Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Kristina Killgrove

@killgrove.bsky.social

17K followers 820 following 1.7K posts

Staff writer @LiveScience.com Email: [email protected] Web: Livescience.com/author/kristina-killgrove PhD in anthropology, MA in classical archaeology. Former professor & Roman bioarchaeologist. I crochet and bake a lot. Time zone: US Eastern

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Kristina Killgrove @killgrove.bsky.social · Feb 3

Being a science writer right now is like…

9am - Coffee and constitutional crisis!
10am - Read a neat study on 5000-year-old beads.
11am - US science funding is off/on/off/on!
Noon - Email a researcher about Iron Age skeletons.
Afternoon - More constitutional crises and screaming into the void!

26 130 1.2K

Kristina Killgrove @killgrove.bsky.social · 6h

Glad AI is plateauing, but this graph is still 🫠 .

Exclusive: The web is still mostly written by humans, study finds

New data shows AI-written content is plateauing — and doesn't perform well in search.

www.axios.com

2 9

Kristina Killgrove @killgrove.bsky.social · 7h

I wrote a human skeleton quiz -- filled with terrible puns -- for your Spooky Season enjoyment. 🧪🏺💀

Human skeleton quiz: What do you know about the bones in your body?

Do you have what it takes to be a bone-ified quiz champion?

www.livescience.com

10 43

Reposted by Kristina Killgrove

Gregory Pratt @royalpratt.bsky.social · 1d

NEWS: ICE gave a Rogers Park man a $130 ticket for not having his papers on him. They rounded him up last week and eventually let him go, but not without a fine that some critics say is un-American. Trump admin enforcing little-used law
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/13/i...

ICE tickets Chicago man with legal residency $130 for not having his papers on him: ‘It’s not fair…I’m a resident’

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement fined Rueben Antonio Cruz $130 for not having his papers with him.

www.chicagotribune.com

120 1.2K 2.6K

Kristina Killgrove @killgrove.bsky.social · 22h

Ooooh didn’t know you were from Nawth Cackalacky! 😉 (I was born at Ft Bragg so have been here a while.)

1 1

Reposted by Kristina Killgrove

The Onion @theonion.com · 23h

Nation’s Indigenous People Confirm They Don’t Need Special Holiday, Just Large Swaths Of Land Returned Immediately https://theonion.com/nation-s-indigenous-people-confirm-they-don-t-need-spec-1839033177/

220 5.3K 22K

Reposted by Kristina Killgrove

Gregory Hays @aristofontes.bsky.social · 23h

I think this is *sort of* good news in that it suggests they've concluded the initial offering to a few favored victims was a flop and now they just want to be able to put some institutions—any institutions—in the yes column, to create momentum.

Bloomberg News @bloomberg.com · 23h

The Trump administration is inviting all US colleges to participate in a compact that would grant preferential federal funding in return for commitments to specific policy changes like DEI bans, according to a source

Trump Offers All Colleges Preferential Funding Plan Rejected by MIT

The Trump administration is inviting all US colleges to participate in a compact — initially rejected by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology — that would grant preferential federal funding in return for commitments to specific policy changes like DEI bans, according to a person familiar with the matter.

bloom.bg

4 9 38

Reposted by Kristina Killgrove

NPR @npr.org · 1d

In South Carolina, more than 150 unvaccinated schoolkids are under quarantine after being exposed to measles. Across the U.S., total case counts could be even higher than the official number.

U.S. measles cases continue to climb, with outbreaks across the country

In South Carolina, more than 150 unvaccinated schoolkids are under quarantine after being exposed to measles. Across the U.S., total case counts could be even higher than the official number.

n.pr

92 400 770

Kristina Killgrove @killgrove.bsky.social · 1d

Huh. I hadn’t heard about this weird program at my MA alma mater. 🤔

What happened to MrBeast's East Carolina University academic program? No one will say

In 2022, MrBeast, the most subscribed to YouTuber, and East Carolina University announced an academic program. Years later it stalled without reason.

www.usatoday.com

2 3

Kristina Killgrove @killgrove.bsky.social · 1d

“News coverage often reflects what universities and journals promote through press releases to the media, notes Ivan Oransky, co-founder of Retraction Watch. “If men are more likely to request press releases, that could tilt the pool.””

(Wanted to look at study methods but it’s paywalled. 😔)

When women researchers publish, media attention doesn’t always follow

Men-led papers receive more media coverage than women’s, new study finds

www.science.org

2 7

Reposted by Kristina Killgrove

Dr Rebecca Wragg Sykes @lemoustier.bsky.social · 1d

Short article I wrote* on recent advances in the story of early Homo sapiens is now available online!

*commissioned as accompanying BBC Human series, although tbh I did not love their Neanderthal episode :-(

www.sciencefocus.com/science/huma...

