iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 12/09/2026

I think connectomics is really really cool ... and also the most interesting thing about the brain is how it changes. capturing the dynamic nature of the transcriptome has been hard enough... i can only imagine how hard that'll be with images. not to mention inter-personal differences.....

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 12/09/2026

it's times like these i miss my lab's journal clubs so badly 😭 like i need to be dissecting the paper this is based off with other neuroscientists STATTTT

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 11/09/2026

And to be clear, while AI is definitely changing the pace of mathematics research, the extent of plagiarism, credit, quality and even actual "creativity" are all worth discussing. Whenever I see a new "AI did X" headline, my first thought is always "did it actually?? and did it do it well?"

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 11/09/2026

"Mathematicians may be the canary in the coal mine for a lot of other professions.” www.scientificamerican.com/article/math... I think neuroscientists have a bit more time before we are forced on a similar journey with AI in our fields, but it's been on my mind a lot. Where is everyone else at?

scientificamerican.com

If AI can do math, what’s the point of mathematicians?

What happens when machines surpass the most brilliant human minds? Mathematicians are finding out

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 27/01/2026

I remember being SO giddy when I got to finally meet her at an event, after years of following her work as Minister of Science. She was incredibly generous with her time, chatting with all of us who queued up to meet her and take a selfie (it was a science policy event so there were many of us haha)

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 27/01/2026

Canada has lost a true champion for science with the passing of the Hon. Kirsty Duncan. Dr. Duncan was a medical geographer, Minister for Science, and a huge inspiration to many for her advocacy for basic science and uplifting women in STEM. We'll continue your legacy while you rest in peace <3

Kirsty Duncan in front of a black chalk board at the perimeter institute, smiling at a podium with her hair in its classic pony tail

sam and kirsty smiling in a pink hued selfie

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 19/01/2026

Somehow @astrokatie.com always finds a way to make me laugh — even when she’s talking about the end of the universe 😅 Catch our full conversation on the latest episode of Curiosity Weekly: bit.ly/CuriosityWeekly 🔭🧪

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 27/11/2025

Thanks for sharing this! It was a STEM-themed gingerbread house too 🥰 Isomalt windows, dry ice “smoke” on the chimney, and a homemade circuit lighting up the tree out front

Cookies of women in stem in front of gingerbread house with dry ice smoke out the chimney

Sam and Mary Berg posing with the house and cookies of women in STEM

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 06/11/2025

Researchers have previously decoded brain activity representing words or images before, and even a word or two for videos. But this study takes a step in getting more accurate longer descriptions based on mental representations of video, which are quite complex! www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

science.org

Mind captioning: Evolving descriptive text of mental content from human brain activity

Nonverbal thoughts can be translated into verbal descriptions by aligning semantic representations between text and the brain.

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 06/11/2025

You can see more results below. LEFT: The videos shown to participants are on the left. RIGHT: the AI's descriptions after 100 iterations interpreting brain activity from each of the 6 participants.

Four stills from four film reels on the left. Example outputs on the right. For example "Two women are dancing and are laughing with a teenage boy" to describe a film about "Two guys and a well-dressed woman are dancing."

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 06/11/2025

This is part of ongoing efforts to improve interpretation tools for people with language difficulties like aphasias. The researchers had 6 different people watch or recall videos while getting an fMRI. Then they tested whether a suite of AI tools could translate the fMRI data into descriptive text.

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 06/11/2025

Watch the journey of AI models trying to describe a video someone was watching -- going off nothing but their brain activity. Over 100 iterations, it went from "Given these principles" ... to "A circular and rotating shape is formed with subtly moving sections." Pretty impressive???!

Four stills of a film reel showing some kind of metallic trophy. Below are outputs from the AI over multiple iterations, as described in the post.

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 15/10/2025

The winners for the largest photo microscopy competition were just announced and they do NOT disappoint!! [Photos shared with permission courtesy of the 2025 Nikon Small World Photo Competition] 🧪🔬

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 10/10/2025

🗣️ Let Palestinians lead “Researchers who study post-war reconstruction have told @nature.com that the recovery of public health, environment, higher education & research in Gaza will not succeed unless it is led by experts from the Palestinian territory*” *Palestine www.nature.com/articles/d41...

nature.com

Rebuilding Gaza: don’t sideline Palestinian scientists, say experts

Researchers warn against ‘top down’ solutions as ceasefire is agreed in the first phase of a peace deal.

