Mark Histed
@markhisted.org
How brain neural nets do computations; we aim to understand differences in brain wiring, using lasers and neuro-AI.
Lab head, NIH. Prev: media policy for democracypolicy.network.
linktr.ee/markhisted; Pers. views; neuro posts: 🧠 /🧪
Lab head, NIH. Prev: media policy for democracypolicy.network.
linktr.ee/markhisted; Pers. views; neuro posts: 🧠 /🧪
Pinned
This week the Trump CDC attacked science — and our health, and our kids’ health — by twisting the truth on the CDC website.
There’s things to say about the playbook they used, and that’s helped by a little explanation about scientific truth in practice.
New vid explainer from me:
🧪 part 1/
There’s things to say about the playbook they used, and that’s helped by a little explanation about scientific truth in practice.
New vid explainer from me:
🧪 part 1/
“Democratic governance allows a level of self-correction that authoritarianism does not.”
We see that in the ongoing NIH Institute director searches. Historically these searches have been conducted by expert committees- distributing power, leaning into democratic principles. Now a director has 1/
We see that in the ongoing NIH Institute director searches. Historically these searches have been conducted by expert committees- distributing power, leaning into democratic principles. Now a director has 1/
November 30, 2025 at 2:32 PM
“Democratic governance allows a level of self-correction that authoritarianism does not.”
We see that in the ongoing NIH Institute director searches. Historically these searches have been conducted by expert committees- distributing power, leaning into democratic principles. Now a director has 1/
We see that in the ongoing NIH Institute director searches. Historically these searches have been conducted by expert committees- distributing power, leaning into democratic principles. Now a director has 1/
Reposted by Mark Histed
Media need to report on this as they report on other baseless claims of the antivax movement, bc the lunatics are running the asylum at the FDA.
The institution is compromised. Make it clear who made this decision and how little work they showed *in the headline*. Don’t confuse the public further.
The institution is compromised. Make it clear who made this decision and how little work they showed *in the headline*. Don’t confuse the public further.
News media has to do better with headlines that present false and unverified public health claims.
November 30, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Media need to report on this as they report on other baseless claims of the antivax movement, bc the lunatics are running the asylum at the FDA.
The institution is compromised. Make it clear who made this decision and how little work they showed *in the headline*. Don’t confuse the public further.
The institution is compromised. Make it clear who made this decision and how little work they showed *in the headline*. Don’t confuse the public further.
Reposted by Mark Histed
Headlines like this are extremely dangerous. Because moms of young kids are the people who make the bulk of the vaccine decisions for famillies. And for a lot of them, "reading the news" looks like scrolling past headlines on social media in the spare moments of the chaos of caring for kids.
November 29, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Headlines like this are extremely dangerous. Because moms of young kids are the people who make the bulk of the vaccine decisions for famillies. And for a lot of them, "reading the news" looks like scrolling past headlines on social media in the spare moments of the chaos of caring for kids.
Reposted by Mark Histed
Thanks for this.
Jenna Norton and I also talked about this, about how science and democracy are linked, recently. We are all doing what we can.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=BFvr...
Jenna Norton and I also talked about this, about how science and democracy are linked, recently. We are all doing what we can.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=BFvr...
November 28, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Thanks for this.
Jenna Norton and I also talked about this, about how science and democracy are linked, recently. We are all doing what we can.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=BFvr...
Jenna Norton and I also talked about this, about how science and democracy are linked, recently. We are all doing what we can.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=BFvr...
Reposted by Mark Histed
Scientists must learn to join larger pro-democracy and people's movements, coalitions. Our science training may not have prepared us for such work, but we can no longer sit in the safety of our labs and expect the world to get better
My book review @thelancet.com
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
My book review @thelancet.com
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
From doing science to saving science
Science and scientists are under assault. From denial of vaccines to climate change,
political leaders are increasingly sacrificing democracy as well as science on the
altar of populism and authoritar...
www.thelancet.com
November 28, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Scientists must learn to join larger pro-democracy and people's movements, coalitions. Our science training may not have prepared us for such work, but we can no longer sit in the safety of our labs and expect the world to get better
My book review @thelancet.com
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
My book review @thelancet.com
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Reposted by Mark Histed
And who knows what the circumstances are here, but the bottom line is that, whatever they are, these folks should have been at home with their families for Thanksgiving rather than being part of the Trumpian clownshow in DC.
