Alex Diaz-Papkovich
@alexandr.bsky.social
Statistician and mathematician. Postdoc working on population genetics at the Data Science Institute at Brown University. UWaterloo, Carleton, and McGill alum. Skeets are my own. He/him.
https://github.com/diazale
https://github.com/diazale
Reposted by Alex Diaz-Papkovich
Brenna Henn Wanted to Improve Genetic Medicine. Then Her N.I.H. Grant Was Cut.
Brenna Henn Wanted to Improve Genetic Medicine. Then Her N.I.H. Grant Was Cut.
Brenna Henn had a long-term grant to study the genetic diversity of Africans and people of African descent. Then her N.I.H. funding was cut.
www.nytimes.com
January 2, 2026 at 9:16 PM
Brenna Henn Wanted to Improve Genetic Medicine. Then Her N.I.H. Grant Was Cut.
Reposted by Alex Diaz-Papkovich
TORONTO! Save the date. We'll be coming to what is arguably the birthplace of the war on cars for a live show on February 5th, 2026. Patreoners will get first dibs on tickets. Stay tuned for more details! Doug Ford will not be our special guest.
www.patreon.com/c/thewaronca...
www.patreon.com/c/thewaronca...
The War on Cars | Patreon
Creating a podcast about the fight against car dominance
www.patreon.com
December 17, 2025 at 6:05 PM
TORONTO! Save the date. We'll be coming to what is arguably the birthplace of the war on cars for a live show on February 5th, 2026. Patreoners will get first dibs on tickets. Stay tuned for more details! Doug Ford will not be our special guest.
www.patreon.com/c/thewaronca...
www.patreon.com/c/thewaronca...
Reposted by Alex Diaz-Papkovich
Grateful to share our paper on gene-specific selective sweeps in human gut microbiomes, now out in Nature! It has been a joy to work with @rwolff.bsky.social, whose insights and hard work made this possible.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Gene-specific selective sweeps are pervasive across human gut microbiomes - Nature
Development and application of the integrated linkage disequilibrium score (iLDS) reveals both selective pressures impacting the human gut microbiome and the mechanisms by which gut bacteria adapt to ...
www.nature.com
December 17, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Grateful to share our paper on gene-specific selective sweeps in human gut microbiomes, now out in Nature! It has been a joy to work with @rwolff.bsky.social, whose insights and hard work made this possible.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
we’re gonna have figure panels that double as codons at this rate
Wow this is a seriously serious supplementary figure from @cellpress.bsky.social today. Panels A through UU.
I get that Cell likes to minimize the number of supplementary figures. But is this really what is happening here?
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
I get that Cell likes to minimize the number of supplementary figures. But is this really what is happening here?
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
December 17, 2025 at 4:27 PM
we’re gonna have figure panels that double as codons at this rate
Reposted by Alex Diaz-Papkovich
My heart breaks for every student and community across our nation. A fresh pain, an old wound.
Yes, here. Yes, our community. Yes, Brown. Yes, this tragic, preventable horror happened again.
We can prevent gun violence. We chose not to.
Yes, here. Yes, our community. Yes, Brown. Yes, this tragic, preventable horror happened again.
We can prevent gun violence. We chose not to.
December 14, 2025 at 2:01 AM
My heart breaks for every student and community across our nation. A fresh pain, an old wound.
Yes, here. Yes, our community. Yes, Brown. Yes, this tragic, preventable horror happened again.
We can prevent gun violence. We chose not to.
Yes, here. Yes, our community. Yes, Brown. Yes, this tragic, preventable horror happened again.
We can prevent gun violence. We chose not to.
Reposted by Alex Diaz-Papkovich
I sometimes teach in Providence. In the classroom where I most frequently teach, there's a section labeled for where students are supposed to go for active shooters. It is a cliche of a phrase, but I want to echo the Professor here and say: it does not have to be this way.
AS A PROFESSOR, I AM ASKING
HOW ARE OUR STUDENTS SUPPOSED TO LEARN IN THESE CONDITIONS?
HOW ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO GO TO SCHOOL AND TAKE EXAMS KNOWING SOMEONE MIGHT JUST SHOW UP WITH AN EASY TO ACQUIRE AUTOMATIC WEAPON?
HOW??????????
HOW ARE OUR STUDENTS SUPPOSED TO LEARN IN THESE CONDITIONS?
HOW ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO GO TO SCHOOL AND TAKE EXAMS KNOWING SOMEONE MIGHT JUST SHOW UP WITH AN EASY TO ACQUIRE AUTOMATIC WEAPON?
