Steven Phelps
@evolbrain.bsky.social
Biology of intimacy: Evolutionary, neural & genomic studies of sexuality & social bonds (in weird rodents, mostly). Write a bit on biology & culture. First-gen. 🏳️🌈 Austin, TX. phelpslab.net
Pinned
Steven Phelps
@evolbrain.bsky.social
· Nov 17
I'll add another starter pack to the mix. This one on SOCIAL NEUROSCIENCE. Lots of great scientists on here already!
go.bsky.app/DKzaRqU
go.bsky.app/DKzaRqU
Oh yeah. Great mood. Fun to look at.
February 7, 2026 at 5:07 AM
Oh yeah. Great mood. Fun to look at.
Best television shows to abandon after 1 season? I'll start:
1. Westworld
2. Your Honor
3. Hightown
1. Westworld
2. Your Honor
3. Hightown
February 7, 2026 at 4:44 AM
Best television shows to abandon after 1 season? I'll start:
1. Westworld
2. Your Honor
3. Hightown
1. Westworld
2. Your Honor
3. Hightown
Reposted by Steven Phelps
El miedo de los científicos en USA ha llevado a 'maquillar' proyectos para sobrevivir a la censura y los conflictos ideológicos. Investigadores extranjeros temen perder el estatus legal, no poder regresar al país tras estancias de campo, y deportaciones
www.elperiodico.com/es/sociedad/...
www.elperiodico.com/es/sociedad/...
Dos paleontólogos de prestigio de EEUU ya trabajan en Catalunya: 'Con Trump, estudiar la evolución humana se ha vuelto tabú'
Los investigadores, anteriormente afincados en Nueva York, son los primeros en incorporarse al ecosistema científico catalán gracias a las becas ICREA y al programa de captación Catalunya Talent Bridg...
www.elperiodico.com
February 5, 2026 at 12:11 AM
El miedo de los científicos en USA ha llevado a 'maquillar' proyectos para sobrevivir a la censura y los conflictos ideológicos. Investigadores extranjeros temen perder el estatus legal, no poder regresar al país tras estancias de campo, y deportaciones
www.elperiodico.com/es/sociedad/...
www.elperiodico.com/es/sociedad/...
My source on this btw is the wonderful history of Tinbergen, Lorenz and ethology "Patterns of Behavior" by Richard Burkhardt.
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
Patterns of Behavior
It is hard to imagine, by their very name, the life sciences not involving the study of living things, but until the twentieth century much of what was known in the field was based primarily on specim...
press.uchicago.edu
January 15, 2026 at 8:43 PM
My source on this btw is the wonderful history of Tinbergen, Lorenz and ethology "Patterns of Behavior" by Richard Burkhardt.
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
I've found it very difficult to get the text of the papers he published in German, arguing for sympathy between evolutionary thinking and National Socialism. Do you by any chance know where I could find them as pdfs?
January 15, 2026 at 8:43 PM
I've found it very difficult to get the text of the papers he published in German, arguing for sympathy between evolutionary thinking and National Socialism. Do you by any chance know where I could find them as pdfs?
I think you can read his evasiveness as opportunistic too. I think he did eventually refute the Nazi positions but far too late. None of this meant to excuse or rehabilitate him. Taking an abhorrent political position motivated by self interest as well as racism doesn't excuse the racism.
January 15, 2026 at 8:43 PM
I think you can read his evasiveness as opportunistic too. I think he did eventually refute the Nazi positions but far too late. None of this meant to excuse or rehabilitate him. Taking an abhorrent political position motivated by self interest as well as racism doesn't excuse the racism.
He was clearly sympathetic with Nazi ideas. His worries about the dangers of "domestication" extended to cosmopolitan people (Jews, presumably). And he was gleeful at the annexation of Austria. But he was also deeply ambitious and frustrated by his inability to gain a permanent position.
January 15, 2026 at 8:43 PM
He was clearly sympathetic with Nazi ideas. His worries about the dangers of "domestication" extended to cosmopolitan people (Jews, presumably). And he was gleeful at the annexation of Austria. But he was also deeply ambitious and frustrated by his inability to gain a permanent position.
Reposted by Steven Phelps
The warmongering & global destabilization - NATO, Greenland, Panama, Ukraine - aims to precipitate the suspension of law. Vance, Musk, Thiel et al see the advantages of an authoritarian regime as exemplified by China & think they can do it better. They imagine we'll be better for it. Trump agrees.
March 1, 2025 at 4:08 AM
The warmongering & global destabilization - NATO, Greenland, Panama, Ukraine - aims to precipitate the suspension of law. Vance, Musk, Thiel et al see the advantages of an authoritarian regime as exemplified by China & think they can do it better. They imagine we'll be better for it. Trump agrees.
Reposted by Steven Phelps
The secret to happiness.
September 20, 2025 at 5:16 PM
The secret to happiness.
There's a dramatic contrast between him and his close colleague Niko Tinbergen, with whom he shared the Nobel, a Dutchman who was active in the resistance.
