Nicolás Wiggenhauser

Passionate to understand the #evolution of #intelligence and #learning in #primates.
PhD candidate @stonybrooku.
#EvolNeuro #SciComm #DataViz

~ Mental Warrior.

[Nicolás Wiggenhauser @BrainEvol]

I am deeply honored to have been #awarded the @stonybrooku #Dissertation #Completion #Fellowship.
This #achievement was made possible thanks to all the wonderful mentors and peers that have generously guided me through this life-changing and challenging world of a #doctorate.

[Scientific American @sciam]

Machine learning may soon make it possible to decipher things like crow calls, whale songs and could someday even help us communicate with our pets. https://t.co/gpOgglKZpO

[nature @Nature]

For the first time, researchers have sequenced RNA from an extinct animal species — the Tasmanian tiger.

Genetic sequences from a museum specimen offer fresh clues about the physiology of thylacines, which went extinct in the 1930s https://t.co/VvAhuPOHjw

[HS @helenscales]

I've started a new weekly series in the @guardian all about the incredible species being Discovered in the Deep.

First up the scaly-foot snail, with its amazing bionic scales and shell. Featuring @sigwartae, one of very few people who've seen them alive.
https://t.co/ilwcFlx8XK

[Nicolás Wiggenhauser @BrainEvol]

I am the new #Hodges #Fellow! 💪🏼
I am beyond honored to have been awarded the #Doctoral #Fellowship by the @HFPOrientation.

With this renowned #distinction, my #research in #EvolNeuro will significantly contribute to #philosophy and the #understanding of #human #existence.

[Nicolás Wiggenhauser @BrainEvol]

I am the new #Hodges #Fellow! 💪🏼
I am beyond honored to have been awarded the #Doctoral #Fellowship by the @HFPOrientation.

With this renowned #distinction, my #research in #EvolNeuro will significantly contribute to #philosophy and the #understanding of #human #existence.

[Spectrum (Autism Research News) @Spectrum]

By turning mice transparent and using fluorescent antibodies to label specific cell types, researchers have created exquisitely detailed whole-body maps of intact neurons, immune cells, blood vessels and lymph networks.

[NYT Science @NYTScience]

The researchers say their findings reveal a fossilized snapshot of how the physiologies of prominent Pleistocene epoch predators most likely faltered under environmental pressures https://t.co/MBkebU7Zv5

[Veera Rajagopal  @doctorveera]

A mind-blowing paper has come out today in @Nature

In 2016, JC Venter Institute scientists trimmed a bacterial genome to its barest minimum required for life to synthesize what they called a "minimal genome" (https://t.co/Rk8oZJ0bUj).

Today, a group of scientists from Indiana University reports how that minimal genome evolved over 2000 generations in comparison to the non-minimal genome.

The authors found that even when you reduce a bacterial genome to its absolute minimum where every nucleotide matters, the genome undergoes mutational events generation after generation as much as the non-minimal genome. One simply cannot stop the evolution.

Just over 300 days of evolution (equivalent to 40,000 years in humans) the minimal cell has gained everything it lacked in fitness on day one in comparison to the non-minimal cell.

When comparing the evolved traits between the minimal and non-minimal cells, the scientists found something striking. The evolutionary process increased the cell size of non-minimal cells but not that of the minimal cell. But that is not the striking part.

The scientists were able to identify the key mutation that resulted in cell size evolution. And it turned out that the mutation that helped the non-minimal cells to grow bigger is the same that helped the minimal cells to stay smaller. Growing bigger had a survival advantage for non-minimal cells and not growing bigger had a survival advantage for minimal cells. So, the mutation had a context-dependent effect. This just demonstrates that the evolutionary effects on traits have no absolute direction. All that matter is what is beneficial for the organism's survival.

The conclusion of the paper is metaphorically a quote from the Jurassic Park movie:

“Listen, if there’s one thing the history of evolution has taught us is that life will not be contained. Life breaks free. It expands to new territories, and it crashes through barriers painfully, maybe even dangerously, but . . . life finds a way". (https://t.co/UlxRlb86CT)

https://t.co/zA9OAqSoAu

[Lara Keicher @lara_keicher]

Lab vs. field: Our study on common noctule bats reveals surprising differences between lab experiments and field observations! Read more about our newest heart rate telemetry study here: https://t.co/wbdqEWLV9G

[Scientific American @sciam]

A vast expanse of the Indian Ocean is a staggering 100 meters lower than the global average sea level because of a major dip in Earth’s gravity.
https://t.co/zvgOlfSz86

[Santiago @svpino]

I love interactive tutorials about machine learning concepts!

Here is one example: Momentum in Stochastic Gradient Descent.

Take a look at what an excellent tutorial looks like: https://t.co/U5kOARpeV4.

(After going through this, you'll never wonder about Momentum again.)

[Vox @voxdotcom]

4 basic questions about Canada’s wildfires, answered https://t.co/xl47SKI9V6

[Neuroscience News @NeuroscienceNew]

Unexpected discoveries often reshape our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases. A new study links Alzheimer's plaque location to hearing loss. The key lies in plaques on the auditory brainstem. This could revolutionize how we track and diagnose Alzheimer's.

#neuroscience

1/3

[Nicolás Wiggenhauser @BrainEvol]

Data never communicates by itself. It must be questioned and compelled to speak.

You must consciously serve your #audience with the best visual #storytelling tools, always considering their informational needs and expectations.

Explore my work: https://t.co/YatGBJyUFd

[Nicolás Wiggenhauser @BrainEvol]

Every #DataViz must balance #Form and #Function. Our job as visual #communicators is to find the right #balance.

🔖 Read my latest #article in #TheLink @AldaCenter
https://t.co/EaIyveVRJn

#SciComm #TheLink #AldaCenter #data #science #research #AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter

[Nicolás Wiggenhauser @BrainEvol]

You will develop your #aesthetic as you create more visualizations and read more #graphs.

Consequently, it becomes fundamental to #understand the type of visual you need to convey your #data-driven #message best.

@DataVizSociety @DatavizElevate @FiveThirtyEight @Datawrapper

[Nicolás Wiggenhauser @BrainEvol]

I am deeply honored to have been #awarded the @stonybrooku #Dissertation #Completion #Fellowship.
This #achievement was made possible thanks to all the wonderful mentors and peers that have generously guided me through this life-changing and challenging world of a #doctorate.

[Nicolás Wiggenhauser @BrainEvol]

@amanda_rossillo Thank you so much, Amanda.

[Nicolás Wiggenhauser @BrainEvol]

I am deeply honored to have been #awarded the @stonybrooku #Dissertation #Completion #Fellowship.
This #achievement was made possible thanks to all the wonderful mentors and peers that have generously guided me through this life-changing and challenging world of a #doctorate.

[Nicolás Wiggenhauser @BrainEvol]

@lumilapm ¡Muchas gracias, Lumi!

[Nicolás Wiggenhauser @BrainEvol]

🧠My #research is focused on the #evolution of #intelligence across animals to #discover how and why humans are so cognitively unique and specialized. I am #passionate to #understand the evolutionary trajectory and adaptive importance of the #human #brain.
https://t.co/g09XKMWw6f