James Diggans
@jdiggans.bsky.social
Bioinformatics and biosecurity
Reposted by James Diggans
Microsoft has a fabulous behind-the-science blog paraphrasing the Paraphrase Project. 😉
@erichorvitz.bsky.social, Bruce Wittmann, Tessa Alexanian, and our own @jdiggans.bsky.social are thinking about the latest threats to biosecurity so you don’t have to...
@erichorvitz.bsky.social, Bruce Wittmann, Tessa Alexanian, and our own @jdiggans.bsky.social are thinking about the latest threats to biosecurity so you don’t have to...
November 10, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Microsoft has a fabulous behind-the-science blog paraphrasing the Paraphrase Project. 😉
@erichorvitz.bsky.social, Bruce Wittmann, Tessa Alexanian, and our own @jdiggans.bsky.social are thinking about the latest threats to biosecurity so you don’t have to...
@erichorvitz.bsky.social, Bruce Wittmann, Tessa Alexanian, and our own @jdiggans.bsky.social are thinking about the latest threats to biosecurity so you don’t have to...
Reposted by James Diggans
Always take sentences using “the Cloud” or “the Internet” and try replacing those phrases with “A shed in Virginia” to see how they hold up. “Our service is fully based in a shed in Virginia”; “All my files are in a shed in Virginia”; “A shed in Virginia was designed to survive a nuclear war”, etc.
October 20, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Always take sentences using “the Cloud” or “the Internet” and try replacing those phrases with “A shed in Virginia” to see how they hold up. “Our service is fully based in a shed in Virginia”; “All my files are in a shed in Virginia”; “A shed in Virginia was designed to survive a nuclear war”, etc.
Reposted by James Diggans
The 2025 Ebola outbreak in Kasai, DRC, is caused by a virus virtually identical (>99.5%) to the one from Yambuku in 1976.
Half a century later, the genome hasn’t changed. That’s not supposed to happen with an RNA virus.
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Half a century later, the genome hasn’t changed. That’s not supposed to happen with an RNA virus.
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Ebola virus in Kasai revives 50-year-old questions on viral latency
On Sept 4, 2025, DR Congo declared its 16th Ebola virus outbreak. The epicentre of
this outbreak occurred in the Kasai province—the first resurgence in this region since
2008.1 Genomic analysis identi...
www.thelancet.com
October 17, 2025 at 8:20 PM
The 2025 Ebola outbreak in Kasai, DRC, is caused by a virus virtually identical (>99.5%) to the one from Yambuku in 1976.
Half a century later, the genome hasn’t changed. That’s not supposed to happen with an RNA virus.
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Half a century later, the genome hasn’t changed. That’s not supposed to happen with an RNA virus.
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Reposted by James Diggans
$40 billion dollars is the size of the entire NIH budget.
Trump says his $40B bailout for Argentina's failing libertarian economy is "not gonna make a big difference for our country."
Really?
Imagine if we invested those billions on healthcare and housing for Americans, instead of bailing out Trump's pals abroad.
Really?
Imagine if we invested those billions on healthcare and housing for Americans, instead of bailing out Trump's pals abroad.
October 16, 2025 at 8:10 PM
$40 billion dollars is the size of the entire NIH budget.
Reposted by James Diggans
Collaborators @erichorvitz.bsky.social, Bruce Wittmann, Tessa Alexanian & @jdiggans.bsky.social discuss the paper in this engaging podcast.
Watch it here: www.microsoft.com/en-us/resear...
Read the paper here: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
@twistbioscience.com, @msftresearch.bsky.social
Watch it here: www.microsoft.com/en-us/resear...
