Grant Jacobs BioinfoTools/NotJustDNA 🔬🧬🖥️✍️📚
@notjustdna.bsky.social
Scientist and science writer from New Zealand.
BioinfoTools on Twitter.
Traveller. Cycle touring.
More later - just setting this account up!
BioinfoTools on Twitter.
Traveller. Cycle touring.
More later - just setting this account up!
Pinned
Just a quick note to followers -
If you don’t want NZ politics, just mute the hashtag #NZpol
I try to tag political posts with this to help those who are more interested in science, science communication, etc.
Similarly, most posts meant for New Zealanders are tagged #NZ or #kikorangi
1/2
If you don’t want NZ politics, just mute the hashtag #NZpol
I try to tag political posts with this to help those who are more interested in science, science communication, etc.
Similarly, most posts meant for New Zealanders are tagged #NZ or #kikorangi
1/2
Reposted by Grant Jacobs BioinfoTools/NotJustDNA 🔬🧬🖥️✍️📚
Law change would stop those aged 65 to 72 excusing themselves from court duties based purely on how old they are, reports Alice Peacock
Boomers won't be able to use their age to get off jury duty
newsroom.co.nz
November 27, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Law change would stop those aged 65 to 72 excusing themselves from court duties based purely on how old they are, reports Alice Peacock
Reposted by Grant Jacobs BioinfoTools/NotJustDNA 🔬🧬🖥️✍️📚
Re-routing of ships around the Cape of Good Hope led to a natural experiment.
By "comparing NO₂ [unaffected by the sulfur-reducing regulations], with cloud droplet number, which is sensitive to sulfur, [they] found a 67% reduction in ships' cloud-altering abilities" after the new IMO regulations.
By "comparing NO₂ [unaffected by the sulfur-reducing regulations], with cloud droplet number, which is sensitive to sulfur, [they] found a 67% reduction in ships' cloud-altering abilities" after the new IMO regulations.
When trade routes shift, so do clouds: Researchers uncover ripple effects of new global shipping regulations
When militia attacks disrupted shipping lanes in the Red Sea, few imagined the ripple effects would reach the clouds over the South Atlantic. But for Florida State University atmospheric scientist Mic...
phys.org
November 22, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Re-routing of ships around the Cape of Good Hope led to a natural experiment.
By "comparing NO₂ [unaffected by the sulfur-reducing regulations], with cloud droplet number, which is sensitive to sulfur, [they] found a 67% reduction in ships' cloud-altering abilities" after the new IMO regulations.
By "comparing NO₂ [unaffected by the sulfur-reducing regulations], with cloud droplet number, which is sensitive to sulfur, [they] found a 67% reduction in ships' cloud-altering abilities" after the new IMO regulations.
Reposted by Grant Jacobs BioinfoTools/NotJustDNA 🔬🧬🖥️✍️📚
Scientific American has changed quite a bit.
My memory has many of the feature articles being written by scientists covering their research focus, with editors’ assistance. From a researcher’s point of view they glossed over things, but they were deep dives for general-readership articles.
My memory has many of the feature articles being written by scientists covering their research focus, with editors’ assistance. From a researcher’s point of view they glossed over things, but they were deep dives for general-readership articles.
SciAm in 1989:Here's a big article about some cool new stuff in epigenetics. Pay attention, we're going to go fast.
SciAm now: What kind of pie?
SciAm now: What kind of pie?
November 25, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Scientific American has changed quite a bit.
My memory has many of the feature articles being written by scientists covering their research focus, with editors’ assistance. From a researcher’s point of view they glossed over things, but they were deep dives for general-readership articles.
My memory has many of the feature articles being written by scientists covering their research focus, with editors’ assistance. From a researcher’s point of view they glossed over things, but they were deep dives for general-readership articles.
Reposted by Grant Jacobs BioinfoTools/NotJustDNA 🔬🧬🖥️✍️📚
📚 Libraries, what are they good for? Absolutely everything
Commentary at Newsroom: newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/26/l...
#NZ, #Wellington, but relevant plenty of places elsewhere.
