Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Eddie Holmes @eddieholmes.bsky.social · Aug 19

Where was that?

Reposted by Eddie Holmes

(((Bexzex))) @bexzex.bsky.social · Aug 18

Most of the work wasn’t in the climb itself -- it wasn’t about the terrain, the path, the rocks, or even my body, my legs, or my breathing. The real work was in facing myself and my fears, every step up and back down

2 1 9

Eddie Holmes @eddieholmes.bsky.social · Aug 15

Whatever happened to the Mojiang miners story?! BS from start to pathetic finish.

3 6

Reposted by Eddie Holmes

Philipp Markolin, PhD @philippmarkolin.bsky.social · Aug 15

Chapter 5 now available for free.

This is probably my favorite chapter, certainly the one featuring one of the most remarkable researchers and stories I was able to collect for my book on the origin of SARS-CoV-2.

If you read just one chapter of my book, let it be this one
You wont be disappointed

Philipp Markolin, PhD @philippmarkolin.bsky.social · Aug 15

Chapter 5 looks behind the geopolitical blame game between China and the US.

How are political narratives seeded and enforced by media in the West and East? Who benefits? And what are the consequences for scientists doing impactful work on the ground?

www.protagonist-science.com/p/lab-leak-f...

Chapter 5 - Blaming Tigers, Hidden Fears

Adapted from Lab Leak Fever: The COVID-19 origin theory that sabotaged science and society

www.protagonist-science.com

1 3 9

Reposted by Eddie Holmes

Roland Pease @peaseroland.bsky.social · Aug 14

Thanks to producer @ellahubber.bsky.social for bashing this into shape

Roland Pease @peaseroland.bsky.social · Aug 14

On Science in Action today: the editor who won't be cowed.
Following RFKjr's astonishing attack on a vaccine safety study published in Annals of Internal Medicine, editor Christine Laine defends the research, and explains why his demand for its retraction is rebuffed.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...

2 7

Eddie Holmes @eddieholmes.bsky.social · Aug 14

Pathetic crap. Krispin is stellar.

1 2

Reposted by Eddie Holmes

Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀 @mackayim.bsky.social · Aug 14

What crap is this?

"The Queensland government says it wasn't "confident" a doctor was suitable to be the state's chief health officer"

-do they not know the last 2 two Qld CHOs were medical doctors (and so stand-ins)?? The need is in the title guys.

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...

MP calls for transparency over Qld health head appointment

Sources told the ABC an offer for the state's top health job was made and quickly scrapped.

www.abc.net.au

3 9 16

Eddie Holmes @eddieholmes.bsky.social · Aug 14

Oh Jeff

5

Reposted by Eddie Holmes

Kristian G. Andersen @kgandersen.bsky.social · Aug 13

Not to belabor a "I told you so", but it's been clear for years that the whole "lab leak" discourse has absolutely nothing to do with a potential lab leak and everything to do with a broader anti-science agenda.

I really, and truly, hope more scientists will realize this and take corrective action.

Greg Folkers @gregfolkers.bsky.social · Aug 13

Atlantic: Why RFK Jr.’s Anti-Vaccine Campaign Is Working

The Trump administration’s COVID-revenge campaign has laid the groundwork for Kennedy’s larger agenda.

by Katherin J. Wu

bit.ly/4mfxk3S

Why RFK Jr.’s Anti-Vaccine Campaign Is Working

The Trump administration’s COVID-revenge campaign has laid the groundwork for Kennedy’s larger agenda.

bit.ly

24 400 1.6K

Reposted by Eddie Holmes

Roland Pease @peaseroland.bsky.social · Aug 13

People were crossing the English Channel from far off lands back in Anglo Saxon times. And according to this burial style, were accepted into the community.
You might think it a British tradition.
www.science.org/content/arti...

Youths buried in Anglo-Saxon cemeteries carried West African DNA

Despite bearing remarkably far-flung genetic origins, a girl and young man were buried just like their peers

www.science.org

1 9 24

Reposted by Eddie Holmes

Hensley Lab @scottehensley.bsky.social · Aug 13

Looks like one of our ‘imprinting’ papers was cited in the HHS data package, despite our conclusion that people receiving an ancestral mRNA vaccine were better at producing antibodies against variants compared to unvaccinated people.

Helen Branswell 🇨🇦 @helenbranswell.bsky.social · Aug 13

The "data" package Secretary Kennedy used to bolster his argument for discontinuing #BARDA funding for #mRNA research doesn't support his argument. @jakescottmd.bsky.social lays it out in a must read for @statnews.com. www.statnews.com/2025/08/13/r...

Kennedy's case against mRNA vaccines collapses under his own evidence

“This isn't scientific disagreement. It's either staggering incompetence or willful misrepresentation,” writes infectious disease physician Jake Scott.

www.statnews.com

1 32 53

Reposted by Eddie Holmes

ABC News Bot (unofficial) @abcnewsbot.bsky.social · Aug 13

Mop-top potato virus, which does not harm humans, has been found in multiple potatoes on a Tasmanian farm — a first for Australia.

