113. Damian Blasi: Over-reliance On English Hinders Cognitive Science, Linguistic Diversity, How To Study A Language You Don't Speak BJKS podcast

#Science #Social Sciences #Benjamin James Kuper-Smith #Biology #Podcasting Education #Book Club

29:27

With AI’s ability to augment in-house creative teams, how does that change the way organizations should approach both their creative strategies and how they evaluate the value of creative as a business function? Today, we’re joined by Jen Rapp, Chief Marketing Officer at Superside. Jen has had key roles at iconic brands like Patagonia, Arc’teryx, DoorDash, Owlet Baby, and Klaviyo. Now, she’s leading Superside’s rebrand with a focus on AI-powered creative services that augment in-house teams. RESOURCES Superside website: https://www.superside.com Wix Studio is the ultimate web platform for creative, fast-paced teams at agencies and enterprises—with smart design tools, flexible dev capabilities, full-stack business solutions, multi-site management, advanced AI and fully managed infrastructure. https://www.wix.com/studio Don't miss Medallia Experience 2025, March 24-26 in Las Vegas: Registration is now available: https://cvent.me/AmO1k0 Use code MEDEXP25 for $200 off registration Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150 Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company…

BJKS Podcast »
113. Damian Blasi: Over-reliance on English hinders cognitive science, linguistic diversity, how to study a language you don't speak

13 days ago 1:41:09

MP3•Episode home

0:00:00: Why Damian studied physics

0:06:31: How to deal with small, sparse, incomplete, imbalanced, noisy, and non-independent observational data

0:09:38: Evolutionary advantages of different languages

0:14:01: How Damian started doing research on linguistics

0:20:09: How to study a language you don't speak

0:28:58: Start discussing Damian's paper 'Over-reliance on English hinders cognitive science'

0:48:25: What can experimental scientists do about the vast differences between cultures, especially of difficult to reach peoples? And how different are languages and cultures really?

1:10:15: Why is New Guinea so (linguistically) diverse?

1:17:34: Should I learn a common or a rare language? And where?

1:29:09: A book or paper more people should read

1:32:31: Something Damian wishes he'd learnt sooner

1:33:56: Advice for PhD students/postdocs
Podcast links

Website: https://geni.us/bjks-pod
BlueSky: https://geni.us/pod-bsky

Damian's links

Website: https://geni.us/blasi-web
Google Scholar: https://geni.us/blasi-scholar
BlueSky: https://geni.us/blasi-bsky

Ben's links

Website: https://geni.us/bjks-web
Google Scholar: https://geni.us/bjks-scholar
BlueSky: https://geni.us/bjks-bsky

References

World Atlas of Languages: https://en.wal.unesco.org/world-atlas-languages

The Andamanese group that's hostile to strangers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentinelese

"the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan's advantage" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirohito_surrender_broadcast

Bakker (2022). The sounds of life.

Blasi ... Neubig (2021). Systematic inequalities in language technology performance across the world's languages. arXiv.

Blasi ... Bickel (2019). Human sound systems are shaped by post-Neolithic changes in bite configuration. Science.

Blasi ... Majid (2022). Over-reliance on English hinders cognitive science. Trends in cognitive sciences.

Everett (2023). A myriad of tongues.

Floyd ... Enfield (2018). Universals and cultural diversity in the expression of gratitude. Royal Society Open Science.

Gordon (2004). Numerical cognition without words: Evidence from Amazonia. Science.

Hossenfelder (2018). Lost in math.

Koyama & Rubin (2022). How the world became rich.

Nettle (1998). Explaining global patterns of language diversity. Journal of anthropological archaeology.

Pica ... Dehaene (2004). Exact and approximate arithmetic in an Amazonian indigene group. Science.

Skirgård ... Gray (2023). Grambank reveals the importance of genealogical constraints on linguistic diversity and highlights the impact of language loss. Science Advances.

Chapters

1. Why Damian studied physics (00:00:00)

2. How to deal with small, sparse, incomplete, imbalanced, noisy, and non-independent observational data (00:06:31)

3. Evolutionary advantages of different languages (00:09:38)

4. How Damian started doing research on linguistics (00:14:01)

5. How to study a language you don't speak (00:20:09)

6. Start discussing Damian's paper 'Over-reliance on English hinders cognitive science' (00:28:58)

7. What can experimental scientists do about the vast differences between cultures, especially of difficult to reach peoples? And how different are languages and cultures really? (00:48:25)

8. Why is New Guinea so (linguistically) diverse? (01:10:15)

9. Should I learn a common or a rare language? And where? (01:17:34)

10. A book or paper more people should read (01:29:09)

11. Something Damian wishes he'd learnt sooner (01:32:31)

12. Advice for PhD students/postdocs (01:33:56)

113 episodes

113. Damian Blasi: Over-reliance on English hinders cognitive science, linguistic diversity, how to study a language you don't speak

BJKS Podcast

published 13 days ago

MP3•Episode home

0:00:00: Why Damian studied physics

0:06:31: How to deal with small, sparse, incomplete, imbalanced, noisy, and non-independent observational data

0:09:38: Evolutionary advantages of different languages

0:14:01: How Damian started doing research on linguistics

0:20:09: How to study a language you don't speak

0:28:58: Start discussing Damian's paper 'Over-reliance on English hinders cognitive science'

0:48:25: What can experimental scientists do about the vast differences between cultures, especially of difficult to reach peoples? And how different are languages and cultures really?

1:10:15: Why is New Guinea so (linguistically) diverse?

1:17:34: Should I learn a common or a rare language? And where?

1:29:09: A book or paper more people should read

1:32:31: Something Damian wishes he'd learnt sooner

1:33:56: Advice for PhD students/postdocs
Podcast links

Website: https://geni.us/bjks-pod
BlueSky: https://geni.us/pod-bsky

Damian's links

Website: https://geni.us/blasi-web
Google Scholar: https://geni.us/blasi-scholar
BlueSky: https://geni.us/blasi-bsky

Ben's links

Website: https://geni.us/bjks-web
Google Scholar: https://geni.us/bjks-scholar
BlueSky: https://geni.us/bjks-bsky

References

World Atlas of Languages: https://en.wal.unesco.org/world-atlas-languages

The Andamanese group that's hostile to strangers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentinelese

"the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan's advantage" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirohito_surrender_broadcast

Bakker (2022). The sounds of life.

