Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Bill Wilkinson

@drwilkinsonsci.bsky.social

2.3K followers 1.6K following 3.5K posts

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Reposted by Bill Wilkinson

Chris 🎃 DevPods.gg gamedev community @chrisdeleon.bsky.social · 9h

Portland protestor frog costume: What are you trying to tell me? That I can dodge pepper balls?

Morpheus from Matrix movie: No, Frog. I'm trying to tell you that when you're ready, you won't have to.

36 2K 6.8K

Bill Wilkinson @drwilkinsonsci.bsky.social · 3h

Minute Cryptic - 9 October, 2025
"Me? Doing bad, kind of blue" (6)
🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣
🏆 0 hints – 1 under the community par (26,855 solvers so far).
www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Minute Cryptic

Solve a clue with a hidden meaning

www.minutecryptic.com

Reposted by Bill Wilkinson

Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 15h

BREAKING

In a new video, Dolly Parton, the Queen of America, says she’s going to be ok.

290 2K 8.4K

Reposted by Bill Wilkinson

Alejandra Caraballo @esqueer.net · 16h

ICE is not only chasing down every random brown person in Chicago, they have a cameraman following them to film this for social media. Cruelty and inhumanity as content.

200 2.1K 5.1K

Bill Wilkinson @drwilkinsonsci.bsky.social · 15h

Nice bit of civics on TGT tomorrow. The anniversary of the setting up of The Universal Postal Union. Less so now, perhaps, but for decades we took for granted that we could easily post letters anywhere in the world. That's pretty remarkable when you stop to think about it.
bit.ly/TutorGroupThink

Thursday 9th October
The Universal Postal Union was founded on this date 151 years ago (1874). It is one of the oldest intergovernmental organisations, and is now part of the United Nations. Before the UPU every pair of countries that exchanged post had to negotiate a treaty, or forward via other countries. Negotiations sometimes took years.
The UPU was established by signing the Treaty of Bern, which setup:
There should be a uniform flat rate to mail a letter anywhere in the world
Postal authorities should give equal treatment to foreign and domestic mail
The pictured sculpture in Bern celebrates the UPU. The continents, represented as people, wrap around the earth connecting everyone. Today is also World Post Day.to highlight the importance of post, and celebrate our global connection.
Can you imagine the excitement of receiving a letter from another country at the end of the 1800s or start of 1900s?
Have you ever sent a letter - either within your own country or abroad?
How do you feel about post volumes falling due to e-mail/social media?

Thursday 9th October
The Universal Postal Union (UPU) was founded on this day 1874. It introduced flat fees so mail could be sent easily around the world.
Before the UPU every pair of countries that exchanged post had to negotiate a treaty.
The pictured sculpture in Bern celebrates the UPU and how mail connect people on all continents around the world.
Have you ever sent a letter - either within your own country or abroad?

Bill Wilkinson @drwilkinsonsci.bsky.social · 15h

Just one more xenophobic anti migrant policy will win this guy over.

Andrew R @excelpope.net · 20h

See yer da’s got a new car.

Reposted by Bill Wilkinson

Robert Rath @robertrath.bsky.social · 1d

Mass Damper or “Gravity Ball” to reduce swaying due to wind. It’s 66 metric tons and on the 88-89th floors, and is the only one in the world open to the public.

1 31

Reposted by Bill Wilkinson

Warren Oates @warrenoates1.bsky.social · 1d

An important (global) public service announcement from Ed Miliband on the day that renewables have over taken coal as the largest source of electricity.

"Clean energy, it's happening and it's the future."

9 100 290

Bill Wilkinson @drwilkinsonsci.bsky.social · 17h

I got this without knowing what to do with the Spanish.

Minute Cryptic - 8 October, 2025
"Spain's and France's and Italy's earliest hairy humanoid" (4)
🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣
🏆 0 hints – 2 under the community par (66,210 solvers so far).
www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Minute Cryptic

Solve a clue with a hidden meaning

www.minutecryptic.com

Bill Wilkinson @drwilkinsonsci.bsky.social · 1d

I wish!

Reposted by Bill Wilkinson

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 1d

The UAE is an authoritarian autocracy, a petro-state with no income tax for citizens, to bribe them for the lack of democratic voice or free speech

It is 85% migrant, a segregated society with a ban on integration in principle and practice, few rights, equal opportunities, nor voice for incomers

79 420 1.4K

Reposted by Bill Wilkinson

Dave Bagpuss Forsey 🍺 @bagpuss.org · 1d

Robert Jenrick and his wiggy puppet

26 120 420

Bill Wilkinson @drwilkinsonsci.bsky.social · 1d

I’ve got to be honest, Jenrick’s comments only sound worse when you hear the full context.

