Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

@DrJoePajak CSci CChem FRSC @drjoepajak.bsky.social · 57m

As COVID-19 infections rise in England, more people appear to be turning to private tests especially now that NHS vaccines are restricted to fewer groups this winter.
Meanwhile, COVID hospitalisations (🔗 @ukhsa.bsky.social) creep up despite a mild autumn. @theipaper.com
inews.co.uk/news/health/...

Rising Covid cases see surge in private tests

UK's largest online chemist said it has recorded an 81 per cent month-on-month increase in Covid test sales, reflecting a 'clear rise' in demand

inews.co.uk

3 7

@DrJoePajak CSci CChem FRSC @drjoepajak.bsky.social · 1h

As COVID-19 infections rise in England, more people appear to be turning to private tests especially now that NHS vaccines are restricted to fewer groups this winter.
Meanwhile, COVID hospitalisations (🔗 @ukhsa.bsky.social) creep up despite a mild autumn. @theipaper.com
inews.co.uk/news/health/...

3 7 17

@DrJoePajak CSci CChem FRSC @drjoepajak.bsky.social · 4h

After years of resistance and delay, COVID-19 is finally recognised (by most) as an airborne disease - vindicating decades of aerobiological research & reshaping how we think about transmission.
💪 carlzimmer.com/books/airbor...
Recommended reading - I simply couldn’t stop!
bsky.app/profile/carl...

Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · Jun 5

🇬🇧 🇬🇧Today AIR-BORNE comes out in the UK! 🇬🇧 🇬🇧 www.panmacmillan.com/authors/carl...

1 3 7

@DrJoePajak CSci CChem FRSC @drjoepajak.bsky.social · 5h

AIR-BORNE: The Hidden History of the Life We Breathe
'The air teems with invisible life. This last biological frontier remains so mysterious that it took over two years for scientists to finally agree that the COVID pandemic was caused by an airborne virus.' @carlzimmer.com
bsky.app/profile/carl...

Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · Jun 5

🇬🇧 🇬🇧Today AIR-BORNE comes out in the UK! 🇬🇧 🇬🇧 www.panmacmillan.com/authors/carl...

2 10 24

@DrJoePajak CSci CChem FRSC @drjoepajak.bsky.social · 5h

AIR-BORNE: The Hidden History of the Life We Breathe
'The air teems with invisible life. This last biological frontier remains so mysterious that it took over two years for scientists to finally agree that the COVID pandemic was caused by an airborne virus.' @carlzimmer.com
bsky.app/profile/carl...

Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · Jun 5

🇬🇧 🇬🇧Today AIR-BORNE comes out in the UK! 🇬🇧 🇬🇧 www.panmacmillan.com/authors/carl...

2

@DrJoePajak CSci CChem FRSC @drjoepajak.bsky.social · 5h

AIR-BORNE: The Hidden History of the Life We Breathe
'The air teems with invisible life. This last biological frontier remains so mysterious that it took over two years for scientists to finally agree that the COVID pandemic was caused by an airborne virus.' @carlzimmer.com
bsky.app/profile/carl...

Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · Jun 5

🇬🇧 🇬🇧Today AIR-BORNE comes out in the UK! 🇬🇧 🇬🇧 www.panmacmillan.com/authors/carl...

2 2

Reposted by @DrJoePajak CSci CChem FRSC

David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · Aug 8

Whether microorganisms thrive or simply survive in the air, they’re living there. Direct air capture at scale will suck in billions of them every minute. What are the ecosystem implications of killing so many microorganisms?

Can Microorganisms Thrive in Earth’s Atmosphere, or Do They Simply Survive There? - Eos

A bottom-up modeling approach could bring scientists closer to understanding communities of microbes in the atmosphere.

eos.org

3 27 80

Reposted by @DrJoePajak CSci CChem FRSC

Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · 1d

“The White House’s mass firing of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staff on Friday has decimated offices related to injury prevention, respiratory disease surveillance, and chronic disease.” www.statnews.com/2025/10/11/c...

‘It’s a massacre’: CDC battered by government shutdown firings

The White House’s mass firing of CDC staff on Friday has decimated offices related to injury prevention, respiratory disease surveillance, and chronic disease, according to four people familiar with t...

www.statnews.com

5 39 92

@DrJoePajak CSci CChem FRSC @drjoepajak.bsky.social · 6h

🦠Aerosol transmission of SARSCoV2 virus is the dominant route for transmitting COVID-19🦠
☝️Significant scientific evidence-based statement which should inform our approach to preventing / controlling the potential transmission of infections.
💯 @carlzimmer.com 📖 'Air-Borne'.
bsky.app/profile/drjo...