HOW??????????
Longer statement from Brown University:
"We are very sorry to share that we have confirmed reports of multiple shooting victims, but we are not able to share their condition. They have been transported to local hospitals."
"We are very sorry to share that we have confirmed reports of multiple shooting victims, but we are not able to share their condition. They have been transported to local hospitals."
December 14, 2025 at 12:06 AM
I sometimes teach in Providence. In the classroom where I most frequently teach, there's a section labeled for where students are supposed to go for active shooters. It is a cliche of a phrase, but I want to echo the Professor here and say: it does not have to be this way.
Reposted by Alex Diaz-Papkovich
There’s an urgent need for blood in the aftermath of the Brown University shooting
If you can give, please do
If you can’t, please spread the word
Its terrifying to think how bad this shooting might be if they need an urgent call for blood, but the more people donating the more lives we can save
If you can give, please do
If you can’t, please spread the word
Its terrifying to think how bad this shooting might be if they need an urgent call for blood, but the more people donating the more lives we can save
I am a student at Brown in communication with a friend at RIBC.
There is an urgent need for blood donations to support RI. Donations in NY, NJ, MN, NB, DE or NJ can help supply RI.
Spread the word.
www.ribc.org/donate-blood/
There is an urgent need for blood donations to support RI. Donations in NY, NJ, MN, NB, DE or NJ can help supply RI.
Spread the word.
www.ribc.org/donate-blood/
Donate Blood
Check your eligibility to donate blood, learn about the process and why blood matters, and enroll in a RIBC Donor Loyalty Rewards programs.
www.ribc.org
December 14, 2025 at 12:21 AM
There’s an urgent need for blood in the aftermath of the Brown University shooting
If you can give, please do
If you can’t, please spread the word
Its terrifying to think how bad this shooting might be if they need an urgent call for blood, but the more people donating the more lives we can save
If you can give, please do
If you can’t, please spread the word
Its terrifying to think how bad this shooting might be if they need an urgent call for blood, but the more people donating the more lives we can save
Reposted by Alex Diaz-Papkovich
Big new blogpost!
My guide to data visualization, which includes a very long table of contents, tons of charts, and more.
--> Why data visualization matters and how to make charts more effective, clear, transparent, and sometimes, beautiful.
www.scientificdiscovery.dev/p/salonis-gu...
My guide to data visualization, which includes a very long table of contents, tons of charts, and more.
--> Why data visualization matters and how to make charts more effective, clear, transparent, and sometimes, beautiful.
www.scientificdiscovery.dev/p/salonis-gu...
December 9, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Big new blogpost!
My guide to data visualization, which includes a very long table of contents, tons of charts, and more.
--> Why data visualization matters and how to make charts more effective, clear, transparent, and sometimes, beautiful.
www.scientificdiscovery.dev/p/salonis-gu...
My guide to data visualization, which includes a very long table of contents, tons of charts, and more.
--> Why data visualization matters and how to make charts more effective, clear, transparent, and sometimes, beautiful.
www.scientificdiscovery.dev/p/salonis-gu...
Reposted by Alex Diaz-Papkovich
Boston Data Show Streets With New Bike Lanes Successfully Shift Traffic, With Fewer Cars and Way More Bikes - mass.streetsblog.org/2025/12/05/b...
Boston Data Show Streets With New Bike Lanes Successfully Shift Traffic From Cars to Bikes - Streetsblog Massachusetts
Mayor Wu has hard evidence that her bike lane projects are helping reduce traffic – but her administration is reluctant to share it.
mass.streetsblog.org
December 5, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Boston Data Show Streets With New Bike Lanes Successfully Shift Traffic, With Fewer Cars and Way More Bikes - mass.streetsblog.org/2025/12/05/b...
Last night I got to meet Doug and Sarah, hosts of @thewaroncars.bsky.social
As an Ontario Boy, I asked for a special message in my copy of Life After Cars and they happily obliged 🥲
As an Ontario Boy, I asked for a special message in my copy of Life After Cars and they happily obliged 🥲
December 3, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Last night I got to meet Doug and Sarah, hosts of @thewaroncars.bsky.social
As an Ontario Boy, I asked for a special message in my copy of Life After Cars and they happily obliged 🥲
As an Ontario Boy, I asked for a special message in my copy of Life After Cars and they happily obliged 🥲
Reposted by Alex Diaz-Papkovich
Providence! See you on Tuesday. We hear some folks are making the trip down from Boston... should be a very fun evening and we can't wait to see everyone.
Tickets:
events.uptownpvd.com/events/life-...
