Marc Robinson-Rechavi
@marcrr.bsky.social
He/Him. Evolution and Bioinformatics. Posts mine alone, in English (mostly) & French. Chair of @dee-unil.bsky.social, Prof at @fbm-unil.bsky.social, group leader at @sib.swiss. PI of @bgee.org
🦣 Main account: https://ecoevo.social/@marcrr
🦣 Main account: https://ecoevo.social/@marcrr
Pinned
Marc Robinson-Rechavi
@marcrr.bsky.social
· Nov 14
Pluralistic: Bluesky and enshittification (02 Nov 2024) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow
pluralistic.net
Given the afflux of new science peeps here, and the lack of a similar increase of users at Mastodon, I'll post both here and there for the time being. Although I'm not convinced this place can escape the issues which affect any corporate owned social media pluralistic.net/2024/11/02/u...
Reposted by Marc Robinson-Rechavi
2. We are developing a policy for AI-related work. We need a formal policy on AI-generated and LLM-assisted content. We have formed a committee of volunteers from our social science and library science networks to gather existing policies and decide what to do.
/5
/5
November 27, 2025 at 2:54 PM
2. We are developing a policy for AI-related work. We need a formal policy on AI-generated and LLM-assisted content. We have formed a committee of volunteers from our social science and library science networks to gather existing policies and decide what to do.
/5
/5
Reposted by Marc Robinson-Rechavi
1. Pausing new submissions about AI topics for 90 days. That is, papers about AI models, testing AI models, proposing AI models, theories about the future of AI, etc. We will make exceptions for papers that are already accepted for publication (or published) in peer-reviewed scholarly journals
/2
/2
November 27, 2025 at 2:54 PM
1. Pausing new submissions about AI topics for 90 days. That is, papers about AI models, testing AI models, proposing AI models, theories about the future of AI, etc. We will make exceptions for papers that are already accepted for publication (or published) in peer-reviewed scholarly journals
/2
/2
Reposted by Marc Robinson-Rechavi
In light of record submission rates and a large volume of AI-generated slop, SocArXiv recently implemented a policy requiring ORCIDs linked in the OSF profile of submitting authors, and narrowing our focus to social science subjects. Today we are taking two more steps:
/1
/1
November 27, 2025 at 2:54 PM
In light of record submission rates and a large volume of AI-generated slop, SocArXiv recently implemented a policy requiring ORCIDs linked in the OSF profile of submitting authors, and narrowing our focus to social science subjects. Today we are taking two more steps:
/1
/1
Reposted by Marc Robinson-Rechavi
Opponents of preprints may crow "told you so". But peer review isn't the panacea (plenty of papermill/AI slop in journals) and the type of filtering/screening needed is not the same as the j̶u̶d̶g̶m̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶v̶a̶l̶i̶d̶i̶t̶y̶ hierarchical ranking of articles journals provide 3/3
November 27, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Opponents of preprints may crow "told you so". But peer review isn't the panacea (plenty of papermill/AI slop in journals) and the type of filtering/screening needed is not the same as the j̶u̶d̶g̶m̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶v̶a̶l̶i̶d̶i̶t̶y̶ hierarchical ranking of articles journals provide 3/3
Reposted by Marc Robinson-Rechavi
These choices are necessary. Some will be unpopular. Academics affected will complain loudly (our "no reviews" policy is endlessly debated) but one must look at the big picture. Some types of content may just not be appropriate for generic servers and better suited to more subjective outlets 2/3
November 27, 2025 at 5:54 PM
These choices are necessary. Some will be unpopular. Academics affected will complain loudly (our "no reviews" policy is endlessly debated) but one must look at the big picture. Some types of content may just not be appropriate for generic servers and better suited to more subjective outlets 2/3
Reposted by Marc Robinson-Rechavi
Hard choices for preprint servers.
bioRxiv has always declined reviews/hypotheses b/c of concern about signal:noise and a wish to avoid subjective judgments. AI slop makes screening certain content similarly challenging so other servers are adopting new restrictions. Two thoughts... 1/3
bioRxiv has always declined reviews/hypotheses b/c of concern about signal:noise and a wish to avoid subjective judgments. AI slop makes screening certain content similarly challenging so other servers are adopting new restrictions. Two thoughts... 1/3
In light of record submission rates and a large volume of AI-generated slop, SocArXiv recently implemented a policy requiring ORCIDs linked in the OSF profile of submitting authors, and narrowing our focus to social science subjects. Today we are taking two more steps:
/1
/1
November 27, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Hard choices for preprint servers.