November 26, 2025 at 8:38 PM
And who knows what the circumstances are here, but the bottom line is that, whatever they are, these folks should have been at home with their families for Thanksgiving rather than being part of the Trumpian clownshow in DC.
Very thankful this year for all our communities, those committed to learning about how the world works, in science and the humanities, and for all the people who are standing up for good values.
Hope everyone has a fulfilling and restful Thanksgiving.
Hope everyone has a fulfilling and restful Thanksgiving.
November 27, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Very thankful this year for all our communities, those committed to learning about how the world works, in science and the humanities, and for all the people who are standing up for good values.
Hope everyone has a fulfilling and restful Thanksgiving.
Hope everyone has a fulfilling and restful Thanksgiving.
NSF DDRIG funds political scientists, sociologists…
NEW from me - NSF cancels grant scheme for social science research.
Seems the NSF quietly archived ALL calls for DDRIG grants in the SBE directorate. This is a massive blow for PhD students wanting to do cutting-edge social science research. 🏺🧪
Seems the NSF quietly archived ALL calls for DDRIG grants in the SBE directorate. This is a massive blow for PhD students wanting to do cutting-edge social science research. 🏺🧪
Today's biggest science news: Doomed comet explodes | Comet 3I/ATLAS course alteration | Dark matter detected?
Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025: Your daily feed of the biggest discoveries and breakthroughs making headlines.
www.livescience.com
November 27, 2025 at 4:20 AM
NSF DDRIG funds political scientists, sociologists…
Reposted by Mark Histed
DOGE was always a very thinly disguised con to dress up data theft and extraction class destruction of federal corporate oversight as innovative, and it's important to remember that part of the reason it worked so well is that the press helped legitimize it
hey don't be so hard on yourselves; it delivered oceans of sensitive government and citizen data to billionaires
Musk’s DOGE Quietly Killed Off After Delivering Almost Nothing
The agency disbanded eight months ahead of schedule.
www.thedailybeast.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:42 PM
DOGE was always a very thinly disguised con to dress up data theft and extraction class destruction of federal corporate oversight as innovative, and it's important to remember that part of the reason it worked so well is that the press helped legitimize it
Reposted by Mark Histed
In the late 1980s, things were “a bit Wild West” in the transcranial magnetic stimulation field, says Mark George. “You could do things you couldn’t do now.”
By @daviddobbs.bsky.social
www.thetransmitter.org/brain-stimul...
#neuroskyence
By @daviddobbs.bsky.social
www.thetransmitter.org/brain-stimul...
#neuroskyence
Remembering Mark Hallett, leader in transcranial magnetic stimulation
The long-time NINDS researcher, best known for studying movement disorders, has died at age 82.
www.thetransmitter.org
November 25, 2025 at 1:31 PM
In the late 1980s, things were “a bit Wild West” in the transcranial magnetic stimulation field, says Mark George. “You could do things you couldn’t do now.”
By @daviddobbs.bsky.social
www.thetransmitter.org/brain-stimul...
#neuroskyence
By @daviddobbs.bsky.social
www.thetransmitter.org/brain-stimul...
#neuroskyence
So far this year at #NIH, I had to
- cancel a visiting speaker I was hosting
- cancel a distinguished lecture I was giving at a midwest university
- cancel another seminar visit to talk about our work
- cancel my trip to the Society for Neuroscience meeting
- now cancel my trip to NeurIPS
1/
- cancel a visiting speaker I was hosting
- cancel a distinguished lecture I was giving at a midwest university
- cancel another seminar visit to talk about our work
- cancel my trip to the Society for Neuroscience meeting
- now cancel my trip to NeurIPS
1/
November 25, 2025 at 3:43 AM
So far this year at #NIH, I had to
- cancel a visiting speaker I was hosting
- cancel a distinguished lecture I was giving at a midwest university
- cancel another seminar visit to talk about our work
- cancel my trip to the Society for Neuroscience meeting
- now cancel my trip to NeurIPS
1/
- cancel a visiting speaker I was hosting
- cancel a distinguished lecture I was giving at a midwest university
- cancel another seminar visit to talk about our work
- cancel my trip to the Society for Neuroscience meeting
- now cancel my trip to NeurIPS
1/
This is very much the best of #NIH.
