Leo Martins (he/him)
@leomrtns.bsky.social
Computational Biologist. Tenure Track Fellow in Health at the University of Liverpool. 🇧🇷🇯🇵🇪🇸🇬🇧🇨🇭
Phylogenomics and Chemometrics. Prog Rock and Post-Punk. C and Python.
@[email protected]
Phylogenomics and Chemometrics. Prog Rock and Post-Punk. C and Python.
@[email protected]
Reposted by Leo Martins (he/him)
Lots of people sharing this clip because it's funny and cathartic but I also genuinely believe it's important.
We have to win the narrative battle between "I live in a corrupt society and that's just how it is" and "I live in a corrupt society and we are going to defeat and humiliate these ghouls."
We have to win the narrative battle between "I live in a corrupt society and that's just how it is" and "I live in a corrupt society and we are going to defeat and humiliate these ghouls."
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Lots of people sharing this clip because it's funny and cathartic but I also genuinely believe it's important.
We have to win the narrative battle between "I live in a corrupt society and that's just how it is" and "I live in a corrupt society and we are going to defeat and humiliate these ghouls."
We have to win the narrative battle between "I live in a corrupt society and that's just how it is" and "I live in a corrupt society and we are going to defeat and humiliate these ghouls."
Reposted by Leo Martins (he/him)
"Chomsky had deeper ties with Epstein than previously known, documents reveal"
"The philosopher and the sex trafficker were in contact long after Epstein was convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor, documents reveal"
"The philosopher and the sex trafficker were in contact long after Epstein was convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor, documents reveal"
Chomsky had deeper ties with Epstein than previously known, documents reveal
The philosopher and the sex trafficker were in contact long after Epstein was convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor, documents reveal
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 3:03 PM
"Chomsky had deeper ties with Epstein than previously known, documents reveal"
"The philosopher and the sex trafficker were in contact long after Epstein was convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor, documents reveal"
"The philosopher and the sex trafficker were in contact long after Epstein was convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor, documents reveal"
Reposted by Leo Martins (he/him)
Journalist challenge: Use “Machine Learning” when you mean machine learning and “LLM” when you mean LLM. Ditch “AI” as a catch-all term, it’s not useful for readers and it helps companies trying to confuse the public by obscuring the roles played by different technologies. 🧪
November 22, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Journalist challenge: Use “Machine Learning” when you mean machine learning and “LLM” when you mean LLM. Ditch “AI” as a catch-all term, it’s not useful for readers and it helps companies trying to confuse the public by obscuring the roles played by different technologies. 🧪
When I commented about this on a feedback form, I was scolded for not checking the "disability" option on my application. In the UK, "disability" has a legal definition and many conditions (surgery, damaged bones or nerves, age) don't qualify www.gov.uk/definition-o...
November 20, 2025 at 6:18 PM
When I commented about this on a feedback form, I was scolded for not checking the "disability" option on my application. In the UK, "disability" has a legal definition and many conditions (surgery, damaged bones or nerves, age) don't qualify www.gov.uk/definition-o...
Reposted by Leo Martins (he/him)
Finally, people with mobility issues or pain don’t want to make a fuss. They might still be able to walk, just not stairs or long detours. But they don’t want to chase organizers to ask “Is there a step-free way to the bathroom?”
Good accessibility means they don’t have to ask.
Good accessibility means they don’t have to ask.
November 20, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Finally, people with mobility issues or pain don’t want to make a fuss. They might still be able to walk, just not stairs or long detours. But they don’t want to chase organizers to ask “Is there a step-free way to the bathroom?”
Good accessibility means they don’t have to ask.
Good accessibility means they don’t have to ask.
Reposted by Leo Martins (he/him)
Reposted by Leo Martins (he/him)
Happy to share our new AMR resource which has phenotypic AMR (usually MIC data) collected from publications and databases. This is paired with assemblies and annotations
We're excited for users who might train new models, find phenotype/genotype mismatches, or any other use
We're excited for users who might train new models, find phenotype/genotype mismatches, or any other use
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing health threat, making infections harder to treat and complicating routine medical care.
EMBL-EBI’s new AMR portal brings together laboratory resistance data and bacterial genomes in one open platform.
#WAAW2025 #ActOnAMR
www.ebi.ac.uk/about/news/t...
🧬💻
EMBL-EBI’s new AMR portal brings together laboratory resistance data and bacterial genomes in one open platform.
#WAAW2025 #ActOnAMR
www.ebi.ac.uk/about/news/t...
🧬💻
A new gateway to global antimicrobial resistance data
New online portal connects bacterial genomes with experimental resistance data to support antimicrobial resistance research.
www.ebi.ac.uk
November 19, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Happy to share our new AMR resource which has phenotypic AMR (usually MIC data) collected from publications and databases. This is paired with assemblies and annotations
We're excited for users who might train new models, find phenotype/genotype mismatches, or any other use
We're excited for users who might train new models, find phenotype/genotype mismatches, or any other use
Reposted by Leo Martins (he/him)
the only real way to think about these raids is terrorist attacks
Over 20,000 students stayed home from school Monday in Charlotte amid ICE raids, representing 15% of enrollment
The district is nearly one-third Hispanic, per WBTV
www.wbtv.com/2025/11/18/n...