Tickets:
events.uptownpvd.com/events/life-...
🚌🚲 See you Dec. 2nd at the Uptown Theater in Providence for “Life After Cars” with @thewaroncars.bsky.social & @billbartholomew.bsky.social! 😘
Tickets: events.uptownpvd.com/events/life-...
Tickets: events.uptownpvd.com/events/life-...
November 28, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Providence! See you on Tuesday. We hear some folks are making the trip down from Boston... should be a very fun evening and we can't wait to see everyone.
Tickets:
events.uptownpvd.com/events/life-...
Tickets:
events.uptownpvd.com/events/life-...
Reposted by Alex Diaz-Papkovich
These aren't pedestrians, it shouldn't be legal for them to be on a sidewalk. Governments have got to start cracking down on this stuff. Heavy fines on any company that tries to pull this kind of thing.
Just as you thought food delivery companies couldn't inflict any more misery on society:
Instead of using lowly-paid gig economy contractors to deliver groceries, they're replacing humans with robots, who, in turn, force humans off the pavement into road traffic.
Instead of using lowly-paid gig economy contractors to deliver groceries, they're replacing humans with robots, who, in turn, force humans off the pavement into road traffic.
November 28, 2025 at 3:04 PM
These aren't pedestrians, it shouldn't be legal for them to be on a sidewalk. Governments have got to start cracking down on this stuff. Heavy fines on any company that tries to pull this kind of thing.
Reposted by Alex Diaz-Papkovich
I want to finally do a video on sidewalk plows and the problem of leaving snowy sidewalks to homeowners.
If anyone has examples of poorly cleared sidewalks that I can use, attach them here!
Important: mention the city. Also, preferred attribution (if any). Otherwise, default is screen name.
If anyone has examples of poorly cleared sidewalks that I can use, attach them here!
Important: mention the city. Also, preferred attribution (if any). Otherwise, default is screen name.
November 27, 2025 at 3:01 AM
I want to finally do a video on sidewalk plows and the problem of leaving snowy sidewalks to homeowners.
If anyone has examples of poorly cleared sidewalks that I can use, attach them here!
Important: mention the city. Also, preferred attribution (if any). Otherwise, default is screen name.
If anyone has examples of poorly cleared sidewalks that I can use, attach them here!
Important: mention the city. Also, preferred attribution (if any). Otherwise, default is screen name.
From 2022-23 I built a dataset using news stories of 2000+ times Canadian drivers crashed into people and structures. It prompted lots of questions, which I want to answer through a series of blog posts.
My first post outlines the data and some of those questions.
diazale.github.io/blogs/202511...
My first post outlines the data and some of those questions.
diazale.github.io/blogs/202511...
Working Through Data: Death By Car
From April 2022 to September 2023, I collected news stories of car crashes in Canada. Specifically, crashes where the drivers struck something or someone other than another vehicle. The rules were sim...
diazale.github.io
November 25, 2025 at 7:22 PM
From 2022-23 I built a dataset using news stories of 2000+ times Canadian drivers crashed into people and structures. It prompted lots of questions, which I want to answer through a series of blog posts.
My first post outlines the data and some of those questions.
diazale.github.io/blogs/202511...
My first post outlines the data and some of those questions.
diazale.github.io/blogs/202511...
Reposted by Alex Diaz-Papkovich
A bad day for Canada, and therefore the world.
Ontario (population 16 million, 40% of the country) has passed new legislation prohibiting bike lanes that take a lane from cars.
An escalation from Bill 212, which required municipalities to get approval.
Ontario (population 16 million, 40% of the country) has passed new legislation prohibiting bike lanes that take a lane from cars.
An escalation from Bill 212, which required municipalities to get approval.
November 24, 2025 at 7:50 PM
A bad day for Canada, and therefore the world.
Ontario (population 16 million, 40% of the country) has passed new legislation prohibiting bike lanes that take a lane from cars.
An escalation from Bill 212, which required municipalities to get approval.
Ontario (population 16 million, 40% of the country) has passed new legislation prohibiting bike lanes that take a lane from cars.
An escalation from Bill 212, which required municipalities to get approval.
hell, when the first leg of the REM opened up me and my friends took it to DIX30 just because! and it was fun!
Lots of people on Reddit were in disbelief about all the positive REM videos, thinking it was a CDPQ conspiracy.
No, people really do like transit that much. You just don’t follow it when it happens in other cities.
And on top of that, the REM really is a particularly exciting project!
No, people really do like transit that much. You just don’t follow it when it happens in other cities.
