Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Swift Science Writing

SMT Evidence @smtevidence.com · 2d

A microsimulation model to estimate the impact of care disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic on breast cancer mortality using an administrative database.

www.jclinepi.com/article/S089...

Via @jclinepi.bsky.social

A microsimulation model based on healthcare pathways to estimate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic–induced delays on breast cancer mortality

This study aimed to develop a microsimulation model to estimate the impact of a care disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic on breast cancer mortality using an administrative database.

www.jclinepi.com

3 3

Reposted by Swift Science Writing

ACOG @acog.org · 18d

ACOG reaffirms that acetaminophen is safe for managing pain and fever during pregnancy. No reputable studies support suggestions like those in HHS’s recent announcement linking acetaminophen use in pregnancy to autism; in fact, high-quality studies show no such risk. https://bit.ly/47Wxc59

22 1.2K 2K

Swift Science Writing @swiftsciencewriting.co.uk · Sep 10

New study links marijuana use during IVF to higher risk of abnormal embryos, potentially providing new insights into the link between cannabis use and female fertility.

www.statnews.com/2025/09/09/m...

Via @statnews.com

#fertility #cannabis #marijuana #IVF #statnews

Study links marijuana use during IVF to higher risk of abnormal embryos

Researchers found marijuana's active ingredient may disrupt egg cells and embryos, adds to research that marijuana use can negatively affect male fertility.

www.statnews.com

2

Reposted by Swift Science Writing

Chemistry World @chemistryworld.com · Sep 4

With social media site Bluesky growing in popularity among academics, a new study has revealed how it measures up against X when it comes to sharing and promoting scientific research.

Science content on Bluesky attracts more engagement and originality than on X

New social media site is proving better for sharing research findings

www.chemistryworld.com

5 30 96

Swift Science Writing @swiftsciencewriting.co.uk · Sep 4

Most Americans still don’t know that #alcohol can cause #cancer — and the alcohol industry and Trump are working hard to make sure it stays that way by discrediting and burying a new report that offers new evidence of the link between drinking alcohol and dying www.vox.com/health/46008... @vox.com

Exclusive: RFK Jr. and the White House buried a major study on alcohol and cancer. Here’s what it shows.

Kennedy wants to “Make America Healthy Again” — but doesn’t want you to see a report that could do just that.

www.vox.com

1 1

Reposted by Swift Science Writing

Eric Topol @erictopol.bsky.social · Sep 1

What's wrong with the obsession to consume high protein in your diet or via bars, supplements, or powders?
A review of the data on efficacy and safety erictopol.substack.com/p/our-preocc...

3 38 140

Swift Science Writing @swiftsciencewriting.co.uk · Aug 22

Let's all try not to get surgery immediately before the weekend...

jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

@jamanetworkopen.com

Postoperative Outcomes Following Preweekend Surgery

This cohort study examines 30-day, 90-day, and 1-year postoperative outcomes of patients undergoing surgical procedures immediately before vs after the weekend.

jamanetwork.com

1

Swift Science Writing @swiftsciencewriting.co.uk · Aug 15

Really thought provoking article on Canada's assisted dying law - and the fairly murky 'rules' that are supposed to guide clinician's on who is eligible for the procedure.

www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...

Canada Is Killing Itself

The country gave its citizens the right to die. Doctors are struggling to keep up with demand.

www.theatlantic.com

1

Reposted by Swift Science Writing

Matt Burgess (WIRED) @mattburgess1.bsky.social · Aug 6

NEW: In a likely first, security researchers have shown how generative AI agents can be hijacked to cause physical consequences.

They tricked Google's Gemini AI into turning off smart home lights, opening windows, and turning on a boiler.

They hid instructions to the AI in a *calendar invitation*

Hackers Hijacked Google’s Gemini AI With a Poisoned Calendar Invite to Take Over a Smart Home

For likely the first time ever, security researchers have shown how AI can be hacked to create real world havoc, allowing them to turn off lights, open smart shutters, and more.

www.wired.com

26 370 660

Reposted by Swift Science Writing

Nature @nature.com · Aug 3

Scientists have mapped individual sugar molecules on the surface of cells at a resolution once thought to be impossible for light microscopes

go.nature.com/40I9Ewv

Cell's sugar coating mapped at below-nanometre resolution

Nature - Super-resolution technique works with off-the-shelf optical microscopes.

go.nature.com

1 19 92

Swift Science Writing @swiftsciencewriting.co.uk · Jul 29

The U.S. is paying $167,000 to destroy $9.7 million worth of contraceptives - including IUDs, implants & pills - meant for low-income countries that don't expire until 2027 to 2031. This takes the Republican madness to boost the birth rate by any means to a new level...

www.npr.org/sections/goa...

The U.S. is destroying $9.7 million in contraceptives. Is there another option?

This planned destruction of birth control devices is part of the dismantling of USAID services — and is linked to allegations by the government that cite abortion. Critics are speaking out.

www.npr.org

Swift Science Writing @swiftsciencewriting.co.uk · Jul 28

Great article from Nichola Ibe feat. some (hopefully helpful) insights from me on the need for professional indemnity insurance as a science writer.

"Doing good quality work should be protection enough" - but it's always good to have some insurance - as well as indemnity clauses in your contract.

Journo Resources @journoresources.org.uk · Jul 26

🧪 What do you mean you need insurance as a science writer? Our fellow, Nichola Ibe asks that very question in our latest piece, where she dives into the risks of science journalism, and how writers can best protect themselves 🔗

What Do You Mean I Need Insurance As A Science Writer?

