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
Mark Histed
@markhisted.org
· 19d
The mass firings have been lawless: now and all year
The first step in stopping a lawless Supreme Court is being clear about what it’s doing
scienceandfreedomalliance.substack.com
I wrote an explainer about the mass firings—the RIFs.
The RIFs all year have been clearly illegal. Russell Vought is using them to lawlessly clean out federal agencies. Lower court judges have said so. But the Calvinball Supreme Court has allowed them. 1/
The RIFs all year have been clearly illegal. Russell Vought is using them to lawlessly clean out federal agencies. Lower court judges have said so. But the Calvinball Supreme Court has allowed them. 1/
This is very interesting
2/6 It's the first-ever public record of U.S. Executive Branch attorneys’ conduct. The core problem: Government lawyers have a fundamental duty to the rule of law, but recent events have shown that some prefer the rule of a person. There is no effective accountability mechanism when this happens.
November 18, 2025 at 2:39 AM
This is very interesting
Reposted by Mark Histed
The Trump regime’s cuts to NIH grants disrupted more than 380 clinical trials, affecting over 74,000 participants. The cuts disproportionately impacted trials on infectious diseases and minority communities.
Trump slashed spending on clinical trials. The toll is starting to become clear.
Grants for 383 clinical trials were terminated and the funding disruptions affected more than 74,000 trial participants, according to new research.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 17, 2025 at 11:21 PM
The Trump regime’s cuts to NIH grants disrupted more than 380 clinical trials, affecting over 74,000 participants. The cuts disproportionately impacted trials on infectious diseases and minority communities.
Reposted by Mark Histed
The #SfN25 poster floor is buzzing with innovative studies and breakthrough discoveries.
Get lost in the science and find inspiration at every turn!
#neurosky #neuroskyence
Get lost in the science and find inspiration at every turn!
#neurosky #neuroskyence
November 17, 2025 at 6:15 PM
The #SfN25 poster floor is buzzing with innovative studies and breakthrough discoveries.
Get lost in the science and find inspiration at every turn!
#neurosky #neuroskyence
Get lost in the science and find inspiration at every turn!
#neurosky #neuroskyence
Reposted by Mark Histed
I largely agree with this, with one caveat:
Algorithms/AI *are* a key barrier to progress in neuro-engineering and neuro-tech.
But, for actually *understanding* the brain, indeed, our major barrier is the inability to measure the things we could use to test our computational theories.
Algorithms/AI *are* a key barrier to progress in neuro-engineering and neuro-tech.
But, for actually *understanding* the brain, indeed, our major barrier is the inability to measure the things we could use to test our computational theories.
Same for neuroscience. The lack of ability to measure many neurons’ activity, perturb them, and measure intracellular processes and connections is what limits understanding the brain.
The key barriers are not algorithms or AI.
🧪#neuroscience 🧠🤖 #MLSky
The key barriers are not algorithms or AI.
🧪#neuroscience 🧠🤖 #MLSky
November 17, 2025 at 6:14 PM
I largely agree with this, with one caveat:
Algorithms/AI *are* a key barrier to progress in neuro-engineering and neuro-tech.
But, for actually *understanding* the brain, indeed, our major barrier is the inability to measure the things we could use to test our computational theories.
Algorithms/AI *are* a key barrier to progress in neuro-engineering and neuro-tech.
But, for actually *understanding* the brain, indeed, our major barrier is the inability to measure the things we could use to test our computational theories.
Reposted by Mark Histed
No Evidence the Gut Microbiome Causes Autism neurosciencenews.com/asd-microbio...
No Evidence the Gut Microbiome Causes Autism - Neuroscience News
Experts reviewing decades of research conclude there is no scientific evidence that the gut microbiome causes autism.
neurosciencenews.com
November 16, 2025 at 2:24 PM
No Evidence the Gut Microbiome Causes Autism neurosciencenews.com/asd-microbio...
I was asked to write a 250 word piece about the shutdown outcome and what it means for science, but it looks like for them the news cycle is moving on.
Anyone have suggestions on a pub that would consider it?
@dereklowe.bsky.social @jeremyfaust.bsky.social @tanyalewis.bsky.social
Anyone have suggestions on a pub that would consider it?