Read the paper here: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
@twistbioscience.com, @msftresearch.bsky.social
Ideas: More AI-resilient biosecurity with the Paraphrase Project - Microsoft Research
In “Ideas,” collaborators Eric Horvitz, Bruce Wittmann, Tessa Alexanian, & James Diggans discuss a red-teaming effort that exposed & secured a biosecurity vulnerability in AI-driven protein design—& w...
www.microsoft.com
October 16, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Collaborators @erichorvitz.bsky.social, Bruce Wittmann, Tessa Alexanian & @jdiggans.bsky.social discuss the paper in this engaging podcast.
Watch it here: www.microsoft.com/en-us/resear...
Read the paper here: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
@twistbioscience.com, @msftresearch.bsky.social
Watch it here: www.microsoft.com/en-us/resear...
Read the paper here: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
@twistbioscience.com, @msftresearch.bsky.social
Reposted by James Diggans
New blog post: Asymmetries in Biosecurity doi.org/10.59350/c5e...
Asymmetries in Biosecurity
RAND Report: Why biology still favors the offense in biosecurity
doi.org
October 16, 2025 at 9:34 AM
New blog post: Asymmetries in Biosecurity doi.org/10.59350/c5e...
Reposted by James Diggans
How do we decide what not to share?
I explore “information hazards” in this blog--on when openness in science risks misuse. Paraphrase effort led to a first-of-its-kind publishing model, accepted by Science: "When AI Meets Biology" aka.ms/AAy56z3 Full paper on the project avail here: aka.ms/AAy5e9c
I explore “information hazards” in this blog--on when openness in science risks misuse. Paraphrase effort led to a first-of-its-kind publishing model, accepted by Science: "When AI Meets Biology" aka.ms/AAy56z3 Full paper on the project avail here: aka.ms/AAy5e9c
The Paraphrase Project
Strengthening nucleic acid biosecurity screening against generative protein design tools — improving hazard detection in the age of AI-assisted protein engineering.
aka.ms
October 6, 2025 at 7:37 PM
How do we decide what not to share?
I explore “information hazards” in this blog--on when openness in science risks misuse. Paraphrase effort led to a first-of-its-kind publishing model, accepted by Science: "When AI Meets Biology" aka.ms/AAy56z3 Full paper on the project avail here: aka.ms/AAy5e9c
I explore “information hazards” in this blog--on when openness in science risks misuse. Paraphrase effort led to a first-of-its-kind publishing model, accepted by Science: "When AI Meets Biology" aka.ms/AAy56z3 Full paper on the project avail here: aka.ms/AAy5e9c
Reposted by James Diggans
The executive branch not spending the money that Congress has told them to spend is bad. The executive branch spending money on things for which Congress has not given them money is also bad (and, arguably, worse).
President Trump on Wednesday signed a memorandum expanding his administration’s authority to repurpose unspent federal funds to pay members of the military during the government shutdown, escalating his challenge to the authority of Congress on spending matters.
Trump Signs Memo Expanding His Authority to Spend Federal Money
The president gave Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wide authority to repurpose funds to pay members of the military without approval from Congress, which has the sole constitutional authority to decide federal spending.
nyti.ms
October 16, 2025 at 12:19 AM
The executive branch not spending the money that Congress has told them to spend is bad. The executive branch spending money on things for which Congress has not given them money is also bad (and, arguably, worse).
Reposted by James Diggans
Very important article and worth the read - Opinion | 6 U.S. surgeons general: RFK Jr. threatens the health of Americans - The Washington Post
Opinion | Six surgeons general: It’s our duty to warn the nation about RFK Jr.
