Joe Hanson
@drjoehanson.bsky.social
Biologist, YouTube science dude. I moved to Austin back when it was still cool
Tough weekend to be a team that lost to us
December 20, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Tough weekend to be a team that lost to us
So… every single word of this is now true. We are now in that world.
Sorry, Carl
Sorry, Carl
December 13, 2025 at 2:45 PM
So… every single word of this is now true. We are now in that world.
Sorry, Carl
Sorry, Carl
Linda Perry from 4 Non Blondes wrote and produced Christina Aguilera’s hits “Candyman” and “Beautiful”
I feel like more people should know this
I feel like more people should know this
December 12, 2025 at 1:48 AM
Linda Perry from 4 Non Blondes wrote and produced Christina Aguilera’s hits “Candyman” and “Beautiful”
I feel like more people should know this
I feel like more people should know this
"Let me read/watch that for you" content is so tiresome and destructive to actual journalism
I think people sharing their connection and reaction to events can really help news penetrate society's numbed attention, but barfing up someone else's work and saying "look what I found" is C- mindset
I think people sharing their connection and reaction to events can really help news penetrate society's numbed attention, but barfing up someone else's work and saying "look what I found" is C- mindset
a type of content that makes me want to launch myself into space and is huge part of why everything is so bad: TikToker goes down a “rabbit hole,” makes 9-minute video. The “rabbit hole” was she found an Eater article. The Eater journalist did all the work: www.tiktok.com/t/ZTruBS8cp/
allow me to take you on a journey where, once again, we learn we have no idea what’s in our food. at least we know corporations are pure of heart so I’m sure it’s fine🫶🏼🤡
TikTok video by kaelin
www.tiktok.com
December 7, 2025 at 4:20 PM
"Let me read/watch that for you" content is so tiresome and destructive to actual journalism
I think people sharing their connection and reaction to events can really help news penetrate society's numbed attention, but barfing up someone else's work and saying "look what I found" is C- mindset
I think people sharing their connection and reaction to events can really help news penetrate society's numbed attention, but barfing up someone else's work and saying "look what I found" is C- mindset
In 1996, only 48% of Americans believed aliens were probably real. Things are not moving in the right direction! 🫠
www.newsweek.com/alien-invasi...
www.newsweek.com/alien-invasi...
New polling on aliens
% of U.S. adult citizens who believe the following definitely or probably exist:
Aliens 56%
Bigfoot 28%
The Yeti 23%
The Loch Ness Monster 22%
Chupacabra 16%
today.yougov.com/health/artic...
% of U.S. adult citizens who believe the following definitely or probably exist:
Aliens 56%
Bigfoot 28%
The Yeti 23%
The Loch Ness Monster 22%
Chupacabra 16%
today.yougov.com/health/artic...
November 25, 2025 at 10:29 PM
In 1996, only 48% of Americans believed aliens were probably real. Things are not moving in the right direction! 🫠
www.newsweek.com/alien-invasi...
www.newsweek.com/alien-invasi...
In the sense that “unhealed emotional and spiritual trauma” means multiple mutations in genes involved in cell proliferation, DNA repair, and immune system evasion, this is true
November 25, 2025 at 6:57 PM
In the sense that “unhealed emotional and spiritual trauma” means multiple mutations in genes involved in cell proliferation, DNA repair, and immune system evasion, this is true
Numerous videos are using an unauthorized model of my voice to narrate AI slop.
And YouTube just told me this doesn't violate any privacy rules!
This is unquestionably me: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F4N...
Apparently YouTube doesn't care about protecting our identities from AI theft. Infuriating.
And YouTube just told me this doesn't violate any privacy rules!
This is unquestionably me: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F4N...
Apparently YouTube doesn't care about protecting our identities from AI theft. Infuriating.
What Samsung's Phone Letters REALLY Mean (A, M, S, Z, FE)
YouTube video by Droid Sage
www.youtube.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Numerous videos are using an unauthorized model of my voice to narrate AI slop.
And YouTube just told me this doesn't violate any privacy rules!
This is unquestionably me: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F4N...
Apparently YouTube doesn't care about protecting our identities from AI theft. Infuriating.
And YouTube just told me this doesn't violate any privacy rules!
This is unquestionably me: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F4N...
Apparently YouTube doesn't care about protecting our identities from AI theft. Infuriating.
Reposted by Joe Hanson
@pbs.org & @drjoehanson.bsky.social doing the lord's work & letting ppl know that genetics isn't as simple & convenient as the Punnett Square, & that life is so complex & messy that even the simplest, most mundane things about us are still the result incredibly complex systems interacting 🧬
Did I Make This Video to Debunk Your Biology Class?
YouTube video by Be Smart
youtu.be
November 13, 2025 at 5:00 PM
@pbs.org & @drjoehanson.bsky.social doing the lord's work & letting ppl know that genetics isn't as simple & convenient as the Punnett Square, & that life is so complex & messy that even the simplest, most mundane things about us are still the result incredibly complex systems interacting 🧬
I refuse to believe this is not a Monty Python sketch. No notes. Next-level hilarious!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=53w9...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=53w9...
