Ben de Bivort
@debivort.bsky.social
Drosophila neurobiologist. We study insect behavior and individuality using the tools of computational neuroethology.
Harvard Organismic and Evolutionary Biology & Center for Brain Science
https://debivortlab.org
fediverse: @[email protected]
Harvard Organismic and Evolutionary Biology & Center for Brain Science
https://debivortlab.org
fediverse: @[email protected]
Pinned
Ben de Bivort
@debivort.bsky.social
· Oct 8
Family-based selection: an efficient method for increasing phenotypic variability
This article introduces a model comparing various selection regimes for increasing phenotypic variability. Individuals with the same genotype, reared in id
academic.oup.com
Our new study modeling selection for (behavioral) variability has been covered in a lovely @genetics-gsa.bsky.social podcast featuring first author Shraddha Lall and @ecoevogal.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/g3journal/ad...
academic.oup.com/g3journal/ad...
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
Again, as with all the other federal budget cuts that are incinerating 20-25% of the funding & the entire budget model of every R1 university in 🇺🇸, this is a five-alarm emergency that requires immediate, loud, collective condemnation by our university presidents. Total 🦗 as it’s all being gutted.
November 27, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Again, as with all the other federal budget cuts that are incinerating 20-25% of the funding & the entire budget model of every R1 university in 🇺🇸, this is a five-alarm emergency that requires immediate, loud, collective condemnation by our university presidents. Total 🦗 as it’s all being gutted.
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
Nature Sci Rep publishes incoherent AI slop. eLife publishes a paper which the reviewers didn't agree with, making all the comments and responses public with thoughtful commentary. One of these journals got delisted by Web of Science for quality concerns from not doing peer review. Guess which one?
November 27, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Nature Sci Rep publishes incoherent AI slop. eLife publishes a paper which the reviewers didn't agree with, making all the comments and responses public with thoughtful commentary. One of these journals got delisted by Web of Science for quality concerns from not doing peer review. Guess which one?
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
***Super cool-project alert***⚠️ Come work with @dirkmetzler.bsky.social and me in trying to understand how transcriptional noise evolves in a phylogenetic context 🧬 Deadline 15th Dec 2025 (Project funded by @dfg.de @gevol.bsky.social)
PhD position available for theoretical and statistical modeling in my joint @gevol.bsky.social project with @luisapallares.bsky.social on the evolution of transcriptional variability and its role in adaptation and evolutionary innovation.
See
job-portal.lmu.de/jobposting/6...
See
job-portal.lmu.de/jobposting/6...
PhD candidate in biology — theoretical and statistical modeling (m/f/x)
job-portal.lmu.de
November 27, 2025 at 2:30 AM
***Super cool-project alert***⚠️ Come work with @dirkmetzler.bsky.social and me in trying to understand how transcriptional noise evolves in a phylogenetic context 🧬 Deadline 15th Dec 2025 (Project funded by @dfg.de @gevol.bsky.social)
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
3. It pains me to see DOE launch a major scientific initiative without a whisper of Earth & environmental research
4. If you wanted to hide public bail outs of AI firms, this could be a place to do so
4. If you wanted to hide public bail outs of AI firms, this could be a place to do so
November 26, 2025 at 12:39 PM
3. It pains me to see DOE launch a major scientific initiative without a whisper of Earth & environmental research
4. If you wanted to hide public bail outs of AI firms, this could be a place to do so
4. If you wanted to hide public bail outs of AI firms, this could be a place to do so
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
“Genesis Mission” thoughts:
1. Wacky name, makes me think some transhumanist Silicon Valley type named it (Chris Wright probably counts, even though he’s not actually SV)
2. Publicly accessible data centers at national labs and open large deep learning models could be really valuable for science
1. Wacky name, makes me think some transhumanist Silicon Valley type named it (Chris Wright probably counts, even though he’s not actually SV)
2. Publicly accessible data centers at national labs and open large deep learning models could be really valuable for science
November 26, 2025 at 12:39 PM
“Genesis Mission” thoughts:
1. Wacky name, makes me think some transhumanist Silicon Valley type named it (Chris Wright probably counts, even though he’s not actually SV)
2. Publicly accessible data centers at national labs and open large deep learning models could be really valuable for science
1. Wacky name, makes me think some transhumanist Silicon Valley type named it (Chris Wright probably counts, even though he’s not actually SV)
2. Publicly accessible data centers at national labs and open large deep learning models could be really valuable for science
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
Just a murderous fungus having taken over a wasp and compelled it to die in a place advantageous to finding more victims. With its tiny spores floating off through the air in hopes of just one landing on an exoskeleton.. nothing in the rainforest wants anything to do with this little scene here…
November 24, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Just a murderous fungus having taken over a wasp and compelled it to die in a place advantageous to finding more victims. With its tiny spores floating off through the air in hopes of just one landing on an exoskeleton.. nothing in the rainforest wants anything to do with this little scene here…
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
Scientific journals: we don’t want you using generative AI because it makes shit up.
Same journal: here is an AI summary or evaluation of this paper. This might be more useful than the actual abstract or paper that the authors freaking wrote
Same journal: AI cover art which makes no sense? Oooh!
