Eric J. Perkins, PhD (he/him)
@allostericsite.bsky.social
Dad, Mol. Biologist, reader, music listener, etc...Skeeting about STEM, SciComm, science nonprofits, & also parenting, food, fitness, travel, being a grumpy GenXer. Aspiring to be an ally to anyone who needs allies, here and IRL.
I wrote about my catch-all New Year's resolution to just say "yes" to things in my local paper, The Belmont Voice.
belmontvoice.org/generations-...
(And yes, this column is already starting to bite me in the ass, but I asked for it...)
belmontvoice.org/generations-...
(And yes, this column is already starting to bite me in the ass, but I asked for it...)
Generations: Resolving to Say 'Yes'
Belmont columnist Eric J. Perkins shares how saying 'yes' shapes his life and why it’s his one New Year’s resolution every year.
belmontvoice.org
January 2, 2026 at 9:24 PM
I wrote about my catch-all New Year's resolution to just say "yes" to things in my local paper, The Belmont Voice.
belmontvoice.org/generations-...
(And yes, this column is already starting to bite me in the ass, but I asked for it...)
belmontvoice.org/generations-...
(And yes, this column is already starting to bite me in the ass, but I asked for it...)
Me, heating up some leftover Chinese for Sunday lunch.
My brain: “I absolutely HAVE to know what the cast of ‘Mr. Belvedere’ is up to these days.”
Reason #89 I may not be entirely neurotypical.
My brain: “I absolutely HAVE to know what the cast of ‘Mr. Belvedere’ is up to these days.”
Reason #89 I may not be entirely neurotypical.
December 28, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Me, heating up some leftover Chinese for Sunday lunch.
My brain: “I absolutely HAVE to know what the cast of ‘Mr. Belvedere’ is up to these days.”
Reason #89 I may not be entirely neurotypical.
My brain: “I absolutely HAVE to know what the cast of ‘Mr. Belvedere’ is up to these days.”
Reason #89 I may not be entirely neurotypical.
Listening to holiday music in the car with my 16yo and "Baby It's Cold Outside" comes on.
Me: This might be my least favorite holiday song.
Daughter: We listened to this song in my Health class as a cautionary tale about consent.
Maybe the next generation will finally retire it?
Me: This might be my least favorite holiday song.
Daughter: We listened to this song in my Health class as a cautionary tale about consent.
Maybe the next generation will finally retire it?
December 19, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Listening to holiday music in the car with my 16yo and "Baby It's Cold Outside" comes on.
Me: This might be my least favorite holiday song.
Daughter: We listened to this song in my Health class as a cautionary tale about consent.
Maybe the next generation will finally retire it?
Me: This might be my least favorite holiday song.
Daughter: We listened to this song in my Health class as a cautionary tale about consent.
Maybe the next generation will finally retire it?
Well at least I’ve got this going for me.
December 17, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Well at least I’ve got this going for me.
My wife is picking my son up from his first semester of college today. He told us that he’s going to do a load of laundry at school *before* she picks him up. What kind of freak did we raise?
December 15, 2025 at 12:42 PM
My wife is picking my son up from his first semester of college today. He told us that he’s going to do a load of laundry at school *before* she picks him up. What kind of freak did we raise?
First thing I did with my new Garmin fitness tracker is deactivate the "body battery". I do not need my watch telling me I slept like $hit and my I'm starting my day with a 23% battery.
Next to go is the stress tracker. Yes, I know I was stressed for 100% of the day. Have you seen this president?
Next to go is the stress tracker. Yes, I know I was stressed for 100% of the day. Have you seen this president?
December 12, 2025 at 11:56 PM
First thing I did with my new Garmin fitness tracker is deactivate the "body battery". I do not need my watch telling me I slept like $hit and my I'm starting my day with a 23% battery.
Next to go is the stress tracker. Yes, I know I was stressed for 100% of the day. Have you seen this president?
Next to go is the stress tracker. Yes, I know I was stressed for 100% of the day. Have you seen this president?
Yeah, about that. The "liquid glass" display is awful, and the UI/UX designers I know agree. At least give us the option to toggle that garbage off. Way to fix something until it's broken.
