Author | Lightnews

Anne A. Madden, PhD (she/her) @anneamadden.bsky.social · Aug 26

We still have opportunities for sponsors to collaborate on this project, so please reach out if interested! Link to the project: www.museumofbeadwork.org/pages/microb...

Microbe Challenge

Our Fourth annual Museum of Beadwork Challenge is open to submissions until May 1st, 2026.This challenge is once again being co-sponsored by Miyuki Co., Ltd. and Caravan Beads and being joined by The ...

www.museumofbeadwork.org

Anne A. Madden, PhD (she/her) @anneamadden.bsky.social · Aug 26

So excited about this project! My institute is teaming up with the only museum dedicated to the craft of beadwork to create a truly remarkable—AND GLITTERY— science-art & education experience in 2026. See how you can participate in one of the planned exhibits in this thread below #sicart #scicomm

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Reposted by Anne A. Madden, PhD (she/her)

Lydia Jennings, PhD @1nativesoilnerd.bsky.social · Aug 12

I love this visual abstract! What a fantastic paper. Check it out!

Listening Deeply to Indigenous People: A Collaborative Perspective and Reflection Between a Mapuche Machi and Ecologists

Two-eyed seeing offers a way to see with both Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Western ecological sciences. In this collaborative perspective piece between ecologists and a Mapuche spi....

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

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Anne A. Madden, PhD (she/her) @anneamadden.bsky.social · Aug 13

If i remember correctly, ever so slightly bitter-charcoaly :) but it was absolutely worth it!

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Anne A. Madden, PhD (she/her) @anneamadden.bsky.social · Aug 11

Let these smallest of lifeforms stir your imagination to create something of your own that helps us all see the beauty of this unseen realm! There are chances to win money & the opportunity to have your art exhibited in the only museum dedicated to beadwork. Please share widely! #mushroomart #bioart

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Anne A. Madden, PhD (she/her) @anneamadden.bsky.social · Aug 11

The Microbe Institute is teaming up w/the Museum of Beadwork to host an art competition. The theme: Microbes & Mushrooms: Nature's Artistry in Detail. We challenge you to create a piece that introduces audiences to the microbial realm. #sciart
www.museumofbeadwork.org/pages/microbe-challenge

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Anne A. Madden, PhD (she/her) @anneamadden.bsky.social · Jul 3

A common issue in media reports on wasps is that the image associated with the article is very often that of a fly mimic, not a wasp.
In light of that, I very much appreciate that birds are better at discriminating a fly from a wasp than we (historically) have been.

Nature Portfolio @natureportfolio.nature.com · Jul 3

Birds have an excellent ability to learn to discriminate harmless insects from those that they mimic on the basis of subtle differences in appearance, according to a study in Nature. go.nature.com/44yj4M5 🧪

This is figure 1, which gives an overview of the methods used to generate artificial mimetic stimuli.

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Reposted by Anne A. Madden, PhD (she/her)

Cameron Thrash @jcamthrash.bsky.social · Jul 3

Harmful algal bloom species Microcystis aeruginosa releases thiamin antivitamins to suppress competitors journals.asm.org/doi/full/10.... #jcampubs

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Reposted by Anne A. Madden, PhD (she/her)

Mark Peifer (He, him) @peiferlabunc.bsky.social · Jul 1

If you, like me, are confused about the relationship of the "Big Beautiful Bill" to the 2025-2026 Federal budget and its relevance to science funding and other issues, here is a GREAT explainer from my friend Kevin Wilson 🧪@ascbiology.bsky.social

American Society for Cell Biology @ascbiology.bsky.social · Jul 1

The "Big Beautiful Bill" isn’t the federal budget—it’s a reconciliation bill focused on tax cuts. The real FY26 funding decisions for NIH, NSF, and more are happening now in Congress.

www.ascb.org/science-poli...

The "Big Beautiful Bill" is Not the Budget - ASCB

If you’ve read recent news about Congress trying to pass “the budget,” you may have noticed that even Washington, D.C. reporters don’t always have a firm grasp on the details of what they’re covering....

www.ascb.org

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Anne A. Madden, PhD (she/her) @anneamadden.bsky.social · Jul 2

Hear me out... what if the orcas aren't exploring ways of sharing food with us (in an example of pro-social behavior) but instead testing which baits work for hunting humans??
psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/202...
#TeamWhale

APA PsycNet

psycnet.apa.org

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Anne A. Madden, PhD (she/her) @anneamadden.bsky.social · Jul 2

After hiding in an internet hole for a bit, I'm back, & here w/a bit of whimsy, some science, & the space in between. Today I learned that the Tonka bean tree (of candle aroma fame) evolved to kill its enemies w/lightening (as the media headline described.) METAL! www.livescience.com/planet-earth...

Tree that kills its 'enemies' with lightning discovered

Tonka bean trees survive lightning strikes — and use the powerful electric shocks to kill their competitors.

www.livescience.com

Reposted by Anne A. Madden, PhD (she/her)

Adam Rutherford @adamrutherford.bsky.social · Apr 8

GODDAMIT. IT’S NOT A RESURRECTED DIRE WOLF. 20 edits in 19,000 genes.

