Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Morgan Mouchka @morgan-mouchka.bsky.social · 8d

I see a small square of yellow in San Diego. But I think we can do way better! Consider sending your congressperson a quack-o-gram in support of impeaching the quack, RFK Jr.
#ImpeachTheQuack
#MightyDucks
#StandUpForScience

Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.bsky.social · 10d

"I would like to see the data" (Werner Herzog in the Mandalorian voice)

We wouldn't be scientists if our team didn't use R to make a visualization to share with the class. The yellower the district, the more Quack-O-Grams were sent! Will GA-05 keep the crown?

Send your own here! zurl.co/bLwwE

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Morgan Mouchka @morgan-mouchka.bsky.social · 8d

If you are directly impacted by the eligibility changes to the NSF GRFP, please considering signing & adding a comment. If you support the GRFP, please consider sharing your story. These awards are foundational to grad training and many trainees have become ineligible with no advanced notice. 🧪

Kelly Zamudio @kzutaustin.bsky.social · 8d

laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/

Petition to NSF to Restore Eligibility for the 2026 Graduate Research Fellowship Program Competition

laurenkuehne.github.io

Reposted by Morgan Mouchka

Jenna Norton @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social · 11d

This miracle happened because civil servants are among the most dedicated, passionate and hardworking people…

IN SPITE OF the Trump administration.

Even with all that work, multiyear funding policies mean a lot of excellent science went unfunded.
www.washingtonpost.com/science/2025...

NIH pulled off a ‘near miracle.’ Scientists say there’s still a problem.

The National Institutes of Health is on track to give away all of its grant money to labs, but research on cancer, aging and diabetes is still being left behind.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Morgan Mouchka @morgan-mouchka.bsky.social · 14d

To all my scientist friends - I highly recommend signing up for the @skypeascientist.bsky.social program! They connect scientists to classrooms across the US and beyond. Now, more than ever, it is critical to convey the importance of science and powerful for students to get to know a scientist.

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Morgan Mouchka @morgan-mouchka.bsky.social · 14d

Had such a fun time with Ms. Weiler's 3rd grade class at Stetsonville Elementary School in Stetsonville, Wisconsin. We learned about corals & coral reefs & they had so many great questions! Always a crowd favorite - that corals eat & poop using the same hole! @skypeascientist.bsky.social

A side that says 'What is a coral? An animal? A plant? A rock?' and there are four pictures of different types of corals of various shapes, colors, and sizes. At the top is a Zoom insert of me speaking to the class.

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Reposted by Morgan Mouchka

NY Times Pitchbot @nytpitchbot.bsky.social · 15d

Trump is pronouncing "acetaminophen" the right way.

by Ezra Klein

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Reposted by Morgan Mouchka

Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 18d

So basically RFK Jr’s antivax ACIP were unable to make any big changes to vaccine access because they were too incompetent. We should all take this as a win I guess…

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Morgan Mouchka @morgan-mouchka.bsky.social · 18d

Congrats! 👏 🎉

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Morgan Mouchka @morgan-mouchka.bsky.social · 20d

Yessss! They started delivering the Quack-O-Grams and IT IS AMAZING! There's still time to send more! www.standupforscience.net/quack-o-grams

#ImpeachTheQuack

Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.bsky.social · 20d

You asked for it! We delivered Quack-O-Grams to our members of Congress urging them to #ImpeachRFK, and get that Quack out of office!

There's still time for you to get in on this fluffy, feathery action: Send your own duck at zurl.co/W1ZnB and keep the momentum going! 🦆

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Morgan Mouchka @morgan-mouchka.bsky.social · 20d

This is a daunting task because where do you even start? There are entire subfields for each major disease (eg breast cancer) that tackle disparities in education, prevention, & treatment (often individually). Maybe providing review articles & pointing out that each article cites dozens of studies?

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Morgan Mouchka @morgan-mouchka.bsky.social · 20d

Sigh. This is disappointing, but not surprising. Please share peer reviewed work of life-saving DEI research so we can correct this misconception!

Colette Delawalla @cdelawalla.bsky.social · 20d

CALL TO ACTION!

During one of our meetings this week with a House Dem, who shall remain nameless, the idea that "DEI research doesn't save anyone's life" was espoused.

My team was *flabbergasted* by this assertion.

PLEASE DROP YOUR PEER REVIEWED WORKS OF "DEI" SAVING LIVES HERE SO WE CAN SHARE!

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Reposted by Morgan Mouchka

Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.bsky.social · 23d

24 hours of scientists, researchers, and advocates discussing how far we've come in HIV/AIDS research — and what's at stake if they lose their funding.

Tomorrow. Join them‼️👇 #saveaidsresearch

saveaidsresearch.bsky.social @saveaidsresearch.bsky.social · 23d

The federal government’s unparalleled assault on science and research is having a devastating impact on HIV. Join 24 Hours to Save AIDS Research to demand continued federal investments! Register bit.ly/45U1keO and join us on YouTube bit.ly/45Qftts. #saveAIDSresearch #HIV #HIVresearch

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Morgan Mouchka @morgan-mouchka.bsky.social · 28d

There are not enough ducks in the world...but every duck helps! Send a quack-o-gram today!

