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Bob Darnell

@darnelr.bsky.social
339 followers 313 following 57 posts

Professor @rockefelleruniv.bsky.social @hhmi.org Perpetually in training as a physician scientist, humanist & triathlete www.rockefeller.edu/our-scientists/… orcid.org/0000-0002-5134-8088

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Reposted by Bob Darnell
Jen Jennings @jenjennings.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
You don’t gut the country's capacity to measure what's happening in its schools because you care about improving them. Guardian article below.
graph of number of employees at NCES
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Jen Jennings @jenjennings.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
theguardian.com
Trump administration guts data collection on US education as math and reading scores plummet
National Center for Education Statistics, which collects critical data to guide policy on learning, was decimated after Doge canceled crucial contracts
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Cedric Boeckx @cedricboeckx.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
“Atlas of cell types and regulatory elements underlying human facial diversity” @adameykolab.bsky.social & colleagues 🧪🧬 @natgenet.nature.com www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Atlas of cell types and regulatory elements underlying human facial diversity - Nature Genetics
Single-cell transcriptomics, spatial transcriptomics and chromatin accessibility maps of the human craniofacial region in developing embryos provide insights into the mechanisms underlying facial vari...
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laura olin @lauraolin.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Abdul El-Sayed on capitalism: “I’m capitalist who just knows about capitalism. I have a bad habit of reading, I’m so sorry.”
We’ve spoken about capitalism versus socialism.

Do you want to talk about capitalism? Let’s talk about capitalism. Are you recording? Capitalism is about leveraging the laws of supply and demand to efficiently allocate capital expenditure to maximize value. When capitalism works, it’s because you have free entry and exit into markets. So if you believe in capitalism, you have to believe in government regulation to protect markets. In fact, right now, we have exactly the opposite. You don’t have to be a socialist to believe that you should be taxing billionaires their wealth. In fact, if you are a capitalist, you should believe in that. So, I’m capitalist who just knows about capitalism. I have a bad habit of reading, I’m so sorry.
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Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.net · 02/08/2026
By politicizing the federal grant process, the OMB Grant Proposal will substantially weaken our scientific enterprise that has made the United States a global leader in innovation. Take action against the proposal the link: zurl.co/Au4wk Article: zurl.co/dGIrM
zurl.co
How Trump’s “America First” Administration Could Shut U.S. Scientists Out of the Next Nobel-Worthy Discovery
A proposed White House rule would give political appointees unprecedented control over scientific funding. One physicist, who helped discover the Higgs boson, explains how the rule would’ve stifled that breakthrough.
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Bob Darnell @darnelr.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
If there is one thing I learned as an undergrad at Columbia--read the Richard Lattimore translation (published in 1965) ... known for its fidelity to Greek syntax and formula ... his translation aligns almost line-for-line with the standard Greek text
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Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
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I have written to you earlier about your Stanford colleague Ben Barres. Ben was a remarkable scientist and human being. He was assigned female at birth and raised as Barbara based on external genitalia. However, it subsequently turned out that Ben had Müllerian agenesis and lacked a uterus and upper vagina. So what are the “biological facts” in this case? I do know from discussions with Ben and from his powerful posthumous autobiography (which I previously sent to you and hope you have read) that Ben always felt like a male and was suicidally depressed before he learned that others had this same condition. He was much happier and more stable after his transition to Ben. Unfortunately, he also had another genetic variation (in BRCA2) and had breast cancer as Barbara and then died of pancreatic cancer.
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Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
A new email to Director Bhattacharya regarding an upcoming "Scientific Freedom" lecture www.nih.gov/about-nih/ni... 1/7
nih.gov
NIH Scientific Freedom Lecture Series
[Enter summary here]
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ashley fairbanks @ziibiing.com · 20/07/2026
well, I never expected to be published in a Stanford journal, but the McKnight Foundation asked me write my thesis to the philanthropic world after the MN ICE surge: when there is an emergency, just... give money to people on the ground doing the actual work. as fast as possible. radical, I know.
ssir.org
Giving Can Be Simple (And During a Crisis, It Must Be) (SSIR)
When the village cannot wait, philanthropy must learn from community.
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MU-Peter Shimon 🀄 @mu-peter.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
🔆 Good Morning! I'm taking steps too overcome my hiking addiction But I'm not out of the woods yet. A prescription to walk... "the closest thing we have to a wonder drug," in the words of Dr. Thomas Frieden 5 surprising benefits of walking🧪 www.health.harvard.edu/healthy-agin...
Trail in the woods
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Bob Darnell @darnelr.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Posted my comments today--still time everyone! Individual comments worth much more than cut/paste comments (which get aggregated into a single comment)
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Bob Darnell @darnelr.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
From Robert Reich's "A warning about American fascism", a PSA made by the US government in 1945...Happy 250th for all, except those stoking hate against our country. www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnA1...
youtube.com
This World War II PSA Warned Us About Fascism
YouTube video by Robert Reich
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Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.net · 29/06/2026
If this rule change goes forward, science in the US “will stop,” says Colette Delawalla, the founder and CEO of Stand Up for Science. “It won’t exist anymore.” Read the article here:zurl.co/gEtBL Then help us take action against the proposed rule here: zurl.co/J3Z23
zurl.co
The war against ‘woke’ could end US science as we know it
“Everyone will be affected, not just scientists. Every community in the country.”
