Mike Fainzilber
@mfainzilber.bsky.social
Molecular neuroscience, cell biology, aikido and haiku, not necessarily in that order.
https://www.weizmann.ac.il/Biomolecular_Sciences/Fainzilber/
https://www.weizmann.ac.il/Biomolecular_Sciences/Fainzilber/
Pinned
Mike Fainzilber
@mfainzilber.bsky.social
· Sep 30
“There are two races of men in this world, but only these two - the “race” of the decent man and the “race” of the indecent man.”
- Viktor Frankl
- Viktor Frankl
A new selection carefully curated by editor extraordinaire David McMurray
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...
ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis
November winter--the endless drizzle wears down the sleep--Claudia Brefeld (Bochum, Germany)
www.asahi.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:01 AM
A new selection carefully curated by editor extraordinaire David McMurray
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...
Reposted by Mike Fainzilber
absolutely LOVE this preprint on tricking LLMs using poetry:
arxiv.org/abs/2511.15304
Like magic spells, you need to use the correct pentameter or the demon won't listen
arxiv.org/abs/2511.15304
Like magic spells, you need to use the correct pentameter or the demon won't listen
Adversarial Poetry as a Universal Single-Turn Jailbreak Mechanism in Large Language Models
We present evidence that adversarial poetry functions as a universal single-turn jailbreak technique for Large Language Models (LLMs). Across 25 frontier proprietary and open-weight models, curated po...
arxiv.org
November 21, 2025 at 2:07 AM
absolutely LOVE this preprint on tricking LLMs using poetry:
arxiv.org/abs/2511.15304
Like magic spells, you need to use the correct pentameter or the demon won't listen
arxiv.org/abs/2511.15304
Like magic spells, you need to use the correct pentameter or the demon won't listen
“Cherish those who seek the truth but beware of those who find it.”
—Voltaire
Via @economist.com quote of the day
—Voltaire
Via @economist.com quote of the day
November 21, 2025 at 5:48 AM
“Cherish those who seek the truth but beware of those who find it.”
—Voltaire
Via @economist.com quote of the day
—Voltaire
Via @economist.com quote of the day
Reposted by Mike Fainzilber
Reposted by Mike Fainzilber
Handwritten and oral exams are making a comeback
AI is accelerating a tech backlash in American classrooms
Handwritten and oral exams are making a comeback
econ.st
November 20, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Handwritten and oral exams are making a comeback
Reposted by Mike Fainzilber
Science WITH Anguish?
Grant rejection today. It never stops hurting no matter how successful or how many you dealt with before (this is no. 57). Thanks to my team for helping me handle it today. 😀 Tomorrow we go on.
ECRs dealing with rejection: you are not alone! Hot tip: saying this helps me too!
Grant rejection today. It never stops hurting no matter how successful or how many you dealt with before (this is no. 57). Thanks to my team for helping me handle it today. 😀 Tomorrow we go on.
ECRs dealing with rejection: you are not alone! Hot tip: saying this helps me too!
November 19, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Science WITH Anguish?
Grant rejection today. It never stops hurting no matter how successful or how many you dealt with before (this is no. 57). Thanks to my team for helping me handle it today. 😀 Tomorrow we go on.
ECRs dealing with rejection: you are not alone! Hot tip: saying this helps me too!
Grant rejection today. It never stops hurting no matter how successful or how many you dealt with before (this is no. 57). Thanks to my team for helping me handle it today. 😀 Tomorrow we go on.
ECRs dealing with rejection: you are not alone! Hot tip: saying this helps me too!
Reposted by Mike Fainzilber
I am on holiday in #Krakow #poland
The world doesn’t always end with thunder. Often it ends quietly, like when someone waters their flowers, or a child chases a butterfly.
Milosz asks us to pay attention to the small, ordinary moments that keep our humanity intact.
#poetry
#poemoftheday
The world doesn’t always end with thunder. Often it ends quietly, like when someone waters their flowers, or a child chases a butterfly.
Milosz asks us to pay attention to the small, ordinary moments that keep our humanity intact.
#poetry
#poemoftheday
November 19, 2025 at 12:55 PM
I am on holiday in #Krakow #poland
The world doesn’t always end with thunder. Often it ends quietly, like when someone waters their flowers, or a child chases a butterfly.
Milosz asks us to pay attention to the small, ordinary moments that keep our humanity intact.
#poetry
#poemoftheday
The world doesn’t always end with thunder. Often it ends quietly, like when someone waters their flowers, or a child chases a butterfly.
Milosz asks us to pay attention to the small, ordinary moments that keep our humanity intact.
