Tiffany Lowe-Power stands with Minnesota
@tlowepower.bsky.social
I study how bacteria kill plants. Interested across biological scales: molecular 🧬, cellular🦠, organismal 🧫, ecological 🥀🌍, and evolutionary 🧬.
Optimistic pessimist: The world is dark, so how can we slow the decline?
Optimistic pessimist: The world is dark, so how can we slow the decline?
Pinned
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Excited to share that PNAS published our research article focused on "Why are Ralstonia goofy?"
Excited to share that PNAS published our research article focused on "Why are Ralstonia goofy?"
My campus did this last year. Now my building is infested with cockroaches...
There’s an old joke about a dean deciding between an experimental physicist (EP), a theoretical physicist (TP), and a mathematician for a hire. EP: too expensive, needs a full lab. Mathematician: cheaper, just needs pencils, paper, and a trash can. TP: best option, doesn’t even need a trash can.
University of Connecticut, looking to save $1.57M, removes trash cans from many of its offices
The cost-cutting effort aims to save $1.57 million in trash disposal and custodial cleaning expenses, according a UConn official.
www.ctinsider.com
February 14, 2026 at 11:28 PM
My campus did this last year. Now my building is infested with cockroaches...
Reposted by Tiffany Lowe-Power stands with Minnesota
Lack of coevolution should be default assumption, but it’s not, because it’s easy to imagine coevolutionary scenarios
But most microbial populations live very complicated lives
Multi level selection is hard when generation times orders of magnitude different and microbial environments are complex
But most microbial populations live very complicated lives
Multi level selection is hard when generation times orders of magnitude different and microbial environments are complex
February 14, 2026 at 7:15 PM
Lack of coevolution should be default assumption, but it’s not, because it’s easy to imagine coevolutionary scenarios
But most microbial populations live very complicated lives
Multi level selection is hard when generation times orders of magnitude different and microbial environments are complex
But most microbial populations live very complicated lives
Multi level selection is hard when generation times orders of magnitude different and microbial environments are complex
Reposted by Tiffany Lowe-Power stands with Minnesota
<steps to microphone>
<taps microphone>
Most microbes do not coevolve with *hosts* even when found associated with hosts
<taps microphone>
Most microbes do not coevolve with *hosts* even when found associated with hosts
February 14, 2026 at 7:10 PM
<steps to microphone>
<taps microphone>
Most microbes do not coevolve with *hosts* even when found associated with hosts
<taps microphone>
Most microbes do not coevolve with *hosts* even when found associated with hosts
Reposted by Tiffany Lowe-Power stands with Minnesota
"I never want to see a child run away from our own government ever again"
Yesterday morning kids were sent running from their bus stop in panic because ICE showed up. This guy at today’s ICE Out of Lindenwold protest is a must watch 😭. @maddow.bsky.social
February 14, 2026 at 3:59 PM
"I never want to see a child run away from our own government ever again"
Reposted by Tiffany Lowe-Power stands with Minnesota
Resist narratives of inevitability.
February 14, 2026 at 4:17 PM
Resist narratives of inevitability.
Reposted by Tiffany Lowe-Power stands with Minnesota
A blast from the past. It is not perfect but I still really like this guide to Open Access made by Jorge Cham.
youtu.be/L5rVH1KGBCY?...
youtu.be/L5rVH1KGBCY?...
Open Access Explained!
YouTube video by Piled Higher and Deeper (PHD Comics)
youtu.be
February 13, 2026 at 3:48 PM
A blast from the past. It is not perfect but I still really like this guide to Open Access made by Jorge Cham.
youtu.be/L5rVH1KGBCY?...
youtu.be/L5rVH1KGBCY?...
Reposted by Tiffany Lowe-Power stands with Minnesota
And yet more reporting showing the gravity of the problem when federal agencies terminate grants or return applications without review for reasons unknown. The absence of public accountability continues to have cascading impacts on science and scientists.
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
February 13, 2026 at 2:15 PM
And yet more reporting showing the gravity of the problem when federal agencies terminate grants or return applications without review for reasons unknown. The absence of public accountability continues to have cascading impacts on science and scientists.
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Tiffany Lowe-Power stands with Minnesota
also some more recent evidence that EBV causes lupus. A vaccine that could wipe out TWO autoimmune diseases and we're not leaping at the chance to get it into people as soon as possible?
If Moderna is no longer bringing vaccine trials for Epstein-Barr virus (good evidence that EB causes Multiple Sclerosis), herpes, and shingles because of Trump appointees, I want prison time for those appointees.
