Daniel Hoffmann 🌻
@danielhoffmann1.bsky.social
Using quantitative computational modeling as scientific instrument. Prof at Uni Duisburg-Essen. Science & art addict. Posts my own.
#computationalmodeling #bayes #bioinformatics #immunesystem #cancer #infections #education #HTseq #art #poeticnaturalism
#computationalmodeling #bayes #bioinformatics #immunesystem #cancer #infections #education #HTseq #art #poeticnaturalism
Biological development in health and disease is governed by rules that we often do not know yet. Can we reverse engineer these rules by trying to reproduce development in the computer with systematically tweaked rule sets? In toy models: yes. Very interesting! www.quantamagazine.org/self-assembl...
Self-Assembly Gets Automated in Reverse of ‘Game of Life’ | Quanta Magazine
In cellular automata, simple rules create elaborate structures. Now researchers can start with the structures and reverse-engineer the rules.
www.quantamagazine.org
November 26, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Biological development in health and disease is governed by rules that we often do not know yet. Can we reverse engineer these rules by trying to reproduce development in the computer with systematically tweaked rule sets? In toy models: yes. Very interesting! www.quantamagazine.org/self-assembl...
One person, one genome (with a few exceptions like cells of the adaptive immune system), that's normal & that's what I have been telling my students for years. Apparently, I'm wrong again: One person many genomes. Life is complex, literally. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
We are all mosaics: vast genetic diversity found between cells in a single person
Technical advances allow researchers to trace the genetic changes that occur over time.
www.nature.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:28 AM
One person, one genome (with a few exceptions like cells of the adaptive immune system), that's normal & that's what I have been telling my students for years. Apparently, I'm wrong again: One person many genomes. Life is complex, literally. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Unusually early surge of #influenza: European CDC recommends #vaccination without delay, esp. for those at risk (elderly, pregnant, ...). www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-even...
ECDC recommends vaccinating without delay due to early flu circulation
Influenza detections are increasing unusually early in European Union/European Economic Area countries (EU/EEA) compared to previous years, with a timing three to four weeks earlier than the two most recent seasons.
www.ecdc.europa.eu
November 26, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Unusually early surge of #influenza: European CDC recommends #vaccination without delay, esp. for those at risk (elderly, pregnant, ...). www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-even...
Sepsis in babies: finding combination treatments that work in the face of antibiotic resistance. Great medical research project directly involving those at the frontline.
#sepsis #antibioticresistance www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
#sepsis #antibioticresistance www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Antibiotic resistance: how a pioneering trial is using old drugs to save babies from sepsis | Global development | The Guardian
The infection is responsible for 800,000 newborn deaths each year, but clinics in eight countries are working together to find new treatments
www.theguardian.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Sepsis in babies: finding combination treatments that work in the face of antibiotic resistance. Great medical research project directly involving those at the frontline.
#sepsis #antibioticresistance www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
#sepsis #antibioticresistance www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
A real world version of The Matrix: AI feeding on people. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
‘It’s hell for us here’: Mumbai families suffer as datacentres keep the city hooked on coal | Technology | The Guardian
As Mumbai sees increased energy demand from new datacenters, particularly from Amazon, the filthiest neighbourhood in one of India’s largest cities must keep its major coal plants
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:05 AM
A real world version of The Matrix: AI feeding on people. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
The new kid in the flock (photo today):
November 24, 2025 at 3:34 PM
The new kid in the flock (photo today):
Large Cochrane meta study finds that HPV vaccination is effective in preventing cervical cancer and has few side effects. www.cochrane.org/evidence/CD0...
November 24, 2025 at 6:04 AM
Large Cochrane meta study finds that HPV vaccination is effective in preventing cervical cancer and has few side effects. www.cochrane.org/evidence/CD0...