Commentary at Newsroom: newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/26/l...
#NZ, #Wellington, but relevant plenty of places elsewhere.
Libraries, what are they good for? Absolutely everything
From Auckland University - Comment: Wellington’s contested central library is about to reopen – and it’s not trying to be frictionless and avoid the messy everyday work of being a public space.
newsroom.co.nz
November 27, 2025 at 4:56 AM
📚 Libraries, what are they good for? Absolutely everything
Commentary at Newsroom: newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/26/l...
#NZ, #Wellington, but relevant plenty of places elsewhere.
Commentary at Newsroom: newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/26/l...
#NZ, #Wellington, but relevant plenty of places elsewhere.
Reposted by Grant Jacobs BioinfoTools/NotJustDNA 🔬🧬🖥️✍️📚
#NZ IRD moves to liquidate two Destiny Church entities
- Later in the piece Inland Revenue staff explains why this might be done.
- Note D.C. taking a poke at their name being mentioned
“No reference should be made to the Church in relation to these entities.”
Newsroom story by Alice Peacock ⬇️
- Later in the piece Inland Revenue staff explains why this might be done.
- Note D.C. taking a poke at their name being mentioned
“No reference should be made to the Church in relation to these entities.”
Newsroom story by Alice Peacock ⬇️
IRD moves to liquidate two Destiny Church entities
Court approves application to liquidate commercial entity with a separate appeal for the winding down of a related trust to be heard soon.
newsroom.co.nz
November 27, 2025 at 5:32 AM
#NZ IRD moves to liquidate two Destiny Church entities
- Later in the piece Inland Revenue staff explains why this might be done.
- Note D.C. taking a poke at their name being mentioned
“No reference should be made to the Church in relation to these entities.”
Newsroom story by Alice Peacock ⬇️
- Later in the piece Inland Revenue staff explains why this might be done.
- Note D.C. taking a poke at their name being mentioned
“No reference should be made to the Church in relation to these entities.”
Newsroom story by Alice Peacock ⬇️
Reposted by Grant Jacobs BioinfoTools/NotJustDNA 🔬🧬🖥️✍️📚
🖥️ Building a large-RAM machine might be expensive right now……
arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025...
#bioinformatics
arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025...
#bioinformatics
GPU prices are coming to earth just as RAM costs shoot into the stratosphere
Some RAM kits are over three times as expensive as they were three months ago.
arstechnica.com
November 27, 2025 at 9:16 AM
🖥️ Building a large-RAM machine might be expensive right now……
arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025...
#bioinformatics
arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025...
#bioinformatics
💉 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
Occasional reminder to new followers ⬇️
(My pinned thread. I try to do a few things to help people get the content they want. In particular, overseas scientists may want to skip the NZ politics! Unless it interests you, of course.)
(My pinned thread. I try to do a few things to help people get the content they want. In particular, overseas scientists may want to skip the NZ politics! Unless it interests you, of course.)
Just a quick note to followers -
If you don’t want NZ politics, just mute the hashtag #NZpol
I try to tag political posts with this to help those who are more interested in science, science communication, etc.
Similarly, most posts meant for New Zealanders are tagged #NZ or #kikorangi
1/2
If you don’t want NZ politics, just mute the hashtag #NZpol
I try to tag political posts with this to help those who are more interested in science, science communication, etc.
Similarly, most posts meant for New Zealanders are tagged #NZ or #kikorangi
1/2
November 27, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Occasional reminder to new followers ⬇️
(My pinned thread. I try to do a few things to help people get the content they want. In particular, overseas scientists may want to skip the NZ politics! Unless it interests you, of course.)
(My pinned thread. I try to do a few things to help people get the content they want. In particular, overseas scientists may want to skip the NZ politics! Unless it interests you, of course.)
🖥️ Building a large-RAM machine might be expensive right now……
arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025...
#bioinformatics
arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025...
#bioinformatics
GPU prices are coming to earth just as RAM costs shoot into the stratosphere
Some RAM kits are over three times as expensive as they were three months ago.
arstechnica.com
November 27, 2025 at 9:16 AM
🖥️ Building a large-RAM machine might be expensive right now……
arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025...