bioRxiv has always declined reviews/hypotheses b/c of concern about signal:noise and a wish to avoid subjective judgments. AI slop makes screening certain content similarly challenging so other servers are adopting new restrictions. Two thoughts... 1/3
bioRxiv has always declined reviews/hypotheses b/c of concern about signal:noise and a wish to avoid subjective judgments. AI slop makes screening certain content similarly challenging so other servers are adopting new restrictions. Two thoughts... 1/3
Reposted by Marc Robinson-Rechavi
Well, I found the solution Harmit!
November 27, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Well, I found the solution Harmit!
Reposted by Marc Robinson-Rechavi
The anti-vaccine community uses the phrase "natural immunity" as code-speech for "immunity via infection" – implying that this uses "natural processes", and also implying anything different must be "unnatural".
But the immunity developed from exposure to a vaccine is natural immunity too.
2/n
But the immunity developed from exposure to a vaccine is natural immunity too.
2/n
November 27, 2025 at 10:32 AM
The anti-vaccine community uses the phrase "natural immunity" as code-speech for "immunity via infection" – implying that this uses "natural processes", and also implying anything different must be "unnatural".
But the immunity developed from exposure to a vaccine is natural immunity too.
2/n
But the immunity developed from exposure to a vaccine is natural immunity too.
2/n
Reposted by Marc Robinson-Rechavi
💉 One thing I rarely see explained is how vaccination *is* "natural immunity".
The immunity is developed by your body not the vaccine. The vaccine itself doesn’t do the work.
I think the confusion partly comes from a phrase scientists use. 🧵⬇️
1/n
The immunity is developed by your body not the vaccine. The vaccine itself doesn’t do the work.
I think the confusion partly comes from a phrase scientists use. 🧵⬇️
1/n
RFK Jr.’s new CDC deputy director prefers “natural immunity” over vaccines
Ralph Abraham is “dangerous,” but somehow not the worst among those considered.
arstechnica.com
November 27, 2025 at 10:32 AM
💉 One thing I rarely see explained is how vaccination *is* "natural immunity".
The immunity is developed by your body not the vaccine. The vaccine itself doesn’t do the work.
I think the confusion partly comes from a phrase scientists use. 🧵⬇️
1/n
The immunity is developed by your body not the vaccine. The vaccine itself doesn’t do the work.
I think the confusion partly comes from a phrase scientists use. 🧵⬇️
1/n
Reposted by Marc Robinson-Rechavi
🌐 Participate in the 15th ISCB Student Wikipedia Competition! Improve or create Wikipedia articles in #computationalbiology until May 1, 2026.
For details and to get started with your entry, visit https://www.iscb.org/iscb-awards/wikipedia-wikidata-competition
For details and to get started with your entry, visit https://www.iscb.org/iscb-awards/wikipedia-wikidata-competition
November 27, 2025 at 11:02 AM
🌐 Participate in the 15th ISCB Student Wikipedia Competition! Improve or create Wikipedia articles in #computationalbiology until May 1, 2026.
For details and to get started with your entry, visit https://www.iscb.org/iscb-awards/wikipedia-wikidata-competition
For details and to get started with your entry, visit https://www.iscb.org/iscb-awards/wikipedia-wikidata-competition
Reposted by Marc Robinson-Rechavi
🧠 Le bioinformaticien Nicolas Salamin dirige la Cellule stratégique IA de l’UNIL. Son objectif : faire de l’IA un projet collectif, éthique et humaniste.
🔗 Lire l'article : wp.unil.ch/uniscope/a-l...
🔗 Lire l'article : wp.unil.ch/uniscope/a-l...
November 27, 2025 at 11:04 AM
🧠 Le bioinformaticien Nicolas Salamin dirige la Cellule stratégique IA de l’UNIL. Son objectif : faire de l’IA un projet collectif, éthique et humaniste.
