Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Meet the first American to win ‘Best Cheesemonger in the World’

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Howard Liu, MD, MBA @drhowardliu.bsky.social · 7d

“D’Albero is the first American to win the Mondial du Fromage, one of the world’s top cheese competitions, held every two years in Tours, France. She and her teammate, Courtney Johnson, formed the first all-female Team USA.”

Such a cool achievement! 🧀

www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...

Emilia D’Albero won the Mondial du Fromage, one of the world’s top cheese competitions, held every two years in Tours, France.

BHECN report aims for statewide behavioral health strategy

Howard Liu, MD, MBA @drhowardliu.bsky.social · 8d

What an uplifting evening to celebrate the ecosystem of clinicians, teachers, coaches, advocates, donors, judges, and community leaders who support Radius Omaha!

Congrats to the inspiring Radius team and especially to the youth who graduate into a brighter future 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Howard Liu, MD, MBA @drhowardliu.bsky.social · 8d

This document not only reflects where we are today; it also lays the foundation for a coordinated strategic plan to guide future investment in Nebraska’s behavioral health workforce,” said BHECN Director @DrMarleyDoyle.

Timely to invest in workforce!

www.unmc.edu/newsroom/202...

After a June workforce conference, the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska identified priority areas for focus.

www.unmc.edu

Howard Liu, MD, MBA @drhowardliu.bsky.social · 9d

Always appreciate your voice on this space too, Art! 🙏🏼

Howard Liu, MD, MBA @drhowardliu.bsky.social · 9d

Fascinating story of the process of creating artisanal paper in Japan - washi.

Another reminder about the value of craftsmanship to bring joy to simple acts 🌱

www.bbc.com/reel/video/p...

Washi: The Japanese paper crafted to last 1,000 years

Ancient documents made with washi, the hand-crafted Japanese paper, are proof of its remarkable longevity.

Parents are bringing back the landline

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Howard Liu, MD, MBA @drhowardliu.bsky.social · 10d

“The Tin Can, a Wifi-enabled, curly-corded landline that allows parents to control the hours when it is in use and which phone numbers are approved to call in to (or be called from) the closed network.”

In case parents are seeking an alternative 🙂

www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/20...

Looking to steer kids away from screens and social media, more families are going analog.

Your kitchen is full of microplastics. Here's how to eat less of them

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Howard Liu, MD, MBA @drhowardliu.bsky.social · 10d

“As far as heat is concerned, hotter plastics get, the more microplastics they tend to release. One study found that plastic containers warmed in the microwave for three minutes could release up to 4.22 million microplastic particles.”

www.bbc.com/future/artic...

Microplastics gush out of our taps and flake off cookware. They find their way into the yolks of eggs, and into meat and vegetables. But there are things we can do to eat less of them.

The perils of letting AI plan your next trip

Howard Liu, MD, MBA @drhowardliu.bsky.social · 10d

“According to one survey, 30% of international travellers are now using generative AI tools and dedicated travel AI sites such as Wonderplan and Layla to help organise their trips.”

Double check those AI generated travel tips with a local guide.

www.bbc.com/travel/artic...

An imagined town in Peru, an Eiffel tower in Beijing: travellers are increasingly using tools like ChatGPT for itinerary ideas – and being sent to destinations that don't exist.

C.T.E. Looms Over Friday Night Lights

Howard Liu, MD, MBA @drhowardliu.bsky.social · 11d

“More than a decade has passed since researchers began finding correlations between C.T.E. and boys who began playingtackle football before the age of 12 and, in a separate study, that the risks of C.T.E. increased the longer people played the sport.”

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/27/u...

Relationship of antihypertensives with late‐life cognitive decline and neuropathology

Reposted by Howard Liu, MD, MBA

Art Walaszek, MD @walaszek.medsky.social · 11d

Taking antihypertensive meds is associated with slower cognitive decline & less tau pathology, according to a large observational study of older adults.

Why is unclear & is not fully explained by controlling blood pressure.

#medsky

alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

INTRODUCTION Antihypertensives (AHTs) are commonly used to treat high blood pressure and other conditions, but their associations with cognitive decline and common age-related neuropathologies are n...

alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

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Howard Liu, MD, MBA @drhowardliu.bsky.social · 12d

“Self-care is not selfish,” Joanne Nicholson, a clinical and research psychologist and professor at Brandeis University, said in an email.

