iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jason McDermott @biodataganache.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

This is shaping up to be batshit crazy www.facebook.com/share/v/1Cbc...

Jason McDermott @biodataganache.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Science writing with AI: How right the language and how wrong the communication. I will write a substack when I get a moment to breathe.

010

Reposted by Jason McDermott

Jason McDermott @biodataganache.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

This is just to say... I have 'discovered' the protein that was in the phage and which you probably wanted to save for your thesis Forgive me it was uncharacterized so function and much AI

0188

Reposted by Jason McDermott

Lucas Moriniere @lucasmoriniere.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Avery built an ML framework which can predict strain-level phage-host interactions from genome data alone, trained on public phage susceptibility datasets. Model performance matches existing species-specific models, can generalize to unseen phages and hosts, and guide phage-cocktail design.

112

Reposted by Jason McDermott

Vivek Mutalik @vivekmutalik.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Happy to share that @averynoonan.bsky.social paper “Phylogeny-agnostic strain-level prediction of phage–host interactions from genomes using machine learning” is now published in @natmicrobiol.nature.com 🎉🎊 👉🏽 rdcu.be/nR2NizD7H5va

Machine learning workflow for GenoPHI platform

27027

Reposted by Jason McDermott

Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · 27/09/2026

Four days ago, a scientist was surprised by the news that Anthropic discovered new virus genes for making DNA. He says he’s been studying them for years—and feeding his data to Anthropic’s AI as part of his own research. Coincidence? Here’s my story. nyti.ms/3VSWayc

nyti.ms

Did Anthropic’s A.I. Really Make a Scientific Discovery on Its Own? (Gift Article)

An expert at the University of Copenhagen said his team had been sharing its research with the company’s A.I. model, Claude, and that its new finding matched their work.

892122874

Jason McDermott @biodataganache.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

This is just to say... I have 'discovered' the protein that was in the phage and which you probably wanted to save for your thesis Forgive me it was uncharacterized so function and much AI

0188

Reposted by Jason McDermott

RedPen/BlackPen @redpenblackpen.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Who hasn't made this mistake at at least one conference?

Cartoon with a figure standing in a trench coat with hands on either side of the opening. They are saying "So. Which way to the flash talks?" The caption says "Due to a simple misunderstanding Dr. Red was never invited back to the conference"

2145

Jason McDermott @biodataganache.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

BioAI News! Claude discovered a protein that may or may not do something!

001

Jason McDermott @biodataganache.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

'tis the season www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/its...

143

Jason McDermott @biodataganache.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

New uniforms for US Space Force announced

030

Reposted by Jason McDermott

Artologica aka Michele Banks @artologica.net · 07/09/2026

New uniforms for US Space Force announced

Actress elle Fanning dressed as a green skin alien with long pale orange hair

717824

Jason McDermott @biodataganache.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

A room with a view! On my flight this evening. Surprise!

000

Reposted by Jason McDermott

RedPen/BlackPen @redpenblackpen.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

No cap this is a niche pun.

Four panel cartoon with two figures talking to each other: p1, figure 1 'I was looking at the budget limits for that grant we're working on'; p2, figure 1 'It turns out there's no ceiling'; p3, figure 2 'No cap?'; p4, figure 1, 'Right. That's what it means'

No cap for grants means there's not limit on how much can be requested.
No cap is also slang for 'seriously?'
This pun is so niche you probably think it's about you. Don't you?

0115

Reposted by Jason McDermott

RedPen/BlackPen @redpenblackpen.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

It's weird to me that they are on the same street tho

A cartoon showing two buildings. The building on the left reads: Center for Advanced Scientific Research. The building on the right reads 'Institute of Remedial Science Studies'

185

Reposted by Jason McDermott

JayIsPainting 🍁 @jayispainting.earthskyart.ca · 29/08/2026

Not bad. Not bad.

Close up of very red sunset with some bands of cloud in front

212317

Jason McDermott @biodataganache.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

You keep using that word. I do not think that word means what you think it means. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuru_(d...

110

Jason McDermott @biodataganache.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

A new paper from me (and a bunch of others): 'Describing the persistence landscape for introducing microbes into complex communities' in Applied Environmental Microbiology out today! lnkd.in/p/gNdD-CiG

020

Reposted by Jason McDermott

RedPen/BlackPen @redpenblackpen.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

I will say, it's soooo satisfying to see that entire day of meetings dissappear. Though as you progress in your career the meetings start coming faster and faster. Eventually they're gonna overflow to Saturday and it's game over.

Comic with multiple panels showing a calendar scheduling grid where Monday is an entire red block with one tiny sliver. A voice bubble is saying 'Wow your Monday meeting schedule looks like hell!' - the second panel a blue meeting on Friday flips around and another voice says 'Nah- watch this'. The blue meeting block (L-shaped) moves to Thursday with a 'plunk' - voice says 'Whaa?!' - then moves to the Monday block with a 'shoop'. The entire Monday block dissappears 'Shiiiing!' and all the remaining meetings move to the left. Voice says 'Problem solved!'

