Mike Wiser
@drmikewiser.bsky.social
Evolutionary biologist, teaching-track professor (knowledge transmitter), board game and cat enthusiast, budding archer, teller of Dad jokes. Sarcasm doesn't have to be mean. Also a "damn greenblooded hobgoblin". Ursula said I'm cool. I read a lot.
🏳️🌈🧫 👨
🏳️🌈🧫 👨
Pinned
Mike Wiser
@drmikewiser.bsky.social
· Nov 11
Since I seem to suddenly have a bunch of new followers: Hello!
I'm a full time, non tenure track, teaching-focused biology faculty member. (There are some non abusive options here; it isn't all just adjuncting) My PhD is in evolutionary biology, but half the time I'm teaching molecular biology.
I'm a full time, non tenure track, teaching-focused biology faculty member. (There are some non abusive options here; it isn't all just adjuncting) My PhD is in evolutionary biology, but half the time I'm teaching molecular biology.
A friend of mine is, as of very recently, currently in Antarctica. And I find myself wondering just how many of @funranium.bsky.social 's stories have found their way to her.
November 11, 2025 at 3:34 AM
A friend of mine is, as of very recently, currently in Antarctica. And I find myself wondering just how many of @funranium.bsky.social 's stories have found their way to her.
Does it still count as incredibly immature humor if it requires you to know words outside of your native language?
November 11, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Does it still count as incredibly immature humor if it requires you to know words outside of your native language?
Apparently I message my friend about his cat often enough that my phone has learned Jablko is a proper noun for me and should be capitalized.
November 11, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Apparently I message my friend about his cat often enough that my phone has learned Jablko is a proper noun for me and should be capitalized.
Reposted by Mike Wiser
Hi writers! I’m looking to assign a couple of features for Slate before the end of the year. If you have anything in mind that you think would be a fit please send me a pitch! Jenée.Desmond- harris@slate.com or dm me.
RTs are appreciated so this can reach more people. Thanks!
RTs are appreciated so this can reach more people. Thanks!
November 10, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Hi writers! I’m looking to assign a couple of features for Slate before the end of the year. If you have anything in mind that you think would be a fit please send me a pitch! Jenée.Desmond- harris@slate.com or dm me.
RTs are appreciated so this can reach more people. Thanks!
RTs are appreciated so this can reach more people. Thanks!
Reposted by Mike Wiser
LAUGHS IN MAGNETAR
November 10, 2025 at 11:15 PM
LAUGHS IN MAGNETAR
Reposted by Mike Wiser
Women are 3x times more likely to develop long COVID.
Researchers found gut leakiness, inflammation, anemia, and hormone imbalances in women with long COVID (including lower testosterone and cortisol). These factors may help explain why long COVID affects women more.
Source: archive.li/pUBSE
Researchers found gut leakiness, inflammation, anemia, and hormone imbalances in women with long COVID (including lower testosterone and cortisol). These factors may help explain why long COVID affects women more.
Source: archive.li/pUBSE
November 10, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Women are 3x times more likely to develop long COVID.
Researchers found gut leakiness, inflammation, anemia, and hormone imbalances in women with long COVID (including lower testosterone and cortisol). These factors may help explain why long COVID affects women more.
Source: archive.li/pUBSE
Researchers found gut leakiness, inflammation, anemia, and hormone imbalances in women with long COVID (including lower testosterone and cortisol). These factors may help explain why long COVID affects women more.
Source: archive.li/pUBSE
1. Be me
2. Buy a bunch of fancy cookbooks on sale.
3. See that it has snowed.
4. Make the same default lentil soup I make throughout the winter.
(My campus surplus store had a sale last week where the cookbooks were 50 cents each. So I bought ~20 volumes of a Bon Appetit set.)
2. Buy a bunch of fancy cookbooks on sale.
3. See that it has snowed.
4. Make the same default lentil soup I make throughout the winter.
(My campus surplus store had a sale last week where the cookbooks were 50 cents each. So I bought ~20 volumes of a Bon Appetit set.)
