Eric J. Perkins, PhD (he/him)
@allostericsite.bsky.social
Dad, Mol. Biologist, reader, music listener, etc...Skeeting about STEM, SciComm, science nonprofits, & also parenting, food, fitness, travel, being a grumpy GenXer. Aspiring to be an ally to anyone who needs allies, here and IRL.
My sister works in HVAC and just sent me this text. I’d be a big proponent of any and all public buildings having a Wiggle Room. Or, for the oldsters like me, a Nap Room.
February 11, 2026 at 4:54 PM
My sister works in HVAC and just sent me this text. I’d be a big proponent of any and all public buildings having a Wiggle Room. Or, for the oldsters like me, a Nap Room.
Behold the half ass sidewalk clearing I experienced today in Watertown, MA. It was a very tight squeeze, and I’m not a big dude.
Do better New Englanders.
Do better New Englanders.
January 30, 2026 at 4:08 AM
Behold the half ass sidewalk clearing I experienced today in Watertown, MA. It was a very tight squeeze, and I’m not a big dude.
Do better New Englanders.
Do better New Englanders.
My daughter is only 16, but she already possesses a lifetime supply of lip balm (this pic just shows the top of layer of three).
January 21, 2026 at 1:30 PM
My daughter is only 16, but she already possesses a lifetime supply of lip balm (this pic just shows the top of layer of three).
Could I give a talk about CRISPR benefits and risks? Sure.
Could I give such a talk in *German* like my 16yo tomorrow? Absolutely not.
Could I give such a talk in *German* like my 16yo tomorrow? Absolutely not.
January 9, 2026 at 11:17 PM
Could I give a talk about CRISPR benefits and risks? Sure.
Could I give such a talk in *German* like my 16yo tomorrow? Absolutely not.
Could I give such a talk in *German* like my 16yo tomorrow? Absolutely not.
Though I have very mixed feelings about AI images, my co-worker's very rapid rendering of my Slack rant this morning is frighteningly accurate.
January 8, 2026 at 1:57 PM
Though I have very mixed feelings about AI images, my co-worker's very rapid rendering of my Slack rant this morning is frighteningly accurate.
Well at least I’ve got this going for me.
December 17, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Well at least I’ve got this going for me.
My Thanksgiving to-do list vs. my friend’s. Outcome was the same—we both fed a bunch of people. But whoo-doggy did we use different tactics (and, okay, his probably tasted better)😆
November 28, 2025 at 6:04 AM
My Thanksgiving to-do list vs. my friend’s. Outcome was the same—we both fed a bunch of people. But whoo-doggy did we use different tactics (and, okay, his probably tasted better)😆
My wife, in Germany for a landmark birthday, has never used emojis in her text messages before. I guess she just needed the right occasion 😏
November 24, 2025 at 9:34 PM
My wife, in Germany for a landmark birthday, has never used emojis in her text messages before. I guess she just needed the right occasion 😏
Five pounds of butter is probably enough for Thanksgiving, right?🧈🧈🧈🧈🧈
November 23, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Five pounds of butter is probably enough for Thanksgiving, right?🧈🧈🧈🧈🧈
Just a few days in to our building’s food drive. I’m sorry for the necessity, but grateful for the generosity of my colleagues.
November 12, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Just a few days in to our building’s food drive. I’m sorry for the necessity, but grateful for the generosity of my colleagues.
I wasn’t sure what to draw for today’s #inktober2025 prompt, “Skeletal”. Then I saw how long last night’s World Series game lasted and the answer was obvious.
October 28, 2025 at 3:26 PM
I wasn’t sure what to draw for today’s #inktober2025 prompt, “Skeletal”. Then I saw how long last night’s World Series game lasted and the answer was obvious.
I picked up racing bibs for another family who will have to miss the 5K tomorrow, and one of the daughters is missing out on being the most popular runner there. IFYKYK
October 25, 2025 at 10:19 PM
I picked up racing bibs for another family who will have to miss the 5K tomorrow, and one of the daughters is missing out on being the most popular runner there. IFYKYK
Just letting the AI know I don't need it for a dopamine release, thanks.
October 23, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Just letting the AI know I don't need it for a dopamine release, thanks.
So glad my son is eating responsibly in college🤨
October 16, 2025 at 3:06 AM
So glad my son is eating responsibly in college🤨
My thanks to the @bostonglobe.com for reporting on this story and giving me a new life goal.
October 10, 2025 at 3:37 PM
My thanks to the @bostonglobe.com for reporting on this story and giving me a new life goal.
I pointed out to our product designer that I thought it was kind of crazy that Claude (an AI tool) has a logo that basically looks like a butthole. He said I was certainly not the first person to notice: velvetshark.com/ai-company-l...
