Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Ian James

Eric Umansky @ericumansky.bsky.social · 3h

ICE agents blocked an ambulance that was trying to take an injured protester to hospital.

"We are still not being allowed to leave by ICE officers.” an EMT said on radio

When driver tried to get out, an agent yelled, "DON’T YOU EVER DO THAT AGAIN, I WILL SHOOT YOU"

www.wweek.com/news/2025/10...

Documents Allege a Federal Agent at Portland ICE Threatened to Shoot an Ambulance Driver

Feds delayed medics who had come to pick up an injured protester. Then, according to confidential incident reports, the agents became aggressive.

www.wweek.com

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Nature @nature.com · 3d

Hopes of securing a United Nations treaty on plastic pollution are fading after the final round of negotiations ended without an agreement.

go.nature.com/3J74xjN

The world’s first plastics treaty is in crisis: can it be salvaged?

Hopes of securing a United Nations treaty on plastic pollution are fading after the final round of negotiations ended without an agreement.

go.nature.com

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NPR @npr.org · 21h

A Cornell University researcher has been developing an artificial heart for children for more than 20 years. Now, his research is on hold and his lab is shut down.

This 4-year-old's heart is failing. A federal grant that might help him was canceled

A Cornell University researcher has been developing an artificial heart for children for more than 20 years. Now, his research is on hold and his lab is shut down.

n.pr

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Justin Wolfers @justinwolfers.bsky.social · 21h

"The U.S. is two economies. There's an enormous AI boom going on, huge investments, particularly in data centers. If you took that out of the numbers and you just looked at the non-AI parts of the economy, it's basically flatlining. We're on the cusp of a non-AI recession."
-- Me

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Silvia Secchi @profsecchi.bsky.social · 22h

And absolutely terrible news for the Amazon, the Cerrado and climate change.

The Economist @economist.com · 22h

Having been burnt by tariffs twice, American farmers and Chinese buyers will probably seek to reduce their mutual dependence. That is a boon for soyabean farmers in Brazil

American soya farmers are miserable. Brazil’s are ebullient

Donald Trump’s trade war has cemented Brazil’s place as the soyabean superpower

econ.st

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Faith Kearns, Ph.D. @fkearns.bsky.social · 22h

“I’m a senior citizen. I’m tired.”

Truly a devastating story about people unable to recover from disasters, even using all their retirement savings. I fear this for so many of us.

In These Times @inthesetimes.com · 22h

As climate change increasingly becomes a threat not just to homes, but to the very foundations of retirement, even the most careful savers are finding personal effort can’t outpace the risks woven deeply into the financial system.

@adamlmahoney.bsky.social reports

inthesetimes.com/article/clim...

Climate Change Puts A Generation’s Retirement On The Line

Early retirement withdrawals for hardship have tripled since 2020, as disasters strike and insurance fails–leaving workers on their own in old age.

inthesetimes.com

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Dr Paul Dorfman @drpauldorfman.bsky.social · 1d

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Ian James @ianjames.bsky.social · 1d

“Unless we find a way to overcome antiscience, humankind will face its gravest threat yet—the collapse of civilization as we know it.” @michaelemann.bsky.social @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social

Stephen Leahy @stephenleahy.bsky.social · 1d

Two top scientists tackle Trump's idiocracy www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

Two top scientists tackle Trump's idiocracy

In a new book, Michael Mann and Peter Hotez examine the risks posed by entrenched beliefs, corporate greed, and regressive governments.

www.motherjones.com

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Chanda Prescod-Weinstein 🌌 @chanda.blacksky.app · 1d

Oh my god

Claire Zagorski, MSc, EMT-P @clairezagorski.bsky.social · 2d

A student on TikTok has been documenting her journey with a professor who “wrote” the anatomy textbook and it’s all a bunch of AI hallucinations.

She’s saying that, understandably, the students are doing super poorly!

Behold what we’re teaching the healthcare professionals of tomorrow:

A diagram of the bones and (some) deep muscles of the hand and forearm. AI says that we only have four digits. It’s also identified a tendon as the median nerve, another tendon as the ulnar nerve, among other issues.

An AI generated diagram of the muscles of the neck. It hallucinated the “ennocleidomasid” muscle, and the “anterior scalpalin muscle”.

An AI generated diagram of the muscles of the lateral thigh. It says that the gluteus Maximus (the big juicy butt muscle) is on the anterior side. It also points to the quadriceps muscle and says “attattment”. It also says that the same structure is the tibia AND the deep fascia of the leg.

An AI generated diagram of the bones of the hand and forearm. This time AI says we have 6 digits. It also says that the radius is the ulnar artery. Among other many issues.

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Reposted by Ian James

Colorado Climate Center @climate.colostate.edu · 1d

Some early analysis of the major rainfall and flooding in southwest Colorado this weekend in this blog post. It was one of the largest fall rainstorms ever to hit the region, and resulted in major flooding on the San Juan River in Pagosa Springs and on Vallecito Creek, among other locations. #cowx

Major rainfall and flooding in southwest Colorado - Colorado Climate Blog

On Friday and Saturday, southwestern Colorado experienced one of the largest fall rainstorms ever to hit the region. Rainfall totals from 2 to over 4 inches were reported at both lower and higher elev...

climate.colostate.edu

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The Colorado Sun ☀️ @coloradosun.com · 1d

Southern Colorado towns regroup after major flooding, brace for more rain in forecast

Tropical depression brings heavy rain to the Four Corners area, and more is on the way early this week

coloradosun.com

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Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 2d

Here is a reporter who deserves to be remembered.
kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-jo...

