Kathryn Paige Harden
@kph3k.bsky.social
Psychology & behavior genetics. Author of THE GENETIC LOTTERY (2021) and ORIGINAL SIN (coming 2026).
Is one of your goals for 2026 to write more? One question I get all the time is, "How do you make time to write?" So, here is my unsolicited writing advice for the new year:
December 31, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Is one of your goals for 2026 to write more? One question I get all the time is, "How do you make time to write?" So, here is my unsolicited writing advice for the new year:
2025 was a tough year: It brought me health challenges, several grant rejections, and a grinding anxiety about the future of science. Even so, work was still a frequent source of joy and satisfaction this year, and I am grateful to reflect on the highlights:
December 29, 2025 at 10:33 PM
2025 was a tough year: It brought me health challenges, several grant rejections, and a grinding anxiety about the future of science. Even so, work was still a frequent source of joy and satisfaction this year, and I am grateful to reflect on the highlights:
I wrote about what disorder *isn't* in the new cross-disorder genetics paper, and why we should find that gap curious:
kathrynpaigeharden.substack.com/p/whats-miss...
(Not because the authors deliberately omitted it, but because data on it doesn't really exist)
kathrynpaigeharden.substack.com/p/whats-miss...
(Not because the authors deliberately omitted it, but because data on it doesn't really exist)
What's Missing from the New Cross-Disorder Genetics Paper?
Let's play a guessing game
kathrynpaigeharden.substack.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:37 PM
I wrote about what disorder *isn't* in the new cross-disorder genetics paper, and why we should find that gap curious:
kathrynpaigeharden.substack.com/p/whats-miss...
(Not because the authors deliberately omitted it, but because data on it doesn't really exist)
kathrynpaigeharden.substack.com/p/whats-miss...
(Not because the authors deliberately omitted it, but because data on it doesn't really exist)
Reposted by Kathryn Paige Harden
For more context, see also the @nature.com News & Views article about this work, where I unpack what it means when genetic risk for psychiatric disorders overlaps with normal-range traits, including some positive associations with education-related outcomes: rdcu.be/eT4U7
December 10, 2025 at 5:42 PM
For more context, see also the @nature.com News & Views article about this work, where I unpack what it means when genetic risk for psychiatric disorders overlaps with normal-range traits, including some positive associations with education-related outcomes: rdcu.be/eT4U7
Reposted by Kathryn Paige Harden
1/4 Thrilled to be sharing new work published today in Nature describing the third wave of results from the PGC Cross-Disorder Group. This reflects a massive group effort to examine shared and unique genetic signal across >1 million cases for 14 psychiatric disorders. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Mapping the genetic landscape across 14 psychiatric disorders - Nature
Genomic analyses applied to 14 childhood- and adult-onset psychiatric disorders identifies five underlying genomic factors that explain the majority of the genetic variance of the individual disorders...
www.nature.com
December 10, 2025 at 4:22 PM
1/4 Thrilled to be sharing new work published today in Nature describing the third wave of results from the PGC Cross-Disorder Group. This reflects a massive group effort to examine shared and unique genetic signal across >1 million cases for 14 psychiatric disorders. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The pivot by @cdelawalla.bsky.social from PhD student to organizer, fundraiser, and activist has been inspiring to watch. NYT explicitly crediting her organization @standupforscience.bsky.social for pushing for the articles of impeachment against worm brain guy!
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/u...
House Democrat Seeks to Impeach Kennedy for Undercutting Public Health
www.nytimes.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:44 PM
The pivot by @cdelawalla.bsky.social from PhD student to organizer, fundraiser, and activist has been inspiring to watch. NYT explicitly crediting her organization @standupforscience.bsky.social for pushing for the articles of impeachment against worm brain guy!
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/u...
I wrote about missing heritability, "missing environmentality," and why I still think twin studies are interesting and valuable: kathrynpaigeharden.substack.com/p/twins-are-...