This is so important for moms, dads or whoever is in a caretaking role.

To be sustainable, make time for healing 🌱

www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/202...

Here’s what I learned about parenting with major depression

I made sure I took care of my daughter and her needs, but due to my depression, I wasn’t taking care of myself.

How to future-proof your knees

Howard Liu, MD, MBA @drhowardliu.bsky.social · 12d

“Squatting can improve bone mineral density and reduce risk of falls in later life. While it's not known whether they actively prevent the onset of arthritis, they've been shown to help stabilise the knee, reduce pain and improve quality of life.”

www.bbc.com/future/artic...

Our knees are arguably one of our most important joints, but also one of the most poorly looked after. Science tells us putting in some work now pays dividends later.

World’s 50 Best List Names Its Top North American Restaurants

Howard Liu, MD, MBA @drhowardliu.bsky.social · 12d

“Topping the North American list is Atomix, a refined Korean tasting counter in Manhattan, which is No. 12 on the current World’s 50 Best Restaurants list.”

Adding to the list 🙂

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/26/d...

Opinion | I tried to protect my kids from the internet. Here’s what happened.

Howard Liu, MD, MBA @drhowardliu.bsky.social · 12d

“Only about half of parents use any type of parental controls, and fewer than 10 percent use the controls available in social media apps.”

A reminder that company controls are inadequate when parents are seeking to create a safe space for kids online.

wapo.st/48BZZfu

Tech companies should be responsible for verifying the ages of their users.

wapo.st

Howard Liu, MD, MBA @drhowardliu.bsky.social · 13d

“Programs that many autistic people and their families depend on — through Medicaid, the Education Department and the Administration for Community Living — have been targeted for funding cuts.”

Early and ongoing services can be life changing for families.

www.washingtonpost.com/parenting/20...

‘We’re not a disease’: Families push back on Trump’s autism rhetoric

Parents fear that progress toward inclusion is under threat as political leaders call autism a “crisis.”

Women Outnumber Men in NASA’s Newest Astronaut Class

Reposted by Howard Liu, MD, MBA

Karen Lopez @datachick.bsky.social · 14d

First thing I noticed about the list.

And before anyone thinks they were “diversity hires”: the women in space I’ve worked with are brilliant. Accomplished. Good. Amazing even.

Howard Liu, MD, MBA @drhowardliu.bsky.social · 14d

“Six of the 10 astronaut candidates are women, the first time that women outnumbered men.”

A milestone after generations of pioneering women astronauts! 👏🏼

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/s...

Women Outnumber Men in NASA’s Newest Astronaut Class

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Howard Liu, MD, MBA @drhowardliu.bsky.social · 14d

“Six of the 10 astronaut candidates are women, the first time that women outnumbered men.”

A milestone after generations of pioneering women astronauts! 👏🏼

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/s...

The 100-year-old books salvaged from Venice's floods

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Howard Liu, MD, MBA @drhowardliu.bsky.social · 14d

These look like they came from the mines of Moria 🙂

www.bbc.com/culture/arti...

In 2019, Venice was hit by its second-worst flood in history. Today, books saved from the water tell a story of loss and resistance.

The rare disease that stops us feeling fear

Howard Liu, MD, MBA @drhowardliu.bsky.social · 15d

We all fantasize about being fearless.

But it turns out that a lack of fear can be dangerous.

Fascinating article on a genetic disorder which damages the amygdala and reduces the perception of external threats.

A healthy amount of fear is adaptive.

www.bbc.com/future/artic...

Feeling fear is an evolutionary survival tactic. A small number of people have a rare condition that means they're not scared of anything. How do they live a life without fear?

This firefighter overcame his fear of heights as millions cheered him on

Howard Liu, MD, MBA @drhowardliu.bsky.social · 16d

“I had that passion to basically do whatever I had to do to help somebody in need,” Anderson said, explaining why he was ready to get his certification despite his anxiety around heights.

A bold reminder that with steady exposure we can face our fears 👏🏼

www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/20...

Texas firefighter Avion Anderson was screaming in panic during a simulated rescue. But with training, he overcame his fear of heights — and went viral.