MadScientist
@mads100tist.bsky.social
Neuro and Developmental biologist. PostDoc at day. Supervillain at night. He/him #BlackLivesMatter #TransRightsAreHumanRights
@[email protected]
@[email protected]
Pinned
MadScientist
@mads100tist.bsky.social
· Sep 30
Pathway to Independence: a forecast for the future of developmental biology
ABSTRACT. In 2022, Development launched its Pathway to Independence (PI) programme, aimed at supporting postdocs as they transition to their first independent position. In 2025, we welcome our third c...
journals.biologists.com
It's online! In this series of perspectives @dev-journal.bsky.social, yours truly talks about the exciting open questions and many things to do in the field of dev bio and neuroscience #DevBio🧪 #PIsOfTomorrow journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
Reposted by MadScientist
The purported disdain against "More money, more grants" is a straw man. The issue is "Why use the extra money this way?"
November 29, 2025 at 3:18 PM
The purported disdain against "More money, more grants" is a straw man. The issue is "Why use the extra money this way?"
Reposted by MadScientist
Bong Joon Ho hit me up for the squad you legend deadline.com/2025/11/bong...
November 29, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Bong Joon Ho hit me up for the squad you legend deadline.com/2025/11/bong...
Reposted by MadScientist
if you pay an artist to make art they’ll use that money to be able to keep making art, and stimulate the economy in the process! whereas if you get GenAI to make art it’ll use private equity money to drive up energy prices in the short term and in the long term cause the economy to collapse
November 29, 2025 at 3:19 AM
if you pay an artist to make art they’ll use that money to be able to keep making art, and stimulate the economy in the process! whereas if you get GenAI to make art it’ll use private equity money to drive up energy prices in the short term and in the long term cause the economy to collapse
Reposted by MadScientist
What I mean by misuse (or abuse) is that these data have very limited explanatory value. Without functional evidence of causal interactions, we cannot generate any meaningful model of the collective behaviour of the genes or transcription factors involved.
November 29, 2025 at 1:21 PM
What I mean by misuse (or abuse) is that these data have very limited explanatory value. Without functional evidence of causal interactions, we cannot generate any meaningful model of the collective behaviour of the genes or transcription factors involved.
Reposted by MadScientist
Here's a zero-cost proposal for ERC to lure US talent: condition participation in a Synergy grant to a relocation to the EU. Will help the incoming PI not only with money but also a supporting collaboration. Right now SyG is funding US labs while NIH has cut all funding to foreign collaborators.
November 29, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Here's a zero-cost proposal for ERC to lure US talent: condition participation in a Synergy grant to a relocation to the EU. Will help the incoming PI not only with money but also a supporting collaboration. Right now SyG is funding US labs while NIH has cut all funding to foreign collaborators.
*cof*
Your periodic reminder that science is not done by a few selected "stars scientists". Science is done by hundred of thousands. Siloed money mean a few flashy discoveries and a lot of waste. Want to change things? Make funding accessible and stop funding calls with less than 2% success rate.
· #AcademicSky ·
The European Research Council is launching €7m Plus Grants for ambitious, long‑term research — open to researchers at any career stage but limited to about 30 awards; current ERC grantees and applicants are ineligible, reports @clanicholson.bsky.social.
The European Research Council is launching €7m Plus Grants for ambitious, long‑term research — open to researchers at any career stage but limited to about 30 awards; current ERC grantees and applicants are ineligible, reports @clanicholson.bsky.social.
November 29, 2025 at 12:48 PM
*cof*
Reposted by MadScientist
Your periodic reminder that science is not done by a few selected "stars scientists". Science is done by hundred of thousands. Siloed money mean a few flashy discoveries and a lot of waste. Want to change things? Make funding accessible and stop funding calls with less than 2% success rate.
· #AcademicSky ·
The European Research Council is launching €7m Plus Grants for ambitious, long‑term research — open to researchers at any career stage but limited to about 30 awards; current ERC grantees and applicants are ineligible, reports @clanicholson.bsky.social.
