Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Zach Cofran

Prof Lee R Berger @leerberger.bsky.social · 3h

Here’s something you don’t see every day (or in fact ever) the bigger bone is a hominin phalanx. The little round bone, a sesamoid bone nearly in anatomical position. 2mya from Malapa - A sediba. Beautiful preparation by one of our outstanding preparators Bonele of the Nat Geo Rising Star Project.

1 5

Reposted by Zach Cofran

John Hawks @johnhawks.net · 1d

Paleoanthropology can be confusing with names. Why would scientists use “Denisovan” instead of coming up with a species name? Or “modern human” instead of Homo sapiens? And why didn’t some names ever catch on, like the Heidelbergers or the chumanzees?

www.johnhawks.net/p/informal-h...

Informal hominins, from Denisovan to superarchaic

In a new research article, I review the ways that paleoanthropologists name ancient groups outside the Linnaean system.

www.johnhawks.net

4 15 42

Reposted by Zach Cofran

John Hawks @johnhawks.net · 1d

The first images of this skull, KNM-ER 406, published by Richard Leakey in 1976 included one from this overhead angle, showing the enormous gaps to accommodate temporal muscles for powerful chewing. The skull represents Paranthropus boisei, and lived around 1.65 million years ago. #inktober

Line drawing of a skull of Paranthropus boisei seen from above, with very large temporal fossae and sagittal crest visible

2 31

Reposted by Zach Cofran

Sherrilyn Ifill @sifill.bsky.social · 1d

Exactly.

Emily Galvin-Almanza @galvinalmanza.bsky.social · 1d

Seriously, Judges *do no do things like this*

They don't give their opinion to the media

They don't criticize how SCOTUS works

This is them breaking the emergency glass, folks
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...

Federal Judges, Warning of ‘Judicial Crisis,’ Fault Supreme Court’s Emergency Orders

www.nytimes.com

31 580 1.8K

Zach Cofran @dizachster.bsky.social · 2d

definitely what I learned in catholic school was that Jesus Christ loved it when rich people hoarded their money, Thiel makes a great point

1 1

Reposted by Zach Cofran

Sheryl Gay Stolberg @sherylnyt.bsky.social · 2d

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

Zach Cofran @dizachster.bsky.social · 2d

First solder, next sky and sea

4

Zach Cofran @dizachster.bsky.social · 2d

Nice #FossilFriday by @johnhawks.net

John Hawks @johnhawks.net · 2d

MH1, the ”skull in the rock”, represents a child of between 8 and 11 years of age belonging to the species Australopithecus sediba. This and other fossils from Malapa, South Africa, are approximately 2 million years old. #inktober

Line drawing of a skull of Australopithecus still partially embedded in rock, viewed from right front

1 3

Reposted by Zach Cofran

John Hawks @johnhawks.net · 2d

MH1, the ”skull in the rock”, represents a child of between 8 and 11 years of age belonging to the species Australopithecus sediba. This and other fossils from Malapa, South Africa, are approximately 2 million years old. #inktober

1 9 53

Reposted by Zach Cofran

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 2d

We live in a country where the government honors insurrectionists who sacked the Capitol, and defines peaceful protest, even before it occurs, to be terrorism.
They know their position is weak, they know they are unpopular, which is why they are seeking to stamp out dissent.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 3d

Mike Johnson: "We're so angry about it. I mean, I'm a very patient guy, but I've had it with these people. The theory we have right now -- they have a hate America rally that's scheduled for October 18 on the National Mall. It's the pro-Hamas wing and antifa people ... "

91 730 2.6K

Reposted by Zach Cofran

Louis Römer @lromeranth.bsky.social · 3d

It’s also that since Rowan is directly involved with this so called “compact,” this not opinion but advertising

Gregg Gonsalves @gregggonsalves.bsky.social · 3d

Thank you @nytopinion.nytimes.com for publishing this rot. Marc Rowan has run hundreds of companies into the dust to extract profits from their failure and bankruptcies. Now he wants to do the same to American higher education. Do not believe a word this man says. 1/ www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/o...

Opinion | Trump’s ‘Compact’ With Universities Is Badly Needed

www.nytimes.com

10 39

Reposted by Zach Cofran

Claudia Astorino @claudistics.bsky.social · 3d

new article is up in full-text in #AJBA @bioanth.org! 🧪 💀

I predicted expression levels for skeletal sex indicators for 9 forms of #intersex, based on what we know ab these intersex variations (and which traits are most likely to affect bone growth, development, & remodeling) #SexualPolymorphism

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

8 11 37

Zach Cofran @dizachster.bsky.social · 3d

The baby where it belongs, in her [checks note scribbled on hand] placenta

1 1

Reposted by Zach Cofran

Dr Matt Pope @mattpope.bsky.social · 4d

Great interview with Svante Pääbo Source: EL PAÍS English
search.app/WcjQz
🏺🦣🧪 🧬

Svante Pääbo, father of paleogenetics: ‘The reason for the Neanderthals’ extinction lies in how numerous we’ve become’

The Nobel Prize winner in Medicine is investigating genetic changes that could have given our species a competitive advantage, and the possibility of extracting the genome of the Flores hobbit

search.app

2 9 34

Reposted by Zach Cofran

Chris Murphy @chrismurphyct.bsky.social · 5d

This has nothing to do with crime. This is an attempt to crush political dissent.

