Alex Shackman
ajshackman.bsky.social
Alex Shackman
@ajshackman.bsky.social
Laboratory for Affective & Translational Neuroscience, University of Maryland | shackmanlab.org | affective neuroscience | "pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will.”
Reposted by Alex Shackman
If your government sends a $40B "gift" to another country while refusing to feed its own children, you need another government. There's nothing wrong with foreign aid (in most cases); but there is something wrong with letting kids and veterans go hungry while sending it.
November 10, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Reposted by Alex Shackman
Ah why not? Here's another Barn Owl picture I have taken. This beauty was flying right towards me.

#birds #birdphotography #photography #wildlifephotography #wildlife
November 10, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Reposted by Alex Shackman
There will be another 60 vote Friday* on the garbage shutdown deal. If we can convince just one Senator from the 52 republicans and 8 Dems that voted yes to flip, we could still stop this. Please jump on the phone today, call them, and share this widely.

*If all goes by the regular schedule
November 10, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Reposted by Alex Shackman
Today in Copenhagen: "People are disappearing. Fear and unrest are permeating the streets."
November 9, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Reposted by Alex Shackman
Cornell agreed to pay $30m, hand over admissions data with demographic breakdowns, produce annual "campus climate" surveys to check on antisemitism and changes "since October of 2023," and—here's the dumbest part they agreed to—that the govt can open new investigations whenever it wants.

Appeasers.
November 7, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Reposted by Alex Shackman
here's something cool: the son of the letter carrier on Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood (McFeely) is a real letter carrier for the USPS and he's our letter carrier and he's awesome
November 8, 2025 at 3:39 AM
Reposted by Alex Shackman
If you believe either that Franklin discovered the double helix, and / or Watson and Crick stole her data, ask yourself how you know this. Then take a read of this article.
November 8, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Reposted by Alex Shackman
On the event of James Watson's death, I highly recommend this 2023 commentary from @matthewcobb.bsky.social and Nathaniel Comfort with crucial new insights into the discovery of the double helix. (And also check out Cobb's brand new biography of Francis Crick) www.nature.com/articles/d41...
What Rosalind Franklin truly contributed to the discovery of DNA’s structure
Franklin was no victim in how the DNA double helix was solved. An overlooked letter and an unpublished news article, both written in 1953, reveal that she was an equal player.
www.nature.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Reposted by Alex Shackman
This is a good analysis of what Democrats can do now. In short: don't cave. But if they do cave, do it for a plan to reopen the government with teeth to stop the lawbreaking by Vought and Trump.

"1 mo clean budget extensions in perpetuity, all contingent on the end of rescissions and impoundments"
November 7, 2025 at 10:47 PM
November 7, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Reposted by Alex Shackman
Just accepted at Nature Mental Health:

Crises and Opportunities for Psychological Science under Fascism

https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/nz42x_v3

1/9
November 7, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Reposted by Alex Shackman
Apparently the postings are up for several NIH director positions. Deadlines between 11/14 and 11/21. hr.nih.gov/careers/care...
hr.nih.gov
November 7, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Reposted by Alex Shackman
BREAKING: Cornell caved.

Here is the settlement agreement, signed today by the university's president, Michael Kotlikoff: statements.cornell.edu/2025/documen...
November 7, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Reposted by Alex Shackman
Know an early-career statistician who shows potential for great leadership and shaping the future of statistics? COPSS is accepting nominations for the Emerging Leader Award: stattrak.amstat.org/...
November 7, 2025 at 3:01 PM
I'll be at SFN Saturday and Sunday if folks wanna hang out, chat, co-work, drink, eat tacos, hike, or hit the gym. Hiking prob won't happen, but I could be convinced. 🧠
November 7, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Windows down, system up
November 7, 2025 at 11:52 AM