Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Jonte (they/he)

Carla Denyer @carladenyer.bsky.social · 4d

Wish I could say I was shocked, but here's the Labour government constraining the right to peaceful protest again...

'You can protest but only according to our rules. The rules are: you're not allowed to use any of the tactics that make protest effective.'

Peter Walker @peterwalker99.bsky.social · 4d

NEW: Home Office announces planned new anti-protest powers, mainly aimed at pro-Gaza protests like those for Palestine Action. Police will be able to consider the "cumulative impact" of repeated protests and potentially order that they be relocated.

34 360 920

Reposted by Jonte (they/he)

Institute of Physics @instituteofphysics.bsky.social · 17d

We’re pleased to see our report 'Physics Matters: Funding the Foundations of Growth' gaining strong media attention over the weekend:

➡️ The Guardian: www.theguardian.com/education/20...

➡️ The Independent: www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

➡️ The Daily Mail: www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/art...

Quarter of UK university physics departments at risk of closing, survey finds

Four out of five making staff cuts as physicists say findings are ‘great concern’ for UK’s leadership in important areas

www.theguardian.com

1 1 5

Reposted by Jonte (they/he)

Matt B @mattbernico.bsky.social · 19d

What if we all....

👉👈

joined the Green Party and created an eco-socialist future where our lives are not governed by the whims of complete right-wing weirdos?

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 join.greenparty.org.uk
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 members.greens.scot/join

10 61 230

Jonte (they/he) @jonterhance.bsky.social · 23d

Great video from @cweidner0.bsky.social from @qetlabs.bsky.social at @bristoluni.bsky.social on why (many) quantum technologies need to be kept super-cool! 🥶❄️

Institute of Physics @instituteofphysics.bsky.social · 24d

Quantum tech is cooler than you think… literally! Atoms, superconductors, and crystals can form quantum systems, but only when they’re cooled close to absolute zero. In Dr Carrie Weidner’s lab at @bristoluni.bsky.social, lasers act like sci-fi tractor beams, chilling atoms and holding them in place.

5

Reposted by Jonte (they/he)

Sean Carroll @seanmcarroll.bsky.social · Sep 5

Postdoc job! I expect to have an opening at Johns Hopkins for a postdoctoral researcher working somewhere in the broad realms of physics, philosophy, and complexity. Apply at Academic Jobs Online:

academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30496

Johns Hopkins University, Physics and Astronomy

Job #AJO30496, Postdoctoral Fellow in Foundations of Physics, Complexity, and Emergence, Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, US

academicjobsonline.org

15 77 170

Reposted by Jonte (they/he)

Institute of Physics @instituteofphysics.bsky.social · Aug 28

This November, the Royal Institution will host two incredible days of talks and discussions with some of the world’s leading minds - featuring Nobel laureate Professor Anton Zeilinger, Professor Jim Al-Khalili, Artur Ekert, Helen Margolis, and more.

👉 Save your place: iop.eventsair.com/qst2025/

Promotional image for an event by the Institute of Physics titled "Quantum Science and Technology: The first 100 years; a quantum future," scheduled from November 4 to 5, 2025, at the Royal Institution, London. The background features swirling galaxy-like designs in purple and blue tones.

3 3

Jonte (they/he) @jonterhance.bsky.social · Aug 27

I'm an (Asst) Prof of Quantum Info, and this is my office wall - feel like over half of what I have up on it is SMBC 😂

3

Jonte (they/he) @jonterhance.bsky.social · Aug 19

Incredibly pleased to announce Maria Farsari as our first confirmed Plenary Speaker for Photon 2026!
Find out more details about the @instituteofphysics.bsky.social's flagship biennial conference at www.photon.org.uk

Home - Photon 2026 - Newcastle University

www.photon.org.uk

1

Reposted by Jonte (they/he)

Institute of Physics @instituteofphysics.bsky.social · Aug 1

Quantum on the Clock is officially open! Know a young person in their final two years of school in the UK or Ireland that has a passion for quantum science or tech? Encourage them to enter! They need to create a 3-minute video explaining any quantum concept creatively.

🔗 www.iop.org/physics-comm...

Image of an analogue clock with quantum equations in the background. Text reads Quantum on the Clock - competition for students in their final two years of school in the UK and Ireland. Deadline 4 October 2025.

8 8

Jonte (they/he) @jonterhance.bsky.social · Aug 2

Can you explain a quantum concept in 3 min? Enter @instituteofphysics.bsky.social's #QuantumOnTheClock competition. A video competition for UK & Irish students in their final 2 yrs pre-university.
🏆 £2k prizes
🗓️ Open Now–Deadline 4 Oct 2025 ➡️iop.org/quantum-clock

3 8

Reposted by Jonte (they/he)

Sean Carroll @seanmcarroll.bsky.social · Jul 30

Let me try to explain why it's important to study the foundations of quantum mechanics. (1/n)

(Have to do some breathing exercises, b/c to me it's blindingly obvious that "understanding the most important theory in physics" is something physicists should care about, but apparently opinions differ.)

