iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

John Ball @john-m-ball.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

Finally: Check out the interactive 3D PDF of the reconstructions included in our Zenodo repository! For this kind of data, if a picture is worth a thousand words, a 3D model is a novel. I tested it thoroughly, and I'm optimistic it will broadly work for others. 🤞😂 zenodo.org/records/1718...

zenodo.org

Retinal S-cone specific anatomical and physiological data in the thirteen-lined ground squirrel

Original data corresponding to the PNAS (2025) publication titled "S-cone specific circuitry in the outer plexiform layer of a cone-dominant mammal." Data is organized by type: Reconstructions, Electr...

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John Ball @john-m-ball.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

For me, the most surprising part of the data was the H1 horizontal cell axon collaterals. *There are so many.* And they completely avoid S-cones! I now often find myself in the unfortunate position of lying awake at night pondering their role in vision. TBD. 3/n

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John Ball @john-m-ball.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

I'm very proud of this work and the quality of data produced by my co-authors. Happy in particular to see Yizhen's long summer intern reconstruction project get the recognition it deserves, as well as Shan's difficult recordings of S-cone bipolars and H2 horizontal cells. 2/n

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John Ball @john-m-ball.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

Extremely proud to share our publication on S-cone circuitry in the ground squirrel, newly available this week in PNAS. We've been staring at these reconstructions for a long time, and I'm excited for others to see the results. 1/n www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

pnas.org

S-cone-specific circuitry in the outer plexiform layer of a cone-dominant mammal | PNAS

In the vertebrate retina, short wavelength-sensitive S-cones and their downstream interneurons play unique roles in both image forming and non-imag...

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Rosa Lafer-Sousa @rosalafersousa.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

Over the weekend ICE abducted an NIH contractor when he showed up to a courthouse for his green card hearing. He is documented. His wife is a citizen. He is also member of the skeleton crew of animal care staff that works through a shutdown, to ensure the health and wellbeing of research animals.

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Rep. Emanuel Cleaver @cleaver.house.gov · 24/07/2025

If you’ve wondered why it feels so hard to afford life right now, here’s your answer: The Republican agenda is designed to protect the rich – even if it means cutting your health care, your benefits, and your children’s education.

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John Ball @john-m-ball.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

Just once I want one of those ads to roll that start with "This advice shouldn't be legal to know" and I come away with my heart racing and a fear that I've acquired knowledge that I don't dare share with others

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John Ball @john-m-ball.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

Also, they discover when a 10 year-old PC isn't running microscopy software due to a dead CMOS battery. (It's me, I did this today)

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John Ball @john-m-ball.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

Increased funding and support for early childhood care, across the board. Too many long-term consequences of early neglect and parental stress to ignore.

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James Martin, SJ @jamesmartinsj.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

Laughing in front of cages designed to hold migrants and refugees, many of whom came to this country fleeing extreme violence and poverty, and hoping to raise their children in a more compassionate country. And many of whom followed all the legal procedures to enter the country.

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John Ball @john-m-ball.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

Writing this and sharing it publicly is a huge act of courage. We're living through a time where every system critical for those who fall on hard times is under attack. We need these stories, and we desperately need people to listen.

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Dr. Kat Napaaqtuk❄️ @napaaqtuk.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

And then there's this nonsense. WE CANNOT SUBSTITUTE ANIMAL TRIALS WITH AI. We don't even know some of the basics of the immune system bc it's so fricking complicated. AI is based on what we know. Man, I was happier on the plane without wifi. Utter nonsense.

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Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

My statement on Donald Trump's threat to deport me and his praise for Eric Adams, who the President "helped out" of legal accountability.

The President of the United States just threatened to have me arrested, stripped of my citizenship, put in a detention camp and deported. Not because I have broken any law but because I will refuse to let ICE terrorize our city.

His statements don’t just represent an attack on our democracy but an attempt to send a message to every New Yorker who refuses to hide in the shadows: if you speak up, they will come for you. We will not accept this intimidation.

