Reposted by Randy Heiland This Many Years Ago @thismanyyearsago.bsky.social · 18/09/202649 years ago, on the 18th of September 1977, space probe Voyager I took the first long distance photograph of earth and the moon together from 7.25 million miles (11.66 million kilometres) away. #otd #history #space 🗃️ 217442
Reposted by Randy Heiland Ted Pavlic (he/him/his) @tedpavlic.bsky.social · 15/09/2026New widget for my stochastic #simulation course that I hope will be useful for other #statistics and #probability courses. Gallery of common probability distributions with info on logical origins, parameters, and how to sample from them among other things. tpavlic.github.io/asu-simulati...tpavlic.github.ioDistribution Explorer — interactive explainerNineteen common input-modeling distributions, one per tab: live pdf or pmf and cdf plots against reference shapes, formulas and moments, when to choose each one over its neighbors, how they relate, an... 051
Reposted by Randy Heiland Joshua Bull @joshuabull.bsky.social · 11/09/2026The MuSpAn paper is now live! If you've been working from the preprint or early access version, I'm happy to say you can now read it in its beautifully formatted final form, complete with Figures that appear at logical places in the manuscript instead of piled up at the back doi.org/10.1038/s414...doi.orgMuSpAn: a toolbox for multiscale spatial analysis - Nature CommunicationsBull, Moore, and colleagues present MuSpAn, a flexible platform for analysing spatial biology data across scales. It integrates diverse methods to enable quantitative characterisation of tissue organi... 1205
Reposted by Randy Heiland Will Ratcliff @wcratcliff.bsky.social · 03/08/2026So, bluesky, where is the discussion of the absolute insane things AI is doing in the realm of mathematics? It seems like we're nearly at the inflection point where the models are as good as human domain experts, and soon may well be better. Is that discourse only happening on twitter? 387119
Reposted by Randy Heiland Luke Ontario @coolhand.bsky.social · 29/07/2024Wow. This is such great advice it startled me 342005442
Randy Heiland @rheiland.bsky.social · 05/06/2026‘Virtual cells’ aim to turn raw data into predictive models of biology www.nature.com/articles/d41...nature.com‘Virtual cells’ aim to turn raw data into predictive models of biologySimulations of biological systems could transform biomedical research, but researchers are still learning how to reproduce life’s complexity without drowning in data. 010
Reposted by Randy Heiland Science Magazine @science.org · 28/05/2026Researchers have identified superparamagnetic macrophages in the livers of rock pigeons to be crucial for magnetic sensing. The finding uncovers an unexpected role for immune cells in sensory perception and may fundamentally change our understanding of animal navigation. scim.ag/4nTQ3nq 12520196
Reposted by Randy Heiland Richard Sever @richardsever.bsky.social · 24/05/2026"I would like to emphasize the importance of question-driven science...young scientists might enjoy science more if they are thinking about questions rather than just collecting data" journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...journals.biologists.comInterview with Noboru Mizushima – President of the Japan Society for Cell BiologyNoboru Mizushima is Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Tokyo, Japan, where he runs a laboratory studying the mechanisms and physiological functions of autophagy and o... 213150
Reposted by Randy Heiland c0nc0rdance @c0nc0rdance.bsky.social · 15/10/2023Honeybees understand the concept of zero, or "null set", putting them in the same cognitive class as parrots, dolphins and primates in that regard. What's more interesting to me is HOW WE CAN KNOW THAT. The experimental design is what I want to focus on: 11439161
Reposted by Randy Heiland Wallace Marshall @wallaceucsf.bsky.social · 08/05/2026It’s starting to seem like changes in cell volume are turning up in many different cases of cell state transitions. Would be nice to collect examples. 3315
Reposted by Randy Heiland NPR @npr.org · 19/04/2026This week, NASA announced it had shut down one of that spacecraft's remaining science instruments — not because the mission has failed, but to keep it alive a little longer. n.pr/41HfdLSn.prThe Little Probe That Could: Why Voyager 1 Matters, and Why NASA Just Switched Part of It OffThis week, NASA announced it had shut down one of that spacecraft's remaining science instruments — not because the mission has failed, but to keep it alive a little longer. 12454106
Reposted by Randy Heiland Lana Sinapayen @sinalana.eurosky.social · 18/04/2026Is there somewhere a list of all the definitions of "complexity" especially in the context of biology, information theory, evolution, complex systems? #ALife 1387