We took an oath to declare dangers when we found them. We’re doing that again today.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 7, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Very important article and worth the read - Opinion | 6 U.S. surgeons general: RFK Jr. threatens the health of Americans - The Washington Post
Reposted by James Diggans
In “Ideas,” collaborators Eric Horvitz, Bruce Wittmann, Tessa Alexanian, & James Diggans discuss a red-teaming effort that exposed & secured a biosecurity vulnerability in AI-driven protein design—& what the work shows about managing AI’s dual-use risks. msft.it/6010sLYsr
October 7, 2025 at 4:03 PM
In “Ideas,” collaborators Eric Horvitz, Bruce Wittmann, Tessa Alexanian, & James Diggans discuss a red-teaming effort that exposed & secured a biosecurity vulnerability in AI-driven protein design—& what the work shows about managing AI’s dual-use risks. msft.it/6010sLYsr
Reposted by James Diggans
RFK Jr cancelled mRNA research — but the US military is still funding it
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Exclusive: RFK Jr cancelled mRNA research — but the US military is still funding it
The Department of Defense is continuing to bankroll projects to develop vaccines against deadly pathogens.
www.nature.com
September 25, 2025 at 6:45 PM
RFK Jr cancelled mRNA research — but the US military is still funding it
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by James Diggans
Venture capitalists in clean tech are starting to say out loud what they’ve suspected for a while: China’s dominance has left key sectors in the West uninvestable
China Road Trip Exposes List of Uninvestable Assets in the West
Venture capitalists in clean tech are starting to say out loud what they’ve suspected for a while: China’s dominance has left key sectors in the West uninvestable.
bloom.bg
September 25, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Venture capitalists in clean tech are starting to say out loud what they’ve suspected for a while: China’s dominance has left key sectors in the West uninvestable
Reposted by James Diggans
It's not too much liquid
It's not too many different things at too big a number
It's not the size of this thing
It's not 80 different vaccines
None of this is true, but they will go after MMR based on this. The consequences are going to be massive measles outbreaks. Dead kids.
It's not too many different things at too big a number
It's not the size of this thing
It's not 80 different vaccines
None of this is true, but they will go after MMR based on this. The consequences are going to be massive measles outbreaks. Dead kids.
Trump: "It's too much liquid. Too many different things are going into that baby at too big a number. The size of this thing when you look at it. It's like 80 different vaccines and beyond vaccines."
September 22, 2025 at 9:57 PM
It's not too much liquid
It's not too many different things at too big a number
It's not the size of this thing
It's not 80 different vaccines
None of this is true, but they will go after MMR based on this. The consequences are going to be massive measles outbreaks. Dead kids.
It's not too many different things at too big a number
It's not the size of this thing
It's not 80 different vaccines
None of this is true, but they will go after MMR based on this. The consequences are going to be massive measles outbreaks. Dead kids.
Reposted by James Diggans
Today makes a very good day to listen to people who actually practice public health, pediatrics, and those with expertise in infectious diseases, developmental pediatrics, and/or epidemiology.
September 22, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Today makes a very good day to listen to people who actually practice public health, pediatrics, and those with expertise in infectious diseases, developmental pediatrics, and/or epidemiology.
Reposted by James Diggans
Big Tech's embrace of President Trump has left many of us wondering: What the hell happened to Silicon Valley?
In our new politics issue, we're getting into it.
Also, we're taking this cover across the US in billboards, posters and a mural. Clues to find us in the 🧵: www.wired.com/politics-iss...
In our new politics issue, we're getting into it.
Also, we're taking this cover across the US in billboards, posters and a mural. Clues to find us in the 🧵: www.wired.com/politics-iss...
September 22, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Big Tech's embrace of President Trump has left many of us wondering: What the hell happened to Silicon Valley?
In our new politics issue, we're getting into it.
Also, we're taking this cover across the US in billboards, posters and a mural. Clues to find us in the 🧵: www.wired.com/politics-iss...
In our new politics issue, we're getting into it.
Also, we're taking this cover across the US in billboards, posters and a mural. Clues to find us in the 🧵: www.wired.com/politics-iss...
Reposted by James Diggans
So cool they discovered the cause of autism on basically day they guessed they would. I’m also glad they are withholding this information for a few days to prep for a WrestleMania-style announcement. This is how science works.
September 22, 2025 at 6:46 PM
So cool they discovered the cause of autism on basically day they guessed they would. I’m also glad they are withholding this information for a few days to prep for a WrestleMania-style announcement. This is how science works.
