Nicole M. Baran, Ph.D.
@nmbaran.bsky.social
Assistant Professor of Biology at Davidson College | Evolution & development of songbird social behavior, neuroendocrinology, & comparative genomics | STEMinist | Mostly here for the reading recommendations. (she/her) 🐦🧠🧬🌎🔬🌿🎺
Pinned
I believe that it is important that my students learn about the dynamic, complex process by which sexual differentiation occurs because it is the truth, writes @nmbaran.bsky.social.
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/sex/what-bir...
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/sex/what-bir...
What birds can teach us about the ‘biological truth’ of sex
Part of our job as educators is to give students a deeper understanding of the true diversity of sex and gender in the natural world.
www.thetransmitter.org
Excited to have this out in the world and to share my thoughts! Birds 🐣 have so much to teach us about sexual differentiation and diversity, which is so desperately needed in this moment. #neuroendocrinology
Reposted by Nicole M. Baran, Ph.D.
My hometown absolutely floored me this past week. FLOORED.
For safety reasons, I haven’t said much about it. But I’m so damn proud of my family and friends. So proud.
For safety reasons, I haven’t said much about it. But I’m so damn proud of my family and friends. So proud.
We'll see if they actually mean it, but this announcement after one week confirms that Charlotte was impeccably well organized for this moment.
www.cbsnews.com/news/charlot...
www.cbsnews.com/news/charlot...
Federal immigration crackdown in Charlotte, North Carolina, has ended, sheriff's office says
A federal immigration crackdown based in Charlotte, North Carolina's largest city, is now over, a local law enforcement agency said Thursday.
www.cbsnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:37 PM
My hometown absolutely floored me this past week. FLOORED.
For safety reasons, I haven’t said much about it. But I’m so damn proud of my family and friends. So proud.
For safety reasons, I haven’t said much about it. But I’m so damn proud of my family and friends. So proud.
Reposted by Nicole M. Baran, Ph.D.
Tonight, as the sun set in Durham, while hundreds more joined patrols in Charlotte, courageous local officials, people of faith, and community leaders gathered to say: Enough is enough.
November 19, 2025 at 5:52 AM
Tonight, as the sun set in Durham, while hundreds more joined patrols in Charlotte, courageous local officials, people of faith, and community leaders gathered to say: Enough is enough.
Reposted by Nicole M. Baran, Ph.D.
there may well be more citizens showing up here in Charlotte to learn how to peacefully resist Trump’s indiscriminate mass deportation effort than federal agents on the ground here, as we saw firsthand last night.
November 18, 2025 at 11:09 AM
there may well be more citizens showing up here in Charlotte to learn how to peacefully resist Trump’s indiscriminate mass deportation effort than federal agents on the ground here, as we saw firsthand last night.
Reposted by Nicole M. Baran, Ph.D.
“We owe it to our young people not to lie to them anymore. A democracy whose citizens operate with fundamentally different understandings of the past and its implications cannot sustain itself.”
I spent October traveling to schools throughout the South talking to students about American history. What I found were young people who understand we can tell a story that includes both the positive and the negative. As one 8th grader in Memphis said, “Doesn’t seem that hard, just say both things.”
Tell Students the Truth About American History
We owe it to Americans of all ages to be honest about the country’s past, including its contradictions.
www.theatlantic.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:18 AM
“We owe it to our young people not to lie to them anymore. A democracy whose citizens operate with fundamentally different understandings of the past and its implications cannot sustain itself.”
Reposted by Nicole M. Baran, Ph.D.
i think the synthesis so far of the LA/DC/Chicago experiences is:
1) vulnerable people should hide and wait it out to whatever extent they can
2) other people should help them do that, financially and otherwise
3) other people should also get loud
4) not violent though
1) vulnerable people should hide and wait it out to whatever extent they can
2) other people should help them do that, financially and otherwise
3) other people should also get loud
4) not violent though
Greg Bovino is leading a rebel cavalry terrorizing America—and it's important to recognize that it's in retreat. While the trauma and terror Bovino’s raiders instill is real and damaging, it’s remarkable to note how ineffective the force has turned out to be. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/trump-bord...
