Steven Phelps
@evolbrain.bsky.social
Biology of intimacy: Evolutionary, neural & genomic studies of sexuality & social bonds (in weird rodents, mostly). I write a bit on biology & culture. First-gen. 🏳️🌈 Austin, TX. phelpslab.net
Pinned
Steven Phelps
@evolbrain.bsky.social
· Nov 17
I'll add another starter pack to the mix. This one on SOCIAL NEUROSCIENCE. Lots of great scientists on here already!
go.bsky.app/DKzaRqU
go.bsky.app/DKzaRqU
Reposted by Steven Phelps
Advances in genomics are giving exciting new perspectives on biology of speech, language & reading. My latest peer-reviewed paper is a tutorial, guiding readers from different backgrounds through the history of the field, current state-of-the-art, & where we’re heading. A taster in this thread.🧪
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Genomic Investigations of Spoken and Written Language Abilities: A Guide to Advances in Approaches, Technologies, and Discovery
Purpose: The aim of this tutorial is to show how the rise of molecular technologies
and analytical methods in human genetics yields exciting new ...
pubs.asha.org
November 17, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Advances in genomics are giving exciting new perspectives on biology of speech, language & reading. My latest peer-reviewed paper is a tutorial, guiding readers from different backgrounds through the history of the field, current state-of-the-art, & where we’re heading. A taster in this thread.🧪
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Reposted by Steven Phelps
I am recruiting graduate students to my genomics-focused lab in EEB at Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Please spread the word if you know any students with an interest in a computational focus to genomics research! evol.mcmaster.ca/brian/evoldi...
https://evol.mcmaster.ca/brian/evoldir/GradStudentPositions//UIllinois.EEB.Genomics
The Catchen Lab (https://catchenlab.life.illinois.edu/), in the Department
of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior at the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign is recruiting graduate students to join...
evol.mcmaster.ca
November 18, 2025 at 2:14 PM
I am recruiting graduate students to my genomics-focused lab in EEB at Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Please spread the word if you know any students with an interest in a computational focus to genomics research! evol.mcmaster.ca/brian/evoldi...
Reposted by Steven Phelps
Brunel's press release about our (@hggaddy.bsky.social @anthrolog.bsky.social) recent publication, showing that high levels of polygyny don't necessarily lock men out of the marriage market
www.brunel.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
www.brunel.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
Data questions myths about multiple wife marriages, men and violence
A new study analyzing 84 million census records reveals that polygyny does not increase the number of unmarried men. In many societies where polygyny is common, men are actually more likely to be marr...
www.brunel.ac.uk
November 17, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Brunel's press release about our (@hggaddy.bsky.social @anthrolog.bsky.social) recent publication, showing that high levels of polygyny don't necessarily lock men out of the marriage market
www.brunel.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
www.brunel.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
Reposted by Steven Phelps
“Someone with a 1-hr car commute needs to earn 40% more to be as happy as someone with a short walk to work. On the other hand, if someone shifts from a long commute to a walk, their happiness increases as much as if they’d fallen in love.” #CityMakingMath
50 reasons to want more walkable cities.
50 reasons to want more walkable cities.
50 Reasons Why Everyone Should Want More Walkable Streets
From making you live longer to making cities more resilient: If you want a reason to make your city more walkable, it's in here.
www.fastcompany.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:40 AM
“Someone with a 1-hr car commute needs to earn 40% more to be as happy as someone with a short walk to work. On the other hand, if someone shifts from a long commute to a walk, their happiness increases as much as if they’d fallen in love.” #CityMakingMath
50 reasons to want more walkable cities.
50 reasons to want more walkable cities.
Heritability found? Time to update my lectures on heritability, GWAS & polygenic scores. Anyone have good recommendations on an up to date overview of missing h2?
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Estimation and mapping of the missing heritability of human phenotypes - Nature
WGS data were used from 347,630 individuals with European ancestry in the UK Biobank to obtain high-precision estimates of coding and non-coding rare variant heritability for 34 co...
www.nature.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Heritability found? Time to update my lectures on heritability, GWAS & polygenic scores. Anyone have good recommendations on an up to date overview of missing h2?
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Stopped by the always amazing @texasbookfest.bsky.social and ran into @michaelerard.bsky.social, whose new book I've been dying read.
November 8, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Stopped by the always amazing @texasbookfest.bsky.social and ran into @michaelerard.bsky.social, whose new book I've been dying read.