Blasi ... Neubig (2021). Systematic inequalities in language technology performance across the world's languages. arXiv.

Blasi ... Bickel (2019). Human sound systems are shaped by post-Neolithic changes in bite configuration. Science.

Blasi ... Majid (2022). Over-reliance on English hinders cognitive science. Trends in cognitive sciences.

Everett (2023). A myriad of tongues.

Floyd ... Enfield (2018). Universals and cultural diversity in the expression of gratitude. Royal Society Open Science.

Gordon (2004). Numerical cognition without words: Evidence from Amazonia. Science.

Hossenfelder (2018). Lost in math.

Koyama & Rubin (2022). How the world became rich.

Nettle (1998). Explaining global patterns of language diversity. Journal of anthropological archaeology.

Pica ... Dehaene (2004). Exact and approximate arithmetic in an Amazonian indigene group. Science.

Skirgård ... Gray (2023). Grambank reveals the importance of genealogical constraints on linguistic diversity and highlights the impact of language loss. Science Advances.

Chapters

1. Why Damian studied physics (00:00:00)

2. How to deal with small, sparse, incomplete, imbalanced, noisy, and non-independent observational data (00:06:31)

3. Evolutionary advantages of different languages (00:09:38)

4. How Damian started doing research on linguistics (00:14:01)

5. How to study a language you don't speak (00:20:09)

6. Start discussing Damian's paper 'Over-reliance on English hinders cognitive science' (00:28:58)

7. What can experimental scientists do about the vast differences between cultures, especially of difficult to reach peoples? And how different are languages and cultures really? (00:48:25)

8. Why is New Guinea so (linguistically) diverse? (01:10:15)

9. Should I learn a common or a rare language? And where? (01:17:34)

10. A book or paper more people should read (01:29:09)

11. Something Damian wishes he'd learnt sooner (01:32:31)

12. Advice for PhD students/postdocs (01:33:56)

113 episodes

#Science #Social Sciences #Benjamin James Kuper-Smith #Biology #Podcasting Education #Book Club

All episodes

1
113. Damian Blasi: Over-reliance on English hinders cognitive science, linguistic diversity, how to study a language you don't speak 1:41:09

13 days ago1:41:09

1:41:09

Damian Blasi is a professor at the Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona. We talk about his article 'Over-reliance on English hinders cognitive science', linguistic diversity, how to study across the world's languages, his career path, and much more. BJKS Podcast is a podcast about neuroscience, psychology, and anything vaguely related, hosted by Benjamin James Kuper-Smith. Support the show: https://geni.us/bjks-patreon Timestamps 0:00:00: Why Damian studied physics 0:06:31: How to deal with small, sparse, incomplete, imbalanced, noisy, and non-independent observational data 0:09:38: Evolutionary advantages of different languages 0:14:01: How Damian started doing research on linguistics 0:20:09: How to study a language you don't speak 0:28:58: Start discussing Damian's paper 'Over-reliance on English hinders cognitive science' 0:48:25: What can experimental scientists do about the vast differences between cultures, especially of difficult to reach peoples? And how different are languages and cultures really? 1:10:15: Why is New Guinea so (linguistically) diverse? 1:17:34: Should I learn a common or a rare language? And where? 1:29:09: A book or paper more people should read 1:32:31: Something Damian wishes he'd learnt sooner 1:33:56: Advice for PhD students/postdocs Podcast links Website: https://geni.us/bjks-pod BlueSky: https://geni.us/pod-bsky Damian's links Website: https://geni.us/blasi-web Google Scholar: https://geni.us/blasi-scholar BlueSky: https://geni.us/blasi-bsky Ben's links Website: https://geni.us/bjks-web Google Scholar: https://geni.us/bjks-scholar BlueSky: https://geni.us/bjks-bsky References World Atlas of Languages: https://en.wal.unesco.org/world-atlas-languages The Andamanese group that's hostile to strangers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentinelese "the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan's advantage" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirohito_surrender_broadcast Bakker (2022). The sounds of life. Blasi ... Neubig (2021). Systematic inequalities in language technology performance across the world's languages. arXiv . Blasi ... Bickel (2019). Human sound systems are shaped by post-Neolithic changes in bite configuration. Science . Blasi ... Majid (2022). Over-reliance on English hinders cognitive science. Trends in cognitive sciences . Everett (2023). A myriad of tongues . Floyd ... Enfield (2018). Universals and cultural diversity in the expression of gratitude. Royal Society Open Science . Gordon (2004). Numerical cognition without words: Evidence from Amazonia. Science . Hossenfelder (2018). Lost in math . Koyama & Rubin (2022). How the world became rich . Nettle (1998). Explaining global patterns of language diversity. Journal of anthropological archaeology . Pica ... Dehaene (2004). Exact and approximate arithmetic in an Amazonian indigene group. Science . Skirgård ... Gray (2023). Grambank reveals the importance of genealogical constraints on linguistic diversity and highlights the impact of language loss. Science Advances .…

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112. Gordon Pennycook: From Carrot River to Cornell, misinformation, and reducing conspiracy beliefs 1:50:21