Same journal: here is an AI summary or evaluation of this paper. This might be more useful than the actual abstract or paper that the authors freaking wrote
Same journal: AI cover art which makes no sense? Oooh!
November 23, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Scientific journals: we don’t want you using generative AI because it makes shit up.
Same journal: here is an AI summary or evaluation of this paper. This might be more useful than the actual abstract or paper that the authors freaking wrote
Same journal: AI cover art which makes no sense? Oooh!
Same journal: here is an AI summary or evaluation of this paper. This might be more useful than the actual abstract or paper that the authors freaking wrote
Same journal: AI cover art which makes no sense? Oooh!
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
Our study of time processing in bumblebees 🐝 covered by @cnn.com here edition.cnn.com/2025/11/12/s... . Our summary is here youtu.be/hsGxU65OMQk and the original paper royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.... @royalsocietypublishing.org
Scientists now know that bees can process time, a first in insects | CNN
Bumblebees can process the duration of flashes of light and use the information to decide where to look for food, a new study has found.
edition.cnn.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Our study of time processing in bumblebees 🐝 covered by @cnn.com here edition.cnn.com/2025/11/12/s... . Our summary is here youtu.be/hsGxU65OMQk and the original paper royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.... @royalsocietypublishing.org
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
November 21, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
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 Ben de Bivort
A new study from @invertebratepal.bsky.social describes a new sea scorpion species that shows these animals were skilled predators much earlier than the fossil record showed! The study is led by Peter Van Roy, Ghent University, & co-authored by OEB PhD candidate Jared Richards. tinyurl.com/bdcwmrws
November 21, 2025 at 1:44 PM
A new study from @invertebratepal.bsky.social describes a new sea scorpion species that shows these animals were skilled predators much earlier than the fossil record showed! The study is led by Peter Van Roy, Ghent University, & co-authored by OEB PhD candidate Jared Richards. tinyurl.com/bdcwmrws
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
The law of the jungle.
Interactions of cells in a collective lead to global rotation.
In 80% of the case HUVEC cells turn clockwise.
How many cells does it take for this to happen?
Interactions of cells in a collective lead to global rotation.
In 80% of the case HUVEC cells turn clockwise.
How many cells does it take for this to happen?
November 21, 2025 at 1:07 PM
The law of the jungle.
Interactions of cells in a collective lead to global rotation.
In 80% of the case HUVEC cells turn clockwise.
How many cells does it take for this to happen?
Interactions of cells in a collective lead to global rotation.
In 80% of the case HUVEC cells turn clockwise.
How many cells does it take for this to happen?
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
Hot off the press! Our latest paper led by @fernpizza.bsky.social, understanding how plasmids evolve inside cells. These small, self-replicating DNA circles live inside bacteria and carry antibiotic resistance genes, but also compete with one another to replicate. 1/
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Intracellular competition shapes plasmid population dynamics
From populations of multicellular organisms to selfish genetic elements, conflicts between levels of biological organization are central to evolution. Plasmids are extrachromosomal, self-replicating g...
www.science.org
November 20, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Hot off the press! Our latest paper led by @fernpizza.bsky.social, understanding how plasmids evolve inside cells. These small, self-replicating DNA circles live inside bacteria and carry antibiotic resistance genes, but also compete with one another to replicate. 1/
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Does anyone know the best way to get all of an author's bibliographic data in csv format?
Basically want to export an author's google scholar page, saving dois and associated years of publication
Basically want to export an author's google scholar page, saving dois and associated years of publication
November 20, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Does anyone know the best way to get all of an author's bibliographic data in csv format?
Basically want to export an author's google scholar page, saving dois and associated years of publication
Basically want to export an author's google scholar page, saving dois and associated years of publication
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
Check out our latest issue where we interview Cassandra Extavour, who studies the evolution of the genetic mechanisms employed during early animal embryogenesis to specify cell fate, development, and differentiation at Harvard University. www.cell.com/current-biol...
Q & A
Interview with Cassandra Extavour, who studies the evolution of the genetic mechanisms
employed during early animal embryogenesis to specify cell fate, development, and
differentiation at Harvard Univ...
www.cell.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Check out our latest issue where we interview Cassandra Extavour, who studies the evolution of the genetic mechanisms employed during early animal embryogenesis to specify cell fate, development, and differentiation at Harvard University. www.cell.com/current-biol...
Specifically for those "whose work is restricted due to political pressure in the USA"
Unsure about your postdoc future in the US? Consider Southwest Germany: www.uni-konstanz.de/zukunftskoll...
Early Career Rescue Fellowship
www.uni-konstanz.de
November 19, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Specifically for those "whose work is restricted due to political pressure in the USA"
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
It seems worth noting that the things Summers admitted to doing in an email dialogue with a famous sex criminal is considerably worse than anything Gay was accused of when it was the single top priority of both Summers and the New York Times to get her fired
pretty much beyond question that Larry Summers led the charge against Claudine Gay because he is personally a vitriolic misogynist and racist www.thecrimson.com/article/2024...
