Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Ulla Rajala @ullamr.bsky.social · 4h

#Strictly A Minecraft group dance. Next weeks dances at least two rumbas and an Argentine tango. Nice!

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Fishbourne Roman Palace @romanpalace.bsky.social · 13h

We took a timelapse film of Huxley's Friday (9am-5pm).

He sure does spend a lot of time snoozing on the sofa! 🥱😴

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Reposted by Ulla Rajala

University Archaeology Day @uniarchday.bsky.social · 1d

We don't just have university departments represented at University Archaeology Day #UAD25! The CBA @archaeologyuk.bsky.social will also be there and contributing to our panel session talking about the huge range of careers you can pursue with an archaeology degree!

Image shows a stylised set of historic buildings above an archaeological landscape filled with buried ancient objects. The text reads "The Council for British Archaeology (CBA) is a leading educational charity dedicated to championing and promoting engagement in archaeology and supporting grassroots archaeologists across the UK". The post promotes University Archaeology Day on Monday 27th October 2025 at the British Academy in London, and the QR code links to a website where free tickets for the in-person event or for the virtual livestream of panel sessions can be booked.

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Ulla Rajala @ullamr.bsky.social · 14h

Lukijan mielipide | Koulutuksesta on tullut populistisen politiikan näyttämö "Jos koulutusta ohjataan poliittisilla viholliskuvilla, kansallismyytti korvaa sivistyksen ja eriyttäminen sekä normittaminen korvaavat tasa-arvon ja yhdenvertaisuuden." www.hs.fi/mielipide/ar...

Lukijan mielipide | Koulutuksesta on tullut populistisen politiikan näyttämö

Jos koulutuksesta puhutaan vain kriisien kautta, opettajien työ näyttäytyy epäonnistumisena ja oppilaat ongelmina.

www.hs.fi

Ulla Rajala @ullamr.bsky.social · 14h

I will give a paper on my quartz work in the Lithic Studies conference in Leicester on Saturday November 8 #Archaeology
www.lithics.org/events/confe...

Conference – The Lithic Studies Society

www.lithics.org

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Ulla Rajala @ullamr.bsky.social · 18h

@classicstober.bsky.social Day 12 of #ClassicsTober: Styx. Charon or Kharon was the ferryman who carries the souls of those who had been given funeral rites across the rivers Acheron and Styx, which separate the worlds of the living and the dead. #ClassicsTober25

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Ulla Rajala @ullamr.bsky.social · 18h

Lanyon Quoit in Penwith, Cornwall, is the remains of a prehistoric chamber tomb with a mound some 30m long. The monument consists of a huge capstone, 5.3m long, supported on four upright stones, standing about 3m high. It collapsed in 1815 and was re-erected. #StandingStoneSunday

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Aussievision @aussievisionnet.bsky.social · 1d

Voters in last year's #NFC100 were mainly from Europe (73%). So even though we are an Australian site, it's not an Aussie countdown! So far this year, 69% are European, 19% Rest of World and 12% Australian. Vote here: www.aussievision.net/post/the-eur...

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Ulla Rajala @ullamr.bsky.social · 1d

#Strictly Lewis was dancing a ballet... He is too good for this competition. Very dramatic - Katya, too.

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Ulla Rajala @ullamr.bsky.social · 1d

It was very Barbie! Ellie is really good in acting. Really suited song, dance and theme. #Strictly

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Ulla Rajala @ullamr.bsky.social · 1d

Today in the @jewrywallroman.bsky.social

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Ulla Rajala @ullamr.bsky.social · 1d

Time to vote for the greatest #Eurovision National Final song #NFC100! All details 👇

Aussievision @aussievisionnet.bsky.social · 2d

The previous winners of the #NFC100! Will we have a new champion this year? Details and voting at: www.aussievision.net/post/the-eur...

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Tony Potter @tony-potter.bsky.social · 1d

I probably bang on about the @jactdurham.bsky.social too much, but it’s an outstanding opportunity for anyone who wants to explore Ancient Greek, Latin or Classical Civilisation.

Please share this post and spread the word about this amazing Summer School!

#JACTDurham

www.durhamglss.org

Home | JACT Durham Greek & Latin Summer School

Welcome - The 32nd JACT Durham Greek & Latin Summer School will take place at St John's College, Durham University from 25th July - 1st August 2026

www.durhamglss.org

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 1d

'prime minister Keir Starmer...confirmed that the University of Lancaster and the University of Surrey had been given approval to open new campuses in India while on a trade mission to Mumbai, joining six more institutions already in the country.' (Lancaster is mooting 20% academic redundancy) 1/3

Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 2d

Expansion of UK universities in India ‘like California gold rush’.

University leaders embrace transnational education but warn it will not be a “replacement income stream”.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

Expansion of UK universities in India ‘like California gold rush’ - Research Professional News

University leaders embrace transnational education but warn it will not be a “replacement income stream”

www.researchprofessionalnews.com

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Reposted by Ulla Rajala

Birmingham Green Party @brumgreens.bsky.social · 1d

@zackpolanski.bsky.social stopped by #Handsworth yesterday and was welcomed by @edfreshwater.bsky.social of #BrumGreens in front of the #BenjaminZephania mural to show what a vibrant, diverse, integrated neighbourhood it truly is.
Don't let anyone tell you #Birmingham is not multicultural and proud!