5 weeks ago1:50:21

1:50:21

Gordon Pennycook is an Associate Professor at Cornell University. We talk about his upbringing in rural Northern Canada, how he got into academia, and his work on misinformation: why people share it and what can be done about it. BJKS Podcast is a podcast about neuroscience, psychology, and anything vaguely related, hosted by Benjamin James Kuper-Smith. Support the show: https://geni.us/bjks-patreon Timestamps 0:00:00: Straight outta Carrot River: From Northern Canada to publishing in Nature 0:37:01: Exploration vs focusing on one topic: finding your research topic 0:48:57: A sense of having made it 0:54:17: Why apply reasoning research to religion? 0:59:45: Starting working on misinformation 1:08:20: Defining misinformation, disinformation, and fake news 1:15:52: Social media, the consumption of news, and Bayesian updating 1:24:48: Reasons for why people share misinformation 1:35:57: Are social media companies listening to Pennycook et al? 1:38:19: Using AI to change conspiracy beliefs 1:44:59: A book or paper more people should read 1:46:33: Something Gordon wishes he'd learnt sooner 1:48:12: Advice for PhD students/postdocs Podcast links Website: https://geni.us/bjks-pod BlueSky: https://geni.us/pod-bsky Gordon's links Website: https://geni.us/pennycook_web Google Scholar: https://geni.us/pennycook-scholar BlueSky: https://geni.us/pennycook-bsky Ben's links Website: https://geni.us/bjks-web Google Scholar: https://geni.us/bjks-scholar References Costello, Pennycook & Rand (2024). Durably reducing conspiracy beliefs through dialogues with AI. Science . Dawkins (2006). The God Delusion. MacLeod, ... & Ozubko (2010). The production effect: delineation of a phenomenon. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition . Nowak & Highfield (2012). Supercooperators: Altruism, evolution, and why we need each other to succeed . Pennycook, ... & Fugelsang (2012). Analytic cognitive style predicts religious and paranormal belief. Cognition . Pennycook, Fugelsang & Koehler (2015). What makes us think? A three-stage dual-process model of analytic engagement. Cognitive Psychology . Pennycook, Cheyne, Barr, Koehler & Fugelsang (2015). On the reception and detection of pseudo-profound bullshit. Judgment and Decision making . Pennycook & Rand (2019). Lazy, not biased: Susceptibility to partisan fake news is better explained by lack of reasoning than by motivated reasoning. Cognition . Pennycook & Rand (2021). The psychology of fake news. Trends in cognitive sciences . Rand (2016). Cooperation, fast and slow: Meta-analytic evidence for a theory of social heuristics and self-interested deliberation. Psychological Science . Stanovich (2005). The robot's rebellion: Finding meaning in the age of Darwin . Tappin, Pennycook & Rand (2020). Thinking clearly about causal inferences of politically motivated reasoning: Why paradigmatic study designs often undermine causal inference. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences . Thompson, Turner & Pennycook (2011). Intuition, reason, and metacognition. Cognitive Psychology .…

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111. Renzo Huber: Layer-fMRI, high-resolution fMRI, and the delicate balance between gourmet chef and janitor 1:36:54

9 weeks ago1:36:54

1:36:54

Renzo Huber is a staff scientist at NIH. We talk about his work on layer-fMRI: what it is, how Renzo got into it, how to do it, when it makes sense to do it, what the future holds, and much more. Support the show: https://geni.us/bjks-patreon Timestamps 0:00:00: How Renzo got into high-resolution fMRI 0:11:28: The difference between 3T and 7T fMRI 0:22:46: Is a bigger fMRI scanner always better? 0:33:35: Layer-fMRI 0:56:28: For what types of research is layer-fMRI most useful? 1:02:35: How to do layer-fMRI and make it reproducible 1:19:21: The future of layer-fMRI 1:27:02: A book or paper more people should read 1:30:37: Something Renzo wishes he'd learnt sooner 1:33:11: Advice for PhD students/postdocs Podcast links Website: https://geni.us/bjks-pod Twitter: https://geni.us/bjks-pod-twt Renzo's links Website: https://geni.us/huber-web Google Scholar: https://geni.us/huber-scholar Twitter: https://geni.us/huber-twt Ben's links Website: https://geni.us/bjks-web Google Scholar: https://geni.us/bjks-scholar Twitter: https://geni.us/bjks-twt References and links mentioned Episode with Peter Bandettini: https://geni.us/bjks-bandettini Episode with Emily Finn: https://geni.us/bjks-finn Renzo's blog about layer fMRI: https://layerfmri.com/ YouTube channel on layer fMRI: https://www.youtube.com/@layerfmri/ Bastos, ... & Friston (2012). Canonical microcircuits for predictive coding. Neuron . Bollmann & Barth (2021). New acquisition techniques and their prospects for the achievable resolution of fMRI. Progress in Neurobiology . Boulant, ... & Le Bihan (2024). In vivo imaging of the human brain with the Iseult 11.7-T MRI scanner. Nature Methods . Finn, ... & Bandettini (2019). Layer-dependent activity in human prefrontal cortex during working memory. Nature Neuroscience . Feynman (1985). "Surely you're joking, Mr. Feynman!": adventures of a curious character . Haarsma, Kok & Browning (2022). The promise of layer-specific neuroimaging for testing predictive coding theories of psychosis. Schizophrenia Research . Huber, ... & Bandettini (2017). High-resolution CBV-fMRI allows mapping of laminar activity and connectivity of cortical input and output in human M1. Neuron . Huber, ... & Möller (2019). Non-BOLD contrast for laminar fMRI in humans: CBF, CBV, and CMRO2. Neuroimage . Huber, ... & Bandettini (2020). Sub-millimeter fMRI reveals multiple topographical digit representations that form action maps in human motor cortex. Neuroimage . Huber, ... & Kronbichler (2023). Evaluating the capabilities and challenges of layer-fMRI VASO at 3T. Aperture Neuro . Huber, ... & Horovitz (2023). Laminar VASO fMRI in focal hand dystonia patients. Dystonia . Persichetti, ... & Martin (2020). Layer-specific contributions to imagined and executed hand movements in human primary motor cortex. Current Biology . Polimeni, ... & Wald (2010). Laminar analysis of 7 T BOLD using an imposed spatial activation pattern in human V1. Neuroimage .…

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110. Ella Marushchenko: Scientific illustrations, digital vs. classic art, and how to improve scientific figures 1:32:11

