Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 20m

"The comment is the latest example of the president’s calls for his opponents to be prosecuted or locked up." www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...

WATCH: 'Come and get me,' Pritzker responds to Trump's call to put Illinois governor in jail

"What kind of a country are we living in where the president of the United States is targeting his political opponents?" Pritzker told the press on the sidelines of a union protest in Chicago.

www.pbs.org

Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 33m

"The governors of Oregon and Illinois both oppose sending troops to their states. There are no riots, and authorities there are not defying court orders." www.nbcnews.com/politics/nat...

Trump administration officials seriously discussing invoking Insurrection Act, sources say

A decision isn't expected to be imminent, one source said, but debate within the administration has shifted recently to more deeply exploring how and when the act might be invoked.

www.nbcnews.com

Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 5h

Ah, "Silicon Valley dental gel." www.cbsnews.com/news/toothpa...

Toothpaste startup hopes to brush away competition

Silicon Valley company is out to redefine the way you care for your mouth

www.cbsnews.com

4 1

Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 5h

It would be helpful to know more about what happened and what process was used to make the (incorrect) determination that the product was available OTC & didn't have to be studied under an IND. But the warning letter doesn't get into specifics.

1

Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 5h

I met him once at a conference in Japan and had a similar experience.

1

Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 6h

"In a scathing note to him, the teacher wrote: 'I believe Gurdon has ideas about becoming a scientist. On present showing, this is quite ridiculous.' Dr. Gurdon kept the note throughout his life & a copy is posted on his biographical page of the Nobel Prize website." www.nytimes.com/2025/10/07/s...

John B. Gurdon, 92, Dies; Nobelist Paved Way for Cloning of Animals

www.nytimes.com

Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 6h

"Later, at Eton College, he placed last in biology among all 250 boys in his academic year. As for the other science subjects, he trailed in them, as well. He was reprimanded for torn papers, for misbehaving and for scores as low as 2 out of 50." www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2...

John Gurdon, Nobel laureate who laid groundwork for cloning, dies at 92

One of his early teachers called his scientific ambitions “ridiculous.” Undeterred, Dr. Gurdon went on to transform the understanding of DNA.

www.washingtonpost.com

1

Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 6h

"The University of Toronto is taking steps to safeguard critical U of T research threatened by unexpected U.S. funding cuts — creating an emergency research fund that provides up to one year of bridge support to faculty most affected by the changes." temertymedicine.utoronto.ca/news/u-t-lau...

U of T launches emergency research fund to support faculty hit by U.S. cuts

The University of Toronto is taking steps to safeguard critical U of T research threatened by unexpected U.S. funding cuts – creating an emergency research fund that provides up to one year of bridge ...

temertymedicine.utoronto.ca

4 4

Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 6h

"We note that the rationale for exemption included in the IRB application for this study incorrectly stated that Livionex is an OTC toothpaste, which is lawfully marketed in the United States and does not require FDA approval for its use." www.fda.gov/inspections-...

Pamela K. Den Besten, DDS, MS - 715245 - 09/19/2025

Clinical Investigator (Sponsor)

www.fda.gov

1 1

Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 7h

New Life Medical Services, based in Lutz, Florida, has received a warning letter from the FDA for marketing as treatments unapproved umbilical cord-derived products, an amniotic fluid-derived product, and an exosome product. www.fda.gov/inspections-...

New Life Medical Services, LLC - 711102 - 09/24/2025

CGMP/Deviations/Biologics License Application (BLA)

www.fda.gov

Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 1d

U.S. "immigration authorities are moving to dramatically expand their social media surveillance, with plans to hire nearly 30 contractors to sift through posts, photos, and messages—raw material to be transformed into intelligence for deportation raids and arrests." www.wired.com/story/ice-so...

ICE Wants to Build Out a 24/7 Social Media Surveillance Team

Documents show that ICE plans to hire dozens of contractors to scan X, Facebook, TikTok, and other platforms to target people for deportation.

www.wired.com

Reposted by Leigh Turner

Usha Lee McFarling @usha.bsky.social · 1d

My first post as head of KSJ! Our first public event. This Thursday. Cambridge. Science journalism in a time of crisis. It's going to be 🔥. Join me and @katherinejwu.com @aniloza.bsky.social @sarareardon.bsky.social @akuchment.bsky.social @jeremyfaust.bsky.social and @edenmedina.bsky.social

A flyer showing speakers and describing a panel discussion "Confronting Crisis" to be held 10.9.25 from 4:15-6:15 at 101 Rogers Street in Cambridge.

5 33

Reposted by Leigh Turner

Aaron Levine @aarondlevine.bsky.social · 1d

The Carter School of Public Policy at Georgia Tech invites applications for multiple open-rank tenured and/or tenure-track faculty positions with a focus on science, technology and innovation policy.

careers.hprod.onehcm.usg.edu/psc/careers/...

#AcademicSky #PolicySky @appam.bsky.social

1 5 6

Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 1d

My UCI colleague Dr. Sydney Prange (@sciencey-syd.bsky.social) & I recently published an article on LGBTQ+ persons, queer bioethics, & the importance of diversity, equity, & inclusivity in stem cell research, regenerative medicine, & other "STEM" fields. OA link: www.tandfonline.com/eprint/SHJBX...

