Jake Sacks

I told you we’d be back

I for one am not sure what makes a theory formal but I like thinking about my theories dressed up in a cute little tuxedo 🥰🤵

email starting, "The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has undertaken a review of its award portfolio. Each award was carefully and individually reviewed, and the agency has determined that termination of certain awards is necessary because they are not in alignment with current NSF priorites."

yesterday, my postdoc funding (salary and research funds) was cancelled by the National Science Foundation, effective immediately. I received the same generic, vaguely threatening, typo-ridden email as many of my colleagues who have had their awards terminated recently. (1/n)

I've heard really good things! Replaying FFX for the Nth time right now lol

The PhD students started writing motivational quotes on the whiteboard

The Coming Out of a Transgender Scientist "I know that I am making the right decision because whenever I think about changing my gender role, I am flooded with feelings of relief."

We're disappointed to see Ben Barres's powerful book "The Autobiography of a Transgender Scientist" among the ~400 titles removed from the Naval Academy Library. Needless to say, we're proud to have published his book and will keep it — and his memory — alive.

Announcing a shift from brain science to Brian science Leading researchers at Allen Institute to study interests, behaviors, and brains of Brians.

Big day for Brians! Please tag a Brian who should join us in this research.

Scientists have learned a lot about brains, but they know hardly anything about Brians. That's why we're shifting from brain science to Brian science.

🧠📈 alleninstitute.org/news/announc...

Some pre-Cosyne jazz

Super excited about our 2-day @cosynemeeting.bsky.social workshop on learning that pays tribute to the diversity of timescales, teaching signals and circuits that work together to shape adaptive behaviors, and where we hope to bridge insights from behavior, dynamics, and learning rules! #cosyne2025

Excited to share our #cosyne25 workshop on learning across timescales! Check out our awesome line-up of speakers across both days: learning-fast-and-slow.github.io

As we gear up for #cosyne2025, let's be aware of everyone we're missing. Most can't speak. So how about a roll call - one that doesn't name names?

I know of >15 individuals from NIH that can't travel (b/c ban). +2 posters that will be delivered by PIs b/c trainees can't travel (visas). You?

/1

Visa/ green card holders in the US who had planned to go to @cosynemeeting.bsky.social , what are your current thoughts about leaving and reentering the US / has your university issued any new directive? I'm happy to dm/ chat over Signal too. #cosyne25 #neuroskyence

Programming midi drums always reminds me of spike trains

YouTube video by Shrek Is Love - Topic Lord Farquaad

Unironically should be a new standard

Putting 4'33 on loop to get in the zone and get some work done

I wouldn't have it any other way 🫶

Imagine the whole world looking this.

It is actually pretty easy to improve our lives, no need for new tech magic or some mars migration BS: just abolish cars from city centres

Warm up GPUs

Top 2024 albums:

Sungazer - Against the Fall of Night
Tigran Hamasyan - The Bird of A Thousand Voices
Bring Me The Horizon - POST HUMAN: NeX Gen
Bilmuri - American Motor Sports

What papers do you like that demonstrate the use of 'orthogonal subspaces' for encoding information in neural populations? #neuroskyence #compneuro #neuroAI

Can the motor system use sensory expectations to prepare for unexpected events?

Excited to share my latest work with @andpru.bsky.social – where we establish that sensory expectations shape neural population dynamics in motor circuits!

🧵 and paper below
1/

Some Caravan with funky drop C riffs. Guitar faces included free of charge

YouTube video by Audiotree Tigran Hamasyan | Audiotree From Nothing

Tigran Audiotree session is a canon event for me

petition to change the word describing ChatGPT's mistakes from 'hallucinations' to 'confabulations'

A hallucination is a false subjective sensory experience. ChatGPT doesn't have experiences!

It's just making up plausible-sounding bs, covering knowledge gaps. That's confabulation

My mom to me on school picture day

Mostly came while I was in middle school, but got into them in high school

The cover of John Coltrane's masterpiece album "A Love Supreme" but it's been edited to read "A Crunchwrap Supreme" and John appears to be smelling the titular Taco Bell menu item

I've probably shared this with you before but just in case I haven't, one of my favorite Photoshop jobs I've ever done

This, Fiddler on The Roof, and anything by Mel Brooks

Cosyne undergrad travel grants!

Tarkovsky is the best! Just rewatched Solaris recently and reading the book now. This is definitely a treasure trove