Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

SusanK @susankleinfelter.bsky.social · 9h

Woohoo! Go Foldit!

Structural Biology @actacrystd.iucr.org · 12h

Andreas C. Petrides et al.: Reconstructing biological molecules with help from video gamers ##Foldit##PDBREDO##CitizenScience@umassd...##IUCrhttps://journals.iucr.org/paper?S2059798325008149

Reconstructing biological molecules with help from video gamers

The results of the Foldit citizen science puzzles for crystallographic models and their integration into the PDB-REDO databank are discussed.

journals.iucr.org

1 1

Reposted by SusanK

Chise @sailorrooscout.bsky.social · 20h

GOOD NEWS! Researchers have discovered a powerful antibody, known as 04_A06, that is able to neutralize 98.5% of MORE THAN 300 different HIV strains AND permanently reduce HIV viral load to undetectable levels, making it one of the broadest-acting antibodies against HIV identified to date.

25 810 2.5K

Reposted by SusanK

Alt CDC (they/them) @altcdc.altgov.info · 11h

Laughter is medicine. G’night all

Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 20h

🎵 They did the Monster Slash 😭 @ellecordova.bsky.social

7 87 290

Reposted by SusanK

bioRxiv Cell Biology @biorxiv-cellbio.bsky.social · 11h

Optogenetic construction of de novo integrin-adhesion complexes reveals role for biocondensation in adhesion nucleation https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.08.681107v1

2 2

Reposted by SusanK

Roni Odai @rodai.bsky.social · 7d

Viral AlphaFold Database (VAD) is live in Science Advances

~27,000 predicted viral protein monomers & homodimers

Conserved folds across bacteria, archaea & eukaryotic viruses

New toxin–antitoxin system KreTA uncovered

Vast “functional darkness” remains uncharted

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

The Viral AlphaFold Database of monomers and homodimers reveals conserved protein folds in viruses of bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes

VAD is a Viral AlphaFold Database of protein monomers and homodimers from viruses infecting hosts across the tree of life.

www.science.org

1 34 79

Reposted by SusanK

Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · 13h

Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE

nyti.ms

85 1.3K 3.2K

Reposted by SusanK

Chise @sailorrooscout.bsky.social · 2d

GOOD NEWS! Researchers have developed a new mRNA vaccine that has been shown to suppress abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina, offering hope to MILLIONS of patients with age-related vision loss. The vaccine triggered strong antibody responses that REDUCED retinal damage by UP TO 85%.

74 1.3K 4.2K

Reposted by SusanK

Dr. Jey McCreight 🧬🏳️‍⚧️ @jeymccreight.bsky.social · 2d

I'm a transgender Genomics PhD with 15 years of science communication experience who just launched an educational campaign to fight anti-trans propaganda that claims to be rooted in "biology"

Resources and advocacy campaigns to come soon. Follow at @beyondxandy.bsky.social

beyondxandy.org

Beyond X&Y

beyondxandy.org

1 13 20

Reposted by SusanK

Joachim Frank @joachim123.bsky.social · 2d

I'm excited to report that a species has been named after my son Ze Frank, "in recognition of his outstanding contributions to science communication, which have inspired curiosity, wonder, and deeper public engagement with the natural world"

The certificate by Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance, issued in Voncina, 2025, spells out that a newly described species of chiton has been formally named Craspedochiton zefranki. This is in recognition of his outstanding contributions to science communication, which have inspired curiosity, wonder, and deeper public engagement with the natural world.

3 16 100

Reposted by SusanK

Erin Reed @erininthemorning.com · 2d

1. 4 months ago, The Supreme Court gave families a right to opt out of LGBTQ+ education in schools.

Now, in Montgomery County, Maryland, where the case originated, the results are in.

Only 43 families out of 160,000 students have exercised that new right.

Subscribe to support our journalism.

Only 0.03% Opt Out Of LGBTQ+ Education In Maryland After SCOTUS Gives Them A Right To

After SCOTUS gave families a right to opt out of LGBTQ+ education, Montgomery County, Maryland is reporting only 43 families took them up on it.

www.erininthemorning.com

46 990 3.1K

Reposted by SusanK

Markus Deserno @markusdeserno.bsky.social · 12d

I am super excited to announce that we have a tenure-track faculty position in biophysics open in the Department of Physics at Carnegie Mellon! 🧪

Interfolio link: apply.interfolio.com/174360

PLEASE, share widely across the blue skies!

Let me briefly explain what we're looking for:

1/10

Tenure-track Position in Biophysics at Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Physics

Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Open Date: Sep 19, 2025

Description
The Department of Physics at Carnegie Mellon University invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in biophysics. The appointment is intended to be at the Assistant Professor level, but exceptional candidates at a higher level may also be considered. We seek outstanding candidates with a strong record in cellular and subcellular biophysics. Topics of particular interest include, but are not limited to, uncovering how key characteristics of living systems arise from the interplay between supramolecular cellular structures, how the emergent cellular circuitry defines goals and enables robust decision making, and how metabolic resources are allocated. This encompasses understanding of how information is learned, stored, transduced, and processed across subcellular structures. Applicants with theoretical, data science, or experimental backgrounds within biological physics are encouraged to apply. The ideal candidate will strengthen and extend research programs of current biophysics faculty in the Department of Physics and collaborate with broader life science activities across many departments at CMU and the wider Pittsburgh area.