@dereklowe.bsky.social @jeremyfaust.bsky.social @tanyalewis.bsky.social
November 16, 2025 at 5:21 PM
I was asked to write a 250 word piece about the shutdown outcome and what it means for science, but it looks like for them the news cycle is moving on.
Anyone have suggestions on a pub that would consider it?
@dereklowe.bsky.social @jeremyfaust.bsky.social @tanyalewis.bsky.social
Anyone have suggestions on a pub that would consider it?
@dereklowe.bsky.social @jeremyfaust.bsky.social @tanyalewis.bsky.social
Yes. This is another reason why public funding is what we want - why the government should support science with democratic mechanisms of oversight.
Public support means not having to beg toxic billionaires for money.
Public support means not having to beg toxic billionaires for money.
the professors in the emails being all chummy with epstein is pathetic and enraging.
There are so many professors/scientists y'all
November 16, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Yes. This is another reason why public funding is what we want - why the government should support science with democratic mechanisms of oversight.
Public support means not having to beg toxic billionaires for money.
Public support means not having to beg toxic billionaires for money.
Reposted by Mark Histed
Lights, camera, action potential!
Watch as the stage is set to welcome the global neuroscience community for a week of discovery, collaboration, and innovation at #SfN25!
#neurosky #neuroskyence #academicchatter
Watch as the stage is set to welcome the global neuroscience community for a week of discovery, collaboration, and innovation at #SfN25!
#neurosky #neuroskyence #academicchatter
November 15, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Lights, camera, action potential!
Watch as the stage is set to welcome the global neuroscience community for a week of discovery, collaboration, and innovation at #SfN25!
#neurosky #neuroskyence #academicchatter
Watch as the stage is set to welcome the global neuroscience community for a week of discovery, collaboration, and innovation at #SfN25!
#neurosky #neuroskyence #academicchatter
Reposted by Mark Histed
I know this is old man yells at cloud but there is something in the constitution about this
November 15, 2025 at 2:36 PM
I know this is old man yells at cloud but there is something in the constitution about this
Yes.
Pick Big Fights! Conflict drives attention.
This is a lesson for scientists too.
Pick Big Fights! Conflict drives attention.
This is a lesson for scientists too.
If Mamdani had eschewed those attacks to say ‘Cuomo will answer for his conduct when he meets his maker, I’m here to talk about affordability,’ Cuomo may have done better. Making Cuomo’s character salient was decisive to NY voters I know personally.
November 15, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Yes.
Pick Big Fights! Conflict drives attention.
This is a lesson for scientists too.
Pick Big Fights! Conflict drives attention.
This is a lesson for scientists too.
This is embarrassing from Google.
The Nat’l Cancer Institute (part of #NIH) is being torn down from inside, in part by fools who think AI can entirely replace human cancer scientists.
And Google is buying ads that don’t mention the destruction?
That’s cowardice, Google newsfromgoogle.bsky.social
The Nat’l Cancer Institute (part of #NIH) is being torn down from inside, in part by fools who think AI can entirely replace human cancer scientists.
And Google is buying ads that don’t mention the destruction?
That’s cowardice, Google newsfromgoogle.bsky.social
November 15, 2025 at 8:39 PM
This is embarrassing from Google.
The Nat’l Cancer Institute (part of #NIH) is being torn down from inside, in part by fools who think AI can entirely replace human cancer scientists.
And Google is buying ads that don’t mention the destruction?
That’s cowardice, Google newsfromgoogle.bsky.social
The Nat’l Cancer Institute (part of #NIH) is being torn down from inside, in part by fools who think AI can entirely replace human cancer scientists.
And Google is buying ads that don’t mention the destruction?
That’s cowardice, Google newsfromgoogle.bsky.social
Same for neuroscience. The lack of ability to measure many neurons’ activity, perturb them, and measure intracellular processes and connections is what limits understanding the brain.
The key barriers are not algorithms or AI.
🧪#neuroscience 🧠🤖 #MLSky
The key barriers are not algorithms or AI.
🧪#neuroscience 🧠🤖 #MLSky
November 15, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Same for neuroscience. The lack of ability to measure many neurons’ activity, perturb them, and measure intracellular processes and connections is what limits understanding the brain.
The key barriers are not algorithms or AI.
🧪#neuroscience 🧠🤖 #MLSky
The key barriers are not algorithms or AI.