Apple iOS 26.2—1 Billion iPhone Users Must Install New Update
Apple iOS 26.2—1 Billion iPhone Users Must Install New Update
iOS 26.2 comes just days after Apple issued new attack warnings to iPhone users around the world.
www.forbes.com
December 12, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Yeah, about that. The "liquid glass" display is awful, and the UI/UX designers I know agree. At least give us the option to toggle that garbage off. Way to fix something until it's broken.
Today I learned that the Latin name for the Northern Mockingbird is *Mimus polyglottos*, and though that seems a bit on-the-nose, I like it.
December 10, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Today I learned that the Latin name for the Northern Mockingbird is *Mimus polyglottos*, and though that seems a bit on-the-nose, I like it.
I broke a fairly long Wordle streak today and I am taking comfort in the knowledge that I am never going to play Wordle again.
December 9, 2025 at 5:03 AM
I broke a fairly long Wordle streak today and I am taking comfort in the knowledge that I am never going to play Wordle again.
And this is why I listen to music on Tidal and not Spotify. And if you want to support artists even more, buy their stuff on @bandcamp.com. They will get ALL the money today, which is #BandcampFriday.
📈 Here's how much money Los Camp! make from streaming...
On the occasion of #SpotifyWrapped, we thought now would be a good time to share some cold, hard stats about how much money our band makes from streaming royalties.
📖 tinyurl.com/LCwrapped
On the occasion of #SpotifyWrapped, we thought now would be a good time to share some cold, hard stats about how much money our band makes from streaming royalties.
📖 tinyurl.com/LCwrapped
December 5, 2025 at 1:36 PM
And this is why I listen to music on Tidal and not Spotify. And if you want to support artists even more, buy their stuff on @bandcamp.com. They will get ALL the money today, which is #BandcampFriday.
Congratulations to @addgene.bsky.social depositors @jourdainlab.bsky.social, @mpercharde.bsky.social, and @alejofraticelli.bsky.social (and maybe some future Addgene depositors?) on this honor!
www.addgene.org/Alexis_Jourd...
www.addgene.org/Michelle_Per...
www.addgene.org/Alejo_Rodrig...
www.addgene.org/Alexis_Jourd...
www.addgene.org/Michelle_Per...
www.addgene.org/Alejo_Rodrig...
December 4, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Congratulations to @addgene.bsky.social depositors @jourdainlab.bsky.social, @mpercharde.bsky.social, and @alejofraticelli.bsky.social (and maybe some future Addgene depositors?) on this honor!
www.addgene.org/Alexis_Jourd...
www.addgene.org/Michelle_Per...
www.addgene.org/Alejo_Rodrig...
www.addgene.org/Alexis_Jourd...
www.addgene.org/Michelle_Per...
www.addgene.org/Alejo_Rodrig...
I’m pretty sure the best place to hide Xmas presents from my 16yo would be under the recycling bin that she’s supposed to empty at least once a week, but carefully avoids at all costs.
December 2, 2025 at 2:07 AM
I’m pretty sure the best place to hide Xmas presents from my 16yo would be under the recycling bin that she’s supposed to empty at least once a week, but carefully avoids at all costs.
My Thanksgiving to-do list vs. my friend’s. Outcome was the same—we both fed a bunch of people. But whoo-doggy did we use different tactics (and, okay, his probably tasted better)😆
November 28, 2025 at 6:04 AM
My Thanksgiving to-do list vs. my friend’s. Outcome was the same—we both fed a bunch of people. But whoo-doggy did we use different tactics (and, okay, his probably tasted better)😆
My 16yo did not like the cool song I just made up called “I’m On Vacation Already And You’re Not”🎶🎵
November 25, 2025 at 1:00 AM
My 16yo did not like the cool song I just made up called “I’m On Vacation Already And You’re Not”🎶🎵
My wife, in Germany for a landmark birthday, has never used emojis in her text messages before. I guess she just needed the right occasion 😏
November 24, 2025 at 9:34 PM
My wife, in Germany for a landmark birthday, has never used emojis in her text messages before. I guess she just needed the right occasion 😏
Five pounds of butter is probably enough for Thanksgiving, right?🧈🧈🧈🧈🧈
November 23, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Five pounds of butter is probably enough for Thanksgiving, right?🧈🧈🧈🧈🧈
Just a few days in to our building’s food drive. I’m sorry for the necessity, but grateful for the generosity of my colleagues.
November 12, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Just a few days in to our building’s food drive. I’m sorry for the necessity, but grateful for the generosity of my colleagues.
