Struggling to focus on research when the world is 'on fire'? Some ways to cope Keeping up with distressing news is impacting some researchers' mental health and their scientific work.

The deluge of disruptive news from around the globe is making it hard for researchers to focus on their day-to-day work

go.nature.com/4s5bGSc

An illustration of a cross-section of a human head superimposed on computer chip details. Image Credit: Artificial Intelligence Brain by Gerd Altmann, Pixabay

Deep learning is increasingly being used in #biology, but evidence suggests that models may not be as generalizable as hoped. Thomas O'Shea-Wheller & Katie Murray @cornwall.exeter.ac.uk outline the scale and severity of the issue, suggesting potential solutions.
🧪 #AI
plos.io/40H9ogJ

Today is Rare Disease Day. 🩷💚💙💜

Approximately 5% of the world's population is affected by a rare disease. #RareDiseaseDay is an important initiative for us, as nearly 90% of neuromuscular disorders are classified as rare diseases. (1/5)

@rarediseaseday.bsky.social

Myofin’s research aims to identify the genetic variants causing neuromuscular disorders, to understand the structure and function of muscle and their alterations in disease, and to evaluate therapeutic interventions.

A rare disease is a medical condition that affects fewer than 1 in 2,000 people and often entails extensive, lifelong consequences.

To mark Rare Disease Day on 28 February we want to highlight the importance of Folkhälsan’s research on rare neuromuscular diseases – both for our researchers and for the people living with a rare neuromuscular condition.
@myofinlab.bsky.social

Transcriptome signatures linked to sex and age in human muscle tissues are not conserved in primary myotubes.
BMC #SkeletalMuscle #MuscleResearch

rdcu.be/e3tL9

Swethaa from our lab, @myofinlab.bsky.social, presented on the advantages of rRNA-depleted RNA-seq over poly(A)+ selection for muscle and neuromuscular disease research at the #fiRNA #RNASalon meeting.

#MuscleResearch #RNAseq #NeuromuscularDisease

AI tools boost individual scientists but could limit research as a whole Analyses of hundreds of thousands of papers in the natural sciences reveal a paradox: scientists who use AI tools produce more research but on a more confined set of topics.

AI may help scientists go deeper, though not always wider. Higher output and faster careers, possibly alongside a narrowing of scientific focus. A paradox explored in @nature.com .
nature.com/articles/d41...
#AI #MachineLearning

The team behind 'The Man Who Knew Infinity' is reuniting to make a new film honouring Maryam Mirzakhani! Ken Ono and Manjul Bhargava (who collected his Fields Medal in the same year as Mirzakhani) are associate directors, Matt Brown writer/director! ❤️❤️❤️🎉 🎉 🎉
infinityfilmsmirzakhani.com

NIH ends support for some human fetal-tissue research – dismaying scientists The US biomedical funding agency also hints at future restrictions on research involving human embryonic stem cells.

The NIH also hints at future restrictions on research involving human embryonic stem cells

go.nature.com/3YUZfwe

A comprehensive survey of genome language models in #bioinformatics academic.oup.com/bib/article/... 🧬🖥️🧪

This is due to an almost complete communications blackout imposed by the Iranian government amid the recent unrest, aimed at controlling and suppressing information.

Colleagues/students who recently traveled to #Iran are likely unreachable by email, messaging apps, or phone. Many flights to and from #Iran are canceled. Please expect delays in both return schedules and email responses. @helsinki.fi @folkhalsanresearch.bsky.social

#EuroBioC2026 (i.e. The European #Bioconductor Conference) will take place, in Turku, Finland, on June 3-5, 2026. For more info see eurobioc2026.bioconductor.org. #Bioinformatics #Rprogramming

We certainly do 😊♥️

Well I meant when they attempt to build a "gingerbread house", they deliver something superior on a different level. It was meant to be a compliment 😅

Ever wondered what happens when muscle research scientists attempt to build a gingerbread house? #LabLife #MuscleScience #PeerReviewPending @myofinlab.bsky.social @folkhalsanresearch.bsky.social

Our new preprint on the limitations of PolyA+ selection vs rRNA-depleted RNA-seq, especially its effects on analysis of splicing and expression of long transcripts (and on findings of diseases linked to these transcripts), is now out: doi.org/10.21203/rs.... #RNAseq #RNASplicing #Bioinformatics

Our new preprint on the limitations of PolyA+ selection vs rRNA-depleted RNA-seq, especially its effects on splicing and the expression of long transcripts (and diseases linked to them), is now out: doi.org/10.21203/rs....
#RNAseq #RNASplicing #Bioinformatics

Happy Halloween! 🎃👻🔮 The single muscle fibres won the ”Best Group Costume” prize at @folkhalsanresearch.bsky.social 🏆

Check out our recap videos from #EMC2025 and #WMS2025 on our Instagram 📹 :

European Muscle Conference (www.instagram.com/reel/DPTJFxc...)

World Muscle Society Congress (www.instagram.com/reel/DQOT_LV...)

‘Am I redundant?’: how AI changed my career in bioinformatics A run-in with some artefact-laden AI-generated analyses convinced Lei Zhu that machine learning wasn’t making his role irrelevant, but more important than ever.

A run-in with some artefact-laden AI-generated analyses convinced Lei Zhu that machine learning wasn’t making his role irrelevant, but more important than ever

go.nature.com/4hd7MCU

A few highlights from a great week at #WMS2025 in #Vienna with the @myofinlab.bsky.social team!

Heading back to Helsinki after an inspiring #WMS2025. Grateful for an excellent meeting, a beautiful host city, and the chance to connect with brilliant colleagues and scientists

Great times with the Myofin team (@myofinlab.bsky.social) at #WMS2025 In Vienna !😂

@jaakkosarparanta.bsky.social presenting in the poster highlights session! 👏
#WMS2025
@worldmusclesociety.org

Two years from today #Helsinki and #Finlandiahall will welcome #WMS2027, the annual congress of @worldmusclesociety.org. Save the date!

Interested in the regulation of RNA splicing in skeletal muscle development and function? Come by my poster (442P) this evening from 17:15 to 18:15 at #WMS2025.

Our team is excited to connect - come find us at the @worldmusclesociety.org congress. 🇦🇹 Let’s talk science, collaboration, and future ideas! 🧬🤝💡
#WMS2025