October 9, 2025 at 6:33 PM
I pointed out to our product designer that I thought it was kind of crazy that Claude (an AI tool) has a logo that basically looks like a butthole. He said I was certainly not the first person to notice: velvetshark.com/ai-company-l...
I like the Slack Donut app that schedules short chats with co-workers you don't normally spend a lot of time with, but I do NOT like it proposing to have coffee at 5 on a Friday. It might as well say "Let's make sure your colleague gets to talk with the absolute worst, most tired version of you."
October 8, 2025 at 8:11 PM
I like the Slack Donut app that schedules short chats with co-workers you don't normally spend a lot of time with, but I do NOT like it proposing to have coffee at 5 on a Friday. It might as well say "Let's make sure your colleague gets to talk with the absolute worst, most tired version of you."
I’ve been doing #inktober2025 (despite my lack of drawing skillz), and I just want to point out that in today’s sketch (prompt: starfish), I made sure Patrick’s torn appendage included a section of his central disk. You know, for biological accuracy.
October 7, 2025 at 4:54 PM
I’ve been doing #inktober2025 (despite my lack of drawing skillz), and I just want to point out that in today’s sketch (prompt: starfish), I made sure Patrick’s torn appendage included a section of his central disk. You know, for biological accuracy.
I’ve been casually enjoying John O’Connor’s “The Secret History of Bigfoot”, but today I read the sentence “Dudes, let it be said that the joys of human fellowship can seriously harsh my mellow.” And now I feel very seen.
October 3, 2025 at 4:39 PM
I’ve been casually enjoying John O’Connor’s “The Secret History of Bigfoot”, but today I read the sentence “Dudes, let it be said that the joys of human fellowship can seriously harsh my mellow.” And now I feel very seen.
With an administration that apparently hates both science and women, my drinking glasses feel pretty friggin’ punk rock right now.
October 2, 2025 at 10:40 PM
With an administration that apparently hates both science and women, my drinking glasses feel pretty friggin’ punk rock right now.
My late mom would sometimes speak to my sister and me in a made-up language of her youth called “Ob”, which consisted of putting “ob” in front of every syllable in a word.
This is how my sister addressed her birthday card to me this year. I’m 49, and my Ob name still makes me smile.
This is how my sister addressed her birthday card to me this year. I’m 49, and my Ob name still makes me smile.
September 21, 2025 at 5:16 PM
My late mom would sometimes speak to my sister and me in a made-up language of her youth called “Ob”, which consisted of putting “ob” in front of every syllable in a word.
This is how my sister addressed her birthday card to me this year. I’m 49, and my Ob name still makes me smile.
This is how my sister addressed her birthday card to me this year. I’m 49, and my Ob name still makes me smile.
Spotted a new collector’s item at the grocery store😏
August 24, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Spotted a new collector’s item at the grocery store😏
I’ve been trying out @hankgreen.bsky.social’s Focus Friend app this week, and so far I really like the following:
- My little bean guy has a butt crack.
- Having to press a button to “Stop Focusing” disincentivizes not focusing.
- My phone screen time legit went down this week. Progress!
- My little bean guy has a butt crack.
- Having to press a button to “Stop Focusing” disincentivizes not focusing.
- My phone screen time legit went down this week. Progress!
August 22, 2025 at 8:03 PM
I’ve been trying out @hankgreen.bsky.social’s Focus Friend app this week, and so far I really like the following:
- My little bean guy has a butt crack.
- Having to press a button to “Stop Focusing” disincentivizes not focusing.
- My phone screen time legit went down this week. Progress!
- My little bean guy has a butt crack.
- Having to press a button to “Stop Focusing” disincentivizes not focusing.
- My phone screen time legit went down this week. Progress!
One of the features at the fundraising event we attended today was simply “Dirt Pile”. Very New Hampshire.
And hey, I can tell you as a NH native, I had a lot of FUN playing in dirt piles as a kid.
And hey, I can tell you as a NH native, I had a lot of FUN playing in dirt piles as a kid.
August 9, 2025 at 10:58 PM
One of the features at the fundraising event we attended today was simply “Dirt Pile”. Very New Hampshire.
And hey, I can tell you as a NH native, I had a lot of FUN playing in dirt piles as a kid.
And hey, I can tell you as a NH native, I had a lot of FUN playing in dirt piles as a kid.
How many situations can I apply this Andrea Gibson quote to this year…I would have lost count by March.
August 7, 2025 at 7:13 PM
How many situations can I apply this Andrea Gibson quote to this year…I would have lost count by March.