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 07/10/2025

I got to be a source for a 15-year-old journalist covering the science of studying and it was the sweetest media interview ever 😭😭 Catch the segment led by Jonnakae Hoskins -- definitely a talent to watch! 🧪 www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOn_...

youtube.com

Studytok? AI? Experts share some surprising ways to study effectively| CBC Kids News

YouTube video by CBC Kids News

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 25/09/2025

Video captured by microscopes Jay McClellan, who took first prize in the 2025 Nikon Small World in Motion Competition. Shared with permission & provided by Nikon Small World.

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 25/09/2025

Dear friends with access to microscopes, If you would ever permit me to share your microscopy videos, I can’t promise I’ll pronounce things properly but I absolutely will find the perfect song that captures the biology (wait for it). 🧪

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 24/09/2025

The beauty of microscopic life 🔬🧪✨ The winners of the 2025 Nikon Small World in Motion competition are in and they are all GORGEOUS!!!

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 22/09/2025

Any microplastics researchers who would be interested in talking to me about some of the critiques surrounding this paper www.nature.com/articles/s41...? I'm most interested in the contamination and methodology critiques, but also general insights into the challenges/limitations in the field 🧪

nature.com

Bioaccumulation of microplastics in decedent human brains - Nature Medicine

Pyrolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry reveals the presence of microplastics and nanoplastics in human kidney, liver and brain tissue samples from 2016 and 2024, with higher proportions found ...

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Reposted by Science Sam

allen institute @alleninstitute.org · 17/09/2025

It's the white whale of neuroscience - completely mapping the brain and its activity. Forrest Collman sat down with @samanthayammine.com from the Curiosity Weekly podcast and shared how we are taking on this "impossible" task and the surprising role YouTube videos play. 🧠📈 #OpenScienceWeek

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 09/09/2025

The EU recently banned a popular ingredient in gel nail polish. But you'll still find it in salons around the world. Colour me (and my nails!) intrigued... but not panicked. 🧪 I explain why for CTV news: www.ctvnews.ca/health/artic...

ctvnews.ca

The EU banned some gel nail polish. Here’s why it’s legal in Canada

A key ingredient commonly used in gel manicures has been banned in the Europena Union, but remains legal in Canada, raising questions about how regulators weigh cosmetic safety.

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 22/08/2025

You all were the BEST audience!!! Our team is so happy so many public servants showed up and showed out!!!

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 06/08/2025

Two headlines in my inbox on the exact same day. 🧪

mRNA vaccines show promise for HIV
Two vaccine candidates that use mRNA technology elicit a potent immune response against HIV. These vaccines use mRNA to instruct a cell to make proteins called envelope proteins that are attached to the cell membrane — similar to how they are found in live HIV. In a small trial, some 80% of the participants who received three doses of either of the vaccines went on to produce antibodies that could block that protein from entering cells.

Nature | 5 min read

RFK Jr. cancels $500M US in funding for vaccine development, targeting mRNA

The longtime vaccine critic’s decision targets vaccines using mRNA technology

The Associated Press · Posted: Aug 05, 2025

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 03/07/2025

Are you wearing enough sunscreen??! @labmuffin.com spills the chemisTEA behind SPF, sunscreen policy & more on the latest episode of the Curiosity Weekly pod 🧪 Listen & lmk if you can tell I’m fangirling the entire time 🙂‍↕️ podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/c...

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 17/06/2025

I was interviewed for a @wired.com article by the fabulous @evystadium.bsky.social about trolling because being a scientist has (somehow!!!?) made me an expert 🫠 WHAT TIMELINE IS THIS???? Annnnyyyway it’s a great informative & entertaining read, as usual from Evy: www.wired.com/story/how-to... 🧪

wired.com

How to Out-Troll the Trolls, as Told by the Internet’s Foremost Posters

No one wants to get into it with a Reply Guy, let alone lose to one. WIRED spoke to four of social media’s best shit-talkers for tips on how to emerge victorious from an online skirmish.

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 10/06/2025

If you're attending a protest anywhere in the world, @eff.org has this really handy guide for how to protect your digital information so your tech can't be used against you: ssd.eff.org/module/atten...

ssd.eff.org

Attending a Protest

For quick reference, we've created a handy guide designed to be printed, folded, and carried in your pocket (PDF download). Now, more than ever, citizens must be able to hold those in power accountab...

