Ben Lang
@benebular.bsky.social
another grad student phonetician in linguistics @ UCSD
phonetics, neuroscience, bilingualism, sociolinguistics, computational social science
languist.co
phonetics, neuroscience, bilingualism, sociolinguistics, computational social science
languist.co
Pinned
Ben Lang
@benebular.bsky.social
· Dec 1
Feel like there’s a lot of new people here so here’s a reintroduction: I’m a phonetician and cognitive scientist interested in how your brain produces, perceives, and learns the sounds of the world’s spoken languages.
Reposted by Ben Lang
History shows us the opposite: Undermining and censoring scientists and experts is a central feature of authoritarianism.
RFK Jr: We need to stop trusting the experts... Trusting the experts is not a feature of science or democracy, it's a feature of religion and totalitarianism.
August 30, 2025 at 6:20 AM
History shows us the opposite: Undermining and censoring scientists and experts is a central feature of authoritarianism.
Reposted by Ben Lang
A microscopic tardigrade going for a stroll through some algae.
Credit: Sinclair Stammers
Credit: Sinclair Stammers
August 23, 2025 at 11:38 PM
A microscopic tardigrade going for a stroll through some algae.
Credit: Sinclair Stammers
Credit: Sinclair Stammers
Reposted by Ben Lang
Well, I'll be damned.
It's royalty free and there's already six, generic manufacturers lined up.
newatlas.com/infectious-d...
It's royalty free and there's already six, generic manufacturers lined up.
newatlas.com/infectious-d...
The first 100% effective HIV prevention drug is approved and going global
An epidemic that's been sustained for 44 years might finally be quelled, with the milestone approval of the first HIV drug that offers 100% protection with its twice-yearly injections. It's a landmark...
newatlas.com
July 27, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Well, I'll be damned.
It's royalty free and there's already six, generic manufacturers lined up.
newatlas.com/infectious-d...
It's royalty free and there's already six, generic manufacturers lined up.
newatlas.com/infectious-d...
Reposted by Ben Lang
If you push for this censorship nonsense again
as the Trump administration declares the very existence of queer people to be inherently pornographic
I don't give a shit what party you're in
so help me god I will work night and day to get you wretches out of office
@schumer.senate.gov
as the Trump administration declares the very existence of queer people to be inherently pornographic
I don't give a shit what party you're in
so help me god I will work night and day to get you wretches out of office
@schumer.senate.gov
July 28, 2025 at 12:33 AM
If you push for this censorship nonsense again
as the Trump administration declares the very existence of queer people to be inherently pornographic
I don't give a shit what party you're in
so help me god I will work night and day to get you wretches out of office
@schumer.senate.gov
as the Trump administration declares the very existence of queer people to be inherently pornographic
I don't give a shit what party you're in
so help me god I will work night and day to get you wretches out of office
@schumer.senate.gov
Reposted by Ben Lang
Reposted by Ben Lang
Yes, we’re literally about to zero out funding for every Title VI area studies center at every university in the country, along with FLAS fellowship funding. A generation of human capital that feeds into our diplomatic & intelligence corps that will simply not exist. National security madness.
Another angle to this. They've defunded the university language programs their diplomatic corps come from or go to to upskill. They can't even build back this expertise in the future even if they want to.
Idiotic self-immolation of our diplomatic capacity. Possible, in part, because of how we constantly glorify our military in 🇺🇸 society on every holiday & every sports event, while we totally ignore our diplomatic corps & have a juvenile collective understanding of what makes 🇺🇸 powerful in the world.
July 11, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Yes, we’re literally about to zero out funding for every Title VI area studies center at every university in the country, along with FLAS fellowship funding. A generation of human capital that feeds into our diplomatic & intelligence corps that will simply not exist. National security madness.
Reposted by Ben Lang
These are the weak points. You know what to do. First thing tomorrow, use 5calls.org and raise hell.