Reposted by Steven Phelps
PLEASE AMPLIFY 🔈
I hear that some staffers at Interior Department and NOAA are being called back to the office from furlough for "administration priorities." I'm on Signal if this includes you or you have more information: @clare.14
I hear that some staffers at Interior Department and NOAA are being called back to the office from furlough for "administration priorities." I'm on Signal if this includes you or you have more information: @clare.14
October 27, 2025 at 7:12 PM
PLEASE AMPLIFY 🔈
I hear that some staffers at Interior Department and NOAA are being called back to the office from furlough for "administration priorities." I'm on Signal if this includes you or you have more information: @clare.14
I hear that some staffers at Interior Department and NOAA are being called back to the office from furlough for "administration priorities." I'm on Signal if this includes you or you have more information: @clare.14
Reposted by Steven Phelps
Goodbye plural data. I know your new life is singular - I just need some time to grieve.
October 23, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Goodbye plural data. I know your new life is singular - I just need some time to grieve.
Goodbye plural data. I know your new life is singular - I just need some time to grieve.
October 23, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Goodbye plural data. I know your new life is singular - I just need some time to grieve.
Reposted by Steven Phelps
New paper out today with Zhian Chen.
We argue that modern intensive parenting is not only exhausting for parents, but in some cases disrupts healthy child development.
What is 'overparenting'? And can evolutionary theory help us understand how we got here?
academic.oup.com/emph/advance...
We argue that modern intensive parenting is not only exhausting for parents, but in some cases disrupts healthy child development.
What is 'overparenting'? And can evolutionary theory help us understand how we got here?
academic.oup.com/emph/advance...
When parental care hurts: Extended parental care and the evolution of overparenting
Abstract. In recent years, childrearing in high-income countries has become described as ‘relentless’ in its demands on parents. In response to growing del
academic.oup.com
October 21, 2025 at 6:53 PM
New paper out today with Zhian Chen.
We argue that modern intensive parenting is not only exhausting for parents, but in some cases disrupts healthy child development.
What is 'overparenting'? And can evolutionary theory help us understand how we got here?
academic.oup.com/emph/advance...
We argue that modern intensive parenting is not only exhausting for parents, but in some cases disrupts healthy child development.
What is 'overparenting'? And can evolutionary theory help us understand how we got here?
academic.oup.com/emph/advance...
Reposted by Steven Phelps
🧠🌟🐭 Excited to share some of my postdoc work on the evolution of dexterity!
We compared deer mice evolved in forest vs prairie habitats. We found that forest mice have:
(1) more corticospinal neurons (CSNs)
(2) better hand dexterity
(3) more dexterous climbing, which is linked to CSN number🧵
We compared deer mice evolved in forest vs prairie habitats. We found that forest mice have:
(1) more corticospinal neurons (CSNs)
(2) better hand dexterity
(3) more dexterous climbing, which is linked to CSN number🧵
October 22, 2025 at 8:41 PM
🧠🌟🐭 Excited to share some of my postdoc work on the evolution of dexterity!
We compared deer mice evolved in forest vs prairie habitats. We found that forest mice have:
(1) more corticospinal neurons (CSNs)
(2) better hand dexterity
(3) more dexterous climbing, which is linked to CSN number🧵
We compared deer mice evolved in forest vs prairie habitats. We found that forest mice have:
(1) more corticospinal neurons (CSNs)
(2) better hand dexterity
(3) more dexterous climbing, which is linked to CSN number🧵
Reposted by Steven Phelps
Tried to sneak a photo of a cute doggo and accidentally had long exposure on and I believe I have created man’s greatest expression of art
October 21, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Tried to sneak a photo of a cute doggo and accidentally had long exposure on and I believe I have created man’s greatest expression of art
Reposted by Steven Phelps
EXTREMELY COOL BAT STUFF: A study out in Science today found that the greater noctule bat, Europe's largest, hunts and catches *migrating birds* while in flight. In at least one case, a bat climbed to more than 1200 feet, then chased a robin downward FAST until it caught it near the ground.
Greater noctule bats prey on and consume passerines in flight
Despite billions of passerines seasonally migrating during the night at high altitudes, only three bat species have been found to consistently tap into this rich prey resource. However, it remains unk...
www.science.org
October 9, 2025 at 8:02 PM
EXTREMELY COOL BAT STUFF: A study out in Science today found that the greater noctule bat, Europe's largest, hunts and catches *migrating birds* while in flight. In at least one case, a bat climbed to more than 1200 feet, then chased a robin downward FAST until it caught it near the ground.