Twins Are So Much More Interesting Than Heritability Estimates
On starting places, "missing environmentality," and the Waddington landscape of life
kathrynpaigeharden.substack.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:08 PM
I wrote about missing heritability, "missing environmentality," and why I still think twin studies are interesting and valuable: kathrynpaigeharden.substack.com/p/twins-are-...
Reposted by Kathryn Paige Harden
And almost nobody has "cancer money” of the type you need when it’s really serious
which is why I’m increasingly skeptical thinking about how the idea that wealth is protective (which it is…until it’s not) causes us to overlook how ind. wealth, not Bezos wealth but like median white wealth,
which is why I’m increasingly skeptical thinking about how the idea that wealth is protective (which it is…until it’s not) causes us to overlook how ind. wealth, not Bezos wealth but like median white wealth,
i've half-joked about how you aren't actually rich until you have "cancer money", or enough that you can pay for treatment *and* be out of work for however long *and* maintain your or your family's basic quality of life (ie, not having to liquidate core assets like your primary residence).
James Van Der Beek is auctioning off ‘Dawson’s Creek’ and ‘Varsity Blues’ merchandise to pay for his cancer treatments.
November 19, 2025 at 12:28 PM
And almost nobody has "cancer money” of the type you need when it’s really serious
which is why I’m increasingly skeptical thinking about how the idea that wealth is protective (which it is…until it’s not) causes us to overlook how ind. wealth, not Bezos wealth but like median white wealth,
which is why I’m increasingly skeptical thinking about how the idea that wealth is protective (which it is…until it’s not) causes us to overlook how ind. wealth, not Bezos wealth but like median white wealth,
The American medical system only makes a twisted sort of sense when you realize it both reflects and enforces Calvinist / prosperity gospel thinking— if you were *really* good, you wouldn’t have gotten sick
James Van Der Beek is auctioning off ‘Dawson’s Creek’ and ‘Varsity Blues’ merchandise to pay for his cancer treatments.
James Van Der Beek Sells Dawson’s Creek Merch to Pay for Cancer Treatment
James Van Der Beek is auctioning off ‘Dawson’s Creek’ and ‘Varsity Blues’ merchandise to pay for his cancer treatments.
www.vulture.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:05 PM
The American medical system only makes a twisted sort of sense when you realize it both reflects and enforces Calvinist / prosperity gospel thinking— if you were *really* good, you wouldn’t have gotten sick
“This is sociologically rich and intellectually precise political theory of and for the moment.“
"It takes a Straussian to catch a Straussian."
In case you missed it, here's my LARB review of @lkatfield.bsky.social terrific new book, Furious Minds, published by @princetonupress.bsky.social.
lareviewofbooks.org/article/a-mo...
In case you missed it, here's my LARB review of @lkatfield.bsky.social terrific new book, Furious Minds, published by @princetonupress.bsky.social.
lareviewofbooks.org/article/a-mo...
A Mole in MAGA’s Midst | Los Angeles Review of Books
Alexandre Lefebvre reads “Furious Minds: The Making of the MAGA New Right” by Laura K. Field.
lareviewofbooks.org
November 17, 2025 at 8:06 PM
“This is sociologically rich and intellectually precise political theory of and for the moment.“
I wrote about my knee injury and recent surgery, Oliver Sacks's "A Leg to Stand On", and how a zombie Calvinism continues to distort the American health care system:
open.substack.com/pub/kathrynp...
open.substack.com/pub/kathrynp...
"A Leg to Stand On"
Lessons in solidarity from knee surgery, physical therapy, and Oliver Sacks
open.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 6:40 PM
I wrote about my knee injury and recent surgery, Oliver Sacks's "A Leg to Stand On", and how a zombie Calvinism continues to distort the American health care system:
open.substack.com/pub/kathrynp...
open.substack.com/pub/kathrynp...
Reposted by Kathryn Paige Harden
On top of everything else, this is immediately recognizable to scientists as basically every crackpot email we’ve ever received.
"skin as part of brain?"
This is that great intellect people talk about?
