Peter Morrell
@peterlmorrell.bsky.social
Pinned
Peter Morrell
@peterlmorrell.bsky.social
· Dec 10
Does Google violate user privacy? Let's ask Google and the new LLM.
Species: Catha edulis
Common Name: Khat
Active Compounds: Cathinone
Medical or Cultural Use: Remedy for fatigue, depression, appetite suppression, and pain
Risks of Use: Grandiose delusions, paranoia, nightmares, hallucinations, and hyperactivity
Common Name: Khat
Active Compounds: Cathinone
Medical or Cultural Use: Remedy for fatigue, depression, appetite suppression, and pain
Risks of Use: Grandiose delusions, paranoia, nightmares, hallucinations, and hyperactivity
November 2, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Species: Catha edulis
Common Name: Khat
Active Compounds: Cathinone
Medical or Cultural Use: Remedy for fatigue, depression, appetite suppression, and pain
Risks of Use: Grandiose delusions, paranoia, nightmares, hallucinations, and hyperactivity
Common Name: Khat
Active Compounds: Cathinone
Medical or Cultural Use: Remedy for fatigue, depression, appetite suppression, and pain
Risks of Use: Grandiose delusions, paranoia, nightmares, hallucinations, and hyperactivity
My doctor said I should be talking about "The Science of Cannabis" outside the class
- Species: Cannabis sativa
- Common name: marijuana
- Active compounds: delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol
- Medical or cultural uses: pain relief, insomnia, antiemetic
- Risks of use: reduced mental acuity, dependency
- Species: Cannabis sativa
- Common name: marijuana
- Active compounds: delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol
- Medical or cultural uses: pain relief, insomnia, antiemetic
- Risks of use: reduced mental acuity, dependency
November 2, 2025 at 2:17 AM
My doctor said I should be talking about "The Science of Cannabis" outside the class
- Species: Cannabis sativa
- Common name: marijuana
- Active compounds: delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol
- Medical or cultural uses: pain relief, insomnia, antiemetic
- Risks of use: reduced mental acuity, dependency
- Species: Cannabis sativa
- Common name: marijuana
- Active compounds: delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol
- Medical or cultural uses: pain relief, insomnia, antiemetic
- Risks of use: reduced mental acuity, dependency
Reposted by Peter Morrell
I wrote an opinion piece about parental/family leave at UConn. I’m only ~75% happy with it but … something needed to be said. Many things actually. Loudly. Repeatedly. And with as many voices as possible.
“This is UConn: Zero paid family leave for professors”
ctmirror.org/2025/10/21/t...
“This is UConn: Zero paid family leave for professors”
ctmirror.org/2025/10/21/t...
Opinion: This is UConn: Zero paid family leave for professors
UConn currently lets every pregnant/expecting individual reinvent the wheel, cobbling together a leave plan with whatever resources and departmental grace they can muster.
ctmirror.org
October 21, 2025 at 12:06 PM
I wrote an opinion piece about parental/family leave at UConn. I’m only ~75% happy with it but … something needed to be said. Many things actually. Loudly. Repeatedly. And with as many voices as possible.
“This is UConn: Zero paid family leave for professors”
ctmirror.org/2025/10/21/t...
“This is UConn: Zero paid family leave for professors”
ctmirror.org/2025/10/21/t...
I’m excited to contribute as an associate editor for “Primers in Genetics.” The focus is on educational materials. Should be fun!
@genetics-gsa.bsky.social
genestogenomes.org/genetics-exp...
@genetics-gsa.bsky.social
genestogenomes.org/genetics-exp...
GENETICS Expands Primers Section
Beth De Stasio of Lawrence University will serve as Senior Editor and work with a newly formed team of six Associate Editors to expand the publication of Primers in GENETICS.
genestogenomes.org
July 15, 2025 at 6:52 PM
I’m excited to contribute as an associate editor for “Primers in Genetics.” The focus is on educational materials. Should be fun!
@genetics-gsa.bsky.social
genestogenomes.org/genetics-exp...
@genetics-gsa.bsky.social
genestogenomes.org/genetics-exp...
