Rafael Ahlskog
@rafaelahlskog.bsky.social
Researcher, Uppsala university. Political behavior. Social science genetics.
Reposted by Rafael Ahlskog
There’s a new kid in town!
Companies are now selling IVF and embryo selection based on genetic testing for traits related to health and even intelligence.
We outline methodological and ethical concerns, and warn against risks for social inequality.
With the fantastic @gaiaghirardi.bsky.social
Companies are now selling IVF and embryo selection based on genetic testing for traits related to health and even intelligence.
We outline methodological and ethical concerns, and warn against risks for social inequality.
With the fantastic @gaiaghirardi.bsky.social
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 8:09 AM
There’s a new kid in town!
Companies are now selling IVF and embryo selection based on genetic testing for traits related to health and even intelligence.
We outline methodological and ethical concerns, and warn against risks for social inequality.
With the fantastic @gaiaghirardi.bsky.social
Companies are now selling IVF and embryo selection based on genetic testing for traits related to health and even intelligence.
We outline methodological and ethical concerns, and warn against risks for social inequality.
With the fantastic @gaiaghirardi.bsky.social
This right here is a REALLY cool paper. Must read!
Second thesis article now out in Political Behavior! Using PGIs for ~10 000 full-pair fraternal twins in STR, combined with rich, geo-coded register data, I highlight the compensatory interaction between genetics and family + neighbourhood factors, with regards to voting. 🗳️
doi.org/10.1007/s111...
doi.org/10.1007/s111...
November 11, 2025 at 11:59 PM
This right here is a REALLY cool paper. Must read!
Reposted by Rafael Ahlskog
Second thesis article now out in Political Behavior! Using PGIs for ~10 000 full-pair fraternal twins in STR, combined with rich, geo-coded register data, I highlight the compensatory interaction between genetics and family + neighbourhood factors, with regards to voting. 🗳️
doi.org/10.1007/s111...
doi.org/10.1007/s111...
November 11, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Second thesis article now out in Political Behavior! Using PGIs for ~10 000 full-pair fraternal twins in STR, combined with rich, geo-coded register data, I highlight the compensatory interaction between genetics and family + neighbourhood factors, with regards to voting. 🗳️
doi.org/10.1007/s111...
doi.org/10.1007/s111...
Reposted by Rafael Ahlskog
In this @electoralstudies.bsky.social piece, @rafaelahlskog.bsky.social examines the causality between education and voter-turnout, finding that education does not affect voter turnout in Swedish elections but does matter for the #Europeanelections.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Education and voter turnout revisited: Evidence from a Swedish twin sample with validated turnout data
The association between education and voter turnout is well-established in almost a century of research. The causal status of this correlation, howeve…
www.sciencedirect.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:39 AM
In this @electoralstudies.bsky.social piece, @rafaelahlskog.bsky.social examines the causality between education and voter-turnout, finding that education does not affect voter turnout in Swedish elections but does matter for the #Europeanelections.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Rafael Ahlskog
🧬Check out this recent article, “Extraversion Probably Does Not Cause Political Participation. Evidence from Two Genetically Informed Designs,” published in @ispp-pops.bsky.social by Rafael Ahlskog👇
doi.org/10.1111/pops... #polisky
doi.org/10.1111/pops... #polisky
Extraversion Probably Does Not Cause Political Participation. Evidence from Two Genetically Informed Designs
A substantial literature in political psychology has emphasized the importance of personality traits for understanding differences in political participation. One such trait is extraversion. However,...
doi.org
November 6, 2025 at 3:44 PM
🧬Check out this recent article, “Extraversion Probably Does Not Cause Political Participation. Evidence from Two Genetically Informed Designs,” published in @ispp-pops.bsky.social by Rafael Ahlskog👇
doi.org/10.1111/pops... #polisky
doi.org/10.1111/pops... #polisky
Reposted by Rafael Ahlskog
I have donated to Wikipedia occasionally, and will do it again in the future. Support free and factual information on the internet!
I’ve never donated to Wikipedia before but I set up a small monthly donation as a fuck you to the world’s richest psychopath.
Elon Musk takes aim at Wikipedia
Musk has denounced Wikipedia as "Wokepedia" on X and urged people not to donate to the platform.
www.newsweek.com
October 27, 2025 at 8:55 AM
I have donated to Wikipedia occasionally, and will do it again in the future. Support free and factual information on the internet!
