Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Andy Fraser @andyfraser.bsky.social · 25m

His delight was so infectious - like he also couldn’t believe what he was doing. Reminds be a bit of Bolt’s 100m in 2008 when his arms came down 20m early like he was saying “can you F-ing believe this??!”. Track and field, I could watch it all day…

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Andy Fraser @andyfraser.bsky.social · 34m

For once it wasn’t literature, notoriously the leakiest of prizes - year after year huge betting surges pre announcement. And a good winner this year after some patchy choices (Dylan FFS, a writer whose every lyric would have been improved by cutting the number of verses in half, and Tarantula).

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Andy Fraser @andyfraser.bsky.social · 40m

The “Atomkraft Nein Danke” movement certainly has much to answer for, a catastrophic error. Would be astonished if that 80s left/green movement wasn’t highly infiltrated/funded by the Kremlin.

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Andy Fraser @andyfraser.bsky.social · 1h

In my darker moments, I have often wondered about Merkel, child of the DDR, and how she made Germany entirely dependent on Russian oil and gas to the point that it was powerless to oppose Putin. She couldn’t be…could she??

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Reposted by Andy Fraser

Thiago Carvalho @cyrilpedia.bsky.social · 2h

'In other words, US taxpayer money is propping up the peso, allowing hedge funders to sell their Argentine assets at inflated prices, after which the peso will promptly fall again.'
@pkrugman.bsky.social
paulkrugman.substack.com/p/bailing-ou...

Bailing out Bessent’s Buddies’ Bets on Argentina

Trump bails out hedge funds’ failed bets on Milei while his foreign aid cuts will kill millions of children

paulkrugman.substack.com

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Andy Fraser @andyfraser.bsky.social · 13h

Lecornu? Recallyou!

Andy Fraser @andyfraser.bsky.social · 14h

This is obviously terrible for a democracy. But then again it’s John Bolton who is an appalling person. Meh, hard to care too much about his fate tbh.

Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 14h

BREAKING

The acting U.S. Attorney in Maryland is moving forward quickly to seek criminal charges against President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser John Bolton.

A complaint or an indictment could come as early as next week.

Full Story: bit.ly/4o8DW4I

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Andy Fraser @andyfraser.bsky.social · 15h

This from a regime filled by people too scared to ride public transit or walk down a city street…

thematthill.bsky.social @thematthill.bsky.social · 3d

Wow. Greg Bovino admits on camera that his agents can detain people if you look scared, change your demeanor, or grip a steering wheel too tight.

As his unmasked agents walk around with large guns to scare you, they may arrest you just for that — even if you're a U.S. citizen.

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Andy Fraser @andyfraser.bsky.social · 17h

So instead of this utter bullshit golden dome scam, Canada just gives Trump a huge jet and a few billion to him and his inept little prick sons, and we could get full protection for 10% of Golden Dome costs with no strings attached?

DBeach @beachnic.bsky.social · 17h

Extraordinary corruption in plain sight.
➡️ Qatar gives Trump a private jet.
➡️ Qatar gives billions of dollars to Trump's family business.
➡️ Qatar strikes a deal with Trump's sons to build a luxury golf course.

www.cnn.com/2025/10/01/p...

Analysis: Why Trump’s pledge to defend Qatar is so extraordinary | CNN Politics

President Donald Trump has bestowed upon the nation of Qatar a remarkable security guarantee that could include coming to its defense militarily.

www.cnn.com

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Reposted by Andy Fraser

The Beaverton @thebeaverton.com · 17h

Creators of AI-generated actress unsure if coolest part is the creepiness or the stealing

PALO ALTO, CA - The inventors of Tilly Norwood, a computer generated character built using artificial intelligence, enthusiastically insist their creation is both unsettlingly lifeless and built on ou...

www.thebeaverton.com

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Andy Fraser @andyfraser.bsky.social · 18h

mt fuji Swiss style

Andy Fraser @andyfraser.bsky.social · 20h

How come there’s no tuna fish in the Thunersee?

