Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Lisa Taxier @lisataxier.bsky.social · 5d

Excited to have this preprint out into the world!

Tom Kash @superkash.bsky.social · 5d

2)A dive in to the impact of adolescent alcohol exposure on the
RSC and trace fear extinction led by post-doc Lisa Taxier

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

Adolescent alcohol exposure disrupts extinction learning and retrosplenial cortex physiology in adult males

Adolescent binge drinking can lead to a myriad of issues later in life, including co-occurring diagnoses of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and affective disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (P...

www.biorxiv.org

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Reposted by Lisa Taxier

Aaron Fleischer @neuroendoawf.bsky.social · Aug 27

Excellent write up of an interview with my mentor, @karynfrick.bsky.social, regarding the killing, resuscitation, and re-killing of a grant aimed at promoting undergraduate research on aging. These decisions will harm the US for decades to come.

www.wpr.org/news/wiscons...

Wisconsin researchers sound alarm after SCOTUS upholds DEI-related research cuts

A week before students return to campus, a UW-Milwaukee neuroscientist said she has to call the students back “and tell them, ‘Oh, sorry, this is actually now not happening.'”

www.wpr.org

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Reposted by Lisa Taxier

Nancy Kanwisher @nancykanwisher.bsky.social · Jul 20

How is it possible that my otherwise thoughtful and compassionate colleagues can watch the total destruction of Gaza and the killing of tens of thousands of it inhabitants, war crimes that the US is directly responsible for, and do nothing?
I just don't get it.

Rima I Anabtawi @rimaanabtawi.bsky.social · Jul 20

This is Gaza, now, I just watched an elderly man die, collapse, in a food queue, just as he was about to be served.

People are, literally, dropping dead of starvation. The world must not stand idly by. Gaza has not known what you call “freedom” in, close to 80 years.

The world must act.

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Lisa Taxier @lisataxier.bsky.social · Jul 24

Let’s go @jesswoj.bsky.social !!

Tom Kash @superkash.bsky.social · Jul 23

excited to see current Kash Lab postdoc Jess Wojick's paper out from her PhD in @flybottleescape.bsky.social lab !!! congrats Jess and Greg!!!

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

A nociceptive amygdala-striatal pathway modulating affective-motivational pain

A nociceptive basolateral amygdala–to–nucleus accumbens shell circuit contributes to pain unpleasantness in chronic pain.

www.science.org

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Reposted by Lisa Taxier

Paris Marx @parismarx.com · Jun 22

The United States is a threat to global peace and is actively dismantling any semblance of an international rules-based order through its own actions and its continued backing of Israel’s lawlessness.

You can’t shout “peace!” after attacking a sovereign country in violation of international law.

Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · Jun 21

Trump says we bombed Iran

Trump: We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home.
Congratulations to our great American Warriors.
There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!Thank you for your attention to this matter.
409 ReTruths 1.33k Likes
6/21/25, 4:46

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Reposted by Lisa Taxier

Jewish Voice for Peace @jvp.bsky.social · Jun 21

Mahmoud Khalil is free. May his release lead to the release of all who are detained and incarcerated from the US to Palestine, in ICE facilities and in prisons. And may his courage inspire us to remain steadfast in fighting for Palestinian liberation.

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Reposted by Lisa Taxier

Chanda Prescod-Weinstein 🌌 @chanda.blacksky.app · May 9

At some point scientists need to take an interest, collectively, institutionally, in defending democracy and justice for all, and not just their own resource access

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Reposted by Lisa Taxier

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · Apr 11

In our first “Postdoc perspectives” essay, @fleabrained.bsky.social and @maribel-patino.bsky.social explain how grassroots organizations led by trainees are stepping up to provide career and mentorship guidance for neuroscience students from marginalized backgrounds.

#neuroskyence

bit.ly/4csFx0B

As federal funders desert mentorship programs for marginalized students, trainee-led initiatives fill the gap

Grassroots organizations, led by graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, are stepping up to provide neuroscience career training and guidance for students from marginalized backgrounds—and…

bit.ly

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Reposted by Lisa Taxier

Stefanie Fox @stefaniefox.bsky.social · Apr 10

The Trump regime platforms Christian Nationalists and Nazi sympathizers yet dares to claim that they are fighting antisemitism when they punish students, immigrants, and anyone who speaks out for Palestinian freedom.

This is a lie.

Truthout @truthout.org · Apr 9

The DHS has said that it is denying applications of people seeking visas, green cards, or other immigration clearances if they are deemed to have “antisemitic activity” online. Advocates for Palestinian rights noted that the clear goal of the administration is to suppress speech critical of Israel.

DHS Is Searching Social Medias of Visa and Green Card Applicants for “Antisemitism”

“You are not welcome here,” read a chilling statement from a top DHS official.

buff.ly

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Reposted by Lisa Taxier

Paul Fischer @pfischer.bsky.social · Apr 10

Cannot overstate how repulsive it is for this racist, antisemitic, fascist administration to so brazenly hold up Jewish people as shields for its fascism. I hope the shamelessness at least means fewer people fall for it.