The European Research Council is launching €7m Plus Grants for ambitious, long‑term research — open to researchers at any career stage but limited to about 30 awards; current ERC grantees and applicants are ineligible, reports @clanicholson.bsky.social.
ERC’s new €7m Plus Grants open to researchers at any career stage - Research Professional News
European Research Council president describes scheme as part attempt to lure US talent
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
November 29, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Your periodic reminder that science is not done by a few selected "stars scientists". Science is done by hundred of thousands. Siloed money mean a few flashy discoveries and a lot of waste. Want to change things? Make funding accessible and stop funding calls with less than 2% success rate.
sigh. My last post was not directed at Maria Leptin, it is directed at the EU. I call the EU out on their terrible and unnecessary policies. This is just one of many. I hope it is clear now
November 29, 2025 at 9:49 AM
sigh. My last post was not directed at Maria Leptin, it is directed at the EU. I call the EU out on their terrible and unnecessary policies. This is just one of many. I hope it is clear now
FUND.MORE.JUNIOR.PEOPLE.YOU.ASSHOLES
· #AcademicSky ·
The European Research Council is launching €7m Plus Grants for ambitious, long‑term research — open to researchers at any career stage but limited to about 30 awards; current ERC grantees and applicants are ineligible, reports @clanicholson.bsky.social.
The European Research Council is launching €7m Plus Grants for ambitious, long‑term research — open to researchers at any career stage but limited to about 30 awards; current ERC grantees and applicants are ineligible, reports @clanicholson.bsky.social.
ERC’s new €7m Plus Grants open to researchers at any career stage - Research Professional News
European Research Council president describes scheme as part attempt to lure US talent
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
November 29, 2025 at 8:37 AM
FUND.MORE.JUNIOR.PEOPLE.YOU.ASSHOLES
Reposted by MadScientist
For a perspective on The Big Screen by those that were there in Boston and Tübingen, please read journals.biologists.com/dev/article/... as part of the 25-year celebration of the landmark edition. H/t @mads100tist.bsky.social
The zebrafish issue: 25 years on
Summary: In this Spotlight, five zebrafish researchers reflect on how the 1996 zebrafish issue of Development has influenced their career and their community.
journals.biologists.com
November 29, 2025 at 7:49 AM
For a perspective on The Big Screen by those that were there in Boston and Tübingen, please read journals.biologists.com/dev/article/... as part of the 25-year celebration of the landmark edition. H/t @mads100tist.bsky.social
Reposted by MadScientist
With more than 2.1k citations, 'The identification of genes with unique and essential functions in the development of the zebrafish, Danio rerio' by the CNV Lab highlighted the arduous work that took place during 'The Big Screen'. In total, 1163 mutants were described. #ZebrafishFunFacts 🧪
November 29, 2025 at 6:29 AM
With more than 2.1k citations, 'The identification of genes with unique and essential functions in the development of the zebrafish, Danio rerio' by the CNV Lab highlighted the arduous work that took place during 'The Big Screen'. In total, 1163 mutants were described. #ZebrafishFunFacts 🧪
Reposted by MadScientist
This is a big part of it, for me. Instead of glancing at the image and continuing to listen to the talk, I’m noticing that the table leg is connected to the chair, that the shirt buttons sideways, that the window bleeds weirdly into the wall. And wondering why the presenter didn’t notice or care.
It's also just distracting because usually the image has some weirdness to it, and it doesn't tend to add explanatory value. So if you're just adding them for ambience or to represent a generic concept, just use a regular picture.
I don’t know if anyone else notices or cares, but when I see a presentation in which the speaker uses obviously generated-AI images to illustrate their slides, it makes me immediately less confident in whatever other content they’re presenting.
November 28, 2025 at 3:48 PM
This is a big part of it, for me. Instead of glancing at the image and continuing to listen to the talk, I’m noticing that the table leg is connected to the chair, that the shirt buttons sideways, that the window bleeds weirdly into the wall. And wondering why the presenter didn’t notice or care.
Reposted by MadScientist
Lots of Brazilian #zebrafish labs involved in this one 👏
What if an entire country turned a mirror on its science?