Bill Wilkinson @drwilkinsonsci.bsky.social · 1d

Wednesday's TGT is another hit for TGT's Law of Wikipedia. Mary Engle Pennington, one of those Victorian women who was told she couldn't do something so ignored that advice and did it anyway. Discuss women breaking ground in science or who makes sure our food is safe.
bit.ly/TutorGroupThink

Wednesday 8th October
Mary Engle Pennington was born on this day in 1872 in Nashville, USA and grew up in Philadelphia. At the age of 12 she became interested in chemistry after reading a library book. She walked to her closest university for help with some terminology she did not understand, but was told to come back when she was older.
Aged 18 she began studying at the University, finishing the requirements for a Chemistry degree in 2 years, however she wasn’t awarded a degree as they did not grant them to women at the time, but she got a certificate of proficiency. She went on to get a PhD in 1895, and then became a fellow at several universities, before founding the Philadelphia Clinical Laboratory - studying bacteria in food.
She became an innovator in the preservation, handling, storage and transportation of perishable food. She began educating farmers on how to handle raw milk, improving it’s safety. Following this she began the first female lab chief of the US Food and Drug Administration - developing the standards which improved the safety of chickens for human consumption. During World War I she she worked on the War Food Administration - ensuring everyone could be fed, and received the Notable Service Medal from the President.
Later she developed the refrigerated boxcar (pictured, bottom) and she held five patents about food safety.
Have you ever considered how your food is made safe?
What would life be life without food refrigeration?

Wednesday 8th October
Mary Engle Pennington was born on this day in 1872 in Nashville, USA.
She studied chemistry at university (though wasn’t given a degree because of her gender), went on to get a PhD in 1895 before founding the Philadelphia Clinical Laboratory - studying bacteria in food.
She was an innovator food safety helping develop refrigerated boxcars and standards for storing chicken, amongst other food safety standards.
Have you ever considered how your food is made safe?

Bill Wilkinson @drwilkinsonsci.bsky.social · 1d

Every runner’s favourite day of the year.

A freshly opened box of trainers. These are black with white soles and flashes of pink.

1 4

Bill Wilkinson @drwilkinsonsci.bsky.social · 1d

Glad it’s not just me and my terrible eyesight.

Reposted by Bill Wilkinson

Bill Wilkinson @drwilkinsonsci.bsky.social · 2d

I created a Minute Cryptic for you to solve:

Slugs camp inside hatched emu egg (4)

Give it your best shot!
www.minutecryptic.com/custom/98fb9...

Minute Cryptic

Solve a clue with a hidden meaning

www.minutecryptic.com

1 1

Bill Wilkinson @drwilkinsonsci.bsky.social · 2d

Phew. That’s more my level.

Minute Cryptic - 7 October, 2025
"Tailor billed 500 less for offensive suit?" (5)
🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣
🏆 0 hints – 1 under the community par (24,825 solvers so far).
www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Minute Cryptic

Solve a clue with a hidden meaning

www.minutecryptic.com

1 7

Reposted by Bill Wilkinson

Bill Wilkinson @drwilkinsonsci.bsky.social · 2d

Tuesday's TGT celebrates the 70th birthday of my all time favourite cameo appearance in The West Wing. Yo-Yo Ma is not just a musician, he's an ambassador for peace and humanity as well as one of the greatest cellists ever. Introduce him to your tutees tomorrow.
bit.ly/TutorGroupThink

Tuesday 7th October
Happy 70th Birthday to virtuoso cellist Yo‑Yo Ma. Ma was born in Paris to a musical family; his mother was a singer and his father was a violinist and composer. Both his parents were refugees of the Chinese Civil War.
As a child, Ma tried violin and viola before settling on the cello at just four years old (a 1/16th size version). Aged 7 his family moved to America. He was already considered a child prodigy, he played for President Kennedy with his sister within a year of moving to the US!
When his family moved to New York, Ma entered Juilliard, one of the world’s top music schools graduating there aged 15. When he attended Harvard University he decided against studying music and broadened his studies taking courses in history, literature, philosophy, and anthropology. This helped shape his belief that music is not just performance but a way to understand and connect with all humanity.
Known for his warmth and curiosity, Ma performs beyond classical concerts. He formed the Silkroad Ensemble in 1998, bringing together musicians from around the world to blend musical traditions. Ma has recorded 92 albums, won every musical award possible including 19 Grammys. He has played refugee camps and schools as well as concert halls and global summits; since 2006 he has been a UN Peace Ambassador. He believes the common language of music can build bridges between cultures and be a medium for peace and unity.
Have you ever been to a classical music recital at school or elsewhere?
Does it surprise you that Ma decided to study subjects beyond music at University?
What do you think, can music unite peoples of different cultures?