Trump, Border Patrol Retreat in Failure from Chicago
Five important lessons of the first six months of Trump’s immigration raids — and why CBP’s Greg Bovino is the Nathan Bedford Forrest of the Trump era.
www.doomsdayscenario.co
November 17, 2025 at 5:50 PM
i think the synthesis so far of the LA/DC/Chicago experiences is:
1) vulnerable people should hide and wait it out to whatever extent they can
2) other people should help them do that, financially and otherwise
3) other people should also get loud
4) not violent though
1) vulnerable people should hide and wait it out to whatever extent they can
2) other people should help them do that, financially and otherwise
3) other people should also get loud
4) not violent though
Reposted by Nicole M. Baran, Ph.D.
When DHS dared to call its anti-immigrant racial profiling weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina, “Operation Charlotte’s Web,” I knew I was going to have to write about it.
Tonight, at Law Dork, here it is: www.lawdork.com/p/gregory-bo...
Tonight, at Law Dork, here it is: www.lawdork.com/p/gregory-bo...
November 17, 2025 at 12:41 AM
When DHS dared to call its anti-immigrant racial profiling weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina, “Operation Charlotte’s Web,” I knew I was going to have to write about it.
Tonight, at Law Dork, here it is: www.lawdork.com/p/gregory-bo...
Tonight, at Law Dork, here it is: www.lawdork.com/p/gregory-bo...
Reposted by Nicole M. Baran, Ph.D.
Today marked Day One of Customs and Border Patrol’s Charlotte Operation. And as we’ve come to expect from these operations, federal agents targeted workers throughout Charlotte and the surrounding areas.
November 16, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Today marked Day One of Customs and Border Patrol’s Charlotte Operation. And as we’ve come to expect from these operations, federal agents targeted workers throughout Charlotte and the surrounding areas.
Reposted by Nicole M. Baran, Ph.D.
I'm seeing people wonder why ICE is going after Charlotte.
ICE has been at war with Charlotte's sheriff ever since he won in 2018.
We'd covered this at Bolts back in the day; this quote is from that sheriff:
ICE has been at war with Charlotte's sheriff ever since he won in 2018.
We'd covered this at Bolts back in the day; this quote is from that sheriff:
“When the 8 African American sheriffs took over the largest counties in North Carolina, it became a threat to the good ol’ boy system,” says the sheriff of Charlotte. These new sheriffs broke ties with ICE.
But GOP lawmakers cracked down this week, overbidding the governor’s veto to adopt this law:
But GOP lawmakers cracked down this week, overbidding the governor’s veto to adopt this law:
North Carolina GOP Is Cracking Down on the Black Sheriffs Who Stood Up to ICE
Boosted by new supermajorities, Republicans are closing in on legislation to mandate more collaboration with ICE and preempt local policies hard-won by immigrants’ rights advocates.
boltsmag.org
November 15, 2025 at 10:43 PM
I'm seeing people wonder why ICE is going after Charlotte.
ICE has been at war with Charlotte's sheriff ever since he won in 2018.
We'd covered this at Bolts back in the day; this quote is from that sheriff:
ICE has been at war with Charlotte's sheriff ever since he won in 2018.
We'd covered this at Bolts back in the day; this quote is from that sheriff:
Reposted by Nicole M. Baran, Ph.D.
Anyone who’s ever used emergency contraception or gains peace of mind by even having it on hand owes Dr Camp a debt of gratitude. What a force.
(Also, I just learned one reason the FDA rejected it at first was that they said the name Plan B was too glib!)
Great obit—no paywall.
(Also, I just learned one reason the FDA rejected it at first was that they said the name Plan B was too glib!)
Great obit—no paywall.