November 10, 2025 at 11:05 PM
1. Be me
2. Buy a bunch of fancy cookbooks on sale.
3. See that it has snowed.
4. Make the same default lentil soup I make throughout the winter.
(My campus surplus store had a sale last week where the cookbooks were 50 cents each. So I bought ~20 volumes of a Bon Appetit set.)
2. Buy a bunch of fancy cookbooks on sale.
3. See that it has snowed.
4. Make the same default lentil soup I make throughout the winter.
(My campus surplus store had a sale last week where the cookbooks were 50 cents each. So I bought ~20 volumes of a Bon Appetit set.)
I know I should book my December plane tickets -- I live what Google Maps estimates is a 19.5 hour drive from my father; there's no way I'm driving that alone. But I'm hesitant to book because I'm increasingly uncertain if we're going to resolve this government shutdown by then.
Wheeee!
Wheeee!
November 9, 2025 at 10:28 PM
I know I should book my December plane tickets -- I live what Google Maps estimates is a 19.5 hour drive from my father; there's no way I'm driving that alone. But I'm hesitant to book because I'm increasingly uncertain if we're going to resolve this government shutdown by then.
Wheeee!
Wheeee!
So when you have holds on multiple books from the library ...
... am I the only one feels guilty about switching over to a more recent arrival that I'm more excited about than the one I'm only halfway through?
... am I the only one feels guilty about switching over to a more recent arrival that I'm more excited about than the one I'm only halfway through?
November 9, 2025 at 10:07 PM
So when you have holds on multiple books from the library ...
... am I the only one feels guilty about switching over to a more recent arrival that I'm more excited about than the one I'm only halfway through?
... am I the only one feels guilty about switching over to a more recent arrival that I'm more excited about than the one I'm only halfway through?
Charlie Yanofsky. Among other things, he contributed significantly to the understanding of gene and protein sequences aligning with each other, and changes to the DNA change the corresponding part of the protein.
He was very big on having a floor-wide tea and cookie time weekly.
He was very big on having a floor-wide tea and cookie time weekly.
Right, enough of James Watson - who's a senior academic you've met who's been an utter delight?
I'll go first: Jocelyn Bell Burnell
I'll go first: Jocelyn Bell Burnell
November 9, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Charlie Yanofsky. Among other things, he contributed significantly to the understanding of gene and protein sequences aligning with each other, and changes to the DNA change the corresponding part of the protein.
He was very big on having a floor-wide tea and cookie time weekly.
He was very big on having a floor-wide tea and cookie time weekly.
Reposted by Mike Wiser
Aaron Klug, a leading crystallographer and a close colleague of Franklin’s working on the structures of viruses, believed that she would have discovered it, but more slowly because she was a careful and methodical scientist as opposed to Watson’s undisciplined rush to the answer.
23/41
23/41
November 8, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Aaron Klug, a leading crystallographer and a close colleague of Franklin’s working on the structures of viruses, believed that she would have discovered it, but more slowly because she was a careful and methodical scientist as opposed to Watson’s undisciplined rush to the answer.
23/41
23/41
Reposted by Mike Wiser
“What is civilisation? I don’t know. I can’t define it in abstract terms, yet. But I think I can recognise it when I see it. And I’m looking at it now.” -Kenneth Clark
24/7 cake vending machine in the middle of nowhere. Maximum Poland.
November 9, 2025 at 10:32 AM
“What is civilisation? I don’t know. I can’t define it in abstract terms, yet. But I think I can recognise it when I see it. And I’m looking at it now.” -Kenneth Clark
With the first snowfall of the year in my location happening overnight, I face the inevitable dilemma:
Do I have French Toast at some point today, as per the apparent custom*?
Or do I eat stuff I like better?
Do I have French Toast at some point today, as per the apparent custom*?
Or do I eat stuff I like better?
November 9, 2025 at 4:53 PM
With the first snowfall of the year in my location happening overnight, I face the inevitable dilemma:
Do I have French Toast at some point today, as per the apparent custom*?
Or do I eat stuff I like better?
Do I have French Toast at some point today, as per the apparent custom*?