November 13, 2025 at 6:04 PM
On top of everything else, this is immediately recognizable to scientists as basically every crackpot email we’ve ever received.
Reposted by Kathryn Paige Harden
I spoke to @lkatfield.bsky.social about her new book, Furious Minds: The Making of the MAGA New Right www.unpopularfront.news/p/talking-to...
Talking to Laura K. Field about MAGA "Ideas"
Author Series No. 4
www.unpopularfront.news
November 13, 2025 at 12:01 PM
I spoke to @lkatfield.bsky.social about her new book, Furious Minds: The Making of the MAGA New Right www.unpopularfront.news/p/talking-to...
This paper clearly articulates what is, in my opinion, one of the major ethical problems with polygenic embryo testing companies--that they are *companies* that sell health as a private commodity. from @gaiaghirardi.bsky.social & @arnovanhootegem.bsky.social
www.fertstert.org/news-do/embr...
www.fertstert.org/news-do/embr...
Embryo selection based on polygenic prediction risks reinforcing social inequality
The rise of companies offering embryo selection based on genetic testing has triggered heated debate about ethical acceptability, as well as the accuracy and scientific validity of these techniques. W...
www.fertstert.org
November 13, 2025 at 2:35 PM
This paper clearly articulates what is, in my opinion, one of the major ethical problems with polygenic embryo testing companies--that they are *companies* that sell health as a private commodity. from @gaiaghirardi.bsky.social & @arnovanhootegem.bsky.social
www.fertstert.org/news-do/embr...
www.fertstert.org/news-do/embr...
Eric Turkheimer (@ent3c.bsky.social) and I consider the paradoxical life of James Watson for @theatlantic.com
www.theatlantic.com/science/2025...
(nonpaywalled link to come)
www.theatlantic.com/science/2025...
(nonpaywalled link to come)
The Paradox of James Watson
The discovery of DNA was evidence of how deeply interconnected humans are, but the late scientist saw only difference.
www.theatlantic.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Eric Turkheimer (@ent3c.bsky.social) and I consider the paradoxical life of James Watson for @theatlantic.com
www.theatlantic.com/science/2025...
(nonpaywalled link to come)
www.theatlantic.com/science/2025...
(nonpaywalled link to come)
My kid’s middle school has started doing “student-led” conferences, where the student is tasked with pulling together comments & grades from their teachers, reflecting on their challenges & growth, and then giving a presentation to their parents & teachers about their goals & needs
October 23, 2025 at 4:32 PM
My kid’s middle school has started doing “student-led” conferences, where the student is tasked with pulling together comments & grades from their teachers, reflecting on their challenges & growth, and then giving a presentation to their parents & teachers about their goals & needs
I am scheduled for knee surgery in a few weeks. The contrast between the prehab / rehab that you get for knee surgery & what you get for a c-section (which is nothing) is WILD.
October 21, 2025 at 6:38 PM
I am scheduled for knee surgery in a few weeks. The contrast between the prehab / rehab that you get for knee surgery & what you get for a c-section (which is nothing) is WILD.
Reposted by Kathryn Paige Harden
How can science build fairer, more resilient societies?
Join us in Turku for the 3rd INVEST Conference 6–8 May 2026.
Keynotes by Kathryn Paige Harden @kph3k.bsky.social (first time in Finland!) and Philip N. Cohen @philipncohen.com
Save the date now!
invest.utu.fi/conference/
#INVESTconference
Join us in Turku for the 3rd INVEST Conference 6–8 May 2026.
Keynotes by Kathryn Paige Harden @kph3k.bsky.social (first time in Finland!) and Philip N. Cohen @philipncohen.com
Save the date now!
invest.utu.fi/conference/
#INVESTconference
October 17, 2025 at 10:48 AM
How can science build fairer, more resilient societies?
Join us in Turku for the 3rd INVEST Conference 6–8 May 2026.
Keynotes by Kathryn Paige Harden @kph3k.bsky.social (first time in Finland!) and Philip N. Cohen @philipncohen.com
Save the date now!
invest.utu.fi/conference/
#INVESTconference
Join us in Turku for the 3rd INVEST Conference 6–8 May 2026.
