Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Leonardo Morsut

Will Ratcliff @wcratcliff.bsky.social · Jun 24

1/27 We have a new paper out! Turns out that snowflake yeast have been hiding a secret from us - they've evolved a (very!) crude circulatory system. Not with blood vessels or a heart, but through spontaneous fluid flows powered by their metabolism. 🧪🔬

www.science.org/doi/full/10....

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Sally Lowell @cellysally.bsky.social · Jun 24

Join us! This will be a great meeting.

Royal Society Publishing @royalsocietypublishing.org · Jun 24

Are you a biologist with a research interest in #embryogenesis or synthetic biology? Join our upcoming residential scientific meeting in Brighton on the topic of generative biology: royalsociety.org/science-even... ‪@jcornwallscoones.bsky.social ‪@dbenzinger.bsky.social @cellysally.bsky.social

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Mattia Serra @mattiaserra.bsky.social · Jun 4

📣 New review! Dynamical systems and low-dimensional geometric structures in phase space help rationalize how embryos develop form and function, from large datasets. We focus on morphogenesis, cell differentiation, and their interconnection.
@alex-plum.bsky.social

sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

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Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽 @needhibhalla.bsky.social · Jun 5

Senate hearing on the FY26 NIH budget with Jay Bhattacharya
June 10, 10am ET
www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/a-r...

A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request for the National Institutes of Health | United States Senate Committee on Appropriations

United States Senate Committee on Appropriations

www.appropriations.senate.gov

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Allen Institute @alleninstitute.org · Jun 2

Undergraduate educators, introduce your students to the wealth of information inside the Allen Brain Cell Atlas with our new student-friendly guide!

🧠📈 alleninstitute.org/resource/dat...

#EduSky #iTeachBio

Database Guide: Allen Brain Cell (ABC) Atlas

An in-depth guide for undergraduate students on how to use the Allen Brain Cell (ABC) Atlas to ask and explore research questions

alleninstitute.org

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U-M Life Sciences Institute @umlifesciences.bsky.social · May 27

The 2025 Saltiel Life Sciences Symposium is this Thursday (5/29)!
@brangwynnelab.bsky.social will start us off with the Mary Sue and Kenneth Coleman Lecture at 9:00 AM, followed by talks from @jamesknunez.bsky.social at 9:55 and @leonardomorsut.bsky.social at 10:25.
myumi.ch/lsi-symposiu...

Photos of Clifford Brangwynne, James Nuñez and Leoardo Morsut with the titles of the talks they will give at the 2025 Saltiel Life Sciences Symposium: "Tools for probing the assembly and function of ribosomes," "Editing the epigenomes of human cells with CRISPR," and "Synthetic signaling applications to control patterning and morphogenesis in developmental systems"

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Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽 @needhibhalla.bsky.social · May 28

"I have a message for America's scientists: I want to tell you how much I appreciate your work, how much I value and treasure your work, how much support you have within the Congress...we are aware of the deep damage that is being done to your profession and we are determined to make it stop" 🧪

Sen. Adam Schiff @schiff.senate.gov · May 28

Science is under attack. The NIH, the NSF, and our research universities.

So today, I have a message for America's scientists:

youtu.be/MeoZDPy5cIY?...

A Message to Scientists

YouTube video by Sen. Adam Schiff

youtu.be

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Allen Institute @alleninstitute.org · May 23

The Education Lab is officially open! ✂️🎀

This custom-built 1327 ft² learning space allows students, educators, and scientists to take part in hands-on STEM activities offered by our Education and Engagement Program and powered by our open science and cutting-edge research.

#EduSky #iTeachBio

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USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts & Sciences @dornsife.usc.edu · May 23

Congratulations to Jason Toliao and Catcher Salazar!

USC Dornsife students have consistently won the prestigious Goldwater scholarship throughout the years--including every year since 2019.