Reposted by Steven Phelps
PhD-opening in our ancient genomics lab this year, apply below!
We work on:
📜 Genetic history integrated with archaeology and history
📈 Natural selection and trait genetics
🐺 Evolutionary genomics of dogs and wolves
🦠 Ancient pathogen genomics
💀 Hominin evolution and ancient proteomics
We work on:
📜 Genetic history integrated with archaeology and history
📈 Natural selection and trait genetics
🐺 Evolutionary genomics of dogs and wolves
🦠 Ancient pathogen genomics
💀 Hominin evolution and ancient proteomics
Motivated graduates with backgrounds in biological or biomedical sciences, physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering and/or computer science are invited to apply to our 4-year fully funded PhD programme.
Apply by 05 November 2025
www.crick.ac.uk/careers-and-...
Apply by 05 November 2025
www.crick.ac.uk/careers-and-...
PhD students
Our PhD programme attracts the brightest scientific minds and is an opportunity for talented people to embark on their career in biomedical research.
www.crick.ac.uk
October 9, 2025 at 3:51 PM
PhD-opening in our ancient genomics lab this year, apply below!
We work on:
📜 Genetic history integrated with archaeology and history
📈 Natural selection and trait genetics
🐺 Evolutionary genomics of dogs and wolves
🦠 Ancient pathogen genomics
💀 Hominin evolution and ancient proteomics
We work on:
📜 Genetic history integrated with archaeology and history
📈 Natural selection and trait genetics
🐺 Evolutionary genomics of dogs and wolves
🦠 Ancient pathogen genomics
💀 Hominin evolution and ancient proteomics
The secret to happiness.
September 20, 2025 at 5:16 PM
The secret to happiness.
Reposted by Steven Phelps
bioRxiv partners with Dryad to enable easier, better linking to curated datasets connect.biorxiv.org/news/2025/09...
Dryad partnership brings easier data sharing to bioRxiv
bioRxiv - the preprint server for biology, operated by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, a research and educational institution
connect.biorxiv.org
September 18, 2025 at 7:43 PM
bioRxiv partners with Dryad to enable easier, better linking to curated datasets connect.biorxiv.org/news/2025/09...
Reposted by Steven Phelps
Very excited about our new preprint, led by @gkafetzis.bsky.social /w @mikebok.bsky.social & @denilsson.bsky.social. We suggest that the vertebrate 'duplex' retina emerged from interconnecting two ancient median-eye microcircuits. Say goodbye to the 'simplex' retina - it probably never existed!
September 12, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Very excited about our new preprint, led by @gkafetzis.bsky.social /w @mikebok.bsky.social & @denilsson.bsky.social. We suggest that the vertebrate 'duplex' retina emerged from interconnecting two ancient median-eye microcircuits. Say goodbye to the 'simplex' retina - it probably never existed!
Reposted by Steven Phelps
Holy shit…You can’t make this up: a plane is circling Soldier Field before the Bears home opener with a banner that reads—
“HEY ICE, MASKS ARE FOR CUCKS.”
Also the trolling is incredible for those that told us to stop wearing masks during the pandemic.
“HEY ICE, MASKS ARE FOR CUCKS.”
Also the trolling is incredible for those that told us to stop wearing masks during the pandemic.
September 9, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Holy shit…You can’t make this up: a plane is circling Soldier Field before the Bears home opener with a banner that reads—
“HEY ICE, MASKS ARE FOR CUCKS.”
Also the trolling is incredible for those that told us to stop wearing masks during the pandemic.
“HEY ICE, MASKS ARE FOR CUCKS.”
Also the trolling is incredible for those that told us to stop wearing masks during the pandemic.
Reposted by Steven Phelps
Whether it's Obama wearing a tan suit or Trump declaring "Chipocalypse Now" and pledging to unleash "the Department of WAR" on America's third largest city, leaders of both parties have shown disregard for presidential norms.
September 8, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Whether it's Obama wearing a tan suit or Trump declaring "Chipocalypse Now" and pledging to unleash "the Department of WAR" on America's third largest city, leaders of both parties have shown disregard for presidential norms.