#StandUpforScience 🧪
#RemovetheQuack 🦆

www.standupforscience.net/quack-o-grams

A graphic with government buildings and landmarks at the bottom with dozens of yellow and orange rubber duckies looming ominously over the buildings and landmarks. The graphics says, 'Send your house representative a message: impeach and remove the quack. $3 = 1 rubber ducky hand delivered to your Rep by a man in a duck costume!

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Reposted by Morgan Mouchka

Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · 29d

In Florida alone, a 15% decline in vaccinations against measles over 25 years would lead to 1 million measles cases. www.cnn.com/2025/09/09/h...

Florida’s surgeon general said he didn’t calculate the costs of ending vaccine mandates in the state. But scientists have. | CNN

Florida’s surgeon general said Sunday that he had not weighed the cost – in terms of infections, hospitalizations or deaths – of ending vaccine mandates in the state. But scientists who have done thos...

www.cnn.com

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Reposted by Morgan Mouchka

Ian L Morgan @ianlmorgan.bsky.social · 28d

Director Bhattacharya says there are no banned words at the NIH. The data suggest otherwise.

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 28d

Here is a word cloud of the words that were missing from the noncompetitive renewal awards but had been present in the parent award.

3/4

A word cloud with dominant words "equity", "disparity", "diverse", and similar words.

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Reposted by Morgan Mouchka

Cientifico Latino, Inc. @cientificolatino.com · 29d

Applying to the NSF-GRFP (or another fellowship) on a tight deadline?

We built a 7-week guide + timeline to get you from draft to submission. It’s not too late — you’ve got this! ✨

🔗 cientificolatino.com/apply-in-7-weeks

#NSFGRFP #GradSchool #Fellowship

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Reposted by Morgan Mouchka

Tim Onion @bencollins.bsky.social · 29d

“In the case of The U.S. Supreme Court v. Everyone Else, this court wins by a serious landslide.”

Supreme Court Rules Supreme Court Rules

WASHINGTON, DC—In a landmark decision Monday, the United States Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that it rules.

theonion.com

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Reposted by Morgan Mouchka

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 29d

Updating my analysis now that August data should be relatively complete.

Not great news...

The rate of investment of the appropriation is not increasing and it seems unlikely that the entire appropriation will be committed this year.

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Morgan Mouchka @morgan-mouchka.bsky.social · Sep 5

The best $3 you'll ever spend!

Colette Delawalla @cdelawalla.bsky.social · Sep 4

🐥If this Senate hearing with Bobby "The Quack" Jr pissed you off, send a message: Quack-O-Gram delivery begins on 9/15🐥

🐥 $3. Man in a duck suit. Rubber duck with "impeach the quack" message to YOUR Rep🐥

Link: www.standupforscience.net/quack-o-grams
#ImpeachTheQuack
@standupforscience.bsky.social

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Reposted by Morgan Mouchka

Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.bsky.social · Sep 3

‼️UPDATE‼️ Stand Up for Science files whistleblower complaint against the Trump Administration for "blatantly illegal" retaliation against the #FEMA36.

STAND WITH #FEMA36. SIGN our letter of support linked in bio. 🔗

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Morgan Mouchka @morgan-mouchka.bsky.social · Sep 3

THIS is how you write a headline.

Rolling Stone @rollingstone.com · Sep 3

DeSantis is bringing Donald Trump and RFK Jr.’s attacks on science and the health and safety of children to Florida.

Story: www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...

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Reposted by Morgan Mouchka

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · Sep 2

A show of bipartisan support for NIH. Basically flat except for ARPA-H.

The President’s budget proposal basically ignored (as it should have been).

Ian L Morgan @ianlmorgan.bsky.social · Sep 1

House LHHC bill is out. Lots of hits to HHS, but the top line number for NIH is 1% decrease, mostly due to cuts ARPA-H. This seems like a huge rejection of the president's budget request.

democrats-appropriations.house.gov

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Reposted by Morgan Mouchka

The Bulwark @thebulwark.com · Sep 1

Long the envy of the world for its capabilities and expertise, the CDC finds itself no longer able to advocate for what its scientists believe the best available research shows.

@citizencohn.bsky.social on the CDC purge: www.thebulwark.com/p/kennedy-rf...

This Is What—and Who—We’re Losing in RFK’s Purge

The story of one scientist, a career in public health, and the crisis at the CDC.

www.thebulwark.com

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Reposted by Morgan Mouchka

Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.bsky.social · Aug 30

Trump’s EPA is continuing its illegal retaliation against employees for telling the truth in defense of our planet and the nation.

We stand with these brave employees in their fight against this retaliation.

#zeldin
#epa
#declarationofdissent

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Reposted by Morgan Mouchka

NY Times Pitchbot @nytpitchbot.bsky.social · Aug 29

RFK Jr. says you shouldn’t get a Covid vaccine. All doctors and research results say you should. For busy Americans, it can be hard to know who to trust.

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