Not everything NIH has done in the past has been perfect, but it's been a lot of serious and thoughtful people dedicated to the mission of improving public health. ❤️
Not everything NIH has done in the past has been perfect, but it's been a lot of serious and thoughtful people dedicated to the mission of improving public health. ❤️
Carl created a seat for this loudmouth HIV activist at Strategic Working Group of the Division of AIDS when it didn’t have community rep focused on prevention. Meant groups I repped helped set policies & funding for 5 global research networks. A true mensch. Huge loss, along with Jeanne Marrazzo.
Hearing news that Carl Dieffenbach, the Director of the Division of AIDS at #NIH (NIAID), has been removed from his position because he was "not aligned with HHS/OMB."
Russell Vought continues to remove great scientists as part of the Project 2025 mission to politicize and destroy NIH.
🧪 1/
Russell Vought continues to remove great scientists as part of the Project 2025 mission to politicize and destroy NIH.
🧪 1/
November 25, 2025 at 1:22 AM
This is very much the best of #NIH.
Not everything NIH has done in the past has been perfect, but it's been a lot of serious and thoughtful people dedicated to the mission of improving public health. ❤️
Not everything NIH has done in the past has been perfect, but it's been a lot of serious and thoughtful people dedicated to the mission of improving public health. ❤️
2024 “The end of free speech is the end of science”
Last week: @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social violated policy by using her free speech rights
Last week: @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social violated policy by using her free speech rights
November 24, 2025 at 1:17 PM
2024 “The end of free speech is the end of science”
Last week: @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social violated policy by using her free speech rights
Last week: @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social violated policy by using her free speech rights
Reposted by Mark Histed
This policy comes as they 1) install cronies as Institute Directors - eg, JD Vance's old roommate is NIEHS Director 2) reject Council slates & 3) ignore scientific program staff.
In sun, politicos (rather than scientists trained in the appropriate field) can skip applications with no justification
In sun, politicos (rather than scientists trained in the appropriate field) can skip applications with no justification
This is concerning.
NIH is changing their policy so that staff have to prepare justification for every application that is funded BUT NO DOCUMENTATION FOR APPLICATIONS THAT ARE SKIPPED (BASED ON PERCENTILES).
1/2
NIH is changing their policy so that staff have to prepare justification for every application that is funded BUT NO DOCUMENTATION FOR APPLICATIONS THAT ARE SKIPPED (BASED ON PERCENTILES).
1/2
November 24, 2025 at 3:40 AM
This policy comes as they 1) install cronies as Institute Directors - eg, JD Vance's old roommate is NIEHS Director 2) reject Council slates & 3) ignore scientific program staff.
In sun, politicos (rather than scientists trained in the appropriate field) can skip applications with no justification
In sun, politicos (rather than scientists trained in the appropriate field) can skip applications with no justification
This new policy from NIH is concerning.
It looks like a way to weaponize administrative burden, one of Russell Vought's favorite moves to break gov't.
Background: Program staff / NIH institute directors can move grants around outside peer review order. 1/
It looks like a way to weaponize administrative burden, one of Russell Vought's favorite moves to break gov't.
Background: Program staff / NIH institute directors can move grants around outside peer review order. 1/
This is concerning.
NIH is changing their policy so that staff have to prepare justification for every application that is funded BUT NO DOCUMENTATION FOR APPLICATIONS THAT ARE SKIPPED (BASED ON PERCENTILES).
