Ketika Garg
@ketikagarg.bsky.social
Postdoc@Caltech. Makes games and models and kadak chai ☕. Individual decisions ↔️ social interactions↔️collective behavior.
Enjoys books and podcasts on science & history. Spends too much time in etymology rabbit holes.
Also goes by Ket. ketikagarg.com 🇮🇳
Enjoys books and podcasts on science & history. Spends too much time in etymology rabbit holes.
Also goes by Ket. ketikagarg.com 🇮🇳
Pinned
Ketika Garg
@ketikagarg.bsky.social
· Dec 1
1st post on bsky - about bsky! I was fascinated with academic starter packs and made an interactive network to see academic communities and how they connect - a map of knowledge! link to an interactive & searchable network: ketikagarg.github.io/blueSkyAcade...
Reposted by Ketika Garg
This gets to some important points. There was always something cold, even chilling, about Brockman's "Edge" culture. That feeling still pervades some scientific circles. There's a real problem here that won't go away with Epstein.
www.theverge.com/2019/9/19/20...
www.theverge.com/2019/9/19/20...
Jeffrey Epstein infiltrated science because it was ready to accommodate him
What could “nerd tunnel vision” possibly mean?
www.theverge.com
February 5, 2026 at 12:13 PM
This gets to some important points. There was always something cold, even chilling, about Brockman's "Edge" culture. That feeling still pervades some scientific circles. There's a real problem here that won't go away with Epstein.
www.theverge.com/2019/9/19/20...
www.theverge.com/2019/9/19/20...
Reposted by Ketika Garg
Are female economists treated differently than males in academic seminars?
These authors wanted to know whether gender shapes how scholars are treated when presenting research.
So they built a massive dataset of 2,000+ economics seminars, job talks, and conference presentations from 2019–2023...
These authors wanted to know whether gender shapes how scholars are treated when presenting research.
So they built a massive dataset of 2,000+ economics seminars, job talks, and conference presentations from 2019–2023...
February 3, 2026 at 8:54 PM
Are female economists treated differently than males in academic seminars?
These authors wanted to know whether gender shapes how scholars are treated when presenting research.
So they built a massive dataset of 2,000+ economics seminars, job talks, and conference presentations from 2019–2023...
These authors wanted to know whether gender shapes how scholars are treated when presenting research.
So they built a massive dataset of 2,000+ economics seminars, job talks, and conference presentations from 2019–2023...
Reposted by Ketika Garg
New episode, first of 2026!! 🎉🎙️
A deep dive into metaphor with @sflusberg.bsky.social!
Metaphors delight, provoke, captivate, shock, and galvanize us. What does it say about the human mind that we simply can't escape them—and frankly don't want to?
Listen: disi.org/the-aura-of-...
A deep dive into metaphor with @sflusberg.bsky.social!
Metaphors delight, provoke, captivate, shock, and galvanize us. What does it say about the human mind that we simply can't escape them—and frankly don't want to?
Listen: disi.org/the-aura-of-...
February 2, 2026 at 4:55 PM
New episode, first of 2026!! 🎉🎙️
A deep dive into metaphor with @sflusberg.bsky.social!
Metaphors delight, provoke, captivate, shock, and galvanize us. What does it say about the human mind that we simply can't escape them—and frankly don't want to?
Listen: disi.org/the-aura-of-...
A deep dive into metaphor with @sflusberg.bsky.social!
Metaphors delight, provoke, captivate, shock, and galvanize us. What does it say about the human mind that we simply can't escape them—and frankly don't want to?
Listen: disi.org/the-aura-of-...
Reposted by Ketika Garg
Very happy to see our ice-fishing paper on the cover of @science.org this week! 🎣🎉
We tracked large groups of Finnish competitive ice-fishers to study how social foragers use social information when searching for resources. 🐟
Link: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... (contact me for open access)
We tracked large groups of Finnish competitive ice-fishers to study how social foragers use social information when searching for resources. 🐟
Link: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... (contact me for open access)
www.science.org
January 30, 2026 at 12:36 PM
Very happy to see our ice-fishing paper on the cover of @science.org this week! 🎣🎉
We tracked large groups of Finnish competitive ice-fishers to study how social foragers use social information when searching for resources. 🐟
Link: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... (contact me for open access)
We tracked large groups of Finnish competitive ice-fishers to study how social foragers use social information when searching for resources. 🐟
Link: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... (contact me for open access)
Reposted by Ketika Garg
NEW we are hiring 2-3 Postdocs in Social & Decision Neuroscience (SDN) at Caltech. The posting is here www.hss.caltech.edu/about/job-op...
