Hank Greely
@hankgreely.bsky.social
Stanford Law prof, working on ethical, legal, and social issues in the biosciences. Sports fan (especially Stanford sports). And strongly opposed to the illegal & immoral Russian invasion of Ukraine. Slava Ukraini!
Reposted by Hank Greely
Justice Jackson to Solicitor General Sauer (just now, in Trump v. Slaughter arguments):
December 8, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Justice Jackson to Solicitor General Sauer (just now, in Trump v. Slaughter arguments):
Reposted by Hank Greely
@pluralistic.net.web.brid.gy: "AI is the asbestos in the walls of our technological society, stuffed there with wild abandon by a finance sector and tech monopolists run amok. We will be excavating it for a generation or more."
There is so much genius in this essay
pluralistic.net/2025/12/05/p...
There is so much genius in this essay
pluralistic.net/2025/12/05/p...
Pluralistic: The Reverse-Centaur’s Guide to Criticizing AI (05 Dec 2025) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow
pluralistic.net
December 10, 2025 at 1:21 AM
@pluralistic.net.web.brid.gy: "AI is the asbestos in the walls of our technological society, stuffed there with wild abandon by a finance sector and tech monopolists run amok. We will be excavating it for a generation or more."
There is so much genius in this essay
pluralistic.net/2025/12/05/p...
There is so much genius in this essay
pluralistic.net/2025/12/05/p...
In a review of a book on stupidity, discussing the (in)famous error of blowing up a beached whale carcass www.newyorker.com/culture/open...
Concludes "To err is human. Intelligent people sometimes do stupid things. We all blow up a whale from time to time; the important point is not to do it again"
Concludes "To err is human. Intelligent people sometimes do stupid things. We all blow up a whale from time to time; the important point is not to do it again"
www.newyorker.com
December 10, 2025 at 3:50 AM
In a review of a book on stupidity, discussing the (in)famous error of blowing up a beached whale carcass www.newyorker.com/culture/open...
Concludes "To err is human. Intelligent people sometimes do stupid things. We all blow up a whale from time to time; the important point is not to do it again"
Concludes "To err is human. Intelligent people sometimes do stupid things. We all blow up a whale from time to time; the important point is not to do it again"
"Did you know there are 350 different theories of consciousness???"
More or less...no one has been able to count them all before losing...consciousness. Whatever it is.
; )
More or less...no one has been able to count them all before losing...consciousness. Whatever it is.
; )
Did you know there are 350 different theories of consciousness??? @keithfrankish.com and I discussed with Robert Lawrence Kuhn his paper and interactive website exploring them all. I fail to see how anybody could have something more important to do than watching this.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2o7R...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2o7R...
The Landscape of Consciousness at Christmas (landscape format)
YouTube video by Mind Chat
www.youtube.com
December 9, 2025 at 5:09 PM
"Did you know there are 350 different theories of consciousness???"
More or less...no one has been able to count them all before losing...consciousness. Whatever it is.
; )
More or less...no one has been able to count them all before losing...consciousness. Whatever it is.
; )
@matthewcobb.bsky.social's biography of Crick (I'm up to the late 1960s in it) does an excellent job of laying out the whole story and context (including the friendship built betw/her and Crick. Another fine part of a great (so far!) book.
Glad a lot of people are discovering the facts behind the legends.
For another year, it appears, this article I wrote with @nccomfort.bsky.social is the most read of @nature.com's News articles...
December 9, 2025 at 5:07 PM
@matthewcobb.bsky.social's biography of Crick (I'm up to the late 1960s in it) does an excellent job of laying out the whole story and context (including the friendship built betw/her and Crick. Another fine part of a great (so far!) book.
From a @economist.com newsletter:
"St Susanna Parish, a Catholic church in Dedham, Massachusetts, is locked in a battle w/the Archdiocese of Boston over its nativity scene. Gone are Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus, replaced with a sign reading “ICE WAS HERE”" The archdiocese says "too political".
"St Susanna Parish, a Catholic church in Dedham, Massachusetts, is locked in a battle w/the Archdiocese of Boston over its nativity scene. Gone are Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus, replaced with a sign reading “ICE WAS HERE”" The archdiocese says "too political".
