Zachary Neal
@zpneal.bsky.social
professor @ michigan state university
editor @ global networks
research: networks 🕸 | R 👨💻 | childfree 🚫
also: wine 🍷 | cats 😺 | travel ✈️
https://www.zacharyneal.com and https://www.thechildfree.org
editor @ global networks
research: networks 🕸 | R 👨💻 | childfree 🚫
also: wine 🍷 | cats 😺 | travel ✈️
https://www.zacharyneal.com and https://www.thechildfree.org
Pinned
Zachary Neal
@zpneal.bsky.social
· Sep 17
🎉 #Rstats 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚋𝚘𝚗𝚎 3.0.0 is now available on CRAN to help with #NetworkScience.
𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚋𝚘𝚗𝚎 transforms a dense or weighted network into a sparse, unweighted one. Version 3.0.0 is completely re-written, with lots of new features...
1/4 🧵
CC: @insna.bsky.social @netscisociety.bsky.social
𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚋𝚘𝚗𝚎 transforms a dense or weighted network into a sparse, unweighted one. Version 3.0.0 is completely re-written, with lots of new features...
1/4 🧵
CC: @insna.bsky.social @netscisociety.bsky.social
RIP
December 5, 2025 at 9:06 PM
RIP
Reposted by Zachary Neal
As we enter the end-of-semester stretch, some thoughts about the first full college semester with ubiquitous AI: 🧵 1/3
1. AI can be a very useful helper for some learning, but only for students who already have skills in the area they’re using it for; LEARN TO USE AI, DONT USE AI TO LEARN.
1. AI can be a very useful helper for some learning, but only for students who already have skills in the area they’re using it for; LEARN TO USE AI, DONT USE AI TO LEARN.
November 19, 2025 at 1:11 PM
As we enter the end-of-semester stretch, some thoughts about the first full college semester with ubiquitous AI: 🧵 1/3
1. AI can be a very useful helper for some learning, but only for students who already have skills in the area they’re using it for; LEARN TO USE AI, DONT USE AI TO LEARN.
1. AI can be a very useful helper for some learning, but only for students who already have skills in the area they’re using it for; LEARN TO USE AI, DONT USE AI TO LEARN.
Here’s some new work with @jennawneal.bsky.social in @plosone.org on #childfree populations in developing countries. Fewer childfree people in many countries, but more in higher-HDI countries like Turkey & the Philippines.
Surprising numbers of childfree people emerge in developing countries, defying expectations
A new analysis suggests that some developing countries have unexpectedly large numbers of childfree people; that is, people who have not had children and do not want to in the future. Zachary Neal and...
phys.org
November 18, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Here’s some new work with @jennawneal.bsky.social in @plosone.org on #childfree populations in developing countries. Fewer childfree people in many countries, but more in higher-HDI countries like Turkey & the Philippines.
Reposted by Zachary Neal
Come work with us @msupsychology.bsky.social!
I promise, we don’t match *all* the time @tedmond.bsky.social
I promise, we don’t match *all* the time @tedmond.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Come work with us @msupsychology.bsky.social!
I promise, we don’t match *all* the time @tedmond.bsky.social
I promise, we don’t match *all* the time @tedmond.bsky.social
Reposted by Zachary Neal
Many economists and business leaders are raising alarms about falling birthrates. But advocates for lower human populations say a less crowded world will be happier and more sustainable. n.pr/47pRO3G
Could smaller families 'rewild' the planet — and make humans happier?
Many economists and business leaders are raising alarms about falling birthrates. But advocates for lower human populations say a less crowded world will be happier and more sustainable.
n.pr
November 1, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Many economists and business leaders are raising alarms about falling birthrates. But advocates for lower human populations say a less crowded world will be happier and more sustainable. n.pr/47pRO3G
Reposted by Zachary Neal
Hey Congress nerds. Loving @zpneal.bsky.social 's "incidentally" package for gathering cosponsorship data. What a service!
Does anyone have a read on gathering cosponsorship data prior to the 108th?
Does anyone have a read on gathering cosponsorship data prior to the 108th?
October 28, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Hey Congress nerds. Loving @zpneal.bsky.social 's "incidentally" package for gathering cosponsorship data. What a service!
Does anyone have a read on gathering cosponsorship data prior to the 108th?
Does anyone have a read on gathering cosponsorship data prior to the 108th?
Reposted by Zachary Neal
Famous for baby boxes and expansive pro-family policies, Finland continues to see one of the lowest birth rates in Europe, as a case study in how policy solutions may not address the population shift.