🪞 The Brazilian Reproducibility Initiative, winner of the 2025 Institutional #EinsteinFoundationAward, shows what’s possible when labs collaborate nationwide to improve research reliability.
award.einsteinfoundation.de/award-winner...
🪞 The Brazilian Reproducibility Initiative, winner of the 2025 Institutional #EinsteinFoundationAward, shows what’s possible when labs collaborate nationwide to improve research reliability.
award.einsteinfoundation.de/award-winner...
November 28, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Lots of Brazilian #zebrafish labs involved in this one 👏
Reposted by MadScientist
"Postdoc in the job market"
November 16, 2025 at 7:52 PM
"Postdoc in the job market"
Reposted by MadScientist
On the Factor Fexcectorn and autism bicycle AI slop study: I got an answer from Springer Nature this morning that this scientific paper will be retracted! 🧪
Full story: nobreakthroughs.substack.com/p/riding-the...
Full story: nobreakthroughs.substack.com/p/riding-the...
Riding the Autism Bicycle to Retraction Town
Does anyone *really* know their Factor Fexcectorn?
nobreakthroughs.substack.com
November 28, 2025 at 5:25 AM
On the Factor Fexcectorn and autism bicycle AI slop study: I got an answer from Springer Nature this morning that this scientific paper will be retracted! 🧪
Full story: nobreakthroughs.substack.com/p/riding-the...
Full story: nobreakthroughs.substack.com/p/riding-the...
Reposted by MadScientist
This is why OpenAI is selling so aggressively to education at all levels—they want to create entire generations of users incapable of reading, writing and thinking without ChatGPT to hold their hands
And teachers and professors should call this out for what it actually is
And teachers and professors should call this out for what it actually is
To bear out this rosy projection, HSBC assumes that OpenAI will become "as ubiquitous [...] as Microsoft 365" (345mm users worldwide) while bringing in 10x the number of users (3bn).
November 25, 2025 at 11:11 PM
This is why OpenAI is selling so aggressively to education at all levels—they want to create entire generations of users incapable of reading, writing and thinking without ChatGPT to hold their hands
And teachers and professors should call this out for what it actually is
And teachers and professors should call this out for what it actually is
Reposted by MadScientist
what i love is that in 1990 judas priest got brought to trial over the claim that subliminal messages in the recording "better by you better than me" caused two suicides and now in 2025 openai seems to be generating a suicide a week with its superliminal messages and the US government is funding it
November 27, 2025 at 8:23 AM
what i love is that in 1990 judas priest got brought to trial over the claim that subliminal messages in the recording "better by you better than me" caused two suicides and now in 2025 openai seems to be generating a suicide a week with its superliminal messages and the US government is funding it
Reposted by MadScientist
Fascinating article by @heidiledford.bsky.social: single cells from one 74 year-old man were a truly chaotic mosaic of mutation: some cells had a missing Y chromosome, chromosomes with extra arms, and more.
We are all mosaics: vast genetic diversity found between cells in a single person
Technical advances allow researchers to trace the genetic changes that occur over time.
www.nature.com
November 27, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Fascinating article by @heidiledford.bsky.social: single cells from one 74 year-old man were a truly chaotic mosaic of mutation: some cells had a missing Y chromosome, chromosomes with extra arms, and more.
Reposted by MadScientist
[blind date]
WOMAN: When I saw your photo I assumed you would be the man *holding* the fish.
FISH: [flipping and flopping about on the table] Can we talk about this later.
WOMAN: When I saw your photo I assumed you would be the man *holding* the fish.
FISH: [flipping and flopping about on the table] Can we talk about this later.
November 27, 2025 at 10:47 AM
[blind date]
WOMAN: When I saw your photo I assumed you would be the man *holding* the fish.
FISH: [flipping and flopping about on the table] Can we talk about this later.
WOMAN: When I saw your photo I assumed you would be the man *holding* the fish.
FISH: [flipping and flopping about on the table] Can we talk about this later.
