Bill Nihilist
@wmkenkel.bsky.social
Will Kenkel, the rodent-studying ape. Asst. Prof. Psych & Brain Sciences University of Delaware
www.besvolelab.com
www.besvolelab.com
Reposted by Bill Nihilist
So there you have it, twin study estimates were greatly inflated, and molecular data sets the record straight. I walk through possible counter-arguments, but ultimately the uncomfortable truth is that genes contribute to traits much less than we always thought.
November 21, 2025 at 10:34 PM
So there you have it, twin study estimates were greatly inflated, and molecular data sets the record straight. I walk through possible counter-arguments, but ultimately the uncomfortable truth is that genes contribute to traits much less than we always thought.
Reposted by Bill Nihilist
I wrote a little bit about the "missing heritability" question and several recent studies that have brought it to a close. A short 🧵
The missing heritability question is now (mostly) answered
Not with a bang but with a whimper
theinfinitesimal.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:34 PM
I wrote a little bit about the "missing heritability" question and several recent studies that have brought it to a close. A short 🧵
Reposted by Bill Nihilist
No more paylines at the NIH
grants.nih.gov/news-events/...
grants.nih.gov/news-events/...
Implementing a Unified NIH Funding Strategy to Guide Consistent and Clearer Award Decisions | Grants & Funding
grants.nih.gov
November 21, 2025 at 7:45 PM
No more paylines at the NIH
grants.nih.gov/news-events/...
grants.nih.gov/news-events/...
In class discussion about social media & young people's mental health today. One student had a brilliant insight drawn from her own life where she was allowed to be on electronics when she was with her dad but not at her mom's house. We need a within-subjects study of kids of divorced parents!
November 21, 2025 at 4:23 PM
In class discussion about social media & young people's mental health today. One student had a brilliant insight drawn from her own life where she was allowed to be on electronics when she was with her dad but not at her mom's house. We need a within-subjects study of kids of divorced parents!
Reposted by Bill Nihilist
I really hate it when scientists keep saying that “we need to rebuild trust in science,” because it implies that scientists are to blame for the mistrust rather than the millions of dollars of dark money that have funded political attacks on science in order to advance a far right agenda.
November 19, 2025 at 9:48 PM
I really hate it when scientists keep saying that “we need to rebuild trust in science,” because it implies that scientists are to blame for the mistrust rather than the millions of dollars of dark money that have funded political attacks on science in order to advance a far right agenda.
Reposted by Bill Nihilist
@thetransmitter.bsky.social presents a portrait of the state of neuroscience in 2025 through four lenses: its focus, its output, its people and its funding. Each view features analyses of major trends and more. Explore the end of year report: bit.ly/4oNeTVC
#neuroskyence #StateofNeuro
#neuroskyence #StateofNeuro
November 15, 2025 at 3:37 PM
@thetransmitter.bsky.social presents a portrait of the state of neuroscience in 2025 through four lenses: its focus, its output, its people and its funding. Each view features analyses of major trends and more. Explore the end of year report: bit.ly/4oNeTVC
#neuroskyence #StateofNeuro
#neuroskyence #StateofNeuro
When you have your office door closed and someone knocks anyway
November 18, 2025 at 4:40 PM
When you have your office door closed and someone knocks anyway
Imagine using this to stop the construction of a data center
November 12, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Imagine using this to stop the construction of a data center
Uh oh, the march has ground to a halt. There's an adorable King Charles Spaniel and no one has the heart to do what must be done 😢
October 18, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Uh oh, the march has ground to a halt. There's an adorable King Charles Spaniel and no one has the heart to do what must be done 😢
Unfortunately, last night I was eliminated as a contestant on Great Baby Bake Off. Sometime after determining the challenge was "muffins", one of the toddler judges changed his mind and threw my entry on the ground in a fit of pique.
October 12, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Unfortunately, last night I was eliminated as a contestant on Great Baby Bake Off. Sometime after determining the challenge was "muffins", one of the toddler judges changed his mind and threw my entry on the ground in a fit of pique.
Reposted by Bill Nihilist
“It’s hard to know if I should close down my existing projects and/or redouble my efforts writing new grant applications,” Joshua Jacobs, associate professor of biomedical engineering at Columbia University, told @thetransmitter.bsky.social.