That Trump included praise for Eric Adams in his authoritarian threats is unsurprising, but highlights the urgency of bringing an end to this Mayor’s time in City Hall. At the very moment when MAGA Republicans are attempting to destroy the social safety net, kick millions of New Yorkers off of healthcare and enrich their billionaire donors at the expense of working families, it is a scandal that Eric Adams echoes this President’s division, distraction and hate.

Voters will resoundingly reject it in November.

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John Ball @john-m-ball.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

I see your Muscovy duck photo taken in Costa Rica with my Muscovy duck photo taken in Costa Rica. Your move (or still my move? I don't understand poker)

Another black and white Muscovy duck by a pond. It has red markings on its face and is walking towards the camera with a look on its face that may or may not be intended to challenge the photographer to a duel.

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John Ball @john-m-ball.bsky.social · 28/06/2025

Woof, I didn't realize how much I needed to listen to hear someone smart demonstrate critical thinking on this issue today.

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John Ball @john-m-ball.bsky.social · 28/06/2025

I *adore* this mug. Gorgeous and holds a triple espresso latte. Yum. And such welcome cool weather this morning.

My king mug of latte, a slightly oversized light gray speckled mug with a gently cartoonish carving of a koala parent and cub. It's like a big cozy hot tub of coffee. The top of the drink is criss-crossed with the mixing shades of light brown coffee and milk froth. The whole thing is sitting on my red-orange wooden outdoor table. I recently refinished this table, and there remains a hint of the water beading on the table from the still powerful waterproofing. It's very lightly sprinkling, a welcome respite from the recent oppressive heat.

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Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

Rep. Andy Ogles, a Republican from Tennessee, has sent a letter to Pam Bondi calling for Zohran Mamdani to be stripped of his citizenship and deported.

Andy Ogles: Zohran "little muhammad" Mamdani is an antisemitic, socialist, communist who will destroy the great City of New York. He needs to be DEPORTED. Which is why I am calling for him to be subject to denaturalization proceedings.
Attached is my letter to @AGPamBondi.

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John Ball @john-m-ball.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

In the end, my savior was a post buried in a subreddit discussing an adjacent issue, which I could only find by searching the reddit app and digging deep. I sincerely fear for the internet if reddit goes away.

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John Ball @john-m-ball.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

One of the top results was an AI-generated forum discussion populated entirely by bots talking to one another about the issue (and of course, advertising things to me). But because the topic is so poorly documented online, the solutions these bots mentioned were complete gibberish.

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John Ball @john-m-ball.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

Yesterday I was trying to connect my new-to-me gently used Rock Band 4 guitar to my PS5 (trying to relive my old glory days as a rock star), and the pairing process is NOT intuitive. Taking to the internet search, I was dumbfounded:

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John Ball @john-m-ball.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

Update: Take 2 is perfect 😁 (basically looks the same though...)

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John Ball @john-m-ball.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

I don't have a beautiful photo today, but let me share this perfectly* fit microscope stage adapter I designed and had printed at the NIH Library. It's recessed a little so the objective can reach these odd 6 well plates. *OK fine, not perfect, I lowered them too much, take 2 is printing now...

An off-white custom 3D printed adapter holding a 6 well plate on a black inverted microscope stage. It's ALMOST exactly right.

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Raider @iwillnotbesilenced.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

AOC during Zohran for Mayor rally: "There are people out there who say, 'If you go out and make this endorsement, your political career will be over.' And to that I say: I don't care. We will never get to a better place if everyone is just worried about themselves. If it's over, so be it."

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John Ball @john-m-ball.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

I assume I'm not that far into Sea of Stars, but I just defeated the Dweller of Torment using the Vespertine skill, and holy moly my inner 12 year old is losing his mind that was so cool

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Marla Feller @mfeller.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

@standupforscience.bsky.social represented in #Oakland,CA. incredible turnout including @danfeldman.bsky.social

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John Ball @john-m-ball.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

Yeah hey now stick to the satire

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Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

Melissa Hortman, who was assassinated last night, was the Speaker of the Minnesota House in the 2023-2024 session, when Democrats ran the state government. That means she had a leading role in shepherding the many landmark reforms that Dems adopted in that period—an important legacy. Brief 🧵.