#bioinformatics
arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025...
#bioinformatics
Reposted by Grant Jacobs BioinfoTools/NotJustDNA 🔬🧬🖥️✍️📚
What a wonderful thing. I was always so spooked by the sudden death of a coworker’s best friend at 26 from cervical cancer. Went for her routine pap smear, no symptoms or anything, found irregular cells, 6 weeks later she was dead. 26 years old. She’d just bought a new car “all by herself”. Insanity
November 27, 2025 at 12:32 AM
What a wonderful thing. I was always so spooked by the sudden death of a coworker’s best friend at 26 from cervical cancer. Went for her routine pap smear, no symptoms or anything, found irregular cells, 6 weeks later she was dead. 26 years old. She’d just bought a new car “all by herself”. Insanity
#NZ IRD moves to liquidate two Destiny Church entities
- Later in the piece Inland Revenue staff explains why this might be done.
- Note D.C. taking a poke at their name being mentioned
“No reference should be made to the Church in relation to these entities.”
Newsroom story by Alice Peacock ⬇️
- Later in the piece Inland Revenue staff explains why this might be done.
- Note D.C. taking a poke at their name being mentioned
“No reference should be made to the Church in relation to these entities.”
Newsroom story by Alice Peacock ⬇️
IRD moves to liquidate two Destiny Church entities
Court approves application to liquidate commercial entity with a separate appeal for the winding down of a related trust to be heard soon.
newsroom.co.nz
November 27, 2025 at 5:32 AM
#NZ IRD moves to liquidate two Destiny Church entities
- Later in the piece Inland Revenue staff explains why this might be done.
- Note D.C. taking a poke at their name being mentioned
“No reference should be made to the Church in relation to these entities.”
Newsroom story by Alice Peacock ⬇️
- Later in the piece Inland Revenue staff explains why this might be done.
- Note D.C. taking a poke at their name being mentioned
“No reference should be made to the Church in relation to these entities.”
Newsroom story by Alice Peacock ⬇️
Gene therapy may offer hope to diabetes sufferers, NZ study shows
- tested in mice and human cardiac tissues (cardiac organoids), not clinical tests on people (yet!)
Media story at Newsroom ⬇️
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/25/g...
- tested in mice and human cardiac tissues (cardiac organoids), not clinical tests on people (yet!)
Media story at Newsroom ⬇️
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/25/g...
Gene therapy may offer hope to diabetes sufferers, NZ study shows
Comment from the University of Auckland: Maintaining heart health is particularly important for diabetics, who should be seen for at least two check-ups each year, writes Dr Kim Mellow
newsroom.co.nz
November 27, 2025 at 5:12 AM
Gene therapy may offer hope to diabetes sufferers, NZ study shows
- tested in mice and human cardiac tissues (cardiac organoids), not clinical tests on people (yet!)
Media story at Newsroom ⬇️
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/25/g...
- tested in mice and human cardiac tissues (cardiac organoids), not clinical tests on people (yet!)
Media story at Newsroom ⬇️
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/25/g...
📚 Libraries, what are they good for? Absolutely everything
Commentary at Newsroom: newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/26/l...
#NZ, #Wellington, but relevant plenty of places elsewhere.
Commentary at Newsroom: newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/26/l...
#NZ, #Wellington, but relevant plenty of places elsewhere.
Libraries, what are they good for? Absolutely everything
From Auckland University - Comment: Wellington’s contested central library is about to reopen – and it’s not trying to be frictionless and avoid the messy everyday work of being a public space.
newsroom.co.nz
November 27, 2025 at 4:56 AM
📚 Libraries, what are they good for? Absolutely everything
Commentary at Newsroom: newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/26/l...
#NZ, #Wellington, but relevant plenty of places elsewhere.
Commentary at Newsroom: newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/26/l...
#NZ, #Wellington, but relevant plenty of places elsewhere.
#NZpol Still not seeing anything in media about this. If it bears out, then HealthNZ had funds to pay staff more, might have retained some, or recruited a few. Instead Willis is grabbing it "back".
