Alex Dainis PhD 🧬
@alexdainis.bsky.social
Science communicator talking about genetics, biology, chemistry, and blimps. She/her
Reposted by Alex Dainis PhD 🧬
🚩 Short reads for big SVs
🚩 Long reads with tradeoffs
🟢 Tech with large variant detection, haplotyping, epigenetics + exceptional accuracy.
See how to get green flags from the start...There's HiFi for That: bit.ly/3JminPa
#PacBio #ScienceHumor #TheresHiFiForThat #HiFisequencing
🚩 Long reads with tradeoffs
🟢 Tech with large variant detection, haplotyping, epigenetics + exceptional accuracy.
See how to get green flags from the start...There's HiFi for That: bit.ly/3JminPa
#PacBio #ScienceHumor #TheresHiFiForThat #HiFisequencing
August 20, 2025 at 4:57 PM
🚩 Short reads for big SVs
🚩 Long reads with tradeoffs
🟢 Tech with large variant detection, haplotyping, epigenetics + exceptional accuracy.
See how to get green flags from the start...There's HiFi for That: bit.ly/3JminPa
#PacBio #ScienceHumor #TheresHiFiForThat #HiFisequencing
🚩 Long reads with tradeoffs
🟢 Tech with large variant detection, haplotyping, epigenetics + exceptional accuracy.
See how to get green flags from the start...There's HiFi for That: bit.ly/3JminPa
#PacBio #ScienceHumor #TheresHiFiForThat #HiFisequencing
I just received three separate AI notetaker summaries of a call I was in and y’all I do not want or need three different sets of badly taken notes.
August 20, 2025 at 2:30 AM
I just received three separate AI notetaker summaries of a call I was in and y’all I do not want or need three different sets of badly taken notes.
Just screaming into the void.
This op-ed from NIH director Jay Bhattacharya is *infuriating*. He says we have to stop funding mRNA vaccine research because it hasn't "earned public trust." Motherfucker, WHO DID THAT.
Opinion | Jay Bhattacharya: Why the NIH is pivoting away from mRNA vaccines
As a vaccine for broad public use, mRNA technology has failed to earn the public’s trust.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 12, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Just screaming into the void.
Reposted by Alex Dainis PhD 🧬
What looks like a spinning window might just be your brain filling in the blanks. 🧠😵💫
In the Ames window illusion, @alexdainis.bsky.social builds a trapezoid “window” with shading that tricks your brain into seeing motion that’s not really there.
In the Ames window illusion, @alexdainis.bsky.social builds a trapezoid “window” with shading that tricks your brain into seeing motion that’s not really there.
August 12, 2025 at 1:42 PM
What looks like a spinning window might just be your brain filling in the blanks. 🧠😵💫
In the Ames window illusion, @alexdainis.bsky.social builds a trapezoid “window” with shading that tricks your brain into seeing motion that’s not really there.
In the Ames window illusion, @alexdainis.bsky.social builds a trapezoid “window” with shading that tricks your brain into seeing motion that’s not really there.
Sometimes I really feel like I’ve messed up my “influencer” journey.
I’m out here trying to convince people to use science for good in their lives when I’ve missed my true passion and calling of being a collab cookie reviewer.
I’m out here trying to convince people to use science for good in their lives when I’ve missed my true passion and calling of being a collab cookie reviewer.
August 10, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Sometimes I really feel like I’ve messed up my “influencer” journey.
I’m out here trying to convince people to use science for good in their lives when I’ve missed my true passion and calling of being a collab cookie reviewer.
I’m out here trying to convince people to use science for good in their lives when I’ve missed my true passion and calling of being a collab cookie reviewer.
Reposted by Alex Dainis PhD 🧬
Update: Our friend @alecluhn.bsky.social was found alive this morning!
He is in good health with some injuries to his leg/foot. He is at a hospital in Bergen now. Thank you to the Norwegian helicopter team who found him and all the volunteers who searched in bad conditions. ❤️
He is in good health with some injuries to his leg/foot. He is at a hospital in Bergen now. Thank you to the Norwegian helicopter team who found him and all the volunteers who searched in bad conditions. ❤️
My friend Alec is missing. Please share this widely incase it reachers any hikers who have seen him over the past 5 days during his solo hike in a Norwegian national park.