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 22/05/2025

"Mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell" NO MORE? Scientific American, who coined the phrase in 1957, says it's time to retire it given all we've learned about the bean-shaped organelles. Instead, they suggest the MOTHERBOARD of the cell. wdu think?🧪 www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-...

scientificamerican.com

The Hidden Social Lives of Mitochondria

When these energy-giving organelles thrive, so do we

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 22/05/2025

Thanks for listening!! Really appreciate it 🙏🏼

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 22/05/2025

Hi Victor! Glad you were interested in the episode -- it's a segment in the episode titled, "The Scramble to Solve Space Scrap" It's mentioned in the episode description but pretty subtly so very easy to miss -- I should've pointed the link to the exact episode so it's easier to find, apologies!

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 21/05/2025

We dove into the science behind this efficient pour over technique on this week's episode of the Curiosity Weekly podcast: bit.ly/CuriosityWeekly Laminar flow is very very cool!!!!!!

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 21/05/2025

There are a million optimizations to get the right balance of flavour, but this study was about optimizing efficiency. For more efficient mixing of grinds/water: 1️⃣ increase pour time 2️⃣ create an unbreaking stream for an avalanche effect 3️⃣ keep the pour as high as possible to increase velocity

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 21/05/2025

How do you make your coffee? ☕️ A group of physicists might've convinced me to start my pour over era. They used a laser + high-speed camera to find a more efficient coffee extraction technique. Save beans + $$! Their scientific method: pour high AND slow, while keeping a smooth stream of water 🧪

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 14/05/2025

“With the climate crisis, it's really a relational question of how are people's deep, intimate relationships with the natural world being impacted.” - @jahwaiian.bsky.social, expert guest on the latest ep of Curiosity Weekly An insightful & timely conversation 🌊🧪 podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/c...

podcasts.apple.com

Climate Change in the Pacific Islands

Podcast Episode · Curiosity Weekly · 2025-05-14 · 31m

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 14/05/2025

This makes me so happy!!! The pure joy of identifying your first bird 😍

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 14/05/2025

Catch our full conversation all about the joys and importance of birding on the Curiosity Weekly pod: bit.ly/CuriosityWeekly

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 13/05/2025

I recently did too - welcome down the delightful spiral!

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 13/05/2025

I’m one of the new users and it’s absolutely been such a joy!!

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 13/05/2025

There are 2 types of people in this world: 1) those who LOVE the Merlin Bird ID app, and 2) those who are about to fall in love with it thanks to @corinanewsome.bsky.social. 🧪 Which one are you? 🤭

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 30/04/2025

Also we are not oracles so we're just talking about AI's capabilities *right now* -- we should all treat any media we consume about AI with an expiration date. I welcome all the hot takes always but please listen to the episode first so we can start on the same page!!

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 30/04/2025

Can AI out-science scientists?? 🧪 Look, there are enough threats to scientists' jobs already so let's be clear: NO. But Dr. James Zou is building REALLY COOL "AI researchers" to work alongside scientists to accelerate discovery. Ofc I had to have him on the pod!! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/w...

podcasts.apple.com

Will AI Replace Scientists?

Podcast Episode · Curiosity Weekly · 04/30/2025 · 22m

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 24/04/2025

ok science pals 🧪 I need your help! I am finally working on a scicomm piece about ozempic. WHEW. what a topic. Who's an expert you think the world needs to hear more from on this topic? Ideally an endocrinology expert who's, you know, not fatphobic? so we can actually get into the science & risks

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 18/04/2025

Very much in the same boat. I had to formally announce to my family so they’d stop buying me merch haha. But quitting HP led me to say many new fun fantasy books with amazing fandoms to spiral into, I really don’t miss it.

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Science Sam @samanthayammine.com · 17/04/2025

I repeat: weaponizing ableism about neurodivergence to fear monger vaccines is not going to make anyone healthier.

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Reposted by Science Sam

Jacquelyn Gill @jacquelyngill.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

In my opinion, de-extinction faces too much of a scale problem to be useful as a conservation exercise unless we're talking about species that are extinct in the wild but could be brought back from captivity, including with hybridization (as was done with bison, many of which interbred with cows).

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