Decoding nature’s grammar with DNA language models | PNAS www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... - Serguei Pakhomov was a great co-author for this commentary on PlantCaduceus
PNAS
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...
www.pnas.org
July 14, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Decoding nature’s grammar with DNA language models | PNAS www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... - Serguei Pakhomov was a great co-author for this commentary on PlantCaduceus
Reposted by Peter Morrell
Very happy with this perspective piece just published. Highlighting how anti DEI has the same impacts as good old racism on educational equity.
Using anti-DEI policies to dismantle education: A new front in a really old battle - a perspective with @kzutaustin.bsky.social and @hormiga.bsky.social | PLOS Biology
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
Using anti-DEI policies to dismantle education: A new front in a really old battle
Educational equity faces renewed threats across higher education in the United States. This Perspective addresses what can be done by life science instructors and researchers to prioritize equitable, ...
journals.plos.org
June 20, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Very happy with this perspective piece just published. Highlighting how anti DEI has the same impacts as good old racism on educational equity.
Reposted by Peter Morrell
My HPC team at UC Davis is hiring! Looking for an experienced sysadmin to help build and maintain clusters (hardware and software). HPC experience great, but if you’re an experienced sysadmin and willing to learn, please apply!
careerspub.universityofcalifornia.edu/psc/ucdavis/...
careerspub.universityofcalifornia.edu/psc/ucdavis/...
An error has occurred.
careerspub.universityofcalifornia.edu
June 5, 2025 at 4:49 AM
My HPC team at UC Davis is hiring! Looking for an experienced sysadmin to help build and maintain clusters (hardware and software). HPC experience great, but if you’re an experienced sysadmin and willing to learn, please apply!
careerspub.universityofcalifornia.edu/psc/ucdavis/...
careerspub.universityofcalifornia.edu/psc/ucdavis/...
New paper w/ @plos.org! @chaochihl.bsky.social identifies a unique mutational pattern among sodium azide-induced mutants. SNPs in 'CC' context and indels. Thanks to @justinfay.bsky.social @lilei0051.bsky.social @giuliafrascarelli.bsky.social @nanoporetech.com et al
journals.plos.org/plosgenetics...
journals.plos.org/plosgenetics...
Sodium azide mutagenesis induces a unique pattern of mutations
Author summary Sodium azide is frequently used as a mutagen for experimental studies in plants. It induces primarily C → T changes. We find that these most often occur when a cytosine (C) is followed ...
journals.plos.org
June 5, 2025 at 4:09 PM
New paper w/ @plos.org! @chaochihl.bsky.social identifies a unique mutational pattern among sodium azide-induced mutants. SNPs in 'CC' context and indels. Thanks to @justinfay.bsky.social @lilei0051.bsky.social @giuliafrascarelli.bsky.social @nanoporetech.com et al
journals.plos.org/plosgenetics...
journals.plos.org/plosgenetics...
A cool trick from AI coding companions. Creating temporary intermediate files in a shell script is pretty easy! Saves IO.
log " -> Convert a GFF of gene positions to a BED file"
intermediate_bed=$(mktemp)
awk '$3 == "gene" {print $1"\t"$4-1"\t"$5}' "${GFF}" > "${intermediate_bed}"
log " -> Convert a GFF of gene positions to a BED file"
intermediate_bed=$(mktemp)
awk '$3 == "gene" {print $1"\t"$4-1"\t"$5}' "${GFF}" > "${intermediate_bed}"
May 28, 2025 at 3:41 PM
A cool trick from AI coding companions. Creating temporary intermediate files in a shell script is pretty easy! Saves IO.
log " -> Convert a GFF of gene positions to a BED file"
intermediate_bed=$(mktemp)
awk '$3 == "gene" {print $1"\t"$4-1"\t"$5}' "${GFF}" > "${intermediate_bed}"
log " -> Convert a GFF of gene positions to a BED file"
intermediate_bed=$(mktemp)
awk '$3 == "gene" {print $1"\t"$4-1"\t"$5}' "${GFF}" > "${intermediate_bed}"
Reposted by Peter Morrell
Are you based in the U.S. 🇺🇸 or Canada 🇨🇦 and thinking of doing research in Europe?
ERC grants offer up to €4.5 million to support groundbreaking, investigator-driven frontier research in all fields.