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Ulla Rajala @ullamr.bsky.social · 1d

@classicstober.bsky.social Day 11 of #ClassicsTober25: torch. On a Greek red-figured pelike two runners in the lampadedromia (torch race). Attributed to the Kraipale painter, made in c. 430 BC. Now in the British Museum. #ClassicsTober

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Ulla Rajala @ullamr.bsky.social · 1d

It is a bar that had a value based on the weight of its metal

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Ulla Rajala @ullamr.bsky.social · 1d

Great Witcombe villa in Gloucestershire was built c. AD 250, and lived in until the 5th century. The remains include a bathhouse complex and perhaps the shrine of a water spirit. Mosaic pavemen hint that the symmetrical U-shape villa was opulent in Roman times. #RomanSiteSaturday

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The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 2d

Breaking news: MIT’s president turned down the Trump administration’s offer of priority access for federal funding, publicly releasing a letter that emphasized the elite university’s values.

MIT rejects Trump administration deal for priority federal funding

MIT is one of the nine schools that were asked to agree to adopt conservative priorities and policies in exchange for funding perks.

wapo.st

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Sarah May @sarahmay1.bsky.social · 2d

What a joy to be taken around Pen Dinas by @tobydriver.bsky.social as the first stop on the Society of Antiques Annual Wales field trip

Photo of Toby Driver standing on a low Bronze Age barrow in the middle of Pen Dinas hillfort with views over Aberystwyth.

Photo of the path up to Pen Dinas hillfort, a green strip cut into a heather clad hill with the south gateway of the hillfort showing as a cut on the right hand side of the photo and a Wellington monument showing on the skyline. The fort was excavated in the 30s and again in 2023

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British School at Rome @bsrome.bsky.social · 2d

We were delighted to welcome members of the UK Parliament—both from the House of Commons and the House of Lords—on Monday, 6 October, to the British School at Rome.
The visit provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen UK–Italy relations and explore shared cultural and research interests.

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Gregory Norminton @gregorynorminton.bsky.social · 2d

If only the university sector - one of the engines of our entire economy - had the same political clout as the fishing industry.

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 2d

UK Universities cut 12,000 jobs, more on the way.

40% of Unis in financial crisis.

Major exporter destroyed by successive govts

Obstacles for foreign students.
Low fees in England, lack of govt funding.
£267bn student debt.
Home student numbers down.

How will the UK compete with other nations?

Thousands more university jobs cut as financial crisis deepens

University workers will vote on national strike action this month over a 1.4% pay offer made in the summer.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Dan Snow @thehistoryguy.bsky.social · 4d

We have built a society in which people of different skin tones, religious backgrounds & cultures get along, share power, work alongside each other, procreate with each other, recognise the each other’s humanity and democratic rights. It is a STUNNING ACHIEVEMENT OF WORLD HISTORIC PROPORTIONS.

Omar Khan @omaromalleykhan.bsky.social · 5d

I know statistics are poorly understood and are misused. But facts matter

Between the 1991, 2001, 2011 and 2021 Census *every* ethnic group in the UK has become *less* geographically segregated and *all* groups, majority and minorities, are more likely to interact with people not like them

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Ulla Rajala @ullamr.bsky.social · 2d

My #Eurovision #NFC100
Clara Klingenström: Jag behöver inte dig idag
Erika Vikman: Cicciolina
SOA: Seule
Sara Siipola: Paskana
La Rappresentante di Lista: Ciao Ciao
Mileo: You're mine
Nicco: Nochentera
Coma_Cose: Cuoricini
Bess: Ram Pam Pam
Jone: Ekko inni meg
www.aussievision.net/post/the-eur...

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Alison Fisk @alisonfisk.bsky.social · 3d

The Royal Game of Ur is the world’s oldest playable boardgame!

Played by Sumerians in ancient Mesopotamia about 4,500 years ago!

It is a two-player race game, the rules of which have been deciphered from a cuneiform tablet.

Game from the Royal Cemetery of Ur. 📷 British Museum

#Archaeology

British Museum photo showing a two-player board game with gaming counters known as the Royal Game of Ur. Dated c. 2,500 BC.

The game board is composed of a hollow box made of wood adorned with shell plaques. There is a drawer at one end for storing game pieces and dice. The top of the board is covered with twenty square-shaped off-white shell plaques, each bordered with dark-blue lapis lazuli. The shell squares are intricately decorated with blue inlaid patterns including dots inside circles and eye-shapes. Five squares are inlaid with flower-shaped rosettes with red limestone and blue lapis lazuli petals.

The game board is roughly rectangular in shape. Viewed from above in the photo, on the left side of the board is a block of 12 squares made up of 4 across by 3 down. On the right side of the board is a block of 6 squares made up of 2 across by 3 down. The two blocks are joined by two squares extending between the second square down on the end row of the left block and the second square down on the first row of the second block.

Dimensions H: 2.40 cm, L: 30.10 cm, W: 11 cm, (W 5.70 cm at narrowest part)

Beneath the board are 14 disc-shaped gaming counters. On the left are 7 white pieces, inlaid with 5 spots of blue lapis lazuli. On the right are 7 black pieces inlaid with five white spots.

Between the game pieces are three tetrahedron-shaped dice. L to R: Dark blue, brown, cream.

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