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Luke BOO 👻 ber @coolhand.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

Reading all these takes about how Bluesky people are judgy hall monitors

Cartoon-style image showing a child in a blue outfit with red and white stripes, crouched on the ground with their face buried in their hands. Two white geese with orange beaks and feet stand on either side of the child. The goose on the left has text over it reading “WHICH ONES.” The child has text reading “I’M BEING SILENCED FOR MY OPINIONS.” The goose on the right has text reading “WHICH ONES MOTHERFUCKER.” The scene is set on a sidewalk next to a patch of grass.

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Holly Stallcup (she/her) @hollystallcup.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

There is no excuse for this. None. And this is why we talk about abolishing the police. These people are not serving the public in any way. THEY TOOK HIS FUCKING WALKER AWAY.

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John Ball @john-m-ball.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

Saving this tweet image to show those who continue to tell me this isn't about racism

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Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

When Senator Bill Cassidy announced he would vote to confirm RFK Jr, he included this in his statement: “If confirmed, he will maintain the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices without changes.” WITHOUT CHANGES.

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Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

Get the sense that attack in Colorado was the work of a single individual and thus hard to prevent. But worth recalling how how many FBI have already been pulled off counterterrorism and other forms of crimes for immigrant round up duty.

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John Ball @john-m-ball.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

I suppose it would explain a lot...

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Brent Terhune @brentterhune.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

You’re telling me this guy was on drugs? I’m not buying it.

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BWJones @bwjones.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

The White House proposed budget for 2026 does not include the National Eye Institute… The institute that has funded almost the entirety of my career. The proposal is to merge it in with neuroscience, despite a whole half of the eye (the front part) which has little to do with neuroscience per se.

National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The following tables are in millions of dollars.
Institutes/Centers26 27 28
2026
National Cancer Institute
4,531
National Institute on Body Systems
4,152
National Institute on Neuroscience and Brain Research
2,445
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
4,175
National Institute of General Medical Sciences 29
3,677
National Institute for Child and Women's Health, Sensory Disorders, and Communication
1,414
National Institute on Aging
2,687
National Institute of Behavioral Health
2,785
Office of the Director
1,650
21st Century Cures Innovation Account30
31
Buildings and Facilities
210
Mandatory Funding
2026

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Washington Metropolitan Gamer Symphony Orchestra @wmgso.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

The Washington Metropolitan Gamer Symphony Orchestra and Chorus has grown to almost 150 musicians on stage for our full ensemble concerts, and we’re so proud of the fabulous performances we offer of video game music! 🎶 Here’s to many more years of growth and music sharing! 🥰🖤🤍

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Gregg Gonsalves @gregggonsalves.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

I don't think anyone outside of universities, pharma and biotech, independent research institutions have any idea of what is happening right now. If you haven't sounded the alarm among your friends, family and colleagues, now is the time to do it.

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Alt NIH Bluesky 🧪 @altnih4science.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

We published a piece in March saying the real Trump/Vought/DOGE goal was to bring universities to their knees, and now they’re just … saying it out loud. From our blog: altnih4science.substack.com/p/trump-is-a...

altnih4science.substack.com

Trump is attacking NIH because politicizing funding can force universities to become conservative thinktanks

It's bad, folks. The real war is on free thought in the United States.

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🅡🅞🅑 🅜🅔🅢🅤🅡🅔 @robmesure.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

I have been logged out of my toothbrush.

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John Ball @john-m-ball.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

I assume it depends on the context

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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 28/05/2025

REPORTER: When could the administration resume interviews for foreign students visa? TRUMP: On what? REPORTER: Foreign student visas TRUMP: For the French? REPORTER: All the foreign students TRUMP: What are you referring-- foreign visas for what?

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John Ball @john-m-ball.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

How sure are we that DJT isn't just an AI now? Sure tweets like one

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