As Craig Renney revealed to a shocked Dr Gary Payinda, Te Whatu Ora underspent its wages budget by $500m which has been signed off by Willis & returned to general coffers. Let that sink in. The money was there, but they deliberately underspent. On orders?
November 27, 2025 at 4:41 AM
#NZpol Still not seeing anything in media about this. If it bears out, then HealthNZ had funds to pay staff more, might have retained some, or recruited a few. Instead Willis is grabbing it "back".
#NZpol I’ve come to this late, everyone will already have heard of it, but this is just so farcical.
This is also extreme dancing on the head of a pin to yes, no, maybe, not actually have a position, it’s like she’s performing an entire Irish jig about it 🙄
This is also extreme dancing on the head of a pin to yes, no, maybe, not actually have a position, it’s like she’s performing an entire Irish jig about it 🙄
'It's not impossible': Willis says National may join other parties to repeal Regulatory Standards Act
The National deputy leader said her party may also campaign to get rid of the law.
www.nzherald.co.nz
November 26, 2025 at 7:43 PM
#NZpol I’ve come to this late, everyone will already have heard of it, but this is just so farcical.
This is also extreme dancing on the head of a pin to yes, no, maybe, not actually have a position, it’s like she’s performing an entire Irish jig about it 🙄
This is also extreme dancing on the head of a pin to yes, no, maybe, not actually have a position, it’s like she’s performing an entire Irish jig about it 🙄
#NZpol Another example of overreach 😞
Surely there should be _some_ separation of politician’s roles in managing funding and support of ministries as a whole, and the internal workings of the ministries or institutions.
Surely there should be _some_ separation of politician’s roles in managing funding and support of ministries as a whole, and the internal workings of the ministries or institutions.
Minister Stanford doesn't care to follow the limits of her position. A Minister interfering with curriculum development is politicising the curriculum and that is dangerous. #education #school #curriculum #overreach #AtlasNetwork #Neoliberalism #nzpol
open.substack.com/pub/aecnz/p/...
open.substack.com/pub/aecnz/p/...
Stanford Admits Involvement in the Development of the Senior English Curriculum
By Bevan Holloway
open.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:22 PM
#NZpol Another example of overreach 😞
Surely there should be _some_ separation of politician’s roles in managing funding and support of ministries as a whole, and the internal workings of the ministries or institutions.
Surely there should be _some_ separation of politician’s roles in managing funding and support of ministries as a whole, and the internal workings of the ministries or institutions.
Reposted by Grant Jacobs BioinfoTools/NotJustDNA 🔬🧬🖥️✍️📚
#NZ ocean surface temperatures around the North Island are 3•c warmer than usual, bringing hotter, muggier weather (late 20s & 30s) & more, & heavier rainfall. Australia & the Pacific are also effected #climatechange #nzpol
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/warmer-oc...
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/warmer-oc...
Hot waters ahead: North Island seas hit 'unusual' early-summer highs
The Hauraki Gulf has hit 20C, with warmth stretching towards Australia.
www.nzherald.co.nz
November 26, 2025 at 7:20 AM
#NZ ocean surface temperatures around the North Island are 3•c warmer than usual, bringing hotter, muggier weather (late 20s & 30s) & more, & heavier rainfall. Australia & the Pacific are also effected #climatechange #nzpol
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/warmer-oc...
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/warmer-oc...
Meanwhile over in the USA, it seems RFK Jr may be making it harder still to get vaccines… 😔
The CDC has turned off its vaccine search tool.
The vaccines.gov site now gives an error when you enter a valid zip code.
They also removed text saying “Vaccines can help you stay healthy” and added a banner saying the site is being updated.
The vaccines.gov site now gives an error when you enter a valid zip code.
They also removed text saying “Vaccines can help you stay healthy” and added a banner saying the site is being updated.