July 2, 2025 at 3:31 AM
These are the weak points. You know what to do. First thing tomorrow, use 5calls.org and raise hell.
Reposted by Ben Lang
Reposted by Ben Lang
June 12, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Reposted by Ben Lang
Ever wonder how many lives have been saved by NIH-funded research - including your own? Enter any medical condition and instantly see how your tax dollars transformed science into survival.
www.ourhealthroi.com
www.ourhealthroi.com
Our Health ROI
Explore how your tax dollars fund life‑saving medical research.
www.ourhealthroi.com
April 21, 2025 at 3:51 AM
Ever wonder how many lives have been saved by NIH-funded research - including your own? Enter any medical condition and instantly see how your tax dollars transformed science into survival.
www.ourhealthroi.com
www.ourhealthroi.com
Reposted by Ben Lang
I feel like we need to keep saying this because it’s so insane: This is a legal U.S. resident who has been detained for over a month now for his political opinions.
The Department of Homeland Security denied Mahmoud Khalil permission to attend the birth of his first child, who was delivered at a New York hospital on Monday, according to emails reviewed by The New York Times.
Mahmoud Khalil’s Son Arrives After ICE Refuses to Let Him Attend Birth
Mr. Khalil, a permanent resident detained in Louisiana, had requested a monitored furlough for the birth. His request was denied in less than an hour.
www.nytimes.com
April 22, 2025 at 1:28 AM
I feel like we need to keep saying this because it’s so insane: This is a legal U.S. resident who has been detained for over a month now for his political opinions.
This is how my whole cohort feels being near to defending. 🫠
born too late to get a two Western blot Nature paper, born too early to be a science TikTokker, born just in time to start a postdoc during a global pandemic and look for faculty positions during a historic hiring freeze
March 13, 2025 at 2:27 PM
This is how my whole cohort feels being near to defending. 🫠
Incandescent with rage doesn’t even cut it for these feelings.
SCOOP: The US Dept. of Education and GOP Rep. Dan Crenshaw will each recognize "DeTrans Awareness Day" tomorrow with events featuring anti-trans activists.
In lieu of a press release, I’m told the Dept. event will be covered exclusively by a reporter from The Federalist.
In lieu of a press release, I’m told the Dept. event will be covered exclusively by a reporter from The Federalist.
GOP will observe “DeTrans Awareness Day” with multiple events Wednesday
Rep. Dan Crenshaw and the Dept. of Education are leading the charge.
www.thehandbasket.co
March 11, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Incandescent with rage doesn’t even cut it for these feelings.
Reposted by Ben Lang
Wondering if your study section cancelled? I update this sheet daily. As of today, 56/124 study sections that should have met since Jan 2, 2025 have "not met as scheduled." docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
2025 Study section tracking
docs.google.com
February 24, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Wondering if your study section cancelled? I update this sheet daily. As of today, 56/124 study sections that should have met since Jan 2, 2025 have "not met as scheduled." docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
I second this! Every little bit is helping. We’ve got this—together.
Hey: If you made it through the week, and you tried to do some things to help other people — large or small — where you could, and you need to hear it, I’m here to tell you thank you. Get some rest. Figure out today, then figure out tomorrow.
February 22, 2025 at 5:39 AM
I second this! Every little bit is helping. We’ve got this—together.
Reposted by Ben Lang
More from Judge Reyes
February 19, 2025 at 5:48 AM
More from Judge Reyes
Reposted by Ben Lang
Hey neuroscientists: were you, your lab or any of your ongoing projects caught up in any of the latest NIH firings? You can find me on Signal at avaskham.54 if you want to chat. 🧪
#neuroskyence
#neuroskyence
February 16, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Hey neuroscientists: were you, your lab or any of your ongoing projects caught up in any of the latest NIH firings? You can find me on Signal at avaskham.54 if you want to chat. 🧪
#neuroskyence
#neuroskyence
If you're communicating with your reps on a daily basis right now (as we all should be!), you can directly tell them that this is the language they should use when communicating this in their emails and anywhere in media. Give them the framing they need so everyone understands the consequences.
for pity’s sake, I am BEGGING university leaders to stop framing this issue in terms of what this will cost the university. people dont care!
