Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Negativland and me: Why we fall for hoaxes

Tom Krattenmaker @tjkratt.bsky.social · Jul 31

Public gullibility was a problem in the 1980s when I was caught up in a famous media hoax. It’s worse today.

onlys.ky/negativland-... @onlyskymedia.bsky.social

Public gullibility was a problem in the 1980s when I was caught up in a famous media hoax. It’s worse today.

Science education can—and should—instill kids with a sense of awe and wonder at the world.

1 4 6

Reposted by Tom Krattenmaker

Journey of the Universe @jotuproject.bsky.social · Jun 30

“The power of flying someone through the map we have of our solar system, Milky Way, and mapped galaxies provides a perspective like none other,” [Tamara] Litke says.

Read Tom Krattenmaker's latest article here:
onlys.ky/educated-by-...

#cosmology #ecology #journeyoftheuniverse

Educated by the stars

Science education can—and should—instill kids with a sense of awe and wonder at the world.

Tom Krattenmaker @tjkratt.bsky.social · Jun 28

Our star blindness contributes to our alienation from the universe and natural world. Before fancy navigation technology, sailors and travelers of all sorts used the stars to find their way home. We could, too.

onlys.ky/educated-by-...

#scienceeducation #environmentaleducation #secularspirituality

Educated by the stars

Will religion make a comeback in secular America?

Tom Krattenmaker @tjkratt.bsky.social · May 14

Will #religion make a comeback in #secular America?

My new piece for @onlyskymedia.bsky.social.

onlys.ky/will-religio...

Can nonreligious community fill the void?

Rev. William Barber arrested in Capitol Rotunda after praying against Republican-led budget

Reposted by Tom Krattenmaker

Yale Divinity School @yaledivinityschool.bsky.social · Apr 29

We are relieved that two members of the YDS community, Rev. William Barber and Rev. Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, are safe and unharmed following their arrest while praying in the Capitol Rotunda yesterday. 🧵

1 12 33

Reposted by Tom Krattenmaker

Yale Divinity School @yaledivinityschool.bsky.social · Apr 29

Statement by YDS Dean Greg Sterling on the arrest of Rev. Barber and Rev. Wilson-Hartgrove.
🧵

(RNS) — While arrests of protesters at the Capitol is not unusual, the response to Barber’s prayer was unusually dramatic: After issuing verbal warnings, dozens of officers expelled everyone in the…

religionnews.com

1 2 5

Tom Krattenmaker @tjkratt.bsky.social · Apr 28

Not to jinx anything, and as a #Timberwolves fan I harbor much well-justified pessimism, but #anthonyedwards' play reminds me of someone. Starts with a J. The big difference is ANT smiles a lot more.

www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

Ant-man on the rise, a hole in the middle and perfect timing. How Timberwolves won Game 4.

Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle and Los Angeles’ Luka Doncic and LeBron James combining for 133 points made Game 4 a must-watch.

www.usatoday.com

Tom Krattenmaker @tjkratt.bsky.social · Apr 25

#Tech is not inherently harmful. It’s the people who abuse it for nefarious purposes, leverage it for power and profit, and glorify it as the solution to every problem, blind to the fallout. My new piece at @onlysky0.bsky.social

onlys.ky/a-techno-pes...

A techno-pessimist of a different sort

The tech isn't the problem.

Mary Evelyn Tucker on the new Journey and Berry courses

Tom Krattenmaker @tjkratt.bsky.social · Apr 21

What I wrote about Francis when his papacy was new and a conservative backlash was beginning. Rush Limbaugh was shocked by the pope's "liberal" views and claimed "somebody must have gotten to him."

True, I said. *Jesus* had gotten to him.

www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...

Tom Krattenmaker @tjkratt.bsky.social · Apr 5

The scene at the Green.

Tom Krattenmaker @tjkratt.bsky.social · Mar 25

I am totally taking this course!

Reposted by Tom Krattenmaker

Journey of the Universe @jotuproject.bsky.social · Mar 24

Mary Evelyn Tucker invites you to join our new course on Journey of the Universe, in partnership with the Deeptime Network, beginning tomorrow!

Link to register in the comments 💫

youtube.com/shorts/9GiIV...

