVE with a terrible Rotten Tomatoes score.
Reposted by Eric Spana
Can newydd! ✨📣
Ffrydiwch Saf Ar Dy Sedd yma / Stream Saf Ar Dy Sedd below or watch the video by @petefowlerart.bsky.social below that. Dim Probs LP out Sept 12
gruff.lnk.to/SafArDySedd
Ffrydiwch Saf Ar Dy Sedd yma / Stream Saf Ar Dy Sedd below or watch the video by @petefowlerart.bsky.social below that. Dim Probs LP out Sept 12
gruff.lnk.to/SafArDySedd
July 17, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Can newydd! ✨📣
Ffrydiwch Saf Ar Dy Sedd yma / Stream Saf Ar Dy Sedd below or watch the video by @petefowlerart.bsky.social below that. Dim Probs LP out Sept 12
gruff.lnk.to/SafArDySedd
Ffrydiwch Saf Ar Dy Sedd yma / Stream Saf Ar Dy Sedd below or watch the video by @petefowlerart.bsky.social below that. Dim Probs LP out Sept 12
gruff.lnk.to/SafArDySedd
Heading to the EDRC meeting in just two weeks!
Will I see anyone from here there?
Will I see anyone from here there?
September 10, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Heading to the EDRC meeting in just two weeks!
Will I see anyone from here there?
Will I see anyone from here there?
It's Sept 1, 2025: In ONE YEAR (Sept 1, 2026) I will begin the next academic phase: "Associate Professor of the Practice Emeritus of Biology"
Yes, I'm retiring in one year.
Yes, I'm retiring in one year.
September 1, 2025 at 7:11 PM
It's Sept 1, 2025: In ONE YEAR (Sept 1, 2026) I will begin the next academic phase: "Associate Professor of the Practice Emeritus of Biology"
Yes, I'm retiring in one year.
Yes, I'm retiring in one year.
It’s been quite a few years since I jumped a P-element out, but the whole thing is still crazy fun.
August 13, 2025 at 9:17 PM
It’s been quite a few years since I jumped a P-element out, but the whole thing is still crazy fun.
Reposted by Eric Spana
News via The Transmitter www.thetransmitter.org/community/ha...
Harvard University lays off fly database team
The layoffs jeopardize this resource, which has served more than 4,000 labs for about three decades.
www.thetransmitter.org
August 13, 2025 at 7:59 PM
News via The Transmitter www.thetransmitter.org/community/ha...
Reposted by Eric Spana
youtu.be/N83FP0dmZes?... Me, talking about my research and how contemporary toxic masculinities are no different from those of the past.
August 7, 2025 at 3:44 PM
youtu.be/N83FP0dmZes?... Me, talking about my research and how contemporary toxic masculinities are no different from those of the past.
Had to look it up:
N: Loch Ness, Scotland
E: Kruger National Park, South Africa
S: Table Mountain National Park, South Africa
W: Suzhou, China
N: Loch Ness, Scotland
E: Kruger National Park, South Africa
S: Table Mountain National Park, South Africa
W: Suzhou, China
Never really given this much thought
N Gatineau, QC
E Venice, Italy
S Cocoa Beach, FL
W Venice Beach, CA
N Gatineau, QC
E Venice, Italy
S Cocoa Beach, FL
W Venice Beach, CA
Farthest I've been:
N: Denali, AK
E: Isla of Palms, SC
S: New Orleans, LA
W: Also Denali
N: Denali, AK
E: Isla of Palms, SC
S: New Orleans, LA
W: Also Denali
August 7, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Had to look it up:
N: Loch Ness, Scotland
E: Kruger National Park, South Africa
S: Table Mountain National Park, South Africa
W: Suzhou, China
N: Loch Ness, Scotland
E: Kruger National Park, South Africa
S: Table Mountain National Park, South Africa
W: Suzhou, China
Dungeon Crawler Carl is a fun ride, but the audiobook with Jeff Hayes is mind-blowing. That dude's skills are just nuts!
Jeff Hayes: Dungeon Crawler Carl Narrator Drops Goddamnit Donut In 14 Characters!
YouTube video by Maude Garrett
youtu.be
July 31, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Dungeon Crawler Carl is a fun ride, but the audiobook with Jeff Hayes is mind-blowing. That dude's skills are just nuts!