Ukrainian journalist Roshchyna posthumously named Press Freedom Hero

The IPI said Roshchyna's death on Sept. 19, 2024 "exposed the brutal treatment suffered by the dozens of Ukrainian journalists unjustly held by Russian authorities, and brought new urgency to the need...

kyivindependent.com

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Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 2d

New story by @ianjames.bsky.social + highlights options for ground-based, mobile water deployment before, and in early hours of, major fires.

An important space given frequent high winds.

And with currently zero systematic evidence on options and cost effectiveness

www.latimes.com/california/s...

After Palisades fire hydrants went dry, LAFD faced costly delays in getting more water

A report provides reveals additional ways fire crews were stymied in efforts to get enough water to fight the Palisades fire in January 2025. The call didn't go in for tanker trucks and when these arr...

www.latimes.com

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Ian James @ianjames.bsky.social · 2d

After fire hydrants lost pressure and went dry, the LA Fire Department faced costly delays in getting more water to fight the Palisades fire. @hannahfry.bsky.social www.latimes.com/california/s... @latimes.com

After Palisades fire hydrants went dry, LAFD faced costly delays in getting more water

A report provides reveals additional ways fire crews were stymied in efforts to get enough water to fight the Palisades fire in January 2025. The call didn't go in for tanker trucks and when these arr...

www.latimes.com

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Josh Moody @byjoshmoody.bsky.social · 3d

MIT rejects "compact" proposed by the Trump administration.
MIT prez wrote: it "would restrict freedom of expression and our independence as an institution" and "is inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone."
orgchart.mit.edu/letters/rega...

Regarding the Compact | MIT Organization Chart

orgchart.mit.edu

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Melissa Sanchez @melissa-sanchez.bsky.social · 3d

“I don’t want to be here anymore… What am I supposed to do?”

Trump wants them to self deport. They want to self deport. But many Venezuelans cannot leave … like this woman who told me she now plans to try to turn herself into ICE to get out of USA.

www.propublica.org/article/trum...

“I Don’t Want to Be Here Anymore”: They Tried to Self-Deport, Then Got Stranded in Trump’s America

Venezuelan immigrants signed up for a Trump-promoted app called CBP Home, which promised a safe and easy way to leave the country, and prepared to leave on their given departure dates. Those dates hav...

www.propublica.org

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Ian James @ianjames.bsky.social · 2d

The Colorado River Indian Tribes may soon become the third Indigenous government in North America to grant personhood rights to a river.

“The river is my grandfather.” @debkrol.bsky.social www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...

Colorado River Indian Tribes may grant personhood rights to 'living' river

The Colorado River Indian Tribes may soon give their eponymous river personhood status, following moves by other tribes and Indigenous peoples.

www.azcentral.com

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Kendra "Gloom is My Beat" Pierre-Louis @kendrawrites.com · 2d

A good way to think of this is it's the main vehicle that states use to stitch together a comprehensive understanding of public health shit - like outbreaks - that are happening in other parts of the country. It gives states a chance to prepare.

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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:

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Dorit Reiss @doritreiss.bsky.social · 2d

Seen on LinkedIn: “Staff at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention across multiple programs being fired tonight, including all current (civilian) Epidemic Intelligence Service, and several people working on the Ebola response.”

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Eric Umansky @ericumansky.bsky.social · 5d

A 22-year-old Palestinian died in Israeli prison -- where he'd been held for a year and a half without charges.

His last two months, he was bed-ridden.

When he died, he weighed 88 lbs.

He was the 78th Palestinian to die in Israeli jail since Oct. 7, 2023.

www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...

The statement also said Khdeirat had dropped his weight to approximately 40 kilograms (88 pounds).

According to the committee, a lawyer who visited him in August testified that Khdeirat had been bedridden for ove two months.

The PA's statement tallies 78 administrative detainees and prisoners who died in Israeli prison since the start of the war on October 7, 2023.

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Ian James @ianjames.bsky.social · 2d

A Chicago TV journalist was pushed to ground and arrested during an ICE raid. Witnesses call arrest of Debbie Brockman by masked agents ‘absolutely horrifying’ www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Chicago TV journalist pushed to ground and arrested during Ice raid

Witnesses call arrest of video editor Debbie Brockman, a US citizen, by masked federal agents, ‘absolutely horrifying’

www.theguardian.com

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Peter Butler @peter-butler.bsky.social · 5d

Bloomberg research found wholesale electricity up ~270% in areas near data centers

It doesn't seem like nearly enough people are taking it seriously

One A.I. image isn't too much energy, but 5 million videos? Per day/hour/minute whatever. It's not sustainable

www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...

AI Data Centers Are Sending Power Bills Soaring

Wholesale electricity costs as much as 267% more than it did five years ago in areas near data centers. That’s being passed on to customers.

www.bloomberg.com

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Los Angeles Times @latimes.com · 2d

This Central Valley serpent is California's new state snake. Can recognition save it from extinction?

This Central Valley serpent is California’s new state snake. Can recognition save it from extinction?

For this humble brown reptile to rebound as successfully as other endangered species, conservation history shows that it will take combined efforts from the state, zoo and wildlife refuges, and biologists to increase numbers and preserve the state snake.

www.latimes.com

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Pam Kan-Rice @ucanrpam.bsky.social · 2d

NOAA said La Niña conditions had a 55% chance of remaining through at least December, writes @grace2e.bsky.social

“Central/SoCal will be favored to be drier than average, but even one or two ‘juicier-than-average’ storms could change that,” says Daniel Swain @weatherwest.bsky.social @ucanr.edu

Los Angeles Times @latimes.com · 2d

La Niña is back. It could mean another dangerously dry winter for Southern California

La Niña has reemerged in the eastern Pacific, a climate pattern that typically drives dry winters across the U.S. Southwest. Last winter's weak La Niña helped push Southern California into drought, and experts say it could be even more dramatic this year.

www.latimes.com

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