🧪#neuroscience 🧠🤖 #MLSky
Reposted by Mark Histed
It was such a privilege to work with @nwdonahue.bsky.social and the fantastic lawyers at Patterson Belknap on this amicus brief for the Slaughter case, about whether Trump can fire the commissioners of the FTC.
The brief recovers crucial history the Court and most lawyers have missed. 1/3
The brief recovers crucial history the Court and most lawyers have missed. 1/3
November 14, 2025 at 10:52 PM
It was such a privilege to work with @nwdonahue.bsky.social and the fantastic lawyers at Patterson Belknap on this amicus brief for the Slaughter case, about whether Trump can fire the commissioners of the FTC.
The brief recovers crucial history the Court and most lawyers have missed. 1/3
The brief recovers crucial history the Court and most lawyers have missed. 1/3
Reposted by Mark Histed
“The Trump administration is burning down our country’s most important public health agencies from the inside.” Fact check: true
Let’s thank @murray.senate.gov for speaking up for Jenna and NIH.
This is a heck of a statement.
www.murray.senate.gov/senator-murr...
Let’s thank @murray.senate.gov for speaking up for Jenna and NIH.
This is a heck of a statement.
www.murray.senate.gov/senator-murr...
November 14, 2025 at 11:50 PM
“The Trump administration is burning down our country’s most important public health agencies from the inside.” Fact check: true
Let’s thank @murray.senate.gov for speaking up for Jenna and NIH.
This is a heck of a statement.
www.murray.senate.gov/senator-murr...
Let’s thank @murray.senate.gov for speaking up for Jenna and NIH.
This is a heck of a statement.
www.murray.senate.gov/senator-murr...
Eric Green, who was director of the NHGRI until [he was forced out] this spring, has served on more than two dozen search committees for NIH leaders.
The process “has worked amazingly well for decades,” he says, and including non-NIH scientists “added broad and deep expertise”…
The process “has worked amazingly well for decades,” he says, and including non-NIH scientists “added broad and deep expertise”…
Is NIH cutting corners as it rushes to fill leadership positions?
Unlike in the past, agency searches appear to exclude help from outside academic researchers
www.science.org
November 14, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Eric Green, who was director of the NHGRI until [he was forced out] this spring, has served on more than two dozen search committees for NIH leaders.
The process “has worked amazingly well for decades,” he says, and including non-NIH scientists “added broad and deep expertise”…
The process “has worked amazingly well for decades,” he says, and including non-NIH scientists “added broad and deep expertise”…
One of the things that gets me down walking around NIH these days is how the buildings are crumbling.
This is not just a Trump thing: we have had years of underinvestment in maintenance and too little gov’t in-house capacity, leading to contract work with too little oversight.
This is not just a Trump thing: we have had years of underinvestment in maintenance and too little gov’t in-house capacity, leading to contract work with too little oversight.
November 14, 2025 at 10:07 PM
One of the things that gets me down walking around NIH these days is how the buildings are crumbling.
This is not just a Trump thing: we have had years of underinvestment in maintenance and too little gov’t in-house capacity, leading to contract work with too little oversight.
This is not just a Trump thing: we have had years of underinvestment in maintenance and too little gov’t in-house capacity, leading to contract work with too little oversight.
Hearing a rumor that NIH/HHS may now plan to retaliate against other Bethesda Declaration signers.
I am one, but it’s not about me: we have been speaking out because of the ongoing damage to US medical research, cancer and Alzheimer’s research.
As @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social put well: 1/
I am one, but it’s not about me: we have been speaking out because of the ongoing damage to US medical research, cancer and Alzheimer’s research.
As @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social put well: 1/
November 14, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Hearing a rumor that NIH/HHS may now plan to retaliate against other Bethesda Declaration signers.
I am one, but it’s not about me: we have been speaking out because of the ongoing damage to US medical research, cancer and Alzheimer’s research.
As @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social put well: 1/
I am one, but it’s not about me: we have been speaking out because of the ongoing damage to US medical research, cancer and Alzheimer’s research.
As @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social put well: 1/
Reposted by Mark Histed
This is very, very bad. Call your reps, speak out, demand that NIH be led by expert scientists and not political cronies.
A bad thing is unfolding at NIH this week: It looks like the Trump administration is trying to replace key civil servant scientific leaders, the Institute Directors, with political hires. These directors control the NIH budget, tens of billions.
