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childslab.bsky.social
Kevin Childs
@childslab.bsky.social
1.1K followers 2.7K following 22 posts
Plant biology, genomics, bioinformatics
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Kevin Childs
helenczerski.bsky.social
TIL about a memorial ceremony in Iceland in 2019 to mark the end of a glacier, changing the place name from Okjökull to Ok (jökull = glacier). Uncompromising wording on the bronze plaque:
"This is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it".
Bronze plaque saying "A Letter to the Future. Ok is the first Icelandic glacier to lose its status as a glacier. In the next 200 years all our glaciers are expected to follow the same path. This monument is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it. August 2019. 415ppm CO2"
December 7, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Reposted by Kevin Childs
smcgrath.phd
🧪 openRxiv is testing AI peer review to expedite feedback. However, reliance on LLMs risks a regression to the mean, where unique expert insights are replaced by algorithmic averages that prioritize syntax over significance.
#AcademicSky
AI reviewers are here — we are not ready
Artificial intelligence promises rapid and polite feedback on papers — but we must first review the reviewer.
www.nature.com
December 3, 2025 at 4:30 PM
childslab.bsky.social
IYKYK
tasmitchell.bsky.social Todd Mitchell @tasmitchell.bsky.social · 12d
Thanksgiving eve dinner!

Happy Thanksgiving, #IndigenousSTEM friends!
🍎🐡⚒️🧪
a dinner plate with an array of popcorn, buttered toast, jelly beans, and pretzel stick ala Charlie Brown Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving is for cooking, thanksgiving eve is for no cooking like Snoopy and Charlie Brown!
November 27, 2025 at 4:31 AM
Reposted by Kevin Childs
roryblank.bsky.social
Is this cheese grater conscious? Many users feel they're talking to a real person. Scientists say it's time to consider whether they're onto something.
a cheese grater that, if viewed from the correct angle, appears to have a friendly, stupid face, an example of Pareidolia
November 25, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Reposted by Kevin Childs
rikergoogling.bsky.social
betty and veronica at tanagra
November 15, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Reposted by Kevin Childs
songbirder.social
The irony of asking the "hivemind" in this one requires you to watch the show to be appreciated 😂
November 13, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Reposted by Kevin Childs
solomonrdavid.bsky.social
Sorry not sorry 😅

via Gar Week fan👍
Batman slapping Robin meme: because Robin is trying to talk about sharks when it’s obviously Gar Week.
November 5, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Reposted by Kevin Childs
georgecoffey.bsky.social
Until you get the human on a rail bike
October 17, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Reposted by Kevin Childs
brenttoderian.bsky.social
Remember this one? “Humans aren’t very efficient movers—until you put us on a bicycle, when we become some of the most energy-efficient land travelers in the animal kingdom.” Via Scientific American @sciam.bsky.social #CityMakingMath
The Most Efficient Traveler Isn’t a Bird or a Fish—It’s You on a Bike
A famous graphic, now updated, compares locomotion in the animal kingdom
www.scientificamerican.com
October 16, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Reposted by Kevin Childs
lars-brudvig.bsky.social
Michigan State University is hiring a new Director of our herbarium!

This is an open rank, tenure-stream faculty position, with research focus in plant or fungal systematics, ecology, and/or evolution

Please consider applying and help spread the word!

plantbiology.natsci.msu.edu/job-postings...
plantbiology.natsci.msu.edu
August 22, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Reposted by Kevin Childs
amybrown.xyz
this iconic advertising copywriter named Kathy Hepinstall Parks died over the weekend and I wanted to share something from her website I thought Bluesky would like
Why should I write better when a machine can do it for me? Because actually no one can do it for you, because your voice is unique among all the people on earth. Siri never petted a horse's neck. Alexa has never been ghosted by the captain of the football team. But you have lived, your heart is beating, you have suffered, and you have something important to say. It's a human's job, to use words, and whatever job you give to a machine, that part of your brain goes dark. Maybe it's worth it when it comes to remembering phone numbers and directions, but when that part of your brain that uses words goes dark, that's a vast area that's very close to your soul. Don't let some internet platform convince you that what you have to say and create isn't worthwhile. Words are the echo of your soul. Honing that echo matters.
August 22, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Reposted by Kevin Childs
msafungi.bsky.social
📢🍄Mycology job alert🍄📢

The Department of Plant Biology at @michiganstateu.bsky.social has a job opening for a herbarium/fungarium director at the Assistant, Associate or Full professor level. Review of applications start on 3rd October 2025.

