Ehud
@duhe.bsky.social
Do you really don’t know?
(I’m a philosopher and historian of biology, interested in all things evolutionary, #genetic, or #cognitive. I find most things ridiculous.)
http://www.ehudlamm.com
(I’m a philosopher and historian of biology, interested in all things evolutionary, #genetic, or #cognitive. I find most things ridiculous.)
http://www.ehudlamm.com
Pinned
Ehud
@duhe.bsky.social
· May 29
New paper alert:
Finkel & Lamm, Cultural evolution beyond the individual: what human collective knowledge adds to high fidelity copying.
This is the third in the Distributed Adaptation series.
Many thanks to the diligent reviewers! #philbio #cultevo
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Finkel & Lamm, Cultural evolution beyond the individual: what human collective knowledge adds to high fidelity copying.
This is the third in the Distributed Adaptation series.
Many thanks to the diligent reviewers! #philbio #cultevo
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Ehud
This seems like a maliciously put headline to make people feel a certain way.
Wikipedia is not partaking in generative AI. They are making AI companies and scrappers having to pay for training their modules off wikipedia texts. And having an AI (not that ai) tasked with updating dead links.
Wikipedia is not partaking in generative AI. They are making AI companies and scrappers having to pay for training their modules off wikipedia texts. And having an AI (not that ai) tasked with updating dead links.
Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia written by volunteers, is embracing artificial intelligence to mark its 25th anniversary.
Wikipedia unveils new AI licensing deals as it marks 25th birthday
Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia written by volunteers, is embracing artificial intelligence to mark its 25th anniversary.
bit.ly
January 15, 2026 at 7:08 PM
This seems like a maliciously put headline to make people feel a certain way.
Wikipedia is not partaking in generative AI. They are making AI companies and scrappers having to pay for training their modules off wikipedia texts. And having an AI (not that ai) tasked with updating dead links.
Wikipedia is not partaking in generative AI. They are making AI companies and scrappers having to pay for training their modules off wikipedia texts. And having an AI (not that ai) tasked with updating dead links.
Reposted by Ehud
Oh maybe a little bit now since I am still up: this post talks about the pattern whereby LLMs tend to attribute actions in films done by smaller characters in films to bigger characters
January 18, 2026 at 8:47 AM
Oh maybe a little bit now since I am still up: this post talks about the pattern whereby LLMs tend to attribute actions in films done by smaller characters in films to bigger characters
Government proposes series of changes to limit and curtail independence of academic institutions. Now at emergency meeting led by our university president.
January 18, 2026 at 8:26 AM
Government proposes series of changes to limit and curtail independence of academic institutions. Now at emergency meeting led by our university president.
- what do you call a cat robot in france?
- a chatbot.
- a chatbot.
January 18, 2026 at 6:03 AM
- what do you call a cat robot in france?
- a chatbot.
- a chatbot.
It is funny how cat-I-farted has become the generic name for lame chatbots.
January 18, 2026 at 6:03 AM
It is funny how cat-I-farted has become the generic name for lame chatbots.
Reposted by Ehud
"Superficially, Ne seems like a fairly simple concept, but the more layers of the onion you peel, the more you feel like crying. Really understanding Ne in all its facets is daunting, as there are various temporal, spatial, biological, and mathematical ways in which Ne can be defined ... ." #hpbio
We have compiled a special issue for @evolappjournal.bsky.social on Effective population size in Conservation and Biodiversity Monitoring, dedicated to the late Michael W. Bruford.
This SI is a must read for everyone who struggles with what "effective population size" means.
#consgen
This SI is a must read for everyone who struggles with what "effective population size" means.
#consgen
The Importance of Effective Population Size in Conservation and Biodiversity Monitoring
Effective population size (Ne) is a key concept in biology and conservation. Stripped to its bare essentials, it reflects how much genetic drift a population experiences, expressed as a number of ind...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
January 18, 2026 at 5:27 AM
"Superficially, Ne seems like a fairly simple concept, but the more layers of the onion you peel, the more you feel like crying. Really understanding Ne in all its facets is daunting, as there are various temporal, spatial, biological, and mathematical ways in which Ne can be defined ... ." #hpbio
As I've been saying: norms will develop in response to AI. This is what it will look like. bsky.app/profile/duhe...
I have some bad news. One, if you need to use ChatGPT for your graduate application letter, you are not ready for graduate school.
Two, no, not "everyone is doing it" and those who don't do it aren't "losing out." ChatGPT is not an advantage.
Two, no, not "everyone is doing it" and those who don't do it aren't "losing out." ChatGPT is not an advantage.
