Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 12h

Here we go, folks, nothing but Gold Standard Science™ as far as the eyes can see.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 13h

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

1 1 16

Reposted by John Timmer

NY Times Pitchbot @nytpitchbot.bsky.social · 16h

Whether it’s Joe Biden attending weekly mass or Donald Trump’s ICE agents shooting a priest in the face with a pepper ball, presidents of both sides have directly engaged with the Catholic faith.

17 350 1.8K

John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 18h

Add another unpaid cost that using fossil fuels imposes on us.

Odds the folks who are worried about birth rates will care? Zero.

Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 19h

“Our early results showed that the first trimester of pregnancy is a time to be especially… One of my previously published studies found that for every additional 10 micrograms of particulates per cubic meter of air there was a corresponding 10 percent increase in infertility risk.”

She Found a Link Between Air Pollution and Infertility

www.nytimes.com

1 5

John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 1d

Of course, I also suspect that any companies based around other technologies are happily jumping on the AI bandwagon before the wheels come off, so they'll only have themselves to blame.

4

John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 1d

There are a lot of potentially promising uses of AI that don't involve LLMs and all the problematic behavior that comes with them. But I suspect that when the LLM bubble pops, everybody will view it as an AI bubble, and all the promising stuff will be set back years.

1 10

John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 1d

It often does feel like a Groundhog Day of variations on the same handful of arguments.

1

John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 1d

I write reviews of them, and I find I have to look carefully if it's an unfamiliar model.

1 2

John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 2d

A nice reminder that good photographers can be fantastic journalists.

Denise Wheeler @denisedwheeler.bsky.social · 2d

Reuters photographer Jonathan Ernst noticed that Bondi flipped open a file during the Senate hearing and he zoomed in.

Inside were her crib notes for attacking the senators.

The GOP now practicing Cliff's Notes Fascism

In other words, under oath Bondi was purely a performance.

Bondi senate hearing had a folder full of notes for attacking the senators

6 21

John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 2d

I suspect I'd be net emdash zero if it weren't for one particular writer (and @kionasmith07.bsky.social knows who that is).

1 2

John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 2d

If an emdash needs to be deleted, force an actual human editor to do the deleting.

1 3

John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 2d

The things they do choose to publish reflect their values.

Based on the published evidence, it's clear that those values often include provocation, subjective thoughts about the importance of the opinion holder, a highly selective need for balance, etc.

1 6

John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 2d

I can't bring myself to read the column and find out what the supposed nuances of Hesgeth's "our military exists to kill people" are.

I'll just highlight once again that opinion page editors have broad discretion to decide what opinions are worth publishing—they reject things all the time.

Max Kennerly @maxkennerly.bsky.social · 2d

Despite appearances, this is not a @nytpitchbot.bsky.social joke, it's an actual @nytimes.com column by some Claremont hack who praises Hegseth for his "nuanced vision of the military’s purpose and its relationship to civilian society."

Opinion
Guest Essay

That Hegseth Speech Was Actually Pretty Good
Oct. 7, 2025, 5:01 a.m. ET

1 1 5

John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 2d

Kind of odd that today's Nobel in physics is for work that was fundamental to the development of the transmon, and two of the people receiving it have headed Google's quantum computing efforts, but a lot of the coverage seems to be "it's about quantum tunneling".

2 3

John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 3d

Some of the provisions of the Compact work at cross purposes and/or are contrary to some of the Administration's other policies. So, even if you assume they are genuine about some of the provisions, you'd be left guessing as to which ones are serious.

Joey Fishkin @fishkin.bsky.social · 3d

I understand the impulse to highlight the acceptable things that can be found in the "compact" and imagine how those could be built on.

But those elements are a disguise. The gov't doesn't care about them. The *purpose* of the compact is unconstitutional federal control over higher education.

1 8

John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 3d

Monterrey Bay's deep ocean tank. I find the circling bluefins hypnotic.

1 7

John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 3d

So, a nepobaby has decided that "executive leadership" requires that he gaslight the news staff.

max tani @maxtani.bsky.social · 3d

David Ellison’s note to staff on Paramount’s acquisition of the Free Press

1 7

Reposted by John Timmer

Akshat Rathi @akshatrathi.bsky.social · 3d

The US is pursuing "energy dominance" and forcing allies to buy US oil and gas. And, yet, China is beating the US on energy exports.

Surprised? Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

3 60 99

Reposted by John Timmer

Julian Sanchez @normative.bsky.social · 6d

One thing that comes through awfully clearly in these ICE videos is how many of these goons gravitated toward the job because being able to assault people with impunity is a big thrill for them.

120 6.3K 26K