Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD

KOJAMF🤘🖤🤘 @kojamf.bsky.social · 6d

Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.

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Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD

Carl T. Bergstrom @carlbergstrom.com · 20d

Yet again, machine learning — even gussied up via the transformer architecture — encodes and reinforces societal biases.

This study reveals that LLM-based peer review relies heavily on author institution in its decisions.

arxiv.org/abs/2509.15122

Prestige over merit: An adapted audit of LLM bias in peer review

Large language models (LLMs) are playing an increasingly integral, though largely informal, role in scholarly peer review. Yet it remains unclear whether LLMs reproduce the biases observed in human de...

arxiv.org

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Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD

Magdalena Skipper @magdalenaskipper.bsky.social · 25d

A great review of a must read timely publication of “Science under Siege: How to Fight the Five Most Powerful Forces that Threaten Our World” by

@peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social and @michaelemann.bsky.social

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

How did assaults on science become the norm — and what can we do?

An insightful book explores attacks on science from a historical and a personal perspective.

www.nature.com

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Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD

Madhu Pai, MD, PhD @madhupai.bsky.social · 28d

“If government support weakens, medical and health research may become more dependent on commercial markets and philanthropic donors. That can narrow the kinds of problems studied…”

theconversation.com/proposed-cut...

Proposed cuts to NIH funding would have ripple effects on research that could hamper the US for decades

Taxpayer-funded investment supports basic research that can yield crucial medical advancements down the line and make lifesaving drugs and technologies affordable for everyday people.

theconversation.com

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Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD

Kevin Mitchell @wiringthebrain.bsky.social · Sep 7

We're going to see a lot of bullshit in the coming days and weeks about "causes of autism", and most will be based on flawed, over-interpreted observational studies (1/n)

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Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD

Shematologist, MD @shematologist.medsky.social · Aug 27

Drowning is the leading cause of death in children between 1 and 4 years of age but apparently the CDC Drowning Prevention program is no longer needed.

www.npr.org/sections/sho...

Drowning prevention program comes to a halt at the CDC

A few years in, a CDC drowning prevention program was ready to share its findings on how to mitigate the leading cause of death among young children. Then the administration terminated that staff.

www.npr.org

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Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD

Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS @bethlinas.bsky.social · Aug 24

“In total, more than 20,500 workers, or about 18% of the Department of Health and Human Services’ workforce, have left or been pushed out, according to ProPublica’s analysis”

And we are all looking for jobs - essentially the same jobs- at the same time. This is evil, devastating, & life altering.

Gutted: How Deeply Trump Has Cut Federal Health Agencies

More than 20,500 workers have left or been pushed out of federal health agencies, a ProPublica analysis found. Staffers say the cuts will leave their agencies less equipped to conduct studies, perform...

projects.propublica.org

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Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD

Rachael Sirianni, PhD @docsirianni.bsky.social · Aug 24

What they are doing to NIH defies all logic and reason. This admin is needlessly, irreversibly destroying one of the greatest resources our country has ever built. A few quotes from yours' truly are in the video below. Thanks to @nytopinion.nytimes.com for covering
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/24/o...

Opinion | America First? Not When It Comes to Your Health.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · Aug 24

New York Times story with profiles of researchers whose grants were terminated.

[Gift Link]

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/24/o...

Opinion | America First? Not When It Comes to Your Health.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD

Saganism @sagan.bsky.social · Aug 21

When Ted Turner asked Carl Sagan if he was a socialist, Sagan gave the answer America keeps failing to learn.

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Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD @wesleytkerr.bsky.social · Aug 22

As a former musician, married to a musician, and current neuroscientist, I think you’re doing great!

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Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD @wesleytkerr.bsky.social · Aug 21

I like it

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Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD

Jen Heemstra @jenheemstra.bsky.social · Aug 15

Feeling awed and a bit starstruck that @science.org chose to run a book review on #LabworkToLeadership!!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Leading a lab, and all it entails

A chemist offers actionable leadership advice to principal investigators

www.science.org

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Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD @wesleytkerr.bsky.social · Aug 10

Congrats! That’s a big accomplishment!

