Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Emma Slack

Robert (Bob) Kubinec @rmkubinec.bsky.social · 11h

Yes, see, if we get rid of the immigrants, then Americans will win all the Nobel Prizes

OH WAIT

Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 12h

Immigrants have been awarded 40% of the Nobel Prizes won by Americans in chemistry, medicine and physics since 2000. nfap.com/research/new...

7 20

Reposted by Emma Slack

George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 11h

Congress continues to fail to check Trump’s authoritarian power.

Screenshot of a tweet from Spencer Hakimian (@SpencerHakimian) reporting that the Senate rejected a measure to stop Trump from unilaterally striking Venezuelan boats, with a vote of 48–51. The tweet adds that Fetterman voted no, and Rand Paul and Lisa Murkowski voted yes. The attached photo shows senators on the Senate floor during the roll call vote, with a caption bar reading: ‘Motion to Discharge S.J. Res. 83…’

210 480 1.9K

Reposted by Emma Slack

Bylines Network @bylinesnetwork.co.uk · 15h

Strengthening the institutions we rely on

A new report finds that the UK’s arm’s length public bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation

By Helen Johnston

@yorkshirebylines.co.uk
@hj4euinspain.bsky.social

Strengthening the institutions we rely on

A new report finds that the UK’s arm’s length public bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation

yorkshirebylines.co.uk

11 30

Reposted by Emma Slack

Prof Christina Pagel @chrischirp.bsky.social · 16h

🧵🚨

The UK’s independent scientific bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation - over the past 5 months I've been working with @martinmckee.bsky.social to map out their vulnerabilities and it's not good news.

Today our report is published!
www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

1/11

UK’s arm’s length public bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation

Seven in ten Britons say it is important for top scientific institutions to be independent in exclusive new polling.

www.ucl.ac.uk

14 300 440

Reposted by Emma Slack

Sammy Roth @sammyroth.bsky.social · 1d

Nestle stuck it out less than 2 years with the Dairy Methane Action Alliance, and never actually reported its dairy methane emissions. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Nestle Bows Out of Initiative to Reduce Dairy’s Climate Impact

The food giant has left the Dairy Methane Action Alliance, an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from herds of cattle.

www.bloomberg.com

4 28 69

Reposted by Emma Slack

Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 15h

The budget for Trump's secret police force compared with actual law enforcement agencies

18 21

Reposted by Emma Slack

BK. Titanji @boghuma.bsky.social · 15h

"Make the proof" colloquial phrase that means fabrication of data

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 15h

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

6 54 170

Reposted by Emma Slack

donnayoungdc @donnayoungdc.bsky.social · 1d

"Too often we call it misinformation or infodemic, like it's random junk out there on the Internet. It's not. It's organized, it's deliberate, it's politically motivated, and it's financially motivated." - @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social
www.pbs.org/newshour/sho...
#MedSky #ScienceUnderSiege

Authors of 'Science Under Siege' warn of concerted effort to discredit science

From its embrace of dubious research about autism, its skepticism over vaccines and its wholesale rejection of the consensus about climate change, the Trump administration has set off alarm bells with...

www.pbs.org

1 27 50

Reposted by Emma Slack

Michael E. Mann @michaelemann.bsky.social · 1d

Excited to see the ranking of #ScienceUnderSiege spiking today! Please check out the book (ask your local library to stock it if they haven't already).

@peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social & I began writing this book well over a year ago. We wish the book didn't feel as prescience as it now does.

Science Under Siege Amazon raking (#357--audiobook)

2 39 130

Reposted by Emma Slack

Parody Keir Starmer @parodypm.bsky.social · 2d

The ventriloquist act they booked for the Tory Conference looks a bit shit.

34 81 700

Reposted by Emma Slack

Hallou Lab @halloulab.bsky.social · 2d

John was a true gentleman scientist. I remember how he took time to speak to me after my first talk as a postdoc @gurdoninstitute.bsky.social & his enthusiasm when he told me one morning he was excited to do his "1st single-cell experiment" while queuing behind me at the ice machine! Vale Sir John!

James Briscoe @jamesbriscoe.bsky.social · 2d

Very sad news, John Gurdon has died.

A developmental biologist's developmental biologist, Nobel prize winner

His work is the foundation of much of today's dev & stem cell bio.

An inspiration to many, including me. Always asking questions & wanting the answers

www.magd.cam.ac.uk/news/profess...

Professor Sir John Gurdon FRS (1933-2025) | Magdalene College

Magdalene College is deeply saddened to announce the death of Professor Sir John Gurdon FRS, who served as Master of the College from 1995 to 2002.

www.magd.cam.ac.uk

1 9

Reposted by Emma Slack

Ryan Marino, MD @ryanmarino.bsky.social · 2d

“Conversion therapy” is a euphemism for child abuse, and every mainstream medical and mental health organization has rejected this practice for decades. There is no evidence that it does anything besides harm children. It is one of the few subjects where there is an overwhelming medical consensus.