LGBTQ+ persons, queer bioethics, and inclusivity in stem cell research and regenerative medicine

Despite the increasing visibility of the LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and other expansive genders or sexual orientations) community, LGBTQ+ persons continue to face significa...

www.tandfonline.com

1 3

Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 1d

"The state argued Monday that CBR’s physical presence in Tucson establishes 'a clear Arizona nexus' to litigate under the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act." courthousenews.com/arizona-bloo...

Arizona blood bank defends against consumer fraud accusations

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes says Cord Blood Registry preys on the vulnerabilities of new parents and fears of potential diseases that may be treated with umbilical cord blood stem cells.

courthousenews.com

1 2

Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 1d

"Dr. Balfour Mount, who coined the term 'palliative care' and whose profound empathy helped revolutionize health-care in North America, died peacefully on Sept. 25 at the palliative care unit that bears his name." www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Balfour Mount, who revolutionized end-of-life care, died at palliative unit named in his honour | CBC News

Mount devoted his life to caring for others and alleviating suffering. In interviews, his family and colleagues remembered him as both deeply compassionate and as a fierce advocate for the humanity of...

www.cbc.ca

3 27 100

Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 1d

"The number of international students arriving in the U.S. in August fell by 19 percent this year compared with last year — the largest decline on record outside of the pandemic." www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Nearly 20 Percent Fewer International Students Traveled to the U.S. in August

The data shows the steepest decline in August international student arrivals since the pandemic.

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Leigh Turner

Charles Piller @charlespiller.bsky.social · 2d

I’m deeply honored to have been named as the recipient of the Victor Cohn Prize for Excellence in Medical Science Reporting from the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing. It recognizes my work on scientific integrity for Science Magazine over the last five years. 1/7 tinyurl.com/zz54fzyr

Charles Piller wins 2025 Victor Cohn Prize - CASW

tinyurl.com

3 8 50

Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 1d

"Storming an apartment complex by helicopter as families slept. Deploying chemical agents near a public school. Handcuffing a Chicago City Council member at a hospital."
apnews.com/article/chic...

Using helicopters and chemical agents, immigration agents become increasingly aggressive in Chicago

Activists, residents and elected leaders say increasingly combative tactics used by federal immigration agents are sparking violence and fueling neighborhood tensions in the nation’s third-largest cit...

apnews.com

Reposted by Leigh Turner

Bryn Williams-Jones @brynwj.bsky.social · 2d

Only a few days left to apply for an Assistant or Associate professor position in bioethics in the dynamic research and teaching environment that is the DMSP. Come join us in Montreal! #bioethics

Bryn Williams-Jones @brynwj.bsky.social · 26d

The Department of Social and Preventive Medicine in the School of Public Health at the Université de Montréal is recruiting for a position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor in Bioethics.

Deadline: October 10, 2024
www.umontreal.ca/public/www/d...

1 3

Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 3d

"What is happening right now is an attack against science, knowledge and the public good."

University Affairs | Affaires universitaires @universityaffairs.bsky.social · 6d

🚨 Academic freedom in jeopardy. Yukiko Asada resigned from the NIH and calls on Canada to support at-risk scholars.

➡️ Read her open letter: http://bit.ly/4mG7UMb

#HigherEd #AcademicFreedom #ResearchIntegrity

Help scientists ousted by America’s attack on knowledge - University Affairs

An open letter to leaders of higher education in Canada.

bit.ly

5 14

Reposted by Leigh Turner

Dan Garisto @dangaristo.bsky.social · 7d

The possibility of a shutdown has become routine in recent years (near misses in December and March). Now, the government has actually shut down, and the administration has threatened to use the opportunity for massive permanent layoffs.

Our story on the potential impacts for science:

This US government shutdown is different: what it means for science

President Trump’s budget office lays out guidelines for mass lay-offs across the federal government.

www.nature.com

1 7 10

Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 5d

"The automaker’s door latches rely on a 12-volt battery that is separate from the high-voltage battery that drives the vehicle’s electric motor. If the power is cut off by a crash, the electronic door mechanism may not work."

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 6d

Breaking News: A college student’s family sued Tesla, saying faulty door design led to her death in a burning Cybertruck.

Tesla Is Sued by Families Who Say Faulty Cybertruck Doors Led to Two Deaths

A college student was trapped in a burning Cybertruck because electronic doors made it difficult for her to get out or be rescued, a lawsuit claims.

nyti.ms

1

Reposted by Leigh Turner

Stephanie M. Lee @stephaniemlee.bsky.social · 6d

NEW: What's it like to be an autism scientist funded by the Trump administration? The government is funding respected scholars to study autism's causes, experts say, while also sowing misinformation. In the wake of *that* press conference, I talked to the grantees. www.chronicle.com/article/what...

What It’s Like to Be an Autism Scientist Funded by the Trump Administration

The government is funding respected scholars to study autism’s causes, at a time when experts say it’s also sowing misinformation about the same topic.

www.chronicle.com

7 13

Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 6d

"American cities are not training ground for the military." abc7chicago.com/post/ice-chi...

ICE agents raid South Shore apartments; Trump says Chicago could become military training ground

ICE agents raided a South Shore apartment building overnight as the city braces for a possible military deployment.

abc7chicago.com