Sharon Camp, Mother of the ‘Plan B’ Contraceptive Pill, Dies at 81
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Anyone who’s ever used emergency contraception or gains peace of mind by even having it on hand owes Dr Camp a debt of gratitude. What a force.
(Also, I just learned one reason the FDA rejected it at first was that they said the name Plan B was too glib!)
Great obit—no paywall.
(Also, I just learned one reason the FDA rejected it at first was that they said the name Plan B was too glib!)
Great obit—no paywall.
Reposted by Nicole M. Baran, Ph.D.
OJO Obrero (ojonc.org) is now available. This website features information about confirmed ICE operations in our state to help parents and workers get to school and work safely. OJO Obrero only features sightings that we can confirm involve federal agents, rather than crowdsourced reports
November 14, 2025 at 6:42 PM
OJO Obrero (ojonc.org) is now available. This website features information about confirmed ICE operations in our state to help parents and workers get to school and work safely. OJO Obrero only features sightings that we can confirm involve federal agents, rather than crowdsourced reports
Reposted by Nicole M. Baran, Ph.D.
The next city bracing for the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown is Charlotte, North Carolina, which could see an influx of federal agents as early as this weekend, a county sheriff said Thursday. https://to.pbs.org/4nZ6DAK
Trump's next immigration crackdown will target Charlotte, North Carolina, local sheriff says
The next city bracing for the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown is Charlotte, North Carolina, which could see an influx of federal agents as early as this weekend, a county sheriff said Thu...
www.pbs.org
November 14, 2025 at 12:15 AM
The next city bracing for the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown is Charlotte, North Carolina, which could see an influx of federal agents as early as this weekend, a county sheriff said Thursday. https://to.pbs.org/4nZ6DAK
Reposted by Nicole M. Baran, Ph.D.
NSF is open again!
A few comments:
*Please be patient.
During a shutdown NSF employees cannot open computers or respond to emails.
*Merit review will continue. However panels won’t resume until after Dec 8th.
*POs remain excited and committed to advancing science and the scientific workforce.
A few comments:
*Please be patient.
During a shutdown NSF employees cannot open computers or respond to emails.
*Merit review will continue. However panels won’t resume until after Dec 8th.
*POs remain excited and committed to advancing science and the scientific workforce.
November 13, 2025 at 5:58 PM
NSF is open again!
A few comments:
*Please be patient.
During a shutdown NSF employees cannot open computers or respond to emails.
*Merit review will continue. However panels won’t resume until after Dec 8th.
*POs remain excited and committed to advancing science and the scientific workforce.
A few comments:
*Please be patient.
During a shutdown NSF employees cannot open computers or respond to emails.
*Merit review will continue. However panels won’t resume until after Dec 8th.
*POs remain excited and committed to advancing science and the scientific workforce.
Reposted by Nicole M. Baran, Ph.D.
Today is a good day to remember, and to say, that the #MeToo movement was right, and was righteous, and has been vindicated over and over again. There was no overreach. There was no excess. There was no they-went-too-far.
So much work remains to be done.
So much work remains to be done.
November 12, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Today is a good day to remember, and to say, that the #MeToo movement was right, and was righteous, and has been vindicated over and over again. There was no overreach. There was no excess. There was no they-went-too-far.
So much work remains to be done.
So much work remains to be done.
Reposted by Nicole M. Baran, Ph.D.
Yeah this is it. Today in “neither our media nor our political system is designed to deal with a far right authoritarian party.”
I scribbled down all my shutdown-related intrusive thoughts and put them in a blog post.
open.substack.com/pub/davekarp...
open.substack.com/pub/davekarp...
The Shutdown Surrender
I just... I mean... Whatever.
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Yeah this is it. Today in “neither our media nor our political system is designed to deal with a far right authoritarian party.”
Reposted by Nicole M. Baran, Ph.D.