1/2
NIH is changing their policy so that staff have to prepare justification for every application that is funded BUT NO DOCUMENTATION FOR APPLICATIONS THAT ARE SKIPPED (BASED ON PERCENTILES).
1/2
November 24, 2025 at 3:41 AM
This new policy from NIH is concerning.
It looks like a way to weaponize administrative burden, one of Russell Vought's favorite moves to break gov't.
Background: Program staff / NIH institute directors can move grants around outside peer review order. 1/
It looks like a way to weaponize administrative burden, one of Russell Vought's favorite moves to break gov't.
Background: Program staff / NIH institute directors can move grants around outside peer review order. 1/
Reposted by Mark Histed
the economic success of the U.S. is significantly built on the land grant universities and in particular their excellent agricultural science tradition.
Really important to stress that the Crown Jewels of the US higher education system were never the Ivies or elite SLACs (other countries have equivalents of these) but the well-funded, large, cheap, and excellently staffed public state university systems bringing high quality education to the masses.
One of the bragging rights that the US ed system had in the 20th century is that we didn't have education tracks. Essentially, any kid could go to a CC or state school & major in whatever they wanted to (obviously an oversimplification). I fear this aspect of the American dream is dying.
November 23, 2025 at 5:26 PM
the economic success of the U.S. is significantly built on the land grant universities and in particular their excellent agricultural science tradition.
No surprise the Trump NIH director doesn’t understand how science works—doesn’t get NIH has been *the* world-historic leader in innovation.
After all, he’s never actually done any science.
Even before his rightwing pundit career 2020-25, he spent his time with economists, not scientists.
After all, he’s never actually done any science.
Even before his rightwing pundit career 2020-25, he spent his time with economists, not scientists.
The NIH director told attendees the NIH doesn't do enough innovative research.
“What puts lives at risk is doing research that’s incremental,” Bhattacharya said. “All it does is advance the careers of the researchers that do it. It results in publications that don’t get used and aren’t replicable.”
“What puts lives at risk is doing research that’s incremental,” Bhattacharya said. “All it does is advance the careers of the researchers that do it. It results in publications that don’t get used and aren’t replicable.”
November 23, 2025 at 10:28 PM
No surprise the Trump NIH director doesn’t understand how science works—doesn’t get NIH has been *the* world-historic leader in innovation.
After all, he’s never actually done any science.
Even before his rightwing pundit career 2020-25, he spent his time with economists, not scientists.
After all, he’s never actually done any science.
Even before his rightwing pundit career 2020-25, he spent his time with economists, not scientists.
Reposted by Mark Histed
How often have you heard that schizophrenia is “80% genetic”?
That number is almost certainly too high because it comes from twin studies that overestimate heritabilty.
Great explainer of this phenomenon👇
#neuroskyence #neuroscience #psychiatry
That number is almost certainly too high because it comes from twin studies that overestimate heritabilty.
Great explainer of this phenomenon👇
#neuroskyence #neuroscience #psychiatry
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 23, 2025 at 11:49 AM
How often have you heard that schizophrenia is “80% genetic”?
That number is almost certainly too high because it comes from twin studies that overestimate heritabilty.
Great explainer of this phenomenon👇
#neuroskyence #neuroscience #psychiatry
That number is almost certainly too high because it comes from twin studies that overestimate heritabilty.
Great explainer of this phenomenon👇
#neuroskyence #neuroscience #psychiatry
The Twitter algorithms create these trolls. If Musk wanted to fight back on misinformation on Twitter he could do so in a moment. But he likes it.
This is why we should leave Twitter: it’s designed to influence us. In a bad way.
And in the future we need policy solutions— 1/
This is why we should leave Twitter: it’s designed to influence us. In a bad way.
And in the future we need policy solutions— 1/
Meanwhile on Hellsite, who knew all the Elon bots were Nigerian? 🤡
November 23, 2025 at 2:30 PM
The Twitter algorithms create these trolls. If Musk wanted to fight back on misinformation on Twitter he could do so in a moment. But he likes it.
This is why we should leave Twitter: it’s designed to influence us. In a bad way.