Applications are due 15 February 2026.
Our core group in SDN is RAdolphs, me, DMobbs, JO'Doherty, and ARangel. Our track record of postdoc success is strong
Applications are due 15 February 2026.
Our core group in SDN is RAdolphs, me, DMobbs, JO'Doherty, and ARangel. Our track record of postdoc success is strong
Chen Center Postdoctoral Scholar Research Associate in Social & Decision Neuroscience
From the Caltech Division of Humanities and Social Sciences
www.hss.caltech.edu
January 7, 2026 at 2:44 AM
NEW we are hiring 2-3 Postdocs in Social & Decision Neuroscience (SDN) at Caltech. The posting is here www.hss.caltech.edu/about/job-op...
Applications are due 15 February 2026.
Our core group in SDN is RAdolphs, me, DMobbs, JO'Doherty, and ARangel. Our track record of postdoc success is strong
Applications are due 15 February 2026.
Our core group in SDN is RAdolphs, me, DMobbs, JO'Doherty, and ARangel. Our track record of postdoc success is strong
Reposted by Ketika Garg
🚨 Excited to end the year with a new preprint w/ Wenning Deng (not on bsky) and Dean Mobbs @fearbrain.bsky.social 🎉 🎉
"Blame and Compromise During Risky Dyadic Foraging" osf.io/preprints/ps...
Feedback is very welcome! Thread: 🧵 1/n
"Blame and Compromise During Risky Dyadic Foraging" osf.io/preprints/ps...
Feedback is very welcome! Thread: 🧵 1/n
December 22, 2025 at 4:34 PM
🚨 Excited to end the year with a new preprint w/ Wenning Deng (not on bsky) and Dean Mobbs @fearbrain.bsky.social 🎉 🎉
"Blame and Compromise During Risky Dyadic Foraging" osf.io/preprints/ps...
Feedback is very welcome! Thread: 🧵 1/n
"Blame and Compromise During Risky Dyadic Foraging" osf.io/preprints/ps...
Feedback is very welcome! Thread: 🧵 1/n
Reposted by Ketika Garg
Thrilled to see this paper out, two years after starting our collaboration at @divintelligence.bsky.social
My co-authors and I are happy to present our framework "Collective Intelligence as Collective Information Processing (CIP)."
Here we propose decomposing different information processing mechanisms to unify disparate phenomena traditionally classified as "collective intelligence."
Here we propose decomposing different information processing mechanisms to unify disparate phenomena traditionally classified as "collective intelligence."
December 30, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Thrilled to see this paper out, two years after starting our collaboration at @divintelligence.bsky.social
🚨Excited to share our new theoretical framework to classify and spark mechanistic inquiries into various forms of collective intelligence!
Soon to be published in @cognitionjournal.bsky.social
Thanks to @divintelligence.bsky.social
Thread by Cody Moser @culturologies.co 👇🏽
Soon to be published in @cognitionjournal.bsky.social
Thanks to @divintelligence.bsky.social
Thread by Cody Moser @culturologies.co 👇🏽
My co-authors and I are happy to present our framework "Collective Intelligence as Collective Information Processing (CIP)."
Here we propose decomposing different information processing mechanisms to unify disparate phenomena traditionally classified as "collective intelligence."
Here we propose decomposing different information processing mechanisms to unify disparate phenomena traditionally classified as "collective intelligence."
December 30, 2025 at 7:43 PM
🚨Excited to share our new theoretical framework to classify and spark mechanistic inquiries into various forms of collective intelligence!
Soon to be published in @cognitionjournal.bsky.social
Thanks to @divintelligence.bsky.social
Thread by Cody Moser @culturologies.co 👇🏽
Soon to be published in @cognitionjournal.bsky.social
Thanks to @divintelligence.bsky.social
Thread by Cody Moser @culturologies.co 👇🏽
🚨 Excited to end the year with a new preprint w/ Wenning Deng (not on bsky) and Dean Mobbs @fearbrain.bsky.social 🎉 🎉
"Blame and Compromise During Risky Dyadic Foraging" osf.io/preprints/ps...
Feedback is very welcome! Thread: 🧵 1/n
"Blame and Compromise During Risky Dyadic Foraging" osf.io/preprints/ps...
