Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

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History Daily - This Many Years Ago @thismanyyearsago.bsky.social · 21h

959 years ago, on the 14th of October 1066, the Battle of Hastings took place. Harold Godwinson (king of England for 282 days) died in the battle that would turn William from Bastard to Conqueror. Battle Abbey's high altar is said to be in the exact location of Harold II's death. #otd #history 🗃️

Detail of the Bayeux Tapestry depicting an English soldier in combat with Norman cavalry during the Battle of Hastings, wool on linen, 11th-century; in the Bayeux Tapestry Museum, France.
Giraudon/Art Resource, New York

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

Report @europeans.today @chrischirp.bsky.social
🏥England COVID hospitalisations highest this year.
🌀Surge driven by waning immunity / indoor mixing.
💉Booster uptake lags, leaves many vulnerable unprotected.
🚑NHS under pressure with long waits and ambulance delays.
www.europeans.today/2025/10/13/e...

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Andy Marshall @fotofacade.bsky.social · 22h

✨ If doors could speak, this one tells a tale of monks, kings and queens and scholars. Built into the abbot's house of St. Mary's Abbey. It saw Henry VIII and Catherine Howard, became a portal for the King's Council, then a place of learning.

The door is full of latent memory.

An ornate doorway at King’s Manor, York, with a carved stone surround and Stuart coat of arms above, set into weathered red brick walls.

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Liberal Democrats @libdems.org.uk · 1d

Our military personnel sacrifice so much for our country, the least they deserve is a decent home for them and their family.   But many have suffered for many years, living in dire conditions with infestations, mould, flooding, and unreliable heating and hot water.

We will not let this continue.

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Liberal Democrats @libdems.org.uk · 1d

LIB DEM WIN!

The government has finally given in to our longstanding campaign to improve the quality of military family homes.

Our amendment to the Renters’ Rights Bill will, require the Ministry of Defence to assess service family housing and report on whether it meets the Decent Homes Standard.

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Prof Naomi Fulop @profnaomifulop.bsky.social · 2d

So why have JCVI restricted the criteria for covid boosters this autumn/winter?

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

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

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Nutcracker @nucifraga.bsky.social · 2d

Yellow-legged Gull 👍

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Kevin Wilbraham @kpw1453.bsky.social · 2d

Medieval stained glass from the Church of St. Denys in York. The kneeling figure is Robert de Skelton who donated a window to the church in around 1340. 📸 My own. #StainedGlassSunday #StDenys #York

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Mark Carney @mark-carney.bsky.social · 2d

Happy Thanksgiving, Canada.

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Mark Carney @mark-carney.bsky.social · 2d

Joyeuse Action de grâce à tous les Canadiens et Canadiennes.

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Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 2d

This is such a clever idea on taking kids to museums/galleries
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Nadia from London has an idea that sounds such fun you'll be booking a day out asap.
"I've always loved museums," she says,
"but they can be overwhelming for children. For decades now, I've done something called 'playing postcards'
We do
the museum backwards, visiting the gift shop first. Each child gets to choose three postcards. Then they take it in turns to find that particular artwork in the museum and give us a little information about the piece from the details on the postcard, or from any gallery plaque. At the end of this treasure-hunt-style activity, we vote for our favourite in the cafe."

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The Associated Press @apnews.com · 5d

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

Pope urges news agencies to stand as bulwark against lies, manipulation and post-truths

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

bit.ly

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The Associated Press @apnews.com · 5d

Pope Leo XIV has blasted how wealthy people live in a “bubble of comfort and luxury” while the poor suffer. In his first teaching document Thursday, Leo confirms that he is in perfect lockstep with Pope Francis on matters of social injustice.

Pope Leo blasts economy that marginalizes poor while wealthy live in bubble of luxury

Pope Leo XIV has blasted how wealthy people live in a “bubble of comfort and luxury” while the poor suffer.

bit.ly

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SBlandfo @sblandfo.bsky.social · 2d

I was photobombed by this beautiful #gull above the #Roman Forum just as I concluded a pano - not sure which of us was more surprised. #SuperSeabirdSunday

Roman Forum at the bottom of the image with the blue sky dominated by the extremely close arrival of a gull with wings and tail feathers fully deployed for emergency landing.