Or do I eat stuff I like better?
Reposted by Mike Wiser
Not having the money to provide benefits is one thing. Actively trying to prevent other administrative units from providing benefits is a completely different level of cruelty.
NYT - USDA telling states to “immediately undo” any actions to provide full food stamp benefits to low-income families, threatening financial penalties if they do not comply. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11...
Trump Administration Live Updates: Officials Demand States ‘Undo’ Work to Send Full Food Stamps
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Not having the money to provide benefits is one thing. Actively trying to prevent other administrative units from providing benefits is a completely different level of cruelty.
Reposted by Mike Wiser
Six people died from tampered Tylenol and the company pulled 30 million bottles off the market. ChatGPT is accused of urging seven people towards suicide, and OpenAI just assures us they’re still working out the kinks. Billions in investment, zero accountability.
OpenAI faces 7 lawsuits claiming ChatGPT drove people to suicide, delusions
OpenAI is facing seven lawsuits claiming ChatGPT drove people to suicide and harmful delusions even when they had no prior mental health issues.
apnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Six people died from tampered Tylenol and the company pulled 30 million bottles off the market. ChatGPT is accused of urging seven people towards suicide, and OpenAI just assures us they’re still working out the kinks. Billions in investment, zero accountability.
This annoys me. I used it each of the past two years, because most of the allegedly free options from commercial providers either won't do some things free or have strict income limits on who gets to use them.
IRS Direct File won’t be available next year. Here’s what that means for taxpayers
IRS Direct File won’t be available next year. Here’s what that means for taxpayers
IRS Direct File, the electronic system for filing tax returns for free, will not be offered next year, the Trump administration has confirmed.
buff.ly
November 9, 2025 at 2:38 AM
This annoys me. I used it each of the past two years, because most of the allegedly free options from commercial providers either won't do some things free or have strict income limits on who gets to use them.
Reposted by Mike Wiser
Buy my potential personal finance books "Live Like an Ascetic Monk, Then Cash In on the Death of a Loved One" and "Save Like a Deranged Squirrel Hoarding Acorns for the Impending Ice Age"
November 8, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Buy my potential personal finance books "Live Like an Ascetic Monk, Then Cash In on the Death of a Loved One" and "Save Like a Deranged Squirrel Hoarding Acorns for the Impending Ice Age"
As a piece of advice:
When you see an absolutely ludicrous thing reported as news, it's often worth checking if it's taking something from The Onion, Babylon Bee, or Christwire at face value instead of understanding that they are all satire.
theonion.com/understaffed...
When you see an absolutely ludicrous thing reported as news, it's often worth checking if it's taking something from The Onion, Babylon Bee, or Christwire at face value instead of understanding that they are all satire.
theonion.com/understaffed...
Understaffed FAA Recommends Pilots Just Go With Their Gut
WASHINGTON—As fewer air traffic controllers show up for work amid a government shutdown that has halted their pay, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a recommendation Friday advising commercia...
theonion.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:48 AM
As a piece of advice:
When you see an absolutely ludicrous thing reported as news, it's often worth checking if it's taking something from The Onion, Babylon Bee, or Christwire at face value instead of understanding that they are all satire.
theonion.com/understaffed...
When you see an absolutely ludicrous thing reported as news, it's often worth checking if it's taking something from The Onion, Babylon Bee, or Christwire at face value instead of understanding that they are all satire.
theonion.com/understaffed...
Channeling my inner Martha Stewart (making her baked mac n cheese recipe).
It is very weird to me to put torn pieces of bread on top of mac n cheese, but I figure I should at least try the recipe as written (minus the cayenne that would make me ill) before trying variants.
It is very weird to me to put torn pieces of bread on top of mac n cheese, but I figure I should at least try the recipe as written (minus the cayenne that would make me ill) before trying variants.
November 8, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Channeling my inner Martha Stewart (making her baked mac n cheese recipe).
It is very weird to me to put torn pieces of bread on top of mac n cheese, but I figure I should at least try the recipe as written (minus the cayenne that would make me ill) before trying variants.