88 Days: The Unraveling of Claudine Gay’s Harvard Presidency | News | The Harvard Crimson
Harvard President Claudine Gay resigned on Jan. 2, ending her tenure as the University's 30th president after it was clear the Harvard Corporation lost confidence in Gay's ability to lead amid mountin...
www.thecrimson.com
November 18, 2025 at 10:26 PM
It seems worth noting that the things Summers admitted to doing in an email dialogue with a famous sex criminal is considerably worse than anything Gay was accused of when it was the single top priority of both Summers and the New York Times to get her fired
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
Dear friends, colleagues, Harvard community and beyond: this is the season to help individuals and families in need, and the needs this year are very high! Please repost and contribute to this effort with 🥫or 💰 donations 🙏 🙏🙏
@harvardmcb.bsky.social @harvard.edu @harvardbrainsci.bsky.social
@harvardmcb.bsky.social @harvard.edu @harvardbrainsci.bsky.social
MCB Community Task Force Launches Food Drive for the Cambridge Community Center #AcademicSky #higherEd
www.mcb.harvard.edu/department/n... @rachellegaudet.bsky.social @cryptogenomicon.bsky.social @neurovenki.bsky.social @dulaclab.bsky.social @naoshigeuchida.bsky.social @harvard.edu
www.mcb.harvard.edu/department/n... @rachellegaudet.bsky.social @cryptogenomicon.bsky.social @neurovenki.bsky.social @dulaclab.bsky.social @naoshigeuchida.bsky.social @harvard.edu
MCB Community Task Force Launches Food Drive for the Cambridge Community Center - Harvard University - Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology
The MCB Community Task Force (CTF) is pleased to announce a food drive to benefit the Cambridge Community Center (CCC), a local organization dedicated to supporting families through […]
www.mcb.harvard.edu
November 18, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Dear friends, colleagues, Harvard community and beyond: this is the season to help individuals and families in need, and the needs this year are very high! Please repost and contribute to this effort with 🥫or 💰 donations 🙏 🙏🙏
@harvardmcb.bsky.social @harvard.edu @harvardbrainsci.bsky.social
@harvardmcb.bsky.social @harvard.edu @harvardbrainsci.bsky.social
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
This is misinformation by default, so if you're a journal and you use AI slop for your cover or your announcements, you're not scientific in any way and should be shamed mercilessly 🧪
November 18, 2025 at 2:07 PM
This is misinformation by default, so if you're a journal and you use AI slop for your cover or your announcements, you're not scientific in any way and should be shamed mercilessly 🧪
Congratulations @sueyeonchung.bsky.social !
Check out her amazing work understanding the geometry of high dimension manifolds (in neural data, AI, etc.)
Check out her amazing work understanding the geometry of high dimension manifolds (in neural data, AI, etc.)
🚀Congratulations to #KempnerInstitute Investigator SueYeon Chung (@sueyeonchung.bsky.social)!
Honored as one of @thetransmitter.bsky.social’s Rising Stars of Neuroscience 2025 for her outstanding achievements in the field.🌟
🔗 bit.ly/4i8uX1J
#AI #NeuroAI #Neuroscience
Honored as one of @thetransmitter.bsky.social’s Rising Stars of Neuroscience 2025 for her outstanding achievements in the field.🌟
🔗 bit.ly/4i8uX1J
#AI #NeuroAI #Neuroscience
November 18, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Congratulations @sueyeonchung.bsky.social !
Check out her amazing work understanding the geometry of high dimension manifolds (in neural data, AI, etc.)
Check out her amazing work understanding the geometry of high dimension manifolds (in neural data, AI, etc.)
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
A shorter snout is one of several physical traits linked to domestication. Using almost 20,000 raccoon photos from iNaturalist, researchers found that urban raccoons' snouts were 3.5% shorter than rural ones.
November 17, 2025 at 9:30 PM
A shorter snout is one of several physical traits linked to domestication. Using almost 20,000 raccoon photos from iNaturalist, researchers found that urban raccoons' snouts were 3.5% shorter than rural ones.
Reposted by Ben de Bivort
1/n We have discovered that bees can keep track of time duration!
Bees can discriminate long 🟡🟡 vs short🟡 flashes, a bit like the "dash" and "dot" of the Morse code.
Check our new paper royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/... and videoclip youtu.be/hsGxU65OMQk?... @preparedmindslab.bsky.social
Bees can discriminate long 🟡🟡 vs short🟡 flashes, a bit like the "dash" and "dot" of the Morse code.
Check our new paper royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/... and videoclip youtu.be/hsGxU65OMQk?... @preparedmindslab.bsky.social
November 12, 2025 at 8:58 AM
1/n We have discovered that bees can keep track of time duration!
Bees can discriminate long 🟡🟡 vs short🟡 flashes, a bit like the "dash" and "dot" of the Morse code.
Check our new paper royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/... and videoclip youtu.be/hsGxU65OMQk?... @preparedmindslab.bsky.social
Bees can discriminate long 🟡🟡 vs short🟡 flashes, a bit like the "dash" and "dot" of the Morse code.
Check our new paper royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/... and videoclip youtu.be/hsGxU65OMQk?... @preparedmindslab.bsky.social