Hank Greely
@hankgreely.bsky.social
Stanford Law prof, working on ethical, legal, and social issues in the biosciences. Sports fan (especially Stanford sports). And strongly opposed to the illegal & immoral Russian invasion of Ukraine. Slava Ukraini!
Reposted by Hank Greely
Well, when their prediction on lifespan will prove wrong the CEO will not likely be around anymore to get the blame...
November 10, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Well, when their prediction on lifespan will prove wrong the CEO will not likely be around anymore to get the blame...
Well, I think some credit should go to Will Shakespeare in Henry IV, part I.
The kid could write.
The kid could write.
Hank is right, of course. "Says it can predict". Yeah, those companies will predict, if you pay them, sure they will. (And if I know the height of the parents and their socioeconomic status, I could probably make pretty good height and "IQ" predictions too.) Enough of this voodoo science.
"I can call spirits from the vasty deed."
"Why and so can I, or so can any man, but will they come when you do call for them?"
Prediction is easy; being right is hard!
; )
"Why and so can I, or so can any man, but will they come when you do call for them?"
Prediction is easy; being right is hard!
; )
November 11, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Well, I think some credit should go to Will Shakespeare in Henry IV, part I.
The kid could write.
The kid could write.
OMG! Barbarians!
Not entirely/very sarcastic. I do prefer Italian pasta. And I cook, and eat, a lot of it!
Not entirely/very sarcastic. I do prefer Italian pasta. And I cook, and eat, a lot of it!
November 11, 2025 at 6:29 AM
OMG! Barbarians!
Not entirely/very sarcastic. I do prefer Italian pasta. And I cook, and eat, a lot of it!
Not entirely/very sarcastic. I do prefer Italian pasta. And I cook, and eat, a lot of it!
At least it left a great song, unlike the other 5999.
But tbf, that’s very impressive.
But tbf, that’s very impressive.
In the century leading up to 1975, nearly 6000 freighters went down in the Great Lakes.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
November 11, 2025 at 6:25 AM
At least it left a great song, unlike the other 5999.
But tbf, that’s very impressive.
But tbf, that’s very impressive.
Reposted by Hank Greely
In the century leading up to 1975, nearly 6000 freighters went down in the Great Lakes.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
November 11, 2025 at 1:50 AM
In the century leading up to 1975, nearly 6000 freighters went down in the Great Lakes.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
Have you got a patent application in? Have you been to Sandhill Road in Palo Alto for funding? Why not???
BTW add the strong prediction that the kid will drink milk!
BTW add the strong prediction that the kid will drink milk!
My test is 99% accurate and predicts that your child will grow to between 5 and 6.5 feet have an IQ between 80 and 130 and live 60-90 years. AND I don’t need any DNA to do my test…
November 11, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Have you got a patent application in? Have you been to Sandhill Road in Palo Alto for funding? Why not???
BTW add the strong prediction that the kid will drink milk!
BTW add the strong prediction that the kid will drink milk!
"I can call spirits from the vasty deed."
"Why and so can I, or so can any man, but will they come when you do call for them?"
Prediction is easy; being right is hard!
; )
"Why and so can I, or so can any man, but will they come when you do call for them?"
Prediction is easy; being right is hard!
; )
New embryo testing company says it can predict lifespan, height and IQ of potential children www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvVM... - grifters gonna grift... 🤑💰💵
New embryo testing company says it can predict lifespan, height and IQ of potential children
YouTube video by CBS Mornings
www.youtube.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:26 PM
"I can call spirits from the vasty deed."
"Why and so can I, or so can any man, but will they come when you do call for them?"
Prediction is easy; being right is hard!
; )
"Why and so can I, or so can any man, but will they come when you do call for them?"
Prediction is easy; being right is hard!
; )
So maybe he has actually been dead for 2 years? "The magic of audioanimatronics" in the uncanny valley? That would explain a lot!
It is illegal for a coin to be issued with "the image of a living former or current President, or of any deceased former President during the 2-year period following the date of the death of that President," per a law on currency designs.
November 10, 2025 at 8:24 PM
So maybe he has actually been dead for 2 years? "The magic of audioanimatronics" in the uncanny valley? That would explain a lot!
Reposted by Hank Greely
President Trump granted pardons to a significant number of political allies who were implicated in efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. Stanford Law Professor Bernadette Meyler shares insights on the implications of these pardons and their broader significance. www.npr.org/2025/11/10/n...
Trump issued pardons to allies linked to the 2020 election efforts. What that means
President Trump pardoned a long list of political allies accused of trying to overturn the 2020 election. Stanford Law School professor Bernadette Meyler talks about the pardons and what they mean.
www.npr.org
November 10, 2025 at 6:40 PM
President Trump granted pardons to a significant number of political allies who were implicated in efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. Stanford Law Professor Bernadette Meyler shares insights on the implications of these pardons and their broader significance. www.npr.org/2025/11/10/n...
