Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by ferndoctor.bsky.social

Joel Sharbrough @jsharbro.bsky.social · Jul 8

Please RT!

I'm hiring a postdoc to work in my new lab at UCSB (!) on an NSF-funded project investigating the phenotypic consequences of WGD for photosynthesis and respiration.

Check out the full posting here:
recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF02986

And more info about the lab here:
sharbroughlab.com

30 20

Reposted by ferndoctor.bsky.social

Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · Jul 2

Destroying 50 years of women’s health samples is like ‘burning the Library of Congress’ www.cnn.com/2025/07/01/h...

These women dedicated almost 50 years to science. Their efforts may soon be trashed | CNN

Nurses in the US provided biological samples for decades to help study women’s health. Here’s what they think of President Trump’s actions that may end its funding.

www.cnn.com

1 41 81

Reposted by ferndoctor.bsky.social

Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · Jul 2

Congressionally mandated climate reports disappeared from their federal websites. www.cnn.com/2025/07/02/c...

Congressionally mandated climate reports have disappeared from their federal websites | CNN

The National Climate Assessments can no longer be found on their government-hosted websites.

www.cnn.com

1 13 36

ferndoctor.bsky.social @ferndoctor.bsky.social · Jul 1

As someone who has been directly impacted and continues to be inspired by your work, I am delighted to congratulate you on your promotion! 🌿✨

Reposted by ferndoctor.bsky.social

Christopher Krieg 🌿 @ckrieg.bsky.social · Jun 30

🚨 I’m thrilled to share that I am starting as an Assistant Professor at Wake Forest University this Fall!
👀 Opportunities coming soon as I re-root my research program in plant ecophysiology and evolution at Wake 🌿 🌲🌱
#NewPI #plantecophys #botany @wfubiology.bsky.social
@wakeforest.bsky.social

19 18 150

Reposted by ferndoctor.bsky.social

Terezie Mandakova @terimandakova.bsky.social · Jun 22

We decoded the genome of #Boechera falcata, the only Eurasian species in a mostly North American plant group. It helps us understand how it evolved and how it reproduces.

academic.oup.com/g3journal/ad...

@ceitec.eu @uebscimuni.bsky.social

10 34

Reposted by ferndoctor.bsky.social

LaBella Lab @lablabella.bsky.social · Jun 22

Caiti Smukowski Heil @caitismuheil.bsky.social tells us about th domestication of yeast in bread 🍞

Humans have made a profound impact on the genome of S. cerevisiae

And commercial baking strains are super weird!

#Evol2025 #Evol25

1 8 31

Reposted by ferndoctor.bsky.social

ProPublica @propublica.org · Jun 14

#ICYMI: In April, we reported that at least a dozen members of Congress wrote to the Trump administration with questions about citizens detained, questioned and even held at gunpoint by ICE agents.

None of them received an answer.

By @nicolefoy.bsky.social‬

Congress Has Demanded Answers to ICE Detaining Americans. The Administration Has Responded With Silence.

Amid increasing reports that U.S. citizens have been caught up in the Trump administration’s immigration dragnet, a dozen members of Congress have written to the government with pointed questions.…

www.propublica.org

26 280 740

Reposted by ferndoctor.bsky.social

Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · Jun 4

🌴 Deadline extended! There’s still time to snag your #Botany2025 swag—now available through June 15!

Get ready for Palm Springs with t-shirts, hoodies, hats, and totes in a range of colors. Everything ships straight to you, so you’ll be stylish and conference-ready.

www.bonfire.com/store/botany...

4 5

Reposted by ferndoctor.bsky.social

Prosanta Chakrabarty @prosanta.bsky.social · Jun 4

Really proud to have worked with my 14-year-old, Anjali, on this new and free kids' book on #evolution.

Published in time for the 100th anniversary of the Scopes Monkey Trial. Please check it out and share!

www.lsu.edu/mns/news-and...

1 14 35

Reposted by ferndoctor.bsky.social

Politics and Health @politicshealth.bsky.social · Jun 5

#AcademicSky and all #UNC system academics: www.heraldsun.com/news/local/e...

UNC Asheville administrator out of job after she was filmed in undercover DEI video

The former employee’s remarks in the video “do not represent the practices of UNC Asheville,” a spokesperson said.

www.heraldsun.com

3

Reposted by ferndoctor.bsky.social

paulpro @mariopro.bsky.social · May 31

@knecessary.bsky.social

18 220 690

Reposted by ferndoctor.bsky.social

Liz Haswell @ehaswell.bsky.social · May 31

Just read about Senator Margaret Chase Smith, a Republican who spoke out against McCarthyism.
According to @wikipedia.org, "She stated the basic principles of "Americanism" were:

The right to criticize;
The right to hold unpopular beliefs;
The right to protest;
The right of independent thought.

Declaration of Conscience - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

4 9

Reposted by ferndoctor.bsky.social

Kathy L Weiss @middlechildtake.bsky.social · Jun 1

Will America’s National Parks Survive Trump? He plans to close 350 of our parks, monuments and historic sites
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/01/o...

Opinion | Will America’s National Parks Survive Trump?

www.nytimes.com

22 180 360

Reposted by ferndoctor.bsky.social

The Society of Systematic Biologists @systbiol.bsky.social · May 28

Excited for the first day of virtual #evol2025? The workshop day is always important for our community, especially early-career members.