Reposted by James Diggans
Certiorari "before judgment" is how #SCOTUS takes up a full appeal *before* the intermediate federal courts have heard it.
It used to be exceedingly rare. For instance, there wasn't a *single* grant of such expedited review b/w August 2004 & February 2019.
This is the *23rd* such grant since then.
It used to be exceedingly rare. For instance, there wasn't a *single* grant of such expedited review b/w August 2004 & February 2019.
This is the *23rd* such grant since then.
#BREAKING: Over dissents from Justices Sotomayor, Kagan & Jackson, #SCOTUS grants a stay in the Slaughter case (allowing President Trump to remove the last Dem member of the FTC), *and* grants certiorari "before judgment" to decide whether to formally overrule its 1935 ruling in Humphrey's Executor.
September 22, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Certiorari "before judgment" is how #SCOTUS takes up a full appeal *before* the intermediate federal courts have heard it.
It used to be exceedingly rare. For instance, there wasn't a *single* grant of such expedited review b/w August 2004 & February 2019.
This is the *23rd* such grant since then.
It used to be exceedingly rare. For instance, there wasn't a *single* grant of such expedited review b/w August 2004 & February 2019.
This is the *23rd* such grant since then.
Reposted by James Diggans
Serious scholars have examined what happens when we change the number of H1-B visas issued.
Cities that get more H1-B immigrants subsequently see the wages of natives *rise* substantially.
Skilled immigrants bring new ideas, fill labor shortages and make us all more productive.
Cities that get more H1-B immigrants subsequently see the wages of natives *rise* substantially.
Skilled immigrants bring new ideas, fill labor shortages and make us all more productive.
September 22, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Serious scholars have examined what happens when we change the number of H1-B visas issued.
Cities that get more H1-B immigrants subsequently see the wages of natives *rise* substantially.
Skilled immigrants bring new ideas, fill labor shortages and make us all more productive.
Cities that get more H1-B immigrants subsequently see the wages of natives *rise* substantially.
Skilled immigrants bring new ideas, fill labor shortages and make us all more productive.
Reposted by James Diggans
“The U.S. government is now in the business of vaccine misinformation.” Trump officials to link covid shots to child deaths, alarming career scientists. Story by @lenasun.bsky.social @rachelroubein.bsky.social @ddiamond.bsky.social wapo.st/47LFKvL
Trump officials to link covid shots to child deaths, alarming career scientists
The move to link coronavirus vaccines to 25 child deaths alarms career scientists who say the shots have been extensively studied.
wapo.st
September 12, 2025 at 4:28 PM
“The U.S. government is now in the business of vaccine misinformation.” Trump officials to link covid shots to child deaths, alarming career scientists. Story by @lenasun.bsky.social @rachelroubein.bsky.social @ddiamond.bsky.social wapo.st/47LFKvL
Reposted by James Diggans
Excellent primer on Tylenol (acetaminophen/paracetamol) in pregnancy from @jeremyfaust.bsky.social which just happens to quote me insidemedicine.substack.com/p/tylenol-ha...
Tylenol has entered the chat: RFK Jr. wants to link it to autism, even though the best evidence says otherwise.
It's not pseudoscience. But it's not settled either, nor is it "safe" to assume otherwise.
insidemedicine.substack.com
September 8, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Excellent primer on Tylenol (acetaminophen/paracetamol) in pregnancy from @jeremyfaust.bsky.social which just happens to quote me insidemedicine.substack.com/p/tylenol-ha...
Reposted by James Diggans
My God.
BREAKING: ICE is sending Russian dissidents back to Russia. When the dissidents arrived in Russia, the Russian authorities were given documents relating to their asylum applications in the US which under US law are confidential. This seems to be part of a secret agreement between Trump and Putin.
