Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Hank Greely

IEEE Spectrum @spectrum.ieee.org · 1d

By 2035, @ebpgenome.bsky.social is aiming to genetically sequence every one of the 1.8 million species on our world. They hope to discover drugs, enzymes, and catalysts from their chemical sampling. spectrum.ieee.org/whole-genome...

3 4

Reposted by Hank Greely

Eric Turkheimer @ent3c.bsky.social · 1d

In 2018, Charles Murray challenged me to a bet: "We will understand IQ genetically—I think most of the picture will have been filled in by 2025—there will still be blanks—but we’ll know basically what’s going on." It's now 2025, and I claim a win. I write about it in The Atlantic.

Your Genes Are Simply Not Enough to Explain How Smart You Are

Seven years ago, I took a bet with Charles Murray about whether we’d basically understand the genetics of intelligence by now.

www.theatlantic.com

8 90 230

Reposted by Hank Greely

Lisa L. Ouellette @patentscholar.bsky.social · 2d

Is there any legitimate reason that limiting Patent Center access to verified users helps “fraud protection”? This is a problem for those of us who want to teach our students how to read a patent’s prosecution history. What is the fraud risk in reading patent data? www.uspto.gov/about-us/new...

USPTO implementing additional security measures for Patent Center

Effective September 11, 2025, identity verification will be required for all Patent Center users; guest and unregistered users will no longer be able to access Patent Center.

www.uspto.gov

1 5 7

Reposted by Hank Greely

Philip Ball @philipcball.bsky.social · 2d

I'm increasingly seeing even experienced writers using "myself" as a fancier way of saying "me". That's not how it works.

14 4 53

Reposted by Hank Greely

Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 2d

History gives us plenty of examples of disease used as a weapon. There are fewer cases of governments deliberately using disease against their own citizens. We are living (or dying) through one right now.
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...

Hundreds of U.S. students quarantined amid measles outbreaks

At least 270 unvaccinated kids are staying home from school as measles continues to spread nationwide. "Expect more," one expert said.

www.nbcnews.com

47 700 1.5K

Reposted by Hank Greely

The New Republic @newrepublic.com · 1d

“I … met with the governor, met with the mayor, met with the chief of police, and the superintendent of the highway patrol. They’re all lying, and disingenuous, and dishonest people,” Noem said, because they wouldn’t back up her baseless claims that the streets were overrun with terrorists.

ICE Barbie Says an Entire State’s Worth of Officials Are “Lying”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is convinced, against all evidence, that Portland is a war zone.

trib.al

280 630 1.8K

Reposted by Hank Greely

Angie Rasmussen @angierasmussen.bsky.social · 3d

I don’t know who needs to hear this but the CDC is being eviscerated right now. America is not going to have any kind of outbreak response capacity after tonight. Americans’ health data is no longer secure. Say goodbye to federal public health in any capacity. It’s a disaster. We won’t recover.

520 6.2K 14K

Reposted by Hank Greely

Philip Ball @philipcball.bsky.social · 3d

I've written about the chiliastic movements of the 16th century Peasants' War, and can't help seeing some similarities here. As if medicine would be a way of cheating God's will.

4 2 19

Reposted by Hank Greely

Philip Ball @philipcball.bsky.social · 3d

I've yet to see this properly analysed from a psychological point of view. Obviously RFK is a nut, but there's also a broader pattern in the GOP ranks that seems deeply peculiar, of wanting positively to welcome the threat of disease and death. It feels like a collective psychosis.

Amy Maxmen, PhD @amymaxmen.bsky.social · 3d

The Trump admin is in the midst of laying off 1,100-1,200 HHS staff. The CDC's outbreak responders, gone. The office producing CDC's weekly journal MMWR is gone. CDC staff securing sensitive data, gone. Worker safety, gone. Immunization group, gone.

Instead, Congress watches RFK "make the proof"

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 5d

RFK Jr on Tylenol and autism: "It is not proof. We're doing the studies to make the proof."

7 14 49

Reposted by Hank Greely

Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.bsky.social · 4d

Congratulations to Maria Corina Machado, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize - her incredible optimism has already changed her country. I spoke to her, and wrote about her, at the beginning of this year:
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...

The ‘Anthropological Change’ Happening in Venezuela

Maduro is still in place, but a pro-democracy movement is transforming the beleaguered country.

www.theatlantic.com

310 3.3K 13K

Hank Greely @hankgreely.bsky.social · 4d

STORM WARNING!
Trump doesNOT win the Nobel Peace Prize. “Worse” yet: a WOMAN won it! And she’s (South) American: Maria Corina Machado, leader of Venezuela’s opposition. Watch out Norway! May be good news tho for Venezuela’s dictator. Trump might support him now.

1

Hank Greely @hankgreely.bsky.social · 4d

Glad it doesn’t say “Norway braces for the rest of the world’s (including half of all Americans’) reactions if Trump DOES win the Peace Prize.”

artcap.bsky.social @artcap.bsky.social · 4d

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

Norway braces for Trump’s reaction if he does not win Nobel peace prize

US president may impose tariffs, demand higher Nato contributions or even declare Norway an enemy, analyst says

www.theguardian.com

1 2 4

Hank Greely @hankgreely.bsky.social · 5d

It's a New Chicago School, with a Peruvian twist. I like it!

