Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Dean Astumian, OFS @deanast.bsky.social · 12h

Bondi and RFK use similar approaches

Shana Gadarian @sgadarian.bsky.social · 16h

Everyone who studies research methods just had an aneurysm

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 18h

RFK Jr on Tylenol and autism: "It is not proof. We're doing the studies to make the proof."

Dean Astumian, OFS @deanast.bsky.social · 12h

sending people money to take medicines - isn't that socialism?

Katie Mack @astrokatie.com · 15h

Every time he does this a calculator somewhere in the country spontaneously bursts into flames

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 18h

Trump: "We're gonna be reducing the cost of medicines by 100%, 200%, 300%, 500% and even more than that."

Dean Astumian, OFS @deanast.bsky.social · 17h

Where is the phantom of the opera when needed?

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 17h

the video feed of the cabinet meeting abruptly ends as Trump and Lutnick talk about the White House chandeliers

Dean Astumian, OFS @deanast.bsky.social · 17h

Headline "Donald Trump wants to win a Nobel Peace Prize. He will learn on Friday if his campaign has paid off." In a rational world, this headline would be more ridiculous than "Donald Trump wants to win the Master's gold Championship. He will learn April 12, 2026 if his campaign has paid off."

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Dean Astumian, OFS @deanast.bsky.social · 20h

If you think the Pope is woke, you should talk to his boss. Love your enemies, turn the other cheek, blessed are the poor, beating swords into plowshares, really crazy stuff like that, just imagine a world where people did this.

Sean @stholeary.bsky.social · 20h

It's soul-crushing to realize the Pope is now woke as shit because he's advocating for a free press & treating others with compassion. That should be the bare minimum of what we believe in. Good for him, but damn.

Dean Astumian, OFS @deanast.bsky.social · 20h

Never in my wildest imagination would I have thought it possible to read a quote from MTG and think "that sounds rational".

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 20h

Greene on the Epstein files: "I can't conclusively say that's why the House isn't in session, but the House should be in session...there is a new Democrat that's been elected that deserves to be sworn in...if it's to avoid the discharge petition, why drag this out? It's going to have 218 signatures"

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Dean Astumian, OFS @deanast.bsky.social · 20h

We've all heard the phrase "its better than nothing". The present administration and its "government" is in fact NOT better than nothing - peoples live will be better overall if it stays shut down.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 20h

REPORTER: Why not put a standalone military pay bill on the floor?

MIKE JOHNSON: We have already voted to pay the troops. We did it three weeks ago.

Dean Astumian, OFS @deanast.bsky.social · 20h

I imagine they will use Trump's plan as a starting point, you remember, the one Trump held up in an interview with Barbara Walters and which turned out to be a thick tome consisting of all blank pages.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 20h

Mike Johnson: "It's about keeping Congress operating so we can get to healthcare. We always were going to. They're lying to you. Okay? The healthcare issues were always gonna be something discussed, deliberated, contemplated, and debated in October and November."

Reposted by Dean Astumian, OFS

George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 20h

This is a great first step!

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Dean Astumian, OFS @deanast.bsky.social · 23h

Fraser would have been delighted by yesterday's Nobel prize to MOFs, scientifically of course, but also because of the wonderful example of the international nature of science:

stoddart.northwestern.edu/2020/10/scie...

I remember the context of this 2020 essay, wish we had similar wisdom in 2024.

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Reposted by Dean Astumian, OFS

Br. Dr. Ken Homan, SJ @kenhomansj.bsky.social · 1d

Incredible. The @nytimes.com wants to be the newspaper of record in America. But in the middle of a constitutional crisis, the movement of federal troops into American cities, a genocide, & a massive war, their top-of-page headlines are about a former president's son & Harvard kids skipping class.

Harvard finds skipping class part of culture

Biden's son pursued land deal near embassy

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Reposted by Dean Astumian, OFS

George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 1d

This was never about deporting criminals. It’s about Stephen Miller’s campaign of ethnic cleansing.

Tweet from Alex Tabarrok reads:
“Sergio Garcia, celebrated Chef who came to the US before ICE even existed. Deported after 36 years.
The picture tells you a lot about the decline of the Republican party.”
Attached photo shows Sergio Garcia standing with Laura and George W. Bush outdoors. The photo is signed: “To Sergio Garcia, With best wishes – George & Laura Bush.”

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Reposted by Dean Astumian, OFS

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 1d

🏆 How does a comedy show have the best news research team? @thedailyshow.com

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Dean Astumian, OFS @deanast.bsky.social · 1d

Perpetuate murder?

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Kristi Noem: "Any elected official that allows this to happen and gives cover to those kind of individuals who are perpetuating murder should absolutely be prosecuted in my opinion."