14 weeks ago1:32:11

1:32:11

Ella Marushchenko is a scientific illustrator who runs a studio of artists and scientists that creates cover art, scientific and illustrations, and more. We talk about her unlikely path from artist in Russia to scientific illustrator in the US, digital vs classic art, how to interact as scientists with illustrators, how to improve scientific figures, and much more. BJKS Podcast is a podcast about neuroscience, psychology, and anything vaguely related, hosted by Benjamin James Kuper-Smith. Support the show: https://geni.us/bjks-patreon Timestamps 0:00:00: Ella's unlikely path to doing scientific illustrations 0:33:17: Running a studio for scientific illustrations 0:36:30: The process of commissioning a scientific figure 0:46:44: The changing landscape of scientific publications and communication 0:50:15: Unhelpful things to avoid when interacting with a science illustrator 0:59:06: Who are scientific illustrations for? 1:06:36: The purpose of illustrations in science 1:16:09: How to learn to improve scientific figures 1:22:30: How to become a scientific illustrator 1:26:10: A book or paper more people should read 1:27:48: Something Ella wishes she'd learnt sooner 1:29:10: Advice for PhD students/postdocs Podcast links Website: https://geni.us/bjks-pod Twitter: https://geni.us/bjks-pod-twt Ella's links Website: https://geni.us/marushchenko-web Twitter: https://geni.us/marushchenko-twt Ben's links Website: https://geni.us/bjks-web Google Scholar: https://geni.us/bjks-scholar Twitter: https://geni.us/bjks-twt References and links Some pictures by Sergey Krasnov: https://www.flickr.com/photos/sergey_krasnov/ Sergiy Minko: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=TMotc_wAAAAJ Science diagrams that look like shitposts: https://x.com/scienceshitpost My photo of the elephant at the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle: https://www.bjks.blog/nature/3n6ljuy6noa5470tdsbcuicltu48df Episode about Cajal: https://geni.us/bjks-ehrlich Bulgakov (1967). The Master and Margarita .…

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109. Roberto Bottini: Cognitive maps, visual impairment, and image spaces 1:24:08

15 weeks ago1:24:08

1:24:08

Roberto Bottini is an Associate Professor at the University of Trento. We talk about his recent work on unusual cognitive maps in blind people, image spaces, metaphors, and he gives me some advice for writing successful grant applications. BJKS Podcast is a podcast about neuroscience, psychology, and anything vaguely related, hosted by Benjamin James Kuper-Smith. Support the show: https://geni.us/bjks-patreon Timestamps 0:00:00: Roberto's background 0:03:20: Start discussing Roberto's paper on altered grid cells in visually impaired people: theoretical background 0:16:28: Methods & results: walking on a clock face / altered grid cells: fourfold symmetry 0:47:48: Start discussing Roberto's paper on cognitive maps and image spaces (TiCS) 0:52:05: Egocentric and allocentric perspectives 0:55:27: Metaphors and analogies 1:00:08: Tips for grant applications 1:14:18: A book or paper that more people should read 1:18:38: Something Roberto wishes he'd learnt sooner 1:20:30: Advice for PhD students/postdocs Podcast links Website: https://geni.us/bjks-pod Twitter: https://geni.us/bjks-pod-twt Roberto's links Website: https://geni.us/bottini-web Google Scholar: https://geni.us/bottini-scholar Twitter: https://geni.us/bottini-twt Ben's links Website: https://geni.us/bjks-web Google Scholar: https://geni.us/bjks-scholar Twitter: https://geni.us/bjks-twt References Aronov, ... & Tank (2017). Mapping of a non-spatial dimension by the hippocampal–entorhinal circuit. Nature . Bisiach & Luzzatti (1978). Unilateral neglect of representational space. Cortex . Bottini & Doeller (2020). Knowledge across reference frames: Cognitive maps and image spaces. Trends in Cognitive Sciences . Casasanto (2009). Embodiment of abstract concepts: good and bad in right-and left-handers. Journal of experimental psychology: General . Constantinescu, ... & Behrens (2016). Organizing conceptual knowledge in humans with a gridlike code. Science . Derdikman, ... & Moser (2009). Fragmentation of grid cell maps in a multicompartment environment. Nature neuroscience . Eichenbaum (2014). Time cells in the hippocampus: a new dimension for mapping memories. Nature Reviews Neuroscience . Gardenfors (2004). Conceptual spaces: The geometry of thought . Gentner (1983). Structure-mapping: A theoretical framework for analogy. Cognitive science . He & Brown (2019). Environmental barriers disrupt grid-like representations in humans during navigation. Current Biology . Horner, ... & Burgess (2016). Grid-like processing of imagined navigation. Current Biology . Jaynes (1976). The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind. Park, ... & Boorman (2021). Inferences on a multidimensional social hierarchy use a grid-like code. Nature Neuroscience . Sigismondi, ... & Bottini (2024). Altered grid-like coding in early blind people. Nature Communications . Stangl, ... & Wolbers (2018). Compromised grid-cell-like representations in old age as a key mechanism to explain age-related navigational deficits. Current Biology . Tolman (1948). Cognitive maps in rats and men. Psychological Review . Whittington, ... & Behrens (2022). How to build a cognitive map. Nature Neuroscience .…

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108. Robert Wilson: 10 simple rules for computational modelling, phishing, and reproducibility 1:50:45