EXPLAIN WHAT THIS WILL COST THE PUBLIC: closed hospitals and clinics, skipped treatments, loss of access to experimental drugs, unemployment, recession
EXPLAIN WHAT THIS WILL COST THE PUBLIC: closed hospitals and clinics, skipped treatments, loss of access to experimental drugs, unemployment, recession
February 10, 2025 at 8:55 AM
If you're communicating with your reps on a daily basis right now (as we all should be!), you can directly tell them that this is the language they should use when communicating this in their emails and anywhere in media. Give them the framing they need so everyone understands the consequences.
Reposted by Ben Lang
nice jam you’ve got there, be a real shame if someone pumped it up
February 8, 2025 at 9:18 PM
nice jam you’ve got there, be a real shame if someone pumped it up
Reposted by Ben Lang
The NIH announced it will slash billions of dollars of support to universities and research centers.
This is one of the biggest attacks on science we have ever seen. It could dismantle the biomedical research system, shut down clinical trials, and halt development of treatments.
This is one of the biggest attacks on science we have ever seen. It could dismantle the biomedical research system, shut down clinical trials, and halt development of treatments.
February 8, 2025 at 3:02 AM
The NIH announced it will slash billions of dollars of support to universities and research centers.
This is one of the biggest attacks on science we have ever seen. It could dismantle the biomedical research system, shut down clinical trials, and halt development of treatments.
This is one of the biggest attacks on science we have ever seen. It could dismantle the biomedical research system, shut down clinical trials, and halt development of treatments.
Reposted by Ben Lang
If anyone wants to talk to a linguist about why this list of words banned from federal grants is absurd, please get at me. The point is to make sure that no one can do social science (or really any science) at all. www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8Yjf5FH/
The administration wants to make sure no one can do research at all with its list of banned words. Linguists know that the business of banning words is always repressive and anti-science. Stay aware! ...
TikTok video by Nicole Holliday
www.tiktok.com
February 4, 2025 at 6:09 PM
If anyone wants to talk to a linguist about why this list of words banned from federal grants is absurd, please get at me. The point is to make sure that no one can do social science (or really any science) at all. www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8Yjf5FH/
Reposted by Ben Lang
Erin out here doing the lord's work. Please support and listen to trans journalists on trans issues.
Donald Trump has just released a national under 18 trans care ban executive order. I am working through specifically how it tries to do this, and will live tweet here section by section as I read through it.
It is not yet on the website, but has been released via press release.
It is not yet on the website, but has been released via press release.
January 28, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Erin out here doing the lord's work. Please support and listen to trans journalists on trans issues.
Reposted by Ben Lang
The price of eggs in the US is spiking, mostly due to #H5N1 bird flu. Solving the problem requires urgent, important communications from the CDC & FDA* and rapid development of research by the NIH**
* Currently paused by Executive Order
** Grant reviews now all canceled
www.kcur.org/news/2025-01...
* Currently paused by Executive Order
** Grant reviews now all canceled
www.kcur.org/news/2025-01...
Egg prices are soaring again. Here’s why and what to expect
Bird flu has killed millions of hens in recent weeks, shrinking the supply of eggs and hiking up prices at grocery stores.
www.kcur.org
January 23, 2025 at 5:18 PM
The price of eggs in the US is spiking, mostly due to #H5N1 bird flu. Solving the problem requires urgent, important communications from the CDC & FDA* and rapid development of research by the NIH**
* Currently paused by Executive Order
** Grant reviews now all canceled
www.kcur.org/news/2025-01...
* Currently paused by Executive Order
** Grant reviews now all canceled
www.kcur.org/news/2025-01...
Reposted by Ben Lang