Finland's stubbornly low birth rate shows why a population shift may be inevitable
Famous for baby boxes and expansive pro-family policies, Finland continues to see one of the lowest birth rates in Europe, as a case study in how policy solutions may not address the population shift.
n.pr
October 27, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Famous for baby boxes and expansive pro-family policies, Finland continues to see one of the lowest birth rates in Europe, as a case study in how policy solutions may not address the population shift.
Reposted by Zachary Neal
Eventually, I did it.
Comet Lemmon! 💫
Nice to read again the history of the attempts in the last weeks. Now, I am almost satisfied with the result: still something to fix, though.
___
About 35' integrated exposure, stacked, Nikon D750 + Nikkor 300mm f/5.6
Comet Lemmon! 💫
Nice to read again the history of the attempts in the last weeks. Now, I am almost satisfied with the result: still something to fix, though.
___
About 35' integrated exposure, stacked, Nikon D750 + Nikkor 300mm f/5.6
October 24, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Eventually, I did it.
Comet Lemmon! 💫
Nice to read again the history of the attempts in the last weeks. Now, I am almost satisfied with the result: still something to fix, though.
___
About 35' integrated exposure, stacked, Nikon D750 + Nikkor 300mm f/5.6
Comet Lemmon! 💫
Nice to read again the history of the attempts in the last weeks. Now, I am almost satisfied with the result: still something to fix, though.
___
About 35' integrated exposure, stacked, Nikon D750 + Nikkor 300mm f/5.6
Reposted by Zachary Neal
Main Rosé Wine Consuming Countries in 2023 (Share in %)
October 23, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Main Rosé Wine Consuming Countries in 2023 (Share in %)
Reposted by Zachary Neal
In this new Editorial, PLOS Medicine Executive Editor, Helen Lumbard, and Senior Editor, Front Section, Daniel Routledge urge the scientific community to confront research fraud and paper mills head-on by creating stronger systems for data sharing and transparency. Learn more plos.io/4nDKQ2c.
Open science and transparency are our strongest tools in the fight against fraudulent publishing activities
PLOS Medicine Executive Editor, Helen Lumbard, and Senior Editor, Front Section, Daniel Routledge, call for the scientific community to tackle research fraud and paper mills head on by creating robust systems of data sharing and transparency.
plos.io
October 16, 2025 at 9:48 PM
In this new Editorial, PLOS Medicine Executive Editor, Helen Lumbard, and Senior Editor, Front Section, Daniel Routledge urge the scientific community to confront research fraud and paper mills head-on by creating stronger systems for data sharing and transparency. Learn more plos.io/4nDKQ2c.
Reposted by Zachary Neal
Anyone have any suggestions for a free online course (YouTube, etc.) that (1) introduces Python at an intro level and (2) is not too time intensive (<20hrs)? (Especially for students going from R -> Python!) The end goal would to do network analysis with NetworkX and understand what is going on.
October 16, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Anyone have any suggestions for a free online course (YouTube, etc.) that (1) introduces Python at an intro level and (2) is not too time intensive (<20hrs)? (Especially for students going from R -> Python!) The end goal would to do network analysis with NetworkX and understand what is going on.
Reposted by Zachary Neal
This is a lovely review of my latest Buildings&Cities paper @bceditors.bsky.social on clinic layouts at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Trust @moorfields.bsky.social
sustainableconstructionreview.com/2025/06/12/m...
sustainableconstructionreview.com/2025/06/12/m...
Moorfields Eye Hospital Redesigns Patient Flow with Architectural Innovation
In the bustling corridors of Moorfields Eye Hospital, a silent revolution is underway, one that could reshape how we think about patient flow and clinic design. At the heart of this transformation is…
sustainableconstructionreview.com
October 16, 2025 at 3:30 PM
This is a lovely review of my latest Buildings&Cities paper @bceditors.bsky.social on clinic layouts at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Trust @moorfields.bsky.social
sustainableconstructionreview.com/2025/06/12/m...
sustainableconstructionreview.com/2025/06/12/m...
Reposted by Zachary Neal
We wrote a little something! @nwlandry.bsky.social and I talk about how new software to study networks with groups (like @xgi.bsky.social !) can help interdisciplinary collaborations tackle old questions from social ontology and the science of groups.
www.siam.org/publications...
www.siam.org/publications...