Reposted by MadScientist
one of the coolest things about ChatGPT is how you can actually just never use it. you can fill your whole entire life with simply not once using it. it's incredible.
November 25, 2025 at 4:15 PM
one of the coolest things about ChatGPT is how you can actually just never use it. you can fill your whole entire life with simply not once using it. it's incredible.
Reposted by MadScientist
Interested in Zebrafish brain imaging? We released a 3D printed mold that's is super helpful for us. Check it out
Customizable FDM-based zebrafish embryo mold for live imaging
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Work by Marcela and Jaakko in the lab
Customizable FDM-based zebrafish embryo mold for live imaging
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Work by Marcela and Jaakko in the lab
November 27, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Interested in Zebrafish brain imaging? We released a 3D printed mold that's is super helpful for us. Check it out
Customizable FDM-based zebrafish embryo mold for live imaging
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Work by Marcela and Jaakko in the lab
Customizable FDM-based zebrafish embryo mold for live imaging
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Work by Marcela and Jaakko in the lab
Reposted by MadScientist
“La Marisol científica y la Marisol paciente”.
La esperanza y la preocupación, la investigación y la defensa de las personas afectadas… la dualidad de saber y a veces querer olvidar.
La vida misma.
www.elprogreso.es/articulo/sal...
@aseica.bsky.social
@cniostopcancer.bsky.social
La esperanza y la preocupación, la investigación y la defensa de las personas afectadas… la dualidad de saber y a veces querer olvidar.
La vida misma.
www.elprogreso.es/articulo/sal...
@aseica.bsky.social
@cniostopcancer.bsky.social
Marisol Soengas, investigadora y paciente de cáncer de mama: "Ahora conozco la soledad de la sala de espera"
La gallega Marisol Soengas ha consagrado su vida a la investigación oncológica. Jefa del Grupo de Melanoma del CNIO y expresidenta de la Aseica, desde finales del 2023 sufre un cáncer de pecho.
www.elprogreso.es
November 26, 2025 at 5:53 PM
“La Marisol científica y la Marisol paciente”.
La esperanza y la preocupación, la investigación y la defensa de las personas afectadas… la dualidad de saber y a veces querer olvidar.
La vida misma.
www.elprogreso.es/articulo/sal...
@aseica.bsky.social
@cniostopcancer.bsky.social
La esperanza y la preocupación, la investigación y la defensa de las personas afectadas… la dualidad de saber y a veces querer olvidar.
La vida misma.
www.elprogreso.es/articulo/sal...
@aseica.bsky.social
@cniostopcancer.bsky.social
Reposted by MadScientist
I am begging people to *please* stop using these tools to make a point or make fun of them. We do not need to further refine them or kill the planet to make a point. We should stop using them to make them irrelevant.
November 24, 2025 at 8:11 PM
I am begging people to *please* stop using these tools to make a point or make fun of them. We do not need to further refine them or kill the planet to make a point. We should stop using them to make them irrelevant.
Reposted by MadScientist
A great intro to academic conferencing.
Not sure how I missed this one.
scienceforeveryone.science/getting-the-...
Not sure how I missed this one.
scienceforeveryone.science/getting-the-...
Getting the most of out a scientific conference
A slightly unconventional guide to your first time
scienceforeveryone.science
November 26, 2025 at 4:47 AM
A great intro to academic conferencing.
Not sure how I missed this one.
scienceforeveryone.science/getting-the-...
Not sure how I missed this one.
scienceforeveryone.science/getting-the-...
Reposted by MadScientist
At the German Fish Meeting in Heidelberg (Sept 16–18, 2026), we’re excited to host a special session for postdocs transitioning to independence, animated and chaired by @mads100tist.bsky.social. PhD students will select the best talk to receive a prize. Looking forward to seeing you in Heidelberg!
November 25, 2025 at 7:56 PM
At the German Fish Meeting in Heidelberg (Sept 16–18, 2026), we’re excited to host a special session for postdocs transitioning to independence, animated and chaired by @mads100tist.bsky.social. PhD students will select the best talk to receive a prize. Looking forward to seeing you in Heidelberg!