The district is nearly one-third Hispanic, per WBTV
www.wbtv.com/2025/11/18/n...
Nearly 21,000 Charlotte-Mecklenburg students absent from school on Monday, officials say
Officials did not make it clear if the absences were connected to the on-going immigration operation in the city.
www.wbtv.com
November 18, 2025 at 10:58 PM
the only real way to think about these raids is terrorist attacks
Reposted by Leo Martins (he/him)
people are actually very susceptible to just-so stories about human origins because listening to bullshit helped us survive on the savanna
fake evo-psych has cooked a lot of people's brains
November 18, 2025 at 1:48 AM
people are actually very susceptible to just-so stories about human origins because listening to bullshit helped us survive on the savanna
Reposted by Leo Martins (he/him)
This is a fantastic article about James Watson but mostly it’s master class in dispatching of ghouls in science. Often the problem isn’t just that they’re amoral but that their being a(im)moral makes them dangerously wrong in ways that have cascading externalities on our understanding.
"What James Watson got wrong about DNA"
By the great Sohini Ramachandran (@sramach.bsky.social) and your boy for The Boston Globe (@bostonglobe.com).
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/14/o...
By the great Sohini Ramachandran (@sramach.bsky.social) and your boy for The Boston Globe (@bostonglobe.com).
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/14/o...
What James Watson got wrong about DNA - The Boston Globe
The science he helped pioneer consistently undermines his view that genes determine everything about us.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 16, 2025 at 2:31 AM
This is a fantastic article about James Watson but mostly it’s master class in dispatching of ghouls in science. Often the problem isn’t just that they’re amoral but that their being a(im)moral makes them dangerously wrong in ways that have cascading externalities on our understanding.
Reposted by Leo Martins (he/him)
This raises what I like to call the "AI test for tasks".
If many people use AI to do task X, then that tells you that task X is actually just a brainless administrative exercise.
Any such task should probably be eliminated, and if that's not an option, modified to make automation even easier.
If many people use AI to do task X, then that tells you that task X is actually just a brainless administrative exercise.
Any such task should probably be eliminated, and if that's not an option, modified to make automation even easier.
There was never any point to having reference letters. That's why we've all started using AI to do this nonesense task.
References should only be used for short-listed candidates for important positions/awards, and ideally, be done via a call to get the most honest opinion possible.
References should only be used for short-listed candidates for important positions/awards, and ideally, be done via a call to get the most honest opinion possible.
From my discussions with other faculty, the use of generative AI I hear about the most is writing reference letters.
What's the point of having reference letters anymore if everyone is just having them written by machine?
What's the point of having reference letters anymore if everyone is just having them written by machine?
November 14, 2025 at 7:14 PM
This raises what I like to call the "AI test for tasks".
If many people use AI to do task X, then that tells you that task X is actually just a brainless administrative exercise.
Any such task should probably be eliminated, and if that's not an option, modified to make automation even easier.
If many people use AI to do task X, then that tells you that task X is actually just a brainless administrative exercise.
Any such task should probably be eliminated, and if that's not an option, modified to make automation even easier.
Reposted by Leo Martins (he/him)
Jay Bhattacharya's plan for a new pandemic is for everyone to suddenly be healthy.
November 14, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Jay Bhattacharya's plan for a new pandemic is for everyone to suddenly be healthy.
Reposted by Leo Martins (he/him)
This, right here. The best predictor of productivity is funding the damn grant.
November 14, 2025 at 4:53 PM
This, right here. The best predictor of productivity is funding the damn grant.
Reposted by Leo Martins (he/him)
Congratulations to @zaminiqbal.bsky.social from @milnerevolution.bsky.social on being awarded the 2026 Mary Lyon Medal!
November 14, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Congratulations to @zaminiqbal.bsky.social from @milnerevolution.bsky.social on being awarded the 2026 Mary Lyon Medal!
Reposted by Leo Martins (he/him)
Folks been asking for a searchable catalogue for microbinfie podcast. With a 147 episodes, and 78+ guests its getting hard to find episodes of your interest.
anyway, i wrote a catalogue
https://www.happykhan.com/microbinfie
see all our lovely guests at https://www.happykhan.com/microbinfie/guests
anyway, i wrote a catalogue
https://www.happykhan.com/microbinfie
see all our lovely guests at https://www.happykhan.com/microbinfie/guests
November 13, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Folks been asking for a searchable catalogue for microbinfie podcast. With a 147 episodes, and 78+ guests its getting hard to find episodes of your interest.
anyway, i wrote a catalogue
https://www.happykhan.com/microbinfie
see all our lovely guests at https://www.happykhan.com/microbinfie/guests
anyway, i wrote a catalogue
https://www.happykhan.com/microbinfie
see all our lovely guests at https://www.happykhan.com/microbinfie/guests
Reposted by Leo Martins (he/him)
Yep - The problem is that these can be self-fulfilling prophecies. If you have a group of super-talented people and select one person to give better opportunities to and they do really well, it could be that you are good at talent spotting or just that people do better with more resources...
