Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Amanda Montañez @unamandita.bsky.social · 8h

fascinating story about the convergence of traditional Chinese medicine and AI...and tongues! by @luyieve.bsky.social for @sciam.bsky.social www.scientificamerican.com/article/ai-s...

This AI Spots Disease by Reading Your Tongue’s Color

Inspired by principles from traditional Chinese medicine, researchers used AI to analyze tongue color as a diagnostic tool—with more than 96 percent accuracy

www.scientificamerican.com

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Amanda Montañez @unamandita.bsky.social · 7d

ever since becoming a parent i have wanted to do this exact data viz project (but no time because, you know, parenthood lol). so thank you, @mellymeldubs.bsky.social. because sometimes animals are ladies!! pudding.cool/2025/07/kids...

Bears Will Be Boys

A data analysis of animal gender in children’s books

pudding.cool

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Reposted by Amanda Montañez

Sarah Lewin Frasier @sarahexplains.bsky.social · 19d

We've reached 6,000 confirmed exoplanets! I talked with @aussiastronomer.bsky.social about where things go from here. (A great graphic by @unamandita.bsky.social visualizes the amazing jumps in planet finds since the first ones were confirmed in the 1990s.)

Want to Get Away? NASA Now Offers More Than 6,000 Alien Worlds to Daydream About

It’s a crowded galaxy, the latest exoplanet tally shows

www.scientificamerican.com

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Reposted by Amanda Montañez

Lauren J. Young @laurenjyoung.bsky.social · 20d

Confused by patchwork COVID vaccine guidelines across states? @sciam.bsky.social has a map with the latest info from the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations. We'll keep tracking updates. 📊 @unamandita.bsky.social ✏️ @jaimieseaton.bsky.social. www.scientificamerican.com/article/covi...

What State-by-State Rules Mean for Your COVID Shot

With federal vaccine guidance under fire, states are forging their own immunization paths

www.scientificamerican.com

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Reposted by Amanda Montañez

Andrea Thompson @andreatweather.bsky.social · 21d

Congratulations, you've just lived through the three hottest summers on record 🫠

But with greenhouse gas emissions still piling up in the atmosphere, those records probably won't stand for terribly long. 🧪

(graphic by @unamandita.bsky.social)

We’ve Lived through the Three Hottest Summers on Record

Climate-fueled heat has caused thousands of excess deaths over the past three summers, which were the three hottest on record

www.scientificamerican.com

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Amanda Montañez @unamandita.bsky.social · Sep 5

An important story and nice collaboration between @sciam.bsky.social interns @humbertobasilio.bsky.social and @luyieve.bsky.social

Humberto Basilio @humbertobasilio.bsky.social · Sep 5

🚨 An environmental injustice we already knew but data confirms: children from marginalized communities in the U.S. attend the schools most exposed to heat waves. They’re often the same kids without air-conditioning at school — and very likely at home too, sources say

My story for @sciam.bsky.social

Kids from Marginalized Communities Are Learning in the Hottest Classrooms

The first national study of its kind shows that children from marginalized communities are more exposed to extreme heat events

www.scientificamerican.com

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Reposted by Amanda Montañez

Scientific American @sciam.bsky.social · Sep 3

LAST CHANCE!

📸 Join the #SciAmInTheWild photo challenge!

🎁 You could win an Unlimited subscription to Scientific American—plus exclusive prizes for your next adventure.

⌛ Hurry! Contest ends September 5 at 11:59 p.m. ET

⚠️ Terms & Conditions apply. See rules for entry: sciam.com/180contest

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Reposted by Amanda Montañez

David M. Ewalt @dme.bsky.social · Aug 28

Scientific American has been an advocate for science since 1845, and right now is the most critical moment in that two-century history. So this weekend we're asking you to stand up for science by supporting us, and we're giving you a giant discount: Just $18! www.scientificamerican.com/getsciam/

Subscribe to Scientific American

Subscribe to Scientific American Magazine

www.scientificamerican.com

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Amanda Montañez @unamandita.bsky.social · Aug 27

@meghanbartels.bsky.social just answered all my covid vax questions, and probably yours too 💉https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/who-is-eligible-for-the-covid-vaccine-in-2025-and-how-to-get-it/

COVID Vaccines Are Still Saving Lives—But They Will Be Harder to Get This Year

Many questions still surround COVID vaccine access this fall, but here’s what we know so far

www.scientificamerican.com

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Amanda Montañez @unamandita.bsky.social · Aug 21

This edition of #SciAmInTheWild brought to by this horse who is clearly a fan of @sciam.bsky.social. You can do one too! sciam.com/180contest

In the foreground a hand holds an issue of Scientific American with a picture of a horse on the cover and the headline “how horses made the modern world.” In the background a dark brown horse stands behind a fence and looks toward the magazine.

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Reposted by Amanda Montañez

Andrea Thompson @andreatweather.bsky.social · Aug 13

Took this photo at Taughannock Falls in the FingerLakes while on vacation last week! #sciaminthewild

Happy 180th (!!!) birthday @sciam.bsky.social!

An issue of Scientific American with the cover line "life - Uncovering the Origins of Evolution's Big Bang" with Taughannock Falls in the background.