Reposted by Rafael Ahlskog
📢 Call for Papers for EPSS 2026 conference in Belfast is out: epssnet.org/belfast-2026...
This we’’ll feature the last two sections today:
🔝 This week: Comparative Politics of Development & Political Representation
🧵
This we’’ll feature the last two sections today:
🔝 This week: Comparative Politics of Development & Political Representation
🧵
Call for Papers | EPSS Belfast 2026 Conference
Submit your abstract or full paper for EPSS Belfast 2026. Share cutting‑edge political science research, network with peers & contribute to academic impact.
epssnet.org
October 23, 2025 at 11:14 AM
📢 Call for Papers for EPSS 2026 conference in Belfast is out: epssnet.org/belfast-2026...
This we’’ll feature the last two sections today:
🔝 This week: Comparative Politics of Development & Political Representation
🧵
This we’’ll feature the last two sections today:
🔝 This week: Comparative Politics of Development & Political Representation
🧵
Reposted by Rafael Ahlskog
Vittnesmål om hur det är att vara reporter på Epoch Times (amerikanska). www.nytimes.com/2025/10/19/b...
October 19, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Vittnesmål om hur det är att vara reporter på Epoch Times (amerikanska). www.nytimes.com/2025/10/19/b...
Reposted by Rafael Ahlskog
wikipedia's data shows that AI is siphoning traffic away from the site, which is a danger to its sustainability. ironically Wikipedia is more important than ever to users who want reliable information instead of slop, and to AI companies that need it for training data www.404media.co/wikipedia-sa...
Wikipedia Says AI Is Causing a Dangerous Decline in Human Visitors
“With fewer visits to Wikipedia, fewer volunteers may grow and enrich the content, and fewer individual donors may support this work.”
www.404media.co
October 17, 2025 at 1:15 AM
wikipedia's data shows that AI is siphoning traffic away from the site, which is a danger to its sustainability. ironically Wikipedia is more important than ever to users who want reliable information instead of slop, and to AI companies that need it for training data www.404media.co/wikipedia-sa...
Reposted by Rafael Ahlskog
1/7 New BMI GWAS out! Using Estonian Biobank (n=204,747) and replication in FinnGen, we show that even in Europe you can still find region-specific biology if you zoom into population-tailored sumstats. Big thanks to co-author @kanwalbatool.bsky.social :)
October 16, 2025 at 6:54 PM
1/7 New BMI GWAS out! Using Estonian Biobank (n=204,747) and replication in FinnGen, we show that even in Europe you can still find region-specific biology if you zoom into population-tailored sumstats. Big thanks to co-author @kanwalbatool.bsky.social :)
Reposted by Rafael Ahlskog
The 5th Nordic Political Behavior Workshop in Trondheim! @lchristensen.bsky.social @rdassonneville.bsky.social @finseraas.bsky.social et al!
October 3, 2025 at 8:43 AM
The 5th Nordic Political Behavior Workshop in Trondheim! @lchristensen.bsky.social @rdassonneville.bsky.social @finseraas.bsky.social et al!
Reposted by Rafael Ahlskog
The European Research Council offers up to €2M additional funding for PIs relocating to the EU or a Horizon Europe Associated Country from non-associated third countries under Starting, Consolidator or Advanced Grants. @erc.europa.eu ec.europa.eu/info/funding...
ec.europa.eu
September 29, 2025 at 6:01 AM
The European Research Council offers up to €2M additional funding for PIs relocating to the EU or a Horizon Europe Associated Country from non-associated third countries under Starting, Consolidator or Advanced Grants. @erc.europa.eu ec.europa.eu/info/funding...
Reposted by Rafael Ahlskog
I'm looking for a PhD student to do some trailblazing at the frontier of personality genomics and lifespan gene-environment transactions (start Fall 2026)! If you want to work with me: psychology.msu.edu/graduatestud...
(PS @drmeltemyucel.bsky.social is taking a student too, in moral psych/dev!)
(PS @drmeltemyucel.bsky.social is taking a student too, in moral psych/dev!)
