Stefano Pacifico
@stefpac.bsky.social
Founder, CEO www.epistemic.ai - #AI for Life Science Information. Father of #MEM #rhabdomyosarcoma child
Personal: www.pacifico.cc
Company: www.epistemic.ai
Mastodon: https://sigmoid.social/@stefpac
Personal: www.pacifico.cc
Company: www.epistemic.ai
Mastodon: https://sigmoid.social/@stefpac
Reposted by Stefano Pacifico
Or, much more likely, they are role-playing, based on their training data.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
AI models may be developing their own ‘survival drive’, researchers say
Like 2001: A Space Odyssey’s HAL 9000, some AIs seem to resist being turned off and will even sabotage shutdown
www.theguardian.com
October 25, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Or, much more likely, they are role-playing, based on their training data.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Stefano Pacifico
PSA / new blog post: Switching word processors with Zotero. Moving from Google Docs to Word will break your Zotero citations/bibliography linkages unless you do this first. doi.org/10.59350/ta6... 🧪
Switching word processors with Zotero
Moving from Google Docs to Word will break your Zotero citations/bibliography linkages unless you do this first.
doi.org
October 23, 2025 at 12:42 PM
PSA / new blog post: Switching word processors with Zotero. Moving from Google Docs to Word will break your Zotero citations/bibliography linkages unless you do this first. doi.org/10.59350/ta6... 🧪
Reposted by Stefano Pacifico
Massive PhD cuts at Harvard. OEB (Organismal and Evolutionary Biology) is dropping from 12 students in the new class to 3, for example.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Harvard FAS Cuts Ph.D. Seats By More Than Half Across Next Two Admissions Cycles | News | The Harvard Crimson
The Faculty of Arts and Sciences slashed the number of Ph.D. student admissions slots for the Science division by more than 75 percent and for the Arts & Humanities division by about 60 percent for th...
www.thecrimson.com
October 21, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Massive PhD cuts at Harvard. OEB (Organismal and Evolutionary Biology) is dropping from 12 students in the new class to 3, for example.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Reposted by Stefano Pacifico
And we are past £5k. 🎉 Not far to go now: www.kickstarter.com/projects/191...
They Are Still Here (Maen Nhw Yma O Hyd)
An anthology of contemporary fantasy stories featuring creatures and characters from Welsh mythology and folklore
www.kickstarter.com
October 21, 2025 at 11:26 AM
And we are past £5k. 🎉 Not far to go now: www.kickstarter.com/projects/191...
Reposted by Stefano Pacifico
Check out the latest edition of my @financialtimes.com newsletter (1/2)
China's innovation paradox: Beijing's industrial policy has turned the country into a technological power, but it hasn't led to productivity growth:
on.ft.com/4hotGTY
China's innovation paradox: Beijing's industrial policy has turned the country into a technological power, but it hasn't led to productivity growth:
on.ft.com/4hotGTY
October 19, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Check out the latest edition of my @financialtimes.com newsletter (1/2)
China's innovation paradox: Beijing's industrial policy has turned the country into a technological power, but it hasn't led to productivity growth:
on.ft.com/4hotGTY
China's innovation paradox: Beijing's industrial policy has turned the country into a technological power, but it hasn't led to productivity growth:
on.ft.com/4hotGTY
Reposted by Stefano Pacifico
With just $800 in basic equipment, researchers found a stunning variety of data—including thousands of T-Mobile users’ calls and texts and even US military communications—sent by satellites unencrypted.
Read more: www.google.com/url?q=https:...
Read more: www.google.com/url?q=https:...
October 14, 2025 at 5:17 PM
With just $800 in basic equipment, researchers found a stunning variety of data—including thousands of T-Mobile users’ calls and texts and even US military communications—sent by satellites unencrypted.
Read more: www.google.com/url?q=https:...
Read more: www.google.com/url?q=https:...
Reposted by Stefano Pacifico
Bristol Myers and insitro have extended their research deal to find a new drug to treat ALS, Endpoints News has learned exclusively.
endpoints.news/bristol-myer...
endpoints.news/bristol-myer...
Exclusive: Bristol Myers, insitro extend research deal to find a drug for new ALS target
Bristol Myers will pay up to $20 million to extend its research collaboration with insitro by a year, the companies exclusively told Endpoints News.
endpoints.news
October 14, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Bristol Myers and insitro have extended their research deal to find a new drug to treat ALS, Endpoints News has learned exclusively.
endpoints.news/bristol-myer...
endpoints.news/bristol-myer...
Reposted by Stefano Pacifico
In 2014 I wrote for @newyorker.com about @kurtjmac.bsky.social, a YouTuber who began walking in Minecraft and never stopped. His quest was to reach the Far Lands, a place at the limits of the algorithmic world, where the landscape breaks apart. On Saturday, after fourteen years, he arrived:
A Journey to the End of the World (of Minecraft)
www.newyorker.com
October 9, 2025 at 10:54 AM
In 2014 I wrote for @newyorker.com about @kurtjmac.bsky.social, a YouTuber who began walking in Minecraft and never stopped. His quest was to reach the Far Lands, a place at the limits of the algorithmic world, where the landscape breaks apart. On Saturday, after fourteen years, he arrived:
Reposted by Stefano Pacifico
BREAKING: A catastrophic breach has impacted Discord user data including selfies and identity documents uploaded as part of the app’s verification process, email addresses, phone numbers, approximately where the user lives, and much more.