Watch the dedicated info session for researchers in your region👉 youtu.be/92QYink1Lik
#ChooseEurope
ERC grants offer up to €4.5 million to support groundbreaking, investigator-driven frontier research in all fields.
Watch the dedicated info session for researchers in your region👉 youtu.be/92QYink1Lik
#ChooseEurope
May 19, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Are you based in the U.S. 🇺🇸 or Canada 🇨🇦 and thinking of doing research in Europe?
ERC grants offer up to €4.5 million to support groundbreaking, investigator-driven frontier research in all fields.
Watch the dedicated info session for researchers in your region👉 youtu.be/92QYink1Lik
#ChooseEurope
ERC grants offer up to €4.5 million to support groundbreaking, investigator-driven frontier research in all fields.
Watch the dedicated info session for researchers in your region👉 youtu.be/92QYink1Lik
#ChooseEurope
Reposted by Peter Morrell
“Cutting basic science doesn’t save money.”
America’s long-term growth is at stake. Congress is weighing sweeping FY2026 cuts to fundamental science, including $18 billion from the NIH and $5 billion from the NSF.
In the long run, these cuts will cost the economy billions.
@jdrakephd.bsky.social
www.forbes.com/sites/johndr...
In the long run, these cuts will cost the economy billions.
@jdrakephd.bsky.social
www.forbes.com/sites/johndr...
Trump’s NIH And NSF Cuts Estimated To Cost The U.S. Economy $10 Billion Annually
Economists find public R&D drives U.S. productivity growth — and pays for itself
www.forbes.com
May 19, 2025 at 10:25 PM
“Cutting basic science doesn’t save money.”
Reposted by Peter Morrell
Very facts. Very statistics.
bsky.app/profile/jona...
bsky.app/profile/jona...
May 5, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Very facts. Very statistics.
bsky.app/profile/jona...
bsky.app/profile/jona...
Reposted by Peter Morrell
Identification of genetic variation associated with high-temperature tolerance in cowpea https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.04.09.647789v1
April 15, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Identification of genetic variation associated with high-temperature tolerance in cowpea https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.04.09.647789v1
Reposted by Peter Morrell
foolish & malicious
"the food you consume is the result of generations of work by agricultural scientists and plant breeders... This work is only possible because of the availability of...extensive collections of plant genetic resources."
"the food you consume is the result of generations of work by agricultural scientists and plant breeders... This work is only possible because of the availability of...extensive collections of plant genetic resources."
Why Did Elon Musk Go After Bunkers Full of Seeds? - NY Times Opinion Guest Article
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/22/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/22/o...
Opinion | Why Did Elon Musk Go After Bunkers Full of Seeds? (Gift Article)
Gene banks are like a survivalist cache: our nation’s safeguard against all future challenges to growing the food we need.
www.nytimes.com
March 22, 2025 at 5:40 PM
foolish & malicious
"the food you consume is the result of generations of work by agricultural scientists and plant breeders... This work is only possible because of the availability of...extensive collections of plant genetic resources."
"the food you consume is the result of generations of work by agricultural scientists and plant breeders... This work is only possible because of the availability of...extensive collections of plant genetic resources."
Reposted by Peter Morrell
New analysis says ~2/3 of unpaid taxes come from the top 10% of households, w/ 28% coming from the top 1%.
The GOP CR would cut $20.2 billion of IRS funding for catching rich tax cheats - because the GOP is laser-focused on helping the rich cheat on their taxes.
budgetlab.yale.edu/research/rev...
The GOP CR would cut $20.2 billion of IRS funding for catching rich tax cheats - because the GOP is laser-focused on helping the rich cheat on their taxes.
budgetlab.yale.edu/research/rev...
March 13, 2025 at 9:37 PM
New analysis says ~2/3 of unpaid taxes come from the top 10% of households, w/ 28% coming from the top 1%.
The GOP CR would cut $20.2 billion of IRS funding for catching rich tax cheats - because the GOP is laser-focused on helping the rich cheat on their taxes.
budgetlab.yale.edu/research/rev...
The GOP CR would cut $20.2 billion of IRS funding for catching rich tax cheats - because the GOP is laser-focused on helping the rich cheat on their taxes.
budgetlab.yale.edu/research/rev...