1973: The MUHAMMAD ALI of MARBLES | Nationwide | Classic BBC Sport | BBC Archive
YouTube video by BBC Archive
www.youtube.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:28 AM
I refuse to believe this is not a Monty Python sketch. No notes. Next-level hilarious!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=53w9...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=53w9...
Dangling the idea of a 50 year mortgage as a solution to home ownership relies completely on assuming that the average American can not do basic math
And sadly, that might not be a bad assumption 😐
And sadly, that might not be a bad assumption 😐
November 11, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Dangling the idea of a 50 year mortgage as a solution to home ownership relies completely on assuming that the average American can not do basic math
And sadly, that might not be a bad assumption 😐
And sadly, that might not be a bad assumption 😐
I had the honor of seeing Watson's racism on display first-hand
In grad school, he was the invited guest for a speaker series I ran with other students. At dinner he looked my Latina classmate in the eye and said "Your people don't usually have the work ethic to succeed in this field!"
Bad guy.
In grad school, he was the invited guest for a speaker series I ran with other students. At dinner he looked my Latina classmate in the eye and said "Your people don't usually have the work ethic to succeed in this field!"
Bad guy.
In 1953 James Watson revealed the double helix structure of DNA
He spent the rest of his career revealing how great scientists can be awful people
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
He spent the rest of his career revealing how great scientists can be awful people
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
James Watson, Co-Discoverer of the Structure of DNA, Is Dead at 97
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:44 PM
I had the honor of seeing Watson's racism on display first-hand
In grad school, he was the invited guest for a speaker series I ran with other students. At dinner he looked my Latina classmate in the eye and said "Your people don't usually have the work ethic to succeed in this field!"
Bad guy.
In grad school, he was the invited guest for a speaker series I ran with other students. At dinner he looked my Latina classmate in the eye and said "Your people don't usually have the work ethic to succeed in this field!"
Bad guy.
In 1953 James Watson revealed the double helix structure of DNA
He spent the rest of his career revealing how great scientists can be awful people
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
He spent the rest of his career revealing how great scientists can be awful people
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
James Watson, Co-Discoverer of the Structure of DNA, Is Dead at 97
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:26 PM
In 1953 James Watson revealed the double helix structure of DNA
He spent the rest of his career revealing how great scientists can be awful people
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
He spent the rest of his career revealing how great scientists can be awful people
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
My kind of abundance
Australia has so much electricity from solar power that it is going to start offering free electricity to everyone for at least three hours during the day as the wholesale price of power goes negative
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
Australia has so much solar that it's offering everyone free electricity
Australia's extensive solar power penetration makes so much energy that the government wants to offer free electricity at peak hours.
electrek.co
November 6, 2025 at 8:38 PM
My kind of abundance
It's easy (and usually fun) to dump on pundits. But I think both of these things can be true
1. Very few Dems think algebra is racist or banning plastic bags is a big priority
2. Lots of people *think* D's are obsessed with these things because being a Democrat is historically unpopular and uncool
1. Very few Dems think algebra is racist or banning plastic bags is a big priority
2. Lots of people *think* D's are obsessed with these things because being a Democrat is historically unpopular and uncool
I don't think it helps the debate about what Democrats should do to pick an obscure thing that some Democrat somewhere may have said -- like on teaching eighth grade algebra -- and then attribute it to Democrats generally.
November 4, 2025 at 6:43 PM
It's easy (and usually fun) to dump on pundits. But I think both of these things can be true
1. Very few Dems think algebra is racist or banning plastic bags is a big priority
2. Lots of people *think* D's are obsessed with these things because being a Democrat is historically unpopular and uncool
1. Very few Dems think algebra is racist or banning plastic bags is a big priority
2. Lots of people *think* D's are obsessed with these things because being a Democrat is historically unpopular and uncool
When people learn with ChatGPT instead of following their own searches, they end up knowing less, caring less, and producing worse advice, even when the facts are the same.
Friction is an essential ingredient for learning! Convenience makes us shallow.
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Friction is an essential ingredient for learning! Convenience makes us shallow.
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Experimental evidence of the effects of large language models versus web search on depth of learning
Abstract. The effects of using large language models (LLMs) versus traditional web search on depth of learning are explored. A theory is proposed that when
academic.oup.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:14 PM
When people learn with ChatGPT instead of following their own searches, they end up knowing less, caring less, and producing worse advice, even when the facts are the same.
Friction is an essential ingredient for learning! Convenience makes us shallow.
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Friction is an essential ingredient for learning! Convenience makes us shallow.
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Super cool that the FDA is out there telling doctors the opposite of what the president said as he was vibing through a press conference
September 25, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Super cool that the FDA is out there telling doctors the opposite of what the president said as he was vibing through a press conference
More people need to realize politics has devolved into sorting people into buckets and keeping them there
1. Pick position (e.g. vaccines r scary)
2. Signal "if you're one of us, you must believe [1]"
The reality of the position doesn't matter to these people. It's all just shepherding for power
1. Pick position (e.g. vaccines r scary)
2. Signal "if you're one of us, you must believe [1]"
The reality of the position doesn't matter to these people. It's all just shepherding for power
When I say that being anti-vaccine is a political identity now I mean literally. Look at the divide between MAGA and non-MAGA Republicans.