January 15, 2026 at 6:29 PM
There's a dramatic contrast between him and his close colleague Niko Tinbergen, with whom he shared the Nobel, a Dutchman who was active in the resistance.
He was clearly sympathetic to Nazi eugenics, but of course he claims not to have known what was going on in the camps, and minimized his role in the psychological testing.
January 15, 2026 at 6:29 PM
He was clearly sympathetic to Nazi eugenics, but of course he claims not to have known what was going on in the camps, and minimized his role in the psychological testing.
There was a NYT op-ed that protested 1973 Nobel. Also his Nazi-era papers were not listed in his Nobel CV. His joining of the Nazi party is widely viewed as opportunistic - he was desperate for a faculty position. Not exactly a redeeming reason.
January 15, 2026 at 6:29 PM
There was a NYT op-ed that protested 1973 Nobel. Also his Nazi-era papers were not listed in his Nobel CV. His joining of the Nazi party is widely viewed as opportunistic - he was desperate for a faculty position. Not exactly a redeeming reason.
Reposted by Steven Phelps
Tonight was the final broadcast of PBS News Weekend due to federal cuts.
Appearing on the show in November was a highlight of my year. The team was incredible to work with, and I was deeply grateful they covered this issue with the care it deserves.
Public media at its best. Very sad to see it go.
Appearing on the show in November was a highlight of my year. The team was incredible to work with, and I was deeply grateful they covered this issue with the care it deserves.
Public media at its best. Very sad to see it go.
Millions of full-time workers are struggling to afford a place to live. Here’s why
The skyrocketing cost of living has left millions of people struggling to afford a place to live despite working at full-time jobs or a number of part-time jobs. Journalist Brian Goldstone, author of ...
www.pbs.org
January 12, 2026 at 1:17 AM
Tonight was the final broadcast of PBS News Weekend due to federal cuts.
Appearing on the show in November was a highlight of my year. The team was incredible to work with, and I was deeply grateful they covered this issue with the care it deserves.
Public media at its best. Very sad to see it go.
Appearing on the show in November was a highlight of my year. The team was incredible to work with, and I was deeply grateful they covered this issue with the care it deserves.
Public media at its best. Very sad to see it go.
Reposted by Steven Phelps
“Do not bend your neck for that which cuts necks.”
A Sumerian proverb, as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago.
A Sumerian proverb, as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago.
February 7, 2025 at 1:31 PM
“Do not bend your neck for that which cuts necks.”
A Sumerian proverb, as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago.
A Sumerian proverb, as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago.
Reposted by Steven Phelps
I wrote about Nucleus Genomics' "Have your best baby" ad campaign and Kris Jenner's "best version of myself" facelift, the parallels between embryo selection and cosmetic surgery, and competing definitions of "eugenics"
kathrynpaigeharden.substack.com/p/have-your-...
kathrynpaigeharden.substack.com/p/have-your-...
"Have Your Best Baby"
Four parallels between cosmetic surgery and polygenic embryo selection, two competing definitions of "eugenics," and one short excerpt from my forthcoming book
kathrynpaigeharden.substack.com
January 4, 2026 at 7:17 PM
I wrote about Nucleus Genomics' "Have your best baby" ad campaign and Kris Jenner's "best version of myself" facelift, the parallels between embryo selection and cosmetic surgery, and competing definitions of "eugenics"
kathrynpaigeharden.substack.com/p/have-your-...
kathrynpaigeharden.substack.com/p/have-your-...
Reposted by Steven Phelps
Magic Johnson was the grand marshal of the Rose Parade today, and as someone who remembers his November 1991 HIV announcement: if you had told anybody that day that he would be alive and healthy 34+ years later, I don't think they would have believed you. Medicine and research—they work.
January 1, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Magic Johnson was the grand marshal of the Rose Parade today, and as someone who remembers his November 1991 HIV announcement: if you had told anybody that day that he would be alive and healthy 34+ years later, I don't think they would have believed you. Medicine and research—they work.
Reposted by Steven Phelps
New: We got an internal ICE document revealing its $100 million ad plan to bring in 14,000 new hires: deals with "tactical" influencers; ads to gun & military buffs; and geo-targeting phones around NASCAR races and gun shows.
A "wartime recruitment" mode with paramilitary branding: wapo.st/44QrP5j
A "wartime recruitment" mode with paramilitary branding: wapo.st/44QrP5j
ICE plans $100 million ‘wartime recruitment’ push targeting gun shows, military fans for hires
An internal ICE document shared among immigration officials details plans to use influencers and geo-targeted ads to rapidly hire thousands of deportation officers.
wapo.st
December 31, 2025 at 12:09 PM
New: We got an internal ICE document revealing its $100 million ad plan to bring in 14,000 new hires: deals with "tactical" influencers; ads to gun & military buffs; and geo-targeting phones around NASCAR races and gun shows.
A "wartime recruitment" mode with paramilitary branding: wapo.st/44QrP5j
A "wartime recruitment" mode with paramilitary branding: wapo.st/44QrP5j
Reposted by Steven Phelps
🐦⬛ New paper in Animal Cognition covering our carrion crow project with partners at @Univeristy of Leon.