November 26, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Meanwhile over in the USA, it seems RFK Jr may be making it harder still to get vaccines… 😔
Reposted by Grant Jacobs BioinfoTools/NotJustDNA 🔬🧬🖥️✍️📚
I wish our institutions would clarify that they don’t use these sources -
I’d still like to see all other nations say clearly that at this point in time they are not using health and medicine advice from the affected US administrations,* owing to political interference or 'capture' by inappropriate people, and saying where they get their advice from.
NEW: The entire staff supporting ACIP was laid off, and most working groups haven't met in months.
That means the US may not make routine vaccine recommendations for more than half of children in 2026, and it could halt new vaccines in the pipeline. My latest:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
That means the US may not make routine vaccine recommendations for more than half of children in 2026, and it could halt new vaccines in the pipeline. My latest:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
November 25, 2025 at 5:15 PM
I wish our institutions would clarify that they don’t use these sources -
Reposted by Grant Jacobs BioinfoTools/NotJustDNA 🔬🧬🖥️✍️📚
Reposted by Grant Jacobs BioinfoTools/NotJustDNA 🔬🧬🖥️✍️📚
There’s a parallel here to what the US did a while back now, of "asking" researchers outside of the USA who where on grants, or in collaborations, with scientists in the USA to swear fealty to Trump’s regime’s stance on DEI, etc.
U.S. embassies around the world have been instructed to categorize abortion access, DEI policies, and transgender care for minors as human rights infringements.
www.jezebel.com/in-the-u-s-n...
www.jezebel.com/in-the-u-s-n...
In the U.S., Nothing Says Human Rights Abuse Like Ensuring Reproductive Freedom!
U.S. embassies around the world have been instructed to categorize abortion access, DEI policies, and transgender care for minors as human rights infringements.
www.jezebel.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:01 AM
There’s a parallel here to what the US did a while back now, of "asking" researchers outside of the USA who where on grants, or in collaborations, with scientists in the USA to swear fealty to Trump’s regime’s stance on DEI, etc.
Reposted by Grant Jacobs BioinfoTools/NotJustDNA 🔬🧬🖥️✍️📚
25.9 billion kilometres, for those of us who use metrics.
More exactly: 25,902,068,371.2 kilometres.
It’s a damn long way!
Voyager 1 was launched by NASA on September 5, 1977.
More exactly: 25,902,068,371.2 kilometres.
It’s a damn long way!
Voyager 1 was launched by NASA on September 5, 1977.
On November 15, 2026, Voyager 1 will be one light day away from Earth -- 16.1 billion miles, equivalent to the same distance light travels in 24 hours.
www.popsci.com/science/voya...
www.popsci.com/science/voya...
Voyager 1 is almost one light-day from Earth
The intrepid spacecraft will cross a major distance milestone in November 2026.
www.popsci.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:33 AM
25.9 billion kilometres, for those of us who use metrics.
More exactly: 25,902,068,371.2 kilometres.
It’s a damn long way!
Voyager 1 was launched by NASA on September 5, 1977.
More exactly: 25,902,068,371.2 kilometres.
It’s a damn long way!
Voyager 1 was launched by NASA on September 5, 1977.
Reposted by Grant Jacobs BioinfoTools/NotJustDNA 🔬🧬🖥️✍️📚
I'm guest-editing a collection on "Enhancer-promoter interactions" at Genome Biology. Please send us your exciting stories!
link.springer.com/collections/...
link.springer.com/collections/...
Enhancer-promoter interactions
Genome Biology is calling for submissions to our Collection on enhancer-promoter interactions.
Enhancer–promoter interactions are central to the regulation ...
link.springer.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:55 AM
I'm guest-editing a collection on "Enhancer-promoter interactions" at Genome Biology. Please send us your exciting stories!
link.springer.com/collections/...
link.springer.com/collections/...
Reposted by Grant Jacobs BioinfoTools/NotJustDNA 🔬🧬🖥️✍️📚
I have a story today about interoception--a kind of sixth sense that delivers information from within our bodies to our brains. nyti.ms/4rfTDtn
nyti.ms
November 25, 2025 at 12:49 PM
I have a story today about interoception--a kind of sixth sense that delivers information from within our bodies to our brains. nyti.ms/4rfTDtn