Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Abigail Ruth Freeman @abigailruthfreeman.bsky.social · 7d

Such a loss for humanity. Her work showed us that traits we conveniently ascribe to humans only are widespread in other animals. That they deserve more respect and compassion and we could use a little more humility. www.irishtimes.com/world/2025/1...

Jane Goodall, primatologist and global activist, dies aged 91

Scientist turned her childhood love of primates into a lifelong quest for protecting the environment

www.irishtimes.com

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Abigail Ruth Freeman @abigailruthfreeman.bsky.social · 14d

When I studied genetics @tcddublin years ago we were intro’d to a Huntington’s disease family. It made real for us how awful this condition is... the idea of a cure then seemed like magic, so it is amazing to hear about this incredible progress. Bravo! www.bbc.com/news/article...

www.bbc.com

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Abigail Ruth Freeman @abigailruthfreeman.bsky.social · 21d

We are delighted to announce the theme of #ScienceWeek2025 will be Then.Today.Tomorrow. We will be celebrating 30 years of Ireland's Science Week - one of the longest running in the world. www.rte.ie/news/busines...

€847,000 in funding for Science Week 2025 events

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless has said that €847,820 in funding will be available to support 36 projects taking place nationwide as part of ...

www.rte.ie

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Abigail Ruth Freeman @abigailruthfreeman.bsky.social · Jul 18

Ireland targets world-class researchers with new initiative www.siliconrepublic.com/innovation/i...

Ireland targets world-class researchers with new initiative

Today Minister Lawless has launched the Global Talent Ireland initiative which aims to attract the best and brightest researchers to Ireland.

www.siliconrepublic.com

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Abigail Ruth Freeman @abigailruthfreeman.bsky.social · Jul 17

We are delighted to launch Global Talent Ireland - a programme to attract exceptional mid-career and established researchers from across the globe to Ireland. @researchireland.ie www.researchireland.ie/funding/glob...

The cover of Impact 2030 - Ireland's Research and Innovation Strategy showing a map of Ireland with a hand reaching towards it.

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Abigail Ruth Freeman @abigailruthfreeman.bsky.social · Jul 16

A potent bacterium in the human gut can supercharge the effects of some cancer drugs in mice — and researchers are now planning a clinical trial to test whether it could do the same in people. www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Found: a human gut microbe that makes cancer therapy more effective in mice

Cancer therapies called checkpoint inhibitor drugs, which ratchet up the immune system, work better when this bacterium is around.

www.nature.com

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Reposted by Abigail Ruth Freeman

Research Ireland @researchireland.ie · Jun 20

Dr @abigailruthfreeman.bsky.social speaks about the new €2.7 million Research Ireland – Gas Networks Ireland Innovation Challenge in @irishtimes.com. Read here: www.irishtimes.com/sponsored/2025/06/19/research-ireland-and-gas-networks-ireland-partner-to-develop-low-carbon-tech/

Bobby Gleeson, chief operating officer, Gas Networks Ireland and Dr Ruth Freeman, director – research for society at Research Ireland

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Abigail Ruth Freeman @abigailruthfreeman.bsky.social · Jun 12

Day 1 of the #DalkeyBookFestival -delighted to hear this fascinating conversation between @lukeoneil47.bsky.social and Stephen Pinker #DBF2025

Luke O’Neill and Stephen Pinker on a stage with Dalkey book festival branding

Abigail Ruth Freeman @abigailruthfreeman.bsky.social · Jun 12

Analysis of ~3 million children shows that first year of schooling is when girls start to fall behind in mathematical achievement. www.nature.com/articles/d41...

When do girls fall behind in maths? Gigantic study pinpoints the moment

Analysis of almost three million children captures when ‘mathematical gender gap’ first emerges and could help focus efforts to stop girls from falling behind.

www.nature.com

Reposted by Abigail Ruth Freeman

Mike Melton @mikemelton.bsky.social · May 12

I warned you that I have a problem.

Fiery-throated Hummingbird at Paraiso Quetzal Lodge #CostaRica

#birds #hummingbirds #nature 🌿

A small bird perched on a branch, displaying brilliant iridescent plumage that shifts from green to turquoise, with flashes of fiery orange on the throat and a deep blue crown.

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Abigail Ruth Freeman @abigailruthfreeman.bsky.social · May 12

National Challenge Fund showcase highlights innovative research www.siliconrepublic.com/innovation/r...