And in the future we need policy solutions— 1/
This is why we should leave Twitter: it’s designed to influence us. In a bad way.
And in the future we need policy solutions— 1/
Reposted by Mark Histed
Many of the biggest problems America faces today have their roots in “forgive & forget” after the Civil War & the violent overthrow of Reconstruction by white supremacists. We can’t afford to repeat those enormous blunders this time. www.hup.harvard.edu/books/978067...
November 23, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Many of the biggest problems America faces today have their roots in “forgive & forget” after the Civil War & the violent overthrow of Reconstruction by white supremacists. We can’t afford to repeat those enormous blunders this time. www.hup.harvard.edu/books/978067...
Reposted by Mark Histed
Making the PE form liable for all debts owed by the companies they purchase gets rid of most of the problem
It’s always felt wrong to me that you could buy a company by making the company take out a loan for the purchase. It just makes no sense
November 22, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Making the PE form liable for all debts owed by the companies they purchase gets rid of most of the problem
This is a story about how America’s world-leading cancer and dementia research system was destroyed by frauds and naifs who broke the law.
There must be consequences.
There must be consequences.
Some incredible details in this piece
*one DOGE faction was planning the future of the US government at a venture capital firm
*illegally communicating on Signal to avoid transparency laws was deeply embedded into organizational culture to be taken for granted
*one DOGE faction was planning the future of the US government at a venture capital firm
*illegally communicating on Signal to avoid transparency laws was deeply embedded into organizational culture to be taken for granted
November 22, 2025 at 10:12 PM
This is a story about how America’s world-leading cancer and dementia research system was destroyed by frauds and naifs who broke the law.
There must be consequences.
There must be consequences.
Reposted by Mark Histed
One thing I feel strongly about:
The NIH peer review system is the beating heart of the agency and the whole US biomedical research agency. It is the worst system for assigning grants but no other system has been developed that is better. It draws democratically from the scientific community.
The NIH peer review system is the beating heart of the agency and the whole US biomedical research agency. It is the worst system for assigning grants but no other system has been developed that is better. It draws democratically from the scientific community.
November 22, 2025 at 5:42 PM
One thing I feel strongly about:
The NIH peer review system is the beating heart of the agency and the whole US biomedical research agency. It is the worst system for assigning grants but no other system has been developed that is better. It draws democratically from the scientific community.
The NIH peer review system is the beating heart of the agency and the whole US biomedical research agency. It is the worst system for assigning grants but no other system has been developed that is better. It draws democratically from the scientific community.
Reposted by Mark Histed
1) good, they should be prosecuted, they are responsible for countless deaths
2) always very funny when these people realize the extent to which their billionaire patrons could not possibly give less of a shit about them
2) always very funny when these people realize the extent to which their billionaire patrons could not possibly give less of a shit about them
'Suddenly exposed' DOGE employees fear prosecution after Musk abandoned them: report
www.rawstory.com/doge-employe...
www.rawstory.com/doge-employe...
'Suddenly exposed' DOGE employees fear prosecution after Musk abandoned them: report
Current and former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffers are growing increasingly concerned that the work they did slashing government programs and eliminating jobs will come back to hau...
www.rawstory.com
November 22, 2025 at 7:41 PM
1) good, they should be prosecuted, they are responsible for countless deaths
2) always very funny when these people realize the extent to which their billionaire patrons could not possibly give less of a shit about them
2) always very funny when these people realize the extent to which their billionaire patrons could not possibly give less of a shit about them
I’ve heard this widely living in DC:
That there are just massive boosts given to mediocre conservatives in the law and in media
1/
That there are just massive boosts given to mediocre conservatives in the law and in media
1/
Easily the stupidest person at my law school was given a professorship solely on the basis of his being pathologically into Ayn Rand.
when I was in law school everyone knew that joining the federalist society was like getting tsa precheck for a clerkship
November 22, 2025 at 7:13 PM
I’ve heard this widely living in DC:
That there are just massive boosts given to mediocre conservatives in the law and in media
1/
That there are just massive boosts given to mediocre conservatives in the law and in media
1/