Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Genes, environment or a special bond? Why some twins talk and think in unison

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Jeff Craig @drchromo.bsky.social · May 12

I just wrote this with the Prof Nancy Segal, who has an encyclopaedic knowledge of twins. I hope you learn something. I did.

Genes, environment or a special bond? Why some twins talk and think in unison theconversation.com/genes-enviro...

Twins Bridgette and Paula Powers have gone viral for the way they speak in unison, using the same gestures and words.

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

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Jeff Craig @drchromo.bsky.social · Mar 17

Happy Neurodiversity Celebration Week! Let’s celebrate the unique strengths and perspectives of neurodivergent individuals. Embracing diversity fosters creativity, inclusion and innovation. Learn, advocate, and listen—because different minds make a better world! #NeurodiversityWeek #InclusionMatters

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Jeff Craig @drchromo.bsky.social · Mar 16

‘I was told to toughen up’: is academia getting resilience all wrong?

Being repeatedly told to bounce back and develop a thicker skin can mask a toxic lab culture.

High Court praised after historic Gumatj judgement reinforces Native Title rights

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Jeff Craig @drchromo.bsky.social · Mar 15

Great result! nit.com.au/12-03-2025/1...

The High Court has been praised after its historic lands rights decision that left the Commonwealth liable for up to $700 million in compensation.The landmark judgement for lost Native Title rights ov...

nit.com.au

Use your research to beat health inequities: four strategies from experts

Jeff Craig @drchromo.bsky.social · Mar 8

Use your research to beat health inequities: four strategies from experts www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Scientists must commit to engaging with the communities they want to help at all stages of the research process — from planning to dissemination.

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Jeff Craig @drchromo.bsky.social · Mar 8

‘Silence is complicity’ — universities must fight the anti-DEI crackdown

Higher-education establishments must not be bullied into abandoning their mission of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace are under attack. Here’s why they matter more than ever

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Jeff Craig @drchromo.bsky.social · Mar 3

A great, simple explanation of Diversity, equity and Inclusion: "Diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace are under attack. Here’s why they matter more than ever" theconversation.com/diversity-eq...

More must be done to bolster fairness in Australian workplaces as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion measures come under attack from the likes of Donald Trump.

What’s the difference between burnout and depression?

Jeff Craig @drchromo.bsky.social · Feb 27

What’s the difference between burnout and depression?
theconversation.com/whats-the-di...

They may look similar, but burnout and depression can have different causes and management strategies.

Friday essay: ‘I was unseen, even to myself’ – as many as half of people with anorexia are autistic. Fiona Wright is one of them

Jeff Craig @drchromo.bsky.social · Feb 27

Friday essay: ‘I was unseen, even to myself’ – as many as half of people with anorexia are autistic. Fiona Wright is one of them
theconversation.com/friday-essay...

It wasn’t until she’d been in the medical system for around 17 years, being treated for anorexia, that Fiona Wright was diagnosed as autistic.

Jeff Craig @drchromo.bsky.social · Feb 27

interesting point

The Progeria Research Foundation - For the Children ♥ For the Cure

Jeff Craig @drchromo.bsky.social · Feb 27

Progeria (rapid aging in children) – www.progeriaresearch.org
Support, awareness, and research matter. #RareDiseaseDay #RareVoicesAustralia

Located in Peabody, MA, the Progeria Research Foundation was formed to discover the cause and find the cure for Progeria.

www.progeriaresearch.org

Jeff Craig @drchromo.bsky.social · Feb 27

FOP (soft tissue turns to bone) – www.ifopa.org/support_groups
Alkaptonuria (black urine, joint issues) – akusociety.org
Kufs Disease (neurodegenerative) – bdsra.org
Stiff-Person Syndrome (muscle stiffness) – stiffperson.org/support-reso...

Online Support Groups

www.ifopa.org

Peak body for Australians with rare diseases including genetic disorders

Jeff Craig @drchromo.bsky.social · Feb 27

Today is Rare Disease Day

Rare diseases affect millions worldwide, often with limited treatment options. Rare Voices Australia (RVA) advocates for those living with rare diseases, connecting them to vital resources. Learn more: rarevoices.org.au
Five rare diseases and support groups:

An estimated two million Australians live with a rare disease. Approximately 80% of rare diseases are genetic disorders.

rarevoices.org.au

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Jeff Craig @drchromo.bsky.social · Feb 23

We need to treat our PhD students better www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Are PhDs losing their lustre? Why fewer students are enrolling in doctoral degrees

High living costs paired with stagnant stipends are being blamed for a drop in PhD enrolments in several countries.