🔗 www.404media.co/the-discord-...
🔗 www.404media.co/the-discord-...
The Discord Hack is Every Users’ Worst Nightmare
A hack impacting Discord’s age verification process shows in stark terms the risk of tech companies collecting users’ ID documents. Now the hackers are posting peoples’ IDs and other sensitive informa...
www.404media.co
October 9, 2025 at 3:35 PM
BREAKING: A catastrophic breach has impacted Discord user data including selfies and identity documents uploaded as part of the app’s verification process, email addresses, phone numbers, approximately where the user lives, and much more.
🔗 www.404media.co/the-discord-...
🔗 www.404media.co/the-discord-...
Reposted by Stefano Pacifico
😭
IG newberlinlibrary
IG newberlinlibrary
October 6, 2025 at 7:52 AM
😭
IG newberlinlibrary
IG newberlinlibrary
Reposted by Stefano Pacifico
Europeans need to learn to love risk on.ft.com/3VQPqxQ | opinion
Europeans need to learn to love risk
A culture of financial caution stymies innovation and prevents the continent from competing with the US and China
on.ft.com
October 5, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Europeans need to learn to love risk on.ft.com/3VQPqxQ | opinion
Reposted by Stefano Pacifico
We promise this pandemic was only virtual.
20 years ago, an unexpected event in the online game "World of Warcraft" caught the attention of players and researchers. A new dungeon introduced a boss whose special attack temporarily drained a player’s health and could spread to others nearby. 🧵⬇️ (1/3)
20 years ago, an unexpected event in the online game "World of Warcraft" caught the attention of players and researchers. A new dungeon introduced a boss whose special attack temporarily drained a player’s health and could spread to others nearby. 🧵⬇️ (1/3)
September 13, 2025 at 11:05 AM
We promise this pandemic was only virtual.
20 years ago, an unexpected event in the online game "World of Warcraft" caught the attention of players and researchers. A new dungeon introduced a boss whose special attack temporarily drained a player’s health and could spread to others nearby. 🧵⬇️ (1/3)
20 years ago, an unexpected event in the online game "World of Warcraft" caught the attention of players and researchers. A new dungeon introduced a boss whose special attack temporarily drained a player’s health and could spread to others nearby. 🧵⬇️ (1/3)
Reposted by Stefano Pacifico
NEW: X has started rolling out it's end-to-end encrypted chat for all users.
I was invited to start using it yesterday, so I asked a couple of experts if users should trust it. The answer: no, nobody should trust it at this point.
There are several reasons why, which they explained to me here.
I was invited to start using it yesterday, so I asked a couple of experts if users should trust it. The answer: no, nobody should trust it at this point.
There are several reasons why, which they explained to me here.
X is now offering me end-to-end encrypted chat. You probably shouldn't trust it yet. | TechCrunch
X's new encrypted messaging feature, XChat, has some red flags.
techcrunch.com
September 5, 2025 at 4:14 PM
NEW: X has started rolling out it's end-to-end encrypted chat for all users.
I was invited to start using it yesterday, so I asked a couple of experts if users should trust it. The answer: no, nobody should trust it at this point.
There are several reasons why, which they explained to me here.
I was invited to start using it yesterday, so I asked a couple of experts if users should trust it. The answer: no, nobody should trust it at this point.
There are several reasons why, which they explained to me here.
Reposted by Stefano Pacifico
🤷🏿♂️
Anthropic will start training its AI models on chat transcripts
You can choose to opt out.
www.theverge.com
August 28, 2025 at 4:32 PM
🤷🏿♂️
Reposted by Stefano Pacifico
However bad you think things are at the CDC they are worse.
That's the takeaway from this well-reported story from Daniel Payne w/back-up from an all-star STAT team.
Must-read.
www.statnews.com/2025/08/28/c...
That's the takeaway from this well-reported story from Daniel Payne w/back-up from an all-star STAT team.
Must-read.
www.statnews.com/2025/08/28/c...
Inside the CDC director's ouster: Kennedy demanded acceptance of new vaccine policies; Susan Monarez refused
Susan Monarez’s resistance to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s moves to assert control over vaccine guidance is at the center of her dismissal as CDC director
www.statnews.com
August 28, 2025 at 4:41 PM
However bad you think things are at the CDC they are worse.
That's the takeaway from this well-reported story from Daniel Payne w/back-up from an all-star STAT team.
Must-read.
www.statnews.com/2025/08/28/c...
That's the takeaway from this well-reported story from Daniel Payne w/back-up from an all-star STAT team.
Must-read.
www.statnews.com/2025/08/28/c...