52 mini-biologgers were deployed on wild carrion crows in Spain — capturing 127K+ vocalizations.
🔗: www.earthspecies.org/blog/unlocki...
(1/4)
52 mini-biologgers were deployed on wild carrion crows in Spain — capturing 127K+ vocalizations.
🔗: www.earthspecies.org/blog/unlocki...
(1/4)
Unlocking Avian Secrets: How Tiny Biologgers Are Revealing the Hidden Communication of Carrion Crows - Earth Species Project
Lightweight biologgers and ESP's machine learning tools reveal the hidden vocal world of wild carrion crows, capturing over 127,000 calls from quiet murmurs to long-distance signals.
www.earthspecies.org
December 17, 2025 at 6:40 PM
🐦⬛ New paper in Animal Cognition covering our carrion crow project with partners at @Univeristy of Leon.
52 mini-biologgers were deployed on wild carrion crows in Spain — capturing 127K+ vocalizations.
🔗: www.earthspecies.org/blog/unlocki...
(1/4)
52 mini-biologgers were deployed on wild carrion crows in Spain — capturing 127K+ vocalizations.
🔗: www.earthspecies.org/blog/unlocki...
(1/4)
Reposted by Steven Phelps
I cannot tell you how angry I am right now. I can tell you that I tried to turn that anger into some constructive use. A Pox on Fools is intended to give the rest of us ammunition with which to counter the tsunami of bullshit that is MAHA.
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/808113...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/808113...
December 21, 2025 at 3:28 PM
I cannot tell you how angry I am right now. I can tell you that I tried to turn that anger into some constructive use. A Pox on Fools is intended to give the rest of us ammunition with which to counter the tsunami of bullshit that is MAHA.
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/808113...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/808113...
Reposted by Steven Phelps
The faction of the GOP that pretends to like Jews to send them to hell is at war with the faction that wants to skip the "pretends to like" part.
FoxNews: Deepening MAGA rift comes to a head at TPUSA's AmericaFest 2025
www.foxnews.com/media/rift-m...
www.foxnews.com/media/rift-m...
Rift in MAGA movement on full display at TPUSA's AmericaFest as Ben Shapiro, Tucker Carlson battle it out
Conservative personalities clashed at TPUSA's AmericaFest 2025 with Ben Shapiro condemning Tucker Carlson for platforming Nick Fuentes and other controversial figures.
www.foxnews.com
December 21, 2025 at 11:25 AM
The faction of the GOP that pretends to like Jews to send them to hell is at war with the faction that wants to skip the "pretends to like" part.
Giving dead fish fMRI.
December 20, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Giving dead fish fMRI.
Reposted by Steven Phelps
I sat on this draft for three months and sent it out to my coauthors yesterday who for some reason still haven't returned it.
December 12, 2025 at 7:47 AM
I sat on this draft for three months and sent it out to my coauthors yesterday who for some reason still haven't returned it.
Reposted by Steven Phelps
We're half a decade into studies finding that improving airflow in classrooms will reduce disease transmission enormously, and that bleaching surfaces etc. does very little. And yet nothing changes. Waves of flu and colds wash over schools, and the schools pretend it's an act of God.
The relative contribution of close-proximity contacts, shared classroom exposure and indoor air quality to respiratory virus transmission in schools - Nature Communications
The relative importance of close-proximity interactions, shared space and air quality to the transmission of respiratory viruses is not well understood. Here, the authors investigate this question by ...
www.nature.com
December 8, 2025 at 4:23 AM
We're half a decade into studies finding that improving airflow in classrooms will reduce disease transmission enormously, and that bleaching surfaces etc. does very little. And yet nothing changes. Waves of flu and colds wash over schools, and the schools pretend it's an act of God.
Reposted by Steven Phelps
Eleven years ago, I wrote to Tom Stoppard to ask about this coup de théâtre from 1949. It took me down an unexpected rabbit hole - in memory of Stoppard, here's what I found.
November 30, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Eleven years ago, I wrote to Tom Stoppard to ask about this coup de théâtre from 1949. It took me down an unexpected rabbit hole - in memory of Stoppard, here's what I found.
Reposted by Steven Phelps
Advances in genomics are giving exciting new perspectives on biology of speech, language & reading. My latest peer-reviewed paper is a tutorial, guiding readers from different backgrounds through the history of the field, current state-of-the-art, & where we’re heading. A taster in this thread.🧪
1/n
1/n
Genomic Investigations of Spoken and Written Language Abilities: A Guide to Advances in Approaches, Technologies, and Discovery
Purpose: The aim of this tutorial is to show how the rise of molecular technologies
and analytical methods in human genetics yields exciting new ...
pubs.asha.org
November 17, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Advances in genomics are giving exciting new perspectives on biology of speech, language & reading. My latest peer-reviewed paper is a tutorial, guiding readers from different backgrounds through the history of the field, current state-of-the-art, & where we’re heading. A taster in this thread.🧪
1/n
1/n