Think you might want to organize a workshop someday? Now is your chance - The SSB standalone is coming up in January! #ssb2026

Prosanta Chakrabarty @prosanta.bsky.social · May 24

More details coming soon, but mark your calendars ...

Breakout meeting for @systbiol.bsky.social‬ The Society of Systematic Biologists - will be Jan 9-11 in Baton Rouge!

Topic is 'The Importance of Natural History Collections'

@jembrown.bsky.social is primary host/organizer

ssb2026.github.io

6 17

Reposted by ferndoctor.bsky.social

tamrakat @tamrakat.bsky.social · May 24

Respect!!!

@harvard.edu 😍

The link to the FREE GOVERNMENT COURSES is ...

pll.harvard.edu/subject/gove...

210 2K 5.4K

Reposted by ferndoctor.bsky.social

Brian J. Enquist @bjenquist.bsky.social · May 26

A comprehensive illustrated protocol for clearing, mounting, and imaging leaf venation networks 🌾🧪 bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...

A comprehensive illustrated protocol for clearing, mounting, and imaging leaf venation networks

Premise Leaf venation network architecture can provide insights into plant evolution, ecology, and physiology. Venation networks are typically assessed through histological methods, but existing pro...

bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

10 38

Reposted by ferndoctor.bsky.social

Andrew Hipp @andrewlhipp.bsky.social · May 26

I am really excited about this new article series in Systematic Botany. It's a great opportunity to draw attention to plant biodiversity and natural history, plus rally communities around clades that need more work or have particular ecological / economic significance.

www.aspt.net/news-blog/20...

Introducing "Clades in Focus": A New Article Series in Systematic Botany — American Society of Plant Taxonomists

Systematic Botany , the flagship journal of the American Society of Plant Taxonomists, is pleased to announce a new article format: Clades in Focus . These expert-authored review papers will provide ...

www.aspt.net

1 13 34

Reposted by ferndoctor.bsky.social

Wayne Maddison @waynemaddison.bsky.social · May 23

Mesquite 4 beta released! Many new features, esp. phylogenomic. Check out the trailer and longer video on the home page: www.mesquiteproject.org, and use the download link there to get a copy.

Feedback welcome! Ask and discuss on our new Google Group (groups.google.com/g/mesquite-p...).

The Mesquite icon shown, as a Mesquite leaf against a black background, and as a leave against the sun and a blue sky.

1 60 130

Reposted by ferndoctor.bsky.social

Bailey Bowcutt @baileybowcutt.bsky.social · May 22

I'm a current Harvard graduate student and I found out today that I had my NSF GRFP terminated without notification. I was awarded this individual research fellowship before even choosing Harvard as my graduate school

45 310 900

Reposted by ferndoctor.bsky.social

Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · May 23

BIG NEWS for Botany 2025 STUDENTS!🌴

We’ve got a brand-new student hotel block at Courtyard Palm Springs—just for YOU! It’s the perfect place to rest, recharge, and connect with your fellow plant science enthusiasts.

Deadline to book is JULY 4TH—so don’t wait!

www.marriott.com/event-reserv...

7 7

Reposted by ferndoctor.bsky.social

Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · May 19

🌼The 2nd episode of the BSA's new podcast---A Botanical Podcast!---is now available on all major streaming services!🌼

In this episode, Jordan Dowell explores how #plants communicate through #chemistry.

www.buzzsprout.com/admin/244699...

#botany #plantscience @volatileorganic.bsky.social

A graphic announcing the episode of A Botanical Podcast with Jordan Dowell.

5 21

Reposted by ferndoctor.bsky.social

Jon Freeman @freemanjb.bsky.social · May 21

🚨 A new rule would let career scientists like NSF/NIH program officers be replaced by political appointees

Already 14,000+ public comments, deadline is Friday

📣 Comments can be short. Courts consider them—and scientists with NSF/NIH experience are especially impactful

Speak up! shorturl.at/WKuBj

26 520 540

Reposted by ferndoctor.bsky.social

Sam Connell @samuelconnell.3i.social · May 22

I commented today. Please y'all, chime in and make sure these proposed Schedule F rule changes are called out for what they are. 🧪🔬🥽🧬👩‍🔬🏥

Jon Freeman @freemanjb.bsky.social · May 21

🚨 A new rule would let career scientists like NSF/NIH program officers be replaced by political appointees

Already 14,000+ public comments, deadline is Friday

📣 Comments can be short. Courts consider them—and scientists with NSF/NIH experience are especially impactful

Speak up! shorturl.at/WKuBj

22 21

Reposted by ferndoctor.bsky.social

Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · May 14

Help BSA raise funds to support the PLANTS program! NSF terminated our award, but our community is stepping up!

Donate today to support a leadership & mentoring program that supports the next generation of plant scientists!
#SupportPLANTS

botany.org/.../plants-g...
crm.botany.org/makeadonation

PLANTS scholars and PLANTS Advisors during Botany 2024 (Grand Rapids, MI)

PLANTS scholars and PLANTS Advisors during Botany 2023 (Boise, ID)

PLANTS scholars and PLANTS Advisors during Botany 2022 (Anchorage, AK)

PLANTS scholars and PLANTS Advisors during Botany 2018 (Rochester, MN)

2 19 43