Never before, in our entire 250 year history, has the military or immigration agents been used like this. It's dystopian, illegal, and it should stop.

820 5.5K 18K

Reposted by Zach Cofran

John Pfaff @johnpfaff.bsky.social · 5d

Um, ICE just coldly shot an unarmed PRIEST in the head w a pepper ball when he (and everyone around him) clearly posed no threat.

For the crime of … complaining about government policy.

Core 1A speech.

With cameras rolling, they’re sniping priests for sport.

Kurt @flglchicago.bsky.social · 5d

Here’s video of the incident

900 9.5K 17K

Reposted by Zach Cofran

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 5d

The #TaungChild has been silent for over 2 million years — until now.

Our new podcast takes you back to 1924 #SouthAfrica, where one fossil would upend colonial narratives to centre human origins #Africa.

🌍Unburied Season 2: The Taung Child
🔗 Listen: linktr.ee/arcdocs

6 6

Reposted by Zach Cofran

Michelle A. Rodrigues 🐒 @marspidermonkey.bsky.social · 5d

I love gibbon songs! #primates

Oakland Zoo @oaklandzoo.bsky.social · 5d

Here it is, the signature soundtrack of Oakland Zoo (sound UP 🎶)

Gibbons make these whooping sounds for many reasons -- to send an alert about predators, as mating calls, to announce their territory to neighbors, or to strengthen social bonding.

2 9

Reposted by Zach Cofran

David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 6d

Whenever anarchism — or any idea more radical than the status quo — gets dismissed as unserious, it's worth remembering the current system runs on things like "we put all the money on a scam machine that tells rich dipshits they're god."

Justin Hendrix @justinhendrix.bsky.social · 7d

"The hundreds of billions of dollars companies are investing in AI now account for an astonishing 40 per cent share of US GDP growth this year... In a way, then, America has become one big bet on AI."

America is now one big bet on AI

It’s seen as the magic fix for every threat to the US economy

www.ft.com

4 290 750

Reposted by Zach Cofran

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 8d

also, in keeping with Vance’s view of american identity, only white people are fully American with the right to critique or dissent. nonwhites must show proper gratitude (supporting Trump or marrying JD Vance) before they can speak critically of the country (in approved ways, of course)

Jess Calarco @jessicacalarco.com · 8d

Weaponized gratitude is a key tool in the abuser's toolkit. The goal is to convince the victim that they owe the abuser so much, they should feel guilty for wanting to complain.

Tweet from the VP:
Joy Reid has had such a good life in this country. It's been
overwhelmingly kind and gracious to her. She is far wealthier than most.
Yet she oozes with contempt.
My honest, non-trolling advice to Joy Reid is that you'd be a much
happier person if you showed a little gratitude

220 1.6K 7.7K

Reposted by Zach Cofran

Charles C Roseman @evoroseman.bsky.social · 9d

Do you know anyone with an interest in pursuing a PhD studying the genetics, development, and evolution of skeletal morphology and life history? If so please encourage them to apply to work with me through any of the University of Illinois' EEB or PEEC programs. 1/4 🧪🦷🦴🐭🐒

1 21 20

Zach Cofran @dizachster.bsky.social · 10d

Back in the glass workshop, switching from arboreal to aquatic mammals

Stained glass pieces cut and arranged as a walrus face

6

Reposted by Zach Cofran

Jacob T. Levy @jacobtlevy.bsky.social · 10d

Very possibly no political official in history has made so much corrupt money at a pace like this. Mobutu and Marcos looted a greater share of their countries’ wealth over decades but in absolute terms and in speed, Trump shamelessly puts them to shame.

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 11d

“.. no modern American president has positioned his family to make so much money while in the White House. Already, since the early days of his reelection campaign, he’s more than doubled his net worth to about $5.4 billion.”

@bloomberg.com
www.bloomberg.com/features/202...

43 580 1.4K

Reposted by Zach Cofran

Cengiz Yar @cengizyar.com · 10d

shocking details out of an ICE raid on an apartment building in South Shore area of Chicago on September 30th abc7chicago.com/post/ice-chi...

69 590 1.2K

Reposted by Zach Cofran

Michelle A. Rodrigues 🐒 @marspidermonkey.bsky.social · 10d

As a primatologist, Jane Goodall was a huge inspiration to me. I admired the way she describes chimpanzee behavior with such detail and empathy, and she’s inspired so many people and advocated for chimpanzee conservation and welfare.

However, I'm dismayed at what her narrative leaves out (1/10)

Photo of Jane Goodall in the center, signing a book, with three women standing slightly hunched behind her. A very young Michelle is to the right, smiling.

3 170 370