OMG - it looks like this isn't a parody. When is his statue going to replace Lincoln's in the Lincoln Memorial?
A two-faced Trump coin whose primary use is cheating at coin flips DOES seem on-brand
people.com/donald-trump...
people.com/donald-trump...
Donald Trump Is Putting His Face on Both Sides of a New Coin. U.S. Treasury Reveals 'First Drafts'
The U.S. Treasury revealed the draft of a $1 coin featuring President Donald Trump on both sides.
people.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:35 PM
OMG - it looks like this isn't a parody. When is his statue going to replace Lincoln's in the Lincoln Memorial?
"It has been an excellent year for neurotech, if you ignore the people funding it." Great hook!
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
Very nice piece, quoting some real experts w/sensible thoughts.
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
Very nice piece, quoting some real experts w/sensible thoughts.
Investors’ ‘dumb transhumanist ideas’ setting back neurotech progress, say experts
Fascination of investors such as Elon Musk with uploading their brains to computers is hindering progress in curing disease, say scientists
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:24 PM
"It has been an excellent year for neurotech, if you ignore the people funding it." Great hook!
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
Very nice piece, quoting some real experts w/sensible thoughts.
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
Very nice piece, quoting some real experts w/sensible thoughts.
Reposted by Hank Greely
A month after Bari Weiss hired to lead CBS News division, heretic eugenics philosopher Jonathan Anomaly is on the morning show pitching bell curves and embryo scores.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvVM...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvVM...
November 10, 2025 at 2:27 PM
A month after Bari Weiss hired to lead CBS News division, heretic eugenics philosopher Jonathan Anomaly is on the morning show pitching bell curves and embryo scores.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvVM...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvVM...
Stanford women's soccer wins ACC tournament. #1 in ACC & national poll "beats" #2 in ACC and poll, Notre Dame,2-2...5/4 in six rounds of PKs. Great, tight game betw/two teams that should meet again in the NCAA finals.
1st ACC championship in 2nd yr + 11 Pac 12 championships in previous 14.
1st ACC championship in 2nd yr + 11 Pac 12 championships in previous 14.
November 9, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Stanford women's soccer wins ACC tournament. #1 in ACC & national poll "beats" #2 in ACC and poll, Notre Dame,2-2...5/4 in six rounds of PKs. Great, tight game betw/two teams that should meet again in the NCAA finals.
1st ACC championship in 2nd yr + 11 Pac 12 championships in previous 14.
1st ACC championship in 2nd yr + 11 Pac 12 championships in previous 14.
Another Kilauea eruption episode. Some good fountains!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqmp...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqmp...
[V3cam] Kīlauea volcano, Hawaii (south Halemaʻumaʻu crater)
YouTube video by USGS
www.youtube.com
November 9, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Another Kilauea eruption episode. Some good fountains!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqmp...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqmp...
Reposted by Hank Greely
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:39 PM
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Reposted by Hank Greely
Squllionaires being sold a pig in a poke is just funny. But a child harmed by trash science sold by the unscrupulous is criminal.
November 9, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Squllionaires being sold a pig in a poke is just funny. But a child harmed by trash science sold by the unscrupulous is criminal.
Long investigative piece in @wsj.com on human embryo editing firms by Emily Glazer, Katherine Long & Amy Dockser Marcus. www.wsj.com/tech/biotech... Like my quote on human embryo editing to make babies: “Responsible adults agree we can’t do it now because it’s unreasonably unsafe,” said Stanford
Genetically Engineered Babies Are Banned. Tech Titans Are Trying to Make One Anyway.
Silicon Valley startups are pushing the boundaries of reproductive genetics, hoping to prevent diseases as well as improve chances for a high IQ and other traits.
www.wsj.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Long investigative piece in @wsj.com on human embryo editing firms by Emily Glazer, Katherine Long & Amy Dockser Marcus. www.wsj.com/tech/biotech... Like my quote on human embryo editing to make babies: “Responsible adults agree we can’t do it now because it’s unreasonably unsafe,” said Stanford
Nice quote: “The old is dead, but the new has not yet been born: In the interregnum, the most varied morbid phenomena occur.” It's in an article about reinventing capitalism. The author notes it was by Antonio Gramsci...but not that Gramsci was a communist theorist. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/o...
Opinion | The Old Order Is Dead. Do Not Resuscitate.
www.nytimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Nice quote: “The old is dead, but the new has not yet been born: In the interregnum, the most varied morbid phenomena occur.” It's in an article about reinventing capitalism. The author notes it was by Antonio Gramsci...but not that Gramsci was a communist theorist. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/o...