New paintbrush day!!!
IYKYK
Happy fly pushing everyone!
IYKYK
Happy fly pushing everyone!
July 30, 2025 at 7:43 PM
New paintbrush day!!!
IYKYK
Happy fly pushing everyone!
IYKYK
Happy fly pushing everyone!
Doing the ‘yearly’ cleaning of my bench. Found this gel pic from 2011.
I have no idea why/how it has been sitting on my bench for 4,969 days (yes I looked it up)
It must be important, I better keep it.
I have no idea why/how it has been sitting on my bench for 4,969 days (yes I looked it up)
It must be important, I better keep it.
July 24, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Doing the ‘yearly’ cleaning of my bench. Found this gel pic from 2011.
I have no idea why/how it has been sitting on my bench for 4,969 days (yes I looked it up)
It must be important, I better keep it.
I have no idea why/how it has been sitting on my bench for 4,969 days (yes I looked it up)
It must be important, I better keep it.
Reposted by Eric Spana
Is General Relativity a Strange New World to you? Do you feel like you're left on the Lower Decks while spacetime is a realm just for a Prodigy?
Well let's change that: Tonight Erin MacDonald: Science Advisor will be introducing us to spacetime and gravitation in Star Trek.
Well let's change that: Tonight Erin MacDonald: Science Advisor will be introducing us to spacetime and gravitation in Star Trek.
On Sunday 13 July Dr Erin MacDonald will speak about Spacetime in Star Trek.
📍 LT222, Boyd Orr Building, University of Glasgow
🕒 19:00-20:00 13 July 2025
🎫 iop.eventsair.com/gr24-amaldi1...
💵 Free but tickets required
📍 LT222, Boyd Orr Building, University of Glasgow
🕒 19:00-20:00 13 July 2025
🎫 iop.eventsair.com/gr24-amaldi1...
💵 Free but tickets required
July 13, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Is General Relativity a Strange New World to you? Do you feel like you're left on the Lower Decks while spacetime is a realm just for a Prodigy?
Well let's change that: Tonight Erin MacDonald: Science Advisor will be introducing us to spacetime and gravitation in Star Trek.
Well let's change that: Tonight Erin MacDonald: Science Advisor will be introducing us to spacetime and gravitation in Star Trek.
I think I’ve had enough of monochromatic puzzles.
Too similar to a tedious F1 screen: “Is this it?” “No” “Is this it?” “No” “Is this it?” “No” (lather, rinse, repeat)
Also I’m heading into (audio)book 7
Dungeon Crawler Carl in case you wondered.
Too similar to a tedious F1 screen: “Is this it?” “No” “Is this it?” “No” “Is this it?” “No” (lather, rinse, repeat)
Also I’m heading into (audio)book 7
Dungeon Crawler Carl in case you wondered.
July 12, 2025 at 8:53 PM
I think I’ve had enough of monochromatic puzzles.
Too similar to a tedious F1 screen: “Is this it?” “No” “Is this it?” “No” “Is this it?” “No” (lather, rinse, repeat)
Also I’m heading into (audio)book 7
Dungeon Crawler Carl in case you wondered.
Too similar to a tedious F1 screen: “Is this it?” “No” “Is this it?” “No” “Is this it?” “No” (lather, rinse, repeat)
Also I’m heading into (audio)book 7
Dungeon Crawler Carl in case you wondered.
Flipped my stocks to Cat Steven’s Greatest Hits.
Very calming and cheaper than >100 pounds for a show in Hyde Park with Neil Young and Van Morrison.
Very calming and cheaper than >100 pounds for a show in Hyde Park with Neil Young and Van Morrison.
May 22, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Flipped my stocks to Cat Steven’s Greatest Hits.
Very calming and cheaper than >100 pounds for a show in Hyde Park with Neil Young and Van Morrison.
Very calming and cheaper than >100 pounds for a show in Hyde Park with Neil Young and Van Morrison.
<sigh>
House committee leaders encourage Duke to end partnership with China’s Wuhan University
House committee leaders encourage Duke to end partnership with China’s Wuhan University
May 16, 2025 at 10:32 AM
<sigh>
House committee leaders encourage Duke to end partnership with China’s Wuhan University
House committee leaders encourage Duke to end partnership with China’s Wuhan University