During COVID the Virality Project documented the extent to which political influencers who’d never commented on 💉 before got deep into the topic on all shots.
During COVID the Virality Project documented the extent to which political influencers who’d never commented on 💉 before got deep into the topic on all shots.
September 25, 2025 at 4:28 PM
More people need to realize politics has devolved into sorting people into buckets and keeping them there
1. Pick position (e.g. vaccines r scary)
2. Signal "if you're one of us, you must believe [1]"
The reality of the position doesn't matter to these people. It's all just shepherding for power
1. Pick position (e.g. vaccines r scary)
2. Signal "if you're one of us, you must believe [1]"
The reality of the position doesn't matter to these people. It's all just shepherding for power
Kakistocracy kills.
September 23, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Kakistocracy kills.
We can save RFK Jr some time here, because we already know a lot about acetaminophen and autism!
There’s no increased risk of autism from use of this drug. This isn’t based on some small study. It’s thanks to a beautiful study of literally millions of children…
wapo.st/4nkMdCO
There’s no increased risk of autism from use of this drug. This isn’t based on some small study. It’s thanks to a beautiful study of literally millions of children…
wapo.st/4nkMdCO
Trump administration set to tie Tylenol to autism risk, officials say
The Trump administration plans to tie Tylenol to autism risk while touting another drug, leucovorin, as a potential autism treatment.
wapo.st
September 21, 2025 at 11:48 PM
We can save RFK Jr some time here, because we already know a lot about acetaminophen and autism!
There’s no increased risk of autism from use of this drug. This isn’t based on some small study. It’s thanks to a beautiful study of literally millions of children…
wapo.st/4nkMdCO
There’s no increased risk of autism from use of this drug. This isn’t based on some small study. It’s thanks to a beautiful study of literally millions of children…
wapo.st/4nkMdCO
My woe was over the character limit
September 14, 2025 at 10:38 PM
My woe was over the character limit
Asimov wrote “Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent”
The loss of any life to political violence is a profound failure of humanity’s potential. We must resist the gravitational pull toward dehumanization and vengeance no matter how much we disagree with someone
Our future depends on it
The loss of any life to political violence is a profound failure of humanity’s potential. We must resist the gravitational pull toward dehumanization and vengeance no matter how much we disagree with someone
Our future depends on it
September 11, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Asimov wrote “Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent”
The loss of any life to political violence is a profound failure of humanity’s potential. We must resist the gravitational pull toward dehumanization and vengeance no matter how much we disagree with someone
Our future depends on it
The loss of any life to political violence is a profound failure of humanity’s potential. We must resist the gravitational pull toward dehumanization and vengeance no matter how much we disagree with someone
Our future depends on it
No one in Texas is surprised that the world epicenter of weird little brother energy is leading the charge on attacking academic wrongthink. Look at what they consider normal!
September 10, 2025 at 1:19 PM
No one in Texas is surprised that the world epicenter of weird little brother energy is leading the charge on attacking academic wrongthink. Look at what they consider normal!
The board is wrong. But politics is a game of perceptions more than it is about reality (which I wish wasn’t true but 🤷♂️). And plenty of bad actors have been able to make these perceptions more salient/popular, and retcon reality in order to erode trust in institutions.
None of this is an accident!
None of this is an accident!
The Washington Post editorial board is essentially endorsing the backlash against public health, and only Florida took it too far. This is pandemic revisionism at its worst, and completely erases how layers of public health protections did so much to save lives before vaccines were available.
September 5, 2025 at 12:02 AM
The board is wrong. But politics is a game of perceptions more than it is about reality (which I wish wasn’t true but 🤷♂️). And plenty of bad actors have been able to make these perceptions more salient/popular, and retcon reality in order to erode trust in institutions.
None of this is an accident!
None of this is an accident!
When you remember that much of the modern GOP mission revolves around weakening institutions by eroding our trust in them, this seems like a big win for them
Only 26% of Americans say they "somewhat" trust RFK Jr's medical advice. The rest do not.
Those are horrifically bad poll numbers.
thehill.com/policy/healt...
Those are horrifically bad poll numbers.
thehill.com/policy/healt...
thehill.com
September 4, 2025 at 5:09 PM
When you remember that much of the modern GOP mission revolves around weakening institutions by eroding our trust in them, this seems like a big win for them
Had no idea these guys were into BJJ
Niels Bohr (left) spent years sparring with Albert Einstein (right), who insisted that the world has more concrete properties than quantum mechanics suggests. Reality proved weirder than Einstein had believed.
www.quantamagazine.org/its-a-mess-a...
www.quantamagazine.org/its-a-mess-a...
August 28, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Had no idea these guys were into BJJ