Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Caroline Bettridge

Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · 2d

Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE

nyti.ms

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iulia bădescu @iuliabadescu.bsky.social · 10d

Study to help explain very rare and violent (horrifying for me to see) intracommunity split among Ngogo chimpanzees. Changes in female # and residence patterns affected male grooming networks, which likely negatively affected male affiliative bonds.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

Changes in Grooming Networks Among Male Chimpanzees Preceding a Permanent Community Fission at Ngogo

Chimpanzees form social communities with memberships that change only with births, deaths, and female emigrations or immigrations and that are characterized by high fission-fusion dynamics. Relations...

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

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Frontiers in Social Evolution Seminar FINE @fine-seminar.bsky.social · 12d

Special FINE 30th September 2025
17:00 Paris / 11:00 New York
60min panel talks followed by 60min general discussion

Zoom link opens at 16 :45 /10:45
urosario.zoom.us/j/83337249371
Meeting ID: 833 3724 9371

YouTube channel. www.youtube.com/channel/UClX...

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Kirsty MacLeod @kjmacleod.bsky.social · 22d

Nice write up of our paper on the Bangor Uni news website! @bangoruniversity.bsky.social @beps-bangor.bsky.social www.bangor.ac.uk/news/2025-09...

New study sheds light on impact of stress on baby lizards

Research led by Dr Kirsty Macleod from its School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, found that lizards whose mothers experienced stress during pregnancy grew more slowly and behaved differently.

www.bangor.ac.uk

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Savas Parastatidis @savas.me · 22d

Awesome opening to tonight's The Late Show with Stephen Colbert... youtu.be/HMGD1KCYFOw

Disney’s Message To Employees: Shut Your Trap

youtu.be

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Rick Turner @rickturner.bsky.social · 23d

If I were Melania, I’d probably also find a hat that made sure that people couldn’t see the look on my face too.

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 23d

'We should, like Humboldt, pay a bit more attention to the data.'

But also recognise that the data alone won't sway most minds. Stories too matter, and are richly available: eastangliabylines.co.uk/immigration/...

The UK’s problems aren’t caused by immigration

It’s not hard to see how so many came to worry about the issue. But the data isn’t there

www.ft.com

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EFP2026 @efp2026.bsky.social · 26d

📢 Call for Symposia is open!

Submit your symposia proposals for EFP2026! Share innovative primatology topics and help shape the scientific programme.

🗓 Deadline: 17 Nov 2025
🔗 Submit: forms.gle/WmGZHwviZB7C...
🌐 Conf website: www.alphavisa.com/efp/2026/
📩 Mailing list: forms.gle/jcZKhJj6KdVv...

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Ben Goldsborough MP @bengoldsborough.bsky.social · 28d

Foreign billionaires don’t get to incite violence against Britain.

We cannot stay silent. 1/5

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

Elon Musk calls for change of UK government at Tommy Robinson rally

Elon Musk spoke with Tommy Robinson via a video link to the thousands of people at Saturday’s ‘unite the kingdom’ rally

www.independent.co.uk

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Andrew King @shoalgroup.bsky.social · Sep 3

Primate Society of Great Britain (PSGB) Meeting
National Museum Cardiff, 27-28 November

www.psgb.org/pages/14-mee...
Registration and abstract submission coming soon! Please share!

@mckinneymonkey.bsky.social @inesfuertbauer.bsky.social @willallennz.bsky.social @primatesocietygb.bsky.social

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Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · Sep 6

The We Are All DC march to protest against Trump admin’s takeover of DC is currently heading toward the White House:

Via @benjalvarez1.bsky.social

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Lauren Vane @laurenvane.bsky.social · Sep 5

☀️New Paper!☀️ In @ecol-evol.bsky.social

Dwarf mongooses lose body mass in hot weather due to limited behavioural plasticity

With top co-authors: @josharbon.bsky.social, Amy Morris-Drake, @juliekern.bsky.social, @andyradford.bsky.social

doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71963
@bristolbiosci.bsky.social

🧵⬇️

Dwarf Mongooses Lose Body Mass in Hot Weather due to Limited Behavioural Plasticity

Using long-term data from wild dwarf mongooses (Helogale parvula), we demonstrate that on hot days (≥ 35°C) compared to matched cooler ones (≤ 33°C), mongooses emerged and commenced foraging earlier ...

doi.org

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Alexander Lees @alexanderlees.bsky.social · Sep 5

Now, can anyone tell me what this frog is?
www.inaturalist.org/observations... 21/ ends

Tree Frogs and Allies (Family Hylidae)

Tree Frogs and Allies from Caracaraí - State of Roraima, 69360-000, Brazil on July 14, 2015 at 08:59 AM by Alexander Lees

www.inaturalist.org

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Marlen Fröhlich @marlenfroehlich.bsky.social · Jul 28

Now published! 📝✅📢
Our review on flexibility in animal communication is out in Biological Reviews @camphilsoc.bsky.social (Open Access).
Huge thanks again to my fantastic co-authors, especially @kirstyegraham.bsky.social. It was a delight to learn from them!