Breaking language barriers: ‘Not being fluent in English is often viewed as being an inferior scientist’

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Jeff Craig @drchromo.bsky.social · Feb 13

We must become more linguistically inclusive in science and this article provides tips on how to do this www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Biologist Tatsuya Amano works to make science a fairer place for non-fluent speakers.

‘Devastating’ cuts to NIH grants by Trump’s team put on hold by US judge

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Jeff Craig @drchromo.bsky.social · Feb 13

This is terrible www.nature.com/articles/d41...

The ruling temporarily halts a policy slashing research-overhead costs that left some universities wondering how to make ends meet.

Australia’s clinical guidelines shape our health care. Why do so many still ignore sex and gender?

Jeff Craig @drchromo.bsky.social · Feb 10

We must recognise diversity:
Australia’s clinical guidelines shape health care. Why do so many still ignore sex & gender? theconversation.com/australias-c...

Only 5% of guidelines define the terms ‘sex’ and ‘gender’.

NIH cuts billions of dollars in biomedical funding, effective immediately

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Jeff Craig @drchromo.bsky.social · Feb 9

OMG. I feel for US-based medical researchers

Jeff (Gutenberg Parenthesis) Jarvis @jeffjarvis.bsky.social · Feb 8

Their aim is nothing short of a new Dark Ages. Anti-science, anti-education, anti-democracy, in favor of needless human suffering.
NIH cuts billions of dollars in biomedical funding, effective immediately www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

The move halts a large slice of money for most universities and research institutions virtually overnight, imperiling vital research in everything from cancer to heart disease.

www.washingtonpost.com

How a Canadian scientist and a venomous lizard helped pave the way for Ozempic - National | Globalnews.ca

Reposted by Jeff Craig

Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · Feb 9

Whenever you hear someone sneer about scientific research that seems useless to them — “they’re studying the spit of lizards?!” — remind them that’s exactly how we got Ozempic.

globalnews.ca/news/9793403...

In 1984, Dr. Daniel Drucker, an endocrinologist from the University of Toronto, discovered a hormone that helped pave the way for popular diabetes drugs such as Ozempic.

globalnews.ca

520 7.9K 30K

Reposted by Jeff Craig

Oded Rechavi @odedrechavi.bsky.social · Feb 9

Almost 200 people signed up already - add your name soon before we have to stop registration for this once in a life time conference! docs.google.com/forms/d/1dm8...

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Jeff Craig @drchromo.bsky.social · Feb 3

"Gender-affirming care is potentially life-saving, or at the very least life-affirming. It almost invariably leads to better social and emotional outcomes" Can a child legally take puberty blockers? What if their parents disagree? theconversation.com/can-a-child-...

Can a child legally take puberty blockers? What if their parents disagree?

Recent political attention might imply gender-affirming care is risky, controversial, perhaps even new. But Australian law views it as a legitimate medical treatment.

"If You Love Me, Please Take This Seriously"

Reposted by Jeff Craig

Sebastian Carmody @virusvoyeur.bsky.social · Jan 29

While the primary focus of this article is aimed at those in a relationship, I see benefits for colleagues, teachers, and friends. An opportunity to empathise with those living with ADHD and truly understand the struggles they encounter daily.
www.additudemag.com/slideshows/i...

We don’t mean to hurt you. But we do — again and again. You feel like screaming, pulling out your hair, or lying in bed and crying, “When will she get it? Will this ever stop?” I don’t have all the an...

www.additudemag.com

DeepSeek: how a small Chinese AI company is shaking up US tech heavyweights

Jeff Craig @drchromo.bsky.social · Jan 29

DeepSeek: how a small Chinese AI company is shaking up US tech heavyweights
theconversation.com/deepseek-how...

More efficient AI models may make research easier – and raise questions about the value of investments in huge datacentres.

For tennis star Destanee Aiava, borderline personality disorder felt like ‘a death sentence’ – and a relief. What is it?

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Jeff Craig @drchromo.bsky.social · Jan 23

A relatively common neurodivergent condition you may not have heard about. The book 'The Buddha and the Borderline...' by Kiera Van Gelder is a fantastic insight into the mind of someone with BPD and was my first audiobook theconversation.com/for-tennis-s...

Treatment should focus on the underlying causes of borderline personality disorder – trauma – rather stigmatise the person.