Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Liz Landau @lizlandau.bsky.social · 23d

In case you missed it: scientists found this sign of possible past life on Mars! My latest for Nat Geo:
www.nationalgeographic.com/science/arti...

This is the best evidence yet for ancient life on Mars

NASA’s Perseverance rover found possible signs of ancient life in rocks on Mars, keeping scientists up at night.

www.nationalgeographic.com

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Liz Landau @lizlandau.bsky.social · Sep 8

Spotted this snake 🐍 in Shenandoah National Park on Saturday. Can anyone identify it?

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Reposted by Liz Landau

Jennifer Ouellette @jenlucpiquant.bsky.social · Aug 15

NASA’s acting chief calls for the end of Earth science at the space agency arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...

NASA’s acting chief calls for the end of Earth science at the space agency

NASA’s charter clearly states the agency should study planet Earth, however.

arstechnica.com

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Liz Landau @lizlandau.bsky.social · Jul 21

Sign me up!!

Reposted by Liz Landau

Ben Klemens @b-k.bsky.social · Jul 19

How did I get this far in life and _just_ find out that every cube is a multiple of 9, ±1?
1³ = 1 = 0⸱9 +1
2³ = 8 = 1⸱9 -1
3³ = 27 = 3⸱9 +0
4³ = 64 = 7⸱9 +1
5³ = 125 = 14⸱9 -1
6³ = 216 = 24⸱9 +0
7³ = 343 = 38⸱9 +1

Proof is easy: any can be written as (3k-1)³, (3k)³, or (3k+1)³; then just expand.

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Liz Landau @lizlandau.bsky.social · Jul 5

haha omg yes

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Liz Landau @lizlandau.bsky.social · Jul 5

Just solved a tech issue bugging me all day yesterday by restarting my computer. Somewhere, a discarded 40-year-old Apple IIe gets its wings.

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Liz Landau @lizlandau.bsky.social · Jul 4

The number of "This is my last day" posts on LinkedIn regarding what was these people's dream jobs is staggering. My heart goes out to everyone who is not leaving by choice.

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Liz Landau @lizlandau.bsky.social · Jun 12

I feel extremely fortunate to have known him as a writing professor at Princeton (and of course you as well, Joyce!). Thanks for sharing.

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Liz Landau @lizlandau.bsky.social · Jun 5

Nothing to see here, just *the most energetic explosions in the universe since the big bang.* They came from supermassive black holes eating stars, reported in a new study today using NASA data. My latest:
science.nasa.gov/science-rese...

3 Black Holes Caught Eating Massive Stars in NASA Data - NASA Science

Black holes are invisible to us unless they interact with something else. Some continuously eat gas and dust, and appear to glow brightly over time as matter

science.nasa.gov

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Liz Landau @lizlandau.bsky.social · Jun 5

Here we are in 2025.

Overheard on the street in DC:

"I'm definitely not a Charlotte. I think I'm a cross between Miranda and Carrie."

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Liz Landau @lizlandau.bsky.social · Jun 4

From the Washington Post: "Edmund White, a father of modern queer literature who literally wrote the book on gay sex, and who blended honesty and humor in a trilogy of semiautobiographical novels that traced the trajectory of gay life in the 20th century..." www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2...

Edmund White, acclaimed novelist of gay life, dies at 85

In a wide-ranging literary career, he also co-wrote a sex manual for gay men and was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for his biography of French author Jean Genet.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Liz Landau @lizlandau.bsky.social · Jun 4

RIP Edmund White, acclaimed novelist but also a wonderful creative writing professor. Here is a story I had written about him for CNN back in 2011:

web.archive.org/web/20120210...

HIV in the '80s: 'People didn't want to kiss you on the cheek'

In 1985, Edmund White had five or six published books behind him, a Swiss lover with him and the outcome of an HIV test ahead of him. When the results came in, White told his partner:

web.archive.org

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Liz Landau @lizlandau.bsky.social · May 27

I am an old soul who still gets excited to see something I wrote in print in the @nytimes.com 😍

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Reposted by Liz Landau

D.C. Science Writers Association @dcswa.bsky.social · May 27

Join the AAAS to celebrate the winners of the Mani L. Bhaumik Breakthrough of the Year Award. Ceremony begins at 4:00 PM and a reception will follow at 5:30 PM. Register and type DCSWA as your affiliation.