This might be dooming millions to disease they don’t have to experience.
This might be dooming millions to disease they don’t have to experience.
February 13, 2026 at 4:42 AM
also some more recent evidence that EBV causes lupus. A vaccine that could wipe out TWO autoimmune diseases and we're not leaping at the chance to get it into people as soon as possible?
DOGE cut the funding that was providing biocontrol to keep screwworm from moving northward.
Human health and livestock are at risk of this pathogen.
Human health and livestock are at risk of this pathogen.
February 13, 2026 at 2:09 AM
DOGE cut the funding that was providing biocontrol to keep screwworm from moving northward.
Human health and livestock are at risk of this pathogen.
Human health and livestock are at risk of this pathogen.
Reposted by Tiffany Lowe-Power stands with Minnesota
I think it’s the same lack of humility and/or understanding that leads people to believe that “AI will solve cancer”
Like, no…it’s way more complicated and nuanced and you need to be practiced in critical thinking to be good at science. Being a scientist isn’t just about memorizing facts
Like, no…it’s way more complicated and nuanced and you need to be practiced in critical thinking to be good at science. Being a scientist isn’t just about memorizing facts
February 12, 2026 at 9:55 PM
I think it’s the same lack of humility and/or understanding that leads people to believe that “AI will solve cancer”
Like, no…it’s way more complicated and nuanced and you need to be practiced in critical thinking to be good at science. Being a scientist isn’t just about memorizing facts
Like, no…it’s way more complicated and nuanced and you need to be practiced in critical thinking to be good at science. Being a scientist isn’t just about memorizing facts
Teaching a Nature publishing group paper in class and it's ridiculous that a journal with such high publishing fees allowed typos like "gThe" instead of "The" in the formatted version of a paper.
February 12, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Teaching a Nature publishing group paper in class and it's ridiculous that a journal with such high publishing fees allowed typos like "gThe" instead of "The" in the formatted version of a paper.
Reposted by Tiffany Lowe-Power stands with Minnesota
Corn smut is a fungal disease that creates tumor-like galls on corn (ears, leaves & stalks). It can reduce yield. The galls are edible and considered a delicacy called huitlacoche in Mexico.The fungus spreads by wind-borne spores that enter plants thru wounds and silks 🌱 🧪 @cropnetwork.bsky.social
February 12, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Corn smut is a fungal disease that creates tumor-like galls on corn (ears, leaves & stalks). It can reduce yield. The galls are edible and considered a delicacy called huitlacoche in Mexico.The fungus spreads by wind-borne spores that enter plants thru wounds and silks 🌱 🧪 @cropnetwork.bsky.social
This is what fascism looks like
www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/bon...
www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/bon...
Bondi had list of a Democratic lawmaker's Epstein files "search history" during Capitol Hill hearing
A high-profile House Democrat is accusing Attorney General Pam Bondi of "spying" on her search history while she pored through Jeffrey Epstein-related documents.
www.cbsnews.com
February 12, 2026 at 3:35 PM
This is what fascism looks like
www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/bon...
www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/bon...
Reposted by Tiffany Lowe-Power stands with Minnesota
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Excited to share that PNAS published our research article focused on "Why are Ralstonia goofy?"
Excited to share that PNAS published our research article focused on "Why are Ralstonia goofy?"
January 23, 2026 at 5:43 AM
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Excited to share that PNAS published our research article focused on "Why are Ralstonia goofy?"
Excited to share that PNAS published our research article focused on "Why are Ralstonia goofy?"
This is not making America safer
The St. Paul Police Department said a multi-car crash on Wednesday was caused by federal agents pursuing a person in a vehicle. The person being pursued had non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to the hospital.
Federal agents at scene of multi-car crash in St. Paul
A multi-car crash Wednesday in St. Paul at the intersection of Western Avenue North and Selby Avenue appeared to involve federal agents.
www.mprnews.org
February 11, 2026 at 8:59 PM
This is not making America safer
AI without some sort of good-for-society policy (maybe universal basic income?) is going to increase human misery.
My doomer-worry about AI is not that the LLMs become omnipotent and take over the world but that the wealthy and powerful use it as a means to consolidate power and marginalize or lay off skilled workers and also everything about our technological and political and social life gets worse
February 11, 2026 at 8:55 PM
AI without some sort of good-for-society policy (maybe universal basic income?) is going to increase human misery.
I am a member (regular donor) of Minnesota Public Radio.
They shared a poem"
Members power MPR.