A bit of a video explainer here: 1/ 🧪
A bit of a video explainer here: 1/ 🧪
November 14, 2025 at 5:32 AM
This is very, very bad. Call your reps, speak out, demand that NIH be led by expert scientists and not political cronies.
Reposted by Mark Histed
NIH institute directors have always been non-political. They are science administrators who have always been top-tier scientists themselves.
This has been true during Dem and GOP administrations. Smart presidents understand: don't fuck with success.
And now we have Donald Trump.
This has been true during Dem and GOP administrations. Smart presidents understand: don't fuck with success.
And now we have Donald Trump.
A bad thing is unfolding at NIH this week: It looks like the Trump administration is trying to replace key civil servant scientific leaders, the Institute Directors, with political hires. These directors control the NIH budget, tens of billions.
A bit of a video explainer here: 1/ 🧪
A bit of a video explainer here: 1/ 🧪
November 14, 2025 at 12:28 AM
NIH institute directors have always been non-political. They are science administrators who have always been top-tier scientists themselves.
This has been true during Dem and GOP administrations. Smart presidents understand: don't fuck with success.
And now we have Donald Trump.
This has been true during Dem and GOP administrations. Smart presidents understand: don't fuck with success.
And now we have Donald Trump.
Reposted by Mark Histed
NEW: Jenna Norton, an NIH employee who is openly critical of Trump & RFK Jr, has been put on "non-disciplinary" administrative leave. She says the administration is trying to "scare and silence me." An HHS official, asked to comment, called her a radical leftist.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
N.I.H. Worker Who Criticized Trump Health Policies Says She Is on Administrative Leave
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:56 AM
NEW: Jenna Norton, an NIH employee who is openly critical of Trump & RFK Jr, has been put on "non-disciplinary" administrative leave. She says the administration is trying to "scare and silence me." An HHS official, asked to comment, called her a radical leftist.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
Reposted by Mark Histed
Clinical trials at NIH saved my sweetie’s life. And that of many other people’s sweeties, I’m sure.
No words.
No words.
Curing cancer is hard!
We don’t want political hires, we want to rely on the best scientists as judged by the scientific community, as judged by peers and experts. That’s the way we do good science.
/2
We don’t want political hires, we want to rely on the best scientists as judged by the scientific community, as judged by peers and experts. That’s the way we do good science.
/2
November 14, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Clinical trials at NIH saved my sweetie’s life. And that of many other people’s sweeties, I’m sure.
No words.
No words.
A bad thing is unfolding at NIH this week: It looks like the Trump administration is trying to replace key civil servant scientific leaders, the Institute Directors, with political hires. These directors control the NIH budget, tens of billions.
A bit of a video explainer here: 1/ 🧪
A bit of a video explainer here: 1/ 🧪
November 13, 2025 at 10:31 PM
A bad thing is unfolding at NIH this week: It looks like the Trump administration is trying to replace key civil servant scientific leaders, the Institute Directors, with political hires. These directors control the NIH budget, tens of billions.
A bit of a video explainer here: 1/ 🧪
A bit of a video explainer here: 1/ 🧪
Speaking as a government worker:
The paper that our whole professional class reads doesn’t know that it is not normal to end whole agencies lawlessly, shred the Constitution based on laughable legal justification, and kill cancer and Alzheimer’s research???
Either we have failed or they have.
The paper that our whole professional class reads doesn’t know that it is not normal to end whole agencies lawlessly, shred the Constitution based on laughable legal justification, and kill cancer and Alzheimer’s research???
Either we have failed or they have.
Quick — someone tell the New York Times that the situation in early October, when the shutdown began, was not “normal.”
November 13, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Speaking as a government worker:
The paper that our whole professional class reads doesn’t know that it is not normal to end whole agencies lawlessly, shred the Constitution based on laughable legal justification, and kill cancer and Alzheimer’s research???
Either we have failed or they have.
The paper that our whole professional class reads doesn’t know that it is not normal to end whole agencies lawlessly, shred the Constitution based on laughable legal justification, and kill cancer and Alzheimer’s research???
Either we have failed or they have.
Huge news! @wilsonforseattle.bsky.social has all the organizing skills, determination, empathy and vision needed to be an excellent mayor of Seattle. 🙌
November 13, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Huge news! @wilsonforseattle.bsky.social has all the organizing skills, determination, empathy and vision needed to be an excellent mayor of Seattle. 🙌