Mind-altering brain weapons: this is scary. But the most deadly and also contagious brain weapons are stories. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Mind-altering ‘brain weapons’ no longer only science fiction, say researchers | Chemical weapons | The Guardian
UK academics say latest chemicals are ‘wake-up call’ and urge global action to stop weaponisation of neuroscience
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Mind-altering brain weapons: this is scary. But the most deadly and also contagious brain weapons are stories. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Emergence of unique human language capabilities from a self-amplifying confluence of biology and culture. As with many things in the real world, progress in understanding requires breaking free of disciplinary boundaries. www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1...
November 22, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Emergence of unique human language capabilities from a self-amplifying confluence of biology and culture. As with many things in the real world, progress in understanding requires breaking free of disciplinary boundaries. www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1...
Flu can be fatal because the lung is severely damaged by the combined attack of the virus on lung cells & of the immune system to eliminate those infected cells. A combination of anti-viral and immune attenuation drugs limits lung damage and saves lives. www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1...
November 22, 2025 at 5:50 AM
Flu can be fatal because the lung is severely damaged by the combined attack of the virus on lung cells & of the immune system to eliminate those infected cells. A combination of anti-viral and immune attenuation drugs limits lung damage and saves lives. www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1...
While many people still adhere to the illusion of Free Will, another innovative economic branch emerges: commercial exploitation of preconscious thought. They know what you think before you know what you think. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Mind-reading devices can now predict preconscious thoughts: is it time to worry?
Ethicists say AI-powered advances will threaten the privacy and autonomy of people who use neurotechnology.
www.nature.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:57 AM
While many people still adhere to the illusion of Free Will, another innovative economic branch emerges: commercial exploitation of preconscious thought. They know what you think before you know what you think. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Genomics language models: LLMs learning to formulate new synthetic bacterial genes with given function. Huge potential for good, intelligent, evil, and stupid applications. Another elegant solution to the Fermi paradox in the making. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Semantic design of functional de novo genes from a genomic language model | Nature
By learning a semantics of gene function based on genomic context, the genomic language model Evo autocompletes DNA prompts to generate novel genes encoding protein and RNA molecules with defined activities, whose sequences generalize beyond those found in nature.
www.nature.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Genomics language models: LLMs learning to formulate new synthetic bacterial genes with given function. Huge potential for good, intelligent, evil, and stupid applications. Another elegant solution to the Fermi paradox in the making. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Measles outbreaks: Excellent summary of the situation including reasons for the current & possibly future surge. Measles is a serious, highly contagious infection, vaccination safe & effective. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Measles makes a comeback: four charts show where and how
With gaps in vaccine coverage, nowhere is safe from measles outbreaks. But the disease has hit the Americas hard this year.
www.nature.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Measles outbreaks: Excellent summary of the situation including reasons for the current & possibly future surge. Measles is a serious, highly contagious infection, vaccination safe & effective. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Clear association of ultra processed food (UPF) with major health risks. Looks like the fight against Big Tobacco, only worse. Causal studies missing. Here a good digest of three new papers in The Lancet: www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Ultra-processed food linked to harm in every major human organ, study finds | Ultra-processed foods | The Guardian
World’s largest scientific review warns consumption of UPFs poses seismic threat to global health and wellbeing
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Clear association of ultra processed food (UPF) with major health risks. Looks like the fight against Big Tobacco, only worse. Causal studies missing. Here a good digest of three new papers in The Lancet: www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
The cells of Merkel cell carcinoma adapt their phenotype to their micro-environment. For instance in epidermis they become more like keratinocytes. Study with high resolution spatial transcriptomics of patient samples.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
High-resolution spatial transcriptomics uncover epidermal-dermal divergences in Merkel cell carcinoma: spatial context reshapes the gene expression landscape - Oncogene
Oncogene - High-resolution spatial transcriptomics uncover epidermal-dermal divergences in Merkel cell carcinoma: spatial context reshapes the gene expression landscape
www.nature.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:43 AM
The cells of Merkel cell carcinoma adapt their phenotype to their micro-environment. For instance in epidermis they become more like keratinocytes. Study with high resolution spatial transcriptomics of patient samples.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Valuable article on a slight recovery of insectivorous bird population in France after the 2018 ban of neonicotinoid insecticides in the EU. There could be a causal effect but other factors that could explain the small recovery cannot be excluded. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
With neonicotinoid pesticide ban, France’s birds make a tentative recovery - study | Birds | The Guardian
Analysis shows small hike in populations of insect-eating species after 2018 ruling, but full recovery may take decades
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Valuable article on a slight recovery of insectivorous bird population in France after the 2018 ban of neonicotinoid insecticides in the EU. There could be a causal effect but other factors that could explain the small recovery cannot be excluded. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Fallen birch leaves turn from yellow to black while fallen leaves of oak or beech show various shades of brown. I wonder whether the yellow -> black transition is due to a particular fungus. Left & right are about 2 km apart. Today.