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Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD

Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 @davidimiller.bsky.social · Aug 5

Govt Accountability Office (GAO) determines Trump admin broke the law by withholding billions in new NIH awards.

Full GAO report: www.gao.gov/assets/890/8...

NYT article (no paywall): archive.is/202508051916...

Elizabeth Warren @warren.senate.gov · Aug 5

BREAKING NEWS: a government watchdog confirmed the Trump administration is breaking the law by blocking NIH funds.

How many kids with cancer or grandmas with Alzheimer’s have to get closer to death while crucial research is stalled?

Trump must end this illegal funding freeze.

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Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD

Maxine Joselow @maxinejoselow.bsky.social · Aug 5

Scoop: EPA is preparing to cancel $7 billion in grants intended to help low- and moderate-income families install solar panels www.nytimes.com/2025/08/05/c...

E.P.A. Moves to Cancel $7 Billion in Grants for Solar Energy

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD

Steve Herman @w7voa.journa.host.ap.brid.gy · Aug 3

The US could see a 30-40% decline in new international student enrollment, resulting in nearly $7 billion in lost revenue and more than 60,000 fewer American jobs. https://www.nafsa.org/fall-2025-international-student-enrollment-outlook-and-economic-impact

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Melissa Sanchez @melissa-sanchez.bsky.social · Jul 30

The terror began immediately. Salvadoran guards beat them with their fists, boots and batons, shot them with rubber pellets, and forced them to lick other men's backs.

What happened when we sent 230+ Venezuelans to a prison known for human rights abuses.

www.propublica.org/article/vene...

Now That They’re Free, Venezuelan Men Want the World to Know What They Endured in CECOT

Venezuelan men deported by the Trump administration say they endured months of physical and mental abuse inside a Salvadoran prison. Though happy to be home, they say the fact that they were released ...

www.propublica.org

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Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · Jul 29

New Science story about multi-year funding and it potential catastrophic consequences

www.science.org/content/arti...

1/n

Odds of winning NIH grants plummet as new funding policy and spending delays bite

Funding multiyear grants up front will sharply cut number of investigators receiving awards

www.science.org

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Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · Jul 29

Touching story about NIH staff damaged or lost by "efficiency" efforts (Fact check: TRUE)

drweinerinsights.com/2025/07/27/t...

The Lie of Efficiency Hurting You.

By Wayne Weiner, D.Ed., Former Senior Consultant, Now Streaming Television Broadcaster Efficiency. It’s the buzzword that launches a thousand memos and dismantles a thousand good teams. It’s sold a…

drweinerinsights.com

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Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD

🦋❄️🍁Baron🍁❄️🦋 @baron333.bsky.social · Jul 27

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Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD

Ian Sample @iansample.bsky.social · Jul 26

We’re hiring for a major role in the US, an investigative journalist to cover what’s happening with science in the US and beyond. This is extremely important territory for us. 🧪

workforus.theguardian.com/jobs/795 The Guardian :: Senior Science Investigative Reporter

The Guardian :: Senior Science Investigative Reporter

workforus.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD

Hà Phan @hpdailyrant.bsky.social · Jul 26

The grief counselor said, “You are the most important person in your life. You need to save yourself first.” I understand it intellectually but it’s very hard to put into practice because we make each other whole. Sometimes you need others to save you.

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Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD

Princess Vimentin PhD | Cancer Biologist @princess-vimentin.bsky.social · Jul 24

Recently, federal judge scrapped a Biden-era rule that would remove medical debt from credit reports for millions of Americans.

Financial toxicity affects ~137 mil adults. It was coined 10 yrs ago highlighting the costs of cancer treatment.
🧪 pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...

Financial toxicity: a common problem affecting patient care and health

Financial toxicity describes the negative effects of the economic burden of medical care on patients that potentially lead to poor well-being and quality of life. Co-ordinated efforts at the care prov...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD

Romaine Johnson, MD MPH @pediairwaydoc.bsky.social · Jul 21

This is what accountability journalism looks like. The reporter challenges official claims with evidence, centers the stakes for citizens, and serves democracy by making policy consequences visible.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/21/w...

Disabled Americans Fear What Medicaid Cuts Could Do to Them

www.nytimes.com

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