Some live nearby; others live afar.
Your donation keeps this service free
For your neighbors, friends, and family.
No matter where you listen or live,
We are so grateful you choose to give.
They shared a poem"
Members power MPR.
Some live nearby; others live afar.
Your donation keeps this service free
For your neighbors, friends, and family.
No matter where you listen or live,
We are so grateful you choose to give.
February 11, 2026 at 8:54 PM
I am a member (regular donor) of Minnesota Public Radio.
They shared a poem"
Members power MPR.
Some live nearby; others live afar.
Your donation keeps this service free
For your neighbors, friends, and family.
No matter where you listen or live,
We are so grateful you choose to give.
They shared a poem"
Members power MPR.
Some live nearby; others live afar.
Your donation keeps this service free
For your neighbors, friends, and family.
No matter where you listen or live,
We are so grateful you choose to give.
Reposted by Tiffany Lowe-Power stands with Minnesota
The Metagenome Stability Diagram uses gene markers across ecosystems to understand how environmental conditions constrain metabolic activity in microbiomes. 🖥️🧬🦠
https://jgi.doe.gov/user-science/science-stories/data-discovery-tool-helps-identify-microbial-roles-within-metagenomes
https://jgi.doe.gov/user-science/science-stories/data-discovery-tool-helps-identify-microbial-roles-within-metagenomes
Data Discovery Tool Helps Identify Microbial Roles within Metagenomes | Joint Genome Institute
Protein annotations provide insights into environmental tendencies
jgi.doe.gov
February 11, 2026 at 6:11 PM
The Metagenome Stability Diagram uses gene markers across ecosystems to understand how environmental conditions constrain metabolic activity in microbiomes. 🖥️🧬🦠
https://jgi.doe.gov/user-science/science-stories/data-discovery-tool-helps-identify-microbial-roles-within-metagenomes
https://jgi.doe.gov/user-science/science-stories/data-discovery-tool-helps-identify-microbial-roles-within-metagenomes
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_C...
Inaccurate government accounting of agricultural outputs contributed to the Great Famine during Mao's reign in China.
Inaccurate government accounting of agricultural outputs contributed to the Great Famine during Mao's reign in China.
February 11, 2026 at 3:37 PM
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_C...
Inaccurate government accounting of agricultural outputs contributed to the Great Famine during Mao's reign in China.
Inaccurate government accounting of agricultural outputs contributed to the Great Famine during Mao's reign in China.
Reposted by Tiffany Lowe-Power stands with Minnesota
Trump is actively making our goods more expensive by blocking a piece of key infrastructure - apparently all because his most Epstein-linked Cabinet Secretary conveyed a request from a billionaire GOP donor. America does not have to tolerate this kind of corruption.
February 11, 2026 at 4:26 AM
Trump is actively making our goods more expensive by blocking a piece of key infrastructure - apparently all because his most Epstein-linked Cabinet Secretary conveyed a request from a billionaire GOP donor. America does not have to tolerate this kind of corruption.
Reposted by Tiffany Lowe-Power stands with Minnesota
Fun news! @gcbias.bsky.social and I are teaching a 2-week online population genetics workshop this summer to raise money for the Center for Population Biology at UC Davis. We're trying to gauge interest -- please fill this out if you might be interested! And please share broadly!
Davis Summer Population Genomics Program
Want to learn population genetics? Please fill out this form to indicate your potential interest in a 2-week intensive online summer population genetics course taught by Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra and Graham...
docs.google.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:24 PM
Fun news! @gcbias.bsky.social and I are teaching a 2-week online population genetics workshop this summer to raise money for the Center for Population Biology at UC Davis. We're trying to gauge interest -- please fill this out if you might be interested! And please share broadly!
Reposted by Tiffany Lowe-Power stands with Minnesota
must read
February 9, 2026 at 3:29 PM
must read
Reposted by Tiffany Lowe-Power stands with Minnesota
Trump sexually trafficked women and girls through Maro Lago and his ICE is traumatizing immigrant children. Ridiculous that he's pretending to be a prude or care about the children anywhere.
February 9, 2026 at 4:12 AM
Trump sexually trafficked women and girls through Maro Lago and his ICE is traumatizing immigrant children. Ridiculous that he's pretending to be a prude or care about the children anywhere.
No way Trump uses emdashes. This is AI slop.
R. I. P. Emdash
R. I. P. Emdash
February 9, 2026 at 4:07 AM
No way Trump uses emdashes. This is AI slop.
R. I. P. Emdash
R. I. P. Emdash