More details on Interfolio: https://apply.interfolio.com/174360

2 84 93

Reposted by SusanK

DisabledInSTEM @disabledinstem.bsky.social · 18d

✨My first science feature is out in Chemical & Engineering News!✨

I interviewed and wrote about Dr. Shana V. Stoddard, a brilliant disabled scientist changing STEM.

Disabled scientists deserve visibility and celebration.

cen.acs.org/synthesis/me...

#DisabledInSTEM #SciComm #RepresentationMatters

Shana V. Stoddard: How to create an environment for all science students to succeed

Grad student <b>Alyssa T. Paparella</b> talks with this computational biochemist about adjusting work styles and leaning on community

cen.acs.org

5 35 76

SusanK @susankleinfelter.bsky.social · 4d

Our lab is moving to a new building, so I brought home the #origami capsids that normally sit above my desk - they're camping on my #Lego table for now

Half a sphere made of bright Lego triangles and stars, and behind that on the work table are bins of Lego pieces with origami spheres balanced on top

2

SusanK @susankleinfelter.bsky.social · 4d

Go home spell check, you're drunk

Text box on a google slide, showing the word "chains" spelled correctly and the spell check suggestion of "chainz" with a "Z"

1

Reposted by SusanK

ACLU @aclu.org · 4d

The Trump administration has completely ended all pathways to seek asylum, a legal right for more than half a century.

We took the government to court and won, and they're now appealing. We won't abandon our commitment to people fleeing danger.

Why Did DHS Send a Russian Exile to Costa Rica?

The Trump administration has sent thousands of people to places other than their countries of origin — also known as third countries. Months after being deported, one such Russian family has been forced to rebuild its life in Monteverde.

nymag.com

10 160 520

Reposted by SusanK

Louise Ting @neuro-observant.bsky.social · 4d

Autistic inertia = difficulty with starting, stopping and switching tasks

It can happen even when:

- you want to do the task
- the task is important or urgent
- you have a clear understanding of what needs to be done
- it’s something as “simple” as getting out of bed or the shower

10 36 170

Reposted by SusanK

Shiv Ramdas Mens Rice Activist @nameshiv.bsky.social · 4d

The Ig Nobel is incredible , one year an Indian guy won it for calculating the average surface area of an elephant and during his acceptance they had an elephant hold up a sign with the surface area of the scientist on it, they do showbiz better than the Oscars

Jeffrey J. Hall @mrjeffu.bsky.social · 20d

Video: a Japanese scientist was attacked by flies while giving the acceptance speech for his Ig Nobel Prize-winning research paper that proved painting Zebra-like stripes on cows led to a decrease in biting fly attacks.

46 1.6K 6.7K

Reposted by SusanK

Chise @sailorrooscout.bsky.social · 4d

GOOD NEWS! Researchers have made a HUGE breakthrough towards a UNIVERSAL antiviral. By targeting sugar molecules found on the surface of many viruses that SHARE structural similarities, they identified FOUR compounds that successfully BLOCKED infections from SEVEN different viruses.

48 1.1K 3.5K

Reposted by SusanK

Chise @sailorrooscout.bsky.social · 8d

GOOD NEWS! Researchers have unveiled a promising new vaccine that generates a powerful immune response against HIV and other viruses including SARS-CoV-2 and influenza with just ONE dose. By combining immune-boosting adjuvants, the vaccine encourages the body to generate more antibody variations.

57 1.3K 3.9K

Reposted by SusanK

bioRxiv Molecular Biology @biorxiv-molbio.bsky.social · 5d

A Conserved Motif as an Evolutionary Kernel for β-Sheet Oligomerization Revealed by Divergence Analysis of Helix-to-Sheet Transitions in EAA1 Isoforms https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.02.679742v1

1 1

SusanK @susankleinfelter.bsky.social · 5d

I sometimes wonder, were these ppl all beaten so much as children that the same person causing you extreme pain and then offering you relief with strings attached just seems like normal human interaction?

Reposted by SusanK

Holly Moeller @mixotrophe.bsky.social · 5d

🚨GRFP DEADLINE ALERT!🚨 I missed this in my original solicitation read-through, so FYI 📣LETTERS ARE DUE BEFORE PROPOSALS📣 this year!

"Reference letters are due Friday, November 7 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET)."

www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

www.nsf.gov

34 18

Reposted by SusanK

bioRxiv Molecular Biology @biorxiv-molbio.bsky.social · 6d

rAAV-Delivered Bicistronic Artificial microRNAs for Allele-Specific Silencing Improve Motor and Molecular Outcomes in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3 https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.02.680011v1

1 1

Reposted by SusanK

David De Sancho @daviddesancho.bsky.social · 6d

Check out our latest, where we investigate the molecular origin of differences between Lys and Arg and their roles in biomolecular #condensates

@dipcehu.bsky.social

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

8 15

Reposted by SusanK

Which Witch R U 🏳️‍🌈 @which-witch-ru.bsky.social · 6d

The last block…👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 There is no LGB without the TQ.

Assigned Media @assignedmedia.org · 7d

It's not an understatement to say that Erickson's support of ONE, Inc was instrumental in preserving queer history and supporting the gay community at the time. ONE did everything from running support hotlines and queer archives to printing informational booklets and awarding the first doctorates in "homophile studies"--the precursor to queer studies degrees--and Erickson's EEF underwrote nearly all of it.

His life story is far too chaotic and fascinating to tell all of in six panels, and I highly recommend looking into his life yourself. But I will close with this: if anyone ever tells you that LGB folk should drop the T, tell them this story and remind them that nearly the entirety of gay men's history was saved from financial ruin and obscurity by a trans man.

10 56