Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Creative hobbies could slow brain ageing at the molecular level

To keep the mind young, dance the tango.

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Adrian Gibbs @gieck.bsky.social · 2d

Medicine Nobel goes to scientists who revealed secrets of immune system ‘regulation’

Mary Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi discovered cells that protect the body from autoimmune diseases.

Mysterious will-o’-the-wisps ignited by microlightning

Adrian Gibbs @gieck.bsky.social · 8d

Mysterious will-o’-the-wisps ignited by microlightning | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...

Electrical discharge from microscopic bubbles offers a new explanation for fleeting flames of folklore

www.science.org

Adrian Gibbs @gieck.bsky.social · 12d

The virion of yellow fever virus, you mean.

Adrian Gibbs @gieck.bsky.social · 12d

Universities are — and must continue to be — a force for good

From funding squeezes to political attacks, higher education is in trouble in many parts of the world. Fresh ideas will allow the sector to thrive and deliver value for society.

✍️ ADD YOUR NAME: Phase out fossil fuels

Adrian Gibbs @gieck.bsky.social · 13d

It's time for the government to tackle the biggest source of carbon emissions in Australia – fossil fuels.

I just signed the @australiainstitute.org.au petition: Phase out fossil fuels. Will you join me? ✍️

nb.australiainstitute.org.au/phase-out-fo...

Emissions reduction targets won’t solve the climate crisis if they’re built on fiction. It's time for the government to tackle the biggest source of carbon emissions in Australia – fossil fuels.

nb.australiainstitute.org.au

Countries are threatening to boycott Eurovision over Israel’s inclusion. How will Australia respond?

Adrian Gibbs @gieck.bsky.social · 14d

theconversation.com/countries-ar... - when are all GOVERNMENTS going to take the Gaza genocide seriously. Long ago all diplomatic ties with Israel should have been called off, and by now their embassies should have been Gazafied -demolished.

Spain is the fifth country to say it will not participate in Eurovision 2026 if Israel remains a part of the competition.

theconversation.com

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Adrian Gibbs @gieck.bsky.social · 16d

thebulletin.org/2025/09/reme...

Remembering David Baltimore’s scientific leadership

Nobel-winning biologist and longtime Bulletin Board of Sponsors member David Baltimore will be remembered for his ground-breaking discoveries in molecular biology, his advocacy for treatment of HIV, a...

thebulletin.org

Adrian Gibbs @gieck.bsky.social · 16d

www.nature.com/articles/d41... - an interesting hypothesis.

What drove the rise of civilizations? A decades-long quest points to warfare

An ambitious analysis of a vast trove of data from 800 societies around the world concludes that there’s safety in numbers.

Adrian Gibbs @gieck.bsky.social · 16d

World’s first AI-designed viruses a step towards AI-generated life

Scientists used AI to write coherent viral genomes, using them to synthesize bacteriophages capable of killing resistant strains of bacteria.

A database of plant heat tolerances and methodological matters

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Adrian Gibbs @gieck.bsky.social · 19d

Great fun.

Adrian Gibbs @gieck.bsky.social · 19d

Obviously a great resource.

T.M. Perez @tmperez.bsky.social · 19d

We published a database of plant heat tolerances to catalyze research that advances plant ecology.
@kjfeeley.bsky.social @alyssakullberg.bsky.social

Link to the paper with embedded link to database here:
tinyurl.com/mu2kj7s9

🌐🧪🌡️🌴🍂🍁🌳🌲 #PlantEcoPhys #Ecology #Botany #Ecophysiology #ClimateChange

Motivation Plant heat tolerance data are increasingly valued for their potential to help increase our understanding of species’ responses to extreme temperatures, but these efforts are hindered by met...

www.biorxiv.org

Reposted by Adrian Gibbs

T.M. Perez @tmperez.bsky.social · 19d

We published a database of plant heat tolerances to catalyze research that advances plant ecology.
@kjfeeley.bsky.social @alyssakullberg.bsky.social

Link to the paper with embedded link to database here:
tinyurl.com/mu2kj7s9

🌐🧪🌡️🌴🍂🍁🌳🌲 #PlantEcoPhys #Ecology #Botany #Ecophysiology #ClimateChange

A database of plant heat tolerances and methodological matters

Motivation Plant heat tolerance data are increasingly valued for their potential to help increase our understanding of species’ responses to extreme temperatures, but these efforts are hindered by met...

www.biorxiv.org

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Adrian Gibbs @gieck.bsky.social · 19d

The real reporters will go and find other stories/jobs.

Adrian Gibbs @gieck.bsky.social · 19d

but he’ll probably take a cut/fee.

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Adrian Gibbs @gieck.bsky.social · 19d

www.nature.com/articles/d41...
- great and funny science. Enjoy.

Tipsy bats and perfect pasta: Ig Nobels celebrate ‘improbable’ research

The annual awards are a celebration of weird but thought-provoking science.

nb.australiainstitute.org.au/phase-out-fo...

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Adrian Gibbs @gieck.bsky.social · 20d

Looks as serene as it did 1952 when I was last there.

Adrian Gibbs @gieck.bsky.social · 20d

✍️ ADD YOUR NAME: Phase out fossil fuels

Emissions reduction targets won’t solve the climate crisis if they’re built on fiction. It's time for the government to tackle the biggest source of carbon emissions in Australia – fossil fuels.

nb.australiainstitute.org.au

Who gets to do science? A demand for English is hurting marginalised researchers

Adrian Gibbs @gieck.bsky.social · 20d

Who gets to do science? A demand for English is hurting marginalised researchers
theconversation.com/who-gets-to-...

- fortunately ChatGPT can help, even the Anglophones!

Everyone, no matter their background, should have an equal chance to work in science – but there are huge systemic barriers.

theconversation.com