Valerie Benti

Just a transit girl, Living in a car-centered world... She took the midday train but it was delayed. 🎶

Wondering if anyone has studied informal circles, like a circle of people talking at a coffee morning or a circle of people dancing at a dance party. How big can the circle get before it breaks into multiple circles? Is it a function of background noise (probably)? Social dynamics?

We just spent two days talking science, building lab culture, tie-dying t-shirts, telling spooky stories, making smores, and stargazing! #LabRetreat #MatsuLab @mattakamatsu.bsky.social @minismk.bsky.social @atsushimatsuda.bsky.social @valeriebenti.com

City Of Seattle In Shambles As Population Prepares To Respect Macklemore Again

"Every time someone says you can't do something, they're just afraid that you will." @murray.senate.gov

Discworld QOTD, from The Light Fantastic “Unseen University had never admitted women, muttering something about problems with the plumbing, but the real reason was an unspoken dread that if women were allowed to mess around with magic they would probably be embarrassingly good at it…”

All because I complained that there told us about an inspection, and then they never came to do the inspection...

When your #SeattleLandLord is very clear about their political leanings... "Here is the solution: Be careful how you vote!! Our city government is staffed by idiots who make work for all of us." 🙃

One of the most fun but also cringiest things I've ever done: have an improv troupe lovingly do a scene loosely based on my diary reading 😳

Congratulations to our own @atsushimatsuda.bsky.social on a fabulous new method accurately measuring 3D cellular membrane curvature from cryo-electron tomograms! @minismk.bsky.social, @ctleelab.bsky.social Interactive explainer: matsulabuw.github.io/mem-pinn/ reader.openrxivlabs.org/content/10.6...

Even before starting The Fifth Season, I'm all in.

Using my PhD to feed the trolls today, what have you been up to?

Would a ferret with short spine syndrome just kind of look normally proportioned?

I hadn't seen the show and the movie got curious enough to go watch the show and absolutely love it. So, I kind of love it for that. Haven't and will not watch the live action series though.

Washington state: Today is Election Day! Drop off your ballot in an official drop box by 8 PM today to be sure it’s counted. To track your ballot, locate drop boxes, and find out how to register to vote today, visit VoteWA.gov!

Getting my babies* pulled today. (* Baby teeth. You'd think my mouth finally caught up with my age, but no, I'll still have two baby teeth left after today.)

"(cells go both ways)" Even the cells I study are bisexual.

Anyone else ever have incredibly inconvenient bouts of being calendrically challenged?

Why, weather gods, why?

I'm a deeply flawed individual, but I bring joy to the world.

I'm writing a video-game parody of the Dumb ways to Die for a convention and could use your help! What are 1) some really dumb video game deaths or 2) the dumbest ways you've died in a game.

Lukaku coming on and scoring with his first touch (that he didn't even touch really let's be honest) is the most quintessential Lukaku outcome one could hope to Lukaku

Lukaku causing an own goal by aura farming 3 seconds in to getting subbed in lol

Lukaku in his absolute unit-ness just bullied that guy into scoring an own goal

lukaku coming into the game

Not even 30s on the field and he causes a goal. LUKAKUUUUUU! #OléOléOléOlé #RodeDuivels

Join us for a bubbly variety show that puts everyone's favorite four-stringed mini instrument front and center! Live music, comedy, and burlesque! www.eventbookings.com/b/event/oops...

Another year ending and undergraduates going out into the real world 😢 (Part 2)

Another year ending and undergraduates going out into the real world 😢 (Part 1)

The only people allowed to call me "dear" are elderly Scottish teashop owners, thank you very much.

Grad student Maggie gave an excellent flash talk today about how failure is an essential part of learning and becoming a well-rounded scientist. How can we create a classroom and lab culture that helps students acknowledge and learn through failure?

I've been doing a lot of rubbings (is that what they are called) lately, and it's amazing how many signs and plaques are out there that I've just never noticed!

Treat yourself to an evening of funny, queer, inclusive, amazing, sexy, entertainment! #SexEd! is all about the stuff you wish you learned in school! 🗓️ Thursday, May 28th 📍Seattle Open Arts Place 🎫 soap.thundertix.com/events/263734

Treat yourself to an evening of funny, queer, inclusive, amazing, sexy, entertainment! #SexEd! is all about the stuff you wish you learned in school! 🗓️ Thursday, May 28th 📍Seattle Open Arts Place 🎫 soap.thundertix.com/events/263734

TIL the first paragraph of Lorem Ipsum is 69 words long, and that's just, you know, nice.

One of my favorite cell lines to work with, it's so pretty! Also what a coincidence because I'm thawing some ZO-1 cells today 😊

#SciTalk2026 was, as usual, an amazing whirlwind of reconnecting with old and meeting new friends, talking about creative #SciComm, optimism for the future, and facilitating "Learn, Laugh, Shimmy" with some of my absolute favorite people. Not to mention the SOLD OUT #ChiasmCabaret show!

Last week, I had the honor to sit on a panel talking about Kickstarting a Scicomm career at ComSciCon-PNW 2026. There were some hot takes, fruitful discussions, and amazing questions. I'm excited to see the next generation of science communicators take the spotlight and do amazing things! #SciComm

Can't wait to see "Bards and Jesters and (Drag) Queens, Oh My!" take the stage @norwescon.org There will be comedy! There will be drag! There will be dancing! There will be singing! There will be entertainment galore! See you there?

Say what? a gaggle of geeks is BACK at @norwescon.org! If you're at the con, I hope you'll join the nerdiest comedians of the region bringing their deepest cuts and geekiest jokes! Singalong optional 😉

While I'm at it, let me share that I'll be part of this panel at @sakuraconofficial.bsky.social next week! We've brought together the nerdiest of nerds to talk about how their work and side projects intersect! #NerdsDoingNerdyThings!

Can't wait to see "Bards and Jesters and (Drag) Queens, Oh My!" take the stage @norwescon.org There will be comedy! There will be drag! There will be dancing! There will be singing! There will be entertainment galore! See you there?

Say what? a gaggle of geeks is BACK at @norwescon.org! If you're at the con, I hope you'll join the nerdiest comedians of the region bringing their deepest cuts and geekiest jokes! Singalong optional 😉

While I'm at it, let me share that I'll be part of this panel at @sakuraconofficial.bsky.social next week! We've brought together the nerdiest of nerds to talk about how their work and side projects intersect! #NerdsDoingNerdyThings!

Hey Portland, what are you up to on Friday? Want to come see some nerdy burlesque, drag and comedy? Tickets & Info: www.mcmenamins.com/venueevent.a...

Will you be at #SciTalk2026? Want to learn more about putting together a scicom variety show? We got you! Join us for the workshop “Laugh, Learn, and Shimmy: Science Communication with a Tease”

Come see me sing some of my origin songs! Grad school trauma. That's my origin... Info and tickets: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-left-b...

If you can tell me what my earrings are, I'll send you a sticker! 😉

Wondering what the role of actin in CLIC/GEEC endocytic scission is? Well, Maggie is here to tell you how we're going to find out! #NWDB2026