Reposted by Dean Astumian, OFS

pissed-off-g.bsky.social @pissed-off-g.bsky.social · 1d

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Dean Astumian, OFS @deanast.bsky.social · 1d

Notice the quote starts with "if". Clearly the Trump administration does not want to preserve democracy, and is using the standard approach of corrupting, and where that isn't possible, of eliminating every vestige of a free press.

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 2d

My quote of the day

If you want to preserve democracy as we know it, you have to have a free and many times adversarial press. And without it, I am afraid that we would lose so much of our individual liberties over time. That's how dictators get started.

John McCain

Reposted by Dean Astumian, OFS

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Johnson: "He has defunded our education system. He has defunded our transportation system. He's firing black women across this country. He's defunding our healthcare system. This president is absolutely out of control... Chicago is going to stand firm in protecting humanity."

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Dean Astumian, OFS @deanast.bsky.social · 1d

But I trust that there was more on that menu than edible MOFs.

Prof Ross Forgan @forganross.bsky.social · 1d

My delight at seeing MOFs win the Nobel is tinged by sadness that Sir Fraser didn’t live to witness it. He was my introduction to the world of MOFs, and I know he would have been overjoyed.

Ron Smaldone @ronsmaldone.bsky.social · Dec 31

So sad to hear about Fraser's passing yesterday. I met many great people in his group and from around the world who I still consider friends and collaborators today. A loss for sure, but his advocacy for science and the people in it will continue to inspire us all forever. We will miss you Fraser!

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Dean Astumian, OFS @deanast.bsky.social · 1d

just in time for Halloween

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 2d

Herschel Walker, the former NFL player who lost a scandal-ridden bid for Senate in 2022, has been confirmed by the Senate to serve as U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas.

Senate confirms Herschel Walker as ambassador to the Bahamas

The Trump ally was confirmed as part of a larger batch of nominees for various executive branch roles, following a change the chamber made to the filibuster rules last month.

www.washingtonpost.com

Reposted by Dean Astumian, OFS

Jon Beves @jonbeves.bsky.social · 2d

Fantastic to see one of my chemical heroes, Richard Robson, winning the Nobel Prize for coordination frameworks (MOFs), together with Kitagawa and Yaghi. #ozchem

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Dean Astumian, OFS @deanast.bsky.social · 2d

indeed it will hit differently today.

Stu Cantrill @stuartcantrill.com · 2d

It’s #chemnobel day. For me, and for quite a few other people who spent time in the Stoddart group, it will hit somewhat differently this year.

Seems the right time to share a couple of passages from the eulogy I gave at Fraser’s funeral earlier this year.

A screenshot of text that reads:

Fraser lived his life at a hundred miles an hour. But it wasn't always the best thing for him or for those closest to him. In an interview following the award of the Nobel Prize in 2016 he recalled his time growing up on a farm and said that that had instilled in him the work ethic of a honeybee. Nobody would doubt that he had that. He also talked about having the strength of a horse and the hide of an elephant; what he didn't mention is that he could also be as stubborn as a mule. He did things his way and was rarely persuaded to do otherwise.

This bloody-mindedness undoubtedly contributed to his incredibly successful career. While those who didn't really know him will measure his contributions through the prizes he won, his real professional legacy is not those prizes, it is the people who passed through his lab and shared in his scientific journey. Yes, he changed science, but he changed lives too - including mine and many of those here today. I learned a lot from Fraser: some chemistry, how to make slides for presentations, how to always include a noun after the word 'this', and a few random Scottish words that I'm still not convinced he didn't just make up.

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Reposted by Dean Astumian, OFS

Molly Jong-Fast @mollyjongfast.bsky.social · 2d

I’m sorry but the fact that this is not everywhere is kind of malpractice

Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · 3d

Trump on pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell: Haven't heard the name in so long. I’ll take a look at it. I’ll speak to the DOJ. A lot of people have asked me for pardons.

Reporter: But she’s convicted of sex trafficking

Trump: I’ll have to take a look at it.

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Dean Astumian, OFS @deanast.bsky.social · 2d

She is mad at herself now, as she sees that Homan held out for $50K.

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 2d

Just as a reminder, Bondi’s origin story in Trump world is that she said she was going to investigate Trump University, Trump sent her a $25K check and the investigation disappeared. She later became Trump’s personal defense lawyer. So yeah, don’t challenge her integrity.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 2d

Bondi to Blumenthal: "You lied. How dare you? I'm a career prosecutor. Don't you ever challenge my integrity. Do not question my ability to be fair and impartial."

Dean Astumian, OFS @deanast.bsky.social · 2d

unless of course Trump doesn't, in which case I don't either

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 2d

After threatening that furloughed federal workers might not receive backpay after all, Mike Johnson tries to clarify that *of course* he thinks they *should* get backpay.

Reposted by Dean Astumian, OFS

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 2d

After threatening that furloughed federal workers might not receive backpay after all, Mike Johnson tries to clarify that *of course* he thinks they *should* get backpay.

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