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Brad Friedman / The BRAD BLOG @thebradblog.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Help Stop Trump’s Project 2025 Scheme to Kill Science: Today's #BradCast Guest: @cdelawalla.bsky.social of @standupforscience.net; Also: Judge nixes Trump election rigging order; Mamdani's progressives sweep; Primary results from UT, MD, SC, NY... FULL STORY, LISTEN: bradblog.com?p=17804
bradblog.com
Help Stop Trump’s Project 2025 Scheme to Kill Science: ‘BradCast’ 6/24/2026
Guest: Dr. Colette Delawalla of Stand Up for Science; Also: Judge nixes Trump election rigging order; Mamdani's progressives sweep; Primary results from UT, MD, SC, NY...
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Greg Priest @gregpriest.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Francis Crick was born OTD in 1916. We've all seen the DNA diagram that appeared in Crick and Watson’s Nature paper (left), but have you seen his sketch (right), from which his wife Odile made the published version? 🌱🐋🧪🐡 #EvoBio #HistSTM
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M.R. Robinson @mruthrobinson.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
If you have ever emailed a writer to let them know you enjoyed something they wrote, you are among the noblest and best and most saintly in this entire world, and I hope you sleep really well tonight.
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Jen Jennings @jenjennings.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
As it turns out: electrified tracks end in DC, so we'll switch to a diesel engine, allowing riders to reflect on what progress looks like, backwards.
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Carolyn Bertozzi @carolynbertozzi.bskyverified.social · 13/04/2026
Thank you #NobelLaureate Jack Szostak for sharing these thoughts, which many US scientists and physicians resonate with newsletter.ofthebrave.org/p/im-a-nobel...
newsletter.ofthebrave.org
I’m a Nobel Prize-winning immigrant. I can no longer recognize this country.
Attacks on science and immigrants are destroying America.
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Dr. Mar @boldnewme.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
Look at the women at NASA. They are the ones pushing the boundaries of science, solving problems most people can’t even understand, and carrying this country forward, while our politicians right now posture and stumble through talking points. And they are doing it all with joy.👇
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Blasphemous Jones ↙️ @blasphemousjones.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
"A well-articulated argument against a new data center in Ohio" (1/2) Source (video not split here): old.reddit.com/r/interestin...
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Bob Darnell @darnelr.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
So very very proud of my dear friend Greg Hannon, a leader and intellectual powerhouse
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Bob Darnell @darnelr.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
Way to go Angela, Kristian and Gigi…great effort to empower truth over ideology
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Jen Jennings @jenjennings.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
Republican AZ State Supe wants me off his damn lawn. Tough break: beginning April 24, I have 16 uninterrupted months on sabbatical to analyze his program’s data and make it public. Taxpayers deserve to see what they’re paying for. Mazel tov.
Letter from az state superintendent tom Horne
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Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani @mayor.nyc.gov · 17/03/2026
Happy St. Patrick's Day, New York.
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Jen Jennings @jenjennings.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
🧵 Arizona Ed said it analyzed a random sample of 3K ESA transactions & concluded 1.9% of ESA $ unallowable. TLDR: 🫠They did not draw a random sample 🫠Either ADE lied or made a very basic error 🫠Focusing on unallowed misses big picture; too many low-ROI for human capital items are allowed 1/10
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Bob Darnell @darnelr.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
Princeton's @jenjennings.bsky.social research takedown of AZ Dept Ed: stunning & seeming willful abuses of their voucher program. Hope the AZ Attorney General makes all accountable for > $400M in stockpiled/misused voucher money. And hats off to AZ 12News for pursuing! www.12news.com/article/news...
12news.com
Condoms, gift cards and wedding gifts: Arizona parents allegedly misspent $10 million in ESA funds
The Arizona Department of Education records obtained by 12News show misspending could be 20% of all purchases in the $1 billion voucher program.
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Bob Darnell @darnelr.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
Spanberger’s rebuttal and dominance of Woman’s Olympic feats—Jennifer Rubin nails it…worth an end-to-end read substack.com/@jenrubincon...
substack.com
Jennifer Rubin (@jenrubincontrarian)
The women’s team represents the best of America. No wonder Trump felt compelled to denigrate them.
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Mike Luckovich @mluckovich.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
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Bob Darnell @darnelr.bsky.social · 15/02/2026
I have entirely deleted my X/Twitter account today. A sense of relief has ensued.
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Jonathan Howard @joho.bsky.social · 15/02/2026
He’s too busy making podcasts about 2020 to talk about his supposed job today.
Bhattacharya did not respond to an NBC News inquiry about when he plans to fill the vacant spots or with whom.
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Jen Jennings @jenjennings.bsky.social · 15/02/2026
You can't buy a rotisserie chicken for humans with SNAP $, but you can buy rotisserie chicken-flavored cat and dog toothpaste (last line) with Arizona ESA $.