‘I escaped a Russian prison — only to end up in an American jail’
Dozens of Russian dissidents have been expelled from the US and forcibly returned to Russia with the co-operation of immigration authorities
www.thetimes.com
September 7, 2025 at 4:26 AM
My God.
Reposted by James Diggans
If you’re wondering how much of what RFK Jr said yesterday about vaccines was true—almost none of it was.
@FullerLab_UW is one of the most accomplished vaccinologists out there and her article is required reading to separate truth from falsehoods.
theconversation.com/how-rfk-jr-s...
@FullerLab_UW is one of the most accomplished vaccinologists out there and her article is required reading to separate truth from falsehoods.
theconversation.com/how-rfk-jr-s...
How RFK Jr.’s misguided science on mRNA vaccines is shaping policy − a vaccine expert examines the false claims
Chaos at the CDC and the sharp move away from mRNA vaccines has public health experts alarmed.
theconversation.com
September 5, 2025 at 7:25 PM
If you’re wondering how much of what RFK Jr said yesterday about vaccines was true—almost none of it was.
@FullerLab_UW is one of the most accomplished vaccinologists out there and her article is required reading to separate truth from falsehoods.
theconversation.com/how-rfk-jr-s...
@FullerLab_UW is one of the most accomplished vaccinologists out there and her article is required reading to separate truth from falsehoods.
theconversation.com/how-rfk-jr-s...
Reposted by James Diggans
1/ I worked at DoD. I literally cannot imagine lawyers coming up with a legal basis for lethal strike of suspected Venezuelan drug boat.
Hard to see how this would not be "murder" or war crime under international law that DoD considers applicable.
Read expert analysis by @bcfinucane.bsky.social⤵️
Hard to see how this would not be "murder" or war crime under international law that DoD considers applicable.
Read expert analysis by @bcfinucane.bsky.social⤵️
Legal Issues Raised by a Lethal U.S. Military Attack in the Caribbean
The Trump administration’s extraordinary lethal attack on this purported smuggling vessel raises significant potential legal issues.
www.justsecurity.org
September 3, 2025 at 9:41 PM
1/ I worked at DoD. I literally cannot imagine lawyers coming up with a legal basis for lethal strike of suspected Venezuelan drug boat.
Hard to see how this would not be "murder" or war crime under international law that DoD considers applicable.
Read expert analysis by @bcfinucane.bsky.social⤵️
Hard to see how this would not be "murder" or war crime under international law that DoD considers applicable.
Read expert analysis by @bcfinucane.bsky.social⤵️
Reposted by James Diggans
As national medical, scientific, public health and patient organizations, we call for the resignation of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to ensure the health of the American people. Read our statement: asm.org/press-releas...
Joint Statement Calling for Secretary Kennedy Resignation
The American Society for Microbiology released a joint statement calling for the resignation of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
asm.org
September 3, 2025 at 11:10 PM
As national medical, scientific, public health and patient organizations, we call for the resignation of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to ensure the health of the American people. Read our statement: asm.org/press-releas...
Reposted by James Diggans
NSF won't renew the funding for an academic center squarely focused on AI for weather forecasting, located right in the heart of US weather research in Oklahoma. (Notably, AI2ES was funded and created under the first Trump administration.)
This is AI2ES, my AI institute. No way around it other than to say this is really awful. We are doing so many amazing things! We want to keep doing amazing things but without this level of funding, we will not be able to do so.
Another blow to meteorological R&D this morning, as it was confirmed that NSF is terminating funding for its main weather and earth science focused AI research institute led by the Univ. of Oklahoma. Also - a LOT of weather to talk about, especially in the West. More: https://tinyurl.com/mr2znbdb
September 2, 2025 at 6:35 PM
NSF won't renew the funding for an academic center squarely focused on AI for weather forecasting, located right in the heart of US weather research in Oklahoma. (Notably, AI2ES was funded and created under the first Trump administration.)