@DrJoePajak CSci CChem FRSC @drjoepajak.bsky.social · 21h

New study shows that 'receiving an updated COVID vaccine reduced people’s risk of severe disease and death in *ALL* age groups, regardless of immunity from prior infection or vaccination.'
@sarafnovak.bsky.social @laurenjyoung.bsky.social @sciam.bsky.social
www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-...

Annual COVID Vaccines Save Lives, New Study Shows

A new study shows that receiving an updated COVID vaccine reduced people’s risk of severe disease and death in all age groups, regardless of immunity from prior infection or vaccination

www.scientificamerican.com

1 5 5

@DrJoePajak CSci CChem FRSC @drjoepajak.bsky.social · 20h

The study found that 'COVID-19 vaccination was associated with reduced risks of emergency visits, hospitalizations, and deaths across all age groups: under 65, 65–75, and over 75.'
@zalaly.bsky.social et al., @nejm.org.

www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....

Association of 2024–2025 Covid-19 Vaccine with Covid-19 Outcomes in U.S. Veterans | NEJM

Amid the declining clinical severity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and diminishing public uptake of annual coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines, ...

www.nejm.org

1 2 7

@DrJoePajak CSci CChem FRSC @drjoepajak.bsky.social · 20h

Study 'concluded that COVID-19 vaccination, as compared with no vaccination, appeared to be associated with lower incidence of these outcomes across age groups (<65 years, 65 to 75 years, and >75 years).' @zalaly.bsky.social, Miao Cai, and Yan Xie. VA St Louis health care
bsky.app/profile/nejm...

NEJM.org @nejm.org · 4d

In a national cohort of veterans, the 2024–2025 Covid-19 vaccine was linked to reduced risks of emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths from Covid-19 across the overall cohort and in various subgroups. Full study results: nej.md/47anKdz

#MedSky #IDSky

A graph showing the Covid-19–associated composite outcome over 180 days in the 2024–2025 vaccination season

@DrJoePajak CSci CChem FRSC @drjoepajak.bsky.social · 20h

The study 'evaluated COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness in subgroups defined according to age and several coexisting conditions against the composite outcome of COVID-19–associated emergency department visit, hospitalization, or death...' @zalaly.bsky.social et al

bsky.app/profile/nejm...

NEJM.org @nejm.org · 4d

In a national cohort of veterans, the 2024–2025 Covid-19 vaccine was linked to reduced risks of emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths from Covid-19 across the overall cohort and in various subgroups. Full study results: nej.md/47anKdz

#MedSky #IDSky

1 2

Reposted by @DrJoePajak CSci CChem FRSC

NEJM.org @nejm.org · 4d

In a national cohort of veterans, the 2024–2025 Covid-19 vaccine was linked to reduced risks of emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths from Covid-19 across the overall cohort and in various subgroups. Full study results: nej.md/47anKdz

#MedSky #IDSky

18 40

@DrJoePajak CSci CChem FRSC @drjoepajak.bsky.social · 20h

The study, 'published on October 8, 2025, in the @nejm.org, showed that last season’s 2024–2025 mRNA COVID vaccines reduced people’s risk of emergency department visits by 29%, their risk of hospitalizations by 39% and risk of death by 64%.' @zalaly.bsky.social et al
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....

Association of 2024–2025 Covid-19 Vaccine with Covid-19 Outcomes in U.S. Veterans | NEJM

Amid the declining clinical severity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and diminishing public uptake of annual coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines, ...

www.nejm.org

1 2

@DrJoePajak CSci CChem FRSC @drjoepajak.bsky.social · 20h

The study, 'published on October 8, 2025, in the @nejm.org, showed that last season’s 2024–2025 mRNA COVID vaccines reduced people’s risk of emergency department visits by 29%, their risk of hospitalizations by 39% and risk of death by 64%.' @zalaly.bsky.social et al
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....

Association of 2024–2025 Covid-19 Vaccine with Covid-19 Outcomes in U.S. Veterans | NEJM

Amid the declining clinical severity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and diminishing public uptake of annual coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines, ...

www.nejm.org

2 2 6

Reposted by @DrJoePajak CSci CChem FRSC

Eric Feigl-Ding @drericding.bsky.social · 23d

Breaking—RFK Jr’s self appointed vaccine committee voted Friday to end the CDC’s universal recommendation that people of all ages get Covid shots, moving the decision from individuals to one made in coordination with doctors instead—read: more difficult to get COVID shots.

28 140 320

@DrJoePajak CSci CChem FRSC @drjoepajak.bsky.social · 20h

Yet this study shows that 'receiving an updated COVID vaccine reduced the risk of severe disease and death in *ALL* age groups, regardless of immunity from prior infection or vaccination.' @sarafnovak.bsky.social @laurenjyoung.bsky.social @sciam.bsky.social
www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-...

