Rosemary Braun
@rosemarybraun.bsky.social
A physicist stumbling ergodically through the life sciences. Faculty
@NorthwesternU @NITMB @SFIscience. Complex systems, networks, high-dimensional statistics / ML, with application to omics data analysis in cancer systems biology, circadian rhythms, &c.
@NorthwesternU @NITMB @SFIscience. Complex systems, networks, high-dimensional statistics / ML, with application to omics data analysis in cancer systems biology, circadian rhythms, &c.
Reposted by Rosemary Braun
"i asked grok" "i asked chatgpt" yeah well i asked carl sagan and he said the greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance but the illusion of knowledge 🧪
July 18, 2025 at 4:12 AM
"i asked grok" "i asked chatgpt" yeah well i asked carl sagan and he said the greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance but the illusion of knowledge 🧪
Reposted by Rosemary Braun
Nature suggests you use their "Manuscript Adviser" bot to get advice before submitting
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
November 3, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Nature suggests you use their "Manuscript Adviser" bot to get advice before submitting
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
Reposted by Rosemary Braun
Physicist Laura Bassi was born 314 years ago today. Her thesis defense in 1732 was a major social event which led to her getting hired by the University of Bologna as a paid lecturer. Here is her story!
tinyurl.com/4jyxuttr
#WomenInSTEM #Physics 🧪
tinyurl.com/4jyxuttr
#WomenInSTEM #Physics 🧪
Water, Fire, and Lightning: The Life of Laura Bassi, the First Woman Professor of Science.
It's April of 1732, and the hot ticket in Bologna is not an opera, a play, or a beheading, but rather that most mundane of things: a lengthy thesis defense, in Latin. Routine stuff, except this time ...
tinyurl.com
October 29, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Physicist Laura Bassi was born 314 years ago today. Her thesis defense in 1732 was a major social event which led to her getting hired by the University of Bologna as a paid lecturer. Here is her story!
tinyurl.com/4jyxuttr
#WomenInSTEM #Physics 🧪
tinyurl.com/4jyxuttr
#WomenInSTEM #Physics 🧪
Reposted by Rosemary Braun
The illusion of illusions
One of the oldest myths in human history is that the Parthenon was cleverly built with curves so that it looks straight, to correct some visual illusions
In this paper I demonstrate that there are NO optical corrections in the Parthenon
arxiv.org/abs/2510.16831. [1/n]
One of the oldest myths in human history is that the Parthenon was cleverly built with curves so that it looks straight, to correct some visual illusions
In this paper I demonstrate that there are NO optical corrections in the Parthenon
arxiv.org/abs/2510.16831. [1/n]
The illusion of illusions: There are no optical corrections in the Parthenon
One of the oldest and most enduring myths in human history is the belief that the Parthenon was cleverly designed with various curved structures and sizes in order to correct optical illusions, and th...
arxiv.org
October 21, 2025 at 6:40 AM
The illusion of illusions
One of the oldest myths in human history is that the Parthenon was cleverly built with curves so that it looks straight, to correct some visual illusions
In this paper I demonstrate that there are NO optical corrections in the Parthenon
arxiv.org/abs/2510.16831. [1/n]
One of the oldest myths in human history is that the Parthenon was cleverly built with curves so that it looks straight, to correct some visual illusions
In this paper I demonstrate that there are NO optical corrections in the Parthenon
arxiv.org/abs/2510.16831. [1/n]
Reposted by Rosemary Braun
Dear all, A scientist from UNC Chapel Hill, Paul Maddox, is running for congress in NC for a seat currently held by a republican. If you care about science (and democracy) please consider donating to his campaign #Standupforscience secure.actblue.com/donate/paul-...
Donate to Paul Maddox for Congress in NC 11
Paul is running for Congress because there’s a sickness in Washington, and no one is working to cure it.
secure.actblue.com
October 20, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Dear all, A scientist from UNC Chapel Hill, Paul Maddox, is running for congress in NC for a seat currently held by a republican. If you care about science (and democracy) please consider donating to his campaign #Standupforscience secure.actblue.com/donate/paul-...
1) AWS outage takes down Canvas.
2) Hungry for news, I put "canvas" into the bsky search to see if anyone's talking about it.
3) I get no news about Canvas[TM], but instead discover a bunch of artists.
Truly the best of all possible outcomes!
2) Hungry for news, I put "canvas" into the bsky search to see if anyone's talking about it.
3) I get no news about Canvas[TM], but instead discover a bunch of artists.