I’m sharing this hoping that someone hiking the same route in Norway might see this. Let’s find @alecluhn.bsky.social!
August 6, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Update: Our friend @alecluhn.bsky.social was found alive this morning!
He is in good health with some injuries to his leg/foot. He is at a hospital in Bergen now. Thank you to the Norwegian helicopter team who found him and all the volunteers who searched in bad conditions. ❤️
He is in good health with some injuries to his leg/foot. He is at a hospital in Bergen now. Thank you to the Norwegian helicopter team who found him and all the volunteers who searched in bad conditions. ❤️
Reposted by Alex Dainis PhD 🧬
The best news!!! 😍
Missing climate journalist Alec Luhn found alive - very pleased to see this news
www.vg.no/nyheter/i/B0...
www.vg.no/nyheter/i/B0...
Savnede Alec Luhn (38) funnet i live
Det bekrefter politiet i Hardanger til VG. – Veldig, veldig glad, sier kona til VG.
www.vg.no
August 6, 2025 at 1:11 PM
The best news!!! 😍
Reposted by Alex Dainis PhD 🧬
Alec Luhn, an American journalist, has been missing for days in Folgefonna National Park in Norway. He was last heard from on Thursday at the start of a solo hike.
Search Underway for Alec Luhn, American Journalist Missing in Norway
A search was underway Tuesday for Alec Luhn, 38, who was last heard from five days ago at the start of a solo hike.
nyti.ms
August 5, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Alec Luhn, an American journalist, has been missing for days in Folgefonna National Park in Norway. He was last heard from on Thursday at the start of a solo hike.
Reposted by Alex Dainis PhD 🧬
I’m sharing this hoping that someone hiking the same route in Norway might see this. Let’s find @alecluhn.bsky.social!
American climate journalist Alec Luhn missing on Norwegian glacier
A search is underway for award-winning climate journalist Alec Luhn, a Wisconsin native, who is missing on a Norwegian glacier.
www.cbsnews.com
August 5, 2025 at 3:08 PM
I’m sharing this hoping that someone hiking the same route in Norway might see this. Let’s find @alecluhn.bsky.social!
Reposted by Alex Dainis PhD 🧬
I NEED to tell you the story of Tae Heung “William” Kim.
He's a graduate student at Texas A&M where he's working on a vaccine for Lyme disease.
He's a *legal permanent resident* of the United States.
And he's been in ICE detention for 12 days & counting, transferred Tuesday to South Texas.
He's a graduate student at Texas A&M where he's working on a vaccine for Lyme disease.
He's a *legal permanent resident* of the United States.
And he's been in ICE detention for 12 days & counting, transferred Tuesday to South Texas.
July 31, 2025 at 11:35 AM
I NEED to tell you the story of Tae Heung “William” Kim.
He's a graduate student at Texas A&M where he's working on a vaccine for Lyme disease.
He's a *legal permanent resident* of the United States.
And he's been in ICE detention for 12 days & counting, transferred Tuesday to South Texas.
He's a graduate student at Texas A&M where he's working on a vaccine for Lyme disease.
He's a *legal permanent resident* of the United States.
And he's been in ICE detention for 12 days & counting, transferred Tuesday to South Texas.
Reposted by Alex Dainis PhD 🧬
I wish I could work on my book after work but unfortunately my brain only functions for five hours a day and my job takes seven of those
July 30, 2025 at 7:19 PM
I wish I could work on my book after work but unfortunately my brain only functions for five hours a day and my job takes seven of those
Reposted by Alex Dainis PhD 🧬
The NIH’s 2024 budget of just under $37B generated $95B in economic activity in 2024 alone. 99.4% of new pharmaceuticals approved from 2010-2019 came from NIH-funded research. I’m hard pressed to think of anything that generates as much direct economic benefit as our NIH did before they destroyed it
TAPPER: 14 Republicans say you're risking undermining critical research by holding up NIH funding
VOUGHT: If they were a company, their stock price would in shambles. They in some respects caused the pandemic. You have an entire institute that does nothing more than DEI research at the NIH.