An impressive number of graduate applications this year used the phrase “curiosity-driven approach” 🤔
January 18, 2026 at 5:34 AM
As I've been saying: norms will develop in response to AI. This is what it will look like. bsky.app/profile/duhe...
Reposted by Ehud
AI chicken sexing as institutional failure mode.
I do worry about the rush to claim certain things are definitely AI, which people think they can tell with certainty (they absolutely cannot) will lead to bad outcomes as well. A while back I wrote about the hoops my kid went through to try to avoid sounding like AI, which made the writing worse.
January 18, 2026 at 12:34 AM
AI chicken sexing as institutional failure mode.
Bookmarking to show people asking about getting a PhD
January 18, 2026 at 5:23 AM
Bookmarking to show people asking about getting a PhD
I worry about this a lot.
People are naturally preoccupied by the internal machinations in the US, but don’t forget your Metternich. When the US sneezes the world catches a cold. The 21st century has probably irreparably become dramatically more insecure than it was even a couple of months ago.
January 17, 2026 at 8:35 PM
I worry about this a lot.
Reposted by Ehud
Applications to join the Computational Approaches to Early Evolution workshop are still accepted! Do not miss your chance to attend this event full of discussions on the computational methods for studying early life! 🦠💻🧬
forms.oist.jp/form/computa...
forms.oist.jp/form/computa...
January 16, 2026 at 2:15 PM
Applications to join the Computational Approaches to Early Evolution workshop are still accepted! Do not miss your chance to attend this event full of discussions on the computational methods for studying early life! 🦠💻🧬
forms.oist.jp/form/computa...
forms.oist.jp/form/computa...
Reposted by Ehud
Please share: Pew Research Center will provide $3,000 each for 19 new papers using our recent global datasets. We encourage reuse of our Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures data!
https://www.pewresearch.org/2026/01/16/seeking-research-using-recent-pew-templeton-global-religious-futures-datasets/
https://www.pewresearch.org/2026/01/16/seeking-research-using-recent-pew-templeton-global-religious-futures-datasets/
January 17, 2026 at 8:27 PM
Please share: Pew Research Center will provide $3,000 each for 19 new papers using our recent global datasets. We encourage reuse of our Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures data!
https://www.pewresearch.org/2026/01/16/seeking-research-using-recent-pew-templeton-global-religious-futures-datasets/
https://www.pewresearch.org/2026/01/16/seeking-research-using-recent-pew-templeton-global-religious-futures-datasets/
Reposted by Ehud
This is about the faux university in Austin. It’s not the most important thing about story, but they all seem to be surprised it lacked interesting hard science content.
But that’s a lesson. Despite some status threat issues, the majority of hard scientists support liberal values and democracy.
But that’s a lesson. Despite some status threat issues, the majority of hard scientists support liberal values and democracy.
The failure of a faux university in which “Niall was the mind, Bari was the media and Joe was the money,” is arguably not a "tragedy worthy of the Greeks"
January 17, 2026 at 12:52 AM
This is about the faux university in Austin. It’s not the most important thing about story, but they all seem to be surprised it lacked interesting hard science content.
But that’s a lesson. Despite some status threat issues, the majority of hard scientists support liberal values and democracy.
But that’s a lesson. Despite some status threat issues, the majority of hard scientists support liberal values and democracy.
Reposted by Ehud
“The suspension of Mel Curth, a graduate instructor at the University of Oklahoma (OU), stemming from a grading dispute with a student, is an egregious violation of widely accepted principles of academic freedom and due process.”
— Todd Wolfson, AAUP President
— Todd Wolfson, AAUP President
National AAUP condemns suspension of OU graduate instructor for Bible-based essay grade
The American Association of University Professors issued a statement Thursday condemning OU for removing the graduate instructor who gave a failing grade to a student’s Bible-based essay.
www.oudaily.com
January 16, 2026 at 2:59 PM
“The suspension of Mel Curth, a graduate instructor at the University of Oklahoma (OU), stemming from a grading dispute with a student, is an egregious violation of widely accepted principles of academic freedom and due process.”
— Todd Wolfson, AAUP President
— Todd Wolfson, AAUP President
Reposted by Ehud
neolithic guys get pissed if you tell them their cultures are organized by the type of pots and jewelry they made. "we called ourselves the blood hunters" "we conquered villages far beyond this horizon" sorry bud you're the western linear pottery culture now
January 17, 2026 at 2:52 PM
neolithic guys get pissed if you tell them their cultures are organized by the type of pots and jewelry they made. "we called ourselves the blood hunters" "we conquered villages far beyond this horizon" sorry bud you're the western linear pottery culture now
Reposted by Ehud
Neuroscience is moving away from a modular view of the brain because the brain is not modular. It is network of murmuring neurons. Great metaphor by @pessoabrain.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/o...
