Charles Jennings
banner
chasjennings.bsky.social
Charles Jennings
@chasjennings.bsky.social
Neuroscientist, founding editor of Nat Neurosci; current research manager at Brigham and Women’s Hospital; hiker and occasional marathoner; proud father. 🇬🇧🇺🇸
Seeing many hostile comments about Jim Watson. Most of us can agree his later political views are indefensible, as was his misappropriation of Frankin’s data. But let’s keep it in perspective – over time, the politics will fade into insignificance relative to the importance of the discovery itself.
November 8, 2025 at 3:06 AM
According to the town website " Whitestown, Indiana is a safe and vibrant community that more than 13,000 residents call home." Sure, it's probably safe enough, if you are white...
Cleaning Woman Killed Through Door After Arriving at Wrong Home, Police Say
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Reposted by Charles Jennings
ICE isn’t going after the worst of the worst. This morning, they took a preschool teacher without a warrant IN FRONT OF CHILDREN in my district.

#ice #chicago
November 5, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Working on a MRI grant proposal right now, and wondering whether we can include a play-based Lego MRI model in our equipment budget…
LEGO® MRI Scanner set eases kids’ anxiety in hospitals - About Us - LEGO.com
Play-based LEGO® MRI Scanner set reduces anxiety and sedation for children in hospitals worldwide
www.lego.com
November 6, 2025 at 12:30 AM
At 9.01pm the suspense is killing me!
Live Updates: Turnout in New York City Hits 2 Million Voters
www.nytimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:01 AM
“The Tragedy of Dick Cheney” is not a headline that I ever expected to read, but here we are – a sign of how far the US has fallen, and also a reminder to beware of what you wish for.
Opinion | The Tragedy of Dick Cheney
www.nytimes.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:23 PM
The only upside to Trump’s demolition of the East Wing of the White House is that we are reminded of ‘Ballroom Blitz,’ a great song that was huge in UK when I was a kid. Apparently it was inspired by an event in which the band was chased off stage by a riotous Scottish crowd throwing bottles.
Sweet - The Ballroom Blitz - Silvester-Tanzparty 1974/75 31.12.1974 (OFFICIAL)
YouTube video by Official Sweet Channel
www.youtube.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Yesterday I climbed Tripyramid (a NH 4000-er), and as usual in the White Mtns, the summit is in trees, so not much view there. But the ascent via North Slide was challenging, and despite great views in perfect conditions, I was not in the mood to take pictures until we reached safety at the top.
November 4, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Happy Halloween!
November 1, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Just heard a great piano recital, including Mussorgsky’s ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ in its original version (I previously knew only Ravel’s orchestration). Further research revealed that dancing to ‘Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks’ is a thing for preschool kids. This video will brighten your day!
Mussorgsky: "Ballet of Unhatched Chicks" | Classics & Traditional Tunes for Kids
YouTube video by Rebecca Lord
youtu.be
October 26, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Reposted by Charles Jennings
Love the sense of humor from those in RFK Jr's neighborhood! Happy #Halloween.
October 25, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Wellcome Leap is based on the DARPA model, with its strong emphasis on speed, but as Bishop wisely notes, “…not all delays in scientific progress are down to bureaucracy or timidity. A major obstacle to progress is time wasted trying to build on prior research findings that prove to be illusory.”
October 25, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Reposted by Charles Jennings
The NIH institute director firing last Friday is very bad.

I made a video explainer about why.

Stay for last post, w link to @science.org story from @jocelynkaiser.bsky.social

1/4
🧪
October 23, 2025 at 4:02 AM
So now that it can be done in 4 hours, the rate-limiting step in whole genome sequencing will be the Boston traffic.
October 23, 2025 at 2:54 PM
People travel from across the world to see New England fall colors, but we have them right outside our front door!
October 22, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Imagine that the US President plans to stick his hand into the pocket of every adult into the country and steal a dollar bill. Who voted for that?
Trump Said to Demand Justice Dept. Pay Him $230 Million for Past Cases
www.nytimes.com
October 22, 2025 at 12:27 AM
I guess it depends on your definition of 'won't interfere'. Perhaps the statement is true from the perspective of a particle physicist, although architects might see it differently.
White House begins demolishing East Wing facade to build Trump’s ballroom
The president had claimed construction of the $250 million ballroom wouldn’t ‘interfere’ with the existing White House structure.
wapo.st
October 21, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Important point that never occurred to me. Gerrymandering means more safe seats, so national election outcomes will depend on fewer districts, which therefore become more vulnerable to partisan interference – whether from money, lawsuits, ICE raids, or whatever.
Gerrymandering isn't just about the net gain for one party or the other - though that's crucial.

By reducing competition, mid-decade redistricting makes it easier to interfere with the 2026 election.

My deep dive, with examples in Texas, California, and Ohio: samwang.substack.com/p/gerrymande...
Gerrymandering's domino effects
Narrowing the field of competition opens new vulnerabilities to attack
samwang.substack.com
October 20, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Among many great costumes at today's #NoKings protests, this guy in Boston totally nailed it!
October 18, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Great turnout today for #NoKings protest in Concord MA!
October 18, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Concord MA is where it all started 250 years ago! It continues tomorrow 11am - 1pm at the Old North Bridge.
NO KINGS Concord · Mobilize
**In America, we don’t put up with would-be kings.** In Concord, we first made that point 250 years ago. Now everything our predecessors fought for is at risk. It's our turn to fight tyranny. We'll ...
www.mobilize.us
October 17, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Friday's cuts at CDC are "designed to sow chaos, demoralize career staff, and cripple the federal scientific infrastructure that protects Americans’ health."
CDC battered by government shutdown firings, while some are rescinded
The White House’s mass firing of CDC staff on Friday has decimated offices related to injury prevention, respiratory disease surveillance, and chronic disease, according to four people familiar with t...
www.statnews.com
October 12, 2025 at 12:06 PM
A longer thread about our 8-1/2-day hike across the Sierra Nevada in 9/25. We started at Mineral King in the W and finished at Shepherd Pass trailhead in the Owens Valley on the E side. So no way out but through! Luckily we both have family members in the area who were kind enough to give us rides.
October 11, 2025 at 1:19 AM
I recently returned from a backpacking trip across the #sierranevada of CA. It was great to unplug from the news and spend time in the back country of Sequoia-Kings Canyon, one of our greatest #NationalParks. I’ll post a longer thread, but here’s a couple of pics.
October 11, 2025 at 12:17 AM