#poetry
#poemoftheday
suffer little children
the smell
of rotting rice
🙏 to Roberta Beach Jacobson (Robin) for featuring this one in Five Fleas Itchy Poetry
Published this Monday, but I am still tagging this one as a #SenryuSunday
fivefleas.blogspot.com/2025/11/afte...
the smell
of rotting rice
🙏 to Roberta Beach Jacobson (Robin) for featuring this one in Five Fleas Itchy Poetry
Published this Monday, but I am still tagging this one as a #SenryuSunday
fivefleas.blogspot.com/2025/11/afte...
November 17, 2025 at 9:35 PM
suffer little children
the smell
of rotting rice
🙏 to Roberta Beach Jacobson (Robin) for featuring this one in Five Fleas Itchy Poetry
Published this Monday, but I am still tagging this one as a #SenryuSunday
fivefleas.blogspot.com/2025/11/afte...
the smell
of rotting rice
🙏 to Roberta Beach Jacobson (Robin) for featuring this one in Five Fleas Itchy Poetry
Published this Monday, but I am still tagging this one as a #SenryuSunday
fivefleas.blogspot.com/2025/11/afte...
textile tariffs
the emperor’s
new clothes
🙏 to Roberta Beach Jacobson (Robin) for featuring this one in Five Fleas Itchy Poetry
fivefleas.blogspot.com/2025/11/afte...
the emperor’s
new clothes
🙏 to Roberta Beach Jacobson (Robin) for featuring this one in Five Fleas Itchy Poetry
fivefleas.blogspot.com/2025/11/afte...
November 17, 2025 at 9:29 PM
textile tariffs
the emperor’s
new clothes
🙏 to Roberta Beach Jacobson (Robin) for featuring this one in Five Fleas Itchy Poetry
fivefleas.blogspot.com/2025/11/afte...
the emperor’s
new clothes
🙏 to Roberta Beach Jacobson (Robin) for featuring this one in Five Fleas Itchy Poetry
fivefleas.blogspot.com/2025/11/afte...
Reposted by Mike Fainzilber
The question is where is the phase separation? You may call cars liquids because at regime traffic can be described as a fluid. What have you learned?
November 16, 2025 at 7:40 PM
The question is where is the phase separation? You may call cars liquids because at regime traffic can be described as a fluid. What have you learned?
Reposted by Mike Fainzilber
Though comedians in India may not be fined or jailed for every complaint, police are required to investigate, which means comedians spend time and money defending themselves. So why do they keep going?
Indian comedians have never been so successful or endangered
Jokesters lead the fight for free expression in India
econ.st
November 17, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Though comedians in India may not be fined or jailed for every complaint, police are required to investigate, which means comedians spend time and money defending themselves. So why do they keep going?
Reposted by Mike Fainzilber
This has gotten surprisingly little attention — it's not even on the front page of @science.org right now — but it's really hard to describe what the SAFE Research Act would do to US science and scientists without sounding insane
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
November 14, 2025 at 5:16 PM
This has gotten surprisingly little attention — it's not even on the front page of @science.org right now — but it's really hard to describe what the SAFE Research Act would do to US science and scientists without sounding insane
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Mike Fainzilber
Dang, hard disagree. The best papers to write and read are works of art, not merely a list of data and statements.
Don’t let LLMs take this away too, for gods sake.
Don’t let LLMs take this away too, for gods sake.
I honestly think we would all be a lot more productive if papers were bullet points with plots.
November 14, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Dang, hard disagree. The best papers to write and read are works of art, not merely a list of data and statements.
Don’t let LLMs take this away too, for gods sake.
Don’t let LLMs take this away too, for gods sake.
Reposted by Mike Fainzilber
The link between the gut #microbiome and autism is not backed by science, researchers say.
Read the full opinion piece in @cp-neuron.bsky.social: spkl.io/63322AbxpA
@wiringthebrain.bsky.social, @statsepi.bsky.social, & @deevybee.bsky.social
Read the full opinion piece in @cp-neuron.bsky.social: spkl.io/63322AbxpA
@wiringthebrain.bsky.social, @statsepi.bsky.social, & @deevybee.bsky.social
November 13, 2025 at 4:00 PM
The link between the gut #microbiome and autism is not backed by science, researchers say.