VOUGHT: If they were a company, their stock price would in shambles. They in some respects caused the pandemic. You have an entire institute that does nothing more than DEI research at the NIH.
July 27, 2025 at 10:49 PM
The NIH’s 2024 budget of just under $37B generated $95B in economic activity in 2024 alone. 99.4% of new pharmaceuticals approved from 2010-2019 came from NIH-funded research. I’m hard pressed to think of anything that generates as much direct economic benefit as our NIH did before they destroyed it
Reposted by Alex Dainis PhD 🧬
"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 Alex Dainis PhD 🧬
Are you a PI in a biology field looking for postdocs? Here is a Starter Pack of early career biologists currently seeking postdoctoral positions! (Also if you are searching for a postdoc, let me know if you want to be added!) go.bsky.app/8zZNEGV
July 16, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Are you a PI in a biology field looking for postdocs? Here is a Starter Pack of early career biologists currently seeking postdoctoral positions! (Also if you are searching for a postdoc, let me know if you want to be added!) go.bsky.app/8zZNEGV
Reposted by Alex Dainis PhD 🧬
A clip from this week's episode of SciComm Summer, featuring @alexdainis.bsky.social. Check out Opinion Science for the full episode. (
opinionsciencepodcast.com/episode/alex...)
opinionsciencepodcast.com/episode/alex...)
July 16, 2025 at 3:42 PM
A clip from this week's episode of SciComm Summer, featuring @alexdainis.bsky.social. Check out Opinion Science for the full episode. (
opinionsciencepodcast.com/episode/alex...)
opinionsciencepodcast.com/episode/alex...)
Reposted by Alex Dainis PhD 🧬
We're hiring!
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30219
The Cornell Department of Communication is hiring an Assistant Professor in Science, Environment, and Risk Communication!
Applications received by September 15, 2025, will be given full consideration.
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30219
The Cornell Department of Communication is hiring an Assistant Professor in Science, Environment, and Risk Communication!
Applications received by September 15, 2025, will be given full consideration.
Cornell University, Department of Communication
Job #AJO30219, WDR-00053939 Assistant Professor in Science, Environment, and Risk Communication, Department of Communication, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, US
academicjobsonline.org
July 15, 2025 at 5:21 PM
We're hiring!
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30219
The Cornell Department of Communication is hiring an Assistant Professor in Science, Environment, and Risk Communication!
Applications received by September 15, 2025, will be given full consideration.
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30219
The Cornell Department of Communication is hiring an Assistant Professor in Science, Environment, and Risk Communication!
Applications received by September 15, 2025, will be given full consideration.
Reposted by Alex Dainis PhD 🧬
Check out @andyluttrell.bsky.social's interview with fellow #scicomm awardee @alexdainis.bsky.social for his SciComm Summer series of the Opinion Science podcast!
This week on #SciCommSummer, @alexdainis.bsky.social shares how she avoided picking between her passions for science & filmmaking, making great online science videos.
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/3pIH...
Web: opinionsciencepodcast.com/episode/alex...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/3pIH...
Web: opinionsciencepodcast.com/episode/alex...
July 14, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Check out @andyluttrell.bsky.social's interview with fellow #scicomm awardee @alexdainis.bsky.social for his SciComm Summer series of the Opinion Science podcast!
Booms and plumes over LA tonight. (Don’t be alarmed if a sonic boom wakes you up.)
July 14, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Booms and plumes over LA tonight. (Don’t be alarmed if a sonic boom wakes you up.)