Truly the best of all possible outcomes!
October 20, 2025 at 6:36 PM
1) AWS outage takes down Canvas.
2) Hungry for news, I put "canvas" into the bsky search to see if anyone's talking about it.
3) I get no news about Canvas[TM], but instead discover a bunch of artists.
Truly the best of all possible outcomes!
2) Hungry for news, I put "canvas" into the bsky search to see if anyone's talking about it.
3) I get no news about Canvas[TM], but instead discover a bunch of artists.
Truly the best of all possible outcomes!
Absolutely stellar essay on the current debate over Assembly Theory: what it achieves, where it falls short, and what remains to be done
As a promising avenue for unifying physics and biology, assembly theory (AT) has been subject of controversy, being both praised and refuted at the same time.
What is its current status? Has it really quantified selection and evolution?/1
#complexitycat🐈⬛
amahury.github.io/posts/demyst...
What is its current status? Has it really quantified selection and evolution?/1
#complexitycat🐈⬛
amahury.github.io/posts/demyst...
Demystifying Assembly Theory
“It doesn’t make any difference how beautiful your guess is, it doesn’t matter how smart you are who made the guess, or what his name is … If it disagrees with experiment, it’s wrong. That’s all there...
amahury.github.io
October 17, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Absolutely stellar essay on the current debate over Assembly Theory: what it achieves, where it falls short, and what remains to be done
Reposted by Rosemary Braun
Had never read Jane Goodall's original 1963 article in Nat Geo on the wild chimpanzees in Tanzania until now. It's a wonderful blend of science and journalism, and well worth your time.
www.nationalgeographic.com/pdf/jane-goo...
www.nationalgeographic.com/pdf/jane-goo...
October 1, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Had never read Jane Goodall's original 1963 article in Nat Geo on the wild chimpanzees in Tanzania until now. It's a wonderful blend of science and journalism, and well worth your time.
www.nationalgeographic.com/pdf/jane-goo...
www.nationalgeographic.com/pdf/jane-goo...
Reposted by Rosemary Braun
A simple way to help reduce obesity and stroke?
Stop the shifts in our clocks twice a year
www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1...
Stop the shifts in our clocks twice a year
www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1...
Circadian-informed modeling predicts regional variation in obesity and stroke outcomes under different permanent US time policies | PNAS
Seasonal changes in time policy, such as switching between Standard Time (SDT) and
Daylight Saving Time (DST), have been adopted by many countries,...
www.pnas.org
September 15, 2025 at 8:32 PM
A simple way to help reduce obesity and stroke?
Stop the shifts in our clocks twice a year
www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1...
Stop the shifts in our clocks twice a year
www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1...
Newport Jazz Festival, 1958 www.rirocks.net/Band%20Artic...
September 5, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Newport Jazz Festival, 1958 www.rirocks.net/Band%20Artic...
Reposted by Rosemary Braun
New: Judge Burroughs rules on the Harvard grant terminations and underlying agency guidance.
Takeaways:
-Big win for Harvard—$2 billion in grants will be reinstated.
-There is a (careful) path for district courts to rule on grant terminations
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Takeaways:
-Big win for Harvard—$2 billion in grants will be reinstated.
-There is a (careful) path for district courts to rule on grant terminations
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
September 3, 2025 at 9:15 PM
New: Judge Burroughs rules on the Harvard grant terminations and underlying agency guidance.
Takeaways:
-Big win for Harvard—$2 billion in grants will be reinstated.
-There is a (careful) path for district courts to rule on grant terminations
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Takeaways:
-Big win for Harvard—$2 billion in grants will be reinstated.
-There is a (careful) path for district courts to rule on grant terminations
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Rosemary Braun
Judge Issues Ruling Helpful to Harvard in Case Against Trump
www.nytimes.com
September 3, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Reposted by Rosemary Braun
Gift link.
Harvard Secures a Court Victory in Its Fight With Trump
www.nytimes.com
September 3, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Gift link.
Reposted by Rosemary Braun
Defendants, their agents are permanently enjoined from implementing, instituting, maintaining, or giving any force to Freeze Orders orTermination Letters, or refusing to grant or to continue federal funding undertaken pursuant to the Freeze Orders and Termination Letters
September 3, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Defendants, their agents are permanently enjoined from implementing, instituting, maintaining, or giving any force to Freeze Orders orTermination Letters, or refusing to grant or to continue federal funding undertaken pursuant to the Freeze Orders and Termination Letters
Reposted by Rosemary Braun
The Court vacates and sets aside the Termination Letters as violative of Title VI. All terminations of funding to Harvard made pursuant to the Termination Letters are vacated and set aside.