One aspect of this story caught my attention. The interviewee notes that Target pledged to spend $2B with black businesses and rescinded the pledge after the inauguration! Unless the need for investment in the community no longer exists, Target should keep their pledge.
www.npr.org/2025/03/13/n...
www.npr.org/2025/03/13/n...
Some congregations are giving up Target for Lent after it rolled back DEI commitments
NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Pastor Jamal Bryant of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church about leading a movement to swear off shopping at Target for Lent.
www.npr.org
March 14, 2025 at 1:38 PM
One aspect of this story caught my attention. The interviewee notes that Target pledged to spend $2B with black businesses and rescinded the pledge after the inauguration! Unless the need for investment in the community no longer exists, Target should keep their pledge.
www.npr.org/2025/03/13/n...
www.npr.org/2025/03/13/n...
Reposted by Peter Morrell
Here’s something concrete you can do to defend science: lots of states need coordinators and organizers for the March 7 rally!
🚨 WANT TO HELP US STAND UP FOR SCIENCE? 🚨
Here's a little update on where we're currently at with the planning process!
Is your state red or grey & you want to see an event happen? Fill out our volunteer form or share with a friend! airtable.com/app4h5wUssMG...
#standupforscience2025
Here's a little update on where we're currently at with the planning process!
Is your state red or grey & you want to see an event happen? Fill out our volunteer form or share with a friend! airtable.com/app4h5wUssMG...
#standupforscience2025
February 23, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Here’s something concrete you can do to defend science: lots of states need coordinators and organizers for the March 7 rally!
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is firing women and minorities from prominent roles because he thinks they didn’t earn those positions. Did his race or gender play any part in his appointment? Allegations of alcohol and sexual abuse and poor fiscal management can be disqualifying for most jobs!
February 22, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is firing women and minorities from prominent roles because he thinks they didn’t earn those positions. Did his race or gender play any part in his appointment? Allegations of alcohol and sexual abuse and poor fiscal management can be disqualifying for most jobs!
Reposted by Peter Morrell
This is absolutely devastating www.wired.com/story/nation...
National Science Foundation Fires 168 Workers as Federal Purge Continues
Firings at the NSF included permanent employees who had already completed their one-year probationary period, as well as at-will workers.
www.wired.com
February 18, 2025 at 7:06 PM
This is absolutely devastating www.wired.com/story/nation...
Reposted by Peter Morrell
Just in case you thought that removing DEI criteria would mean that everyone is competing equally: NIH is removing grad students from underrepresented backgrounds from the applicant pool altogether. Their applications will not be considered. Other students, not from these backgrounds, will be.
February 6, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Just in case you thought that removing DEI criteria would mean that everyone is competing equally: NIH is removing grad students from underrepresented backgrounds from the applicant pool altogether. Their applications will not be considered. Other students, not from these backgrounds, will be.
Not sure why this needs to be pointed out, but real diversity, equity, and inclusion in the hiring process should result in a larger and more highly qualified pool of candidates. The equity and inclusion parts (in particular) are requirements under multiple federal, state, and local laws.
February 3, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Not sure why this needs to be pointed out, but real diversity, equity, and inclusion in the hiring process should result in a larger and more highly qualified pool of candidates. The equity and inclusion parts (in particular) are requirements under multiple federal, state, and local laws.
Reposted by Peter Morrell
My god, spot on
Once again, a fundamental reason why so many academics despise Trump, Vance, Musk & company is that we’ve all had our share of The Guy Who Didn’t Do The Reading But Demands to Be Heard
January 31, 2025 at 1:55 AM
My god, spot on
Years ago, a young person asked me to explain Bowie’s song “Space Oddity.” @briandilkes.bsky.social found themes that a 6-year old wasn’t hearing. Copilot says the song is about loneliness and isolation with a hint of tragedy, perhaps splitting the difference in the two interpretations?
January 29, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Years ago, a young person asked me to explain Bowie’s song “Space Oddity.” @briandilkes.bsky.social found themes that a 6-year old wasn’t hearing. Copilot says the song is about loneliness and isolation with a hint of tragedy, perhaps splitting the difference in the two interpretations?