Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Katherine Stiles @katherinestiles.org · 2h

⚕️MedSky⚕️
Why time could be as critical as diet and exercise for brain health — The article, published Oct. 13 in The Lancet Healthy Longevity, identifies time as an under-recognized social determinant of brain health, potentially as important as education and income.

Why time could be as critical as diet and exercise for brain health

Time—or the lack of it—could be a missing link in dementia prevention, according to a new paper from UNSW Sydney's Center for Healthy Brain Aging (CHeBA).

medicalxpress.com

2

Reposted by Katherine Stiles

Katherine Stiles @katherinestiles.org · 23h

“It feels like getting hit by a car right after you’ve barely survived a train wreck,”…one U.S. government scientist describes having her agricultural research facility largely shut down…as it struggles to cope with…staff reductions and…budget cuts. “It’s just been one blow after another.”

As U.S. shutdown drags on, ‘it’s just one blow after another’

Federal researchers confront growing uncertainty about future

www.science.org

2 1

Reposted by Katherine Stiles

Claire Field @clairefield.bsky.social · 17h

Australian higher ed has some serious governance issues. On the latest episode of the podcast Keith Dowding & @marijataflaga.bsky.social discuss their recent paper (with @francismarkham.bsky.social) on the solutions we need.

Out now in your podcast feed or: whatnowwhatnext.buzzsprout.com

1 2

Reposted by Katherine Stiles

Inside Higher Ed @insidehighered.com · 22h

Student Success | The Library Wants to Know if You ‘Got Rejected’

The @ucsantacruz.bsky.social invited students to share their stories of rejection or failure to normalize the experience and create community. https://bit.ly/3IIBanX

A posterboard displays the words "Got Rejected? Share!" with sticky notes of various colors around

3 6

Katherine Stiles @katherinestiles.org · 23h

“It feels like getting hit by a car right after you’ve barely survived a train wreck,”…one U.S. government scientist describes having her agricultural research facility largely shut down…as it struggles to cope with…staff reductions and…budget cuts. “It’s just been one blow after another.”

As U.S. shutdown drags on, ‘it’s just one blow after another’

Federal researchers confront growing uncertainty about future

www.science.org

2 1

Katherine Stiles @katherinestiles.org · 1d

Botanist Kenji Suetsugu is revealing the secrets of plants that have given up photosynthesis to survive, drawing carbon and nutrients from fungi buried in the soil.

These ‘ghost flowers’ thrive without photosynthesis. One scientist is learning how

Japanese botanist Kenji Suetsugu studies plants that steal carbon and nutrients from soil fungi

www.science.org

2 6

Katherine Stiles @katherinestiles.org · 1d

DNA from rum-soaked fishes chronicles century of environmental change

Museum specimens collected during a 1907 marine expedition reveal loss of genetic diversity in the Philippines

www.science.org

Katherine Stiles @katherinestiles.org · 1d

⚕️MedSky⚕️
The World Health Organization sounded the alarm Monday over soaring numbers of drug-resistant bacterial infections, compromising the effectiveness of life-saving treatments and rendering minor injuries and common infections potentially deadly.

Spread of drug-resistant superbugs surging, WHO warns

The World Health Organization sounded the alarm Monday over soaring numbers of drug-resistant bacterial infections, compromising the effectiveness of life-saving treatments and rendering minor injurie...

medicalxpress.com

3 4

Katherine Stiles @katherinestiles.org · 1d

From a final-year undergrad at Warwick: “My first year was not entirely perfect. For reasons no one really wants to hear about, I strongly recommend staying away from Cactus Jack Schnapps”

Katherine Stiles @katherinestiles.org · 2d

Two very different years at Warwick: What university taught me about balance ‣ theboar.org/2025/10/two-... #academicsky #edusky

Katherine Stiles @katherinestiles.org · 1d

Can Animals Feel? — Beyond spirited dinner party debate, establishing which creatures have consciousness matters in terms of animal welfare and conservation policy. A Michigan State University philosophy scholar has added clarity to a messy philosophical debate. #AcademicSky

Can Animals Feel? A New Roadmap for Consciousness - Neuroscience News

A philosophy scholar has developed a practical “decision tree” to help scientists and ethicists evaluate which creatures may be conscious.

neurosciencenews.com

1

Reposted by Katherine Stiles

Katherine Stiles @katherinestiles.org · 3d

According to health data from more than 9 million adults in South Korea and the US, nearly everyone who develops heart disease and suffers a major cardiovascular event has one of four major risk factors in the lead-up. → www.sciencealert.com/huge-study-l... #medsky #heartdisease