I just want everyone to have the experience of living in dignity with access to sufficient food, safe housing, needed medical care, high quality education, and time to engage with what sparks their curiosity and spirit
this should not be controversial 🫠
this should not be controversial 🫠
November 10, 2025 at 3:16 AM
I just want everyone to have the experience of living in dignity with access to sufficient food, safe housing, needed medical care, high quality education, and time to engage with what sparks their curiosity and spirit
this should not be controversial 🫠
this should not be controversial 🫠
Reposted by Nicole M. Baran, Ph.D.
Sounds like the squishes in the senate caucus are ready to pull the plug with no ACA changes. This is real. If you want to register your opinion you shld call yr senator in the next hour. They not only want to reopen w/nothing. They want cover from their colleagues who still want to hold out.
November 9, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Sounds like the squishes in the senate caucus are ready to pull the plug with no ACA changes. This is real. If you want to register your opinion you shld call yr senator in the next hour. They not only want to reopen w/nothing. They want cover from their colleagues who still want to hold out.
Reposted by Nicole M. Baran, Ph.D.
Any “deal” that ends with Dems just getting a pinky promise in return is a mistake.
The American people are suffering because Republicans refuse to stop healthcare costs from skyrocketing. An agreement that doesn’t fix that reality falls massively short.
The American people are suffering because Republicans refuse to stop healthcare costs from skyrocketing. An agreement that doesn’t fix that reality falls massively short.
November 9, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Any “deal” that ends with Dems just getting a pinky promise in return is a mistake.
The American people are suffering because Republicans refuse to stop healthcare costs from skyrocketing. An agreement that doesn’t fix that reality falls massively short.
The American people are suffering because Republicans refuse to stop healthcare costs from skyrocketing. An agreement that doesn’t fix that reality falls massively short.
Reposted by Nicole M. Baran, Ph.D.
As Ta-Nehisi Coates said last month:
“.. it’s either one of two things: either you’re cowards or you’re with him. And if you’re with him, you never believed in the things you were talking about to begin with.”
“.. it’s either one of two things: either you’re cowards or you’re with him. And if you’re with him, you never believed in the things you were talking about to begin with.”
Breaking News: Cornell University reached an agreement with the Trump administration that would restore hundreds of millions in funding to the university. It's expected to pay a $30 million fine to the government and to invest $30 million in agriculture and farming programs.
Cornell Reaches Deal with Trump Administration to Restore Research Funds
The Ivy League university had warned of layoffs after the Trump administration stripped it of funds this year. The cuts were among the deepest in higher education.
nyti.ms
November 7, 2025 at 5:30 PM
As Ta-Nehisi Coates said last month:
“.. it’s either one of two things: either you’re cowards or you’re with him. And if you’re with him, you never believed in the things you were talking about to begin with.”
“.. it’s either one of two things: either you’re cowards or you’re with him. And if you’re with him, you never believed in the things you were talking about to begin with.”
Reposted by Nicole M. Baran, Ph.D.
On the event of James Watson's death, I highly recommend this 2023 commentary from @matthewcobb.bsky.social and Nathaniel Comfort with crucial new insights into the discovery of the double helix. (And also check out Cobb's brand new biography of Francis Crick) www.nature.com/articles/d41...
What Rosalind Franklin truly contributed to the discovery of DNA’s structure
Franklin was no victim in how the DNA double helix was solved. An overlooked letter and an unpublished news article, both written in 1953, reveal that she was an equal player.
www.nature.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:25 PM
On the event of James Watson's death, I highly recommend this 2023 commentary from @matthewcobb.bsky.social and Nathaniel Comfort with crucial new insights into the discovery of the double helix. (And also check out Cobb's brand new biography of Francis Crick) www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Nicole M. Baran, Ph.D.
Hey folks, as news of Watson's demise spreads, please don't set aside his weighty legacy of misogyny and racism. He was truly among the worst of us. www.vox.com/2019/1/15/18...
DNA scientist James Watson has a remarkably long history of sexist, racist public comments
“People say it would be terrible if we made all girls pretty,” he said in 2003. “I think it would be great.”
www.vox.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Hey folks, as news of Watson's demise spreads, please don't set aside his weighty legacy of misogyny and racism. He was truly among the worst of us. www.vox.com/2019/1/15/18...