National Challenge Fund showcase highlights innovative research

From cyber resilience to renewable energy storage, teams of innovators recently exhibited their projects at the National Challenge Fund showcase.

www.siliconrepublic.com

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Abigail Ruth Freeman @abigailruthfreeman.bsky.social · May 10

#DarknessIntoLight #Pieta

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Abigail Ruth Freeman @abigailruthfreeman.bsky.social · May 9

"If we save the sea, we save our world" says British broadcaster Sir David Attenborough in a trailer for his new film, Ocean - "after a lifetime of filming the natural world I now understand the most important place on earth is not on land" www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5J7...

Ocean with David Attenborough | Official Trailer | National Geographic

YouTube video by National Geographic

www.youtube.com

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Abigail Ruth Freeman @abigailruthfreeman.bsky.social · May 1

They were good as gold!

Abigail Ruth Freeman @abigailruthfreeman.bsky.social · Apr 28

Three little letters that could help transform the Irish economy: PhD “When we support PhDs, we’re laying the groundwork for a more innovative, resilient Irish economy.”
www.irishtimes.com/business/202...

Three little letters that could help transform the Irish economy: PhD

Smart domestic policy initiative could boost research and innovation with a positive ripple effect for our economy

www.irishtimes.com

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Abigail Ruth Freeman @abigailruthfreeman.bsky.social · Apr 27

Blue sky for #bluesky - enjoyed watching these spectacular fliers wheeling in the wind today.

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Reposted by Abigail Ruth Freeman

Research Ireland @researchireland.ie · Apr 17

Dr @abigailruthfreeman.bsky.social, Director of Research for Society at Research Ireland, discusses the importance of public engagement with science in @irishtimes.com today. Read here: www.irishtimes.com/sponsored/20...

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Abigail Ruth Freeman @abigailruthfreeman.bsky.social · Apr 11

54% of 4,260 global researchers surveyed believe that AI will bring more benefits to society than risks. That makes them seemingly a lot more optimistic than the general public: in a similar survey just 13% of the UK public shared the same rosy view. www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Will AI improve your life? Here’s what 4,000 researchers think

Scientists working on artificial intelligence are more confident than the public that the technology will benefit people.

www.nature.com

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Abigail Ruth Freeman @abigailruthfreeman.bsky.social · Mar 22

Wonderful achievement Sylvia - congratulations!

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Abigail Ruth Freeman @abigailruthfreeman.bsky.social · Feb 17

In the State, we dispose of 164,000 tonnes of clothing waste a year, making us the second highest producer of textile waste in the EU. Only 6% of so-called post-consumer textiles is reused here through charity shops, vintage stores and online second-hand platforms.
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

Clothes banks are overflowing as the ‘market for castoffs collapses’

Charity shops fear they will become dumping ground for poor-quality clothing if new EU law on textile waste is enforced fully

www.irishtimes.com

Reposted by Abigail Ruth Freeman

Great Googly Moogly @mutiny32.com · Jan 28

Garmin broke all their watches today. 😬

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Abigail Ruth Freeman @abigailruthfreeman.bsky.social · Jan 24

Interesting interview with Prof. Frank Gannon, ex Director of EMBO and DG of SFI, reflecting his career (so far!), including on science funding in Ireland, and the origins of "research outputs". Focus on Ireland starts about 15 minutes in... www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWvl...

Frank Gannon, EMBO Director, EMBL Group Leader & Senior Scientist, 1994-2008

YouTube video by EMBL Alumni

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Abigail Ruth Freeman

Katharine Hayhoe @katharinehayhoe.com · Jan 15

And contrails are responsible for up to half the climate impact of flying. This is huge ⬇️

Opportunity Green @opportunitygreen.org · Jan 15

3️⃣ All flight planning must adapt flight paths and schedules to minimise contrails.

Just small changes to 1.7% of flights could reduce contrail impact by 60%. Robust data monitoring and collection will be crucial for informing these calculations.

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3) Adjusting flight paths and schedules on just 1.7% of flight paths could reduce contrail impacts by 60%.

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Abigail Ruth Freeman @abigailruthfreeman.bsky.social · Jan 15

@irishrail.bsky.social IrishRail the 8.50 Northbound DART at Glenageary seems to have been cancelled. Any info please?

Reposted by Abigail Ruth Freeman

Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · Jan 11

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