September 3, 2025 at 8:39 PM
The Court vacates and sets aside the Termination Letters as violative of Title VI. All terminations of funding to Harvard made pursuant to the Termination Letters are vacated and set aside.
Reposted by Rosemary Braun
The Court vacates and sets aside the Freeze Orders as arbitrary and capricious All freezes and terminations of funding to Harvard made pursuant to the Freeze Orders and Termination Letters on or after April 14, 2025 are vacated and set aside.
September 3, 2025 at 8:39 PM
The Court vacates and sets aside the Freeze Orders as arbitrary and capricious All freezes and terminations of funding to Harvard made pursuant to the Freeze Orders and Termination Letters on or after April 14, 2025 are vacated and set aside.
Reposted by Rosemary Braun
Partial summary judgement victory for Harvard: The Court GRANTS Harvard's motion for summary judgment as to Counts 1, 3, and 4 and Defendants' cross motion for summary judgment as to Counts 2 and 6. As to Count 5, the Court GRANTS IN PART Harvard's motion with respect to the Freeze Orders
September 3, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Partial summary judgement victory for Harvard: The Court GRANTS Harvard's motion for summary judgment as to Counts 1, 3, and 4 and Defendants' cross motion for summary judgment as to Counts 2 and 6. As to Count 5, the Court GRANTS IN PART Harvard's motion with respect to the Freeze Orders
Reposted by Rosemary Braun
NEW: The bipartisan Senate Appropriations Committee has rejected Trump’s proposed $18 billion, 40% cut to the National Institutes of Health budget and endorsed a $400 million increase.
DO NOT GIVE UP! Our advocacy is working. Keep speaking up and calling your elected officials.
DO NOT GIVE UP! Our advocacy is working. Keep speaking up and calling your elected officials.
August 1, 2025 at 1:36 AM
NEW: The bipartisan Senate Appropriations Committee has rejected Trump’s proposed $18 billion, 40% cut to the National Institutes of Health budget and endorsed a $400 million increase.
DO NOT GIVE UP! Our advocacy is working. Keep speaking up and calling your elected officials.
DO NOT GIVE UP! Our advocacy is working. Keep speaking up and calling your elected officials.
Reposted by Rosemary Braun
Current* conditions near Sturgeon Bay, WI:
August 1, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Current* conditions near Sturgeon Bay, WI:
Reposted by Rosemary Braun
When UC Berkeley caved in to McCarthyism, it lost its entire theoretical physics department, including future Nobelists. Let this be a lesson to #Columbia and other universities that are now pursuing a policy of #appeasement. Great article on p. 18 of the latest @aip.bsky.social’s history newsletter
aip.brightspotcdn.com
July 29, 2025 at 8:42 PM
When UC Berkeley caved in to McCarthyism, it lost its entire theoretical physics department, including future Nobelists. Let this be a lesson to #Columbia and other universities that are now pursuing a policy of #appeasement. Great article on p. 18 of the latest @aip.bsky.social’s history newsletter
Reposted by Rosemary Braun
Applications are open for SFI's 2026 Complexity Postdoctoral Fellowships
If you’ve recently earned a Ph.D. in any scientific field and want to pursue independent, transdisciplinary research, consider applying.
Deadline: October 1, 2025
Apply here: santafe.edu/sfifellowship
If you’ve recently earned a Ph.D. in any scientific field and want to pursue independent, transdisciplinary research, consider applying.
Deadline: October 1, 2025
Apply here: santafe.edu/sfifellowship
July 28, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Applications are open for SFI's 2026 Complexity Postdoctoral Fellowships
If you’ve recently earned a Ph.D. in any scientific field and want to pursue independent, transdisciplinary research, consider applying.
Deadline: October 1, 2025
Apply here: santafe.edu/sfifellowship
If you’ve recently earned a Ph.D. in any scientific field and want to pursue independent, transdisciplinary research, consider applying.
Deadline: October 1, 2025
Apply here: santafe.edu/sfifellowship
Reposted by Rosemary Braun
With Tom Lehrer's passing, I suppose this is a moment to share the story of the prank he played on the National Security Agency, and how it went undiscovered for nearly 60 years.
July 27, 2025 at 9:01 PM
With Tom Lehrer's passing, I suppose this is a moment to share the story of the prank he played on the National Security Agency, and how it went undiscovered for nearly 60 years.