Jared Holt @jaredlholt.bsky.social · Apr 10

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

apnews.com/article/mahm...

The two-page memo, which was obtained by The Associated Press, does not allege any criminal conduct by Khalil, a legal permanent U.S. resident and graduate student who served as spokesperson for campus activists last year during large demonstrations against Israel’s treatment of Palestinians and the war in Gaza.

Rather, Rubio wrote Khalil could be expelled for his beliefs.

He said that while Khalil’s activities were “otherwise lawful,” letting him remain in the country would undermine “U.S. policy to combat anti-Semitism around the world and in the United States, in addition to efforts to protect Jewish students from harassment and violence in the United States.”

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Reposted by Lisa Taxier

jp flores (he/him) @jpflores.rbind.io · Apr 4

UNC Gillings School of Public Health is eliminating their Health Equity & Social Justice Concentration. This program is home to many of my friends — some of the most thoughtful, caring, and innovative researchers I know.

@standupforscience.bsky.social
@sciforgood.bsky.social

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Reposted by Lisa Taxier

Prem Thakker ツ @premthakker.bsky.social · Apr 2

It’s incredible that Cory Booker spoke for 25 hours. Sadly also incredible he did not say *one word* about *the ultimate* stress test of today: the detention of students speaking out against acts like Israel executing 15 medics in Gaza (also something Booker said nothing about)

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Reposted by Lisa Taxier

Tom Kash @superkash.bsky.social · Mar 29

oh hey, this paper is out now!

Led by JR Haun, former Kash lab postdoc!

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40153436/

Septo-hypothalamic regulation of binge-like alcohol consumption by the nociceptin system - PubMed

High-intensity alcohol drinking during binge episodes contributes to the socioeconomic burden created by alcohol use disorders (AUDs), and nociceptin receptor (NOP) antagonists have emerged as a promi...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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Reposted by Lisa Taxier

Chanda Prescod-Weinstein 🌌 @chanda.blacksky.app · Mar 14

Fuck these fuckin fascists

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-7-...

The Muslims - "Fuck These Fuckin Fascists"

YouTube video by Epitaph Records

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Lisa Taxier

Anna Kornbluh @annakornbluh.bsky.social · Mar 12

"We are Jewish professors, staff, students from universities across the US. We hold various views about Israel, Palestine, student activism . But we are united in denouncing anyone who invokes our name to harass, expel, arrest, or deport members of our communities” docs.google.com/document/d/1...?

Not In Our Name

Sign the Statement March 11, 2025 Not in our name. We are Jewish professors, staff members, and students from universities across the United States. We hold various views about Israel and Palestine...

docs.google.com

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Lisa Taxier @lisataxier.bsky.social · Mar 13

Weaponizing Jewish identity for fascist ends does not keep us safe! Please consider signing if you are a Jewish academic.

Amitai Shenhav @ashenhav.bsky.social · Mar 12

If you identify as a Jewish member of the academic community, and are appalled by the actions being taken in the name of defending our community, please consider signing this letter (which can be done anonymously) and also sharing it with others:
forms.gle/prnRbq69a6YN...

Open letter in response to federal funding cuts at Columbia

On March 7th, the Trump administration announced the immediate cancellation of approximately $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University. This includes funding from the Departm...

forms.gle

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Reposted by Lisa Taxier

James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · Mar 12

More from CT as Wesleyan University’s President Michael Roth calls for Mahmoud Khalil’s release: “Just as we should decry antisemitism and other forms of discrimination, we should insist that students and faculty have the right to make their voices heard about the issues of the day.”

Why Isn’t the Entire Country Terrified by the Arrest of Mahmoud Khalil?

Universities are running scared. But this is no time to be timid.

slate.com

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Reposted by Lisa Taxier

Neil Lewis, Jr. @neillewisjr.bsky.social · Mar 11

Listen to every word.

Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · Mar 11

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy on Mahmoud Khalil.

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Reposted by Lisa Taxier

Sonja Drimmer @sonjadrimmer.bsky.social · Mar 10

As a Jewish faculty member at one of these institutions, I am saying right now, in the clearest tones possible: not in my name. This violent exploitation of Jews as an alibi for achieving Fascist ends is itself textbook antisemitism.

Adam Harris @adamhsays.com · Mar 10

The Ed. Department's Office for Civil Rights sent letters to 60 additional institutions "warning them of potential enforcement actions" for "violations relating to antisemitic harassment and discrimination" including Harvard, Brown, Stanford, Princeton, UNC, and several UC's

U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights Sends Letters to 60 Universities Under Investigation for Antisemitic Discrimination and Harassment
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) sent letters to 60 institutions of higher education warning them of potential enforcement actions if they do not fulfill their obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to protect Jewish students on campus, including uninterrupted access to campus facilities and educational opportunities. The letters are addressed to all U.S. universities that are presently under investigation for Title VI violations relating to antisemitic harassment and discrimination.