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Reposted by Andy Fraser

Ravi Menon, Ph.D. @northernthrux.bsky.social · 23h

My department, the very first Department of Medical Biophysics in Canada, with a long a storied history is looking for a new Chair. The Department is particularly strong in neuroimaging and MSK imaging. @schulichmeddent.bsky.social @westernu.ca

Jibran Khokhar @drjkhokhar.bsky.social · 1d

Come join us at @westernu.ca: Chair, Department of Medical Biophysics: www.uwo.ca/facultyrelat...

www.uwo.ca

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Andy Fraser @andyfraser.bsky.social · 23h

Well the climb from Rosenlaui to the top is absolutely brutal but the views are off scale. Which allows for multiple tactical photo stops which seem to coincide nicely with leg burn!! Now a descent to grindelwald…after this hot chocolate.

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Andy Fraser @andyfraser.bsky.social · 23h

Can’t believe they gave a Nobel Peace Prize to someone who hasn’t even murdered a bunch of Venezuelan fisherman, it’s ridiculous.

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Andy Fraser @andyfraser.bsky.social · 1d

This is genius because it will help grow Argentinian soy bean exports to China which are bankrupting US soy bean farmers. It’s hard to dump $20bn on a stupid problem and lose in every direction!

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Andy Fraser @andyfraser.bsky.social · 1d

Looking forward to today’s climb with a mix of excitement and dread. But the chance to see the Eiger again - very lucky.
And many thanks to the local last night who warned me NOT to descend “full gas” because the road is narrow and the Postbus is wide and metal is hard and I am not.

Reposted by Andy Fraser

Omar Khan @omaromalleykhan.bsky.social · 3d

I know statistics are poorly understood and are misused. But facts matter

Between the 1991, 2001, 2011 and 2021 Census *every* ethnic group in the UK has become *less* geographically segregated and *all* groups, majority and minorities, are more likely to interact with people not like them

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Reposted by Andy Fraser

Dan Snow @thehistoryguy.bsky.social · 3d

We have built a society in which people of different skin tones, religious backgrounds & cultures get along, share power, work alongside each other, procreate with each other, recognise the each other’s humanity and democratic rights. It is a STUNNING ACHIEVEMENT OF WORLD HISTORIC PROPORTIONS.

Omar Khan @omaromalleykhan.bsky.social · 3d

I know statistics are poorly understood and are misused. But facts matter

Between the 1991, 2001, 2011 and 2021 Census *every* ethnic group in the UK has become *less* geographically segregated and *all* groups, majority and minorities, are more likely to interact with people not like them

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Reposted by Andy Fraser

Ewan Birney @ewanbirney.bsky.social · 1d

I am hiring! - looking for a Staff Scientist to co-run my research group with me. Staff Scientist is a senior professional scientist role at EMBL. Please forward to people you might know who could be interested! embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/EMBL/j...

Staff Scientist

About EMBL-EBI EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute is a data powerhouse, utilised on a global scale to advance scientific discovery through bioinformatics and solutions to some of the world’s mos...

embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com

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Andy Fraser @andyfraser.bsky.social · 1d

FWIW I take no side in this - except that since this is all ultimately user data, maybe users should be allowed to choose how it’s used rather than treating the data as ‘owned’ by one or other platform?
Also: I have tried Garmin and every time it’s incomprehensible and counterintuitive. Old man.

Andy Fraser @andyfraser.bsky.social · 1d

Things I really didn’t want to know about that will nonetheless make my world worse in a trivial but real way:

www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Explain it to me quickly: why are runners and riders freaking out about a feud between Strava and Garmin?

Strava, the Instagram for exercise, is suing Garmin for allegedly copying its features. Josh Taylor explains it to Miles Herbert

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Andy Fraser

Prof Christina Pagel @chrischirp.bsky.social · 1d

🧵🚨

The UK’s independent scientific bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation - over the past 5 months I've been working with @martinmckee.bsky.social to map out their vulnerabilities and it's not good news.

Today our report is published!
www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

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UK’s arm’s length public bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation

Seven in ten Britons say it is important for top scientific institutions to be independent in exclusive new polling.

www.ucl.ac.uk

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Reposted by Andy Fraser

Jan Rosenow @janrosenow.bsky.social · 1d

China ≠ just coal plants and solar exports. The deeper shift: electrifying everything it can. Strategic, because China relies on imported fossil fuels. Coal is still king in the power mix—for now. But the balance is changing year by year.

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Andy Fraser @andyfraser.bsky.social · 1d

One thing I learned for sure is I wish I a little lower gearing…7-8% is dealable, but as soon as it goes any over 10% for any distance it’s painful. So tomorrow may be a struggle up that steep wall! Ah well. The views are so amazing I can always take another “photo break” without feeling guilty!

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