Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Phytomaven @tmigratorius.bsky.social · 11m

www.bbc.com/news/article...

Rare wildflower bloom blankets Chile's Atacama desert

One of the world's driest deserts is transformed into a sea of wildflowers after a rare bloom.

www.bbc.com

Phytomaven @tmigratorius.bsky.social · 15h

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Phytomaven @tmigratorius.bsky.social · 15h

Well, you and I read nonfiction all day long. We need a break now and then. One of my top recommendations.

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Kim Weeden @weedenkim.bsky.social · 23h

Context: Kipnuk, a Yup'ik village near Bering Sea in SW Alaska, was hit with a massive storm and flooding last August, too. Last spring, it won a $20M grant for erosion control.

The GOP's Bugly Bill killed the grant program, which allocated 2.8B to communities hardest hit by climate change.

ᒪᑰᓯ Mark Springer @markspringer.bsky.social · 1d

FB reports of major flood damage in Kipnuk - homes and store floating, people swimming.
Very high water in Quinhagak as well.

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Alan Gerard @wxmanms1.bsky.social · 16h

This is horrible. It appears as though the tidal gage at Kipnuk has set a record (records go back to at least 2000) and the gage on the Kuskokwim River at Bethel is at the highest level it's been this century.

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Wil Wheaton @wilwheaton.net · 15h

"To be a Republican in 2025 represents a clear public confession that you either don't know the difference between good and evil and you're so morally empty that you can't be bothered to begin to try, or that you do know the difference, and you prefer evil." Great essay from @juliusgoat.bsky.social

The Crime of Human Virtue

Sometimes it really is as simple as good vs. evil. This is one of those times. Human virtue is our great crime against the fascist project; it's also our great weapon against it.

www.the-reframe.com

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Comfortably Numb @numb.comfortab.ly · 15h

They were told they will be fighting Antifa. Nothing prepared them for Cookie Monster doing pelvic thrust. It was an unfair fight.

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J H @jpjh88.bsky.social · 21h

People need to start highlighting that Miller is actually the shadow President and the one calling the shots. When it was Musk who was doing it, it caused a rift between them so big that after he was out, Musk was bashing Trump claiming he is in the Epstein files.

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Senseidai2547 @senseidai.bsky.social · 1d

Republicans will do anything to put more money in their pockets at the expense of people, animals, and the environment.

And thanks to @apnews.com for calling the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of Mexico.

#DemVoice1 #ProudBlue #Pinks #RepublicansAreDestroyingAmerica

apnews.com/article/seal...

Republicans try to weaken 50-year-old law protecting whales, seals and polar bears

One of the U.S.’s longest standing pieces of environmental legislation, credited with helping save rare whales from extinction, is the subject of an effort for cutbacks from Republican lawmakers who n...

apnews.com

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Phytomaven @tmigratorius.bsky.social · 22h

I have some really creative friends. On his desk. I had to take a photo.

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Phytomaven @tmigratorius.bsky.social · 22h

Fan mail is awesome. I thought she did a great job. I messaged her with a suggestion of a new book topic: phytoecdysteroids.

Evidence of a good book - sticky notes.

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Phytomaven @tmigratorius.bsky.social · 22h

SNL!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSfC...

Pam Bondi Hearing Cold Open - SNL

YouTube video by Saturday Night Live

www.youtube.com

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Mack Butterfield @mack2114.bsky.social · 22h

There can be real repercussions for shifting funding during a government shutdown. Under the Antideficiency Act, enacted to prevent federal agencies from spending money Congress hasn’t appropriated, officials who buck those restrictions face up to two years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines.

Pentagon will pay military troops, Trump says, shifting $8B

The president said Saturday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has funds available to pay troops on Wednesday.

www.politico.com

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Phytomaven @tmigratorius.bsky.social · 22h

Bringing a tree species back from the edge. Wollemi pine.
An amazing story.

Wakehurst Place woodland Wollemi pine. CC 4.0

journals.rbge.org.uk/rbgesib/arti...

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Phytomaven @tmigratorius.bsky.social · 23h

Yep. Finally got it. I think I have to still finish the last few chapters. I tend to read 5 books at a time...argh.

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Microplastics Spookmelier @leastactionhero.bsky.social · 1d

today in "predicted by 30 Rock"

Edie Falco on 30 Rock:
I MISSED THE VOTE ON A BILL TO LEGALIZE RECREATIONAL WHALE TORTURE.

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Governor Tim Walz @governorwalz.mn.gov · 4d

Can’t believe I have to say this, but in Minnesota you will continue to have the freedom to get your COVID and flu shots.

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Eric Topol @erictopol.bsky.social · 1d

When 2 life science discoveries converge: solving a ~3 decade mystery of extraordinary longevity and healthspan + an essential cell danger sensor
And related ongoing clinical trials!
erictopol.substack.com/p/a-long-awa...

A Long-Awaited Longevity Mystery Solved

Spotlighting an essential human biologic pathway targeted by drugs in clinical trials

erictopol.substack.com

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Phytomaven @tmigratorius.bsky.social · 23h

Hmm.

www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

Can Gen Z Get Rid of Its iPhones?

My dumbphone does what an app could never do.

www.theatlantic.com

Phytomaven @tmigratorius.bsky.social · 1d

The topic in Botany of Spices and Medicinal Plants for science teachers for next week is cosmetics and skin care.
Make science relevant!

icsainsight.com/the-reality-...

The Reality of Beauty Standards: Insights from ICSA High Schoolers - ICSA Insight

Photo Credit: Savannah Shamamba In a society where perceptions of beauty have long been confined, it’s become even more difficult to be a teenager in today’s world. High school is a time known for sel...

icsainsight.com

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Phytomaven @tmigratorius.bsky.social · 1d

Summer memories.
Harvesting right from my own garden. Arnica chamissonis is easy to grow and just as efficacious as our native one, Arnica cordifolia.

Arnica montana (European species) is becoming endangered. Growing is better than foraging.

www.herbalreality.com/herbalism/he...

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Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 1d

“I spent three nights and three days in federal custody. During that time, I was never told what I was charged with, was not allowed to shower despite being covered in tear gas and pepper spray, had no phone call to my family, and no access to an attorney.” - George Retes, U.S. citizen and veteran.

I’m a US citizen and a veteran. ICE arrested me for no reason.

Jailed for three days without an explanation or ability to notify anyone, George Retes argues the only path to healing starts with the government taking accountability for its actions.

newsletter.ofthebrave.org

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Joseph Q Jarvis MD MSPH @drjqjarvis.bsky.social · 1d

The Utah Cares Act will implement communal or monopsony health care purchasing on behalf of all Utahns and no or minimal out of pocket costs. Read more at www.utahcares.health AND DONATE to the legal defense fund so that we can sue Utah government to get on the ballot.

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Raider @iwillnotbesilenced.bsky.social · 1d

This Is Fascism

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Phytomaven @tmigratorius.bsky.social · 1d

There's so much to cover this week in perfumes, that next week's topic is the botany of cosmetics and skin care.

I hope my simplistic graphic is still correct and relevant. Phytochemistry is another awesome way to encourage K-12 students to go into natural product chemistry.

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