Reposted by Nicole M. Baran, Ph.D.
The Cornell AAUP chapter has consistently stated that any deal with the Trump administration would be strategically unwise and a betrayal of Cornell’s principles. This remains the case. At best, we can say that this deal could have been worse.
Read our full statement here:
Read our full statement here:
Statement on Cornell’s agreement with federal government
The Cornell AAUP chapter has consistently stated that any deal with the Trump administration would be strategically unwise and a betrayal of Cornell’s principles. This remains the case. We ar…
aaup-cornell.org
November 7, 2025 at 11:24 PM
The Cornell AAUP chapter has consistently stated that any deal with the Trump administration would be strategically unwise and a betrayal of Cornell’s principles. This remains the case. At best, we can say that this deal could have been worse.
Read our full statement here:
Read our full statement here:
Reposted by Nicole M. Baran, Ph.D.
For @msnbc.com I wrote about how Tuesday's election gives Democrats the blueprint for overcoming Republican anti-trans attacks and how thus should settle all the talk about throwing trans people under the bus.
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
Opinion | Democrats’ election wins showed they don't need to hide their support for trans rights
Republicans repeated Trump's anti-trans strategy from 2024 and lost big. This should be instructive for Democrats.
www.msnbc.com
November 6, 2025 at 12:41 AM
For @msnbc.com I wrote about how Tuesday's election gives Democrats the blueprint for overcoming Republican anti-trans attacks and how thus should settle all the talk about throwing trans people under the bus.
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
Reposted by Nicole M. Baran, Ph.D.
For years, but especially for the past year, Democrats have been in thrall to the idea that they need to chase an imagined median voter, and adopt that voter’s positions. Mamdani’s victory shows another way: hold principles, and persuade people to share them.
I wrote about Zohran’s victory. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Mamdani’s victory is a rebuke to the failed strategies of the Democratic party | Moira Donegan
The Democratic party appears listless and unprincipled, unwilling to fight because they do not believe in anything. Zohran Mamdani is the opposite of this
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:13 AM
For years, but especially for the past year, Democrats have been in thrall to the idea that they need to chase an imagined median voter, and adopt that voter’s positions. Mamdani’s victory shows another way: hold principles, and persuade people to share them.
Reposted by Nicole M. Baran, Ph.D.
VOTE!
VOTE!
VOTE!
VOTE!
VOTE!
VOTE!
VOTE!
VOTE!
VOTE!
a kermit the frog is holding a sign that says vote .
Alt: a kermit the frog is holding a sign that says vote .
media.tenor.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:00 AM
VOTE!
VOTE!
VOTE!
VOTE!
VOTE!
VOTE!
VOTE!
VOTE!
VOTE!
Reposted by Nicole M. Baran, Ph.D.
It doesn’t matter what I think. Also, none of this would ever happen. But if I had a zillion dollars:
1. Run a “we do hard things” campaign across southern and rust belt states. Invest heavily in local, state and regional social infrastructure. Sponser later hours at a library, build a skate park…
1. Run a “we do hard things” campaign across southern and rust belt states. Invest heavily in local, state and regional social infrastructure. Sponser later hours at a library, build a skate park…
If I were to sum up my advice to the Democratic party leadership about how to defeat Trumpism, it would be to set aside policy for now and focus instead on articulating a vision of what American society should look like and what role the US should play in a rapidly changing world today.
November 3, 2025 at 12:46 AM
It doesn’t matter what I think. Also, none of this would ever happen. But if I had a zillion dollars:
1. Run a “we do hard things” campaign across southern and rust belt states. Invest heavily in local, state and regional social infrastructure. Sponser later hours at a library, build a skate park…
1. Run a “we do hard things” campaign across southern and rust belt states. Invest heavily in local, state and regional social infrastructure. Sponser later hours at a library, build a skate park…