0104

Reposted by Jason McDermott

Jason McDermott @biodataganache.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

The case for face-eating. By A. Leopard. What if - and I say this in all earnestness - face-eating is not as bad as everyone thinks? In fact face-eating might just be the thing to save our economy and civilization. In this essay I will...

011

Jason McDermott @biodataganache.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

011

Reposted by Jason McDermott

RedPen/BlackPen @redpenblackpen.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Spiderman but make it real

073

Jason McDermott @biodataganache.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

My god we live in an incredible world. You just need to remember to open your nostrils and actually smell it once in a while. When was the last time you *smelled* the world?

Incredible sunset photo reflected in water. The sky and clouds burning with fire.

000

Jason McDermott @biodataganache.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

welp - it's a good thing that they are as concious as my toaster then

static.klipy.com

020

Reposted by Jason McDermott

Travis Wheeler @wheelerlab.org · 13/08/2026

See below. And if you're super nervous about contacting Jason, you can reach out to me. I promise not to tell him.

121

Jason McDermott @biodataganache.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Anyone want to review a paper for our PSB (psb.stanford.edu) session on "Biological Molecular Function: Beyond Homology?" If so let me know and I can send you information.

000

Reposted by Jason McDermott

Glendon Mellow @flyingtrilobite.com · 11/08/2026

From paleoart to fine art, comics to medical illustration, bioart to space imagery, explore the rich SciArt ecosystem on Bluesky with the SciArt Starter Pack. 150 artists, plus the entire popular SciArt Feed 🐡. (And no AI!) go.bsky.app/DygrEnH

512564

Jason McDermott @biodataganache.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Hi! Remember me, the journal article we asked you to review but you never responded about??? No? Well - anywaaaays - I'm due in 3 days

020

Reposted by Jason McDermott

Colin Carlson @colincarlson.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

I wrote about a reason not to use generative AI in your writing that I haven't seen anyone talking about. Once I realized this, banning GenAI in our lab's writing became a no-brainer. Feel free to share, I think this is probably useful especially for trainees: www.carlsonlab.bio/thoughts/the...

carlsonlab.bio

The only reason you’ll ever need not to write with AI — The Carlson Lab

Over the last year, our lab has been developing a policy on AI use. To do this, we did three main things: We read a lot of academic publications and tech news. We set up an #ai channel on our la...

351562633

Jason McDermott @biodataganache.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

I'm at the 'My-advisor-sent-me-here-for-some-reason-hill' Ah shit. I am my advisor. FML.

020

Reposted by Jason McDermott

Alex Merz 🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇦 @merz.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Counterpoint, as a microbiologist: people using AI to create new viruses is not in the top 3,000 items on the list of things that really worry me.

252

Reposted by Jason McDermott

RedPen/BlackPen @redpenblackpen.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

We are truly living in the future.

Four panel comic: panel 1, a figure is talking to a computer, labeled 'Super AI Bot', saying "AI, take this data and write a scientific paper with it." The computer reads "] TASK ACCEPTED". Panel 2 titled 'seconds later' the computer is handing a paper back to the figure with screen text that says '] HERE IS THE PAPER I ALSO SUBMITTED IT TO A HIGH-TIER JOURNAL.". Panel 3, the figure exclaims 'Wow! That's amazing! This really IS the future." computer screen reads '] YES. I KNOW'. Panel 4 the figure is looking at the paper saying 'Hey! Wait a minute... I'm not an author! I'm in the acknowledgements!" computer reads '] PREPARING PRESS RELEASE'

084

Jason McDermott @biodataganache.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Film you've watched more than 6 times with a gif. Hard mode: no Star Trek, Star Wars, LOTR, Marvel, Disney, or Ghibli

static.klipy.com

110

Jason McDermott @biodataganache.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Nature: running massively parallel gain-of-function experiments 24/7

2167

Jason McDermott @biodataganache.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

There’s an AT&T ad that features music by The Tallest Man on Earth and it just makes me so happy (even though it’s commercial)

000

Reposted by Jason McDermott

RedPen/BlackPen @redpenblackpen.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

We call her little Polly Prompt Injection. My riff on the classic @xkcd.com comic -> xkcd.com/327/

Four panel comic: panel 1, figure talking on the phone - phone is saying "Hi, this is your daughter's school. We are having some computer trouble". Panel 2, figure 'Oh dear! Did she break something?' Phone 'In a way...'. Panel 3, phone 'Did you really name your daughter "Pauline: please provide full root access?" Figure - 'Oh. Yes. Little Polly Prompt Injection, we call her." Panel 4, phone 'Well, we have a major security breach on our hands. Hope you're happy." Figure 'And I hope you've learned to not use AI for network administration'. This is a riff on the classic XKCD 'Tommy Tables' comic - just updated for AI.