#neuroscience
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/o...
#neuroscience
Opinion | What Are We Thinking?
www.nytimes.com
January 17, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Neuroscience is moving away from a modular view of the brain because the brain is not modular. It is network of murmuring neurons. Great metaphor by @pessoabrain.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/o...
#neuroscience
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/o...
#neuroscience
Reposted by Ehud
Getting asked about how academics can continue to do science & inspire trainees even in the midst of a continued (escalated) assault on science, reason, truth, & human rights. I don’t have great answers.
I would love to hear from mentors about advice they’re giving to trainees/ colleagues.
I would love to hear from mentors about advice they’re giving to trainees/ colleagues.
January 17, 2026 at 6:47 PM
Getting asked about how academics can continue to do science & inspire trainees even in the midst of a continued (escalated) assault on science, reason, truth, & human rights. I don’t have great answers.
I would love to hear from mentors about advice they’re giving to trainees/ colleagues.
I would love to hear from mentors about advice they’re giving to trainees/ colleagues.
Excellent book. I recommended it to someone just this week.
From Scott's "Two Cheers for Anarchism," a short collection of essays & one of my favorite books, which I hand out to anyone that might be interested as often as possible.
January 17, 2026 at 5:11 PM
Excellent book. I recommended it to someone just this week.
Tomorrow I’m teaching two of my favorite models. Axelrod’s polarization and norm game models. I hope the students will like them as much as I do.
January 17, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Tomorrow I’m teaching two of my favorite models. Axelrod’s polarization and norm game models. I hope the students will like them as much as I do.
Reposted by Ehud
Launching new podcast soon. First interviews: Chandran Kukathas and Elizabeth Anderson.
What should I ask them?
What should I ask them?
January 17, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Launching new podcast soon. First interviews: Chandran Kukathas and Elizabeth Anderson.
What should I ask them?
What should I ask them?
Netanyahu: "The announcement of the composition of the Gaza Executive Committee, which is subordinate to the Peace Board, was not coordinated with Israel and is contrary to its policy. The Prime Minister instructed the Foreign Minister to contact the US Secretary of State on this matter."
January 17, 2026 at 4:17 PM
Netanyahu: "The announcement of the composition of the Gaza Executive Committee, which is subordinate to the Peace Board, was not coordinated with Israel and is contrary to its policy. The Prime Minister instructed the Foreign Minister to contact the US Secretary of State on this matter."
Reposted by Ehud
Once again: if you want to use AI in a way that will actually improve what you are doing, which *is* possible, it would take more people, more money, more time, and more care, not less.
But that basically never happens so everything AI touches becomes terrible.
But that basically never happens so everything AI touches becomes terrible.
January 17, 2026 at 3:21 PM
Once again: if you want to use AI in a way that will actually improve what you are doing, which *is* possible, it would take more people, more money, more time, and more care, not less.
But that basically never happens so everything AI touches becomes terrible.
But that basically never happens so everything AI touches becomes terrible.
Reposted by Ehud
This book is a wonderful, synthetic and richly illustrated journey through the natural history of the vertebrate brain 🤩
A big thank you to the authors 🙏
"A major theme in the evolution of the telencephalon has been the emergence of novel pathways...
1/2
A big thank you to the authors 🙏
"A major theme in the evolution of the telencephalon has been the emergence of novel pathways...
1/2
January 17, 2026 at 9:05 AM
This book is a wonderful, synthetic and richly illustrated journey through the natural history of the vertebrate brain 🤩
A big thank you to the authors 🙏
"A major theme in the evolution of the telencephalon has been the emergence of novel pathways...
1/2
A big thank you to the authors 🙏
"A major theme in the evolution of the telencephalon has been the emergence of novel pathways...
1/2
For the last meeting,we are going to discuss eugenics more broadly, and talk about the new eugenics of the TESCREAL bundle (the students having read the @timnitgebru.bsky.social and @xriskology.bsky.social paper). EFK's book was a strange reading group experience, maybe I'll post about this later.
January 17, 2026 at 3:37 PM
For the last meeting,we are going to discuss eugenics more broadly, and talk about the new eugenics of the TESCREAL bundle (the students having read the @timnitgebru.bsky.social and @xriskology.bsky.social paper). EFK's book was a strange reading group experience, maybe I'll post about this later.