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Reposted by Amanda Montañez

Meghan Bartels @meghanbartels.bsky.social · Aug 13

To celebrate its 180th birthday (!!) @sciam.bsky.social is running a photo contest (details here: sciam.com/180contest) to take #SciAmInTheWild. Where do you read about science?

A magazine with an eyeball on the cover for a story titled “Anatomy of an Insight” tucked behind an optical machine

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Amanda Montañez @unamandita.bsky.social · Aug 12

For anyone who has ever mistyped their credit card number, immediately gotten an "invalid number" message, and thought "but how did they KNOW?"...here is the answer, you're welcome www.scientificamerican.com/article/what...

The Math Hack You Didn’t Know Was in Your Credit Card

Find out how this simple algorithm from the 1960s keeps your wallet safe

www.scientificamerican.com

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Amanda Montañez @unamandita.bsky.social · Aug 7

Has anyone ever written a dissertation on how kids are so good at information visualization because honestly this shit blows my mind sometimes

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Reposted by Amanda Montañez

Scientific American @sciam.bsky.social · Aug 6

mRNA Vaccine Tech Could Transform Medicine and Cure Diseases. RFK, Jr. Just Pulled Its Funding.

mRNA Vaccines Are a Game-Changer—Here’s Why

Speed and flexibility have made mRNA a blockbuster technology

www.scientificamerican.com

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Reposted by Amanda Montañez

Scientific American @sciam.bsky.social · Aug 5

From deep oceans to distant galaxies, every Scientific American cover is an invitation to explore. Now show us where curiosity takes you!

🤳 Enter the #SciAmInTheWild photo contest

🎁 Prizes include gadgets and gear to elevate your next adventure

⚠️ Terms & Conditions apply: sciam.com/180contest

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Amanda Montañez @unamandita.bsky.social · Aug 2

PSA for NYers: Amy Sherald exhibit at the Whitney is phenomenal and closes next weekend

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Reposted by Amanda Montañez

Scientific American @sciam.bsky.social · Aug 1

For 180 years, Scientific American covers have invited readers on voyages of discovery—from deep oceans to distant galaxies. Now it’s your turn! Capture your own moment of exploration with our photo challenge.

Terms & Conditions apply. See official rules: sciam.com/180contest #SciAmInTheWild

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Amanda Montañez @unamandita.bsky.social · Jul 31

Ok can we all agree Spotify has gotten out of hand

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Amanda Montañez @unamandita.bsky.social · Jul 25

ok i am aggressively not a sports person, but this story by @dodecalemma.bsky.social is so cool! and the graphics were fun to work on :) www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-...

The Surprising Math and Physics behind the 2026 World Cup Soccer Ball

Here’s how the new tetrahedron-based design for the “Trionda” soccer ball may affect next year’s big game

www.scientificamerican.com

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Reposted by Amanda Montañez

Lee Billings @leebillings.bsky.social · Jul 23

What's the deal with private spaceflight? What are the pros & cons? Is it turning space into a playground for the ultra-wealthy, or are there benefits for all? Check out my chat with
@cnn.com's @claresduffy.bsky.social on her "Terms of Service" podcast to find out:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXnv...

What do billionaire space flights mean for the rest of us? | Terms of Service

YouTube video by CNN

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Amanda Montañez

David M. Ewalt @dme.bsky.social · Jul 17

After photos showed President Trump with swollen ankles and bruised hands, the White House revealed he has chronic venous insufficiency. Here's what that means: www.scientificamerican.com/article/what...

Is Chronic Venous Insufficiency Serious? Trump’s Diagnosis Explained

After photos showed President Donald Trump with swollen ankles and bruised hands, the White House revealed he has chronic venous insufficiency—a blood vessel disease that affects circulation in the le...

www.scientificamerican.com

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Amanda Montañez @unamandita.bsky.social · Jul 17

A legendary TikTok featuring legendary graphics by @john-h-knight.bsky.social

Meghan Bartels @meghanbartels.bsky.social · Jul 17

This #WorldEmojiDay, let's revisit among my favorite of @sciam.bsky.social 's tiktoks, about the STUNNING misportrayal of biodiversity in emoji 🧪 www.tiktok.com/@scientifica...

Taxonomic bias is upsetting the balance of the emoji animal kingdom. A representative emoji ecosystem would need roundworms, flatworms, mollusks and more. It’s about more than aesthetics– gaps in emoj...

TikTok video by Scientific American

www.tiktok.com

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Reposted by Amanda Montañez

Lauren J. Young @laurenjyoung.bsky.social · Jul 15

For 40 years, virus detectives have flocked to NJ beaches to track avian influenza. Their clues? Bird poop 💩 I followed that team to explain H5N1's history in a special Science Quickly podcast series. Featured today in @sciam.bsky.social's bird flu issue: www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/epis...

There Is a Beach That Contains Clues of How a Bird Flu Pandemic Could Take Off

The first hints that a new strain of avian illness is emerging could be found on this beach on Delaware Bay, where migrating birds flock. Here’s what virus detectives who return there every year know ...

www.scientificamerican.com

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Reposted by Amanda Montañez

Scientific American @sciam.bsky.social · Jul 14

We finally made it to Bluesky—just a few billion years after the Big Bang, and only slightly late to the party ✨🌌

We’re sharing some of our best stories from the year so far to kick off our Bluesky journey!

What is Scientific American?

YouTube video by Scientific American

www.youtube.com

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