By Natalia Mesa
www.thetransmitter.org/funding/nih-...
By Natalia Mesa
www.thetransmitter.org/funding/nih-...
NIH awarded 37 percent fewer neuroscience-related grants in 2025 than in past years
But the agency has spent nearly its entire budget for this fiscal year, which ends tomorrow.
www.thetransmitter.org
September 29, 2025 at 9:11 PM
“It’s hard to know if I should close down my existing projects and/or redouble my efforts writing new grant applications,” Joshua Jacobs, associate professor of biomedical engineering at Columbia University, told @thetransmitter.bsky.social.
By Natalia Mesa
www.thetransmitter.org/funding/nih-...
By Natalia Mesa
www.thetransmitter.org/funding/nih-...
The morning walk to daycare drop-off, downtown Wilmington
September 29, 2025 at 12:31 PM
The morning walk to daycare drop-off, downtown Wilmington
Reposted by Bill Nihilist
I get that the news cycle is packed right now, but I just heard from a colleague at the Smithsonian that this is fully a GIANT SQUID BEING EATEN BY A SPERM WHALE and it’s possibly the first ever confirmed video according to a friend at NOAA
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
September 24, 2025 at 8:30 PM
I get that the news cycle is packed right now, but I just heard from a colleague at the Smithsonian that this is fully a GIANT SQUID BEING EATEN BY A SPERM WHALE and it’s possibly the first ever confirmed video according to a friend at NOAA
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
Reposted by Bill Nihilist
Only single cell sequencing of the all these post docs will reveal why
September 19, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Only single cell sequencing of the all these post docs will reveal why
Babe, we GOTTA go to this street festival, they're gonna have DJ Foodtrucks!
September 19, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Babe, we GOTTA go to this street festival, they're gonna have DJ Foodtrucks!
1) "Antifa" is now a terrorist group
2) There is no definition of Antifa beyond being anti-fascist
3) Under 18 U.S. Code § 4, it is "misprision of a felony" to fail to notify authorities re: terrorism
4) You're now a criminal for not turning in your grandpa for his activities 1941-45 🫡
2) There is no definition of Antifa beyond being anti-fascist
3) Under 18 U.S. Code § 4, it is "misprision of a felony" to fail to notify authorities re: terrorism
4) You're now a criminal for not turning in your grandpa for his activities 1941-45 🫡
September 18, 2025 at 10:03 AM
1) "Antifa" is now a terrorist group
2) There is no definition of Antifa beyond being anti-fascist
3) Under 18 U.S. Code § 4, it is "misprision of a felony" to fail to notify authorities re: terrorism
4) You're now a criminal for not turning in your grandpa for his activities 1941-45 🫡
2) There is no definition of Antifa beyond being anti-fascist
3) Under 18 U.S. Code § 4, it is "misprision of a felony" to fail to notify authorities re: terrorism
4) You're now a criminal for not turning in your grandpa for his activities 1941-45 🫡
Reposted by Bill Nihilist
When you devote your life to the message that empathy is evil and gun deaths are an acceptable price to pay for gun rights, you shape the world with your words. Maybe Charlie Kirk didn’t expect to be a victim of his own worldbuilding, but his death is consistent with the world he helped create.
September 10, 2025 at 10:01 PM
When you devote your life to the message that empathy is evil and gun deaths are an acceptable price to pay for gun rights, you shape the world with your words. Maybe Charlie Kirk didn’t expect to be a victim of his own worldbuilding, but his death is consistent with the world he helped create.
Reposted by Bill Nihilist
A substantial part (but not all) of this increased investment is multi-year funded grants.
My current estimate is that multi-year funding has been used in lieu of ~2400 annually funded grants that could have been made.
2/2
My current estimate is that multi-year funding has been used in lieu of ~2400 annually funded grants that could have been made.
2/2
September 9, 2025 at 5:31 PM
A substantial part (but not all) of this increased investment is multi-year funded grants.
My current estimate is that multi-year funding has been used in lieu of ~2400 annually funded grants that could have been made.