September 2, 2025 at 3:57 PM
I'm looking for a PhD student to do some trailblazing at the frontier of personality genomics and lifespan gene-environment transactions (start Fall 2026)! If you want to work with me: psychology.msu.edu/graduatestud...
(PS @drmeltemyucel.bsky.social is taking a student too, in moral psych/dev!)
(PS @drmeltemyucel.bsky.social is taking a student too, in moral psych/dev!)
Reposted by Rafael Ahlskog
I like how the QWERTY keyboard mirrors evolution. Proteins and pathways adapted to a situation persist, even when the situation changes. So we end up with mysteriously complex Rube Goldberg machines across biology that only make sense if you know about clashing type bars in Victorian machines.
I just put online the chapter from my book that talks about all the myths and mysteries about QWERTY and Dvorak.
You can read it here: aresluna.org/the-primitiv...
You can read it here: aresluna.org/the-primitiv...
The primitive tortureboard
Untangling the myths and mysteries of Dvorak and QWERTY
aresluna.org
September 2, 2025 at 7:42 AM
I like how the QWERTY keyboard mirrors evolution. Proteins and pathways adapted to a situation persist, even when the situation changes. So we end up with mysteriously complex Rube Goldberg machines across biology that only make sense if you know about clashing type bars in Victorian machines.
Reposted by Rafael Ahlskog
PhD position in Economics with a specialization in AI and the Future of Taxes at Uppsala University uu.varbi.com/en/what:job/...
PhD position in Economics with a specialization in AI and the Future of Taxes
The Department of Economics is one of the largest departments within the Faculty of Social Sciences, with approximately 100 employees from a dozen countries. Each year, around 1,000 students participa
uu.varbi.com
August 31, 2025 at 1:50 PM
PhD position in Economics with a specialization in AI and the Future of Taxes at Uppsala University uu.varbi.com/en/what:job/...
Reposted by Rafael Ahlskog
Call for abstracts: genetics, economic & social issues.
We're hosting a 1-day workshop on using genetic data to examine economic & social issues on 12th December at UCL’s Social Research Institute. More info & submission at link below #genetics #socialscience #economics #cohort
bit.ly/41EnPmu
We're hosting a 1-day workshop on using genetic data to examine economic & social issues on 12th December at UCL’s Social Research Institute. More info & submission at link below #genetics #socialscience #economics #cohort
bit.ly/41EnPmu
Microsoft Forms
bit.ly
August 13, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Call for abstracts: genetics, economic & social issues.
We're hosting a 1-day workshop on using genetic data to examine economic & social issues on 12th December at UCL’s Social Research Institute. More info & submission at link below #genetics #socialscience #economics #cohort
bit.ly/41EnPmu
We're hosting a 1-day workshop on using genetic data to examine economic & social issues on 12th December at UCL’s Social Research Institute. More info & submission at link below #genetics #socialscience #economics #cohort
bit.ly/41EnPmu
Reposted by Rafael Ahlskog
The European Political Science Society is now accepting paper & panel proposals for its annual conference!
📢 Call for Papers: EPSS 2026 – Belfast
🗓️ June 18–20, 2026
📍 ICC Belfast
📬 Deadline: Nov 7, 2025
🧵
📢 Call for Papers: EPSS 2026 – Belfast
🗓️ June 18–20, 2026
📍 ICC Belfast
📬 Deadline: Nov 7, 2025
🧵
August 1, 2025 at 7:09 AM
The European Political Science Society is now accepting paper & panel proposals for its annual conference!
📢 Call for Papers: EPSS 2026 – Belfast
🗓️ June 18–20, 2026
📍 ICC Belfast
📬 Deadline: Nov 7, 2025
🧵
📢 Call for Papers: EPSS 2026 – Belfast
🗓️ June 18–20, 2026
📍 ICC Belfast
📬 Deadline: Nov 7, 2025
🧵
Reposted by Rafael Ahlskog
A few thoughts on Herasight, the new embryo selection company. First, their whitepaper (drive.google.com/file/d/1EpFi...) implies that competitors like Nucleus have been marketing and selling grossly erroneous risk estimates. This is shocking if true! 🧵
August 2, 2025 at 2:38 PM
A few thoughts on Herasight, the new embryo selection company. First, their whitepaper (drive.google.com/file/d/1EpFi...) implies that competitors like Nucleus have been marketing and selling grossly erroneous risk estimates. This is shocking if true! 🧵
This is cool!