It is very weird to me to put torn pieces of bread on top of mac n cheese, but I figure I should at least try the recipe as written (minus the cayenne that would make me ill) before trying variants.
Every once in a while I'll stumble across an advertisement for some luxury car and think "Even if I was extremely rich, why would I buy that when I could instead buy several museum-quality dinosaur casts?"
November 8, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Every once in a while I'll stumble across an advertisement for some luxury car and think "Even if I was extremely rich, why would I buy that when I could instead buy several museum-quality dinosaur casts?"
I admit that I'm quite skeptical of a very large number of AI claims. It also feels to me like we're in a major bubble, and that many data centers are a substantial negative.
I will consider it a silver lining, though, if this brings more nuclear power plants online.
I will consider it a silver lining, though, if this brings more nuclear power plants online.
November 8, 2025 at 5:29 PM
I admit that I'm quite skeptical of a very large number of AI claims. It also feels to me like we're in a major bubble, and that many data centers are a substantial negative.
I will consider it a silver lining, though, if this brings more nuclear power plants online.
I will consider it a silver lining, though, if this brings more nuclear power plants online.
Stores that do this are stores a lot of us loathe going into.
I'd rather the shop employees spend their time on things like restocking the merchandise, arranging displays, operating a cash register, staffing a customer service desk, etc. People who have questions can seek the employees out.
I'd rather the shop employees spend their time on things like restocking the merchandise, arranging displays, operating a cash register, staffing a customer service desk, etc. People who have questions can seek the employees out.
"Store employees are now required to smile if they are within 10 feet of a shopper.
They also must make eye contact with and wave to or greet the customer.
If they’re within four feet, the employee should ask how the customer’s day is going or if they need help."
🙄 Won't stop the boycott, y'all.
They also must make eye contact with and wave to or greet the customer.
If they’re within four feet, the employee should ask how the customer’s day is going or if they need help."
🙄 Won't stop the boycott, y'all.
Target is now requiring its employees to smile more
As the holiday season fast approaches, Target is urging its employees to add a little more “jolly” to their work routine.
www.wilx.com
November 8, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Stores that do this are stores a lot of us loathe going into.
I'd rather the shop employees spend their time on things like restocking the merchandise, arranging displays, operating a cash register, staffing a customer service desk, etc. People who have questions can seek the employees out.
I'd rather the shop employees spend their time on things like restocking the merchandise, arranging displays, operating a cash register, staffing a customer service desk, etc. People who have questions can seek the employees out.
Reposted by Mike Wiser
we did it, we found spiders georg’s cave
World's biggest spiderweb discovered inside 'Sulfur Cave' with 111,000 arachnids living in pitch black.
www.livescience.com/animals/spid...
www.livescience.com/animals/spid...
November 8, 2025 at 4:47 PM
we did it, we found spiders georg’s cave
Solid advice.
However: do feel free to admit to household crimes like "moved a sleeping cat" or "told a toddler they weren't allowed to jump off a roof". The kind of things where you get screamed at (by the aforementioned cat and/or toddler), but not in legal trouble.
However: do feel free to admit to household crimes like "moved a sleeping cat" or "told a toddler they weren't allowed to jump off a roof". The kind of things where you get screamed at (by the aforementioned cat and/or toddler), but not in legal trouble.
Just a friendly reminder not to admit to crimes on social media
November 8, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Solid advice.
However: do feel free to admit to household crimes like "moved a sleeping cat" or "told a toddler they weren't allowed to jump off a roof". The kind of things where you get screamed at (by the aforementioned cat and/or toddler), but not in legal trouble.
However: do feel free to admit to household crimes like "moved a sleeping cat" or "told a toddler they weren't allowed to jump off a roof". The kind of things where you get screamed at (by the aforementioned cat and/or toddler), but not in legal trouble.
Reposted by Mike Wiser
Oh, look! It’s ornaments!
I made them!
You can buy them!
I made them!
You can buy them!
November 8, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Oh, look! It’s ornaments!
I made them!
You can buy them!
I made them!
You can buy them!