November 16, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Fallen birch leaves turn from yellow to black while fallen leaves of oak or beech show various shades of brown. I wonder whether the yellow -> black transition is due to a particular fungus. Left & right are about 2 km apart. Today.
Machine learning model helps in organ transplant process with decisions on potential donor organs (here: livers). Better than human experts. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan... .
November 16, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Machine learning model helps in organ transplant process with decisions on potential donor organs (here: livers). Better than human experts. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan... .
Global heating extends ranges of virus transmitting mosquitoes. More dengue, yellow fever etc in previously temperate regions (such as Europe). www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Yellow fever and dengue cases surge in South America as climate crisis fuels health issues | Climate crisis | The Guardian
Disease outbreaks from South America to Europe have been worsened by rising global temperatures, experts say
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Global heating extends ranges of virus transmitting mosquitoes. More dengue, yellow fever etc in previously temperate regions (such as Europe). www.theguardian.com/environment/...
November garden bliss: a moment with flowering, fragrant rosemary in the sun. Snow predicted for next week.
November 15, 2025 at 2:45 PM
November garden bliss: a moment with flowering, fragrant rosemary in the sun. Snow predicted for next week.
This flu season could be the worst in a long time: cases are already high & a new variant is circulating. Get your flu shot, esp. if you're in a risk population (e.g. elderly)! Influenza is a severe infection. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
UK hospitals bracing for once-in-a-decade flu surge this winter | Health | The Guardian
Officials urge vaccination against mutated strain of virus that may be more transmissible than usual
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 12:33 PM
This flu season could be the worst in a long time: cases are already high & a new variant is circulating. Get your flu shot, esp. if you're in a risk population (e.g. elderly)! Influenza is a severe infection. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Understanding things (also known as "science") can be really helpful. For instance, if you understand the structure and function of PI3Kα protein, you can design a potent anti-cancer drug with less toxic side effects.
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
November 15, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Understanding things (also known as "science") can be really helpful. For instance, if you understand the structure and function of PI3Kα protein, you can design a potent anti-cancer drug with less toxic side effects.
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
Little submarines loaded with life saving drugs travel, guided by magnetic fields, through blood vessels to a lesion, release their cargo and dissolve. Reality can be as fantastic as science fiction. www.science.org/doi/full/10....
November 15, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Little submarines loaded with life saving drugs travel, guided by magnetic fields, through blood vessels to a lesion, release their cargo and dissolve. Reality can be as fantastic as science fiction. www.science.org/doi/full/10....
Sponges! New integrative phylogenetic analysis supports that the common ancestors of all animals were sponge-like. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
November 14, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Sponges! New integrative phylogenetic analysis supports that the common ancestors of all animals were sponge-like. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Higher intake of ultra processed food is statistically associated with increased risk of early-onset colorectal conventional adenomas. Study with a cohort of female nurses. jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
November 14, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Higher intake of ultra processed food is statistically associated with increased risk of early-onset colorectal conventional adenomas. Study with a cohort of female nurses. jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...