17 weeks ago1:50:45

1:50:45

Robert (Bob) Wilson is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Georgia Tech. We talk about his tutorial paper (w/ Anne Collins) on computational modelling, and some of his recent work on detecting phishing. BJKS Podcast is a podcast about neuroscience, psychology, and anything vaguely related, hosted by Benjamin James Kuper-Smith. Support the show: https://geni.us/bjks-patreon Timestamps 0:00:00: Bob's strange path through computational cognitive neuroscience 0:07:37: Phishing: a computational model with real-life applications 0:25:46: Start discussing Bob's paper 10 simple rules for computational modeling of behavioral data 0:32:15: Rule 0: Why even do computational modelling? 0:46:24: Rules 1 & 2: Design a good experiment & Design a good model 1:02:51: Rule 3: Simulate! 1:05:48: Rules 4 & 5: Parameter estimation and recovery 1:18:28: Rule 6: Model recovery 1:25:55: Rules 7 & 8: Collect data and validate the model 1:33:15: Rule 9: Latent variable analysis 1:36:24: Rule 10: Report your results 1:37:46: Computational modelling and the open science movement 1:40:17: A book or paper more people should read 1:43:35: Something Bob wishes he'd learnt sooner 1:47:18: Advice for PhD students/postdocs Podcast links Website: https://geni.us/bjks-pod Twitter: https://geni.us/bjks-pod-twt Robert's links Website: https://geni.us/wilson-web Google Scholar: https://geni.us/wilson-scholar Twitter: https://geni.us/wilson-twt Ben's links Website: https://geni.us/bjks-web Google Scholar: https://geni.us/bjks-scholar Twitter: https://geni.us/bjks-twt References Episodes w/ Paul Smaldino: https://geni.us/bjks-smaldino https://geni.us/bjks-smaldino_2 Bechara, Damasio, Damasio, & Anderson (1994). Insensitivity to future consequences following damage to human prefrontal cortex. Cognition . Feng, Wang, Zarnescu & Wilson (2021). The dynamics of explore–exploit decisions reveal a signal-to-noise mechanism for random exploration. Scientific Reports . Grilli, ... & Wilson (2021). Is this phishing? Older age is associated with greater difficulty discriminating between safe and malicious emails. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B . Hakim, Ebner, ... & Wilson (2021). The Phishing Email Suspicion Test (PEST) a lab-based task for evaluating the cognitive mechanisms of phishing detection. Behavior research methods . Harootonian, Ekstrom & Wilson (2022). Combination and competition between path integration and landmark navigation in the estimation of heading direction. PLoS Computational Biology . Hopfield (1982). Neural networks and physical systems with emergent collective computational abilities. PNAS . MacKay (2003). Information theory, inference and learning algorithms . Miller, Eugene & Pribram (1960). Plans and the Structure of Behaviour. Sweis, Abram, Schmidt, Seeland, MacDonald III, Thomas, & Redish (2018). Sensitivity to “sunk costs” in mice, rats, and humans. Science . Walasek & Stewart (2021). You cannot accurately estimate an individual’s loss aversion using an accept–reject task. Decision . Wilson & Collins (2019). Ten simple rules for the computational modeling of behavioral data. Elife .…

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107. Nick Wise: Publication fraud, buying authorships, and tortured phrases 2:01:05

18 weeks ago2:01:05

2:01:05

Nick Wise is a postdoc in fluid dynamics at Cambridge University. We talk about his 'detective work' on publication fraud which has gotten more than 800 papers retracted to date, including tortured phrases, discovering Facebook groups and Telegram channels in which people sell authorships on papers, how 'Special' issues can be exploited, and what we can do about this. BJKS Podcast is a podcast about neuroscience, psychology, and anything vaguely related, hosted by Benjamin James Kuper-Smith. Support the show: https://geni.us/bjks-patreon Timestamps 0:00:00: How Nick got involved with publication fraud: tortured phrases 0:18:26: Why do people try to publish nonsense papers? 0:24:27: The ecosystem of fraudulent publishing 0:30:22: 'Special' issues 0:49:02: How does Nick do this detective work? 1:00:37: What can we do about publication fraud? 1:38:52: There are practically no jobs to work full-time on fraud detection 1:49:37: A book or paper more people should read 1:55:13: Something Nick wishes he'd learnt sooner 1:57:21: Advice for PhD students/postdocs Podcast links Website: https://geni.us/bjks-pod Twitter: https://geni.us/bjks-pod-twt Nick's links Website: https://geni.us/n-wise-web Google Scholar: https://geni.us/n-wise-scholar Twitter: https://geni.us/n-wise-twt Ben's links Website: https://geni.us/bjks-web Google Scholar: https://geni.us/bjks-scholar Twitter: https://geni.us/bjks-twt References & links Episodes with Eugenie Reich: https://geni.us/bjks-reich Episode with Elisabeth Bik: https://geni.us/bjks-bik Episode with Adam Mastroianni: https://geni.us/bjks-mastroianni_2 Dorothy Bishop awards 2024: https://www.ukrn.org/2024/03/28/winners-of-the-2024-dorothy-bishop-prize/ Nick's guest blog post on Dorothy Bishop's blog: http://deevybee.blogspot.com/2022/10/what-is-going-on-in-hindawi-special.html Nick's talk at Cambridge: https://sms.cam.ac.uk/media/4117618 Everything Hertz podcast: https://everythinghertz.com/ James Heathers's series of posts on Hindawi: https://jamesclaims.substack.com/p/the-hindawi-files-part-1-the-timeline Coffeezilla: https://www.youtube.com/@Coffeezilla Barnaby Jack's talk at DefCon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkteGFfvwJ0 Cabanac, Labbé & Magazinov (2021). Tortured phrases: A dubious writing style emerging in science. Evidence of critical issues affecting established journals. arXiv . Mastroianni & Ludwin-Peery (2022). Things could be better. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/2uxwk Reich (2009). Plastic fantastic: How the biggest fraud in physics shook the scientific world .…

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106. Eugenie Reich (Part 2): The legalities of scientific fraud, why fraudsters rarely go to prison, and what whistleblowers are allowed to do 1:09:35