November 12, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Yep - The problem is that these can be self-fulfilling prophecies. If you have a group of super-talented people and select one person to give better opportunities to and they do really well, it could be that you are good at talent spotting or just that people do better with more resources...
Reposted by Leo Martins (he/him)
For-profit journals are supposed to improve research quality, yet they're perversely incentivized to churn out whatever they can monetize. This was happening before AI (see Strain: bit.ly/43gJPUM), and AI will make it worse.
It's insane that we volunteer our time to help them do so.
4/n
It's insane that we volunteer our time to help them do so.
4/n
November 11, 2025 at 11:52 AM
For-profit journals are supposed to improve research quality, yet they're perversely incentivized to churn out whatever they can monetize. This was happening before AI (see Strain: bit.ly/43gJPUM), and AI will make it worse.
It's insane that we volunteer our time to help them do so.
4/n
It's insane that we volunteer our time to help them do so.
4/n
Reposted by Leo Martins (he/him)
If you pick up an old shell, can you hear the C?
November 12, 2025 at 5:33 PM
If you pick up an old shell, can you hear the C?
Reposted by Leo Martins (he/him)
Heroic work by @bluebirdsjunk.bsky.social in pulling this mammoth study together
'Staphylococcus haemolyticus Population Genomics Provides Insights into Pathogenicity and Commensalism'
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
'Staphylococcus haemolyticus Population Genomics Provides Insights into Pathogenicity and Commensalism'
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Staphylococcus haemolyticus Population Genomics Provides Insights into Pathogenicity and Commensalism
Staphylococcus haemolyticus is a common commensal bacterium but also an opportunistic pathogen, frequently implicated in bacteraemia and sepsis in preterm neonates and immunocompromised patients. Desp...
www.biorxiv.org
November 11, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Heroic work by @bluebirdsjunk.bsky.social in pulling this mammoth study together
'Staphylococcus haemolyticus Population Genomics Provides Insights into Pathogenicity and Commensalism'
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
'Staphylococcus haemolyticus Population Genomics Provides Insights into Pathogenicity and Commensalism'
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Leo Martins (he/him)
Last chance to register for Understanding and predicting microbial evolutionary dynamics 2025 in Liverpool, UK. Register today by 23:59 GMT: microb.io/MicroEvo25 #MicroEvo25
Understanding and predicting microbial evolutionary dynamics 2025
Microbes are everywhere, often forming complex and dynamic communities that are responsible for the health of humans, animals, plants, and natural ecosystems. Increasingly, we recognise that microbial...
microb.io
November 10, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Last chance to register for Understanding and predicting microbial evolutionary dynamics 2025 in Liverpool, UK. Register today by 23:59 GMT: microb.io/MicroEvo25 #MicroEvo25
Reposted by Leo Martins (he/him)
I like this obit better...
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:50 AM
I like this obit better...
Reposted by Leo Martins (he/him)
I wrote a review of James Watson's obituary by CSHL: liorpachter.wordpress.com/2025/11/08/r...
Review of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s Obituary for Dr. James Watson
James Watson, who described himself as “not a racist in a conventional way”, has died at the age of 97. Below is a review of an obituary for Dr. James Watson published by Cold Spring Ha…
liorpachter.wordpress.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:58 PM
I wrote a review of James Watson's obituary by CSHL: liorpachter.wordpress.com/2025/11/08/r...
Reposted by Leo Martins (he/him)
When people celebrate the individual genius of folks in science, they should also
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
November 7, 2025 at 11:43 PM
When people celebrate the individual genius of folks in science, they should also
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
Reposted by Leo Martins (he/him)
I've had such a crap commute this morning, that I've written to my MP and Councillor.
I'm just a bloke trying to get to work, and I want to go home to my kids at the end of the day.
Our road culture is fundamentally broken.
cc @liamthorp.bsky.social
I'm just a bloke trying to get to work, and I want to go home to my kids at the end of the day.
Our road culture is fundamentally broken.
cc @liamthorp.bsky.social
November 7, 2025 at 9:55 AM
I've had such a crap commute this morning, that I've written to my MP and Councillor.
I'm just a bloke trying to get to work, and I want to go home to my kids at the end of the day.
Our road culture is fundamentally broken.
cc @liamthorp.bsky.social
I'm just a bloke trying to get to work, and I want to go home to my kids at the end of the day.
Our road culture is fundamentally broken.
cc @liamthorp.bsky.social
Make phrenology great again
bro are you fucking kidding me
November 6, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Make phrenology great again