Reposted by Randy Heiland Johanna Joyce @johannajoyce.bsky.social · 16/04/2026What does it take to truly understand #cancer in all of its complexity? Delighted to share our Review in Cell "Cancer ecosystems: A dynamic interplay across scales" with Daniela Quail, where we propose a multi-scale framework connecting tumor ecology with physiology 🧪⚕️ www.cell.com/cell/fulltex... 77433
Reposted by Randy Heiland John C. Baez @johncarlosbaez.bsky.social · 10/04/2026In the town of Quartzsite I picked up a beautiful chunk of labradorite. This mineral creates an eerie blue shimmer in the sunlight - a phenomenon called 'labradorescence'. It's a form of feldspar. 60% of the Earth's crust is feldspar, and I know so little about this stuff! (1/n) 34811
Reposted by Randy Heiland The Dissenter @thedissenteryt.bsky.social · 07/04/2026In episode 886, I talk with Dr. Randall Beer about autopoiesis, enactivism, dynamical systems, and evo-devo approaches in #Biology. #CognitiveScience #Science youtu.be/1YcSgczYqKkyoutu.be#886 Randall Beer: Autopoiesis, Enactivism, Dynamical Systems, and Evo-Devo Approaches in BiologyYouTube video by The Dissenter 274
Reposted by Randy Heiland cait (and adonis) @cait.bsky.social · 07/03/2026there's so much bad in the world but there's also people who lift up and carry an elderly bat around every day so he can pretend he's flying again, and that's the part of the world I think is worth fighting for 87224396814
Randy Heiland @rheiland.bsky.social · 31/01/2026The bluebirds are rethinking their migration plans 010
Reposted by Randy Heiland Saloni @scientificdiscovery.dev · 22/12/2025The hepatitis B vaccine is amazing. It was the first viral protein subunit vaccine, the first recombinant vaccine, AND the first vaccine to prevent a type of cancer. That's right: we've had a cancer vaccine for over 40 years. Our new three-hour episode of Hard Drugs is all about it:open.spotify.comThe first cancer vaccine 318739
Reposted by Randy Heiland robertfathauer.bsky.social @robertfathauer.bsky.social · 11/12/2025The online gallery for 2026 Joint Mathematics Meetings Exhibition of Mathematical Art is now live: gallery.bridgesmathart.org/exhibitions/.... 02712
Reposted by Randy Heiland Eric Topol @erictopol.bsky.social · 05/12/2025One proposed strategy to promote a youthful immune system and human healthspan is to rejuvenate our thymus gland. Can we learn from this exceptional (and peculiar looking) vertebrate that can do this? science.org/doi/10.1126/... 1015032
Reposted by Randy Heiland allen institute @alleninstitute.org · 25/11/2025With nearly 10 million neurons & 26 billion synapses, a supercomputer-powered virtual brain model, developed by our scientists and collaborators, could allow risky or impossible experiments to be run safely in software. @reuters.com reports: www.reuters.com/video/watch/... 091
Reposted by Randy Heiland Prisca Liberali @priscaliberali.bsky.social · 26/11/2025Emergence and Self-organisation across biological scales! I hope you are ready for next year conference! It will be an incredible event April 20-22 2026. The first of many #LakeConference organised by @ehannezo.bsky.social @alleninstitute.org and James Sharpe @embl.org 12811
Reposted by Randy Heiland Alejandro Montenegro @aemonten.bsky.social · 22/11/2025Another thing that is making this an "interesting" time to be the head of Integrity in Publishing at a scientific publisher 🥲 We really need major oversight at institutions, before things are sent for publication. Data provenance is key. 134
Reposted by Randy Heiland Abdoulaye Diack @diack.bsky.social · 18/10/2025Competitor enters a major AI competition (RNA folding) GPU poor so can't train an AI Builds a "classic" eng pipeline instead. (90s tech) Wins and beat everyone using DL 💀 Their winning "hybrid" model had an AI in it. Their original one did not and had a higher score So they won despite the AI 😂 27625
Reposted by Randy Heiland Dr Space Junk (Alice Gorman) @drspacejunk.bsky.social · 12/10/2025What are your favourite biographies of mathematicians? 🧪 📚💙 18229
Reposted by Randy Heiland ISB @isbscience.org · 11/10/2025Two leading voices in medicine – Lee Hood and Eric Topol – will explore what it means to live longer and healthier in a free virtual conversation hosted by @isbscience.org. 🗓️ November 4, 10-11 a.m. PT 💻 Register here – isbscience.zoom.us/webinar/regi... #Longevity #DigitalHealth #SuperAgers 032