🔗 Lire l'article : wp.unil.ch/uniscope/a-l...
🔗 Lire l'article : wp.unil.ch/uniscope/a-l...
Reposted by Marc Robinson-Rechavi
Next week's DEE External Seminar welcomes Liesbeth Streck (hosted by Erica van de Waal) with a talk on power and social behaviour in primates. 12:15, December 4th at the Biophore Amphitheatre or online via REC-UNIL.
November 27, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Next week's DEE External Seminar welcomes Liesbeth Streck (hosted by Erica van de Waal) with a talk on power and social behaviour in primates. 12:15, December 4th at the Biophore Amphitheatre or online via REC-UNIL.
Reposted by Marc Robinson-Rechavi
An efficient, accessible solution for #genome annotation in both research and applied settings www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Helixer: ab initio prediction of primary eukaryotic gene models combining deep learning and a hidden Markov model - Nature Methods
By leveraging both deep learning and hidden Markov models, Helixer achieves broad taxonomic coverage for ab initio gene annotation of eukaryotic genomes from fungi, plants, vertebrates and invertebrat...
www.nature.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:56 AM
An efficient, accessible solution for #genome annotation in both research and applied settings www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Marc Robinson-Rechavi
Scientists: have you been the target of an online harassment campaign, doxxing, or weaponized FOIA requests? I'd like to talk to you about steps you had to take to protect your digital security for an upcoming Nature story. (You can be anonymous if necessary.)
RTs appreciated.
RTs appreciated.
November 26, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Scientists: have you been the target of an online harassment campaign, doxxing, or weaponized FOIA requests? I'd like to talk to you about steps you had to take to protect your digital security for an upcoming Nature story. (You can be anonymous if necessary.)
RTs appreciated.
RTs appreciated.
Reposted by Marc Robinson-Rechavi
Started/Going with Dr. Rachael Bedard.
There is no common ground between science and RFK Jr.
There is no common ground between science and RFK Jr.
November 25, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Started/Going with Dr. Rachael Bedard.
There is no common ground between science and RFK Jr.
There is no common ground between science and RFK Jr.
November 25, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Reposted by Marc Robinson-Rechavi
i’m not crying you’re crying
xkcd: Fifteen Years
xkcd: Fifteen Years
Fifteen Years
xkcd.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:58 AM
i’m not crying you’re crying
xkcd: Fifteen Years
xkcd: Fifteen Years
Reposted by Marc Robinson-Rechavi
Extremely astute observation. Science as “trauma” was prepared by climate change, activated in the pandemic—same framing is probably relevant for evolution etc.
one thing thats crazy about the current era in the states is that it is clear across most domains that science got processed by a lot of people as "traumatic encounter with the real" and now they are just making decisions based on that trauma.
elon, peter, anti-vaxxers, all the same problem
elon, peter, anti-vaxxers, all the same problem
Over many interviews, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told Michael Scherer about how he plans to remake America’s public-health system. Can he lead the scientific establishment he’s spent much of his life crusading against?
Read more in our new cover story: theatln.tc/q9hXxlbM
Read more in our new cover story: theatln.tc/q9hXxlbM
November 24, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Extremely astute observation. Science as “trauma” was prepared by climate change, activated in the pandemic—same framing is probably relevant for evolution etc.
Reposted by Marc Robinson-Rechavi
15-year-old bug 😐 in an industry that has the highest profit margins possible pretty much
www.theguardian.com/science/2017...
www.theguardian.com/science/2017...
November 23, 2025 at 3:45 PM
15-year-old bug 😐 in an industry that has the highest profit margins possible pretty much
www.theguardian.com/science/2017...
www.theguardian.com/science/2017...
Interesting answers, and striking that I never asked myself that question until now.
A question for scientists (construed as broadly as you like) of BlueSky: What makes something data?
(Question inspired by a talk I listened to this morning, and of course I have thoughts, but I wanted to throw this out there first.)
(Question inspired by a talk I listened to this morning, and of course I have thoughts, but I wanted to throw this out there first.)
November 22, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Interesting answers, and striking that I never asked myself that question until now.
Reposted by Marc Robinson-Rechavi
New from me: I talked to CDC staffers about the new vaccines and autism page. They said things like:
“The best way I can put it is it feels like we’re on a hijacked airplane.”