December 9, 2025 at 4:20 PM
From a @economist.com newsletter:
"St Susanna Parish, a Catholic church in Dedham, Massachusetts, is locked in a battle w/the Archdiocese of Boston over its nativity scene. Gone are Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus, replaced with a sign reading “ICE WAS HERE”" The archdiocese says "too political".
"St Susanna Parish, a Catholic church in Dedham, Massachusetts, is locked in a battle w/the Archdiocese of Boston over its nativity scene. Gone are Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus, replaced with a sign reading “ICE WAS HERE”" The archdiocese says "too political".
Reposted by Hank Greely
Excited to work with @pzettler.bsky.social and @reshmagar.bsky.social on this new project supported by @arnoldventures.bsky.social with the goal of developing a principles-based approach to rebuilding and re-envisioning FDA.
moritzlaw.osu.edu/ohio-state-a...
moritzlaw.osu.edu/ohio-state-a...
Ohio State and Partners Secure Grant to Inform Future Vision of FDA
Researchers at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and partner universities were recently awarded a grant from Arnold Ventures to support a multi-faceted research project, titled “A Princi...
moritzlaw.osu.edu
December 7, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Excited to work with @pzettler.bsky.social and @reshmagar.bsky.social on this new project supported by @arnoldventures.bsky.social with the goal of developing a principles-based approach to rebuilding and re-envisioning FDA.
moritzlaw.osu.edu/ohio-state-a...
moritzlaw.osu.edu/ohio-state-a...
Reproductive tourism, embryo data version. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Some UK couples are insisting on having genetic data on their embryos sent to US for analysis by companies that provide lots of (iffy) conclusions on behavioral traits. UK restricts analysis to particular diseases.
Some UK couples are insisting on having genetic data on their embryos sent to US for analysis by companies that provide lots of (iffy) conclusions on behavioral traits. UK restricts analysis to particular diseases.
UK IVF couples use legal loophole to rank embryos based on potential IQ, height and health
British fertility clinics raise scientific and ethical objections over patients sending embryos’ genetic data abroad for analysis
www.theguardian.com
December 6, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Reproductive tourism, embryo data version. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Some UK couples are insisting on having genetic data on their embryos sent to US for analysis by companies that provide lots of (iffy) conclusions on behavioral traits. UK restricts analysis to particular diseases.
Some UK couples are insisting on having genetic data on their embryos sent to US for analysis by companies that provide lots of (iffy) conclusions on behavioral traits. UK restricts analysis to particular diseases.
Reposted by Hank Greely
Poland‘s Vice President Radoslaw Sikorski absolutely torches Elon Musk.
December 6, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Poland‘s Vice President Radoslaw Sikorski absolutely torches Elon Musk.
For volcano watchers, Kilauea is at it again!
www.youtube.com/@usgs/streams
Check out the three web cams on this page. These episodes sometimes last for a couple of days, sometimes for only a few hours. See it while you can!
www.youtube.com/@usgs/streams
Check out the three web cams on this page. These episodes sometimes last for a couple of days, sometimes for only a few hours. See it while you can!
USGS
www.youtube.com
December 6, 2025 at 7:16 PM
For volcano watchers, Kilauea is at it again!
www.youtube.com/@usgs/streams
Check out the three web cams on this page. These episodes sometimes last for a couple of days, sometimes for only a few hours. See it while you can!
www.youtube.com/@usgs/streams
Check out the three web cams on this page. These episodes sometimes last for a couple of days, sometimes for only a few hours. See it while you can!
Reposted by Hank Greely
Finally finished this last week and highly recommend! Such a carefully crafted timeline of the history of life in the air and the science that describes it. Loved the chapters on the Mills' and Lindberghs' contributions many decades ago. The fight for clean air is nothing new! @carlzimmer.com
December 6, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Finally finished this last week and highly recommend! Such a carefully crafted timeline of the history of life in the air and the science that describes it. Loved the chapters on the Mills' and Lindberghs' contributions many decades ago. The fight for clean air is nothing new! @carlzimmer.com
Yes! @stanfordwsoc.bsky.social 1, Duke 0. 10th min free kick goal by Jasmine Aikey (women's college soccer player of the yr) holds up. Tough match; could have gone to overtime. But we were better; 23 shots, 8 on goal; they had 11, 2 on goal. And we had about 5 "how did that NOT go in?" shots.