Read the full opinion piece in @cp-neuron.bsky.social: spkl.io/63322AbxpA
@wiringthebrain.bsky.social, @statsepi.bsky.social, & @deevybee.bsky.social
Read the full opinion piece in @cp-neuron.bsky.social: spkl.io/63322AbxpA
@wiringthebrain.bsky.social, @statsepi.bsky.social, & @deevybee.bsky.social
cold drizzle
when did it start
this talking to myself
- Beverly Acuff Momoi
on
tinywords.com/2025/11/14/4...
when did it start
this talking to myself
- Beverly Acuff Momoi
on
tinywords.com/2025/11/14/4...
tinywords
cold drizzle when did it start this talking to myself
tinywords.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:06 PM
cold drizzle
when did it start
this talking to myself
- Beverly Acuff Momoi
on
tinywords.com/2025/11/14/4...
when did it start
this talking to myself
- Beverly Acuff Momoi
on
tinywords.com/2025/11/14/4...
I taught an octopus piano (It took 6 months)
YouTube video by Mattias Krantz
youtu.be
November 14, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Reposted by Mike Fainzilber
A handy translation guide for non-academic speakers.
November 13, 2025 at 2:19 PM
A handy translation guide for non-academic speakers.
Reposted by Mike Fainzilber
I’ve been in Toronto at the #astmh meeting these past few days and last night some very good news was presented here: A new malaria drug has proven efficacious in a large trial and could soon be approved.🧪
My story in @science.org (and 🧵on why it's important to come):
www.science.org/content/arti...
My story in @science.org (and 🧵on why it's important to come):
www.science.org/content/arti...
‘A sigh of relief’: New malaria drug succeeds in large clinical trial
As existing drugs falter because of resistance, the world gets a backup—but hard choices loom on how to use it
www.science.org
November 13, 2025 at 1:27 PM
I’ve been in Toronto at the #astmh meeting these past few days and last night some very good news was presented here: A new malaria drug has proven efficacious in a large trial and could soon be approved.🧪
My story in @science.org (and 🧵on why it's important to come):
www.science.org/content/arti...
My story in @science.org (and 🧵on why it's important to come):
www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Mike Fainzilber
Registration for THE chemical biology conference of 2026 is now open! EMBO ChemBio 2026 in Heidelberg
DeGrado, Arikin, Picotti (Keynotes). @lmkdassama.bsky.social @brianliau.bsky.social @rhodamine110.bsky.social @benlehner.bsky.social @alitavassoli.bsky.social
www.embl.org/about/info/c...
DeGrado, Arikin, Picotti (Keynotes). @lmkdassama.bsky.social @brianliau.bsky.social @rhodamine110.bsky.social @benlehner.bsky.social @alitavassoli.bsky.social
www.embl.org/about/info/c...
Chemical biology 2026
www.embl.org
November 11, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Registration for THE chemical biology conference of 2026 is now open! EMBO ChemBio 2026 in Heidelberg
DeGrado, Arikin, Picotti (Keynotes). @lmkdassama.bsky.social @brianliau.bsky.social @rhodamine110.bsky.social @benlehner.bsky.social @alitavassoli.bsky.social
www.embl.org/about/info/c...
DeGrado, Arikin, Picotti (Keynotes). @lmkdassama.bsky.social @brianliau.bsky.social @rhodamine110.bsky.social @benlehner.bsky.social @alitavassoli.bsky.social
www.embl.org/about/info/c...
Reposted by Mike Fainzilber
ahem, ONE of THE chemical biology conferences of 2026:) www.janelia.org/you-janelia/...
Chemical Tools for Complex Biological Systems IV
Organizers Luke Lavis, HHMI/Janelia Research Campus Matthew Bogyo, Stanford University Zev Gartner, University of California, San Francisco Jennifer Prescher, University of California, Irvine
www.janelia.org
November 11, 2025 at 6:03 PM
ahem, ONE of THE chemical biology conferences of 2026:) www.janelia.org/you-janelia/...
Reposted by Mike Fainzilber
How to render a publishing ban moot? Change your surname and just keep submitting.
Author changes name, publishes 10 papers in journals that banned him
How to render a publishing ban moot? Change your surname and just keep submitting. That’s what happened in the case of Hashem Babaei, aka Hashem Gharababaei. In 2010, the Institution of Mechanical …
retractionwatch.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:39 PM
How to render a publishing ban moot? Change your surname and just keep submitting.
“You have whitewashed your hands, soothed your conscience, and may now look in the mirror with the impression that you have done something. Did you stop to ask yourselves what change your decision has truly achieved?”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/w...
Israeli Academics Find Themselves Isolated Despite Gaza Cease-Fire
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:52 PM
“You have whitewashed your hands, soothed your conscience, and may now look in the mirror with the impression that you have done something. Did you stop to ask yourselves what change your decision has truly achieved?”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/w...