Group Science: The Open Source Study of Higher-order Networks With XGI | SIAM
The CompleX Group Interactions (XGI) software package offers analytical tools, tutorials, and documentation for higher-order network science research.
www.siam.org
October 15, 2025 at 3:00 PM
We wrote a little something! @nwlandry.bsky.social and I talk about how new software to study networks with groups (like @xgi.bsky.social !) can help interdisciplinary collaborations tackle old questions from social ontology and the science of groups.
www.siam.org/publications...
www.siam.org/publications...
We'll be starting to solicit the first round of community feedback at the end of October. Sign up to get involved!
Want to promote transparency and clarity in network research by helping develop 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 (𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃)?
Sign up to get involved here: tinyurl.com/help-with-GR...
▪️ All career stages welcome
▪️ All fields welcome
▪️ Be compensated for your time
Sign up to get involved here: tinyurl.com/help-with-GR...
▪️ All career stages welcome
▪️ All fields welcome
▪️ Be compensated for your time
GRAND Recruitment
Complete this short questionnaire to help develop Guidelines for Reporting About Network Data (GRAND).
tinyurl.com
October 15, 2025 at 2:24 PM
We'll be starting to solicit the first round of community feedback at the end of October. Sign up to get involved!
Correlation does not mean causation…usually.
A major error or just bad judgement? Terribly embarrassing for the WaPo to have this disaster of a graph as their Saturday front page. The X and Y axes appear to be….the same?
October 11, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Correlation does not mean causation…usually.
Reposted by Zachary Neal
TGIF! If you need a start of the weekend boost, this guy is amazing!
PUMP UP THE JAM • Technotronic
4 years ago today !
Il y’a 4 ans seulement !
4 years ago today !
Il y’a 4 ans seulement !
October 11, 2025 at 12:26 AM
TGIF! If you need a start of the weekend boost, this guy is amazing!
Reposted by Zachary Neal
Parents of 0- to 12-year-olds, come do science with us!
We run short, game-like studies with kids. We offer in-person and online options, flexible scheduling (weekdays & weekends), and sessions that are fun for children and easy for caregivers.
We run short, game-like studies with kids. We offer in-person and online options, flexible scheduling (weekdays & weekends), and sessions that are fun for children and easy for caregivers.
Moral Minds Lab - CHILDatabase Signup
redcap.link
October 10, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Parents of 0- to 12-year-olds, come do science with us!
We run short, game-like studies with kids. We offer in-person and online options, flexible scheduling (weekdays & weekends), and sessions that are fun for children and easy for caregivers.
We run short, game-like studies with kids. We offer in-person and online options, flexible scheduling (weekdays & weekends), and sessions that are fun for children and easy for caregivers.
Just a few years too early for a Nobel Prize.
The sommelier knife, waiter's friend, or wine key is a corkscrew in a folding body similar to a pocket knife; conceived by German inventor Carl F. A. Wienke in 1882 and patented in Germany (1882), England and the US (1883). Here, the U.S. patent:
patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/da/2b/6c/a35...
patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/da/2b/6c/a35...
October 9, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Just a few years too early for a Nobel Prize.
Reposted by Zachary Neal
Your ggplot2 charts work fine, but are they memorable? Real color engineering: brightness first (strongest differentiator), then hue, finally saturation. Most people get this backwards and wonder why their viz falls flat. www.chartography.net/p/color-engi...
Color Engineering
The tool that snaps mercurial design into mechanical focus.
www.chartography.net
October 8, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Your ggplot2 charts work fine, but are they memorable? Real color engineering: brightness first (strongest differentiator), then hue, finally saturation. Most people get this backwards and wonder why their viz falls flat. www.chartography.net/p/color-engi...
Reposted by Zachary Neal
How common are “survey professionals” - people who take dozens of online surveys for pay - across online panels, and do they harm data quality?
Our paper, FirstView at @politicalanalysis.bsky.social, tackles this question using browsing data from three U.S. samples (Facebook, YouGov, and Lucid):
Our paper, FirstView at @politicalanalysis.bsky.social, tackles this question using browsing data from three U.S. samples (Facebook, YouGov, and Lucid):
October 7, 2025 at 6:49 PM
How common are “survey professionals” - people who take dozens of online surveys for pay - across online panels, and do they harm data quality?
Our paper, FirstView at @politicalanalysis.bsky.social, tackles this question using browsing data from three U.S. samples (Facebook, YouGov, and Lucid):
Our paper, FirstView at @politicalanalysis.bsky.social, tackles this question using browsing data from three U.S. samples (Facebook, YouGov, and Lucid):
Reposted by Zachary Neal
What Americans Die from?