Sean Carroll @seanmcarroll.bsky.social · Jul 30

Nature (and @lizziegibney.bsky.social) take a more-than-usually systematic look at the greatest failure of modern physics: the fact that we can't even agree on what quantum mechanics says.

And the leader is an approach that is notoriously not well-defined. Ugh.

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

Results from a poll of physicists on their favorite version of quantum mechanics. 36% Copenhagen, 17% epistemic, 15% many-worlds, plenty of others.

18 92 340

Reposted by Jonte (they/he)

Dorothy Bishop @deevybee.bsky.social · Jul 31

Here's a quick blogpost about alternative publishing models. You can bring a horse to water, and indeed wave the bucket temptingly under its nose, but it is likely to gallop off elsewhere. deevybee.blogspot.com/2025/07/new-...
@ec.europa.eu @wellcometrust.bsky.social

New publishing models will only work if authors embrace them

Complaints about the broken academic publishing system have been around for years and are getting louder. A common theme is that with the r...

deevybee.blogspot.com

11 35 95

Reposted by Jonte (they/he)

Matthias Rosenkranz @mrosenkranz.bsky.social · Jun 11

We have an opening for a research scientist in the quantum algorithms team at Quantinuum. This is permanent in London or Cambridge, UK. Details: jobs.eu.lever.co/quantinuum/2...

Quantinuum - Research Scientist, Quantum Algorithms

We are seeking a Research Scientist for our quantum algorithms team in London or Cambridge, UK. Our team leads the development, implementation, simulation, and application of quantum algorithms for co...

jobs.eu.lever.co

6 8

Jonte (they/he) @jonterhance.bsky.social · Jun 10

I'd call it Roadmap Advantage, but there's nothing advantageous about having so many roadmaps

Jonte (they/he) @jonterhance.bsky.social · Jun 10

I think we need a roadmap for how we're going to get to more roadmaps than papers (a path to roadmap supremacy, if you will...)

1

Jonte (they/he) @jonterhance.bsky.social · Jun 8

Who doesn't love the Quonty Hall Problem? 😂

2

Jonte (they/he) @jonterhance.bsky.social · Jun 4

See here for more details, and how to apply: jobs.ncl.ac.uk/job/Newcastl... (Also, hopefully these will be just the first of many PDRAships available in my group!) @computingnewcastle.bsky.social @sagencl.bsky.social @newcastleuni.bsky.social

Research Associate in Quantum Foundations

jobs.ncl.ac.uk

3 4

Jonte (they/he) @jonterhance.bsky.social · Jun 4

Excited to announce I'm recruiting for my first two Postdoctoral Research Associates! These 5-year positions will allow the holders to dive into applying quantum foundations to understand and develop quantum advantage!

1 7 12

Reposted by Jonte (they/he)

Dr Maria Violaris @mariaviolaris.bsky.social · May 29

My feature article about the delayed-choice quantum eraser is out now in @physicsworld.bsky.social!

physicsworld.com/a/the-quantu...

1 6 33

Jonte (they/he) @jonterhance.bsky.social · May 22

Proud to say my recent op-ed piece on issues with the for-profit academic publishing industry will appear in the July issue of @physicsworld.bsky.social! Read it now online at: physicsworld.com/a/why-i-stop...

Why I stopped submitting my work to for-profit publishers – Physics World

Jonte Hance reveals why they stopped reviewing and submitting articles to for-profit publishers

physicsworld.com

2 4 20

Reposted by Jonte (they/he)

University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · May 22

"Universities are magnets for global talent, so why is this government so determined to undermine that?

Financial catastrophe, collapsed recruitment, and a reckless visa plan. We jeopardise it at our peril” alpinkerton.bsky.social on the government’s attack on international students.

13 23

Jonte (they/he) @jonterhance.bsky.social · May 17

Never had a Eurovision so tense as this one - the cheer at my flat party when Austria won was huge! 😁

Reposted by Jonte (they/he)

David M. Perry @lollardfish.bsky.social · May 4

Handing over academic institutional leadership to a roving class of elite administrators, none remaining in place long, just climbing ladders and cashing checks … was a mistake,

40 290 1.7K

Reposted by Jonte (they/he)

D. J. Hicks @danhicks.bsky.social · Apr 26

One perk of philosophy of science is that you get to see this directly in every academic field #philsci

jon ben-menachem @jbenmenachem.com · Apr 26

When I was younger, I believed that if I didn't understand a piece of writing, the fault was likely my own, and I needed to improve my thinking or reading skills. What I've learned since then is that many influential or acclaimed thinkers are just not very good writers.

1 6 43

Reposted by Jonte (they/he)

Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · Apr 22

There is zero legal basis to make that pronouncement. None at all. There is no moral basis to say anything of the sort. This is utterly reprehensible.

33 62 590