IT’S NOT GOING TO AID CONSERVATION.

EVERY WRITE UP THAT SWALLOWS AND REGURGITATES THIS GUFFERY WOLFSHIT IS DOING PR FOR A FUNDING ROUND.

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Reposted by Anne A. Madden, PhD (she/her)

ASAPbio @asapbio.bsky.social · Mar 20

📣 Calling on individuals interested in:
✨ Reinforcing the potential of preprints and expanding their uptake
✨ Role of preprints in improving trust and integrity
✨ Preprints in the Global South
✨ Institutional recognition of preprints

If that's you, let us know!

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Anne A. Madden, PhD (she/her) @anneamadden.bsky.social · Feb 27

Gave a webinar on careers in science communication at @harvardmed.bsky.social today. I managed to reference unicorns, whales, and gingerbread in an on-topic way (I swear). Wish I had access to this full career seminar series when I was in grad school! #scicomm

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Reposted by Anne A. Madden, PhD (she/her)

Karen Hao @karenhao.bsky.social · Feb 21

For decades, the US government has painstakingly kept American science #1 globally—and every facet of American life has improved because of it. The internet? Flu shot? Ozempic? All grew out of federally-funded research. Now all that's being dismantled. 1/ www.technologyreview.com/2025/02/21/1...

The foundations of America’s prosperity are being dismantled

Federal scientists warn that Americans could feel the effects of the new administration's devastating cuts for decades to come

www.technologyreview.com

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Reposted by Anne A. Madden, PhD (she/her)

Dr. Catherine Macdonald @drcatmac.bsky.social · Feb 19

Every scientist, long before they were a scientist, was a little kid who stood in front of a fish tank or stared up at the stars or turned over a rock to look at the bugs underneath and said “wow”. On the best days, working in science still feels like that.

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Reposted by Anne A. Madden, PhD (she/her)

Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · Feb 19

If a NBA team worth about $5B fired all its players and went from a $150M to a $0 payroll does that mean the team was efficient and saved money? Or, does it mean there is no basketball team and there is no more revenue because then no one comes and the team is worthless?

#analogies

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Anne A. Madden, PhD (she/her) @anneamadden.bsky.social · Feb 19

This is a brilliant resource!! Please share widely!

Dr. Rebecca Barnes (she/her) @waterbarnes.bsky.social · Feb 19

This is amazing 😍😍 @500womensci.bsky.social has made cards for each state on funding for NSF and NIH avail for download bit.ly/NSF_bystate & bit.ly/NIH_bystate if they are helpful for folks

NSF state cards - Google Drive

bit.ly

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Anne A. Madden, PhD (she/her) @anneamadden.bsky.social · Feb 19

Photo made possible with the help of Mark Martin & Scott Chimileski... and a bunch of microbes that only light up when they sense a community (through quorum sensing pathways).

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Anne A. Madden, PhD (she/her) @anneamadden.bsky.social · Feb 19

Even in the darkness, there is light. Even in isolating times, there are allies.
A photo of me wearing living jewelry containing a naturally bioluminescent microbe that sometimes partners with a fish species to help it avoid predators.

Be the light. Be the ally.
#scicomm #lessonsfrommicrobes

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Reposted by Anne A. Madden, PhD (she/her)

Hana Ayoob @hanaayoob.co.uk · Feb 18

Jumping back in to #FebruArty after being away for a bit - today’s prompt is glasses

Went looking for a self portrait to post & came across this instead

A response to the prompt ‘transparency’ in the #SciCommInk challenge a few years ago

Simple drawing of a figure with a bun looking down a microscope with a bench and conical flask behind them. The whole scene is within a Petri dish.

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Anne A. Madden, PhD (she/her) @anneamadden.bsky.social · Feb 18

I'm giving a seminar on careers in science communication to an audience of graduate students at a leading university next week. Any things you all want to make sure I share?
#SciComm

(Photo is a mirror selfie of me before I gave a commencement speech a few years back...yes, my hat is on backwards)

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Reposted by Anne A. Madden, PhD (she/her)

Ameet Pinto @watermicrobe.bsky.social · Feb 18

Devastated to hear what’s happening at #NSF. Dear colleagues, program managers, affected by this, there are no words to thank you for your service and dedication - always advocating for excellence in research & demonstrating committment to uplifting the nations scientific enterprise. #nowords

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Anne A. Madden, PhD (she/her) @anneamadden.bsky.social · Feb 18

social wasps (Vespidae)! They carry yeast inside of them, acting as airplanes to help the yeast get from sugar source to sugar source. They also keep yeasts safe in their gut during hibernation. Wasps are therefore critical to wine, and they're also where we find new yeasts for new fermented bevs!

Reposted by Anne A. Madden, PhD (she/her)

Frederik Hammes 🇨🇭🇿🇦 @drinkmic.bsky.social · Feb 18

Teaching the next generations of young scientists a practical course about biofilms in building plumbing potable water... these are some fabulous images from their own shower hoses 🦠🧫

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