Congratulations to @rafaelahlskog.bsky.social, winner of the latest @jepsjournal.bsky.social Award for Best Replication.
Find out more here - cup.org/3H0qy2y
Find out more here - cup.org/3H0qy2y
July 30, 2025 at 3:09 PM
This is cool!
Just got stung by a wasp for the first time since I was kid. I'm genuinely surprised by how much it hurts!
July 26, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Just got stung by a wasp for the first time since I was kid. I'm genuinely surprised by how much it hurts!
Reposted by Rafael Ahlskog
In a recent episode of a podcast about the Lundin Oil war crimes trial, our Associate Professor Johan Brosché and historian Douglas H. Johnson discuss the evidence that systematic war crimes were committed to support the oil industry.
🎧 unpaiddebt.org/e19-question...
🎧 unpaiddebt.org/e19-question...
E19: Questioning History: A Lundin Defence Tactic
The defence lawyers for Ian Lundin and Alex Schneiter deny that any war crimes were committed during Lundin’s operations in South Sudan. They have spent considerable time in court attempting to discre...
unpaiddebt.org
July 23, 2025 at 7:51 AM
In a recent episode of a podcast about the Lundin Oil war crimes trial, our Associate Professor Johan Brosché and historian Douglas H. Johnson discuss the evidence that systematic war crimes were committed to support the oil industry.
🎧 unpaiddebt.org/e19-question...
🎧 unpaiddebt.org/e19-question...
At long last, this paper is now published. Does wealth (causally!) confer an advantage in terms of political participation? www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Do the rich ditch politics? Evidence from Sweden
The world has seen a massive increase in wealth and wealth inequality over the last decades. Given the skew in policy making towards the preferences o…
www.sciencedirect.com
July 22, 2025 at 10:20 AM
At long last, this paper is now published. Does wealth (causally!) confer an advantage in terms of political participation? www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Rafael Ahlskog
🚨📜 Debut publication alert!
Do genetics influence education differently across state borders? 🧬📚 We tested differences in genetic associations with education in East and West 🇩🇪 around reunification!
Out now in Psychological Science 👉 doi.org/10.1177/0956...
#Sociogenomics #MPRGBiosocial #MPIB
A🧵
Do genetics influence education differently across state borders? 🧬📚 We tested differences in genetic associations with education in East and West 🇩🇪 around reunification!
Out now in Psychological Science 👉 doi.org/10.1177/0956...
#Sociogenomics #MPRGBiosocial #MPIB
A🧵
July 15, 2025 at 9:32 AM
🚨📜 Debut publication alert!
Do genetics influence education differently across state borders? 🧬📚 We tested differences in genetic associations with education in East and West 🇩🇪 around reunification!
Out now in Psychological Science 👉 doi.org/10.1177/0956...
#Sociogenomics #MPRGBiosocial #MPIB
A🧵
Do genetics influence education differently across state borders? 🧬📚 We tested differences in genetic associations with education in East and West 🇩🇪 around reunification!
Out now in Psychological Science 👉 doi.org/10.1177/0956...
#Sociogenomics #MPRGBiosocial #MPIB
A🧵
It's 2025, and I still got a desk reject because of null results today. Anyway, how's your publication bias going?
July 7, 2025 at 9:05 PM
It's 2025, and I still got a desk reject because of null results today. Anyway, how's your publication bias going?
Reposted by Rafael Ahlskog
Humbled to receive the BGA's early career award ☺️ Thank you to my brilliant team #MPRGBiosocial, the @maxplanck.de for investing in early career researchers, @mpib-berlin.bsky.social for the excellent environment, and my many mentors incl @kph3k.bsky.social @tuckerdrob.bsky.social #ScienceTeamSport
🏆 @laraffington.bsky.social won the early career award, and Paul Liechtenstein won the Dobzhansky award
July 3, 2025 at 6:20 AM
Humbled to receive the BGA's early career award ☺️ Thank you to my brilliant team #MPRGBiosocial, the @maxplanck.de for investing in early career researchers, @mpib-berlin.bsky.social for the excellent environment, and my many mentors incl @kph3k.bsky.social @tuckerdrob.bsky.social #ScienceTeamSport