Feedback is very welcome! Thread: 🧵 1/n
December 22, 2025 at 4:34 PM
🚨 Excited to end the year with a new preprint w/ Wenning Deng (not on bsky) and Dean Mobbs @fearbrain.bsky.social 🎉 🎉
"Blame and Compromise During Risky Dyadic Foraging" osf.io/preprints/ps...
Feedback is very welcome! Thread: 🧵 1/n
"Blame and Compromise During Risky Dyadic Foraging" osf.io/preprints/ps...
Feedback is very welcome! Thread: 🧵 1/n
An excellent resource for data visualization!
Big new blogpost!
My guide to data visualization, which includes a very long table of contents, tons of charts, and more.
--> Why data visualization matters and how to make charts more effective, clear, transparent, and sometimes, beautiful.
www.scientificdiscovery.dev/p/salonis-gu...
My guide to data visualization, which includes a very long table of contents, tons of charts, and more.
--> Why data visualization matters and how to make charts more effective, clear, transparent, and sometimes, beautiful.
www.scientificdiscovery.dev/p/salonis-gu...
December 10, 2025 at 1:55 PM
An excellent resource for data visualization!
Reposted by Ketika Garg
Super proud of this paper with @apvelilla.bsky.social and @babeheim.bsky.social, now out in Psych Review.
Non-paywalled version (preprint) here: osf.io/preprints/so...
Non-paywalled version (preprint) here: osf.io/preprints/so...
How likely are you to invest in a new business? Ask your partner to marry you? Move to a new country?
A new model by SFI External Professor Paul Smaldino and colleagues explains how wealth, experience, and environment shape our risk tolerance — and how those effects persist across generations.
A new model by SFI External Professor Paul Smaldino and colleagues explains how wealth, experience, and environment shape our risk tolerance — and how those effects persist across generations.
Personal risk tolerance has sweeping implications for how societies evolve
How much risk is any individual willing to take on? That depends, in part, on their individual resources and environment, which shape the learning strategies that influence their personal proclivity t...
www.santafe.edu
December 9, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Super proud of this paper with @apvelilla.bsky.social and @babeheim.bsky.social, now out in Psych Review.
Non-paywalled version (preprint) here: osf.io/preprints/so...
Non-paywalled version (preprint) here: osf.io/preprints/so...
Reposted by Ketika Garg
I wanted dinner recommendations so I scraped 13,000+ London restaurants and accidentally discovered Google Maps is running a shadow economy. Anyway here's a dashboard and a political economy thesis: open.substack.com/pub/laurenle...
How Google Maps quietly allocates survival across London’s restaurants - and how I built a dashboard to see through it
I wanted a dinner recommendation and got a research agenda instead. Using 13000+ restaurants, I rebuild its ratings with machine learning and map how algorithmic visibility actually distributes power.
open.substack.com
December 9, 2025 at 7:53 AM
I wanted dinner recommendations so I scraped 13,000+ London restaurants and accidentally discovered Google Maps is running a shadow economy. Anyway here's a dashboard and a political economy thesis: open.substack.com/pub/laurenle...
Perfect reading for Thanksgiving break 🤓
New study by @iaciac.bsky.social + co-authors and published on 𝘯𝘱𝘫 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘥 models global cuisines as networks of ingredient pairings, revealing unique culinary signatures and patterns, with AI models able to identify a cuisine from just a few recipes.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The networks of ingredient combinations as culinary fingerprints of world cuisines - npj Science of Food
npj Science of Food - The networks of ingredient combinations as culinary fingerprints of world cuisines
www.nature.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:53 AM
Perfect reading for Thanksgiving break 🤓
Reposted by Ketika Garg
The underlying study: "Experimental evidence of the effects of large language models versus web search on depth of learning" academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
"participants reported developing shallower knowledge from LLM summaries even when the results were augmented by...web links" vs. search
"participants reported developing shallower knowledge from LLM summaries even when the results were augmented by...web links" vs. search
November 21, 2025 at 1:31 PM
The underlying study: "Experimental evidence of the effects of large language models versus web search on depth of learning" academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
"participants reported developing shallower knowledge from LLM summaries even when the results were augmented by...web links" vs. search
"participants reported developing shallower knowledge from LLM summaries even when the results were augmented by...web links" vs. search
Reposted by Ketika Garg
New pontification piece with @awestbrook.bsky.social and Jean Daunizeau, just out in TICS:
Why is cognitive effort experienced as costly?