YouTube video by Journey of the Universe

youtube.com

2 1

Tom Krattenmaker @tjkratt.bsky.social · Feb 27

Whose personal liberties? Not everyone's, I can tell you that.

www.nytimes.com/2025/02/26/b...

Republicans terrified of crossing Trump due to physical threats, Democrat says

Reposted by Tom Krattenmaker

Miss Toe Beans @toebeansmm.bsky.social · Feb 27

They elected their tormentors. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Eric Swalwell says threats to them and their families are stopping GOP officials from criticizing president

www.theguardian.com

1 3 6

Tom Krattenmaker @tjkratt.bsky.social · Feb 6

Were humanity ever to achieve dramatic breakthroughs in longevity—including, even, immortality, at least for those who could afford it—would it be a good thing?

My new piece for @onlysky0.bsky.social.

onlys.ky/the-broligar...

The broligarchs and the quest for immortality

When the solution to having more money than you can spend in a lifetime is much, much more lifetime.

USDA orders removal of climate change mentions from public websites

Tom Krattenmaker @tjkratt.bsky.social · Feb 1

Great news! #Climatechange is going away! abcnews.go.com/amp/US/usda-...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has directed officials to remove content related to climate change from its public websites, according to emails obtained by ABC News.

abcnews.go.com

Tom Krattenmaker @tjkratt.bsky.social · Feb 1

Gulf of America? Should be renamed to Gulf of Dystopia.

Nebraska went big for Trump—and that may kill its economy

Tom Krattenmaker @tjkratt.bsky.social · Jan 27

Props to @dailykos.com for making this point and making it so well:

"Nearly 60% of Nebraska voted for Donald Trump last November.

There is perhaps no state more dependent on #immigrants than Nebraska.

Oops."

www.dailykos.com/stories/2025...

Nearly 60% of Nebraska voted for Donald Trump last November.� There is perhaps no state more dependent on immigrants than Nebraska.� Oops.�

www.dailykos.com

Who Is Mariann Edgar Budde, the Bishop Who Made a Plea to Trump?

Reposted by Tom Krattenmaker

The New York Times @nytimes.com · Jan 22

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, whose appeal to President Trump for mercy on behalf of immigrants and the LGBTQ community made headlines on Tuesday, was also critical of Trump during his first term.

Bishop Budde is the first woman to serve as the spiritual leader of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington.

The first woman to serve as the spiritual leader of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, Bishop Budde had a message for President Trump during his first term, too.

www.nytimes.com

220 550 5K

Tom Krattenmaker @tjkratt.bsky.social · Jan 14

Embarrassing. gizmodo.com/longevity-ob...

Longevity-Obsessed Tech Millionaire Discontinues De-Aging Drug Out of Concerns That It Aged Him

The tech centimillionaire, who is known for taking droves of wellness supplements, has backtracked on one of his special pills.

gizmodo.com

Tom Krattenmaker @tjkratt.bsky.social · Jan 13

Spot on from @dalemcgowan.bsky.social.

onlys.ky/the-stupid-a...

The stupid and necessary climate pill

We're not going to stop feeding the atmosphere carbs. So the stupid pill it is.

Seven quiet breakthroughs for climate and nature in 2024 you might have missed

Reposted by Tom Krattenmaker

Dr. Jeff Masters @drjeffmasters.bsky.social · Jan 10

Excellent thread on the dangerous warning signs from the weather of the past year.

Yale Climate Connections @climateconnections.bsky.social · Jan 10

As Los Angeles burns, let's do some context, shall we?

12 34

Reposted by Tom Krattenmaker

Miss Toe Beans @toebeansmm.bsky.social · Dec 30

And now for some good-ish news on a somber day. www.bbc.com/future/artic...

Global temperatures rose and extreme weather ramped up, but there were also some significant breakthroughs for the climate this year.

www.bbc.com

1 2

Tom Krattenmaker @tjkratt.bsky.social · Dec 30

“There is little about our patterns since his address to suggest that we wish to earn, own and consume less, or that we have awakened to the fact that having, buying and using more may fail to make us happier.”

—Rob Lieber on what #JimmyCarter got wrong about us

www.nytimes.com/2024/12/29/y...

Jimmy Carter Was Right About Materialism but, Alas, Wrong About Us

“Too many of us now tend to worship self-indulgence and consumption,” he said in his 1979 “Crisis of Confidence” speech. If only we had listened.

www.nytimes.com