Annual COVID Vaccines Save Lives, New Study Shows

A new study shows that receiving an updated COVID vaccine reduced people’s risk of severe disease and death in all age groups, regardless of immunity from prior infection or vaccination

www.scientificamerican.com

Reposted by @DrJoePajak CSci CChem FRSC

Eric Feigl-Ding @drericding.bsky.social · 10d

TYLENOL—“Why hasn’t the CDC refuted it? Well, RFK Jr. fired CDC director Monarez....and the acting director has no medical background is a speechwriter for Bush. So if you’re a speechwriter, you too can become a CDC director someday if you really believe in yourself”
www.pennlive.com/politics/202...

Medical experts slam Trump administration on Tylenol and autism link at Pa. House hearing

Three medical experts with decades of experience in autism and epidemiology on Tuesday slammed Trump administration federal officials for spreading disinformation and distrust with new guidance falsel...

www.pennlive.com

13 180 630

@DrJoePajak CSci CChem FRSC @drjoepajak.bsky.social · 21h

New study shows that 'receiving an updated COVID vaccine reduced people’s risk of severe disease and death in *ALL* age groups, regardless of immunity from prior infection or vaccination.'
@sarafnovak.bsky.social @laurenjyoung.bsky.social @sciam.bsky.social
www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-...

Annual COVID Vaccines Save Lives, New Study Shows

A new study shows that receiving an updated COVID vaccine reduced people’s risk of severe disease and death in all age groups, regardless of immunity from prior infection or vaccination

www.scientificamerican.com

2 47 94

@DrJoePajak CSci CChem FRSC @drjoepajak.bsky.social · 21h

New study 'shows that receiving an updated COVID vaccine reduced people’s risk of severe disease and death in *ALL* age groups, regardless of immunity from prior infection or vaccination.'
@sarafnovak.bsky.social @laurenjyoung.bsky.social @sciam.bsky.social
www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-...

Annual COVID Vaccines Save Lives, New Study Shows

A new study shows that receiving an updated COVID vaccine reduced people’s risk of severe disease and death in all age groups, regardless of immunity from prior infection or vaccination

www.scientificamerican.com

1 2 3

Reposted by @DrJoePajak CSci CChem FRSC

Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 4d

A study of nearly 300,000 people published today in the New England Journal of Medicine found “that last season’s 2024–2025 mRNA COVID vaccines reduced people’s risk of emergency department visits by 29 percent, their risk of hospitalizations by 39 percent and their risk of death by 64 percent.”

Annual COVID Vaccines Save Lives, New Study Shows

A new study shows that receiving an updated COVID vaccine reduced people’s risk of severe disease and death in all age groups, regardless of immunity from prior infection or vaccination

www.scientificamerican.com

1 130 260

Reposted by @DrJoePajak CSci CChem FRSC

Eric Feigl-Ding @drericding.bsky.social · 2d

Guess who just got both the updated COVID vaccine and flu shots today? Your dear Leader Trump. Maybe you should get them too.

Sincerely, An Epidemiologist Who Told You Trump Would Get COVID Booster.

120 890 1.9K

Reposted by @DrJoePajak CSci CChem FRSC

Esther @elhopkins.bsky.social · 1d

Another article that fails to talk about COViD being predominantly airborne and just focuses on handwashing only. Also again, no mention of #PostInfectionRisk. This is not a normal situation to be failing to prevent airborne infections.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Common cold, flu, Covid: Why is Britain so sick right now?

Why coughs and colds seem to be taking hold currently - and what you can do to protect yourself.

www.bbc.co.uk

5 44 140

Reposted by @DrJoePajak CSci CChem FRSC

Esther @elhopkins.bsky.social · 21h

Note the mask in the photo is a ffp3 respirator Not an FRSM (surgical) as we are seeing on the front on some press in the UK.

@DrJoePajak CSci CChem FRSC @drjoepajak.bsky.social · 2d

Healthwatch Canada: 'Starting Tuesday, October 14, 2025, masks will be mandatory in all Health Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) facilities due to rising respiratory illness rates across the Island'. @canadahealthwatch.ca
👉 'To protect both patients and healthcare workers.'
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

2 13 42

Reposted by @DrJoePajak CSci CChem FRSC

Scary Mary Branscombe @marypcbuk.bsky.social · 1d

Not new but I missed it winning a prize

@DrJoePajak CSci CChem FRSC @drjoepajak.bsky.social · Jun 25

Aerosol transmission of SARSCoV2 virus is the dominant route for transmitting COVID-19.
👏'2025 Faraday Horizon Prize for advancing understanding of the physicochemical properties of exhaled aerosols, and their impact on transmissibility of respiratory pathogens.' @rsc.org
www.rsc.org/standards-an...

1 4 13