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Ben Balas

@bjbalas.bsky.social

Vision Scientist, Dad, Would-be artist & dreadful chess player. Check out my new #visionscience textbook here: https://www.routledge.com/Practical-Vision-Science-Learning-Through-Experimentation/Balas/p/book/9781032691121 All opinions my own.

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Ben Balas@bjbalas.bsky.social · 3d ago

Weekend reading: Just finished TRUE COLOR by Kory Stamper. Being a #visionscience person, there was less color & more lexicographic administrivia here than I had hoped, but still a neat look into how one could define a color. I really wish we'd heard more about Margaret Godlove, though! #BookSky

True Color: The Strange and Spectacular Quest to Define Color--from Azure to Zinc Pink by Kory Stamper

A kaleidoscopic journey through the secret history of hues—and the story of the obsessive genius ...

app.thestorygraph.com

Ben Balas@bjbalas.bsky.social · last wk.

Weekend reading: THE LUMINOUS FAIRIES AND MOTHRA - this includes the novella in which Mothra first appears and an excellent essay by the translator that highlights the political & historical richness of the story. I learned a ton & it left me wanting to revisit these classic monsters. #BookSky

The Luminous Fairies and Mothra by Shin'ichirō Nakamura, Takehiko Fukunaga, Yoshie Hotta

The original story that hatched Mothra, one of the most beloved monsters in the "kaijuverse"--ava...

app.thestorygraph.com

Ben Balas@bjbalas.bsky.social · 2w ago

Very excited about this collaboration with @emrich.bsky.social! Usually I'm writing about other people's #chess research, but this time I had the chance to work with a great colleague on a study designed to examine visual imagery, working memory, and chess expertise. Check out the preprint & enjoy!

Stephen Emrich@emrich.bsky.social · 2w ago

I'm really excited to share the results of a new study that @bjbalas.bsky.social and I have been working on this summer. This project was a bit of a labor of love. If you're interested in #chess, mental imagery, #aphantasia, or the value of a sabbatical, this is a 🧵 for you: 1/?

Gavin Buckingham @drgbuckingham.bsky.social · 2w ago

The Cognition Group in the Psychology dept at Exeter are at risk of redundancy because "basic cognitive psychology research does not align with the current priorities of funding bodies" If you think this is overtly wrong and misguided, please sign this open letter docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Open Letter in Support of the Cognition Group, University of Exeter

To Executive members of the University of Exeter, including Vice Chancellor Prof. Lisa Roberts, Senior Vice-President and Provost Prof. Dan Charman, Pro Vice Chancellor and Executive Dean Prof. Sallie...

docs.google.com

Ben Balas@bjbalas.bsky.social · 2w ago

All I'm saying is that if you've read enough PKD this idea will not at all surprise you. Authenticity will be the thing that's unaffordable. I mean, that's always been true to some degree, but the stratification's hitting harder and in new places now.

Veena Dubal@veenadubal.bsky.social · 2w ago

“Sooner or later, elite schools are going to realize that an analog education carries more prestige than an AI-assisted one & will retool their curricula..to reflect that prejudice. This has .. already happened with screens in elementary and secondary education” hedgehogreview.com/issues/the-f...

Zach Weinersmith@zachweinersmith.bsky.social · 3w ago

Nerd thing: so there's this tech/math/nerd culture that's hard to describe, but where there's a kind of enlightened playfulness, which if you like you can trace very far back, and which perhaps hits a kind of high watermark with Claude Shannon, routes through late 60s/70s hacker culture, and so on.

Ben Balas@bjbalas.bsky.social · 3w ago

I've been reading @davechisholmcomics.com's work for a while now and I'm loving IS TED OK? Go grab yourself the full run at your LCS if you haven't read it and check out his other books, too!

Dave Chisholm@davechisholmcomics.com · 3w ago

#portfolioday I’m Dave. I make comics and am always planning months/years out, so hit me up if you’re interested in collaboration and have a longer timeline. These interior pages are from the first issue of my newest book IS TED OK?. The last issue drops July 29–and also a cover gallery!

Ben Balas@bjbalas.bsky.social · last mo.

I visited with 2 classrooms this past year through @skypeascientist.bsky.social and it's a great chance to talk with students about what being a scientist is like. Help @sarahmackattack.bsky.social fill up these bubbles to support science outreach!

Sarah McAnulty, Ph.D.@sarahmackattack.bsky.social · last mo.

The 2026 United States of Science Challenge starts NOW! Each bubble represents classrooms we’ve matched with scientists this year. This a competition to fill bubbles with $10 donations to support @skypeascientist.bsky.social The first region to fill all bubbles wins. 👇🏻 givebutter.com/USS2026

AIPT@aiptcomics.com · last mo.

👽📡 The Gods and Monsters of Hedgrave blends alien conspiracy, sci-fi horror, and family drama in 1930s England. 🚀🖤 @chriscoplan.bsky.social spoke with @jordanthomas.bsky.social about Invasion of the Body Snatchers vibes, obsession, and his latest collaboration with Chris Matthews:

Jordan Thomas talks technology and ‘Bodysnatchers’ vibes in ‘The Gods and Monsters of Hedgrave’

With art by Chris Matthews, the OGN is currently crowdfunding via Kickstarter.

aiptcomics.com