Imagine you write and publish an article about a complex scientific topic after months of meticulous research and interviews. It’s…

www.journoresources.org.uk

1

Swift Science Writing @swiftsciencewriting.co.uk · Jul 22

Starting to have this awful, sinking feeling that the 24h+ of "planned maintenance" on PubMed is just going to turn into the US government shutting down the site completely in pursuit of their silencing of evidence-based medicine. Here's hoping we're wrong...🤞🏻 #pubmed #research #evidence

Screenshot of the PubMed homepage showing the service alert banner describing the planned maintenance for 24h+ from 25th July

1

Reposted by Swift Science Writing

Max Roser @maxroser.bsky.social · Jul 16

At least since the mid-20th century, England has left mass hunger behind. How was this possible? How did English farmers prove Malthus wrong?

My 'Data Insight' on @ourworldindata.org today is about rising yields and falling hunger.

→ ourworldindata.org/data-insights

4 8 50

Reposted by Swift Science Writing

ErrantScience @errantscience.com · Jun 22

1 8 31

Swift Science Writing @swiftsciencewriting.co.uk · Jun 10

Prospective registration was associated with a reduced risk of bias for randomised controlled trials: a meta-research study.

www.jclinepi.com/article/S089...

Via @jclinepi.bsky.social

#riskofbias #bias #reportingguidelines #trialregistration #clinicaltrials #research #evidence

Prospective registration was associated with a reduced risk of bias for randomized controlled trials: a meta-research study

To investigate the association between trial registration and the risk of bias (RoB).

www.jclinepi.com

2

Swift Science Writing @swiftsciencewriting.co.uk · Jun 3

More than half of the UK government’s nutrition advisers are paid by world’s largest food companies, including Nestlé, Unilever and Tate & Lyle, generating big conflicts of interest.

www.bmj.com/content/386/...

Via @bmj.com

#OA #openaccess #conflictofinterest #nutrition #food #publichealth

2

Swift Science Writing @swiftsciencewriting.co.uk · Jun 2

New dental costs of $9.8 billion are expected if the rest of the USA follows Utah and Florida in banning the addition of fluoride to water, based on a new cost-effectiveness analysis.

www.statnews.com/2025/05/30/f...

@statnews.com

#evidence #research #fluoride #dentalhealth #health #dentistry

25 million cavities and $9.8 billion: Study estimates the costs of removing fluoride from water

Researchers estimated 7.5% more U.S. children would get cavities, affecting 25.4 million additional teeth, if fluoridation were banned nationwide

www.statnews.com

1

Swift Science Writing @swiftsciencewriting.co.uk · May 31

Had enough of the Google AI overview search page nightmare? We’ve changed over to @startpage.com as a browser. Excellent so far! It uses Google’s search engine with super duper privacy protection. It also doesn’t throw up the annoying accept/reject cookies notice every time you open your homepage! 🎉

1

Swift Science Writing @swiftsciencewriting.co.uk · May 29

This is pretty impressive! 🏸

Reposted by Swift Science Writing

SMT Evidence @smtevidence.com · May 29

In the wake of several countries legalising #marijuana, questions remain about the drug's long-term #health effects. A new study has found that people who smoke weed or use edibles do worse on measures of vascular health that predict cardiovascular risk.

jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

@jama.com

Endothelial Dysfunction and Chronic Cannabis Use

This cross-sectional study aims to determine whether cannabis use is associated with vascular endothelial function.

jamanetwork.com

1 1

Swift Science Writing @swiftsciencewriting.co.uk · May 27

This critical work from @hsph.harvard.edu scientists continues to compile a list of the NIH & NSF grants that have been cut by the Trump administration in 2025.

Over 2,100 grants have gone, many with a focus on minorities - women, LGBTQ, others.

grant-watch.us

#grantwatch #science #research

The front page of the Grant Watch website, providing an introduction to the project and offering more resources for any scientists whose grant has been terminated by the Trump administration

Reposted by Swift Science Writing

SMT Evidence @smtevidence.com · May 23

A scoping review of carbon emissions associated with clinical trials finds that several trial activities, including travel and meetings, trial facilities, and sample & lab activities, are consistently carbon heavy.

www.jclinepi.com/article/S089...

@jclinepi.bsky.social

#scopingreview #openaccess

1 2

Reposted by Swift Science Writing

SMT Evidence @smtevidence.com · May 18

Brand new SPIRIT and CONSORT #reporting #guidelines are out now!

🎯 CONSORT 2025 for reporting RCTs now has a 30-item checklist

🎯 SPIRIT 2025 for reporting trial protocols now has a 34-item checklist

www.jclinepi.com/article/S089...

@jclinepi.bsky.social

#SPIRIT #CONSORT #RCTs #protocols

1 2

Reposted by Swift Science Writing

SMT Evidence @smtevidence.com · May 11

A new reporting guideline has just been published for the involvement of patients and caregivers in identifying and designing healthcare interventions: the IDEAS framework www.jclinepi.com/article/S089... HT @jclinepi.bsky.social #OA #openaccess #IDEAS #coproduction #patients #partners #research

A diagram with seven blue circles describing the different items within a patient-researcher research cycle. The seven blue circles include: designing and managing, undertaking, disseminating, implementing, evaluating impact, prioritising and commissioning

5 8