Reposted by Randy Heiland Richard Sever @richardsever.bsky.social · 18/09/2025bioRxiv partners with Dryad to enable easier, better linking to curated datasets connect.biorxiv.org/news/2025/09...connect.biorxiv.orgDryad partnership brings easier data sharing to bioRxivbioRxiv - the preprint server for biology, operated by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, a research and educational institution 25535
Reposted by Randy Heiland Quanta Magazine @quantamagazine.org · 01/06/2025Manu Prakash practices “recreational biology,” a scientific approach that explores life in the same playful way that puzzles probe math. “Basic science is not at the service of something, but the groundwork that is our entire society’s foundation.” www.quantamagazine.org/how-paradoxi... 1388
Randy Heiland @rheiland.bsky.social · 06/09/2025Opinion: Susan Stamberg, trailblazer and NPR Founding Mother, retires - NPR 120
Reposted by Randy Heiland Journal of Cell Biology @jcb.org · 03/09/2025Our new collection offers cell biologists practical, expert-driven guidance and best practices in the design, execution, and analysis of experiments, and the subsequent communication of their results to their peers. 👉 rupress.org/jcb/collecti... #Reproducibility 13728
Randy Heiland @rheiland.bsky.social · 01/09/2025www.nytimes.com/2025/08/30/o...nytimes.comOpinion | The Era of the American Lawn Is Over 010
Reposted by Randy Heiland epithelial mechanics fan club @epimechfc.bsky.social · 31/08/2025Are different cell types like oil and water? Over a century ago, researchers found that dissociated sponges and embryonic tissues can self-assemble into functional structures. Join me, @benswedlund.bsky.social to explore the differential adhesion hypothesis & its applications in tissue engineering! 14618
Reposted by Randy Heiland Miranda Hunter @mrndhntr.bsky.social · 27/08/2025My recent postdoctoral work is out today in @nature.com! We found that physical confinement makes melanoma cells more invasive and drug tolerant. Thanks to all who made this work possible @whitefishlab.bsky.social @mskcancercenter.bsky.social #NIH #NCI www.nature.com/articles/s41...nature.comMechanical confinement governs phenotypic plasticity in melanoma - NatureMechanical confinement of cancer cells at the tumour–microenvironment interface induces phenotype switching through chromatin remodelling by HMGB2, leading to a more invasive and drug-resistant state ... 66924
Reposted by Randy Heiland Nature @nature.com · 27/08/2025For some three billion years, unicellular organisms ruled Earth. Then, around one billion years ago, a new chapter of life began go.nature.com/3JyRV4Sgo.nature.comHow did life get multicellular? Five simple organisms could have the answerSingle-celled species that often stick together in colonies have researchers rethinking the origin of animals. 413149
Reposted by Randy Heiland Deborah Blum @deborahb.bsky.social · 16/08/2025We need (good) science journalism now more than ever. And you'll find me and other journalists saying just that in this smart piece.nature.comWhy newsrooms must rethink science journalism before the next crisisDespite climate extremes, pandemics and a global AI revolution, science reporting remains underfunded and undervalued. 33613
Reposted by Randy Heiland Nalini Joshi @monsoon0.bsky.social · 14/08/2025I love the theme of the 2026 International Day of Mathematics: “Mathematics and Hope” 👉🏼 www.idm314.org #mathskyidm314.orgInternational Day of MathematicsA worldwide celebration of Mathematics on March 14 of every year. 0125
Reposted by Randy Heiland Paul Macklin @mathcancer.bsky.social · 28/07/2025Really excited to share our new @cellpress.bsky.social Cell paper with @fertiglab.bsky.social and colleagues. 1/n www.cell.com/cell/fulltex... @jktgfoundation.bsky.social @itcrtraining.bsky.social @smbmathbiology.bsky.social #mathbio #mathonco @mathonco.bsky.social @deniswirtz.bsky.socialcell.comHuman interpretable grammar encodes multicellular systems biology models to democratize virtual cell laboratoriesWe developed a plain text modeling language—a cell behavior hypothesis grammar—to easily build virtual cell models and connect them to data, helping scientists to unlock the hidden dynamics of tissues... 35620
Reposted by Randy Heiland John Pearson @jmxpearson.bsky.social · 24/07/2025Ok, reinforcement learning fans: RL is great, but what do we do when there's no obvious reward from the environment? What about perfecting a golf swing or a foxtrot or a musical performance? We may have an answer. A tale of 🐦 🎶 + 🧠. 🧵1/ #bioacoustics #prattle 💬 #neuroai #compneuro 47928
Reposted by Randy Heiland Dan Ruderman @danruderman.bsky.social · 25/07/2025Fantastic work, @mathcancer.bsky.social ! phys.org/news/2025-07...phys.orgNew software simulates cancer cell behavior using genomics and computational modelsIn the same vein as weather forecast models that predict developing storms, researchers have now developed a method to predict the cell activity in tissues over time. The new software combines genomic... 1164