And on top of that, the REM really is a particularly exciting project!
November 24, 2025 at 1:19 PM
hell, when the first leg of the REM opened up me and my friends took it to DIX30 just because! and it was fun!
Reposted by Alex Diaz-Papkovich
This bs is now top search result in Google
November 21, 2025 at 7:27 PM
This bs is now top search result in Google
Reposted by Alex Diaz-Papkovich
Give Jamie Loftus a Golden Globe you cowards
November 19, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Give Jamie Loftus a Golden Globe you cowards
Reposted by Alex Diaz-Papkovich
Advocates rally for lower speeds and safer streets in Providence
"We have the tools and know-how to prevent traffic violence and severe injuries. We can save lives by investing in safe road and vehicle designs and by prioritizing safety over speed."
steveahlquist.substack.com/p/advocates-...
"We have the tools and know-how to prevent traffic violence and severe injuries. We can save lives by investing in safe road and vehicle designs and by prioritizing safety over speed."
steveahlquist.substack.com/p/advocates-...
Advocates rally for lower speeds and safer streets in Providence
"We have the tools and know-how to prevent traffic violence and severe injuries. We can save lives by investing in safe road and vehicle designs and by prioritizing safety over speed."
steveahlquist.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Advocates rally for lower speeds and safer streets in Providence
"We have the tools and know-how to prevent traffic violence and severe injuries. We can save lives by investing in safe road and vehicle designs and by prioritizing safety over speed."
steveahlquist.substack.com/p/advocates-...
"We have the tools and know-how to prevent traffic violence and severe injuries. We can save lives by investing in safe road and vehicle designs and by prioritizing safety over speed."
steveahlquist.substack.com/p/advocates-...
Reposted by Alex Diaz-Papkovich
Amazing to have a byline with @cbo.bsky.social - read our take on Watson’s ultimate legacy in the Boston Globe. Will be in Sunday’s print edition.
"What James Watson got wrong about DNA"
By the great Sohini Ramachandran (@sramach.bsky.social) and your boy for The Boston Globe (@bostonglobe.com).
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/14/o...
By the great Sohini Ramachandran (@sramach.bsky.social) and your boy for The Boston Globe (@bostonglobe.com).
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/14/o...
What James Watson got wrong about DNA - The Boston Globe
The science he helped pioneer consistently undermines his view that genes determine everything about us.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Amazing to have a byline with @cbo.bsky.social - read our take on Watson’s ultimate legacy in the Boston Globe. Will be in Sunday’s print edition.
Reposted by Alex Diaz-Papkovich
I, for one, welcome our new trash panda overlords.
But for real, fascinating science on how we might be seeing the very early stages of domestication in action in wild animals. 🧪
By @marinacoladas.bsky.social for @sciam.bsky.social
But for real, fascinating science on how we might be seeing the very early stages of domestication in action in wild animals. 🧪
By @marinacoladas.bsky.social for @sciam.bsky.social
City Raccoons Are Evolving to Look More Like Pets
City-dwelling raccoons seem to be evolving a shorter snout—a telltale feature of our pets and other domesticated animals
www.scientificamerican.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:27 PM
I, for one, welcome our new trash panda overlords.
But for real, fascinating science on how we might be seeing the very early stages of domestication in action in wild animals. 🧪
By @marinacoladas.bsky.social for @sciam.bsky.social
But for real, fascinating science on how we might be seeing the very early stages of domestication in action in wild animals. 🧪
By @marinacoladas.bsky.social for @sciam.bsky.social
We could fix a lot of problems if it didn’t cost scientists $10k+ to publish open access articles and if people didn’t run into paywalls whenever they wanted to read medical or scientific research (that their taxes already paid for)
What is the most profitable industry in the world, this side of the law? Not oil, not IT, not pharma.
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
November 12, 2025 at 1:32 PM
We could fix a lot of problems if it didn’t cost scientists $10k+ to publish open access articles and if people didn’t run into paywalls whenever they wanted to read medical or scientific research (that their taxes already paid for)
Reposted by Alex Diaz-Papkovich
🧵
C3S data shows that every year since the Paris Agreement has ranked among the 10 warmest on record.
C3S data shows that every year since the Paris Agreement has ranked among the 10 warmest on record.
November 10, 2025 at 2:46 PM
🧵
C3S data shows that every year since the Paris Agreement has ranked among the 10 warmest on record.
C3S data shows that every year since the Paris Agreement has ranked among the 10 warmest on record.
Reposted by Alex Diaz-Papkovich
Reposted by Alex Diaz-Papkovich