(or why does it hurt to think)
never written a review paper before in my life, that was a new and unusual experience
Why is cognitive effort experienced as costly?
(or why does it hurt to think)
never written a review paper before in my life, that was a new and unusual experience
Why is cognitive effort experienced as costly?
A widespread observation is that people avoid mentally effortful courses of action,
and much recent work examining cognitive effort has explained subjective effort evaluation
– and, consequently, pref...
www.cell.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:48 PM
New pontification piece with @awestbrook.bsky.social and Jean Daunizeau, just out in TICS:
Why is cognitive effort experienced as costly?
(or why does it hurt to think)
never written a review paper before in my life, that was a new and unusual experience
Why is cognitive effort experienced as costly?
(or why does it hurt to think)
never written a review paper before in my life, that was a new and unusual experience
Reposted by Ketika Garg
My main takeaway from this one:
Dog domestication is a singular "natural experiment" in brain evolution, one that we're just starting to understand. It's a bit bonkers more neuroscientists aren't working on it.
Dog domestication is a singular "natural experiment" in brain evolution, one that we're just starting to understand. It's a bit bonkers more neuroscientists aren't working on it.
It was long thought that domestication leads to reductions in brain size. But as we understand dog brains better, the truth is proving more complicated—and more interesting.
Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @erinhecht.bsky.social!
Listen: disi.org/of-breeds-an...
Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @erinhecht.bsky.social!
Listen: disi.org/of-breeds-an...
November 17, 2025 at 5:16 PM
My main takeaway from this one:
Dog domestication is a singular "natural experiment" in brain evolution, one that we're just starting to understand. It's a bit bonkers more neuroscientists aren't working on it.
Dog domestication is a singular "natural experiment" in brain evolution, one that we're just starting to understand. It's a bit bonkers more neuroscientists aren't working on it.
Reposted by Ketika Garg
Slides from my @mit.edu IDSS Distinguished Speaker seminar "Networks untangle gender differences in productivity and prominence among scientists" this week
I argue that collaboration networks act like unequally distributed (and gendered) social capital
aaronclauset.github.io/slides/Claus...
I argue that collaboration networks act like unequally distributed (and gendered) social capital
aaronclauset.github.io/slides/Claus...
November 6, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Slides from my @mit.edu IDSS Distinguished Speaker seminar "Networks untangle gender differences in productivity and prominence among scientists" this week
I argue that collaboration networks act like unequally distributed (and gendered) social capital
aaronclauset.github.io/slides/Claus...
I argue that collaboration networks act like unequally distributed (and gendered) social capital
aaronclauset.github.io/slides/Claus...
Reposted by Ketika Garg
Which processes underlie collective intelligence in naturalistic human groups?
In new work led by Valerii Chirkov, we show that payoff selectivity is key in transforming a group of individuals into an intelligent collective 🤝🧠
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY7n...
Preprint: osf.io/preprints/ps...
In new work led by Valerii Chirkov, we show that payoff selectivity is key in transforming a group of individuals into an intelligent collective 🤝🧠
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY7n...
Preprint: osf.io/preprints/ps...
First-Person Perspective of the Voluntary Payoff-Sharing (VP) Condition
YouTube video by Valerii Chirkov
www.youtube.com
October 15, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Which processes underlie collective intelligence in naturalistic human groups?
In new work led by Valerii Chirkov, we show that payoff selectivity is key in transforming a group of individuals into an intelligent collective 🤝🧠
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY7n...
Preprint: osf.io/preprints/ps...
In new work led by Valerii Chirkov, we show that payoff selectivity is key in transforming a group of individuals into an intelligent collective 🤝🧠
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY7n...
Preprint: osf.io/preprints/ps...
Reposted by Ketika Garg
Why do some ideas spread widely, while others fail to catch on?
Our new review paper on the PSYCHOLOGY OF VIRALITY is now out in @cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social (it was led by @steverathje.bsky.social)
Read the full paper here: www.cell.com/trends/cogni...
Our new review paper on the PSYCHOLOGY OF VIRALITY is now out in @cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social (it was led by @steverathje.bsky.social)
Read the full paper here: www.cell.com/trends/cogni...
October 7, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Why do some ideas spread widely, while others fail to catch on?
Our new review paper on the PSYCHOLOGY OF VIRALITY is now out in @cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social (it was led by @steverathje.bsky.social)
Read the full paper here: www.cell.com/trends/cogni...