Reposted by Randy Heiland Nicholas A. Christakis @nachristakis.bsky.social · 28/06/2025Wow! For the first time ever, the James Webb Space Telescope has revealed an exoplanet by directly imaging it. The newfound world has a mass similar to Saturn and orbits inside the debris disk surrounding a very young star just 111 light years away. via @nature.com www.nature.com/articles/s41...nature.comEvidence for a sub-Jovian planet in the young TWA 7 disk - NatureUsing the James Webb Space Telescope's Mid-Infrared Instrument, a study reports evidence for a direct detection of a cold, sub-Jupiter-mass planet in the disk of the star TWA 7. 09521
Reposted by Randy Heiland James Briscoe @jamesbriscoe.bsky.social · 29/05/2025Key Innovation: Getting beyond descriptive trajectories. DLA generates a geometric dynamical model—a Waddington landscape—that provides mechanistic insights without needing every molecular detail It bridges microscopic gene expression to macroscopic cell behaviour 2162
Reposted by Randy Heiland Alain Goriely @alaingoriely.bsky.social · 16/06/2025Scientists love to use the expression "emergent behaviour" when they talk about complex systems (as I do) But what it means is not clear As a way to start a conversation, here is a definition: a behaviour is emergent if it cannot be easily guessed through naive reasoning. What is your definition? 7101
Reposted by Randy Heiland Vaughn Cooper @vscooper.micropopbio.org · 08/06/2025Sharing the most significant work from my group, led by the @evolvingstem.bsky.social team. Come for the discoveries of how Pseudomonas adapts in biofilms, stay for the story of how they were discovered by thousands of young scientists in grades 9-12. 🧪🧫🧬🧵 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...biorxiv.orgStudent-led experimental evolution reveals novel biofilm regulatory networks underlying adaptations to multiple nichesWe established a research-education partnership known as EvolvingSTEM that provides secondary school students the opportunity to conduct authentic research experiments centered on microbial evolution.... 416875
Reposted by Randy Heiland Jon Humphries @jdhl18.bsky.social · 28/05/2025Shaping epithelial tissues by stem cell mechanics in development and cancer www.nature.com/articles/s41...nature.comShaping epithelial tissues by stem cell mechanics in development and cancer - Nature Reviews Molecular Cell BiologyAdult stem cells self-renew and differentiate to build, maintain and repair tissues. This Review discusses recent insights into the contribution of mechanical forces produced by epithelial stem cell a... 033
Reposted by Randy Heiland Knut Einar Rosendahl @rosendahlke.bsky.social · 28/05/2025Many believed that EU would not be able to reach its ambitious 2030 climate goal Now: EU almost on track to reach 2030 climate goal www.reuters.com/sustainabili...reuters.comEU almost on track to reach 2030 climate goalThe European Union is nearly on track to reach its main climate target for this decade, with countries' existing CO2-cutting plans set to bring the bloc within one percentage point of the goal, the European Commission said on Wednesday. 627664
Reposted by Randy Heiland Giulia Laura Celora @gcelora.bsky.social · 26/05/2025Extremely happy to see our work on the collective chemotaxis of cell groups out! Such an incredible and fun collaboration leading to exciting interdisciplinary science #biophysics #mathbio #cellbiology 🔗 doi.org/10.1073/pnas... 0105
Reposted by Randy Heiland Ana Hernandez Rodriguez @analiahr.bsky.social · 15/05/2025One of the reasons I love #DevelopmentalBiology is that it's so visually engaging. I had the pleasure of organising an image competition at the GRC last March, and share this passion. You can now check out these images on @the-node.bsky.social: thenode.biologists.com/grs-developm...thenode.biologists.comGRS Developmental Biology 2025 Image gallery - the NodeThe 2025 Developmental Biology Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) was held on March 29-30 2025. This year, the GRS co-chairs Ana R. Hernandez Rodriguez and 02912
Randy Heiland @rheiland.bsky.social · 03/05/2025Rose-breasted Grosbeak, male & female (and red headed woodpecker) 030
Reposted by Randy Heiland c0nc0rdance @c0nc0rdance.bsky.social · 26/04/2025Do not adjust your screen. Viewing this tree does not require special 3-D glasses. That's just what the 'Rising Sun' redbud (Cercis canadensis) looks like. Native to North America, it was found growing wild & propagated. The trippy 3-D movie effect is a consequence of two factors: 18629153