eric lai
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lucksmith.bsky.social
eric lai
@lucksmith.bsky.social
study small RNAs/APA/splicing/m6A/Notch. neural development+behavior; genomic conflict+evolution.

http://www.mskcc.org/lai

also, indie rock and glassblowing.
wires in bern.

(i used to photograph zillions of these in SF, then i stopped after moving, but i still enjoy a chaotic set of streetcar/tram cables).
February 17, 2026 at 2:29 PM
the palm in my office (from maria jasin's yard!) has some viral infection it's never gotten over. nevertheless, every few months it gamely puts out a new set of shoots and keeps on keeping on. it's sort of a living metaphor for something...
February 16, 2026 at 3:32 PM
Reposted by eric lai
Very sad news. Gail Martin (1944-2026) was a figure in developmental biology. She pioneered the field of ES cells.
A great colleague, a friend and a lovely person.
February 15, 2026 at 8:56 AM
Reposted by eric lai
A passageway hidden below a dresser at the Merchant’s House Museum in New York City had long been a mystery. It was recently linked to the Underground Railroad. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/15/n...
February 15, 2026 at 7:41 PM
Meet the Crew That Makes Dancing Lions for the Lunar New Year www.nytimes.com/2026/02/15/a...
Meet the Crew That Makes Dancing Lions for the Lunar New Year
www.nytimes.com
February 15, 2026 at 12:58 PM
valentine's dinner at home with my girls ❤️
February 15, 2026 at 2:12 AM
the banana is mine!! - Pickles
#Caturday
February 14, 2026 at 9:04 PM
Reposted by eric lai
On a Scottish hilltop, the British artist Andy Goldsworthy, known for his use of outdoor materials, is completing a major new work involving thousands of stones dislodged by gravediggers. newyorkermag.visitlink.me/z_Bn0r
A Landscape Artist in Winter
In rural Scotland, Andy Goldsworthy, the sculptor famed for his use of natural materials, contemplates his own decay.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
February 14, 2026 at 1:00 AM
Reposted by eric lai
Congrats to the 2025 elected members of the Society for Developmental Biology Academy! William J. Anderson, Kara L. Cerveny, Judith S. Eisen, Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis, Andrew P. McMahon, Michael O'Connor, Thomas Schilling, Nancy B. Schwartz, Karen E. Sears & David R. Sherwood
bit.ly/4bUl72y
February 13, 2026 at 4:07 PM
February 14, 2026 at 3:13 AM
my head is still spinning from EMBO Selfish Genetic Elements this week! incredible gamut of mostly "non-model" species gives us appreciation and insights into diversity of unusual chromosome dynamics, selfish genes and weird sex. tx @lucasoldini.bsky.social @laurarossevo.bsky.social tanja schwander!
February 13, 2026 at 4:59 PM
it has literally taken me 24 hrs of planes (3), trains and automobiles, as well as a healthy dose of footwork to get home.
February 13, 2026 at 3:47 AM
teeny plane
February 13, 2026 at 12:01 AM
the tin lining to the airline messing up my connection, again, (like my outbound), is that i again scored a whole row for my transatlantic leg. however, i have to do an extra leg + 7 hrs travel, so not really satisfactory overall...
February 12, 2026 at 11:51 PM
bird and nest
February 12, 2026 at 1:04 PM
sometimes you see unexpected things through the window
February 11, 2026 at 9:40 PM
i surprised we haven't had faulty meetings scheduled before...
February 11, 2026 at 8:39 PM
been intensely sciencing for 4 days straight. finally stepped outside for a little break to do some highly successful hunting for #SpaceInvaders!!
February 11, 2026 at 4:54 PM
Reposted by eric lai
Fun news! @gcbias.bsky.social and I are teaching a 2-week online population genetics workshop this summer to raise money for the Center for Population Biology at UC Davis. We're trying to gauge interest -- please fill this out if you might be interested! And please share broadly!
Davis Summer Population Genomics Program
Want to learn population genetics? Please fill out this form to indicate your potential interest in a 2-week intensive online summer population genetics course taught by Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra and Graham...
docs.google.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:24 PM
catching up with Brenda Reinhart, who cloned let-7 (amongst many other things). when i was first learning how to do science, i was pretty darn lucky to have brilliant friends like her to bounce stuff around with!
February 8, 2026 at 8:56 PM
February 8, 2026 at 3:53 PM
more airport design
February 8, 2026 at 8:42 AM
flight delay means more time to appreciate the design touches at the airport
February 8, 2026 at 8:09 AM
international flight, no one sitting to my left or right. yeeesssssssss
February 7, 2026 at 11:11 PM
finding balance is so hard lately. my wife made this actionable by getting me this balance board for xmas. at first i couldn't stay on for a fraction of a second. now i can hit five secs (every 10 tries or so). even though its frustrating, its actually a great way to focus and clear the mind.
February 7, 2026 at 6:23 PM