This far into the "shadow docket era," I'm surprised headlines act likethe current administrative stay at the SCt of the SNAP injunction is a big deal. It for the weekend so the Court can consider it on Monday & it came from Justice Jackson. Clearly NOT a strong clue as to how the Court will act.
November 8, 2025 at 8:36 PM
This far into the "shadow docket era," I'm surprised headlines act likethe current administrative stay at the SCt of the SNAP injunction is a big deal. It for the weekend so the Court can consider it on Monday & it came from Justice Jackson. Clearly NOT a strong clue as to how the Court will act.
Yes, insufficient evidence of the elements of the crime is very plausible here. Of course, could be either or both-or maybe something else. Who knows what the jurors were thinking.
Exactly. I’ve been bitching about this to my crim pro students, to be honest. It’s fascinating seeing all these lawyers and law profs thinking it’s nullification when they haven’t even considered that it was just a plain insufficiency issue.
Sandwich verdict wasn’t jury nullification. It was failure to prove the required “reasonable fear of physical injury” in a case where the agent was wearing A BULLETPROOF VEST. The only crime was the waste of resources on this case. My thoughts in @MSNBCDaily.
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
November 8, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Yes, insufficient evidence of the elements of the crime is very plausible here. Of course, could be either or both-or maybe something else. Who knows what the jurors were thinking.
Reposted by Hank Greely
Scientific breakthroughs are rarely unique; someone else would’ve made them soon enough. But when prominent scientists cause harm, that harm isn’t inevitable; the world might simply have been better had the harm not been inflicted.
liorpachter.wordpress.com/2018/05/18/j...
liorpachter.wordpress.com/2018/05/18/j...
James Watson in his own words
“Some anti-Semitism is justified” “Whenever you interview fat people, you feel bad, because you know you’re not going to hire them” “Japan should be bombed for d…
liorpachter.wordpress.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Scientific breakthroughs are rarely unique; someone else would’ve made them soon enough. But when prominent scientists cause harm, that harm isn’t inevitable; the world might simply have been better had the harm not been inflicted.
liorpachter.wordpress.com/2018/05/18/j...
liorpachter.wordpress.com/2018/05/18/j...
Nice! On a related theme, you could also quote from both Old & New Testaments
You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Deuteronomy 10:19
and
I was hungry & you gave me food, I was thirsty & you gave me drink, I was a stranger & you welcomed me.
Matthew 25:35
You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Deuteronomy 10:19
and
I was hungry & you gave me food, I was thirsty & you gave me drink, I was a stranger & you welcomed me.
Matthew 25:35
New Xmas card idea for my GOP family:
On the front, the text of Matthew 25, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
Inside, stats on the number of children who have died due to the dismantling of USAID.
On the front, the text of Matthew 25, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
Inside, stats on the number of children who have died due to the dismantling of USAID.
November 8, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Nice! On a related theme, you could also quote from both Old & New Testaments
You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Deuteronomy 10:19
and
I was hungry & you gave me food, I was thirsty & you gave me drink, I was a stranger & you welcomed me.
Matthew 25:35
You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Deuteronomy 10:19
and
I was hungry & you gave me food, I was thirsty & you gave me drink, I was a stranger & you welcomed me.
Matthew 25:35
Question for journalists or editors. When does a major publication start drafting/filing obituaries for people? Fame must be a criterion as, I suspect is age. Some of the Watson obits I've seen were clearly started (or finished) several years ago.
November 8, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Question for journalists or editors. When does a major publication start drafting/filing obituaries for people? Fame must be a criterion as, I suspect is age. Some of the Watson obits I've seen were clearly started (or finished) several years ago.
I do wonder when this obit was written-not bec/it is outdated (Watson seems to done little in the last decade) but out of curiosity. It does refer to an interview for the obituary in 2018. The author, Cornelia Dean, is still publishing science articles in the Times & seems to be in her upper '70s.
November 8, 2025 at 12:26 AM
I do wonder when this obit was written-not bec/it is outdated (Watson seems to done little in the last decade) but out of curiosity. It does refer to an interview for the obituary in 2018. The author, Cornelia Dean, is still publishing science articles in the Times & seems to be in her upper '70s.
Note - excellent obituary, written by @statnews.com editor Sharon Begley. Who died in 2021.
I miss her more than I'll ever miss Watson.
I miss her more than I'll ever miss Watson.
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/j...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/j...
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Note - excellent obituary, written by @statnews.com editor Sharon Begley. Who died in 2021.
I miss her more than I'll ever miss Watson.
I miss her more than I'll ever miss Watson.