December 6, 2025 at 4:27 AM
Yes! @stanfordwsoc.bsky.social 1, Duke 0. 10th min free kick goal by Jasmine Aikey (women's college soccer player of the yr) holds up. Tough match; could have gone to overtime. But we were better; 23 shots, 8 on goal; they had 11, 2 on goal. And we had about 5 "how did that NOT go in?" shots.
Unbelievable! Except, of course, it isn't. Proud racism meets unlimited egotism.
The Trump administration has removed MLK Day and Juneteenth as holidays that include free entrance to national parks, adding the president’s birthday instead
National parks change prioritizes Trump birthday over days honoring Black people
Free entrance days at national parks no longer include MLK Day and Juneteenth.
www.sfgate.com
December 6, 2025 at 3:05 AM
Unbelievable! Except, of course, it isn't. Proud racism meets unlimited egotism.
Jasmine Aikey of @stanfordwsoc.bsky.social has won the Top Drawer Soccer award as College Women's Soccer Player of the Year. SO well deserved. Such a great career for us; hoping she can cap it off w/2 more wins (& 3 more goals, to lead the country in scoring, and in points)!
Go Card!
Go Card!
December 5, 2025 at 5:40 AM
Jasmine Aikey of @stanfordwsoc.bsky.social has won the Top Drawer Soccer award as College Women's Soccer Player of the Year. SO well deserved. Such a great career for us; hoping she can cap it off w/2 more wins (& 3 more goals, to lead the country in scoring, and in points)!
Go Card!
Go Card!
Reposted by Hank Greely
In 2013, the mayor of Los Angeles set the target of 2025 for a coal-free energy grid.
It’s 2025 and LA has a coal-free energy grid. And 60% of our electrons are carbon-neutral sources.
Just wanted to share some great news.
It’s 2025 and LA has a coal-free energy grid. And 60% of our electrons are carbon-neutral sources.
Just wanted to share some great news.
December 5, 2025 at 2:08 AM
In 2013, the mayor of Los Angeles set the target of 2025 for a coal-free energy grid.
It’s 2025 and LA has a coal-free energy grid. And 60% of our electrons are carbon-neutral sources.
Just wanted to share some great news.
It’s 2025 and LA has a coal-free energy grid. And 60% of our electrons are carbon-neutral sources.
Just wanted to share some great news.
Sigh. I keep hoping for some sign of moderation from Roberts, Kavanagh, and Barrett but apart from not joining the Alito opinion, we have only their votes. Which, again, as they have been almost always, are silently in favor of Trump and the party he owns.
The Supreme Court lets the Texas racial gerrymander go forward, overruling the three-judge district court. In so doing, it tells us that as of December 2025 it is too close to the 2026 election to redraw maps.
1/2
www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25p...
1/2
www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25p...
www.supremecourt.gov
December 5, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Sigh. I keep hoping for some sign of moderation from Roberts, Kavanagh, and Barrett but apart from not joining the Alito opinion, we have only their votes. Which, again, as they have been almost always, are silently in favor of Trump and the party he owns.
Listening to @matthewcobb.bsky.social's Crick bio w/great pleasure but stumbled over an example of 2 countries divided by a single language: "Tompkins." He says Crick added "Tompkins" as an author to a submitted paper as a joke. I had to google it.
Translation is important & not just for jargon! ;)
Translation is important & not just for jargon! ;)
December 4, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Listening to @matthewcobb.bsky.social's Crick bio w/great pleasure but stumbled over an example of 2 countries divided by a single language: "Tompkins." He says Crick added "Tompkins" as an author to a submitted paper as a joke. I had to google it.