Kevin Mitchell @wiringthebrain.bsky.social · 5d

I'm starting to like this guy...

Lucius Fox In The Box @carnegro.bsky.social · 5d

Pope Leo is spitting.

www.npr.org/2025/10/09/n...

1

Hank Greely @hankgreely.bsky.social · 5d

Good thread

Greer Donley @greerdonley.bsky.social · 5d

NEW-ish: Louisiana is suing FDA over its 2023 REMS change for mifepristone, which removed the in-person dispensing requirement. That change allowed mail or pharmacy dispensing of mife after significant data showed it was safe and effective. A few things to note about this new lawsuit.

1 1

Reposted by Hank Greely

Sam Bagenstos @sbagen.bsky.social · 5d

So they didn't let me use any barnyard epithets, but here's a fuller discussion of why it would be illegal to deny pay to furloughed federal workers at the end of a shutdown. www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...

6 57 210

Reposted by Hank Greely

Sergiu P. Pasca @sergiuppasca.bsky.social · 5d

We are getting closer to this special event at Asilomar

Dana Foundation @danafoundation.bsky.social · 6d

(1/2) On Nov. 10-12, scientists, ethicists, policymakers, patient advocates, and science communicators will convene to explore the ethical and societal questions posed by #organoid and #assembloid research.

Hear more from @sergiuppasca.bsky.social in this clip from #NeuroSociety Stories.

2 5

Hank Greely @hankgreely.bsky.social · 6d

Stanford football gets a 50 million dollar gift. Story doesn't say how it will be used. If it's for endowment, for example, that spins off about $3 million a year...very nice, but not revolutionary. Still, thank you Brad Freeman! news.stanford.edu/stories/2025...

Stanford football receives $50 million gift from Bradford M. Freeman

A transformational gift from the former university trustee will help reposition Stanford football for success.

news.stanford.edu

Hank Greely @hankgreely.bsky.social · 6d

AI can learn Navajo on Duolingo

Andrea Matranga @andreamatranga.bsky.social · 6d

We have to all learn Navajo so we can talk without AI unserstanding

1

Reposted by Hank Greely

Kevin J. CREATURE @kevinjkircher.com · 8d

It's Nobel Prize week! A good time to remember that the economics prize was created by Swedish bankers in 1968 (67 years after the 5 original Nobel prizes) against the wishes of the Nobel family, partly to legitimize neoclassical economics in the public eye and partly to help banks avoid regulation.

Philip Mirowski - Why Is There a Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics?

YouTube video by New Economic Thinking

m.youtube.com

3 130 330

Reposted by Hank Greely

Mike Keil @mikekeil.bsky.social · 7d

A good news story! Have a great day.
Renewables overtake coal as world's biggest source of electricity
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Renewables overtake coal as world's biggest source of electricity

Developing countries lead the historic clean energy charge but the US and EU rely more on fossil fuels than before, a think tank study shows.

www.bbc.com

69 150

Reposted by Hank Greely

Philip Ball @philipcball.bsky.social · 7d

2012 Nobel laureate John Gurdon has died. His work was central to both the development of animal cloning and the possibility of reprogramming cells to a different state. A giant of cell and developmental biology.
www.magd.cam.ac.uk/news/profess...

Professor Sir John Gurdon FRS (1933-2025) | Magdalene College

Magdalene College is deeply saddened to announce the death of Professor Sir John Gurdon FRS, who served as Master of the College from 1995 to 2002.

www.magd.cam.ac.uk

25 56

Hank Greely @hankgreely.bsky.social · 7d

Making Macron look normal: "The IRS got its 7th boss since Mr Trump took office. Scott Bessent..said that Frank Bisignano, now the social-security commissioner, will also become the IRS’s “chief executive officer”. That’s a new title. Mr Bessent will remain the acting IRS commissioner."
In 33 wks

Reposted by Hank Greely

jeff com-BOO-ters @helldude.bsky.social · 8d

its truly remarkable, you have to really take the measure of it and it's almost hard to comprehend it, but the president of the united states is having texas invade illinois and oregon just to make twitter content

22 1.1K 4.5K

Reposted by Hank Greely

samuel mehr @mehr.nz · 8d

"the quickest way to get a collaborator to return edits on your manuscript is to write down their affiliation wrong" (ancient academic proverb)

2 28 180

Hank Greely @hankgreely.bsky.social · 8d

From @theguardian.com:
"White House calls court ruling blocking Portland national guard deployment ‘untethered from reality’"
Funny. The Trump appointed judge who issued it said the same thing about the Admin's claims concerning Portland. I know who I believe
www.theguardian.com/us-news/live...

White House calls court ruling blocking Portland national guard deployment ‘untethered from reality’ – live

Karoline Leavitt criticizes Trump-appointed judge’s decision; Trump deploying military to Chicago on ‘flimsy pretext’, Illinois lawsuit alleges

www.theguardian.com

1