Conversion therapy is universally opposed as harmful by major medical organizations, including (but not limited to) the American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, American Medical Association(AMA), American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association (APA), and the American School Health Association.
Links: https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/medical-experts-lgbtq-people-agree-conversion-therapy-is-no-replacement-for-health-care

10 230 480

Reposted by Emma Slack

Erik Bakkeren @erikbakkeren.bsky.social · 2d

Note it in your calendars! Aug 3-5, 2026. Excited to bring back MEEHubs to a hub near you (Switzerland, USA, Canada, Mexico, UK, Ukraine, or virtual only)‼️

MEEhubs @meehubs.bsky.social · 2d

We’re back! ✨ The next #MeeHubs26 is coming with 7 hubs across the globe and incredible lineups at each. Can’t wait to share more soon! meehubs.org

Home

meehubs.org

9 7

Reposted by Emma Slack

Vox @vox.com · 3d

Earlier this week Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance — a public-private partnership that does more than any other organization to get vaccines to people in poor countries — reported that its vaccines saved a record-breaking 1.7 million people in 2024. That’s 400,000 more lives saved than in 2023.

2024 was a record-setting year for lifesaving vaccines

Vaccines delivered by Gavi saved the lives of 1.7 million people in poor countries

www.vox.com

2 43 120

Reposted by Emma Slack

Cas Ⓜ️udde @casmudde.bsky.social · 2d

Solidarity with Mark ✊

Far-right harassment of academics has long been a problem across countries. Many legacy media ignore, minimize, or even facilitate it. #NoPaseran

Mark Bray @mark-bray.bsky.social · 5d

I’ve received multiple death threats + doxing (including my home address) directly following harassment from Turning Point USA, Jack Posobiec, Andy NGO, + Fox News which called me an antifa ‘financier.’

I have been forced to move my classes online.

If journalists want to talk, DM me or reply here.

1 21 64

Reposted by Emma Slack

Parody Keir Starmer @parodypm.bsky.social · 6d

This story is now big news all over the world... except in the UK.

40 680 1.5K

Reposted by Emma Slack

Matthias Eberl @eberlmat.bsky.social · 7d

Imagine if British newspapers put only half the energy they spent obsessing over Starmer’s curry in Durham into covering the fact that a former top figure in UKIP, the Brexit Party and Reform UK has just pleaded guilty to eight counts of pro-Russian bribery.

40 73

Reposted by Emma Slack

John Innes Centre @johninnescentre.bsky.social · 6d

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to give a seminar at the Fellows Conference, which will be held on 10 March 2026.

Candidates who win Fellowships will be offered a Tenure Track Group Leader position from the outset, initially for 5 years.

Find out more: www.jic.ac.uk/training-car...

Independent Research Fellowships Leading to Tenured Faculty Positions | John Innes Centre

The John Innes Centre (JIC), is a world leading centre of excellence in plant and microbial sciences based on the Norwich Research Park, UK. We are inviting applications from outstanding researchers…

www.jic.ac.uk

23 20

Reposted by Emma Slack

Tung Le @tunglejic.bsky.social · 6d

Independent research fellowships leading to tenured positions at the John Innes Centre.

Repost = nice. Thank you very much!!!

John Innes Centre @johninnescentre.bsky.social · 6d

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to give a seminar at the Fellows Conference, which will be held on 10 March 2026.

Candidates who win Fellowships will be offered a Tenure Track Group Leader position from the outset, initially for 5 years.

Find out more: www.jic.ac.uk/training-car...

Independent Research Fellowships Leading to Tenured Faculty Positions | John Innes Centre

The John Innes Centre (JIC), is a world leading centre of excellence in plant and microbial sciences based on the Norwich Research Park, UK. We are inviting applications from outstanding researchers…

www.jic.ac.uk

84 46

Reposted by Emma Slack

Dave Levitan @davelevitan.bsky.social · 6d

Did you know that the Trump Presidential LIbrary Foundation (run by Eric Trump, of course) was given a piece of Miami real estate likely worth hundreds of millions of dollars this week. Like, just donated to them. By the state. For nothing. On which they can build anything.

What Even Is a Trump Presidential Library?

Hello, welcome to my relaunched newsletter, read more about the deal here and please subscribe below! A week ago, a plot of incredibly valuable land in downtown Miami belonged to public Miami Dade Co...

www.gravityisgone.com

25 99 270

Reposted by Emma Slack

Jonathan Jarry @jonathanjarry.bsky.social · 6d

To anyone who uses PubMed, it may not be updated while the U.S. government is shut down.

This is not the end of PubMed; just an irritation for now, but one we should keep in mind.

1 4 11

Reposted by Emma Slack

Michael E. Mann @michaelemann.bsky.social · 6d

His efforts to cloud the water are in no way specific to SSP3-7.0. That's a pretense. By the way, he has been trying to undermine efforts to consider consequences of fossil fuel intensive scenarios for years now: aaronhuertas.medium.com/your-hot-tak...

Your Hot Take on Climate Models Is Just Another Political Opinion and That’s Okay

Climate and Energy Twitter just went another five rounds on emissions scenarios in major climate assessment reports like the IPCC and U.S…

aaronhuertas.medium.com

1 6 15

Reposted by Emma Slack

Michael E. Mann @michaelemann.bsky.social · 7d

“Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.” - Voltaire.

41 680 2K

Reposted by Emma Slack

Dan Froomkin/Press Watch/Heads Up News @froomkin.bsky.social · 7d

Yes indeed! What do you do when you're covering a lying, bloviating politician who revels in attention, good or bad? Ignoring him or covering him neutrally or even covering him critically doesn't work. You've got to try something different! Clip and save this chart:

13 180 360

Reposted by Emma Slack

Parody Keir Starmer @parodypm.bsky.social · 7d

Reform dimwits clearly don’t understand what incitement to violence is, so let me explain – incitement to violence is saying things like “set fire to all the fucking hotels full of the bastards for all I care”, or threatening to pick up a rifle, like this bloke:

17 130 370