Translation is important & not just for jargon! ;)
Translation is important & not just for jargon! ;)
Reposted by Hank Greely
As many others have posted, a must-read by 12 former FDA commissioners laying out what's so deeply troubling about the substance of and process used for recent changes to vaccine policy at FDA: www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
But @jasonlschwartz.bsky.social perhaps summed it up best 👇
But @jasonlschwartz.bsky.social perhaps summed it up best 👇
Imagine doing something at work so troubling that virtually every person alive who ever had your boss’s job spent their Thanksgiving weekend writing something that explained to the world how wrong you are and how harmful—deadly, even—it would be if you weren’t stopped.
December 4, 2025 at 1:33 PM
As many others have posted, a must-read by 12 former FDA commissioners laying out what's so deeply troubling about the substance of and process used for recent changes to vaccine policy at FDA: www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
But @jasonlschwartz.bsky.social perhaps summed it up best 👇
But @jasonlschwartz.bsky.social perhaps summed it up best 👇
In 1944, in Politics and the English Language, Orwell wrote "The word Fascism has now no meaning except in so far as it signifies ‘something not desirable’."
"Eugenics" has reached the same point—it means something about human genetics the speaker/writer doesn't like, across a huge range of actions
"Eugenics" has reached the same point—it means something about human genetics the speaker/writer doesn't like, across a huge range of actions
Agree it is not enough to say "this is eugenic" as if that ended the argument. But saying this is NOT eugenics because it isn't state coercion + sterilization is jsut ignorant. Positive eugenics also worked out badly. So let's discuss that.
December 4, 2025 at 6:41 PM
In 1944, in Politics and the English Language, Orwell wrote "The word Fascism has now no meaning except in so far as it signifies ‘something not desirable’."
"Eugenics" has reached the same point—it means something about human genetics the speaker/writer doesn't like, across a huge range of actions
"Eugenics" has reached the same point—it means something about human genetics the speaker/writer doesn't like, across a huge range of actions
Reposted by Hank Greely
Grim. Scientifically illiterate, and the techniques they are selling will be largely ineffective anyway.
See my book, Control: the Dark History and Troubling Present of Eugenics.
See my book, Control: the Dark History and Troubling Present of Eugenics.
December 4, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Grim. Scientifically illiterate, and the techniques they are selling will be largely ineffective anyway.
See my book, Control: the Dark History and Troubling Present of Eugenics.
See my book, Control: the Dark History and Troubling Present of Eugenics.
Reposted by Hank Greely
Also, "IQ is 50% genetic" is misleading and meaningless in itself. And the implication - that you can use genetics to select IQ - is profoundly misleading, to a degree that should be subject to advertising regulations.
December 4, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Also, "IQ is 50% genetic" is misleading and meaningless in itself. And the implication - that you can use genetics to select IQ - is profoundly misleading, to a degree that should be subject to advertising regulations.
Reposted by Hank Greely
If new proposals detailed in an FDA memo are put into place, experts told me it would mean the end of annual flu shots. And end of most vaccines for pregnant people. And maybe the end of updates to pneumonia vaccines. And more.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
FDA official proposes ‘impossible’ standards for vaccine testing that could curtail access to immunizations
www.cidrap.umn.edu
December 3, 2025 at 1:43 PM
If new proposals detailed in an FDA memo are put into place, experts told me it would mean the end of annual flu shots. And end of most vaccines for pregnant people. And maybe the end of updates to pneumonia vaccines. And more.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
Reposted by Hank Greely
I hope no Ice 9 yet!
(Though I'm guessing there's probably an Ice IX.)
(Though I'm guessing there's probably an Ice IX.)
Still no end in sight for ice phases. (Shame the article doesn't show a structure, though.)
Researchers have found *yet another* new form of water ice. Ice XXI is structurally distinct from all previously observed phases of ice, exists at room temperature and was produced by rapidly compressing water to pressures of 2 GPa. 🧪⚛️ physicsworld.com/a/ice-xxi-ap...
December 4, 2025 at 3:20 AM
I hope no Ice 9 yet!
(Though I'm guessing there's probably an Ice IX.)
(Though I'm guessing there's probably an Ice IX.)
Reposted by Hank Greely