Tuesday 7th October
Happy 70th Birthday to virtuoso cellist Yo‑Yo Ma.
Ma was a child prodigy, learning on a 1/16th size cello aged just four. He played for President Kennedy accompanied by his sister when he was seven year old.
He decided against studying music at university, instead broadening his horizons. He believes music can be a force for peace and unity between cultures around the world.
Do you agree? Can music foster peace and build bridges between cultures?
Watch: Yo-Yo Ma gives a Desk Concert opening with Bach’s Prelude to Cello Suite No. 1

1 2 6

Reposted by Bill Wilkinson

Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 2d

For every €1 provided through a Basic Income For Artists pilot program in Ireland, the government got €1.46 back. So it’s being made permanent.

Over and over we see it. It saves public money to provide public housing. And it makes public money to provide basic income.

We can’t afford to NOT do it.

Mike Sowden @mikeachim.bsky.social · 2d

Damn. This is amazing. £325 per week, paid monthly, for 3 years - and the result was a profit for the Irish economy:
www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employmen...

Post from Threads user rodneyowl: "Ireland has declared the Basic Income for Artists scheme permanent. This will be officially announced in tomorrow’s budget. Details to follow. Congratulations to all who fought for it and the present and future artists of all sorts in Ireland. That includes me 👌We’re just comin to the end of a 3 year pilot scheme. It’s been a roaring success. For every €1 paid out to the 2000 participants, the government got €1.46 back. Can’t argue with that. Other countries are already taking note."

17 260 730

Reposted by Bill Wilkinson

James Ball @jamesrball.com · 2d

It both the US and the UK, the political right teaches institutions not to mess with it – a small slip up with be ruthlessly and publicly exploited.

The left, meanwhile, teaches the same institutions it can be repeatedly and easily messed with, and there will barely be a squeak.

Chaminda Jayanetti @cjayanetti.bsky.social · 2d

if that HIGNFY Euan Blair fuckup had been about a right-winger it'd have had full front-page scandal coverage in the Mail followed by frontpage coverage across the board for the next week, days of "BBC in crisis" headline coverage by the BBC, and parliamentary questions about Tim Davie's future

8 56 250

Reposted by Bill Wilkinson

Dr Kat Day (she/her) @chronicleflask.katday.com · 2d

Daughter of Robin Williams, Zelda Williams 💔

zeldawilliams
20m
From Create Mode
••
Please, just stop sending me AI videos of Dad. Stop believing I wanna see it or that I'll understand, I don't and I won't. If you're just trying to troll me, I've seen way worse, i'll restrict and move on. But please, if you've got any decency, just stop doing this to him and to me, to everyone even, full stop. It's dumb, it's a waste of time and energy, and believe me, it's NOT what he'd want.
To watch the legacies of real people be condensed down to 'this vaguely looks and sounds like them so that's enough,
, just so
other people can churn out horrible TikTok slop puppeteering them is maddening. You're not making art, you're making disgusting, over-processed hotdogs out of the lives of human beings, out of the history of art and music, and then shoving them down someone else's throat hoping they'll give you a little thumbs up and like it.
Gross.

And for the love of EVERYTHING, stop calling it 'the future. Al is just badly recycling and regurgitating the past to be reconsumed. You are taking in the Human Centipede of content, and from the very very end of the line, all while the folks at the front laugh and laugh, consume and consume.

81 7K 16K

Bill Wilkinson @drwilkinsonsci.bsky.social · 2d

a cartoon of bart simpson laying on the floor with the words " don t cry for me i 'm already dead "

Alt: a cartoon of Barney laying on the floor with the words " don t cry for me i 'm already dead "

media.tenor.com

Reposted by Bill Wilkinson

Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 2d

this photo is pretty brutal

www.ft.com/content/5a73...

22 54 220

Reposted by Bill Wilkinson

Alan Beattie @alanbeattie.bsky.social · 2d

So why do dogs canonically chase cats? Luddism. An obsolecent food production technology tries to prevent the adoption of a more sophisticated one.

Dogs vs cats isn't a primal species rivalry: it's a 10,000-year old job demarcation dispute.

If this isn't worthy of a Nobel I don't know what is. 2/2

17 8 150