19 weeks ago1:09:35

1:09:35

This is the 2nd part of my interview with Eugenie Reich, who is a lawyer who represents scientific whistleblowers, and a former investigative science journalist. We talk about her transition from journalism to law, and discuss the legal aspects of scientific fraud: why fraudsters rarely go to prison, what whistleblowers are legally allowed to do, how and when to seek legal advice, and much more. Obviously, none of this is legal advice, but hopefully it provides some useful pointers. BJKS Podcast is a podcast about neuroscience, psychology, and anything vaguely related, hosted by Benjamin James Kuper-Smith. Support the show: https://geni.us/bjks-patreon Timestamps 0:00:00: How Eugenie went from science journalist to being a lawyer and defending whistleblowers 0:13:15: Why do most people who commit scientific fraud not go to prison? 0:32:36: What are whistleblowers allowed to do? 0:48:24: What if I get sued for reporting scientific misconduct? 0:56:32: How do fraudsters try to intimidate whistleblowers? 1:01:24: What if I can't afford legal help? 1:06:18: Eugenie's plans for the future Podcast links Website: https://geni.us/bjks-pod Twitter: https://geni.us/bjks-pod-twt Eugenie's links Website: https://geni.us/reich-web Twitter: https://geni.us/reich-twt Ben's links Website: https://geni.us/bjks-web Google Scholar: https://geni.us/bjks-scholar Twitter: https://geni.us/bjks-twt References and links Woo-Suk Hwang affair: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hwang_affair Theranos: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theranos Cassava: https://www.science.org/content/article/company-misled-investors-possible-alzheimer-s-drug-sec-charges Eric Poehlman: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Poehlman Luk van Parijs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luk_Van_Parijs The Scientific Integrity Fund: https://scientificintegrityfund.org/ Reich (2009). Plastic fantastic: How the biggest fraud in physics shook the scientific world . Reich (2011). Fraud case we might have seen coming. Nature News .…

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105. Eugenie Reich (Part 1): Plastic Fantastic, scientific fraud, and institutional norms 1:26:32

20 weeks ago1:26:32

1:26:32

Eugenie Reich is an attorney who represents scientific whistleblowers, and a former investigative science journalist. We talk about her previous work as a science journalist, in particular her book Plastic Fantastic about one of the biggest fraud cases in physics, the case of Jan-Hendrik Schön. We'd planned to also discuss Eugenie's current work as an attorney, but spent all our time on the Schön case. Eugenie kindly agreed to do another interview, in which we cover the legal aspects of fraud, which will be the next episode (#106). BJKS Podcast is a podcast about neuroscience, psychology, and anything vaguely related, hosted by Benjamin James Kuper-Smith. Support the show: https://geni.us/bjks-patreon Timestamps 0:00:00: One of the biggest fraud cases in physics/all of science 0:05:47: How and why Eugenie started writing about the Schön case 0:09:26: Why did Schön commit fraud? 0:19:30: Schön's PhD: he never saved any original data 0:30:05: Bell Labs vs. Schön's PhD lab: long-term revolutions vs. short-term applications 0:36:42: Schön's first work at Bell Labs was 'unpublishable' 0:41:42: How to get away with fraud: pretend you collected data in another lab 0:47:45: Bertram Batlogg and the role of the supervisors of fraudsters 0:56:20: How the bursting of the Dot-Com Bubble and 9/11 may (indirectly) have exacerbated Schön's fraud 1:01:09: How to use your colleagues' ideas to commit better fraud 1:05:05: How Schön's fraud unraveled 1:13:45: What is Schön doing now? 1:18:11: A book or paper more people should read 1:20:20: Something Eugenie wishes she'd learnt sooner 1:22:58: Advice for PhD students/postdocs Podcast links Website: https://geni.us/bjks-pod Twitter: https://geni.us/bjks-pod-twt Eugenie's links Website: https://geni.us/reich-web Twitter: https://geni.us/reich-twt Ben's links Website: https://geni.us/bjks-web Google Scholar: https://geni.us/bjks-scholar Twitter: https://geni.us/bjks-twt References and links Episode with Simine Vazire: https://geni.us/bjks-vazire Episode with Elisabeth Bik: https://geni.us/bjks-bik Bell Labs (2002). The Schon report: https://media-bell-labs-com.s3.amazonaws.com/pages/20170403_1709/misconduct-revew-report-lucent.pdf Reich (2009). Plastic fantastic: How the biggest fraud in physics shook the scientific world . Shapin & Schaffer (1985). Leviathan and the air-pump: Hobbes, Boyle, and the experimental life .…

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104. James Shine: Integrating neuroscience with fMRI, collaboration, and the importance of dumb questions 1:48:03

21 weeks ago1:48:03

1:48:03

James (Mac) Shine is a PI and fellow at the University of Sydney. We talk about his background in sports, using fMRI to integrate various parts of neuroscience, collaboration, and much more. BJKS Podcast is a podcast about neuroscience, psychology, and anything vaguely related, hosted by Benjamin James Kuper-Smith. Support the show: https://geni.us/bjks-patreon Timestamps 0:00:00: Mac's sporting background 0:07:46: Overview of Mac's review in Nature (w/ Emily Finn and Russell Poldrack) 0:14:03: The role of great editors in improving scientists and their work 0:32:53: Connecting different levels of description 0:40:07: Integration and specialisation 0:48:49: You can scan any animal with fMRI - but they're usually anaesthetised 0:54:13: The transfer from human fMRI to animal electrophysiology 1:01:53: N=1 studies and layer-fMRI in clinical neuroscience 1:16:17: Collaboration and building a multidisciplinary lab 1:26:52: The magic formula in science: annoyance, excitement, and a constructive mindset 1:34:51: Writing grants as a test to oneself, and the art of reframing 1:41:52: A book or paper more people should read 1:43:37: Something Mac wishes he'd learnt sooner 1:45:43: Advice for PhD students/postdocs Podcast links Website: https://geni.us/bjks-pod Twitter: https://geni.us/bjks-pod-twt Mac's links Website: https://geni.us/shine-web Google Scholar: https://geni.us/shine-scholar Twitter: https://geni.us/shine-twt Ben's links Website: https://geni.us/bjks-web Google Scholar: https://geni.us/bjks-scholar Twitter: https://geni.us/bjks-twt References and links OHMB interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucDj_94ovaU Boyden, ... & Deisseroth (2005). Millisecond-timescale, genetically targeted optical control of neural activity. Nature Neuroscience . Finn, Poldrack & Shine (2023). Functional neuroimaging as a catalyst for integrated neuroscience. Nature . Friston, ... (2017). Active inference: a process theory. Neural Computation . Munn, ... Larkum & Shine (2023). A thalamocortical substrate for integrated information via critical synchronous bursting. PNAS . Newbold, ... & Dosenbach (2020). Plasticity and spontaneous activity pulses in disused human brain circuits. Neuron . Pezzulo & Cisek (2016). Navigating the affordance landscape: feedback control as a process model of behavior and cognition. TiCS . Poldrack, ... (2015). Long-term neural and physiological phenotyping of a single human. Nature Communications . Rao & Ballard (1999). Predictive coding in the visual cortex: a functional interpretation of some extra-classical receptive-field effects. Nature Neuroscience . Shine, ... (2011). Visual misperceptions and hallucinations in Parkinson's disease: dysfunction of attentional control networks?. Movement Disorders . Shine, ... & Poldrack (2016). The dynamics of functional brain networks: integrated network states during cognitive task performance. Neuron . Shine, ... & Poldrack (2016). Temporal metastates are associated with differential patterns of time-resolved connectivity, network topology, and attention. PNAS . Shine & Poldrack (2018). Principles of dynamic network reconfiguration across diverse brain states. NeuroImage .…