📍 Address: 1200 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20005

Registration: 🔗 shorturl.at/JuoWz

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Reposted by Liz Landau

D.C. Science Writers Association @dcswa.bsky.social · May 22

DCSWA 🦆 Members: Join us on June 26 at Sonny's Pizza. There will be dairy free and gluten free options for those with dietary restrictions. No registration required.

📍Sonny’s Pizza is a few blocks from the Columbia Heights metro station. Address: 3120 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010.

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Liz Landau @lizlandau.bsky.social · May 23

Have been thinking this for a long time now:

Ida Bae Wells @nhannahjones.bsky.social · May 22

I wish journalists would stop framing political news as wins or losses for politicians or political parties. It’s an abrogation of our mission. Why do we keep doing this? Is the spending bill a win or loss for the American people? Who does it help? Who does it hurt? Is it sound policy? Fiscally?

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Liz Landau @lizlandau.bsky.social · May 19

Monkeys kidnap the babies of other monkeys, and then wear them around for days on end... it's a grim tale I've written for the @nytimes.com!

www.nytimes.com/2025/05/19/s...

This Was Odd: These Monkeys Kidnapped Babies From Another Species.

www.nytimes.com

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Liz Landau @lizlandau.bsky.social · May 19

Loved working on this deep-dive into how mitochondria enable bird migration!

Quanta Magazine @quantamagazine.bsky.social · May 19

Imagine running nonstop without food, water or rest for days at a time. Birds pull this off during migration through changes to their mitochondria. www.quantamagazine.org/turbocharged...

‘Turbocharged’ Mitochondria Power Birds’ Epic Migratory Journeys | Quanta Magazine

Changes in the number, shape, efficiency and interconnectedness of organelles in the cells of flight muscles provide extra energy for birds’ continent-spanning feats.

www.quantamagazine.org

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Liz Landau @lizlandau.bsky.social · May 19

Then, check out the case of the kidnapping monkeys, for @nytimes.com

www.nytimes.com/2025/05/19/s...

This Was Odd: These Monkeys Kidnapped Babies From Another Species.

www.nytimes.com

Liz Landau @lizlandau.bsky.social · May 19

It's a big publication day for me today! First, how do some birds get the energy to fly hundreds to thousands of miles without stopping? The answer may in their mitochondria. I report for @quantamagazine.bsky.social

www.quantamagazine.org/turbocharged...

‘Turbocharged’ Mitochondria Power Birds’ Epic Migratory Journeys | Quanta Magazine

Changes in the number, shape, efficiency and interconnectedness of organelles in the cells of flight muscles provide extra energy for birds’ continent-spanning feats.

www.quantamagazine.org

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Reposted by Liz Landau

Hannah Waters @hanner.bsky.social · May 19

How do birds migrate thousands of miles, flapping nonstop for hours or days at a time without food or rest? Lab and field studies reveal that migrating birds have "turbocharged" mitochondria in their cells that produce extra energy. @lizlandau.bsky.social: www.quantamagazine.org/turbocharged...

‘Turbocharged’ Mitochondria Power Birds’ Epic Migratory Journeys | Quanta Magazine

Changes in the number, shape, efficiency and interconnectedness of organelles in the cells of flight muscles provide extra energy for birds’ continent-spanning feats.

www.quantamagazine.org

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Liz Landau @lizlandau.bsky.social · May 18

I think that maybe 20-30 years from now we will understand in more detail why some of us can't get pregnant naturally and don't respond well to the most advanced interventions of today (which also break our bank accounts, bodies, and minds). I'll be too old by then.

undark.org/2025/03/13/o...

Infertility Is a Mental Health Bombshell

Opinion | Fertility clinics should provide easy access to mental health support for those undergoing IVF treatments.

undark.org

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Liz Landau @lizlandau.bsky.social · May 17

My mom just used the word "vibes" in a text for the first time so I think we have officially entered a new linguistic era with this word.

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Liz Landau @lizlandau.bsky.social · May 8

"I'm gonna keep on dancing down in St. Peter's Square"