Reposted by Steven Phelps
600k neurons, 700 probes, 140 mice, 12 labs. "visual stimuli transiently represented in visual areas at stimulus onset, spread to ramp-like activity in mid- & hindbrain regions that encoded choices. Responses correlated w impending action almost everywhere. Responses to reward also widespread."
🚨 first time ever full brain-wide map of the activity of single neurons during decision-making.
600k+ neurons covering 279 brain areas, which together represent 95% of the mouse brain volume!
Exciting times ahead! 🐭🧠🧪
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
600k+ neurons covering 279 brain areas, which together represent 95% of the mouse brain volume!
Exciting times ahead! 🐭🧠🧪
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A brain-wide map of neural activity during complex behaviour - Nature
The International Brain Laboratory presents a brain-wide electrophysiological map obtained from pooling data from 12 laboratories that performed the same standardized perceptual decision-making task i...
www.nature.com
September 4, 2025 at 12:30 PM
600k neurons, 700 probes, 140 mice, 12 labs. "visual stimuli transiently represented in visual areas at stimulus onset, spread to ramp-like activity in mid- & hindbrain regions that encoded choices. Responses correlated w impending action almost everywhere. Responses to reward also widespread."
600k neurons, 700 probes, 140 mice, 12 labs. "visual stimuli transiently represented in visual areas at stimulus onset, spread to ramp-like activity in mid- & hindbrain regions that encoded choices. Responses correlated w impending action almost everywhere. Responses to reward also widespread."
🚨 first time ever full brain-wide map of the activity of single neurons during decision-making.
600k+ neurons covering 279 brain areas, which together represent 95% of the mouse brain volume!
Exciting times ahead! 🐭🧠🧪
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
600k+ neurons covering 279 brain areas, which together represent 95% of the mouse brain volume!
Exciting times ahead! 🐭🧠🧪
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A brain-wide map of neural activity during complex behaviour - Nature
The International Brain Laboratory presents a brain-wide electrophysiological map obtained from pooling data from 12 laboratories that performed the same standardized perceptual decision-making task i...
www.nature.com
September 4, 2025 at 12:30 PM
600k neurons, 700 probes, 140 mice, 12 labs. "visual stimuli transiently represented in visual areas at stimulus onset, spread to ramp-like activity in mid- & hindbrain regions that encoded choices. Responses correlated w impending action almost everywhere. Responses to reward also widespread."
Wow. Reward and planning everywhere.
🚨 first time ever full brain-wide map of the activity of single neurons during decision-making.
600k+ neurons covering 279 brain areas, which together represent 95% of the mouse brain volume!
Exciting times ahead! 🐭🧠🧪
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
600k+ neurons covering 279 brain areas, which together represent 95% of the mouse brain volume!
Exciting times ahead! 🐭🧠🧪
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A brain-wide map of neural activity during complex behaviour - Nature
The International Brain Laboratory presents a brain-wide electrophysiological map obtained from pooling data from 12 laboratories that performed the same standardized perceptual decision-making task i...
www.nature.com
September 4, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Wow. Reward and planning everywhere.
Reposted by Steven Phelps
Big time congrats to @larschittka.bsky.social on receiving the Exemplar Award this year! Lars and his team has discovered several previously unimaginable cognitive capacities in the itty bitty brains of bees giving us new insights into the evolution of learning.
chittkalab.sbcs.qmul.ac.uk
chittkalab.sbcs.qmul.ac.uk
August 27, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Big time congrats to @larschittka.bsky.social on receiving the Exemplar Award this year! Lars and his team has discovered several previously unimaginable cognitive capacities in the itty bitty brains of bees giving us new insights into the evolution of learning.
chittkalab.sbcs.qmul.ac.uk
chittkalab.sbcs.qmul.ac.uk
Reposted by Steven Phelps
10 years ago today, Steve Silberman's groundbreaking book NeuroTribes was published. It changed how the world discussed autism and inspired many autistic people to write their own books.
Stay tuned for information on a 10th anniversary edition coming very soon.
Stay tuned for information on a 10th anniversary edition coming very soon.
August 25, 2025 at 11:03 PM
10 years ago today, Steve Silberman's groundbreaking book NeuroTribes was published. It changed how the world discussed autism and inspired many autistic people to write their own books.
Stay tuned for information on a 10th anniversary edition coming very soon.
Stay tuned for information on a 10th anniversary edition coming very soon.