Reposted by Stefano Pacifico
Italy balks at US double cheese tariff on.ft.com/41P3H1t
Italy balks at US double cheese tariff
Rome complains about some of its Parmesan exports being hit with a 30% rate
on.ft.com
August 28, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Italy balks at US double cheese tariff on.ft.com/41P3H1t
Reposted by Stefano Pacifico
“From some of the conversations we had in Kenya, I think the view at the moment is that it's more beneficial to rely on cheap imports, rather than to potentially delay any meaningful action by trying to develop local industries... this reliance on Chinese solar panel imports is likely to stay.”
Africa Is Buying a Record Number of Chinese Solar Panels
Energy-starved countries on the continent have reluctantly turned to coal and gas for decades. Cheap Chinese solar panels are now finally changing the calculus.
www.wired.com
August 21, 2025 at 3:36 PM
“From some of the conversations we had in Kenya, I think the view at the moment is that it's more beneficial to rely on cheap imports, rather than to potentially delay any meaningful action by trying to develop local industries... this reliance on Chinese solar panel imports is likely to stay.”
Reposted by Stefano Pacifico
Surely, that will work.
UK government asks everybody to stop using VPNs.
"everybody who's out there thinking of using VPNs...verifying your age keeps a child safe...So let's just not try and find a way around. Just prove your age."
- UK government
"everybody who's out there thinking of using VPNs...verifying your age keeps a child safe...So let's just not try and find a way around. Just prove your age."
- UK government
August 21, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Surely, that will work.
Reposted by Stefano Pacifico
I'll admit, I was skeptical when they said Gemini was just like a bunch of PhDs. But I gotta admit they nailed it.
August 17, 2025 at 1:51 PM
I'll admit, I was skeptical when they said Gemini was just like a bunch of PhDs. But I gotta admit they nailed it.
Reposted by Stefano Pacifico
Smoke from wildfires in Canada wrap around the circulation of Tropical Storm Dexter as it moves farther out over the North Atlantic Ocean.
August 6, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Smoke from wildfires in Canada wrap around the circulation of Tropical Storm Dexter as it moves farther out over the North Atlantic Ocean.
Reposted by Stefano Pacifico
one of the single best deals in streaming. i've been paying for PBS Passport for years. it rules
August 2, 2025 at 8:20 PM
one of the single best deals in streaming. i've been paying for PBS Passport for years. it rules
Reposted by Stefano Pacifico
Once dismissed as mere snoring, sleep apnea is now recognized as a potential biomarker for Alzheimer's and heart disease. The disorder's repeated oxygen deprivation can cause vascular damage, accelerating cognitive decline and other illnesses.
#MedSky
#MedSky
What Your Nighttime Breathing Says About Your Health
Once dismissed as just snoring, sleep apnea is now emerging as an early warning sign for serious conditions like Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and depression.
www.wired.com
July 30, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Once dismissed as mere snoring, sleep apnea is now recognized as a potential biomarker for Alzheimer's and heart disease. The disorder's repeated oxygen deprivation can cause vascular damage, accelerating cognitive decline and other illnesses.
#MedSky
#MedSky
Reposted by Stefano Pacifico
Holy shit. This guy saved a PNG to a bird.
(he drew a bird into a spectrogram, played that sound to a starling, and the starling reproduced it back to him with enough accuracy he got his bird drawing back in their call's spectrogram) www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCQC...
(he drew a bird into a spectrogram, played that sound to a starling, and the starling reproduced it back to him with enough accuracy he got his bird drawing back in their call's spectrogram) www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCQC...
I Saved a PNG Image To A Bird
YouTube video by Benn Jordan
www.youtube.com
July 28, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Holy shit. This guy saved a PNG to a bird.
(he drew a bird into a spectrogram, played that sound to a starling, and the starling reproduced it back to him with enough accuracy he got his bird drawing back in their call's spectrogram) www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCQC...
(he drew a bird into a spectrogram, played that sound to a starling, and the starling reproduced it back to him with enough accuracy he got his bird drawing back in their call's spectrogram) www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCQC...
Reposted by Stefano Pacifico
Reddit is blocking access to content regarding Gaza and Ukraine, thanks the restrictions in the Online Safety Act.
In order to access news on war crimes, you now have to surrender your age / identity / biometrics.
Positively dystopian.
In order to access news on war crimes, you now have to surrender your age / identity / biometrics.
Positively dystopian.
UK Users Need to Post Selfie or Photo ID to View Reddit's r/IsraelCrimes, r/UkraineWarFootage
“If visibility of r/IsraelCrimes is being restricted under the Online Safety Act, it’s only because the state fears accountability,” moderators say.
www.404media.co
July 29, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Reddit is blocking access to content regarding Gaza and Ukraine, thanks the restrictions in the Online Safety Act.
In order to access news on war crimes, you now have to surrender your age / identity / biometrics.
Positively dystopian.
In order to access news on war crimes, you now have to surrender your age / identity / biometrics.
Positively dystopian.