“I think people are starting to see that we can’t fulfill our mission here.”
“The best way I can put it is it feels like we’re on a hijacked airplane.”
“I think people are starting to see that we can’t fulfill our mission here.”
“Embarrassing” and “horrifying”: CDC workers describe the new vaccines and autism page
"The best way I can put it is it feels like we're on a hijacked airplane."
www.motherjones.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:41 PM
New from me: I talked to CDC staffers about the new vaccines and autism page. They said things like:
“The best way I can put it is it feels like we’re on a hijacked airplane.”
“I think people are starting to see that we can’t fulfill our mission here.”
“The best way I can put it is it feels like we’re on a hijacked airplane.”
“I think people are starting to see that we can’t fulfill our mission here.”
Reposted by Marc Robinson-Rechavi
Our trilogy of orthology publications is online!
Review on Hierarchical Orthologous Groups doi.org/10.1007/s00239-025-10277-1
OrthoXML-Tools doi.org/10.1007/s00239-025-10271-7
A great community effort on Quest for Orthologs in the era of Data Deluge and AI doi.org/10.1007/s00239-025-10272-6
Review on Hierarchical Orthologous Groups doi.org/10.1007/s00239-025-10277-1
OrthoXML-Tools doi.org/10.1007/s00239-025-10271-7
A great community effort on Quest for Orthologs in the era of Data Deluge and AI doi.org/10.1007/s00239-025-10272-6
November 21, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Our trilogy of orthology publications is online!
Review on Hierarchical Orthologous Groups doi.org/10.1007/s00239-025-10277-1
OrthoXML-Tools doi.org/10.1007/s00239-025-10271-7
A great community effort on Quest for Orthologs in the era of Data Deluge and AI doi.org/10.1007/s00239-025-10272-6
Review on Hierarchical Orthologous Groups doi.org/10.1007/s00239-025-10277-1
OrthoXML-Tools doi.org/10.1007/s00239-025-10271-7
A great community effort on Quest for Orthologs in the era of Data Deluge and AI doi.org/10.1007/s00239-025-10272-6
Reposted by Marc Robinson-Rechavi
From @csoneson.bsky.social , @markrobinsonca.bsky.social & colleagues in @plos.org #Computational #Biology | Building a continuous #benchmarking ecosystem in #bioinformatics | #Education 🧬 🖥️ 🧪 🔓
⬇️
journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol...
⬇️
journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol...
Building a continuous benchmarking ecosystem in bioinformatics
Benchmarking, which involves collecting reference datasets and demonstrating method performance, is a requirement for the development of new computational tools, but also becomes a domain of its own t...
journals.plos.org
November 15, 2025 at 5:11 PM
From @csoneson.bsky.social , @markrobinsonca.bsky.social & colleagues in @plos.org #Computational #Biology | Building a continuous #benchmarking ecosystem in #bioinformatics | #Education 🧬 🖥️ 🧪 🔓
⬇️
journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol...
⬇️
journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol...
Reposted by Marc Robinson-Rechavi
For the first time in my career, I can’t tell people to trust what the CDC website says. And that is an incredibly sad and devastating place for this country to be.
CDC has overhauled its website to assert that “the claim ‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim”
November 20, 2025 at 4:22 AM
For the first time in my career, I can’t tell people to trust what the CDC website says. And that is an incredibly sad and devastating place for this country to be.
Reposted by Marc Robinson-Rechavi
The U.S. government is now inarguably spreading medical disinformation that is going to kill babies preferentially.
Period.
This is an INTOLERABLE. UNPRECEDENTED. DANGEROUS. ATTACK. ON ALL OF US.
Period.
This is an INTOLERABLE. UNPRECEDENTED. DANGEROUS. ATTACK. ON ALL OF US.
November 20, 2025 at 3:29 AM
The U.S. government is now inarguably spreading medical disinformation that is going to kill babies preferentially.
Period.
This is an INTOLERABLE. UNPRECEDENTED. DANGEROUS. ATTACK. ON ALL OF US.
Period.
This is an INTOLERABLE. UNPRECEDENTED. DANGEROUS. ATTACK. ON ALL OF US.