“The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year. University leaders must do better,” said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “U.S. colleges and universities benefit from enormous public investments funded by U.S. taxpayers. That support is a privilege and it is contingent on scrupulous adherence to federal antidiscrimination laws.”

The schools that received letters from the Office for Civil Rights include:

American University
Arizona State University
Boston University
Brown University
California State University, Sacramento
Chapman University
Columbia University
Cornell University
Drexel University
Eastern Washington University
Emerson College
George Mason University
Harvard University
Illinois Wesleyan University
Indiana University, Bloomington
Johns Hopkins University
Lafayette College
Lehigh University
Middlebury College
Muhlenberg College
Northwestern University
Ohio State University
Pacific Lutheran University
Pomona College
Portland State University

Princeton University
Rutgers University
Rutgers University-Newark
Santa Monica College
Sarah Lawrence College
Stanford University
State University of New York Binghamton
State University of New York Rockland
State University of New York, Purchase
Swarthmore College
Temple University
The New School
Tufts University
Tulane University
Union College
University of California Davis
University of California San Diego
University of California Santa Barbara
University of California, Berkeley
University of Cincinnati
University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Michigan
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
University of North Carolina
University of South Florida
University of Southern California
University of Tampa
University of Tennessee
University of Virginia
University of Washington-Seattle
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Wellesley College
Whitman College
Yale University

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Lisa Taxier @lisataxier.bsky.social · Mar 10

Nazis shouldn’t be allowed to say Shalom, especially not in this extremely evil context, in my Jewish opinion.

Mondoweiss @mondoweiss.net · Mar 10

The official White House Instagram account published an outlandish photo of Mahmoud Khalil—the Palestinian student activist and green card holder who was abducted by government agents on Saturday night. Plastered across the image were the words “Shalom Mahmoud”—a bizarre and unsettling message.

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Reposted by Lisa Taxier

Leah Greenberg ❌👑 @leahgreenberg.bsky.social · Mar 10

Cannot stress Amy's second point enough. It's both morally wrong and unbelievably dangerous for Jews to allow ourselves to be used as the wedge to overturn basic civil liberties in this country.

Amy Spitalnick @amyspitalnick.bsky.social · Mar 10

As far as I can tell, Khalil has still not been charged & his attorney/family still don’t know where he is.

Any Jew who thinks this is going to start and stop with a few Palestinian activists is fooling themselves. Our community should not be used as an excuse to upend democracy & the rule of law.

Amy Spitalnick @amyspitalnick.bsky.social · Mar 9

The Trump admin is exploiting real concerns about antisemitism to undercut democracy: from gutting education funding to deporting students to attacking diversity, equity, & inclusion.

As we’ve repeatedly said: this makes Jews - & so many others - less safe.

jewishpublicaffairs.org/news/jcpa-re...

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Reposted by Lisa Taxier

Sarah Tuttle @niais.bsky.social · Mar 9

This is absolutely chilling. They're using Palestine and Columbia as examples, but do not doubt that this is a trial run. What is happening is not only unethical but also illegal thirteen ways to Sunday. Speak out and keep track. This is bad at face value, and also a trial balloon.

Prem Thakker ツ @premthakker.bsky.social · Mar 9

NEWS: Last night, the Department of Homeland Security detained a Palestinian who helped lead the Columbia encampment.

Agents told him his visa was revoked. He said he had a green card. They were confused—then said that was revoked too.

His attorney demanded a warrant. Agents hung up instead.

BREAKING: DHS Detains Palestinian Student from Columbia Encampment, Says Advocates

Agents told him his student visa was revoked. But he had a green card. Agents then said that was revoked too.

zeteo.com

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Reposted by Lisa Taxier

jon ben-menachem @jbenmenachem.com · Mar 7

Email from Columbia President Armstrong makes clear that admin still has no idea what it’s dealing with. No amount of “serious action to combat antisemitism” (read: punish Palestine activists) will satisfy the Nazis. They see universities as an enemy institution to crush underfoot.

Columbia’s mission is to teach, create, and advance knowledge. For over 270 years, that mission has been grounded in an enduring and essential commitment to freedom of expression, open inquiry, and generous, respectful debate.

Today, we were notified of federal action from Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Education (ED), and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) cancelling $400 million in federal funding to the University. The federal agencies cite “the school’s continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.”

There is no question that the cancellation of these funds will immediately impact research and other critical functions of the University, impacting students, faculty, staff, research, and patient care.

But let me be very clear: Columbia is taking the government’s action very seriously. I want to assure the entire Columbia community that we are committed to working with the federal government to address their legitimate concerns. To that end, Columbia can, and will, continue to take serious action toward combatting antisemitism on our campus.

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Lisa Taxier @lisataxier.bsky.social · Mar 7

Spotted in the wild by @schreinerdrew.bsky.social ! Happily standing up for science and glad to have any excuse for motivational neuroscience-related wordplay, obviously. #standupforscience #neuroskyence

A smiling neuroscientist holding up a sign that reads “Neuroscience have action potential!” with a rheobase trace below.

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