Esteemed Goldwater scholarships go to USC Dornsife student scientists

The undergrads, majoring in neuroscience and biological sciences, are conducting research in developmental biology and pediatric neurology

dornsife.usc.edu

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Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽 @needhibhalla.bsky.social · May 23

"We need the whole country to appreciate that by investing in university research and educating the next generation of explorers and innovators, the country has reaped, and will continue to reap, tremendous rewards in new cures, treatments, and inventions, and in new industries, companies, and jobs"

boehninglab @boehninglab.com · May 23

youtu.be/KBmdxv29tog?...

A message from MIT President Sally Kornbluth

YouTube video by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

youtu.be

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Leonardo Morsut @leonardomorsut.bsky.social · May 14

Reading this article (must read) and finding the same words and sentiments I read here www.einaudi.it/catalogo-lib... in a book (Italian only sorry) that describes Italy in the 20s leading up to fascism.

Reposted by Leonardo Morsut

Mark Peifer (He, him) @peiferlabunc.bsky.social · May 5

Step up--great action plan here!!

Society for the Study of Evolution @sse-evolution.bsky.social · May 5

Join us in the evolution tri-societies Week of Action for NSF!

Call/write congress, engage with colleagues, friends and family about the importance of NSF funding!

Scan the QR code on the attached image for instructions and scripts.

We must make noise! Pls RT!!!!
#WithoutNSF #SaveNSF #SupportNSF

SSE, SSB, and ASN logos. Text: Tri-societies Week of Action for NSF. Science under siege: Over 1000 NSF grants have been terminated by political appointees- threatening the foundation of American innovation and education, and more cuts loom; entire research programs are being erased without explanation. What’s at stake? STEM education for K-12 students, jobs and infrastructure in rural communities, support for veterans in research and education, cybersecurity and national defense innovation, global leadership in science and technology. Join the week of action: Contact Congress: Switchboard: (202) 224-3121, tell them to protect NSF. Share your story: Post on social media #WithoutNSF #SupportNSF #SaveNSF, engage local media; use our media tool to reach out to local reporters and newspapers; engage others: communicate the importance of NSF to colleagues, friends, and family.

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jared toettcher @toettch.bsky.social · Apr 21

I'd like to share a little bit of happy lab news in these chaotic times: a new preprint, driven by the brilliant Qinhao Cao!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We address a big challenge in synbio: If you give me a protein "X", how can I give you a version of X whose activity is controlled by a kinase?

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Jake Wintermute @synbio1.bsky.social · Apr 21

Join me May 1st at Engineering Biology Club! This month: "Principles for introducing new genes and species for conservation" by @wskamau.bsky.social of the MIT Media Lab. Register here to attend👇
www.ginkgo.bio/events/engin...

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Mark Peifer (He, him) @peiferlabunc.bsky.social · Apr 18

This could be one of the coolest meetings of the year!!

Will Ratcliff @wcratcliff.bsky.social · Apr 18

Sign ups for the fall Barcelona multicellularity meeting are now up- come join us!

meetings.embo.org/event/25-mul...

Evolution and origins of multicellularity across the tree of life

The study of the origins and evolution of multicellularity in different lineages has recently captured the attention of many research groups and is fueling the generation of numerous innovative resea…

meetings.embo.org

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Tae Seok Moon @taeseokmoon.bsky.social · Mar 31

2025 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Course in Synthetic Biology - apply!
Deadline: April 14, 2025
Financial Aid: Stipend awards are available.
Notifications: Applicants will be notified by May 15, 2025.
meetings.cshl.edu/courses.aspx...

Synthetic Biology

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Meetings & Courses -- a private, non-profit institution with research programs in cancer, neuroscience, plant biology, genomics, bioinformatics.

meetings.cshl.edu

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Reposted by Leonardo Morsut

Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽 @needhibhalla.bsky.social · Mar 29

🙌🏽🙌🏽

Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.bsky.social · Mar 29

We are excited to announce our official partnership with @indivisible.org for the National Day of Action on April 5th!

Stand Up for Science says: HANDS OFF OUR SCIENCE!