📖 Read it here: doi.org/10.1111/brv....

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RSPB Science @rspbscience.bsky.social · Aug 20

New job alert: Would you like to help analyse our Big Garden Birdwatch dataset? 🪶🧪

Our monitoring science team are hiring for a new 2yr position to develop the ecological analysis and visualisation of BGBW data

Interested? Full details here: app.vacancy-filler.co.uk/salescrm/Car...

Senior Conservation Scientist - Ecological Analyst (Fixed-Term) | RSPB

Big Garden Birdwatch Data ScientistWe have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and skilled team-member to join the Monitoring Science team at the RSPB Centre for Conservation Science. We are s...

app.vacancy-filler.co.uk

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UN Environment Programme @unep.org · Aug 31

New season.
New styles.
Buy more.
Buy cheap.
Move on.
Throw away.

The impact of ‘fast fashion’ is polluting land, rivers, seas and the air we breathe.

Consider the environmental footprint before purchasing. By making mindful choices, we can help #BeatPollution: www.unep.org/beatpollution/

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Ardath Whynacht @ardathjean.bsky.social · Aug 17

Friendly reminder that AI data centers are working overtime to help cook the planet. If the fires are scaring you— start using ‘-AI’ at the end of all Google searches to cut out any AI response to your query. Refusal is possible & responsible.

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

OpenAI will not disclose GPT-5’s energy use. It could be higher than past models

Experts working to benchmark resource use of AI models say new version’s enhanced capabilities come at a steep cost

www.theguardian.com

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Karen James @kejames.bsky.social · Aug 17

She doesn’t need a hero, she is the hero we need. 🤩

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Thiago Krause @thiagokrause.bsky.social · Aug 14

As always, Ted Chiang is great in this interview.
cdh.princeton.edu/blog/2025/08...

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BTO | British Trust for Ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social · Apr 13

1/⚠️ Blackbirds are in trouble & we need your help! Threatened by the Usutu virus, we need you to submit your garden Blackbird sightings so scientists can better understand the virus’ spread & potential impacts on these songbirds. 🌍 Sign up ➡️ www.bto.org/blackbirds #UKBirding #Ornithology

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Leanne C. Powner @leannecpowner.bsky.social · Aug 7

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR DOG!!!
The Giant Database of Dogs is a data collection project for classroom use. 6 quick questions to help students learn statistics! ALL good puppers are welcome!

buff.ly/f6weaUE
(please share widely!)

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Lucy Wright @lucy-wright.bsky.social · Aug 1

Want to join our friendly and supportive #marine #science team @rspbscience.bsky.social? #conservationjobs for a scientist to provide scientific advice and contribute to applied #research affecting real world decisions about marine development and #seabird #conservation. shorturl.at/kdthM

Conservation Scientist (Fixed-Term) | RSPB

We are seeking a Conservation Scientist to join the RSPB’s UK Marine Science team in an exciting fixed-term role for 12 months. The role provides a great opportunity to work at the cutting edge of res...

app.vacancy-filler.co.uk

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Caroline Bettridge @cmbettridge.bsky.social · Jul 30

Visited the Dyfi Osprey nest at the weekend, saw the parents and two of the fledglings. And lots of these little lizards

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Seirian Sumner @waspwoman.bsky.social · Jul 28

It's a bumper-wasp year: here are my top tips on how to dine alongside wasps, without getting stung.

GET INVOLVED! Tell us what wasps want at YOUR picnic: www.sumnerlab.co.uk/wasp-picnic-...

theconversation.com/what-to-do-w...

@uclcber.bsky.social @uclnews.bsky.social @uk.theconversation.com

What to do when wasps crash your picnic – a scientist’s guide to dining safely with these insects

Did you know wasps switch from ham to jam foraging during the late summer?

theconversation.com

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Byline Times @bylinetimes.bsky.social · Jul 24

🔴Reform Council Bans All Mentions of Climate Change While Quietly Taking Green Funds From Government

Reform-run West Northamptonshire is removing all references to ‘climate change’ and ‘net zero’ from official documents yet continuing to take government green grants

bylinetimes.com/2025/07/23/r...

Reform Council Bans All Mentions of Climate Change While Quietly Taking Green Funds From Government

Reform-run West Northamptonshire is removing all references to ‘climate change’ and ‘net zero’ from official documents, yet continuing to take government green grants

bylinetimes.com

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