Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Ramakrishnan Vasudeva

C&EN (Chemical & Engineering News) @cenmag.bsky.social · 20h

It’s a material world after all. And this year’s #NobelPrize in Chemistry has been awarded to researchers who created a family of materials that could help solve some of humanity’s most critical problems. Read more: cen.acs.org/people/nobel...

#ChemNobel #Chem #Chemistry #chemsky 🧪

The 2025 chemistry Nobel goes to MOFs
Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar M. Yaghi win the prize for developing metal–organic frameworks

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Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · 4d

🚨 Astobio alert 🚨

@royalsocietypublishing.org recently put out a whole special issue on the origins of life edited by @ricardsole.bsky.social, Chris Kempes and Susan Stepney

I wondered why there were so many origin of life papers coming up in my Google Scholar alerts recently... 🧪

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences: Vol 380, No 1936

royalsocietypublishing.org

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Prof Sam Illingworth @samillingworth.com · 4d

🥦 Plant-based diets and inflammation

A new systematic review found that plant-based diets lower key inflammation markers (CRP, IL-6, TNF-α) in adults, suggesting reduced risk of chronic disease.

🔗 doi.org/10.71000/kyt...

#SciComm #Nutrition 🧪

Insights – Journal of Life and Social Sciences (IJLSS)

A peer-reviewed journal publishing original research and reviews in social sciences, life sciences, education, psychology, and sociology.

doi.org

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Nature Portfolio @natureportfolio.nature.com · 6d

A paper in Nature shows that parachute designs inspired by kirigami — the Japanese art of paper cutting to produce 3D designs — are stable and fall close to their target. These findings could simplify parachute manufacturing, reduce costs, and improve accuracy. go.nature.com/473OMmK 🧪

Kirigami-inspired parachute deploying to slow down the delivery of a water bottle from a drone.

Credit: Frédérick Gosselin

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Dr Mark D. Scherz @markscherz.bsky.social · 8d

Spent a little time in the last couple of day working with micro-CT scans of frogs again. This is the holotype of Rhombophryne coronata. I’m hoping to submit a manuscript including a plate of this specimen’s skeleton tomorrow! 🧪🐸🩻

Rhombophryne coronata rendered in 3D from a micro-CT scan. It’s not perfect, but it’s damn good.

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Elena Shekhova, PhD @lumipie.com · 8d

🧪🍎📃
It only took me 500 years to finish this 📊, but here it is 🎉

Grocery shops in many wealthy countries are oversupplied with animal-based foods. They stock far more meat and dairy than we need for human and planetary health.

🔗 www.lumipie.com/data-vis/pla...

Data visualization comparing national food supplies in high-income countries (based on GDP per capita) with planetary health intake targets. Radial charts for 12 countries (including Ireland, Denmark, Switzerland, Luxembourg, United States, Australia, Norway, Qatar, Kuwait, Emirates, Taiwan, and Saudi Arabia) show that supplies of animal-based foods, especially meat and dairy, consistently exceed recommended levels of intake. Bars below each chart compare grams of plant-based, animal-based, and fats & oils in total daily supply per person. Data is from FAOSTAT (2022)

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Princess Vimentin PhD | Cancer Biologist @princess-vimentin.bsky.social · 9d

In addition to reducing the severity and long term effects of some illnesses, getting vaccinated has an unexpected benefit- warding off dementia.

A 2022 study of 1.8 million 65+ adults showed that receiving the flu vaccine reduced the risk of developing dementia by 40%.
🧪 archive.today/YT3wf

4 vaccines linked to a lower risk of dementia

Some vaccine-preventable diseases are linked to accelerated brain atrophy and increased dementia risk years down the line.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Dryad @datadryad.bsky.social · 10d

What did dwarf elephants eat? An analysis of their fossilized teeth provides clues. Explore the data on Dryad ➡️ 🧪 datadryad.org/dataset/doi:...

#opendata #datasharing #data #openscience #openaccess #paleontology #biology

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Prof Sam Illingworth @samillingworth.com · 11d

🧓 Secrets of 117 years

Scientists studied Maria Branyas Morera, once the world’s oldest person. Her genes, low inflammation, diet, and social ties helped her reach 117 in good health.

🔗 www.theguardian.com/science/2025...

#SciComm 🧪 #Ageing

Supercentenarian gives scientists insight on secrets of healthy old age

Tests on Maria Branyas Morera, who was world’s oldest person before she died aged 117, gave doctors a trove of discoveries

www.theguardian.com

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Nature Portfolio @natureportfolio.nature.com · 11d

A study in Nature Metabolism shows that the dietary fiber inulin modifies the gut #microbiome to better process fructose, helping prevent metabolic dysfunctions and emphasizing the role of dietary fiber. go.nature.com/4gKCvHe 🧪

Fig. 1: Reversal of HFCS-induced metabolic dysfunctions by inulin supplementation.

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American Physiological Society @apsphysiology.bsky.social · 13d

Do you do “zone zero” exercise? Housework. Playing with your kids. Parking farther from the store. It won't build muscle but can offset sitting. #ISpyPhysiology 🧪
• More from @nytimes.com: ow.ly/qQwv50X0R9y
• Cited study from @apspublications.bsky.social AJP-Endo: ow.ly/upZp50X0Rmv

Illustrated collage showing everyday moments: a person vacuuming, someone walking upstairs in heels, a person confidently walking in a sleeveless top, and legs passing by an open laptop.