Virus 'previously exotic to Australia' found in Tasmanian potatoes

Mop-top potato virus, which does not harm humans, has been found in multiple potatoes on a Tasmanian farm — a first for Australia.

www.abc.net.au

4 8

Reposted by Eddie Holmes

Greg Folkers @gregfolkers.bsky.social · Aug 12

The Guardian view on RFK Jr’s vaccine cuts: an assault on science from a politician unfit for his office

bit.ly/45Azvbf

The Guardian view on RFK Jr’s vaccine cuts: an assault on science from a politician unfit for his office | Editorial

Editorial: The decision by the US health and human services secretary to remove mRNA research funding is ill-informed and dangerous

bit.ly

5 6

Reposted by Eddie Holmes

Alex Crits-Christoph @acritschristoph.bsky.social · Aug 12

I will never get over how creepy it is how the NIH X account is a full time propaganda machine now

4 41 130

Reposted by Eddie Holmes

Greg Folkers @gregfolkers.bsky.social · Aug 10

NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya on Steve Bannon's War Room : “As Far As Public Health Goes For Vaccines, The mRNA Platform Is No Longer Viable”

bit.ly/3UmknJm

Dr Bhattacharya “As Far As Public Health Goes For Vaccines, The mRNA Platform Is No Longer Viable”

Dr Bhattacharya “As Far As Public Health Goes For Vaccines, The mRNA Platform Is No Longer Viable Welcome to the official YouTube channel of Bannon’s War Room – the home of real-time political warfare, fearless commentary, and breaking news that the mainstream media won’t touch. We cover everything the mainstream media won't: populist movements, global nationalism, grassroots activism, and the fight for freedom and sovereignty across the globe. 👉 Daily highlights, in-depth interviews, and unfiltered discussions from the War Room. 👉 Focused on truth, strategy, and action. 👉 Join the movement. Stay informed. Be part of the resistance. 🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications to never miss an update! #warroom #americafirst #trump2026 #maga

bit.ly

2 1 7

Reposted by Eddie Holmes

Paul Rainey @paulbrainey.bsky.social · Aug 11

Makes sense that diverse microbial communities can be maintained on a recalcitrant substrate like cellulose, but on glucose, surely not? Surprisingly there is no difference 🤔 The first part is live 👇 but more to come (including answers).

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Diverse microbial communities assemble on both recalcitrant and labile carbon sources

Microbial community assembly is shaped by the nature of available resources, with labile carbon sources such as glucose often expected to support low diversity due to rapid growth and competitive excl...

www.biorxiv.org

11 13

Reposted by Eddie Holmes

Dr Alison Peel @alibat.bsky.social · Aug 9

The unwarranted denial of travel visas for 8 respected international bat researchers was a shameful and embarrassing start to the International Bat Research Conference in Cairns. Well done to the ABS and Guardian for highlighting it

@ibrc2025.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Eight bat researchers mostly from Asia and Africa refused entry into Australia to attend global scientific event

Organisers say move will damage nation’s scientific standing as government refuses to comment on why group of scientists were refused entry

www.theguardian.com

2 34 96

Eddie Holmes @eddieholmes.bsky.social · Aug 9

I will dig into what happened here

5

Eddie Holmes @eddieholmes.bsky.social · Aug 9

Excellent points

2

Reposted by Eddie Holmes

Mike Honey @mikehoney.bsky.social · Aug 9

You’d think at this moment in history we would be falling over ourselves to show we are welcoming scientists and science.

It’s always struck me as one area of the law (here and in most other countries) where you are presumed guilty until you prove yourself innocent.

3 1 10

Eddie Holmes @eddieholmes.bsky.social · Aug 9

You're better than this Australia: www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Eight bat researchers mostly from Asia and Africa refused entry into Australia to attend global scientific event

Organisers say move will damage nation’s scientific standing as government refuses to comment on why group of scientists were refused entry

www.theguardian.com

4 13 58

Eddie Holmes @eddieholmes.bsky.social · Aug 8

🤣

Eddie Holmes @eddieholmes.bsky.social · Aug 8

It’s genius. He can run clinical trials in molluscs.

2

Eddie Holmes @eddieholmes.bsky.social · Aug 8

Let’s just hope that ICTV don’t screw it up by changing phyla designations.

1 17

Reposted by Eddie Holmes

Roland Pease @peaseroland.bsky.social · Aug 7

We warned the BBC this look at the state of science under the Trump admin might need last minute adjustments, and sure enough, overnight between drafts 1 & 2 came the RFK mRNA decision. That warrants only a single sentence, we've so much already. But we go in-depth into the ACIP vaccine committee.

Roland Pease @peaseroland.bsky.social · Aug 6

The webpage is up for my doc White Coats v the White House, contrasting attitudes to science in DC today with the vision of Vannevar Bush 80 years ago. A chance to review many SinA interviews of the past 6 months, plus new analysis. Producer @stuffandpiffle.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

BBC Radio 4 - Currently, White Coats v the White House

Roland Pease looks at how breaking an 80-year-old deal in US science may affect us all.

www.bbc.co.uk

1 12 28