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Jen Jennings @jenjennings.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
I discussed new Arizona ESA data with Arizona 12 News’ Craig Harris. 20% of transactions deemed unallowable. Imagine letting public schools spend taxpayer dollars with this little oversight or auditing. We wouldn’t. Release the data, and let the public see what it’s funding.
12news.com
Voucher supporters say Empowerment Scholarship fraud is 1%. New records peg misspending closer to 20%.
12News obtained Education Department records showing that one in five ESA purchases—such as cellphones, TVs, and diamond rings—were on the "unallowable" list.
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Bob Darnell @darnelr.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
Not a well thought out ad to learn from an "educational program" for scientists to learn how to buy/use their instruments
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Bob @psychobob4q2.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
Bring it
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Jen Jennings @jenjennings.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
amazing that Tensions can deploy tear gas and abduct 5 year olds. the new york times is undefeated.
Tensions in Minneapolis
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Elizabeth Wrigley-Field @wrigleyfield.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
If I could ask everyone outside Minnesota to read one thing to understand what's going on there (on ICE's side, not the community response), my current pick would be this public Facebook post by @erinmayequade.bsky.social, a state legislator in Apple Valley, an outer-ring suburb of Minneapolis
facebook.com
Erin Maye Quade
I want to try and describe what it is like in Minnesota right now for my friends in other states. As a reminder, Alyse and I live in the suburbs -- Apple Valley -- not Minneapolis. This federal...
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damniel spookradski @self.agency · 27/12/2025
shel silverstein was a prophet
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Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 27/12/2025
More news (not good) from NIH The renewal request from National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke Director Walter Koroshetz has been denied. I guess the NIH_leadership™ needed another position to fill with their time-tested recruitment process.
An email to NINDS staff from Walter Koroshetz announcing that his reappointment request has been denied.
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Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute @cruk-ci.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
Dr @lucygossage.bsky.social was the first keynote at our 2025 Retreat. Oncologist, professional Ironman champion, and founder of 5K Your Way, Dr Gossage also did her PhD at @cruk-ci.bsky.social. Recalling this time, she said "completing a PhD and training for an Ironman are remarkably similar!"
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Bob Darnell @darnelr.bsky.social · 01/11/2025
Words of wisdom from a trusted Nobel Laureate…most of science is troubleshooting failure. Perhaps this is true of the rest of our lives as well, where success overcoming internal and external challenges, while keeping a positive spirit = contentment.
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Jen Jennings @jenjennings.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
Known for decades as the Big Three of Groundbreaking Research - and now first in line for federal grants
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Ardem Patapoutian @ardemp.bskyverified.social · 31/10/2025
This is heartbreaking 💔 to read. Thank you 🙏 for sharing this with us. I want to apologize to you on behalf of real Americans. It’s a painful reminder that we must keep resisting these harmful policies so we don’t lose more people like @wwenneuro.bsky.social, whom we spent over a decade training.
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Bob Darnell @darnelr.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
A thought article written by a thoughtful human, touching on the essential nature of human language. “Why Even Basic A.I. Use Is So Bad for Students” www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/o...
nytimes.com
Opinion | Why Even Basic A.I. Use Is So Bad for Students
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Jen Jennings @jenjennings.bsky.social · 26/10/2025
I can’t wait for the day we get to call him Mayor Mamdani.
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Cedric Boeckx @cedricboeckx.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
The authors suggest this may have allowed “speech-relevant neurons to accommodate elevated levels of FOXP2 without toxicity associated with protein aggregation”. This reminded me of the discussion of Parvalbumin in this paper on vocal learning by @erichjarvis.bsky.social
science.org
Convergent transcriptional specializations in the brains of humans and song-learning birds
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The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 14/10/2025
ICYMI: “And now, a response from the leader of the frog resistance...” 🐸 🎵 #Colbert
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Bob Darnell @darnelr.bsky.social · 30/05/2025
Congratulations to Princeton's Tom Muir, one of the most creative and thoughtful scientists I know, for being awarded the BMS Enzyme Chemistry & Chemical Biology Award chemistry.princeton.edu/news/tom-mui...
chemistry.princeton.edu
Muir Earns Enzyme Chemistry Award from ACS – Princeton University Department of Chemistry
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Jen Jennings @jenjennings.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
An entirely unnecessary fold. Adding “this celebration is open to everyone” - as we have done for all affinity events and celebrations at Princeton - makes these events legal.
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Bob Darnell @darnelr.bsky.social · 26/04/2025
Thanks for posting a path to directly "chat" with Jay Bhattacharya-encouraging everyone to submit comments/questions! Here is mine: "A Physician's credo is to do no harm. Either step up and be a Physician, stop ripping apart the efforts of so many to do good, or look in the mirror and step down."
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erichjarvis.bsky.social @erichjarvis.bsky.social · 19/04/2025
Went for a walk to Central Park, New York and ran into a massive protest. Decided to join and document. Thousands of marchers were protesting everything the Trump administration and his supporters represent, walking around Trump Tower and then onto the park. I post the messages that resonated most.
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