And what the media reports on...
Our World in Data ourworldindata.org/does-the-new...
And what the media reports on...
Our World in Data ourworldindata.org/does-the-new...
October 6, 2025 at 9:27 PM
What Americans Die from?
And what the media reports on...
Our World in Data ourworldindata.org/does-the-new...
And what the media reports on...
Our World in Data ourworldindata.org/does-the-new...
Reposted by Zachary Neal
Want to promote transparency and clarity in network research by helping develop 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 (𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃)?
Sign up to get involved here: tinyurl.com/help-with-GR...
▪️ All career stages welcome
▪️ All fields welcome
▪️ Be compensated for your time
Sign up to get involved here: tinyurl.com/help-with-GR...
▪️ All career stages welcome
▪️ All fields welcome
▪️ Be compensated for your time
GRAND Recruitment
Complete this short questionnaire to help develop Guidelines for Reporting About Network Data (GRAND).
tinyurl.com
October 1, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Want to promote transparency and clarity in network research by helping develop 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 (𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃)?
Sign up to get involved here: tinyurl.com/help-with-GR...
▪️ All career stages welcome
▪️ All fields welcome
▪️ Be compensated for your time
Sign up to get involved here: tinyurl.com/help-with-GR...
▪️ All career stages welcome
▪️ All fields welcome
▪️ Be compensated for your time
Want to promote transparency and clarity in network research by helping develop 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 (𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃)?
Sign up to get involved here: tinyurl.com/help-with-GR...
▪️ All career stages welcome
▪️ All fields welcome
▪️ Be compensated for your time
Sign up to get involved here: tinyurl.com/help-with-GR...
▪️ All career stages welcome
▪️ All fields welcome
▪️ Be compensated for your time
GRAND Recruitment
Complete this short questionnaire to help develop Guidelines for Reporting About Network Data (GRAND).
tinyurl.com
October 1, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Want to promote transparency and clarity in network research by helping develop 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 (𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃)?
Sign up to get involved here: tinyurl.com/help-with-GR...
▪️ All career stages welcome
▪️ All fields welcome
▪️ Be compensated for your time
Sign up to get involved here: tinyurl.com/help-with-GR...
▪️ All career stages welcome
▪️ All fields welcome
▪️ Be compensated for your time
Republicans are more likely than democrats to think the government should play a role in encouraging people to have kids.
But, there's also less support among Republicans for any actual government policies like subsidized childcare, family medical leave, or IVF coverage.
But, there's also less support among Republicans for any actual government policies like subsidized childcare, family medical leave, or IVF coverage.
Over half of Americans (53%) now say fewer people choosing to have children in the future would negatively impact the United States. Still, a majority (56%) say the federal government should have no role in encouraging more people to have kids.
Growing share of Americans say fewer people having kids would negatively impact the U.S.
Over half of Americans (53%) now say fewer people choosing to have children in the future would negatively impact the United States.
www.pewresearch.org
September 30, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Republicans are more likely than democrats to think the government should play a role in encouraging people to have kids.
But, there's also less support among Republicans for any actual government policies like subsidized childcare, family medical leave, or IVF coverage.
But, there's also less support among Republicans for any actual government policies like subsidized childcare, family medical leave, or IVF coverage.
Reposted by Zachary Neal
🚨 Thrilled to release the official repository of the @comunelab.bsky.social!
It centralizes access to decade-long research outputs, including 57 data sets and 22 code libraries.
A titanic effort: 28,000 lines of code
We hope to accelerate #openScience in #ComplexSystems
👉 github.com/CoMuNeLab
It centralizes access to decade-long research outputs, including 57 data sets and 22 code libraries.
A titanic effort: 28,000 lines of code
We hope to accelerate #openScience in #ComplexSystems
👉 github.com/CoMuNeLab
September 30, 2025 at 3:16 PM
🚨 Thrilled to release the official repository of the @comunelab.bsky.social!
It centralizes access to decade-long research outputs, including 57 data sets and 22 code libraries.
A titanic effort: 28,000 lines of code
We hope to accelerate #openScience in #ComplexSystems
👉 github.com/CoMuNeLab
It centralizes access to decade-long research outputs, including 57 data sets and 22 code libraries.
A titanic effort: 28,000 lines of code
We hope to accelerate #openScience in #ComplexSystems
👉 github.com/CoMuNeLab