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Kristy Townsend, PhD @neuroadipo.bsky.social · 14d

Metabolomics gone spatial! 🧪

Nature Metabolism @natmetabolism.nature.com · 14d

✨New issue!✨

Check out the latest in #metabolism research from across all disciplines.

Read about #Ferroptosis, #MASLD, #DietaryBiomarkers, #CoA metabolism, #Immune signaling, #Tumor biology and many more topics! 🧪

www.nature.com/natmetab/vol...

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American Physiological Society @apsphysiology.bsky.social · 15d

It’s never too late to start exercising, even if you’re in the later chapters of life. Regular exercise helps protect your DNA and keep arteries healthy. Read more: ow.ly/ViLJ50WXMmQ #HealthAgingMonth 🧪

Group of adults of different ages exercising outdoors with small hand weights, extending their arms forward in unison on a sunny day.

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João Paulo Capela @jpcapela.bsky.social · 15d

The EU is relying on Science based facts!
#PharmSky
#ToxSky
#MedSky
🧪

POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 15d

The European Commission said today there is no evidence linking paracetamol use during pregnancy to autism, following US President Donald Trump’s warning against the medication.

EU dismisses Trump claim linking autism to paracetamol use in pregnancy

Commission and medicines regulator stress “no evidence” linking paracetamol in pregnancy to autism, countering Trump’s earlier remarks.

ow.ly

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Kathryn Hulick @kathrynhulick.substack.com · 15d

My latest story for Science News covers a really interesting experimental computer chip. It reuses energy that typical chips waste as heat:
www.sciencenews.org/article/comp...
If this scales up, it could help make AI cheaper and more efficient. 🧪
@sciencenews.bsky.social

This experimental computer chip reuses energy

A first-of-its-kind test shows that reusing energy within a computer chip can work, thanks to two techy tricks.

www.sciencenews.org

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Dr. Or M. Bialik |📚|🔬|🌊|⚒️ @obialik.bsky.social · 20d

#WeekendReading: Tachikawa et al. about the neodymium isotopic composition in the modern Mediterranean Sea and what it might mean for paleocirculation proxies. 🧪🌊

Link: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Seawater εNd as a function of longitude from the whole water depths.

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American Physiological Society @apsphysiology.bsky.social · 20d

Did you know? Celebrating family, culture and resilience isn’t just meaningful—it’s linked to longer lives. Read more in a vintage #ISpyPhysiology blog post: ow.ly/VZrV50WX8pW #HispanicParadox #HispanicHeritageMonth #Aging 🧪

Smiling older Hispanic couple embracing closely outdoors, radiating warmth, joy, and togetherness.

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Nature Portfolio @natureportfolio.nature.com · 20d

A paper in Nature presents a new artificial intelligence model that can predict how a person’s health might change over their lifetime. This tool could help doctors and health planners to better understand and prepare for personalized medical needs. go.nature.com/4n6giWi #medsky 🧪

This is figure 4, which shows explainable AI offers insights into disease progression.

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MU-Peter Shimon 🀄️ @mu-peter.bsky.social · 27d

How did life get multicellular?

Five simple organisms could have the answer

Single-celled species that often stick together in colonies have researchers rethinking the origin of animals. 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Choanoeca flexa cells form a sheet with all flagella and microvilli pointed in one direction. Credit: Diede de Haan

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Ramakrishnan Vasudeva @rvasudeva.bsky.social · 27d

Remarkable. Look forward to seeing it 🙏🏽

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🦋 Alie of the Woods 🦋 @humanbyweight.bsky.social · 27d

I finally finished the first draft of the illustrated plate series for Widow Spiders of the World! This book is going to be so good, y'all. Expect its release in early 2026. 🕷️🕸️

A sneak peak of a illustrated plate from Widow Spiders of the World. The male and female of a species is shown, along with a close-up of the hourglass pattern at the bottom, juvenile color forms in an arc across the center, and an egg sac in the upper right. A range map in Dymaxion projection is tastefully superimposed onto the background. The male spider is gangly and brown, but his abdomen has bright black and white stripes with red spots. The female is a shiny black with bold red stripes. The egg sac is golden and spiky.

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University of Leicester, Physics & Astronomy @physicsuol.bsky.social · Sep 9

🔭🧪🎢 Our next public open day is this weekend!

On 13th September, come and see what studying physics at the University of Leicester can be like. You'll also witness some of the highlights of our internationally renowned space research.

Book your place here: le.ac.uk/open-days 🔭🧪🎢

Student with impressive looking lab equipment

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Deborah Marsh @djmarsh24.bsky.social · Sep 8

It's official, I'm one of the judges for the 2025 Great Microscopy Bake-off @ the University of Technology Sydney organised by @louisecole.bsky.social on Oct 13th! Now there's a role! Microscopy-themed or science-related cakes, cupcakes or cookie decoration. Entries from last yr for inspiration 😀🧪

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Burr Ito @ututuy.org · Sep 8

The moon eclipse from last night, as seen from Belgium. It was visible a bit after totality. The shadow on the moon is the Earth's shadow. A curved shadow because the Earth is round! 🔭 🧪

Picture of the moon during the eclipse, it is mostly dim and red, as it comes out of the Earth's shadow.

Picture of the moon during the eclipse, this is a bit later than the previous pic. Now the dim region has shrunk. The curved shadow is evident.

This is the same as the previous pic, only exposed a bit more to reveal the dim area.

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Adam Kucharski @adamjkucharski.bsky.social · Sep 1

Results so stunningly clear they inspired this classic xkcd (xkcd.com/2400/):

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