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103. Brandon Brown: Farms not grants, academic negotiations, and unusual academic contributions 1:53:13

22 weeks ago1:53:13

1:53:13

Brandon Brown is a professor at University of California Riverside, where he studies global health and ethics. He also writes career columns for Nature and Science, which we talk about: negotiations in academia, his sabbatical, his life owning and working a farm, different types of grants and contributions in academia, and much more BJKS Podcast is a podcast about neuroscience, psychology, and anything vaguely related, hosted by Benjamin James Kuper-Smith. Support the show: https://geni.us/bjks-patreon Timestamps 0:00:00: Brandon's path to becoming a scientist 0:20:39: Start discussing Brandon's career columns in Nature 0:32:17: Grant applications: small vs. big 0:41:36: Postdoc-phase: is my plan crazy? 0:55:32: Different types of contribution/recognition in academia 1:09:22: Negotiation in academia 1:22:47: Contributing to team science 1:30:30: Sabbaticals 1:39:19: Brandon's farm 1:48:15: A book or paper more people should read 1:49:33: Something Brandon wishes he'd learnt sooner 1:51:43: Advice for PhD students/postdocs Podcast links Website: https://geni.us/bjks-pod Twitter: https://geni.us/bjks-pod-twt Brandon's links Website: https://geni.us/brown-web Google Scholar: https://geni.us/brown-scholar Twitter: https://geni.us/brown-twt Ben's links Website: https://geni.us/bjks-web Google Scholar: https://geni.us/bjks-scholar Twitter: https://geni.us/bjks-twt References and links CAMP: https://www.campstatewide.org/ truEvolution: https://www.truevolution.org/ Brandon's columns (most of which we discussed): https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-02390-w https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-03184-8 https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00381-5 https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.364.6447.1306 https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.372.6548.1358 Coelho (1988). The Alchemist.…

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102: Soledad Gonzalo Cogno: Sloooow oscillations in entorhinal cortex, mentoring, and the physics approach to neuroscience 1:37:51

23 weeks ago1:37:51

1:37:51

Soledad Gonzalo Cogno is a group leader at the Kavli Institute for Science Neuroscience in Trondheim. We talk about how she went from studying physics in Argentina to working on the brain in Norway, the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to neuroscience, why researchers should give their research animals a nice life, mentorship, and discuss her recent Nature paper on ultraslow oscillatory sequences in medial entorhinal cortex. BJKS Podcast is a podcast about neuroscience, psychology, and anything vaguely related, hosted by Benjamin James Kuper-Smith. Support the show: https://geni.us/bjks-patreon Timestamps 0:00:00: Studying physics in Argentina 0:12:30: The advantages of a physics background - interdisciplinarity in neuroscience 0:27:31: How Soledad ended up in Trondheim 0:32:46: Rodent heaven in Norway 0:36:19: Start discussing Soledad's paper on ultraslow oscillatory sequences 1:03:12: So what do those ultraslow oscillatory sequences do? 1:16:18: A book or paper more people should read 1:22:30: Something Soledad wishes she'd learnt sooner 1:30:51: Advice for PhD students/postdocs Podcast links Website: https://geni.us/bjks-pod Twitter: https://geni.us/bjks-pod-twt Soledad's links Website: https://geni.us/gonzalo_cogno-web Twitter: https://geni.us/gonzalo_cogno-twt Ben's links Website: https://geni.us/bjks-web Google Scholar: https://geni.us/bjks-scholar Twitter: https://geni.us/bjks-twt References Episode about Ramon y Cajal: https://geni.us/bjks-ehrlich Brun, Solstad, Kjelstrup, Fyhn, Witter, Moser & Moser (2008). Progressive increase in grid scale from dorsal to ventral medial entorhinal cortex. Hippocampus . Constantinou, Gonzalo Cogno, Elijah, Kropff, Gigg, Samengo & Montemurro (2016). Bursting neurons in the hippocampal formation encode features of LFP rhythms. Frontiers in computational neuroscience . Dayan & Abbott (2005). Theoretical neuroscience: computational and mathematical modeling of neural systems . Gonzalo Cogno, Obenhaus, Lautrup, Jacobsen, Clopath, Andersson, ... & Moser (2024). Minute-scale oscillatory sequences in medial entorhinal cortex. Nature . Hastie, Tibshirani & Friedman (2009). The elements of statistical learning: data mining, inference, and prediction . Kropff, Carmichael, Moser & Moser (2015). Speed cells in the medial entorhinal cortex. Nature . MacKay (2003). Information theory, inference and learning algorithms .…

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101. Julie Old: Wombats, saving endangered species, and the difficulties of studying wild animals 1:14:18