Reposted by Alex Dainis PhD 🧬
Today is a #BostonFamilyDay with free museum, zoo, and aquarium access for all school-age children and two guests! Here’s a list of our partners opening their doors to families today! 🧵
Museum of Fine Arts
Institute of Contemporary Art
Museum of Science
Boston Children's Museum
New England Aquarium
Museum of Fine Arts
Institute of Contemporary Art
Museum of Science
Boston Children's Museum
New England Aquarium
July 13, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Today is a #BostonFamilyDay with free museum, zoo, and aquarium access for all school-age children and two guests! Here’s a list of our partners opening their doors to families today! 🧵
Museum of Fine Arts
Institute of Contemporary Art
Museum of Science
Boston Children's Museum
New England Aquarium
Museum of Fine Arts
Institute of Contemporary Art
Museum of Science
Boston Children's Museum
New England Aquarium
Reposted by Alex Dainis PhD 🧬
@alexdainis.bsky.social wanted to make a video about stable isotope testing and wound up uncovering what looks like honey fraud at her local grocery store. Our latest Reactions episode at ACS 🧪
Exposing Fake Honey Using Carbon-13
YouTube video by Reactions
youtu.be
July 7, 2025 at 4:04 PM
@alexdainis.bsky.social wanted to make a video about stable isotope testing and wound up uncovering what looks like honey fraud at her local grocery store. Our latest Reactions episode at ACS 🧪
Reposted by Alex Dainis PhD 🧬
I cannot emphasize enough how true & real this is.
In almost anywhere on the political spectrum you ID with or major issue, there’s probably a bot/troll operation to encourage your rage and vitriol.
And how/where that rage gets directed, esp understandable rage, is what they are out to influence.
In almost anywhere on the political spectrum you ID with or major issue, there’s probably a bot/troll operation to encourage your rage and vitriol.
And how/where that rage gets directed, esp understandable rage, is what they are out to influence.
People on this app get really angry every time I point out that social media manipulation is a real phenomenon that we are all stewing in and that’s having real world consequences and I’m sure part of that is engagement farmers who do that manipulation not liking people talking about it
July 4, 2025 at 9:42 PM
I cannot emphasize enough how true & real this is.
In almost anywhere on the political spectrum you ID with or major issue, there’s probably a bot/troll operation to encourage your rage and vitriol.
And how/where that rage gets directed, esp understandable rage, is what they are out to influence.
In almost anywhere on the political spectrum you ID with or major issue, there’s probably a bot/troll operation to encourage your rage and vitriol.
And how/where that rage gets directed, esp understandable rage, is what they are out to influence.
Very proud of this video on honey fraud that I worked on with the @acs.org Reactions team! I really really wanted to write a video about stable isotopes, and along the way we found honey that might not really be what it claims to be… youtu.be/rKvNp0fAaZ8
July 4, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Very proud of this video on honey fraud that I worked on with the @acs.org Reactions team! I really really wanted to write a video about stable isotopes, and along the way we found honey that might not really be what it claims to be… youtu.be/rKvNp0fAaZ8
Reposted by Alex Dainis PhD 🧬
Outdoor Afro is offering scholarships to cover the costs of anyone, at any age, interested in learning how to swim: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
June 24, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Outdoor Afro is offering scholarships to cover the costs of anyone, at any age, interested in learning how to swim: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Reposted by Alex Dainis PhD 🧬
Nicole Verdun, director of the office that reviews cell and gene therapies at the Food and Drug Administration, and her deputy Rachael Anatol have been placed on administrative leave and escorted out of the agency. www.statnews.com/2025/06/18/t...
Top gene therapy regulator forced out at FDA
Nicole Verdun, top gene therapy regulator at the FDA, has been forced out of the agency.
www.statnews.com
June 20, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Nicole Verdun, director of the office that reviews cell and gene therapies at the Food and Drug Administration, and her deputy Rachael Anatol have been placed on administrative leave and escorted out of the agency. www.statnews.com/2025/06/18/t...
Reposted by Alex Dainis PhD 🧬
If a human told you things that were correct 80% of the time but claimed, flat out, with absolute confidence, that they were correct 100% of the time, you would dislike them & never trust a word they say. All I'm really suggesting is for people to treat chatbots with that same distrust & antagonism.
June 19, 2025 at 4:05 PM
If a human told you things that were correct 80% of the time but claimed, flat out, with absolute confidence, that they were correct 100% of the time, you would dislike them & never trust a word they say. All I'm really suggesting is for people to treat chatbots with that same distrust & antagonism.