careers.msu.edu/jobs/assista...
Assistant/Associate/Full Professor Tenure System - East Lansing, Michigan, United States
Working/Functional Title Assistant/Associate/Full Professor Tenure System Position Summary The Department of Plant Biology (PLB) at Michigan State University (MSU) seeks applications for a director of...
careers.msu.edu
August 21, 2025 at 10:02 AM
childslab.bsky.social
Michigan State University is looking for a Director of the MSU Herbarium. This is an open rank search. This 12-month position includes research, teaching, mentoring as well as administration of the Herbarium. #botany #plants #academicjobs
plantbiology.natsci.msu.edu/job-postings...
plantbiology.natsci.msu.edu
August 22, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Reposted by Kevin Childs
muellershewrote.com
This is not a coding error.
August 6, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Reposted by Kevin Childs
erikamcentarfer.bsky.social
It has been the honor of my life to serve as Commissioner of BLS alongside the many dedicated civil servants tasked with measuring a vast and dynamic economy. It is vital and important work and I thank them for their service to this nation.
August 2, 2025 at 2:18 AM
Reposted by Kevin Childs
emjo.bsky.social
Hey #Botany2025 folks -- Asia Hightower @puffballove.bsky.social will be talking about leaf shape G x E x Development in Capsella bursa-pastoris. Tuesday Jul 29 at 9:15 in Mesquite B!!
July 22, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Reposted by Kevin Childs
britannica.com
Welcome to the neighborhood.
IN THIS HOUSE, WE BELIEVE: "HOT CROSS BUNS" ON A RECORDER IS MAGICAL CARMEN SANDIEGO IS FINDABLE IF YOU READ A BOOK, YOU SHOULD GET A PERSONAL PAN PIZZA IT'S OK TO DIE OF DYSENTERY THE SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR SHOULD COME TO YOUR WORK THE MITOCHONDRIA IS THE POWERHOUSE OF THE CELL
June 25, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Reposted by Kevin Childs
sutherlandbl.bsky.social
No, we will NOT be delivering the expensive and sensitive piece of equipment to Central Receiving where it will then be manhandled a second time.

We will let the bonded and insured professionals move it and then Inventory Control can walk the little barcode stick over to it.
June 16, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Reposted by Kevin Childs
laurahowes.bsky.social
Look, good for this researcher, but private equity is not going to replace the volume and scope of US federal agency funding.
June 16, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Reposted by Kevin Childs
Preprint on hifiasm Nanopore-only assembly. Led by Haoyu Cheng: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Efficient near telomere-to-telomere assembly of Nanopore Simplex reads
Telomere-to-telomere (T2T) assembly is the ultimate goal for de novo genome assembly. Existing algorithms capable of near T2T assembly all require Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) ultra-long reads w...
www.biorxiv.org
April 18, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Reposted by Kevin Childs
msupri.bsky.social
Congratulations to @davidlowry.bsky.social lab postdoc @lestanley.bsky.social, this year’s MSU Danny Schnell Plant Biology Outstanding Postdoctoral Award recipient! 🎉 Lauren has made exceptional contributions to MSU through research, mentorship, and outreach, and PRI is very proud of her!
A green graphic with a headshot of Lauren Stanley and a photo of colorful flowers. The text reads" PLB Seminar Series, Outstanding Postdoc Award, Lauren Stanley, "Endless forms most beautiful: genetic insights into phenotypic diversity in monkeyflowers."
April 17, 2025 at 4:34 PM
childslab.bsky.social
Elle is a comedic genius.
krissychula.bsky.social Satan’s Niece @krissychula.bsky.social · Apr 6
This is high art
April 7, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Reposted by Kevin Childs
berondam.bsky.social
Coming soon... January 2026
Screenshot with text that reads: When Trees Testify: Reckoning with Black History Through the Science and Wisdom of Plants
March 20, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Reposted by Kevin Childs
triangleblogblog.bsky.social
How NC voters on the Griffin List (or anyone worried about their future vote) can update their voter file Please share with everyone in NC you know triangleblogblog.com/2025/04/05/h...
How voters on the Griffin List (or anyone concerned about their future votes) can update their voter file - Triangle Blog Blog
A group civics blog covering town council, education, transportation, and recreation in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, NC.
triangleblogblog.com
April 5, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Reposted by Kevin Childs
plantcellatlas.bsky.social
Come check out our booth "Exploring Plant Cells" at the @msuscifest.bsky.social STEAM Expo Days today and tomorrow until 4pm! Dive into the microscopic world of plants using real microscopes and hands-on models and activities, presented by Jacob in the @rheelab.bsky.social at @msupri.bsky.social! 🔬🌿
A presenter for the "Exploring Plant Cells" booth demonstrates the different parts of a plant cell to attendees using flash cards. A child examines a large model of a plant cell held by the presenter at the booth. A microscope with a screen shows a close-up view of red onion skin.
April 5, 2025 at 7:00 PM