Keynotes by Kathryn Paige Harden @kph3k.bsky.social (first time in Finland!) and Philip N. Cohen @philipncohen.com
Save the date now!
invest.utu.fi/conference/
#INVESTconference
FURIOUS MINDS by @lkatfield.bsky.social reviewed in NYRB as "the most up-to-date introduction we have to the MAGA intellectual right reshaping America with astonishing speed today."
October 17, 2025 at 11:13 PM
FURIOUS MINDS by @lkatfield.bsky.social reviewed in NYRB as "the most up-to-date introduction we have to the MAGA intellectual right reshaping America with astonishing speed today."
We are late to this party, but if you are looking for an opportunity to have a conversation with your tween daughter about perfectionism, negative emotions, critical self-talk, watching KPop Demon Hunters together is the *perfect* opening
October 15, 2025 at 12:35 PM
We are late to this party, but if you are looking for an opportunity to have a conversation with your tween daughter about perfectionism, negative emotions, critical self-talk, watching KPop Demon Hunters together is the *perfect* opening
New from @ent3c.bsky.social in The Atlantic --
7 years (!) after Charles Murray made a bet with us that we'd "understand IQ genetically" by 2025, Eric describes how far we still are--and might always be--from that goal
www.theatlantic.com/science/2025...
7 years (!) after Charles Murray made a bet with us that we'd "understand IQ genetically" by 2025, Eric describes how far we still are--and might always be--from that goal
www.theatlantic.com/science/2025...
Your Genes Are Simply Not Enough to Explain How Smart You Are
Seven years ago, I took a bet with Charles Murray about whether we’d basically understand the genetics of intelligence by now.
www.theatlantic.com
October 13, 2025 at 2:04 PM
New from @ent3c.bsky.social in The Atlantic --
7 years (!) after Charles Murray made a bet with us that we'd "understand IQ genetically" by 2025, Eric describes how far we still are--and might always be--from that goal
www.theatlantic.com/science/2025...
7 years (!) after Charles Murray made a bet with us that we'd "understand IQ genetically" by 2025, Eric describes how far we still are--and might always be--from that goal
www.theatlantic.com/science/2025...
Virginia Senate leaders say UVa should cease considering the “compact”:
“The conditions outlined … are fundamentally incompatible with the mission and values of a premier public research university.”
www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2025...
“The conditions outlined … are fundamentally incompatible with the mission and values of a premier public research university.”
www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2025...
Virginia Senate leaders express “unequivocal opposition” to Compact
The letter calls upon the University to immediately cease consideration of the Compact, and if not, the state will work to negatively impact the University’s funding.
www.cavalierdaily.com
October 10, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Virginia Senate leaders say UVa should cease considering the “compact”:
“The conditions outlined … are fundamentally incompatible with the mission and values of a premier public research university.”
www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2025...
“The conditions outlined … are fundamentally incompatible with the mission and values of a premier public research university.”
www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2025...
"Fundamentally, the premise of the document is inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone."
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/u...
M.I.T. Rejects a White House Offer for Special Funding Treatment
www.nytimes.com
October 10, 2025 at 4:53 PM
"Fundamentally, the premise of the document is inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone."
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/u...
My friend @lkatfield.bsky.social has a book coming out that I think is essential reading for everyone. A starred review in Publisher's Weekly called it a "formidable debut ... a meticulous and unsettling revelation of a right-wing plan for a 'new old-fashioned world.'"
Furious Minds
The story of the radical conservative intellectual movement shaping Donald Trump’s agenda—and how it threatens American freedoms, values, and democracy
press.princeton.edu
October 6, 2025 at 2:18 PM
My friend @lkatfield.bsky.social has a book coming out that I think is essential reading for everyone. A starred review in Publisher's Weekly called it a "formidable debut ... a meticulous and unsettling revelation of a right-wing plan for a 'new old-fashioned world.'"