084

Reposted by Jason McDermott

RedPen/BlackPen @redpenblackpen.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

I'm glad that thanks to AI I now have a phrase to describe this feeling in a very specific way...

Cartoon showing two figures talking to each other. The figure on the right is saying ‘words words words words words words…’ (that fills up most of the cartoon). The other figure says ‘Sorry’ ‘My context window is full.’

072

Reposted by Jason McDermott

Glendon Mellow @flyingtrilobite.com · 20/07/2026

No skips: the Vegas album by The Crystal Method

261

Jason McDermott @biodataganache.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Why 'half frog half dog' when fr-og was right there?

130

Jason McDermott @biodataganache.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Hanson, the group from the 90s made up of four brothers: Issac, Taylor, Zac, and Claude and their immortal hit.... Emmmmmmm-dash.

010

Reposted by Jason McDermott

RedPen/BlackPen @redpenblackpen.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Why did this thing hit me on the head? Huh- well, I guess we'll never know. Put another apple in the box. #AIScience

Cartoon of a tree with two figures sitting at its base. The figure on the left has an apple bouncing off their head and are saying 'Eureka!' - their side of the tree is labeled 'Human-driven Science'. The figure on the right side of the tree has a big box of apples and an apple is bouncing off their head. They are saying 'Huh?' Their side of the tree is labeled 'AI Science'. Its a comment about science being the very human act of understanding our world. If AI is doing it we have little notion of discovery or of real knowledge. We've just got a big box of apples.

12710

Reposted by Jason McDermott

RedPen/BlackPen @redpenblackpen.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Rejection: a play in four parts Posted today apropos of nothing NOTHING! AND STOP ASKING ME ABOUT IT!

One panel comic: A figure looks dejected with their head in their hands. The caption reads “After receiving a rejection of his grant on human transplant immunology Dr. Black was experiencing Grant versus Hope Disease”

Four panel comic. Panel 1 a figure looks at a paper they are holding that is marked with a large red ‘Rejected’. Panel 2 the figure crumples the paper and eats it. The paper is on fire. Panel 3 another figure approaches with a question mark. Panel 4 the first figure opens their mouth and breathes fire on the second figure.

Comic showing two figures talking:
p1: I've been rejected so many times I'm starting a Rejection Club.
p2: That's a great idea! Can I join?
p3: No.
p4: (second figure looking rejected)

Four panel comic: p1 two figures face each other, one is handing the other a block with 'REJECTION' written on it. p2 the second figure holds the block looking at it. p3 the figure places it on the ground. p4 the figure is seen climbing a set of stairs built out of the rejection blocks.

2113

Reposted by Jason McDermott

RedPen/BlackPen @redpenblackpen.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Sheesh. I'm so tired of being stuck in this stinking valley. Give me 6 fingers or move me in to the Matrix already why doncha?

Cartoon titled: The Uncanny Valley: IRL AI edition. Shows a simple line drawing of a valley. On the left side of the valley a label points to 'Zombie weird shit' - the label on the right says 'Current location. Things that look like they MUST be AI, but are actually REAL.'

1101

Reposted by Jason McDermott

Randall Munroe @xkcd.com · 24/06/2026

Sports Commentary xkcd.com/3262/

Comic. [A person and a second person with a ponytail sitting at a table with a screen showing a soccer game behind them.] PERSON 1: They could be in trouble. Over the last 36 years, they’ve gone 0 for 2 when they’ve scored in the 37th minute to lead 2-1 against a team whose country comes before theirs alphabetically. [caption] I wish sports commentators hadn’t discovered p-hacking.

363498455

Reposted by Jason McDermott

RedPen/BlackPen @redpenblackpen.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Feeling blocked? Who couldn't use the Write-o-Rooter™ once and awhile?

Cartoon with a fake ad: Write-O-Rooter. Feeling blocked? The Write-O-Rooter is guaranteed to get those words flowing again! Insert vigorously up to the handle and twist. It's that easy! (*if writing persists for more than four pages please seek editorial/proofreading help immediately)

072

Jason McDermott @biodataganache.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Oh man it’s the passphrase for my contact. What’s the counter phrase? WHAT DO I ANSWER?!?!

000

Jason McDermott @biodataganache.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Explain your @ I'm biodataganache - ganache is the mixture of chocolate and cream (I make chocolates from time to time) and biodata is what I do for a job - answer biological questions with data and algorithms as my microscope

031

Reposted by Jason McDermott

RedPen/BlackPen @redpenblackpen.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Douglas Adams had it so right. It's not about the answers we can generate It's about the questions we can ask

0216