24 weeks ago1:14:18

1:14:18

Julie Old is as Associate Professor at Western Sydney University. We talk about her experiences and research with wombats, various aspects of wombat behavior, conservation efforts, challenges such as sarcoptic mange and roadkill, the Northern hairy-nosed wombat's critically endangered status and efforts to translocate them safely, and much more. BJKS Podcast is a podcast about neuroscience, psychology, and anything vaguely related, hosted by Benjamin James Kuper-Smith. Support the show: https://geni.us/bjks-patreon Timestamps 0:00:00: How Julie got into working with wombats 0:03:14: What are wombats? 0:11:40: How Julie started researching wombats 0:15:34: Sarcoptic mange in wombats 0:25:22: Saving the critically endangered Northern hairy-nosed wombat 0:36:00: How to prevent wombats from becoming roadkill 0:41:46: How do I know a wombat was there without seeing the wombat directly? 0:44:11: What research could I do on wombats and (social) decision-making? 0:47:51: How do wombats navigate in burrows? 0:52:42: How the Australian wildfires in 19/20 affected wombats 0:55:41: WomSAT 0:59:29: The Wombat Foundation 1:01:06: How to translocate a population of wombats 1:08:35: A book or paper more people should read 1:10:53: Something Julie wishes she'd learnt sooner 1:12:11: Advice for PhD students/postdocs Podcast links Website: https://geni.us/bjks-pod Twitter: https://geni.us/bjks-pod-twt Julie's links Website: https://geni.us/old-web Google Scholar: https://geni.us/old-scholar Twitter: https://geni.us/old-twt Ben's links Website: https://geni.us/bjks-web Google Scholar: https://geni.us/bjks-scholar Twitter: https://geni.us/bjks-twt References & links The scientific park: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epping_Forest_National_Park The Wombat Foundation: https://www.wombatfoundation.com.au/ WomSAT: https://www.womsat.org.au/womsat/ French & Whatley (2002). Diary of a Wombat . Mayadunnage, Stannard, West & Old (2024). Spatial and temporal patterns of sarcoptic mange in wombats using the citizen science tool, WomSAT. Integrative Zoology . Old, Hunter & Wolfenden (2018). Who utilises bare-nosed wombat burrows?. Australian Zoologist . Old, Sengupta, Naraya, & Wolfenden (2018). Sarcoptic mange in wombats—A review and future research directions. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases . Old & Deane (2003). The detection of mature T‐and B‐cells during development of the lymphoid tissues of the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii). Journal of Anatomy . Old & Deane (2000). Development of the immune system and immunological protection in marsupial pouch young. Developmental & Comparative Immunology . Park (1962). The Adventures of the Muddle-headed Wombat . Stannard, Wynan, Wynan, Dixon Mayadunnage & Old (2021). Can virtual fences reduce wombat road mortalities?. Ecological Engineering . Strahan's mammals of Australia (2023). Woodford (2002). The secret life of wombats .…

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100. Tom Chivers: Thomas Bayes, Bayesian statistics, and science journalism 1:19:46

31 weeks ago1:19:46

1:19:46

Tom Chivers is a journalist who writes a lot about science and applied statistics. We talk about his new book on Bayesian statistics, the biography of Thomas Bayes, the history of probability theory, how Bayes can help with the replication crisis, how Tom became a journalist, and much more. BJKS Podcast is a podcast about neuroscience, psychology, and anything vaguely related, hosted by Benjamin James Kuper-Smith. Support the show: https://geni.us/bjks-patreon Timestamps 0:00:00: Tom's book about Bayes & Bayesian statistics relates to many of my previous episodes and much of my own research 0:03:12: A brief biography of Thomas Bayes (about whom very little is known) 0:11:00: The history of probability theory 0:36:23: Bayesian songs 0:43:17: Bayes & the replication crisis 0:57:27: How Tom got into science journalism 1:08:32: A book or paper more people should read 1:10:05: Something Tom wishes he'd learnt sooner 1:14:36: Advice for PhD students/postdocs/people in a transition period Podcast links Website: https://geni.us/bjks-pod Twitter: https://geni.us/bjks-pod-twt Tom's links Website: https://geni.us/chivers-web Twitter: https://geni.us/chivers-twt Podcast: https://geni.us/chivers-pod Ben's links Website: https://geni.us/bjks-web Google Scholar: https://geni.us/bjks-scholar Twitter: https://geni.us/bjks-twt References and links Episode with Stuart Ritchie: https://geni.us/bjks-ritchie Scott Alexander: https://www.astralcodexten.com/ Bayes (1731). Divine benevolence, or an attempt to prove that the principal end of the divine providence and government is the happiness of his creatures. Being an answer to a pamphlet entitled Divine Rectitude or an inquiry concerning the moral perfections of the deity with a refutation of the notions therein advanced concerning beauty and order, the reason of punishment and the necessity of a state of trial antecedent to perfect happiness. Bayes (1763). An essay towards solving a problem in the doctrine of chances. Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Bellhouse (2004). The Reverend Thomas Bayes, FRS: a biography to celebrate the tercentenary of his birth. Project Euclid. Bem (2011). Feeling the future: experimental evidence for anomalous retroactive influences on cognition and affect. Journal of personality and social psychology . Chivers (2024). Everything is Predictable: How Bayesian Statistics Explain Our World . Chivers & Chivers (2021). How to read numbers: A guide to statistics in the news (and knowing when to trust them) . Chivers (2019). The Rationalist's Guide to the Galaxy: Superintelligent AI and the Geeks Who Are Trying to Save Humanity's Future . Clarke [not Black, as Tom said] (2020). Piranesi . Goldacre (2009). Bad science . Goldacre (2014). Bad pharma: how drug companies mislead doctors and harm patients . Simmons, Nelson & Simonsohn (2011). False-positive psychology: Undisclosed flexibility in data collection and analysis allows presenting anything as significant. Psychological Science .…

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99. Laura Luebbert: gget, hunting viruses, and questionable honeybee dances 1:51:48

33 weeks ago1:51:48