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Helen Shaw - Athena Media @athenamediaie.bsky.social · 2d

Mindless environmental crimes happening daily #Spéirghorm - native trees hundreds of years old felled - used access through State agency Coillte www.thejournal.ie/cork-tree-fe... forget Dept of Agriculture - gardai should be informed. @antaisce.bsky.social

Investigation after more than 30 acres of native trees - some centuries old - felled in Co Cork

The Department of Agriculture has been formally alerted to the incident by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

www.thejournal.ie

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Nancy Johnston @jeelyeater1.bsky.social · 2d

#31DaysOfGraves Day 12: Notable woman.Dr Elsie Inglis. Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh.

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Helen Day @lbflyawayhome.bsky.social · 3d

An observation test for you - for your inner 8 year-old

“The artist has hidden 12 things in this picture. How many can you find?”

Treasure magazine, 1964
Official answers coming soon

(Even if you don’t reply, could you please ‘like’ or share this one? 🙏)

Black-and-white picture of two children playing in woodland. Also in the picture, there are 12 hidden animals including an owl, a bat and a squirrel.

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@DrJoePajak CSci CChem FRSC @drjoepajak.bsky.social · 3d

Canada's COVID-19 vaccine recommendations:
Those at increased risk of infection or severe illness from COVID-19 are recommended for vaccination.
You're at increased risk if
'65 years of age or older...' (list below)
🛑Why 65 in Canada, and other countries, but 75 in UK?
www.canada.ca/en/public-he...

Vaccines for COVID-19: How to get vaccinated - Canada.ca

Get vaccinated for COVID-19: who is eligible and recommended, number of doses, booster doses, third dose, fourth dose, benefits of vaccination.

www.canada.ca

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Jonathan Foyle @jonathanfoyle.bsky.social · May 7

Discussion on historic paint colour with the marvellous Patrick Baty www.youtube.com/watch?v=Inh6...

THINGS: A Global Conversation About "Historic" Color

YouTube video by Old Salem Museums & Gardens

www.youtube.com

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SBlandfo @sblandfo.bsky.social · 3d

No sign of Mortimer Wheeler in this photo (maybe he took it himself?) but that’s almost certainly Tessa Verney Wheeler at the top right. #TrowelBlazers #archaeology

Chris Seddon @chrisseddon.bsky.social · 4d

There's something quite beautiful about Sir Mortimer Wheeler's box-system excavations at Maiden Castle. Such a fantastic photograph!

Image Rights: Society of Antiquaries (held at Historic England Archive)

#archaeology 🏺 #photography

An historic black & white image of the box excavations at Maiden Castle during Sir Mortimer Wheeler's excavations in 1937. Image Rights: Society of Antiquaries (held at Historic England Archive)

SBlandfo @sblandfo.bsky.social · 4d

Drachinifel can often be found on #YouTube lucidly explaining an engagement from the #AgeOfSail or the #naval battles of #WW2, but he also gave the clearest and most insightful explanation of the motives and timing of the Spanish #Armada I’ve ever heard or read…

Screen grab of Drachinifel’s YouTube Channel header with banner including his photo and naval images. It reveals he has 562 thousand subscribers and has posted 1.4 thousand videos.

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SBlandfo @sblandfo.bsky.social · 4d

“There were a few voices of protest [at #Jenrick]. The former #Tory WM mayor Andy Street said: ‘Putting it bluntly, Robert is wrong’ [and] Edwina Currie said ‘Invoking race & colour in that way, it’s not the Tory way’. Somewhere out there is a better #Conservative party, whispering in the darkness”

Hugh Fiske🏺🇬🇧🌍 @50sherdsofgrey.bsky.social · 4d

"And so we end up here, with Badenoch: this vacant, shattered woman, trundling along a pathway of humiliation and self-erasure. We end up here, with Jenrick: a degenerate little bore, as inept as he is amoral"

open.substack.com/pub/iandunt/...

The empty horror of Robert Jenrick

We deserve a better class of villain. Or at least a more memorable one.

open.substack.com

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Duncan Mackay @theduncanmackay.bsky.social · 4d

They do it all themselves! But, yes, I believe they stole a chamois and loom bands to make them.

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SBlandfo @sblandfo.bsky.social · 4d

Do you fashion their fantastic tiny shield covers from chamois leathers (as for car washing)? #PlaymobilInfestation

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