2/2
My current estimate is that multi-year funding has been used in lieu of ~2400 annually funded grants that could have been made.
2/2
There's only one piece of advice to young researchers that really matters:
Pug licks or perish
Pug licks or perish
September 3, 2025 at 1:54 PM
There's only one piece of advice to young researchers that really matters:
Pug licks or perish
Pug licks or perish
Reposted by Bill Nihilist
🧪 And House appropriators say: no cuts to NIH budget!
House subcommittee version just came out (link below). Holds NIH flat at $48 billion.
To be clear: this is far from over. But a good sign that science still matters across both sides of aisle.
YOUR VOICE MATTERS!!
House subcommittee version just came out (link below). Holds NIH flat at $48 billion.
To be clear: this is far from over. But a good sign that science still matters across both sides of aisle.
YOUR VOICE MATTERS!!
September 1, 2025 at 10:37 PM
🧪 And House appropriators say: no cuts to NIH budget!
House subcommittee version just came out (link below). Holds NIH flat at $48 billion.
To be clear: this is far from over. But a good sign that science still matters across both sides of aisle.
YOUR VOICE MATTERS!!
House subcommittee version just came out (link below). Holds NIH flat at $48 billion.
To be clear: this is far from over. But a good sign that science still matters across both sides of aisle.
YOUR VOICE MATTERS!!
Reposted by Bill Nihilist
Making them wear high-visibility vests over camo is such a good joke you couldn’t write it
National Guard is now tasked with picking up garbage in DC
August 26, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Making them wear high-visibility vests over camo is such a good joke you couldn’t write it
Small towns have the advantage that it's not only possible but ultimately inevitable that a sense of local celebrity will coalesce around a small dog who rides on the back of a bike.
August 19, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Small towns have the advantage that it's not only possible but ultimately inevitable that a sense of local celebrity will coalesce around a small dog who rides on the back of a bike.
Reposted by Bill Nihilist
one small consolation of being a 60+ year old investigator is the ability to submit to 𝘔𝘈𝘛𝘜𝘙𝘌 family journals — sure they’re low impact (for our knees) but they have an early bird special if you submit between 4:00 and 5:30 on weekdays
August 14, 2025 at 12:32 AM
one small consolation of being a 60+ year old investigator is the ability to submit to 𝘔𝘈𝘛𝘜𝘙𝘌 family journals — sure they’re low impact (for our knees) but they have an early bird special if you submit between 4:00 and 5:30 on weekdays
Coffee is at an all-time high.
'Tariffs are very bad and dumb' was the first econ lesson taught to me by my father who would go on to be economic adviser to one Donald J. Trump.
If only the President was as smart as a 9 year old me.
'Tariffs are very bad and dumb' was the first econ lesson taught to me by my father who would go on to be economic adviser to one Donald J. Trump.
If only the President was as smart as a 9 year old me.
August 13, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Coffee is at an all-time high.
'Tariffs are very bad and dumb' was the first econ lesson taught to me by my father who would go on to be economic adviser to one Donald J. Trump.
If only the President was as smart as a 9 year old me.
'Tariffs are very bad and dumb' was the first econ lesson taught to me by my father who would go on to be economic adviser to one Donald J. Trump.
If only the President was as smart as a 9 year old me.
Reposted by Bill Nihilist
*Please read and share!* My NIH funds at UCLA were suspended last week.
It's hard to find the words to describe the impact of these grant suspensions. I have felt speechless and heartbroken that people in my lab, my friends, colleagues, researchers, trainees, and undergrads 1/9
It's hard to find the words to describe the impact of these grant suspensions. I have felt speechless and heartbroken that people in my lab, my friends, colleagues, researchers, trainees, and undergrads 1/9
August 11, 2025 at 9:16 PM
*Please read and share!* My NIH funds at UCLA were suspended last week.
It's hard to find the words to describe the impact of these grant suspensions. I have felt speechless and heartbroken that people in my lab, my friends, colleagues, researchers, trainees, and undergrads 1/9
It's hard to find the words to describe the impact of these grant suspensions. I have felt speechless and heartbroken that people in my lab, my friends, colleagues, researchers, trainees, and undergrads 1/9