#standupforscience
#handsoffourscience

Find and register for an event near you: handsoff2025.com?utm_source=s...

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Leonardo Morsut @leonardomorsut.bsky.social · Mar 30

First association that came to me was with the anatomical theatre at Padova University where I did my undergrad and PhD: it’s the first stable anatomical theatre in the world used to teach human anatomy. To me symbolizes the longing for knowledge and for teaching. Looking forward to read the book!

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Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽 @needhibhalla.bsky.social · Mar 27

🧵

Marco Rogers @polotek.bsky.social · Mar 26

When we're talking about something as significant as a government coup, you can't be late. If you wait until it becomes so obvious that you can't ignore it, it is often too late. That means the opposition has amassed so much power that they don't bother hiding it anymore.

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Reposted by Leonardo Morsut

Valerie Horsley @valeriejhorsley.bsky.social · Mar 27

Dear scientists, The public distrust in US means that the policy makers do not have as incentives to maintain the scientific enterprise as we know it in the US. We need to organize and use our voices in the public. Keeping our heads in the sand will not save us! What should we do? 1/

three ostrich cartoon characters are standing in the sand with the words head in the sand above them

ALT: three ostrich cartoon characters are standing in the sand with the words head in the sand above them

media.tenor.com

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Alt NIH Bluesky 🧪 @altnih4science.bsky.social · Mar 28

Yes. The situation at NIH is worse than the public realizes.

The #NIH is on track to be effectively ended as a funder of evidence-based research within a year.

That is not an exaggeration. The firings and consolidation announced today will create a new, MUCH worse NIH.
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Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · Mar 27

The situation at the NIH and for all biomedical and cancer cure research in the United States is MUCH MUCH WORSE than you realize.

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · Mar 27

Ruining studies and potentially harming research subjects...

Abruptly terminating clinical trials...

Ignorant and evil

www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...

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UChicago Pritzker Molecular Engineering @uchicagopme.bsky.social · Mar 25

As part of an Engineering Design capstone course, UChicago undergrads majoring in molecular engineering design and present real-world products they developed under the guidance of industry mentors, helping bring their skills from the classroom to the real world. 🧪
pme.uchicago.edu/news/capston...

Capstone course gives UChicago Engineering undergrads real-world experience – and real-world problems to solve

pme.uchicago.edu

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Vaughn Cooper @vscooper.micropopbio.org · Mar 25

My OpEd in @elife.bsky.social

“It feels as if we are trying to fight a series of attacks on science with one arm tied behind our back and our lips half sewn shut.”

“Yet we are not beaten, and some of us are downright energized.”

elifesciences.org/articles/106...

Science Under Threat in the United States: Feeling abandoned but energized

Many individual researchers are frustrated by the response - or the lack of a response - from universities to a growing crisis.

elifesciences.org

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Chris Stantis @chrisstantis.bsky.social · Mar 25

I'm looking at a National Park Service grant where, in applying, the applicant agrees to all White House executive orders. Obviously, institutions are going to balk at allowing researchers to even apply for this🏺🧪

Prior to submitting an application, applicants should review presidential actions found at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/ and DOI secretary’s Orders found at: https://www.doi.gov/document-library/secretary-order. By submitting an application in response to this Notice of Funding Opportunity, the applicant certifies awareness and compliance with all current and applicable executive and secretary orders.

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Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽 @needhibhalla.bsky.social · Mar 19

“Who runs casual errands with their passport?”

Philip Gourevitch @pgourevitch.bsky.social · Mar 19

powerful detailed account of ICE captivity

"To put things into perspective: I had a Canadian passport, lawyers, resources, media attention, friends, family and even politicians advocating for me...Imagine what this system is like for every other person in there"

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

I’m the Canadian who was detained by Ice for two weeks. It felt like I had been kidnapped

I was stuck in a freezing cell without explanation despite eventually having lawyers and media attention. Yet, compared with others, I was lucky

www.theguardian.com

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