I've known Aziz for nearly 25 years, and I'll never forget the morning I heard his name announced as a Nobel winner. He was on my wife's PhD committee, and I ran to tell her the good news. An amazing scientist who may come across as gruff at first, but who genuinely cares for his mentees.
A decade after winning the Nobel Prize, Dr. Aziz Sancar continues to inspire through groundbreaking DNA repair research, mentoring global scientists, and building cultural bridges via the Sancar Turkish Center. Science, legacy, and heart, all in one lab coat. news.unchealthcare.org/2025/10/the-...
The Enduring Legacy of Dr. Aziz Sancar | Newsroom
A decade after winning the Nobel Prize, the UNC professor continues to push the boundaries of discovery while inspiring the next generation and building cultural bridges between the United States and ...
news.unchealthcare.org
November 11, 2025 at 5:36 PM
I've known Aziz for nearly 25 years, and I'll never forget the morning I heard his name announced as a Nobel winner. He was on my wife's PhD committee, and I ran to tell her the good news. An amazing scientist who may come across as gruff at first, but who genuinely cares for his mentees.
Also, keep reading in private. Especially if you're a parent who wants their kids to become readers. I didn't do this on purpose--I just like reading. The unintentional side effect has been having 3 teenagers who read for pleasure.
Reading, wherever you are is, is pretty cool.
Reading, wherever you are is, is pretty cool.
Reading is punk.
Keep reading in public.
Reading in public is hot.
Keep reading in public.
Reading in public is hot.
Oh fuck off
November 10, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Also, keep reading in private. Especially if you're a parent who wants their kids to become readers. I didn't do this on purpose--I just like reading. The unintentional side effect has been having 3 teenagers who read for pleasure.
Reading, wherever you are is, is pretty cool.
Reading, wherever you are is, is pretty cool.
Grateful to be living in Massachusetts with a governor who isn't afraid to stand up to this administration. Still donating ~30% of this week's grocery shopping to the local food pantry to keep up with increased demand.
www.wbur.org/news/2025/11...
www.wbur.org/news/2025/11...
Healey: Mass. won't take back SNAP benefits, despite Trump's order
The Trump administration told states to "immediately undo" any actions they took to fully fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Gov. Healey said about half of Massachusetts recipi...
www.wbur.org
November 10, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Grateful to be living in Massachusetts with a governor who isn't afraid to stand up to this administration. Still donating ~30% of this week's grocery shopping to the local food pantry to keep up with increased demand.
www.wbur.org/news/2025/11...
www.wbur.org/news/2025/11...
I wasn’t sure what to draw for today’s #inktober2025 prompt, “Skeletal”. Then I saw how long last night’s World Series game lasted and the answer was obvious.
October 28, 2025 at 3:26 PM
I wasn’t sure what to draw for today’s #inktober2025 prompt, “Skeletal”. Then I saw how long last night’s World Series game lasted and the answer was obvious.
Me, the stubborn, native New Englander, refusing to turn the heat on until November even though our home is cold af.
My far-too-patient wife, attempting to compromise: “I think for every year over 50 we get, we should get to turn the heat on one day earlier.”
(I might give her this one)
My far-too-patient wife, attempting to compromise: “I think for every year over 50 we get, we should get to turn the heat on one day earlier.”
(I might give her this one)
October 28, 2025 at 3:19 AM
Me, the stubborn, native New Englander, refusing to turn the heat on until November even though our home is cold af.
My far-too-patient wife, attempting to compromise: “I think for every year over 50 we get, we should get to turn the heat on one day earlier.”
(I might give her this one)
My far-too-patient wife, attempting to compromise: “I think for every year over 50 we get, we should get to turn the heat on one day earlier.”
(I might give her this one)
I picked up racing bibs for another family who will have to miss the 5K tomorrow, and one of the daughters is missing out on being the most popular runner there. IFYKYK
October 25, 2025 at 10:19 PM
I picked up racing bibs for another family who will have to miss the 5K tomorrow, and one of the daughters is missing out on being the most popular runner there. IFYKYK
Just letting the AI know I don't need it for a dopamine release, thanks.
October 23, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Just letting the AI know I don't need it for a dopamine release, thanks.
So glad my son is eating responsibly in college🤨
October 16, 2025 at 3:06 AM
So glad my son is eating responsibly in college🤨