3 4

Katherine Stiles @katherinestiles.org · 2d

Two very different years at Warwick: What university taught me about balance ‣ theboar.org/2025/10/two-... #academicsky #edusky

3

Reposted by Katherine Stiles

Katherine Stiles @katherinestiles.org · 3d

Jamel Shabazz’s evocative photos of Brooklyn’s Prospect Park

‘Visual medicine’: Jamel Shabazz’s evocative photos of Brooklyn’s Prospect Park

The photographer’s new book collects his pictures of the mammoth New York City park from the 1980s up until now

www.theguardian.com

2 3

Katherine Stiles @katherinestiles.org · 2d

OpenAI is now worth US$500 billion (£373 billion), compared with US$157 billion last October. …Anthropic, has almost trebled its valuation. …The question is whether these values are realistic—or based on hype, excitement and unfounded optimism… we will only really know if it's a bubble if it bursts…

What could burst the AI bubble?

Some of the world's biggest tech firms have soared in value over the last year. As AI evolves at pace, there are hopes that it will improve lives in ways that people could never have imagined a decade...

techxplore.com

4

Katherine Stiles @katherinestiles.org · 2d

Housing type linked to cardiovascular death risk in older adults
medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10... #medsky #cvdrisk

3 4

Reposted by Katherine Stiles

Pluchino lab - Regenerative Neuroimmunology @pluchinolab.bsky.social · 3d

Unusual Brain Cell Type Linked to Progressive MS, Could Point to Therapeutics

www.genengnews.com/topics/trans...

Unusual Brain Cell Type Linked to Progressive MS, Could Point to Therapeutics

“Disease in a dish” study indicates DARG cells may be contribute to persistent inflammation characteristic of progressive MS.

www.genengnews.com

2 3

Katherine Stiles @katherinestiles.org · 2d

Married Nobel-winning economists move from US to Europe — “They have joined a growing number of senior scholars leaving the US higher education system as it faces unprecedented strain under the Trump administration.” @patrickjack.bsky.social‣ @timeshighered.bsky.social

Married Nobel-winning economists move from US to Europe

Other recent departures from Trump’s America include expert on anti-fascism who fled to Spain after receiving death threats

www.timeshighereducation.com

1 4

Reposted by Katherine Stiles

Virtual Classroom @almacollege.online · 3d

Future proof your career: “For students today, choosing a major means choosing a future. And if you want a future that AI cannot replace, look to the fields where humanity matters most.” #AcademicChatter

Future proof your career: Human-centered majors in the AI era

The most successful professionals will be those who know how to leverage AI in a career field, while doubling down on human skills.

www.ecampusnews.com

1 3

Katherine Stiles @katherinestiles.org · 3d

According to health data from more than 9 million adults in South Korea and the US, nearly everyone who develops heart disease and suffers a major cardiovascular event has one of four major risk factors in the lead-up. → www.sciencealert.com/huge-study-l... #medsky #heartdisease

3 4

Katherine Stiles @katherinestiles.org · 3d

Jamel Shabazz’s evocative photos of Brooklyn’s Prospect Park

‘Visual medicine’: Jamel Shabazz’s evocative photos of Brooklyn’s Prospect Park

The photographer’s new book collects his pictures of the mammoth New York City park from the 1980s up until now

www.theguardian.com

2 3

Katherine Stiles @katherinestiles.org · 3d

🎓Higher Education News🎓
The MIT has rejected a Trump administration proposal which detailed policies to follow in exchange for preferential access to federal funds.

MIT rejects federal funding deal with Trump administration

The deal would see universities cap foreign admissions, restrict protests and adopt a binary definition of gender.

www.bbc.co.uk

1

Katherine Stiles @katherinestiles.org · 3d

What's the strongest muscle in the human body?

What's the Strongest Muscle in the Human Body?

Several muscles can claim the crown, depending on how you measure strength.

www.livescience.com

1

Katherine Stiles @katherinestiles.org · 3d

More than 20,000 arts graduates in the UK are earning below minimum wage, while other courses’ salaries vary greatly by both course and university standing. theboar.org/2025/10/grad... #academicsky

1 4

Reposted by Katherine Stiles

Jessica Blake @jessicablake.bsky.social · 3d

Here's the latest from @insidehighered.com on the second round of layoffs at the Department of Education:

Trump Fires More Education Dept. Employees

The Trump administration threatened to lay off federal workers because of the government shutdown. An unspecified number of employees got pink slips Friday.

www.insidehighered.com

8 4

Katherine Stiles @katherinestiles.org · 4d

The mood in parts of Australia’s national scientific agency is low after a mystery number of AI, robotics and data researchers were quietly let go within the last year.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne... #academicsky #scisky