Our new review paper on the PSYCHOLOGY OF VIRALITY is now out in @cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social (it was led by @steverathje.bsky.social)
Read the full paper here: www.cell.com/trends/cogni...
Reposted by Ketika Garg
Larger scientific teams produce more impactful breakthroughs + patents
I wrote a paper with 4 principles to optimize large scientific collaborations based on the science of cooperation & collective intelligence: osf.io/preprints/ps...
And a substack summary: powerofus.substack.com/p/four-princ...
I wrote a paper with 4 principles to optimize large scientific collaborations based on the science of cooperation & collective intelligence: osf.io/preprints/ps...
And a substack summary: powerofus.substack.com/p/four-princ...
October 1, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Larger scientific teams produce more impactful breakthroughs + patents
I wrote a paper with 4 principles to optimize large scientific collaborations based on the science of cooperation & collective intelligence: osf.io/preprints/ps...
And a substack summary: powerofus.substack.com/p/four-princ...
I wrote a paper with 4 principles to optimize large scientific collaborations based on the science of cooperation & collective intelligence: osf.io/preprints/ps...
And a substack summary: powerofus.substack.com/p/four-princ...
Reposted by Ketika Garg
🚨New preprint🚨
osf.io/preprints/ps...
In a sample of ~2 billion comments, social media discourse becomes more negative over time
Archival and experimental findings suggest this is a byproduct of people trying to differentiate themselves
Led by @hongkai1.bsky.social in his 1st year (!) of his PhD
osf.io/preprints/ps...
In a sample of ~2 billion comments, social media discourse becomes more negative over time
Archival and experimental findings suggest this is a byproduct of people trying to differentiate themselves
Led by @hongkai1.bsky.social in his 1st year (!) of his PhD
September 26, 2025 at 8:30 PM
🚨New preprint🚨
osf.io/preprints/ps...
In a sample of ~2 billion comments, social media discourse becomes more negative over time
Archival and experimental findings suggest this is a byproduct of people trying to differentiate themselves
Led by @hongkai1.bsky.social in his 1st year (!) of his PhD
osf.io/preprints/ps...
In a sample of ~2 billion comments, social media discourse becomes more negative over time
Archival and experimental findings suggest this is a byproduct of people trying to differentiate themselves
Led by @hongkai1.bsky.social in his 1st year (!) of his PhD
Reposted by Ketika Garg
I am happy to announce that our project on risk and social learning is now in press at Psychological Review. Several new additions and revisions thanks to detailed feedback from colleagues and anonymous reviewers. osf.io/preprints/so...
@psmaldino.bsky.social @babeheim.bsky.social
@psmaldino.bsky.social @babeheim.bsky.social
September 27, 2025 at 12:14 AM
I am happy to announce that our project on risk and social learning is now in press at Psychological Review. Several new additions and revisions thanks to detailed feedback from colleagues and anonymous reviewers. osf.io/preprints/so...
@psmaldino.bsky.social @babeheim.bsky.social
@psmaldino.bsky.social @babeheim.bsky.social
Everytime I visit a European country that turned the world upside down, colonized millions and whatnot for *spice*, I just have one question: what did y'all do with that spice....???? Because it ain't in the food????
September 25, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Everytime I visit a European country that turned the world upside down, colonized millions and whatnot for *spice*, I just have one question: what did y'all do with that spice....???? Because it ain't in the food????
Reposted by Ketika Garg
Fun article about “outsider” scientists and their breakthroughs.
“Academia filters most funding, publishing, and hiring decisions through senior insiders, which favors ideas within existing paradigms.”
worksinprogress.co/issue/why-sc...
“Academia filters most funding, publishing, and hiring decisions through senior insiders, which favors ideas within existing paradigms.”
worksinprogress.co/issue/why-sc...
Why science needs outsiders - Works in Progress Magazine
Science has forgotten that the greatest breakthroughs often come from outsiders who are able to take a fresh perspective.
worksinprogress.co
September 19, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Fun article about “outsider” scientists and their breakthroughs.
“Academia filters most funding, publishing, and hiring decisions through senior insiders, which favors ideas within existing paradigms.”
worksinprogress.co/issue/why-sc...
“Academia filters most funding, publishing, and hiring decisions through senior insiders, which favors ideas within existing paradigms.”
worksinprogress.co/issue/why-sc...