We didn’t conquer the world alone. This is humanity’s untold origin story | BBC Science Focus Magazine

We’re discovering there were more characters, and more acts, in the tale of how Homo sapiens spread across the globe.

www.sciencefocus.com

6 23 66

Kristina Killgrove @killgrove.bsky.social · 1d

(The image is an animated gif that shows it rotating, but that doesn’t seem to come through on Bluesky. 😞)

1 7

Kristina Killgrove @killgrove.bsky.social · 1d

This week’s astonishing artifact is a tiny memento mori from a Roman party. 🏺🧪💀

Miniature Skeleton: A ghostly 2,000-year-old party favor from a Roman banquet

This spooky skeleton was likely made to remind Roman banqueters that life is short.

www.livescience.com

3 12 51

Reposted by Kristina Killgrove

👁🌻🦊⚙️⚓ Bob, Engineer, Pusher of Paper @navmecheng.bsky.social · 3d

> It is 2025 BC. I am a soldier from one of the outlying provinces called to defend the pyramid in Memphis

> It is 2025 AD. I am a soldier from one of the outlying provinces called to defend the pyramid in Memphis

Soldiers at the Bass Pro Shops pyramid in Memphis, TN.

70 3.5K 12K

Reposted by Kristina Killgrove

Stephen Turner @stephenturner.us · 4d

Lost Science is a new NYT series of accounts from scientists who have lost their jobs or funding. You can send your story to the Times here www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/c...

8 74 110

Reposted by Kristina Killgrove

Shannon O’Mac @shannonomac.bsky.social · 2d

He cited her warning that "the ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced Communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction and the distinction between true and false no longer exist."

Joel S. @joelhs.bsky.social · 2d

The new pope is quoting Hannah Arendt. www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...

Pope Leo calls for news agencies to stand as bulwark against "post-truths," lies and manipulation

Pope Leo XIV has encouraged international news agencies to stand firm as a bulwark against the "ancient art of lying" and manipulation.

www.cbsnews.com

1 38 99

Reposted by Kristina Killgrove

Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · 2d

New reporting: many apparently fired at CDC in 'error'. This is a failure by design given that the admin does not care about fulfilling agency missions. This is the kind of error that should have political consequences.

Unserious people cause real-world harm.

🎁
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/h...

Trump Administration Will Rehire Scores of Experts Fired in Error

www.nytimes.com

11 130 330

Reposted by Kristina Killgrove

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 3d

CNN reporting that 4,000 federal employees were fired on Friday, in HHS, Education, Energy, HUD, Homeland Security, Patent and Trademark Office, EPA.
www.cnn.com/2025/10/10/p...

Trump administration lays off thousands of federal workers during government shutdown | CNN Politics

More than 4,000 federal employees received layoff notices Friday as part of the Trump administration’s broad effort to reshape the government while it remains shutdown, according to a court filing Fri...

www.cnn.com

26 190 280

Reposted by Kristina Killgrove

Sarah McAnulty, Ph.D. @sarahmackattack.bsky.social · 4d

Here I am. Once again. I'm out of archaeologists.

We matched 576 groups w/archaeologists, leaving 13 groups unmatched. This brings me pain! We've never run out of scientists like this before. 598 requests for one category is A LOT. But still.

Archaeologists 🥺
www.skypeascientist.com/sign-up.html

Skype a Scientist gives you the opportunity to connect with students and the public around the world.

www.skypeascientist.com

14 110 140

Reposted by Kristina Killgrove

Sheryl Gay Stolberg @sherylnyt.bsky.social · 3d

BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:

860 8.5K 15K

Reposted by Kristina Killgrove

Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 3d

“Floridians buying groceries and other household items will be able to openly carry firearms while walking the aisles at Publix, the largest supermarket chain in the state, the company said on Thursday.”

Customers May Openly Carry Firearms in Florida’s Publix Stores, Company Says

www.nytimes.com

6 7 18

Reposted by Kristina Killgrove

More Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 4d

BREAKING: Trump’s budget chief Russ Vought says that “reduction in force,” or mass firings of federal workers, have begun — a move that is likely illegal.

25 210 780

Reposted by Kristina Killgrove

Aaron Fritschner @fritschner.bsky.social · 4d

A few minutes ago in the House:

- Speaker Mike Johnson officially cancels votes next week, extending the House recess through a fourth week

- House Republicans block Democrats from passing a bill to pay the troops during the shutdown, ensuring they will miss paychecks next week

House Press Gallery: During today's pro forma session, the Clerk read a message from the Speaker designating Tuesday, October 14 through Sunday, October 19 as a district work period.

Punchbowl's Briana Reilly: House gaveled in and out of its pro forma just now w/o recognizing Rep Elfreth, who was seeking to UC a mil pay bill from Rep Sykes.

Elfreth told reporters after that House Dems stand “ready and willing to take” up standalone legislation to pay troops.

120 1.3K 2.8K

Reposted by Kristina Killgrove

Lauren J. Young @laurenjyoung.bsky.social · 4d

On today's Science Quickly, I interviewed a former White House doctor about the president's care, aging and more: "It is a fact of science, it's not a political attack, that humans past the age of 60... start to have cognitive decline."

"We have a gerontocracy."

Listen on @sciam.bsky.social 🎧

Transforming Presidential Health Care: Insights from a Former White House Doctor

A former White House physician reveals the medical realities of caring for the president of the U.S.

www.scientificamerican.com

10 19

Reposted by Kristina Killgrove

Reuters @reuters.com · 4d

'When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist,' the Norwegian Nobel Committee said as it announced Maria Corina Machado as the winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize

140 1.9K 5.2K