Spencer LaVere Smith
@spencerlaveresmith.bsky.social
Prof. @ucsantabarbara.bsky.social - Runs a lab slslab.org - Works on computation, neuroscience, behavior, vision, optics, imaging, 2p / multiphoton, optical computing, machine learning / AI - Blogs at labrigger.com - Founded @pacificoptica.bsky.social
I prefer physical books, but it's nice to get a quick read online for anyone who wants to check it out. (free preview, free accounts for reading the whole thing) archive.org/details/doub...
Doubt and certainty in science : a biologist's reflections on the brain : Young, J. Z. (John Zachary), 1907- : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
x, 168 p. : 21 cm. --
archive.org
November 11, 2025 at 9:42 PM
I prefer physical books, but it's nice to get a quick read online for anyone who wants to check it out. (free preview, free accounts for reading the whole thing) archive.org/details/doub...
“Because it is the most effective way of learning about the physical world, it erodes superstition, ignorance and prejudice, which have been at the root of the denial of human rights throughout history...” 2/2 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Ta... www.nature.com/articles/459...
November 10, 2025 at 6:46 PM
“Because it is the most effective way of learning about the physical world, it erodes superstition, ignorance and prejudice, which have been at the root of the denial of human rights throughout history...” 2/2 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Ta... www.nature.com/articles/459...
Sounds like something an LLM would say. xkcd.com/331
November 9, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Sounds like something an LLM would say. xkcd.com/331
Agreed! Times change, and we all need to recognize our opportunities. Institutions too.
I'm willing to bet we will not see another patent clerk Nobel prizewinner in my lifetime. (And the Nobel prize is okay, but is a very constrained set of recognitions-- there are more advances worth recognition).
I'm willing to bet we will not see another patent clerk Nobel prizewinner in my lifetime. (And the Nobel prize is okay, but is a very constrained set of recognitions-- there are more advances worth recognition).
November 8, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Agreed! Times change, and we all need to recognize our opportunities. Institutions too.
I'm willing to bet we will not see another patent clerk Nobel prizewinner in my lifetime. (And the Nobel prize is okay, but is a very constrained set of recognitions-- there are more advances worth recognition).
I'm willing to bet we will not see another patent clerk Nobel prizewinner in my lifetime. (And the Nobel prize is okay, but is a very constrained set of recognitions-- there are more advances worth recognition).
That isn't to say that it's okay to pile demands on researchers. Proper support and time is certainly essential.
It's just that it's not so clear that HHMI/Janelia or MPI has a special formula for progress. Multiple models are okay. 2/2
It's just that it's not so clear that HHMI/Janelia or MPI has a special formula for progress. Multiple models are okay. 2/2
November 8, 2025 at 10:39 PM
That isn't to say that it's okay to pile demands on researchers. Proper support and time is certainly essential.
It's just that it's not so clear that HHMI/Janelia or MPI has a special formula for progress. Multiple models are okay. 2/2
It's just that it's not so clear that HHMI/Janelia or MPI has a special formula for progress. Multiple models are okay. 2/2
Properly funding research brings progress.
It's also true that Curie had to teach and had little funding, McClintock did too and was at a state school in Missouri, Nakamura was modestly funded at a company, Salk had to teach and practice, Borlaug had to teach too, Einstein was a patent clerk. 1/2
It's also true that Curie had to teach and had little funding, McClintock did too and was at a state school in Missouri, Nakamura was modestly funded at a company, Salk had to teach and practice, Borlaug had to teach too, Einstein was a patent clerk. 1/2
November 8, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Properly funding research brings progress.
It's also true that Curie had to teach and had little funding, McClintock did too and was at a state school in Missouri, Nakamura was modestly funded at a company, Salk had to teach and practice, Borlaug had to teach too, Einstein was a patent clerk. 1/2
It's also true that Curie had to teach and had little funding, McClintock did too and was at a state school in Missouri, Nakamura was modestly funded at a company, Salk had to teach and practice, Borlaug had to teach too, Einstein was a patent clerk. 1/2
Good one! I enjoyed Charles H. Townes' book "How the Laser Happened: Adventures Of a Scientist" on this topic. Yes, a bit of a race too, but like you said, it unlocked a ton of science (like DNA did).
Einstein laid the foundation for the maser and lived to see it realized (but not the laser).
Einstein laid the foundation for the maser and lived to see it realized (but not the laser).
November 8, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Good one! I enjoyed Charles H. Townes' book "How the Laser Happened: Adventures Of a Scientist" on this topic. Yes, a bit of a race too, but like you said, it unlocked a ton of science (like DNA did).
Einstein laid the foundation for the maser and lived to see it realized (but not the laser).
Einstein laid the foundation for the maser and lived to see it realized (but not the laser).
It's fun to write headlines cribbed from last night's mad libs session.
November 4, 2025 at 10:53 PM
It's fun to write headlines cribbed from last night's mad libs session.
I miss you guys! And the goats.
October 30, 2025 at 10:46 PM
I miss you guys! And the goats.
Wasn't there in July 2010.
October 30, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Wasn't there in July 2010.
If construction went into 2011, it was just finishing up. I don't recall the construction at all.
Google Streetview shows it being done sometime between 2007 and 2012.
Google Streetview shows it being done sometime between 2007 and 2012.
October 30, 2025 at 10:41 PM
If construction went into 2011, it was just finishing up. I don't recall the construction at all.
Google Streetview shows it being done sometime between 2007 and 2012.
Google Streetview shows it being done sometime between 2007 and 2012.